Group Hails Anambra NASS Election

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
 Much may not have been heard of the March 28 National Assembly election in Anambra State as Igbo socio-political group, Ndigbo Unity Forum has described the election as free, fair and credible even as lawyers have notified the Senator elect of their readiness to give her free legal services.

 

The President of Ndigbo Unity Forum, Chief Augustine Chukwudum described the election that produced Mrs. Uche Ekwunife as Senator elect for Anambra central senatorial zone as the freest of all elections ever conducted since Nigeria’s return to democracy.

 

He said 'We are not surprised that the election was free, fair and credible especially as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC did well in the conduct of Presidential election which saw Nigeria’s first incumbent President to lose an election, we expected same here in Anambra and it came to pass”

There are too many fake lawyers in Nigeria, CJN

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, ‎CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Wednesday, said he was worried about the rising number of “fake” lawyers in the country.

‎The CJN who stated this during the official launch of “Stamp for Lawyers”, ‎which was produced by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, bemoaned that the prevalence of fake lawyers negatively affects the integrity of the legal profession and casts a shadow of disrepute on the judiciary as an arm of government in the country.

Justice Mahmud Mohammed

He insisted that one of the major challenges facing Judges today, “is how to differentiate between a “real” and “fake” legal practitioner”.

BUHARI TO END FUEL SUBSIDY, RATIONALISE MDAS

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he would end fuel subsidies and the oil and gas sector would be reformed as a matter of priority in order to attract new investments.
Unveiling his economic policies at a Lagos Business School breakfast meeting, he added that he would run a very lean government, which would involve rationalising overlapping and redundant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in line with the Steve Oronsaye presidential committee report.

More 1 of 691 LETTER TO PRIESTS OF AHIARA CATHOLIC DIOCESE

By Ifeanyi Afuba
As the Easter tide ushers us unto a new plane of life, I deem it auspicious to write you at this time on the stalled inauguration of Most Rev Peter Okpaleke as the Bishop of Ahiara Catholic Diocese.  I am directing my contribution on this subject to you rather than the laity of the diocese because I consider the body of priests the principal opponents of the Bishop’s appointment. While some sections of the laity leadership have at one point or the other also expressed strong reservations on the appointment, the fact remains that by virtue of their ministerial office and public esteem, the overwhelming majority of Catholics defer to priests.  Though a misnomer, the local expression, uka fada, stemmed from the perceived considerable power and responsibility of the priesthood. Bearing this in mind, it would be unhelpful to the resolution of the Ahiara bishopric question to continue to give the impression that the ‘activist’ priests involved in the matter are only giving vent to the resolution of the laity. You, our beloved priests, are central to restoration of the Church’s truncated mission in Ahiara Diocese. 

KAYMU MD EVANGELINE WILES TO SPEAK AT MOBILE WEST AFRICA

As part of activities to mark the 5^th edition of the most progressive and interactive mobile focused event in Sub-Saharan Africa, Mobile West Africa Conference, the MD of Kaymu Nigeria, Evangeline Wiles will join other panellist to discuss the future of the mobile industry in Africa on the 22^nd of April,2015.

I’M NOT SEEKING ASYLUM ANYWHERE, SAYS DIEZANI

Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said Tuesday night, she was not seeking asylum in any part of the world, as claimed by her traducers.
Madueke, who spoke through the Group Public Affairs General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, denied ever contemplating relocating from Nigeria.
An online publication reported Tuesday that the minister had been denied asylum by six countries where she had so far applied but did not mention the countries involved.
Earlier this evening Sahara Reporters published a blockbuster report they got from Business Council for Africa (BCA) claiming that Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been denied asylum by six countries where she had so far applied. The report claims she's looking for a country to run to before Gen. Buhari takes over as president because she's scared she might be probed or jailed.
SEE SAHARA REPORTERS REPORT BELOW:
No fewer than six countries have already refused to grant an asylum request by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Business Council for Africa (BCA) said in its just-released monthly report, noting that about US$ 1 trillion is the latest estimated figure of the looting of the Nigerian treasury between 1960 and 2005 alone.
The report, dated March 2015, focused extensively on Nigeria’s general elections. It said the notorious Minister, whose impunity is known to have been closely-protected by President Goodluck Jonathan, will be coming under the microscope for the first time in her Ministerial career.
“Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that 6 countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible opportunity,” it said.
BCA recalled President-elect Muhammadu Buhari lamenting that the rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption, one where stealing is not corruption but a way of life, and that his administration will pursue all public offices and individuals who are believed to be guilty of corruption.
It observed that despite an earlier promise, it is now understood that Buhari’s anti-corruption fishing net will include Ministers currently serving under President Goodluck Jonathan. Alison-Madueke’s departure from Nigeria is likely to be followed by several other PDP elders, party members and supporters as well as some former Government officials, as Buhari's anti-corruption drive will be far-reaching.
“It will be very interesting to learn in the coming months exactly how far back in Nigeria's history his administration will go in the pursuance of those who have robbed Nigeria of US$ 1 trillion, which is the latest estimated figure of theft from the Nigerian treasury between the period 1960-2005. Given that President Jonathan's administration is considered the most corrupt of any of its predecessors, that figure is going to be considerably magnified, but whether the new President will wish to pursue former Heads of State is a matter of interest and considerable debate to Nigerian observers. It is this subject that is primarily responsible for Buhari's success in winning the election as well as his campaign promises to eradicate Boko Haram, revive the economy and rebuild Nigeria to make its position as the number one country in Africa.
While BCA agreed that the March/April 2015 were “the most credible elections in Nigeria's history”, it said they could not be called the most incorruptible.
On the contrary, it referred to them as the worst because of the amount of money that the PDP so freely and openly spent on trying to secure the re-election of Mr. Jonathan.
“The stories and reports from throughout the 36 States of the amount of money distributed by the PDP to elders, rulers, church leaders, unions and youth leaders amongst others in an endeavour to favour the voters towards the PDP has backfired badly,” the report said.
BCA said that if the 2011 elections were considered bad, the 2015 elections will undoubtedly go down as the most corrupt in Nigeria's history, certainly since 1999, as the amount of money being distributed as bribes primarily by the PDP so very openly would readily confirm.
It reported that since November when campaigning began, President Jonathan and General Buhari during their travels made no fewer than 109 promises of what they intend to achieve if given the mandate in the presidential election.

KIDNAPPED LAGOS KIDS RESCUED - POLICE

Police detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos Command have rescued the three kids were kidnapped by their nanny from their Lawanson Road, Lagos residence.
The kids were said to have been found on Tuesday evening by the police team in an abandoned building at Akowonjo area of Lagos.
They were reportedly abandoned by their abductors for fear of being arrested by the police team who had been on their trail since last Wednesday when the abduction happened.
It could not be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report if any ransom was paid to secure their release by the parents of the kids.

Waiting for Governor Dave Umahi

From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

INDEED, a revolution is coming, a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough but a revolution is coming whether we will accept it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability. The revolution is here now and it's politically inclined. It is a silent one that is devoid of all alternatives.

The deep rottenness of Ebonyi political system threatens all the economic gains this giant state has made.  In its position as the food basket of the nation or the salt of the nation as the case maybe and of course one of the most populous states in Nigeria also ranks high among the states in terms of both human and natural resources, which, if put to maximum use and well harnessed and processed, Ebonyi state would have by now, asserted its rightful position among the super states in Nigeria.

Ebonyi state problems are indeed complex and multifaceted and that constitute the major stumbling block on the path of the state progress in many ways and sectors of development. As a result of these cumulative problems over the years, the state has become very difficult to rule or control, as many people have for long indulged in un patriotic habits, on which they are addicted as their ways of earning a living, at the expense of million others.

Photos:Four smugglers excrete 171 wraps of coacine in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended four suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Brazil.

It was learnt that the suspects ─ Ejiofor Eliezer (46), Obah Francis (30), Akpa Sobuzochukwu (27) and 36-year-old Ike Okechukwu ─ excreted 171 wraps of drug that tested positive for cocaine.

Punch Metro gathered that the discovery was made during the screening of passengers on board Qatar and Emirates airlines.
Eliezer, who excreted 100 wraps of the drug, told investigators that poverty pushed him to commit the crime, adding that he had intended to use the expected proceed to fend for his family of four.

Ndigbo will Support Buharis' Government----Madubueze

The All Progressive Grand Alliance House of Representatives elect for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, Honourable Peter-Obi Obiano Madubueze in an interview with Ashiwaju Media on the just concluded National Assembly election and prospect for Ndigbo in Nigeria Politics.

How would you described your victory at the just concluded National Assembly election where PDP dominated the Assembly seats, having only you and one other APGA candidate in the election?  

I owe my victory to the executive governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano he is everything that happen to me and I give God the Glory for that.

How would you describe the turnout of voters during the election?