KSJ 422 celebrates birth of John the Baptist – commissions security house

Knights of St. John International (KSJ) Holy Cross Commandary, and their Ladies Auxiliary (LAUX) 350 Owerri, last Sunday, June 30, 2013 celebrated the birthday of the patron Saint of the Ancient and Nobel Order, St. John the Baptist. The Grand finale of the week-long activity –packed celebration were: the two-day seminar featuring talks by two distinguished personalities- ”Who is John the Baptist and what does he stand for?” by Prof. Goody Obodo and ”Waves of Doctrine” by Major Peter Opara, the Worthy President. There were also Sunday Eucharist celebration at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Special Awards and commissioning of the Security House. Preaching the homily at the Mass, Rev. Fr. Andrew Nkwocha, the Cathedral Administrator…

SOLAD Flags off 2013 Immunization Week

Lady Chioma Ogoke the Sole Administrator Ehime Mbano LGA last week kicked off the Maternal and new born child- health week at Umuanunu-Umunumo Health centre. She was represented by the Chairperson lady Chinwe Ubah who personally applied Oral polio vaccines, vitamin A and general immunization drug against the five child killer diseases which include Cholera Hepatitis B, Measles, Malaria, Yellow fever and Tetanus. Comrade Eke Godson Chinedu, the disease surveillance and notification officer, Ehime-Mbano LGA Urged parents to report cases of fever and body rashes to his office for investigation. He enjoined them to ensure that cases of suspected polio, yellow fever, and ceriebral spinal mengitis and ‘çholera any nearby health centre so as to…

Community denies kidnap of 18 pupils

Leaders of Ngor Autonomous Community in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, have described as false and misleading, newspaper reports (not THE LEADER) that a commercial bus driver (name withheld) and a female teacher (name withheld) were intercepted by eagle-eyed security men as they were conveying 18 abducted pupils. According to newspaper reports, the children who are pupils of Umuohie Primary School in the Ngor-Okpala LGA, were being ferried to Rivers State before the abductors were caught. In a reaction to the news, the President General of the community, Mr. Justus Ugochukwu Okoh, who told our correspondent that he followed up the case from Umuneke Police Station to the State Criminal Investigation Department…

Police retirees decry neglect by pension managers

Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the weekend in Benin, Edo State, expressed concern voer what they termed “gross isolation and neglect by their pension managers of the PENCOM Act 2004”. They said they were in the dark on what accrued from their contributed pension scheme after 35 years of service in the country.  President General of the association, Dr. Moses Ajeka, made the lamentation while inaugurating Edo State Chapter, Elders Club of Nigeria (PENCOM retired police officers) in Benin.  According to him, the club, which came into being in October 2010, was an umbrella body of the retirees aimed at correcting the challenges arising from the PENCOM Act. “We are the…

War in Enugu Catholic Church – Youths invade Catholic Church with masquerades, destroy altar, crucifix

Uneasy calm reigns in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ogugu in Awgu Catholic Diocese, Enugu State, following an attack on worshippers by some youths during an evening programme held as part of this year’s Easter celebration. The parishioners had been working hard to rehabilitate the Church that was recently handed back to the Catholic Church by the Governor Sullivan Chime administration before hell was let loose by the dissident youth allegedly sponsored by three prominent members of the community. The youths who allegedly refused to acknowledge the leadership of the town union, Ogugu Progressive General Assembly (OPGA), were said to have placed the town under siege for some months. “They have organized themselves to ensure there…

CMO Sacred Heart Parish Akwakuma honours 10

The Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Akwakuma, Owerri North LGA has bestowed prestigious Honourary Awards on 10 of their members in appreciation of their continued selfless services to the parish. Among those Honoured were: Chief Sir Tonny Nnadi, Sir Anene Ogidi (KSM), Sir Eusebius Egbuacho (KSM) and Chief R.N. Onyewuenyi. Others are: Engr. C.C. Ihezukwu, Chief Leo Dike, Sir Albert Oragba (KSM), Engr. K.C. Nganna and Sir Henry Okoroafor (KSM). The brief but colourful ceremony took place as part of the activities marking the ”Father’s Day Celebration” held on Sunday 5th May, 2013. The event, which was preceded by a Holy Mass conducted by the Parish Priest and the Vicar…

Okorocha’s Administration and the Zenith Bank Loan Scandal

Not too long ago, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) wrote a petition to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) accusing Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and his team of taking an unauthorized loan that runs into many billions of naira from Zenith Bank using the monthly allocations for the 27 local government councils in the state as collateral for the loan. Consequently, the Imo State Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and the Accountant General of the state, Mr. George Eche were arrested and detained by the EFCC in relation of the accusation. These government officials were later granted administrative bail. As an offshoot to the alleged controversial loan, there…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…