Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Felix Odimegwu has said that though people are showing interest, and are going further to appreciate ongoing efforts, the Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is yet to fully role out people-oriented programmes in the environment sector.

Speaking when he received award as “Ambassador of Development and Environmental Sustainability” from Freenews Magazines, a Port Harcourt-based publication, Engineer Odimegwu, who dedicated the award to Governor Soludo, said more trees will be planted in the bid to make the state environment clean, green and sustainable.

He said his team at the ministry only played assigned roles that helped make positive impacts in the sector, adding that though alot still needs to be done, the award can only spur them to rededicate themselves to achieving Governor’s set agenda.

The Environment Commissioner, who described media as partners in progress, urged them to continue in constructive engagement for the good of the people.

Earlier while presenting the award, the Chairman of Editorial board of Freenews Magazine, Mr. Obinna Mbonu said it is part of the duties of the media to defend democracy, and to ensure that political leaders delivery on promises made to the masses.

He said that Anambra State has changed from being a refuse dump site, and now has a clean and green environment under the Commissioner, urging him to keep it on, and for others to emulate him in driving the policies of the Soludo administration.

Earlier, Mr. Mbonu had equally presented “Ambassador of Development and Community Democracy” to the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, saying that the Commissioner has been instrumental in entrenching democracy and maintaining peace in Anambra communities.

Commissioner Nwabunwanne, who also dedicated the award to Governor Soludo, promised to do more to ensure lasting peace in Anambra communities; part of the objectives of the Soludo administration.

The people of Isuaniocha community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have rejected their newly elected Traditional ruler, Barrister Mpuorah Ngini, over persistent land disputes in the area.

Staging a peaceful protest at Government House Awka, the Isuaniocha indigenes lamented said the community does not need any Traditional ruler at the moment; until peace, fairness and justice are restored in the community.

The protesters who carried placards with various inscription, such as; Governor Soludo, please listen to our cry, we don’t need Igwe now, Isuaniocha community need peace not Igwe, nobody vote or elected the Igwe, we are here for peace and not fight, also accused the state Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anara, of sponsoring crisis in the community, Awka North LGA and beyond.

They asked Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to sack Chief Anara as Commissioner and replace him with men of integrity available in the LGA.

Sources said the protest by the people of Isuaniocha was as a result of the controversy surrounding the emergence of a traditional ruler of the community, who was on Monday given certificate of recognition by Governor Soludo.

Speaking further to newsmen shortly after presenting their protest letter to the government, the Acting President General of the community, Fred Chukwuma Egwunwa, insisted that the state government should withdraw the certificate from Barrister Ngini at the moment, and focus on how to settle all the crisis befallen the community.

He said that the community has tradition in choosing their Igwe; not through electoral process, insisting that “It has never been done in Isuaniocha and it will never be done”.
“So the certificate of return given to Barrister Mpuorah Ngini be withdrawn in order to avoid throwing the community into state of anarchy”, the PG appealed.

Egwunwa noted that the crisis started from the sale of Isuaniocha Community Secondary School land in 2018, which was master-minded by one Hon. Comas Okonkwo and spearheaded by Chief Anara; from a neighboring Amanuke community, and that the crisis had led to wantom destruction of lives and properties in the community.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulubelu, who responded on behalf of the Government, assure the people that Government under Governor Soludo will urgently look into the matter to ensure that their demands are giving 100 percent consideration.

The SSG was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and community matters, Mr. Fidelis Nnazor.

The widow of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has intensified her call for the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Delivering an address at the Annual National Conference and Convention of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) in Dallas, Texas in USA, Bianca Ojukwu urged the southeast governors to come together and demand the release of the IPOB leader.

AVID is a congregation of American citizens; both men and women of Igbo extraction, who are serving military officers and veterans in various branches of the United States military.

Ojukwu, who was a special guest lamented that the initial nonchalant attitude of Igbo leaders towards Kanu’s illegal rendition and continued unlawful incarceration contributed greatly towards inflaming the tensions within the South East region today.

According to Ojukwu, the nonchalant attitude of the Igbo leaders also brought about the unforeseen consequences of opportunistic criminal elements not even remotely connected with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) coming into the picture.
“Today, they (opportunistic criminal elements) are masquerading as freedom fighters to perpetuate the most heinous crimes in South Eastern Nigeria.”

“It is only when the leaders in Igboland rise up, jettison their perceived conspiracy of silence and confront the truth will there be the slightest possibility of healing and recovery from the unfortunate condition which Igboland currently finds itself in.

“The onerous task of confronting the Leviathan can only start when we come to terms with the fact that it is the neglect of the leadership in Igboland to effectively highlight and address the blatant marginalization of Ndigbo through the years that created the vacuum which led to the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu, and then proceed to make the necessary amends.”

A group known as Rural Community Development Outreach (RCDO) has warned against plot to blackmail state governors, with the intention to highjack from them the 5 billion naira subsidy palliative announced for states by President Bola Tinubu.

Recall that the President had announced disbursement of the funds to states to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal by his government.

RCDO, in a press statement, however said it has uncovered plans by some people to highjack the funds from governors, while also cajoling them to submission through blackmail and unfavourable media reports.

The statement signed by the group’s Nigerian Coordinator, Mr Ikenna Ellis Ezenekwe, and Secretary, Mr Danjuma Othman Mohammed, said the move will impoverish the rural people who the funds are meant to pull out of poverty.

“As the nation witnesses an inspiring shift towards rural development and agricultural revitalization, the looming threat to the equitable distribution of the recently announced N5billion palliative has set off alarm bells.

“The N5billion palliative, a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention program to mitigate the impact of the oil subsidy removal, is now a pawn in the hands of political power-brokers.

“Our intelligence reveals a troubling pattern where seasoned political operatives are leveraging their influence to arm twist state governors into parting with the funds.

“Those who dare to stand against this coercion and refuse to succumb to the pressure of sharing the N5billion with political cronies and godfathers are being confronted with threats of media manipulation through foreign-based online newspapers, beyond the reach of Nigeria’s legal jurisdiction.”

RCDO called on Nigerian governors to remain resilient, and resist any attempt by power brokers in their states to take what belongs to the masses.

It mentioned states like Anambra, Bauchi, Borno and Adamawa as some of the states that have started taking actions to rescue their people by marshalling out policies to channel their state’s 5 billion naira into agricultural incentives and infrastructural amenities.

The group said if the plot to highjack the funds works, the ordinary citizens and rural communities of the affected states stand to lose the most.

“With over 133 million Nigerians already languishing below the poverty line, there is no room for self-serving politicians to interrupt this trajectory towards inclusive development. These are crucial times that demand unwavering patriotism from all Nigerians.

“We call on the governors, especially Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State who are already being attacked to resist them, and work for the benefits of the people.”