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Iwuanyanwu committed his life to pursuit of peace, progress – Gov. Mbah
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has extolled the sterling qualities of the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
“Iwuanyanwu is a quintessential statesman who committed and devoted his life to the pursuit of peace and progress in Nigeria,” Mbah said during “A Day of Tribute” organised in honour of the Igbo leader in Enugu Saturday.
The governor described Iwuanyanwu as ‘an Iroko’, whose “exit will be greatly felt across the country, especially in Igbo land.”
According to him, Iwuanyanwu was such an iroko, deeply rooted in our culture.
“Iwuanyanwu raised himself, a towering example of generosity, courage and wisdom. Known as a bridge builder, he stretched his hands across communities and creed; thus, fostering unity in our troubled times.
“For me, the sense of loss in the loss of Iwuanyanwu evokes, is not such that time will heal.
“For anyone who has had an encounter with him will attest, Iwuanyanwu possessed a remarkable work ethic and humility that was truly genuine.
“His love for Ndigbo and strong devotion to Nigeria were not mutually exclusive. He has indeed proved that you could adore your tribe and country in equal measure,” he said.
Prof Uche Azikiwe, the widow of Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria, noted that Iwuanyanwu was unique in many ways, adding that he was a trailblazer.
Azikiwe said the late Igbo leader charted a part for younger generations of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists from civil engineering to newspaper publishing.
“The iconic leader demonstrated foresight, courage and the definitive can-do-spirit of the Igbo man. His capacity to create was only matched by his capacity to give,” she said.
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Okey Emuchey, noted that Iwuanyanwu was a quintessential statesman, an iconic pan-Nigerian and national colossus.
“Until his departure, our leader remained an absolute patriot who devoted his life for the pursuit of the peace and progress of Ndigbo and Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking, Chief Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Youth Wing, said that Iwuanyanwu revived and sustained the youth wing to be vibrant and “to be a voice”.
Okpalaezeukwu said that being a lover of youths and their aspiration to grow; Iwuanyanwu would also carry the youths along and advise Ohanaeze youths on the right path to any issue.
“Iwuanyanwu remains a father to us all, a role model, an achiever to be emulated and a passionate leader that seeks the growth and uplift of youths.
“He utilises every opportunity to teach and mentor as well as willing to give his candid and beneficial advice at any time approached. We seriously miss our great leader,” he said.
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Buhari removed ex-CJN Onnoghen to perpetrate electoral mischief – Clark
Elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has alleged that former President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), oppressed and humiliated former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
According to Clark, Buhari removed Onnoghen at all costs in order to get away with “the mess and mischievous things they wanted to carry out” during the 2019 presidential election.
Clark stated this in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Sunday, where he commended the judgment of the Court of Appeal acquitting Justice Onnoghen of all charges of false declaration of assets, following a settlement agreement with the Federal Government.
He faulted the suspension of the former CJN by President Buhari, noting the constitutional provision that placed the power to appoint and suspend a CJN in the hands of the President, the National Judicial Council, and the National Assembly.
The Ijaw leader also urged President Tinubu not to allow sacred cows to exist in his government, noting that the constitution did not provide immunity for life for a former President.
Clark said, “As for the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, in his own case, ‘a Daniel has come to judgment’. I knew he was not fairly treated; he was oppressed and humiliated by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
“At this juncture, let me say this: President Tinubu’s government must not allow sacred cows to exist in Nigeria, no matter whose ox is gored. There is no one who is above the law in his own country. A president of a country is just one of the ordinary members in the country, but once elected, enjoys immunity. There is nowhere therefore in the constitution or any legal document where it is stated that immunity is for life.
“Today in Nigeria, we have corrupt Presidents and some of them today are accusing their successors of corruption without looking back at what they themselves stole while in office but no one dares to touch them. Perhaps, it is an irony of fate for the former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was one of the Supreme Court Justices whose judgment favored President Muhammadu Buhari in his presidential election case in the Supreme Court in 2011.”
Clark also alleged that the former President removed Onnoghen from his position as CJN prior to the 2019 general elections because of “the mess and mischievous things they wanted to carry out,” during the elections, again describing Buhari’s actions as “disgraceful, callous, unjust and so barbaric”.
“He (Buhari) allowed him to rise to the post of CJN but he saw that, that was not good enough for him because if Justice Onnoghen was to remain the CJN, the mess and mischievous things they wanted to carry out during the presidential election in 2019, Justice Onnoghen would not accept it and the best thing was to remove him, and this was the secret plan between President Buhari and his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
“The show of shame that took place at the time was so disgraceful, callous, unjust and so barbaric that instead the President of Nigeria, who swore to an oath of office that he would maintain security and welfare of Nigerians, chose to stoop so low in order to humiliate a fellow Nigerian because he wanted to be President of Nigeria at all costs for a second term. It is a shame which Nigeria has just recovered from,” he stated.
The former federal Commissioner for Information faulted the silence of the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council during the ousting of the former CJN from office, while commending Justice Kekere-Ekun and the Court of Appeal’s judgment acquitting Justice Onnoghen.
“I am, therefore, very happy to have read that both the judiciary, particularly the Court of Appeal and the former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, have come to an amicable settlement, and I wholeheartedly congratulate him for passing out the ordeal he was subjected to by the former President, and I pray God will protect him and for him to always have the courage to fight for his right because Nigeria belongs to all of us and we are all equal citizens,” Clark said.
The Senior Special Assistant to former President Buhari, Garba Shehu, did not comment on the issue.
However, an official in the previous administration, who pleaded anonymity for lack of authorisation to speak on the issue, told one of our correspondents that the decision of the Buhari government to suspend Onoghen from office was justified under extant laws.
The official said, “The case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Onoghen was the non-declaration of assets, an offence against the laws of the land, the Constitution. The records are there at the Code of Conduct Bureau that Onoghen had never declared his assets, but only twice: when he was appointed as acting CJN and when he was appointed as CJN.
“That was the only time he declared his assets. Never, as a high court judge, appeal or Supreme Court Justice. And he admitted that he didn’t declare his assets. And all these bank assets that they said should be released to him, the truth is, even when he declared as CJN, he did not declare those assets. But the man, by his admission, said that he did not declare. Is that not enough to fire him?
“So, if the government of the day decides that he has not committed any offence and that they have waived it off, then they can let him off the hook. That is a political decision.” (PUNCH)
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Ebonyi Gov orders arrest of six health workers for alleged theft
No fewer than six workers of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health have been arrested for the alleged theft of government property.
It was learnt that they were intercepted and arrested at the ministry’s premises on Saturday afternoon while trying to move the said items to points of sale.
The arrest was revealed in a statement in Abakaliki, on Sunday, by Governor Francis Nwifuru’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor.
The statement read, “The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of one Mr Ndukwe Ayansi and five others for allegedly diverting materials meant for the state’s Ministry of Health.
“The governor, on his way to a project inspection, sighted a Toyota Dyana truck loading registers, books and other materials from the warehouse in the Ministry of Health.
“The governor drove in and made inquiries but not satisfied with the answers given, probed further and discovered that patients’ data registers, cards and a host of other documents were moved into the vehicle.
“It was also discovered that all the documents had been sold without government approval.”
He said the governor described the action as a “sabotage to government’s efforts to reposition the health sector.”
The statement further quoted Nwifuru as saying, “You are selling government documents without approval on a Saturday afternoon.
“Our hospitals in the rural areas are requesting registers and data entry forms and hospital cards.
“Sadly, the ones the government has produced are being sold by you.
“This is pure sabotage to our efforts in the health sector. It will not be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, the suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
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