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By Iheanyi Chukwudi Former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has been elected the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. The election which took place on Thursday at the 12th NEC meeting of the APC held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja also saw the former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, from Osun State elected as the National Secretary. Present at the NEC meeting included President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, chieftains of the party in the National Assembly and the first National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande. Ganduje who addressed party leaders after his election, thanked President Bola Tinubu and promised that his tenure will ensure internal democracy. He also pledged to ensure a scientific register of party members and pay utmost attention to election management and conflict resolution. The ex-Governor promised that there will be level playing field for all party members during party primaries, just as he pledged to hit the ground running to ensure victory for the APC in all forthcoming governorship elections across the country. Also addressing the 12th NEC of the party, President Tinubu said the APC has won the elections and it is now time to deliver the promises of good governance to the Nigerian people. He insisted that the 2023 general elections was the best in Nigeria’s election history. The immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were absent from the meeting. The NEC meeting followed Wednesday’s session of the APC national caucus. Recall that two members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore resigned Mid-July, as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

By Madu Obi THE Owerri Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has cried out over the suspension of officials of the union in the Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Owerri, Imo State, by the management of the university. The Owerri zone of ASUU is made up of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Imo State University, Owerri; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. At a news briefing in Awka on Thursday, ASUU said its attention was drawn to the consistent and concerted efforts of FUTO administration to ridicule the leadership of ASUU FUTO and cause disaffection in the branch. Coordinator of ASUU Owerri zone, Professor Dennis Aribodor accused the institution's management of replacing the suspended officials with its cronies in acting capacities. "The leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone hereby informs the general public that the legitimate leadership of ASUU FUTO is the executive committee led by Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika. "Any other group that claims leadership of the union at FUTO is but a group of impostors as they are not known to the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union", he said. Aribodor questioned the rationale behind the directive that a chairman or an executive member of a staff union in the university returning to his residence in Owerri (a trip outside the University) should seek for approval to return home. He added: "ASUU Owerri Zone also hopes that the FUTO administration understands that the staff of FUTO are accountable to the university only between the hours of 8 am – 4 pm on working days only. The blanket directive can only come from minds that are obviously warped. "There is also a letter from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, giving all staff unions two weeks to submit the duly signed membership forms of members authorizing deduction of check off dues and any other monies from their salaries. This is in violation of the extant provisions of the Trade Union Act and the Constitution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in an attempt to stifle the Staff Unions in FUTO". On the purported resignation of the Vice Chancellor as a member of ASUU, Aribodor said she ought to have known that labour laws do not permit an employer to belong to a union of employees in the first place. "As Vice Chancellor of FUTO, she is not a member of the ASUU. If she desires to resign her membership of the union, she should resign in her individual capacity following the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities as stipulated in Article 3 Section (vii). "The forgoing is the unfortunate rationale for the onslaught on the leadership of ASUU FUTO. The Vice Chancellor should be told that the honourable thing to do in the light of the revelations is not to resign from ASUU, but to resign from her office as Vice Chancellor. "As we speak, the secretariat of ASUU FUTO is still under lock and key in spite of the appeals made to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna N. Oti, by the leadership of ASUU Owerri Zone and a group of professors in FUTO. "The university is where we seek the truth, find the truth, teach the truth, defend the truth and preserve the truth no matter whose ox is gored", the ASUU zonal coordinator said.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders have confirmed the suspension of the Congress' ongoing mass protest and strike over anti-poor and anti-people policies of government. The suspension allegedly followed the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate. The resolution to suspend the protest and strike was taken at the National Executive Council meeting of the Congress. Disclosing this in a terse message Thursday morning, the National Treasurer, Hakeem Ambali, said, “Protest suspended due to the Senate intervention and meeting with President Tinubu yesternight.” The NLC mass protest which commenced across the country on Wednesday, prompted an emergency meeting between the President and the labour leaders.

By Madu Obi Members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), have asked President Bola Tinubu not to forget them in the ongoing appointments, saying they are even prepared to work as sweepers in Aso Rock, the seat of federal government. The Southeast zonal leader of MACBAN, Allhaji Gidado Siddikki said the call became necessary because cattle breeders across the country prayed and voted for the president during the February 25 presidential election. Siddikki said: "We are demanding for appointments from Tinubu's government. Even if it is as office sweepers, we are okay with it. All we want is for us to be part of the government at the centre. "During the election, to my knowledge, my people voted for President Tinubu because his predecessor, President Mohammadu Buhari, told my people to vote for him and they all did so. "We prayed, supported, endorsed and did everything politically possible to ensure his victory. So he should not abandoned us. "In the appointments the President has made so far, no Miyetti Allah member is among, including the recent Senate screen Ministerial nominees. "In addition to the N8,000 proposed palliative and other benefits of the government, he should appoint us too, even as sweepers at the Presidential Villa." While commending the South East governors for their continued support for the association in the region, Siddikki appealed to governments at all level to also fund the livestock sector, arguing that it might go into extinction if not properly funded.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state has suspended the operations of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA). The suspension which took effect from Wednesday, August 2, was contained in a public service announcement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia. He said the suspension is necessitated by the need to carry out detailed review of the activities of the Authority, its processes, and transparency of its operations. Government also directed third parties that collect Motor Park, Keke Park, Truck Park fees on behalf of ECTDA, to submit their relevant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to the Office of the SSG on or before August 9. The statement reads in parts, "During this period of review, only operations directly authorized by His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State will be treated, to ensure the State attends to the needs of the public that cannot wait for the completion of the exercise. "All third parties and individuals who currently collect any form of Motor Park, Keke Park, Truck Park fees on behalf of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority are to submit their relevant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government on or before 9th of August 2023. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of such MOU’s." While urging the public to be guided accordingly, government assured them that the exercise "will be concluded as soon as possible, and recommencement of operations will be duly communicated."

By Madu Obi THE kidnapped Anambra State-based native doctor, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, a.k.a “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki”, who recently regained his freedom after six days in the kidnapper's den, is set to convert to Christianity. Nwangwu was abducted in his hotel at Oba, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State after killing two of his aides. He was released after N350 million was allegedly paid as ransom. Nwangwu was not known to have associated with Christianity before now, which was why it was surprising that he is planning a thanksgiving in the church on Sunday to mark his release by kidnappers. The social media is already awash with the planned thanksgiving. One of the commentators said: "The native doctor is going to church for thanksgiving for being released . In all, our God is the ultimate." Another commentator said: "I post this to show those who worship idols that God is still number one. "Akwa is set for thanksgiving at Oba Anglican Church next Sunday being 6th of August. As his fans, please be there to thank and praise God for his release". Recounting his experience in the hands of the abductors, Nwangwu said: “They killed up to 20 people before me. They just came to kidnap and their targets were people who have money. They wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from my hotel that day, but instead of allowing them to do that, I decided to follow them.” Recalling what happened before his abduction, Nwangwu further said: “What happened was that I was at home that day, at around 11:30pm, when someone called me and said they were in my hotel, and that they were spending money and had spent close to N300,000 and they wanted me to be around. “I obliged them and drove to the hotel. Not up to 30 minutes, gunshots rented the air. People started running helter-skelter. I went out to see what was happening and the people started shooting at me, but you know... “They killed two of my security men. I don’t want to reveal much now, but I know that two things can only save a man. If your charms don’t save you, your money will save you. Anyone who has charms should have money. The people took me into their car and drove off.”

By Iheanyi Chukwudi The Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives, is meeting now at the Chief of Staff Conference Hall, Aso Rock, Abuja. The Committee is comprised of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and government representatives When the meeting held last week Friday, the organized labour stormed out of the meeting fuming that there was no top government officials to negotiate with them and accused government of not being serious with issues at hand. That meeting was meant for the Committee to take briefings from three subcommittees of Mass Transit, the CNG and Cash Transfer, which the government had proposed to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. The NLC President, Joe Ajaero; his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo; the General Secretary of NLC, Emma Ugbaja; the TUC Secretary, Nuhu Toro and other members of the organized labour are present at the meeting. Details later

By Madu Obi The Anambra State government has said that it would soon establish Local Government Road Maintenance Agency to ensure all year -round motorable roads in all the communities in the state. The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Hon. Collins Nwabunwanne said in Awka that the agency would be funded through the state / local government joint arrangement that ensures judicial expenditure of the allocation to the third - tier of government. He said that with the mandate of the governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo who has spelt out the right direction for the state, the success of the local governments determines the success of the state. Nwabunwanne said: "If the local governments don't work, then the state government automatically collapses. One of the major challenges in the state was that the local government system was in disarray when we came on board. "Workers were not going to their offices and with the new system of payment of salaries through the electronic banking, people were getting salaries without working. In fact, some of the workers only went to their offices towards the end of the month to confirm that their names were still on the payroll. "When we investigated, we found out that the reason people were not going to work was because there were no basic working tools. We discovered that most offices either did not have chairs, or the available ones had broken down; there was no electricity, no computers and termites were growing in many offices because people no longer entered them. "Some of the local government chairmen were living in hotels outside their areas and we wondered how any meaningful development could take place under such a situation. "However, during our visit to the councils, the workers assured us that they were ready to work if the working tolls were provided and that is why we have decided to put their offices in good shape. "We also discovered that majority of local government workers belong to the junior cadre who have not been exposed to any training. Today, the story has changed as we have trained about 2000 of them and by the time this administration celebrates second year in office, we would have trained additional 3000 workers, while others will be exposed to seminars that would help to enhance their promotion." The Commissioner also explained that most of the community leaderships have been democratized, recalling that at the time the present administration came on board, over 80% of the communities were run through caretaker committees. According to him, the caretaker committees became a norm as a result of the influence of some powerful men in the various communities, who believe they must decide who became what in their areas. "We have put machinery in place to conduct election in all the communities and already, over 100 communities have elected their Presidents General and with that, development has commenced in those communities. "We will not impose anybody on them, but we will encourage them to evolve smooth means of electing their leaders, he said.

By Madu Obi The Ogbaru Division of the Anambra State Police command has smashed a notorious armed robbery gang that has been tormenting members of the public in Okpoko, Obosi, Atani, Oba and environs for several months. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga said the feat was achieved in collaboration with the community vigilante groups in the area. According to him, the leader of the gang, whose name was given as Jekwu, was earlier arrested on 11th July, 2023. He added that during interrogation, Jekwu provided clues that were followed up and surveillance mounted on other members of the gang, which culminated in the arrest of another member as he attempted to evacuate the gang's arms from Jekwu's hideout. Ikenga said one pump action semi-automatic gun and two locally made pistols were recovered, while the second gang member was also taken into custody. He added that further interrogation led to the recovery of five stolen tricycles from the gang, with registration numbers NSH 156 VU, NNE 622 UW, NSH 203 VU, UKP 349 UV and UML 359 WV. Ikenga said the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, while commending various vigilante groups who partner with the police to provide quality security for people of Anambra State, called on owners of the recovered tricycles to come forward with proof of ownership to collect them.

By Madu Obi The abducted Anambra native doctor and social media influencer, Chidozie Nwangwu, aka Akwa okuko tiwara aki, has regained his freedom after six days in the kidnapper's den. It was gathered that the popular native doctor, considered one of the richest men in his Oba community in Idemili South local government area, was released on Saturday morning. An indigene of the town who confirmed the release said: "Akwa okuko was released very early this morning and he is still celebrating with his friends and well wishers in his house in Oba. “His friends rallied round and raised the money for the abductors."He said the kidnappers demanded N300million ransom before he could be released and later demanded additional N50 million, which was also delivered to them, before he was released. The Anambra State Police command has also confirmed the release of the native doctor. Police PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said: “Yes, he was released this morning. We are waiting to debrief him with a view to getting his experience and clue of who the abductors were, so that we can go after them.” Meanwhile, the native doctor said he followed them to avert further bloodshed after the kidnappers had earlier killed his two aides. Entertaining those who came to celebrate with him, Nwangwu attributed his abduction to unnecessary envy by those who were not happy about his success in life. Recall that Akwa okuko tiwara aki was kidnapped in one of his hotels in Oba on Sunday. Two of his personal aides were killed before the abductors went to him and kidnapped him without any resistance.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday officially declared an end to all sit-at-home, including the Mondays and any other proposed with the aim to force the Nigerian government to release him. The IPOB leader communicated the declaration in handwritten statement handed to his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, authorizing him to read out same to newsmen at a world press conference held Friday evening in Enugu. Kanu in his statement made it unequivocally that anyone henceforth engaging in sit-at-home in the South East was no longer his disciple and should not claim membership of IPOB. Sit-at-home order was given in 2021 following Kanu's arrest and rendition to Nigeria by security agencies of Nigeria in collaboration with their Kenyan counterparts and detained at the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS). Though IPOB had cancelled the order, Simon Ekpa-led faction insisted on it and even declared sit-at-home on other days of their choice, visiting the people with violence as they enforce it. In the handwritten declaration dated July 24, 2023, read by his special counsel, Ejimakor, Kanu frowned at the refusal of Simon Ekpa, the Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), to announce the cancellation and further declaration through his media platforms. He therefore, warned Ekpa to desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth and to make a public announcement to the effect that he (Mazi Simon Ekpa) is in receipt of a direct order from him (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment.” Ejimakor’s full address reads: “This Public Announcement bears (as shall be reproduced below) the unedited, verbatim instructions containing a Direct Order personally issued by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his own handwriting on 24th July, 2023 through me to Mazi Simon Ekpa, instructing him to ‘desist from calling for any sit-at-home henceforth’ and ‘to make a public announcement to the effect that he (Mazi Simon Ekpa) is in receipt of a direct order from him (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) to cancel any pending sit-at-home in place at the moment;’ and also that he (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) has, by the same order, ‘authorized me to issue a press statement if he (Mazi Simon Ekpa) fails to make this announcement on his platform.’ “For avoidance of doubt, this Direct Order was personally handed to me by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu when I visited him on the said 24th July, 2023 at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS), Abuja. Later that day, I tried to contact Mazi Simon Ekpa via his WhatsApp number but could not reach him until 1:44am the following day (25th July, 2023), whereupon I snapped the Direct Order as written and sent to him. He thereafter acknowledged receipt and we spoke briefly on it and exchanged a couple of text messages thereof. “Since that early 25th July, 2023 (when I conveyed the Order to Mazi Ekpa and he duly acknowledged it, he has not implemented the Order or otherwise made such announcement on his media platform. Nonetheless, I made a conscious decision to give him the benefit of doubt and thereby accord him more time to do the needful. “Then, late yesterday, further written Instructions was issued by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to me, referring to the extant Direct Order to Mazi Ekpa and, in addition, instructing me that given that Mazi Ekpa has not carried out the Order, I must, as of today, being 28th July 2023, proceed to make the Order public through a Public Announcement/ Press Statement. In the said further Instructions, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu added more pertinent details and instructed that I must equally make them public. “Accordingly, and as of Counsel, bound by duty and the solemn oath of my noble profession to faithfully and zealously implement my Client’s clear Instructions without any fear or favor, I now therefore reproduce ver

By Madu Obi AN accused person in the case of alleged defrauding of an orphan, Miss Victoria Mbachu of her inherited N10 million property in Nnobi, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, Mr. Olufemi Salako, said on Friday that the person accused with him, Chief Chijioke Okaa, who is a native doctor, gave him N10000 at the Correctional Center in Onitsha to testify in his favour at the court. Speaking while standing in the dock at the Chief Magistrate Court, Nnobi when the matter came up, Salako also told the court that Okaa has been threatening him since July 16 when the matter last came up and he was remanded in prison custody. “After the last sitting on July 16, I was granted bail by this court and as soon as the court rose, three persons including Okaa came to me that they were trying to perfect my bail condition." “They said that I should handover my phone to them, but I refused. And as if that was not enough, Okaa started threatening me." “Later, he visited me in the prison custody and gave me N10, 000, telling me to support him”, Salako said. Earlier, the complainant, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna told the court how the native doctor destroyed his N10 million property which he bought from Miss Mbachu. Ezekwenna, who is based in New York City, USA, who opened his testimony in the criminal charge brought against Okaa and the Beninese bricklayer, Salako, at the Chief Magistrate Court presided by His Worship, Kenneth Nwoye, narrated how he paid Mbachu N10 million for her property. He said that after paying for the property, he deployed building materials including, iron rods, blocks and other materials for full construction after erecting the fence, adding that all the materials he assembled were either damaged or missing. He said: "It was when work began at the site that Okaa emerged with others, demolished the fence and destroyed building materials I kept there and it was this situation that prompted me to report the matter to police." “Regrettably, while policemen in Lagos were investigating the matter, a team of Police arrived from Force Headquarters, Abuja and arrested me on the allegation that Okaa had petitioned the Inspector General of Police”, he said. Ezekwenna added that after investigation of Okaa’s petition, the police decided to charge him, (Okaa) for false information. Ezekwenna, who tendered documents showing agreement with Mbachu and evidence of N10 million payment, regretted that Okaa refused all overtures made to him to settle the matter out of court. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Kenneth Nwoye adjourned the matter to August 4 for continuation of hearing. He also ordered that Salako should remain in prison custody until the matter was concluded. It will be recalled that the prosecutor had accused Okaa and Salako of sometime within the months of July 2020 and October, 2021 at Nnobi, did attempt to commit felony by inducing Miss Nzube Mbachu to change her property title document in favour of Okaa. They were also accused of promising to build a house for Mbachu which they never did, prompting her to sell the property to Ezekwenna.