VON DG, Okechukwu hails Dogara’s defection to APC, says its good omen for 2023

VON-DG Osita Okechukwu

By Our Madu Ezenoha

 

Former speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara's defecion to All Progressives Congress (APC) portends good omen for the party ahead of 2023 general elections, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu said on Sunday.

 Speaking with journalists at his hometown, Eke in Udi local government area of Enugu State, Okechukwu, a chieftain of APC, expressed excitement over the return of Dogara after a short stint with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 According to him, Dogara must have been attracted back to APC by President Muhammadu Buhari’s agrarian revolution and the transformation going on in the party under the Caretaker Committee headed by Yobe State Governor, His Excellency, M.M. Buni. Dogara is from agrarian community and cannot failed to ignite the unprecedented Buhari’s Agrarian Revolution.

Okechukwu predicted more defections to APC as the 2023 elections approaches.

“To be frank, one rates Rt.Hon. Yakubu’s decamping to All Progressives Congress (APC), as a good omen to our great party. Dogara could be likened to a woman who has married two husbands and comes back to the first husband," he said.

Okechukwu described the return  of Dogara as a clear reflection that APC has more transparent officials, better programs and had done more with little resources.

He said it does not matter if the return of Dogara  to APC was politically motivated or because of disagreement with his Governor, His Excellency, Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, insisting that the former speaker acted in national interest. 

“To me whether local politics or national politics, Dogara must have noticed that there are positive changes and realpolitik transformation going in the soul of APC, which will attract more progressives as we approach 2023 general elections. 

"A lot of progressives in other political parties are closely watching His Excellency M.M. Buni’s Caretaker Committee,” Okechukwu said.

He maintained that Dogara has out of the box of cacophony of voices of heart rendering insecurity, gross unemployment and seeming hopeless in the land, came to the inevitable conclusion that all hands have to be on the deck to salvage the country from the cliff-hang.  

When asked how on earth one could talk of APC harbouring more transparent officials and programmes more than PDP with deafening stories of corruption in the public domain, such as Magu vs Malami and Saharareporters, Akpabio and NDDC, Ngige and NSITF, among others,  Okechukwu said, “one has to be cautious, be careful, we don’t jump the gun, let’s wait until the investigations are concluded. There is no need for speculations or hazarding guess work. It is also sign of war against corruption that the issues were not swept under the carpet. It is work in progress as far as anti-graft war is concerned."

On the Saharareporters web-photos on Malami’s properties, Okechukwu quipped, “what struck me was that we slept in the same hotel pictured in the photos during the 2011 general elections campaign of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). 

"If the Attorney General owned the hotel before he came into office in 2015, is it correct to accuse him on this count?” Okechukwu said, adding that he vividly remembered how they enjoyed themselves pro bono at the behest of Abubakar Malami in the hotel.

On the coincidence of Dogara's defection at a time PDP called for the President's resignation, Okechukwu said he had not assessed the inner workings of his mind but believes that the former speaker " appreciates like most of us that Nigeria is in a bind and dire straights, and that all President Buhari needs at this crucial time is the hands of all patriots on the deck, not resignation."

In sum he said in all honesty, Mr President needs the support of all patriots to navigate Nigeria out of crisis, not resignation.

 

Tears, eulogies as Ofo-Okenwa goes home, Cleric enjoins Christians to live righteously for God

Late Ofo-Okenwa

Body of late Hon. Chidi Ofo-Okenwa, 50, Executive Member of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was interred at St. Stephen’s Methodist Church, Akpugo, Nkanu West local government area of Enugu, weekend.

The solemn ceremony elicited tears and eulogies from football administrators, the clergy, friends and well wishers.

A cleric, Very Rev. Charles Ogbunisi, in a homily, enjoined Christians to live righteously for God by shunning all forms of evil and wickedness while alive.

Ofo-Okenwa until his death was the Chairman of Enugu State Football Association and husband of Mrs Chika Okenwa, South-East Zonal Marketing Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ogbunisi, who is the Presbyter of Ebenezer Circuit of Methodist Diocese of Agbani in Enugu State, said that death remained a great mystery only understood by God and could come to any human at any time.

``The message of repentance and call to God’s righteousness and holy life is for us here today. Ofo-Okenwa here had finished his race on earth and gone.

``However, we believed and as confirmed by the Holy Bible that it does not end in death since there is great judgment and eternity after the physical death.

``So for us to earn eternality through the grace of God Almighty; we, who are living, must walk in the light and footsteps that pleases God,’’ he said.

The cleric, however, said that in the very little mysteries of death revealed to us, is that death is the most dangerous thing to happen to an unbeliever.

``Since God does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner.

``However, death is also a precious thing in the sight of God especially when `a child of God goes home’.

``As the word of God says it is a precious thing for a child of God to death and return graciously to his maker,’’ he said.

Ogbunisi appealed to Christians not to take the fleeting and short-lived issues and pleasures of life to lose eternity that last forever.

Later, Mr Nkem Okenwa, brother to the deceased, thanked the Church and clergy for the service and also standing by the family in its trying time.

He also thanked the NFF and all its subordinate bodies, groups and football clubs as well as the burial committee of friends for all their support to make the burial a success.

``On behalf of the Okenwa Aneke extended family, we thank you people for standing by us  and we pray that sudden death will never be your portion,’’ he added.

The burial was attended by NFF executives, top officials of Enugu State Youths and Sports Ministry, management of Rangers International FC, Enugu, executive members of Enugu State Football Association, Enugu Football Referees Association among many others.

Enugu: Correctional Service seeks ALGON's collaboration in implementation of Establishment Act

From; Madu Ezenoha, ENUGU

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Enugu State Command and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) yesterday agreed to work together towards the implementation of the Correctional Service Act, 2019 in Enugu State.

The Deputy Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mrs Clementina Chukwu, dropped the hint when she paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman of ALGON, Enugu State, Mr Solomon Onah.

Chukwu, while explaining the new Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, said that ALGON and local governments are critical stakeholders in the full implementation of the Act.

She outlined the roles of the local government in the implementation of the Act, which according to her, provided for non-custodial measure as an alternative to imprisonment.

"ALGON and the individual local governments in the state remained a critical stakeholder in moving the implementation of the new Act as it concerns the non-custodial aspect of the Act.

"We want to build a strong synergy and partnership that would further help non-custodial aspect of NCoS Act and reduce the population in our custodial centres in the state,’’ she explained.

In a remark, Onah, who is also the Executive Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area, promised to galvanise ALGON members and council areas in the state to ensure the implementation of the new Act.

The ALGON chairman stressed the need for the Deputy Controller to repeat the visit in other to brief other chairmen during the next ALGON meeting. 

The chairman also pledged to provide office space for the Correctional Service in Udenu Local Government Area.

The Deputy Controller presented the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019 by to the ALGON boss. 

Deceased Enugu lawmaker for burial July 31

By Our Reporter

The deceased member representing Isi-Uzo state constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijoke Ugwueze will be buried on July 3, at his country home, Ikem.

 Ugwueze died recently after a brief illness at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu.

According to the burial arrangement released by his family made available to the journalists in Enugu yesterday, there will be a service of songs at his Enugu residence, No. 15 Cornelia Drive, behind Area Command, New Haven extension between 5 - 8pm.

On Thursday, July 30, 2020, there will be a Christian wake at his family compound,  behind Isi-Uzo Local Government Council Headquarters, Ikem by 5 - 8pm. 

 

Subsequently, on Friday, July 31, 2020 by 10am, a  valedictory session will take place at the Enugu State House of Assembly. This will be preceded by lying in state by 11.40 am at his family compound, Ikem and thereafter by  12.00 noon, funeral service at Government field, Ikem will take place, followed immediately by internment. Ends 

Court Jails Five Internet Fraudsters In Abeokuta

Ibrahim Magu

By Our Reporter

Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, July 20, 2020, handed different jail terms to five internet fraudsters.

The convicts, Sodiq Adeleke Adeyinka;  Sambo Muhammed Abiodun;  Adegoke Agboola, Kehinde Quadri Oladimeji and Daniel Praise, were prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on separate one-count charge of criminal impersonation, to which they all pleaded guilty.

Abiodun bagged four months jail term, Praise and Adeyinka, five months each, while Agboola and Oladimeji earned six and eight months jail terms, respectively.

Aside his prison term, Justice Abubakar ordered Abiodun to restitute the sum of $3,700 (Three Thousand, Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to his victim, and forfeit his iPhone X to the Federal government.

Praise is to restitute the sum of $1,300 (One Thousand, Three Hundred United States Dollars) to his victim and forfeit his Infinix Hot 8 phone to the government. Adeyinka on his part is to restitute the sum of $1,500 (One Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars) to his victim, and forfeit his iPhone 11 Pro, Itel phone, and power bank to the government.

Oladimeji is to restitute $175 (One Hundred and Seventy-five United States Dollars) to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 7 and HP laptop to the government, while Agboola is to forfeit his iPhone 7 and 6s and a Techno phones to the Federal government.

2023: Best time for Nigeria’s president of Igbo extraction – Chekwas Okorie

CHIEF NNIA NWODO, PG Ohaneze Ndigbo

From; Madu Ezenoha, ENUGU

The National chairman of the deregistered United Progressives Party (UPP) who is now a chieftain of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Chekwas Okorie, at the weekend revealed that some subterranean political leg works are currently ongoing to optimize chances of Ndigbo producing President of Nigeria in 2023.

Okorie expressed the hope that the next presidential election in 2023 would be the best time to produce a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction. 

He said from all indications, Igbo political stakeholders are working behind the scene garnering support and building consensus among eminent leaders from other tribes and zones of the country.

Okorie who spoke to select journalists in Enugu expressed happiness at the outcome of recent meeting of South East APC stakeholders, hosted by the Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma, at Owerri.

The stakeholders’ meeting which was attended by a former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani; Minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Minister of Foreign affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; as well as Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu came up with a resolution to strengthen the weight of the party in the zone and a stake in the 2023 presidential slot with an insistence that it was the turn of the zone.

The chairman of defunct UPP, Okorie who described the resolutions as a right step in the right direction said, "Here we are, 2023 is looking at us. It is something I have been looking at. I have been one of the most optimistic Igbo leaders who have always looked up to 2023 as our destiny.

"We used UPP to support President Buhari’s election in 2019 with an understanding that allowing President Buhari to complete eight year tenure will pave way for Ndigbo to produce Nigerian President in 2023.

"The chances of the South East producing the nation's president in 2023 are very bright. Very prominent non Igbo opinion leaders have come out to say that for the sake of justice, equity and fair play, 2023 is time to support Ndigbo to produce the president of the country," he noted.

He listed eminent personalities in support of Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023 to include Chief Edwin Clarke; former University of Port Harcourt Vice  Chancellor and Ijaw National leader, Professor Okoko; Comrade Joseph Eva, among others from the South South zone of the country.

Others according to him are Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Alhaji Tanko Yakata among Northern leaders who have expressed their support for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023; while Ayo Adebanjo and many others from the Western part of the country have also voiced their support.

"In a nutshell, the quest for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023 is gathering momentum. It had never been like this before; the South East never gained such support. So what leaders from the South East APC are doing now is very commendable.

"For us in APC in the South East zone, we need to work very hard to win Anambra state governorship election coming up next year. If that happens, it then means we shall have two APC controlled states in the zone".  

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