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Awka New Yam Festival: Activist berates Anambra Governor over police invasion of monarch’s palace
An Anambra state-based social activist, Comrade Chuks Okeke, has condemned last weekend’s invasion of the palace of the traditional ruler of Awka capital city, His Imperial Majesty, Obi Austin Ndigwe, Eze-Uzu III of Awka, by a ‘battalion’ of security operatives on the orders of the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo.
Comrade Okeke spoke with newsmen in Awka while reacting to the governor’s directive to the police to stop the New Yam Festival of the Awka monarch, the Eze-Uzu III, and the bloody attack on the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) at Nkwo market, Enugwu-Ukwu, on Sunday, by dare-devil gunmen, who reportedly killed no fewer than ten persons including six policemen.
According to him, the invasion of the monarch’s palace where invited dignitaries and royal fathers from different states were billed to celebrate the 2022 New Yam festival was an unjustifiable attack on the traditional stool and culture of Awka people, stressing that the reason given by the state government for the “condemnable action” was totally unacceptable.
He said: “What happened in Awka last Saturday was very disturbing as it is generally viewed as an attack and desecration of Igbo culture and tradition, and I want to condemn it in its entirety and to call on Governor Soludo to stay away from communal politics and concentrate on the major challenges including high-level insecurity that have almost crippled the state and his administration.
Chief Austin Ndigwe, the ‘Eze-Uzu III of Awka’
“We are aware that “I am very much aware that all processes were duly observed by the Council of Kingmakers in the selection and crowning of His Imperial Majesty as Obi of Awka and Eze-Uzu III and the process was very transparent.
“It is on record that some aggrieved parties opposed Obi Ndigwe’s enthronement had gone to court seeking to stop him from parading himself as traditional ruler of Awka which the Awka High Court refused to grant as requested. The case is still pending in court.
“We are therefore surprised that the state governor who is a professor, without any court order, decided to use the police to invade somebody’s palace by 5.30 am to prevent the New Yam festival from holding and went ahead to arrest some persons seen within the premises and detained them for five days before the court granted them bail on Wednesday.
“It is surprising to observe that this kind of impunity was carried out Igbo land because, according to Igbo customs, any titled man in entitled to celebrate New Yam festival in his house without seeking any permission either from government or from anybody else, and in this case the traditional ruler of Awka ought not to seek the permission or approval of the state government or anybody for that matter before celebrating his New Yam festival.”
The social activist also condemned the armed attack on the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah last Saturday killing his personal and security aides, saying had the large number of policemen deployed for such “inconsequential duty” of stopping celebration of traditional new yam festival in Awka been deployed to nipping points in local government areas within Anambra Central senatorial zone, the bloody incident may have been nipped in the bud.
Comrade Okeke, therefore, called on Governor Soludo to stay away from Awka politics and traditional matters, saying administrations before him knew the truth and facts of Awka traditional stool hence they never interfered and wondered why Governor Soludo, should decide to interfere in the affairs of Awka chiefdom.
The Ndigwe’s palace sealed off by security operatives denying his guests access to the festival venue on Saturday
The Advocate reports that the Anambra State Government had last Saturday sealed off the palace of Ndigwe describing him as an impostor but the action caused pandemonium in the area as some persons including his guests sustained injuries when security operatives chased them away.
A statement issued after the incident by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Paul Nwosu said: “It has come to the attention of Anambra State government that one Austin Chukwuezube Ndigwe, alias Uzu Awka, is still parading himself as the authentic traditional ruler of Awka.
“Not only that; he is also taking steps to perform one of the major harvest season’s traditional rites known as New Yam festival of the Awka people, thereby threatening the peace and tranquility of the town. The state government will not tolerate this.”
The Federal Government on Tuesday approved 25% and 35% salary increase for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
According to a statement signed by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Emmanuel Njoku, the increases takes effect on January 1, 2024.
The statement added that the augmentation applies to the six remaining consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.
Also approved for augmentation is the pension of retirees enrolled in the Defined Benefits Scheme within the aforementioned consolidated salary structures
from 20% to 28% effective from
the same date.
Recall that the FG had increased the salary for sectors such as tertiary education and health, encompassing structures like the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure, Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure
The Full Statement:
PRESS RELEASE
The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25% and 35% in salary increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures namely – Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
It will be recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for Universities. For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involved the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS). The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).
A statement signed by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku said the increases take effect from 1st January 2024.
In line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Federal Government has also approved increases in pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from 1st January 2024.
• Promises speedy completion of 181-kilometre Aba-Enugu stretch
The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated commercial train operations along the Port Harcourt-Aba rail line for public use.
During the inauguration at the railway station in Port Harcourt, the Minister of Transportation, Said Alkali, launched commercial services along the 62-kilometre Port-Harcourt-Aba corridor.
Alkali highlighted that the event was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to boost trade, improve mobility, and ensure connectivity between southern and northeastern Nigeria.
According to the minister, the rehabilitation project was contracted to China Civil Engineering and Construction Company by the Federal Ministry of Transportation with an expected completion time of 36 months.
The minister stated: “It is worthy to note that the scope of the project covers the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge railway line, the construction of new modern stations, and the procurement of new modern rolling stock.
“This railway line will also link the ports of Onne, Bonny, and Port Harcourt to facilitate the evacuation of goods and other freight through the Eastern Corridor.
“The Federal Government, in the contractual agreement, is to provide 15 per cent of the direct construction cost, inclusive of land acquisition and value-added tax, while a bank loan through direct construction cost is to cover 85 per cent of the project.”
He said the commencement of operations of the rail line will boost economic activities between the South-South and South-East regions of the country, pending the completion of the other sections of the project.
“With the completion of the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt to Aba rail corridor, the Ministry will continue to vigorously drive CCECC towards the speedy completion and delivery of the 181-kilometre Aba-Enugu stretch.
“Commencement of operations on this stretch of the project aligns with priority five of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Priority Areas, which identify enhanced infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth for the economy,” he said.
The Federal Government had declared Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, as a public holiday to mark this year’s Workers’ Day.
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration, according to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Aishetu Ndayako.
“The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st May 2024 as a Public Holiday to commemorate this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration,” Aishetu said in a statement on Tuesday, April 30.
“In alignment with this year’s theme, which focuses on ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, I wish to state that the Federal Government remains steadfast in its resolve to prioritise the safety and well-being of all citizens,” the minister said.
“Let me reaffirm Mr. President’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for work, where every worker can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development”.
The minister, who acknowledged the contribution of workers, called for more measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change through synergy.
“The Minister also urged Nigerians to remain committed to the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda as he wishes workers a happy celebration,” the statement read
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