In a public statement released on his personal twitter page , the former Chieftain of Labour Party – Val Ozigbo announced his resignation from labour party . The full statement reads:
”A NEW CHAPTER: A BOLD STEP FOR ANAMBRA’S FUTURE
My Dear Ndi Anambra,
A few moments ago, at a State Executive Committee meeting of the Labour Party in Awka, in Anambra State, I formally submitted my resignation letter to my ward’s Chairman.
My unwavering commitment to the greater vision for our state guides this decision. Before this, His Excellency Peter Obi was duly informed of my decision as a mark of my deep respect for his leadership and the principles we have shared on this journey. I equally notified the National Chairman.
At every defining moment in history, our choices shape the future we dream of. Today, as I take a new step in my journey of service, I do so with an unshakable resolve, a clear vision, and the unwavering belief that Anambra’s best days are ahead of us.
I joined politics not for personal ambition but because I believe in the boundless potential of our people. I believe in a leadership that is compassionate, that inspires, and that truly serves the people. That mission has not changed; it has only become stronger.
Recent events have made one thing clear: the time has come for us to build something new, something bold, something that speaks to the hopes and aspirations of every Anambra son and daughter.
That is why, after deep reflection and broad consultations, I have chosen to take a different path, one that is not about party lines, but about our people. About progress. About a movement that will bring real transformation to our great state.
Let me be clear: This is not a moment of uncertainty. It is a moment of celebration. A moment of renewed strength. And a moment of boundless possibilities. To those who believe in this vision, stand firm. To those who have walked this journey with me, stay resolute. Because what lies ahead is bigger, brighter, and more powerful than anything we leave behind.
Our work is just beginning. The fire for a better Anambra burns stronger than ever. And together, we will rise, we will build, and we will win.
This is our moment. Ka Anambra Chawapu!” the statement concluded
MESSAGE DELIVERED TO THE WORLD IGBO CONGRESS BY BARRISTER EMEKA EMEKESIRI ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 3RD QUARTER BOARD / HOD MEETING THIS 5TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2020
1 Introduction
2 What Igbo People want and how to achieve it
3 Putting our House in Order
(a) The Rebellious Children
(b) The aborted New Ohanaeze
4 The Goal of the Igbo nation
( a) Aburi Accord Rejection: The hidden truth
( b) The six geopolitical zones: Unveiling a hidden truth
( c ) Where do we go from here
(d) Lets develop our land
(e)Truth about our citizenship and indigenous status
5. Brief Profile of Barr Emeka Emekesiri
1. Introduction:
(1) I express my gratitude to the Leadership of the World Igbo Congress for this invitation to speak at the 3rd Quarter Board / HOD Meeting today. My name is Emeka John Chigozie Emekesiri, from Okwara Unegbu Village, Amucha, Njaba Local Government Area, in the Orlu Senatorial District, Imo State. By professional training and qualifications, I am a Barrister & Solicitor, Estate Surveyor & Valuer, Management Consultant and a Minister of God.
(2) In the struggle for self-determination of the Biafran people, I am the founder, originator and vision bearer of the movement of Indigenous People of Biafra established by the authority of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra under the leadership of the late Igbo icons: His Royal Majesty, His Lordship, the Honourable Justice Eze Ozobu OFR; Dr Dozie Ikedife OON; Brig Gen Joe Achuzia; and Chief Barr Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu. Although these founding fathers have joined our ancestors, the struggle for self-determination continues on the same foundation they laid. Today, I will speak on what the Igbo people want and how they can achieve what they want.
2. What the Igbo People Want and How to Achieve it:
(1) The Igbo people are known to be very friendly and hardworking believing in fairness, equity and justice. They believe in the concept of reward for hardwork and not reward for laziness. In the traditional Igbo society, we had no beggar and it was a shameful thing to be a beggar. The Igbo people are daring and adventurous, taking risks to succeed where others fail.
(2) They love themselves and also love strangers even more than they love their own brothers. Anywhere they settle down in this world, they make the place to look like their own home. They contribute in the development of their places of habitation in all parts of the world.
(3) They know that the Government in Nigeria has failed them at all levels and therefore they do not rely or depend on the Government but on their individual and community efforts. However, some of us have observed that the individualistic tendency is getting to an unacceptable extremism contrary to the Igbo Philosophy of “Igwe Bu Ike”, “Ike Otu Onye Adighi Ire”; “Anyukoo Mamiri Onu, Ogbaa Ufufu”. These are Igbo Philosophies that preach the power of unity and synergy of teamwork. This is the strength we are lacking now and which we must regain in order to succeed as a nation not as individuals.
3. Putting our House in Order by Effective Leadership and Followership in the Igbo Nation:
(1) The psyche of the Igbo society was destroyed after the war between Biafra and Nigeria. Before the war, there was orderliness and effective governance in the whole Igbo nation by the Elders of the land right from the Family Head to the Community Head. If you brought a large sum of money home without a visible source of income, the Family Head or Elders of the Village would invite you to explain how you made the money. If your source or sources of wealth and riches were questionable, they would ostracise you from the Village Meeting. They believed that good name was better than silver and gold. Their philosophy was “Ezi Afa Ka Ego”. The youths who misbehaved were brought to the Village Square and flogged as a deterrent to others.
(2) There was a strong foundation of godliness, morality, honesty, integrity, fear and respect for elders and constituted authorities in the land. Thus, there was orderliness anchored on effective leadership and followership in the Igbo Nation. The Igbo Union was the powerbase of the Igbo Nation where decisions were made in the interest of the entire Igbo people in Nigeria. Today, the youths of the present generation have lost their bearing. They have decided to wander in the wilderness like sheep without a shepherd even though the old shepherds from the old generation are still alive and willing to guide the youths to the Promised Land. Unfortunately, most of the youths of today have become unteachable and incorrigible.
(3) The major problem in the Igbo Nation now is the spirit of rebellion among the youths. In fact, almost all Igbo organizations have split into many factions because of insubordination and rebellion. I have a bitter experience on this issue. When I came into the Biafra Struggle, the first thing I did was to create an Organization under the Elders of the Land so that all the Biafran activists would be properly guided and protected. This was why I created the body known as INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA to represent all the remnants of the Biafrans not consumed in the war which Dr Dozie Ikedife abbreviated to IPOB in 2013.
(4) Even though I created the IPOB movement, I did not make myself the Leader but only described myself as the Solicitor for Indigenous People of Biafra because I was the person who filed the case between Biafra and Nigeria. The Honourable Justice Eze Ozobu was the Leader. Dr Ikedife was the Deputy Leader. Col Achuzia was the Secretary-General. In short, the Elders were in charge and the youths were obedient to their Elders. It was a glorious movement respected by the Nigerian Authorities.
(5) Unfortunately, the person we put in our Media Department, who came from MASSOB and joined us, introduced the spirit of rebellion and insubordination in the Movement. We put him in charge of our Media Department called Radio Biafra. We did not know that he had an ulterior motive. He betrayed us and announced on the Radio that he had dissolved the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra and had become the leader and founder of Indigenous People of Biafra. He accused our Elders of being traitors and saboteurs. The Elders ostracised him and he created his own faction of Indigenous People of Biafra and registered it in the Company House in London as Indigenous People of Biafra Ltd. The same spirit of rebellion followed him and after some years, some of his followers also broke away and created their own faction. Now, there are many factions of IPOB.
(6) The rebellious children did not stop there. They wanted to do the same thing to Ohanaeze Ndigbo. They applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja and registered Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly as a corporate organization. They announced that the original Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not registered. They described the original Ohanaeze Ndigbo as “Ohanaeze Ndioshi”. Unfortunately for them, they thought that the Nigerian Law is like the British Law. Their coup against Ohanaeze Ndigbo failed and their certificate was withdrawn by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
(7) They did not know that Customary Law is part of the Nigerian Legal System and Customary Institutions are not registered. In fact, the major characteristic of customary law is that it is unwritten. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a customary institution that does not exist on a piece of paper called Certificate of Registration. The Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Community know this and respect the Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. It is a customary institution that remains valid even if Nigeria disintegrates just like the Nzuko Umunna of my village. I will not be surprised that one of these rebellious children may someday go to the Company House and register Nzuko Umunna Ltd and obtain a certificate of registration!
(8) For the Igbo Nation to move forward and achieve its goals, we must have effective leadership and followership. This is why we have made it clear that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the APEX Igbo Organization. Every other Igbo organization must become an affiliate to Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The membership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is automatic by birth just like the membership of the Nzuko Umunna of my village. You do not need registration to become a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
(9) Without disciplinary measures, there will be no effective leadership and followership. The rebellious children are emboldened by the lack of controls and punishments in the Igbo National Politics. They may think that nothing can be done to them. They may have riches and wealth and connections in high places but a pronouncement of ostracism by the Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo against them will certainly subject their names to generational shame and opprobrium. I therefore advise the Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to pronounce ostracism against the rebellious coup plotters as a deterrent to others. There must be discipline and orderliness in the Igbo Nation otherwise we shall not achieve our goal.
4. The Goal of the Igbo Nation:
(1) The Igbo Nation believes in the concept of “Egbe Bere Ugo Bere” (Let the Eagle perch and let the Hawk also perch). We believe that the world is large enough to accommodate everybody. In the same way, we believe that Nigeria is large enough to accommodate everybody but if we are not accepted and accorded the same rights and privileges as given to other people, we shall leave Nigeria based on our philosophy that “Onye ajuru aju anaghi aju onwe ya” (He that is rejected does not reject himself). Therefore, the Igbo Nation held the Mkpoko Igbo Conference in 1994 and drew a roadmap to restructure Nigeria and emancipate all the people of Nigeria from the institutionalised injustice and neo-colonialism entrenched in the Nigerian polity. The Conference was held in preparation for the Sani Abacha Constitutional Conference scheduled for the following year 1995.
(2) During the Conference, the Igbo Intelligentsia made a constructive critique of the Aburi Accord and why it failed. I am aware that many people have blamed General Yakubu Gowon for the failure to implement the Aburi Accord. Yes, the buck stopped at his desk. He was ultimately responsible for the violation of the Aburi Accord but many people who are crying today joined in the betrayal and subversion of the will of the people expressed in the Aburi Accord.
(3) Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, in his book, “On a Darkling Plain”, Pages 61 – 62, said as follows: “When news came that general agreement had been reached at a cordial meeting in Aburi, there was general elation. Ojukwu returned and spoke in glowing terms of Aburi. He had virtually achieved his confederal aims; if the decisions of Aburi were implemented, there was little doubt that peace would return to Nigeria. The generality of Ibos were cock-a-hoop about Aburi- it was inconceivable that an Ibo would go to bargain with Hausa and fail to win. The non-Ibos, on the other hand, were dismayed: it looked as though the nation had sold them to the Ibos. In Rivers circles particularly, there was great agitation. Some showed their dismay openly”.
(4) The Aburi Accord was signed on 5th January 1967. According to Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, the non-Ibos were not happy with the Aburi Accord which created a confederation of regional governments. In the book, he told the story of how he took some of the chiefs in the riverine area and went to Lagos and defected to the Nigerian side and told General Gowon that the non-Ibos in Eastern Nigeria did not want to be joined with the Ibos in the same region and did not want Biafra.
(5) Consequently, General Gowon violated the Aburi Accord and divided the Eastern Region into three on 27 May 1967 by creating three States, namely: East Central State with headquarters at Enugu; Rivers State with headquarters at Port Harcourt; and South Eastern State with headquarters at Calabar. Three days later, on 30 May 1967, Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra. This was a wrong move in political calculations because the region had already been divided three days earlier. It was a master stroke by General Gowon. The Rivers State and South Eastern State had been given their own separate political identities three days before Biafra was declared. The whole Eastern Region was no longer one entity on 30 May 1967.
(6) Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa said that their rejection of Biafra and rejection of being together with the Ibos in the same region was based on their fear that the Igbo people would dominate over them. In fact, he used a phrase that the Nigerian Government had sold them to the Ibos as slaves by signing the Aburi Accord.
(7) The Igbo Intelligentsia discovered that the same fear of Igbo domination has remained with and tormented the non-Ibos in the Eastern Region. They also found that the North uses the people of the Middle Belt against the Igbo people in political and military strategies. Therefore, the Igbo Intelligentsia decided to divide the North and the South to create a balance of power in political equation. They invented two imaginary geographical cardinal points known as “South-South” and “North Central”. Those in the riverine of the Eastern Region they called South-South and those in the Middle Belt they called North-Central. Then, they separated the Fulani and the Kanuri into North West and North East.
(8) In all, the Igbo Intelligentsia created the six geopolitical regions instead of the four regions contained in the Aburi Accord. They proposed that the Presidency of Nigeria shall rotate among the six regions turn by turn. The plan is that each of the regions will have a sense of belonging in Nigeria as a self-governing region within Nigeria and may in future attain the status of an outright independent nation by the rule of law. The Biafra Independence Project is planned to be achieved in three phases: Phase 1 is the Awareness Creation Phase. The Phase 2 is the Regional Autonomy and Phase 3 is the outright independence in future.
(9) The Igbo Intelligentsia delegated Dr Alex Ekwueme, Dee Sam Mbakwe and Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu to represent us in the Abacha Constitutional Conference in 1995 and present the Igbo Master Plan. Dr Ekwueme made a wonderful presentation that got everybody captivated and convinced that the Igbo Master Plan was the best for all Nigerians. In the end, General Abacha was very impressed and approved the Igbo Master Plan. The structure of six geopolitical regions was accepted. The rotational presidency was accepted but the North said it would rotate between North and South instead of rotating among the six geopolitical regions. Their game plan is that when it comes to the turn of the south, they would support a candidate from South-South or South West but never the South East.
(10) Where do we go from here? Some are asking for Igbo Presidency while others are asking for Biafra. We are not really very keen on pushing for Igbo Presidency but for the Restructuring of Nigeria into Regional Governments in line with the Igbo Master Plan drawn in 1994. However, if they decide to give the Presidency to an Igbo man, we shall accept it but continue with our Master Plan. We have an example in the United Kingdom where Mr Gordon Brown from Scotland was made the Prime Minister of The Great Britain and Scotland still continued pushing for Independence.
(11) At the moment, we want to develop Biafraland to look like Dubai. Some people think that Dubai is a country. Some think that Taiwan is a country. Some people even think that London is a country. Most of the people agitating for Biafra do not have the correct mind-set. They are thinking about going to their Promised Land without understanding that we are already in our Promised Land. We are not like the Israelites who travelled for 40 years and fought wars for 40 years before reaching to their Promised Land. In our own case, we did not lose our Territory. We were not annihilated. We have argued in Court in the case between Biafra and Nigeria that what we lost after the war was our sovereignty and not our indigenous identity as a people.
(12) Therefore, we are Nigerians by citizenship but Biafrans by indigenous identity until we gain independence from Nigeria. We are the remnants of Biafraland that were not consumed in the war. This is why I coined our name as Indigenous People of Biafra. We want to develop our Biafran Region to become like Taiwan, London, Dubai, etc, so that the whole world will be coming to Biafraland for business and tourism. This is the Biafra Project Phase II. From Regional Autonomy we can push for outright independence in future. This is the Igbo Master Plan for the emancipation of the Igbo Nation. Everything has a process. It is a long-term plan. Patience is required.
You can visit our website at www.ipobgovernment.org and www.mobinbiafra.org for more information; Email: info@ipobgovernment.org
Thank you for listening to me. God bless you.
Emeka Emekesiri, Esq.
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BRIEF PROFILE OF EMEKA EMEKESIRI Esq
Profile of Emeka Chigozie Emekesiri, Esq
Emeka Chigozie Emekesiri, Esq. (formerly called Emeka Adolf Chigozie), is a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Solicitor of England & Wales, Registered Estate Surveyor & Valuer, Professional Management Consultant, Minister of God and Founder of Christ The Rock Community. He was trained at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus; Imo State University Owerri; Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt; and the College of Law, London, United Kingdom.
He is a member of the Law Society of England & Wales; Member of the Nigerian Bar Association; Member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers; Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management; Member of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy.
He is versatile and multi-talented: the first Estate Surveyor & Valuer in Africa to invent new concepts and mathematical formulae in Valuation Science called Mekadolf Formulae; the first Valuation Surveyor in the world to invent the Dutiable Value (DV) Formula for computation of stamp duties, estate duties and capital gains tax; the first Valuation Surveyor in the world to invent the Life Productivity Value (LPV) Formula to assess the value of the life of a human being killed or injured by accident for compensation purposes.
His Formulae have been approved by the Estate Surveyors & Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) and made compulsory in all the Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics for the study of Estate Surveying & Valuation.
In his work on the“The Road Map to Peace and Development in the Niger Delta” presented to the Nigerian Government in 2006, he created the formula that formed the basis of the Petroleum Industry Bill which has been passed into law by the National Assembly. He is the Principal of the Law Firm in London called Jaycee Gold Solicitors which can be found at www.jayceegold.com and the Law Firm called Mekadolf Chambers in Nigeria.
Other Works & Inventions of Emeka Chigozie Emekesiri, Esq
His works and inventions include:
1. Mekadolf Formulae for the Control and Regulation of Real Estate Practice: The Valuation Approach. Published 1999 & 2015: ISBN 978 – 027 – 688 – 2
2. Deliverance of African Christians, Published 2001: ISBN 978-027-687-4
3. The Road Map to Peace and Development in the Niger Delta: (Research Work Published in 2006 and Submitted to the Federal Government of Nigeria which formed the Basis of the Petroleum Industry Bill to resolve the Niger Delta Crisis in Nigeria)
4. Biafra or Nigerian Presidency- What the Ibos Want: Published 2012: ISBN: 978-0-9573250-0-5, available on the Amazon Bookshop.
5.
Enugu – The Enugu State Government has moved to actualise its initiative of the state being net exporter of cocoa and its value-chain derivatives as it developed a pilot plantation of 20 hectares.
The move is meant to push Gov Peter Mbah’s Cocoa Initiative meant to make Enugu State a net exporter of cocoa and other international cash crops within a few years in order to grow the state’s GDP from $4 billion to $30 billion.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, told newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu that the pilot plantation of 20 hectares is currently located in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.
“In line with Gov Peter Mbah’s vision, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation is in partnership with a private investor, WhiteRabbit Agro Limited, to develop the Gov. Peter Mbah’s Cocoa Initiative and make the state a mass cocoa producer and processor.
“The state ministry would also push to spread the initiative to five other Local Government Areas surrounding Nkanu East LGA due to their similarities in topography and soil type.
“We are reaching out to local government areas within that topography and soil type zone such as Nkanu West, Isi-Uzo, Oji-River, Aninri and Agwu to at least do a pilot of 100 hectares cocoa plantation each.
“We are pursuing it with the vigor it deserves and we want to ensure that we encourage our farmers to take to cocoa farming and have large cocoa plantations of their own,” he said.
The commissioner said that its project partners, WhiteRabbit Agro Limited, are already developing 100,000 High yielding and early producing Cocoa variety obtained from Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN, Ibadan).
Ubru said that the cocoa nursery is located at Amaechi Idodo community in Nkanu East Local Government Area.
“One tonne of cocoa today in the international market goes for USD$10,500, in naira value is about N16.3 million.
“His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, gave a mandate to the ministry, when we came on board; to develop cocoa farming and we are head-on doing it and collaborating with all stakeholders to do that,” he said.
The commissioner said that personally, he does cocoa and palm nurseries in his farm presently, adding that it would soon transform to large hectares of cocoa and palm plantations.
“This is a welcomed development and an opportunity to open up a great agro-business opportunity to Enugu State residents. Our people should take to agriculture, make their money and grow the economy of the state.
“So, it is clear that the $30 billion His Excellency has earmarked as a GDP growth target for the state is very close to us.
“With all these developments in agriculture and agro-industrialisation, I sincerely believe we will surpass the target and even do more for the development of the state,” he said.
The commissioner said that his “ministry is open to collaboration” with any individual, corporate organisation, cooperative society, multinationals and government that want to participate in the cocoa initiative and any other agricultural practice in the state.
“The ministry is open to provide guidance, assistance, agricultural extension services as well as high-yield seedling of cocoa, palm, cashew and others.
“This is to ensure that our farmers get it right, contribute to the economy of the state and make their profit as well,” he said.
Ubru noted that there was ongoing work at the cargo section of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and when completed, it would get the state ready for export of quality, organic and fresh farm produce to any international destination.
The present crop of our politicians are suffering from mental poverty . That is why they use public offices to amass wealth for their children and grand children instead of developing projects that would lift millions out of poverty . Why should our present politicians prefer praise singing team to people who are trained to serve public interest . Below is what soldiers truncated and behold , we have a new set of political buccaneers. Ndubuisi GGM
By Obi Nwakanma
From 1970- 1979, the generation of the Igbo who had fought and funded the war, were not talking of marginalization. They took on the task of restoration. I remember the story the late Mbazulike Amaechi told me when I once visited him in Ukpor. At the end of the war, the Igbo business elite who had been in PH, and whose property had been forcibly acquired by the new government in Rivers state went to Asika to intervene. Asika sat with them and urged them to seek the intervention of the courts and make this a seminal case on the defense of Igbo property rights in Nigeria. He did not want to seem to put undue pressure in a very sensitive time on the government of Rivers state. The Igbo were being harassed and stopped from work and resuming their life in PH. Asika encouraged them to seek the legal benefits of Awolowo who was the most powerful politician in government at the time.
These Igbo businessmen met Awo, in Lagos, and after he heard them, Awo demanded that they go and pay 1 million pounds into his Chambers account, before he would could take on their plea. The Igbo business men asked Awo where he thought they could get one million pounds, having just come out of a devastating war. He said it was their business and dismissed them. The men later met in ZC Obi’s home, and after rounds and rounds of discussions, they agreed at ZC Obi’s urging, that they would no longer pursue the matter.
ZC Obi said, “ let us ge back to work. Let us send our young men back to work. We shall build Aba until it gets into Port Harcourt, and no one will know the difference.” And that was precisely what they set out to do, and were about accomplishing that feat up till 1987. By 1979, the Igbo were powerful enough to ge a serious factor in Nigerian politics. Between 1979-83, the Igbo were not talking about marginalization.
They were engaged in restoration . Mbakwe had asked Ihechukwu Madubuike as minister for education, to place as priority the establishment of another federal university in Igbo land. Thus FUTO in 1980. Between he and Jim Nwobodo, they launched an industrial policy that quickly turned the East once more into an active economic belt. They did not wait for the federal government. Imo state University and Anambra state university of Technology were the first state universities to be established under the state laws. I was reading the Imo State University Act that established the charter of the old Imo state university the other day, and I am still utterly impressed by the quality and precision of thought that went into organizing that university under the inimitable MJC Echeruo, one of Igbo lands sharpest minds of the 20th century. The same goes for ASUTHEC. Nwobodo went specifically to Harvard to make Prof Kenneth Dike to return to Enugu and establish ASUTHEC. Now, compare that Igbo, to this generation of the Akalogoli. Mbakwe took Shagari specifically to Ndiegoro, in Aba, wept publicly with dramatic impact , and forced Shagari to promise to establish the ecological fund to deal with places like Ndiegoro in Igbo land. He compelled Shagari to understand that Gas and Petroleum were abundant natural resources from Imo state, and that Imo deserved and must be given new shares/ consideration , if the federal did not want Imo to sue, and even begin to raise questions about the federal government’s s seizure of Eastern Nigerias oil and gas investments, like the PH refinery for which no compensation has even to this day, been paid. Mbakwe pushed the oil issue and said to Shagari that the proposed Petrochemical Plant must be located in Imo, otherwise he would begin to build the Imo Petrochemical Industries himself .
The grounds had been cleared by October 1983, and work started at the Imo Petrochemical Plant at Izombe by the time the military struck on Dec. 31, 1983. It was Buhari who later relocated that plant to Eleme. Mbakwe began the first Independent Power company with the Amaraku power station under Alex Emeziem at the Ministry of Utilities. The father of my high school buddy at the Government College Umuahia was the project manager who designed and installed the power station at Amaraku and had begun work at the Izombe Gas power station; all with engineers and technicians from the Imo state ministries of work and public utilities. They did not go to China to sign a contract. They just went to South Korea to procure the parts they designed and which they installed themselves! By 1981/2 most towns in Imo state had electricity under the Imo state Rural Electrification project. Same with the Five Zonal water project under the Mbakwe program. The project manager was Engineer Ebiringa. They did not go to China or America or wait for the federal government. 85% of the Imo Water project had been completed by the time the soldiers struck. There are still giant iron pipes buried underground in almost all the towns in the old Imo state under that project which was designed to give Imo the first constant, clean water of any state of Nigeria. Only a phase of the Owerri water project was completed by the time Mbakwe was kicked out of office, but even so, Owerri had the cleanest, most regular water of any city in Nigeria. Imo organized her public schools. Imo organized a first class public health system. My own father was commissioned under the Health Management board as the government’s Chief Health Statician, to conduct the first broad epidemiological survey of Imo state in 1982. I saw him at work. They were serious and professional men, who took their duties very seriously because they were highly trained. The Imo state civil service was possibly the finest civil service in West Africa; finer than the federal service, because they had a
highly selected and well trained pool of civil servants who delivered value to the people. They were not talking about marginalization. You may say what you like today about Jim Nwobodo, but he started the independent satellite newspaper In Enugu, which balanced the story coming out of Lagos. No one was talking about marginalization until Chuba Okadigbo, rightly used that word to decribe the way the federal military government of Nigeria was treating the Igbo, in terms of access to real power. There were not enough Igbo officers represented in the organograms of the military governments, and yes, that word was apt, in that period . But we have taken it too far, and turned it into an excuse for our intellectual and political indolence. The Igbo have waited for their comeuppance on Nigeria, but shit ain’t happening. Nigeria is moving on without us, for better or worse. We must now recalibrate and engage. Let us use the final gas in our tanks, all of us now, between 55-75 years, to complete the work of restoration which the last generation began but which we have abandoned because we dropped the ball. We may weep all we want and complain that Nigeria is unfair, but the universe is indifferent. I dare say, Nigeria actually has no capacity to marginalize the Igbo. We better stop marginalizing ourselves or risk our children and their children inheriting the slave’s mentality!! That’s the danger we court with this story of Igbo marginality, which is actually self imposed, and self indulgent!
Edwin Clark, former Federal Commissioner for Information and prominent South-South leader, has passed away at the age of 97.
Edwin Clark, former Federal Commissioner for Information and prominent South-South leader, has passed away at the age of 97.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader died on Monday night, according to a statement signed by Prof. C. C. Clark on behalf of the family.
“The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON on Monday 17th February, 2025. The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family,” the statement read.
His passing follows the recent death of Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo, who died at 96.
Afenifere chieftain and prominent politician, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has died at the age of 96.
Reports indicate that Chief Adebanjo passed away peacefully at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State.
His family has confirmed the news in a statement provided to the media on Friday.
The statement reads:
With a heart full of gratitude for a selfless life spent in the service of God, the nation and humanity, we announce the passing on of our beloved patriarch, Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo. He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025 at his Lekki, Lagos Nigeria home at the age of 96.”
“The foremost nationalist, elder statesman, distinguished lawyer, very distinct politician, apostle of true federalism, former organising secretary of Action Group and the national leader of Afenifere is survived by his 94 year-old wife, Chief Christy Ayo-Adebanjo, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“We will forever cherish his commitment to fighting for truth, equity and justice. His belief and struggle for a truly independent and progressive Nigeria was total and this he fought for until he breathed his last breath.”
Arrangements for his funeral are underway as the family is currently in conversations with relevant stakeholders and associates around the country.
Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious, a student of History and International Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has been expelled from the institution with immediate effect.
The expulsion follows a report from the Student Disciplinary Committee, which found Chimamaka guilty of assaulting a lecturer from the Department of Theater and Film Studies.
According to the report, Chimamaka’s actions were deemed a gross misconduct and a violation of the Students Disciplinary Regulations, particularly Regulation 4 (SDR).
The Ag. Vice-Chancellor, acting on behalf of the University Senate, approved the Committee’s recommendation for Chimamaka’s expulsion.
Chimamaka has been directed to vacate the University premises immediately and return any University property in her possession.
The expulsion takes effect immediately, and Chimamaka will no longer be recognized as a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
The Staff members of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university for alleged contract racketeering amounting to public procurement violation, fraud and financial crimes.
In a 27 January 2025 letter addressed to the EFCC Chairman, by Silas, Joseph Onu, Esq., counsel to the petitioners who have elected to remain anonymous, the EFCC was informed that a probe into the “dealings of the Ag. Vice Chancellor with her son and the various companies linked to Mr. Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka, will not only reveal multiple violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007, financial misappropriation and other heinous public financial crimes being perpetrated by the team, but will also expose other unknown fraudulent activities being perpetrated by the Ag. Vice-chancellor.”
The most part of the petition reads:
INTRODUCTION:
Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha is currently the Acting Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State (formerly known as Anambra State University) and since she assumed that office, which also automatically placed her as the chairman of the University’s Tenders Board, our clients have been witnesses of her reckless disregard for adherence to due process and a penchant for awarding contracts to her son – Mr. Nelson Omenugha and one Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka, who uses multiple companies all registered by him, blatantly. Our clients believe that an investigation into the dealings of the Ag. Vice Chancellor with her son and the various companies linked to Mr. Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka, will not only reveal multiple violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007, financial misappropriation and other heinous public financial crimes being perpetrated by the team, but will also expose other unknown fraudulent activities being perpetrated by the Ag. Vice-chancellor.
Our clients have diligently obtained some evidence of these abuses of public office and financial crimes through the splitting and awarding of contracts for personal gains. Each instance of such infractions is as detailed below:
RE: ALLOCATION FOR YEAR 2024 TETFUND SPECIAL HIGH IMPACT PROJECT INTERVENTION PHASE XIV 2024V/FXS13: DISBURSEMENT OF FIRST TRANCHE OF FUNDS. (annexure)
This intervention is for the sum of four billion naira (N4,000,000,000.00). This intervention was divided into (8) eight lots, which are for 4 constructions contract and 4 consultancy contracts. Attached herein are the evidence of award for contracts lots 1, 2 to Fibelle & Mibble Ltd. And lot 3 to Humblerock Ltd., they are marked accordingly annextures 1,2 and 3.
It is important to note that due process was not followed in splitting and awarding these contracts. The Ag. Vice-chancellor as chairman of the Tenders Board of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in cahoots with Mr. Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka – who poses as a contractor, violated the Procurement Act in the award of these contracts in the following ways:
There were no public notifications for expression of bids as required by the Public Procurement Act.
The 4 construction contracts and the 4 consultancy contracts were awarded to Fibelle & Mibble Ltd., Humblerock Ltd., FIDES ET RATIO Ltd., Field Mashal Integrated Engineering Concept Ltd. All registered to Mr. Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka. See the attached Corporate Affair Commission search reports attached as annextures 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Payments have been requested by one of the companies and approved by the Ag. Vice-chancellor. See the request for payment attached as annextures 8 and 9. (Our clients believe that the payments are prioritised and paid without delays)
At the time of these awards, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other related Anti-graft agencies were already prosecuting the said contractor. The attention of the Ag. Vice-chancellor was called to this information which was in the public domain, but she rebuffed it, because of her vested interest in the contract and the contractor. This is in violation of Part XIl s. 4 (a, b, c and e) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
2. STAFF BIOMETRIC CAPTURING EXERCISE
The contract for this staff biometric capturing exercise was awarded by the Ag. Vice-chancellor to IMPERIAL ASSOCIATE LIMITED of 7B OBA ADETONA STREET, ILUPEJU, LAGOS. See attached as annexture 10. This contract was actually awarded by the Ag. Vice-chancellor to her son, Nelson Omenugha in total disregard for conflict of interest. This contract violates Part XI (s. 10) and s. 12 (a, b, c. d, e, f. and g) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. This is an inactive company on the records of the Corporate Affairs Commission. An inactive company means that it has been denying the Government of the Federation taxes for decades. Yet public funds were fraudulently paid to this company.
3. THE UNIVERSITY GATE HOUSE, IGBARIAM CAMPUS
The University perimeter fence at the Igbariam campus collapsed since 2010. The Gatehouse was declared poorly executed in 2013 and the contractor – Mactonnel Associates was blacklisted by the University. However, in 2024, the Ag. Vice-chancellor and her son, embarked on a facelift of the gatehouse without the input of the University’s Director of Physical Planning and, without any valuation by the Council haven been done, as required by law. This gatehouse facelift, alleged to have been carried out by the Ag. Vice-chancellor’s son, Nelson Omenugha has gulped millions of naira ranging from N65m, (Sixty-five million) to N110m (One hundred and ten million naira). This contract violates Part XI (s. 10) and s. 12 (a, b, c, d, e, f, and g) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
4. SOLAR STREET LIGHTING IN THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AMAKU, AWKA
This contract awarded by the Ag. Vice-chancellor for the sum of N20m (Twenty Million naira) was executed in 2024 by her son, Nelson Omenugha. There was no valuation by the Director of Physical Planning nor was there a bid for the contract. This contract was in violation of Part XI (s. 10) and s. 12 (a, b, c, d, e, f, and g). Two batteries were procured with some solar panels. This project has never worked in the college with the students left in darkness. The contract sum was paid into the account of the Ag. Vice-chancellor’s son by the University. The Ag. Bursar will be able to provide proof of payment and account details.
5. B-ORIENT TABLE WATER
In 2024, the Ag. Vice-chancellor through her children took advantage of her office to enter a business transaction with the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, to sell only their family table water (KONCIO) within the entire University premises. KONCIO table water and KONCIOO Enterprises Ltd. has Kate Azuka Omenugha and her children as Persons with Significant Control of the companies, see attached annexture 11 and 12. This is in violation of Part XI (s. 10) and s. 12 (a, b, c, d, e, f, and g) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. Millions of naira of university funds were paid over to the Ag. VC’s companies under the contract. Furthermore, the University’s vehicles were deployed to the services of the private family business, and attendant expenses including fuelling and maintenance were borne by the university.
When University Council got wind of this gross violation of the procurement process, it directed the termination of the relationship and sale of the table water within the University. However, the Ag. Vice-chancellor in contravention of Part XI (s. 10) and s. 12 (a, b, c, d, e, f, and g) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, circumvented the Council directive and introduced another table water named B-ORIENT Table water and gave it monopoly of the water market within the University. A further investigation and petition by a staff to Council on behalf of the shop owners in the University minimart at the Igbariam campus, got Council to once again direct the stoppage of the sale of B-Orient Table water. But the Ag. Vice-chancellor, has persisted in the act of violation of the conflict-of-interest doctrine of the Public Procurement Act. Here again the company purportedly behind B-ORIENT Table water, ORIENT-WRITERS LIMITED of BLK 9 NEWSITE ABOR, OGBUNIKE, OYI LGA, AMA WA, ANAMBRA, is inactive and illegally operated according to the search report from the Corporate Affairs Commission, see attached annexture 13.
6. PRINTING OF STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARD
In 2024, the Ag. Vice-chancellor’s son, Nelson Omenugha instructed the Dean of Students Affairs Arch-Deacon Dr. Sunday Achebe to transfer to him the money meant for the printing of identity cards for students. The Dean transferred the sum of N4.5m (Four million, Five Hundred thousand naira) to the account of the Ag. Vice chancellor son, Nelson Omenugha. The identity card was neither printed nor the money refunded. It is alleged that the Ag. Vice-chancellor’s son comes to the Dean’s office every Friday evenings to collect huge stacks of money in Ghana-must-go bags. These are dues and service charges generated by the Students Affairs Directorate, that to be used for running cost of the student’s hostels and other student activities.
7. RE: YEAR 2023 TETFUND ANNUAL INTERVENTION (LOT), CONSTRUCTION OF DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING; PASSIONATE APPEAL TO CONSIDER PROJECT AUGMENTATION AS A RESULT OF INFLATION
The contract for the construction of Department of Architecture building was awarded to SOTTAM SYNERGY RESOURCES LTD On 21 July, 2023 which mobilized to site on the 13th September, 2023, with a completion duration of 48 weeks (One year). This contract was awarded at the cost of N414 million (Four Hundred and fourteen million naira) and the funds were made available promptly. The contractor completed 92 percent of the work and was to finish the job and take his remaining 15 percent payment from TETfund. However, when the Ag. Vice-chancellor visited the site; she saw the contract as an avenue to extort money from the university and colluded with the contractor to stop the work. She first proposed that the Contractor be paid N100 million (One Hundred Million naira) of the University’s money to enable him complete the job given and being paid for by TETfund.
This contractor has been working for TETfund and knows that TETfund does not pay variations in their contracts. That was why the contractor almost completed his job before the corrupt manipulations started. The University got a consultant and paid him to value what was needed to complete the contract and the Consultant got the sum of N48m (Forty-eight million). The University gratuitously paid the contractor N58m (Fifty-eight million naira). Yet the contractor was encouraged by the Ag. Vice-chancellor, not to return to site but demand for N100m (One Million naira) which she initially insisted the University must pay to the contractor. Annexure 8 is the company’s ludicrous request for variation and the reasons given. These actions of the Ag. Vice-chancellor and the contractor are in violation of Part XIl s. 4(a, b, c, f and g) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. The appeal for augmentation is attached and marked annexture 14.
CONCLUSION AND PRAYER:
Going by the above submissions with verifiable documentary proof of the alleged infractions perpetrated by the Ag. Vice Chancellor in cahoots with her son, family members and Mr. Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka – who is the front for the many companies involved in the racket, including others not listed above, which are: Fibelle and Mibbelle Energy Resource Ltd.; Fibelle and Mibbelle Academy Ltd.; Fibelle and Mibbelle Foods Ltd.; Humbelrock Iron and Steel Ltd.; Captal Fides Et Ratio Ltd.; and Fides Et Ratio Academy Ltd. – CAC reports of all are herein attached and marked as annextures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, respectfully. We hereby petition all the individuals and corporate entities involved in the fleecing of public funds under the pretentious cover of contract awards. Their actions clearly amount to gross violations of the procurement processes and the Public Procurement Act 2007 and undermines the proper administration of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State.
A thorough investigation will certainly expose more unknown fraudulent activities by the Ag. Vice Chancellor.
We look forward to your swift action to forestall the continuance of this criminal enterprise.
Canada Denies Visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, and Other Top Military Officials
The Canadian government has denied visa applications for Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and several other senior military officials.
General Musa disclosed this on Thursday during the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja.
Describing the visa denial as both embarrassing and disappointing, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) emphasized the need for Nigeria to strengthen its self-reliance.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada for an event honoring our veterans
-those injured in battle. We were invited alongside our team, but while half of the delegation was granted visas, the other half was denied. It’s very disappointing,” Musa stated.
He further remarked that the incident serves as a reminder for Nigeria to “stand on its own, stand strong as a nation, and ensure it is no longer taken for granted.”
No official reason for the visa denial has been provided by the Canadian government at this time.
