South East
Crisis Rocks Enugu APC Over Vice Chairman’s Position
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu West senatorial zone has suffered a major crack, with leaders of the party engaging in a war of words over the position of Zonal Vice Chairman of the party in the zone.
Briefing newsmen in Enugu on weekend , Adolphus Ude, the Deputy State Chairman, warned that anybody dealing with Engr. Iyke Omenkeukwu as the Vice Chairman of APC in Enugu West was doing so at his own risk.
Ude who hails from the zone, said Omenkeukwu was constitutionally removed after a vote of no confidence was passed on him by the appropriate organ of his ward, accepted by the zonal executive and ratified by the State Executive Committee of the party for alleged diversion of party fund, neglect and dereliction of duty.
He alleged that some people were trying to factionalize the party, the height of which was an illegal meeting convened on June 6, 2017 by the Udi LGA Chairman of the party and hosted by the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu without the consent of the authorized members of the zonal executive with the destructive intent of imposing a zonal vice chairman on the zone.
But in a swift reaction, Okechukwu dismissed the claim made by Ude, saying that those who sabotaged APC during the 2015 elections are at it again.
Okechukwu said due process must be followed to remove any official of the party, adding that he was opposed to the culture of impunity which some elements want to implant in APC fold.
“My brother, my position in simplicita is that before any official is removed due process should be followed, as the provisions of the constitution of our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be strictly adhered to.
”We must also bear in mind the directive of the National leadership of our great party which severally stated that the statusquo should be maintained in all executive positions pending the local, zonal, and state congresses and national convention.
”The truth is that am opposed to culture of impunity, which some elements unfortunately want to implant in our fold. These elements were those who sabotaged us during the 2015 presidential election. They are at it again” Okechukwu said.
Earlier in his statement titled, “APC Enugu West Zonal Executive Committee Disowns the Former Zonal Vice Chairman, Engineer Ik Omenkeukwu,” Ude said the ongoing attempt to destabilize and malign their party in Enugu West Senatorial zone was quite unfortunate.
The statement read further: “We have observed with sadness and disappointment the way some leaders in our zone are doing everything humanly possible to factionalize our party in Enugu West.
”The height of it is the illegal meeting held on 6th of June 2017 convened by the Udi Local Government Chairman of APC, which was hosted by Mr. Osita Okechukwu without the consent of the authorized members of the zonal executive with the destructive intent of imposing a zonal vice chairman on the zone.
”Mr. Anyadibe is not in any way authorized as a local government chairman to convene a meeting of the zone, not to talk of passing a vote of confidence on a former vice chairman that was constitutionally removed owing to fraud and negligent of duty by the State Executive as set out in the constitution.
”As the highest ranking officer in Enugu Wesr APC, I want to inform all stakeholders that any resolution coming out of such meeting convened by Mr. Jude Anyadibe is unconstitutional and unacceptable as we have resolved in our last meeting that Tony Ibekwe is our Acting Zonal Vice Chairman with the support of leaders of the zone including Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs who has asked everybody to maintain the statusquo until congress” Ude said.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.