Nedu Echianu's Blog

The media aides of Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, have explained why Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dreads facts and figures used by opponents in place of mere rhetorics.  The Obi-Datti media aides said Tinubu's aspersions cast on the informed use of statistics by Peter Obi of the Labour Party to demystify campaign rhetorics is a clear example to show that the APC candidate is ill-equipped to comprehend neither arithmetic nor statistics. It would be recalled that Tinubu had said at a rally in Gbaramatu Delta State that Peter Obi of the Labour Party is notorious for telling lies with figures.  However, the Obi - Datti media group in a statement insisted that the LP candidate was brimming with practicable ideas and demystifying electioneering rhetorics by employing simple facts and figures in his campaigns. “Providing the numbers shows Peter Obi’s preparedness for the high office of the pres

My attention has been drawn to some of the tirades on social media following my frank response during an interview on Channels TV regarding the “investments” Mr. Peter Obi claimed to have made with Anambra state revenues. Sadly, several of the comments left the issue of the interview to probe or suggest motives, inferred from my response on “investment” that I am opposed to Peter Obi’s ambition and therefore committed a “crime” for which the punishment is internecine abuse and harassment even to my family. Some people even suggest that the gunmen who went to attack a checkpoint at my hometown on Saturday 12th November but were gunned down was part of the mob reaction. I used to think that for decent people, certain conducts are off-limits, and that in Anambra, politics is not warfare.   Of course, as a Christian, I know that telling the truth can be very costly, even suicidal. Our Lord and saviour was crucified simply for telling the truth the people did not want to hear. I

Among Ndigbo, we say, “ _Onwu gbuo okorobia, ewere asiri jee akwa ya”,_ meaning: when sudden death befalls an able-bodied, young man, many fallacious stories are told at his funeral. Indeed many tales have been told since the unfortunate fate that befell former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and his family in London. Only a few days ago, one Houston-based critic vomited a whole lot about Ekweremadu with triumphal gusto and air of finality. Among others, he wrote: “I had always told the senator in his face and written extensively on how he used his time in the Senate to collude with contractors to loot the funds budgeted for several public projects in Igbo land. These, of course, include Enugu/Onitsha, Enugu/Port-Harcourt, and Oji-River/Awgu roads, which have continued to claim many innocent lives. A simple scan of the internet on my name alongside Ekweremadu will show more, including a library, water, and road projects that were looted in my hometow

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to hold him to account for all the electoral promises made in the cause of his campaigns across the country. Speaking at the party's presidential campaign rally in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, on Wednesday, Obi said the federal government under his leadership will give the necessary support to all the states of the federation. Obi promised a revamp of Nigeria's security apparatus in a bid to make the country safe for Nigerians saying; "What I want to say to Nigerians is that I want Nigerians to hold me responsible. Our government will not remain in Abuja, it will go to the states. I will listen to their problems. "We will secure and bring peace to Benue state. Those who want to go back to their villages, will go back. Those who want to go back to their farms, will go back to them and we will support them. Our government is about securing Nigeria. "We will ensure th

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has  condemned what it described as the hasty order by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja to the effect that Senator Ike Ekweremadu should forfeit 40 landed properties allegedly belonging to him. A statement signed by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said the Igbo socio-cultural group stands on a moral probity to state that a hasty exparte motion filed by the EFCC on a man who is undergoing some travails in the United Kingdom falls short of ethical standards and natural justice. The group maintained that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu should be given the opportunity to defend himself on his properties; and if found wanting should surely face the consequences, adding that it is aware that there are several allegations of corruption cases pending in the EFCC, but that the urgency and selective judgement in the case of Ekweremadu is not only curious but "indeed true to type." O

Civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has faulted the move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which culminated in an interim assets forfeiture order by a Federal High Court in Abuja against a former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.   Reacting to the development in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the asset forfeiture lawsuit at a time Ekweremadu was in custody, facing trial in the United Kingdom, and unable to defend himself or properly brief his lawyers was malicious, immoral, in bad faith, and tantamount to a country throwing her citizen under the bus.   It also decried what it viewed as a concerted effort between the anti-graft agency and the London Metropolitan Police to botch Ekweremadu's bail and keep him perpetually in detention.   HURIWA stated: “We are in shock over the news of the interim assets forfeiture order against Sen

Reports have emerged on the death of Ifeanyi, three year old son of Music Superstar, Davido. Davido had Ifeanyi from his fiancée, Chioma Rowland. Details of the circumstances surrounding Ifeanyi’s death are still sketchy as the family are yet to release a statement at the time of this report. However, unconfirmed reports hinted that Davido’s first son drowned in a swimming pool at his residence in the Banana Island area of Lagos State. In a bid to revive him, the three-year-old victim, after being pulled out of the swimming pool, was reportedly rushed to a hospital in the Lekki area of the state, where he was confirmed dead by one of the doctors on duty.

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi on Saturday flagged off his Presidential Campaign in Lafia, Nasarawa state capital reminding Nigerians that Presidency of Nigeria is not a retirement home for the aged, sick, tired and weak people. According to Obi, Aso Rock is a seat of power for energetic and vibrant people to live and tackle the huge problems facing the country, adding that the P residency of Nigeria like in every good country is for leaders who are ready and patriotic enough to do the job and he and his Vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmad are here to serve Nigeria and bring her back to greatness. Obi told the excited crowd that he and his running mate are like them and will not steal their money but will use it to solve problems by changing the country from consumption to production. “We will put money here and farmers will return to their farms and youths will be gainfully engaged. “Don’t support those who will steal your money and make governanc

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure has debunked reports in a section of the media that the party is broke and cannot prosecute the 2023 Presidential election. The report is coming barely twenty four hours to the inauguration of the party's Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). However a statement which was personally signed by Abure, reiterated that the party is not broke adding that his comment was taken out of context during the inauguration ceremony. It said, "at a well attended inauguration of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Friday, I spoke extensively on the importance of campaign funding and the need for collaboration with stakeholders,  particularly the candidates of the party at various levels. "I also emphasised that our presidential candidate alone cannot fund the election as he is known to be someone who did not engage in the gluttonic acquisition of our common patrimony in his days as a publi

Forty eight hours after the announcement of plans to redesign the Naira  by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmad, has disowned the policy. The Minister who commented on the policy in response to question raised by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) during 2023 budget defence session she had with the Senate Committee on Finance, warned CBN of consequences that may arise from the plan. Senator Bamidele had in his question, told the Finance Minister that barely two days after announcement of the policy by CBN, repercussion of it on the value of Naira to US dollar was being felt. "Just two days after announcement of the policy, value of Naira to a US dollar has risen from N740 to N788 due to rush in exchange of stached Naira notes for foreign currencies, particularly dollar. "To me, the policy may be a well conceived one, but the timing going by realities on ground, is very wrong as the Naira

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday stopped the execution of its own judgment which faulted the rendition of Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria and also set aside the terrorism charges against him. Punch newspaper reports that Justice Haruna Tsanami in a ruling upheld the application of the Federal Government and ordered that the execution of the judgment be put on hold. The Federal Government had applied that the execution of the judgment be suspended pending the resolution of its appeal lodged at the Supreme Court. Justice Tsanami in the briefing ruling held that the counter affidavit filed against the Federal Government’s application by Kanu’s legal team was misleading.

A group which tagged itself as Concerned Nigerians United for Ekweremadu and Family have staged a protest at the British High Commission in Abuja demanding the immediate release on bail of former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who has been in detention in the United Kingdom for over four months on charges of organ trafficking. The group led by Mr. Paul Sawa said it had been keenly following the development surrounding the travail of Ekweremadu and family and debunked remarks made by the British authorities that Ekweremadu is a flight risk if granted bail. Leading placard carrying protesters, Mr. Sawa read a protest letter addressed to the High Commissioner;  "We are a body of Nigerians, who have keenly followed and are concerned about the travail of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and family, and the continued detention of a Nigerian citizen, a distinguished and serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, since 21st June 2022. We just submitted a

The Deputy Senate President and Delta APC Governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has again accused the Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration of squandering N2.8 trillion in Federal Allocation and 13% Derivation in the last seven years, with next to nothing to show. This is even as he expressed concern over years of injustice meted out on oil-bearing communities in the state, which bear the brunt of oil prospecting in the state. Senator Omo-Agege who spoke  in Otor-Owhe, Delta State, on Wednesday, when he visited traditional rulers in Isoko land to intimate them of his governorship aspiration, promised to complete the Ughelli/Asaba Road when elected governor. A statement signed by  Ima Niboro ,  Director, Communications and Media Strategy,  Delta APC Campaign Organisation said t he event which held at the palace of Odiologbo Okpuzo Romanus Inana, at Otor-Owhe Kingdom, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, was graced by royal fathers from the 19 Isoko clans inclu

In a demonstration of solidarity with their son and former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is standing trial in the United kingdom (UK) over alleged conspiracy to harvest human organ, the people of Mpu community in Aninri Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State have shut their market at the weekend to pray for divine intervention in the case of their son and his wife. The community equally appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene in the continued detention of their son, insisting that his continued detention was injustice both to him and Nigeria, as Nigerian government could not have treated a UK Member of Parliament in the same manner. They made the appeal during a one-day prayer summit organised by the leadership of the community to seek divine intervention on the matter. Leading the prayer, the head Pastor, Ancient Path Restoration Revival Assembly, Pastor Nathaniel Nwankwo, admonished the people to put their fait

Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned as UK prime minister in a statement outside Downing Street. She said she could not deliver the mandate on which she was elected as Tory leader and had notified the King that she was resigning. There will be Conservative leadership election to be completed within the next week, she says. "I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen," she said. It comes after she met the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs as more Tories called for her to quit. Truss's premiership came under renewed pressure after the home secretary resigned and a chaotic vote on fracking. There was fury on Wednesday evening around the vote and the methods used to get MPs to vote with the government. BBC  

The Chief Spokesperson, Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Tanko Yunusa has debunked the allegations leveled against the party's presidential candidate Peter Obi by the governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai. It would be recalled that K aduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had accused Peter Obi of arresting and detaining him (El-Rufai)  for 48 hours as the then governor of Anambra State. According to him, Obi, who was seeking a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, got him arrested and detained for 48 hours in 2013 when he visited Anambra to monitor the state’s governorship bye-election. El-Rufai made the statement at an interactive session of Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna in the presence of the APC Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu who alongside Obi were at the event to present their Presidential bids to Northern elders. However in a statement titled "Setting the records straight on El-Rufai's blatant li

BRIEF ON THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEES ON CONSTITUTION REVIEW, ON THE PROGRESS OF THE 44 CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILLS TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY  1. Good morning Distinguished ,Ladies and ‘Gentlemen of the Press.  2. We welcome you all to this press briefing. Recently, the National Assembly have been inundated with calls and messages from the public, and subjected to intense pressure by well-meaning citizens to update Nigerians on the status. of the 44 Constitution amendment Bills transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly. It is in response to these calls that we have convened this briefing.  3. First, let us make a few quick points, and then we will answer your questions. Understandably, we will speak a bit about how far we have come regarding Constitution Alteration in the 9t National Assembly.  4. Learning from the botched attempt by the National Assembly to rewrite the Constitution