Police Smash Another Baby Factory In Imo

The commissioner of police, Mr. Muhammad Katsina(r) with the suspect, Dr. James Ezuma,

Some of the pregnant teenage girls as they are being rescued by the police.

Some of the pregnant teenage girls as they are being rescued by the police.

 *Rescue 16 Pregnant Girls
*As Proprietor Sells Day-Old baby to Unknown Man

The Imo State
Police Command, Monday, smashed another baby-making factory in Egbu, near
Owerri the State capital, arresting the proprietor, one Dr. James Ezuma who runs a
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), and a clinic.

The police also rescued 16 pregnant girls, including one whose two-hour old baby
girl was sold without her knowledge.

Leading
his Police Ambush Squad to the No. 40 Egbu Road beside Somachi Automobile
Market, Owerri, where Dr. Ezuma, a native of Ndiokeke Ndiakunwanta in
Arondizuogu, Ideato North LGA of Imo State, operated his NGO, Ezuma Women and
Children Right Initiative, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammad
Katsina, also rescued a three-year-old boy who was also brought to the place
alongside his pregnant mother.

Our reporter observed that the 16 pregnant girls were kept in two rooms that had no
windows while repulsive odour oozed out from their rooms.

Speaking
with journalists after rescuing the victims, the commissioner of police said, Dr.
Ezuma, ”who has been very notorious for gun-running and trafficking of human
beings, was eventually apprehended at his residence by the Command Ambush Squad
on Tuesday 26th November, 2013 through credible intelligence.

He said the course of his arrest, search was conducted in his premises purportedly
registered as an office for an NGO, which turned out to be a baby factory,
where teenage girls are encouraged to get pregnant and take home the sum of
N100,000 at delivery, on the condition  that they would abandon their babies who would be eventually used for purposes ranging from child trafficking to rituals.
The police boss disclosed that the suspect was arraigned before an Owerri Chief
Magistrate Court 1 on November 1, 2013, for the offence of conspiracy and
unlawful possession of firearms.
He said the pregnant girls rescued in the premises of Dr. Ezuma were aged between
14 and 19 years, and that after further search was conducted, an automatic
eight-loader pump action gun (which is prohibited) was found in his house.
The CP stated that of major concern to his command was the fact that on November
24, 2013, one of the pregnant girls, Nnachi Chinaza from Ebonyi State, gave
birth to a baby girl, who was immediately snatched away by the said Dr. Ezuma
and sold to an unknown person.
He said all efforts made by the police to find out the whereabout of the baby proved
abortive, as according to him, the said suspect had persistently refused to
lead the police to where he kept or sold the baby.
While he was not ruling out investigation, Mr. katsina said the presumption at the
moment was that the said baby might have been used for ritual purposes.
He therefore warned the general public to endeavour to keep an eye on their girls
so that they would not fall prey to such miscreants like Dr. Ezuma, who did not
mean well for the society.
The police boss commended the state commissioner for women Affairs for revoking the
license of orphanage homes in the state and pledged to partner with her because
she had started on a good note.
Speaking to Journalists, one of the victims whose child was snatched from her, Miss
Chinaza Nnachi said she was directed to come to the place by an aunt after her
boyfriend denied her pregnancy.
She said amidst tears, that though she was given N100,000 after delivery, on the
promise that they would train her baby, but she never knew her baby would be
sold to unknown persons even without her consent.
Also speaking, another victim, 18 year old Blessing Anyaike who came from Lagos,
told journalists that she became stranded when she got pregnant, but was
directed to the place with the promise that her child would be taken care of.
The suspect while speaking to journalists insisted that he was not into child
trafficking, and that the child was given out for adoption on the consent of
the mother.
He told journalists that the “missing child’ has been traced to Ozomagana street
in Onitsha” saying social welfare office, in Aba, Twin sisters Motherless Babies’
home Aba, gave the child out and that the girls were admitted as pregnant
women.
Other items recovered from the suspect include, 10 exotic cars of different models

Oshiomhole gave the widow he insulted 2m;

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Monday donated N2m to a widow he allegedly insulted while on an inspection tour of the state.

The widow, Mrs. Joy Ifije, who was invited to the Edo Government House by the governor, was also offered automatic employment by Oshiomhole.

Oshiomhole had invited the widow to personally apologise to her over his uncomplimentary remark that had generated controversies in the conventional and social media in the last few weeks.

The governor said,  “Let me apologise to you for the way I spoke to you. I am very sorry about the statement.

“I have also realised that even in anger, one could still achieve the same result that he set out to without provocative outburst.

“I apologise from the bottom of my heart, but sometimes you get angry when people compromise your efforts.”

He said the government was trying to change the face of the state capital by doing its best to make the city beautiful.

The governor added that it was frustrating and bad for some people to truncate government efforts.

He stressed that trading on the road and walk ways could hinder free flow of traffic as well as cause accidents.

Oshiomhole, therefore, appealed to the widow to join in the campaign against road and walkways trading.

The governor said exposing consumables to unhygienic sanitary conditions could also cause ”disease and pose dangerous health hazards to humans.”

Oshiomhole, who also announced the automatic employment of the widow, said the employment would help her ease the burden of widowhood and give her children good and proper education.

He assured the widow that his family would assist the widow’s second child in furthering his education, while also appealing to her to resist the temptation of breaking the law.

The widow had earlier apologised to the governor for her action, saying ‘’ I know I was wrong, that was why I quickly knelt down to beg when I realised I was face to face with the Governor’’.

She promised to work with the state government in its campaign against street trading and obstruction.

She also promised to make judicious use of the money donated to her by the governor.

Unbelivable!! Floating CITY – complete with schools, a hospital, parks and an airport for its 50,000 residents

Seasick sufferers look away now. A Florida-based firm has designed a floating city called Freedom Ship that would spend its entire time at sea.

The vessel is a mile long, 25-storeys-high and has enough room for 50,000 permanent residents.

It features schools, hospitals, art galleries, shops, parks, an aquarium, casino and even an art gallery as well as an airport on the roof and a docking bay at the rear.

This means the ocean community would spend the whole time at sea, circling the globe twice a year.

During this time, FSI claim the ship would spend 70 per cent off the shore of major cities and 30 per cent moving between countries.

The route would take the ship from the east coast of the U.S across the Atlantic Ocean into Europe, passing Italy before looping back and sailing around Africa, across to Australia, heading north into Asia before spending the end of the year on the west coast of America and into South America.

In addition to the permanent residents, the Freedom Ship would also have room for an extra 30,000 daily visitors, 20,000 crew and 10,000 overnight

Source : Dailymail UK

Gov. Obi Set to Start Amansea- Amawbia and Upper-Iweka-Zik’s Roundabout Dual Carriage way:

Gov. Obi today received from the Minister of Work, Arc Mike Onolememen, the letter from the Federal Government conveying approval to Anambra State Government to reconstruct the Amansea-Amawbia and Upper-Iweka Zik’s Avenue dual carriage way and get reimbursed later. 
Receiving the letter personally from the Minister yesterday at Oba, Anambra State, Gov. Obi said that he was very happy about the development. He recalled that he started seeking permission three years ago and expressed satisfaction that he now has the authority to transform the most important road that transversed Anambra State capital, Awka.
On how long it will take to start the Job, Obi said that one of his plans was to complete those portions of the road before living in March, he also said that he had already directed the Commissioner for Works, Arc Callsitus Ilozumba to start the process towards the award of the road and that he must flag it off in less than two weeks. He said the State would also use one of the best contractors for the Job in view of its critical nature as the most important road in the State. Obi said that if the people of the State were happy with what the State Government did at Upper-Iweka, that they would also be happy with what would be done on those portions of the road. He also said he had directed the Ministry of Works to consider for the award, a contractor with the capacity to also work in the night.
On the funding for the project, Obi said that the State was already ready for the project three years ago when it started seeking permission to do it and get refunded. “All the projects you see us flagging off today, including those we shall flag off shortly, such as Three Arms Zone, Nnewi Shopping Mall, among others, were adequately provided for and the money for them set aside. As for the road under question, we have set aside the funding for it, so that one is not a problem at all. May I take this opportunity to inform you that upon all this, and despite not having borrowed any money, we shall leave with over 20 Billion Naira in investment for the State”, Obi said.
Speaking on the development, the State Commissioner for Works, Arc Callistus Ilozumba, said he was delighted over the development because of its benefit to the people of the State and because, according to him, he was privy to the efforts of the Governor to secure the permission for the State to do the road for more than three years. Ilozumba, who said he had summoned the key people in his Ministry to come to the office yesterday, promised that the Ministry would work night and day for the take off of the project.


Caption for the Pic
Gov. Peter Obi (middle), with his Commissioner for Works, Arc Callistus Ilozumba (left), receiving from the Minister of Work, Arc Mike Onolememen (right), the letter from the Federal Government conveying approval to Anambra State Government to reconstruct the Amansea-Amawbia and Upper-Iweka Zik’s Avenue dual carriage at Oba, today

Asari Dokubo said he was arrested for being a Boko Haram leader –

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A former President of  Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested last week in Republic of Benin, has accused those opposed to the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan of masterminding his arrest.

Asari, who apparently betrayed emotion on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,  Friday night, also said he was arrested and interrogated by Benin officials over an allegation from Nigeria that he is a leader of Boko Haram.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, he also described as lies the report that Jonathan sent a presidential jet to fly him into Nigeria from Benin.

His words: “Crisis is normal, it can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world. The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me.

But if people alleged that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person.

”The allegation has much to do with 2015 because when you read comments on social media, you find out that people who are against President Goodluck Jonathan said they should vilify me, and make sure I die before 2015.

Asari Dokubo

But they are not going to succeed. I am not going to die. I will be present in 2015, and I will do what I am going to do to ensure that Jonathan wins in 2015. There is nothing they can do about it. This is their last fight and it is so unfortunate that the way they are going with show how immature they are.

“I just arrived from Cotonou. I drove in my car from Cotonou to Lagos airport where I boarded a flight to Abuja. The report is not true. No presidential jet was sent to me.

”I do business in Cotonou, and I have been living in Cotonou since 2008. Politically, people who are in Nigeria are trying to fabricate lies, which are not variable, and send it to Republic of Benin government. So I was taken for interrogation and they found that the allegations were false, and I was promptly released with over 20 of my staff who were also taken in.”

The former warlord, however, said his arrest was a blessing in disguise as he had an opportunity of meeting with officials of Benin after his interrogation. “I have met with the top and powerful people in Republic of Benin. Since I went to that country, I have never had any reason to meet with their government officials, but this crisis has made it possible for me to meet with all top government functionaries of the Republic of Benin. The crisis has raised my profile in that country.”

Asked whether President Jonathan intervened to secure his release, he said: “It is not just only President Jonathan that intervened, Nigerians generally intervened. The number of people that came into Cotonou the day I was taken in, and the following day, were over one thousand.” 

No big deal owing Keshi – NFF

Amidst reports on the failure of the Nigeria Football Federation to pay the monthly salaries of Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, who is being owed for several months, President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari has explained that the situation in the Glass House was not peculiar to Keshi.

Speaking after receiving the Sports Administrator of the Year Award in Lagos, early in the week, Maigari noted that the financial situation in the Glass House was bleak. “Yes we are owing Keshi, so what?” he asked, adding, “but Keshi is not the only employee in the NFF who has not got his salary.

We have about 11 national teams and all have coaches. It is only fair that we treat them equally. My management staff have not received their salaries for over a year and nobody is making noise about it.”

He spoke further. “We have to be very careful the way we amplify this Keshi salary issue. If this is unduly amplified we will be downgrading our country,” Maigari said, pointing out that “apart from salary, Keshi doesn’t pay for anything.

“The house he lives in is paid for by NFF, the food he eats is NFF, his movement (transport) is NFF. So what are we talking about?”

It has been reported that the NFF’s indebtedness to all the national team coaches amounts to a whopping N77 million out of which N36 million makes up Keshi’s share.

Anambra supplementary poll: APC out to cause mischief – PDP chairman

*PDP, APC agents present at polling booths

By Tony Edike

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Prince Ken Emeakayi has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of causing mischief and deceiving Nigerians.

Emeakayi spoke with Journalists at Akpkogwe polling booth Ogidi ward 1 where he had gone to observe the supplementary election.

He said that despite APC’s call on voters to boycott the election, the party has agents in all the polling units.

He said the APC used the same deceitful tactics to defeat other parties at the election in Obosi on Sunday.

“I am impressed with the level of preparedness of the INEC; they started early enough, the materials arrived on time in all the polling units except one unit, it arrived there at almost 10 am.

“We must have to say that the exercise is going on very well; however, I want to use the same opportunity to commend the Inspector General of Police for the level of security on ground in every polling booth; and every part of this area is well secured. So far, so good, there is no report of violence anywhere”

 ”The PDP was not happy with the Director General of our campaign when he called for a boycott because this place is supposed to be PDP stronghold, so most of our members didn’t get the second message that they must come out to vote; they relied on the earlier call by the DG of our campaign.

“And from what you can see in all the polling units, what we said earlier has been confirmed that APC is only out to cause mischief; they are only trying to deceive Nigerians; while they are out there saying they are not participating, APC agents are everywhere, including this polling unit.

“In fact, yesterday night, (Friday) the APC mobilized people through radio announcement and they were going around with vehicles, motorcycles and town criers, asking their voters to come out and vote for them”.

Three chieftains of APGA, Dr Philip Atanmuo, Chief Ivy Ifeatu Obiokoye and Chief Eric Eboh, who also spoke at the polling booth, expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by INEC, as well as, the level of participation by voters in the affected areas.

At most of the polling booths in Idemili local government, agents of the APC, PDP and APGA were seen while voters were trickling in to be accredited.

Unlike the November 16 election, voters’ turnout was low as few persons were accredited as at press time.

The supplementary election is holding in 210 polling units in 16 local government areas of the state.

Soldiers mounted roadblocks along major roads within Idemili LGA near the commercial city of Onitsha which has the highest number of voters in the state. SOURCE

My encounter with the Police in Lagos – robbery victim -

By Bimbola Temitope

According to the Holy Bible, the would be disciple was skeptical about his brother’s discovery of the Messiah in Nazareth of all places. He was not scornful in his skepticism. Nazareth of old was not renowned for producing men of lofty deeds, of valor, of reputable disposition. But his brother was  sure of his finding, Jesus Christ, even from Nazareth! The disciple went, saw and believed.

I have my reservation for the Nigeria police, and I am at liberty to be stingy with my sympathy for it. Like most Nigerians, my aversion for the police was borne out of third party narrations. Everybody is talking ill of the police so must I. After all, the organization itself is not so meticulous about its image. Who then am I not to be frugal in my love for its members?

A Yoruba adage says that masquerade is honoured abroad while people are appreciated better on close contact came to the fore recently when I had a close encounter with the Nigerian police. After this incident, I metaphorically fell on my knees asking Father to forgive me for I did not know what I was doing.

At the wee hours of Friday 15th November, 2013, I had an encounter with the men of underworld who snatched my car, a green Infinity G20 saloon car with Reg. No FQ 821 LND in front of my street gate at Onike area, Yaba, Lagos State.   I reported the incident at the Sabo Police Division promptly and was advised to report same at the Control Room at Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja. That singular action altered my perception of the Nigeria police for live. It was so dramatic that I felt like a Nollywood actor in a ‘B’- rated detective movie.

On getting there, I met with an officer who pitied my plight and promised to “go all out to assist me” by sending a radio signal to all police formations in Lagos State command and environ pronto, if only I could part with the sum of six thousand naira.   I was not disappointed because I wasn’t expecting a more refined behaviour from the police.   I thought it was just ‘normal’ to ‘settle’ before ‘action’.

I hadn’t that much money on me (as every thing had gone with the car.   I therefore promised to bring the money the following day.  He ‘generously’ promised to help me send the signal the following day after the payment of the money.   He gave me his identification and phone number so that I could contact him when coming.   While soliciting for the money, a curious lender asked why I was so anxious for such a meager amount of money.

I told him. He was furious at me and scolded me for being so naive and uninformed about the re-branded Nigeria police. He said I should contact the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO , Mrs. Ngozi Braide, (DSP), for assistance and report the conduct of the wayward police officer who incidentally was a superior officer (Supol) thus expected to know better.

It wasn’t until Sunday evening that I had time to call the PPRO with the motive of persuading her to use her position to compel the desired action. I never bargained for the result that I got from her.   She pleaded with me to come to her office the following morning (Monday). On getting there,   she made me narrate the story again and she promptly sent for the officer but changed her mind and asked if I could present marked money to the officer, saying that the Command was desirous of weeding itself of all bad eggs. Hardly had I given the marked money to the officer than he was promptly arrested by the men of the X Squad who were lurking nearby.  We were both taken to the presence of the Commissioner of Police ( Umar Manko), who asked us to narrate what happened.

The arrested officer corroborated my statement but countered it by saying that he only asked me to come back the following day to “show appreciation” with the six thousand naira (N6,000.00). The CP tongue lashed him before ordering his detention.

My car was later found at the LASTMA office, Iponri.   Investigation revealed that the LASTMA officers towed it from the road side where the thieves abandoned it. It had been ticketed N30, 000! The police went further to write LASTMA to release the vehicle to them for further investigation, arguing that it was a stolen vehicle. We are still awaiting the reaction of LASTMA on this latest development. SOURCE

Oshiomhole explains encounter with widow, says “I regret my action”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has apologised to the widow whose wares were confisticated at the Oba Ovonramwen Square, Benin City last week.

Speaking to a delegation of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria in Government House Benin City, yesterday, Oshiomhlole said “I regret my action”.

According to the Governor:  “Last week, I had an encounter with a young lady at Oba Ovonramwen Square by Mission Road. She was trading on the road and too many people have been doing this. They block the road with their wares. Part of the problem of Benin before now is that it is so difficult to drive round the City.

“That also affects the economic, social and commercial life of the City. The people cannot move from one place to the other. Where you could have spent thirty minutes, you are spending hours. We have various officers we have assigned to keep the roads clean, to keep the walkways clean so that people can walk. As you may have noticed in the past, there is no street in Benin City that had a walk way.

“But you find some of our women; they just convert the road to trading post. For years we have been sermonizing. I came across this young lady who choose to put her wares right on the road thereby creating blockade and obstruction. We are all human and in my anger I said to her, how would you be doing this?  I asked them to confisticate her wares”, he said.

Explaining further Oshiomhole said ”She told me ‘I am a widow’ and I said if you are a widow must you do things that would make other women widows. By this obstruction you have caused, you could cause accident. You could actually get knocked down.

“In the process I probably said something that I should not have said. I want to say that I do appreciate that I come from a very poor background. I understand the pains of the poor. We also need to be careful so that the poor do not create more problems.

“Just to say to our women that I regret having said what I said to her. But I am troubled by what I see sometimes. We spend tax payers’ money to build roads so that people can walk and yet some of these things happen. I regretted that particular action but help us to preach to our women to try and respect the right of way”, the Governor urged the FOMWAN officials.

The Governor further charged the women thus: ”I would encourage you to propagate the virtues of Islam and as mothers you should preach peace and love which Islam represents. By your actions you are helping people to recognize that we are all brothers and sisters belonging to one large family”

Oshiomhole admitted that this is a difficult time for Nigeria; the level of poverty is high, adding that a lot of women are challenged as single mothers and the challenge of modern societies have thrown most women to become breadwinners.

Earlier, the President of the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hajia Amina Omoti expressed delight at the amazing transformation in the state in the last five years and commended the Governor for turning Benin City into a modern city.

She disclosed that FOMWAN is involved in the improvement of the socio-economic status of women, youth and children through training, provision of qualitative education and micro-enterprise schemes and community advocacy.    SOURCE

Here are Gideon & Chibuisi, Mr. President,

*CP Mohammed Katsina addressing the boys

A SCARY but heart warming incident happened in Imo State on September 27, 2013. Two teenagers, Gideon Emenike and Chibuisi Nwafor, aged between 16 and 17 years, performed a feat which not only shocked their rural community of Umuchima Ubaha, Okigwe LGA, but the whole state. It also had the state Police Commissioner, Mohammed Katsina, scampering to the community. The teenagers launched a rocket, which both of them fabricated, into space.

Thirty minutes, and over five kilometres later, it crashed into the backyard of Augustine Eke, a pensioner. The sound was deafening. And the villagers did an Usain Bolt.

The first report Katsina got was that a bomb, the handiwork of some hoodlums, had exploded in the area. So, he went prepared. But on arrival, he was taken aback. Hoodlums were not at work. It was two gifted teenagers, putting their God-given talents into practice. Katsina described their action as “excessively reckless,” but noted: “It was an exercise into the world of science and technology by some adventurous, skillful, and intelligent young boys with incredible creativity.”

Secondary school graduates

Here is the story of Gideon and Ndubuisi. The two are secondary school graduates who passed out in 2012. Due to financial constraints, they have not been able to go further. The road to their feat, according to one of them, Gideon, who attended Federal Government College, Okigwe, started when he was still in school. While in SS1, he was asked to do a school project. He built a helicopter. In SS2, he built a rocket which he took to a national competition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He was adjudged the second best. At another competition organised by the Society for Science and Technology, he again came second. At an Olympiad competition, he also came second, and was told that he would represent Nigeria at a competition in Brazil. That never happened. His school principal, he said, called him one day and told him he was no longer going to be Nigeria’s representative. He holds it against the principal. “I still dont know why the principal cancelled the trip. This frustrated me somehow, but later, I picked up from where I dropped, and started again,” he says.

*The CP holding aloft the rocket after it crashlanded

The courage to pick up and continue brought him in contact with Chibuisi Nwafor, a like-mind, with whom he launched the rocket. The two pooled their brains together. Gideon: “That was how we planned to build a rocket and a satellite, and send it into space. It was an amateur satellite.” CP Katsina says simple components, including sugar and computer accessories, were used. Mercifully, there was no casualty. And mercifully, again, on deactivation, it was  found it had no toxic or radioactive materials. But more heart-warming: The boys did not intend any mischief.  They were just two adventurous young boys, driven by a zeal to excel. Gideon said he was challenged that other countries were launching satellites into space.

Let me commend these two teenagers. What they did proves, just in case anybody was doubting it, that raw talents abound in Nigeria. What Nigeria lacks is the will to put them together and propel our country. Nothing confirms this unwillingness than the deafening silence from both the state and federal governments that has greeted the feat of the young boys. That is why I thought the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan should be drawn to it. In drawing his attention to the teenagers, I am protesting the conspiracy of silence and wastage of talents. This is a government which says it is hunting for gifted men and women with very special attributes and yet…. These young boys are from Imo State, a state which its governor claims to have been investing in education long before he became governor. And yet…. So, how come neither the state government nor the federal government has tried to locate these teenagers, ask them questions, and encourage them? Where is the Federal Ministry of Technology? Didn’t anybody in that ministry read the story? Or, is it that the boys came from the wrong state and/or the wrong part of the country? If the boys were from the South-west or the South-south, for example, would it have been different? I think so. Here is why.

In the South-South, ex-militants are being sent to different parts of the world, to some of the best schools, to put their talents into use. Some of them have been trained as pilots and aeronautical engineers. And just a couple of months ago, a teenage stowaway on an Arik Air flight from Benin Airport to the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport was treated as a hero. For embarking on a dangerous, criminal act, he became an instant celebrity, and hero (emphasis mine), with Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and the MD of FAAN George Uriesi, posing for photographs with him. He has since been granted scholarship from secondary to university level by the Edo State government. For now, he is in the boarding house of one of the best secondary schools in Benin.

Before the Edo State offer, a Foundation linked to the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had also offered him scholarship. And that’s for embarking on a dangerous adventure which dented Nigeria’s image. Even his mum became a celebrity, granting several interviews, and asking the government to take over the welfare of his other children. See?

Now, compare him to these two teenagers from Imo who are truly gifted and have the potential of putting Nigeria, positively, on the world map. Nobody is publishing their photographs. Nobody is talking to them or show-casing them. Nobody is celebrating them. It is as if they don’t exist. It is as if they did nothing. Where are the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and his government? And where are the Federal Government and its Ministries for Education and Science and Technology?

For the records, there are many Gideons and Chibuisis in Nigeria. Young people with raw talents and a burning zeal to be of use to their country. But nobody cares. If these  teenagers were armed robbers, kidnappers, thugs, cultists, assassins or terrorists, somebody would have taken note.

Mr. President, I present to you these two gifted teenagers, Chikodi Chiadikobi Emenike and Chibuisi Nwafor. They say they want to study aeronautical engineering. Gideon throws a challenge. “If the federal government can sponsor us, we can take Nigeria to any level they want.” I believe him. Take up the challenge, Mr. President. A directive from you to the appropriate ministries will make them realise their dream. And it will be for the good of our dear country, Nigeria. SOURCE

Oshiomhole apologises over comments to a widow

Benin – Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Friday apologised for the comments he made to a widow in Benin during an inspection tour on Mission Road, in the state capital, a fortnight ago.

Oshiomhole said that he now regretted the comments which had become the subject of discourse in the social media.

The Governor, however, noted that he made the comments in anger.

Oshiomhole’s apology was made when the leadership of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), paid him a courtesy visit in Benin.

He noted that though the challenge of modern times had bestowed on the shoulders of some women and single mothers the status of bread winners of their homes, such should not be used as an accuse to flout the laws.

The Governor urged the Muslim women leaders to use their offices to propagate the essence of healthy living among children and women in the nation and the need to maintain proper sanitary conditions in their neighbourhoods.

Oshiomhole lamented that the challenge of widowhood had also exposed children to different temptations, adding that there was the need for society to be careful, to avoid unwittingly creating more problems for the nation.

He noted that money was not the best thing that guaranteed ones happiness, “but honesty and selfless service.

The Governor added that if Muslims and Christians were adequately committed to their religious doctrines, the world would be a better place.

He urged the women to propagate the message of Islam through the nooks and crannies of the nation, and to also inculcate the values of honesty in their followers.

Oshiomhole, however, assured the association of government’s support in ensuring that its present leadership made remarkable progress and also consolidated on the successes of their predecessors.

Earlier, the FOMWAN National President, Hajia Amina Omoti, urged the state government to look into the issue of the teaching of Islamic Religious Studies in public schools in the state.

Omoti also solicited for government’s moral and financial support for the effective running of the association. (NAN)   SOURCE

Ubah Sets up Committee to Recover Vehicles, Money

The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Chief Ifeanyi Ubah has set up a committee charged with the task of recovering all the campaign vehicles and monies he gave out to his directors, coordinators and agents in the state’s 21 local government areas, wards and the three senatorial zones during the campaigns for the election.

THISDAY checks revealed that Ubah who came fourth with 37,565 votes in the already announced results of the election was taken aback and felt aggrieved that majority of his campaign workers betrayed him and worked for rival candidates in the election.
Thus, the setting up of the committee, THISDAY learnt had caused many of these campaigns workers to go underground around the state.

For instance, a source said some of his agents went as far as negotiating with coordinators of his rivals to trade off their support for him on the election day and looked the other way while the election was allegedly being rigged to the detriment of their principal’s interest.

“Ubah was particularly peeved that these directors, coordinators and agents betrayed the trust and confidence he reposed in them,” the source said, adding that retrieving his vehicles was like a way of getting back at them.

A member of LP who craved anonymity told THISDAY in Nnewi yesterday that they have heard about the formation of the committee but felt it was a way of losing badly and a sign of political immaturity.

“It depends on what he is talking about anyway. Did his campaign workers ask him to give them bribe or vehicles to work? He voluntarily gave out vehicles and no one forced him. If he is recovering vehicles, it smacks of ingratitude because those people rendered services to him during the campaigns.

“Can he quantify their services in monetary terms except unless there was a written contract he had with those people before the election,” he said.

But the Media Director of Ifeanyi Ubah campaign organisation, Mr. Afam llouno, said what his principal did was not setting up a debt recovery committee but a general stock taking after the election, adding that “he wanted to know what happened, the area he did well and where he didn’t,”

The committee he said was in line with his principal’s avowed practice of accountability which he had been doing even before his foray into politics.

“Even when he was running his campaign organisation, he was very prudent and if you are given a task, you report back and render account of your stewardship. After the election, he called his coordinators in the wards, local governments, state and the senatorial zones to try to establish and know how things went down the line but people started blackmailing him. It is not a new thing to people that work with him except those who want to be funny,” he said.  THISDAYLIVE