Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has suspended the operations of the state vigilance group, Ebubeagu, in deference to a Federal High Court ruling, which declared the security outfit as illegal.
In its place, Umahi announced the setting up of two new vigilance outfits in the state.
They are Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch and Ebonyi Vigilante Corps.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a federal high court sitting in Abakaliki recently disbanded the Ebubeagu security outfit, ruling that its operations in Ebonyi were illegal.
The state government through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, however, said it would appeal the ruling.
“The Ebubeagu security outfit will not function in the state until the stay of execution is granted and appeal entered.
“This is in obedience to the rule of law; and whether it is good or bad for our people, it is the court’s judgement,” Umahi said.
The governor recalled that a judgement from a court of equal jurisdiction had a month ago, restrained anyone from disbanding the Ebubeagu security outfit.
“This means that I have two judgements on the same subject matter, as such the second one shouldn’t have been entertained due to an earlier decision on it.
“I could have chosen which one to obey if I were not a lover of the judiciary, but has chosen to obey the latter.
“When the stay of execution is granted, Ebubeagu will function again,” the governor said.
He thanked the state House of Assembly for passing into law, two sets of vigilance outfits which processes commenced since 2021.
“These outfits include the Ebonyi neighborhood watch patterned after such in Anambra and the Ebonyi vigilante corps patterned after Amotekun in the south west geo-political zone.
“When Ebubeagu returns, they all should not infringe on the rights of the citizens.
“None of them would be involved in the forthcoming general election and the public must note this,” he said.
Umahi called on political parties in the state to carry out their activities with decorum and not heat up the polity as the election approaches.
NAN reports that the broadcast was preceded by a security meeting between the governor and heads of security agencies in the state.
…calls on them to support APC’s Ngofa for effective representation of the South-East Zone
…Commends President and members of MOSOP in the diaspora for throwing weight behind the APC Candidate
Impressed by his passion for service and inspiring political and diplomatic profile, erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwumeka Eze says the good people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District are surer of a credible, effective and proactive representation in Amb. Oji Ngofa, Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Southeast zone in the February 2023 elections.
In a statement made available to the media in Port Harcourt, the party Chief said a closer examination of Ngofa’s antecedents in public service reveal honesty, competency, transparency and accountability, all of which are very impressive themes common in rare breeds of his standard.
He called on the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party Sen. Bary Barinada Mpigi who is seeking re-election to shelve his re-election bid, collapse his support base for Amb. Ngofa and partner with the former Nigeria Ambassador to Netherlands whose track records as Eleme Council Chairman significantly improved the performance index for local government Chairmen in Rivers State.
Eze said Sen. Mpigi who is hardly seen making an input on the floor of the Senate is too docile to represent a people as informed, enlightened and sophisticated as the Ogonis. He therefore stressed that the National Assembly election slated later in a few days time should be an opportunity for the people to deploy their ballots to correct the mistakes of the past by sending a man who is eminently qualified and adequately prepared for the legislative business in the collective interest of the people of Rivers Southeast.
The Ogonis have suffered underrepresentation at the National Assembly in the hands of the PDP and it is good the people have come to terms with this reality. And with their solemn resolve, Ngofa will offer proper representation, such that it will impact the people, particularly in areas where the attention of the government is required to address their pressing needs.
The party Chief commended the the leadership and members of the apex socio-cultural organization in Ogoni land, the Movement for the Survival Ogoni People – MOSOP (a frontline minority rights advocacy group) in the diaspora for declaring a total support for the Eleme-born diplomat and assuring to work for his emergence as Senator.
Recall that President of MOSOP, Canada Chapter Chief Sampson Ntimnee and his associates and crowd of followers endorsed APC’s Oji Ngofa as the consensus candidate of MOSOP and the entire Ogoni people for the Rivers South-East Senatorial slot.
According to the Chief Sampson Ntimnee, “there could be no better option for Ogonis than sending this great son of ours on this serious mission of representation. Ngofa is an experienced global figure and Rivers South-East needs a vocal person who could deploy the wealth of intellect, administrative, political and global exposures to the work of a Senator and thus serve as a bridge between the highest government of the land and the people he represents.”
Eze emphasized that as Senator, Oji Ngofa will deploy the sense of duty and utmost modesty he adopted while serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands which saw him emerging as Chair of the Organization for the prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Oji also represented Nigeria at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The party Chief called on the good people of Rivers Southeast to leverage the many opportunities Ngofa’s representation at the Red Chambers will offer, by mobilizing their support for him and ensuring he emerges in a landslide on February 25, 2023.
Barely one month after a shocking revelation indicting a police officer attached to Anambra State Police Command, CSP Patrick Agbazue, and others as those masterminding and perpetrating killings, kidnapping and various kinds of crimes in different parts of Anambra State, the chief suspect, CSP Agbazue has been arrested.
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A Twitter user, Eons Intelligence, announced the arrest on Twitter post on Friday, in which he also revealed that the suspect who is a former Officer-in-Charge of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (O/C SARS) was arrested “alongside his squad for allegedly masterminding the killings, kidnappings within Anambra state.”
Another Twitter user, Epiphany The First (@Kirtyprincezam2) had earlier posted the photographs of former governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano; business mogul, Engr. Prince Arthur Eze; CSP Patrick Agbazue; SP Princess Nwode; and SPO Harrison, as the faces of people who know about the deaths and kidnapping happening around Anambra State. The Twitter user also tagged the Nigeria Police Public Relations (@NigeriapolicePR) in the post, while also calling for interrogation of the suspects.
The tweet read, “Dear @NigeriapolicePR, there is a information reaching Nigerians that these faces here know about the deaths and kidnapping happening around Anambra state.
“INTERROGATE CSP Patrick Agbazue, Arthur Eze, SP Princess Nwode, SPO Harrison and former Gov. Willie Obiano.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police has set up a a special investigation panel under the IGP Monitoring and Mentoring Unit, to commence investigations into the allegations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi made this known on Friday in a statement tagged “Anambra Alleged Killings: IGP Sets Up Panel, Orders Discrete Investigation into Allegations”.
The statement reads, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has set up a special investigation panel under the IGP Monitoring and Mentoring Unit to commence investigations into some weighty allegations of unprofessionalism, high-handedness, and extra-judicial killings leveled against its officers serving at the Zone 13 Command, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and the Anambra State Command on social media platforms.
“In light of the serious allegations leveled against the officers – CSP Patrick Agbazue, officer-in-charge of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anambra State Command; SP Nwode Nkeiruka, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and Inspector Harrison Akama attached to the RRS, they reported at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja today Friday 17th February, 2023, on the directives of the IGP for commencement of investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegations for further necessary action, while the panel has been given a period of two weeks to come up with a report of investigations.
“The Force enjoins any member of the public who has had experiences or information on acts of high-handedness, extortion, or extra-judicial killings by the officers in question, to forward same with detailed information via mobile number 08036242591, or by email via pressforabuja@police.gov.ng, igpmufhq@npf-c4i.com to enable the panel achieve a wholistic investigation.
“The Inspector-General of Police has assured that the findings of the investigations will determine the next line of action, even as he promises that the Force will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is done in the case and sanctions meted to any officers found guilty accordingly.”
It would be recalled that a social media user, Ugobuzo, sometime in late January, named accused CSP Patrick Agbazue of being responsible for the various kidnapping operations carried out in different parts of Anambra State and beyond.
Ugobuzo made the revelation in a trending social media content, in which he also named one O/C Legal Obi as Agbazue’s accomplices, with whom he perpetrates some of his operations.
According to him, CSP Agbazue also traded human body parts, some of which he was selling to some top politicians in the state, who were patronizing or contracting him most times when they needed human parts.
He revealed that CSP Agbazue, whom he described as Emeka Offor’s boy, usually works hand-in-hand with O.C. Obi, to kidnap and kill people for politicians.
Going further in the revelation, Ugobuzo challenged the people of Nteje community in Oyi Local Government Area, to hold one Barr. Ngesine, an indigene of the community, responsible and fearlessly ask him some questions about all the abduction and murder of some innocent indigenes of the community some time, by O/C SARS and his accomplices, in the name of security.
“Barr. Ngesine first gave Patrick Agbazue (O/C SARS) the sum of five million naira for that job. He also raised about additional fifteen million naira for him after two or three months, as a completion. And they also gave him land around the Anambra Airport, which he told them to sell. Ask him questions about this, let me see if he will lies. And if he says it is a lie, let him come and swear by the oracle,” Ugobuzo said in the Facebook post.
While noting that CSP Agbazue is the person who gives directives on whom to kidnap, he also linked him to the kidnap of an indigene of Mbosi in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state who lived overseas, and was kidnapped and shot on the leg while he was returning to his hometown; after which a huge sum of money was transferred from his account.
He said Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng were aware of that and can also attest to it. He also alleged that the gang usually pays commission to Police Commissioner and his boys. He also dares anyone who denies the revelation to trace him to his hometown in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, to swear before the oracle.
Ugobuzo also revealed how CSP Agbazue ploted to murder a top Anambra politician, Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe, who is the member represen representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency. He said the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano and his wife were also in the picture of those to be murdered by Agbazue and his gang. He also pledged to make more information available on his social media handle, Ugobuzo, upon request.
However, few days after this shocking revelation, reports trended that Ugobuzo was arrested by the Anambra State Police Command, and that he had confessed to have been paid the sum of N10,000 to “frame up the lies against CSP Agbazue” —a confession many believed he may have been tortured or coerced into making.
Be it as it may, with the recent arrest of CSP Agbazue and the setting of panel to investigate all the allegations, fingers are now crossed to know which is true, as more details are expected to unravel.
Indigenes of Abia state resident in Anambra state, under the aegis of Ohazurume Ndi Abia have described the death of Prof. Uche Ikonne, the former Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as a big blow to the entire Abia citizens both at home and in the diaspora.
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They therefore commiserated with the bereaved family, his friends, well wishers and political associates for his demise at a time his services would be needed most.
Chairman of Ohazurume Ndi Abia in Anambra state, Chief Arunsi Igbani Uka in a condolence message shortly after their crucial meeting in Onitsha, said they least expected Ikonne to have died at this crucial period when Ndi Abia were expecting him to take over the mantle of leadership from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as their next governor.
Uka stated that if Ikonne had not died, he would have won the March 11 Governorship election in Abia state and would have performed creditably as his fellow Professor Charles Soludo is currently performing as Governor of Anambra state.
“We were saddened by his demise because there is an agenda to hand over the governorship of Igbo states to Professors, an agenda which had already taken off in Anambra state with the emergence of Prof. Soludo”.
According to Chief Igbani, “we were awaiting eagerly for Ikonne to take over Abia state from where it would spread to other states in Igbo land but unfortunately, Ikonne’s death has eluded Abia of that privilege of having a Professor as it’s Governor”.
“We are therefore asking the bereaved family to take solace because God knows why Ikonne died this time around when his services would have been needed most”.
“We are also sympathizing with Ngwa people who are brothers to the late Ikonne to bear the loss with fortitude”.
“We Abia indigenes resident in Anambra state are so formidable and law abiding to the extent that the host state government ought to recognize our existence here in the state and we have no doubt that we will be so recognized as good ambassadors of Abia state both now and in future”.
As mixed reactions continue to trail President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of old N1,000 and N500 notes as illegal tenders, former civilian Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife has expressed support to Buhari’s naira redesign policy, so long as it would guarantee free, fair and credible elections in the country.
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He said the only good legacy Buhari can leave for Nigerians after his tenure is ensuring a free, fair, transparent and credible election in 2023 as he promised, adding, “as you can see, this naira redesign policy is geared towards discouraging vote buying and money politics”.
Reacting to the current conflicts between Buhari and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele on one side and Governors El Rufai, Ganduje, Bello and Speaker of House of Reps, Femi Gbajabiamila on the opposite side, Ezeife stated that constitution places financial policy in the exclusive list of the federal government, which empowers Buhari and CBN to decide the fiscal policy of the country.
He contended that the new naira redesign policy in the country is so strategic that it would definitely help to curb vote buying and money politics capable of leading to election rigging and other election malpractices, adding that with a free, fair and credible election, Nigeria would become a place where ethnic and religious sentiments would become a thing of the past and Nigerians, irrespective of religious and ethnic back grounds, would have an equal right.
He therefore urged the suffering masses to absorb the negative effects of the new naira redesign policy and exercise patience till after the election but to come put en mass to vote for a credible candidate that can rescue thus country.
In his own reaction, a fiery cleric, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh expressed displeasure over the declaration by Buhari that the old N1,000 and N500 notes should cease to be legal tenders with immediate effect.
He therefore asked the national assembly to invoke the powers conferred on them by the relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution to impeach President Buhari for starving Nigerians to death in the name of checkmating vote buying through new naira notes swap.
Bishop Udeh who is also the General Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries (aka “By Fire By Fire”), Nnewi, Anambra state, said the Central Bank, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele should be booted out of office and possibly prosecuted for inhuman treatment to Nigerians.
He said it is quite disheartening that Nigerians are roaming the streets in an endless search for new naira notes and both Buhari and Emefiele are busy telling them to have patience and wait for the stability of the new naira notes when the masses are dying of hunger and starvation.
He said more worrisome is the fact that the federal government refused to obey the Supreme Court order to allow the old naira notes coexist with the new notes till February 22 when the Apex court is expected to give a final verdict on the suit filed by three state governors against the federal government as it concerns the new naira notes.
Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, in his own reaction, described Buhari as a weakling president who can no longer be in charge of the helm of affairs in the country.
Datti who spoke at the Palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe on Thursday, during a courtesy call on the monarch, said from the look of things, Buhari’s hands are so tied that some cabals in Aso Rock are dictating for him.
He said this was one of the reasons he decided to visit Obi of Onitsha to explain to him that some of these anti peoples policies would cease to exist once Peter Obi cones on board as the next president of Nigeria.
Coalition of civil society groups and sociopolitical organisations in Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, under the auspices of Nsukka Democratic Movement (NDM), on Thursday unveiled the list of their preferred candidates for the forthcoming presidential and National Assembly elections.
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The coalition announced the endorsement of the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) for President and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial seat.
Other preferred candidates named by the Coalition include Engr. Vita Abba for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives; Hon. Dr. Martins Oke of the PDP for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency; and Hon. Engr. Simon Chukwuemeka of the PDP for Igbe-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.
Speaking at the colourful event at Ugwu Oye area of the ancient city of Nsukka in Nsukka Local Government Area, the National Convener of the umbrella association, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said that the coalition opted to take a decision on who should represent the zone at the federal level with the aim of “taking our destinies in our hands as Ndi Enugu North.”
He said, “It is pertinent to note without mincing words that until recently, the entire Enugu North Senatorial District, popularly known as Nsukka Zone seemed completely abandoned by political leaders at both state and federal levels. Before now, the worst of us have been our representatives at the state and federal levels.
“This must stop as the result is the infrastructural decay and evident bad leadership across Nsukka Zone since the creation of Enugu State nearly 32 years ago until the coming of the peoples Governor who tried his best in cleaning our tears.
“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi may not have done for us all he may have intended to do but there is a difference in Nsukka and the entire Enugu State. Let us also remember that our amiable governor will remain in office until May 29, 2023, and within the next three months, our able Governor can still surprise us in many ways.
“While we continue to ask for more like Oliver Twist, we must ensure that we participate actively in the ongoing campaign and vote for all our preferred candidates as we are here today to make them known. This is in order for all of us to hold them accountable when they are elected to represent us at the federal level.
“We, therefore, enjoin all member-organisations that constitute the Nsukka Democratic Movement as well as the residents of Enugu North to ensure that we come out and massively vote to deliver all the candidates we are adopting today because we shall closely monitor their performance and the quality of their representation throughout their tenure.
“Be assured that it will not be business as usual because it is the civic responsibility of the people to hold their leaders accountable and this will all do.
“We urge every registered voter with Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to ensure that they come out and vote. Gone are the days our votes don’t count.
“Today, with the new Electoral Act 2022, which legalized electronic transmission of results, our vote will count.
“At this juncture, the Nsukka Democratic Movement wishes to inform you all that the choice of candidates for the State governorship and legislative elections will be communicated in due course.
“They will be chosen irrespective of political party affiliation in our drive to ensure that the interests of the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District are taken care of by the next administration”, Chief Ezugwu said.
While unveiling the preferred candidates of the Nsukka Democratic Movement for the forthcoming February 25, 2023, the Coalition congratulated all the candidates in advance, saying that “by the grace of God, we will all celebrate their victory together after the February 25 federal elections.
“Nsukka Democratic Movement and its allied organisation will from today begin Door-To-Door, Clan-To-Clan and Hamlet-To-Hamlet campaigns for all the candidates.”
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in his remarks appreciated the leadership of the Coalition for the confidence in him, itemising his footprints in the Senatorial District since he became the state governor.
He then challenged his opponents in the race to tell the people what they have done for them in the senatorial constituency.
One week to the general elections, Senior Pastor of Dunamis Gospel International Church, (DGIC), Dr Paul Enenche, has called on Nigerians to make the right choices as their contributions to ending the myriad of ills holding the country backward.
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Enenche made this call while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi on arrival for the Healing and Deliverance Crusade themed “Light Has Come.”
He said from the candidates who have presented themselves for elections, it is clear that Nigerians have a choice between corruption and incorruption, light and darkness.
He posited that 2023 election is an opportunity not only to change the situation of this country but also an opportunity to depart from the evils, the wickedness, the darkness that bedeviled the nation for the last seven to eight years.
“2023 election is an opportunity to choose whether we want banditry to continue, kidnapping to continue, whether we want terrorism to continue, underdevelopment to continue, massive corruption to continue, nepotism, clanistic operations, regionalism and all these kind of things to continue or whether we want a complete total departure.
“When we see the candidates that are presented for presidential election, it is very very clear. We are having choices between people that have issues that we know and people that have records that are clean and untainted.
“It is a choice to make and it is very very clear. It is a choice between corruption and incorruption, it is the choice between light and darkness, it is the choice between progress and retrogression, it is a choice between the old order and a new order.”
“If Nigerians choose the old order, the old way of doing things, If we choose expired, retired people who should be resting and bring them back, that means we are ready to continue in their adversity and calamity.
“But if we choose people with proven result, proven credibility, proven integrity, if we choose people with proven track records, with a heart for the people, then we have the opportunity to change things,” he advised.
He urged on all Nigerians to rise up with their PVCs and vote the right candidates for a change in the nation praying that by God’s mercies the change would come.
Responding to questions on miracles at the crusade ground on Thursday even in his absence, Pastor Enenche said “the most important person to be on ground is Jesus Christ. He said where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there. So He was there yesterday and He will be here today, whether I’m here or not. So we expect a continuation of what we already started yesterday.
He expressed confidence that after the crusade, “individual lives will experience light, communities, families will experience light. Communities represented will experience light and the state as a whole will experience the light of the gospel that will dissipate darkness of wickedness, darkness of witchcraft, darkness of underdevelopment and any form darkness that is holding our lives back.”
Kano state government has decried as most unfortunate the discriminatory attitude of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), apparently aimed at crippling the economy of the state by refusing to release new naira notes to commercial banks operating in the state in the last four days.
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The state commissioner for information and internal affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, who made the assertion in a statement issued on Friday, revealed that since Monday, commercial banks in the state get zero allocation from the Apex Bank.
He said the prejudiced approach by the CBN governor, Gowin Emefiele in the implementation of the cashless policy, no matter the intentions, seem to be targeting Kano and its economy, given the daily volume of trade in the North’s commercial nerve centre, by starving commercial banks of the money supposed to be allocated to them.
Malam Garba pointed out that the CBN as an organ of the federal government has, from all indications been reduced to a tool to settle political scores by choosing a wrong time to force a policy on the people that could have been implemented at the appropriate time in the past.
The commissioner noted that the general populace in the state has been subjected to unnecessary hardship by depriving them access to their hard earned money, ostensibly to precipitate civil unrest that could lead to the postponement of the most awaited general elections scheduled for next week.
He, however, said that the people of Kano, who are known for their peace-loving posture even in the face of provocation, have endured the hardship and called on them to not only continue with the spirit, but also come out enmass to exercise their franchise.
Malam Garba also assured that the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje identify with them in this trying period and would do whatever it takes to see to the resolution of the present situation.
The All Progressive Congress (APC), the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) and some other were absent as representatives and candidates of various political parties taking part in the 2023 General Election, signed a peace accord in Anambra State, pledging to ensure a peaceful and violence-free conduct of the election.
Organised by the Anambra State Police Command, and moderated by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the peace accord signing held on Friday at the Command’s Headquarters in Amawbia, with candidates and representatives of five political parties present to sign the pact.
The political parties that have their representatives and/or candidates present during the exercise include the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the
Allied People’s Movement (APM), the Young People’s Party (YPP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Also present during the exercise were the representative of the Anambra State Government, representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the representative of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, as well as other senior officers of the Command.
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Finance, DCP Peter Ozigi explained that peace accord was primarily aimed at binding the political parties and political actors in the state to play by the rule of the game, both before, during and after the election, towards ensuring the peaceful, secured, free, fair, and credible election.
While noting that the Command had had a similar engagements with the political actors and stakeholders in the state sometime in September last year; the CP further reassured the Command’s readiness for the election, as well as its commitment in maintaining and promoting internal peace in the state. He warned that anybody or group that indulges in any act capable of bridging the peace and security of the state will be lawfully dealt with.
“I also wish to sternly warn elements whose perception of democracy is the application of violence, to have a rethink, as Anambra State Police Command, under my watch, is committed to dealing firmly with such characters within the dictates of the law which is in furtherance to the Inspector-General of Police desire to bequeath a legacy of entrenched democratic values to our beloved nation,” he said.
Earlier speaking, the representative of the state government and Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikaodiri Anara highlighted some of the efforts so far made by the state government, the security agencies, and the INEC towards ensuring a hitch-free election general election in the state, even as he called for sustenance and consolidation of those efforts, both before, during and after the election.
He commended the Anambra State Police Command and the INEC for their commitments, while also reassuring that the Soludo-led Anambra State Government will continue to play her own part, as peace and security, remain the topmost priority of his administration. He also urged the residents of the state to come out en masse and cast their votes in peace on the election day, without any fear.
On his own part, the representative of the Resident Electoral Commission in the state and Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring (INEC Anambra), Mr. Emmanuel Isong reassured of the Commission’s preparedness to conduct free, fair, credible, and peaceful election, while also urging the stakeholders and political actors to allow the officials constitutionally discharge their assigned duties without any interference or intimidation.
Contributing, the representative of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and Traditional Ruler of Umueri, Igwe Ben Emeka who commended the state police command for organising the exercise, however expressed dissatisfaction with the low turnout of political actors at the event despite having been duly invited.
While reminding the Anambra politicians that they are brothers and sisters, the monarch who noted that no blood of any indigene is worth shedding in the election, also advised them to abide by the peace accord they signed and to prevail on their supporters to be law abiding and stick to the rules of the game.
In a vote of thanks, the Deputy Director, Operations, Atiku-Okowa Campaign in Anambra State, Hon. Sir Ndubuisi Nwobu appreciated the police for deeming it necessary to organise the peace accord, while also expressing optimism that the exercise will go a long way in making the environment very conducive for INEC to discharge its duties effectively and for people to participate in the election peacefully without any form of violence.
An appeal was also made to the Anambra State Police Command to ensure that those parties and candidates who were absent at the event were also made to sign the peace pact.
Based in Avanti’s new offices in Lagos, Nigeria, Akande will be working closely with Avanti’s teams across the globe. She will be responsible for developing an integrated channel strategy across key sectors including mobility, enterprise, defence and education.
Akande’s new role will be pivotal in accelerating Avanti’s roll out across Africa.
Libby Barr, COO – Customer at Avanti Communications, said:“I am delighted to welcome Jumoke to our growing team of senior executives in Nigeria. Jumoke is a proven leader with over 20 years’ experience in marketing and joins us at an exciting time.
“What stood out about Jumoke was her extensive experience managing teams across markets and launching large-scale campaigns in Africa. We can’t wait to see her strategic insight in action in this newly created role. Her experience will be vital in helping Avanti reach its growth ambitions over the next few years.”
Prior to joining Avanti, Akande was an Associate Director at GICL/IHS Towers where she oversaw their fibre and rural telephony marketing strategy. She has also held senior roles atMainOne, Dell Technologies and consulted for leading MNOs in Africa including MTN Nigeria.
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