WOODPECKER BLOG

Ihedioha is recording steady milestones and accomplishments. Having just observed his 100 days in office, Governor Ihedioha of Imo State has tucked away in his kitty, astonishing milestones. Briefing newsmen in Owerri, the governors Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment Prince Eze Ugochukwu, narrated the sorrow state of the workers secretariat which was recently reconnected to public power supply after seven years. According to Prince Ugochukwu, the secretariat was in darkness all these years because of enormous bills owed the power company which Governor Ihedioha has repaid. He reported the case of the Owerri urban water scheme at Egbeada-Owerri, which was shut down for many years for reasons of nonpayment of power bills, and which Governor Ihedioha has again offsetted. Speaking on ways adopted by  Ihedioha to bring back good governance, the public enlightenment aide, gave a distinction to the administration for introducing the Treasury Singl...

PROFILE: Meet Buhari’s new Economic Management Team members September 16, 2019 President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted an Economic Advisory Council (EAC). Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said President Buhari appointed the following experts: 1. Prof. Doyin Salami – Chairman 2. Dr. Mohammed Sagagi – Vice-Chairman 3. Prof. Ode Ojowu – Member 4. Dr. Shehu Yahaya – Member 5. Dr. Iyabo Masha – Member 6. Prof. Chukwuma Soludo – Member 7. Mr. Bismark Rewane – Member 8. Dr. Mohammed Adaya Salisu – Secretary (Senior Special Assistant to the President, Development Policy) Here is what you need to know about the appointees. 1. Doyin Salami He is a senior lecturer at Lagos Business School where he leads sessions in the economic environment of business. He has also served as director of programmes for five years until January 2005. Mr. Salami is a doctoral degree graduate of Queen Mary College, University of London....

Buhari to attend ECOWAS Summit in Burkina Faso September 13, 2019 Agency Report President Muhammadu Buhari President Buhari will depart Abuja on Saturday to attend the one-day ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday. Given the growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region, the West African leaders had called for the Summit to review different initiatives taken so far, and redefine the priority intervention areas for the containment of the worrisome attacks in the area. The presidential aide said the decision to convene the Summit was reached at the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on June 29, 2019. According to him, Mr Buhari recognises the imperative of collective actions in the fight against terrorism, and will continue to pa...

September 11, 2019 | Speech Full Text Of Nnamdi Kanu's Speech At The European Union Parliament. By The Nigerian Voice  1  BIAFRA BRIEFING FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Nigeria in Crisis There is a crisis in Nigeria. The Nigerian State has never been at peace with itself and recent events amplify this pending emergency. And, as has been the case since independence from Britain in 1960, Biafrans are the easy target of the lack of a credible Nigerian state. Nigeria governs without the consent of all within its borders. Nigeria claims to be ruled by law, but in effect, there is a de facto lawlessness in Nigeria. Nigeria’s epidemic of violence flowing from the North is well documented. In 2014 the Global Terrorism Index judged Fulani militants to be the fourth most deadly terror group in the world, behind Boko Haram, Isis, and the Taliban. Lawlessness is always one step ahead of the Government. In response, the Gove...

Okorocha’s Victory Affirmed, As Tribunal Throws Out Izunaso’s Petition   Sep 9, 2019 FMR GOVERNOR, OWELLE OKOROCHA's victory in the SENATORIAL ELECTION has been affirmed  by the  election panel.Hedefeated JONES ONYERERI and Senator Osita Izunaso.He thus becomes the senator for Imo West Senatorial District of Imo State. DETAILS FOLLOW SOON   

Tribunal nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu’s election as senator September 9, 2019 Agency Report Orji Uzor Kalu The National and State House of Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has nullified the election of the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, for Abia North Senatorial District. Delivering its judgment on Monday, a member of the three-member tribunal, Justice I.P.C Igwe, said the petitioner, Mao Ohuabunwa, a former senator, successfully proved his allegation of substantial non-compliance with the electoral guidelines. Mr Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the tribunal to nullify the election of Mr Kalu, who contested the February 23 2019 election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Kalu is a former governor of Abia State. The petitioner told the tribunal that Mr Kalu’s declaration as the winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply with the provisions of th...

100 Days: Restoring glory of Oyo State Published September 5, 2019 Kindly Share This Story Governor Seyi Makinde Seyi Makinde About 100 days ago, when I took the oath of office as the Governor of Oyo State, I set a goal. I shared that goal in my inaugural speech. The major thrust of that goal is to restore Oyo State to a place of pride. I did not dwell on the negatives then, I remain positive even now. I spoke about my campaign trail and what the people had told me. I continue to pay on-the-spot assessment visits and to take targeted actions based on my findings. For example, one of my assessment visits has resulted in the ongoing renovation of Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, including an upgrade of the radiography/radiology facilities. Hope is a great value to have. But hope is about things you have not seen and as one writer said, ‘hope is better served as breakfast’. When promises are made, it is so that people may believe something good will...

Gov. Ihedioha flags off 81km urban roads construction, reconstruction of Technical Colleges .. Monarchs, NURTW, Imolites laud governor on projects In fulfillment of his promise to address the dilapidated infrastructure in the state, with a view to ensuring economic development, Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has flagged off the construction of 81km urban roads project worth N23.4b in the state This is as the governor has promised that his administration would not consider geographical divisions while addressing the developmental needs of the state.  The governor who stated this while performing the flag-off of the projects, Thursday, said part of his administration's cardinal agenda is to run a one-stop state, where democracy dividends will be evenly distributed across the 27 local government areas of the state.  The 16 roads earmarked for construction under the project include Nkume/Umuowa/Owerri Ebiri/Umuna/...

Nigerians criticise Ezekwesili for attending WEF in South Africa despite xenophobic attacks September 4, 2019 The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili in Premium Times office. Related News UPDATED: Nigeria recalls Ambassador to South Africa Recalling Nigerian envoys from South Africa “unnecessary” – Minister No Nigerian died in South African xenophobic attacks - Nigerian govt Xenophobia: We'll not cave in to South Africa, Nigerian govt vows Deportation: Nigerian lawmakers push for stricter sanction against South Africa A former Nigerian minister for education, Oby Ezekwesili, on Wednesday came under attack for attending the World Economic Forum meeting holding in South Africa. Mrs Ezekwesili, a social critic and former presidential candidate, was criticised by some Nigerians on Twitter for attending the forum amidst diplomatic rows between Nigeria and South Africa. There has been a flurry of diplo...

Okorocha, wife, others to forfeit asset to Nigerian government – EFCC September 4, 2019 Agency Report Rochas Okorocha Related News EFCC goes after Okorocha EFCC seals Okorocha's properties - Aide EFCC arrests Ebonyi Speaker for alleged N60 million fraud Imo 'recovery' committee clashes with Okorocha's relatives over 'looted' property EFCC arrests Gov. Okorocha’s aides for pocketing N2 billion bailout funds The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of assets traced to a former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, and his wife. The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Usman Imam, said this Wednesday in Enugu while briefing journalists on the activities of the commission in the last eight months. Mr Imam said the commission also obtained similar order on a property traced to a former aide to Mr Okorocha, Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter. He said the...