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Tag: Anambra

  • BREAKING: INEC publishes Valentine Ozigbo’s name as PDP’s governorship candidate for Anambra 2021

    BREAKING: INEC publishes Valentine Ozigbo’s name as PDP’s governorship candidate for Anambra 2021

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday published the name of business mogul, Valentine Ozigbo as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 election.

    The national electoral body, apparently acting obedience to the order of the Court of Appeal granted on Friday, September 3, 2021 has now published the names of Mr Ozigbo and his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the PDP.

    This development is one more in a string of victories for Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, which follows the inauguration of a 179-person National Campaign Council for the election by the main opposition party on Thursday.

    The star-studded event which held at the headquarters of the PDP, Wadata Plaza in Abuja has in attendance eleven PDP governors including Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State who is the Vice Chairman of the National Campaign Council for the Anambra Poll; Governor Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

    Other topshots are the event were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Duoye Diri of Bayelsa; Samuel Ortom of Benue; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Govern Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Darius Ishaku of Taraba; and Aliyu Gusau, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara.

    Valentine Ozigbo is a multiple-award-winning global CEO, international sports developer, and national peace advocate who resigned from his role at Transcorp in March 2020 to dedicate the next chapter of his life to public service.

    In less than two years, Ozigbo has created a political movement, the Ka Anambra Chawapu movement, that is poised to make political history in the November 6 poll.

    He named a seasoned administrator, academic, and a two-time commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mrs Azuka Enemo as his running mate in July, a decision that further boosts his chances in the election.

  • SAD! Lone accident kills two in Anambra

    SAD! Lone accident kills two in Anambra

    The Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra said a lone accident at Ekulo River in Oraifite, on Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, took two lives on Wednesday night.

    The Sector Commander of the Corps, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, confirmed the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday

    Irelewuyi noted that the affected Ash colour Toyota Sienna with registration number ENU 609 CN, was said to be speeding when it rammed into a ditch.

    He said: “Eyewitness report reaching us indicates that the unidentified driver of the vehicle was on top speed when he lost control and rammed into a ditch.

    “Seven passengers were involved in the crash – five male adults and two female adults.

    “The injured victims were rescued by FRSC personnel and taken to Josephine and Lawrence Hospital, Oraifite, where two male adults were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.”

    He said that the remains of the deceased persons had been deposited at Restland Mortuary in Oraifite.

    Irelewuyi, while condoling with the families of the deceased, warned motorists against speeding and dangerous driving. (NAN).

     

  • Anambra Leads Again In JAMB Examination , Lauds Ezekwelisi and Okigbo for Senior Fellowship at Yale, Harvard

    Anambra Leads Again In JAMB Examination , Lauds Ezekwelisi and Okigbo for Senior Fellowship at Yale, Harvard

    Anambra State, whose two candidates in the 2020 examination of the Joint Admissions and matriculation Board (JAMB) scored the highest marks, has continued its brilliant performance in the tests conducted by the body.

    In the just released 2021 JAMB examination result, Chibuzor Chibuikem Monwuba, an indigene of Awka whose father is a field engineer with an international oil company in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, scored 358 out of a maximum 400 marks.

    In the 2020 result, Ego Agnes Maduafokwa from Ihiala broke JAMB examination’s history by scoring 365 marks out of a possible 400 while David Nwobi from Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area followed closely with 363 marks.

    “I am so pleased with the news that Anambra State has maintained its educational dominance in examinations conducted by JAMB, West African Examinations Council and National Education Council”, declared Governor Willie Obiano yesterday when the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, broke the news to him a few minutes after the governor led an educational event in Awka to mark the 30th anniversary of Anambra State.

    Former Central of Nigeria Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, an internationally recognized economics professor and reformer who is now the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial in the state, was one of the persons the governor personally honoured at the educational event which took place at the Oma Events Centre.

    Meanwhile, Chief Obiano has directed both the Commissioner for Information and his counterpart in the Ministry of Basic Education, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, to include Master Chibuzor Monwuba, who is going to study engineering at Covenant University in Ogun State, in the list of young Anambra persons to be honoured for academic excellence which has, in turn, brought honour to the state.

    “We must continue to demonstrate in word and deed that Anambra State is truly the Light of the Nation”, the governor added.

    In another development, the state government congratulated two intellectuals from the state who have been appointed to prestigious positions in two Ivy League institutions.

    The government in a statement today in Awka expressed joy that former World Bank Vice President Oby Ezekwesili is resuming work at Yale University as senior fellow while Patrick Okigbo III, a management consultant in Abuja, is returning to Harvard as a senior fellow after a successful tenure at the institution.
    A statement signed by Mr. C. Don Adinuba, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment lauded the two Anambra State-born trailblazers, Oby Ezekwesili and Patrick Okigbo III, for raising the bar in education.

    Ezekwesili will teach two postgraduate courses on Democracy and Africa’s Political Distortions, and Resolving Africa’s Economic Philosophy Dilemma during the 2021 Fall Semester in Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs that applies evidence-based scholarship to challenges of maximum global importance, such as climate change, war and peace, ethnic conflict, inequality, and migration.

    Ezekwesili had previously worked as Director of the Harvard-Nigeria Economic Strategy Project with Prof Jeffery Sachs at the Center for International Development, Kennedy School of Government, Massachusetts.

    Okigbo III will continue with making presentations and working on issues relating to governance and how it affects the economy.

    The founder of Nextier, a policy think-tank firm with a focus on remaking governance and development, has served on many government committees with over 20 years experience.

  • Photo: Six Anambra Assembly members dump APGA for APC

    Photo: Six Anambra Assembly members dump APGA for APC

    Six members of the Anambra State House of Assembly have dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The lawmakers include Nonso Okafor, representing Nnewi North; Timothy Ifedioramma, representing Njikoka 1; Cater D. N Umeoduagu, representing Aguata 1; Lawrence Ezeudu, representing Dumekofia; Arthur Chiekwu, representing Idemmih North and Edward Ibuzo, representing Onisha North 2.

    They were received by the APC Caretaker Chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to Buni, the defection is an indication of the APC’s grassroots approach in the quest to win the Anambra governorship election.

    Other stakeholders who received the defectors include Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, and the party’s candidate in the Anambra governorship race, Senator Andy Ubah.

    These defections are coming hours after President Muhammadu Buhari received Senator Andy Uba, the APC Candidate at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The Anambra State governorship election is scheduled to hold on November 6, 2021.

  • Anambra’s Oil-bearing Status: A Good Fight, By C. Don Adinuba

    Anambra’s Oil-bearing Status: A Good Fight, By C. Don Adinuba

    When he received on Tuesday, August 31, a letter from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission pronouncing Anambra a petroleum-bearing state with all the benefits like entitlement to the 13% derivation principle in the sharing of national revenue, Governor Willie Obiano read the letter twice. Convinced it is real, he passed it to three aides around him and recited a scriptural passage which reads:

    “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4: 5-8).

     

    He quickly explained: “This fight has not been a one-man show, but the collective effort of Anambra people, especially those in my administration who have defied all the odds to fight for their beloved state. For instance, the chairman of the Anambra State Oil and Gas Committee, Engineer Frank Edozie, and chairman of the our Technical Committee, Professor Chares Ofoegbu, as well as Professor Solo Chukwubelu who is the Secretary to the State Government and such persons as Arinze Awogu, chairman of the Ogbaru Local Government Transition Committee and Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, the Special Adviser on Legal Matters and Petroleum Resources, have not for once rested on their laurels.”

     

    The struggle took years and grit to prosecute. Lives were even sacrificed. Immediately Orient Petroleum Company, a private company supported since 2001 by the Anambra State government, began to produce crude oil in the Aguleri area of the state, neighbouring Kogi State began to lay claim to the ownership of the hydrocarbon. People in Ibaji, Kogi State, and Aguleri Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area fought, lives were lost and properties lost. This was in the first part of 2013, a year before Obiano became Anambra governor.

     

    The next year, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, an Indian hydrocarbon firm, secretly moved to the neighbouring communities of Ogwuaniocha and Ogwuikpele in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, and started to produce oil. The Anambra State government was not aware of this enterprise until 2019 and quickly moved into action when it received a report about the oil drilling, investigated it and found it true.

     

    For some reason, the oil produced in Ogbaru LGA was attributed to Delta State, and not Anambra State. Worse, there was no environmental and social impact assessment by either the Anambra State government or the Federal Government, resulting in enormous environmental degradation. Efforts by the state government to engage Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) did not yield tangible results.

     

    Obiano was left with no choice than to escalate the matter to the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Ministry of Justice. He then turned attention to the Federal Ministry of the Environment, with which it last November organized a conference at Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu Lake in Anambra State, on the profound environmental implications of SEEPCO activities. All stakeholders criticized the energy firm.

     

    With incontrovertible evidence showing that the oil wells in question belong to Anambra State, coupled with Obiano’s persistent letters and visits to relevant government agencies in Abuja, the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission had no choice than to write a letter to Governor Obiano on August 24 confirming that the governor is right about the ownership of the oil wells.

     

    The oil wells are Nzam -1, Alo-1, Ogbu-1, Ameshi 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Enyie 1, 2, 3 and 4. In addition, there are River 1, 2 and 3 oil wells with proceeds to be shared equally between Anambra and Kogi states until the boundary dispute between the two states is resolved. The 50: 50 sharing ratio may not go down with some people in Anambra State because, apart from the fact that much of the oil in these parts comes from Anambra, it is the state that developed the three oil wells in the first place.

     

    What may be the outcome, it has been a glorious fight. The struggle to get Anambra officially and formally designated oil-producing has ended in praise.

     

    Things are shaping up for Anambra State. From building one of Africa’s most modern and largest international airports to building Africa’s largest international conference to exploits in education, security, health, agriculture and now oil and gas, it has been good news all the way. Truly, the state is up to its reputation as the Light of the Nation. God bless Anambra State.

     

    Adinuba is Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Anambra State.

  • We have no N41BN anywhere waiting for collection for Basic Education – Anambra Government

    We have no N41BN anywhere waiting for collection for Basic Education – Anambra Government

    The Anambra Government has denied expecting any N41bn waiting for collection for the development of basic education in the state.

    The denouncement was made on Thursday in a statement by the chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Patrick Ugboaja.

    Read full statement below:

    Anambra Has no N41BN Anywhere Waiting for Collection for Basic Education

    1. About a week ago, we saw a story on the social media claiming that there is a whole forty one billion naira (N41BN) waiting for collection by the Anambra State Government for the development of basic education, that is, primary education and the first three years of post-primary education. The reports claimed that the State Government has not been able to claim this colossal amount because it has yet to pay its counterpart funding for the construction and renovation of basic schools owned by the State Government and voluntary agencies as well as for the furnishing of these schools and the training of the school teachers.

    2. We have all along ignored this story because the claim that a whole N41BN is due to any state in the Federation for basic education development is too wild for any critically thinking Nigerian to believe. However, the sensational story has now become a subject of commentary by politicians contesting the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State. What is more, one or two well-meaning persons have called to find out the true situation.

    3. We are, therefore, issuing this statement to state the facts. As already stated above, there is no N41B accruing to Anambra State in the office of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja. Anambra State has long accessed all its monies from UBEC up to 2018. The monies are always paid in arrears. What is outstanding now is our monies for only 2019 and 2021 which total four billion four hundred million naira (N4.4BN). Efforts are being made to access the N4.4BN.

    4. Education is a most critical industry in Anambra State, and the State Administration treats everything concerning education as sacred. No state throughout Nigeria has the record of global competitiveness and excellence in basic education which Anambra State has achieved in the last seven years. We will not only uphold this record but also improve on it.

     

  • My opponents can’t govern Anambra with only WAEC certificate – Soludo

    My opponents can’t govern Anambra with only WAEC certificate – Soludo

    The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has chided his fellow governorship candidates from other political parties for declaring only WAEC certificates as their highest educational attainments.

    Soludo who spoke at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka during the inauguration of the APGA National Campaign Council, said Anambra had outgrown being governned with such lowly educational qualification.

    The candidate who was on Thursday enlisted as standard bearer of APGA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after series of legal battle said the November 6 governorship election in the state is APGA’s.
    “APGA has a star-studded team for this election, and it is the party with the best brains.

    “Look at other political parties and their candidates, and you will find out that they have just First School Leaving Certificate and others WAEC as their highest qualification.

    “Is it First School Leaving Certificate and WAEC that they will use to govern Anambra? Anambra has outgrown such kind of state and you cannot use those certificates to govern Anambra. Look at my running mate, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, a medical doctor. You can’t beat our team.”

    Soludo thanked God for the Appeal Court judgment that gave him victory over Hon Chuma Umeoji. He reiterated that with the judgment, there was no longer anything like faction in APGA.

    He added that: “APGA will contest for every vote, in every ward, in every church, in every local government, and we are confident of victory.”

    National Chairman of the party, Dr. Victor Oye who also spoke at the event said
    APGA was indestructible, and that anyone who planned to destroy the party will himself be destroyed.

    “APGA has grown above destruction. We are warning those who are working towards destroying the party to desist from doing so, or they will be destroyed.

    “Anambra people have spoken, and they want soludo. Let those vying for governor against Soludo bring their certificate let’s see. We have a candidate that has first class in every level of his education. He is a renowned professor of Economics and a former CBN governor.

    “Let that candidate who is assembling governors from everywhere to come to Anambra, come and show us his certificate first. He has none. We will remain steadfast and continue to pray and we hope that victory trumpet will sound on November 6. Soludo has won the election already and we are confident of it.

    Governor Willie Obiano, the leader of the party and also chairman of the APGA national campaign council inaugurated the team. “By the power conferred on me as the leader of the party, I hereby inaugurate this campaign council.”

  • IPOB sit-at-home order: Gunmen attack Anambra police station, cart away arms

    IPOB sit-at-home order: Gunmen attack Anambra police station, cart away arms

    Gunmen on Monday reportedly attacked Nnewi Police Area Command, Anambra State, carting away some arms.

    The incident, which witnessed heavy shootings between the gunmen and Police, caused pandemonium amongst residents of the industrial city.

    According to reports, the gunmen, who stormed the area around noon with seven vehicles, engaged the Police in a gun duel that last for one hour.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen overpowered the police and carted away with their arms.

    He however said no casualty was recorded in the incident.

    “Even though reinforcement from the Navy arrived the scene shortly after, the gunmen had left before their arrival. Efforts to pursue them were unsuccessful,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said he was yet to receive the report.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra group had earlier ordered residents in the five south east states to observe a sit-at-home directive today (Monday) in solidarity with their leader, Nnamdi Kanu who is being held in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

  • INEC raises alarm, says multiple court orders threatening conduct of Anambra governorship poll

    INEC raises alarm, says multiple court orders threatening conduct of Anambra governorship poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the multiplicity of Court Orders constitutes a major threat to the conduct of the November 6 Anambra governorship election.

    The electoral umpire observed some of the Orders have “the tendency of eroding the powers of the Commission and compromising its independence, powers and timelines for the conduct of the upcoming election”.

    The Commission also noted it is becoming increasingly difficult to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or the first in time as some political parties and candidates have perfected the art of shopping for the first in time or the latest in time.

    It insisted the planning and preparation for election require certainty and adherence to timelines.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, raised the concern at the implementation meeting of the voter education and publicity department.

    According to him: “The Commission has variously and consistently complained at the frequency and consistency with which courts of coordinate jurisdiction from different jurisdictions all over Nigeria assumed jurisdiction and delivered judgements and issued orders with far-reaching implications on the conduct of the Anambra State Governorship election.

    “Some of the Orders have the tendency of eroding the powers of the Commission and compromising its independence, powers and timelines for the conduct of the upcoming election”.

    He added” “In our Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of Elections as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the Commission issues access code to the National Chairman of Political Parties with which they upload the Personal Particulars and List of their candidates electronically.

    “This obviated the demonstrations, fights and violence normally witnessed in the premises of the Commission by different factions of political parties and the National and State branches of political parties.

    “Unfortunately, some of the judgements and Orders were given especially on the primary elections in Anambra State have bypassed our portal and sought to restore the manual submission of the List and Personal Particulars of candidates.

    “It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the Commission to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or the first in time as some of the Political Parties and the candidates have perfected the art of shopping for the first in time or the latest in time. The planning and preparation for election require certainty and adherence to timelines.

    “The leadership of the Bar Association and the Leadership of the Judiciary must wade into this descent to forum shopping and the multiplicity of Orders and judgements from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. This is urgent, it is imperative and cannot be carried over to the 2023 general election”.

  • Anambra govt, Police muster moves to counter IPOB’s sit-at-home threat; others appeal

    Anambra govt, Police muster moves to counter IPOB’s sit-at-home threat; others appeal

    ANAMBRA State Government and the state Police Command say they have mustered moves to counter the sit-at-home threat of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, thereby assuring citizens of their safety.

    This was as a group known as Igbo for a Progressive Nigeria condemned the every-Monday-sit-at-home order by the IPOB to prevail on the Federal Government to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    IPOB had declared what it called ‘Ghost Monday’ in the South-East, starting from August 9.

    The National Leader of the group, Lawrence Onuzulike, in a statement in Awka, Anambra State, on Monday said the proscribed secessionist group’s declaration was anti-Igbo, stating that it would adversely affect economic growth of Nigeria and the South-East in particular.

    He said, “IPOB must not continue to oppress Ndigbo and add to their sufferings. Why must they force their fights and struggles on the entire Igbo nation?

    “If governors of the South-East cannot protect the lives and properties of their subjects, then something is wrong. We call on the Federal Government to protect the lives of Igbo people if Igbo leaders are playing hide and seek.”

    The group enjoined IPOB to engage in exercises that would protect the Igbo and not to always oppress and threaten their people.

    However, the Anambra State Government and the Police Command said measures had been put in place to ensure that the people of the state would not be intimidated by any person or group.

    The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, said, “We won’t disclose our plans in the media, but I want to assure you that we have big plans to ensure that our people are free from any form of intimidation.”

    Similarly, the state Police Command said there was no need for alarm over the threat.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, said the Command was committed to the protection of the people of the state.