US President Donald Trump decided Tuesday to end the protected status of thousands of Liberian migrants to the United States and gave them a year to leave the country.
It’s the latest of similar moves, after more than 250,000 Salvadorans, Haitians and Nicaraguans lost their protected status under an administration which has made cracking down on immigration a priority.
In 1991, when the West African country was in the grip of civil war, some Liberians living in the US were given “temporary protected status” to allow them to remain in safety.
Then in 1999 approximately 10,000 of them were made eligible for “deferred enforced departure,” or DED, by then-president Bill Clinton, allowing them to continue to build new lives.
Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have periodically renewed the DED status, but Trump has now decided to allow it to expire, deeming Liberia safe for returnees.
Trump has taken a tough stance on immigration in general and, in reported private conversations, an even tougher stance on Africans from what he has reportedly deemed “shithole countries.”
The latest grace period expires on March 31, but Trump said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security that he would accord the Liberians a 12-month “wind-down” period to prepare their departure.
“Through consultation with appropriate executive departments and agencies and my advisors, I have been informed that conditions in Liberia have improved,” Trump wrote.
“Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance,” he argued.
Trump admitted that the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa had brought “tragic loss of life and economic damage” to Liberia, one of the world’s poorest countries after years of civil war.
But he declared himself satisfied with Liberia’s progress in tackling the disease.
It is not clear how many of the original 10,000 DED recipients may have died, moved on voluntarily or been granted another form of legal US residency — but the rest face an uncertain future.
Opponents of Trump’s move warned it would uproot many who had made new and productive lives for themselves in the United States.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, noted on Twitter that, thanks to the previous presidents’ DED extensions, the Liberians had been living in the United States legally since 1992.
“Many work in Minnesota hospitals and nursing homes,” she wrote. “I won’t give up this fight. We have a year.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague has said it will investigate the September 2017 invasion of a community in Abia State by soldiers of the Nigerian Army during a military exercise code-named Operation Python Dance 2 (Egwu Eke Abuo).
The Office of the Prosecutor, ICC, stated this in response to a petition filed to the court by a Nigerian journalist, Ahaoma Kanu, following the military occupation of Afara Ukwu community in Umuahia, Abia State, in a bid to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which led to the killing of several unarmed members of the group.
In the letter obtained by Daily Sun with reference number OTP-CR-413/17 dated March 20, 2018, which is the second response by the court to the petitioner, it was confirmed that the military invasion and deaths recorded were already under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor.
Part of the letter signed by Mark Dillon, head of the information and evidence unit at the Office of the Prosecutor, read: “Accordingly, your communication will be analysed in this context, with the assistance of other related communications and other available information.”
The Federal Government had proscribed the IPOB even as its members came under attack by security agencies in the country, including the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, leading to the alleged extra-judicial killing of hundreds of IPOB members since 2015 when Kanu was arrested on charges of treason.
After the September 16, 2017, attack on his country home, Kanu and his aged father have not been seen till date, fuelling speculations he was being held by the state.
However, following petitions by civil rights groups, the ICC commenced and concluded preliminary investigations into the alleged killing of over 200 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in December 2015 as well as opened preliminary investigations into the killing of members of the IPOB by the Army in October 2015.
The petitioner, in his petition of September 24, 2017, to the ICC, called for an investigation and prosecution of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and all members of the Nigerian Army involved in the extra-judicial killings of IPOB members during the Operation Python Dance 2 exercise.
Dillon stated that “under Article 53 of the Rome Statutes, the prosecutor must consider whether there is reasonable basis to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the court have been committed, the gravity of the crimes, whether national systems are investigating and prosecuting the relevant crimes, and the interests of justice.”
He went further to say that “analysis will be carried out as expeditiously as possible, but please be aware that meaningful analysis of these factors can take some time.”
He further promised to provide reasons for any decision reached by the court to proceed with the investigation.
It was the second time that the ICC would exchange correspondences with the petitioner on the killings in Abia State by the Nigerian military.
Afara Ukwu community recently said it would require about N500 million from the Federal Government to cleanse its land reportedly desecrated by the military invasion,
A five-year-marriage is on the brink of collapse as Mrs. Musilimat Olasuyi told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos that her husband, Oluwagbemiga, permitted another man to sleep with her in their matrimonial home.
The 48-year-old trader told the court on Monday that the man made love to her in her matrimonial home with her husband’s approval.
“It was not my fault.
“ I did not voluntarily submit myself but the man in question charmed me to make love to me with my husband’s agreement all because of his selfish ambition,” she said.
The petitioner said that her husband threw her belongings out of her matrimonial home during her absence during which the money she kept (over N800, 000) kept inside her different boxes were stolen.
“I went to the hospital to take care of my daughter from my first marriage, who suffered from a gas explosion.
“There, I was told that my husband came with some boys to our matrimonial home to pack all my belongings outside.
“After some days; I came home and I discovered that all my boxes and bags had been ransacked; some were missing and my money was stolen.
“My jewellery valued at N250, 000 and the N250, 000 was given to me by my son-in-law to start the construction works on his landed property close to us were missing.
“Also, N100,000 for my customer’s cassava (garri), N250,000 being our mosque’s money kept in my custody and N30,000 my trading money got missing.’’
Musilimat submitted a written petition to the court seeking redress and judicial actions against her husband.
The estranged wife wanted to know if it was proper for her husband to throw her property out without an order from the court.
She also demanded to know if her husband would not be liable for the cost of her lost money and property.
The petitioner was also requesting the court to know if her husband should not pay for the inconvenience as she and the only child of the marriage are homeless.
She pleaded with the court to dissolve the union saying that she no longer loves her husband.
However, the petitioner’s husband, Oluwagbemiga, accused his wife of infidelity.
“My wife does not have respect for her marriage vow, she makes love to her concubine on our matrimonial bed.”
The 55-year-old sand supplier also said that his wife was fetish.
“My wife is diabolical, she comes home with different charms and objects; she gave me a soap on nine consecutive times to bath with.”
According to him, he had given his wife a three-month quit notice to vacate his house but she refused.
“I gave her a quit notice to leave my house; she told me to do my worse that she was going nowhere.
“So, I do not have any other option than to pack her things out from my house,” he said.
The respondent consented to the dissolution of marriage, saying the love between the two of them had long faded.
Responding to Musilimat’s petition, the court’s president, Mr. Akin Akinniyi, said that it was wrong in a valid marriage for a husband to pack out his wife’s belongings from their matrimonial home.
“It is legally wrong for a man to throw out his wife’s property.
“The respondent should have requested for the return of the dowry he paid on the wife from the wife’s parents.
“Better still, he should have sought the dissolution of the marriage at the court of law before such an action could take place.
“The husband should have rented another apartment for the petitioner and the child since he does not want her again.
“He should have moved her belongings there for safe custody, before the petitioner’s return.
“The husband will be responsible for any cost of missing valuables and the wife is entitled to compensation,’’ he said.
Akinniyi urged the estranged couple to maintain peace and adjourned the case until April 26 for judgment.
Two dreaded armed bandits in Adani, Uzo-Uwani Council Area of Enugu State have been killed.
The hoodlums were said to have been overpoweredby their victim when they allegedly attempted to rob.
It was gathered that the two robbery kingpins, identified as Okeme alias Pikin and Philip a.k.a Akwara, said to belong to Ndi Isewo Group of Abbi, have been terrorising members of the public within Abbi, Adani and Uzo -Uwani axis.
Confirming the incident, the state police Spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspected hoodlums met their waterloo in the hands of irate mob last week when they “emerged from the bush in their usual way to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens. Unfortunately for them, they were resisted by their victim who raised the alarm.
According to the PPRO, “the alarm raised attracted the attention of angrymob from the community, who immediately pursued and intercepted them.
“The mob allegedly beat up the hoodlums, inflicting various degrees of injuries on them before operatives could arrive the scene. They were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention by the police operatives, but were later confirmed dead,” Amaraizu said.
The spokesman of the police further disclosed that the deceased hoodlums were members of the dreaded Malaysia forest “who have been operating from the bush to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens and were on the wanted list of the command.
“Their remains have been deposited at a hospital mortuary in the area,” Amaraizu said.
The hope of some parents of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls to reunite with the children and wards was dashed yesterday with the sad news of the passing of five of them.
According to one of the released girls, Khadija Grema, 12, a JSS3, they died in the hands of Boko Haram as a result of exhaustion, stress and trauma.
Amidst the euphoria that greeted the release of over 100 of the 110 abducted Dapchi schoolgirls and the grief that trailed the deaths, the military has announced that the freed girls, aged between and 19, would have to wait a while before reuniting with their parents.
This is to enable the girls to be debriefed by the military authorities and also undergo medical examination and care.
Confirming it, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “Just as we did when we had the first set and second set of release of the Chibok girls, they will be quarantined and be psychologically counseled before they go back to their schools.”
House of Representatives member representing Bursai/Geidam/Yunusari constituency, Goni Bukhar, also confirmed that the girls would remain in the custody of the government for “few more days.”
“They cannot be released to their parents yet because of security.They will be in government’s custody for two or three days before they are finally released. They will be taken to the hospital and treated before they are released to their parents.”
Boko Haram driving in 11 vehicles early, yesterday morning, reportedly dropped the schoolgirls at the heart of Dapchi, Yobe State, over a month after they were abducted.
Residents said they were alarmed when the convoy of four-wheel drive vehicles painted in military colour drove into the town at about 8am chanting ‘Allah Akbar’ (God is great) without firing a shot, Aliyu Alhaji Maina, one of the parents told journalists at Jumbam, about 2km to Dapchi.
Grema said the insurgents did not maltreat them, adding that they were moved into a house, crossing a river with canoes and ending up in an unknown location where they were kept till Tuesday night before their release.
“They didn’t beat us, they didn’t harass or maltreat us. They said we are children of Islam. They bought water, malt drink and kulikuli (groundnut cake) for us when they abducted us from our school in Dapchi,” she said.
In a statement issued earlier, Mohammed said the release of the schoolgirls was the outcome of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls.
“For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option. Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost,’’ he said.
He said no ransom was paid. “The only condition they gave us is not to release (the girls) to the military but release them in the town of Dapchi without military presence.”
Meanwhile, a Federal Government delegation comprising ministers of Information and Culture; Interior and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs are on their way to Maiduguri to meet with the freed girls.
On what government expects to achieve with the delegation to Dapchi, Mohammed said: “I think the issue of the delegation, until we clear with relevant security authorities, is not something I can talk about right now. We are constantly talking to those on ground. Don’t forget as of now that area has become an operational area and so we have to take advice from the security operatives on what to do. What is important is that we must be able to brief you regularly as regards development…”
Reacting to the news, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose accused the Federal Government of hoodwinking the populace.
According to Fayose: “This appears like an arranged abduction and an arranged release, but we thank God that the innocent girls have returned home and we condole with parents of those that died.”
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said it was strange that the girls could be brought back to Dapchi by their abductors without the security agents knowing when they were returned and who returned them.
“Curiously, the same spirit who made sure that all military checkpoints in Dapchi and other surrounding towns were removed to pave way for abduction of the girls also made sure that the girls were returned without any security agent seeing them.”
The governor reiterated his allegation that Boko Haram insurgency had become a source of treasury looting.
“Those benefitting from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scams, payment of ransom (in dollars) to free those abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents, among others will never wish to see the end of the insurgency,” he claimed.
But the Amnesty International, which on Tuesday said it had uncovered evidence that some military and security agents were alerted hours before the abduction, described the release ofthe girls as a huge relief.
However, it criticised the decision to hold them in government’s custody, saying it would further prolonging their ordeal.
“The authorities must immediately release them and ensure that they are able to return to their families or be provided with an alternative safe option if they so-choose.
“The authorities must also ensure the girls have access to comprehensive support, including confidential counselling and medical care.
“Furthermore, it remains absolutely vital that the Nigerian government investigates the security failures that led to the abduction- a fact highlighted by the tragic news that five of the schoolgirls died in captivity.
“The Dapchi abduction must be the catalyst for the government to ensure adequate protection of all schools in Northeast Nigeria so that this can never happen again.
“As a first step towards meeting its responsibility of protecting civilians from Boko Haram attacks, the results of the two investigations into the Chibok girls’ abduction in 2014 must be made public.”
Another leading pro-democracy and non-governmental organization, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also expressed shock at the news of the death of five of the schoolgirls even as it raised alarm that there could be more to the release than meets the eye.
“It looks like some persons now have the franchise of masquerading as Boko Haram terrorists or may be colluding with the real Boko Haram terrorists to play on the gullibility of Nigerians by staging choreographed abductions and releases of kidnapped hostages either with commercial or political benefits in mind or both. This game of deception must stop and the good people of North East of Nigeria must be allowed to have their peaceful, communal and productive lives back.”
HURIWA through the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, stated that since the Federal Government has demonstrated lack of political will to investigate, document and publicly transmit to Nigerians and the international community, the exact circumstances, the actors and sponsors of the Boko Haram terror activities, there was an urgent need for the organised international community headed by the office of the United Nations Secretary General and the security council to conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-based probe into the whole affairs with the goal of bringing it to a minimal level.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also described the release as a reassuring development and commended the Federal Government.
Muhammad Ibrahim, ACF National Publicity Secretary, said in a statement that the organisation received the “good news’’ with immense happiness.
The ACF called on the military and other security agencies to sustain the synergy and fasttrack the search and rescue of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped four years ago.
Like the ACF, elder statesman, Tanko Yakkasai also urged the Federal Government to deploy the same resources in releasing the remaining Dapchi and Chibok girls.
Speaking to Daily Sun, he said: “In a situation like this, the priority is to get the abducted people released and governments all over the world and also corporate bodies at times pay ransom to secure the release of their people but they (FG) would always say that they didn’t pay anything. Whether money has been paid or not, we should thank God that some of the girls have been released.”
While rejoicing with parents of the girls and President Buhari, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a statement by Prof. Ishaq Akintola advised the Federal Government to renew its strategy to ensure adequate protection for all schools in the insurgency zone.
He said the early return of Dapchi schoolgirls had clearly differentiated between action and inaction of governments.
“Chibok and Dapchi are now reference points in a tale of two Commander-in-Chiefs: one who turns the other cheek while his army turns and runs and another who takes immediate action and puts insurgents on the run, “ Akintola said.
While it is happy that the girls have returned, the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) promised to work closely with the Ministry of Youths in Yobe State to provide the necessary support to the girls and their families.
“As we await further confirmation, five girls have reportedly died.UNICEF grieves with the families who lost their daughters.
“We are grateful for the efforts of all parties in ensuring safe return of the girls to their families,” representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall said in a statement.
Since Boko Haram began its reign of terror, particularly in the North-East and neighbouring states, tens of thousands of people have been killed, over two million displaced and thousands abducted. The kidnapping of 110 schoolgirls on February 19 from Dapchi was the biggest mass abduction since the Islamist group took more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014.
A Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar on Wednesday sentenced a retired worker of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Godwin Elewana, to death by hanging.
The court found Elewana guilty of the murder of a 22-year-old pupil, Douglas Ojugbo, on March 10, 2015 over suspicion that the victim was having an affair with his daughter, Mercy.
Elewana, who had been in prison custody since 2016, was arraigned on one count of murder in case no. HC/9C/2015.
The presiding judge of the court, Justice Ukpa Ebitam, said the prosecution team, led by Mr. Eneji Amajama, a Deputy Director in the Department of Public Prosecutions in the state Ministry of Justice, proved its case that the accused committed the crime.
Ebitam listed the several confessional statements, hospital reports and other exhibits presented in the course of trial as reasons the accused was convicted.
He said, “The prosecution team was able to establish ingredients of murder against the accused. On whether it was the act of the accused that caused the death of the victim, the prosecution team placed reliance mostly on the confessional statement of the accused…clearly, the statement linked the murder to the accused.
“The prosecution team also proved the second ingredient of murder which was the intentional act. To have fired the victim twice with his pump-action gun, I agree that the killing was intentional. I hereby find the accused person guilty of murder.
“Subject to Section 319 of the Criminal Code of Cross River State, any person who commits murder is sentenced to death by hanging.”
Moments before the verdict was given, the defence counsel, Mr. Clement Ukaegbu, had pleaded for leniency.
Ukaegbu’s position was supported by another lawyer, Mr. Orchardson Umoh, who pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy on the grounds that the convict had a good religious standing and high integrity in the society.
Shortly after the verdict, the leader of the prosecution team, Amajama, said the law had taken its course.
He said, “I thank God that we have industrious and sound judges who still uphold the rule of law. Today, the parents of the deceased would have some respite that the law of the land took its course.
“This judgement will serve as a deterrent to others that you cannot do what is wrong and go away with it and I think that our society will be better for it.
“The accused was tried under Section 319 of the Criminal Code of Cross River State. Under this section, the judge does not have the right to give him life imprisonment or any other jail term. The judge has just done what the law stipulates.”
The mother of the victim, Mrs. Maria Ojugbo, said, “I thank God for doing what should be done. It is stated in the Bible that anyone who kills by the sword, will die by the sword. Elewana had no reason whatsoever to kill my son in such a manner and conceal the act by burying him. It was Almighty God that gave approval for this judgement.”
CATHOLIC Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has expressed fears of Nigerians entrusting their security in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Okogie in a nine-paragraph letter he personally signed, yesterday, said his fears were founded in the President’s admittance that he didn’t know that the Inspector of Police, Ibrahim, Idris, flouted his order to remain in Benue in the wake of the new year day killing by herdsmen that claimed 73 lives. He said: “In Nigeria’s security architecture, the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, appoints and oversees all service chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police. They take orders from him. He assures us that he receives regular security briefings. But he has just made a candid admission that he is not in control of his service chiefs.
“He ordered the Inspector-General to relocate to Benue State in January. He admitted in March that he did not know the order was flouted. Does the Inspector General of Police brief the President? Will the President fire him? Is it wise for Nigerians to count on this government for their security? “In affront to his person and office, his order was flouted, there were killings in Plateau State during his visit, and more killings in Taraba, Benue and Kogi states.
Boko Haram, said by the President’s spokesmen to be degraded and technically defeated, abducted 110 schoolgirls in Yobe State. Are the service chiefs still taking orders? Is the President still in control of security? “Instead of declaring the murderous herdsmen a terrorist organisation, the President offers pious exhortation to their victims to love their neighbours. His party and the ruling party of yesterday score cheap political points, comparing notes on levels of incompetence and gravity of negligence in security matters displayed by their respective governments. “The ruling party of today claims its government acted faster in Dapchi than the government of the ruling party of yesterday in Chibok. Both gloss over a disturbing question: where were our security operatives when our innocent daughters were abducted first in Chibok, and then, in Dapchi?” “Our security is not only threatened by herdsmen.
It is also threatened by the incompetence of our leaders, their conduct or misconduct, their greedy unethical glorification of perks of office. If, as one senator recently said, each senator receives 13.5 million naira per month as running cost, added to 720, 000-naira monthly salary, then our security is threatened. Interestingly, the Senate has not contradicted what this senator said.
The senator himself has not told Nigerians if he too had been receiving this huge amount. “A senator should be able to do his work with half that amount, even with less. So, one may want to divide what Nigeria spends annually on her senators by two. The result would be 9, 299, 880, 000 naira. If that were divided by the number of universities in this country which is 175, the result would be 53, 142, 171 naira. Give that to each university for its library. It will drastically improve the quality of education in this country. “But the scandal is not just the amount we spend on our senators. Nigeria spends so much on government. Yet, there is little or no governance. We spend so much maintaining the President, 36 Governors, close to 50 Ministers, members of a bicameral National Assembly, and members of 36 state houses of assembly, advisers and special advisers, assistants and senior personal assistants.
It is a security risk to spend so much on political office holders that Nigeria does not need while our education sector is in decay. “Education is the acquisition of wealth for human development, the assurance of prosperity and security in the land. Half of the huge amount of money devoted to servicing political office holders in Nigeria can be spent on education.
That will vastly improve our prospects for prosperity and security. To do otherwise is to sentence this country to a future of unending poverty and insecurity. That Nigeria invests more in her recycled politicians than in her youths is a breach of security that mortgages her future. “But education is not the only neglected sector in this country. Uninterrupted electricity remains a fleeting illusion. That certainly affects security.
It affects the economy too. Without electricity, this country cannot grow her economy. Nigerians hear of economic recovery. ‘’But it is not felt in their pockets. Many are dying of hunger. Salaries are not paid. School fees cannot be paid. Parents withdraw children from school. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s politicians, paid huge sums of money, throw lavish wedding parties, at a time of heightened insecurity, and the President and Vice President lead the guests. “Lust for perks of office has made elections into public offices in Nigeria a security concern. Machiavellian politics has become the most lucrative business.
Nigerians must reflect on these questions before voting next year: when shall we have a government and Commander-in-Chief that truly protect us? ‘’Will there ever be conversion of hearts among Nigeria’s politicians? When will Nigerian political office holders begin to serve those whose votes put them in office? Can it be said that this narrative of negligence, incompetence, greed and insecurity is a prelude to 2019? We are watching and waiting.’’
BENIN—MYSTERIOUS deaths has hit Iguomon village in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, following curses placed on the community by the Oba of Benin for flaunting his orders.
The curses, Vanguard gathered, was necessitated by the disobedience and perversion of native norms by the former officials of the outlawed Community Development Association, CDA, in the village, who flouted the orders of the Benin monarch.
The inhabitants of the village, who besieged the palace of Oba Ewuare II in tears yesterday, appealing for a revocation of the curses placed on Iguomon community. They also claimed that mysterious deaths, strange diseases, attacks of various kinds as well as untold afflictions have been ravaging the community shortly after the curses were placed. Spokesman and Secretary to the community, Mr. Joseph Ighodaro, said they were at the palace to appeal to the monarch as the supreme traditional authority in the state to revoke all the curses placed on Iguomon village by his ancestors.
He stated that the people of the village were ready to carry out all the necessary rites needed for the revocation of the curses. They also pleaded with monarch to consider Mr. Roland Okhuarobo as the rightful Odionwere of Iguomon village, just as they promised to refrain from all forms of violation of traditional norms to avoid further premature deaths and disasters.
Barely 48 hours after his inauguration for a second term in office, Governor Willie Obiano has sworn in four principal officers, including his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. James Eze.
Others sworn in at the brief ceremony, whichheld at the Executive Chamber of Government House, Awka, were his former secretary to the state government, Prof. Solo Chukwudobelu, who was re-appointed to his position, Mr. Primus Odili as chief of staff and former principal secretary to the governor, Mr. Willie Nwokoye, who was also re-appointed to his position.
In his address, Obiano assured the people of more democratic dividends and an open administration.
The Governor noted that all those who served in his first tenure in various capacities, have been tested and found worthy of their appointment while Odili, who served as secretary to the Obiano Campaign Organisation, for the governorship election last year, is equally qualified to work in his new capacity.
He charged the principal officers to take their appointments seriously and brace up squarely to face the challenges of their offices which he described as enormous.
He said, “You should remember that you have been given a very serious assignment and should brace up because the task ahead is very enormous.”
Speaking to journalists shortly after the swearing in, the CPS, Eze said the past four years as the SSA on media has prepared him to work effectively in his new position.
Noting that the Governor’s words speak for what should be expected, Eze said, “His second term will be more eventful. The Governor is a man of action, ready to inspire lives of people, attract developmental Chief Eze appealed for more support from the masses to encourage more development in all sectors.
“The first term was a difficult one starting from the campaign. He ran the campaign with very rich, strong candidates who gave him no chance. However the team ran a formidable campaign, and emerged victories, we faced many distractions.
“Obiano this time wants to build on the foundation of his first term, to continue with his development strides.”
He thanked the Governor for remembering him in this second term with what he called ‘strategic office’, and promised to deliver saying, “I pledge allegiance to the governor. I will co-operate and work for development of Anambra state, the press and success of the government.”
