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Iheanyi Chukwudi Determined to sanitize Enugu State, the new Government under Gov. Peter Mbah has ban with immediate effect, all illegal mining activities in the state. Announcing the ban in a statement on Thursday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, warned that there will be dire consequences for any illegal miner that flouts government's directive. His statement reads in part, “Following the directive by His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, on the report of the discovery of mineral resources in some commu8nities in Enugu State; and the illegal mining of such mineral resources in those communities without the authorization/consent of the State Government, I hereby direct that all illegal mining activities in Enugu State should stop with immediate effect." The SSG said that Government observed that it was in the "overriding interest of the public to protect the people from any hazard or pollution, and also maintain equal rights of benefits accruable from any mineral resources to the people of the state."

Mbah roars, outlaws sit-at-home, begs Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu Iheanyi Chukwudi Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, on Thursday declared an end to Monday sit-at-home in the state effective from Monday, June 5, 2023. This was as he called on President Bola Tinubu to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to quicken the "much-needed healing process in Nigeria.' Mbah said that sit-at-home orders were restricting creativity, entrepreneurship, and productivity in the state. The Governor, however, said that the state government was ready “to engage in dialogue with people, who have genuine grievances towards bringing lasting peace and security to Enugu State." Mbah who made these declarations while disclosing the decisions reached at the end of his first security council meeting with the heads of all the security agencies in the state at the Government House, Enugu, on Thursday, noted that he had hit the ground running on the day of his inauguration by signing three Executive Orders for the good governance of the state, including Executive Order 002 for the removal of “Unauthorised Street Barriers Across the State Within 100 Days." At the meeting, which his Deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, was in attendance, Mbah said, “There is no time to waste. The clock has started ticking on the mandate you gave me and deliverables I promised. “A time comes in the lives of a people when they must decide whether they genuinely want to move forward or remain stuck with the conditions of their underdevelopment. “The creativity and sense of industry of Ndi Igbo are remarkable. Our DNA is wired with commercial and entrepreneurial prowess. “If this is what we are known by, then it becomes inconsistent with reality that the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity are killed every Monday in our land. Our restless spirit of industry abhors laxity and indolence. “The idea behind sitting at home on Monday, the first working and business day of the week, is abominable and antithetical to greatness and the spirit of industry we profess to have inherited from our forebears. This cannot be us. Tufiakwa (God forbid). It does colossal damage to us." Reminding the people of the direct connection between the lofty promises he made to them and the vibrancy of commerce in the state, the Governor said, “For us to transit from a public service economy to a private sector-driven one, we must free our markets from the shackles of restriction to commerce. If indeed we aspire and anticipate an influx of private sector practitioners and investors in Enugu State, we must know that this will not happen where the perception of us is that of unproductive people. “Therefore, those that strike on Mondays, putting restrictions in the way of our Igbo spirit of creativity, cannot be our true representatives. In fact, they kill our spirit. “We know that our land is a fertile ground for commerce. However, businesses, entrepreneurship and commerce require a vibrant workforce and big markets where they can flourish and make money. “To this end, therefore, from Monday June 5, 2023, there will be no observance of any sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State. Government will enforce this with all the powers at its disposal. “My charge to all of you – market men and women, the corporate world, industries, schools, civil servants, and all strata of workers in Enugu State is for us to take back our sense of industry, pride of place and re-enact our glorious past. “By heeding this call, you would have set us on the path of actualising our mandate." He stressed that the release of Kanu was important to the healing of the country, saying, “I call on our newly sworn in president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to consciously work towards the release of MazI Nnamdi Kanu. We believe that his release will expedite the healing process Nigeria needs at this time. “It will also be a pointer to his administration’s extension of brotherly hands of fellowship to Ndigbo."

Iheanyi Chukwudi A Federal Government team led by the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, is currently meeting with leaders of the organised labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Others in the government team are the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; the Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar and former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), who was one time president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole On their part, the organised labour is led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero and his counterpart of Trade Union Congress (TUC), c?Festus Osifo. The meeting which was necessitated by NNPCL announcement of approved upward review in the pump price of petroleum nationwide, is taking place at the Conference Hall of the Chief of Staff to the President. NNPCL said in it's statement that the approval takes effect from today, Wednesday, May 31. It could be recalled that the new President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in his inaugural speech on May 29, announced the removal of fuel subsidy saying that, "Subsidy is gone." That announcement led to astronomical increase in the petroleum pump price and fuel scarcity. The organized labour has kicked against it warning President Tinubu not to dare them . Also Nigerians have been speaking against the development blaming the president for such unplanned action.

Iheanyi Chukwudi Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command on Tuesday arrested no fewer than 30 Pro-Biafra agitators during their procession for Biafran Day commemoration in Enugu state. Also on Tuesday, the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to commemorate Biafra Day, celebrated every May 30, across the old Eastern region, paralyzed economic and social activities in the state, as residents gave maximum compliance. The arrested Pro-Biafra agitators are members of Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra, and were arrested at Okpara Square, Enugu around 11am. A source disclosed that the pro-Biafra agitators were in the process of carrying out a march past at the Square parade ground with their Leader, Mazi Benjamin Onwuka Kalu ready to take salute, before the Police swooped on them, and hurled them into their waiting five Police Hilux vans that allegedly took them to State Police headquarters, Enugu. “It was when they started matching that about five Hilux vans loaded with policemen came and arrested them. I must tell you that they were not bearing any arms or dangerous weapons,” the source said. They allegedly had with them, Biafra Zionists insignia, stickers, flags of Biafra, Israel and USA. The State Police image maker, Daniel Ndukwe (DSP) said he was yet to get the information on the matter and promised to get back to newsmen, when he was contacted.

Iheanyi Chukwudi The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) has asked Nigerian new President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to release the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the nation’s security custody. MASSOB Leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu who made the demand on Tuesday in his speech to commemorate the 56th Anniversary of Biafra Declaration, stated that releasing Kanu was the right thing for Tinubu to do. “MASSOB demand the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB from the new president Bola Tinubu of Nigeria who once declared that he does not believe in Nigeria,” he said. His address reads in parts, “The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the people of Biafra today observe the 56th year anniversary of Biafra declaration by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the then President of the Republic of Biafra. “Today, we remembered, celebrated and commemorated the sacrifices our gallant soldiers of Biafra made for our freedom. “MASSOB remembered the pains, anguish, hunger, subjection, hunger, and supreme prices our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters paid for Biafra freedom. We shall continue to remember them because their sufferings always provoke and revive our unshakeable and undeterred zeal and commitment for the self determination of Biafra. The new self determination struggle and restoration of Biafra anchored by MASSOB and others is grounded on the principal of non violence . “Today, all over the world, MASSOB members are on sober reflection, as we remember the brutalities, persecutions, traumatic torture, extra judicial killings, afflictions, imprisonment and traumatic deaths in the hands of the security agents of Nigeria. “We resolved that we shall never relent or succumb to Internal colonialism. They will never weaken our love, commitment and consistency in MASSOB. We know and understand that freedom can never be achieved on a platter of gold, Persecutions and political subjection always strengthen the zeal of genuine freedom fighters. The more the freedom fighters are politically incarcerated, the more they are hardened, the more the followership becomes uncontrollable. “MASSOB expresses our gratitude to the people of Biafra for their eloquent observation of today's Biafra day anniversary celebration.”

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Peter Mbah Takes Charge in Enugu State ·        Promises transparency, accountability and fund traceability Anyanwu Chukwudi Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has taken over the reins of governance in Enugu State with a promise that his administration will be based on transparency, accountability and fund traceability. Dr. Mbah who was sworn-in at about 12.53pm on Monday at Okpara Square, Enugu by the Chief Justice of the state, Hon. Justice Raymond Ozoemena, asked the people of Enugu to trust him, vowing not to let them down. The new Governor who laid so much emphasis on the youths of the state and his plans for them noted that haven passed through what majority of them are going through now and succeeded, he was in a better position to give them a brighter future. Mbah said in his inaugural address, “I am an Enugu boy whose creative energy saw him through all his existential life battles and brought him to where he is today. Like Ikechukwu, while growing up, I struggled against the tides of adversities that made the future look bleak. Failures and frustrations dogged my way. I worked as a shop attendant at Alaba Market in Lagos, struggling to stave off all kinds of negative manifestations of an inclement environment. Like a determined swimmer, I swam against the tides of these adversities to embark on my scholarly journey. “In 2008 when we began operations at Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, I came into that industry as a backbencher. The DNA of exploits and creativity that is innate in every nwa Enugu was my driving force. It pushed me to go beyond the limits of expectations in the industry. A few days ago, I resigned as the CEO of Pinnacle. By the time I was leaving, Pinnacle Oil and Gas had conquered all odds, displacing the incumbent in the petroleum industry within a short time. We succeeded in driving the upstart of yesterday into reaching the Pinnacle of the downstream oil sector. “The youths of Enugu State will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tomorrow that is now here today. We want to expose our youths to the skills required to grasp the emerging future and create opportunities for the genius in them to flourish. We also want to invoke and instill in them the can-do spirit that is innate in the Igbo man. Enugu will rubbish Japa, not by legislation but by creatively addressing the challenges to the future of our youths. “We will equip our youths with e-commerce, fintech and cyber-security skills, such that they will become globally interconnected, and can indeed ‘Japa’ all over the world by providing services online through their e-commerce skills. They will be champions of the globe without necessarily having to leave Enugu. “I am standing before you today pregnant with ideas on how to rescue our youths and indeed the whole of Enugu State from the threats against our existence. You can trust me. I will be operating from the vantage of transcendental values and not narrow interests. That is what we are driven by. I will not let you down. We believe that the only purpose of leadership is to bring the best out of every one of us. You are why all these are possible.” Mbah however, warned that his administration will be business unusual, adding that he will be operating from the vantage of transcendental values and not narrow interests. He lauded his predecessor, former Governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his leadership qualities and for making the day a reality just as he commended the people of the state for voting for him. According to him, “Tough decisions will be taken. Those decisions will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general. You will constitute the driving force of every action we take as your representatives.” He further said that, “We will serve you with every fiber of our being and devote all our energy and your resources to working for you and your interests. Our driving force and governance philosophy will be always based on transcendent

Heavy thunderstorms on Sunday night struct down the unipolar billboard announcing the count down to the inauguration of the new administration in Enugu state of Nigeria. The billboard is located at the first bus stop in Chime Avenue by Bisalla Road junction and very visible to those proceeding on Bisalla Road on the way to the venue of the inauguration of the Governor of the state. The billboard shared the site of its location with fruit vendors who disappeared from the site on account of the thunderstorms minutes before the collapse of the gigantic structure. Witnesses at the site of the collapsed structure expressed gratitude to God that no one was injured at the time of the collapse of the billboard. Reports from our roving reporter