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NANS Urge President Tinubu To Sack Incompetent Ministers, SSAs In His Cabinet

April 17, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Cites SSA to the President on Student Engagement and Minister Of State Youths as incompetent

The National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, has called on President Bola Tinubu to wield the big stick by sacking incompetent Ministers and Senior Special Assistants, SSAs in his Cabinet.

NANS singled out the Minister of State for Youth Development and the SSA to the President on Student Engagement, as some of the incompetent personalities in his government, who has for several months become unproductive, urging President Tinubu to sack them with immediate effect.

Comrade Pedro Obi, NANS President, led its members to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, in a peaceful protest, reiterating that NANS will not be intimidated and will continue to fight for the interests of Nigerian students.

He said, “The message is very simple. We have incompetent people who have been appointed to offices. It’s unfortunate and it’s not the President’s fault, of course he believes in Nigerian youths and has also given us the opportunity to showcase our capacity in various roles that he has given us.

“We have the SSA to the President on Student Engagement, who has shown incompetence. He cannot continue to hold that office and we are calling on Mr. President that he should be sacked with immediate effect.

“Also we have the Minister of State for Youth Development. We are also calling that immediately he should be sacked, because he has left what he ought to do and has dabbled into the affairs of NANS.

“These people have displayed incompetence and are destroying the youth community. There are so many competent youths that President Tinubu can pick from.

“NANS can never be intimidated. This is an organisation that we grew up to meet and we will continue to protect the dignity of this organisation.”

Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, the Permanent Secretary General Service Officer in the OSFG received the NANS leadership on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, assuring NANS of relaying back their complaints to the SGF which he said will land on the listening ears of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, “I have listened to the complaints you raised. I assure you that your complaints will get to the listening ears of Mr. President

“ Let me assure you that I’m happy this was also re-echoed in the NANS President’s speech that President Tinubu has indebt love for the youths of Nigeria and also for the students of Nigeria. This has been demonstrated by polices that has been put in place for the youths.

“I want to assure you that the President has your concerns in his heart and he’s always ever ready to attend to your needs.

“ With this, I am going to report back to my boss the SGF, who will take up the matter with the President. I urge you to continue to

maintain peace and tranquillity, don’t do anything that will make Mr. President feel bad about you.”

Afenifere Meets President Tinubu, Reechoes Restructuring, State Police

Ayodele Oni

April 17, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Leader of Pan Yoruba Socio -Cultural Organization, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti on Wednesday led a delegation of the group to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Fasoranti, in his address during the courtesy visit, commended President Tinubu for his efforts at changing the narratives about the country, adding that the organization acknowledged his commitment to the progress and development of the country.

He urged the president to consider the expeditious implementation of the demands of the organization, including the restructuring of the country, construction of major roads especially in the South West, among other demands.

Other requests include state police with the leader saying “Afenifere is in support of the campaign for state police. We believe this would enhance the security of life and property.

‘We also want Your Excellency to look at the command structures of Federal Security agencies to ensure equity and justice in the posting and deployments of senior officers.

“Equity should also reflect in the recruitment of security officers from the bottom up. It is not good for the future of our country if one section of it has some of the security agencies in its pocket.”

Fasoranti also noted that “Unemployment has become a big burden for our country where we have more than 70 percent of the population below the age of 30.

“We would like to appeal that Federal Government capital projects, including road construction, should be geared towards creating employments.

“This is necessary because it is becoming increasingly fashionable for politicians to prefer foreign companies to carry out jobs that can be competently done by Nigerian companies.

“For example, if Nigerians cannot build train engines, we can at least start from building train coaches! If Mr President would allow us, we would submit proposal for employment using the existing artisans throughout the country to institute a national apprenticeship training system that would take millions of youths from the street.”

He assured that “Afenifere would not abandon you in fair or foul weather as long as you remain faithful to the principles of integrity, fairness, competence and courage that we expect of you as the Leader of our Republic.

“All the leaders and elders of Yorubaland are with you. All our mothers and youths are standing by you as you carry out this your historic assignment.”

Insecurity: Nasarawa Proscribes Ethnic Vigilante Groups

Ayodele Oni

April 17, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Nasarawa State Government has proscribed all ethnic vigilante groups operating in the state.

This is one of the outcome of an emergency security meeting convened by Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Governor Sule, acting on the advice of the state security council, specifically banned the Fulani ethnic vigilante groups known as the Kungiyar Zaman Lafiya, Bassa Vigilante group, as well as the Eggon Vigilante Group.

The state government has equally directed ethnic vigilante groups affected by the order to handover their uniforms and weapons to the state Commissioner of Police within two weeks.

The governor based his action on powers vested in him via Section 97A of the Penal Code, as well as other relevant laws vested on him.

“Through an Executive Order No. 1 of 2024, signed by the Governor, the Nasarawa State Government also banned any other association, movement, organization or society affiliated with the group operating under the guise of ethnic vigilante.

“Similar Organizations includes any association, movement or group of persons or society in whatever name called or form, with the aim and objectives of providing security amongst particular ethnic groups within Nasarawa State through the use of force or arms etc.

“Accordingly, the Kungiyar Zaman Lafiya nomad Vigilante, Bassa Vigilante, Eggon Vigilante and other similar organizations are henceforth proscribed and declared unlawful societies that are inimical to good governance in the state.

“The State Government therefore directed that members of the Kungiwar Zaman Lafiya nomad Vigilante, Bassa Vigilante, Eggon Vigilante and other similar organizations, to handover all weapons or arms in their possession along with uniforms to the Commissioner of Police Nasarawa State within two weeks from the date of issuance of the order.”

Suspension: Kano Court Validates Ward Stand On Ganduje, Restrains Him From Parading Self As APC Member

Ayodele Oni

April 17, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Despite the stand of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the purported suspension of Abdullahi Ganduje by his ward, the Kano State High Court has affirmed the suspension.

The court, while granting an ex parte order, also restrained Ganduje from further parading himself as a member of the party.

The order was granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba following an ex parte motion filed Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani by their counsel Ibrahim Sa’ad.

The plaintiffs, who identified themselves as executive members of APC Ganduje ward, said they brought the motion on behalf of the executive members of the ward.

Gwanjo, identified as the party’s ward Legal Adviser, was the one that announced the suspension of Ganduje two days ago.

Subsequently, the court ordered, that henceforth, Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC.

The ruling party had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, asking the force to probe those behind the purported suspension of Ganduje.

The APC in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the perpetrators of the “criminal act” were not card-carrying members or legitimate officials of the APC in Ganduje’s ward.

“The purported suspension was the devious act of a group of impersonators of ward officials out to cause mischief and create confusion in the otherwise peaceful Ganduje Ward chapter of our party.

“The perpetrators of this criminal act are not card carrying members of APC in the ward, but are individuals affiliated with senior officials and representatives of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

“This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable programme of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Dr. Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State.

“The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bona fide member of the party in the ward, and in good standing.”

The NNPP has since distanced itself from the crisis rocking Kano APC

Kogi Gov Ododo Leads Protesters To Fmr Gov Bello’s Abuja Residence As EFCC Strategizes For Arrest

Ayodele Oni

April 17, 2024

Ododo Visits Yahaya Bello House in Abuja

By Ayodele Oni

The visit by the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, to the residence of embattled former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday is generating controversy.

Amidst a heavy security crackdown on the Bello’s Abuja home, Governor Ododo with his retinue of security aides visited his godfather, while officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) laid siege at the entrance of the house.

Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence at about 2:30 pm Wednesday, alongside several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home.

The heavy presence of armed operatives of EFCC also include, policemen, operatives of the Department of State Security, Counter Terrorism Unit, and Yahaya Bello’s private security team.

EFCC operatives had on Wednesday morning stormed Bello’s Abuja home located in Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory.

The EFCC had earlier dragged Yahaya Bello, his nephew Ali, one Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in an amended charge in March 2024 over an alleged N84bn money laundering.

Reacting to the development, the ex-governor’s media office, in a statement, condemned the operatives’ actions while urging President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.

According to the statement, the presence of the operatives in Bello’s residence negated the order of injunction granted on February 9, 2024, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Yahaya Bello v. EFCC.

It restrained the commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.

Governor Ododo’s visit has generated reactions with some claiming that he was there to thwart effort of the security operatives to arrest his predecessor or to solidarize with his political godfather over his present predicament.

Cubana Chief Priest Out On N10m Bail, Pleads Not Guilty To Naira Abuse

Akinwale Kasali

April 17, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has been granted Bail to the tune of N10 million by the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of Abuse of the Naira leveled against him by anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned by the EFCC 17th day of April, 2024, on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of Naira at the Federal High Court Lagos.

The Commission had charged the socialite for the abuse of the Naira for over two hours at Eko Hotel. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of 10 million naira.

One of the counts read stated: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in January 2024, in Lagos, during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

Counsel to the accused informed the court that his client has health challenges relating to palpitations and that the Honorable should admit the Defendant to bail in the most liberal terms.

It should be recalled that on the 5th of April, 2024, the EFCC had arraigned popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar charges and secured conviction of Bobrisky to six-month imprisonment without bail option on Friday, April 12, 2024.

PDP: Trouble Afoot As Imo Group Writes PDP National Leadership, Warns Against Anyanwu’s Presence At NEC Meeting, Says It’s Illegal

The Source

April 17, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

A pressure Group within the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, known as Imo Critical Stakeholders, has urged the National Chairman of the Party, Ambassador Illya Damagun, not to allow the National Secretary of the Party, Samuel Anyanwu, popular as Sam Daddy, be the Secretary during the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 18 at the Abuja Headquarters of the Party.

The Group, in a letter addressed to the National Acting Chairman, signed by its Chairman, Professor Obioma Iheduru, and copied to the Presidential Candidate of the Party in the 2023 Presidential Election, Atiku Abubakar, BoT Chairman, Dr Adolphus Wabara, and Chairman PDP Governors Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, said it would be illegal for Anyanwu to sit as the National Secretary of the Party at the NEC meeting. It insisted that if allowed, it would have serious unsavoury implications for the Party.

Reason: The Group said Anyanwu has since been removed as the National Secretary of the Party by a competent Court.

The Group: “A cursory and a sincere look at events of the recent past would invariably reveal that it will amount to a senseless political jamboree if Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu is allowed to sit and record the proceedings of that meeting in a non-existent capacity as the National Secretary of PDP.”

It continued: “Let us recall that an Enugu high court presided over by Justice C. O. Ajah, while ruling on a motion on notice filed by Nwabueze Ugwu seeking to declare Anyanwu’s seat vacant, compelled the national chairman of PDP and others concerned, to recognize Hon Sunday Ude-Okoye as the candidate recommended by the South East Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP to replace sacked Anyanwu.”

It expressed shock that ” the acting national chairman and the NWC never heeded to this ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction like the Enugu high court. The acting national chairman and his NWC members rather chose to obey another order of an Abuja federal high court which barred the PDP from sacking the erstwhile national secretary”

But it argued that: “For the purpose of clarification, it must be stated here that whenever two courts of concurrent jurisdiction issue orders on the same subject matter, it is binding on the entity concerned to obey the first order. The Enugu high court that sacked Anyanwu sat on October 24, 2023, while the Abuja federal high court that gave him judgement was in session on January 9,2024. A state high court and a federal high court are co-equal.”

On the implications for the Party if Anyanwu is allowed to be Clerk, the Group noted:

“The PDP has by itself become a lawless group that chooses and picks which court orders to obey.

*”If Anyanwu clerks that meeting the fate of PDP canadidates he endorses are already jeopardised and will provide legal armour for our political opponents.

*”Let it be known that if Senator Anyanwu records the proceedings of that meeting, the decisions and resolutions arrived at in the said meeting will be rendered null and void and of no effect, going by the Enugu State high court judgement earlier cited.

*” Should thus happen, it may lead to a barrage of legal actions that may invariably paralyze the activities of PDP in the ensuing months.”

Following is the full text of the letter dated April 16, 2024:

“Imo PDP Critical Stakeholders

Port Harcourt Road,

Owerri.

April 16, 2024

“Acting National Chairman,

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

Wadata Plaza,

Abuja.

Attn: Amb. Illya U Damagun

“Sir,

“Illegality and consequences of Sen Samuel Anyanwu clerking the NEC April 18, 2024 meeting

“We are excited that the much awaited meetings of the National Working Committee (NWC), in conjunction with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party are now billed for Thursday, April 18, 2024. By available records, it is now exactly 19 months since the NEC last met and that was as far back as September 8, 2022.

“Legally, this is a gross violation of section 31 (4) (5) of the constitution of the PDP 2017 (as mended), which stipulates that NEC shall meet at least once every quarter at the instance of the national/ acting chairman or at the request of 2/3 of its members.

“Taken together, therefore, we commend all our leaders who must have fought courageously towards making these April 18 meetings a possibility.

“A cursory and a sincere look at events of the recent past would invariably reveal that it will amount to a senseless political jamboree if Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu is allowed to sit and record the proceedings of that meeting in a non-existent capacity as the national secretary of PDP.

” Let us recall that an Enugu high court presided over by Justice C. O. Ajah, while ruling on a motion on notice filed by Nwabueze Ugwu seeking to declare Anyanwu’s seat vacant, compelled the national chairman of PDP and others concerned, to recognize Hon Sunday Ude- Okoye as the candidate recommended by the South East Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP to replace the sacked Anyanwu.

“Shockingly, the acting national chairman and the NWC never heeded to this ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction like the Enugu high court. The acting national chairman and his NWC members rather chose to obey another order of an Abuja federal high court which barred the PDP from sacking the erstwhile national secretary.

“For the purposes of clarification, it must be stated here that whenever two courts of concurrent jurisdiction issue orders on the same subject matter, it is binding on the entity concerned to obey the first order. The Enugu high court that sacked Anyanwu sat on October 24, 2023 while the Abuja federal high court that gave him judgement was in session on January 9,2024. A state high court and a federal high are co-equal.

“Again, it is trite legal knowledge that whenever a matter has been adjudicated on, the constitutional path to tow is for the other party to go on appeal. Regrettably, Senator Anyanwu and his co – travellers never followed this road of honour, legality, and constitutionalism. Rather, they decided to tear our judiciary into shreds by still going to the same federal high court rather than heading for the court of appeal.

“Since the Enugu high court’s judgement which sacked Anyanwu as PDP national secretary has not yet been vacated by a superior court, we, therefore, make bold to state that it is a clear case of abuse of court processes by Senator Anyanwu to sit in that meeting.

“The deleterious consequences thereof are:

“(1)The PDP has by itself become a lawless group that chooses and picks which court orders to obey.

“2.If Anyanwu clerks that meeting the fate of PDP canadidates he endorses are already jeopardised and will provide legal armour for our political opponents,

“(3) Let it be known that if Senator Anyanwu records the proceedings of that meeting, the decisions and resolutions arrived at in the said meeting will be rendered null and void and of no effect, going by the Enugu state high court judgement earlier cited.

“4. Should this happen, it may lead to a barrage of legal actions that may invariably paralyze the activities of PDP in the ensuing months.

“In conclusion, we, the Imo PDP Critical Stakeholders, hereby call on the Acting National Chairman and other members of NEC not to allow Senator Samuel Anyanwu to sit-in and act as national secretary of the party for the April 18 NEC meeting or any meeting thereafter in that capacity, if the party must still remain relevant in political dynamics of Nigeria.

“Signed:

Prof Obioma Iheduru

0806 369 7500

Chiarman, Imo PDP Critical Stakeholders.

“Copy:

HE, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, National Leader, PDP

Dr Adolphus Wabara, Chairman, BoT, PDP,
HE Senator Bala Mohammed, Chairman, PDP Governor’s Forum”

The Imo PDP Critical Stakeholders is presumed to be strongly pro-The Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha and very strongly anti-Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Members have never been in support of Anyanwu’s position in the Party, and have continuously opposed his stay. He is accused of alleged sabotage of the Party which, they insist, has led to the bad performance of the Party in the State, and the exit of many Party members.

Electricity: The Many Lies Of Power Minister, Adelabu

James Orji

April 17, 2024

By Nduka Chukunyere

As has become the bane of governance in Nigeria, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has willy-nilly walked nto a quick sand and is struggling to grab what whatever ever he can before he gets consumed. With next to nothing to show for his over six months in office, and no clear, discernible path way for a sustainable future for the power sector, the former CBN deputy governor is grabbing at anything in sight and brandishing same as his achievement thus far.

Of course one can understand such desperation. The minister knows quite well that perhaps his time will soon be up! His principal is turning the heat on non performing ministers and other appointees to either shape up or ship out. With the launch of the monitoring platform by the office of the special adviser to the president on policy and coordination where citizens are expected to access and score government office holders on their performance, Adelabu knows there is no hiding place.

This can only explain why Adelabu can blatantly attempt to hoodwink Nigerians by taking credit for projects executed by his predecessors. Even worse is his effort at trying to rubbish all the hard work put in by persons before him who worked tirelessly to move the power sector forward.

While on a media round last week, the minister tried to pull the wool over the eyes of discerning Nigerians by claiming that nothing had been done to actualize the Zungeru power project when as a matter of fact, the project had indeed seen the light of day long before he came into office.

These are the facts!

Recently, the Minister of Power, Chief Adelabu, announced the completion and testing of the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric power plant. However, this milestone was actually achieved during the Buhari Administration.

Under the control of NCC and with engineers from TCN, the Ministry, and Mainstream in attendance, the full load test of Zungeru HPP was successfully conducted on May 25, 2023, starting at 7 am through to 1 am on May 26, 2023. The plant achieved a peak capacity of 718MW and was stable, with all monitoring equipment producing results consistent with technical specifications.

The pending matter was the transfer of the asset to the preferred bidder, Penstock Ltd., a subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, following the approval of NCP. It is therefore inconceivable for the current leadership in the Ministry of Power to state that the plant was recently completed and tested when it was successfully done in May 2023.

Perhaps Nigerians would have excused the minister with just one howler. The tragedy however is that he is going to great lengths to rewrite history. Remember the Presidential Power Initiative of the Buhari Administration? Well, Adelabu seem to have convinced himself that no progress was achieved before he came into office and wants Nigerians to believe that it is only now that the first phase of the project (10 power transformers and 10 mobile sub-stations) is being implemented.

But that is a clear misrepresentation of reality. Again, these are the facts.

It is well known that all the 10 power transformers and mobile substations were delivered during the last administration, with two of the power transformers already installed (one in Apo substation in Abuja and the other in Aja, Lagos).

My honest advice to Minister Adelabu who clearly seems out of his depths in evolving far reaching, holistic and innovative policies that can move the needle in the power sector is to beat a retreat from this destructive path. He must acknowledge and give credit for the good work done by others before him. He should then endeavour to build on such wins for the betterment of the sector and indeed the nation. After all, as the saying goes, facts don‘t lie.

Chukunyere is a public affairs commentator

Ondo APC Gov Primary: Aspirants Express Fear Of Participation By Non Party Members, Petition National Chairman

Ayodele Oni

April 17, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Few days to the Governorship Election Primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo State, some aspirants have petitioned the National Leadership of the Party over alleged anomalies observed in the voters register to be used for the primary election.

The Primary Election, which will be direct, comes up on Saturday.

According to the petition to the National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Ganduje, with the present status of the voters registers, some members of the party may be deprived of the chance to vote for aspirants of their choice.

The petition also accused one of the aspirants of printing fake membership cards to be distributed to his loyalists.

Signatories to the petition are Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Wale Akinterinwa, Prince Diran Iyantan,

Prof Dayo Faduyile, Hon. Gbenga Edema and Hon. Jimi Odimayo.

They claim “We, the undersigned, are aspirants from the South senatorial district of Ondo State, who have collected forms to participate in the forthcoming Ondo State gubernatorial primary election slated for the 20th April, 2024.

“We have noticed some issues of concern in respect of the said primary election which if not resolved quickly, may hinder the smooth running of the primary and may be detrimental to a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

“One of the issues is that of the revalidation of the membership register to be used for the primary election.

“While we commend the position of the party to revalidate the existing membership register which is the certified true copies, as certified by INEC, and based on this directive of the party, as aspirants, we have paid over N300m to the coffers of the party to cover the annual dues of all party members whose names appear on the register.

“Unfortunately, the exercise was shrouded in so much of secrecy that a lot of our party members especially our numerous supporters could not have their membership cards revalidated before the committee that came from the Headquarters left Ondo State for Abuja.

“We have been inundated by reports that a particular aspirant has gone ahead with massive printing of fake party slips, which he has distributed to a lot of persons who are not even our party members.

“The intention of this aspirant is to corrupt the integrity of the membership register on the day of the primary by making accreditation of party members impossible as non-party members have already been recruited to flood the venues of the primary election that day.

“This massive and pervasive production of the membership cards will certainly precipitate a situation where everyone holding membership cards, notwithstanding that their names are not on the register, will be allowed to vote without accreditation. Voting without accreditation remains illegal and unacceptable.

“Mr. Chairman should note that Section 77(2) (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022, makes it mandatory for all political parties to have a credible membership register which must be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and certified by it, not later than 30 days before the Congress.

“To avoid any Legal or Constitutional conundrum, we advise that the party makes accreditation of party members mandatory at the election venue, and that every member of the party whose name appears on the membership register already certified by INEC should be allowed to vote once he/she is able to present his/her membership slip for accreditation.

“It is our prayer therefore that the leadership of the party make available to us the membership register already validly certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the only lawful register to be used by the party for the conduct of the primary election slated for 20/04/2024. No other register can lawfully be used.”

Uzodimma Appoints Kema Chikwe’s Son, 15 Others, His Special Advisers

The Source

April 17, 2024

By Charles Igbo

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved the appointment of 16 Special Advisers (SAs) as efforts are in top gear to deepen the gains of the Shared Prosperity 3R Government of his second term.

One of them is Andy Chikwe, the first son of Dr Kema Chikwe. Until recently, Dr Chikwe, former Aviation Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Party, PDP. His last son was also a Special Assistant to the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha during Ihedioha’s brief tenure as Imo State Governor, no thanks to the Supreme Court which sacked him from office in 2020 in favour of Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In fact, Dr. Chikwe was, also, a former PDP National Women Leader and a BoT member of the Party.

However, she has since given the PDP a wide berth due to the simmering crisis which engulfed it in Imo State where, a source from her said she had to endure insults from those young enough to be her children.

Dr Chikwe has, since, shifted her loyalty to Governor Uzodimma in appreciation of the developmental strides of the Governor, especially, in the provision of infrastructure, and more especially, roads.

The appointments of the Special Advisers by Governor Uzodimma are with immediate effect.

The newly appointed SAs are:

*Barr. Leo Awazieama

Joseph Oputa

*Mrs. Ijeoma Ikegwuruka

*Comrade Austin Chilakpu

*Dr. Patrick Uzoma

*Dr. (Mrs) Obianuju Nwokejiobi

*Chidi Onyewuchi

*Andy Chikwe

*Amarachi Anyaehie

*Tonia Chimenem Chinda

*John Ikeaka

*Mrs. Chinyere Emeziem

*Mrs. Esther Ukachukwu

Ezechi Chukwueme

*Humphrey Ikeaka

*Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Pat Ekeji

Governor Uzodimma congratulated the new appointees and urged them to brace up to contribute their quota in the overall interest of Imo State.

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