14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013
Pray for Chime, TUC tells Enugu people
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BY TONY EDIKE
NUGU—ENUGU State Council of Trade Union Congress, TUC, has called on workers of the state to pray for God’s divine protection and enablement for Governor Sullivan Chime. The union also commended the Acting governor, Sunday Onyebuchi for the able way he had piloted the affairs of the state along with other State Executive members, particularly on the ongoing projects in the state. In a press statement signed by the Chairman, Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe, and Secretary, Mr. J.C. Ugwoke, TUC further called on workers of Enugu State to be focused in the discharge of their duties in the various ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) and not to be distracted by comments and insinuations by any group. It noted that the absence of Governor Sullivan Chime had not affected the payment of salaries and other allowances in the state, while negotiations on wage increase were ongoing between labour and government.
Guber poll: Ifeanyi Ubah’s campaign posters flood Anambra streets BY VINCENT UJUMADU
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WKA—BARELY few hours after the court judgment freed the Capital Oil boss, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, yesterday, his governorship campaign posters flooded all the major cities in Anambra State . The posters were two different designs and a group known as Anambra Progressive Youths, who claimed to be sponsors of the posters, urged him to contest the forth -coming governorship election in the state. Coordinator of the group, Mr. Joe Nwuba, said by the judgment of the court, Ubah had been vindicated.
We ‘ve not endorsed any guber candidate for 2014 —Anambra monarchs BY VINCENT UJUMADU
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WKA—AS the intrigues for Governor Peter Obi’s successor in 2014 continues, 70 traditional rulers in Anambra State yesterday denied a newspaper report (not Vanguard) that they had endorsed a particular candidate for the position. Rising from a meeting at Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, the royal fathers, under the aegis of Olu-na-Adagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council, said they were not part of a statement credited to the traditional ruler of Igbariam, Igwe Kelly Nzekwe, that a former Secretary to the State Government had been endorsed by the royal fathers from the area. Igwe Rowland Odegbo, the traditional ruler of Nteje in Oyi local government area, who is the chairman of Olu-na-Adagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council, told newsmen that such a thing never happened. He described as embarrassing and insulting to the body of respected traditional rulers, an attempt to have their names linked to the endorsement of any governorship aspirant, adding that traditional rulers had vowed not to interfere with political process in Anambra State. According to him, what happened was that the former SSG, Chief Paul Odenigbo, was conferred with a chieftaincy title by Igwe Nzekwe. He insisted that on that occasion, there was no political statement from the royal fathers present and that there was no attachment to the chieftaincy
conferment. Though he admitted that Odenigbo served Anambra meritoriously as SSG, he said the chieftaincy titled conferred on him had nothing to do with politics of Anambra governorship in 2014. He said: “The council is still wondering why a non-political and brotherly group photograph taken by monarchs during conferment of a title should be used to portray that we had endorsed someone. “As traditional rulers and custodians of the culture of our peo-
ple, we have at no time engaged in partisan politics. “We have not screened anybody and so could not have endorsed anybody. We are providing an open platform for all our sons and daughters who are interested in contesting the governorship election in 2014, irrespective of their political parties, to present themselves to us for our prayers and scrutiny, as we are looking for the best hands for the job. “We also encourage political parties to look towards Anambra
VISIT: Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi (left), and Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, during the courtesy visit to Government House, Enugu, when the good governance’s tour team visited the state, yesterday. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.
FG must sustain good governance tour —Onyebuchi
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BY TONY EDIKE
NUGU—ENUGU State Government has said the Federal Government-initiated Good Governance Tour of the 36 states of the federation should be sustained periodically to ensure that governors accounted to the people. Acting governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, stated this, yesterday, while receiving the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and his 105-man entourage that paid him a courtesy visit before inspecting both federal and state governments’ projects in Enugu State. “So I believe the good governance tour programme is a good one which I think should be sustained periodically, which in its own way, will make the governors of the states know that there is a forum where they need to give account to the people. “We believe by the time we listen to you, we will be able to learn how we are doing well and
North as they search for the candidates that will fly their flags in the forthcoming governorship election.” Another royal father, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu community, who is the secretary of the council, said that at no time did Odenigbo consult the council as a group to talk about his political ambition. He warned those planning to drag the name of royal fathers into politics to desist so as not to bring down the curse of the gods on themselves.
how we are not doing well and how we can improve on how we are doing things,” Onyebuchi said. He said Enugu State accepted to host the good governance tour team because “we believe that it is not just enough for the people of Enugu State who see what we do, who enjoy the services we
provide; it is also important that people outside the state know that Enugu State is the place to come and invest. “It will also afford us the opportunity of having our people tell us how they feel about what we are doing, and then give us the opportunity to improve on the way we do things.”
Ohanaeze: Group lauds Igariwe’s election as president BY NKIRUKA NNOROM HE Ohanaeze Media Fo rum, OMF, has hailed the recent election of Chief Gary Igariwe as the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the apex socio-cultural group uniting Ndi Igbo. According to the body, the election of Gary Igariwe signals a new dawn in the affairs of the ethnic group, considering his wealth of experience in the affairs of Ndi Igbo,
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which he has championed over the years. In a communiqué issued and jointly signed by major principal officers of the Ohanaeze Media Forum, which is led by Peter Anosike, the Forum, while restating that he was the man for the job, also tasked him on the area of uniting Ndi Igbo as the first step towards achieving the desired progress in the land.
Med-View plane to be recertified by NCAA
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BY LAWANI MIKAIRU
AGOS—NIGERIA Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is to recertify the MedView aircraft, that made air return on Sunday. The Boeing 737-400 with Reg. No 5N BPA, left Lagos by noon and was bound for Abuja and Yola. The pilot made an air return to Lagos 20 minutes after take off when he noticed a fault in one of the twin engines. The recertification will be done by NCAA after the plane had been subjected to technical re-examination and series of test before it will be allowed to fly again. A statement by NCAA after the incident said: “Our safety inspectors, Med-View airline ground engineers and their Turkish maintenance firm, Technic engineers are now looking at the plane for proper rectification and recertification thereafter.’’