TheNewsGuru

Tag: south east

  • 2019: South East chieftains endorse Buhari

    Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to run in the 2019 presidential elections, over 200 South east traditional rulers from Imo state, on Wednesday endorsed Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.

    The South east monarchs reached the resolution in a meeting, which took place at Okigwe Local Government Area in the state which was contained in a communique read by His Royal Majesty, Eze Oliver Ohanwe.

    Vanguard reports that one of their reasons for supporting Buhari is on the condition that the president support the Igbos to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023.

    The communique read: “We thank the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for his selfless and dedicated service to the nation, his commitment to ensure common good for all and his unwavering drive for the peace, unity and progress of the country. “We are completely convinced that the policies and templates of development already laid down by the president in the last three years was based on critical thinking, careful and strategic planning and would catalyse rapid national development in his second term.

    “The president was essentially elected on the firm promise to tackle corruption and security. “This administration has given a lot of fillip to these noble agenda. With the president’s grit and strategic support to the relevant institutions, corruption in our national life has practically reduced by more than 75 per cent.

     

    “He has justified the huge magnitude of the mandate freely given to him in 2015 which cut across ethnic, religious and even partisan lines, having a clear message which is no escape from change and has restored the dignity of our country. “Buhari has put the economy on the part of sustainable growth, revitalized our ailing institutions and strengthened resolve and determination to ensure that change has really come.”

    “We the entire members of the Council of Ndi Eze, with our citizens, alongside the overwhelming majority of Nigerians completely align ourselves with the President’s patriotic response to the various calls to seek re-election in 2019. “We assure Mr. of our unalloyed support. We stand with him. That finally, we urge Mr. President to use his good will and reach to support the South east region to produce the next President of Nigeria after completing his second tenure in 2023.”

     

    Tragic! South African mob burns another Nigerian alive

  • APC vows to take over South-East in 2019

    The All Progressives Congress (APC),says the party will take over the three states in the South-East zone controlled by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections.

    It said as a result of the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari since assumption of office, especially the key projects he was executing in the South-East, the job of convincing the people of the area had been made easier.

    The states are Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu.

    Party chieftains spoke on Saturday in Abakaliki, at a ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of APC Youth League (APCYL)

    National President of APCYL, Mr Solomon Faeren, who spoke, said that the party would fulfilled its mission of winning the entire zone in 2019 to enable it consolidate on its programmes for the region.

    Also speaking, an APC chieftain in Ebonyi, Mr Christian Chukwu, said that the party was determined to dislodge the PDP in the region.

    Chukwu who delivered a keynote lecture titled: “The Role of Nigerian Youths in Nation Building,” urged youths to get involved in partisan politics.

    He said that this would enable them to develop and build leadership capacity.

    Chukwu noted that the future of the country belonged to the youths hence the need to strive to participate in the political process.

    “Youths are agents of progressive change and the future of any country belongs to the youths.

    “The greatness of any nation is directly tied to the vibrancy and resilience of its youths, hence the need to develop and build your capacity to take up leadership roles, ” Chukwu said.

    He alleged that the ruling party was intimidating and harassing APC members, but stressed that no amount of intimidation could deter them from achieving their mission.

    “Our members were being harassed and intimidated but they have not succumbed. The youths of Ebonyi are not going to succumb.

    “When you watch the way they are not succumbing, it is a clear sign that they want to take what belongs to them,” he added.

    APCYL Ebonyi Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Nweke, said that the league was committed to promoting good governance by mobilising youths to participate in the political process.

    He said that the organisation which has been in existence for five years had engaged youths in active participation in partisan political activities.

    “Our business and concern is to champion, project and promote collective interest of our party, we are not inclined to promoting any particular interest of individual members.

    “All we ask is that every party member should come together as one and form a formidable force to defeat the ruling PDP in the state.

    “The more united we are, the better and easier for us to bring the desired progressive change we clamour for in the state, ” Nweke said.

    The South-East Coordinator of APCYL, Mr Okenwa Uka, said that youths were ready and determined to bring positive change in the political leadership of the country.

    He said that PDP led government in Ebonyi has failed to provide needed political leadership that would lift the people from poverty and under-development.

    “The youths are driving the progressive change being clamoured for in the state, and we are only asking our elders and leaders to support us to achieve our mission.

    “We are committed to positive leadership transformation to redeem the lost glory of our state and we are unstoppable in this resolve,” Uka said.

    Chief Austine Edeze, APC Board of Trustees member, Chief Christopher Omo-Isu, former House of Representatives member, in their separate speeches, charged APCYL to mobilise youths to register in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.

    The high point of the event was the presentation of awards of excellence to deserving members of the party.

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; former Governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi; Nigeria’s ambassador to Peru, Chile, and Paraguay, Chief Jonah Mkpuruka, and 22 others received the awards.

     

  • Governors to connect South East states with 430km ring road

    The South East Governors have undertaken to construct a ring road that will cover a total area of four hundred and thirty kilometers.

    Addressing journalists at the end of one day meeting of the Governors in Enugu, chairman of the forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, said the ring road would connect all the states of the South East with a view to promoting economic development of the south easts states and for ease of transportation system in the region.

    Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his counterpart in Ebonyi and Abia States, Dave Umahi and Okezie Ikpeazu were present at the meeting while Imo State Governor, Rocha’s Okorocha was represented by his deputy Prince Eze Madumere.

    Umahia further hinted that they took presentation for gas Pipelines in the South East and advised the consultants to follow up details of implementation especially as it relates to right of way.

    The Ebonyi State governor further told newsmen that the meeting which lasted for several hours commended presentation on Aba Independent Power Project by Prof. Bart Nnaji and asked him to liaise with the Secretariat for further implementation with the presidency.

    According to him, the forum directed the five South East States Chairmen of traditional Rulers Council to be invited for amicable resolution of their crisis in their next meeting .

    On the burial of the former Vice President of the country, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Umahi said they expressed deep appreciation to the governors and people of the South East for the able way they worked together to give the icon a befitting burial.

    “ the south East Governors Forum at its meeting discussed extensively on possible strategies to economic development of the south East and at the end of the meeting resolved as follows

    “: to undertake the construction of ring road covering a total area of 430kms, that would connect all the states of the south east , to promote economic development of the south east States and for ease of transportation system in the region” he said.

     

  • 2019: APC appoints Okorocha South-East leader of Buhari’s re-election campaign

    The Southeast leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress has endorsed Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State as the leader of the Southeast Zonal Campaign Council of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.

    They also agreed to work together for both the success of Buhari and party in other elections in the zone.

    This was the outcome of the party’s meeting on Sunday night at the Abuja Lodge of the Imo State Governor.

    In a release signed by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo on Monday, the APC Southeastern leaders agreed to set up Buhari’s campaign organisation in the zone, with Okorocha as the leader, while similar structures would be set up in the other four southeastern states.

    The release partly read, “The Southeast APC leaders have resolved that they would not allow the fate that had befallen APC in the zone in 2015 to repeat itself in 2019.”

    The meeting, which was said to have lasted for hours, ended on a convivial note.

  • Buhari meets South East APC leaders in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from South East at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started at 12:40 p.m. when the President arrived the Council Chamber venue of the meeting.

    The 100-member delegation was led by the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu.

    Others were – former Governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, former Minister of Labour, Emeka Nwogu, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Senator Chris Adigije and Senator Mark Wabara.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • South east governors to meet on PDP chairmanship candidate: Umahi

    South East governors belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party will meet soon to decide on a consensus candidate for the chairmanship of their party.

    Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state disclosed the planned meeting, but he did not indicate the date it would take place.

    He spoke in Abakaliki on Tuesday, during the vote-seeking visit of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, one of the candidates for the chairmanship post.

    The PDP will hold its convention on 9 December in Port Harcourt, and also fill party vacancies.

    Dokpesi who called upon Ebonyi people to support him, gave an assurance that as the chairman of the party, he would sustain the legacy of the party’s founding fathers and that of Governor David Umahi.

    He addressed the party’s 41st State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, held at the secretariat of the party in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    Dokpesi acknowledged PDP’s dominance in the state and endorsed Governor Umahi for a second term, to enable him complete his projects.

    “Based on our confidence, our faith is in the hands of God and the delegates,”Dokpesi said.

    Umahi who introduced Dokpesi to the meeting said he is qualified to be the party’s national chairman. But he gave no further commitment.

    “In the past we have voted blindly but now our eyes are open to seek negotiation with everyone aspiring, so as to agree on what he will do for us. What ever the zone comes up with, we will let you know”, Umahi said.

    “The commitment and zeal of the aspirant who is going round 36 States of the federation to ask for vote is highly commendable. I am one of the apostles who will not give power to anyone that is not prepared, “Umahi added.

  • Army ends operation ‘Python Dance II’ in South East

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has officially ended operation Egwu Eke II, (translated as python dance II) which took place at 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Area of Responsibility and Cross River.

    Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, said this in a statement issued in Enugu on Monday.

    Musa said that Buratai, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, declared the end of exercise at a ceremony in Sector 1 Tactical Headquarters at Umuahia, Abia at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 14.

    He said that the exercise was ended with the traditional activation of campfire to formally signify the successful completion of the operation.

    “The COAS, through Gen. Abubakar, commended all the officers, soldiers and personnel of para-military organisations that collaborated and synergised, worked tirelessly and commendably throughout the one month period for the exercise.

    “He remarked further that the achievements recorded during the exercise in the areas of attainment of the mission specific training objectives, improvement in peace and security, curtailing the menace of violent irredentist groups in the theatre of the exercise (South Eastern part of Nigeria) is remarkable.

    “On the part of the government and good people of Abia State, the representative of the Governor of Abia State, Eng. Emmanuel Nwabuko, expressed appreciation of the government and people of the state for the numerous achievements of exercise Egwu Eke II in terms of improvement of peace, security and stability of the state.”

    He said that the government gave assurance that it will always leverage on the existing relationship between its people and the Nigerian Army whenever the need arises.

    Musa said that top commanders of formations and units within the division and representatives of Army Headquarters and Defence Headquarters attended the closing ceremony.

     

    NAN

  • NNPC board appointments: Agbakoba sues FG for allegedly sidelining Southeast

    NNPC board appointments: Agbakoba sues FG for allegedly sidelining Southeast

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has sued the Federal Government over alleged violation of the Federal Character principle in the composition of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) board.

    He said none of the persons appointed to fill the nine positions is from the states that make up the Southeast geopolitical zone.

    According to Agbakoba, more than one person was appointed from other geo-political zones in violation of the Constitution.

    Members of the board include Dr Tajuddeen Umar (Northeast), Dr. MaikantiBaru (Northeast), Mr. Abba Kyari (Northeast), Mr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse (North Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal and Mallam Yusuf Lawal (both Northerners).

    Others are Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (South-South), Dr. Thomas M.A John (South-South), and Dr. Pius Akinyelure (South-West).

    “The reason for the action (lawsuit) is that the Federal Government has always discriminated against Nigerians indigenous to the states in the Southeast zone in the appointments into the board of the second respondent (NNPC).

    “The Federal Government, by the lopsided appointment, accords numerical advantage to states in other geo-political zones to the detriment of the applicant’s Southeast geopolitical zone that is totally excluded from the board of the second respondent,” he said.

    According to him, Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to freedom from discrimination.

    Agbakoba said the Constitution also “prohibits any administrative or executive action of the government or application of any law in force in Nigeria discriminating between Nigerians or accords any privilege or disability to any Nigerian, on account of ethnicity, state of origin, etc.”

    Attorney-General of the Federation, NNPC and the Federal Character Commission are the respondents in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Agbakoba is seeking a declaration that the distribution of appointment into the NNPC’s Board made on July 5 last year violates the principle of democracy, social justice and Federal Character prescribed by Section 14(1) and (13) of the 1999 Constitution.

    He is praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government from further violation of the Constitution and other laws including the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act in appointment of NNPC board members.

    He further asked for an order of perpetual injunction directing the Federal Government to henceforth apply the constitutional principles of democracy, social justice and all laws relating to Federal Character, including the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act in appointing NNPC board members.

     

  • Biafra: We are committed to a united Nigeria – South-South, South-East Governors

    Governors from the South-east and South-south Zones on Monday rejected calls for the breakup of the country while rallying support for its continued existence as an indivisible entity.

    The governors made their position known in a communiqué issued at the end of an extensive meeting of the South-east/South-south Governors Forum in Owerri.

    They reiterated that a divided nation would not be acceptable to the people of the two zones and re-echoed the need for the country to remain united.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that eight governors and one deputy governor attended the meeting.

    The communiqué was signed by Chairman of the forum and Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel.

    The forum commended the role played by stakeholders and patriots in instituting broad-based negotiations between the North and the South-east, saying this led to the setting aside of a quit notice issued to the Igbo by some groups.

    It, however, expressed worry over what it considered lack of significant federal presence in the region and called for more attention to be paid to the infrastructural needs of the affected states.

    The forum also resolved that the regions would unite in a way that would be beneficial to the political future of the people of the regions.

    It said that the bond between the South-east and South-south zones was much more than political party considerations.

    The forum also commended the efforts of security agencies in the regions, saying these had brought peace and stability.

    It commended the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for organising security summit in different zones and expressed optimism that the outcome would lead to better policing in the country.

    Governors who attended the meeting apart from Emmanuel were Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).

    Others were Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ben Ayade (Cross River) while Anambra was represented by its deputy governor, Nkem Okeke.

     

  • 2019: South East PDP endorses zoning of presidency to North

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East has endorsed the party’s decision to zone the presidential ticket to the North and the position of national chairman to the Southern part of the country.

    Rising from a meeting of the Zonal Executive Committee of the party held in Enugu, the South East PDP reiterated its commitment to national unity and reaffirmed the party’s earlier agreement on the zoning of positions for the forthcoming National Convention.

    Presenting a communiqué at the end of the meeting which was attended by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; his Abia counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and other members of the National Assembly from the zone; the Secretary of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Ben Obi; Speakers of the State House of Assemblies and other principal officers of the party.

    The PDP Vice Chairman, South East, Chief Austin Umahi, said the zonal leadership of the party would support its candidate in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, Mr. Oseloka Obaze and his running mate, Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe.