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Igbos Should Sheath Their Sword And Unite Now – Odili
The Chief of Staff to Anambra State government, Dr Primus Odili has called on Igbos to sheath their sword and unite as an indivisible body.
Dr Odili said the situation in the country now should be an opportunity for stakeholders and elders in Igbo land to come together and form one entity.
Odili said this while addressing journalists in Awka on the need to maintain a particular political structure that will drive the course of Igbo nation.
He said he has maintained its vision to becoming a driving force that will defend Igbos right and attracting dividend of democracy.
According to him, APGA is not a political party, it is a movement. APGA is a vehicle that will get Ndi Igbo to their desired destination in the polity called Nigeria.
“By the end of Gov Willie Obiano’s second term in March 2022, APGA must have completed eight years in power in Anambra. It is an indication that APGA has been the longest serving political party since the creation of Anambra state in 1991.
“The implication is that, by this eight years in power, APGA must have attracted lofty developments that would have earned them more votes, to have sustained them.” Odili said.
Recall that during the four years of the former Governor of Anambra, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, on the platform of PDP, (1999 to 2003), the state experienced one year of non payment of salaries, which led to one year of industrial action (strike) by civil servants.
In that one year, Anambra was shutdown, schools and government offices were under lock and key. Crime rates increased, kidnapping, day robbery and other clandestine activities.
The height of it all was the introduction or establishment of Bakassi, a security outfit that murdered both criminals and innocent youths, in a bid to restore sanity, why citizens are being starved of stomach infrastructures.
Interestingly, the Daniel came to judgement on the platform of APGA, during the eight years of Mr Peter Obi government.
This was the reason the Chief of Staff requested that Mr Peter Obi to come back to APGA.
According to Odili, “In the last 16 years, no party has a structure, no party has produced local government chairmen or councillors, no party has done anything vibrant within the state.
So what will other parties going to campaign with. We have had 16 solid years of delivering the dividend of democracy by APGA. When you campaign you tell the people what you’ve done and what you will do. APGA as a party can point the numerous things that they have done.
You see, because APGA is a movement, Whenever you are in APGA or within APGA, you are consumed by that spirit, you are consumed by that movement and it compels you to do the right thing.
When the former governor, Mr Peter Obi was in APGA, he dreams APGA, he sleeps APGA because he was consumed by the spirit of the movement. He made such statement like, other parties are bundle of criminals, we can never be a part of them, We can never associate with them, I will never do this with them, we can never do that with them.
He was consumed by the spirit of APGA and he did things the way APGA man does things, perfect solid structures in the ground, and people are happy with the government because he speaks APGA, he breathes APGA.
If you mention other parties to him, he will tell you in a clear language that this particular party burnt down our state, we can never associate with them, this particular party killed us, we can never associate with them, this is where I must remain and if I leave this, if I quit APGA, I quit politics and the rest of that.
We are calling on him to come back because the Igbos want him. Come back so that he will breathe the life that flows from APGA and begin to work just the way he worked when he was the Governor of Anambra state.
See what Governor Obiano is doing, standing on the foundation that governor Peter Obi laid. So I tell you the next governor is going to be an APGA Governor, because APGA. It is a movement that drives every meaningful Igbo man regardless of party affiliation.
When Governor Willie Obiano won his second term, he got congratulatory messages from all the South-east Governors. They called him expressing their happiness that the soul of Igbo man has been saved. Which shows they were panicking, thinking it would be the end of Igbo race.
But it didn’t happen because APGA is a movement. If that is not so, why would they be concerned about APGA regaining Anambra? But they were concerned regardless of party affiliation.
Brother, Governor Obiano is focused regardless of what they say about him and the airport, but he want to do the right thing for Ndi Igbo.
Speaking on the need for an airport in Anambra, Odili said, “I would tell you right away that we have not scratched the need for an airport in the south East. So talking about Owerri, Enugu Asada and other rest of it, is not important.
“In Europe and the West there are airports that are less than five kilometers away from each other. There are airports that are in very close proximity two kilometers, four kilometers, within the same locality.
“In America there are states that have two airports just like you have a lagos, the Murtala Muhammad Airport which has another local airport close by. Even at that they still have two terminals MM1 and MM2.
“Coming down to Anambra State and the need for an airport, the question becomes how many ndi Anambra travel through Enugu, Asaba, Owerri airports? if over 60% of the passengers that use Enugu Airport are from Anambra and over 60% of the people that utilize Asaba airport are from Anambra and over 40% of the people that utilize Owerri airport are from Anambra, then the implication is that the Asaba indigenes and people from Delta that use Asaba airport is about 40% and you consider it necessary for those that utilize their airport 40% have the need to have an airport and those are constitude the 60% of the passengers there don’t have need for an airport, does it make sense?
“If we agree that Enugu airports is patronized by Anambra Indigenes to the tune of 50 or 60%, logically the implication is that the remaining 40% is shared within the indigenous of Enugu and other states. And you feel that there is no need for us to have an airport which can generate income for our state, raise taxes for our state, and assist our traders in transport their goods.
” You cannot quantify in monetary terms the benefits of having an airport in Anambra state. You cannot also quantify the need for Anambra airport just for traders. keep in mind like what you have is a international cargo airport before we now talk of the passenger.
“Now Onitsha being the largest market in Sub Sahara, in Africa, why do you think we don’t need an airport for traders to transport their goods and import goods also?
“Today go to the seaport in Lagos, I can tell you that 60% of the containers there find there ways to Onitsha main market, meaning that Anambra people patronize them. The same thing in Onne, Port-Harcourt, over 40% of cargos there end up in Onitsha. And people are still questioning the cargo airport that will bring the goods into Anambra state. Irrespective of the economic value of the airport? It will first reduce the cost of retail, by reducing the cost of clearing.”
BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has bagged an “Exemplary Leadership in Public Service Award” and for ensuring a robust transformation and revitalization of Nigeria’s power sector.
The award presented by the Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper during the celebration of its 14-year anniversary at the weekend was received by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Hon. Bolaji Tunji.
The event which took place at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Lagos State was attended by dignitaries from government representatives, industry and private sector stakeholders.
The organizers of the award emphasized that its decision was informed by the assessment of a joint committee comprising of our editorial board, NELGA committee members, 14th anniversary committee members and a survey among Nigerians.
“Following the findings submitted, the management acknowledged the strides recorded by you in ensuring a robust transformation and revitalization of Nigeria’s power sector.
“Notably, under your leadership, the nation’s power generation surged to 5,500 megawatts with more than 40 per cent of Nigerians now enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily.
“You have also demonstrated wisdom in handling stakeholders and the legacy problems that have affected the sector. One of such instances is the settlement ofN205 billion from the NI .3 trillion debt owed Generation Companies (Gencos) to raise the level of liquidity in the power sector.
“Another instance is the bold leadership in also ensuring a transparent tariff plan where Nigerians pay exactly for what they consume with the Band stratification has eased the burdens on many SMIEs. It is on this precedence that we are bestowing on you this prestigious aforementioned award”, the media organization said.
Responding, the Minister who spoke through his media assured Nigerians of a more vibrant and responsive approach to electricity supply.
He said the power ministry under his watch is dedicated to making electricity supply available to the served, unserved and underserved communities as efforts are being intensified to ensure the availability of alternative source of electricity to millions of Nigerians through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an agency under the ministry.
The minister extolled the role the media has played in ensuring that government officials were put on their toes in ensuring that the dividends of democracy were delivered to Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This award is dedicated to all Nigerians who have stood by the ministry in the various reforms being undertaken to ensure regular electricity supply for businesses and households in the country. This will spur and propel us to do more in delivering the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transformation agenda in the power sector.
“The media has been very critical in this drive and we want to say here that we are more dedicated in this agenda and vision of the President in making electricity available both on and off grid to Nigerians,” the Minister said.
He also called on Nigerians to key into the reform programs being undertaken by President Tinubu, in ensuring that the nation is taken out of its present economic and social predicaments.
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja with Agency Reports.
Nigeria has been ranked fourth among the countries whose citizens were granted U.S. citizenship through military naturalization between 2020 and 2024.
This information was revealed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently.
According to USCIS data, 3,270 Nigerian-born service members were granted U.S. citizenship during this period, placing Nigeria behind only the Philippines (5,630), Jamaica (5,420), and Mexico (3,670).
“Service members born in the Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and Ghana — the top five countries of birth among those naturalized — comprised over 38% of the naturalizations since FY 2020,” the USCIS report stated. “The next five countries of birth — Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea — comprised an additional 16% of military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024.”
The data also showed a steady increase in the number of Nigerian service members gaining U.S. citizenship over the last five years. The number rose from 340 in 2020 to 630 in 2021, 680 in 2022, 690 in 2023, and 930 in 2024.
The Army accounted for the largest share of military naturalizations, with 60% of all naturalizations during this period, followed by the Navy (20.4%), Air Force (10.6%), and Marine Corps (6.6%).
“Service members from the Army (including National Guard and Reserves) comprised almost two-thirds (60%) of all military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024. Service members from the Coast Guard comprised less than 1%. The Navy accounted for 20.4%, the Air Force for 10.6%, and the Marine Corps for 6.6%,” the report noted.
Additionally, half of all service members who naturalized were between the ages of 22 and 30, with a median age of 27. “More than 17% were 21 and under, while almost 5% were older than 40,” the USCIS data indicated.
The report also highlighted a gender disparity, noting that men made up 73% of all service members naturalized between FY 2020 and FY 2024, though the proportion of female service members has gradually increased over the years.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government yesterday, survived a third vote of no confidence in as many months, brought by his main Tory rival.
The minority Liberal government got the support of the New Democratic Party (NDP), a small leftist faction once aligned with the ruling Liberals, to defeat the motion 180-152.
The text of the proposition echoed NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s own past criticisms of Trudeau since breaking off their partnership in late August, calling him “too weak, too selfish.”
Neither Singh nor Trudeau were present during the voting exercise.
The House of Commons has been deadlocked most of this fall session by an unprecedented two-month filibuster by the Conservatives.
But Speaker Greg Fergus, in a rare move, ordered a short break in the deadlock to allow for this and other possible confidence votes, and for lawmakers to vote on a key spending measure.
MPs are scheduled to vote Tuesday on the spending package, which includes funds for social services, disaster relief and support for Ukraine.
With a 20-point lead in polls, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for an election call since the NDP tore up its coalition agreement with the Liberals.
But the NDP and other opposition parties, whose support is needed to bring down the Liberals, have so far refused to side with the Conservatives.
Two no-confidence votes brought by the Tories in September and October failed when the NDP and the separatist Bloc Quebecois backed the Liberals.
In Canada’s Westminster parliamentary system, a ruling party must hold the confidence of the House of Commons, which means maintaining support from a majority of members.
The Liberals currently have 153 seats, versus 119 for the Conservatives, 33 for the Bloc Quebecois, and the NDP’s 25.
Trudeau came into power in 2015 and has managed to hold on through two elections in 2019 and 2021.
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