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Tag: Obiano

  • Obiano to endorse death sentence of guilty criminals

    Obiano to endorse death sentence of guilty criminals

    THE Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, on Thursday stated that any death sentence brought to his table would be endorsed.

    The governor said the decision was one of the measures approved by his government to deter crime and criminality in the state.

    Stating that since seven years of his reign in the state, he had not signed any death sentence, Obiano said the grace had ended because of the impunity and audacity displayed by hoodlums in the state in recent times.

    Obiano said this in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba.

    The statement read in part, “Due process has always been followed as an article of faith in the last seven years in Anambra State in accordance with the democratic tradition.

    “Anambra State has remained exemplary throughout the country in not just the practice of democracy, but also upholding the dignity of the human person and due process.

    “It will continue to uphold this excellent record in all circumstances, including in the determination to make it remain the safest and most peaceful state in Nigeria.”

    Refuting a news story credited to Obiano that nine suspects arrested for attacking a former governor of the Central Bank, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and killing his three police orderlies, would face the supreme price, Adinuba said, “The reports are not accurate. The governor said he would this time not mind signing the death warrant of each person found guilty of participating in the attack on Soludo.”

  • Anambra 2021: Obiano has right to promote a successor, APGA aspirant, Nwankpo admits

    Anambra 2021: Obiano has right to promote a successor, APGA aspirant, Nwankpo admits

    …says party cannot print only one Nomination form
    …insists he’s not going to borrow any loan when becomes the governor

    From Chuks Collins, Awka

    A key frontline aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the fast approaching Nov 6,2021 Governorship election in Anambra state, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo has shocked many including his party members when he acknowledged before journalists that Gov Willie Obiano has all the rights to support and promote any of the aspirants who he wishes as successor.

    Nwankpo who stated this during a media interaction with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at his Agu-Awka Campaign Headquarters.

    According to him, “…Gov Obiano has all the rights to promote a successor. So there’s nothing wrong in him trying to promote the cause of Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who is one of the aspirants. That is in order.

    He also admitted being “aware of some unconfirmed reports making the rounds that there was a commitment in that regards between the two long before now. And if I was in any of their shoes I would as a man of principle and honour done what they are doing.

    “But the matter is not entirely about the two. It’s about the party and it’s future, the APGA members, as well as the established electoral laws/guidelines that made provision for an open transparent party primary to elect the party’s flag bearer. Am in the race because, with due respect the issue is not entirely in the governor’s control.

    “Even his name, ‘Maduaburochukwu’, Nwankpo went on, says it all. It means that there was a deep history behind Gov Obiano’s birth which made his parents gave a name that reminds mankind that ‘no one is God’.
    As a man of honour and distinction, I sincerely urge our people not to push him into going out of his way to play God. Because am sure that he does not in any way confuse himself with God.

    “At the last count we have more than five other aspirants and I know that if the report making the round was anything to go bye, then no one would bother to waste his resources coming out at all. And that would have been the easiest and fastest way to destroy our party. I know no one would like to do that at all. We are anxiously awaiting an open, acceptable and transparent party primary. After all, our party is going to start sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms soon. They did not print only one form. We are really in a democracy and our governor is a product of democracy.”

    While fielding questions from the journalists, Nwankpo disclosed that as governor he was not going to borrow any foreign loan, “because history shows that such loans has never helped any developing economy. It’s on record that the United States of America became rich through internal savings, and China also never borrowed money from any foreign nation. I will create windows to raise money internally. No borrowing!”, he stated.

     

  • Soludo attack: Ex-Presidential aide commends, Obiano, Police for Rescuing Kidnapped Commissioner

    Soludo attack: Ex-Presidential aide commends, Obiano, Police for Rescuing Kidnapped Commissioner

    From Chuks Collins, Awka

    A Former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and frontline governorship aspirant in the coming November 6,2021 election in Anambra state, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo has commended the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the state police command for rising to the occasion in rescuing the Commissioner for Water Resources and Public Utilities Hon Engr Emeka Ezenwanne who was abducted last Wednesday when some unknown gunmen invaded the venue of Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s town hall meeting at Isuofia Civic Center in Aguata Council of the State.

    Nze Nwankpo in a message signed by his media Director, Dr. Harris Chuma-Odili, specially hailed Gov Obiano “….for his commitment to public security, and for working with the security agencies to rescue the victim.”

    He commended the Commissioner of Police and expressed happiness that the police rescued the victim unhurt and recording success in the study of facts to unravel the mystery behind the despicable act. He urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime do not go unpunished.

    He described the collaboration between the police and Anambra state government as a beautiful example of synergy for a peaceful and crime-free society and gave kudos to the governor for always providing requisite infrastructure and support to security agencies to render effective service to the people.

    Nze Nwankpo advised residents to be vigilant, give security agencies information on suspicious movements and characters so that the state will become uncomfortable for criminals.

    He joined Prof Soludo in thanking God for the release of his in law, Hon. Engr Emeka Ezenwanne unhurt. He once more commiserated with Soludo Campaign Organization for the unfortunate incident, and prayed for the repose of the three slained police officers at Isuofia Civic Center during the attack. “May the good Lord grant the families of the slained police officers the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

    Also, the governor had in a special thanksgiving service at his Aguleri countryhome to mark the Easter and celebrate the release of Ezenwanne described his release as a special gift to the citizens of the state.

    According to a report credited to the victim, he was not maltreated by his captors. He didn’t give further details.

    Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Isoufia community, the country home of Prof Soludo, Col Christopher Moughalu, has disclosed that the community would embark on a spiritual cleansing of their civic centre, following the killing of three policemen in the facility.

    The police officers were killed at the Civic Centre when gunmen stormed the venue while the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Prof Soludo, was having an interactive session with the youths of the community.

    Igwe Muoghalu, in a statement by the Palace Secretary, Chukwujekwu Orajiuka, condemned the killing of the policemen and the kidnap of the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Public Utilities, Emeka Ezenwanne

  • Obiano bans tinted glasses, reads riot act to criminals in Anambra

    Obiano bans tinted glasses, reads riot act to criminals in Anambra

    Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has read the riot act to criminals following the recent attacks on police and naval formations in the state.

    In a state broadcast on Sunday in Akwa, he noted that another incident was foiled by security operatives and the security agencies have been directed to resist such attacks going forward.

    According to the governor, any attack on security operatives in the state is an attack on the entirety of the people and it is time for all security agencies, the vigilante services, and all task forces to rise in the defence of the state.

    As part of efforts to check the recent trend of security challenges in the state, he declared that fitted tinted glasses on vehicles, as well as covered plate numbers, would no longer be allowed on all roads within Anambra.

    Governor Obiano stated that the security agencies would be conducting special and strategic operations aimed at neutralising the emerging threats to the collective safety of the people.

    He also ordered a clampdown on all cultists and their activities, saying the state government would no longer tolerate violence in the name of cultism.

    The governor appealed to the youths to shun cultism and embrace meaningful lifestyles, adding that the government would no longer tolerate touting in whatever guise, especially in Onitsha.

    He, therefore, directed the security agencies to arrest anybody hanging on the road with sticks and molesting innocent residents.

    Governor Obiano also briefed on the recent killing of a suspected cultist, as well as the kidnap and murder of the President-General of Omor Community in Ayamelum Local Govt Area of the state.

  • ‘Governor-do-nothing’: Buhari’s minister blasts Obiano for ‘having time’ to take, post pictures with pet dog

    ‘Governor-do-nothing’: Buhari’s minister blasts Obiano for ‘having time’ to take, post pictures with pet dog

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has come hard on his state governor, Willie Obiano for having the luxury of time to take and post pictures with his pet dog on the internet.

    The furious minister described the governor as an “epicurean and governor-do-nothing.”

    He said Obiano’s idleness was the primary reason he takes and posts ”anyhow pictures” on the internet.

    However, National Chairman of the ruling party in the state; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Oye dubbed Ngige a “jealous” minister and one of the ”green-eyed politicians” in the country.

    Ngige, at a meeting of APC stakeholders and members of the Registration and Revalidation Committee of the party in Anambra State at the weekend inferred to a picture on the internet in which Obiano posed with a dog. He told the stakeholders and committee members that no busy governor would have such leisure take such picture, except the likes of Obiano.

    The minister berated Obiano and APGA for what he called ”abysmal performance in the state” and vowed that “we will use our broom to sweep him and his party out of Government House.”

    Alleging that Obiano was about to bequeath the people of the state with a huge debt, Ngige boasted that ”we can’t take it anymore.”

    His words:”We want to drive away governor-do-nothing, who’s sitting down there. You can’t be a governor and just cross your legs and be playing music and say you’re a governor.

    ”No work is going on in this state. The people of the state are tired of APGA. We’re tired of bringing people who don’t know their left from right; people who just want to come and learn how to be a governor.

    ”He has only 12 months more to stay and for five months, he’ll be a lame dog governor after the election, from November to March . We have nothing to point at what he has done here, practically nothing.

    ”Yet, they’ve gotten all sorts of money. President Muhammadu Buhari, gave them bailout funds, yet they find it difficult to pay minimum wage and they got budget support yet medical workers, including doctors, went on strike here for nine months.

    ”What kind of government is this? Teachers are on strike, you can’t recruit new ones. We’re going to start this journey today.

    ”We’ll start it with the governor sitting here, governor-do-nothing. It’s only three flyovers he has achieved, and one airport with debt of N180 billion, Is that what you people want?

    “We’ll sweep them and their footprint out from Anambra soil so they can be forgotten. They’ve blocked our way enough.

    ”We have good men in APC. We’re going to give you men who know about infrastructure, not only roads. We’re going to give you a governor that will continue from where I stopped.

    ”APGA’s government has punished the people of the state and people of Igbo land because they’re a stumbling block from getting Anambra to join the national grid of power.

    ”Some of us have been fighting them, but this fight now is fight-to-finish. They have to clear and leave us to go and join the national grid and take the Igbo to mainstream national politics.”

    However, APGA National Chairman said Ngige was just jealous that Obiano had taken the state to an enviable height.

    He added: ”This is jealousy limited. What is wrong with a governor creating time out of his busy schedule to cool off after working hard to deliver democracy dividends to his people?

    ”Is it not said: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?” Let me ask: Which one is better: taking a photo with your pet dog or sleeping with people’s wives – which is the pastime of some of our loud-mouthed and green-eyed politicians?

    ”What about those that do terrible things kept out of the public glare. But Willie Obiano is real and altruistic.”

  • Obiano dethrones three traditional rulers

    Obiano dethrones three traditional rulers

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has withdrawn the certificates of appointment of three traditional rulers in the state and also reinstated five others.

    Chief Greg Obi, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs announced this on Friday in Awka.

    Obi in a statement dated Dec. 17 and entitled: “Update on Suspension of Igwes in Anambra’’ said the governor acted according to the powers vested on him by the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law, 2007.

    He gave the names of the traditional rulers who had their certificates withdrawn as, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfia Town, Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle and Igwe G. B. C. Mbakwe of Abacha.

    The governor announced the lifting of suspension on five traditional rulers including , Igwe Simon Chidibem of Umumbo, Igwe A. N. Onwuneme of Ikenga, Igwe Mark Anthony Okonkwo of Alor, Igwe Chukwuma Orji of Ezinifite and Igwe S.O. Obiora of Ezira.

    Obi said the withdrawal and reinstatement of the certificates were with immediate effect.

    According to the statement, the government is also reviewing the suspension slammed on Igwe Kelly Nkeli of Igbariam, Igwe Dr Emeka Iluno of Ifitedunu and Igwe Peter Uyanwa of Ukwulu.

    Obi said all the affected traditional rulers have one month to submit the certificates of recognition to the Secretary of the Local Government of their communities from the day of the announcement.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Anambra government on Aug. 11, 2020 suspended 12 traditional rulers for alleged gross misconduct.

    According to Obi who announced the suspension, during the sanction period, the suspended traditional rulers are required to stop holding court as traditional rulers and to desist from discharging traditional rulers’ functions in their communities or anywhere in the state and beyond.

    “This sanction may be lifted at the end of one year or renewed or upgraded in the intervening period depending on government’s review of your conduct.

    “By this sanction, membership of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council is hereby revoked, also, any appointment in other government committee is hereby rescinded,” he said.

  • #EndSARS: Gov. Obiano sacks aide as protesters ground vehicular movement in Awka

    #EndSARS: Gov. Obiano sacks aide as protesters ground vehicular movement in Awka

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra on Thursday relived his Senior Special Assistant on Security, CSP James Nwafor, of his appointment, promising to secure freedom for all illegally detained suspects under custody of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Obiano said this while addressing the mammoth crowd who thronged the Anambra Government House, Awka, as part of the anti-SARS protest going on in most states.

    Nwafor, a retired Police Officer, was a former Commander at the Awkuzu SARS office, and had come under a series of attacks over alleged high spate of extra judicial killing during his reign.

    He also announced that a special panel headed by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice had been set up to document human rights violations and abuses by the defunct SARS with a view to getting justice for victims and bringing closure to old injuries.

    He assured the people that he would personally visit all the facilities of the defunct SARS in the state and effect immediate release of suspects who are unlawfully held in the cells and commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully so far.

    Meanwhile, traffic on Enugu-Onitsha expressway was grounded by the team of anti-SARS protesters and other group of Nigerians who were clamouring for reopening the nations universities.

    The gridlock spans from Immigration junction through Aromma to around Regina Caeli which make up half of the stretch of the road through the capital.

    Smaller vehicles who knew the terrain tried to meander their way through the link roads with the town.

    Some motorists who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed frustration as a result of the setback the gridlock had on their journeys.

    James Nnaji, a truck driver, said he was heading to Lagos but had given up on the journey until the road became clear.

    Nnaji urged the Federal Government to address the demands of the protesters so that things would return to normal.

  • Visit to Buhari: All 12 suspended Anambra monarchs make U-Turn, beg Obiano for forgiveness

    Visit to Buhari: All 12 suspended Anambra monarchs make U-Turn, beg Obiano for forgiveness

    The 12 rulers suspended by Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano have begged him for forgiveness.

    They apologised at the Office of Speaker of the House of Assembly, Uche Okafor, when they visited him at the weekend.

    Obiano suspended the monarchs for visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja without permission.

    But the royal fathers urged Okafor to beg Obiano on their behalf.

    Traditional ruler of Ifetedunu Emeka Ilouno, who spoke for others, said they had no intention and have none to fight the governor.

    Ilouno, who described Obiano as God sent to Ndi Anambra, said the governor’s administration had turned the state around.

    He said Obiano had been and is still their close ally, alleging some people blew the matter out of proportion to score cheap points.

    The first monarch that was suspended was Peter Uyanwa of Ukwulu, Dunukofia council. The state said his suspension was based on petitions from his people.

    Uyanwa urged Obiano to remember his position as Papal Knight of St. Gregory the Great, and use the anointing bestowed on him by Pope Francis to forgive.

    Uche noted their visit showed they love the peace of the state. He described the move as a step in the right direction.

    He promised to bring the matter to Obiano, who he described as soft and kind hearted.

    Meanwhile, Oil magnate Prince Arthur Eze has said calls by Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, that the rulers be banished with him is inconsequential.

    Ngige, at the weekend, called on Obiano to not only suspend the 12 monarchs, but also banish them.

    The minister added that the ban should be extended to Eze, who led the delegation to Abuja, to deter others.

    But Eze condemned Ngige’s statement.

    A statement by his media aide, Okpala Okechukwu, reads: “It was improper for Ngige to call for the ban of royal fathers whose only offence was travelling to Abuja to praise President Muhammadu Buhari for the magnificent jobs he has done for the people in Southeast.

    “As a minister, Ngige should know that no section of the constitution empowers a governor to banish or trample on the fundamental human rights of any citizen. Any governor who attempts to heed Ngige’s call would be taking an action that is against the letters and spirit of the constitution.

    “Ngige’s call for the banishment of a man of Prince Eze’s status is most callous, derogatory and unbecoming of a minister.”

  • Ngige to Obiano: Banish 12 suspended monarchs from Anambra

    Ngige to Obiano: Banish 12 suspended monarchs from Anambra

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Imo, Prof Emeka Ezeonu, on Saturday led a protest against alleged imposition of the traditional ruler of Alor, Igwe MacAnthony Okonkwo.

    The Monarch of Alor is one of the traditional rulers recently suspended by Governor Willie Obiano for traveling to Abuja to visit President Muhammadu Buhari without permission.

    According to a report by The Nation, over 500 indigenes of Alor in Idemili South Local government area took to the streets with placards bearing different inscriptions against alleged imposition of monarch and Caretaker Committee in the community by the State government.

    Some of the placards read: ‘Alor rejects the imposition of caretaker, please, Governor Obiano look into this matter’; ‘this imposition has been on for eight years’ and ‘we dissociate our community from the monarch who traveled to Abuja without permission from our government” among others.

    Ngige, a former Governor, who hails from the community, called Obiano to suspend the 12 traditional rulers and banish them from their different communities for desecrating the culture and traditions of their lands.

    He said the banishment should be extended to the person who led them to the Abuja trip

    Ngige alleged the traditional ruler was imposed by former Governor Peter Obi to punish his community and local government for voting against their allied forces in the 2011 senatorial election when he contested on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    He said: “He decided to punish the towns thereby starving them of any projects and destabilise their town unions starting from Alor where he dissolved the executives with a caretaker hostile to Ngige and imposed the monarch on the community as against the Constitution of the people ”

    “When someone is suspended from performing functions of an office, he should be barred from even being in that vicinity.

    “So, I advise Anambra State Government to relocate these 12 traditional rulers from their Communities to avoid a situation likely to cause a breach of public peace.”

    The Minister further alleged the Monarch of Alor was never enthroned but imposed on the people as a vendetta by the Obi administration for using what it called small Yoruba party ACN to defeat them.

    The President General PG of Alor, Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, said the community would continue to support Governor Obiano’s administration, adding that Alor would never work against the State Government.

    According to him: “We plead with the State Government to dissolve and disband the said caretaker Committee of Alor People’s Convention for working against the interest of Alor people and government of the State because their continued existence is an impediment to the peace and progress of Alor Community.”

    Imo REC, Prof Emeka Ezeonu said the community would not rest until the State Government do the needful by banishing the monarch and dissolving the Caretaker Committee.

    But the traditional ruler, Igwe MacAnthony Okonkwo, denied the allegation he was imposed by former Governor Obi.

    He insisted he was the monarch of Alor.

    After his one-year suspension by Obiano for allegedly going to Abuja without authorisation, he openly apologised for violating certain rules guiding the operation of monarchs in the state.

  • Leave traditional rulers alone – PDP warns Obiano

    Leave traditional rulers alone – PDP warns Obiano

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has charged Gov. Willie Obiano to leave traditional rulers and Presidents-General of communities out of partisan politics in the state.

    Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu, the state’s Chairman gave the charge at a news briefing on Wednesday in Awka.

    Nwobu said that the crisis between the state government and some royal fathers could not have arisen if the governor did not involve them to endorse zoning for the governorship.

    “It is not the duty of traditional rulers in any way whatsoever to delve into the zoning of the governorship neither is it the responsibility of Presidents-General.

    “It is strictly the prerogative and responsibility of political parties. In as much as the royal fathers have rights to air their views, such views should be personal,” the PDP chairman said.

    He also said that PDP had yet to deliberate on the issue of zoning in the state.

    According to him, the Board of Trustees, state and National Assembly members, the Vice Presidential candidate in the last general elections, Mr Peter Obi, the PDP candidate in the last governorship election in the state will be consulted for such deliberation.

    “We are not worried about the clamour from some people for zoning in the state. Our party will discuss the issue at the appropriate time.

    “We should, however, know that the Constitution allows any qualified person to stand for elective positions,” Nwobu further said.

    He assured Anambra residents that PDP was determined to ensure internal democracy as well as free, fair and credible party primary ahead of the 2021 governorship poll in the state.

    He said that the party had activated its grassroots mobilisation for the primary election.

    “The aspirants already know who the delegates are unlike in the past when the list of delegates would not be known until a day before the election,” he said.

    He frowned at the failure of the APGA-led government to conduct local government election in the state.
    He argued that the development raised serious questions regarding how council funds were controlled.

    “Check all the PDP-controlled states, they have conducted local government elections timeously. Anambra will not be different, if we make it to the Government House in 2021,” Nwobu stated.

    He commended the national leadership of the party for its role in resolving the leadership crisis in the state.

    He appealed to the aggrieved members to sheath their swords and join hands with his executive to move the party forward.