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Tag: Anambra

  • I once stood in a bus from Anambra to Lagos- Ken Erics

    I once stood in a bus from Anambra to Lagos- Ken Erics

    Ekenedilichukwu Ugochukwu Eric Nwenweh, professionally known as Ken Erics Ugo is one of the actors making waves in Nollywood at the moment.

    In 2001, as a first year student in the University, Erics got his first movie role, in the Chris Ubani directed ‘direct-to-dvd’ movie ‘Holy Prostitute’.

    The tall actor has recounted the prize he had to pay before becoming a star.

    According to him:”There are many people who want the same thing as you, and most want to be actors. But I knew it was possible because whoever was determined got it. So, I kept at it as there were times I went hungry. There was this time I stood in a bus from Anambra to Lagos for an audition because I couldn’t afford to pay for a full seat and when I got to Lagos, luckily for me, I got a role in the movie.

    “I have attended auditions in various places across the country as the fire was in me and I kept on burning and wanted to do it. It wasn’t easy and there was this financial constraint, but at the end, it’s worth it and I advised people to make sure they are good at it. I was putting every effort to make sure it paid off and I’m thankful it did”, he told ThisDay.

    Unknown to many, Erics also has passion for music. He also narrated how he joined a music band at a tender age.

    In his words:”As I have done music all my life. I went to the church and there was a programme and the band was playing, I got there and saw a microphone I took it and hid under the table then sang to what they were playing. I knew I was attracted to music but I didn’t know what pushed me to where the band was as they were much older than me. They later found me and then I sang again. Later on, I became the youngest member of that band from that day onwards. I began to attend functions and, basically, I have sang all my life.

    “With that I consolidated and started learning other musical instruments which I got from my mother which I’m sure she got from hers. So, it’s been a generation of singers. It’s something I love doing as singing is in my DNA and it’s something I can do all day without getting tired. I do basically all kinds of music”.

  • Women threaten to go naked in Anambra over incessant harassment

    Women threaten to go naked in Anambra over incessant harassment

    No fewer than 100 women including widows from Ndiukwuenu community in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State, Friday, stormed the state police command, threatening to go nude over harassment by thugs and policemen in their area.

    Besides, they demanded immediate release of two of their husbands arrested by the police Friday morning in the community.

    The names of those arrested by the police on the orders of some land grabbers in the area were given as Raymond Egwu, a Catholic catechist and Vincent Nwafor.

    The women alleged they were tear-gassed by men of the state Criminal investigation Department CID, which allegedly made some of them pass out.

    But a senior police officer, who did not want his name mentioned, denied the allegation, adding that the women had fruitful discussion with the OC -CID.

    The senior officer assured the women that their husbands would be released immediately.

    However, addressing reporters at the CID gate in Amawbia, the leader of the protesting women, Dorothy Onyebarachi, said they no longer sleep with their two eyes closed on daily basis without one form of harassment from the police or thugs in the community.

    Also, the Secretary of the women group, Priscilla Okoli, told reporters that the women had decided to go nude round Awka and its environs, if such treatments were not stopped by government and the police in Ndiukwuenu.

    She said the people had forcefully taken their lands were they farm and feed their families, adding they come to the community to shoot sporadically every night to scare them and their families.

    Okoli said the Catechist of St John’s Catholic Church Ozzuh was one of the persons arrested with no just cause, adding that the two persons terrorizing the community were doing it in connivance with the police.

  • Peter Obi alleges massive disenfranchisement, rejects presidential results in Anambra

    Peter Obi alleges massive disenfranchisement, rejects presidential results in Anambra

    Vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Peter Obi, on Tuesday, said the results declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Anambra state was unacceptable to the party.

    He accused the electoral umpire of disenfranchising over 8 million registered voters in the South East Geo-political Zone in the last general election.

    Addressing newsmen in his Onitsha residence, Obi further lamented that the election was systematically planned to ensure the zone did not participate fully in the exercise.

    He argued that only 20% were able to cast their votes out of 10 million registered voters in the area

    He said, “You will recall that on the election day I said that the process was clumsy and we also had major problem of card readers and most people could not vote.

    “When over 400,000 Card Readers got burnt it became clear that something was wrong somewhere and INEC could not save the situation and they will not allow people to vote manually.

    “But in some other parts of the country people are allowed to vote manually and it was accepted by the electoral body. Now how can you tell me that a state like Yobe and Bornu produced the number of voters that is higher than Anambra and Ebony states put together?

    “The two states are areas that have been at war and I wonder how they got Card Readers that are working so well despite the war situation that they found themselves?

    Obi regretted the retrogressive disposition the country was tilting to, noting that instead of the country building on achievements of the 2015 general election the country was on a reverse

    He added, “The impressive turn out of voters was discouraged by the performance of the electoral body last Saturday.

    Obi further decried the harassment and attack members of his party had suffered in the hands of security agencies targeted at intimidating them.

    He however hinted that it was not in his powers to announce any demand for the cancellation of the election, saying, “It is left for the party to make its position clear on the matter.”

  • Sen. Oduah wins Anambra North Senatorial District poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Stella Oduah winner of the Anambra North Senatorial District.

    Declaring the result on Monday in Onitsha, the Returning Officer, Prof. Hugh Maduka, said Oduah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 113,989 votes to defeat 20 other candidates.

    He said Mr Emmanuel Chinedu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came second with 59,937 votes while Mr Nelson Onubogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged third with 11,995 votes.

    The Returning Officer said Mr Chinedu Ekwealor of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came fourth with 1,024 votes.

    He noted that the election went fine except in some areas were ballot boxes and votes were burnt by hoodlums.

    “The election went fine but there were skirmishes especially the one documented in Oyi Local Government Area where votes were burnt,” he said.

    Reacting to her victory, Oduah said her re-election for second tenure was prove of God’s love for her and her people.

    The Senator, who promised to sustain her quality representation at the Red Chambers, said “it is a duty to further improve the livelihood of the people of my senatorial district.”

    She commended INEC on the conduct of the poll, but called for an improvement in the voting process.

    “The process is evolving and I believe that sometimes in the near future, we are going to perfect the electoral process, especially where we can all vote from wherever we are.

    “That will be the ultimate for INEC,” Oduah said.

  • #NigeriaDecides2019: Presiding officer, NYSC member abducted in Anambra

    A presiding officer and a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were on Saturday abducted during the presidential and National Assembly polls in Anambra State by unknown persons.

    Anambra State Commissioner of Police in charge of elections, Rabiu Ladodo, said this at a Press briefing.

    While describing the poll in the state as generally peaceful, Ladodo said there were isolated cases of violence in some parts of the state.

    Ladodo said, “Despite the relative peace recorded so far, there are a few isolated incidents recorded, such as ballot box snatching at Onuma imeobi Square Ward 6 Unit 4 Onitsha; vote buying, disruption of election in some polling units, alleged abduction of a presiding officer and a youth corps member in Indiokolo Unit, Orumba North LGA of Anambra South Senatorial Zone.

    “Consequently, the Command has arrested seven suspects in connection with vote buying and disruption of electoral process.

    “The Command also arrested two armed Police mobile personnel on illegal duty.

    “All cases are under investigation at the State CIID, Awka, and effort is being intensified to rescue the abducted persons and bring perpetrators tobook.”

    He added that one mini shuttle bus, two motorcycle, N110,920 cash, two handbags containing dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and two knives were recovered from the suspects.

    The CP said”I have gone round the state along with heads of other security agencies both on Aerial and Vehicular patrols, in order to assess levels of deployment by the security agencies at various polling units and to ensure that the electorate exercise their franchise without hindrance.

    “The election is generally peaceful and all the places visited have witnessed significant turnout of voters amid tight security in the areas.

  • #NigeriaDecides: INEC to reschedule elections in Rivers, Lagos, Anambra

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday, said that it would reschedule elections in some parts of Rivers, Anambra and Lagos States where there were cases of violence and ballot box snatching.

    The commission which specifically mentioned the National Assembly elections in Rivers State, also acknowledged the challenges of smart card readers, saying they have been resolved.

    INEC Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, while giving an update on the ongoing elections, said where the malfunctioning of smart card readers were not resolved before the closing of elections, voting will continue the next day.

    He said, “We received reports of violence and ballot box snatching which took place in Akokotoro and Bonny LGAs in Rivers State; and some parts of Lagos and Anambra states. We are waiting for the reports, we have told the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the states to submit reports. So long as the poll is didn’t commence, it is assumed that there was no voting.

    “So, elections in these areas, especially in areas related to the House of Representatives and Senate didn’t take place and the date for the election will be decided later after we receive reports from INEC officials on ground.”

    The commission also said that most of the challenges association with smart card readers were resolved on time.

    Okoye also threatened that any INEC official who deliberately refused to make use of the smart card readers would be prosecuted because that action contravened the electoral guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act.

    He said, “It was made clear that the use of smart card reader is mandatory. Therefore any official of the commission who will deliberately refuse to use the smart card reader will be subject to prosecution.

    “The challenges of smart card readers have been resolved. But where they are not resolved before the closing of elections, the election will continue the next day.”

    He also explained that all the unused ballot papers will be cancelled immediately after election.”

     

  • Saturday Polls: Security agents uncover six flash points in Anambra

    Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, security agencies in Anambra said they had uncovered six major flash points in the state.

    Mr Rabiu Ladodo, Commissioner of Police in charge of security in the conduct of the general elections in Anambra, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Awka.

    Flanked by heads of other security agencies, Ladodo named the flash points as Ogidi, Obosi, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ajali and Ihiala.

    He said that identification of the black spots were made possible by the cooperation of security agencies with police.

    He, however, announced that adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure that the elections were peaceful in all communities in the state.

    The commissioner called on politicians, especially candidates vying for positions, to play by the rules.

    He also appealed to community leaders to advise their subjects against involvement in any act capable of affecting the exercise negatively.

    ”On our part as security agents, we will be professional in the discharge of our duties”, he said.

    Ladodo also called on the public to massively participate in the elections, adding that enough arrangements had been made by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to make the polls hitch-free.

    ”On my arrival in Awka Thursday, I went straight to Central Bank of Nigeria where the sensitive materials for the elections were distributed to all the local government areas.

    ”The brief I got from the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner showed that all the 21 local governments have received their materials, and with the support of security personnel we hope to have smooth elections,” he said.

  • Anambra Govt. deploys fire-fighting facilities to INEC office

    Anambra Government has directed a massive deployment of fire-fighting facilities to INEC headquarters, Awka, to forestall future fire incidents at the commission’s office.

    The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    This followed a fire incident at INEC office, Awka, on Tuesday, which destroyed 4,695 card readers stored in a container facility within the premises.

    Although, the state Police Command said it had commenced investigations into the cause of the fire, the state government expressed dismay that the incident occurred just four days to the 2019 general election.

    “Gov. Willie Obiano has yet to be briefed by the new Commissioner of Police in the state on the extent of damage and possible causes.

    “The governor has directed that security inside and around the INEC state headquarters as well as in and around INEC offices in the 21 local government areas of the state should be fortified immediately.

    “The state government is committed to ensuring that all the elections are held not only as scheduled but also in a free, credible and transparent manner.

    “The government notes with satisfaction the prompt and professional manner in which the state Fire Service mobilised to the scene; its swift response contained the fire,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Sen. Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has expressed concern at the development, describing it as “an act of sabotage”.

    In his reaction, Umeh said: “It is obvious that INEC cannot burn its own card readers; people, who have seen the campaigns and know that they have no chance in Saturday’s election are those to be held responsible.

    “They did it out of frustration because some of them had earlier boasted that they will crush their opponents but mid way, they got frustrated.

    “They have even gone to the level of campaign of calumny and character assassination,” Umeh said.

    While urging the police to investigate the matter, the senator expressed the hope that INEC would replace the damaged card readers before the election.

  • Fire guts smart card readers at INEC office in Anambra

    Fire, Awka, Feb. 12, 2019(NAN) Barely four days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, fire on Tuesday gutted two containers housing Smart Card Readers for the conduct of elections at INEC headquarters in Awka, Anambra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that men of Anambra Fire Service were still battling with the fire as at the time of filing this report.

    Combined personnel of the Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State
    Security (DSS) were on ground to ensure there was safety and orderliness around the vicinity.

    Confirming the fire, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, said he was yet to ascertain the extent of damage.

    Orji said the sensitive materials affected were smart card readers meant for the general elections.
    “I don’t have the details of how the fire started; all I know is that there was a fire incident involving the containers that house some of our sensitive materials.

    “We have to do an assessment before we can ascertain the extent of damage, we have been storing equipments in that facility since 2011,” he said.

    NAN reports that this incident is the second in the South East as INEC office in Isiala Ngwa, Abia was penultimate week gutted by fire by unidentified persons.

  • Anambra FRSC boss dies in auto crash

    Anambra FRSC boss dies in auto crash

    The Anambra State sector commander, Federal Road Safety Corps Mr Sunday Ajayi is dead.

    Ajayi was said to have died in an auto crash Saturday morning around Agbor, Delta State.

    According to sources, the Sector commander was on his way from Kwara state, where he attended a relation’s wedding.

    “He died on the highway leading to Agbor approaching Asaba the Delta state capital.

    A message from the Corps Whatsaap group in South East, said, “His driver, a senior marshal, Raji survived and is in the hospital but Sunday couldn’t make it. May his soul rest in peace.

    “Ajayi who participated in the FRSC football competition yesterday and handed over prizes was full of life before his untimely death.”

    The FRSC flag at the command headquarters in Awka, was seen lowered possibly as symbol of respect for his death.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ufiem Egim confirmed the report, but said the command was yet to come up with a formal report detailing the cause of his death.

    It would be recalled that Ajayi had noted that speed was responsible for more than 50% crashes on Nigeria roads.

    His words, “This is more noticeable during ‘Ember Months’ when there are higher commuter movements across the nation (before, during and after the end of year festivities).”