NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has dismissed the purported  assassination threat against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It could be re-called that Mr. Emma Powerful, the spokesman of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, had alleged of a plot to assassinate Atiku in the South-East. However, in a statement issued on Monday by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike he urged Atiku to ignore the alleged threat. Okwu said there was nothing to warrant the killing Atiku or anyone else in the South-East, stressing that all the presidential candidates were free to come to the region and present their blueprints to the masses.  He noted that “We received with concern the statement credited to IPOB, wherein they alleged that there was a plot to assassinate the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the South-East.  “We want to make it clear that no such plot

~ calls for government intervention to stop incessant kidnapping and robbery on the road. Indigenes of Uruagu-Nnewi community in Nnewi North local government area of Anambra state, over the weekend, took to the streets to protest the dilapidated road infrastructure on the Nnewi- Oba-Onitsha Road, particularly on the Egbo section of the road, in front of the St John of the Cross Catholic Church, which the indigenes say is the catholic mother church in Nnewi.  The protesters, who were majorly youths and elderly men, displayed placards bearing different inscriptions depicting their anger over  the neglect of roads in the area by the federal and state governments which has brought untold hardship to the people, resulting most times to the kidnapping and robbery to road users in the area.  Some of the placards read: "Nnewi community has suffered a lot due to bad road network;" "kidnaping and robbery are rampant in our community as a result of bad roads;" "Buhari, Go

  Yesterday, I had quality interactive session with a delegation of medical practitioners from Austria, led by Rev. Fr. Dr. Emeka Emeakaraoha, who have been on a Free Medical Mission in Imo State for some days now. Their humanitarian service has brought life, hope and succour to many people who are beneficiaries of the free medical mission in partnership with the State Government. While I expressed my profound gratitude to the team, on behalf of the Government and good people of Imo State, I made important appeal to the team. I am optimistic that my appeal for the exercise to be carried out twice a year, will be considered, with a view to spreading the mission across all other communities in the State. I hinted on my willingness to enter into a partnership that will curb the menace of illicit and substandard drugs being circulated round the State. I believe in due course, the system will be properly sanitized. - Hope Uzodimma

~ AS HE ATTENDS MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING OF ABUBOR NNEWICHI NNEWI COMMUNITY  Anambra South Senator and Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the 2023 Anambra South Senatorial Election Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on Saturday, reaffirmed his will to continually partner with relevant authorities to boost development of various communities in the Senatorial District. Senator Ubah made the remarks while speaking at the Monthly General Meeting of Abubor Nnewichi Community in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Addressing members of the community at the Obi Abubor, Senator Ubah appreciated them for their continuous support and reassured them that he will leave no stone unturned in partnering with relevant authorities to promote the wellbeing of his constituents. The Anambra South Senator who was flanked by the Director-General of Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation Chief Vin Onyeka also appreciated the Obi of Abubor Chief Francis Okeke (Obidiegwu) for his giant efforts to maintai

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine as very efficient and impressive ahead of the 2023 general elections. Chairman, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this when he visited some polling units in Abuja yesterday to observe the mock accreditation ahead of the polls. The mock accreditation began at exactly 8.00 am. Early voters who came for the accreditation, spent less than two minutes to complete the process. Those who had challenges with fingerprints were easily captured, using facial. Polling unit officers further said that the BVAS machine works faster with facial capturing than finger capturing. The INEC chairman who went round Abuja Area Council said he is optimistic about the performance of the BVAS and that the goal of INEC during the ongoing mock accreditation is to ensure the machines are working optimally before the general elections.

The Nigerian banking public continues to face hardship in accessing their funds as cash scarcity persists while alternative channels have remained problematic at best. Some these platforms include internet banking, kiosks, mobile apps, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Point of Sale (POS) and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).  Data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) suggest that transactions worth at least N30 trillion are performed monthly using electronic platforms. And at a time when these electronic transactions are expected to surge due to the the Naira redesign and the shortage of physical cash, the platforms for these services are collapsing. This as experts say the downtime experienced by many of the banking applications and alternative channels has shown the lack of adequate investment in technology by the operators in the Nigerian financial industry. The woes of the banking public were further compounded by failure of banks’ USSD platforms to

~ As Fuel, cash scarcity, worsens  They gave the warning as Nigerians battle worsening scarcity of the redesigned Naira notes and high cost of petrol.  The youths alleged of a plot by some elements to scuttle the 2023 general elections and scuttle Nigeria’s democracy.  Across the country, the citizens face severe difficulty in having access to the new notes, just as a litre of petrol now goes for over N450. 00.  The development has thrown families into untold hardships, with the new notes now being sold.  In a statement on Friday by the National President of the Ohanaeze Youths, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he said the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, should take action before it is too late.  The youths warned that the EndSARS protest would be a child’s play compared to what may befall the nation in the next few days.  “How do we explain a situation where our poor parents can no longer feed their children? “How do we explain a situation where our sick relatives are left to die because there is no

Prominent personalities and outstanding institution in Obowo were honoured at Obiri Obowo by Arise Africa Network Organization during the Obowo Decides Live Debate which held at Obiri Obowo Otoko, Obowo LGA Imo State. Obowo Decides Live Debate was the first if it's kind in the history of Obowo Politics.  Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu (IKEOHA OBOWO) a highly successful business mogul and current Senatorial Candidate of People's Democratic Party Okigwe Zone Senatorial Zone ,Dcn Chuka Obaego , a successful real estate mogul, fiancial consultant and serial entrepreneur. Member Finance Committee LP PCC, National Convener New Nigeria Integrity Movement (NNIM) was presented with Excellence Award.  Hon Uzoma Egbukichi and Amb Vitus Echendu -a Human Rights Activist were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to humanity. Obowo Decides Live Debate which held on Sunday 29th January at Obiri Obowo Hall was indeed a huge success. According to the Publisher of Arise Africa and Chairm

Imo patriots forum strongly condemns the press conference held by one Ikenga Ikeagwuoha ugochinyere as distasteful, inciting and misleading. Having  followed the self serving press conference of Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere with carefulness and interest. It will take a discerning mind to uncover the unmistakable mischief embedded therein. It is a pity of immense dimension that a fellow who is aspiring to represent an entire Federal Constituency could not find time to sympathise with the family of the Sole Administrator of his local Government who was murdered in cold in his house in Ideato.  ONE WOULD THINK THAT THE GRUESOME ORDEAL OF THE IDEATO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN HONOURABLE CHRISTIAN OHIZU WAS PREMIDATED FOR SATISFACTION OF REVENGE FOLLOWING THE ALLEGATIONS OF AN ATTACK ON IKENGA. How low can a so called aspiring or acclaimed leader go. Leadership should be made of sterner stuff and not this flight of fantasy and infantile razzmatazz. By the way, circumspection is the first pri

  ....CD/HURIDE To Show Solidarity  Nigeria's general election in which the president and political office holders will be elected in February 2023 and March this year's general elections is under threat. Members of the Nigerian Police are allegedly threatening to boycott the all-important election following 6 months' arrears of salary owed them. A competent source close to us said the Federal Government and Police authority are owing Police officers from the rank of confirmed Inspector of Police about 6 months' arrears of salary. Consequently, the source said,   they have decided to embark on strike during the 2023 general election, although the Federal Government has been resisting their decision. But the CD/HURIDE, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders'Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) South-East zone have condemned the six months' arrears of salary owed to the police officers and promised to join to support the officers until the

  The Imo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has flagged off the free medical mission in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America. In his address at the Imo State Speacialist Hospital, Umuguma, Governor Uzodimma disclosed that the free medical mission is to support indigent Imo citizens with medical challenges.  The Governor commended the members of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America for their selfless services to Ndi Imo and the humanity at large.  Speaking earlier, the Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Success Prosper Ohayagha, disclosed the participation of Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri (FUTHO), Imo State Specialist Hospital Owerri, and Regents in the exercise. According to the commissioner, this is a way of helping indigent citizens and less privilege in the society by solving medical challenges free of charge with the Shared Prosperity Government of Senator Hope Uzodimma as "the total backbone of thi