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Akpabio Not Our Candidate For Senate Presidency – ACF

May 7, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Opposition to emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as President of the tenth senate is mounting as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said he is not a candidate of the Forum.

A Coalition of Northern Groups had earlier endorsed Akpabio for the Senate top job.

A member of the ACF, Alhaji Musa Saidu in a statement in Abuja on Sunday made the clarification.

Saidu, also the leader of the Arewa Community in Southern, Nigeria said that endorsing Akpabio for the Senate Presidency would spell doom for Northern Nigeria.

“We hereby dissociate ourselves from the endorsement of Sen. Godswill Akpabio for the Senate Presidency by a coalition of Northern groups.

“The Coalition is not speaking for the North, it is just speaking for itself.

“No true Northern group will want to endorse Akpabio for a sensitive position like that of Senate President because he is not friendly with the North.

“We are the people who know Akpabio, because we are resident in the South, we know those who are friendly with the Northern people and Akpabio is actually not one of them.

“I want to condemn the endorsement in its entity because it was done out of ignorance.

“It is also possible that the groups were given some inducement to endorse Akpabio.

“I want to say that the Northern people are not beggars that will be endorsing people who are not friendly with them because of inducement.

“Why should the All Progressives Congress (APC) be bent on zoning the 10th Senate Presidency to the South, when we have competence hands in the the North.

“The North-West gave the APC the largest votes in the Feb. 25 presidential election, why not consider somebody from the zone.

“I think it’s time for the party to reward the zone for the massive votes rather than start looking for somebody from the South as Senate President.”

The Nigerian Woman Who Carried King Charles III’s Golden Orb At Coronation

The Source

May 7, 2023

By Charles Igbo

Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu defeated abandonment, abuse by a racist step father when her Nigerian father was nowhere, deprivation in a Care-home, and became a roaring success – Professor, Dame, CBE

The millions of people, worldwide, who watched as she shone like a million stars at the historic Coronation of King Charles III on 6th May, 2023, hardly know her story.

All they saw was a woman, so privileged in life that she was chosen to carry the King’s Gold Orb, and represented the NHS.

But not true. That privilege was a product of the “never-say-die” attitude of a strong woman.

She had a very difficult upbringing. Life was tough for her. Even though she was born into a privileged home, fate deprived her of that privilege, and the comfort, and the joy, and the love of family, especially, of her parents.

The story of Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu is inspiring. It is a story of despair, abandonment, humiliation, and finally, a roaring success.

Her father, Lawrence Anionwu, who she, finally, met as an adult, was not there for her, growing up in London, according to those who know her family. She grew up in a non conducive environment.

His father was Nigeria’s first Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was, also Nigeria’s first Ambassador to Italy.

Her mother was Irish, who later married her fellow “white”. So, young Elizabeth suffered the humiliation of not being loved by her step father because of her colour. He abused her.

Elizabeth was placed in a care home. She overcame, and became a roaring success.

She acquired education, and became a Professor of Nursing! Today, she is an Emeritus Professor of Nursing. She is, also, a Dame. And a CBE. She defeated abuse, humiliation, rejection, and racism.

Inspite of being deprived of her Nigerian father’s love, inspite of not growing up in the company of her Nigerian father, inspite of not growing up in Nigeria, the Professor, Dame, CBE, is proudly Nigerian. And flaunted it at the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.

She was nominated to carry the King’s Gold Orb, and represented the NHS. For the historic ceremony, she proudly “decked out” in her Nigerian attire – A long skirt and blouse, and a head tie to match. She is proudly Nigerian. And an inspiration to young women.

Bishop Condemns Attacks On The Igbo, Says Intimidation Must Stop

Ayodele Oni

May 7, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Umuahia Diocese, has flayed incessant attacks on the assets of Ndigbo in other parts of the country in the presence of law enforcement agents.

This was contained in the communiqué released after the annual Synod of the Diocese.

The Synod noted that “The suppression, intimidation, harassment of Ndi Igbo has gotten to its peak. How can markets and properties be burnt down in broad day light without anybody being arrested?

“How can hoodlums parade openly across Lagos, Abuja and other cities, going after people for voting a candidate of their choice, even to the extent of intimidating people against voting for a particular candidate during the just concluded general elections?

“This is madness and arrant nonsense. It is very worrisome by the open and fearless threats of violence at some quarters in times like this and the helpless stand of those who should maintain peace and order in the society. Most worrisome is using state security outfit for the violation of our constitution.

In the state of nation address by the Bishop of the Diocese, His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, the synod expressed sadness that the Igbo have become endangered species among other tribes in Nigeria.

“How long will this continue? They are killing us and at the same time, we are helping them to kill ourselves. We must say no to this ugly development.

“We call on our elites and political leaders including, religious leaders to immediately commence bridge-building among Igbos and Igbos and between the Igbo and the rest of the country, Bishop Ibeabuchi queried.

The Synod also reviewed underdevelopment in the south east, noting, “The South Eastern part of Nigeria can be the Japan of Africa if given the right attention. Unfortunately, our people prefer the development of other regions rather than the East.

“We call on all well-meaning sons and daughters of the South East to look homeward. We can do it. The insult and intimidations are getting out of hands. Please, come home and let us re-build the economy of the South East to the glory of God”.

The Synod called for immediate release of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention, stating, “Clearly, the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari carefully excluded this Region from the affairs of the nation and at the same time forcing everyone to remain silent. We want to advise the Federal Government to kindly release our son, especially, now that he is in dare need of medical attention”.

The urged the Federal Government to critically look into the petroleum subsidy removal cankerworm and make the right decision for the entire country, advising that measures must be put in place urgently in order to alleviate the suffering and hardship on Nigerians, adding “Petroleum products must be made available for citizens.”

The Synod vehemently condemned calls for interim administration in Nigeria as “the worst democracy is better than the best Military Government”.

It also condemned Security Agencies for their “Attempt to blow issues out of proportion in order to defend the Government in power or to silence the opposition is grossly unacceptable.”

OPINION: Quality Leadership – Doguwa’s Startling Example

The Source

May 7, 2023

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

Once we consigned logic to the garbage can it followed that Nigeria would keep startling the world with her leadership choices. Alhaji Alhassan Ado Doguwa of Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, is proof if you needed one.

He has our attention not for any sterling legislative performance. It is not his fault that we refused to pay attention when he served us notice in 2019 as he was being sworn in for his fourth term – he turned up with his four wives and 27 children. More was on the way, he assured.

The number has crawled to four wives and 28 children.

Many thought he would have done more in four years to match the family record. Doguwa told us his father had 40 children and was productive into his 80s.

Age is on his side. He is only 57, and over two scores short of his father’s age. He needs only 12 more children to equal his father’s record, on his way to a new family mark.

We should rightly expect more from Doguwa though we were clueless that his conjugal prowess and the resultant numbers were political tools. Last year he boasted that the APC presidential candidate Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagaban Borgu would have the votes of his household. It could not have been 33 votes unless you are suggesting that Doguwa promotes under-aged voting. Allegations against him are different.

He is on trial for allegedly killing 16 people during the run up to his newest tenure in the House of Representatives. His retort is no less complicated. “I have never killed a fly let alone kill 16 people as alleged by the opposition party”.

A man so kind to Kano’s disturbing flies cannot kill human beings, that is his logic. Would a man with 28 children be short of helping hands to kill flies?

Let it not be that he is alleging that those of us who kill flies with reckless abandon are prospective murder suspects. He should not, after all we are not his colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Doguwa hangs his best point about his leadership qualities on management of his family. Four wives, no divorce, and 28 children, who have tasked his temperament to no adverse consequences. No mean feat no matter what else you may not like about him.

We should know that he is the best candidate for the position. Which contenders posses these qualities? If there are, why are they in hiding.

Serial monogamists, divorcees, singles, those unskilled in managing four wives and the 28 benchmark of children should leave the race for Doguwa. Call his stance ridiculous at your own risk.

He may not be a Senator but he is distinguished and has created a distinct advantage for himself in the race.

Doguwa, also called Alhassan Ado Garba, got to the House of Representatives in 1992, supporting Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso to be Deputy Speaker.

In 2000 he was appointed Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Environment and later Special Adviser on Governmental Affairs, and Political Party Affairs to Senate Presidents Chief Adolphus Wabara and Senator Ken Nnamani.

He returned to the House of Representatives in 2007 with re-elections in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. His blooming relationship with Femi Gbajabiamila who he succeeded as Chief Whip crashed when Gbajabiamila lost the contest for Speaker to Yakubu Dogara.

Gbajabiamila expected that Doguwa would hand him back the Chief Whip position. Doguwa refused.

Entitlement is part of his credentials including claims that he stepped down in 2019 for Gbajabiamila to be Speaker, and the succession sequence from Chief Whip to Speaker, favours him.

Why would Doguwa pitch his family size ahead of his detailed experience, ranking, and his acceptable to his colleagues? Does he even remember that selling himself as a great, loyal party man was more important than his conjugal prowess?

Doguwa graduated with a first class in Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano. He would not project these quality and there could be explanations.

We tend to appreciate visible “qualities” more. Anyone who can get a family that size into a photo frame deserves commendation for organisation. Please go back in time to how trying family photo sessions used to be. These were families no where close to Doguwa’s size.

Only a genius would muster names for 28 children. I assume he remembers each of his children by name. And he can recognise them down to their mothers and their number in the flourishing family tree.

Does he use a family WhatsApp group to call family meetings. His expenditure on air time and data could run some immodest families for a year or more.

How many buses do they need to travel? If they are to fly, few airlines would not run out of seats for them. Being a man of means, he may just charter an aircraft with adequate seats for the family.

Have you pondered the logistics to deliver foods, drinks, cooking equipment, utensils, clothing, furniture, bedding, schooling, medical care, financial dispensations? Nobody should forget housing.

Meal times would come with their own challenges. Imagine, no matter how fleetingly, the array of staff deployed to get meals ready. Doguwa is a great employer of labour. Again, he decides not to brag about such miniscule achievement.

Would Doguwa’s unique, family-centred experience not translate to frothy legislative leadership?

There are more concerns. How would Nigeria provide for a four-wife, 28 children and counting family?

Doguwa would have privileges that include medical trips abroad for him and family. The Constitution cannot anticipate everything. We should note that any attempt to disqualify Doguwa on basis of his beloved family would be discriminatory, and unconstitutional.

It is obvious that Doguwa’s family pedigree drains him. He has no cares or worries about families around him that cannot live their simple lives because of insecurity and the consequences of leaderships reckoning their achievements the way Doguwa does.

We, however, have to praise Doguwa’s candour. He parades his family achievements and approximates his successes to the skill sets he would need to lead the 360-member House of diverse tendencies, stand as Nigeria’s number four citizen who under certain circumstances could be the President.

Doguwa is a study on things of importance to some of our leaders. The surprise would be if his colleagues do not elect him the Speaker.

Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues

House Of Reps: Ogene Emerges Labour Party Caucus Leader

James Orji

May 7, 2023

…Says Labour Party Has Not Endorsed Any Speakership Aspirant

The 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives has elected Afam Victor Ogene as its Leader.

Ogene, a ranking member from the 7th Assembly, emerged as the Labour Party leader with 21 votes, after a keenly contested election yesterday in Abuja.

Although 34 Members-Elect of the Party were present at the voting session, only 31 of them took part in the exercise, with the trio of Honourables Oke-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha and Professor Lilian Oby Irogbu abstaining, being persons who conducted the exercise.

Speaking after the exercise, conducted under a convivial atmosphere, the duo of George Ozodinobi and Dennis Agbo, who contested the position, lauded the choice of Hon. Ogene.

Describing Ogene as a team player who is vast in the politics of the House of Representatives, Agbo opined that “with .Ogene as our Caucus Leader, Labour Party is sure to hold it’s own in the 10th Assembly.”

In an acceptance speech soon after he was presented to the Party’s Leader and Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, Hon. Ogene assured that in all undertakings of the Members-Elect, the well-being of the Nigerian people would be uppermost.

“May I use this opportunity to reiterate that the Labour Party caucus, House of Representatives, has not endorsed any Speakership aspirant.

“In fact, anyone desirous of our votes on the day of inauguration must first convince us, as a bloc, of what his plans and programmes for the Nigerian people are. While we may have individual preferences, I can assure that at the end of the day, the Labour Party shall stand as one, indivisible entity to take a common and progressive stand,” Ogene said.

“My Life Has Been Turned Upside Down – Sonia Ekeweremadu”; Wishes Victim Well

Akinwale Kasali

May 6, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Sonia, the 25 year old daughter of former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Dr Beatrice Ekweremadu, says that her life has been turned upside down.

Her parents were on Friday, 5th May, sentenced to jail terms by Old Bailey Court United Kingdom. While Senator Ike Ekweremadu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, his wife was sentenced to six years, and a London-based Nigerian-born doctor, Obinna Obeta, an accomplice to the crime they committed, was slammed with a 10-year jail term and his licence as a medical doctor withdrawn.

The Ekweremadus were arrested in June, 2022 at the London Heathrow Airport, on arrival from Turkey. Their crime was getting involved with human organ trafficking. They transported a 21-year old Lagos Street trader to London for the sole purpose of harvesting one of his kidneys for the benefit of their daughter, Sonia, who is suffering from a severe kidney disease, and was waiting for a kidney transplant from a donor.

In an interview with the BBC after her parents’ sentencing, Sonia, who was also arrested for same crime, but was discharged and acquitted by the Jury which found her parents guilty, when asked of the lesson learnt from the family’s ordeal said: “Life is just so dynamic. Like one day you are in your house chilling, the next day, your whole life is turned upside down. For me, it will never be the same.”

Trouble began for the Ekweremadus when the 21-year old would-have-been donor, who claimed that he was unaware of why he was brought to London, but was promised a job, a good life, and the sum seven thousand Pounds Sterling, was rejected by a doctor at the Royal Free Hospital when he was taken there. The doctor rejected him on the grounds that he was too young, did not know what he came for, and the implications therein, especially, the after-care.

When he got back to Dr Obeta’s house where he was kept, he said everybody’s attitude towards him changed. He claimed that they began to maltreat him, which forced him to run away. He slept on the streets for three nights, and went to the Police to report his situation and asked to be saved. Dr Obeta was the middle man in the “procurement” of the donor.

Asked how she felt about the donor whose report to the Police sent her parents to jail, Sonia said: “I wish him well.”

Near tears as she spoke with her interviewer, she said she felt guilty over her parents’ ordeal.

Her words: “I feel guilty because I feel all this happened because of me.”

The donor said in a statement which was read in Court that he feared for his life because the people he got entangled with are powerful people. He said he does not wish to go back to Nigeria because of his fear for his life as his father had come under tremendous pressure to ask him to drop the case. He also rejected money from the Ekweremadus for legal compensation and said they are “bad people”, and tye money will be cursed if he took it.

Imo Flags Off Cohort 2 Skill-Up Training For 15,000 Imo Youths

The Source

May 6, 2023

The Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma has flagged- off the second edition of the Imo SKILL-UP digital training programme, Cohort 2 for 15,000 Imo youths, reiterating his administration’s irrevocable commitment to laying a solid foundation for youths to deploy their acquired digital skills anywhere they go and excel accordingly.

Launching the programme at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Thursday, May 4, 2023, the Governor emphasised that the welfare of youths is central to the prosperity agenda of his government, as they represent the present and future generation of Imo State.

He disclosed that the success recorded with the first edition, Cohort 1, had come to the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, the multinational national companies such as Coca Cola and others.

For example, he said Imo State has attracted a grant of a million dollars ($1m) from Coca Cola as a result of the investment in digital economy and that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is poised to support the programme and ensure graduation and proper equipping of the trainees.

Governor Uzodimma recalled that 5000 youths were trained and graduated in Cohort 1, empowered with lap tops and other start-up kits based on their chosen areas of specialization.

He noted that the step to achieving the target of graduating 100,000 youths in digital skills can only be realised with the encouragement of participants.

The Governor said: “Today we are flagging off 15,000 young men and women with plans at top gear to ensure that we shall achieve before the end of this year, 100,000 milestone within our implementation programme. To this end, l have directed the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government to explore necessary collaborations considered expedient to ensure increased access to SKILL-UP Imo programme for all Imo State residents and citizens.

“On graduation, not only will we give you start up kits but also Professional Certificates that will be recognised anywhere in the world.

“The Professional Certificate will make the world look for you and not you looking for the World.”

He assured that the same intense digital, entrepreneurial marketing and literacy training undergone by the Cohort 1 batch will also be undergone by Cohort 2 in basic, intermediate and advance level of courses for the next 6-12 weeks, to enable them compete favorably with their counterparts in any part of the world.

Governor Uzodimma expressed his desire that “between 2022- 2026, as a result of the SKILL-UP Imo programme, more than 500 billionaires under 35 years will be produced in Imo State.This is because what the global literature has recognised is not literacy but enterprise,” noting that ideas rule the world.

“Ideas and creative thinking is the key word.

The idea is up-skilling and re-skilling to graduate at least 100,000 youths per year.”

He begged the participants to make the sacrifice for which the 8-10 weeks will not cheat them.

“Learn the Course, acquire the knowledge and then leave the rest to my government,” he charged them, saying “this will enable you contribute to the economic development of Nigeria and the world at large.”

“The programme will help to engender peace because by the time the 100,000 youths are removed from the unemployment market, Imo State will be safe, Nigeria will be safe and the economy will improve,” he added.

The Governor said the Skill–Up Programme has nothing to do with political party, zone or where one comes from hence he appealed to the youths to convince their parents to allow them acquire the necessary skills for their future.

He commended the efforts of the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government and the Resource Persons for their commitment to the success of the programme and for a job well done.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi said the objective of the training programme is to train 300,000 youths in the space of three years, graduating 100,000 each year.

He revealed that apart from the five learning centres in use, five more have been added to increase access to the training programme as directed by Governor Uzodimma and assured that “the mandate to train 100,000 each year will be realised by his Ministry.”

He listed the extra centres to include Imo State Polytechnic Omuma, K, O Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, College of Health Sciences, Amaigbo, Claretian University Nekede, and University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo.

Some of the beneficiaries of Cohort 1 who graduated last month shared their experiences and gains from the training.

Miss Chioma Onuoha, Mr. Cletus Munachimso, and Mr. Chuks Godwin, individually thanked Governor Uzodimma for the life changing experience they got from the training programme. They said the training had positioned them to be earning money from their skills.

Osun Govt Douses Tension Over Plan Sack Of Workers

Ayodele Oni

May 6, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Government has doused tension and anxiety raised by rumour of possible job loss by some public service workers.

Government has assured that it has no plan to either demote civil servants in the State or to reintroduce modulated salaries, also known as half salaries.

The Government in a statement signed by Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Saturday, described as outright falsehood and wicked fabrication, the fake news about demotion of workers and alleged plan for half salaries for state workers.

The statement explained that the May Day event also saw confirmation by all stakeholders that Governor Adeleke was the first Governor in Osun state to have workers’ welfare as the first item on his governance agenda.

“It is therefore a failed hatchet job by the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) to allege that a solution provider, a workers’ governor and a performing leader of a peoples’ government is planning any anti-labour agenda

“Let us remind the sponsors of fake news that the Adeleke administration inherited over N400 billion debt from the previous administration, a very low allocation from the Federation account, a demoralized public service, vastly looted public facilities, a very deep state infrastructure deficit and a disillusioned citizenry due to a government of deceit under the former Governor.

“Governor Adeleke has since been working round the clock to restore public confidence in government, to bridge the infrastructural gap, to clear backlogs of salaries owed to workers, to rebuild the public service, to sanitize public finance, and to digitalize Osun economy.

“Osun people rewarded the Governor by massively voting for PDP in all recent Federal and State elections.

“And across Osun state, citizens are undergoing intense prayers for the validation, confirmation, prevalence and sustenance of their governorship choice by the Supreme Court.

“The prayer of Osun voters is that good governance they are enjoying and the Peoples Governor they voted for will continue in office by God, man and the Lord Justices of the Supreme Court.

“We, therefore, urge members of the public to ignore the fake news about demotion of workers and re-introduction of half salaries.

“Governor Adeleke is an apostle of good governance and grassroots development who upholds workers’ rights and aspirations of Osun people.”

NLC Tackles Onyema, Air Peace Chair, Asks FG To Note How Much He Says He Makes, And Tax Paid; Accuses Him Of Deceit

The Source

May 6, 2023

By Charles Igbo

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has taken an exception to the allegations of the Chairman of Air Peace Airline, Barrister Allen Onyema against the Union.

Onyema had in a statement, accused the NLC, led by Comrade Joe Ajaero, of disrupting the schedules of the Airline, and causing it to lose the sum of N700 million within two hours of grounding its flight to Owerri from Lagos and Abuja.

But a shocked NLC, in a statement on Friday, drew the attention of the Federal Government to the amount of money Onyema said his Airline makes in two hours, multiply it by seven days, and then by one month, and compare it to the amount Onyema and the Airline pay in taxes.

It also accused Onyema of banning unionism at Air Peace, and gave him two weeks to lift the ban, allow freedom of association, and pay workers’ check-off dues to the NLC for two years.

Beyond that, the NLC accused Onyema of being economical with the truth in its allegations against the NLC.

Trouble started when the NLC, in reaction to the disruption of its May Day celebration in Owerri, Imo State, allegedly, by thugs sent by the State Government, who also, allegedly, beat some workers up, declared a strike action against the State Government. The strike action affected flights to Imo Airport, as the NLC warned that it would not allow any flights to Owerri.

However, in the morning of Wednesday when the action began, Air Peace had told NLC members who arrived the Lagos Airport to see to the success of the strike that the Airline waa boarding flights to Porthacourt. It was later discovered that the flights were headed to Owerri and not Porthacourt. This angered the NLC which then decided to picket the Airline’s Counters at the Lagos Airport. It resulted in an attack, allegedly, against the NLC members, and the smashing if the eye-glasses of its Lagos State Chaiman, Agnes Sesse.

Following is the full text of the NLC statement titled Call Allen Onyema of Air Peace to Order

“We at the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria are disappointed by the utterances and behaviour of Mr Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace who has put his personal business interest above the lives, welfare, safety, freedom and businesses of Imo State people.

“We had thought Mr Onyema was a reasonable citizen but like the rest of them, he has shown his hand rather too early.

“His desperate attempt to personalise the strike action (by over 70 unions) and present Comrade Joe Ajaero as scuttling the business of a fellow Igbo is a familiar refrain of scoundrels who take refuge in primordial sentiments.

“We find it disgusting that rather than address the fundamental issues that led to this avoidable strike action, Mr Onyema has called for sanctioning of Comrade Ajaero and manacling of the Labour Unions but such is the psyche of those who come upon wealth suddenly or have wealth thrust upon them.

“If the ordinary Nigerian has knowledge of the rights of citizens to peaceful protest as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), corpus of Labour Laws, and African Charter on Fundamental Rights, Mr Onyema, a Lawyer is presumed to even more knowledgeable about the operation of these laws/rights.

“How ever, it inevitably puts a question mark on his claims to his credentials if he is bereft of this basic knowledge of the law.

“The same law allows for unionisation of the staff the Air Peace Airline which have been denied this basic right by Onyema from 2016 to date. In light of this, Mr Onyema is given two weeks to allow the staff of Air Peace unionise. He should equally calculate and remit check-off dues from 2016 to date. If he fails to do this, he should be prepared to keep a date with the entire labour movement soon.

“The society Onyema canvasses is that of unquestioning submission to illegal acts, impunity, crime, and bestiality. While this might be helpful to him in the pursuit of his wealth, we find it despecable, immoral and dishonourable. We assure him such society has no place in our democracy as we continue to hold leaders to account for their conduct.

“Mr Onyema says he lost N700 million Naira in two hours of the strike action. That is a lot of money by any standards as that means he makes N5 billion a day and N150 billion a month on the average. We would want to know how much tax he pays. The last time he made tax returns was in 2020. Ordinarily, what he paid should be in the public domain but it is not. We therefore invite the tax authorities to avail us and the general public the tax returns of Air Peace. We also ask them to note the earnings of Air Peace as proclaimed by its owner.

“It was so convenient for Onyema to be hysterical about his financial lossess that he forgot to mention the violence his goons visited on workers including the Lagos State Council Chairperson, Comrade Agnes Sesse who sustained an eye injury after Onyema’s goons smashed her glasses.

“Onyema also forgot to mention the deceit in their flight operations. For instance, after claiming a flight was bound for Port Harcourt, it actually went to Owerri. There were other instances like that which made total enforcement inevitable.

“Since Allen Onyema has decided to pitch his tent with Governor Hope Uzodinma in oppressing, intimidating, exploiting, violating and visiting mindless violence on workers, we wish him well. But we advise he be called to order.

“For the benefit of those not in the know of this matter, the unions have exercised utmost restraint in the face of provocations and violations by Mr Hope Uzodinma.

“The abridged chronicle of what transpired is as follows:

“The meeting of the Joint Central Working Committees of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria held at the Olaitan Oyerinde Auditorium of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abuja on Monday , May 1st 2023.

“The meeting took a report on how the Governor of Imo State, Mr Hope Uzodinma, using thugs and agents of the state, interfered with, disrupted and scattered the commemoration ceremony of May Day organised by workers of Imo State after workers in protest of violations of their rights by the Governor, refused to be part of the Governor’s May Day ceremony.

“The meeting also took a report on how in the course of the violent disruption by the thugs and agents of Uzodinma, several workers sustained injuries and had to flee for their lives.

” In the course of deliberations, it was noted that:

“*The Governor had crossed the ultimate red line;

“*His latest act of violation being consistent with the previous ones which included but not limited to invasion and destruction of NLC State Council Secretariat built by Rochas Okorocha, his refusal to recognise the Caretaker Committee put in place by the Congress, his insistence on foisting on the Congress a state council chairperson in the state against all rules of decency and constitution of the Congress, his serial acts of intimidation of labour leaders and workers forcing some of the former to flee the state, his declaration of 15 thousand workers as ghost workers even after they had been verified, non-payment of pensions and gratuities for 7 years,etc;

“*In the history of labour movement, no governor had so brazenly assaulted the rights of workers;

“*It is an unpardonable affront that if left unchallenged would become a contagion.

“In light of this and the gravity of the situation, the meeting resolved to:

“*Resume the suspended strike action in the state from Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 (the strike action was suspended in March following interventions by leaders of thought as well as to enable the citizens of the state perform their civic duties during the local elections on the one hand and to enable the Governor undo the damage he had done on the other. However, rather than do this, the Governor has compounded the situation);

“*Direct all the unions and workers of NLC and TUC in the state to shut down the state until such a time the Governor purges himself of his abusive and unlawful behaviour as well as redress the situation;

“*After seven days if no appreciable progress is made, all the affiliate unions of NLC and TUC will march down on Imo to enforce their rights;

“*Sanction compromised State Council executives or workers, adding the days are over when state council executives pander to the wishes of Governors.

“The meeting also resolved to report the Governor to the Federal Government and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).”

How Ex-International, Mike Onyemachara, Died

Akinwale Kasali

May 6, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nation’s football enclave has once again been thrown into mourning following the demise of Mike Onyemachara.

Onyemachara was a prominent figure in the heart of the Flying Eagles defence at the 1989 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia where the team won the Silver Medal losing to Portugal in the final.

He was said to have died on Thursday, May 4th, 2023, at his home in Ajegunle, Lagos.

His Wife disclosed that the ex-international was hale and hearty before he suddenly gave up the ghost.

Recounting how her husband passed, she said she had left for work and the kids left for school only for them to return and see that the food served him on the table was not touched and he was found dead.

The cause of his death remains sketchy, though some of his colleagues that were part of the ‘Daman Miracle’ squad in 1989 revealed that the deceased had always complained of consistent back pain which was taken cognizance of.

Details of the burial of the late Onyemachara is yet to be announced by members of hist family who are still in shock over its suddenness.

The defender played most of his Club career with First Bank Football Club and made his debut for the National side in an away match against Zaire at the qualifiers for the 1989 Under-20 World Cup.

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