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  • Anambra: I Did My Little As A Trader, Prof. Soludo Will Do His Own As A Professor – Peter Obi

    Anambra: I Did My Little As A Trader, Prof. Soludo Will Do His Own As A Professor – Peter Obi

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi on Tuesday, said he did his little as governor of Anambra State and urged the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo to do his best in the state as an economics professor.

    Obi stated this at the 2022 Lagos Business School (LBS) Alumni Conference in Lagos.

    The Anambra governor between 2006 and 2014 was reacting to Soludo’s comments that the investment he (Obi) left in government is worth close to nothing.

    Also, Soludo on Monday had tackled Obi, saying he can’t win the 2023 presidential election.

    Reacting on Tuesday in Lagos, Obi described Soludo as his brother.

    “He (Soludo) remains my brother, we are very close. I remain prayerful for him. For other things which I didn’t succeed, God has given him opportunity to do it and succeed.

    “So, if there is anything pending, governance doesn’t finish, people are still in government in America, so you stop where you will stop, other people will continue from there,” Obi said.

    “He is the governor of the state; he is my senior brother, he is even more intelligent than me because he is a professor, I am a trader, so he knows more and will be able to do things better than I am doing it.

    “I have done my little own as a trader, now the professor is there he will do his own as a professor, the schools I didn’t roof he will roof them, that’s how government goes.”

    The former governor said he left the office with the savings of 75 Billion Naira, adding that his administration saved 50 million dollars each in Access, Diamond and Fidelity banks with an interest rate of 6.5%.

    He further clarifies, “The one they said is worthless, we invested 3.5 billion naira in International Breweries…that facility is there employing directly and indirectly over 10,000 Anambarians. The shares was at a time being sold at N50, today the shares is about N5 or so.

    “When you spread your investment some will go up some will come down but overall the company is still there, the company is still doing well, it is still part of the global chain and everything. I needed to explain it not because I am defending comments by my brother,” the LP candidate said.

    He said he left the office without owing any contractor, supplier who had executed their job, citing the examples of Innoson Motors and Zinos Computers.

  • Soludo Apologizes, Vows to Punish Task Force Officials who Assaulted Odumeje

    Soludo Apologizes, Vows to Punish Task Force Officials who Assaulted Odumeje

    Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, on Friday vowed to punish an official of the state’s task force for assaulting the General Overseer of The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere alias ‘Odumeje’ in the Onitsha area of the state.

    A report published in Vanguard yesterday detailed how some parts of the building belonging to Odumeje was demolished demolished by officials of the Anambra State Task Force.

    In the process of carrying out the demolition exercise, one of the task force official reportedly manhandled Odumeje, viral footages of the incident sparked a public outcry against the government.

    Reacting to the outrage, Soludo in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, reemphasized his commitment to upholding law, and order and respecting human rights in the state.

    The statement reads, “Let me sincerely appreciate ndị Anambra for understanding with us as we take audacious steps toward making our Homeland Liveable and Prosperous. On this journey, imperfect steps will be taken, emotions will run wild and opinions will grow thick.

    “What is pertinent to note is that we shall remain undaunted, correct our imperfections, strive to put our emotions in check and aggregate opinions that are in the interest of our overall good.

    “Yesterday’s outing has evoked emotions, not against the decision of the government, but the imperfect and unprofessional manner with which one of the task force members discharged his lawful duty. This is highly regretted, and would never happen again.

    “I have instructed that the task force personnel involved in the manhandling of Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere (Odumeje) be treated in accordance with the rules of public conduct which he roundly failed to uphold.

    “We will continue to work to actualize the mandate you have given to us. Nothing short of the best outcomes is guaranteed. On behalf of the government and good people of Anambra State, I condemn the assault, and further ask for your continued support in the fight to restore the dignity of Onitsha, and indeed the totality of our Homeland.”

  • PDP suspends congress in Anambra after aspirants held panel members ‘hostage’

    PDP suspends congress in Anambra after aspirants held panel members ‘hostage’

    The Peoples Democratic Party has suspended a ward congress in Anambra state after a five-member Anambra State Ward congress panel of party led by Jibrin Ahmed, were held ‘hostage’ by the party’s aspirants and stakeholders on Sunday May 1.

    Punch reported that the panel members were held hostage for failing to present the original result sheets and this almost degenerated into a free-for-all at the party’s Secretariat at Udoka Estate.

    The panel members were said to have directed the aspirants who were contesting the national assembly elections, and others to converge on the party’s office for briefing before the ward congress.

    Trouble however started when they presented the photocopies of the results sheets. It was also learnt that the Panel members claimed they left the original result sheets in their hotel room.

    This did not go down well with the stakeholders, who insisted that they must bring the original result sheets, adding that this had been the style of the party.

    They accused the panel members of trying to run away to Abuja to rewrite and input the names of people of their choice.

    But the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Jibrin Ahmed, cited security reasons as the reason they did not come with the original result sheets, which was aggressively resisted by the stakeholders.

    The governorship candidate of PDP during the November 6 election, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, was said to have appealed to members for calm, offering his personal security and vehicles to take the Chairman to his hotel room to bring the original result sheets.

    However, Ahmed declined the offer, insisting that he must go alone. The panel team and the party stakeholders, including; Hon. Tony Nwoye, Lylda Ikpeazu, Noble Igwe, Mr. Ndubuisi Nwobu, Romanus Obi, and other stakeholders were at the party’s Secretariat in Udoka Housing Estate, Awka.

    Shortly after this, the opposition party announced the suspension of the state Congress. The suspension, it claimed, was due to the panel member’s inability to provide the original copies of the result sheets for the exercise.

    The panel chairman, Jubril Ahmad, who read the letter of the suspension/apology before the aggrieved members, said a new date for the congress will be communicated as soon as it is decided by the national leadership.

    Ahmad added that the suspension was also as a result of the insecurity in the state. He assured the supporters that the Panel under his watch stands for transparency and accountability process.

    He said;

    “The PDP regrets the inconveniences the announced suspension of the Anambra State PDP Congress may have caused.”

  • Soludo Pledges to Stop Fuel Tanker Fire in Anambra

    Soludo Pledges to Stop Fuel Tanker Fire in Anambra

    Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has vowed to end fuel tanker incidents in Anambra State.

    Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), made this promise in reaction to Friday’s petrol tanker fire incident in Onitsha, which consumed properties worth billions.

    He expressed deep sorrow at the magnitude of material losses suffered by the victims, lamenting the incessant tanker explosion in the Onitsha axis and other cities around the country.

    He said: “Soludo assured that a lasting solution to prevent future occurrences must be fashioned out to safeguard precious lives and material losses in future, saying this current trend cannot continue

    He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Willie Obiano for their immediate reactions and condolences to the victims.

    “He equally called on relevant government institutions saddled with the responsibilities of providing succour for cases of this nature to provide the needed relief and support to ameliorate the losses, pains and agonies suffered by the victims arising from the unfortunate incident.”

    He also commended the gallantry of the youths, fire service officials and other security personnel who came immediately to the scene to stem the spread of the inferno.

  • Soldiers wreck havoc after gunmen kill a soldier

    Soldiers wreck havoc after gunmen kill a soldier

    Soldiers unleashed mayhem on Monday Afternoon, after unknown gunmen attacked and killed a military officer in Awo Mmamma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.

    Military men regrouped, stormed the town and allegedly burnt a hotel, cars, houses and shops.

    The incident which happened at Ishieke junction in the area has caused panic in the community.

    Many indigenes of the community have fled as soldiers took over the community.

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    A source told The PUNCH that “some hoodlums attacked some soldiers at Ishieke junction in Awo Mmamma and killed one of them. They zoomed off towards Ihiala in Anambra State. Later soldiers invaded the area and caused havoc in the area by setting a hotel, cars, houses and stalls on fire.”

    The police spokesperson for the state command, Micheal Abattam, didn’t respond to our call or messages sent to him by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.

  • Anambra Guber: We have recovered from attacks, ready for polls – INEC

    Anambra Guber: We have recovered from attacks, ready for polls – INEC

    The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof, Mahmoud Yakubu on Wednesday, confirmed to the Senate, the body’s readiness to conduct governorship polls in Anambra.

    His invitation to appear before the Senate Committee on INEC came amid heightening insecurity and threats of election boycott in Anambra State.

    Yakubu revealed that INEC required 14 activities preparatory to the election, out of which 12 have been concluded.

    He said INEC had recovered from attacks on its facility in the zone, adding that ad-hoc staff have been adequately trained with sensitive materials already deployed.

    He said: “We required 14 activities to conduct Anambra Governorship Election successfully and we have accomplished 12 out 14 as well as we have recovered from attacks on our facility in the South East and we are good to go.”

    The disclosure was in response to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabir Gaya, who expressed concern over the security challenges in Anambra State ahead of the November 6 governorship election.

    Gaya bemoaned attacks in Anambra at a sensitive time when the State would be going to the poll to elect a governor.

    He said: “The situation in Anambra is quite unfortunate especially at a time when we are approaching the gubernatorial elections in the State, election as you are aware, is a recruitment process of the leadership as well as the foundation that carries the builders of change and development.

    “Recently, INEC increased the polling units in Anambra State from 4,608 to 5, 720, this effort is to allow a situation where polling units will be accessible to the electorates, this can only be achieved when and where the safety of people is assured”, Gaya maintained.

  • Anambra PDP Guber candidate, Ozigbo calls for release of Nnamdi Kanu

    Anambra PDP Guber candidate, Ozigbo calls for release of Nnamdi Kanu

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming election in Anambra State, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has called for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    Ozigbo made the call when he spoke at the 2021 Anambra gubernatorial debate hosted by Anambra Broadcasting Service, (ABS) in Awka on Sunday.

    Ozigbo attended the debate alongside; Col. Geoffrey Onyejegbu (Rtd), of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Dr Chidozie Nwankwo of the African Action Congress (AAC), and Chief Akachukwu Nwankpo of African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Ozigbo said Kanu should be released by the APC-led federal government and that a non-violent and diplomatic means of addressing the calls for secession should be adopted.

    He said: “Indeed, Nnamdi Kanu should actually be released while we go back to the root cause of the agitation.

    “I always focus on the root causes of problem-solving. We can’t be addressing a problem from the symptoms, an efficient way to address any crisis is to deal with the root.

    “Why the agitations? If you think deeply, you’ll understand that it is because Nigeria is not working. Our leaders have failed us. The sense of hopelessness brought about by poor governance pervades the land.

    “There’s a lot we need to do to get Nigeria working again. The poor road networks, decayed infrastructure, failed social systems, a devastating healthcare sector, a shrinking economy, lack of opportunities, and many more manifestations of poor governance leads to the question of ‘Is there any need to be part of Nigeria, anyway?” Ozigbo said.

    As a way out of the current crisis, Ozigbo called for a fresh approach to leadership. He said that Nigeria must focus on raising the competitiveness of the country, among other solutions.

    “We must do away with nepotism and entrench competency. We must restructure Nigeria to be more just, more competitive, and more inclusive,” Ozigbo demanded.

    The PDP candidate who is among the top contenders in the forthcoming poll used the opportunity to also unveil what he called his revolutionary ideas for transforming the state in education, healthcare, economy, social services, and other key human development indices.

  • Soldier Killed As Armed Bandits Thwart APGA Campaign In Anambra

    Soldier Killed As Armed Bandits Thwart APGA Campaign In Anambra

    A group of armed men on Tuesday thwarted the scheduled campaign of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the gunmen were repelled by security operatives already present at the scene of the incident.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement.

    Ahead of the governorship election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on November 6, the party’s campaign train was billed to hit Ihiala, but that was unsuccessful.

    The assailants were said to have stormed the area in the morning, shooting sporadically in an attempt to make their way into Odoata Central School – the venue of the rally.

    Shortly after their arrival, they were engaged by a joint team of security operatives – comprising soldiers and policemen – drafted to the venue to prevent any form of breakdown of law and order.

    The Commissioner for Information in Anambra, Cdon Adinuba, who also confirmed the incident, disclosed that a soldier was killed during the shootout.

    He faulted the reports the convoy of the state governor, Willie Obiano, was attacked by the assailants, stressing that the security operatives repelled the attack.

    Adinuba said that the armed men, who came on some motorcycles vehicles, were forced to flee the scene as a result of the superior firepower of the security operatives.

    According to him, they later ran into the large premises of a hospital located directly opposite the campaign ground.

    Ikenga, on his part, stated that no casualty was recorded by the police.

    “Preliminary investigations revealed that the hoodlums started shooting sporadically while arriving at Odata Central School, but they were successfully repelled by police operatives and military personnel on ground,” he said in a statement.

    Some of the items recovered by the security operatives include an AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition, two magazines, and four vehicles.

    The command’s spokesman said normalcy has returned to the area and asked residents to report people with gunshot wounds as soon as possible.

  • Buhari in closed door meeting with Anambra State Governor

    Buhari in closed door meeting with Anambra State Governor

    President Buhari had a closed-door meeting with Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, at the state House Abuja this morning, October 7.

    The meeting comes hours after the Federal government threatened to declare a state of emergency in the state following the heightened level of insecurity.

    See more photos below…

  • Anambra Election: INEC, NSA Meet Over Insecurity in Region

    Anambra Election: INEC, NSA Meet Over Insecurity in Region

    Ahead of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday met with the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

    The meeting, which was held at the INEC conference room in Abuja, had in attendance the Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, heads of various security agencies, Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) as well as senior electoral officials.

    Mr Monguno was represented by an NSA official, Sanusi Galadima.

    In his remarks, Yakubu decried the worsening insecurity in Anambra, warning that the rate of attacks in the state may affect the commission’s plan for the poll if not properly tackled.

    He said the commission is particularly concerned about the safety of staff and Adhoc staff who will help in the conduct of the election, adding that they need strong assurances of their safety during and after the election.

    According to the INEC boss, information at his disposal indicated that the attackers who have unleashed mayhem in the south-eastern state do not want the governorship election to hold next month.

    While recalling the last meeting held on September 9 where the commission reviewed its preparedness for the exercise, Yakubu lamented that the attacks had increased since then.

    He also decried a situation whereby many innocent lives have been lost in the region with several properties destroyed.

    “From the reports we have received, the stated goal of many of the attackers is that the Governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021 must not hold,” Yakubu said.

    “This is worrisome for the Commission. We are deeply concerned that specific electoral facilities and materials could once more become targets of attack.”

    “Recall that in May this year, our State Office at Awka was attacked and all the non-sensitive materials assembled for the election at the time were destroyed.

    “In addition, our store, collation center and the main office building were either totally or substantially damaged. The Commission also lost several vehicles to be used for the election.”

    Despite the attacks, the INEC Chairman vowed that the electoral body would proceed with the election that is barely a month from now.

    He however said INEC’s commitment would not be to the detriment of the security of about 26,000 of its officials, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and university students who will be deployed for the election.

    On his part, the National Security Adviser said the upsurge of attacks in the state was carried out to stop the democratic process.

    Speaking through Sanusi Galadima, the NSA said his office has initiated steps in collaboration with security agencies in the country to stop the separationists’ attempts in the region ahead of the poll.

    The South-East region has witnessed a high rate of criminality including killings and kidnappings in the last few months.

    Dozens of police officers have been killed in such attacks in the region and public facilities including vehicles and buildings destroyed.