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Mrs Obiano: “Why I did Not Slap Bianca Back”, Apologises, Declares Interest In Senatorial Seat

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The Source
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Ebere Obiano

By Charles Igbo

Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, the immediate past First Lady of Anambra State, has publicly apologised for her behavior at the swearing-in ceremony of Professor Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State, on March 17, 2022.

Mrs Obiano had left her seat at the ceremony, walked to Mrs Bianca Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu who was already seated, rained abuses on her, and earned a public slap from Bianca. She, finally, after being restrained from lounging at Bianca, called her a woman of the “red light district.” That earned Mrs Obiano public condemnation for calling  Mrs Ojukwu by such derogatory words.

The scandal did not stop  the ceremony from continuing, but it took the shine off Soludo’s solid inauguration speech, as every discussion, days after, centered on the slapping incident.

But at a Media Parley in Awka on Wednesday, Mrs Obiano publicly apologized to Soludo, the dignitaries present, Anambra and  Ndigbo as a whole for her unbecoming behavior. However, she left out her husband, Willy Obiano and her family who the incident of the day must have embarrassed. She also left out Bianca, but explained why she did not slap her back. “I remain grateful to God that I resisted and overcame the temptation to retaliate the physical assault meted out to me.”

However, the video evidence  which went viral on Whatsaap, showed otherwise. It showed an enraged Mrs Obiano who was physically restrained from lounging at Bianca, and even when her husband  tried to calm her down, she seemed to have shouted at him.

Mrs Obiano: “As a peaceful person that I am well known for, violence has never been in my character. I remain grateful to several elders,  statesmen, friends and associates of the Obianos, as well as countless number of good people of Anambra State who called and expressed their concerns and offered wise counsel and words of comfort after the unfortunate drama ”

In the letter of, titled Public Apology which she addressed to Governor Soludo, the former Anambra  First Lady wrote: “Permit me to use this medium to humbly convey to you my sincere, heartfelt and unreserved apology for the unfortunate incident between Mrs Bianca Ojukwu and myself on Thursday,  March 17, 2022, the day of your inauguration as the new Executive Governor of Anambra State in which you took over from my husband, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano.

“The incident, to say the least, was most unnecessary, unfortunate, and I regret my action. It was an unintended action as violence is never in my character.

“Your Excellency Sir, I hold your person, your ideals, the records of your great accomplishments in public service in Nigeria and beyond, as well as their concomitant colossal impacts in public policies in highest esteem.

“Without any equivocation, your achievements as a towering intellectual of national and international repute are enduring legacies and pride for the State and Ndigbo in general.

“I will, therefore, never deliberately engage in any activity or action to disrespect you and your Government.

“All those who know me can testify that before and throughout my eight years as the First Lady of the State, I pursued peace, promoted philanthropic gestures which empowered many of our less privileged people. No excuse can, therefore, be tenable as justification for such public embarrassment, no matter the height of provocation.

Equally, I wish to extend the same apology to all the important dignitaries, the people of Anambra State, as well as the entire Ndigbo for that unintended embarrassment at the occasion.

“I want to use this opportunity to pledge that I will whole-heartedly support and pray for the Government of His Excellency, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to excell exceedingly, better than the immediate past Government, even as he builds on the legacy of his predecessor, my husband, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, and take our State to a higher level.

“I consciously chose this medium to express my apology, goodwill, support and prayers publicly to His Excellency, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, as a token of my full respect  for him, his family, and the entire Ndigbo.”

On her Senatorial ambition, Mrs Obiano said she was responding to the overwhelming pressure from her people to run so as to continue to impact positively on their lives.

She said: “Therefore, having witnessed and been positively touched by my ever willing disposition to care for people, empower the poor and the needy, especially women and children, and particularly, widows, orphans and the destitute, my people decided that I should come and serve them better in a higher capacity.”

Recall that her husband, Willie Obiano, a few days to the expiration of his tenure in office as Governor, told Journalists that his wife would run for the Senatorial seat of Anambra North. The incumbent Senator is Princess  Stella Adaeze Oduah.

Qatar 2022 Fallout Update: Zambian Official Died Of Cardiac Arrest – NFF

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The Source
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Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has finally broken its silence over the death of CAF and FIFA Official, Joseph Kabango, revealing that he died of cardiac arrest.

Kabango slumped and died on Tuesday March 29th March 2022, after the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification Playoff between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana which ended in a bizarre manner as irate fans stormed the pitch showing their displeasure over the lackluster performance of the Super Eagles which led to their failure to qualify for the World Soccer fiesta.

The Amaju Melvin Pinnick- led NFF  expressed shock and sorrow over the death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, who was appointed as Doping Control Officer for the match.

In a statement  the NFF said: “We are terribly shocked at this sad development. The NFF commiserates with world football –body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, the Football Association of Zambia and the family of Dr Kabungo on his sudden passing. His death pains us very much and we are in a state of deep shock.

“However, it is important to state the facts as they are. According to the information from our own medical officer, Dr Onimisi Ozi Salami who was appointed by FIFA as Medical Officer for the game, Dr Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team. I was notified and ordered that he should be rushed to the hospital. He didn’t make it. He died just as they got to the hospital,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said.

It was gathered that Dr Ozi Salami told thenff.com that the incident happened when he (Dr Salami) was looking to get the Nigerian player for the doping exercise, while Dr Kabungo was looking to get the Ghanaian player for the same exercise.

“I was heading to the dressing room of the Nigerian team when the General Coordinator, Kabore Hubert Bosilong from South Africa called my attention. Dr Kabungo suddenly started gasping for breath. The FIFA Security Officer for the match, Mr Dixon Adol Okello from Uganda also witnessed the incident.

“We tried to resuscitate him there and then, but when this did not appear to be working, we put him in an ambulance and rushed him to Cedar Crest Hospital in Apo, where he gave up the ghost. It is a very sad incident and one is shocked that some persons have been putting a terrible slant to the whole thing by saying he was beaten up by fans. That is a lie. He died as a result of sudden cardiact arrest.”

Officials of the NFF, the medical team and officials of the High Commission of Zambia held a meeting on Wednesday morning to decide on the next line of action following the demise of Dr Kabungo.

APC Plans To Alter Electoral Act To Rubbish 2023 – PDP Says

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The Source
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Gideon Njoku

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has raised an alarm over alleged plans  by the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency to compromise the 2023 General Elections.

The Party says that the plot to do that is to “alter the newly passed Electoral Act 2022, to introduce clauses that will compromise the 2023 General Elections.”

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC decided on this because they have “realised that it (APC) is running out of time and cannot meet up with the already released Electoral timetable.”

Having realised that, the PDP  alleges that the APC now plans  to frustrate and derail the ongoing Electoral process.

The PDP claims that to achieve this, it has information that the APC has been mounting pressure  on INEC “to push forward  the already dates for the 2023 General elections”, but said it strongly rejects the move.

Following is the full text of the statement:

2023: PDP Exposes Plans by Buhari Presidency, APC to Alter Electoral Act

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts Nigerians of a clandestine plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to alter the newly passed Electoral Act 2022 to introduce clauses that will compromise the 2023 general elections.

The APC, having realized that it is running out of time and cannot meet up with the already released electoral timetable now seeks to frustrate and derail the on-going electoral process.

The PDP has it on good authority that the Buhari Presidency has perfected plots to use the APC leadership in the National Assembly to orchestrate an amendment to the Electoral Act to create opening for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to alter its already released 2023 Election Timetable and Schedule of Activities to accommodate the APC.

Our Party has information about how the APC has been mounting pressure on INEC to push forward the already scheduled dates for the 2023 general elections.

The PDP vehemently rejects this plot by the APC which amounts to shifting the goal post in the middle of the game and cautions INEC to resist such heinous design against our democracy.

The election timetable has already been released, political parties have commenced processes, Nigerians have since set their minds on the election dates to vote out the APC and there is no going back on that resolve.

The PDP therefore cautions the Buhari Presidency and the APC leadership in the National Assembly to note that any attempt to alter the timetable is an invitation to serious political crisis in the country as Nigerians will firmly resist them.

While directing all PDP members in the National Assembly to be vigilant and firmly resist this plot, our Party also calls on all lovers of democracy; the Civil Society, the media, Organized Labour and the International Community to stand against this attempt by the APC to derail the democratic process.

The PDP will not hesitate to call out millions of our members, teeming supporters of our Party and Nigerians at large should the APC continue in this nefarious scheme.

The APC should have nobody but itself to blame. It must bear the full consequences of its recklessness, arrogance, disregard for rules, order and gross violation of its own constitution.

U.S. Embassy in Abuja Begins Interview Waiver Program for Certain Visa Renewals

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The Source
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Mary Beth Leonard - US Ambassador to Nigeria

Beginning March 30, 2022, the United States Embassy in Abuja will begin processing certain non-immigrant visa renewal applications without requiring an interview where:

  • The visa is B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only);
  • The applicant previously received a U.S. non-immigrant visa that expired within the last 24 months, or will expire in the next three months from the date of application;
  • The previous visa was issued in Nigeria;
  • The previous visa was a full validity, multiple entry visa;
  • The applicant is applying for the same visa classification as the prior approved visa;
  • The applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime in the United States (even if they later received a pardon or waiver);
  • The applicant has never worked without authorization or overstayed in the United States; and
  • The applicant has not had any significant life changes.

Each applicant must individually meet all the requirements.  Please note, a parent’s qualifications cannot extend to a child.  The child must independently meet each requirement.  The number of applicants accepted for the Interview Waiver Program may initially be limited.

Qualified applicants seeking to utilize this no-interview program must set an appointment for document review online at ustraveldocs.com/ng.  On the date and time of the appointment, the applicant must drop off all necessary documents at the address specified in their appointment letter:

  • DS-160 confirmation page,
  • Valid passport and previous passports containing the most recent visa to the present,
  • I-20 and I-901 SEVIS receipt, DS-2019 (if applicable),
  • New passport photo,
  • Copy of parent’s visa (if minor).

Applicants will not have access to their passport until processing is completed. Processing times may vary, but are expected to be up to two months.  In cases where an interview is deemed necessary, the embassy will return the passport and notify the applicant to set an appointment to appear in person.

Application fees will remain the same and can be found at travel.state.gov.  ($160 USD for non-petition-based non-immigrant visas, and $190 USD for petition-based non-immigrant visa categories.)

Notice:  Third parties unaffiliated with the U.S. Embassy Abuja may seek to take advantage of various visa services to target visa applicants with fraudulent offers or claims.  Remember to rely on information only from genuine sources: travel.state.gov, ng.usembassy.gov/visas/, and ustraveldocs.com/ng.  Applicants should fill out their own forms and make appointments themselves using official websites.

2023: NHRC Alleges Plot To Reduce Itsekiri Voting Strength In Warri, Urge INEC To Obey Court Order

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

With the 2023 General Elections drawing close, a Civil Rights Group, Nigeria Human Rights Community, NHRC, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to respect the ruling of the Appeal Court on the delineation of Wards in Warri South Local Government.

The Group stressed that it is aware that the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, is a man of honour and urged him to correct the historical injustice.

At a Media Briefing, NHRC, which is a coalition of several civil society groups said the Court of Appeal had asked INEC to respect the aspirations of the people of Warri South but that the Electoral body has ignored the Court order.

NHRC Director of Publicity, Taiwo Adeleye, said the wrong delineation continues to fuel political exclusion of Itsekiri voters in Warri South Local Government of Delta State.

He added that the Rights Group has consistently noticed that the Itsekiri people have been marginalised politically and economically.

“For instance, for 40 years, we have been told Itsekiri is 350,000 people. Authorities continue to quote the same figure in 2022 as if Itsekiri people are not producing offspring adding that the false population references have been extended to delieanation of wards which reduces the number of votes the Itsekiri can ever produce”, Adeleye said.

The Group added there were 10 Wards in the Warri South Local Government area of Delta State, and the Local Government has been in existence since 1991 long before the creation of further local governments by the Federal Government.

It stressed that contrary to the laws of the Federation via the Local Government Decree 1980, the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria Decree 1996, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979, INEC delineated WARD 10 reducing the polling units and disempowering the voters in this area.

The group said the delineation was done in bad faith, as it diminished access to polling units and robbed many voters in the affected communities to exercise their franchise as guaranteed by law. This affected previous elections of political office holders into the Local Government in question.

It furthermore added that it diminished the capacity of Itsekiri indigenous people in these communities to participate effectively in the democratic process both at the local, state and national level. It also reduced their voting strength. This prompted the decision of the communities to approach the Court of Law and decent and law abiding people.

NHRC recalled that the Appeal was struck out on Tuesday October 23,2018. Subsequently, the INEC offices in Warri and Asaba, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commission and the Commissioner for Police in Delta State signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the leaders of the community with the proviso that the error would be corrected after the 2019 elections.

The Court agreed that INEC had no right and cannot redelineate the Wards of the Warri South LGA of Delta State the said Warri South L.G.A having been in existence as a Local Government Area upon its creation in 1991 prior to the recent new Local Government Areas creation exercise of the Federal military Government and having been unaffected in any manner whatsoever by the said recent creation of new L.G.A exercise.

Okupe Withdraws From Presidential Race, Backs South-east, Throws Weight Behind Peter Obi

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Dr Doyin Okupe, a  former Presidential spokesperson for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had declared interest in contesting for Presidency in 2023, Wednesday said he is withdrawing from the 2023 presidential race. He has, instead, throwing his weight behind former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Okupe atributed his action to his penchant for equity, justice, and fairness between the Northern and Southern parts of the country. According to him, he has consulted far and wide with stakeholders in the South.

“I observed that the leadership of the PDP seems to be driving us all towards a fait accompli. The most central consideration concerning the presidential primaries is the issue of zoning”, he said.

“The matter has been referred to a Committee of 37 members with a member each from every state of the Federation and the FCT Abuja. One would have expected that the mandate of this Committee would be such that it would discharge its duties and report to the NEC of the party within a maximum of 5-7 days. Sadly, this has not been so.

“It is clear to me that those at the helm of affairs of the party are trying to hoodwink those of us aspirants from the South to commit ourselves to obtain the requisite forms before coming up with the original position that ‘every zone can contest the Presidency ’.

“This position is politically fraudulent, unjust and inequitable.

” As a politician, I have come to accept the ill-defined zoning arrangement, and still forge ahead with my unrepentant call for a rotation of power to the South.

“We Yorubas, right from the time of the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, have always stood for honour, integrity, truth and justice no matter the situation.

“The Action Group which was largely a Yoruba political platform was used by the leadership to fight for justice and oppose injustice everywhere in the country.

“This was the basis of the cooperation of the Action Group with the UMBC in the middle-belt, and similar groups in the mid-west and Calabar.

“It is this spirit of fairness, forthrightness, and courage that made the Yorubas embrace the Afenifere, which was neither a mass movement, nor a political group. It was an association of men and women who stood for truth, equity and justice.

“This is an heritage we the Yorubas must not allow to be diluted in the presence of so much shenanigans and political dishonesty and lack of integrity that has become the hallmark of our new political ethos.

“In aligning myself with the wish of our elders and in the interest of equity and justice, I publicly admit that the 2023 political race must be conceded to the South-East; that is, the Igbos.

“I, therefore, here and now proclaim that I am, as I have said publicly several times, withdrawing from the presidential race and I am declaring my support for the best aspirant not only in Igboland, but in Nigeria as a whole.

“I and my supporters within and outside the PDP are teaming up with His Excellency, Peter Obi.

“At the same time, I want to enjoin all other aspirants from the South; Chief Dele Momodu, Senator Anyim, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike to come with me and let us team up with Peter Obi. So we can give the South the best possible chance.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not fanning the embers of division, rather I am by this action lightening the torch of unity by establishing political stability on the pillars of truth and justice upon which the Bible tells us that even the throne of the Almighty God is founded”.

Okupe was, also, a Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Train Attack: Family of Father, Mother, Four Kids Kidnapped

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The Source
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Family of Four Kidnapped

By Gideon Njoku

As Nigerians wait, in shock, for the full details of those either killed, injured or kidnapped in the fatal bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna Train, it has been confirmed that a family, comprising of father, mother and four kids – two boys and two girls – was kidnapped. They are among those whose whereabouts remain unknown, 48 hours after the horrifying bombing of  the Abuja-Kaduna bound Train.

The Train was bombed in the evening of March 28, 2022, by terrorists who planted bombs along the Train track, and followed up with a statacco of gun shots.

The fate of the family was disclosed by Senator Shehu Sani in a post. He attached a lovely photograph of the unidentified family to the post.

He wrote: “A whole family in the hands of the Train attack terrorists. If this doesn’t touch the heart or prick the conscience of this country’s leaders, nothing will.”

Nobody can confirm, yet,  the number of kidnapped persons, as there is a huge difference between the number of persons on board being speculated, and the number released by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

While the Minister confirmed that 398 tickets were sold, out of which 362 persons boarded, it is strongly speculated that over 900 passengers were on board the Train.

An unconfirmed source attributed the difference to : “Ticket racketeering.”

Local Councils In Ekiti Groan Over Paucity Of Funds

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Local government, which is the third tiers of government in Nigeria’s federal system, is facing hard times in Ekiti state.

Investigations revealed that successive administrations in the state have turned local council funds to another source of revenue to the state government.

From findings, the situation is getting worse with the creation of Local Council Development Authority, (LCDA) by the present administration.

The newly created nine LCDAs, carved out of the constitutionally recognized 16 local governments, do not have any means of generating revenue than shares they receive from parent councils.

Election has been held in the LCDAs during last December council poll, during which chairmen and councilors were elected.

It was gathered that during the immediate past administration of Governor Ayo Fayose, funds went directly to the councils, but later returned to the state where they would be shared according to the Governor’s directive.

Under the present dispensation, the Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Abiodun Omoleye, presides over the monthly sharing of funds to the councils and LCDAs.

None of the councils in the state can award contract to the tune of N100,000 without recourse to the office of the Governor through the Ministry of Local Government.

The traditional functions of sweeping markets and clearing road sides which were previously functions of Local Government have been abandoned.

Recently, there was a report that salaries and allowances of elected local government chairmen and councilors had been ridiculously slashed by the state government.

The state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) has in several forum canvassed for abrogation of local government which he said should not be part of Nigeria’s federating units.

Some traditional rulers in Ilejemeje local government, had led a protest over lack of amenities in the over 25 year’s old council headquarters at Eda Oniyo.

Since its creation, the local government has no secretariat, prompting workers to resume under shades of trees, while some of them do not report for work, except at the end of the month to receive salary.

The present administration has also reduced the tenure of elected officials from three to two years.

Train Attack: How Six Soldiers Were Killed

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

While Nigerians await the full identities of those killed, injured, or kidnapped in the bombing of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna Train on Monday, March 28, this magazine can authoritatively confirm that six gallant soldiers were killed by the terrorists during the horrendous attack.

It is not known, however, if the soldiers were, as usual, attached to the Train coaches to provide security for the ill-fated trip, or if they were ambushed as they rushed down for a rescue operation.

But as it turned out, they were very few, and perhaps poorly equipped, when compared to the number of the Terrorists and their sophisticated weapons “of war” which included explosives.

As the bombed Train screeched to a tragic halt, and the terrorists swamped on the train and began shooting, the gallant soldiers responded. But their response provided no comfort. They were overwhelmed by the terrorists, who mowed them down.

Their bodies lay, helplessly, having succumbed to death in the defense of their fatherland.

Both the Kaduna State Government and the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, have confirmed eight fatalities (so far). It is not, however, known if the soldiers were among the disclosed fatalities.

Abia 2023: CNPP Condemns PDP On Zoning, Warns of Consequences

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has strongly condemned what it described as the bizarre zoning arrangement of the governorship seat in Abia State by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warning that “there are, as always, dare consequences of jettisoning equity in any political arrangement.”

The State  PDP had on Saturday, announced the zoning of the party’s governorship ticket to Abia Central and Abia North Senatorial Districts with the excuse that both zones have the highest number of aspirants for the number one position.

However, the CNPP, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, frowned at the zoning arrangement, wondering how two senatorial districts would produce the next Governor of Abia State.

The CNPP maintained that “if past zoning arrangements were never lumped up, why now?

“Since it is unarguable that Abia South and Abia Central have taken their turns to produce a Governor  of the state, equity demands that Abia North should be allowed to take their turn in 2023.

“Zoning the governorship seat to two, out of three senatorial districts, is ill-thought as it is illogical. If for any reason the zoning arrangement is to be changed, it should justly be after the turn of Abia North.

“The CNPP, hereby calls all opposition parties in Abia State to take advantage of the current abnormal zoning by the PDP to capture the state by towing the path of equity and ensuring that all the senatorial district have a sense of belonging.

“Our democracy can only blossom in an atmosphere of justice and fairplay as no state, or country can evenly develop in the face of injustice, whether perceived or real”, the CNPP warned.

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