Gov Obi Rebuts Ojukwu’s Death Rumour, Calls for Prayers for His Speedy Recovery

            The Anambra State Governor,  Mr. Peter Obi has rebuted the rumours going round that the Biafran warlord and icon of the Igbo race, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukw has died.

Chief Ume-Ezeoke Dies at the Age 76

    An astute politician and a member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, Mr. Alloy Ezejiegu has said that the News of the death of former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke came as a shock to him.
    Speaking to AriNews at Abagana awhile ago, Mr. Ezejiegu described Ume-Ezeoke as a dedicated politician who contributed meaningfully to the growth and survival of democracy in Nigeria.

Okorocha Wins Imo Governorship Election

The gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Rochas Okorocha has been declared governor-elect of Imo State. 


 Announcing the results a while ago, Returning Officer Professor Hillary Odoagan said Okorocha polled 336,859 votes to defeat his closest rival, incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party who scored 290,490 votes.

Jonathan’s One Year in Office

President GoodLuck Jonathan

“Within the last year, I have made every human effort to keep my commitments to the Nigerian people and restore their trust in those administering the affairs of government,” said President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria commemorates his one year in office.

In a message posted on his facebook page, Jonathan acknowledged his imperfection, but stated that his administration had made progress in “Electoral Reform with the signing of the Electoral Act on August 20, 2010 and the appointment of an INEC board that has now proved itself independent and capable by conducting an election universally acknowledged by neutral parties to be free, fair and credible.”

Enugu State Correspondents’ Chapel Elects New Chairman

The newly-elected Chairman of the Enugu State Correspondents’ Chapel, Chris Oji has said that the welfare of its members would be his top priority.

Oji said this in his acceptance speech shortly after the Correspondents’ Chapel election yesterday.

He polled twenty votes to defeat his opponent Jude Orji who polled eight votes.

Similarly, the election produced Maurice Okafor of the News World Magazine as elected secretary.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ossy Rockefeller who observed the election commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for peaceful election.

Memories of Late President Yar’Adua

Late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

As Nigeria remembers Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan has eulogized him for his unmatched leadership virtues.

In a statement endorsed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, President Jonathan praise Late Yar’adua’s good governance attributes.

Similarly a senior lecturer at the department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Mallam Musa Usman said, “… We remember late President Umaru Yar’Adua. It’s already a year since he departed. But he remains on our mind. His gait showed the will to serve. His eyes showed genuine concern for Nigeria. Yet ill-health deprived us of the service of this gentleman.”

Mallam Usman who commented on facebook, prayed for the departed soul of the Late President to repose in perfect peace.

He served as the executive Governor of Katsina State from May 29, 1999 to May 2007 before he was sworn in as the 13th Nigeria’s Head of State on the May 29, 2007. 

It could be recalled that in 2009, Yar'Adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis, returned to Nigeria in 2010, and died on May 5.

ACN Not Part of Government of National Unity

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said it would not partake in the Government of National Unity as being proposed by Goodluck Jonathan-led government.

This was contained in a statement made public in Abuja and endorsed by the ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

The statement said the ACN was not in any way negotiating for ministerial slots contrary to wide-spread speculations that the party was seeking for fat appointments for her members.

The statement further reiterated the party’s resolve to maintain its dominance as the major opposition party in the country.

Census of Farmers for Fertilizer Distribution in Anambra

Chief Godson Ezenagu, the Commissioner for Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has disclosed that 75 per cent of people who applied for fertilizers through the Ministry were businessmen.

Ezenagu made the disclosure while briefing news men in Awka.

In view of the ugly development, the Ministry has constituted a committee to conduct a census of farmers in the State to enhance the distribution of fertilizers during this farming season.

Ezenagu said that the census was aimed at determining the number of genuine farmers in the state.

He decried the nefarious activities of some businessmen who purchase and sell the fertilizers at exorbitant prices beyond the reach of genuine farmers.

Obi Calls for Increased Revenue Allocation for States

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has called for increased revenue allocation for prompt implementation of the 18,000.00 naira minimum wage for civil servants.

The Governor in an interview with journalists at the Governor's lodge, Amawbia, said no state was against the minimum wage but the cry over low resources by some states has compelled the Governors' Forum to set up a committee headed by the Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola to look into some of the issues.

Obi restated his commitment to develop the Anambra by tackling the energy problem and has written a letter to the federal government requesting permission to embark on an independent power project.

On Agriculture, the governor said he has asked Micro Finance Companies to inject money into farming this season by giving out loans to farmers on low interest rates.  

NUJ DEMANDS IMPROVED EMOLUMENT ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

The Chairperson of the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, Anambra State Council, Toochukwu Omelu has called on all media organisations to champion the crusade for the passage and implimentation of the Media Wage Bill.

Omelu made the call a while ago when the NUJ paid a courtesy visit on the Silverbird Communications Awka Centre office on the occasion of the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day.

She stressed the need for improved financial support for media workers considering the long hours of duty and hazards involved.

Responding, the Business Manager of the Silverbird Communications Awka, Kelly Ihetu said freedom of the press was inevitable in a world where information is regarded as the most precious commodity.
 Ihetu called on media workers to guard press freedom jealously.

JONATHAN PROMISES TO GO BEYOND THE MINIMUN WAGE FOR NIGERIAN WORKERS

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that he would go beyond the signing of the Minimum Wage Act in satisfying his goal of putting smiles on the faces of Nigerian workers.

This was contained in the President’s message for the Nigerian Workers to commemorate the 2011 May Day celebration.

“I want to again assure Nigerian workers that having signed the Minimum Wage Act, I will not be slack to implement it at the Federal level and work synergistically with other tiers of government as well as the Private Sector to ensure that not only do we do right by our workers on the matter of wages, but we take every care within available resources to lift up their conditions of service and ensure that the dignity of labour is not just enhanced  in Nigeria but becomes a pride because therein lies the key to the growth of Nigeria’s economy which key is (to paraphrase our National Anthem)-the labour of our workers present,” said President Jonathan.

The President noted that he desired our economy to be driven by “the production of our people and this will only happen when we make a substantial investment in the Nigerian people by way of increasing access to and the quality of education, working with the Private Sector to improve on electricity generation and distribution and motivating our workers by ensuring that the New Minimum Wage as enshrined in the Minimum Wage Act is implemented throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.”

President Jonathan commended the Nigerian workers for contributing to the success of the just concluded elections in the country.

“I salute the Nigerian worker and organised labour and thank you for your part in making the just concluded elections a success and to let you know that you have a partner in progress in the administration that I lead,” the message said.

STUDENTS CALL FOR AN END TO NYSC SCHEME

A cross section of tertiary students in Anambra state have called for the outright scrapping or modification of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in view of recent development in some parts of the country. 

The students who bore their minds to AriNews opined that the NYSC programme had outlived its usefulness.

Calling on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency either crap or modify the scheme, the students cited rape, intimidation, unbearable hardship, discrimination and occasional gruesome murder of some Youth Corps members in some parts of the country, particularly in Northern part.

“Obviously, the scheme is just a mere ritual because the goal of setting it up has been defeated,” said Chineye Oforah, a four hundred level student of Paul University, Awka.

She further stated that the programme was initiated by the Gowan administration to reconcile and reintegrate Nigerians after the civil war.

“If after about four decades of its existence Nigerians are yet to be reconciled and re-integrated, then the goal of the scheme will never be achieved again,” added Oforah.

Similarly, Peter Iheanacho, a two hundred level student of Nnamdi Azikwe University (NAU) Awka, has expressed fear over the possibility of serving outside Anambra.

Decrying the spate of indiscriminate killings of Youth Corps Members during crisis, Iheanacho loathed the possibility of being posted to a far place to serve.

According to him, many students have resulted to “working” their postings to their places of choice to ensure that they remained close to their homes.

In the same vein, Emeka Obiano, another student of NAU, Awka said for the scheme to remain relevant in the contemporary Nigeria, the scheme should be revisited and relevant modifications made.

It could be recalled that scores of Youth Corps Members were targeted and killed during the post-election violence that broke out in some parts of the country following the declaration of Goodluck Jonathan as the winner of the presidential election against the wishes of the supporters of the candidate for Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Mohammadu Buhari.