#NO1.NAIJA HUB

The imperative of changing present order

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMZh-X6m5gOxNS5ovRef3sztx0bT0e9-KBy5RxjR5HtcHaKXtbUdzaqo4Duhyphenhyphen6iEUF6vnVrtwiHU6J7eOiibAPXba5Q2DXpuWkZDWmmyVo09yT7ynfaxfFZ7q9Je02Db-eUKJdZEbA4k/s1600/buhari2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMZh-X6m5gOxNS5ovRef3sztx0bT0e9-KBy5RxjR5HtcHaKXtbUdzaqo4Duhyphenhyphen6iEUF6vnVrtwiHU6J7eOiibAPXba5Q2DXpuWkZDWmmyVo09yT7ynfaxfFZ7q9Je02Db-eUKJdZEbA4k/s1600/buhari2-3.jpg" /></a>The imperative of changing present order<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently, rumours of coup were rife, and within same period
marking the 50th anniversary of declaration of Biafran experiment and genocide
against Igbo, even though the military authorities have dismissed it.
Expectedly, this jolted some Nigerians, who equally reacted, depending on the
prism they viewed it from. In this country, if you are telling the truth, a
fatwa is passed on you. This has cowed many Nigerians, who otherwise would have
stood up to be counted, as we grapple with the onerous challenges of building a
strong and virile nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, the truth must be told. The country is in deep trouble,
is hemorrhaging and on ground zero. Therefore, only the administration of
‘bitter pill’ will bring her back to life, and then reasonable progress
follows. This ‘bitter pill’ will not go down well with many, especially those
who are benefiting from this dysfunctional system pray that it continues, but
those who love this country and wish her well are ready to swallow the hemlock
to come up with a workable solution to the problems of the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is an urgent need for change, as we have applied all
known economic and political models that other backward nations had employed
and are now in the league of developed nations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not about political restructuring of the nations. No,
this will not work, as all those apostles of restructuring don’t seem to have
clear-cut ideas of what they are canvassing. Even if you are to restructure,
all those elected at the National Assembly and the states Houses of Assembly,
who may be affected by the restructure, as well as the elected executives would
they gladly step down for the implementation of the outcome of the
restructuring? If you restructure and collapsed the nation into zones and
dismantle the states or you reduce the number of seats at the various
legislative houses, you would one day start witnessing agitations from various
groups, who felt shortchanged in the new configuration and would bring you to
the same circle of stagnation we had just came out from.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A situation where you must always have the possibility to
create a destructive force to be listened to, as we have seen in the past can
hardly make progress. Let’s use a very bad example. Starting with the death of
the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12,
1993 presidential election. The South-west used NADECO and OPC to draw
attention and in 1999, head or tail, the Yoruba were made to produce the
president in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. After him, power moved back
to the North that had always believed that the presidency is their birthright.
However, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who succeeded Obasanjo, couldn’t complete first
term, as he fell ill and died.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was Yar’Adua’s deputy, became the
president to complete the remaining one year in office of Yar’Adua’s government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that, Niger Delta, the treasure house of the nation,
used militancy to draw attention and made bold statement and thereby got the
presidency on platter, as Jonathan won the election and continued. From 2011,
when Jonathan won the election, there was well-orchestrated plan to make sure
he didn’t go for second term. That gave birth to the ugly side of Boko Haram, a
terrorist Islamic sect and of course, a 
Western covert operation of sort that made the regime of Jonathan
ungovernable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This and other factors made Jonathan government to crash
like a pack of cards, then Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari emerged, and since 2015, the
nation has been on edge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the frenzy for Biafra by the Igbo is resonating
everywhere, and this has not given the Buhari government any good international
image, especially given the Amnesty International reports that Nigeria’s
military had allegedly killed hundreds unarmed protesters in the Southeast and
some parts of South-South.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within this period, Fulani herdsmen are rampaging killing
and sacking many communities, especially in the South and North Central regions
leading for Southerners to cry foul over what they termed as expansionist
agenda of Hausa-Fulani hegemony with its consequence of leading to another
civil war and ultimate fragmentation of the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Fulani herdsmen are now a big issue, and the talk about
a national dialogue on Fulani herdsmen problem is being muted. As it stands,
there is deep animosity and mutual suspicion among the ethnic groups. The fear
of Biafra has turned the South East a besieged zone. Journeys by road had shown
the same siege through countless roadblocks. As you are crossing one
checkpoint, a mere look ahead of you, of less than half a kilometer, will
reveal another barricade.  It is all so
frustrating. There is no war, or security breach. South East is not North-east
where Boko Haram still calls the shots (forget about government’s propaganda
of, “we have degraded Boko Haram”; Boko Haram is still very potent, controlling
large areas, killing and maiming people on a daily basis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was buttressed on May 26, 2017, by governor of Borno
State, Kashim Shettima, who warned Nigerians and concerned authorities to
disabuse their minds from the wrongly held assumptions that the Boko Haram
insurgents has been defeated. The governor gave the warning during the formal
signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kukar Centre and
Profuturo to educate the children in the 19 northern states.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Military bases are being established in the South East, just
for the fear of Biafra. Yet, in this Boko Haram-ravaged region, you would not
find this armada of security, treating the entire geo-political zone made up of
five states like a conquered territory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nigeria won the war between her and secessionist Biafra, but
she didn’t win the peace that is why after four decades the ghost of Biafra
haunts the nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time around, it is not only Biafra that is agitating to
break away from Nigeria. It was after the war that the Ogoni came up with
MOSOP, Southern Kaduna, and other ethnic groups just because their eyes had
been opened and so started questing the basis for being in Nigeria. In a
newspaper interview last weekend, leader of OPC, Chief Gani Adams said that the
Yoruba youths were ready to declare Oodua Republic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ndigbo is very serious about Biafran agitation for
self-determination. Those silver-tongued, brilliant phrases and ideas from two
of our leaders: John Nnia Nwodo and Chekwas Ojezigbo Okorie are basically
saying Ndigbo minds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the Amnesty programme, the flame in the Niger Delta
is yet to be doused. How long shall we remain with this? The time to tell
ourselves the truth has come. If anyone is expecting democratic revolution in
the Nigeria, such a person is hallucinating and building castle in the air. The
political class is inhuman, and has turned the system into buccaneercracy,
vikingcracy. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while in office, said if Jesus
Christ were to come to Nigeria to conduct elections that He would fail. This is
one of the foremost leaders, who has seen it all, both as military head of
state and president, and went to jail and escaped death by whiskers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore, Nigeria can’t meet the taste of future if
political solution different from what we have now is not applied. One of the
mouthpieces of North, Alhaji Ango Abdulahi, has said, North will support
restructuring but the dilemma remains. Would anyone elected under current
unitary system step aside or head an interim national government? It’s very
doubtful. As Buhari has been unable to improve Nigeria, an upgrade of the
Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo, to president will change nothing, instead
motion no leapfrog. At all levels of our government and administration, it’s
impossible to administer Nigeria without corruption. Nigeria has been
sequestered and treacherously raped with deadly distrust among country’s ethnic
nationalities. We don’t have a country. That solution is military intervention,
but not the type we have had in the past.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is the need for military intervention. Before you
stone me to death for suggesting the way out of this quagmire, take a look at
where we are coming from and where we are and see if there is a glorious future
for this country under the present order. The military will not shed blood because
we have shed more than enough blood, which is still hunting us, as we are yet
to atone for it. The military will be for a brief period of two years of
Interim National Government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They will organise a sovereign national conference, where
all the ethnic nationalities come together and discuss on the way forward and
from there, for the first time, they would come up with a constitution made by
the people, subject it to referendum for the people’s rectification not all
those fraudulent constitutions that had been forced down on our throats. It is
only through this that we can repair the faulty foundation, which Nigeria was
built on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This current Fourth Republic must end. Note, France passed
through several republics until they got it right at the fifth, when France’s
republican system of government was established by General Charles de Gaulle
under the constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958. One more
military mutiny to end the unitary administrative evils of Nigeria’s Fourth
Republic is highly imperative. In Egypt, change of order was instructive when
Muslim Brotherhood-led government got bad. The status quo Nigeria we hail thee
– national anthem must be restored, against arise to obey who? – The Obasanjo
national anthem that never accommodated Igbo nation. Shambles!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nigeria has been a forced marriage. A marriage forced on
elite hardly works, while a marriage forced on two fools may turn out to be
workable. However, the people who made up today’s Nigeria were clobbered
together because they were in the dark and like ‘fools’ didn’t know their left
from right and what they were going into, and that was why the union worked
under the imperial colonial maters. But when the colonial scale fell off from
their eyes, various groups started asking questioning on how they entered into
the marriage. That was the reason till his demise, the late sage, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo described Nigeria, as geographical entity, and refused to see it as a
nation. May the souls of fallen Biafran heroes and heroines rest perfectly in
Christ Jesus name, Amen!</div>

The imperative of changing present order

The imperative of changing present order Recently, rumours of coup were rife, and within same period marking the 50th anniversary of decl...

Rowdy session as Reps reject South East development bill

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjNqh6Uum2Mcobwwh97Oe_UpxSQTDC7Otv59FW59jA4qo2q5FOwLYlmxLdJoZmIH0Y4NTWq0SEP9i59FhXuMV54uMzXlPSX5lXh6y1Iy9FKMHEo-GrbkoWooyZ-pthR_RmJAbuuSDL8E/s1600/reps-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjNqh6Uum2Mcobwwh97Oe_UpxSQTDC7Otv59FW59jA4qo2q5FOwLYlmxLdJoZmIH0Y4NTWq0SEP9i59FhXuMV54uMzXlPSX5lXh6y1Iy9FKMHEo-GrbkoWooyZ-pthR_RmJAbuuSDL8E/s1600/reps-1.jpg" /></a>Rowdy session as Reps reject South East development bill<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Proceedings in the House of Representatives was rowdy, for
over 20 minutes, when lawmakers, mostly from the South East and South-South
protested rejection of a bill seeking to establish a South East Development
Commission.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To further compound the situation,  the bill, which was put to vote, twice, by
Speaker Yakubu Dogara, was defeated in a voice vote where it was difficult to
distinguish between the ‘nays’ and the ‘ayes.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earlier, Dogara had announced commencement of debate on the
bill and called on the leader of the South East caucus and lead sponsor of the
bill,  Chukwuka Onyema to lead the
debate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But,  Deputy Chairman
of the Committee on Rules and Business, 
Bode Ayorinde moved that the bill be stepped dow,  as Onyema was not in the chamber.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In response, Dogara ruled that the bill be stepped down by
leave of the House.  His ruling was
immediately followed by shouts of protests.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bill was first listed for Second Reading on Wednesday,
May 31, 2017, but was was stepped down 
because Onyema was not in the chamber when it got to its turn on the
Order Paer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A visibly angry Jones Onyereri  charged towards the front row where Minority
leader, Leo Ogor was seated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other aggrieved lawmakers, 
including Boma Godhead, Anayo Nnebe, 
Onyemaechi Mrakpor soon gathered around Enugu lawmaker, Toby Okechukwu,
when the confusion lasted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, when normalcy was restored, Dogara explained that
there was no plan to shut out any section of the country from expressing their
views on any issue on the floor of the House.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He said  if Onyema,
who had, at that time, returned to the chamber, was still interested in taking
the matter,  a motion could be moved on
the rescission of an earlier decision on the bill.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thereafter,  Ogor
moved a motion for the rescission on the bill.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Onyema, in his lead debate, said the bill will go a long way
in addressing developmental challenges in the South East. Detailing how the
commission will be funded, he explained that 15 
percent  of the total monthly
statutory allocation due member states, three percent of the total budget of
any oil-producing company onshore and offshore companies operating in the
South-East will be used.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also said funds will be sourced from three percent of the
total annual budget of solid minerals-extracting mining companies operating in
the South-East, as well as 50 percent of monies due to member states of the
commission from the Ecological Fund.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grants-in-aids, gifts and loans for the purpose of the
commission will equally be a source of funding, Onyema said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his contribution, 
Uzoma Nkem-Abonta said the bill, if passed into law, will go a long way
to cushion effects of neglect of the South East.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He added that bill will address ongoing agitations in the
region.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nkem-Abonta  said when
there were issues in the North East,  the
House passed the North East Development Commission Bill,  and appealed that same gesture be extended to
the South East.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What the bill is asking for, is an opportunity to have
funds for sustainable development.  In
the South East,  we have agitation going
on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If we do  not
act,  agitation will be on the increase.
This bill seek to cure a lot of things,” Nkem -Abonta noted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also,  Okechukwu,
while appealing to the House to support the bill, described it as “a Special
Purpose Vehicle” meant to address developmental challenges in the zone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It does not offend anybody. 
We must deliver the economy of scales. 
There are certain things the states cannot do on their own. But, if you
have a special purpose vehicle,  we will
be the better for it. We are saying that we must be our brothers keeper.  For me, I don’t think it challenges
anything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Similarly,  Henry
Nwawuba said the the same level of support which led to the passage of the
North East Development Commission Bill, sponsored by Dogara, should be given to
the bill sponsored by  South East
lawmakers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He said just as the North East, the South East has suffered
serious levels of devastation caused by 
the civil war and so, needs specially crafted intervention to rebuild.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On his part, 
Kehinde  Ayoola said the bill if
is approved, it will help move the country forward and warned that “history
will not forgive us if we fail to support this bill. It will help us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ogor, in his contribution said: “Since this commission is
not going to take money from outside, 
let us support it.  I appeal with
all sense of humility.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless,  Sani
Abdul said ordinarily, he does not have a problem with the bill, and noted that
“the truth is that agitations for development commissions is a failure of
governance in the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There are some fundamental clauses that we need to talk
about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The issue of Biafra agitation has brought fear into our
hearts. Some of our colleagues are bringing the issue of the civil war. We
should look at the Bill again.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Garuba Daiti and Sani Zoro picked holes in the bill. Daiti
said his problem was that the sponsors are claiming marginalisation, Zoro, on
his part, urged South East lawmakers to consult more on the bill.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As soon the bill was rejected, via voice vote, majority of
the lawmakers from the South East and South South walked out out of the chamber
.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, Daily Sun gathered, yesterday, that Onyema has
threatened to resign his position the next legislative day, on Tuesday June 6,
2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lawmakers close to Onyema disclosed that  “he felt betrayed by Dogara as he expected
that the bill wouldn’t be frustrated by the speaker.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nevertheless, Onyema was also seen expressing his
frustration to Dogara’s deputy, Yussuf Lasun, as he walked to his office after
plenary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yussuf couldn’t stop Onyema as he turned and made his way
back to where other South-East lawmakers had gathered to addressing the media.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lawmaker, who was surrounded by some of his colleagues,
again, expressed frustration as they tried to calm him down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am no longer interested….I am a leader, yet, the speaker
killed my bill,” he repeatedly told his colleagues.</div>

Rowdy session as Reps reject South East development bill

Rowdy session as Reps reject South East development bill Proceedings in the House of Representatives was rowdy, for over 20 minutes, when...

Obiano has lived up to his name ‘Akpokuedike’

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaxUgmjQz3gHHUnnXTtb179C_4fBhqNwzWkDSulc_9HhNqHteTGB8uDljv25yn0UAUNOKcgxQHEeiiG4WBF2XviRu9d_pqmllXHKUA2-oDi3TWjmv5Vb4AYKHYnNxN1gOlAOf7Q6yTA0/s1600/obiano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaxUgmjQz3gHHUnnXTtb179C_4fBhqNwzWkDSulc_9HhNqHteTGB8uDljv25yn0UAUNOKcgxQHEeiiG4WBF2XviRu9d_pqmllXHKUA2-oDi3TWjmv5Vb4AYKHYnNxN1gOlAOf7Q6yTA0/s1600/obiano.jpg" /></a>Obiano has lived up to his name ‘Akpokuedike’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Among the Anambra Igbo, it is a common practice to assume a
nickname. The name is usually chosen by the bearer to reflect his personal
philosophy or his worldview, or his vision of society or his resolve to engage
the world on his own terms. Considering that most people had no say in the
names given them at birth by their parents, a nickname therefore presents a
great chance to make amends and choose a name that one considers perfect for
oneself. This practice is so much a part of the Igbo society that it found its
way into Chinua Achebe’s 1958 classic; Things Fall Apart, which tragic hero,
Okonkwo, is also known as Ebubedike!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, there are many instances when some of the names are
honorary titles conferred with high ceremonies and traditional observances. The
easiest to remember are titles like Akpokuedike (Governor Obiano), Ohamadike
(Chief Victor Umeh) and Ebubedike (Pete Edochie). These are titles chosen by
different communities in appreciation of the contributions of these illustrious
personages to the society. More often than not, most men have risen to
represent the full essence of their names and titles. A good example is
Governor Willie Obiano who is addressed as Akpokuedike. A lose translation
within the context would be something like “when the warrior is summoned.”
Almost every day, it becomes clearer why the people of Aguleri bestowed that
title on him. This is because when we call upon a warrior, he answers. A
warrior who fails to answer the distress call of his people is either in
captivity or dead or a pretender. A warrior has to always prove himself at the
moment of need.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the past three years, Akpokuedike Aguleri has continued
to prove himself to Ndi Anambra. When it seemed like no one could deliver them
from the reign of terror and insecurity unleashed by criminals and brigands
that had held sway for over 40-years, Akpokuedike appeared on the scene. He
took on the enemies of the people and put them to flight. He lived out his
name!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a long time, Anambra State seemed just like a mini Nigeria
– so much promise and so little to show in practical terms. It became clear
that we needed a “strategic thinker” who would carry out a comprehensive
profiling of the state and match its potentials with available opportunities.
In came Akpokuedike with his Vision and Mission statements which are his
conceptual definitions of the Anambra scenario and his Four Pillars of
Development which is akin to his operational definition of it. And less than
three years afterwards, Anambra became an important destination for investments
and a promising postcard for destination marketing. Living out the description
given to him by Chief Emeka Anyaoku as a strategic thinker, Obiano showed
foresight in establishing the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection
Agency (ANSIPPA) which made investing in the state seem like a walk in the
park.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obiano also showed that he has the capacity not only to see
the big picture but to carve out a footpath to an island of dreams. He did
exactly that when against natural expectations, he made agriculture one of the
major pillars of his administration. With only 4,484 square kilometres of land,
Obiano has turned Anambra into a pacesetter in agriculture. It is nothing short
of greatness; a clear indication that as a leader, Willie Obiano is not content
with following global best practices but would rather create one himself. To
this moment, many observers are still surprised at how Anambra has suddenly
become better known for agriculture than for buying and selling. That is what happens
when a leader remembers the name he bears and makes a conscious effort to
reflect it in his actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Similarly, Governor Obiano also proved that his moniker
Akpokuedike is well deserved in the swift manner that he responds to
emergences. His decision to add an ambulance to his convoy has proven to be a
clear sign of his strategic thinking prowess as many lives have been saved by
the speedy response of despatching the ambulance to accident victims and
casualties in absolute distress. With an ultra-modern ambulance in his convoy,
distress calls are responded to with the speed of sound. This has been copied
by other governors across the nation. He has also been quick to respond to
save-our-soul messages from the scenes of collapsed buildings, fire outbreaks
and multiple accidents. Maybe that is what a leader does when he assumes the
name Akpokuedike!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obiano has also lived out his name in the profound manner he
chose to respond to the loud clamour for a befitting capital for Anambra State.
Three years ago, a visitor to the state could easily drive through Awka without
knowing that he had gone past the capital of Anambra State. There were no
landmarks, no monuments and no aesthetics. Awka looked like a benighted village
struggling to shrug off its pastoral looks on its way to becoming a city. But
Akpokuedike has answered the loud clamour for a befitting capital. Although
there is still a lot of work to be done, it is obvious to everyone who knows
where we are coming from that the journey has truly begun. No one can drive
through Awka now without appreciating the impressive effort that is going on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the whole, it cannot be gainsaid that Akpokuedike has
lived to the full weight of his name. He has proven that he does not only
answer when he is called to handle some difficult tasks but that he often
arrives at the point of need, prepared. This is the man Anambra needs at this
moment in time!</div>

Obiano has lived up to his name ‘Akpokuedike’

Obiano has lived up to his name ‘Akpokuedike’ Among the Anambra Igbo, it is a common practice to assume a nickname. The name is usually c...

Oil falls below $50 following US pullout from Climate accord

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexBxorzNLtrGW5alj11lNp9j2o8yZWaJm5B508iBiGhKQPXEZ9cj6jj7cSnCxqc28zEXFR4tMmyVe0lQJ7PcnZBxgTYth5mYAoQXOB6_pvo_jnMRsAZHsFGrwyPwR8gMuWzDX1VYWsFs/s1600/691376558-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexBxorzNLtrGW5alj11lNp9j2o8yZWaJm5B508iBiGhKQPXEZ9cj6jj7cSnCxqc28zEXFR4tMmyVe0lQJ7PcnZBxgTYth5mYAoQXOB6_pvo_jnMRsAZHsFGrwyPwR8gMuWzDX1VYWsFs/s1600/691376558-300x200.jpg" /></a>Oil falls below $50 following US pullout from Climate accord<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oil prices tumbled below $50 on Friday amid worries that
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon a global climate pact could
spark more crude drilling in the United States, stoking a persistent glut in
global supply.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Global benchmark Brent crude futures  was down 1.7 percent, or 80 cents, at $49.75
a barrel, as of 0725 GMT.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
US West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures dropped 87
cents, or 1.81 percent, to $47.46 per barrel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Commodity markets were absorbing news the United States
would withdraw from the landmark 2015 global agreement to fight climate change,
a move that fulfilled a major campaign pledge but drew condemnation from U.S.
allies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This could lead to a drilling free-for-all in the U.S. and
also see other signatories waver in their commitments,” said Jeffrey Halley,
senior market analyst, OANDA.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This outcome could increase the supply-side equation from
the United States and complicate OPEC’s forward projections. A scenario that
would not be favorable to oil prices.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surging US production has put a strain on OPEC members’
efforts to curb production to drain a global crude supply overhang.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A week ago, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) and some non-OPEC members met in Vienna to roll over an output
cut deal to reduce 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) until the end of next
March.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on
Friday he did not think that the global output cut agreement would be altered should
prices go lower.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Russia’s Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin also said the market cannot
stabilize unless all producers cut output.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oil prices are down some 7.5 percent since OPEC’s May 25
decision to extend the cuts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Faced with lingering glut woes, the oil cartel also
discussed last week reducing output by a further 1 to 1.5 percent, and could
revisit the proposal should inventories remain high, according to sources.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But oil markets were offered some support by official data
that showed crude inventories in the United States, the world’s top oil
consumer, fell sharply last week as refining and exports surged to record
highs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Crude stockpiles were down by 6.4 million barrels in the
week<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to May 26, beating analyst expectations for a decrease of
2.5 million barrels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, US crude production rose to 9.34 million bpd last
week, up nearly 500,000 bpd from a year ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We may or may not see more huge draws. But crude production
is slowly but surely going to neutralize the (OPEC-led)production cut,” said
Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy Trifecta.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rising output from Nigeria and Libya, which are exempted
from the deal, is also undercutting oil producers’ attempt to limit production.</div>

Oil falls below $50 following US pullout from Climate accord

Oil falls below $50 following US pullout from Climate accord Oil prices tumbled below $50 on Friday amid worries that U.S. President Dona...

RMD AND DON JAZZY GO ON A SPREE WITH MO ABUDU AT GRAND PRIX IN MONACO

<img src="http://stargist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/don-jazzy-and-rmd6.png" />Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD landed in Monaco
Saturday to join his fellow Johnnie Walker influencers, Don Jazzy and Mo Abudu
ahead of today’s Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dapper as usual, Richard arrived at noon, just in time, for
lunch at the VIP Loges Suites. Shortly after, the three superstars headed to
The Formula 1 Third Practice session followed by a Pit Lane Walk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Whisky connoisseur then met with Tom Jones (Global Brand
Ambassador, Johnnie Walker) for informal drinks during a mixology class.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
RMD is a Nigerian actor and former Commissioner for Culture
and Tourism in Delta State while Don Jazzy is a top music producer in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only lady in the midst of the trio, Mo Abudu is one of
Nigeria’s leading women in media.<o:p></o:p></div>
Check out more photos.<img height="212" src="http://stargist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/don-jazzy-and-rmd3.jpg" width="320" /><img src="http://stargist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/don-jazzy-and-rmd7.png" /><img src="http://stargist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/don-jazzy-and-rmd9.png" /><img height="320" src="http://stargist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/don-jazzy-and-rmd5.jpg" width="213" />

RMD AND DON JAZZY GO ON A SPREE WITH MO ABUDU AT GRAND PRIX IN MONACO

Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD landed in Monaco Saturday to join his fellow Johnnie Walker influencers, Don Jazzy and Mo Abudu a...

Philippines: Casino robbery ends with dozens dead at tourist resort

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXZ-UpmhEskaRRZUWcGcRvqv5P63PatX2AqHttAna4aEOhyphenhyphenIL5tO-YhBTryGyW0AiM_x7reG18jd1WY5CAClgnZacZuKGktM44S9VMVAF7ASU6Wp2uEDAZLhokGaNz4-r0gWtgfN6TCk/s1600/170602-manila-cr-0524_03_be02be4dc7967d7e477bd35843940355.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXZ-UpmhEskaRRZUWcGcRvqv5P63PatX2AqHttAna4aEOhyphenhyphenIL5tO-YhBTryGyW0AiM_x7reG18jd1WY5CAClgnZacZuKGktM44S9VMVAF7ASU6Wp2uEDAZLhokGaNz4-r0gWtgfN6TCk/s1600/170602-manila-cr-0524_03_be02be4dc7967d7e477bd35843940355.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000-300x200.jpg" /></a>Philippines: Casino robbery ends with dozens dead at tourist
resort<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dozens of people died after a gunman whom police described
as a robber fired shots and set fires at a casino resort complex in the
Philippines.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of the 36 victims died from suffocation or smoke
inhalation after casino tables were set ablaze, Police Chief Oscar Albayalde
said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The attacker also apparently killed himself during the
incident at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, a southwestern suburb of the
capital.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stephen Reilly, the casino’s chief operating officer, later
said that 35 people had died — 13 employees and 22 guests — in what he
described as a “senseless attack.” The reason for the discrepancy between the
death tolls was not immediately clear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earlier, local and national police insisted for hours that
only the gunman died in the incident, which began shortly after midnight Friday
(noon Thursday ET).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reilly told reporters that members of the casino’s security
team were able to shoot and wound the gunman, prompting him to take shelter in
a room where he then killed himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippines National Police,
said the suspect burned himself to death.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President Donald Trump — speaking in Washington, where he
announced his decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord — immediately
called the incident a “terrorist attack” and said the United States was closely
monitoring reports. He didn’t say how the United States had determined that the
attack was terrorism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Dela Rosa told reporters after Trump spoke that there
was no indication of terrorism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The suspect — who was believed to be a foreign white man who
spoke English and acted alone — stuffed casino chips into a bag and tried to
flee through the main complex, setting casino tables on fire and firing a
weapon at a TV set, Dela Rosa said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Albayalde said the culprit carried a long firearm similar to
a “baby ArmaLite” — a term often used in the Philippines to refer to a variant
of the M16 carbine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dela Rosa and Albayalde said the motive appeared to have
been robbery.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Albayalde said the gunman had likely been addicted to
gambling and ransacked a storage area where casino chips were stocked. He said
the man made off with chips worth about 130 million pesos, or roughly $2.6
million.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Terrorism concerns are widespread in the Philippines, where
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across region the size of South
Korea last week in response to ISIS-linked militants’ besieging the majority
Muslim city of Marawi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Dela Rosa said the gunman “would have shot at people or
triggered a bomb” had he been a terrorist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, he warned, ISIS could falsely try to claim
responsibility for propaganda purposes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The U.S. Embassy in Manila urged Americans to “exercise
caution and review your personal security plans.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Duterte has warned that rebel fighters could try to advance
northward as they push their agenda of an independent Islamic state and that he
may seek to widen martial law across the entire country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Source: NBCNews)</div>

Philippines: Casino robbery ends with dozens dead at tourist resort

Philippines: Casino robbery ends with dozens dead at tourist resort Dozens of people died after a gunman whom police described as a robbe...

Paris Climate Accord unstoppable says UN chief after U.S. exit

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVrJLjsOVwhvUhp3L3M-vKVV3sjZx3kiUNLKnBniX3FiMldT7QIKkWo-6Rx0dfHGqFpRYJl58IqSkEb6n8ClIpdL6clay5v5jduqsPAZJhBFGB7B4kDmXpXuHrA1TxW7TtN9IKG_jAPw/s1600/691116526-300x200+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVrJLjsOVwhvUhp3L3M-vKVV3sjZx3kiUNLKnBniX3FiMldT7QIKkWo-6Rx0dfHGqFpRYJl58IqSkEb6n8ClIpdL6clay5v5jduqsPAZJhBFGB7B4kDmXpXuHrA1TxW7TtN9IKG_jAPw/s1600/691116526-300x200+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a>Paris Climate Accord unstoppable says UN chief after U.S.
exit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared on Friday in
St. Petersburg that the Paris Agreement on climate change was on course and
unstoppable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guterres, who made the remarks on climate change at a press
encounter in St. Petersburg, Russia, also declared that “climate change is
undeniable”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The remarks of the UN chief might not be unconnected with
the decision of the U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday to withdraw the country
from the Paris Climate Accord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Climate change is undeniable. And it is one of the biggest
threats to our present world and to the future of our planet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“On the other hand, climate action is unstoppable,” the UN
chief said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump had called for a renegotiation of the Paris Climate
Agreement, which as at May, 195 members of UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change had signed and 147 had ratified.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guterres, however, asked all governments to go ahead with
the implementation of the climate accord already reached.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I urge all the governments around the world to stay the
course, to remain committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement to the
benefit of all of us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And in relation to U.S. society, I am deeply convinced that
states, cities, the business community, the civil society, will also remain
engaged, will bet on the green economy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Because the green economy is the good economy, it is the
economy of the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Because this is not only the right thing to do, it is the
smart thing to do,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And those that will be betting on the implementation of the
Paris Agreement, on the green economy, will be the ones that have a leading
role in the economy of the 21st century.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump had, in a nationwide broadcast, announced: “To fulfil
my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the U.S.will withdraw from
the Paris Climate Accord but begin negotiations to re-enter our way into Paris
Accord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Or in really entirely new transaction or terms that are
fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people and its tax
payers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So, we are getting out but we will start to negotiate and
we would see if we could make a deal that is fair and if we can, that’s great and
if we can’t, that’s fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“As President, I can put no other consideration before the
wellbeing of the American citizens. The Paris Climate Accord is simply the
latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the
United States”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to him, compliance with the terms of the Paris
Accord and the onerous energy restriction that is placed on the U.S. can cost
America as much as 2.7 million job loss by 2025.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Source: NAN)</div>

Paris Climate Accord unstoppable says UN chief after U.S. exit

Paris Climate Accord unstoppable says UN chief after U.S. exit UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared on Friday in St. Petersburg...

Fuel hike: Nigerians flay Senate’s recommendation

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQ1aOPUq-ku4ZXGajI9dH2QsPi3cM3p6CeW_DFzgwbo-hGb0tkZrOsfgo7QeScU5iOzFsjGPFDzNd0MfXd9dnBEBWfaDdtOnwUVwVsJ5yNrHRayvrR5a6anAvKnX2YzqXR_dLx1ax3YA/s1600/DA8PLQLXkAATIBN-300x169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQ1aOPUq-ku4ZXGajI9dH2QsPi3cM3p6CeW_DFzgwbo-hGb0tkZrOsfgo7QeScU5iOzFsjGPFDzNd0MfXd9dnBEBWfaDdtOnwUVwVsJ5yNrHRayvrR5a6anAvKnX2YzqXR_dLx1ax3YA/s1600/DA8PLQLXkAATIBN-300x169.jpg" /></a>Fuel hike: Nigerians flay Senate’s recommendation<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some Nigerians in Abuja on Friday flayed the Senate
recommendation for a N5 fuel levy on every litre of petroleum or diesel
imported into the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The respondents expressed their views in separate interviews
with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Adebayo
Ojo, a resident noted that the present recession called for a reduction in
petrol price and not an increment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ojo, a commercial taxi driver, told NAN that: “Government
cannot possibly be thinking about increasing the petrol price when they know
the harsh economic situation in the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The government should rather think of reducing the price
else they will be calling Nigerians fools for being patient all this the while.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We are not fools and government should not take us for
granted, how can the senate be so mean to even contemplate a thing like that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I personally will recruit people to take to the street if a
thing like that should happen,’’ he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mrs Zainab Abu, a shop owner at Wuse market, said: “No, it
can’t be true. That will be callous’’.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abu told NAN that she could no longer afford her children’s
school fees and had withdrawn them to a local school because of the recession.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This government has failed Nigerians and if we are not expecting
anything more they should stop frustrating us,’’ she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A salon owner in Maitama told NAN on condition of anonymity
that: “Aunty, look around, I have laid off my staff. This one with me is cheap
labour and she comes in thrice a week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I couldn’t increase their pay and they both said they could
not cope because the salary barely covered their cost of transportation.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At a bus stop in Maitama, a lady who offered her name as
Sala, almost slumped when NAN asked her reaction to the imminent hike.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sala said: “The proposed hike is unreasonable, it will
increase everything again and we have not recovered from the increments in
virtually everything.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Senate Committee on Works, had on June 1, recommended a
N5 fuel levy on every litre of petroleum or diesel imported into Nigeria to
help finance the proposed National Roads Fund.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The committee, chaired by Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), also
recommended the deduction of 0.5 per cent on fares paid by passengers
travelling on inter-state roads to commercial mass transit operators and return
of toll gates on federal roads, among others.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The inference of the proposed fuel levy charge is that
end-users, including motorists, would pay N5 tax on every litre of fuel bought
at any fuel station.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The recommendation, which has kept busy all social media
platforms, comes a year after a recent increase of the pump price of premium
motor spirit (petrol) from N87 to N145 per litre.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Source: NAN)</div>

Fuel hike: Nigerians flay Senate’s recommendation

Fuel hike: Nigerians flay Senate’s recommendation Some Nigerians in Abuja on Friday flayed the Senate recommendation for a N5 fuel levy o...

Detained Ifeanyi Ubah’s kinsmen threatened hunger strike, rally Igbo support

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ubah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ubah.jpg" /></a>Detained Ifeanyi Ubah’s kinsmen threatened hunger strike,
rally Igbo support<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kinsmen of detained Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, under the
aegis of Association of Umudiana Ndi Nnewi Movement, Anambra State chapter, on
Thursday, threatened to go on hunger strike and remain so until their son
regains his freedom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ubah, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil
and Gas Limited is being held by operatives of the Department of State Services
(DSS).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The association also appealed to the Ohaneze Ndigbo
leadership, youth associations, human right groups and students union
associations to rise to the occasion and ensure that Dr. Ubah was set free,
unconditionally.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Commenting on the oil magnet’s continued detention, Prince
Iwuchukwu Victor and Comrade Ejiofor Igboegwu, chairman and  secretary of the association, respectively,
said the association comprising Ubah’s kinsmen both at home and in the
Diaspora, were not against investigation of the oil magnate, but that  it should not impinge the fundamental rights
of the detainee.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They said he should be released in line with the rule of
law.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to them, “It is unfortunate that Dr Ubah’s
contributions to the economic wellbeing of this nation through creation of
employment for thousands of Nigerians could so easily be forgotten by the
powers that be. Our brother, Ubah never deserved the treatment he is being
given by his accusers,” they argued.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The association recalled that on various occasions, Dr Ubah
had intervened to avert fuel scarcity in Nigeria to show his patriotism. It
said the action of keeping Ubah out of circulation through detention could be
an underground plot and conspiracy to tarnish the image of the oil magnet by
those who were worried about his progress in business.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We seek justice for the CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Limited,
Dr Ifeanyi Ubah who on so many occasions as an oil magnet turned out to be a
Messiah to fuel consumers at the time of acute fuel scarcity, especially in the
entire South East. He is a philanthropist to the core. And from what is
happening around him now it is crystal clear that this is pure intimidation and
harassment to the Igbo in general. The harassment is unacceptable to us,” the
statement read.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group said it could not come to terms why the DSS should
continue to detain Ubah without trial, if allegations against him were true. It
noted that since what brought about the matter in the first place was a
business transaction between Dr Ubah and NNPC, that the case needed not to be
criminalised.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>

Detained Ifeanyi Ubah’s kinsmen threatened hunger strike, rally Igbo support

Detained Ifeanyi Ubah’s kinsmen threatened hunger strike, rally Igbo support Kinsmen of detained Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, under the aegi...

Group offers 3,000 free medical attention in Anambra

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/medical-outreach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/medical-outreach.jpg" /></a>Group offers 3,000 free medical attention in Anambra<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worried about the pitiable health conditions of some urban
and rural dwellers in Anambra State, who could not afford their medical bills,
an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) support group, the Reality Forum, has
organised an elaborate free medical outreach in Nnewi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More than 3,000 beneficiaries, including children and the
physically challenged, were diagonised and treated of various ailments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The medical outreach featured health talks and
sensitisation, blood pressure and blood glucose check, HIV/AIDS and malaria
parasites tests, breast screening, surgical lump removal and other minor
surgical procedures as well as free drugs and eye glasses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The medical mission was targeted at all residents of Nnewi
and its neighbourhood both indigenes and non indigenes alike who trooped out to
No. 37, Igwe Orizu Road, Nnewi where the programme took place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The medical mission sponsored by a Lagos-based public
servant, Comrade Uzo Nwosu, and had a team of medical personnel under the aegis
of Achievers Medical Team made up of 35 medical experts in various fields who
were drawn from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi and
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his remarks, coordinator of the programme, Mr. Eloka
Maduekwe said that the main objective of the Reality Forum was to support good
governance of Governor Willie Obiano whom he said had been exceptional in his
leadership style. He noted that Governor Obiano gave Nnewi people the highest
number of political appointments ever experienced since the creation of Anambra
State “and that is why this group has chosen to support his administration
through this medical mission.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Financier of the Reality Group, Comrade Nwosu, said he was
impressed by the turnout of people to receive the free medical treatment. He
explained that it gave him joy to be one of the contributors to the wellbeing
of his people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It gladdens my heart that you responded to my invitation.
What I do today is what I have been doing ever since. The only difference is
that I do this in appreciation of APGA good governance in Anambra State. Nobody
contributes to the sponsorship of this programme. I do it singlehandedly and we
are not asking for financial help,” Comrade Nwosu noted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to him, he decided to support Governor Obiano’s
administration because of the Governor’s achievement in the area of security
network, prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, good road network,
agricultural revolution, among other programmes. He said he remembered when
Anambra people in diaspora could not come home for Christmas because of
insecurity which he said Governor Obiano had reversed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He explained that his group was working for Obiano’s second
tenure hoping that an Nnewi man would be the next Governor of Anambra State
after Obiano’s eight years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the special guests at the event and immediate past
Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwudi Orizu, lauded
the free medical programme.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He described it as an expression of think-home philosophy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hon. Orizu who is now the transition chairman of Nnewi North
Council Area called on the residents to always utilize an opportunity like that
whenever it called to know their health status, saying “prevention is better
than cure.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beneficiaries interviewed commended in unison the effort of
the Reality Forum for bringing good health to them as many could not afford
medical bills at various conventional health facilities. One of them, Ogbodo
Chinedu said if government and other well to do individuals could be offering
free medical treatments to members of society, most deaths could be avoided.
They prayed for God’s protection, provision and sustainance for the sponsor of
the programme.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Obinna Aniagboso led the medical team as Nonye Nnebe, a
dietician and Nwabueze Jude, a laboratory scientist gave lectures on high blood
pressure, other health challenges, meningitis and its prevention, respectively.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>

Group offers 3,000 free medical attention in Anambra

Group offers 3,000 free medical attention in Anambra Worried about the pitiable health conditions of some urban and rural dwellers in Ana...

APGA crisis deepens as faction backs Agbaso as National Chair

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/agbaso-300x277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/agbaso-300x277.jpg" /></a>APGA crisis deepens as faction backs Agbaso as National
Chair<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA) has deepened as the acting national publicity secretary of the party,
Onapuruagu Prince Ukaegbu reaffirms the support of members of the party on the
leadership of Chief Martin Agbaso as national chairman.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was even as Ukaegbu has lambasted the former chairman
of the party in Imo State, Peter Ezeobi, over the statement credited to him
last week where he alleged to have said that Chief Agbaso was no longer a
member of the party before the Enugu High Court ruling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking in Aba, Ukaegbu said that the founding members of
the party supported the ruling of the Enugu High court which affirmed Agbaso as
national chairman of the party in line with the earlier decision of the NCW.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ukaegbu advised that before making such statement, Ezeobi
should have cross-checked with the APGA ward chairman of Emekuku, Owerri where
Agbaso hails from and verify his facts before rushing to the press.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ukaegbu stated that the new national chairman of APGA left
the party over injustice matted out to him by the former national chairman, but
returned through his Emekuku Ward which he said was the normal process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The former APGA chairman in Imo State, Ezeobi should know
he was the reason that saw Agbaso briefly exiting APGA, so it is natural for
him to make such statement that was lacking in facts, to save his neck.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ukaegbu was of the view that Ezeobi lacked the locus to
speak on behalf of Imo APGA on the matter since he was no longer the state
party chairman, stressing that his (Ezeobi’s) statement would serve no purpose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The acting national publicity secretary of APGA said what
the court did was simply to give effect to the decision of the party which
sacked Victor Ike Oye and replaced him with Agbaso.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Following the death of Ozo Nwabueze, the National Working
Committee (NWC) of our great party in line with the relevant provisions of the
constitution of APGA, elected Chief Agbaso as the acting national chairman
pending the rectification by the NEC/convention and that is exactly what the
court affirmed”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ukaegbu said the NWC of APGA welcomes wholeheartedly what he
described as the uncommon courage exhibited by Justice A.R Ozoemena in arriving
at his decision not minding whose ex was gourd.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
He urged all the party members to remain calm as the new
national chairman under take measures to reposition APGA.</div>

APGA crisis deepens as faction backs Agbaso as National Chair

APGA crisis deepens as faction backs Agbaso as National Chair The crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has deepened ...

Breastfeeding cuts uterus cancer risks

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/breasfeeding-300x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/breasfeeding-300x180.jpg" /></a>Breastfeeding cuts uterus cancer risks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Women who breastfeed their children have been found to be at
substantially less risk of developing uterus cancer, according to researchers
at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Susan Jordan, head of the Cancer Causes and Care
research group at QIMR Berghofer said that women who breastfeed at least one
child have a lower risk of contracting cancer of the uterus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We found that the longer women breast-fed each child, the
more their risk of uterine cancer reduced, up until nine months when the
reduction in risk plateaued,” Jordan said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The research into the link between breastfeeding and this
form of cancer was the largest ever undertaken, with the team at QIMR Berghofer
analysing data collected from over 26,000 Australian women, with over 9,000 of
those having uterine cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We looked at the total amount of time these women had spent
breastfeeding over the course of their lives,” Jordan said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We found that women who had ever breastfed had an 11
percent lower risk of developing uterine cancer than women who had never
breastfed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within the results was also an interesting correlation
between the duration of the breastfeeding and subsequent lowering of the
likelihood of contracting uterus cancer, with women who breastfed for three to
six months having a 7 percent less risk of the cancer, and women who breastfed
for six to nine months having their risk reduced by 11 percent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“In other words, a woman who breastfed two children for nine
months each had around a 22 percent lower risk of uterus cancer than a woman
who had never breastfed her children,” Jordan said<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, not every woman is able to breastfeed, and Jordan
said there are other things that women can do to lower the risk of endometrial,
or uterus cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Having a baby reduces your risk, similarly taking the oral
contraceptive pill can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer; but probably the
best thing to do is make sure you have a healthy lifestyle,” Jordan said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Eat well, avoid putting on weight, and exercise regularly,
these are all key things to reduce the risk of uterus cancer.” (NAN)</div>

Breastfeeding cuts uterus cancer risks

Breastfeeding cuts uterus cancer risks Women who breastfeed their children have been found to be at substantially less risk of developing...

Presidency cancels Budget signing last minute

<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vp1.jpg" /></a>Presidency cancels Budget signing last minute<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There has been a last-minute cancellation of much awaited
siogning of the 2017 budget by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was gathered that the document had been slated for signing
by 9:00a.m on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A source said that the budget was due to be signed on
Thursday and that the presiding officers of the National Assembly had been
invited to witness the exercise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the Presidency made a last-minute cancellation of the
exercise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was gathered 
earlier on Wednesday that a team from the Presidency had met with the
leadership of the National Assembly where it was disclosed that the budget
would be signed the next day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A source at the meeting said signing of the budget was the main
issue that the presidential team discussed with the lawmakers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But later in the evening, the leadership of the National
Assembly was informed that the exercise would no longer go on as planned.
(TheCable)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>

Presidency cancels Budget signing last minute

Presidency cancels Budget signing last minute There has been a last-minute cancellation of much awaited siogning of the 2017 budget by Ac...