“No! Not Iwuanyanwu!!”…Soludo’s Day…So much expected from Otti……Photo of The Week...plus South East Digest…

Photo of The Week

“No! Not Iwuanyanwu!!”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has denied reports making the rounds that the Chairman, Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) referred to the Yoruba people as political rascals.  Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Igbo organisation, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, described the report as a lie from the pit of hell.

He described the comment as mischievously twisted, noting that it is from the insidious minds that wish to create a rift between the Igbo and the Yoruba ethnic nationalities. 

According to him, the emphasis is that the ugly event in Lagos should not be attributed to the good people of Yoruba ethnic nationality. He described it as the handiwork of rascals, hooligans, charlatans, miscreants and dregs of Lagos society.

The statement partly reads, "Our attention has been drawn to the fake news making the rounds that the Chairman, Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) referred to the Yoruba as political rascals. 

"This is a typical falsehood, fabricated by social media entrepreneurs, decorated with wings, expanded with venoms, injected with ethnic nuances and propelled to fly to various corners, fronts and heights in order to create inter-ethnic mistrust between the age-long partners in social, cultural, religious and economic development of Nigeria. Indeed, it is a lie from the pit of hell.

"Speaking in Awka, Anambra State on Saturday at an event to mark one year in office of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra state, Iwuanyanwu drew the attention of the audience and the general public to the fact that Ndigbo and Yoruba people are neither quarrelling nor fighting, implying that the Yoruba are a friendly group of people. 

"According to Iwuanyanwu: 'I want to tell those in Lagos to realize that there is no war between us and the Yoruba, those who attacked Ndigbo in Lagos recently are rascals who should be arrested'.

"This has mischievously been twisted to imply that ‘Yoruba people are political rascals and that we will fight them’.  This is quel dommage!' It is from the insidious minds that wish to create a rift between the Igbo and the Yoruba ethnic nationalities.”

Soludo’s Day:

Obasanjo sees Soludo for National and International Assignments, says Governorship is just an Appetizer

By Christian ABURIME

Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR, Governor of Anambra state, has been described by the Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as someone he sees for a national assignment beyond being the current governor of Anambra State 

Obasanjo made this statement at Governor Soludo's one-year in office anniversary held at the International Convention Center in Awka, Anambra State

Former President Obasanjo recalled how Soludo approached him about running for Governor on the PDP platform. 

He stated that when Soludo revealed his intentions to him, he felt the Anambra Governor was destined for greater things, including national and international leadership.

Chief Obasanjo went on to say that he disagreed with Soludo's desire to become Governor of Anambra State, but that the Governorship was only the tip of the iceberg that would prepare him for a higher calling.

While expressing happiness over what Soludo has accomplished as Governor of Anambra State in his 365 days in office, Obasanjo noted that Soludo has not disappointed him or ndi Anambra.

He told Soludo that he believes in him to carry out all of his plans for the next three years to make Anambra a prosperous homeland where people can live, earn, work, relax, and enjoy themselves. 

Obasanjo also advised Soludo to make Anambra the country's largest drug manufacturing hub because the state has the potential to do so.

Soludo served as President Obasanjo's Chief Economic Adviser. Obasanjo also recommended Soludo as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Former President admitted that appointing Soludo to his cabinet was one of the best things that happened during his administration.

 

One Year Anniversary :  Soludo gives account of stewardship in Awka

In keeping to his promises of being accountable to ndi Anambra as the Chief servant of the state, Governor Chukwuma Soludo yesterday gave account of stewardship and presented what the people of the state should expect from his government going forward. 

In doing that the Governor commended ndi Anambra for their support while pointing out key actions taken towards achieving security, law and order, infrastructure and economic transformation, digitization of economy of the state among others.

He captured achievements on agriculture, health, transportation, entertainment and leisure, education, youth empowerment and explained the agenda to accelerate development in all the sectors, assuring of prudence and accountability while managing the recourses of Ndi Anambra.

He harped on the need for public – community – private sector partnership to be activated effectively and the need for ndi Anambra to support the transformation through payment of taxes and being law abiding.

Governor Soludo promised to do his best to fulfill his promises to Ndi Anambra assuring that there will be no excuses.

The Chairman on the occasion, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in his opening remarks, commended the resilience and dedication of Governor Soludo adding that Anambra is blessed to have him at this time.

The event attracted the high and mighty in Anambra State and Nigeria, captains of industry including, the Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Uchenna Okafor, Deputy Speaker, Right Honorable Paschal Agbodike, Prince Arthur Ezeh, Chief Emeka Offor, Chief Austin Oguejiofor, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu and Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.

Others present are the traditional rulers led by the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State, Chief Emeka Udodeme, lawmakers both at the Federal and state levels among others.

A short documentary of Governor Soludo’s achievements was projected to climax the event held at the International Convention Center, Awka.  (courtesy ABS Radio TV)

 

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

ABIA STATE

NAHISCO’82 old boys congratulate Otti

The 1982 set of Ngwa High School (NAHISCO) Old Boys Association has said that Alex Otti’s emergence as Abia State Governor-elect is a victory for the people of the State, who have fought and waited for eight years for a messiah to save them from bad administration. 

In a congratulatory message signed by its Vice Chairman, Chima Amaugo, the association commended Otti’s resilience in the face of powerful opposition, saying his victory parades across the state by elated Abians show that “when the people are behind you, no amount of intimidation and corruption can stop your victory.”

“We also congratulate all Abians, especially those who worked tirelessly day and night to ensure that the people’s will prevailed for Otti’s victory. Every Abia man and woman now have a governor they can call their own, because they collectively installed Otti as their leader.

“However, we want to tell our governor-elect that victory at the polls is just one part of the battle. It still remains the job of dismantling all jobbers and evil politicians, who have held the state down for 24 years. Abia must be free from thieves and politicians, who feed fat on the resources of the state to the detriment of the people.”

While urging Otti to carry all stakeholders in the state along in his administration, NAHISCO ’82 Set said it is important that the incoming governor tries to mend fences and broken relationships to ensure a hitch-free reign. 

“But he must recruit only people with genuine interest in the welfare of the people and growth of the state in his new administration. Abia needs a new lease of life, which we are convinced, beyond reasonable doubt, that Otti possesses,” the statement said.

 

ANAMBRA STATE

Workshop for Anambra ICT Teachers ends in Awka

The Chairman of Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Awka, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, has charged the Information Communication Technology, ICT teachers to push the state forward in all that concerns ICT.  The Chairman gave the charge during a workshop organized for ICT teachers at Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka.

While addressing the challenges facing the ICT department in Secondary Schools in Anambra State, Prof. Ikediugwu stressed the need for the ICT teachers to avail themselves of the new programmes like robotics/Edu games and tasked them to develop new packages that will elevate the status of the education sector.  She promised that the present administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo is passionate about ICT and will give listening ears to their pleas.

Earlier the President of the ICT Teachers Association, Mr. Chuka Olisah, mentioned their challenges to include lack of ICT laboratories in schools, lack of facilities like projectors, laptops, internet service providers, generators, fueling, uniform curriculum, security, capacity building among others.

In her speech, the Secretary PPSSC, Mrs. Benedine Anargor urged the ICT teachers to strive to be abreast with the new programmes in ICT.

Contributing, the Director of Science & Tech department, Mrs Ebele Okudo, emphasized the use of NECO Syllabus for those teaching in Technical schools and WASSCE Syllabus for those teaching in secondary Schools for uniformity in teaching.

Soludo Solution Team to represent Anambra at World Student Debate in Malaysia

Anambra State Soludo Solution team will represent the state in Malaysia in the world student debate coming up later this year.  The State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who announced this to ABS in Awka, lauded Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s developmental strides in the education sector. 

Professor Chuma-Udeh, who said that the governor hit the ground running with the recruitment of five thousand teachers at a go to end the era of schools without teachers, also declared that the administration has approved a scholarship scheme for over one hundred and eighty indigent children especially those from riverine areas, enrollment of out-of-school children as well as the re-introduction of history into the school curriculum.

She noted that Governor Soludo strongly believes that education and human capital constitute the foundation of excellence of any society which she said the Governor is committed to ensuring that every Anambra child should learn in a conducive environment hence, the reconstruction of all the dilapidated buildings in schools across the state.

She affirmed that under the watch of Soludo’s administration, the state government has abolished wearing of indecent dressings in schools, initiated teaching of moral instructions and re-introduced access language academy where international citizens would be raised.

Based on all these, Professor Chuma-Udeh unveiled that in the past one year her ministry has received more than ten awards from different competitions and five presidential teachers’ awards and urged all stakeholders to come on board and contribute their quota to the development of education in Anambra State through the Public-Community-Private- Partnership Developmental Initiative. 

EBONYI STATE

Umahi dissolves boards, commissions in Ebonyi

Governor David Umahi has ordered the immediate dissolution of boards, commissions, and development centre coordinators in the State.  The dissolution was contained in a statement signed by Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and made available to newsmen on Monday.

The Governor in a statement indicated that the governing council of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, was exempted from the dissolution.  “The development centre coordinators are to handover all government property in their possession including official vehicles, to the office of the SSG.

“This should be on or before the close of work on Tuesday March 21, 2023.

“Similarly, the boards and commissions are to handover government property in their possession to their parent ministries on the same time and date,” the statement read. 

The statement indicated that the government shall constitute a transition committee which will advise it whether to reconstitute the boards, commissions and development centre coordinators.

“The committee shall also advise whether such should be left for the incoming administration.

“The government has noted members of boards, commissions and development centre coordinators who served very well in their various offices.

“Such persons would be accommodated during the reconstitution,” the statement read.

The Governor in the statement, directed the concerned persons to comply immediately to the directive.

ENUGU STATE

Mbah accepts victory, promises non-sectional government in Enugu

Enugu State Governor-elect, Dr. Peter Mbah, said, yesterday, that he would dedicate his tenure to service of the state, stressing that he will not run a sectional government.  In an acceptance speech, Mbah regretted attempts made to create division between Nkanu and Nsukka people of the state using the election, but noted that those behind it have failed. 

He was declared winner of the election, on Wednesday, after polling 160,895 votes to beat his closet rival, Chijioke Edeoga of Labour Party, who scored 157,552 votes.

He said: “Under our administration, there can never be division between Nsukka and Nkanu or any other section of the state. We are all brothers and sisters. Those who attempted to create a wedge between us failed woefully. We were massively voted by every section of the state.

Those who wanted to create division among us had an ulterior motive. We resisted their machination and, today, we are coming together stronger. Our resolve is to eliminate the spirit of divisiveness from our state.”

He said the election that brought him to office was a keenly contested one, adding that the people of the state, by voting him into office, have made “huge investment for their tomorrow.” 

He said: “I accept this victory with a grateful heart and with only one obligation: to devote every tissue of my flesh, the totality of my mind and spirit to the task of making Enugu State great.”