Category Archives: Politics

International, Politics

Joe Biden’s Inauguration: Foremost Activist asks Osinbajo to emulate Mike Pence

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A Human Right Activist, Patriot Patrick Eholor has asked the Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo to emulate his outgoing United States of American counterpart, Mr Mike Pence who stood on the path of truth when he was ordered by his Boss, Mr Donald Trump to upturn the results of the Presidential Elections.

Patriot Patrick Eholor who is Global President, One Love Foundation, spoke in Benin City against the recent statements credited to Professor Yemisi Osinbajo to the Presidential effect that the Presidency will soon be empowering over twenty million People.

The Human Right Activist observed that whereas the Nigerian Vice President blindly agrees with the President Mohammed Buhari even on enforcement of unpopular Policies which bothers directly on the welfare of the populace, the outgoing American Vice President, Mr Mike Pence identified with the constituents when he was challenged to protect the common interest of the people.

He said it was very unfortunate that in Nigeria, the Vice President who is an ordained clergy man has not exhibited an iota of a trait befitting of the pulpit , which he observed has become a common character amongst many pastors nowadays.

Patriot Patrick Eholor who single handedly mobilized advocacy which few years ago compelled the Federal Ministry of Works to rehabilitate Federal Roads in the South South Region asked the Federal Government to invest massively in Agriculture, Manufacturing, Health, Energy, Transportation and Technology sectors rather than paying meagre allowances to youths across the country.

The Activist observed that Nigerians in Diaspora have remained the best professionals in their different endeavours winning awards and breaking new grounds in researches and administrative acumen.

He said President Joe Biden was sent by the “almighty God to erase abnormalities instituted by the outgoing administration of Mr Donald Trump and give hope to those traumatized by his racist policies “.

International, News, Politics

Eholor Condemns Siege On Bobi Wine’s Home; Urges AU To Intervene

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Chairman of One Love Foundation, a frontline human rights group, Chief Patrick Eholor has condemned in strong terms the ongoing police and military siege on the house of Ugandan opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), ostensibly to arrest him and keep him out of circulation for President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni to continue to perpetrate his dictatorial and anti democratic tendencies.

Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor, Democracy Observer General of Nigeria and Global President of One Love Foundation stated this in a statement in Abuja, describing the invasion as a part of President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni administration’s latest strategy to forcefully incarcerate vocal members of the opposition in order to pave way for his backward agenda for Uganda and Africa.

He noted that having seen defeat staring at him before the global community for trying to forcefully impose himself on Ugandans, he is now in a panic and desperate mode to cling to power at all cost.

He insisted that resorting to illegal arrest and incarceration of major opposition figures in the country is a terror tactic already activated by the dictator’s administration to drive opposition underground.

According to him, the invasion of Bobi Wine’s house and the disconnection of his public utilities – power and water – including denying access to food stuffs amounts to visiting terror on an innocent opposition leader by a state funded security organization.

“This is condemnable and unacceptable in a democracy.”
Eholor said: “President Museveni is a dictator who has refused to learn from past dictators. The AU must urgently caution him to stop disgracing Africa and the tenets of democracy.”

“We must all condemn this terrorist act being visited on a Ugandan opposition leader. Today it is Uganda. Tomorrow it might be Ghana or South Africa. AU must urgently intervene by cautioning President Museveni to withdraw his men from the house of Bobi Wine. Africa cannot continue to be backward all the time.” He stated.

Interviews, National, News, Politics

PDP woos Okorocha as ex-gov lampoons APC, plans party

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The Senator representing Imo West and former governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, on Monday took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress, saying the party was hurriedly and was hurriedly formed to hijack power from the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.

Okorocha, in an interview with journalists in Abuja, said he and other progressive-minded politicians were perfecting a plan to form a new political movement.

But the PDP appealed to the former governor to return to the opposition party instead of making the mistake he made in 2014.

According to Okorocha, from the body language of the Nigerians, it is obvious that they are not satisfied with what is on ground in Nigeria.
The Senator who is a founding member of the APC, last week inaugurated a project of the Rivers State Government on the invitation of the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.

At the event, he called on the good people in the APC and the PDP to come together and rescue Nigeria in 2023.

On Monday he said there was urgent need for the regrouping of the ‘good politicians’ to restore public confidence in governance and save the country.

“The movement for a new Nigeria has begun and we must come together, I mean progressive Nigerians to make the country work”, Okorocha said.

Asked if the promise of the new political movement for a new Nigeria would not be similar to that of the APC in 2015, he stated that the APC was hurriedly formed to take power the PDP without much emphasis on the character of those championing the course.

The ex-governor said, “The APC was a hurried arrangement. It was hurriedly formed to take power when the then government was drifting. The APC would have been better until people who were not members of the party; people who came for congratulatory messages, hijacked the party and became lords.”

In its reaction, the PDP it was not in the least worried by the plan by Okorocha and a few of his friends to form a new political party.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, in Abuja, on Monday, explained that the PDP was glad that more Nigerians especially people like the former Imo State governor had seen the deceit the APC represented.
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Ologbondiyan said, “Our advice to people like Okorocha is for him to avoid making the same mistake twice, any party hurriedly put together like the APC because elections are bound to fall into the same errors.

“He should rather come over to the PDP, a very structured party with a pedigree of performance. We’ve made a few mistakes in the past and we’ve learnt from them. Nigerians now know the difference between a properly structured political party which has their interest at heart and an association of angry men who only came together to grab power for power sake.”

When contacted, the National Secretary of the Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC, Senator John AkpanUdoedeghe, declined comments on Okorocha’s pronouncement on plans to float a new party.

He said, “The Senator is a respected member of our great party, I have no comments.”
However, a high-ranking member of the party who is conversant with the thinking within the party leadership said the party did not entertain any fears.

The source said, “Politics is a game of numbers just as it is a game of interests. So, if people want to come together and go through the process of birthing a new platform can anyone seriously stop them.”

News, Politics, South East

APC, APGA lose 3000 members to PDP as mass defection hit parties in Abia

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More than 3, 000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State have decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Making this known in his address during a well attended PDP stakeholders meeting held at Okpara Auditorium, Government House, Umuahia, under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chairman of the PDP in Abia, Rt Hon Asiforo Okere while giving account of the recent tour of Abia LGAs embarked upon by the party leadership in the state said, “we rebuilt the confidence of our members and strengthened their tiers of unity. The hallmark of that was our harvest of not less than 2,000 opposition members particularly of APC and APGA stock across the state.

“In addition, new members numbering over 3,000 came up at different LGAs across the state and declared openly for the party.”

In his remarks, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who congratulated members of the party on the successful recent local government elections in the state, assured them that his administration will not allow itself to be distracted by the opposition who, according to him, are bent on attempting to lure him into joining issues with them politically and abandon the ongoing rapid development of the state.

He briefed party members on ongoing projects of his administration assuring that he intends to complete all projects started by his administration before 2023. “Abia is a PDP state and the other party has nothing to offer our people now or in future, hence, their resort to propaganda of defection”, he said.

Continuing, Governor Ikpeazu said, “our people know that they are better off with PDP and will never agree to return to the dark days represented by those now masquerading as APC leaders. We know their pedigree and footprints in this state and when it is time I will challenge them to come forward and show the people of the state what they have done for them both in the past and present”.

Also speaking, Senators T. A. Orji and Enyinnaya Abaribe called for unity of purpose among party members to ensure that the party consolidates in the state and expressed appreciation to Governor Ikpeazu for his focused efforts to deliver quality infrastructure to the people of the state.

The National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Colonel Austin Akobundu, announced that the party was set to embark on fresh membership registration drive in the country and called on members to treat all new members as equal members.

Others at the well attended meeting include the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, current and former PDP members of the National Assembly. Speaker of Abia State House of assembly, Engr Chinedum Orji, and members of the state House of Assembly, members of the state Executive Council, Local Government Chairmen, party leaders and stakeholders from all the LGAs, including Chief Emma Nwaka, Chief Tony Ukasanya, Prof Greg Ibe, among others.

Interviews, National, News, Politics

Here are some of those working against corruption fight in Nigeria – Activist Eholor

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Frontline civil rights defender and philanthropist, Chief Patrick Eholor has taken government officials and parastatals in President Mhammadu Buhari’s government to the cleaners.

Eholor believes there are many elements in the government that are too neck-deep in corruption that they would never let the fight against it succeed.

In this interview, he mentions names and explains why he does not see any ray of hope, with such elements serving in the government.

Excerpts.

Minister Chibuike Amaechi:

Chibuike Amaechi is one of the problems of this country. As a Minister, he has done nothing else but to follow the north sheepishly.

Do you remember when he was a governor? Amaechi started the worst elephant project ever in Nigeria, by jumping into monorail construction. He claimed he wanted to connect it across Port Harcourt, but after a few kilometers, the project was abandoned, permanently, and is today, a monumental waste in the city. That monorail project cost the Rivers State Government a whopping N33.9 billion. As a matter of fact, the technical partners handling the project then, Arcus Gibbs Nigeria Limited described the project as a hoax!

Amaechi is a white elephant project man. At the moment, he is very busy connecting roads, and two roads from Jigawa and Sokoto to Niger Republic. While the railways will gulp a whopping $1.96billion, the roads will consume N30 billion.

Sadly, the old rail roads that connected his homestead of Rivers and the rest of the country are abandoned, and there is no plan on ground to start the projects.

While at it, Amaechi is busy, warming up to become a president!

The Inspector General of Police

The Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Adamu is supposed to be the watchdog for good behavior among Nigerians, but the police force has continued to be an organization lacking in morals and ethics, and swimming in corruption.

Every year, the IG would announce that road blocks have been cleared on our roads, but that statement is always in theory. As a matter of fact, the road blocks usually increase in size of police officers, and they have ended up making the road blocks cash cows. There, senior officers compel the junior ones to make daily returns for them, and thereby exploit transporters. The IG is very much aware of this, but chooses to pretend he does not.

The same ritual is repeated every year, about police attaches to VIPs. The IGP would order the withdrawal of officers attached to VIPs across the country, but fail to do anything to implement the order. This way they have reduced respectable officers to bag carriers and mere drivers to rich men and their wives.

The police is paid over N300,000 per personnel by the VIPs, and only a little fraction of this money gets to the officers themselves. You can see why they refuse to withdraw them in truth. They are fantastically corrupt, and are making money from the VIPs!

State Governors, FG, Covid 19

The government has turned the fight against Covid 19 into a mere jaw exercise. First, NCDC and the FG started by bandying figures that didn’t really exist, and when they got funds to cater for citizens who were locked down in their homes, the funds were hoarded by governors and states, palliative measures were hijacked, and items meant to be shared were hidden away from the people, even perishables. It took the End SARS protests to expose this shameless act by our governments.

In Lagos, they are busy arresting poor people who cannot afford to defend themselves claiming that they are fighting Covid 19, yet they pretend they don’t know about the parties and feasts being hosted by their fellow moneybags.

It is at these parties that the London, and American, and other foreign returnees have been using to spread the disease, and this has led to the recent spike.

Despite the fact that he United Kingdom has cried out over the new dangerous strain of the disease, Nigeria has refused to close its borders from Europe and other such vulnerable countries. The result is that our people get exposed to Covid 19 infections.

All that the Federal Government and States are interested in is the Covid 19 funds. No one is genuinely interested in fighting the disease. Or ensuring that Nigerians are well cared for, medically and otherwise.

I can tell you that Nigeria is not yet serious about the fight against Covid 19. They are treating the pandemic with kid gloves, and it will be suicidal if this unseriouness and love for money overwhelms us and lands this country in a mess where it becomes impossible to deal with the pandemic.

Godswill Akpabio

Senator Godswill Akpabio has no business being a minister, with the level of corruption cases against him. At first in 2015, a whopping N108 billion corruption case was brought against him by the EFCC.

A few years after down the line, Senator Akpabio in his capacity as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, along with the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Mr Daniel has been accused of embezzling N40 billion.

This man was brought to testify at the Nigerian Senate and he could not defend himself. This is the man that heads the ministry, and says he has come to clear up the Ministry.

How can a man stinking of so much corruption be able to fight it, and clean up the Ministry?

Festus Keyamo

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo said N46 billion had been budgeted to provide certain jobs for 774 Local Government Areas across the country.

In their projection, they are to pay each of the beneficiaries who is either a graduate and Masters Degree holder N20,000, when the government realised that the minimum wage is N30, 000.

Literally, they will be giving a graduate N60,000 within three months, which is less than $200. The disbursement of such money to the graduates will not address the issue of unemployment in the country.

The best option was for the Federal Government is to use that money to establish industries across the geo-political zones to absorb the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

The Minister also kicked off this so-called empowerment programme with wheelbarrows and cutlasses for the youths, most of who are graduates. How can you give cutlass and wheelbarrow to graduates? When they have openings at the NNPC, FIRS, CBN, Nigerian Customs, Immigration, NIMASA, NLNG, and so on, then give it to their own children.

The children of the common Nigerian is only good for wheelbarrows and cutlasses. They spent N46 billion to acquire those things. Tell me how we intend to end corruption in this country.

ASUU and Covid 19

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has began to play the kind of dirty politics that the Nigerian Labour is used to. After keeping our youths at home for one whole year, and then having reached an agreement with the Federal Government, they are now saying that they cannot go back to the classrooms to teach.

Apparently, they want to begin to demand for more money to return to school.

ASUU, in as much as he had a genuine cause to go on strike initially, must avoid the temptation of keeping our youths at home again.

News, Politics, South East

2023: Ebonyi Indigenes in Diaspora kick against zoning

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As 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi state gathers momentum, some indigenes of the state under the platform of Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) have said that competence and credibility will determine who emerge the next governor and not zoning.

The association implored Ebonyi people to continue to study the records in and out of office of any contender and place same side-by-side with the prevailing challenges facing the state and seek out for only those who can reverse the negative indices.

In a statement signed and released to newsmen on Sunday by its President, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, urged the people to ignore “paid political permutators, jobbers and hatchets men mislead, misdirect or misinform Ebonyi people as they battle to choose a credible and competent leader who would take-over the baton as Governor David Nweze Umahi’s successor.”

The association was reacting to an opinion piece by one Sunday Okwerike- one of the Izhi youngsters on social media who lamented that the rest of Ebonyians should probably leave the battle of Umahi’s successor in 2023 to only his Izhi clan.

But while responding to the development, the AESID said Ebonyi people will also not support to be elected into the office of Governor in 2023, any leader or persons who have records of having been used particularly by the Umahi administration to dispense mindless violence on Ebonyians with many of such leading to deaths of the young and elderly.

“First, AESID wishes to assert that the number one criteria which we implore every Ebonyian and lover our dear State to seek out in any intending aspirant or candidate is COMPETENCE and CREDIBILITY which would ultimately translate into such a leader’s capacity to reverse the numerous growing negative statistics and economic woes that the current government of Umahi has brought upon our dear State.

“Apart from the incontrovertible fact that there has never been a time when the rest of the zones in the State allowed only aspirants and candidates from a particular part of the State to seek the Governorship office in keeping with the so-called unwritten charter of equity, power as such pundits and analysts should be made to know only comes from above and it is never given but taken.

“Much more than the zone of an aspirant, AESID would, we reiterate implore Ebonyi people to continue to study the records in and out of office of any contender and place same side-by-side with the prevailing challenges facing the young State and seek out for only those who can reverse the negative indices.

“We, as a group has variously raised the alarm over the rising poverty in the State which has placed us in a woeful third position among the 36 States of the federation and whoever wish to succeed Umahi must not only be worried about this ugly trend but have the feasible prognosis to proffer credible solutions to them.”

According to Oluchukwu, the government of Engr. Umahi has remained a family business with capital flights being the order of the day.

“Governor Umahi boasts that he knows even the costs of production and supply of ordinary nails, all because he is the sole supplier all to and by himself and his family. This is why the government has placed higher premium on concrete roads, flyovers and decorative water fountains cum lights over and above the economic survival of a greater number of Ebonyians. Come 2023, Ebonyi people should choose, follow, support and elect a leader who would run an all-inclusive government that would see humans as humans and not as machines.

“It is our firm believe that the economic prosperity of Ebonyi people is more important than the antiquated zoning of political positions that would not afford us to put our best foot forward as Umahi’s successor in 2023. More so, our people will not elect any leader who has shown manifest greed and looting of previously or presently occupied public office, neither would we encourage them to support anyone hanging on the shoulders of any leader who has vaults in his massive country-home wherein he’s been saving looted public funds.”

Opinions, Politics, South East

BALANCING THE POWER EQUATION IN ABIA STATE COME 2023

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The creation of Abia state out of the old Imo state in 1991 was greeted with much excitement and euphoria. Abia was born and predicated on the idea that creating a new state called Abia would be a tool for rapid even socio-economic and infrastructural development across the nook and cranny of the area without any section or zone feeling marginalised, discriminated against or even neglected.

It was also aimed at bringing government closer to the people and give all component parts and people a due sense of belonging without any group left behind in the development architecture of the state.

The entity was anchored on the principle and philosophy of equity, justice and fairness as enunciated in the Abia Charter of Equity as envisioned by the founding fathers of the state who were drawn from the various
parts of the state.

The name, ‘ABIA’ itself is a.coinage derived from the first alphabets of the former divisions that were to become part and parcel of the yet to be created state, namely, ‘A’ for Old Afikpo Division, ‘B’ for the Old Bende Division, ‘I’ for the Old Isuikwuato Division, and the last ‘A’ for the Old Aba Division to complete the arrangement.

The belief and understanding.was that the chief executives of the state would emerge alphabetically as anticipated in the letters and spirit of the Abia Charter of Equity. Following the creation of Abia state in 1991, the first governor of the new state in the person of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu came from the erstwhile Afikpo division as contemplated in the document. Though that administration was shortlived following a military coup d’etat that toppled the democratic government at that time, the fact remains that Ogbonnaya Onu had kick-started the process by taking the turn of the Old Afikpo division. As fate would have it too, Old Afikpo Division is now in the present day Ebonyi state.

When full democratic government was restored in Nigeria in 1999, the Old Bende Division produced the governor of the state in the person of Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu. He was at the helm of affairs as the chief executive of the state for eight years,1999 to 2007. Orji Uzor Kalu was succeeded by Chief Theodore Orji from Umuahia, also of Bende stock, 2007-2015.

Today, the incumbent governor, Dr.Okezie Victor Ikpeazu from the Old Aba Division is the governor. Hē is rightly christened ‘Nwa Aba’ in absolute reference to the Old Aba Division.Today the question that is agitating the minds of well-meaning Abians is, where is the place of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi axis in view of the other zones having successfully taking their turn on the basis of the alphabetical order of things?

Come the year 2023, Dr.Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the incumbent governor would have completed his tenure of eight years.

The year 2023 is another national election year. Whether justice, equity and fairness to all will be brought to the fore without any individual, group or section attempting to outsmart or shortchange Isuikwuato/Umunneochi remains to be seen. It is therefore expedient and imperative that the political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA and the All Progressives Congress the major political parties while fielding their different candidates should give thought to this time tested agreement as enshrined in the Charter of Equity which is the pillar of equity and justice in the state.

Balancing the political power equation in Abia State on the basis of ’emenyere Nwogwugwu,emenyere Nwa Anosike'(( Live let’s live) philosophy becomes a truism that should not to be treated with levity. It is sine quo non in power equilibrium and stability of Abia state, the underlying principle behind its creation.

Equity, justice and fairness are ingredients of democratic ideals and tenets the world over. Its absence therefore creates the precondition for feeling of marginalisation, discrimination, exclusion, underdevelopment and sectionalism.

Such state of affairs obviously has the potential to create the scenario for lawlessness, anarchy, recklessness, and ultimately bad governance and poor performance.

The issue of fairness , growth and development would have been sacrificed on the altar of ‘dog eat dog and winner takes it all mentality if the principle of justice and equity are trampled upon in the sharing of political positions even at the highest levels.

As the clamour for the Nigeria president of Igbo extraction gathers momentum because that is the right thing to do, we need to also direct attention to the popular adage, ‘as above, so below’ , and that ‘charity begins at home’, but should not end there.

Isuikwuato and Umunneochi people deserve a fair deal in the Abia question. They have contributed immensely to the sustenance of socio-economic and infrastructural development of Abia state.

The landscape of the area is a gory sight in terms of provision of social amenities and infrastructure,to say the very least. The issue of neglect and marginalisation facing the people is an open secret that needs to be radically and sustainably addressed.

Governor Okezie’s giant strides in all facets of socio-economic and infrastructural develpoment across the entire gamut of the Old Aba Division amply highlights the truth that, ‘manu akara di uto, onye ratu ibeya aratu’ axiom. The philosophy and brand of development practice is a legacy bequeathed to him by his predecessors.

During the buildup to the governorship election of Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in 2015, the slogans, ‘Nwa Aba ga emezi Aba’ , and ’emenyere Nwogwugwu, emenyere Nwanosike’ were rife and dominated the political space at the time and even now.

In fact, the emergence of the first governor of Abia State from the Ukwa Ngwa at this time in the annal of the history of Abia state has proved that justice and equity will always prevail no matter how long it is delayed. And once achieved guarantees a sense of security, accomplishment and fulfilment.

Today, the quantum of development projects and programmes dotting the entire landscape of the Old Aba Division clearly pinpoints to the place of equity, justice and fairness in the distribution of democratic dividends and benefits.

Equity and justice liberates the people free from all forms of feelings of subjugation and second class citizenship.

To really factor Isuikwuato/Umunneochi into the highest political architecture of Abia state, it becomes incumbent on all and sundry, especially the key political parties in the state to support any agitation, intention, ambition, aspiration, action, strategy, and undertaking that seek to zone the next governorship slot of Abia state to Isuikwuato Division for power to be truly balanced in Abia state.

This is the only recipe that will guarantee even and rapid socio-economic and Infrastructural development of Abia state and ultimately leading to.equitable distribution of power and resources.

The year 2023 is fast approaching and offers immense opportunity to squarely address the issue.

The Old Isuikwuato Division parades a galaxy of well-experienced technocrats, academicians, entrepreneurs, businessmen and women, seasoned administrators, politicians, entrepreneurs and professionals,etc who have national and global acclaim with the capacity and competence to transform Abia state to a glorious and eminent heights among the comity of states in Nigeria.

It is a new dawn in Abia State and the need to catapult Abia State to a new height of growth and development cannot be over emphasized.

Abia State is endowed with abundance of human, material and natural resources which are yet to be fully tapped and translated into economic growth and development for the overall good of the people of Abia State.

There is no gain saying the fact that Abia State is populated by highly creative, resourceful, visionary, patriotic, resilient, innovative and entrepreneurial men and women not found any where in Nigeria. Effective and efficient management of these wonderful human capital is a rarity that should always be leveraged upon.

Specifically, one outstanding and remarkable achiever and leader who has the capability, capacity and competence to become the next governor of Abia state is Prof.Greg Ibeh, 57 who is good to go for the exalted office come 2023.

The Uturu-born entrepreneur, businessman, academician, philanthropist and who is also the founder and chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia state, a foremost private university is excellence in Abia State has all it takes to offer humble and impacful service to the people of Abia state.

As a world -class iconic development consultant, he will bring his wealth of experience in the national and international development systems to bear on the overall development of Abia state by leveraging his extensive contacts and connections both in the business world and development to his state.

His relationship with multilateral, bilateral and international development organisations will be translated into practical actions and activities to jumpstart the development process of Abia state to a new height.

His familiarity with procedures and processes available in the national and international development community is a major ingredient that marks the governorship aspirant above his peers in their aspiration to govern Abia state.

Given the opportunity to serve as governor of Abia state, innovative and entrepreneurial approaches and strategies will be deployed to transform the entire Abia state.

In all honesty, God has endowed Prof.Greg Ibeh, Enyi Abia with resilience, resourcefulness, creativity, humanity and passion for development.
Enyi Abia is a man of destiny whose time has come to salvage the people from grinding poverty, excruciating unemployment, inequality, disempowerment, and infrastructure deficit. He is a man of selfless service whose zeal to serve others is unquestionable.

It is on record that the philanthropist par excellence as a change agent is the highest employer of labour in Abia State aside from the state government.Yet he remains humble and cool-headed in line with his christian principle of humility and service to the people without making much fuss about it.

Currently many students at all educational levels, local and overseas are on his scholarship programmes.

At the peak of the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic that threatened and is still threatening humanity globally, the governorship hopeful lavishly provided palliatives of food, cash and other needful items to help cushion the effect, especially at the peak of the lockdown occasioned by the ravaging disease.

This gesture was also extended to even residents of Abia who are indigenes of Abia state.

The pan Igbo stance of Prof.Greg Ibeh is legendary. He has consistently and constantly hosted and sponsored the annual Igbo Rennainsance Project which is domiciled in the Gregory University of Excellence,Uturu.The Igbo Rennainsance Project is an annual summit that brings together all the eminent Igbo sons and daughters all over the world.

As a pragmatic leader and advocate of equity and justice, Prof. Greg Ibeh will carry all component parts of Abia state along in realising the vision and dreams of the founding fathers of Abia state who midwifed and envisioned the state to be the fastest growing economy in the country on the basis of participatory, bottom up approach to sustainable development and democracy.

The time to ponder and consider is now!

Arkin Rock Mba Ahukanna wrote from Aba.
7th January, 2021

Breaking News, National, News, Politics, South East

BREAKING: APC Appoints Hope Uzodinma South East Leader

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Ahead of its planned national convention, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has appointed Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma as the leader of the South East caucus for the exercise.

This was revealed in a letter the Chairman of the APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary Conversation Planning Committee and Yobe state governor, Alhaji Mal Mala Buni addressed to the governor.

The letter said part of his responsibilities is to mobilise other leaders in the zone to ensure a hitch free membership registration exercise, congresses and national convention.

“Uzodinma will also over see the reconciliation of disputing and aggrieved members in the zone.

“I write to mandate Your Excellency to lead the south east caucus, stakeholders and other opinion leaders towards achieving the objectives”, the letter read.

Prior to the appointment of Uzodinma to this role, the governor had spearheaded the reconciliation of APC members both in the state and the entire Southeast.

Apart from providing a platform for leaders of the zone to exchange ideas on how to expand the influence of the party in Igboland, Uzodinma has hosted them from time to time.

Before the defection of Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi from PDP to APC, Uzodinma was the only governor of the party in the South East.

In one of his visits to the Government House, Owerri, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani predicted that with Uzodinma’s leadership of APC in the Southeast, more responsible Ndigbo will flock to the party in no distant time.

ThisDay

International, News, Politics

Breaking : US Congress Certifies Joe Biden’s Election

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The US Congress has certified Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election, hours after Trump supporters stormed the building in an attack that saw four people die.

Lawmakers resumed the session after police managed to remove the mob, which had been encouraged by President Trump in a bid to overturn his defeat.

The certification clears the way for Mr Biden to be sworn in on 20 January.

In response, Mr Trump pledged an “orderly transition” of power.

Joe Biden’s victory was confirmed in the early hours of Thursday by a joint session presided over by Vice-President Mike Pence, who said the violence had been a “dark day in the history of the United States Capitol”.

Wednesday’s chaotic scenes followed months of escalating rhetoric around the 3 November election, and culminated with the invasion of the Capitol.

Mr Biden blasted the “insurrection” as Mr Trump, while telling the mob to “go home”, continued to make false claims of electoral fraud. His Twitter and Facebook accounts were later frozen.

Mr Biden’s victory was certified after objections by some Republican lawmakers to overturn the result in Arizona and Pennsylvania were rejected.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Trump said in a statement: “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.”

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BREAKING: Nwodo appointed Coordinator of Southern& Middle-Belt Leaders Forum

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The outgoing President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has been appointed the Coordinator of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, (SMBLF).

A statement issued by the Chairman of the Forum, Chief Edwin Clarke, said Chief Nwodo’s appointment was in recognition of his superlative leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation in the four year tenure he was serving out and the manifest role he has been playing in the affairs of the Forum.

Chief Clark said that Chief Nwodo gave the Igbo unqualified and purposeful leadership which resonated throughout the country and expressed optimism that he would do the same for the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, especially at this troubled time in the nation.

The elder statesman urged Chief Nwodo to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on the new job which he said would entail coordinating the affairs of the Forum and carrying out all leadership assignments as directed by the Chairman.

According to the statement, Chief Nwodo’s appointment takes effect from the 10th of January, 2021, the same day his tenure as Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General ends.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum is made up of Afenifere, PANDEF, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Middle Belt Forum.