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Electricity: Ogene Makes Case For Investment In Renewable Energy, Hails House leadership

By
James Orji
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The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, Afam Victor Ogene, has assured that the committee would lead the charge in formulation of vital policies for a new direction in the nation’s energy needs and enabling technologies, away from the dwindling fossil energy, to a more sustainable and cleaner renewable energy.

Ogene, who is also the Labour Party caucus leader in the House, gave this assurance in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, to appreciate the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and the leadership of the 10th Assembly, for finding him worthy of the chairmanship of this important committee.

He said that with the fast dwindling global fossil fuel reserve and the increasing dangers associated with it, especially as regards its impact on the environment and climate change, renewable energy is the future and Nigeria must step up and be more intentional in investing in the renewable energy sector and technologies.

The lawmaker, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra state said that  “Scientists and experts have  predicted that we will deplete the Earth’s fossil fuel reserves in as few as 50 years, so,  investing now in renewable energy is one way to ensure a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.”

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for thinking towards that direction, by his appointment of Mrs. Olu A. Verheijen, an expert in renewable energy, as Special Adviser on Energy, and promised that his committee would work in close synergy with the executive in finding a lasting solution to the nation’s intractable electricity power challenges.

Ogene also proposed that renewable energy should have a full fledged ministry of its own, in order to give it the required attention in exploration of alternative sources of energy and also drive the investment in the emerging technologies that would ensure meaningful contribution to the nation’s energy supply from that sector.

He said further: “I want to sincerely thank the leadership of the House of Representatives under the able leadership of the Rt. Hon.Tajudeen Abbas, for trusting me with the responsibility of leading this important Committee on Renewable Energy. It is a responsibility I accept with a great sense on honour and servant leadership for the great people of Nigeria, who we represent in the parliament.

“It is a call to duty, and in line with the legislative agenda of the 10th Assembly, we shall always prioritise on the interest of the people at all times in carrying out our oversight and lawmaking responsibilities, for the overall good of the nation.”

A ranking legislator, Ogene was also recently appointed to chair an Ad-hoc Committee of the House to investigate the failure of the Federal Mass Transit Schemes in Nigeria.

“Why Radio Presenter, Uba (Nonso Nkwa) Was Arrested” – Imo State Government

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

“Uba should provide evidence to the Police that Governor Uzodinma and Asari Dokubo  are responsible for the killings in Imo State. He is being  held for criminal libel”    

Imo State Government has debunked the speculation that it ordered the arrest of a Radio presenter, Mr Nonso Uba, popular as Nonso nkwa” because of his criticism of the Governor Hope Uzodinma administration.

It explained that rather, the Police in Abuja arrested him on allegations of criminal libel bordering on threat to State Security.

Imo State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, in a statement in Owerri on Saturday, regretted that commentators have been blinded by emotions, such that they have completely ignored the alleged offence of the Radio presenter.

He noted that neither the style of his arrest, nor the contents of his radio programmes, was the issue but the defamatory statement by Mr Uba that Governor Hope Uzodimma and Alhaji Asari Dokubo were responsible for the killings in Imo State.

According to Emelumba, the Government, as a law abiding institution, sought the help of the police to investigate and substantiate the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.

“His Excellency swore an oath  through the constitution to protect lives and property of the people and here you have someone accusing him of breaching that oath which is an impeachable offence. It is only natural for the institution charged with investigation to look into the matter,” he said.

The Commissioner noted that since it is trite in law that he who alleges should provide proof, it was necessary for the police to invite Uba to prove his allegations.

He said that nobody should teach the police how to go about their assignment, insisting that those who arrested Uba were on uniform and didn’t hide their identity.

Emelumba said it was regrettable that instead of people to address the real issue which is criminal libel against the governor, they are now presenting Uba as the victim.

“The real victim here is Governor Hope Uzodimma. If it were in some society, people would have taken arms against him based on that seditious publication by Uba. Free speech does not give him the license or immunity to set the State on fire. Being the so-called activist is not a license to destroy the State. Let him hand the proof of his allegations to the police,” he insisted.

The Commissioner also insisted that those calling on the Government to release Uba missed the point as the case is between him and the police.

According to him, “I am sure that the police will not hesitate to release him today if he gives them the proof that Uzodimma and Asari Dokubo are responsible for killing people in Imo state.”

Uba was arrested in Owerri on Thursday by a detachment of Police from Abuja as he drove out of the studios of Ozisa FM after presenting a programme. His vehicle was double-crossed by the Police who then arrested him. He has been transferred to Abuja where he is being interrogated for proof of his allegations.

South-West Houses Of Assembly, Meet In Akure, Push For Harmonization Of Rules

By
Ayodele Oni
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South West House Assembly

By Ayodele Oni

Towing the way of Speakers of Houses of Assembly in the South-west, Majority Leaders of the Assembly drawn from the six States  met in Akure, the Ondo State capital to brainstorm on the development of Legislative Reform Agenda for the geopolitical zone with a view to harnessing legislative practices.

Under the umbrella of the South-West Legislative Reform Implementation Committee (SLRIC), the leaders elected the Majority Leader of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, as the new Chairman.

Ogunmolasuyi, who will lead the group till 2027, represents Owo Constituency-one. He was unanimously elected to take over from the outgone  Chairman of SLRIC and immediate past Majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oyeniran Agunbiade.

Handing over the mantle of leadership to Ogunmolasuyi, the former Lagos Majority leader, said the forum had recorded a lot of successes since it was formed some years ago to champion legislative stability in the southwest.

Agunbiade noted that the Forum ensured  harmonized House Rules for all the six houses of assembly in the zone, adding that same is being copied nationally.

In an acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the South-West Legislative Reform Implementation Committee and Majority Leader of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi said the SLRIC will continue to serve as a rally point for all Southwest majority leaders in order to enhance their various regional integration.

According to him, the Akure meeting will lay the foundation upon which the new Houses of Assembly will build on in the zone and it is expected of the majority leaders in the South-West region to encourage their co-lawmakers to contribute immensely to the development of their constituents.

Ogunmolasuyi,  promised that the Forum under his leadership will strive to do better than the past and ensure that objectives which it stands for shall be uphold.

“Not only that we shall also ensure that the platforms which will better the lot of South West Houses of Assembly are created thereby making us the cynosure of eyes amongst all the regions in Nigeria.

“We have achieved success on our mandate, we are mandated to champion legislative reform and ensure its implementation in the Southwest. We have achieved brotherhood among majority leaders in the Southwest, we have achieved cordiality.

“We are striving to ensure that all legislators in Southwest come together to know ourselves better, to interact and know the area of interest that will benefit individuals, as well as create harmonious relationship among all the houses in the southwest.

“We have done cross learning programmes, in some critical areas of oversights, budgeting. We have championed the harmonization of rules of the Southwest where the major provision that are in consonance with best legislative practices are extracted from all the rules of each of the Houses of Assembly are being put together.

“We make sure that the Houses also follow the procedure outlined in the rules. We went round the state to attend plenary and see  how the rules are being used.

“We have been able to encourage  other zones in the country to harmonize their rules. We are in the process of making sure that the database for all legislators in the Southwest and to come together and interact.”

Declaring the inaugural meeting open, the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, who spoke through the Deputy Speaker, Abayomi Akinruntan said; “I will like to state that the committee should ensure that a platform be created for effective service delivery as regards oversight which will, enhance the level of legislative compliance among the Southwest Houses of Assembly.

Traffickers Now Use Sport Platforms To Recruit Youths – NAPTIP Alerts Nigerians

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

This year’s World Day against Human Trafficking and the 20th anniversary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) was held on Saturday in Abuja with a warning to Nigerians to beware of traffickers using sporting platforms to traffic in youths.

NAPTIP Director-General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, gave the warning during a novelty match with some agency’s partners to mark the celebration.

She stated that “Many young people want to be football maestros like Kanu Nwakwo and Daniel Amokachi, but traffickers are out there planning to prey on the hopes and aspirations of these young people.

“Let youths be aware; let parents be aware that there are preys out there waiting to extort their ambitions.

“NAPTIP has the powers to regulate and to issue clearance to travel agencies, tour operators and sporting recruitment agencies.

“Potential sportsmen and women are at liberty to demand for NAPTIP clearance from the recruitment agencies before engaging with them,.”

The match was held between NAPTIP and development partners among which were the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the International Organisation for Migration.

In his remarks, Deputy Country Representative of UNODC, Mr Danilo Campisi, noted that human trafficking was a major problem in Nigeria.

He observed, however, that NAPTIP had made tremendous progress to curb the menace as it had made arrests and secured court conviction of some traffickers.

The NAPTIP football team won the novelty match 2-1 after 30 minutes of play.

Simon Ekpa To South East: Kanu’s Purported Letter Is Fake

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nnamdi Kanu and Simeon Ekpa

By Ayodele Oni

Confusion is trailing Friday’s alleged letter from the leader of Independent Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB) currently in detention, Nnamdi Kanu, to Simon Ekpa, in which he asked  Ekpa to put a stop to the continued stay at home by the people of South-east.

Ekpa, responding to the letter, described it as a fake one, which emanated from security agents  and asked the Igbo to disregard it.

In the letter, Kanu reportedly advised Ekpa to discontinue the stay at home order and stop attacking leaders of the South-east.

Ekpa pointed out that what should be the concern of all now is the release of Kanu to ensure lasting peace in the South-east.

His response:  “Our attention has been drawn to the fake letter from the pit of hell being paraded by Nigerian media claiming that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wrote a letter.

“It is not only a joke but an insult taken too far that the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra is being misrepresented in this way.

“As the Prime Minister of Biafra under the leaders0hip of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I call on all Biafrans to disregard the fake letter coming from DSS.”

US Offers Niger’s Ousted President Support; Tinubu Meets ECOWAS Leaders Tomorrow

By
James Orji
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US Secretary of State, Anthony Blicken says Washington will work to restore constitutional order in West African country following coup.

Blinken also pledged his country’s support for ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum who was removed by soldiers in  the Presidential Guard earlier in the week.

He spoke amidst plan by President Bola Tinubu to meet ECOWAS Leaders in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Sunday.

Tinubu is the President of the regional bloc, ECOWAS.

The United States’ top diplomat offered his “unflagging support” to Niger’s ousted leader, warning his captors that hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance could be at risk if democratic norms are not restored.

Blinken told Niger President Bazoum in a phone call that Washington would work to reestablish the constitutional order after the West African leader was toppled in a military coup, the state department said on Friday.

Blinken also “praised Bazoum’s role in promoting security not only in Niger but the wider West Africa region”.

Blinken’s comments come after he told Bazoum earlier in the week that Washington’s support of the landlocked African nation would depend on its “democratic governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights”.

Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani on Friday declared himself the head of a transitional government after members of Niger’s presidential guard earlier this week took Bazoum into custody.

In an address on state television on Friday, the 62-year-old military leader said he had taken control of the government to prevent  “the gradual and inevitable demise” of the country.

Tchiani previously led the resistance to a failed coup in March 2021, when troops tried to take over the presidential palace days before the swearing-in of the then-newly elected Bazoum.

The pro-West Bazoum’s election marked the first peaceful transfer of power since Niger gained its independence from France in 1960.

Niger, which borders seven African countries including Libya, Chad and Nigeria, is seen by the US and former colonial ruler France as an important partner to address security threats in the region.

The country is the largest recipient of US military assistance in West Africa, having received an estimated $500m in assistance to the country since 2012.

The country also hosts more than 2,000 US and French troops.

Aljazeera

Soldiers Kill IPOB, Boko Haram Terrorists In Renewed War Against Insecurity

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Gambo-Ogalla and Lagbaja

The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that soldiers have killed scores of terrorists across the country in the renewed quest to stamp out terrorism.

Those killed include some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, responsible for some killings and arson in the southeast, and boko haram fighters operating in the country’s North east.

According to a statement by Defence spokesperson, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, close to 60 terrorists have been neutralized in the past few days by troops who also freed over 80 kidnapped victims during various operations.

The defence spokesman also stated that the troops arrested 88 criminals, 10 kidnappers, 20 gunmen and 19 suspected oil thieves within the period.

Giving the breakdown,  Buba said troops killed 13 terrorists and arrested nine others while a total of 764 terrorists comprising two adult males, 336 adult females and 426 children surrendered at different frontlines in the North East zone.

In the North Central Zone, the Defence spokesperson said troops arrested 17 suspects and rescued one hostage.

Buba said: “Between 22 and 23 July 2023, troops arrested a suspected bandit identified as Terhemen Aduwe a.k.a. Kulu at Sankera Village, along Gbagir Road in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

“In another operation, troops arrested three suspected bandits at Ukulo Village in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

“On 22 July, 2023, troops conducted fighting patrol to suspected kidnappers’ hideout at Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and arrested five suspects.”

He said troops of Operation Whirl Punch on operations in the North West zone neutralised 13 terrorists, arrested three terrorist collaborators and rescued 75 kidnapped civilians.

On troops operations in the South-South zone, Buba said troops of Operation DELTA SAFE recovered 498,650 litres of crude oil, 168,145 litres of automotive gas oil, and 4,400 litres of dual purpose Kerosene.

“Troops destroyed 42 illegal refining sites, 36 wooden boats, 68 storage tanks, 77 ovens, 19 dugout pits, 4 speedboats and 5 outboard engines.

“Meanwhile, a total of 41 suspected criminals were apprehended within the period,” he said.

The Defence spokesperson also said that troops killed three Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) fighters and apprehended 23 suspects during raid operations in the South East.

“In the conduct of operations, troops of Operation UDO KA recovered 3 AK47 rifles, one AKMS rifle, 4 pump action guns, 2 Dane guns, one locally made pistol, 35 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 86 live cartridges and one locally made hand grenade,” Buba said.

APC NEC Meets Next Week To Appoint Ganduje As Chair

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, will hold its National Caucus and National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings next week.

The meeting was initially scheduled for July 18 and 19 following the removal of Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

Next week’s meeting is expected to deliberate on the next chairman of the party, and other positions that became vacant following the resignations of Adamu, Omisore, and Salihu Lukman the Deputy National Chairman North of the APC.

According to the Nation newspaper, a new chairman is expected to emerge during the NEC with Abdullahi Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State widely favoured for the position.

It was gathered from a highly placed source in the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party that the new dates were communicated to the party leadership by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday.

The National Caucus meeting is slated to hold at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Wednesday evening.

The National Executive Committee, NEC, which is the highest policy-making organ of the party, will meet the next day at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel also in Abuja.

The NWC had to postpone the two meetings following the voluntary resignation of the former National Chairman and Secretary, and Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore respectively from office last week Monday.

The two meetings were initially fixed for 18 and 19 of July 2023.

Acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari had on Monday, after the meeting of NWC told newsmen of the postponement of the meetings.

According to Kyari, “With this recent development in the change of leadership, I like to inform everybody here that the proposed national caucus meeting slated for Tuesday 18th July 2023 and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC slated for Wednesday 19th July 2023 has hereby been postponed. And this postponement will not be indefinite but a new date will be communicated shortly.”

The Nation, however, gathered on Friday that following the choice of the President, the NWC had fixed the two crucial meetings for August 2nd and 3rd.

“The NWC received a letter from Mr President on Wednesday intimating us that he is disposed to attending the two meetings on the 2nd and 3rd of August, 2023 and on the strength of the letter, we are equally set for the meetings,” our source hinted.

Ahead of the two meetings, NWC met on Thursday for about 5 hours to prepare the agenda for the two engagements, they also collectively looked into the account books of the party in line with the constitution of the party, to enable it to present the financial records at the party’s NEC meeting.

NWC at its meeting scrutinised the list of members of the five statutory committees to be set up by NEC at the recommendation of the NWC in line with Article 18 of the constitution.

Confirming the new dates, a source in the NWC said, “The stage is set for the caucus and NEC meetings. That was why our meeting on Thursday lasted for five hours. We were able to review the agenda proposal by the Secretariat for the two crucial engagements.

“We have our financial reports ready, the membership list of the five statutory committees recommended for approval at the NEC meeting.

“ The vacant positions of the National Chairman and Secretary are expected to be filled at the NEC meeting. Dr Umar Ganduje and Senator Ajibola Basiru have been pencilled down to fill the two positions at NEC.”

Kanu Warns Ekpa: “Anybody Still Engaging In Sit-At-Home Is Not My Disciple”, Denounces Insults On SE Governors

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nnamdi Kanu and Simeon Ekpa

By Ayodele Oni

In what could be described as an about-turn or change in tactics, detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has warned against insulting Governors and Leaders in the South-East.

Long before now, the tough-talking Kanu did not seem to respect any of the Governors and most of the Leaders. They were loosely dismissed as “efulefus” or “Fulani slaves.”

But in an order passed on to Simon Ekpa, an estranged member of IPOB, who proclaimed himself Nnamdi Kanu’s disciple, and who, from Finland where he lives, imposes a sit-at-home order on the South-east Zone, through his Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu told Ekpa ordered a halt to any insults directed at the Governors or Leaders of the Zone.

The IPOB, also, in the letter released on Friday, also disowned Simon Ekpa over his continued sit-at-home order on the people of the South-east, and emphasised that  anybody who gives such order is not his disciple.

Kanu in a hand-written letter, circulated on the social media,declared an end to all sit-at-home order in the South-East and any other proposed means aimed by the group at forcing government to release him from detention.

Kanu, in the letter he  authorized to be read out by his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, during a world press conference held in Enugu on Friday said any such things should be stopped forthwith.

The letter by the  IPOB leader, dated July 24, 2023,  followed the refusal of a factional leader of the group, Simon Ekpa, to announce the cancellation and further declaration through his media platforms.

Kanu, warned Ekpa to “desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth” and “to make a public announcement to the effect that he (Ekpa) is in receipt of a direct order from him (Kanu) to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment.

“Simon, this is a direct order from me. I hereby instruct you to desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth. Equally, refrain from antagonizing governors or persons in political positions because you are not in a position to know what they are doing on my behalf.

“I am ordering you to make a public announcement to the effect that you are in receipt of a direct order from me to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment.

“I embarked on this movement to liberate our people not to enslave them. I despise and will despise any person or entity that wishes to inflict unnecessary hardship on our people. I have authorized Alloy to issue a press statement if you fail to make this announcement on your platform.

“Anybody still engaging in sit-at-home is not my disciple. Haters of Biafra and mindless murderers in uniform are hiding under the cover of combating enforcers of sit-at-home to unleash mayhem against the same people we swore to defend.

“I have sent countless messages to those purportedly enforcing sit-at-home that they are not doing so in my name. I am not begging anybody to release me just that Nigeria should have the decency to obey their own laws.

“The main issue which our people should address their minds to is the unconscionable delays in hearing the government’s appeal at the Supreme Court, which is a situation not amenable to any sit-at-home. Therefore, sit-at-home is a waste of time, resources and energy.

“Those who may not understand the genesis of the sit-at-home should refer to my younger brother’s press statement on the eve of the commencement of the original order issued by the IPOB family.

“My brother made it clear to the DOS that I was against the order for people to stay at home under whatever guise. This caused a rift between my siblings and DOS till date.

“Aloy should use the above contributions to form the main body of the press statement. I want our people to know how this whole sit-at-home brouhaha started.

“Had DOS obeyed my direct instructions to cancel the first Monday sit-at-home, opportunistic scavengers would not have jumped on the bandwagon to wreak havoc on our people.

“You (Aloy) must release the press statement tomorrow with the screenshot of the handwritten note I gave to you unfailingly.”

“I am Directed To End Insecurity In South East” – GOC 82 Division Tells Uzodimma

By
The Source
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0

Chances of insecurity in the South East being dealt a deadly blow became brighter, Friday, when the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, Major Gen. Hassan Taiwo Dada told Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that he had been directed by his superiors to end the menace forthwith.

Major Gen Dada who dropped the hint when he paid a working visit to Governor Uzodimma in company of his team at the New Exco Chambers Government House Owerri, however added that the visit was to solicit the support of the government and the people to deliver on the mandate given to him.

Though he said he had assumed office two weeks ago, Major Gen Dada told the Governor that it is customary in the Military for officers posted to places for their assignment to familiarise themselves with the people, hence the courtesy call.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has given me a marching order to end insecurity in the South East and I hope to do just that. I am here therefore, to solicit the governor’s support and everybody’s support to improve security in Imo State and the South East,” Major Gen Dada said.

The GOC who explained that he was aware of the state of insecurity in the South East added: “We will do all it takes to ensure that peace returns to the South East.”

He used the opportunity to thank Governor Uzodimma for the support his government has been extending to the Military, and recalled that the one week duration Army Day Celebration which took place in Imo State last year is still fresh in his mind.

In his remarks, Governor Uzodimma welcomed the GOC and his entourage and reminded him that he has in his kitty a résumé that will help to stamp out the cankerworm of insecurity in the South East.

The Governor assured him the the people of Imo State in particular and South East in general will support his mission in the course of his assignment.

The Governor reminded the GOC of the cordial inter security agencies relationship that has existed in the State and urged him to ensure its sustainability in addressing the issues of criminality in the region such as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and other crimes.

Governor Uzodimma used the opportunity to remind the military high command of the negative impact of sit at home in the South East, urging Major Gen Dada and his colleagues to do all within their behest to ensure that those instigating it are brought to justice.

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku, the Senator representing Okigwe zone, Sen Patrick Ndubueze, four House of Representatives members from Imo State – Hon. Miriam Onuoha, Hon. Canice Nwachukwu, Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu and Hon. Akarachi Amadi -, former House of Representatives member, Rt. Hon. Jerry Alagbaso, the Secretary to Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie,  the Chairman of Imo State Elders Council HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Commissioners, among other dignitaries joined the Governor to receive the GOC.

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