SIR UCHE OBIENU INAUGURATES A VIBRANT CAMPAIGN TEAM FOR IDEMILI SOUTH CONSTITUENCY ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

SIR UCHE OBIENU INAUGURATES A FORMIDABLE CAMPAIGN TEAM FOR IDEMILI SOUTH CONSTITUENCY ELECTION

Sir Dr Uche Obienu (Nwawelugo n'Oba) the frontline  candidate for Idemili South Constituency on the ticket of the Labour Party, over the weekend, innagurated his campaign team for the elections. 

The occasion which took place at his country home in Oba, had in attendance the chairmen and leaders of the various wards in the constituency as well as other community and interest leaders.

In his welcome address, Nwawelugo stressed that the 2023 election will be the first time in Nigeria s political history that all eyes will be on Labour party and on Igbos generally. He maintained that if the Igbos harness their numerical voting strength across the country (which runs into over 20 millions), the election will be a walkover for the Labour Party. He decried the current poor representation at all levels of the legislature and offered himself as the credible alternative for effective representation. He urged the team to see their innuguration as a call to duty and promised that he will not forget all those that worked with him to attain the post. 

The high point of the occasion was the inauguration of the ward coordinators and other stakeholders in the team by the Legal Adviser of the organization. 

Also inaugurated alongside the ward coordinators was the Campaign DG Dr Chiedo Chibuike, a vibrant and firebrand political activist and grassroots mobilizer 

The DG of the Team , Dr  Chiedo Chibuike called for cohesion and  commitment to ensure Victory for Sir Dr Uche Obienu at the polls in March 11. He urged everyone to be ready to work hard for the success of the campaign. He also urged everyone to get  membership cards of the Labour party so as to be part of the success story of the party.

As his first duty as DG, Dr Chibuike appointed Engr Uzo Udoka a popular vibrant and outspoken Obidient,  as secretary of the Campaign Council. 

YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY WITH PETER OBI, SUSTAIN IT! -Chief Sir Joe Martins Uzodike

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YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY 11w!WITH PETER OBI, SUSTAIN IT!W1

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By Hon Emma Asie

Elderly statesman and former Commissioner for Information in Anambra state , Chief Sir Joe Martins Uzodike (Dike-Udo, Aka na eme Eze na Awka Etiti) has encouraged youths to sustain their current support for Labour Party Presidential candidate candidate Mr Peter Obi as they are on the right track with him. 

Chief Sir Joe Martins Uzodike gave the encouragement at an interactive phone-in program on Alpha Radio Nnobi 106.5FM titled POLITICAL HEAT hosted by Emmanuel Asiegbunam (Mr E on the Mic). 

Exploring the topic "Is 2023 really the turn of the younger generation?" The elderly statesman affirmed that with determination and drive, the younger generation can turn the tide of the nation and make a statement with the 2023 general election. 

The former Commissioner for Information who was also a one-time Senior Adviser to then Governor Jim Nwobodo of the old Anambra state, traced the challenges youths are facing in politics today to the non creation of enabling and conducive environments by successive governments over the years. He lamented that spiraling unemployment was driving youths to violence, crime and other vices with a resultant negative impact on the nation. Going down memory lane, he recalled "During my time in the 70s and early 80s, employers were coming to schools to harvest intelligent students and give them jobs even before they graduated from school. Many of my peers were already with good jobs even before leaving school. However, this is no longer the case today as even first class graduates with multiple degrees, find it almost impossible to  get any meaningful employment after school." He therefore called on the youths to take back their country and vote in candidates that understand the youths and can provide gainful employment and improved standard of living for all Nigerians. He warned Nigerians in his own words against *"voting for old men like me who have lived out their lives and are not in tune with current realities. Youths need someone that understands them, reasons like them, identifies with them and can bring out the best in them by creating the most convenient environment for their talents and creativity to thrive". He reiterated his earlier stand that "...2023 is the turn of the younger generation and old politicians that recycle themselves in power, should be permanently retired".

Responding to questions from callers on what should be the priority of any incoming government, Sir Joe Martins AKA Buzuzu (as he was fondly called in his schools days as a prolific footballer in Christ The King College (CKC) Onitsha) stressed that sports and youths development should be the number one priority. He recalled that he and some of his peers enjoyed scholarship as a result of their exploits in sports as students and that it positively shaped their mentality to national development. He urged the current government and any incoming government at all levels to concentrate on and invest more on sports as a tool for positively engaging the youths. He expressed hope that one day, the Nigerian Premier league will become as competitive and attractive as the English Premier league. The former secretary of Ranger FC in the late 70s, revealed that he still plays active football even at 69 years old!

Sir Joe Martins Uzodike, who was a one time class teacher of former governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state and later served as Obiano's Campaign Director General in 2013 and eventually Special Adviser on Political Affairs, clarified that he had no issues with the former governor despite being "sacked" from his position unceremoniously as Political Adviser. He said they still maintain cordial and friendly relationship. 

He however maintained that his current allegiance lies with Mr Peter Obi under whom he served as a commissioner for information in 2010. He gave his full support as an elderly statesman to Peter Obi s presidency and prayed that Nigerians especially the youths will massively vote in Peter Obi so that Nigeria can get back on the right track of national development and unity.

He expressed delight that the Nigerian Youths are actively keying into Peter Obi s presidency and therefore urged them not to relent but to sustain the tempo by collecting their PVCs and coming out on election day to peacefully vote for Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed of the Labour Party. He further called on community leaders to ensure that the PVCs are not hoarded as was being alleged over the social media but that every registered voters in all communities in Igboland, collect their PVCs as it is their ticket to a better future. 

You can watch the live streaming of the program interview here

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088686260445&mibextid=ZbWKwLl

"SHUN VIOLENCE AND VOTE WISELY" - President Igbo Youths Assembly Worldwide

"SHUN VIOLENCE AND VOTE WISELY"-

President Igbo Youths Assembly Worldwide Urges Youths

By Hon Emma Asie

Youths have once again been urged to shun violence and vote wisely at the forthcoming 2023 general elections. 

This call was made by the President Igbo Youths Assembly Worldwide, Honorable CASMIR IREKAMBA when he featured at an interactive phone-in program on Alpha Radio 106.5 FM titled POLITICAL HEAT,  hosted by Emmanuel Asiegbunam (Mr E on the Mic)

X-raying the topic "Can the Youth Make or Mar the 2023 General Elections?", Honorable Irekamba stressed that the youth have the power to make or mar the election and determine the winner by virtue of their population. He elucidated that the INEC recently confirmed that out of 9.5 million Nigerians that registered during the recently concluded Continuous Voters Registration exercise, 76% (approximately 7.2 million) are between the ages of 18 to 34. Also according to INEC, at the 2019 election, 51% out of the 84 million eligible voters (approximately 43 million) are youths. Putting the two figures together, he concluded that youths have an estimated 51 million voters out of the 93.5m registered voters in Nigeria as announced by INEC. He therefore urged the youths to take advantage of this sheer overwhelming population and determine the course of the 2023 general elections.

Honorable Irekamba decried the voters apathy amongst youths in the past but expressed excitement that the ongoing political experiment witnessed a renewed and revived interest in politics and voting by the youths. He further advised youths to sustain the tempo by going to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and coming out on election day to vote and defend their votes. He assured Nigerians that this time around, unlike in the past, that the votes will truly count, all thanks to the BVAS technology and the New Electoral Law

Responding to questions from callers on  what the Igbo Youths Assembly Worldwide was doing to curtail violence and other vices, Honorable Irekamba revealed that the organization which is a global alliance of youths of Igbo extraction, is embarking on sensitization campaigns via the media on this and also collaborating with relevant stakeholders like the Security agencies and traditional, religious and educational institutions on ways to prevent youths from engaging in vices and contributing positively to the development of the country. He further called on affluent Igbo men and women all over the world to come home and help develop the Igbo nation rather than concentrating their investments outside .

On which of the presidential candidates the organization will endorse, the president said that the information will be made public via a world press conference in a matter of days

You can watch the live streaming of the program  interview via this link below

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088686260445&mibextid=ZbWKwL

DRIVE TO ARRIVE ALIVE- FRSC

Drive to Arrive Alive

FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps , Anambra state Sector command has once again called on road users to exercise caution on the road and Drive to Arrive Alive at their destinations at all times.

The call was made by the Sector Commander Anambra state command of the FRSC Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi at a program "Political Heat" on Alpha Radio 106.5 FM, anchored by Emmanuel Asiegbunam (Mr E on the Mic).

The sector Commander who called in during the program, urged Anambrains and all road users to be extra careful on the road as busy seasons like the Yuletide are fraught with increased vehicular activities and thus increased incidents and risks along the roads. He assured that his men comprising of the regular Corp marshals, volunteers and other sister agencies are always available to ensure that there are free flows of traffic along the roads in the state. 

The Sector Commander reminded road users that the work of the Corps is mainly preventive  in nature and hence road users especially drivers of vehicles should cooperate with the Road Marshals when they encounter them. He however assured the public that they will only pull vehicles over for inspection of documents and other things when there are obvious or suspected voilation by the driver. He urged all drivers to ensure that their documents are always available, valid and complete. He listed out these documents to include vehicle papers, insurance cover, Road worthiness (for commercial vehicles) and of course the drivers licence. He also asked drivers on the roads to ensure that the use valid and approved tyres and that other necessary items like fire extinguisher and caution are in place in their vehicles at all times. He warned that his men will not hesitate to book and impound any vehicle that violates road laws. 

The Sector Commander further promised that the Corps will readily provide personnel to monitor and control traffic during social and political events most especially campaigns if invited.

*BETWEEN THE ROCK AND A HARD PLACE-THE DILEMMA OF THE PDP 'S G-5*

Between the Rock and a Hard Place- 

- The dilemma of the G-5 "Integrity Group". 

It's no secret today that the PDP G-5 governors that are at loggerheads with their party over the presidential candidature of Atiku Abubakar and Chairmanship of Sen Iyorchia Ayu, have met and are still meeting to agree on the way forward for the group, vis-a-vis which of the presidential candidates to support for the 2023 election. Word out there is that the Five Governors are considering to either support Tinubu of the APC or Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Also, they have allegedly met several times with Tinubu but are yet to reach a concrete agreement. 

The support of the governors is crucial to the victory of any party in a presidential election. Recall that in 2014, then Govs Bukola Saraki and Chibuike Amaechi led some other governors to walk out on the PDP and join the fledgling APC. This defection no doubt ensured that the new coalition called APC , was able to defeat the old warhorse called PDP and formed the new government under Gen Muhammad Buhari (rtd). 

Similar thing is about to happen to the PDP again with its unarguably most powerful and most vocal governor (Gov Wike of Rivers state) clearly at crossroads with the party and appear set to repeat the Saraki feat of 2014. 

But can they?

Let's look at them one by one and the choices before them as well as the obvious challenges in arriving at that choice. 

1. Gov Wike - he is the leader and whatever he says goes. But he has been condemning both the APC and the PDP. So where will he go? If he goes to APC, Rivers state is a PDP state and the best he could do for TINUBU is to get him 25% (like Umahi did for Buhari in 2019in Ebonyi state). Rivers state is almost fully Obidient so whether he supports PDP or APC, it is immaterial. Labour Party will win the presidency convincingly in his state. 

2. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi- Enugu state is almost 100% Obidient for the presidency and not even the stand of the gov or anyone can change that. Even if he decides to endorse Tinubu, he cannot even guarantee him 25% of votes cast in the state. Enugu is 90% Peter Obi and 9% PDP. The crumb of 1% is for APC and other parties to scramble for as far as the presidential election is concerned. And what becomes of the Gov s acolytes in PDP who are vying for one post or the other or of he himself (he is vying for Enugu North senate). Will his people s ambition be sacrificed because he joined his leader Wike in having a  disagreement with the presidential candidate of his party?  PDP will sweep most of  the other positions but the presidency? Enugu is for Peter Obi 90%. Nothing can change that. 

3. Gov Victor Ikpeazu - like Enugu state, Abia state is almost 100% Obedient in terms of the presidential election. The margin may be a little less (85% compared to Enugu s 90%< due to Sen OUK) but no other party can get up to 25% votes in the state. Labour will sweep the state no matter who the Governor endorses. 

4. Gov Samuel Ortom - Benue state is also an Obidient state, though with a lesser margin (around 60-65%). With the way the Gov had criticized and condemned his former party the APC following the Fed Govt s alleged complicity in the killings and taking over of Benue lands by Fulani herdsmen, it will be an impossible task selling the APC presidential candidate to the average Benue indigene or resident, that is should the Gov decide to join his fellow Govs in the G-5 to endorse Tinubu as is being rumored. He will not only shoot himself in the foot, but will incur the wrath and hatred of his people should he ever support APC in any way. Moreover, he has declared semi- support for Peter Obi on several occasions. So turning round to ask will people to vote APC will be political suicide. He might even be stoned for ever thinking that!

5. Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo state. This is the only Gov that may not face the quagmire and stigma the others will face should he endorse Tinubu. Already he has flown some kites earlier  when his deputy joined the entourage of APC stalwarts that visited the former AFENIFERE leader Pa Fasoranti and endorsed Tinubu. This was taken to mean that Gov Makinde has endorsed Tinubu because he did not come out to condemn his deputy for doing so. Hence, endorsing Tinubu will be relatively easy for him. And moreover, the APC has a strong structure in the state (he miraculously defeated the party s candidate in 2019 more by sheer luck than any other factor). But he will have to contend with the existing APC structure which is formidable. The APC s gubernatorial candidate Folarin is a very popular and powerful politician in the state and some pundits are even saying he will easily defeat Makinde in a free and fair contest. So how will Makinde who is going for reelection , now endanger  his own structure and ambition in the name of supporting another Party s candidate due to some ideological differences he has with his own party ? It is also suicidal.

So it's obvious that heads or tails, the G-5 governors are losing. 

They cannot go to APC. The grapevine info is that the conditions they gave to Tinubu in their meeting with him (that he should fully support their own PDP candidates to win at the states levels) is one that neither  Tinubu  nor his handlers can agree to, for obvious reasons. 

The truth is that Tinubu does not need them at all. Though being powerful governors, they have limited control over the trend and trajectory of electoral decisions in their states. All except Gov Wike  cannot guarantee Tinubu 25% of votes cast in their states. Even Gov Wike s powers to convince Rivers state to do so is still debatable. 

So what will Tinubu need them for?

The only options available to them to either swallow their prides and endorse Peter Obi of Labour party or go back to their party and their candidate and extract a firm (written) commitment that their grouses (removal of Ayu as party chairman and being given prominent posts in Atiku s government) will be addressed if and when the PDP wins the presidential election. Sen Iyorchia Ayu himself has repeatedly said that he will resign if the party wins to pave way for a party chairman from the south as contained in the party s constitution. But should he resign now as The G-5 demands, what happens if the party does not win? That is the fear of the party in this issue as their is no 100% guarantee of electoral victory, no matter how formidable one s structure is. 

So it's either support the Labour party for the presidential election (the Labour Party does not have the widespread structure of the APC so it can afford to sacrifice some levels so as to clinch the big prize of the presidency) .

Or go back to support Atiku and your party

Any other option is suicidal and almost impossible. 

Hon Emma Asie 

(Mr E)

Writes from Awka.

POLICE CAN CHECK VEHICLE PAPERS AND DRIVERS LICENSE BUT NOT PHONES - PPRO

POLICE AT CHECK POINTS CAN ONLY CHECK YOUR VEHICLE PAPERS AND DRIVERS LICENSE BUT NOT PHONES 

-- Police PRO

The Nigerian Police Anambra state command has once again reiterated that the police officers at checkpoints have the legal right to check for vehicle papers and drivers license but cannot check individual phones and laptops except if there is a direct investigation involving the individual. 

The Force Public Relations Officer DSP Tochukwu Ikenga made the clarification while responding to  callers' questions in a program on Alpha Radio Nnobi tagged Political Heat, anchored by Emmanuel Asiegbunam (Mr E on the Mic)

The P-PRO condemned situations where the police on checkpoints subject road users to undue inconvenience but urged members of the public to always cooperate with the police at such checkpoints as the brief inconvenience experienced is for a greater good and a more secure society. He called on members of the public to make use of the  Police Rescue Me App or contact nos to reach out to the Force to report infractions by police men on duty and other incidents. He gave out the Police Hotlines to call when necessary and promised that the lines are always available and that calls and complaints will be responded to immediately. The numbers are 07039194332 or his own number 08039334002. 

DSP Ikenga assured Nigerians especially residents of Anambra state that the Force is poised to ensure a safe and secure Yuletide season for all as well as free fair and peaceful Elections in 2023. He urged Nigerians not to give in to despair and to ignore fake news and other information regarding insecurity especially during this Christmas season and the forthcoming election.

His words " If you see something, say something, and together we shall make Nigeria more secure and peaceful now and always".

Watch the interview on this link

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088686260445&mibextid=ZbWKwL

NIPR DECRIES PROLIFERATION OF UNREGISTERED PR PRACTITIONERS, CALLS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF EXTANT LAWS

NIPR DECRIES PROLIFERATION OF  UNREGISTERED PR PRACTITIONERS, CALLS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF EXTANT LAWS

By Emma Asie (MNIPR)

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Anambra state chapter, has decried the proliferation and appointment of unregistered Public Relation practitioners in public and private institutions in the country. 

Speaking on the topic "Understanding The Regulatory Environment Governing NIPR, an Exposition on Chapter  Administration"  during it's  monthly summit held on September 29th at Nobles Hotels Awka, the keynote speaker Dr Wilson Ogonnia Anunike stressed that public relations is a noble profession and hence the need to refresh members of the state chapter  on the extant laws guiding the practice and the need for adherence. He bemoaned the fact that in both public and private institutions, individuals not registered with the institute, are given the very sensitive role of public relations management. He called on the institute and the chapter specifically, to take up the challenge of sensitizing relevant authorities on the need to appoint or employ  only trained and registered public relations personnel. 

The speaker also dwelled on the financial relationship between the state and national bodies , the expected conduct of members as professionals and the need for advocacy visits and consultations to ensure compliance to NIPR rules. 

Responding to some questions posed by members, a council member Rev Fr Prof Obiefuna lamented that he had, on behalf of the chapter,  made spirited but failed attempts to visit the governor in order to present this issue to him. He however urged the chapter and the institute generally not to relent but continue the sensitization and advocacy.

The high point of the day was the presentation of chapter and Membership forms to Dr Christian Aburime, the Chief Press Secretary  to the Anambra state governor Prof Charles Soludo. Dr Aburime in his acceptance speech, identified fully with the chapter and promised to help the chapter meet with the governor and other government officials whenever the need arises. 

The monthly summit also featured the recognition of six members of the chapter who were recently made Fellows of the Institute at the annual national summit held recently in Abuja. The new Fellows led by former Anambra state commissioner for Education Prof Kate Omenugha, expressed their joy at the investiture and promised to work more for the progress of the state chapter.

The meeting also featured the celebration of the birthday of some members , cutting of birthday  cakes and some entertainment including dancing. 

Speaking after the meeting, the chairperson of the state chapter Prof Mrs Angela Nwammuo wished the celebrants a happy birthday and called on all Public Relation practitioners in both public and private institutions in the state to identify and register with the state chapter just as the Chief Press Secretary to the governor  did.

Emmanuel Asiegbunam MNipr writes from the Anambra state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)