Nedu Echianu's Blog

  Accordig to Wikipedia, Mothering Sunday is a holiday celebrated by Christians in United Kingdom, Ireland and some other Anglophone countries. It is generally observed in parishes of the Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, as well as in the rest of the UK and many Anglican parishes throughout the world, especially in Canada and Australia.  It falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Day. Once observed as a day on which people would visit their "mother" church, it has become an occasion for honouring the mothers of children and giving them presents. It is increasingly being called Mother's Day, although that name properly belongs to the American secular holiday which is quite distinct from the original Mothering Sunday. The following is a compilation of goodwill messages posted on Facebook by individuals eulogizing their mothers and wives, beginning with a tribute to my late mum, Gladys Echianu and my wife, Chinyereugo Ec

Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, the Chief Imam of Area 10 Garki Jumma’at Mosque, has admonished Muslim men against handshaking, hugging and kissing women apart from their wives. Al-Yolawi gave the advice while delivering his Jumma’at Sermon on: “The evil consequences of fornication and adultery (Zina)’’ on Friday in Abuja. The cleric also urged Muslims to keep away from anything that could stimulate sexual desire like watching pornography, sexy pictures and movies with the opposite sex who is not their wife. According to him, Islam as a religion is very much concern of establishing descent moral standard in individuals within the community, thus constituted many laws that promote chastity and regulate strong sexual desires. He said that fornication and adultery are forbidden and classified as major and destructive sins, adding that Islam has forbidden not only committing fornication but everything that can lead to it. Al-Yolawi said that an adulterer was one of the three people Allah

League of African development students (LEADS Africa) has recognized the strides of Mr. Laban Kandume - CEO, Uundenge Investments (Pty) Limited Namibia for his positive strides in human capital development especially among the youth. Mr. Laban Kandume whose story is better described as that of foresightedness, focus and determination founded Uundenge Investments in his late 20s after his studies abroad, as a thriving Waste disposal company, that has grown into a conglomerate today.  The delegation of LEADS led by Osisiogu Osikenyi presented the Africa's Patriotic Personality Award to him in his Windhoek - Namibia office, citing his resilience, ingenuity and commitment towards Africa's development as reasons for the recognition. Mr. Laban Kandume has no doubt inspired millions of young entrepreneurs in Africa as a commendable example of success in business. Uundenge Investments Pty Limited has so far grown into a prominent conglomerate with inter

Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Chairperson of the United Africa Group (Pty) Limited has been recognized for her immense contributions to Africa's Quest for Development in the critical areas of commerce and industry, also for her charitable strides at supporting young Namibians to acquire education at all levels through her Martha Namundjebo Tilahun Foundation. Dr. Martha Namundjebo Tilahun who is also chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Commission SADC Chamber of Commerce, is a Namibian businesswoman and politician, born in Odibo village in the north of Namibia. She was raised in Olunghono and went to Engela High School.  She obtained a BSc degree in Business Administration and Management from Saint Paul's College Lawrenceville, Virginia. Namundjebo further holds an MBA in Finance from the University of California, Berkeley in the United States, and another MBA from Santa Clara University , likewise in California. LEADS Delegates from various countries of We

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday made an order allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to  proceed with it’s plan to collate and announce the results of Tafawa Belewa Local Goverment of Bauchi State. Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and Bauchi State governor, Mr Mohammed Abubakar asking the court to stop INEC goi ng ahead with the collation. Justice Ekwo in his judgment said that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. According to the judge, having declined jurisdiction, the order of status quo made on March 19 is hereby vacated. “There is no legal impediment preventing INEC from going ahead with the decision contained in its press release of March 15. ” Accordingly, I make an order dismissing this suit.” APC and Abubakar had approached the court  asking for a declaration that INEC cannot review what a collation officer had cancelled. Th

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bala Mohammed has just been declared the winner of Saturday, March 23, 2019 governorship supplementary election. Professor Kyari Mohammed, Returning Officer, made the announcement on Sunday, a day after the exercise took place in the state. According to him, the PDP candidate polled a total of 6,376 while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammed Abubakar, who is the incumbent governor polled 5,117. The RO, however, noted that he is in no position to make a return because the case involving the Tafawa Balewa LGA is still in court.

Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications, owners of African Independent television (AIT), has been arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, on his return from medical treatment at the American Hospital, Dubai. AIt announced the arrest, quoting an immigration officer as saying Dokpesi is on the Federal Government's security watchlist, and that there were instructions from above to arrest him on arrival. Dokpesi is standing trial for alleged involvement in the diversion of N2.1 billion security funds by Sambo Dasuki,former National Security Adviser.

The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party as the duly-elected governor of Osun state. The tribunal sacked Isiaka Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress, APC. The tribunal held that the re-run election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is illegal, null and void. It urged INEC to withdraw Oyetola’s certificate and issue a certificate of return to Adeleke. In the ruling read on behalf of a three-member panel of judges by Justice Peter Obi, the tribunal held that the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had no powers to cancel the election in the seven polling units on September 22, 2018 leading to the rerun election on September 27, 2018, adding that he acted “ultra vires his powers.” Ademola Adeleke of the PDP had 254, 698 votes against Gboyega Oyetola of the APC with 254, 345 votes before the election was declared inconclusive. Dail

An official of Standard Chartered Bank, Ifeoma Okeagbue, gave details of the balances on the five different accounts of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, to the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday. Okeagbue, who is Team Leader, Priority Banking, as well as Onnoghen’s Relationship Manager at the branch of the bank in Wuse II, Abuja, said all the bank accounts were still active. Testifying as the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the suspended CJN on charges of false and non-declaration of assets, Okeagbue said the accounts, opened separately between 2009 and 2010, were in euro, pound, dollar and naira denominations. Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), Okeagbue said the euro and the pounds accounts were savings, the dollar account was current, while the two other accounts were in naira denominations, with one being savings account and the other current. Reading from the statements of the accounts earlier admitted as

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised the alarm that Nigeria was more divided and in danger over the current state of disunity in the country. Obasanjo said the country was in a worse situation at the moment when compared to the period of the civil war. The former President stated this on Thursday while speaking at a one-day 2019 annual retreat/conference and general meeting of members  of Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria held in Abeokuta. Obasanjo who was a guest speaker, spoke on five Ps. He urged Nigerians to partner one another and even go further, at home, within communities, states, countries, sub-African region and African continent. He said, “When we look at this country today, even during the civil war, we were not as divided as we are today. “Today, we are in danger if we don’t take partnership seriously. Partnership within our people and partnership within Africa and the rest of the world.” Addressing the members of ACAEBIN, Obasanjo said

Some details of the petition filed on Monday by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate in the February 23 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress, emerged on Tuesday.   Punch reports that the 141-page petition contained five grounds, one of which resuscitates the allegation that Buhari was not qualified to run for the office of the President on the grounds that he did not possess the constitutional minimum qualification of a school certificate. The petition, was filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Buhari and the APC as the first to the third respondents respectively. Names of 21 Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 18 other lawyers appeared on the petition. They were led by Mr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN). The five grounds of appeal, read, “The 2nd respondent (Buhari) was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election. “The election of the 2nd respond

Secretary -General of LEADS, Osisiogu Osike (LEFT) Presenting an award to Vaino Nghipondoka A delegation of the League of African Development Students (LEADS), presently on Advocacy Tour of Southern Africa has paid a Courtesy Visit to the Management of a foremost investments firm in Namibia - Profile Investments Holdings (Pty) Limited today.  This was made known to Nedu Echianu's Blog in a telephone interview with the Secretary -General of the organization - Osisiogu Osike this evening, from Windhoek - Republic of Namibia. The visit was part of the Advocacy Visit to ascertain the positive contributions of the firm towards Africa's quest for sustainable development and self reliance, intimate the firm about activities of LEADS and present prestigious duals awards. Highpoint of the event was the conferment of the prestigious Africa's Patriotic Personality Awards on the Executive Chairman of Profile Investments Holding - Mr Vaino Nghipondoka for his leadership, commen

The Presidency on Sunday warned the All Progressives Congress candidates in states where supplementary elections would hold on Saturday that President Muhammadu Buhari would not manipulate the Independent National Electoral Commission in their favour. It also warned political leaders making inflammatory statements capable of inciting the citizenry to violence ahead of Saturday’s supplementary elections to desist from such acts immediately. It also noted that INEC was fully in charge of electoral matters in the country, not President Buhari, who would neither interfere with the process nor change results in favour of the ruling APC. In a statement on Sunday, the Presidency said some party leaders expected that Buhari would abuse his office by usurping the powers of INEC to turn the table in their favour. It stated that the President would do no such thing. The Presidency advised party leaders in the six states to work hard to earn the people’s votes on Saturday. The stateme

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday raided the farm of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, making away with sales books, receipt booklets, its members of staff list and other documents. Punch newspaper reports that about nine EFCC operatives, a cameraman and policemen in a Nissan bus marked Abuja BWR 627AT raided Wanogan Farms Limied located in the Masaka area of Nasarawa State around 3pm and searched the entire premises for over three hours. A relative of the CJN told the paper that the EFCC operatives seized all the phones of the workers to prevent them from taking photographs of the operation. He said they searched the store houses, water tanks in search of dollars. The relative said, “We were at the farm on Saturday afternoon when operatives of the EFCC arrived in a white Nissan bus marked Abuja BWR627AT. They forced their way into the premises, harassing everyone. “No document was presented to the manager under the cla

Zinedine Zidane has returned as Real Madrid manager just 10 months after leaving the Spanish giants. The Frenchman replaces Santiago Solari, who was in charge for less than five months. Former Real midfielder Zidane, 46, who left in May after leading the club to a third straight Champions League trophy, has agreed to take over until 2022, the club announced. Real are currently third in La Liga, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona. Solari was sacked after a 4-1 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday - which followed a shock Champions League exit to Ajax. That 4-1 home defeat and 5-3 aggregate loss to the Dutch side was the final straw for Real president Florentino Perez. The defeat by Ajax followed two consecutive losses to Barcelona in El Clasico - a 1-0 reverse in La Liga and a 4-1 aggregate defeat in the Copa del Rey. BBCSport

Collation and announcement of results have been abruptly suspended in Imo following violent protests at the INEC collation centre in Owerri on Monday. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trouble started when the returning officer from Ideato South Local Government was asked by the Imo REC, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, to commence the announcement of Ideato South result. No sooner had the returning officer sat down to announce the result than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent, Mr Uche Onyeagocha, and his counterparts, Paschal Onwukaike of Democratic Alternative (DA) and Steve Asimobi of Redemption Party (RP), prostested the announcement of the results from Ideato South. This development led to serious argument where Onyeagocha alleged that the Ideato South result favoured the Action Alliance candidate with an outrageous figure and as such should not be announced. A verbal altercation that resulted from both PDP, AA, AD and RP culminated in the other trio tearing the gov

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano has suspended the collation of results for the Saturday’s Governorship election. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Riskuwa Arab-Shehu announced this after the collation of results from the 43 out of the 44 Local Government Areas of the state. The INEC Commissioner said the suspension was necessary because of reports of the security challenges from the only local government left to be announced in the governorship elections results. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result of Nassarawa local government is being awaited. According to the REC, the results were snatched away from the collation centre, and that the electoral body will refer to its primary and secondary data base to generate the result from the polling units and wards. Arab-Shehu explained that INEC will generate the result, verify and consider those that are acceptable within the electoral law. He added that party agen

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on his reelection as governor of Enugu State, describing his victory as comprehensive and well-deserved. Ekweremadu, who took to his social media handles, @iamekweremadu, to congratulate Ugwuanyi upon his declaration as the winner of the governorship contest by the State Collation Officer, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, said it was a reward for one good term.   “I join the good people of Enugu and our great party, PDP, in congratulating Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on his comprehensive victory and reelection as Governor of Enugu State.   “This is a well-deserved reward for one good term and purposeful leadership, for he has done very well. He is in touch with the people and the State has enjoyed peace.   “It is victory for the masses of Enugu and I can only wish him even more fruitful,