28052021 - 20 Generals may go as Buhari names Yahaya new COAS

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 — 13
Ohanaeze to Constitution review committee:
Come up with decisions guided by love, not hatred
By Anayo Okoli
E NUGU—OHANAEZE
Ndigbo has urged the
Senate Committee on the
Review of the 1999 Constitution
to conclude their deliberations
with decisions
guided by love not hatred,
for the interest of Nigeria.
Addressing the Committee
sitting in Owerri, Imo State,
yesterday, the President General
of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
Prof. George Obiozor stated
that "what Ndigbo really
want is some form of internal
autonomy based on a restructured
Nigeria".
According to him, "categorically
speaking, we,
Ndigbo are of the view that
the federation of Nigeria
must be a union of equals
and the composite units
must have the ability to stand
without begging the centre
for survival. That is a federal
system of government
with its characteristics of decentralization
and devolution
of power among the federating
units.
"Therefore, in the context
of the imperatives and urgency
of restructuring Nigeria,
we should focus on getting
the right things done for
the right reasons and at the
right levels of government.
:Vanguard News
Indeed, what must be done
and no longer what to do is
to recognize that history has
an iron law of seriality of
which no country including
Nigeria can ask for exemption
or exceptionalism.
"In fact, some countries
are born with political tragedies
waiting to happen.
And our history shows that
Nigeria is one of them. All
signs of national tragedies
foretold are present today
infull force in Nigeria. It
would require a restructured
Nigeria to contain the
present forces and tendencies
towards a synchronized
national crises and even a
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
VISIT—From left: Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel
Uche; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Archbishop Okpoko, when a delegation
from the church paid a visit to the governor, at Government House, Umuahia, yestreday.
By Clifford Ndujihe
AWKA—IN pursuit of its
quest to win the November
6, 2021 governorship election
in Anambra State and selection
of credible presidential
and governorship standard
bearers in subsequent
elections in the country, the
All Progressives Congress,
APC, has established a dedicated
forum in all states of the
federation.
“Inaugurating the Anambra
state chapter of the APC Forum
for Credible Candidates
in Awka, yesterday, the forum’s
National Chairman,
Chief Uche Okorie, charged
the executive to spread the
message of “Next Level for
better Nigeria” to all the
nooks and crannies of the
state.
“Okorie who was represented
by Mazi Ogbonnia Onu, a
possibility of national disintegration.
"Therefore as national
leaders, we must learn the
lessons of history that in societies
where truth comes
last, tragedy comes first.
And that the perennial problem
or continuous dilemma
in Nigerian politics has always
revolved around the
issues of justice, equity and
fairness.
"As I have said several
times, throughout history,
those denied justice have
had no interest in peace. We
would expect you at the end
of this exercise in the interest
of the nation, its unity and
ANAMBRA 2021: APC launches ‘Operation
Takeover’, inaugurates candidates’ forum
key official at the party’s national
headquarters, in his inaugural
address urged the
members, especially the state,
council and ward executives
to close ranks with other party
officials to fortify the Forum
and mobilise the electorate
to deliver the party at the
governorship poll.
“His words: “This forum is
geared towards activating
and buoying the membership
base of the party in the South-
East geo-political zone towards
the 2023 presidential
election. It’s only an overwhelming
voting support for
the party that would see the
party and her candidates
through in all the elections.
““The National Headquarters
want us to work with APC
in the states as support groups.
The party will ensure members
of this forum interfaces
with all the governorship and
presidential aspirants with a
view to choosing the best.
“Therefore, as the election
in Anambra state draws near,
I urge our members as well as
APC supporters in the state to
close ranks.''
“The Anambra state Chairman
and Coordinator of the
forum, Chief Barnabas Atuewuru
while accepting the
task on behalf of his executive
assured that they were committed
towards ensuring landslide
victory for the party in
all subsequent polls so as to
hoist APC flag in Awka Government
House.
He said they were looking
forward to interfacing with all
the aspirants and to work collectively
with whoever emerges
as the candidate.
“The executive was formally
inaugurated and provided
with appointment letters and
identity cards.
progress, to conclude with
decisions guided by love
and not by hatred; and guided
by our collective hopes
and not by our fears.
"Accordingly, for many Nigerians
and groups, the
1999 constitution has left
them with feeling like a
caged lion over their relative
capacities to develop
their individual potentials,
states and zones.
"Therefore to many of
these citizens across the
country, states and zones, restructuring
Nigeria will be
equivalent to releasing the
lion from the cage and it can
defend itself".
Anti-open grazing: Ikpeazu restates
commitment to enforcing law
U MUAHIA—ABIA
State Governor, Dr.
Okezie Ikpeazu, has restated
the commitment of
his administration to the
strict enforcement of the
anti-open grazing law already
passed by the State
House of Assembly.
Ikpeazu, who was addressing
a delegation of
the Prelate of the Methodist
Church Nigeria, His
Eminence, Dr. Samuel
Uche, yesterday, at Government
House, Umuahia,
said the move was in
“response to the excesses
of criminal herdsmen
terrorizing our people
and destroying our farmlands,”
assuring that
"plans were underway to
flush the criminal herdsmen
out from our forests.”
The governor, who restated
the commitment of
his administration to the security
of lives and property
of Abians, described as worrisome
the absence of anyone
from the South East
region of the country leading
any of the several outfits
that make up the security
architecture of Nigeria,
saying that while the South
East region is a direct victim
of the activities of criminal
herdsmen and other
sundry security challenges,
nobody from the region is
part of the highest decision
making body when it comes
to security.
Earlier in his speech, the
Prelate of the Methodist
Church Nigeria, His Eminence,
Dr. Samuel Uche,
said that he is an advocate
of a Nigeria with true federalism,
devoid of marginalization
of any region.
Uche, who also expressed
support for the ban on open
grazing by the Southern
Governors, condemned in
its totality the wantom destruction
of lives and property
of Nigerians especially
Christians in the north.
The prelate was accompanied
by the Archbishops of
Umuahia and Okigwe
Archdioceses, Most Rev.
Chibuzo Opoko and Most
Rev. Emem Bassey, as well
as the bishops of Nneochi,
Isuikwuato, Uturu and
Ihube.
Mentorship: 7 Enugu youths head
to US for scholarship studies
By Anayo Okoli
ENUGU—FOLLOWING the
recent mentorship programme
unveiled by the administration of
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of
Enugu State through the State
Scholarship and Education Loans
Board (ESSELB), admissions and
scholarships have been secured
with full funding for seven youths
of the state into some of the best
universities in the United States
of America (USA).
Presenting the beneficiaries to
Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government
House, Enugu, Dr. Kelechi
Ugwuanyi, on behalf of the Council
of Mentors, Enugu State Scholarship
and Education Loans Board,
disclosed that the seven successful
candidates in the pilot work are
scheduled to commence their studies
in the United States of America
in August 2021.
Dr Ugwuanyi explained that
three candidates: Nnamdi Christian
Okey, Raphael O. Ogbodo and
‘Awani supporting Okowa's
vision for Delta'
By Urowayino
Jeremiah
ASABA—CHAIRMAN of
Southern Nigeria Peace
Movement, SNPM, Mr. Wale
Nice, has commended the Senior
Special Assistant to the governor
of Delta State on Youths and Community
Development, Comrade
Esimaje Vincent Awani, for what
he described as his efforts at ensuring
that Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa's vision for Delta is realized.
Nice said this in a statement
made available to Vanguard.
The statement reads:"The outstanding
SSA who has contributed
massively to the youths,
communities and the state at
large is still in the business of
touching lives. The SSA has won
numerous awards for contribut-
Okezie
Ukagwu for
Burial
Chief Okezie Ukagwu,
62, of Ahaba-Ukwu
Autonomous Community,
Ikwuano LGA of Abia State is
dead after a brief illness in
Houston Texas on February 8,
2021.
Burial holds tomorrow at
Chief Ukagwu’s compound,
Umuete, Ahaba-Ukwu, Abia
State, to be officiated by
United Evangelical Church,
Ahaba-Oloko-Ahiaeke
Superintendency at Ahia
Orie-Ukwu Market Square.
He is survived by his wife,
children, and other relatives.
ing towards a better society.
He is the CEO of GT Stitches
who designed the Nigerian Super
Eagles attire which was rated
the best by a world fashion magazine
GQ in the 2018 World Cup.
"He was appointed an ambassador
of Igbinedion University
Okada for making the Nation
proud.
He is the immediate past president
of the Itsekiri National Youth
Council Worldwide and his contribution
still speaks volume till
date.
As the youth leader, he was the
first to endorse Governor Okowa
and His deputy, Kingsley Otuaro,
for a second tenure. In his
speech that fateful day he said
"On this note, we hereby endorse
the revalidation of Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa's mandate as the
best choice amongst every candidate
vying for the governorship
position".
Constitution review: Jewish community
seeks Judaism Pilgrims Board
By Etop Ekanem
THE JEWISH Community in
Nigeria has called on the Federal
Government to establish Judaism
Pilgrim Board to take care
of the spiritual needs of no fewer
Uchechukwu Grace Akporere (Nee
Ugboka) secured admissions and
scholarships to study at the University
of Iowa, USA for five years while
the remaining four candidates, Chinwieke
Cosmas Eze, Amarachukwu
P. Onoh, Obinna H. Ozioko and
Bonaventure Odeke, also got admissions
and scholarships to study at
North Carolina State University,
University of Buffalo, Portland State
University and University of Utah,
respectively, also for a period of five
years.
He revealed that the worth of
the seven scholarships in naira is
N616,461,750, noting that “this
would save the state a huge
amount of money while promoting
her image nationally and internationally”.
The Council therefore appreciated
Gov. Ugwuanyi for the mentorship
programme, stressing that
“our intention is to raise a group of
youths that will take over the leadership
of the state in the next twenty
years”.
than six million members in
Nigeria.“Chief Arthur-Regis
Odidika, National President of Judaism
Fellowship Initiative of Nigeria,
JFI, made the call in Enugu
at the public hearing on the
proposed alterations of the 1999
Constitution.“Odidika also appealed
to the National Assembly
to alter the 1999 Constitution
(as amended) to stop electoral
matters from being held on
Saturdays.
“He said the conduct of population
census should not be held
on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,
which are known worship
days for major religions in
Nigeria.“He said no fewer than
20 million Nigerians, including
the Jews, Nigerian Sabbath
Keepers and the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church were denied
their right to freedom of Sabbath
worship due to political activities
on Saturdays.
Akemu for
burial
Madam
Edkjebare
Akemu (Nee
Akusuwho) of Okurekpo in
Ethiope East Local Government
Area of Delta State is dead.
Body leaves St. Francis
mortuary to her resident, Orude
Street, Okurekpo tomorrow.
Funeral discourse followed by
interment by 10:00 am.
Reception at Onude Town
Hall Grand Okurekpo in Ethiope
East Local Government Area of
Delta State.