Okorocha Brokers Peace In Ohaneze Ndigbo

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has successfully brokered peace between the two factional leaders of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Gray Enwo-Igariwey and Dr. Ralph Obioha with the latter dropping his claim to the Office of President-General of Ohaneze.

 

Dr. Obioha equally accepted Chief Enwo Igariwey as the only President-General of the Organization and also pledged to give Chief Igariwey all the needed support and cooperation to enable him succeed.

 

The reconciliation of the two factions, which was presided over by Okorocha, come Monday night, after a very lengthy meeting between the two leaders, members of their respective executives and delegates from the states that make up Ohaneze, at the Government House Owerri.

 

It was gathered that one of the agreements at the meeting was that the tenure of Chief Igariwey was extended by one year, and at the expiration of the one year, fresh election would be conducted to select new leaders for the body.

 

Similarly, all those suspended from the body while the squabble lasted, were also recalled, and all the court cases occasioned by the dispute would also be withdrawn.

 

“A 17-member committee that would see to the implementation of all that was agreed including the issue of election was set up with Dr. Obioha as Chairman, while the governors will produce one member each”, the communique stated.

 

In his speech, Governor Okorocha expressed gladness that “the Ohaneze family is back as one”, stressing that “we have proven to the world that Igbos are their brothers keepers.” Okorocha continued, “The President of Ohaneze will soon address the Igbo nation. All Igbos must join hands with the Ohaneze leadership to move Igbo nation forward. With this peace, we are going to see a new kind of support for Ohaneze. The rest of the world will hear about the Igbo nation. The jinx has been broken.”

 

Chief Igariwey and Dr. Obioha in their respective speeches, said achieving peace in the leadership of Ohaneze and reconciling the two factions should be celebrated by all Igbos because the division had never augured well with the august body and the interest of the Igbos in general.

 

Credit : Vanguard

‘Ndigbo Don’t Need Biafra’ -Bishop Chukwuma

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, on Thursday said the Igbo did not need Biafra.

The cleric told journalists in Enugu that what the Igbo needed was massive infrastructural development in the South-East, and to be treated with “justice, fairness and equity” by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

According to him, the pro-Biafra agitation is not necessarily a call for secession, but rather, a protest against marginalisation and neglect by governments at the federal and state levels, as well as the excesses of public office-holders.

Describing the pro-Biafra agitation as “misguided”, Chukwuma said the Igbo truly believed in ‘one-Nigeria’ and do not wish to see the country divided.

He said, “The People of the South-East have invested so much in Nigeria to want to pull out now. The Igbo nation is not ready for any secession now because most of us have invested so much in Nigeria as a whole and we cannot abandon our investments.

“We in the South-East don’t want any war. We are not pushing for secession, we are not asking for sovereignty at all. I am not in support of the agitation for Biafra – the pro-Biafra agitation is misguided.”

The bishop explained that the youth who took to the streets to call for the actualisation of Biafra were frustrated by bad leadership and its consequences, including poverty, unemployment, lack of critical infrastructure, among others.

He said, “Those who were marching for Biafra are mostly youths who have been frustrated, so many of them have been used and dumped by politicians. They are misdirected youths who felt that was the only way to express their frustrations.

“They were not given proper representation by those they elected – constituency offices are non-existent. The agitation for Biafra is just a camouflage, it is a protest against bad leadership.”

Ndigbo Hail Buhari Over Ministerial Portfolios

Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) has congratulated President Mu­hammadu Buhari for appointing Ndigbo with worthy ministerial portfolios which complements the recent appointments of federal permanent secretaries.

 

The group noted that the recent appoint­ments by Buhari indicated that the presi­dent is beginning to correct the earlier al­leged posture of sectionalism.

 

We urge our ambassadors in the Presi­dent Buhari administration to give their best to the nation and mankind, even though the economic fortunes of the coun­try was at all time low, we expect our am­bassadors to be shining lights at this dark end of the tunnel.

 

“While we commend President Mu­hammadu Buhari,we also encourage him to still take a giant step forward and en­sure that an Igbo is appointed into the six principal offices of the nation, possibly the position of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), which will help Igbo leaders convince their kits and kin that no region is left behind in this government,” the group further stated.

 

“Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) would also like to plead with our people seeking self-deter­mination to understand that, sometimes, your worst enemy could be your best friend and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, give President Mu­hammadu Buhari a chance to prove himself a friend or foe,” it concluded.

 

Credit : Daily Sun

Ndigbo Calls For Unity To Promote Development In South-East

Members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Niger have identified lack of unity as a major impediment to socio-political development of most of south eastern states.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the association, Chief Emmanuel Ezeugo, in Abuja on Monday.

The association also observed that lack of unity had explained why “the governors of Ohanaeze Ndigbo states are always at crossroads with each other.

“Our governors don’t even cooperate with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in setting developmental agenda for the region.

“We have, as well, never seen our governors as major stakeholders, who attend the association’s meetings or take any proposal on development serious.”

The statement said the association had, therefore, concluded arrangement to organise a summit to address the challenge with the theme, “Oganiru na Akonauchi.”

The statement said the high points of the summit would include the inauguration of the association’s women wing on Dec. 12 at Suleja Township Stadium.

“The summit is an event that will bring the Igbo sons and daughters in and outside the state together to reflect on the challenges facing the Igbos,” the statement said.

 

 

(NAN)

Adedayo Osho: Biafra Republic; A Myth Or Reality

On Friday 6th of November 2015, South-East largest city, Onitsha witnessed thousands of anti-government demonstrators, primarily under the aegis of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB staged Million Man March protesting the continued detention of their group leader and managing director of Radio Biafra: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

This is not the first time a separatist movement like IPOB would assemble in Nigeria. In the early years of political independence, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro had declared Niger Delta Republic. The struggle only lasted for twelve days. Agitation for Biafra Republic, which is currently gaining traction was first championed in 1967 by late charismatic leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu- the Ikemba II of Nnewi.

Fast forward to four decades after the end of civil war in 1970: West Africa tiger, Nigeria faces security challenges along its three dominant ethnic/geographical line. Resilient killing of civilians by Boko Haram in the North; Clandestine proliferation of light arms by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress in South-West; and the insufferable propaganda employed to dent the country’s image by Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra in the South-East.

Scotland and Spain’s Catalonia experience provides modern reference point for federal government on how best to handle secessionist agitation by Ndigbo. Dragging South Sudan which has now slide into a war-torn zone inside the case at hand, leading forces for Biafra must consider the brutal consequence of power rivalry. This is not intended for insult on ground of leadership incompetence. Ongoing political rumble between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President turned-rebel leader, Riek Machar offers secessionists anywhere in the world a lesson on how manufactured nations bicker with power. Since large swathes of Niger Delta will be merged along with the long anticipated Biafra Republic, if any coming to being, our cousins in the coastal region need start raising dialectical questions on power sharing/allocation under a refurbished nation.

I advise my Ndigbo brothers to wear the garment of civic and pursue their course with subtle nobility. Rather than resort to violence or propaganda, the place of strong advocacy for referendum remains their golden alternative.

For instance, In January 2015, the company GFK Ukraine, a member of one of the largest international companies in the field of marketing research, GfK Group (Nurenberg, Germany) conducted a survey in the Crimea. Results of the survey showed that about 93% of Crimean residents support the reunification of Crimea with Russia, voted against only by 4% of respondents. “Do you support the reunification of the Crimea to Russia?”

82% – fully support
11% – probably, support
2% – do not support
2% – probably, do not support
3% – hard to say.

Forbes business magazine writes that one year after the reunification of the Crimea with Russia, poll after poll shows that the locals there — be they Ukrainians, ethnic Russians or Tartars are all in agreement: life with Russia is better than life with Ukraine.

It need be emphasised that self-determination is strongly supported by United Nation UN itself. There’s no gain in painting a bad image of one’s rivals in an attempt to convince admirers. That courageous man, Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers should be informed that slaves who devised slanderous concoctions as a means of gaining freedom from their master will only extend their years of stewardship.

I’m aware that those who harp on secession does owing to political marginalisation and domination my powerful groups, but then, for true Biafranism to manifest, Ndigbo needs the backing of many of their political leaders who are wary of their pocket and the benefits accrued to a larger political territory: Nigeria.

Adedayo Osho is a political analyst and freelance writer. He holds a Bachelor degree in Political Science & Education from University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Email: oshoadedayo7@yahoo.com Twitter: @Jahpolitical

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

“Stop Hating Other Nigerians If You Want To Produce President” – Okorocha To Ndigbo

The Imo State governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has advised people of the South-East zone to refrain from harboring bad blood against people of other parts of the country, if they are serious about producing the country’s President in the future.

Okorocha, who made this known yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital, declared that he has been vindicated by the eventual victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 election.

According to him, “I appeal to Ndigbo to avoid unnecessary bickering and antagonism with the
North, West and other parts of the country, so as to brighten the prospects of a president of Igbo extraction in future.”

While noting that Rivers and Akwa Ibom states are very strategic to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and that the electorate in the two states voted overwhelmingly for the APC in the last election, he alleged that, “their votes were stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through various forms of electoral malpractices.”

Although he refused to disclose the strategies his APC political platform intends to use in sacking PDP in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, the APC bigwig however noted that plans were on to actualize the target.

On why his administration was yet to appoint commissioners and special advisers, the Governor said it has enabled him to save money for the state, for capital projects, explaining that, “If I appoint them now, they will start demanding for impress, traveling allowance, hazard allowance and this is outside their monthly pay. This has enabled me save some money for the state, for capital projects.”

Asked why all public taps in the state have dried up, he noted that he preferred sinking water boreholes for communities instead of procuring chemicals, maintaining machines and other facilities.

Source: DailyPost

Lauretta Onochie: In Defence Of “Ndigbo”

Many Nigerians have watched with tongue in cheek as the group known as Ohaneze Ndigbo has paraded itself as the group with the interest of Ndigbo. For starters, let us look at the meaning of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Oha means the ordinary people. Eze means King or in this case, Elites. The phrase Oha na Eze Ndigbo as an organisation would mean an association that is for all Igbo people, irrespective of whether they are elites or ordinary Ndigbo or their social status.
But what we have seen in Ohaneze is an organisation that is far from representing the interests of the ordinary Igbo people. The ‘Oha’ have been completely relegated to the background. For many years, children of school age would be seen at various markets in Eastern Nigerian learning how to use calculators and shunning formal education. Their main ambition, or should I say the life plan for such children by their parents is a life in one of those dingy market stalls, with 10,000 power generating sets and no ventilation. Did Ohaneze care? No! It did not occur to them that they could mobilise the Oha in each market to invest in one massive generator that can serve everyone. Like this, they would breathe in clean air and live longer. But why should they do anything in the interest of the Oha? They are the ordinary hard-working commoners! Their own children are in some of the  best schools across the world acquiring sound education that will position them to continue as the elites, the Ezes, over the down trodden Ordinary Ndigbo, the ‘Oha’
Around the end of April, 2013, we all woke up to find the remains of scores of Igbo youth floating on Ezu River. Their crime? They had a peaceful demonstration at Onitsha calling for the actualisation of the defunct state of Biafra. Although I am vehemently opposed to the reason for their protest, they did not deserve to be summarily executed and dumped in the Ezu river. It would make a cheery read if Ohaneze Ndigbo can tell Nigerians how much pressure it mounted on the government of Pres. Jonathan to try to bring to justice those who killed such number of Igbo and  Nigerian youth.
Nigerians are waiting.
In the twilight of the Jonathan administration, it was the same Ohaneze that connived with that government to dupe Ndigbo, promising what other Nigerians saw as desperate hoodwinking of Ndigbo to win unmerited votes. Ohaneze Ndigbo stood with President Jonathan as he lied, wilfully, that the second Niger Bridge would be a reality. Some of us raised the alarm that they were playing on the intelligence of the Oha but Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, armed with sacks of Jonathanian loot, rampaged through the South East, where most things are for cash and carry. Consequently, our warnings fell on deaf ears and today, an organisation that has mud in its face, an organisation that misled it’s people, an organisation that serves only its elites, is rearing its ugly head, shamelessly pretending to be speaking for Ndigbo.
President Buhari has been painstakingly putting a cabinet of men and women of integrity together. Nigerians are certain that this ministerial cabinet will not include the same people that misled and benefitted from the Jonathan administration. Ohaneze are now calling on Ndigbo to reject ministerial positions under Pres. Buhari. It’s a case of, “Since we have completely lost relevance, no other Igbo people should emerge as leaders.” Who are these people? What do they want for The Oha, the ordinary Ndigbo? On one hand they cried, “Lopsided appointment and marginalisation”, on the other, they canvass for the rejection of appointments from the Buhari administration.
They are spreading the same venom across their ranks. It’s interesting that the youth wing of the elite organisation went after Barr. Festus Keyamo, calling him “a desperate political sycophant who sees insulting the Ndigbo as the fastest way to get the attention of Buhari for consideration for a political appointment.” Coming from a confused youth wing of Ohaneze, who can take such myopic ridicule seriously? The anti-Nigeria stance of Ohaneze Ndigbo is not lost on other Nigerians.
Ordinary Igbo families are comfortable living in all parts of Nigeria. They know that Nigeria is the only nation they have. The civil war has been over decades ago. Even the late Igbo leader, Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, founded a political party and fully participated in the political and electoral processes of our nation. The divisive nature of the utterances of Ohaneze are nothing but self-serving. It’s all about them and nothing to do with Ndigbo in general.
I dare say to Ohaneze Ndigbo, “You do not speak for Ndigbo”. You speak for yourselves. NOI Polls, an outfit run by the immediate past Minister for Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, published that 92% of the sample polled from the South East are very happy with the Nigeria of today. Ndigbo are also a reasonable nation. They are not the ones crying “Lopsidedness” when they know that no laws have been breeched and that there are more appointments coming that will favour every part of the nation. Most importantly, they also know that with the new Sheriff in town, every appointee will serve all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic origins.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, a self interest organisation may have represented Ndigbo in the long distant past but in recent years, they have not been representing the interests of the ordinary Nigerians of the Igbo stock. It’s time to close shop and allow a Pan-Igbo organisation that has the interest of Ndigbo to emerge. The current Ohaneze is a trading organisation that sells hatred, religious bigotry and ethnic bias, wares, Nigerians rejected by electing President Buhari.
We were witnesses when this organisation was speaking from both sides of its mouth, depending on who paid them last, before the last election. It’s either they deliberately misled their people or they were too focused on the proceeds from selling their people that they did not read the bold handwriting on the wall. The good news is that the government of Pres. Buhari is a people-centred government that will act in the best interests of all Nigerians irrespective of whether they voted for him or not.
Many years ago, the Late father of Anioma people Delta State and icon, Late Chief Dennis Osadebey, saw the self-centredness and the rot in this organisation and hurriedly left, rightly taking shelter in his own Anioma ethnic identity. Today, there are still Nigerian patriots like the fierce Festus Keyamo who smell, from afar, the mischief this organisation continues to create in their region and elsewhere. So they have sent their elites sons to insult a Nigerian role model. If Festus Keyamo declared the truth because he seeks public office, which he merits, anyway, it would still be a long way better and more patriotic than barking at the leadership of this nation for food. Well, this is not President Jonathan’s administration where people were paid for being unreasonable. If Festus Keyamo must apologise to Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ohaneze must first, apologise to Ndigbo for misrepresenting them all these years.
Henceforth, regional organisations that do not represent the interests of their people will have all Nigerians to contend with. Nigerians have found their voice and will no longer tolerate a sect of elites who carry on as if they own their geo political zones. The South East belongs to the ordinary Nigerians of Igbo stock. Nigerians will support them to call their elites to order if their voice fail them. The South East is part and parcel of Nigeria. All Nigerians have a right to speak up on what goes on there, the same way Ndigbo are free to speak on issues in other regions.
Finally, leading up to the last elections, Ohaneze could not read the handwriting on the wall for the simple fact that the body only thinks in terms of Dollars. And they were suffocated with it so they happily misinformed their people and turned them away from the “Change” direction the whole nation was headed. It was in Delta State that an ex governor told some Deltans to go and seek help from the person they voted for. That is PDP spirit. Thank God President Muhammadu Buhari is not cut from the same fabric as Ex-Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He is the President of Nigeria, not the president of those who voted for him. He will make appointments to cover the states across the nation. The best part of this is that the appointees will serve all Nigerians and not only where they come from.
Ohaneze, old or young, men or youth, must change their modus operandi. They must focus within to find ways of properly representing Ndigbo in general. They must start showing interest in issues that interest the Oha. Otherwise, there will be more Festus Keyamos and this could lead to the demise of the near moribund elitist organ. Welcome to Nigeria, a new Nigeria where there is no more free money.
Lauretta Onochie
@Laurestar
www.laurestar,com
Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent viewws of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Buhari’s Appointments “Totally Unacceptable To Ndigbo”- Igbo Youths

The Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC), on Friday, condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s latest appointment for the positions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President and others.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the president of the group, said in a statement he jointly signed with the OYC’s spokesperson, Obinna Adibe, said the appointments were “totally unacceptable to Ndigbo”, arguing that they violated the principle of federal character as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

Read More: dailytimes

ICC Commences Probe Of Oba of Lagos Regarding Alleged Threat on Ndigbo

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has commenced investigation on the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, for alleged threat to sink the Igbo residing in Lagos State into the lagoon, if they failed to vote for the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) dur­ing the April 11, 2015 gover­norship election in the state.

It has been reported that the son of the late former governor of old Anambra State, Dr. Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, had petitioned the ICC over the Oba’s alleged threat. The ICC had earlier in the year, acknowledged re­ceipt of Onoh’s petition and promised to give consider­ation to his request.

In the second corre­spondence to Onoh, with reference number OTP-CR-140/15, and dated Au­gust 13, 2015, ICC’s Head of Information and Evi­dence Unit in the office of the prosecutor, M. P. Dillion, said they were analyzing the situation identified in the petition, with the assistance of other related communi­cations and other available information.

Part of the ICC’s latest letter to Onoh read: “Un­der Article 53 of the Rome Statute, the prosecutor must consider whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that crimes within the ju­risdiction of the court have been committed, the grav­ity of the crimes, whether national systems are inves­tigating and prosecuting the relevant crimes, and the in­terests of justice.”

Read More: sunnewsonline

Don’t set agenda for Buhari, APC tells Ohanaeze

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Anambra, has warned Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural organisation of Igbo, to stop setting agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

This is coming after a statement credited to former Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra, Dr Chris Eluemunoh asking the President to complete the second Niger Bridge.

 

 

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of APC in Anambra, Mr Okelo Madukaife in Awka on Wednesday, he described Eluemunoh’s call as sheer ‘busy body.’

 

“Buhari does not need such reminder from anybody to do the right things for the people of the area.

 

“Buhari and Ndigbo do not need a selfish call from a hate campaigner working to confront Ndigbo with the Federal Government.

 

“They can do without those trying to drive a wedge for themselves in the guise of Ohanaeze activists.

 

“It’s the dream of Buhari government and all visionary persons in the South East, including every member of APC in the geopolitical zone, to see the completion of the second River Niger bridge.

 

“It is this project that many try to isolate and hype as second Niger Bridge and position it as a signature project for Ndigbo,” the statement read.

 

The statement also said “many politicians, particularly of the PDP stock, who enjoy the unflinching loyalty of Eluemuno, have taken this advantage to exploit Ndigbo.

 

“The exploitation cuts across government but got to a height under the Goodluck Jonathan administration,” he added.

 

It accused Madukaife of a recent hate campaign to drive a wedge between Ndigbo and the Presidency under Buhari.

 

“We, therefore, remind Eluemunoh whose partisanship has never been hidden, that Buhari does not need any reminders to do the needful on the completion of the bridge,” it said.

Jonathan Lied To Us About 2nd Niger Bridge, Ohaneze Tells Buhari

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee, yesterday, told the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, that President Goodluck Jonathan lied to the Igbo nation about awarding contract for the construction of Second Niger bridge and major federal roads in the South East.

The committee listed Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway and Enugu-Umuahia-Aba Expressway as prove of their allegation, noting that up till now, work was yet to start at the sites.

According to the committee, no financial commitment had been made by the Federal Government to commence the construction of the Second Niger Bridge, saying that those were deceptive campaign messages to Ndigbo. The committee said this during its congratulatory visit to Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja.

“This is a delegation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee, who proudly took side with you, convinced that what Nigeria needs today is the leadership that you will provide to rebuild our battered and pulverised nation,” said Chief Ralph Obioha, leader of the delegation, who spoke on behalf of the Committee.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee is fully aware of the difficult and daunting work that has befallen on your shoulders. And we are here to offer our commitment that Ndigbo will stand shoulder to shoulder with you on this mission to reconstruct our nation.

“We are also aware that our cry of marginalization is not unique to our region, but ours stands out as an SOS case as a region criminally neglected and abandoned by the outgoing administration.

“During your campaign tours, you saw things for yourself and needless reminding Your Excellency that South-east is an emergency case. You drove through the badly neglected and impassable Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway and the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba Expressway, needless to mention the Oba-Okigwe Highway.

“Contrary to the election claims by the outgoing administration, no appreciable work is going on these roads, information has shown that no financial arrangement has been firmed up for the Second Nigeria Bridge. The Oputa Panel report has been gathering dust and Ndigbo have pleaded for the revisitation of the so-called abandoned property in Nigeria and its collateral reparation demand.

“One common denominator is that unknown to a vast majority of Nigerians, Ndigbo were the silent majority supporters of General Muhammadu Buhari, GMB, but a twist of ‘what is wrong with Nigerian’ electoral result cannot prove it.”

Obioha also urged Buhari to ensure the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is ceded to the South-east.

“This body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee, is a baby conceived by Chris Ngige and delivered by Chief Mbazulike Ameachi and handed over to Ndigbo to check excesses of the people who were just agents of a pre-determined agenda.

“Your Excellency, you were aware that the South-east was targeted by the PDP rigging machine which produced an election result that denied the zone of even a single senator and only three non-ranking House of Representatives members.

“Ndigbo request that you adopt the principle of necessity to give the zone the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation which is your prerogative and in addition, a position of one Presiding Officer in the House of Representatives,” he stated.

Obioha said Buhari had assured them that he is going to treat the entire nation as his constituency for all “and we believe him”.

What Buhari Told Ndigbo In Lagos

The president-elect, Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Ndigbo and other non-indigenes residing in Lagos state to overlook the anti-tribal comments of Oba of Lagos, Akiolu Rilwan.

President-elect described Lagos as home for all, adding that the time had come for Nigerians to look past ethnicity in the general interest of peace and unity.

He said, “I admire what your governor has done in terms of mobilizing revenue to sustain Lagos development. I have a lot of respect for Governor Fashola for his hard work, commitment to the state and the country. There is no doubt that Lagos is a mini-Nigeria. We are all here and it has been mentioned by previous speakers that everybody (tribe) is adequately represented in Lagos. So, I assure you. If you vote for the continuity of APC in Lagos, you stand to gain more. It is in your interest that you vote for the APC…”

Read Morenaij

South-East APC Lauds Ohaneze Ndigbo For Refusing To Declare Support For Jonathan

The South-East chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has commended a socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, for avoiding the issue of the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as the Igbo candidate in the 2015 presidential election during its meeting at the weekend.

The group’s President-General, Gary Enwo-Igariwey, had promised last month that it would take a stand on whether or not to support Mr. Jonathan for a second term.

However, at its meeting last Sunday in Awka, Anambra State, the group shelved discussion on the issue.

The APC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu, on Tuesday, said it was excited that despite the intense pressure on it, the Igbo group refused to discuss the matter.

“For this noble act, we salute the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership for abiding by the old African maxim that it is very dangerous to put all our eggs in one basket, a mistake which the late Ambassador Ralph Uwechue Ohaneze regime made in 2011,” the APC said.

The party said it was of the view that Ndigbo should think out of the box, embark on introspection and do soul searching before supporting again same president who, it alleged, had failed to honour the promises he made to the people.

It stated it was glaring that most federal roads in Igbo land were death traps, thus halting economic activities, and the 2nd Niger Bridge may be dead on arrival, as Julius Berger had not been able to source the fund for the execution of the project.