Abia APC: We’ll Soon Resolve Our Crisis, Sack PDP From Government House, Says Fmr Commissioner Oriaku

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January 17, 2022

Philanthropist and security expert, Sir Chikwe Udensi has extolled the virtues of his late father, Sir Emmanuel Chukwuma Udensi saying he was a man of honour and integrity who was known for sincerity and honesty.

The nonagenarian died recently at the age of 94 after a brief illness.

Speaking on a radio programme Open Parliament on Wednesday streamed live by ABN TV and Radio, Sir Udensi said his late father lived a life free from blemishes, adding that he was the chief technical officer that built Ariaria International Market Aba.

Sir Udensi said he was going through the pictures where his late father was handing over the market to the then governor of Old Imo State, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, and Secretary to state government, Prof. Enoch Anyanwu after completion.

“He built Ariaria International Market and had no single shop to himself.

“The beauty of it is that I saw the address presented by the then Secretary to state government, Prof. Enoch Anyanwu. He said this is the first time a project like this has been built within the time frame and below budget.

“He returned part of the money that was earmarked for the project. This is also what happened some years ago after retirement, one of our highly revered brothers Sam Ohuabunwa who was the then President of Nzuko Aro invited my father to help build Abia State College and Education (Technical) Arochukwu.

“My father was asked to build it. Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has said several times that this is the first time someone is doing a job and returning part of the money that was not used.

“My father was a man of integrity who lived a life worth emulating. We will miss him so much”, he said.

No date has however been fixed for the burial.

Release Kanu, Igboho, Seek Political Solution, Nzuko Umunna Urge Buhari

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January 17, 2022

The Igbo Think Tank, Nzuko Umunna, has again called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari, for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho from detention and seek a political solution to issues preceding their prosecution.

In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of Nzuko Umunna, Ngozi Odumuko, on Monday, the Think Tank urged the President to “explore the opportunities provided by the intervention of South-East Governors, South East NASS Caucus, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pa Mbazulike Amaechi, and some groups in the South-East to release Nnamdi Kanu and resolve his matter politically.”

It noted that the “public opinion and sentiments show that Nigerians want Mr President to deploy the political solution and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been in detention for many months after he was allegedly abducted in Kenya and returned to Nigeria.

The call for Kanu’s release comes as an Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia is set to deliver judgment this Wednesday being the 19th of January 2022 on a human rights suit brought before it by the IPOB leader.

Kanu had challenged what he called a violation of his human rights and the 2017 military invasion of his family home.

The suit, which was filed by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, had asked the court to declare as illegal, the action of the Nigerian government in the alleged abduction of the IPOB leader in Kenya and his rendition to Nigeria to be allegedly tortured and dehumanized.

IPOB had, in a statement, insisted there would not be sit-at-home in Southeast on that day but urged all members to storm the court.

Commending Barrister Ejimakor and Kanu’s legal team for exploring all legal options for his release, the Nzuko Umunna urged the Federal Government to constructively engage with the IPOB leader and all self-determination leaders, including Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, and save the country from undue distractions.

The group noted that a “political solution will lead to permanent peace and a sense of nationhood, as the country will only experience true progress in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.”

APC Govs Pass Confidence Vote On Buni, Insist On February For National Convention

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January 17, 2022

Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC rose from their meeting Sunday night in Abuja with a resolution to go ahead with the national convention of the party in February.

No fewer than 20 of the governors were at the meeting which took place behind closed doors at the Kebbi state Governor’s Lodge in the Asokoro District of Abuja. The meeting ended at about 11:30 pm.

The governors were said to be divided as to whether to go on with the convention in February shift it to a later date.

Among governors in attendance at the meeting were Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Mohammed Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi).

Others were Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Chairman of the Forum and Kebbi state Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said the forum passed a vote on confidence on Gov. Buni and two other governors in the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee – Abubakar Sani Bello and Gboyega Oyetola.

He said the governors also agreed to go ahead with the national convention slated for February.

He however did not give a specific date, saying the CECPC would have to consult with other stakeholders so harmonize all positions and announce a suitable date.

Why Electoral Bill Should Be Passed Immediately – Jega

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January 17, 2022

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has urged the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.

According to him, the passage of the bill will go a long way in improving the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.

The former INEC Chairman, therefore, asked the government to do everything possible to ensure that the country goes into the next election with a new bill.

“This country will be better off if we go into the next election with a new electoral law which will enhance the integrity of the preparations and conduct of the elections,” he said during a Townhall on the Electoral bill on Sunday.

While the debate over the choice of direct and indirect mode of primaries still lingers, Professor Jega noted that the bill contains a lot of new amendments that are crucial to the integrity of the electoral process and he believes that should be the primary focus.

36 recommendations had been made for the bill by INEC to the National Assembly; 31 of which were approved with little to no amendments.

According to Jega, the amendments are the first in the last 12 years, and withholding assent to the bill, over a clause, would, therefore, be detrimental to INEC’s ability to adequately prepare for coming elections.

“A good legal framework helps to create elections with integrity and electoral integrity helps to enhance democratic consolidation and the preparation and conduct of elections democratically.

“Since 2010, we have not had substantive improvements in the electoral legal framework until now and clearly, the bill contains quite a lot of substantive improvements, so we must do everything possible to ensure that we go into the next election with a new bill.

“We already have some fundamental elements that can improve the integrity of the elections, let this be passed immediately, drop this issue of direct primaries, think more seriously about it. It is good, it should be done but if we proceed to do it the way we are trying to do it now, we are likely to create more problems than it will solve,” he said.

President Buhari had declined assent to the bill in December 2021, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges, and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors as part of the reasons for his decision.

But in a recent interview with Channels Television, he noted that for him to accent to the Bill, changes must be made to include the addition of consensus candidates, indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election, as against the initial direct mode as the only option to conduct primaries by political parties.

“There should be options, you can’t dictate to people and say you are doing democracy. Give them other options so they can make a choice,” he said.

Tinubu Offers To Support FG End Terrorism

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January 17, 2022

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has offered to support the Federal Government to end terrorism and other evils in the country.

Tinubu made the pledge on Sunday when he visited Katsina State to condole with the State Government and people of the state over the gruesome murder of the State Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Rabe Nasir as well as the recent insecurity upsurge in the state.

Speaking further, he urged residents to share relevant information to security agencies on suspicious movements of characters urging residents to continue preaching for peace, change their attitudes and support leaders with determination to bring terrorism to its knees.

Last Thursday, the former Governor, also paid a visit to Zamfara State to condole with families of victims of the recent killings in two Local Government Areas of the state.

He also donated the sum of N50million to the families.

At least, 58 people were reported killed last week when bandits raided some villages in Bukkuyum and Anka Local Government Areas of the state.

https://abntv.com.ng/2022/01/eedc-decries-rising-spate-of-energy-theft-in-south-east/

EEDC Decries Rising Spate Of Energy Theft In South-East

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January 17, 2022

The management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), on Sunday, decried the rising spate of outright energy theft and meter bypass within the South-East.

“This development has consistently impacted negatively on the revenue of the company and ultimately impacted its ability to meet up with its obligations to market operators,” the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement.

Ezeh said this in Enugu while he recounted the recent apprehension of one of the company’s maximum demand customers (high energy-consuming customers) by the company’s task force team, for involving in meter bypass.

He said the customer totally bypassed the meter installed in his facility and directly connected the armoured cables from the mains to the factory, a situation that kept the meter idle while the customer was busy consuming energy.

“It was gathered that the customer, now a third time offender in meter bypass, is in the habit of downing tools during the day (giving the impression of low business activity) only to resume full operations at night when EEDC officials must have all closed for the day.

“Luck, however, ran out on them when they were busted and caught in the act by the task force,” he said.

Ezeh lamented at the increasing rate at which the company’s high energy-consuming customers are engaging in the act of sabotage, stressing that there was a need to nip this in the board.

“One of our customers based at Ikenegbu Extension, Owerri, has been apprehended the fourth time for engaging in meter tampering and illegal reconnection.

“Another one located at Emene Industrial Layout in Enugu has been caught thrice for engaging in meter tampering and insertion of resistors on all the phases behind the meter board.

“If this growing trend is not abated, the sector will continue to feel the negative impact of these infractions,” the EEDC spokesman said.

Ezeh said that in a related development at the Woliwo area of Onitsha, Anambra, a prepaid meter connected to a residential building was bypassed.

“When discovered by the team of the task force, one of the occupants of the building resisted the team from disconnecting the building; thus, threatening them with a cutlass. It took the intervention of the police to carry out the disconnection,” he said.

Ezeh noted that meter bypass accounts for the huge losses recorded by the distribution companies and this largely impacts negatively on the growth of the power sector.

“The company has been investing in its network infrastructure and working assiduously to consistently improve its operations to deliver quality service to its customers, but this cannot be sustained if customers continue to sabotage these efforts,” he said.

Ezeh appealed to those customers engaging any of these evil acts to desist from such acts, adding that the task force would continue to be on the lookout for offenders and when caught appropriate sanctions would be applied.

“Customers are also encouraged to report anyone engaging in such activities through the established whistle-blowing platforms: 08146026678, 084 700 110, and [email protected],” he added.

AFCON: In A Dramatic Injury-Time Goal, Sierra Leone Ends Game In 2—2 Draw With Ivory Coast

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January 16, 2022

Sierra Leone scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to grab a 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Douala, Cameroon.

The Elephants had been coasting but an astonishing mistake from Badra Sangare allowed Alhadji Kamara to tap in.

Keeper Sangare fumbled a back-header and could only watch helplessly as Kamara secured a second successive draw for the Leone Stars in Group E.

It means they have every hope of going through to the last 16. Sierra Leone has two points from two games, while the Ivorians top the group with four points to their name.

However, the Elephants still have work to do when they face defending champions Algeria on Thursday (16:00 GMT).

Both sides played their part in an enthralling match, which saw Ivory Coast miss an early penalty but then lead twice before Sierra Leone hit back dramatically.

Ex-Malian President, Ibrahim Boubacar Is Dead

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January 16, 2022

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Mali’s former head of state has died on Sunday at his home in Bamako. Keita, who led Mali between 2013 and 2020 died around 9 am, a statement from his family revealed.

“President IBK (Ibrahim Boubacar Keita) died this morning at 9am (GMT and local) at his home in Bamako,” a family member said.

This information was confirmed by several family members. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, elected president of Mali in September 2013, was overthrown by the military in August 2020.

The cause of death was not specified. Mali, a country already plunged into serious security and political crisis since the outbreak of independence and jihadist insurgencies in 2012, has also been facing heavy sanctions from ECOWAS for a week.

The coup that toppled him in August 2020 was followed by a second one in May 2021. The junta led by Colonel Assimi Goïta has announced its intention to rule the country for several years, although it had previously committed to organising presidential and legislative elections on 27 February to allow the return of civilians to power.

There are concerns that Keita’s sudden death may trigger a crisis in the country already facing strong sanctions from ECOWAS.

Dollar Rain In Catholic Church As CAF President, Patrice Motsepe Doles Out US$200K At St Joseph’s Parish

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January 16, 2022