The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

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  • NASS Plans Translation Of Laws Into Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba

    NASS Plans Translation Of Laws Into Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The National Assembly is set to expand access to legislative information by translating Nigerian laws into major indigenous languages, including Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.

    The Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Henry Nwawuba, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 National Assembly Library Week.

    The three-day event, themed “Parliamentary Memory: Connecting Records, Legislation and the People,” is aimed at promoting legislative research, access to information and effective use of the National Assembly Library.

    Nwawuba said the library was more than a collection of books, describing it as a key knowledge institution responsible for preserving parliamentary records and supporting legislative work.

    He said efforts were underway to ensure lawmakers, legislative aides, researchers and other stakeholders could access authoritative records, including Order Papers, Votes and Proceedings, committee reports and Acts passed by the National Assembly.

    According to him, the Trust Fund is investing in electronic repositories and upgrading the National Assembly’s e-library, while also developing a mobile application that will provide easier access to legislative information.

    Nwawuba also announced plans for a Bills Tracker that would allow users to monitor bills and follow their progress through the legislative process.

    He said the library was developing infographics, audiovisual materials and video explainers to make bills, Acts and legislative procedures easier for Nigerians to understand.

    The planned translation of laws into indigenous languages, he added, would further widen access to legislation and help citizens understand laws affecting their daily lives.

    Nwawuba said the library would also organise public policy dialogues to encourage greater citizen participation in public hearings and promote interaction between lawmakers, citizens, researchers and other stakeholders.

    He explained that the initiatives were also designed to address inconsistencies in parliamentary records and prevent the circulation of fake or unauthorised National Assembly documents.

    Akpabio Urges Lawmakers To Use Library

    The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented at the event by Senator Osita Ngwu, urged lawmakers to make greater use of the National Assembly Library, particularly amid growing misinformation, disinformation and advances in artificial intelligence.

    Akpabio described the library as an important link between knowledge, evidence and legislative decision-making and called for continued investment in its development.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said parliamentary records were essential for preserving Nigeria’s legislative history and strengthening democratic governance.

    Tajudeen said the effectiveness of a legislature should not be measured only by the laws it passes, but also by its ability to document proceedings, preserve institutional knowledge and make such information available to future generations.

    He said technology and artificial intelligence could strengthen legislative research, preservation of records and public access, but stressed that their use must be guided by accuracy, security and professional judgment.

    Clerk Warns Against Fake Parliamentary Documents

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the legislature could not be fully independent without the capacity to generate, preserve, retrieve and authenticate its institutional records.

    Ogunlana identified the Order Paper, Votes and Proceedings and Hansard as important components of Nigeria’s democratic memory.

    He warned against the circulation of incomplete, outdated, altered or unauthorised bills, Acts and other parliamentary documents, noting that digital technology had made it easier to manipulate and distribute such materials.

    The Clerk stressed that the authenticity of an Act depended not only on the existence of a document but also on the ability to establish the authoritative version and the legal process through which it was enacted.

    He cited the continued use of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN 2004, as an example of the challenges involved in maintaining an updated and authoritative collection of federal legislation.

    According to him, the LFN 2004 reflected the laws covered by the relevant revision exercise and was not automatically updated whenever new legislation was passed.

    Ogunlana said the National Assembly must strengthen cybersecurity, digital preservation, authentication systems, access controls, backups and staff training as parliamentary records become increasingly digitised.

    He warned that while digitisation could make legislative information easier to access and search, it could also expose records to cyberattacks, manipulation and impersonation of official sources.

    The Clerk called for digital platforms that are both accessible and secure, with electronic records maintained in a manner that ensures they remain available, authentic and traceable.

    He said the National Assembly Library should evolve from simply storing documents into an institution that preserves, authenticates and provides access to parliamentary knowledge for lawmakers, researchers, journalists, civil society organisations, students and the wider public.

    The President of the Nigerian Library Association, Lawal Umar, called for sustained investment in libraries and modern information technology to improve access to legislative information.

    Umar also urged stronger collaboration between the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

    The Secretary-General of the Conference of Speakers of African Legislatures, Debo Oyewale, said African legislatures could learn from one another in developing institutions capable of preserving legislative memory.

  • Igbo tribe an asset, not nation’s problem -Okorocha

    Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has fired back at the General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, for stating that the Igbo were a cursed people and could not rule Nigeria yet.

    Okorocha said that the Igbo were not Nigeria’s problem, rather they were an asset to the country since they could be found everywhere.

    Okorocha, who represents the Imo West at the Senate, said this on Tuesday at his Unity House Campaign office in Abuja, during the visit of the All Progressives Congress National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.

    Bakare’s statement was seen in a viral video where he claimed the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, cursed the Igbo before he was killed during a coup.

    He said, “Why should anyone in this country say the Igbo man cannot be president of Nigeria? I was at Imo State and I told them the reason why the Igbo cannot rule Nigeria and I want to remove the curse today.

    “Do you know what happened? The day Tafawa Balewa was killed, they removed his turban, poured wine on his head, forced him to drink, and shot him. In the process, he cursed them saying, ‘none of your tribe will ever rule Nigeria.

    “I want to break the curse today because this generation of Igbos was not part of those people. By the authority of God’s word, I reverse the curse of Tafawa Balewa over the Igbo generation. Henceforth, the Igbo’s will have access to the throne like any other Nigerian”.

    Commenting on Bakare’s statement, the 2023 presidential aspirant said the cleric’s claims were unwarranted and an overstatement.

    “When I listened to Bakare mention that the Igbos are cursed in the cause of his preaching, I think that is an overstatement and unwarranted preaching. I must state here categorically that Igbos are not cursed and they will never be cursed.

    “They are peaceful and blessed Nigerians who are found in every nook and cranny of this country. They may not be good politicians, because of the kind of politics we play in Nigeria, but definitely, they are not cursed. Igbos are a great asset to this country. They are not the problem,” Okorocha stated.

  • The Coalition of Northern Groups call for a total boycott of Igbo buisneses in the North

     

    The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG has reacted to the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB’s ban on the consumption of ‘Fulani cows’ (beef) in South-East, calling for a total boycott of all businesses operated by the Igbo all over the North.

     

    CNG through its Spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said that IPOB’s order issued in a statement on Monday by one Emma Powerful, amounted to a grave provocation and serious threat to northern commercial interests in the South East and by extension, to the physical wellbeing of Northerners living as minorities among Igbo communities.

     

    In a renewed resolve to pay a coin for any direct or indirect attack or threat to Northerners and their interests anywhere in the country, the CNG called for the total boycott of all businesses, goods and services operated by Igbo in the North effective from the same April 2022.

     

    The CNG also called on northerners everywhere to decline support for any political party or formation or movement that has the active participation of South-East politicians.

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the North while maintaining its tradition of tolerance and accommodation, shall however no longer be disposed to condoning further acts of irresponsibility in the form of deliberate threats of intimidation or harassment targeted at Northerners living and doing legitimate businesses elsewhere in the country.

     

    “Since such targeted utterances have in the past been preludes to physical attacks on northerners and destruction of their properties in particularly the South East, we urge northern transporters and suppliers of goods to consider alternative trade routes to avoid the imminent risks that come with this IPOB threat.

     

    “We warm that the North has had enough of the antagonism from the South East and its attack dog, the IPOB and will no longer remain passive under such deliberate and sustained attacks and will henceforth be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted abuse and violations.

     

    “All those who have no other useful vocation other than attacking northerners under the slightest of pretexts should know that our patience has reached its nadir.

     

    “The North’s reticence in speaking out or taking action is not born of fear or ignorance of how to respond in kind,” Suleiman said.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • Northern Governor’s Forum oppose 2023 powershit to the South

     

    The Northern States Governors’ Forum on Monday opposed the call by its Southern counterpart that the Presidency should move to the South in 2023.

     

    The northern governors, who stated this at their meeting in Kaduna,  said the call by the Southern Governors’ Forum was against the constitution of the country.

     

    But groups including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere and the Delta State Government said the northern governors’ position was against the unity of the country.

     

    The southern governors at their recent meeting in Enugu reiterated their demand that the Presidency should shift to the South in 2023.

     

    On Monday, the northern governors said although some of them had endorsed the Southern governors’ call for power shift to the South, the regional governors collectively condemned such a call.

    They said the statement by their Southern counterparts contradicted the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

     

    They  added that the elected President must meet the requirements which include getting “the majority votes, scoring at least 25  per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of the states of the federation; in case of a runoff, a simple majority win.”

     

    These were contained in a communiqué issued  after an emergency meeting of the regional governors and the chairmen of Northern Council of Chiefs  held in Kaduna on Monday.

     

    Northern govs await S’Court judgment on VAT

    The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who read out the communiqué on behalf of his colleagues, also said the issue of the  collection of Value added Tax by states was before the court.

     

    He said it would amount to subjuduice to take a decision on the matter.

     

    Lalong insisted that it was the view of his colleagues that until  there is pronouncement by the Supreme Court on the substantive matter between Rivers and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, “the matter is subjudice and Northern States Governors’ Forum would respect this.”

     

    The 11-point-communique read, “The forum observed that some northern  governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three geopolitical zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation.

     

    “Notwithstanding their comments, the forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors’ Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.

     

    “The statement is quite contradictory to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall score the majority votes; score at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of states of the federation. In the case of a runoff, a  simple majority win.

     

    “The Northern State Governors’ Forum considered the ongoing national debate on the collection of Value Added Tax. As responsible leaders while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is sub-judice, we however for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations:

     

    “The judgment of the Federal high Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13% derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inlands Revenue Service.

     

    “Rivers and Lagos state governments have enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors’ Forum has expressed support for this course of action;

     

    “VAT is being confused by these state governments as a sales tax. If every state enacts its own VAT law, multiple taxation will result in increase in  prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer;

     

    “Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its “overall effect”.  The reason Lagos accounts for our 50 per cent VAT collection is because most of the telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT

     

    “Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub-judice and Northern Governors’ Forum would respect this.”

     

    The governors also lauded the current onslaught by the military on bandits and insurgents in the some part of the north.

     

    Besides, the forum   decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some judicial officers in releasing  and granting bail to arrested criminals.  “This attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, therefore, there the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanism amongst States was identified as a panacea,” Lalong added.

     

    Meanwhile, stakeholders in the South, including  have taken on northern governors over  opposition to power shift to the South.

     

    On its part, the Delta State Government said  it  aligned with the decision of Southern Governors’ Forum.

     

    The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday in Asaba, said, “The Delta State Government has already aligned with the decision of southern governors, so it does not matter whether the northern governors are opposing it. We were there when the decision was taken and that is final as far  as Delta is concerned”

     

    Northern govs exercising their right of free speech – Akeredolu’s aide

    When contacted, his Ondo State counterpart,  Mr Donald Ojogo, said, “They (northern governors) have expressed and indeed exercised their rights under the freedom of expression. No one can stop them from expressing themselves.”

     

    Northern govs working towards Nigeria’s break-up – Ohanaeze

    But the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization,  Ohanaeze Ndigbo, described the position of the northern governors as unfortunate.

     

    It  said the North  benefited from the Nigerian union more than it contributed to it.

     

    Spokesman  for  the Igbo apex body, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, warned the northern leaders to have a rethink if they wanted the Nigerian union to continue.

     

    Ogbonnia said, “If there is any group of people that benefits from the corporate existence of Nigeria, it is the North. This is because what northerners bring to the table is far  less than what they take from the table. So instead of looking for a way for Nigeria to remain united, develop and grow, they are looking at the way Nigeria will break up. It is simply inconceivable that the North that benefits the most from this country would like the country to break up.

     

    “I have often said that if they are talking of constitutionality, as a matter of fact there is no place it is written in the constitution, but there is a gentleman agreement about power rotation between the north and south.

     

    “The resolution was reached at the NUC (National Universities Commission) Event Centre at Abuja, and that was when Abdulsalami Abubakar was the Head of State and Commander in-Chief. It was agreed that power would shift from North to the South and that was why all the parties concentrated on  the South and it was zoned to the South-West in 1999.

     

    “After Obasanjo it went to  Yar’Adua from North, to Jonathan from South and returned to North, Buhari. So now after Buhari,  it is supposed to come down South. That is gentleman agreement. It is unconscionable for the North to begin to talk about the power remaining in the North now.

     

    “So it is unfortunate that they will be trying to go contrary to the views expressed and demand by the southern governors. As far as I am concerned, the position of the Southern Governors is the Ohanaeze’s stand. Ohanaeze stands with the southern governors that power should come down to the South.”

     

    Ogbonnia, however stated, “I don’t want to believe that the northerners are happy with what is happening in the country today.  Only a person who is happy with what is happening will be talking about efforts that will bring about crisis and disunity. What is happening in Nigeria today is a result of injustice and inequity. Instead of trying to ameliorate the situation and bring about the desired the change based on equity , fair play and somebody will be very busy orchestrating more injustice.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • 2023 Presidency: Ohanaeze pushes for Igbo presidency

    Apex Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, said there was no going back on the push for a president of Igbo origin in 2023.

     

    It described the clamour for the president by Igbo as equity-inspired, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had betrayed Igbo in spite its long years of support to the party.

     

     

     

    Reacting to the recently released committee report of the PDP bordering on the 2023 presidential election, the Igbo group said they would rely on their goodwill across the geopolitical zones to push for the position.

     

    PDP Committee on the Review of the 2019 General Elections, headed by Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, had recommended that the party should allow aspirants from all parts of the country to contest for its 2023 presidential ticket.

     

    Mohammed, however, acknowledge that “ in line with certain unwritten conventions of the nation’s history, many people think that for fairness and equity, the North-East and South-East geo-political zones that have had the shortest stints at the Presidency should be given special consideration in choosing the presidential flag bearer of the party for the 2023 elections.”

     

     

     

    Ohanaeze said the report by the Mohammed-led committee was most despicable, un-reflective and unconscionable.

     

    A statement by Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, said it was worrisome that some highly placed Nigerians who had benefited so much from the unity of the country, would be inclined to decisions and actions that would further inflame the passions of the patient, but aggrieved part of the country.

     

    Ohanaeze said Nigerians agreed on rotation of presidency between the North and the South, and that it was the turn of the South it vie for the position after the expiration of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    “For clarity purposes, both the South West and the South South had both taken their turns in the persons of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan respectively. It is rather very unpatriotic and a trifle on the sensibilities of Igbo for the committee to even suggest the rotation of the presidency to the North East in the first instance and open to every part of Nigeria as a major slight.”

     

    “It is disturbing that all the indignities, perceived and real, that the South East suffer in the current dispensation are the outcome of Igbo support to the PDP since 1999. It is on record that in 1999, Igbo were in hock with the PDP through which Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged President, same in 2003 and subsequent elections. On the other hand, the Igbo had invested much political capital in the PDP only to be betrayed by its apparent lack in principles. The leadership of the PDP is advised to retract the comment made by Bala Mohammed and countermand the content of the obnoxious committee report in the intere st of the party.”

     

     

     

     

     

    www.sunnewsonline.com

  • The Igbo nation mourns a good man as Ndubuisi Kanu dies at 77.

     

    Ndubuisi Kanu, former military administrator of Imo and Lagos states, former chairman of Ndigbo Lagos and a major pillar of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, reportedly died of COVID-19 complications in Lagos at the early hours of yesterday.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Chief Guy Ikokwu, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, Afenifere, Iba Gani Adams, and Eminent leaders of Thought were among those who mourned Kanu and described his death as shocking and a huge loss to Nigeria at a time he was needed most.

     

    Also, Life bencher, leading lawyer, and Second Republic lawmaker, Senator Onyeabo Chukwunedum Obi, died on Tuesday, aged 82. Obi’s demise was announced by his younger brother, Zik Obi.

    Second Republic politician and Elder statesman, Chief Guy Ikokwu, described Senator Obi’s death as shocking.

     

    ”This is shocking as I had the last meeting with him at our Enugu Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Ime-Obi meeting and took pictures with him and wished he would show up at the Ohanaeze election in Owerri on January 10. What a pity. It is terrible as we had a heart to heart chat. May he rest in perfect peace,” Ikokwu said.

     

    Kanu, in 1975, was the only Igbo appointed into the supreme military council, SMC, before General Olusegun Obasanjo dissolved it when he assumed office in 1976 as head of state.

     

    He fought on the Biafran side during the civil war but was reabsorbed into the Nigerian military at the end of the war in 1970.

    After retirement, Kanu, who occupied many commands and political offices as part of his military postings, quickly civilianised himself.

    In a swift reaction to the death, Vanguard gathered that the incumbent Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the news with shock, describing the deceased as “a great Nigerian.”

     

    A chain of catastrophe —Ohanaeze

    The Professor George Obiozor-led newly elected leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the deaths of Kanu and Obi as a catastrophe.

     

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the apex Igbo group said: ”The Ohanaeze Ndigbo are devastated by the news of the sudden death of our two prominent sons; Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu, Rtd and Sen. Onyeabo Obi.

    ”Admiral Kanu was a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in 1975 under General Olusegun Obasanjo. At the creation of Imo State in 1976, Kanu was appointed the military administrator of Imo State where he made indelible footprints. As a robust thinker, he engaged the service of town planners to prepare a master plan for Owerri metropolis; built durable roads and was instrumental to increasing the number of local government areas in Imo State to 21. Among his legacies is the Imo Broadcasting Service, which went on air in December 1976.

     

    ”In 1977, Kanu was appointed the Military administrator of Lagos State. Due to his impressive records, Kanu was promoted to the enviable rank of a Rear Admiral and subsequently, the Chief of Naval Staff before his retirement.

     

    ”At retirement, Kanu founded the RANGK LTD, a maritime consultancy. He was a chieftain of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, a pro-democracy movement that played a leading role in the agitation for the actualization of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    ”Kanu at various times expressed profound passion for his people by playing several stabilizing roles in Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He was very jovial, personable but firm and courageous in his convictions. Throughout his career history, Kanu remained untainted and exemplary. We are devastated because Ndigbo and Nigeria will miss his disarming intellect and wise counsel.

     

    ”Senator Onyeabo ObI (82) was a Lawyer and graduate of the London School of Economics, England. He was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979-1983. He followed his family tradition in the love for the Igbo nation. His father, Chief Z C Obi was the national leader of the Igbo Union before the Nigerian civil war. He served as the President of the Otu-Oka Iwu, Lagos-a body of Igbo prominent lawyers. During the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, Senator Obi worked assiduously with the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Emeka Ojukwu and many others to produce an Igbo position paper.

    ”Like Kanu, the sagacity and outspokenness of Senator Obi will be missed. This is a chain of catastrophe very painful to bear. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”

     

    Kanu’s patriotic virtues ‘ll continue to inspire younger generation —Buhari

    President Buhari while commiserating with Kanu’s family and friends, prayed for God’s covering over all his loved ones.

    President Buhari also condoled with “all professional colleagues of the gallant military officer, who distinguished himself in all positions and responsibilities during service, taking up more daunting, but historically rewarding challenges like speaking up for the weak and vulnerable, and the struggle for the country’s return to democratic government.”

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he believes that Kanu’s credentials in serving the nation, as a career military officer and as an activist with NADECO in actualising the June 12, 1993 mandate, remained commendable and will continue to inspire younger generations on patriotism.

     

    Kanu’s death a great loss to the progressives —Aare Gani Adams

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams described Kanu’s death as a great loss to the progressives.

    Aare Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said the death of the foremost administrator had robbed the progressives of a man of great honour and integrity.

    The statement reads: “In life, he was a great leader and leader of leaders because he stood for democracy and true federalism, and  even in death his memories will for a very long time remain indelible in the minds of great democrats. He had a strong conviction about good governance. We will all miss him because, I could remember those moments we shared together in our struggle for this democracy.

    “The late Ndubusi Kanu was a model for good governance. He was always present at our programmes, especially the annulled June 12 commemoration, and on many occasions, he attended three programmes in a day.”

     

    Kanu, a fighter for greater Nigeria core values —Ikokwu

    On his part, Chief Guy Ikokwu said: ”Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu was a fighter for the core values of a greater Nigeria and devoted his time to bridge the gap between all our ethnic nationalities no matter where they came from. Because of his devotion to our common bondage he was one of the few Nigerians who governed two states – Imo and Lagos. He fought for the return of democracy and civil rights of citizens as a NADECO leader even when some had chickened out.

    He was a frontline leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and supported the stand of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF’s resoluteness for a restructured template for governance system and devolution of powers. The Lagos State Government honoured him with the Ndubuisi Kanu Park at Ikeja. His family structure is evidently inter-tribal. We had consultations with him on ways to diffuse the alarming rate of insecurities and economic degradation with our new rating of the economic capital of the poor.

     

    ”When I was unable to speak with him as he was out of Lagos in the last two weeks, I was bewildered and proceeded to Imo State for our Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Confab to fathom a new template for a resolution of our existential precepts in our clime. On our return to Lagos State we just found the calamitous realities of our new World Order unraveling exponentially with his demise and movement to the galactic world zones beyond. May his Gentle Soul rest in peace.”

     

    Kanu left indelible footprints —Uwazurike

    Former President of Aka-Ikenga, an Igbo intellectual think tank group, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, said the late naval chief was an enigma.

    ”Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu was an enigma. He had a soft voice. Yet he became a Commander. Physically he didn’t look like a military man. What he lacked in physique he gained in his brainpower. It is therefore not a surprise that he rose to the height of his profession. As the Governor of both Imo state and Lagos states he left his footprint in the sands of time, he was a complete Igbo man, very passionate, brooked no nonsense and he never stood on ceremonies. He was the chairman of NADECO and was even manhandled by Abacha for his membership of NADECO. We have lost a great man,” he said.

     

    Death of a patriot, good seaman —Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation,  Rotimi Amaechi expressed shocked at the death of Kanu, who he described as a patriot and a Seaman that would be missed by all.

    “It’s saddening. It’s the death of a patriot and a good seaman. May his soul rest in peace. ”

     

    Kanu’s death painful, huge loss —Afenifere

    The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere,  described the death of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu as a huge loss to Nigeria.

     

    National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “It was a very painful death. We have lost a very ebullient, vibrant and progressive someone. There is nothing we can do than to accept the will of God.

     

    “He has lived a fulfilled life and dedicated his life to good causes for which we shall always remember him. May his soul rest in peace and may God protect all that he left behind.”

     

    Kanu’s guidance in the struggle for prosperous Nigeria ‘ll be greatly missed

    On their part, eminent leaders of thought, senior citizens, leaders of civil society on the banner of Project Nigeria Movement led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, condoled with Kanu’s family on his demise.

     

    Describing Kanu as one of their strongest associates, they said in a statement by Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, that: Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a veteran of the struggle for the restoration of democracy in the 90s was military governor of old Imo State in 1975 and of Lagos State in 1976.

     

    He also made waves in 1975, when he became the only Igbo appointed into the then ruling Supreme Military Council before General Olusegun Obasanjo dissolved it when he assumed office as head of state in 1976.

     

    ”Kanu, a Biafran war veteran, became a dogged pro-democracy activist upon his retirement from the military. As a staunch member of the National Democratic Coalition, which spearheaded the struggle for the actualisation of the late Moshood Abiola’s annulled June 12, 1993 presidential mandate, Kanu was among those who signed an ultimatum’s for the General Sani Abacha’s regime to revalidate Abiola’s mandate and hand over power to him.

     

    ”He was the chairman of NADECO’s Action Committee, which organised and participated in protest marches and public sensitisation against military dictatorship.

     

    ”Kanu until his demise was also a frontline member of the Apex  Project Nigeria Movement, which has Eminent Jurist, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN as its Chairman. The Group was initiated to build national consensus and political stability for Nigeria through constitutional restructuring of Nigeria.

     

    Other arrow heads of the senior citizens group, which is currently mourning the sudden exit of Kanu are Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, General Ike Nwachukwu (retd), Dr Kali Idika Kalu, Prof Akin Oyebode, Prof Pat Utomi, Commodore Dan Suleiman, among others.

     

    ”The active guidance of Kanu for the struggle to create a new democratic and prosperous Nigeria will be greatly missed by all L eaders of Conscience in the Project Nigeria Movement, NADECO and in the broad civil society constituency of Nigeria.”

     

     

    Source: vanguardngr.com

  • Igbo : Ohanaeze threatens to arrest Obiozor

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo general assembly has threatened to arrest Prof. George Obiozor , a frontline presidential contender in the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

    Others being threatened with arrest are those contesting elections into chapters of the organisation at various levels.

    The President-General of the Ohaneze General Assembly, Basil Onyeacholam, disclosed this to our correspondents in Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday.

    Saying any attempt to conduct election for the leadership of Ohanaeze was illegal, Onyeacholam pointed out that his organisation was the authentic representative of the Igbo.

     

    He added that law enforcement agencies had been informed to act accordingly.

    He said,” The law of our land does not prohibit anybody from wasting his money. But any attempt by anybody to hold election in the name of Ohanaeze is going to be an effort in futility.

    “We have made our position clear; Ohanaeze is one. We have also reached out to some people that are involved, especially the elderly ones to come and man the elders’ council of our organisation, while the national executive leadership should be left to younger persons, that is the restructuring that is going on in Ohanaeze.

     

    “Anybody that is calling for any election anywhere is trying to organise what that is not proper in the eyes of the law. We have written to the security agencies.

    “Prof. Obiozor is 80 years. If Prof. Obiozor is to be anybody’s father or grandfather, would they allow him to be struggling at that age?”

     

    The Source had reported that the counsel for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo general assembly, recently registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission, Amobi Nzelu, had in November last year asked the police and the Department of State Services to stop the Ohanaeze Ndigbo election slated for January.

     

    Nzelu also urged security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to arrest the outgoing President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, and other principal officers of the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, past and present, for allegedly running the organisation illegally.

    Reacting, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra, Chief Okeke Ogene, described the threat as an empty one.

    He said, “If they feel they have the capacity they should come and arrest us. We are not afraid any threat.

    They should remember that a factional Ohanaeze like them had gone to court and court said they had no right to stop our elections.

    “The election going on is not the decision of one; it’s the decision of Imeobi (parliament) in the South-East that involves all traditional rulers, town unions and governors of the seven Igbo-speaking states.

    “Elections are continuing. Nobody has the powers to discuss the existence of Igbo nation than the Ohanaeze led by Nnia Nwodo is Ohanaeze of the Igbo nation that has history from the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. We have a lineage; we have a founder; ask them who their founder is? Why are we wasting our energy to merchants and agents of destruction?

    ‘PG requires someone who has served’

    Meanwhile, one of the leading contestants for the office of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nworgu, has said that the position required someone who has had apprenticeship in the organisation.

    Nworgu, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, said he was in the race to champion Igbo interest since he had served in the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation in various capacities.

    Nworgu, who is a former deputy secretary-general and secretary-general of the body, said “I am in the race because Igbo are in a crossroad’s and the race required someone who has had an apprenticeship in Ohanaeze. Someone who knows the older men who have rendered service and the younger people who are coming in; therefore you have to stand on this two varies.

    “I have helped formulate policies for Ohanaeze under some president generals. I took part in formulating the present constitution of Ohanaeze that was approved in 2003. I have watched the older men take decisions because I have been a statutory member of Imeobi from 2002. That has exposed me to all the dealings, and who is who among the I gbo top echelon.”

     

    Source : www.punchng.com