Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014 —43
Plan to send off VC sparks protest in UNN
INEC extends voters’ registration in Enugu by 2 days
BY EMEKA MAMAH
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BY TONY EDIKE
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NUGU—THE Inde pendent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has extended by two days the ongoing voters' registration in Enugu State. This followed complaints from some local governments in the state that several voters were not registered before the exercise ended on Sunday. In a statement issued Sunday night by INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Dr Lawrence Azubuike, the commission said “the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise in Enugu State has been extended for two days -Monday and Tuesday 2nd and 3rd June, 2014.” The statement directed eligible persons who have not registered before to avail themselves of the remaining days to do so.
FAYEMI WITH IGBO WOMEN: Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State (left) dancing to a cultural display by the women wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ekiti State chapter, in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday.
Orji nominates 17 new TC bosses BY ANAYO OKOLI
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MUAHIA—GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has nominated another set of Transition Committee chairman to run the affairs of the 17 local councils in the state. The last set of council chairmen was dissolved early last month by the governor.
Vanguard, however, learnt that this set may be the last transition committee as the state is said to be working out modalities to conduct local government elections within the year. The last council election in the state was held in 2008 by Governor Orji. A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof
How Borno govt co-funds fight against Boko “This over N10bn has been Haram, by SSG spent in acquiring and donating
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AGOS—BORNO State government has invested over N10 billion to procure armoured personnel carriers, patrol vehicles, hundreds of trailers of petroleum products, provision of material logistics and accommodation to support security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. This is against the paltry N200 million received from the Federal Government since 2011, Secretary to Borno State government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, said in an interactive session with journalists before he left Lagos at the weekend. Jidda said the state had earlier decided not to make public its expenditures on the fight against Boko Haram because Governor Kashim Shettima always told officials not to embarrass the Federal Government, since it was its (FG) responsibility to fund security under the exclusive list. Jidda said the governor reversed his position given series of allegations leveled against the state by mischief makers, part of which is a claim that the state was not supporting the military. He said: “First of all let me say we were pushed into making public, these things I am about to say. For three years we dealt with these challenges without any noise since the government was doing it for Borno people. “Some people are being made
to assume that a certain security vote is provided to state governments, this is not true. No state gets a dime from FAAC as security vote. Every state makes its own budget it intends to spend from its own normal allocations for security, not that external funds from the Federal Government accrues to any state. “For us in Borno, we have spent over N10 billion in the last three years to support security agencies in the counter-insurgency. This doesn’t include our losses. We have lost thousands of citizens and in terms of material loss, we might be talking in tens of billions and in all of these, Borno has received only N200m from the Federal Government as support. We have been co-funding the security that is exclusive preserve of the Federal Government.
over 20 brand new ultra modern Armoured Personnel Carriers to the Nigeria Police Force. Government has acquired and donated about 400 brand new Toyota Hilux Patrol vehicles each costing between N6m to 7m. We have a filling station that is dedicated to regular fueling of these vehicles.
Nwodo elected Beta Sigma Int'l President General, Alex
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HE Beta Sigma Fraternity International, at its biennial convention held at Enugu, has elected Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State, as its President for the next two years. Other elected officers include; Dr Duke Igwilo, UK-based Forensic Psychiatrist and Director
Abaribe lauds Orji on devt projects
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BA—A clear-headed personality must be allowed to sustain the various legacy projects conceived by Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said. Addressing supporters and stakeholders in Abia South senatorial district at Rowmay Hotel, Aba, weekend, Abaribe observed that Abia State was strategically located at a triangle that would attract investors. Besides, he said the
Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said the names nominated had been forwarded to Abia State House of Assembly for screening. The nominees include Dan Kalu Orji for Aba North, Dr. C.N. Okoli for Aba South, Onny Igbokwe for Arochukwu, Emma Ukwu Rocks for Bende, Dom Onwuzuruigbo for Ikwuano and Ginger Onwusibe for Isiala Ngwa North. Also nominated are; Dr. Chris Nwagboso for Isiala Ngwa South, Mrs. Amarachi Dede for Isuikwuato, Prince Nwabiaraije Obinna for Obingwa, Udensi Ekea Ulu for Ohafia and Christian Kamalu for Osisioma. Others include; Maurice Nwuzor, Ukwa East, Loveday Chigbu for Ukwa West, Ezebunwa Ubani for Ugwunagbo, Deacon Iyke Nwoke, Umuahia North, Charles Ekwueme, Umuahia North and Emma Ajalla for Umunneochi council.
entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Abia would complement the effort of government, adding that what was needed was to create the enabling environment. “Aba is the best place in Nigeria in terms of manufacturing and trading. The made-in-Aba trade fair that was held in Abuja sometime last year showed the ingenuity of the people, and also attest to the fact that Abia is a veritable platform to pilot Nigeria’s industrial revolution.”
Ekwueme Foundation, as Vice President; Mr Valentine Okechukwu as Registrar, Dr Emeka Obieze as Deputy Registar, Mr Charles Ekwulugo as Financial Secretary and Damian Obiora as Publicity Secretary. In his acceptance speech, Nwodo, enjoined all members to live up to the high ideals for which the Beta Sigma was formed in Nigeria. He stated that "at a time when our society is plagued by socioeconomic problems and security challenges, members should extend hand of fellowship to the less-privileged and the poor in our communities." He said activities to mark the golden jubilee of the Fraternity will be announced soon. The Beta Sigma Fraternity International is a sococultural, philanthropic and international service organisation for graduates and undergraduates worldwide.
SUKKA—THE de cision by a section of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, to organize send-off ceremonies for the outgoing ViceChancellor, Professor Bartho Okolo, has sparked off fresh agitation in the institution. Okolo’s tenure comes to an end on June 9. Trouble however, began when mainly seniour personnel of the institution who have worked under Professor Okolo decided to organize series of events to mark the end of his tenure as Vice Chancellor. The group is headed by an education Professor, S.O. Onyegegbu. The coalition of workers’ unions in the university on the platform of Joint Action Committee, JAC, reacted with a strongly worded public statement dissociating their members from the arrangement arguing that Professor Okolo did not deserve a celebration in view of serious allegations of maladministration leveled against him.
Forum appoints Zack Orji as lead ambassador
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RIENT Progressive Social Forum has appointed Nollywood actor, Mr. Zack Orji, as its lead ambassador. Speaking on the occasion, held at Ojez Restaurant in Lagos, President of the group, Felix Okwudili, who presented the lead ambassador plaque and certificate to Orji, described the forum as a body of young, resourceful and enterprising minds from the Igbo-speaking region in Nigeria, comprising the five South East states and other state with Igbo population in Nigeria, and even the diaspora. “The touchstone of the forum is to, but not limited, serve as a bridge that will inspire and promote development and economic growth of the region, oneness, love, peace, a strong Igbo voice and further entrench the rich Igbo cultures among our people, our children and to showcase it to the world. “It is also to build the Igbo region into a world-class tourist hub and put Igbo region on world map.