The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Frank Nweke Jr

  • Peter Obi, Frank Nweke Jr, Concerned Igbo Stakeholders react to murder of Oyibo Chukwu, Enugu East senatorial zone LP candidate

    …Police confirms killing of Oyibo Chukwu

    …Human lives must remain precious, irrespective of political affiliation -Obi

    …Violence has no place in 21st century democracy -Nweke

    …This is an attempt by desperate politicians to disenfranchise the indigenes of Enugu East Senatorial Zone using tool of violence -Okenwa

    Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

    Following the murder of the Labour Party (LP)’s senatorial candidate for Enugu East senatorial zone, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, and his personal assistant, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, the Enugu State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Frank Nweke Jr and the Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum have all condemned the unfortunate incident and called on security operatives to ensure protection of the lives and properties of Nigerians before, during and after the elections.

    Chukwu was murdered on the night of Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu.

    Reacting via his twitter handle, Mr. Obi condoled with the family of Late Oyibo Chukwu.

    Obi’s statement reads: “I received with deep shock and sadness, the news of the painful killing of Barr Oyibo Chukwu, the Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party, for Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

    “I strongly condemn the killing of Barr Chukwu in all its entirety. Human lives must remain precious, irrespective of political affiliation. The mindless bloodletting that occurs in the nation is beyond depressing. We must not continue to toe this dangerous path.

    “Enough of the killings, now is time for healing. I sincerely condole with the bereaved family, the Enugu East Senatorial Zone and our dear Labour Party family, for this painful loss.

    “I call on the law enforcement agents to fish out and bring to book, the perpetrators of this crime, and ensure that Nigerians freely exercise their civic duties without intimidation.”

    On his part, the Enugu State APGA flagbearer, Frank Nweke Jr. expressed shock over Chukwu’s painful death. Nweke stated that violence had no place in 21st century democracy.

    His statement reads: “I am stunned and deeply saddened by the news of the murder of Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East and several others in a gruesome attack on Wednesday night by Amechi junction in Enugu.

    “We also received reports of a similar attack on a campaign vehicle of the People’s Democratic Party, leaving one person dead.

    “I condemn these heinous acts and send my condolences to the families and friends of the victims. No ambition is worth the life of any individual, and our politics must evolve past this insatiable thirst for power. Violence has no place in 21st century democracy.

    “These violent attacks leave deep scars on our growing democracy and seek to undermine the importance of the 2023 general elections by instilling fear in the hearts of our people.

    “I encourage ndi Enugu and, indeed, Nigerians to stay calm as we urge the authorities to speedily move forward with a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to book without fear or favour.

    “Our security agencies must also intensify measures to forestall further attacks and ensure that Nigerians – politicians and electorates alike, are protected throughout the elections.

    “These are trying times, and we must keep praying for our state and our nation.

    “God bless Enugu State. God bless Nigeria”.

    Also, speaking on the heinous murder of the LP candidate, the leader of a socio-cultural group, Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum, CISF, Mr. Chukwuma Okenwa, accused desperate politicians of trying to suppress voters through the instrumentality of electoral violence.

    “The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum(CISF) is saddened with the gruesome killing of the Enugu East Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party. We as Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum(CISF) condemn this act.

    “It as an attempt by desperate politicians to disenfranchise the indigenes of Enugu East Senatorial Zone using the tool of violence”, part of Okenwa’s statement read.

    While calling on the security agencies and Traditional rulers to work together towards bringing the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book, Okenwa called on the people of the South East, not to allow anyone to disenfranchise them using the ploy of violence.

    He called on the young people of the region, to turn down offers by desperate politicians who promote the culture of violence before, during and after elections.

    Police confirms killing of Oyibo Chukwu

    The Enugu Police Command spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the killing of Barr. Oyibo Chukwu in an early Thursday statement.

    He said the incident happened Wednesday when the assailants on a Hilux vehicle, attacked and set ablaze Chukwu’s campaign vehicle.

    The spokesman said they “attacked and set ablaze the campaign vehicle of the Labour Party, at Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu, burning to death the Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu (male) and his Personal Assistant (male) who was with him in the vehicle.

    “However, the miscreants were repelled by security operatives while attempting to also attack the convoy of the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at Eke, Agbani, Nkanu West LGA.”

    During the attack, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also murdered while the convoy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Enugu State Uche Nnaji was also affected.

    “Preliminary investigations into the incidents show that the armed hoodlums, operating in a tricycle, attacked a PDP campaign Mini Bus at Topland by Ebony Paint Road, Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu and used petrol bomb to set it ablaze, burning to death its driver, simply identified as one KC Great (male),” the statement added.

    In the wake of the attack, the Enugu State Police Commissioner Ahmed Ammani who visited the scenes of the incidents has ordered an investigation into it.

    The Commissioner, while strongly condemning the barbaric acts, has commiserated with the parties and family members of the deceased, vowing to ensure that the perpetrators are fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” Ndukwe added.

  • [OPINION] Frank Nweke Jr, walking the talk with Enugu’s Creative Industry

    [OPINION] Frank Nweke Jr, walking the talk with Enugu’s Creative Industry

    By Amanda Dike

    Frank Nweke Jr, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance is showing that his plans for the creative space goes beyond campaign promises.

    In the past few weeks and months, he has been available to celebrate and support the work of young creatives in the State. From the Coal City Art Exhibition, to the Eastern Nigerian International Film Festival, the Food and Fashion Festival, Vote with your Voice (a singing competition to drive political awareness and participation) and the presentation of a Stage Play by the Ijele Renaissance Theatre group, Frank has shown that he is deeply interested in the growth of the industry.

    We can immediately trace his resolute support back to his antecedents in his previous public, private and civic roles.

    As Minister, he was particular about how Nigeria was portrayed to the international community through the film sector, working with the industry and the censors board to craft narratives that show the country in good light.

    As Director-General of the NESG, he introduced emerging leaders forum to engage young Nigerians, the Creative industries forum amongst other stimulating forums for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

    You will also recall that he was the Chairman on the Advisory Board of iCREATE Africa, who travelled across Nigeria to promote the development of vocational skills through competitions and advocacy initiatives.

    He is an acclaimed lover of the arts and a collector as well.

    In several engagements, he has lauded the potential of the creative industry to drive the renaissance of the Igbo culture and values, engender social integration and human capital development and exponentially boost economic growth in the way it connects with other sectors of the economy.

    Currently, the Creative sector contributes 1.45% to the Nigerian GDP, which is below the global average of 4.5%.

    With the unique advantages Enugu has in terms of topography, a teeming young population and a rich culture and history, a man of foresight such as Frank Nweke Jr is the catalysing effect that Enugu needs to become the creative hub of the Southeast and indeed, one to reckon with in Nigeria and Africa.

  • 2023: Enugu APGA guber candidate, Frank Nweke Jr, inaugurates campaign support group, charges them to enthrone credible leadership in the state

    2023: Enugu APGA guber candidate, Frank Nweke Jr, inaugurates campaign support group, charges them to enthrone credible leadership in the state

    The Gubernatorial Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr, has charged Enugu state people, especially the people of Isi Uzo local government area to ensure that they do not empower the oppressors and looters in Nigeria.

    Mr Frank Nweke Jnr. was on Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 at the Isi Uzo Local Government area to commission a volunteer group named “Arise Network for Frank Nweke Jnr Campaign, 2023”.

    The support group comprises representatives drawn from 11 political wards in Isi Uzo local government area.

    Speaking to the members of the Group, Nweke stated that it is important to him that every resident of Enugu state understands the decisions facing everyone ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    In his words “From my engagement with the people of Isi Uzo today, their pain points still revolve around basic human needs of food, security, healthcare, etc.

    “It is shameful and painful that ndi Enugu in Isi Uzo, with their large expanse of arable lands and rich history of farming should be faced with the challenges of hunger and poor nutrition.

    “The hectares of fertile lands that line the 30kms of road from Nkalagu to Aguamede can provide a sufficient amount of basic food resources for the entire State, ensuring food security and boosting the economy”.

    Continuing, he said,”I am committed to exploring the comparative advantage our state has in cultivating the following crops: Pineapples, cassava, cashews, palm trees, sweet potato, yams, peppers, some fruits (mango, papaya), and Super Grains: Sesame seeds, Breadfruit (Ukwa), Locust beans (Ogiri), Bambara nut (Ọkpa), Pigeon peas (Fio-fio) and Irvingia (Ọgbọnọ). My plan is to resuscitate the farming estates, create partnerships, industrialization and resolutely address the security challenges that have persisted and affected farming activities.

    “Attention will be paid to boosting the entire value chain of Agriculture from research and production to the supply chain, in order to optimize the nutritional, local economic and export value of our produce. Agriculture can easily make up 40% of our GDP and boost IGR significantly over the next four years.

    “We must go beyond teasing our citizens with bags of rice for the sake of politicking and optics when we can provide the enabling environment for them to become successful owners of the farmlands themselves”.

    Frank Nweke further asked the people of Isi Uzo to have deep rethinking on what Enugu state will become in the next 8 years if they empower PDP to continue with purposelessness.

    “What we have in Enugu is lack of sincere leadership. Imagine what our state will become if we continue with a government that is still patching roads; a colossal failure. Ndi Enugu, #Kunie! Ka Anyi dozie Enugu”, he concluded.

    While addressing the People of Isi Uzo Local Government Area and especially members of Arise Network for Frank Nweke Jr Campaign 2023, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of APGA, Dr. Edith Ugwuanyi, tasked the people to take serious stock of the performance of the incumbent PDP government in Enugu state.

    “They have not provided water, no good roads, no meaningful infrastructural development. They can’t even pay Teachers and our Pensioners are crying. I ask you, why should PDP rule Enugu state again”, she questioned.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Coordinator of Arise Network for Frank Nweke Jr campaign 2023, Chinonso Ugwu, stated that the group will continue to consult and sensitize the people on the need for a reliable leader as governor of Enugu state in 2023.

    Chinonso Ugwu added that APGA is the only viable alternative political party that can enthrone the positive change and transformative governance that Ndi Enugu so much desired.

    Ugwu stated that the people of Enugu should support the urgent call to save the state from the hands of imposed and unprepared politicians whose sole aim in politics is to enrich themselves and their family members.