The Kogi State Commissioner for Pensions Board, Solomon Adegbayo, has been shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen.
But pointers are that it was a kidnap attempt that went awry.
The Chairman of Yagba Local Government Area of the State, Pius Kolawole, in whose company the late Commissioner was travelling, was luckier than him.
Kolawole was abducted by the gunmen, while Adegbayo was shot dead on the spot, and his body abandoned on the road. They were in same vehicle.
The two were travelling back to their home town, Egbe, Kogi, from Illorin, Kwara State, when they met the gunmen along the road. Egbe is a border town, between Kwara and Kogi State.
The immediate past President of the Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has denied ever indicting the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, over the unprecedented killings and destruction going on in the South-east.
Chief Nwodo was reacting to a news item credited to him by IKETEX MEDIA TV, to the effect that he recently said he has been vindicated over his statement, in 2019, that IPOB was responsible for the killings in the South-east, and that Fulani Herdsmen were being innocently accused.
In a statement he personally signed, Chief Nwodo said the allegation was a lie from the “pit of hell.” He also denied, strongly, making any statement on the recent torching of the country home of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
The Governor’s country home in Omuma was torched, a couple of weeks ago, by a yet to be identified group. While some people attributed the daring attack to IPOB, Uzodinma attributed it to disgruntled politicians who he described as “lilliputians.” IPOB strongly denies any involvement in the attack which has been condemned by a number of groups, including the Imo Traditional Rulers Council, the South-east Governors’ Forum, and the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF.
IKETEX had credited Nwodo as saying if he was Uzodinma, the country home of the IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would have gone up in flames, and the recent gory killings in Ebonyi State was carried out by IPOB.
Nwodo: “The puerile, mendacious and provocative story also credited me with saying that even the recent killings in Ebonyi State was carried out by IPOB, and that I was not Governor Uzodinma, and wouldn’t be cowed by IPOB, and that any attack on my property would attract a reprisal attack from me on Afara Ukwu.”
Afara Ukwu is the home town of Nnamdi Kanu.
The former Ohaneze Nd’Igbo President said the fabrication was meant to put him on a collision course with IPOB, and attract an attack on him. He claimed IPOB members as his children, insisting that they have always been.
“This is a terrible lie from the pit of hell, and intended not just to tarnish my image but to set me on a collision course with IPOB”, he said.
He also said he was on the same page with IPOB on its struggle in defence of the Igbo, but said he only disagrees with the group on the method. While IPOB is fighting for an Independent Biafra, he said Ohaneze Nd’Igbo which he headed stood for the restructuring of the “nation in a United Nigeria.”
Nwodo, also, denied any interest in becoming Nigeria’s President in 2023, insisting that that was the impression IKETEX sought to give with its news.
Indeed, in 2019, unconfirmed speculations were strong that Nwodo had sought to be running mate to Abubakar Atiku, the PDP Presidential candidate. Atiku, eventually, picked Peter Obi, a two-time Governor of Anambra State.
Following is the full text of Chief Nnia Nwodo’s statement.
“It has come to my notice that a news item is being peddled in IKETEX MEDIA TV alleging that I have been vindicated on my statement in 2019 that IPOB was responsible for the killings in the South East and that herdsmen were innocent of the killings.
“The puerile, mendacious and provocative story also credited me with saying that even the recent killings in Ebonyi State were carried out by IPOB and that I was not Governor Uzodimma and wouldn’t be cowed by IPOB and that any attack on my property would attract a reprisal attack from me on Afara ukwu.
“This is a terrible lie from the pit of hell and intended not just to tarnish my image but to set me on collision course with IPOB.
“Let me state categorically that I have not stated or given anybody the impression that I was interested in the 2023 presidential race, neither does my body language suggest it.
“Furthermore, I couldn’t have indicted IPOB on killings in the South East when I have always held the view that they are my children and share in their grievances arising from the overt marginalisation of the Ibo in the country.
“In my inaugural speech as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2017, and in my address at Chattam House in London, I had stated clearly and firmly that the struggle of IPOB is my struggle except that we differ in modalities because while they sought outright independence for Biafra, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stood for the restructuring of the nation in a united Nigeria.
it is also instructive that in the twilight of my service to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, we had reached an understanding to work in concert with IPOB to achieve the desired objective for Ndigbo.
“Where and when did I fall out with IPOB to make a public statement accusing them of any crime or denouncing their activities ?
“Moreover, it is on record that since I left as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, I have deliberately shied away from making any public statement in order not to distort public view as to who speaks for Ndigbo after my exit.
“The only public speech I have made since then was recently on the day of tributes in honour of the deceased Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.
“The obvious conclusion from the ill_conceived story is that it was intended to indict me and justify an attack on me.
“This mischief is as condemnable as it is indecent and should be roundly condemned by all decent minds.
“Nobody gains anything from unjustifiably engaging in a smear campaign on an innocent person.”
The South-east, the once most peaceful Zone in the country, has been engulfed in an unprecedented and inexplicable violence, blood shed, killings and destruction, of especially Police facilities, No group has, explicitly, been identified as responsible for a situation that is, gradually, but successfully reducing the Zone to a no-go area.
By The New Fabian Society of Concerned Professionals
“We should raise the white flag of surrender, not to the forces of evil that threaten our way of life, but yo humble pie. We must tell the World that we need help”
Our country is crippled. Our compatriots are being slaughtered like chickens all over the country. Insecurity has become the most interrogated phenomenon of our time and the result is clear for all to see.
Food inflation is way over 20% and the people are starving because Terrorists and Bandits have made a visit to the farm grave risk to their lives. Meanwhile Tariffs and Taxes are going up and incomes are collapsing even as inflation is rising and unemployment soars into record territory.
Funding budgets have become a nightmare. Given Crude Oil price decline and the mismanagement of petrol pricing, refining, importation and distribution the States are being threatened that FAAC Account meetings to share revenue may be put on hold.
The lack of imagination in public finance management which keeps out monetization of assets and external sector stimulation of the circular flows of income in Nigeria, further worsens the budget crisis. The stress and tension on the streets are so palpable you could slice the air with a blunt Knife.
A real emergency, whether declared or not, exists. It can be felt in refusal of many to travel even short distances and in the daily shedding of innocent blood across the country.
Change is imperative with an urgency of yesterday, far more hurriedly than an urgency of now.
It seems the Robert Kaplan prediction of a coming anarchy has come.
The time for bravado is over.
We should raise the white flag of surrender, not to the forces of evil that threaten our way of life but to humble pie. We must tell the world that we need help.
We must shout from the rooftops to the world that they need to come to our aid now or risk the cost of coming late as they did in Rwanda and lose more lives trying to flush out the undesirable in the interest of human solidarity in this our interconnected world, belatedly as was the case in Iraq.
We support the call of Professor Wole Soyinka to seek external assistance ASAP to prevent Nigeria from getting on a “one chance” transport on the road to Somalia.
Beyond pleading for help we have some home truths to admit to ourselves and some serious conversations to engage with on a way forward. Have we reached the point where the legislature can turn to the idea of a Doctrne of necessity to create new leaders and refocus the agenda of the country. Yes we have. Perhaps we should invoke that doctrine of necessity to introduce a government of National Unity.
They say we cannot afford a civil war but Nigeria is at war already. A government of National unity, just like General Yakubu Gowon put together in 1967, in the wake of the last civil war, will provide a war chest of wisdom that can lead us to a new Nigeria.
People in public life have been seen as largely driven by self-love and the pursuit of gain without pain. Most of the things we should have done or failed to do that have got us where we are, derive from corruption, nepotism, and disregard for merit and accountability. We must confront them all now. Consequence must not be ignored.
Now the results have come in, collapse stirs us in the face.
The Commissioner for Security matters in Kaduna State Samuel Akuwan provides some of the evidence of how current conditions check off most boxes on the failed states index.
Providing data on the current conditions in the state he said 323 people had been killed and 949 kidnapped in 3 months. Few of the many civil wars in the country throw up such statistics of death. But it gets worse.
Three years earlier, the then Governor of Borno state,
Kashim Shetima more than 100,000 people had been killed, and displaced more two million people.
It is pertinent to note that the IMF has indicated that Nigeria rank160 out of 166 on the 2030 MDGs, and that we need to be growing GDP at 14% per annum when we are afraid of another recession, which is quarter on quarter negative growth.
These are all grave enough conditions for extraordinary measures to halt our rush towards state failure.
As if the foregoing are not enough, the people on the street feel despair and investors are unwilling to commit until they have a sense of a halt in the drift and the setting of a new course
Can we commit to changing the conduct that brought us to this sorry pass?
Can the crisis of values that has brought collapse to our door steps be reversed?
With our reality as a true existential threat, we must move from emotional rationalizations of our past behavior to recognizing that we have created our troubles.
Talk may not be cheap as often suggested but now is a time for ACTION . None can afford to look on like bystanders.
We call on Leaders of Thought across the land, Traditional Leaders, Religious Icons, Elders of the nation in groups of past leaders, to rise in one accord to demand change right now.
For the New Fabian Society of the Concerned Professionals
Even though she attended a private Secondary School, it was not one of those where parents need to break banks before they pay the fees.
Her school, Princeton College, is not one of those that brag, and its name is not heard Nationally. In fact, not even in Lagos, as such.
It is neither located in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, nor Banana Island, amongst other exotic environments, including Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro.
It is located in Surulere, a ‘non-showey’ area of Lagos.
Yet, from there, 17- year old Victory Morenike Yinka- Banjo shone like diamonds. She did the unprecedented. She hoisted Nigeria’s flag high before the world. And now, Nigeria is bowing at her feet, and so is the World. And there is a near-stampede by parents and their children to take more than a passing interest in her school.
Victory is not struggling to apply for Visas to any country – America, Canada.
The best schools in those countries are scrambling for her. And they are doing that with millions of Dollars.
Why?
The teenager is a genius. So, the best schools are pursuing her with full scholarship worth five million US Dollars. And she just sits down at home, overwhelmed, pinching herself to confirm it’s true, and wondering which one to choose.
Her brain, and diligence, and discipline, and seriousness did the magic she is luxuriating in. And even her parents are overwhelmed.
Victory is a 2020 Opportunity Funds Scholar. The World’s 20 high profile institutions in the US and Canada offered her admission. 17 of them offered full scholarship.
Victory Yinka-Banjo
She deserves every offer. The Schools include Harvard University, Stanford University, or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She intends to study Computational Biology, on full scholarship in any of those schools.
In her school, she was the Senior Prefect (Head Girl). She was also the President of the Students’ Representative Council.
And she graduated in style.
In her West African School Certificate Examination, she passed all nine subjects in A1. In Cambridge IGCSE, she put in for six subjects, and passed the six in A*s (Distinctions). In SAT, it was 1540/1600 and in IELTS, it was 8.5/9.0. Victory was also, the world’s best candidate in the Nov/Dec 2019 Cambridge IGCSE, English as a second language. How come the Federal Government did not take note?
Victory’s team won Technovision Girls’ Mobile App Building Challenge, 2019, as the best team in Africa. The teenager is an Ambassador, Mastercard Foundation x Data Science Nigeria Learn At Home Project.
Of a Yoruba (Father), and Igbo (Mother) parentage, it is quite surprising that no Nigerian medium discovered and celebrated her till CNN did.
Both her parents are walking tall, and bouncing, as if on springs, and so is her proud School – Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos.
Following is the CNN celebration of the Nigerian teenager who “waoed” the World.
Nigerian Teen Gets 19 Scholarship Offers Worth More Than $5 Million From The US And Canada |The Source
By Nimi Princewill, CNN
One Nigerian teenager must feel like she has the world at her feet after receiving 19 full-ride scholarship offers from universities across the United States and Canada.
Victory Yinka-Banjo, a 17-year-old high school graduate, was offered more than $5 million dollars’ worth of scholarship money for an undergraduate program of study, according to admission documents and estimates of financial aid awards.
“It still feels pretty unbelievable. I applied to so many schools because I didn’t even think any school would accept me,” Victory told CNN, relishing her academic prowess.
Born to Nigerian parents, Chika Yinka-Banjo, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, and Adeyinka Banjo, a private sector Procurement and Supply Chain Executive, Victory was given potential full scholarships from the Ivy League schools, Yale College, Princeton University, Harvard College, and Brown University.
The teenager told CNN that her multiple scholarship offers “have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often.”
Other US scholarship offers included those from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia.
In Canada, Victory was offered the Lester B. Pearson scholarship from the University of Toronto and the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow (KMILOT) scholarship from the University of British Columbia.
“Their admissions processes are extremely selective,” Victory added. “They only accept the best of the best. So, you can imagine how, on a daily basis, I have to remind myself that I actually got into these schools. It is surreal!”
Academic strides
A senior prefect during her time in high school, Victory rose to national prominence in late 2020 after she scored straight As in her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Months earlier, the Nigerian teen had been rated as the “Top in the World” in English as a second language (speaking endorsement) by the University of Cambridge International Examination (CIE). Victory aced the Cambridge IGCSE exam — acquiring A* in all six subjects she sat for.
Victory told CNN her remarkable achievements are borne out of hard work.
“They have made me truly feel proud about the hard work I have put into several areas of my life over the years. I am slowly beginning to realize that I deserve them,” she said.
The teenager remarked that her multiple scholarship offers “have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often.”
Victory said she hopes to study Computational Biology. However, she is still weighing up her options on which school to choose, having been wooed by many prestigious institutions.
“I am still doing research on some schools that are at the top of my list, like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and just trying to compare and contrast all of them thoroughly,” she told CNN.
An inspiration to Nigerian youth
Victory’s mother, Chika, says her daughter’s story could inspire other young Nigerians.
“It is noteworthy that she is not one of the Nigerian-Americans who often get into these schools because of their advantage of being born and bred in the US. She completed her secondary school here [in Nigeria]. It would be great if her story can be used to inspire the youths of our country,” she told CNN.
Victory credits her academic success story to faith, parental guidance and discipline. She currently spends some of her free time tutoring other University admission seekers — through the radio — on key subjects such as Math, English language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Even though she attended a private Secondary School, it was not one of those where parents need to break banks before they pay the fees.
Her school, Princeton College, is not one of those that brag, and its name is not heard Nationally. In fact, not even in Lagos, as such.
It is neither located in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, nor Banana Island, amongst other exotic environments, including Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro.
It is located in Surulere, a ‘non-showey’ area of Lagos.
Yet, from there, 17- year old Victory Morenike Yinka- Banjo shone like diamonds. She did the unprecedented. She hoisted Nigeria’s flag high before the world. And now, Nigeria is bowing at her feet, and so is the World. And there is a near-stampede by parents and their children to take more than a passing interest in her school.
Victory is not struggling to apply for Visas to any country – America, Canada.
The best schools in those countries are scrambling for her. And they are doing that with millions of Dollars.
Why?
The teenager is a genius. So, the best schools are pursuing her with full scholarship worth five million US Dollars. And she just sits down at home, overwhelmed, pinching herself to confirm it’s true, and wondering which one to choose.
Her brain, and diligence, and discipline, and seriousness did the magic she is luxuriating in. And even her parents are overwhelmed.
Victory is a 2020 Opportunity Funds Scholar. The World’s 20 high profile institutions in the US and Canada offered her admission. 17 of them offered full scholarship.
She deserves every offer. The Schools include Harvard University, Stanford University, or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She intends to study Computational Biology, on full scholarship in any of those schools.
In her school, she was the Senior Prefect (Head Girl). She was also the President of the Students’ Representative Council.
And she graduated in style.
In her West African School Certificate Examination, she passed all nine subjects in A1. In Cambridge IGCSE, she put in for six subjects, and passed the six in A*s (Distinctions). In SAT, it was 1540/1600 and in IELTS, it was 8.5/9.0. Victory was also, the world’s best candidate in the Nov/Dec 2019 Cambridge IGCSE, English as a second language. How come the Federal Government did not take note?
Victory’s team won Technovision Girls’ Mobile App Building Challenge, 2019, as the best team in Africa. The teenager is an Ambassador, Mastercard Foundation x Data Science Nigeria Learn At Home Project.
Of a Yoruba (Father), and Igbo (Mother) parentage, it is quite surprising that no Nigerian medium discovered and celebrated her till CNN did.
Both her parents are walking tall, and bouncing, as if on springs, and so is her proud School – Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos.
Following is the CNN celebration of the Nigerian teenager who “waoed” the World.
Nigerian Teen Gets 19 Scholarship Offers Worth More Than $5 Million From The US And Canada |The Source
By Nimi Princewill, CNN
One Nigerian teenager must feel like she has the world at her feet after receiving 19 full-ride scholarship offers from universities across the United States and Canada.
Victory Yinka-Banjo, a 17-year-old high school graduate, was offered more than $5 million dollars’ worth of scholarship money for an undergraduate program of study, according to admission documents and estimates of financial aid awards.
“It still feels pretty unbelievable. I applied to so many schools because I didn’t even think any school would accept me,” Victory told CNN, relishing her academic prowess.
Born to Nigerian parents, Chika Yinka-Banjo, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, and Adeyinka Banjo, a private sector Procurement and Supply Chain Executive, Victory was given potential full scholarships from the Ivy League schools, Yale College, Princeton University, Harvard College, and Brown University.
The teenager told CNN that her multiple scholarship offers “have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often.”
Other US scholarship offers included those from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia.
In Canada, Victory was offered the Lester B. Pearson scholarship from the University of Toronto and the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow (KMILOT) scholarship from the University of British Columbia.
“Their admissions processes are extremely selective,” Victory added. “They only accept the best of the best. So, you can imagine how, on a daily basis, I have to remind myself that I actually got into these schools. It is surreal!”
Academic strides
A senior prefect during her time in high school, Victory rose to national prominence in late 2020 after she scored straight As in her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Months earlier, the Nigerian teen had been rated as the “Top in the World” in English as a second language (speaking endorsement) by the University of Cambridge International Examination (CIE). Victory aced the Cambridge IGCSE exam — acquiring A* in all six subjects she sat for.
Victory told CNN her remarkable achievements are borne out of hard work.
“They have made me truly feel proud about the hard work I have put into several areas of my life over the years. I am slowly beginning to realize that I deserve them,” she said.
The teenager remarked that her multiple scholarship offers “have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often.”
Victory said she hopes to study Computational Biology. However, she is still weighing up her options on which school to choose, having been wooed by many prestigious institutions.
“I am still doing research on some schools that are at the top of my list, like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and just trying to compare and contrast all of them thoroughly,” she told CNN.
An inspiration to Nigerian youth
Victory’s mother, Chika, says her daughter’s story could inspire other young Nigerians.
“It is noteworthy that she is not one of the Nigerian-Americans who often get into these schools because of their advantage of being born and bred in the US. She completed her secondary school here [in Nigeria]. It would be great if her story can be used to inspire the youths of our country,” she told CNN.
Victory credits her academic success story to faith, parental guidance and discipline. She currently spends some of her free time tutoring other University admission seekers — through the radio — on key subjects such as Math, English language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has appointed a Vice Chancellor for the new University of Agriculture & Environmental Studies. UAES.
He is Professor Patrick Ekezie Egbule.
The new University is located at Umuagwo, along the Owerri Port Harcourt road. Before now, the site initially harboured the College of Agriculture, Umuagwo. The name was later changed during the Rochas Okorocha Government to Imo Polytechnic, Umuagwo.
A couple of months to the end of his Government, Okorocha shocked many when he said he had secured licences for five new Universities in the State. The shock stemmed from the fact that the Government-owned Imo State University, was collapsing due to poor funding and lack of infrastructure. The question, then was: Where will the State find money to fund five additional tertiary institutions? The new University of Agriculture was one of them.
However, none of institutions took off. They were there in name.
Recently, Governor Uzodinma started afresh with the University of Agriculture & Environmental Studies.
There is a controversy over whether he got a new licence, or it is the same licence Okorocha secured before the end of his tenure.
It was heart-warming when Uzodinma finally announced its take-off.
A couple of days ago, the Governor announced Egbule as the pioneer Vice Chancellor, signalling the take-off of the institution.
The new Vice Chancellor is a well-heeled academic.
A Professor of Agricultural and Workforce Education, he was, Director of Academic Planning, Delta State University, Abraka.
Egbule is a native of Ekwe, Isu Local Government Area, Orlu, Imo State.
His appointment, has however raised eye brows from both the Owerri and Okigwe Zones. Many are asking why the Government would appoint a Vice Chancellor from Orlu when the Imo State University’s Chancellor who he, also, appointed not quite long, is from the same Orlu Zone.
In the last 14 to 16 years, Orlu Zone has consistently produced the Vice Chancellors of Imo State University.
Professor Egbule had served in many academic/administrative positions. He was the Head of Department and, Dean of Vocational Education, DELSU, Abraka.
Those who know him say Egbule is well regarded Internationally in his field of studies. He is a member of the Igbo Studies Association, ISA.
The Organized Labour in Imo State has, among other demands, asked for the implementation of tbe N30,000 minimum wage to workers in the State. They, however, reiterated support for Governor Hope Uzodimma even as they called on the security agencies in the state to be more alive to their responsibility.
Joining their counterparts in other parts of the country to celebrate the 2021 May Day in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Saturday, they also promised to continue to partner with government in the interest of the people, particularly the workers.
It was also a day the State Government promised to give them a vehicle to enhance their day-day activities and make their work easy.
Addressing the workers of Imo State at the venue of the celebration in Owerri, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba who represented Governor Uzodimma, informed that Imo State Government has observed with joy a very good rapour and synergy between the Government and the labour unions and was glad to reciprocate the gesture by donating the bus as demanded by workers.
The Commissioner, on the behalf of the Governor, assured the organized labour that the welfare of the workers remains paramount in the priority list of the State and that Government was doing everything possible to improve their welfare.
He reiterated that Governor Uzodimma is truly a labour- friendly Governor, noting that he will remain so.
To assuage the anxieties of Imo workers who are still being owed, the Commissioner informed that a Data Centre had been established in the office of the Head of Service to ensure that those of them who have not been captured in the automated payroll system are captured as quickly as possible and their salaries paid accordingly.
On behalf of the Governor, he also noted the request of both the National and State Leaderships of the Organized Labour and promised that Government will do everything humanly possible to facilitate their activities to enable them discharge their duties efficiently and effectively.
In their address earlier, the Organized Labour represented by the NLC and TUC welcomed their members to the occasion and wished them a successful celebration.
They made series of demands which they said were critical to their existence such as the corporate existence of the Nation, industrial relation issues, non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum way and non-payment of salary to some workers in Imo State from February 2020 till day.
Other demands mentioned by the organized Labour in Imo State include administration and payment of pensioners, non-payment of check-off dues, lock-up of the Labour House in Owerri and the non constitution of the Government/Labour Joint Committee that hindered effective handling of Industrial relations issues in the state.
They also used the opportunity to extend their hands of cooperation to the administration of Governor Uzodimma and to express their willingness to work with Government towards building virile public service for the overall development of the State and her people.
In his first official reaction to the torching of his country home, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State described those behind it as lilliputians.
Recall that the Governor’s country home in Omuma was, in a daring attack, inexplicably torched by hoodlums. During the attack, a security guard was killed, and a number of vehicles, torched. The Governor was away to Abuja on official duties, and came back to the State on Friday, April 30.
In a broadcast to the State and Workers to mark the 2021 Worker’s day, Uzodinma condemned the insecurity in the state. He blamed it on those he identified as disgruntled politicians, working hand in hand with militants and other criminal elements. He promised that they would be unmasked, and their days over in the State.
To Imo Workers he assured them that their welfare will always be their priority.
Following is a Press Release on the Governor’s broadcast, as put together by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku.
“The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has congratulated workers in Imo State in particular and workers in the country in general on the ocassion of this year’s Workers Day, assuring them that their welfare is always the priority of government.
“In a broadcast on Saturday to mark the 2021 Workers Day, Governor Uzodimma not only lauded the workers in Imo State for their patience, cooperation, patriotism and understanding in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic that threatened their welfare but assured them that he will not shirk his responsibility as their Governor.
“Governor Uzodimma commended the organized labour for standing firmly behind his government during the trying times of the automation process of the fiscal operations now almost completed, and assured that government was working day and night to ensure that no worker or pensioner has problem with their wages.
“The Governor recalled his administration’s achievements in the public service in the past one year in office to include cleaning the payroll system, tackling the issue of welfare of Imo workers, securing conducive working environment for workers, provision of official vehicles for Permanent Secretaries as well as provision of free buses for junior civil servants.
“Governor Uzodimma informed that his government had created a platform that would help make Imo youths employers of labour by training thousands of them and by so doing stopping them from roaming the streets aimlessly, noting that plans are afoot to empower them financially so that they can put to practice the skills they were recently trained on.
‘Through empowerment programme, the State has trained thirty thousand youths in different skills and will soon assist them to start-up their own businesses.’
“Governor Uzodimma assured the workers and the people of Imo State that he will continue to ensure that things get better for every Imolite, insisting that ‘the warefare of Imo Workers will always remain a priority.’
:Governor Uzodimma promised that whatever is necessary to make the organized labour more efficient and effective he will be committed to it, promising not to relent in ensuring that ‘Imo workers get the best available training and retraining opportunities and the best available working conditions.’
“On the issue of security, the Governor regretted that disgruntled politicians in concert with militants and other criminal elements have unleashed violence in our State traditionally known for its peace and hospitality.
:He described those behind the current spate of insecurity in Imo as enemies of the State who sre hell bent on distracting the smooth running of the State by instilling fear on the citizens.
“The Governor assured the good people of Imo State that ‘soon thorough investigation will unmask the sponsors of these security breaches and the long arm of the law will expose and prosecute them.’
“Governor Uzodimma described those who made attempt to burn down his country home as ‘lilliputians’ who merely saw it as a way of sending the message that Imo State is insecure.
“However, the Governor assured that ‘the government, in collaboration with the security agencies, is more than capable to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State.’
The Governor said: ‘’This group of fifth columnists has elected to disrupt the peace of the State, and their actions are quiet regrettable. ”
“However, he said it is his “duty as the Governor of the State to ask everyone to sheathe their sword and allow for development.’’
“Regardless, he warned that “the day of mindless criminality in the State are over” and assured all Imo people that he will leave no stone unturned to secure them.
“Be rest assured that my administration is willing, able and capable of protecting the lives and property of all Imo people and residents alike.
“He also declared that the recent security challenges in the State have been effectively contained and urged Imo people to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of harassment.
Governor Uzodimma added: “For us to see those better days we must refrain from acts that will impede developments and progress. We must resolve that this is the only State we have and we can call our own and we should not let any selfish political interest come between us and the State. Politics will come and go but Imo State will remain. Let us preserve and protect our commonwealth. Let us say no to banditry and anarchy. Both are ill-winds that blow no one any good.”
Six days after his country home in Omuma was attacked and partly raised by hoodlums, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, returned to the State on Friday. During the attack, a security personnel attatched to his house was killed. The Governor’s long-owned Rolls Royce, as well as other vehicles in his premises were torched.
The Governor was in Abuja at the time of the attack. Contrary to speculations, he did not rush home. He stayed back in Abuja to finish the official duties for which he travelled, including the swearing-in of the newest Senstor in the State, Sir Frank Ibezim, APC, Imo North.
His arrival to the State also rubbished the propaganda that he and most Government officials had deserted the State, snd and would likely operate from outside tne state.
His Commissioner for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition was shot during an armed robbery attack. Sources close to him say he is poised to deal with the insecurity in the State.
The Governor’s return coincided with an endorsement of him by the Political leaders and people of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the State. They commended Uzodimma over what they described as his unprecedented achievements in the state in his one year in office despite obvious challenges.
They made the commendation at the headquarters of the Council in Afor Oru on Monday when the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Bathos Nwadfike and his team took the administration’s 3-R Mantra (Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery) to the people of Ahiazu for sensitisation.
The people who turned out in their numbers commended Governor Uzodimma for his efforts in returning Government to the people by ensuring that grass roots participation is given pride of place in his administration.
They lauded him for his giant strides in the area of road infrastructure, medical infrastructure which they said have changed the face of Imo State and pleaded with him to also look the direction of the Local Government Area, particularly Ahiazu, as regards road rehabilitation.
The people assured the Governor of their total support and loyalty, noting that Governor Uzodimma’s government has shown, not only to be fair to them, but committed to the welfare and well being of the entire people of Imo State.
They also urged the governor not to be distracted by the recent reported cases of insecurity in the state which they said were mostly politically-motivated.
Angered by the incessant prison breaks being experienced nation wide, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebesola, has declared the Nigerian Correctional Facilities red zones.
Nigerian Prisons, whose name had been changed to Nigerian Correctional Centers by the Buhari Administration under the watch of Aregbesola, has been having its fare share of controversies occasioned by prison breaks under controversial circumstances.
The latest is the liberation of prisoners by, still to be identified gunmen in Imo state.
Though about 200 of the prisoners have either been rearrested or voluntarily returned, it had left a sour taste in the mouth, particularly as it appeared to have followed the script of similar jail breaks at Benin Prisons.
There have been other attacks on other correctional facilities in the country.
But in a tweet via his verified twitter handle, @rauaregbesola, the minister said anyone who attacks a correctional facility “will not live to regret it”.
“Today, I declared all Custodial Facilities in Nigeria a RED ZONE! ‘Anyone or group of persons that decide(s) to attack them should not (sic) live to regret it.’ This is the new order to all Squadron Commanders of the Nigeria Correctional Service who gathered at the NCoS HQ today”, he tweeted Friday.
“In my speech titled, ‘Inviolable Custodial Centers’, I charged the Commanders to note that custodial facilities are a symbol of the authority of the Nigerian State. They are sacred and inviolable institutions.
“They are usually built around military fortresses, to show how important they are. This is to deter would-be attackers from inside or outside. I charged the Commanders to directly guard them and defend their integrity. Their mission is to defend the facilities at all cost.
“Let me repeat again, defend them at all cost. They are empowered by the highest authority in the land to use every means necessary to defend the custodial centers against internal and external aggression”, he said.
