Concern Mounts in APC over Tinubu’s Sellout Tendency

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Read Time:2 Minute, 38 Second
There appears to be serious trouble ahead of the June national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with a growing concern amongst members about the sell-out tendency of one of its national leaders, Bola Tinubu, if his vice-presidential ambition fails to fly.
Already, indications are that governors of the party have perfected plans to take over control of the leadership, a move that would be sealed at the June national convention, where the party would elect its national officers as well as set the path for those that will fly the party’s flag in next year’s election.
 
A majority of the members are said to be working on how to manage the fallout of the convention and other tendencies in the party in order not to rock the boat in pursuit of personal goals.
 
Particularly of concern to the APC leadership is the possibility that Tinubu could sell out once he fails to emerge the vice presidential candidate of the party, which is most likely since other stakeholders have insisted that the party would not come up with a Muslim/Muslim ticket, an idea said to have been sold to the party by Tinubu.
 
The situation in the APC is‎ therefore seen as one of a time bomb as members of the party are now wary of the possibility that Tinubu could sell out if his desire to fly the party’s ticket as the vice presidential running mate is aborted on the grounds of religion.
 
This fear further stemmed from the fact that if Tinubu fails to emerge the party’s running mate, the tendency to beat a retreat to protect his Lagos investment is most probable, a decision that might leave him giving up the party in the presidential poll like he was believed to have done in 2011.
 
But there is a school which suggested that outside Lagos, Tinubu might not really have as much hold on other South-west states, a situation that could put him in a precarious position in negotiating with the presidency.
This school believes that the kind of command Tinubu would ordinarily hand down the government in Lagos might be rebuffed vehemently in other parts of the zone, especially where interests clash. One of the sources expressed fear that whichever way this development manifests in the APC, if not managed effectively, it could have a damning effect on the party and its chances.
 
“The truth is that Tinubu badly wants the VP slot and he’s not considering any implication whatsoever it might have on the party. So, when you weigh this level of desperation, you can predict his options which are literally his stock in trade – that is – selling out.
“But we have to manage him. In fact, this I think is one of the worries of Buhari who could also read through the lines that Tinubu has a sinister Plan B,  if he fails to emerge the running mate. But we are not oblivious of this situation and we are working round it,” the source said.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Muazu, PDP Chairmen in Crucial Meeting over Primary Elections

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Read Time:3 Minute, 8 Second
The national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has moved against the proliferation of party membership cards by the various stakeholders and interest groups who plan to use the new membership cards to prepare for the various stages of party primary elections to elect various candidates for the 2015 general elections.
The PDP primaries is scheduled to commence in October this year and politicians within the party have marshaled out plans to acquire membership cards at all cost to enable them or their associates have the upper hand in election of the three statutory delegates from the wards and local government delegates.
 
Officials of the party at the national secretariat are selling the membership cards at exorbitant rates to PDP stakeholders and other interest groups ahead of the party primary elections, THISDAY has learnt.
 
This was the main thrust of the meeting between the PDP 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chairmen that took place recently between the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; the National Secretary, Alhaji Adeyanju for two days at the national secretariat of the party.
 
According to one of the PDP state chairmen that spoke to THISDAY, the meeting discussed the proliferation of the PDP membership cards smuggled from the national secretariat by various stakeholders and interest groups to enable their participation in the forthcoming wards and local government delegate elections in October to elect the various candidates of the party that would stand for election at the February 2015 general elections.
 
The PDP state chairman from one of the northern states, said, “You know that the party has not conducted membership registration across the states for some time now, but underground, illegal registration of members are going on”.
 
The PDP state chairman said that the PDP 36 states’ chairmen complained to the national chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu that illegal registration has been going on in the states without the authorisation of the national secretariat.
 
The source said Lagos state, Enugu state, Cross River state, Anambra state and five other states have been conducting illegal registration in their states without the consent of the states’ secretariat of the party for the purpose of membership drive for the delegate elections and setting up apparel state structures.
 
According to the source, “the Cross river state chairman complained that some governorship aspirants in the state have embarked in illegal membership drive without the consent of the state”, explaining that “it was for this reason that the state secretariat has ordered the withdrawal of all wards registers in the state to control and avoid such illegal registration exercise”.
 
THISDAY gathered from the source that some officials of party at the national secretariat smuggle the party membership cards to some stakeholders upon the payment of money and the national chairman of PDP has directed an investigation into how the party membership cards are being moved to the states without the authorisation of the National Working Committee (NWC).
 
Muazu has also directed that any member of the party found with such ‘illegal’ membership card should be prosecuted.
 
The meeting between the NWC and the States’ Chairmen agreed that there would be a retreat between the NWC and PDP states’ chairmen to address some of the challenges affecting the smooth management of the party in their respective states.
 
The states’ chairmen of PDP complained against the abuse of communication by some highly-placed members of the party in the communication of their views to the national secretariat of the party without informing the states secretariat. 

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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2015: Ekweremadu Pledges Support for Nsukka Zone

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Read Time:2 Minute, 22 Second
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has again reaffirmed his commitment to ensure that Enugu North senatorial zone produces the next governor of Enugu state, in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness.
 
The assurance, which came at the weekend during a cultural night organised by the people of Nsukka zone under the auspices of Nsukka Zonal Forum in honour of the lawmaker at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), finally laid to rest insinuations in some quarters that Ekweremadu was nursing a gubernatorial ambition.
 
The Deputy Senate President rather pledged his preparedness to work with the people of the area to realise their aspiration in 2015.
 
This came as a former Minister of Information, Chief Nnia Nwodo, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the PDP in the state for zoning the governorship to Nsukka, insisting however that the people of the area should be allowed to decide on who to become their governor.
He noted that the people of the zone would appreciate a situation where they are allowed to choose their best material among the lot that have shown interest, not for somebody to be imposed on them.
On his part, Ekweremadu explained that his interest in attracting projects and appointments to Nsukka had nothing to do with politics but to ensure that the people of the state, irrespective of which zone they came from, benefited from his high position in the country.
 
Extolling the resourcefulness of the people of Nsukka, the lawmaker specifically commended a member of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) governing board, Hon. Chinedu Onu, who he said had used his position to attract laudable projects to Nsukka area.
 
“We believe that whoever is going to be the next governor of Enugu state will not only be interested in delivering democracy dividends, but must be interested in ensuring justice to every part of Enugu state. So I’m not here for politics, I will like to assure the people of Nsukka that whatever is their aspiration, I, Ike Ekweremadu, will support it. I’m going to support it genuinely and honestly because I believe in a just society,” he said.
 
Also speaking, Nwodo, who chaired the event, thanked Ekweremadu for his many contributions to the development of the zone which had come in form of human empowerment and infrastructural development.
 
He said Ekweremadu had won the heart of the people by influencing the appointment of many Nsukka people into juicy federal positions as well as attracting many infrastructural projects to the zone.
The chairman of Nsukka Zonal Forum, Okey Agu, in his speech listed some of the laudable projects and support extended to the people of Nsukka by Ekweremadu, noting that he had endeared himself to the people of the area.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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PDP Accuses APC of Evil Propaganda against Gombe

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Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has uncovered a well-laid-out plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unleash venom on the peace-loving people of Gombe state, using lies, deceit and propaganda, just as it did in Rivers State.
 
PDP was reacting to the APC alert last week that the ruling party was using security agencies to harass members of the opposition-led APC in the state. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, said the APC has not been happy with the peace and rapid development going on in Gombe State under the PDP-led administration and “as such is doing all it could to destabilise the state.
 
“We wish to alert Nigerians on the real intention behind the unpatriotic statement by the APC wherein its spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in his usual stock in trade, maliciously dished out tissues of lies and fabrications against the PDP-led Gombe state government with the aim of causing disaffection among the people and worsening the security situation in the North-east geo-political zone where their unguarded and provocative utterances have continued to motivate and fuel insurgency” the PDP stated.
 
Insisting that the claims in the APC statement were mere fabrications, the PDP said at no time did the Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo-led administration clamp down on any APC member or engaged in the destruction of property owned by the APC or any other opposition party for that matter.
“Why would the PDP-led government of Gombe state clamp down on members of a party that is practically non-existent in the state? Why would the PDP bother about a party which has no single functional structure in Gombe state? Why would the PDP clamp down on members of a party which has since been rejected by the people due to its quarrelsomeness and preference for violence?
“The APC is particularly pained by the achievements of the Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo-led government which have earned the PDP the support of the people.
 
Realising that they have been rejected by the people, the APC is now using every means, including the spreading of falsehood to attempt to destabilise the state ahead of the 2015 general election.
Having failed in its attempts to destabilise Bayelsa state, the APC has now turned its syringe of venom on Gombe, a plot which has also failed.
“Is it that the APC do not want Nigerians to live in peace? Why is APC bent on causing disaffection among the peace-loving people of Gombe state who have continued to show their commitment to live in harmony under the PDP-led administration? Why would they insist on sowing seeds of discord among our people as a means to actualise their inordinate quest for power?” the PDP queried.
 
Describing the APC onslaught against Gombe as a failed project, the PDP charged the people of the state to continue to be on the alert and resist plots by the APC to destroy the peace and unity they enjoy under the PDP-led administration.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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2015: Stop Beating War Drums, APC Tells Bafarawa

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Read Time:2 Minute, 14 Second
The Sokoto state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday asserted that Governor Aliyu Wamakko was not perturbed by the recent declaration of war on him by his predecessor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.
 
It also warned Bafarawa to desist forthwith from beating the drums of war, saying politics was not a do-or-die affair but about development.
The former governor had, while addressing hundreds of students in Sokoto recently, declared war on Wamakko, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would mobilise students and youths to ensure APC’s defeat in 2015.
 
Speaking with THISDAY in Sokoto yesterday, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Alhaji Babangida Kakaki, emphasised that Wamakko would not lose sleep over the machinations of Bafarawa and the leadership of the PDP in the state.
 
According to him, no amount of gang-up would deter Wamakko from executing programmes aimed at uplifting the living standards of the people. He described Bafarawa’s asinine attacks on the incumbent governor as an exercise in futility borne out of petty jealousy which was of no effect whatsoever.
 
“Wamakko is not disturbed by the unguarded utterances made by Bafarawa against him. He cannot lose sleep over such attacks that are borne out of envy on the tremendous achievements recorded by the present administration. The governor is preoccupied with the task of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Sokoto and has no time to listen to such idle talk,” he said.
 
He maintained that Wamakko has brought transformation in Sokoto in the last seven years, especially in the areas of education, water supply, roads, housing and health.
 
On the allegation that Wamakko failed to pay registration fees of students in the state, Kakaki described it as false, pointing out that the state government had settled the registration fees of its students studying at the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.
 
He said the present administration had sponsored hundreds of students on scholarship abroad and also paid registration fees of indigenes studying in various tertiary institutions in the country.
The APC chieftain noted that the state government established a state university and also constructed over 1,500 houses for civil servants in the state in the last seven years, which was unprecedented.
He cautioned those beating war drums in the state to desist forthwith, as politics is not a do or die affair but an opportunity to serve the people.
 
Kakaki reminded the former governor of APC’s landslide victory in the recent local government elections in Kano state, saying the same thing would repeat itself in Sokoto in 2015.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Osun 2014: Ijesa North Traditional Rulers Declare Support for Aregbesola

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Read Time:1 Minute, 39 Second
Ahead of the August 9 governorship election in Osun state, all the traditional rulers in Ijesa North federal constituency, comprising of Obokun and Oriade Local Government Areas (LGAs), have declared their maximum support for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election.
 
The traditional rulers, in their meetings with the Aregbesola Campaign Committee in Obokun and Oriade councils respectively, unanimously agreed to give their unflinching support for the governor’s re-election, adding that Aregbesola’s performance in less than four years has spoken for him.
 
Speaking at the meeting, the chairman Obokun Chieftaincy Committee, Oba Enoch Adejare Oyooyo 11, Owa Ooye of Imesi-Ile, said the traditional council in the area will give Aregbesola’s re-election 100 per cent support because he has transformed the area through his infrastructural development programmes.
 
The traditional head maintained that the governor has placed high premium on the welfarism of the citizenry.
 
Urging the governor to see to the elevation and prompt payment of the allowances due to the traditional institution in the area, Oba Adejare said traditional rulers, being the custodian of culture and security of their domains, need to be properly taken care of, adding that the joy of the traditional head will reflect in the community’s development.
 
In the same vein, the chairman Oriade Chieftaincy Committee, Oba Adebayo Ogunmokun, praised governor Aregbesola for his transformation agenda and the way he has fast-tracked series of development in the state; particularly in all the towns in Oriade LG.
Oba Ogunmokun said Aregbesola’s administration, in three and half years, has put smiles on the faces of all and sundry in the state.
 
The traditional head, like his counterpart in Obokun council, demanded for the elevation of some traditional rulers to the status of part two Obas, urging the government to as a matter of urgency see to the payment of two years outstanding augmentation of their salary.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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2015: Top Politicians Endorse Umana’s Guber Aspiration

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Read Time:1 Minute, 15 Second
Support for the gubernatorial aspiration of the former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Mr. Umana Okon Umana, increased at the weekend, as some top politicians joined his campaign group, Ibom Development Network, to work for success at the poll.
 
The latest support for Umana’s aspiration was from a former Health and Works Commissioner during Governor Victor Attah’s regime, Dr. Udoma Ekarika.
 
Ekarika was among the 58 governorship aspirants that contested the 2007 governorship primary of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, but he lost by a slim margin to Governor Godswill Akpabio.
 
Ekarika, a political chieftain of PDP, expressed happiness with the decision of the party at the national level to allow open, free and fair contest for the office of the governor and other positions for all aspirants; rather than the earlier campaign zoning system.
 
He said for the state to be at peace the burden is on Umana, pledging his support and noting that since everybody in the state is running around him to succeed he (Ekarika) has no option than to key into it.
 
“If it is the will of Akwa Ibom people for Umana to be the Governor in the state, nothing on earth can stop it, except God. His regime will provide participatory and inclusive governance. I have made up my mind to support Mr. Umana. I know I am a factor in the race”, he said.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Gombe PDP Receives 250 APC Decampees in Shongom Council

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Read Time:1 Minute, 30 Second
No fewer than 250 card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe state were yesterday received into the fold of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The new state chairman of the PDP, Mr. Shuaibu Sabulu, while receiving the decampees from all the ten electoral wards of the LGA, who include some APC ward chairmen, said the decampees are joining the party at the right time when indication has shown that the landmark achievements of the ruling PDP would help the party win again in the state in 2015 elections.
 
He said all of them now have equal membership in the party and promised that their loyalty would be richly rewarded if they contribute to the success in the 2015 elections.
 
He assured them that they are now in a new democratic environment where internal party democracy is being practiced to the fullest, “as PDP does not allow discrimination in its fold”.
Earlier, while presenting the decampees to the state Chairman of the party, the PDP Chairman in Shongom Local Area, Hon. Ibrahim Saidu Makama, said they made the right decision in joining the winning train in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, former APC Chairman in Filiya ward, Mallam Habu Ali, said he had to join the PDP due to the purposeless leadership being exhibited in the APC and the landmark achievement of the Dankwambo administration in the state.
 
Mrs. Kurayi Musa from Lapan ward who spoke on behalf of the women said many APC women are now joining the PDP because of the all-inclusive government of the Dankwambo administration where only recently, more than 1,000 women were appointed Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and Personal Assistants.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: ‘How PDP Will Win South-west’

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Read Time:1 Minute, 24 Second
Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west has assured citizens of its readiness to win the zone for the party come 2015.
 
Towards this end, it has set up structures through the Mobilisation and Organisation Committee in all the wards, local governments and six states in the South-west to canvass supporters for the party.
 
Addressing stakeholders of the party in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, Director of Organisation of the Committee, Otunba Leke Adekoya, said over 200,000 canvassers with valid voters’ card have been mobilised for the party across the zone.
 
He said the committee has the contact details of all the canvassers, adding that they were fully mobilised for the challenges ahead, particularly in Ekiti and Osun states.
 
The meeting, which attracted party bigwigs throughout the six South-west states, was organised to sensitise the party supporters on the need to campaign, especially at the grassroots towards the general elections.
Those who spoke at the meeting included the party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; the National Auditor, Alhaji Adewale Adeyanju; Chairman, Caretaker Committee, South-west PDP, Chief Ishola Filani; First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who was represented by the National Coordinator, Women for Change and Development, Dr. Rabi Ibrahim; the Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the party in South-west, Prince Buruji Kashamu.
 
Kashamu ascribed the security challenges confronting the country to some fifth columnists who “are deliberately promoting violence and insecurity” to blur Jonathan’s achievements in all sectors of the economy.
He urged Nigerians to rally round the President Goodluck Jonathan in the fight against insurgency and other entrenched interests.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Royal Fathers Deserve Constitutional Roles, Says Nwaogu

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Read Time:1 Minute, 26 Second
With the present security challenges facing the nation, traditional rulers deserve to have constitutional roles in order to strengthen their capacity to maintain peace and security at the grassroots level, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu has said.
 
She expressed this view in her address at the 40th coronation anniversary of the traditional ruler of Isuochi Ancient Kingdom, Eze Godson Ezekwesiri, saying that traditional rulers have proved their usefulness in maintaining peace and stability in the country.
 
She said she strongly believes that the royal fathers, as custodians of the culture of the people, represent the  institution closest to the people and were in vantage position to nip problems in the bud at the grassroots level before they escalate.
 
Nwaogu further pointed out that traditional rulers help to decongest the law courts by settling disputes before they snowball into litigation; hence the need to provide them legal backing to perform their duties..
 
“I believe that the roles of the traditional rulers should be entrenched in the Nigerian constitution so that the decisions they take as they settle disputes in their domains could be recognised,” she said.
 
The Senator, who represents Abia Central in the Senate, made history as the first female senator from Abia, which might have informed the choice of chieftaincy title of Ihe Abia I (light of Abia) conferred on her by the Ochi I of Isuochi. She said she was humbled by the chieftaincy title of by such a highly-revered monarch outside her constituency.
 
“My joy knows no bounds. This title given to me by the Ochi of Isuochi is unique and explanatory and will continue to shine for the people,” she said.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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