Connect with us

News

Why we are not happy with Nigerian constitution – Ohanaeze Ndigbo

Published

on

Spread the love

• Insists on restructuring of Nigeria

• As Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State shared his thoughts on the issues affecting the South-east region.

The Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has reiterated its call for restructuring of the country and the creation of additional states in the South-east.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made the call during the Ohanaeze Ndigbo retreat on Wednesday in Enugu.

Mr Iwuanyanwu, who said Ohanaeze was not happy with the 1999 Constitution as amended, called for the restructuring of Nigeria where power would devolve from federal government to state governments.

This, he said, would help the states have a reasonable autonomy to develop at their own pace without any hindrance from the federal government.

“It will enable us to build our own seaports, railways and other infrastructure to develop the zone,” he said.

Maduka College Advert

While calling for the creation of an extra state in the region, the Igbo leader lamented that the South-east had lost trillions because of inadequate states like in other geopolitical zones.

He threatened to take legal action against the federal government if it failed to give the region an additional state equivalent to other zones in the country, saying “We are assembling Igbo lawyers to pursue it”.

He added that they would allow the state anywhere it was created in Igboland.

The Igbo leader also kicked against merging of Project Development Institute (PRODA) with another science Institute, stressing that the institute was borne out of the experience of the Nigeria Civil War.

“Ohanaeze is in full support of the implementation of the Oronsaye report, but will request all Igbo anywhere to ensure that PRODA is not merged with any other institutions,” he said.

In a remark, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai commended Igbos serving in various capacities for their sacrifice and support.

The governor said the region needed to work towards economic integration of their business and people.

He said the economic team in Ohaneze had a huge task to engage political leaders across the South-east to work towards creating a common market that attracted investors to the region.

“It beats my imagination that Onitsha and Oguta ports in Imo State are not working. We should act in a way to liberate ourselves.

“Enugu is known for coal and from what I heard from an engineer, if coal is heated 1000 degrees it will melt and if you pour it on the road, will last more than bitumen and asphalt we use in road construction,” he noted.

In a paper presentation titled “Education: Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Igboland” the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nnenna Oti, called for new hope, equal opportunities, technological and entrepreneurial development in Igboland.

She called on the Igbos to identify who they were and pursue their dreams for greater exploits.

Earlier in a welcome address, the chairperson of the event, Allison Madueke, a retired rear admiral, said it was time for Igbos to step out and make a move for the betterment of the region.

“When you move without wisdom, you get injured,” Mr Madueke said, stressing that it was time for Igbos to ask themselves questions about where they went wrong and make amends.

Some Igbo leaders at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo retreat held in Enugu on Wednesday

While commending Mr Iwuanyanwu for organising the programme, Mr Madueke said “We need to change our tactics and approaches with the wisdom given to us”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by Igbo leaders, their prominent sons and daughters both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

News

Obi donates ₦10m to Faith Foundation Nursing College, urges Youths to reject ethnic politics

Published

on

Mr. Peter Obi (right) presenting the ₦10 million cheque to the Proprietor of Faith Foundation College of Nursing Sciences, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Agbo (left), during his visit to inspect ongoing projects at the institution in Nsukka.
Spread the love

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress( NDC) in the 2027 elections, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday visited the Faith Foundation College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka, where he expressed delight at the progress of projects underway at the institution.

Obi, who inspected some of the ongoing projects, was received by the Proprietor of the College, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Agbo, who expressed appreciation for Obi’s longstanding support for the institution.

Agbo disclosed that Obi’s earlier financial contributions had played a significant role in giving the institution the confidence to embark on many of the projects currently under construction.

The Proprietor said the support had encouraged the management to continue investing in the development of the institution and its facilities.

In continuation of his support for the institution, Obi presented a cheque of ₦10 million towards the ongoing projects.

Maduka College Advert

He also assured the management that he would continue to partner with the institution until it realises its objective of producing its first set of nurses.

Obi said his intervention was part of his broader commitment to supporting education and healthcare, particularly the training of quality healthcare professionals who would contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He thereafter proceeded to St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nsukka, where he participated in the 68th Annual Conference of Anglican Youths.

Addressing the youths, Obi urged them to recognise their responsibility in building a new Nigeria, stressing that the country they desire cannot emerge without their active participation in shaping its future.

He urged them to reject politics based on tribe, religion or language and instead insist on electing leaders with proven character, competence, capacity, integrity and strong ethical values.

According to him, the future of Nigeria depends not only on the leaders the country produces but also on the standards citizens demand from those who seek public office.

“Our future depends not only on the leaders we produce but also on the standards we demand. Together, we can build the New Nigeria that is possible,” he said.

Continue Reading

News

Gunmen invade Kogi communities, kill residents

Published

on

Bandits kill over 30 in fresh attack on Benue
Spread the love

Several people were feared killed on Thursday when armed men reportedly attacked three communities in Kupa Kingdom — Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi — in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State in an alleged reprisal attack.

Residents said the incident began around 8am when a herder, suspected of being a cattle rustler, was shot and killed during a heated altercation with local vigilantes at a checkpoint in the community.

“Few hours after the checkpoint incident between a herder and vigilantes, armed hoodlums invaded the town, shooting sporadically from different directions.

“In the process, several residents were killed, with many others sustaining injuries, as the armed hoodlums attacked streets, markets and even the palace of our paramount traditional ruler in the town.

“As of yesterday night, seven people were confirmed dead. The death toll may rise in the days ahead as the search for and confirmation of victims is still in progress.

Maduka College Advert

“Moreover, the situation will become clearer when families who sought refuge in safer communities start returning from their various hiding places,” Ahmed, a resident of Abugi, said.

A son of the Mayaki of Kupa, Prince Aliyu Isah Kabir, who is the APC Youth Leader of Kupa South Ward, was confirmed to be among the victims of the attack.

The Lokoja Local Government Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed the incident, saying the attack on the Kupa communities had led to loss of lives and destruction of property.

Adamu said: “We have charged the relevant security agencies to swing into action and arrest anyone who has a hand, directly or remotely, in the attack and bring them to face the law.

“The government is saddened by this devilish act and will leave no stone unturned in getting justice for the deceased. I want to appeal for calm while the relevant security agencies take action.”

The Kogi State Government also condemned the attack, describing it as tragic, senseless and unacceptable.

In a statement issued on Friday, the state government described the incident as a reprisal attack and vowed to investigate the circumstances surrounding it, identify those responsible and prosecute them as a deterrent to others.

In the statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the government said: “The Kogi State Government condemns in the strongest terms both the killing of the unarmed herder and the subsequent reprisal attack.

“These are criminal acts that have no place in our society. Anyone found to have participated in either incident, regardless of status or ethnic affiliation, will face the full weight of the law.

“We appeal to all residents to remain calm and resist the temptation of reprisals. We also urge members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that will aid ongoing investigations and the arrest of all those responsible.”

According to the statement, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo sympathised with the families of the deceased and directed “security agencies to immediately restore calm, take control of the situation and apprehend those responsible for the killings.”

The government also appealed for calm, urging residents to avoid further retaliation and provide security agencies with credible information as investigations into the incident continue.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command was contacted over the development, but its spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls and a text message as of the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)

Continue Reading

News

PFIPC probe: ICPC uncovers two more fake agencies linked to Adeyemi

Published

on

Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi
Spread the love

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two more fake agencies operated by the self‑styled Director‑General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.

ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after he submitted the commission’s interim report on the existence and operation of the fake agency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dr. Aliyu said the investigation revealed that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was never established by law or executive order.

According to the interim report, the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the PFIPC illegally appropriated offices and instruments from the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

He said the fake agency, using the former PEAC office, engaged in false representation, widespread impersonation and various illegal activities that exploited weaknesses in verification and inter‑agency oversight.

Maduka College Advert

He further stated that the investigation uncovered two additional fake government agencies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).

“These agencies were created using forged legislative instruments and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities,” he said.

The ICPC boss said Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from Foreign Investment Promotion Council to Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to expand its mandate to include revenue generation.

He said: “The investigation found no funds were approved or disbursed for the fake PFIPC/PEAC, and there were no weaknesses in the State House or CBN system.”

Some recommendations of the committee, which was given 30 days to unravel the mystery behind the existence of the fake agency, include prosecution of Mr. Adeyemi; imposing administrative sanctions on public officers who facilitated the illegal operations; and instituting reforms to improve internal controls

Related News
ICPC clears Gbajabiamila, says Adeniyi’s appointment letter was forged
Fake Agency: State House denies requesting budget code from OAGF
PFIPC Probe: Family raises alarm over planned Reps’ interrogation of Adeyemi in custody
The public officers who were said to be collaborators are from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Accountant‑General’s Office, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA.

“The report is interim and the investigation continues to uncover more details to file criminal charges against Adeyemi and his collaborators,” he said.

Dr. Aliyu added that President Tinubu has taken note of the findings and has expressed his commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing the issue.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert