Power Minister to probe 248 abandoned containers of power equipment

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has promised to probe the reasons for the abandoning of 248 containers of power equipment spread across various ports in the country.The abandoned power facilities were meant to stabilize power supply .

Nebo who spoke at Apapa in Lagos yesterday during the inspection of the abandoned equipment said the probe becomes imperative following the number of years the equipment have stayed at the ports and the quantum of equipment in the containers which have led to abandonment of several projects since 2003.

According to him, “we will investigate what led to the abandonment of 248 containers and ensure that no such things ever occur again in the sector. The impact of these equipment can only be imagined when the projects are revitalized. All of these containers will be removed from where they were held and move to site.”

He applauded the leadership of Nigerian Customs Service for graciously approving the release of the items to the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

“Customs should kindly ensure all government containers should be released despite the demurrage charges and associated costs on the containers,” he added.

The 248 containers contained electrical materials which were imported by the management of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) under government control since 2003, while few of them were imported in 2007.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TCN, Mr. Mack Kast, stated that the TCN has massive plan to expand the transmitting capacity of the power sector.

The TCN is the only successor company from the PHCN that was not privatized but on concession to Manitoba Hydro International to manage as private company despite being funded by the Ministry of Power.

“Our goal is to double the transmission network of the company. In this context, I wish to thank the Ministry of Power and the Directorate of Procurement for making this possible,” he added

Time for truce in Enugu

Over the months, with the approach of the conduct of Party Primaries slated for October, this year by the Independent National Electoral Commission, there seems, unfortunately, concerted efforts by surrogates falling over themselves to please the Enugu State Government, by mounting ceaseless campaigns of calumny, against the person of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, through fictitious Advertorials.Churning out falsehood, these groups and their collaborators are carrying it to a dizzying height, which bewilders. There must be truce now and all those fanning the embers of chauvinism and trying to heat up the polity of a hitherto peaceful Enugu State, must be called to order.

Any keen follower of the political events in the Coal City, ought to have deduced that the out-going Governor Sullivan Chime is believed to be eyeing the Enugu West Senatorial seat being occupied at present by Senator Ekweremadu, who has performed creditably well not only as Senator representing the area, but has with candour, simplicity, courage and non pugnacious stance , steered honourably the Senate sessions of the 7th National Assembly, as Deputy Senate President.

His colleagues are wont to marvel at his proper grasp of legislative duties, his articulate views and how he marshals his points with such ease not incurring the wrath of any Senator even those holding alternate views. It is to his credit that he continues to pilot the affairs of the Red Chamber with such dexterity each time he is presiding that hardly had there been any rancourous situation.

His warmth is infectious hence having friends that cut across party affiliations and he is at home with all his colleague Senators at first name basis.

The pride of any nation and state, is to treasure and hold dearly their best ‘first eleven’ so to say. He remains a phenomenon in the Senate and National Assembly as a whole and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Parliamentary Body, to therefore contemplate asking Senator Ekweremadu not to rerun, come February 2015 General Elections, is a disservice to Enugu State and indeed Nigerians.

To coerce and torpedo this achiever despite his phenomenal legislative accomplishments in both fashioning good laws for the nation and attracting several developmental projects to his Constituency and empowering lots of people across board, no doubt goes against the grains of continuity and institutionalising functional senatorial duties as a bedrock of sound democratic tenets.

No one throws away a baby and the bathwater. There is no wisdom in changing a winning team. One matures with time and experience cannot be bought with money. United Sates of America, where we adopted the Presidential System of Government, never risked removing or uprooting a deserving and performing Senator. As a matter of fact, a peep into the history of serving American Senators, there are long list of revered longest serving senators, who are still serving.

The list runs thus: Senators Robert C.Byrd (Democrat Western Virginia)- was in the Senate for 51 years from January 3, 1959- January 28, 2010; Dan K. Inouye from January 3, 1963 to present day over 50 years; Storm Thurmond, Republican South Carolina, spent 47 years from November 7 1956- January 2002; Edward M. Kennedy Democrat Massachusetts ,had 47 years of meritorious service November 7, 1962 – August 25, 2009. As champion of higher education, direct loans to students and a lifelong crusader of equal rights, Senator Kennedy perhaps would have still been in the Senate, but for his unfortunate demise as a result of brain tumour.

Carl T.Hayden Democrat Arizona spent about 42 years March 4, 1927- January 3, 1969; John Stemis Democrat Mississippi, did 42 years November 5, 1947- January 1989; Ted Steven Republican Arkansas, was at the senate for 44 years Dec 24, 1965- January 2009; Ernest F Hollings Democrat spent 39 years Nov 9, 1966- January 3, 2005; Richard D. Russel Democrat was at that distinguished American senate for 38 years January 3, 1933- January 21, 1971. Bringing to a close the list of 10 longest serving American senators is Russel Long Democrat Los Angeles, was in the senate for 38 years December 31, 1948- January 3, 1987.

The issue of who represents the Constituents in the American system, is not based on sentiments or emotions but the system works for perfection. They hold on tenaciously to their men of honour and valour as they go into elections.

It is becoming a past time for most Governors leaving governance to go headlong in pursuit of uprooting whoever is in the senate so that they may replace them. It shouldn’t really be a dumping ground for past Governors, especially when the incumbent senators are remarkably doing well in all ramifications. There could be other areas these former Governors could participate instead of upturning the apple cart.

The scenario in Enugu makes a good case for study. Although the Governor has not publicly declared he would be contesting the seat occupied by Senator Ekweremadu, but even in my village in Enugu State, it is no longer a news hidden in a bushel. Objectively, both sons of Enugu have done well and are equally qualified to run. The Governor has laid solid foundation for development in the state with the construction of major roads within the capital city and also at the rural areas. He had restored a serene and peaceful atmosphere for business and social life to thrive.

On his part, Senator Ekweremadu’s status has soared with local and an international clout. He is a consummate legislator whose master of legislative process to the advantage of the nation we cannot afford to toy with and miss. He has postulated and sponsored several bills that impact the common man, promoting legislation that would provide support systems for small and medium scale enterprises, especially reviewing laws that could encourage local technology, local management skills and access to cheap and long term loans.

He had worked tirelessly in getting through legislation that would make for funding for a limited free health care system especially for expectant mothers, children and all those unable to benefit in the health insurance scheme, amongst others. His horizon is people-oriented, hence the infrastructural provision for his Enugu West Constituents so staggering in new school blocks, desks, books, equipping libraries, transformers, rural electrification, water boreholes, roads , building of town halls and places of recreation, adult literacy and micro finance.

He has a Football Championship on-going being competed for by Local Governments that make up his Senatorial Zone. Perhaps it is in the area of philanthropic gestures that Senator Ekweramadu has written his name in Platinum. As at the last count, his Ikeoha Foundation Scholarship Bursary Award is sponsoring the education of over 300 students including bursary awards in higher institutions including universities both at home and overseas.

No tinkering of the Constitution would be complete without mentioning his name since as Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee in the National Assembly, he has brought to bear on the exercise, respectability and a high sense of purpose.

Given his pedigree and purposeful leadership as Deputy Senate President and for the magnificent upliftment and empowerment of people from his area, one can say without any fear of contradiction that his name placed on the Ritchard’s Scale, it would weigh down the gold bars. Is it therefore desirable that he should return, Yes. Would he add more values and strengthen the Senate in the forthcoming 8th National Assembly, the answers are in the positive. Will the people of Enugu West be better of with his coming back, Yes and Yes!

We must grow this democracy and appreciate excellence and performance. We must not abort a dream so sweet still in the honey comb. All men and women of decent upbringing in Enugu, must intervene to checkmate the unnecessary flexing of muscles. The party in Enugu is One Big Family. We must shut the door to muckrakers and mischief makers cum sycophants. Howbeit Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan locking themselves up in one room, no interference and as brothers sort out what ordinarily should be a simple family affair.

Impeachment: Paste notice on deputy gov’s office, residence –Enugu lawmakers direct clerk

Gov. Chime

The Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday, directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Christopher Chukwurah, to paste the impeachment notice it ordered to be served on the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi, last Tuesday, at his office, official and private residence at Salvage Street, GRA in Enugu.

The lawmakers’ decision followed a report by the Clerk of the House that he did not see Onyebuchi in all his known addresses.

The House, before adjourning till Thursday next week, warned that if the deputy governor failed to respond to the notice served on him, it would have no other option than to move another motion for the chief judge of the state to set up a judicial panel to probe the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him.

Twenty-two of the 24 members of the House of Assembly had signed the impeachment notice, hinging their action on two charges of abuse of office and disobedience to the lawful directives of the governor by the deputy governor.

Daily Sun reliably gathered that the embattled deputy governor, who performed his last official duties at the FRSC Academy, Udi, last Monday, the day the impeachment notice was moved, might have gone to see his political associates in Abuja, who are mostly members of the National Assembly, on his travails.

Insurgency: Ekweremadu asks media to reject Boko Haram propaganda

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has urged the Nigerian media to downplay activities of the Boko Haram sect because the insurgents have succeeded in creating fear in the minds of the citizens through media reports.

Ekweremadu made the appeal on Wednesday night while delivering the maiden lecture organised by the Senate Press Corps in Abuja.

He described terrorism as a mind game with the primary purpose of instilling fear in the minds of the people by carrying out acts of destruction of human lives and property to give a negative impression.

To achieve this, he said the insurgents employed the use of propaganda, through the media, to misinform the public. “That is why even when a gas cylinder explodes in any part of the country, the insurgents claim responsibility for it, all in their desperate bid to assert themselves.

“If there is an encounter in which they lost 100 men and the military lost four  men, they strive to upturn the story to sell to the nation a false story of invulnerability on their part.

“It is against this backdrop that I sincerely wish to call on the media to see through this propaganda and refuse to help them market their falsehood.

“The battle we face is for the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the safety of her people. Our story lines, headlines and analyses should reflect that overriding national interest.

“At a time like this, the press is expected to boost the confidence of the nation, the morale of our gallant soldiers and security operatives in the warfronts and celebrate the superiority of our firepower,” he said.

Ekweremadu urged the Nigerian press to catalyse national consciousness and rally Nigerians to work together against the common enemies such as terrorism and other manifestations of evil and extreme danger in the land.

Ekweremadu equally lamented the corruption in the judiciary, stressing that it was the worst thing to happen to the nation. “If the foundation of justice is destroyed, what then can the righteous do? How does a nation or continent grow under such weight of corruption? We are already reaping from the dangers thereof in the forms of terrorism, militancy and kidnapping, among others,” he said.

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who also attended the lecture, noted that the media could still be the last defender of the Nigerian democracy because they were recognising and promoting service, good governance and integrity.

Fayemi urged members of the media to sustain their efforts.

He said: “If you are an intellectual,  you are an elite and an elite is what should be thrown into the dustbin not to be associated with. But the media could still be the last  defender of the Nigerian democracy.”

Enugu SUBEB Crisis: SERG flays attack on Chime, Nwobodo

A pan-Igbo group, the South East Revival Group, SERG, yesterday, rose in defence of Governor Sullivan Chime and his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, over an attack by a group which identified itself as Save Enugu Movement.

Save Enugu Movement had alleged in an advertorial in a national newspaper last Friday that Nwobodo was, among other things, involved in shady deals regarding contracts in the state’s Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, and also made a veiled reference to Chime in the deal.

National Coordinator of SERG, Chief Willy Ezugwu, told reporters in Enugu that there was no group known as Save Enugu Movement, describing the advertorial as the handiwork of a few Enugu politicians opposed to the governorship seat going to Nsukka senatorial zone and the decision that those who had served for three tenures in the National Assembly should make way for others.

SERG stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, and for the interest of the reading public, the matter that the so-called Save Enugu Movement tried in vain to promote to the status of a current issue has been thoroughly investigated by both the Nigeria Police Force and EFCC and the verdict of these two institutions are clearly well known to the parties involved.”

2 Men with sack containing body of a dead child arrested

2 Men With Sack Containing The Body of Dead Child Arrested By NSCDC, Abia Command
Yesterday, July 16, at about 2:45pm, a patrol team of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia Command apprehended two men suspected to be ritualists along Aba expressway, Aba, Abia State close to Ariaria International Market.
Photo Above: The two suspect ritualists with the sack bag containing the body of the female child
The men were carrying fresh dead body of a female child aged between 6-8yrs in a sack bag when the NSCDC operatives intercepted them. They claimed the baby died in a hospital and her father contracted them with N2,000 to help bury her. When asked to provide identification of the deceased’s father, they said they did not have such details. The hospital they claimed the child died in told NSCDC there was no such death in their facility.

Photo Above: The two suspected ritualists on display with the body of the female child
Investigation is still ongoing as at the time of this report; meanwhile, the suspects have been transferred to the police for further interrogation.

Boko Haram: Enugu Churches Ban Women with Hand bags

Most churches in Enugu state, on Sunday 29th of June, banned women from attending church services with hand-bags.
The ban followed recent incursion of the Boko Haram insurgents into the South-East, especially the foiled bomb attack at the Winners’ Church in Owerri, Imo State.
The development, according to the church, is aimed at nipping in the bud any possible attack on places of worship in the state.
Addressing the worshippers at the New Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Nsukka, the Archdeacon of the Cathedral, Ven. Onah said the spate of bombings and level of insecurity in Nigeria call for consciousness among Nigerians.
He advised the women and ladies to bear with the new development for the general security of all adding that car owners are no more allowed to park their vehicles  close to the Cathedral. He called on car owners to obey the instructions of the Guild of stewards and the Brigade on how to park cars within the premises of the Cathedral.
Also at the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, the ban on hand bags was also applied.
According to the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. (Dr) Calistus Onaga, who directed all parish Priests within the Diocese to make the official announcement during Sunday services, he appealed to the faithful to cooperate with the church in that regard.
He said the exercise was not meant to embarrass the women or any body, but was born out of the present disturbing insecurity challenges facing the nation.
The cleric however, assured that it will be done with human face, and in a civilized manner, adding that the church, do not want to take chances.
A worshiper who do not want his name in print said, “I must tell you, the Bishop and entire Catholic faithful in Enugu are apprehensive with the rumour of the insurgents infiltrating the east, especially the alleged recent escape of two buses conveying Boko Haram members in Abia state, during a security check.
“I support the development that henceforth, women will no longer be allowed to enter Catholic churches during masses with hand bags, apart from their purses, which will also be subjected to thorough scrutiny by church workers.
“Before today’s announcement was made, our Bishop had already briefed all the parish priests under the Diocese, so that they can take the message down to their various parishes.
“Though we know that if God did not guard a city, guard men will be guarding in vain; but there is also need for us as human beings to play our own part, while God plays his own part”.
Meanwhile, Bishop Onaga, has urged members of the Catholic community in the Diocese and elsewhere, to always be security conscious, stressing that the present insecurity challenges confronting Nigeria had remained a serious source of concern to the church.
The hand bag prohibition, according to the Bishop, will affect every woman, both young and old.
“There will be no sacred cow in its implementation”, a church source said.

96.7 Fm Station: Nsukka People Hail Sen. Ayogu Eze

For the past decades, the people of Enugu North Senatorial District had been locked out of the information world due to poor reception of both television and radio signals. For those who wish to listen to any radio signal from the state capital, they had to move from one part of the house to another in order to have access to noisy frequencies. Sometimes, the younger persons who are obviously hungry for news, were often seen climbing mango or cashew trees within their compounds just to listen to radio news.
The matter is worse with television signals. Only those who have the means of installing satellite dishes have access to tv signals as there is no more terrestrial tv signals that could be accessed. These ugly trends had continued to persist until the Senator representing the Enugu North District threw himself into the game as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information to ensure that a station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN) was established in the zone to cushion the effects of dearth of news in the area.
As at the time of filing this report, the air waves of the Enugu North Senatorial Zone in Enugu State was bubbling with endless music played out by the newly built radio station at the Ikeagwu hills within the Nsukka metropolis.
The station, 96.7 Frequency modulated (FM) running on test transmission was built by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and was truly powered by the Senator Ayogu Eze’s Constituency Project Scheme.
When The Starlite spoke with Mr. Sunny Ngwu of Amaeze Nsukka, he said the coming on stream of the radio station was historic adding that the mind that brought about it must be praised. According to Mr. Ngwu, the establishment of the radio station would further showcase the rich cultural and traditional heritage of  Nsukka people to the rest of the world.
“I stand here to salute the gallantry of Senator Ayogu Eze. He had shown uncommon resilience in putting forward something very tangible that will benefit the larger members of the constituency that he represents. We had others who were in the national Assembly. Let them come forward and tell us what they were able to do. They stayed there for eight years and nothing to show for it. I praise Sen. Eze for his effort. What we need is result. Let no person come to tell us I will do this I will do that. We are tired of all those rhetorics.
“I was on my way to Agbani for the burial ceremony of the mother of Chief Onyemuche Nnamani and I kept receiving the signal of the station till I got to Agbani. This is amazing!
“In the past, some people had said one or two things about the senator but I think now is the proper time to reassess him in terms of attracting developmental projects to the area where he represents. A good critic does not fail to acknowledge someone’s good works. If he does not perform, criticize him, if he does something good, do not fail to also praise him. For me, Senator Ayogu Eze is the man of the year 2014.
“If he performs well and we fail to praise him, then we would be seen as those doing the criticism in bad faith”.
According to Chief Joel Ezeugwu, the Arapa of Opi Community, the establishment of Voice Fm station in Nsukka could not have come at a better time adding that when the station is in full operation, the people of the area would no longer be caught off from the outside world in terms of communication.
He said: “I heard that the station is on its test transmission. That is good. I thought it would have even come on stream before now but all the same, we are glad it finally came. I also thought that the Nigerian Television Authority would be coming with the station but I am surprised that the NTA is still dragging. Be that as it may, I wish to congratulate Senator Ayogu Eze for this feat. It wasn’t easy when you consider that he was able to attract the station when he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information. The thing took so long but we are happy that the station is here.
“I sincerely urge him to do more. Democracy is about the masses and once you have the interest of the people at heart, you will always succeed . Let him see if he could make the NTA come on stream”.
In his own reaction, a one time chairman of Nsukka East Development Center and a member of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority, Hon. Cosmas Agbo, hailed Senator Eze for his gallant fight towards making the people of the area access information through the establishment of the radio station which according to him was timely.
Hon. Agbo said the establishment of the station will not only create jobs for the masses but will further regenerate the cultural lives of the people. While thanking Senator Ayogu Eze on his decision to work for the establishment of the station in Nsukka, he said the citing of the station at Nsukka was a clear manifestation of the fact that the Area was a contemporary of places like Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Awka in Anambra State and others which already had the FRCN stations established in their domains.
“The establishment of the Voice FM station in Nsukka is a welcome development. It shall be a station that will further enhance our identity. We shall be privileged to listen to first hand information from the State capital.
“Senator Ayogu Eze by this has broken the jinx that had held us down over the years. I also know that he fought like a wounded lion to ensure that even the NTA was established in Nsukka here. In deed, this singular act marks a giant step towards the creation of Adada State. Apart from Lagos State that has more than one FRCN Station, I think Enugu is the only state that has two FRCN. This station will boost employment in our area.
“The Senator might have given employments to so many people but this one will surely serve all the people at the same time and that was why I told you that the station will be of immense benefit to millions of people of the area.
“For years, the people of the area had little or no access to information coming from the state rather, we were bombarded with signals and news from other neighbouring states which subjugated us into listening to their station simply because those stations in Enugu could not be received here.
“Years back, we were receiving signals from all the radio stations from Enugu but today, the reverse has become the case. For one to listen to FRCN Network news, one would walk about searching for a better place to receive radio signals.
“In those days, we were not using satellite dishes to receive Tv signals. We only needed to mount an antenna on our roof and we will be receiving Tv stations. These stations were received free of charge but today, for anybody in Nsukka to watch NTA Network news, such person must buy a decoder, dish and other assessories and a whole lot of money would be spent on it. The senator has done well and he should be respected in that light”.
However, when The Starlite spoke to Senator Eze on phone, he said he was on his way to Brazil adding that all honour and glory be to God Almighty who according to him was the Man behind the Mask. He said he would speak more on the under-current that led to the establishment of Voice Fm Radio in Nsukka.

Enugu Guber 2015: ‘APC is Ready’ —Gen. Chris Eze (rtd)

Major General Chris Eze (rtd) is the newly elected State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State. In this interview with

The Starlite Newspapers, he said his Party has repositioned itself to rout the Peoples Democratic Party in all the forth coming elections

in Enugu State. Excerpt!

Quest: Very recently, the All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded its congresses in Enugu and you were voted in as the Secretary of the Party, what is the next line of action for the party?

Ans: Thank you very much, the underling factor there is that I did not contest. However, a section of the constitution of the party provides that consensus should be encouraged. As I said earlier, I did not contest for any position but the major stakeholders of the party felt that I could add value as the Secretary and so they asked me to run and I did. At the end, I was unanimously adopted.

I therefore want to use this opportunity to thank members of the Party in the state for finding me worthy to serve and to promise them that I will dedicate myself to the job. I had always been a committed member of the party and will continue to be until we take over power in Enugu State come 2015.

It is also instructive to know that Dr. Ben Nwoye emerged as the party chairman in the state. Dr. Nwoye is a PhD holder in law and hails from Amuri in Nkanu east Local Government Area of the state. He is a business man who is based in PortHarcourt. He is intellectually sound and I can say that he is a very big asset to the party. His coming is symptomatic of the party’s philosophy to always accommodate credible persons in our fold. His emergence as the Party Chairman will no doubt add unquantifiable value to the party more so when he took active part in the campaign that saw to the emergence of Barak Obama as the President of the United States.

Quest: Over time, it does appear your party had remained relatively quiet as no visible action by APC is seen by the public in the state. It also transmits signals that could be interpreted in certain quarters that APC is weak and that it cannot provide the required formidable opposition whereas your members are rumoured to be moving into other parties. Is that insinuation correct?

Ans: First and foremost, that our members are going into other parties in the state is not true. It is not true that any of our members are moving into PDP. Go into the market in Nsukka, Obollo Afor, Ogrute, Ibagwa Aka and conduct some samples and come back later in the day and you will marvel at how the artisans hated the current party in control of Enugu State. As much as I know, the Peoples Democratic Party has failed Nigeria and Nigerians and this failure had been acknowledged by different credible world bodies including the United States of America.

Today the PDP, as constituted, thrives in corruption and impunity in the ways they do things. Today they will tell us there is subsidy on petroleum products yet we don’t see the products most especially kerosene. The other time, the former Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now the Emir of Kano raised the alarm that a whopping sum of $48 billion was missing and after sometime, the PDP said he was not correct and that what is likely to be missing is $20 billion. Do you know what that sum can achieve in terms of provision of infrastructure in Nigeria? This country was plundered by the PDP and I do not see anybody giving them any support.

You are aware that we have just concluded our National Convention and if you watched on your Tv screen, you will notice that APC has come to give PDP a run for its money. The caliber of individuals that are in the party will show you where the pendulum will swing to in 2015. Now that we are through with the conventions, the party under the Chairmanship of Chief Odegie Oyegun, the fight will now be more ferocious. We are on the drawing board and very soon we shall roll out our plan in a build up to 2015.

Now that we have the National Executives of the Party in place, in no distant time, the National Executive will tour the states to inaugurate all the State executives which will in turn go to the LGAs to inaugurate the Local Government executives. The inauguration will be done down to all the wards throughout the federation. When this is done aspirants will begin to emerge and that is when you begin to see more and more activities.

Let me also inform you that political participation in PDP at the grassroot is almost dead and without any fear of contradiction, I can authoritatively say that in Enugu state, APC has a high degree of acceptability within the rural communities.

Quest: One major problem that your party may face in due course is lack of fund and without fund you may eventually go out of politics because campaigns, mobilization and a whole lot of other things has to be done with money. How does your party come around this issue?

Ans: Yes! This is a fair assessment but I make bold to tell you that it is unfortunate that in Nigeria generally and in Igbo land in particular, almost a hundred per cent of party activities is funded with public fund and this is because of the impunity introduced by the PDP. I am very sure that this is against the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act 2011 as amended. So, the PDP is not a body that has any regard for accountability, transparency, probity and self restraint in handling public fund. For us as a party, we do not have anyone in government and so your observation is quite correct.

Over time, we have seen individuals who, out of love for establishment of a formidable opposition in the state, staked their money, time and intellectual contribution to ensure that we have good leadership. This is done mostly by someone like Barrister Okey Ezea and other leading members of the party who had been making sacrifices for the party to be on ground in Enugu State.

Now that we have done our National Convention, we expect that people within and outside who have the zeal and love for the APC and those who believe in change would come to our assistance in Enugu State.

When the aspirants begin to emerge and when the imminent implosion that will rock the PDP in Enugu state will occur, surely many will lose confidence in the PDP and the likely place to pitch their tent is of course the APC. When they come, they will also avail the party the resources with which to carry on its political programmes.

Quest: What if the people in PDP decide to mend their fences and refuse to join you considering that you have all your hopes that those aggrieved persons will join your party with their resources? Is this not going to be a blow to your party?

Ans: Well, in politics, there is what we call dialectics. Dialectics is unchangeable. It is fundamental! This deals with a situation throwing up its own contradictions. If you solve the first contradictions, it goes on to bring further contradictions. You know, people in PDP don’t add value to governance in Nigeria and that is why we continue to exist in this type of mess. Virtually all the people in the party are there because of what they can get and those there already want to remain there for eternity. Young people are growing up everyday and what they have known all their lives is about a group of people who continue to make promises that cannot be kept. So you cannot rule out the fact that the dialectics must play out.

Let me give an example, Senator Ike Ekweremadu says he must go back to the senate and the governor, Barr. Chime said he is also interested in going to the senate and remember that Enugu West has only one Senatorial Seat. The state PDP had also said that all those who had been in any elective position, no matter how well you have performed or how acceptable you are to the people, must not go back. So these are the things that will throw up the contradictions I have been telling about.

Quest: (cuts in) Do you mean that any of them (Barr. Chime and Ekweremadu) will join your party?

Ans: I didn’t say so but I was just trying to direct you mind to the likely contradictions that will nail the PDP as we inch closer to 2015 elections.

Quest: Very recently, the Independent National Electoral Commissioner raised the alarm that over 620 polling units in the state have lost their records on the voters’ registration and when you look at this figure, 95 percent of those affected are from Nsukka senatorial zone. What do you think is the game playing out here?

Ans: Thank you very much Mr. Ogara. I, Major General Chris Eze have spoken about this at different fora. I have written about it. It is very unfortunate that Nsukka people have collectively decided to cede their political destiny into the hands of outsiders and people who are not from Nsukka, starting from Gov. Sullivan Chime and the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu. I have always said it that Chief Ekweremadu played a vital role in the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as acting President on the floor of the Senate when he moved a motion for the application of Doctrine of Necessity to break the lacuna that played out as a result of the ill health of the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. So, it is not out of place to say that the president owes him a debt of gratitude and the governor is one who has a lot of political influence in the state and so I said it that at the end, in a bid to have both of them in PDP, the National Body of PDP may conspire among the gladiators and give the governorship ticket to Ekweremadu and ask the governor to go for the senate. If we get to this point what do you think Nsukka people will do?

Quest: Do you think it is possible?

Ans: In politics? Yes! It is very possible and I tell you nothing is impossible in PDP. If the people of Nsukka are tactically being disenfranchised as we have noticed today, what can we do as a people? It is a game and when the plot begins to get clearer, I will surely draw your attention to this interview we did today. Whoever they bring as candidate and we have no votes to counter them through an alternative platform then we are finished as a people and that is what I have been warning against.

You will agree with me that our leaders in the zone have not been alive to their responsibilities. If they were, they could either have prevented such a thing from happening or alerted Nsukka people so we get psychologically prepared for it. The news came to us as a thunder bolt and so when it came, we were thrown into confusion.

When I visited the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu, Mr. Azubike to find out what actually happened, he told me the nature of the disenfranchisement stressing that whatever happened must have been a combination of human and machine errors. He further promised he would do all at his disposal to ensure that our people were captured in the then voters’ registration exercise. Nonetheless, the exercise witnessed a huge turn out of people and I give the credits to the Churches who helped us in sensitizing the people to go all out to get the voter’s card.

I also implore the churches not to go back but rather come forth to assist in the screening of aspirants that will be contesting the elections. The screening has to be across board and that is that the screening committee should look beyond party lines.

I am quite sure that APC in Enugu State will produce quality aspirants in various elections in 2015. We as a party have taken a resolution in our State Executive Council that the people of Enugu North Senatorial zone will produce the next governor of Enugu State in 2015.

I urge the people of Nsukka to note that the people who parade themselves as leaders are not doing enough for them and then should get ready with votes to cast and to throw them out.

Igbo Etiti, Uzo Uwani LGAs Lock Horns over House of Reps Seat

Politicians in Igbo Etiti and Uzo Uwani Local Government Areas of Enugu State may have drawn a battle line and ready to lock horns if the current plan to re-jig and alter the existing agreement on rotation of the Federal House of Representative’s seat between the two areas by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP is anything to go by.
The perceived readiness of the incumbent, Princess Stella Ngwu to go for a second term and  ‘complete the good works’ she has started and the rumours making the rounds  that the party may have zoned the Senatorial slot to Uzo Uwani have been generating  bad blood, enmity, animosity and bare faced double speak among the gladiators.
Already, there are questions being asked by various interest groups depending on which side of the divide a group belongs. These questions include: Was there any pact by the two local governments on the rotation of the Federal House of Reps seat among the two areas? How valid is or otherwise are those agreements? Who were the brains behind those agreements? Did they have the mandate of all the people of the two LGAs to enter into such agreements on their behalf? What were the agreements meant to remedy? Was there any time the agreements were applied? What are the contending issues between the Senatorial slot and that of the House of Representatives? Can a senator and a member of the House of Reps come from the same LGA?
The Starlite Newspapers took delivery of documents relating to the much talked about agreement and spoke to various individuals whose reactions would assist us get to the bottom of the matter.
Speaking to The Starlite, Hon. Paul Eze (the Okpaogwu N’Nkpologu) said: “My dear brother, I thank you for this effort you are making in this matter. First of all, let me tell you that there were agreements between the Uzo Uwani Local Government and Igbo Etiti.
“I am still in shock as to why people could change positions overnight just because of a political position. My father told me that a person’s integrity cannot be determined until he/she gets hold of power or wealth. We as a people have overtime cried out about the injustice and marginalization we suffered and are still suffering in the hands of the people of other Geo-political zones over the quest for the creation of Adada State.
“Down here in the South East, the federating State refused to appreciate that the Northern Igbos require the creation of Adada State to create a balance between the North and South of the South East. Rather than support us, many groups emerged in the zone with all kinds of demands for creation of states not minding that the demand for Adada State is the oldest, the most viable and most justified.
“In 1998 when the people of the South East gathered at Modotel Hotels in Enugu to chart a way forward for the people of the Area, I remembered how leaders were called to the high table without recognition of anybody from Enugu State. Interestingly, Chief C. C. Onoh in protest, took up his seat from the floor and moved himself over to the high table.
“Back to the issue you raised, I am amazed that the same thing is happening to the people of Uzo Uwani. We are grossly marginalized in all the elective and appointive political offices. It can never be said that Uzo Uwani lacks capable and credible individuals when compared with other LGAs in the Senatorial District. We make bold to state that we have in abundance, men and women that have excelled in their chosen academic and business fields.
“Without mincing words, let me tell you that two mutual but separate agreements were signed by stakeholders at different venues in 1998 and 1999 in respect of the office of member, Federal House of Representatives for Igbo Etiti-Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency and other Federal appointments meant for the constituency”.
According to Hon. Eze, while one of the agreements was reached in the residence of Late Engr. Aka Ogbobe at No 108b Umuezebi Street, Upper Chime Avenue, New Heaven, Enugu on February 10, 1998, the other one with an enlarged membership was drawn and signed at Late Chief E. C. Igwe’s residence in Ukehe on January 17, 1999. He stressed that both agreements unequivocally affirmed the resolve of the then stakeholders in Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani Federal constituency that the seat of member House of Reps shall rotate between the LGAs.
Obviously, angry with the level of marginalization of Uzo Uwani, Hon. Paul Eze said that by 2015, Igbo Etiti would have had 12 years out of the 16 years of House of Reps membership with only 4 years for Uzo Uwani attributing the lopsidedness to some individuals who swore not to respect the agreements. Hon. Eze lampoons some other people whom according to him were part of the agreement but today are speaking with the two sides of their mouths.
“Between 1999 to date, Igbo Etiti had taken up all the appointive positions both at the federal and State while Uzo Uwani had only one- the Chairman of the Enugu State Post Primary School Management Board. This is most unfair to us as a people.
“It is heart-breaking that some of our brothers and sisters in Igbo Etiti LGA have refused to respect and honour these genuine and honourable agreements. You cannot imagine it, but there are still some shameless black legs in Uzo Uwani, including some of the signatories to the agreements who are now working tirelessly to subvert the terms of those agreements for their own myopic and selfish gains. I warned them to note that a man who defecates by the road side while on a journey must meet flies on his way back”.
Lending his voice to the issue, Chief Johnson Ezeanyanwu who also hails from Uzo Uwani confirmed that there were agreements between the LGAs adding that the agreements had been guiding the Federal Constituency in deciding the LG that would produce the next person for the office of the House of Reps.
He said: “Uzo Uwani and Igbo Etiti LGAs willingly entered into agreement in 1998 during the Late Sani Abacha’s transition period under the dominant party then, the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). The agreement gave rise to the election of Hon. Matthias Ozor from Ozalla in Igbo Etiti as a member of House of Reps. Though, Hon. Ozo did not serve out his term because of the death of Gen. Abacha, he was never the less voted for in keeping with the spirit of the agreement.
“Then in 1999, some complicated politics featured in the federal constituency. Dr. Okwy Nwodo who was then the National Secretary of the PDP did not waste time in giving the ticket for the House of Reps to Hon. Chris Nnadi from Ekwegbe in Igbo Etiti in PDP. Other leaders from the constituency opposed to the action of Dr. Nwodo came together again and produced another agreement strengthening that of 1998. This time, Uzo Uwani LG was mandated to produce a candidate for the House of Reps and Dr. Romanus Ezike was given the ticket under the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was declared winner by INEC and was inaugurated in June, 1999 but his election was overturned by the Appeal Tribunal in October, 1999 and Chris Nnadi returned as member House of Representatives.
“In the 2003 election after the tenure of Hon Chris, Dr. Martins Oke (Aku, Igbo Etiti) was given the PDP ticket and he won and stayed till 2007. He tried to remain for a second term as he believably was doing well in the House but the agreement was waved. He was stopped and Hon. Paul Eze (Nkpoplogwu, Uzo Uwani) nominated in PDP and elected and inaugurated in 2007.
“By 2011 when Hon. Paul Eze’s term was over, he fought to remain arguing that Igbo Etiti was eight years in the position as against Uzo Uwani’s four years. His argument could not gel as Uzo Uwani leaders themselves insisted there were agreements that must be respected. Paul was stopped and Princess Ngwu nominated in PDP and elected.
“As it stands today, Princess Ngwu knows of all these. She knew she has only one term in office because in most of the meetings before and after her election, it was repeatedly harped that Princess Ngwu would stay in office for just one term in keeping with the spirit of the agreements.
Also corroborating Hon. Paul Eze and Johnson Ezeanyanwu’s position, Hon. Tony Chigbo who was a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly said there were agreements between the two LGAs on rotation and on single tenure but stressed that when he saw the defects in the agreements, he called for a review of the agreements.
“Yes! There were agreements on rotation and single tenure but I have discovered that a single term of four years is not enough for an active and vibrant member. If we continue to stick to these agreements, the implication is that none of the candidates from our constituency can rise to become a principal officer of the House. At all time material, we shall continue to produce fresh men and women into the House. It is not too good for us and that was why I was calling for a review of the agreements last year but many did not understand.
“I was of the opinion that if the first agreement threw up an Igbo Etiti man, the second agreement which will allow for a second term will start from Uzo Uwani. That is what I call equity and fair play. We should be reasonable in our dealings with our neighbours.
When The Starlite newspapers called Hon. Ogbonna Idike who was the Executive Chairman of Igbo Etiti Local Government to comment on the issue, he accepted that there was an agreement jointly written by some interest groups in the two LGAs on the rotation of the membership of House of Representatives but emphasized that when the agreement was looked into critically, a lot of defects were noticed.
He said: “There were agreements but the agreement had errors. The first error was that the signatories to the agreements were people who just arrogated to themselves the status of stakeholders. The local Government chairmen of the two LGAs were not part of the agreement. None of the traditional rulers from the two LGAs was part of the agreement. The signatories did not also consult town unions in the two LGAs for their support. The signatories to those agreements never indicated their communities of origin. The agreements were not clear about the single term issue and so will amount to nothing even if anybody goes to court to contest it.
“The agreements were never under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party nor any other party for that matter. Some members of the House of Reps who failed to go back failed not because they were so mindful of the agreement but because it is either they were not so close to the governor/stakeholders to be given the PDP ticket or that they did not do well. We saw those who were told not to go back on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but refused and moved into other parties to contest. I was the Chairman of Igbo Etiti then and I know what actually happened.
“For me, there is nothing preventing the two LGAs from going into a fresh agreement but for it to work, these factors I listed above must be clearly spelt out so that there will be no ambiguity. I also know that a single term of four years is not enough for any member to make his or her mark on the floor of the House. So, all in all, I think there is room for improvement”
Speaking to the Hon. Commissioner for Transport in Enugu state, Hon. Chuka Utazi, he confirmed that there was an agreement but that the single term clause was meant for those who did not perform well while in the House of Reps.
He further stated that he was yet to see anyone from Uzo Uwani willing to contest the position adding that the current thing in vogue now was the Governor/Party’s belief that if any member of the National Assembly or even the state Assembly had done well in the first term, such a member will be given the chance to serve for a second term. “Even in the scriptures, it is said that laws (agreements) are made for man and not the other way round. We are human beings who have the capacity to think and take decisions that will be far reaching in improving the lives of the people. This is politics. You don’t sacrifice the interest of the people on the altar of selfishness”.
He attributed the current clamour by a section of some politicians to their inordinate political ambition adding that the present person in the House of Reps, Princess Ngwu, has done very well both at the plenary and oversight. “If she is doing well and you remove her just to fulfill what is called agreement, you have succeeded in short-changing the people who are the ultimate beneficiary of good governance and able representation.
“As much as I know, no one is contesting the House of Reps seat in Uzo Uwani and Igbo Etiti because the person who is there now is performing. She has to be given the opportunity to serve out her second term. If by the special grace of God, our Party zones the senatorial slot of Igbo Etiti /Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency; I will resign my position from the State Executive Council to contest the Senatorial seat. I have made consultations and my people were very happy when I informed them of my aspiration. We have made tremendous impact in the senate as a party. Senator Okoro was there and Sen. Ayougu Eze too. Senator Eze works hard to improve upon what Okoro did and if I get there, I will ensure that I improve on what he has done in the eight years. This is the reason why we have to be positive in thinking”.
On the rumoured speculation that the PDP will zone the senatorial seat to Uzo Uwani/Igbo Etiti, Ezeanyanwu said it was a welcome development but emphasized that it is a position that will be determined by the entire six local governments that make up the senatorial district. According to him, the two LGAs are entitled to the post when one considers that the other two federal constituencies have had their fair share of the position. He noticed that the problems that will come with the senatorial slot is when people mischievously try to tell the people of Uzo Uwani to forget the issue of House of Reps and secondly when the so called senate slot has been obviously allocated to an individual by powers that be.
However, The Starlite Newspapers thoroughly investigated the issues at stake and found out that  there were two agreements written to guide the two local governments on the issues of rotatory  occupation of  the Federal House of Representatives between the two. It was also noted that the first agreement was written on February 10, 1998 while another one was made on January 11, 1999.
The first agreement was signed by the following persons: Hon. Nin Obi Ogbogu from Uzo Uwani, Ngwu Callistus from Igbo Etiti, Nweke Simon who identified himself as the UNCP Secretary, Simon Ortuanya, Ozor Matthias, C. O. Nnadi  from Igbo Etiti. Others include, Aka Ogbobe, Simon Nnadozie, Eze Albert, Comrade Ogbonna and Hon. Chuka Utazi all from Uzo Uwani.
The same agreement stated in its second clause that “Igbo Etiti LGA should take the first turn ie should produce the candidate for the April 1998 National Assembly Elections while the Uzo Uwani LGA will produce the candidate thereafter”.
The second agreement which was prepared by Barrister S. C. Ngwu of 31 Kingsway Road, G. R. A, Enugu had almost the trappings of the first safe for the enlargement of the house by adding some notable key political actors from the two local governments, nomination of Dr. R. U. Ezike as the candidate for the House of Reps and the none alignment to any political party.     The key signatories include Dr. Mike Ajogwu, Chief Gab Okafor, Dr. R. U. Ezike, Arc. Paul Eze, Mr. Edwin Isiani and Comrade D. N. K. Okweli from Uzo Uwani LGA. While Chief E. C. Igwe, Hon. Okey Itanyi, Hon. Ignatius Ishienyi, Mr. Matthias Ozor and Dr. Martins Okey were for Igbo Etiti LGA.
Curiously, The Starlite discovered that on May 10, 2011 and  indifference to the two agreements earlier written, there was a sharp disagreement among the people of the two LGAs during the thank you party organized by Princess Stella Ngwu for the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party at her Ukehe residence.
The minutes of the minutes recorded that day stressed that “Hon. Chuka Utazi from Uzo Uwani  in his speech recounted how Igbo Etiti and Uzo Uwani leaders made agreement in the past for rotation of the position of House of Representatives. He also said that the rotation agreement should be respected as it is the only way to ensure cordiality and peace. He capped it with a statement that the resounding vote given to Princess Mrs. Stella Ngwu was for a single tenure of four years and that in 2015, it will be the turn of Uzo Uwani to produce whoever will go for House of Representatives.
“As he continued to buttress this point, the council chairman, Igbo Etiti Local Government Area, Hon. Ogbonna Idike, interrupted him. Idike stood to stop Barr Utazi from making further speech. Idike told Barr. Utazi and Uzo Uwani people that even with the votes given to Princess Ngwu, that they (Uzo Uwani people) have taken Princess Ngwu to court in the person of Arch. Paul Eze. At this point, hell got loosened (sic) and some people of Uzo Uwani and Igbo Etiti had a shouting match …..”
“ The Uzo Uwani people said they were behind Bar Chuka Utazi in his speech though it might not be well timed……Both sides were at the verge of engaging in a physical combat when the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Eugene Odo stood up to calm down nerves….”
However, the issue of the agreements had often been interpreted outside the two main agreements which  apparently did not catch the tenure  explicitly to avoid ambiguity as some are arguing today.
But what was clear was that the political actors then in the two LGAs had an understanding to give to themselves the agreements so as to foster peace and cordiality.
The agreements were silent on which party or platform it shall  operate while it did not envisage that even those who were part of the agreement could decide to pursue their political careers on other party platforms.