Willie Obiano Sworn-in As Governor of Anambra State As Obi bows out in style

Dr. Willie Obiano has been sworn in as the new Executive Governor of Anambra State. The swearing-in held at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, and was conducted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, in front of a mammoth crowd. The swearing-in brings to an end, the 8 years of Governor Peter Obi’s administration, as he bows out of office amidst chants of excitement from the people of Anambra State who commended his administration as having performed creditably well. Taking the oath of office, the new governor, who was sworn in alongside his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, emphasized security, power, and agriculture as areas of priority. Former Governor, Peter Obi, expressed pride in the…

ITC staff protest non-payment of salaries

Workers of Imo Transport Company Nigeria Ltd. (ITC) were at their company’s terminal, MCC Road Owerri, Monday, March 17, 2014, staged what they called a peaceful protest over non-payment of staff’s salaries by the state government.   The protest which paralyzed the entire transport activities of the company and rendered commuters stranded indicated that the lingering face-off between ITC and State Government has not been resolved. When THE LEADER visited the scene, Tuesday, March 18, the angry crowd were still on a blockade at the entrance gate of the company insisting with inscriptions on placards which read: Owelle Ndi Imo save our soul from Global Ginikana, My People! My People!! Owelle, are ITC not your…

Gov Obi accepts chieftaincy title at last – Crowned Okwute Ndigbo

The out-gone Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi finally bowed to pressure and accepted a chieftaincy title as the Okwute of Igbo land in Awka amidst pomp and pageantry. The conferment took place on Saturday, March 15, two days before Mr. Obi handed over to Mr. Obiano. The traditional ruler of Onitsha Kingdom, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe decorated him assisted by other prominent monarchs in Anambra like Igwe K.O. Irizu of Nnewi, Igwe P.C. Ezenwa of Oba and Igwe Onwuneme of Ikenga. Obi Achebe in a remark said the traditional rulers in the South-east unanimously agreed to bestow on Obi the prestigious title of Okwute (the rock) of Igbo land in recognition of his numerous…

Job creation, my priority – Says Capt Emma Ihenacho

One of those who regard the high level of unemployment in Imo State, as unacceptable and consequently vowed to make job creation his top priority, is Capt Emma Ihenacho, former Minister of Interior, now aspiring to become the next governor of the state, come 2015. The guber aspirant and former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who recently left for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to pursue his political ambition, while declaring his intention to newsmen in Owerri, Saturday, March 15, 2014, said that the society owed the youths the duty to get them usefully engaged to earn a living and raise their own families as soon as they graduate in their fields…

Pope Francis meets with the Blind, Deaf on Saturday

As the first pope to meet with those who are blind and deaf in an exclusive audience, Pope Francis will hold the gathering later this month — an encounter participants are highly anticipating. “I am pleased that the Pope is making the whole world aware of our world by having an audience with us for the first time,” Jakob Badde told CNA on March 10. “We have a great deficiency, and most people do not know why and what it means to us.” Badde hails from Germany — he is the son of Vatican journalist Paul Badde, former Rome correspondent for the German newspaper Die Welt — and is one of the members of the…

All health sectors join strike in Imo

Following alleged non-challant attitude of the Imo State Government to the plight of health workers in the state, the State Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union side), Imo State, has directed all health sectors to join in the three-week old strike by the Specialist Hospital, Umuguma. In a press release issued in Owerri on Tuesday, the Union said the strike, which began on Wednesday, was necessary considering the high level of ill-treatment meted out to their members and un-conducive working conditions at their work places, including high level of disregard by government. According to the press release the strike action emanated from the following: nine months salary arrears to Specialist Hospital, “situation” at College of…

CGC Election: Okponakuma Executive Members returned unopposed - As Orlu was declared inconclusive

The Community Government Council Election held on March 8 in various communities in Imo state had it that some communities returned their former caretakers unopposed. In Okponakuma community Njaba L.G.A, Mr. Geoffrey Nnadozie was returned as the secretary, Lolo Francisca Mbadi Woman leader while Mr. Chidiebere Ifesinachi was the youth leader. In his speech the executive secretary Mr. Nnadozie pointed out that they have been in the office for the past one year, describing their return as one which is based on their antecedents and also due to their relentless effort in carrying out their oversight function, the people of the community having found them worthy returned them unopposed for them to continue with their…

Crisis rocks CGC elections in Okigwe South

Confusion reigned at the Community Government Council elections held at the various autonomous communities at Obowo, Ihitte-Uboma and Ehime-Mbano LGAs respectively On Saturday March 8. At Ehime Mbano LGA, Executive Secretaries deployed as presiding officers for the CGC elections ran away to escape harm by angry voters. The areas badly affected include, Ezeala Ezike, Ibeama-Okwu, Nneano and Nsu autonomous communities where a free for all fight ensued as people armed with clubs, sticks and dangerous weapons stormed the polling units to disrupt the elections. Other communities affected include Umualumaku-Umuhim, Ibeafor Umunumo, Umuezeala Nsu, Umunumo, Agbaja and Umuezeala Ogwara Autonomous Communities. The protesters were agitating that zoning arrangements were flouted with reckless abandon. The most affected…

How we fake miracles, prophecies – Nabbed Pastor

Thirty-two-year-old Jerry Akpan, who claimed to be a pastor and allegedly used false prophecies to deceive and defraud his victims in Port Harcourt has suddenly come to the end of his inglorious ‘ministry’. For years, he had been duping people in different churches he was invited to preach, but he met his waterloo when he deceitfully took possession of a victim’s car and quickly sold it to a syndicate of fake pastors. Sunday Sun learnt that hundreds of complaints had been received by the police in Rivers State from different churches regarding the activities of some ‘pastors’ who gave false prophecies with the sole intent to dupe people.  Some of the fake prophets even had…

The General Principles of Defamation (1)

Every human being has a character which helps to shape his reputation in his community. To Bill Clinton, former United States president, character is everything. It defines the individual, his integrity or lack of one. It shapes the view of reasonable people in the community about a person or company. In our African communities, the truth is often the first casualty in any discourse and a person’s character often impinged on by his kinsmen who are hostile to his progress. Many young ladies have not married today because of vicious slander behind their backs and many young men have no one to help them not because they have no integrity but because their kinsmen had…

Tight security as confab begins in Abuja today

• Why we chose NJI venue SUNNEWSONLINE – There has been water tight security in and around Abuja, the federal Capital, where the national conference is scheduled to open today. Personnel of the Army, police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, have taken-up strategic positions at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) venue of the three months conference to forestall any breach of security throughout the duration of the conference. Top security operatives told Daily Sun that the NJI located along the bypass of the Abuja airport road was chosen instead of the International Conference Centre (ICC), to curtail activities of Boko Haram and other criminal groups who may want to…

Obi bows out in glory

SUNNEWSONLINE – As Peter Obi quits the stage as Anambra State governor, after a meritorious two terms of eight years, tomorrow, he leaves behind gaudy footprints in the sands of time. Before he assumed office in 2005, the state was in the hands of political buccaneers who ran rough shod over the people. It was indeed very difficult to make any distinction between the governance of the state and the activities of motor park touts. Anarchy reigned supreme. The state was permanently in the news for all the wrong reasons. His emergence as governor was not smooth sailing as he fought a grueling three-year battle to reclaim a mandate he was overwhelmingly given but was…

Immigration Tragedy: Survivors, families of victims recount ordeals

I was taken to mortuary with the dead—Ogida My sister died saving her pregnant friend—Victim’s sister 11 survivors still hospitalised in Abuja SUNNEWSONLINE – The survivors and families of the dead victims of the stampede at the Nigeria Immigration Services aptitude test in Abuja have continued to recount the harrowing ordeal they passed through at the venue of the exercise, emphasizing that they were lucky to be alive to tell the story. While the families appealed to the government to facilitate the release of the victim’s corpse for burial and free them from further ordeals in the hands of the hospital authorities. Some of the survivors still on admission at the National Hospital told sunnewsonline.com…

As angry wife sets house ablaze over husband’s failure to take her to America

US-based man, mum escape death in Imo An irate housewife, Mrs. Angela Ogbonna (Lolo), native of Ndibinuhu-Abueke Ihitte-Uboma LGA of Imo State has set her husband’s residence ablaze for the man’s failure to take her to America. Trouble started when her American-based husband, Lawrence Ogbonna returned in December 2013.  The former American Air Force Officer had scheduled to go back to the United States on Friday, March 8, 2014. To his shock, his wife Angela insisted on being taken to America with him as he had promised during the last visit.  Her husband explained to her that it was not possible yet as she had not concluded preparation of the documents that will facilitate her…

Dignitaries flood Anambra ahead of Obiano’s swearing in

SUNNEWSONLINE – Ahead of today’s swearing in ceremony of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Dr. Willie Obiano as the new governor of Anambra State, dignitaries from across the nation have flooded the state. On Sunday, the eve of the epoch-making occasion, all the hotels in Awka, the state capital and environ were booked to full capacity.nIt was gathered that very late last night, visitors were still trooping to the state which was agog ahead of the change of baton between Governor Peter Obi and his successor, Dr. Obiano. Many of the late callers to the state had a hectic time trying to secure accommodation with some having no option than in hotels at…

Archbishop Obinna donates Laboratory Equipment to Mission Hospital Ngugo

In fulfilment of his promise during his last pastoral visit to St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Ngugo Obaire, Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo State, the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev Anthony J.V.Obinna has donated laboratory equipment to Mission Hospital, Ngugo. The equipment which include biological microscope, laboratory incubator, autoclave, genotype machine, microhaematocrit centrifuge and reader, centrifuge bucket, refrigerator and others, all brand new, were received by the Hospital Director, Rev Fr. Chimaraoke Offurum last week. With these equipment, the facility can now run microbiology, haematology and other chemistry tests. In making the donation, the Prelate lamented the failure of governments at different levels towards supporting non-governmental initiatives at the grassroots and pointed out that in developed…

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Once again, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, is here with us. In the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Catholics will celebrate. Significantly, old boys of St. Patrick’s College, Ikot Ansa, Calabar(SPACO), wherever they may be, will celebrate in a special way in honour of St. Patrick, the pre-eminent missionary, the apostle of Ireland and patron saint of Nigeria after whom their great alma mater is named. So too will people celebrate where there is any trace of Irish tradition in the world. In particular, people of Irish origin will parade in honour of Saint Patrick on O’Connel Street in Dublin and on 5th Avenue in New York City, United States of America.   Who was St. Patrick?…

After A Century of Fear And Insecurity; What Next? (2)

Mostly, political intrigues of the North throughout the period president Yar’adua was sick and his subsequent death on 5th May 2010, showed that the north are unwilling to relinquish power to the South. As soon as Goodluck was sworn in as executive president, the ill-will became worse. The incessant bomb blast and killings of hundreds of Nigerians by the same faceless Boko Haram are ways of venting their anger. They want Goodluck to resign out of fear and frustration; or even die so that the 2nd in authority- their own person will take over (thanks for Sambo’s understanding.) Meanwhile, the north complained of everything including mass poverty and marginalization as the causes of their grievances….

PDP embraces returnee at Ehime Mbano

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ehime Mbano LGA Chapter has welcomed back into its fold aggrieved high-profile personalities who decamped to other parties before the 2011 general elections. The returnees who include: Chief Cosmas Iwu, Hon. Stanford Onyirimba, Hon. Prince Nduka, Chief Ogoke Macdonald, former State Chairman of PPA, Hon. Kenneth Nwachukwu, former ACN Chairman in Ehime Mbano LGA with thousands of their followers. Speaking at the event, Hon. Kingsley Dimaku posited that he has played a major role in ensuring that the new converts were given a safe landing. He further elucidated that the coming on board of the heavyweights will facilitate the desire of his party to recapture the state come 2015 elections….

Bishop Amatu dedicates St. Theresa Church Umunakanu

A state of the art-ultra Catholic Church building at St. Theresa’s Parish Umunakanu Owerre, Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State was dedicated by Most Rev. Solomon Amatu, Catholic Bishop of Okigwe, Saturday, March 1, 2014. The ceremony started with a Pontifical Mass concelebrated by the Local Ordinary of Okigwe diocese with a record breaking number of 67 priests and the religious in attendance. In his homily, Bishop Amatu eulogized Rev. Fr. Gerald Osuagwu for executing the high profile church building diligently in only four years as the parish priest.  He urged other priests to emulate the good works of Rev. Fr. Gerald Osuagwu who delivered the project without a “building committee”. The Bishop further paid…