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Obi has informed Governor Chukwuma Soludo that he is at peace with him and his administration following certain disagreements with the government over, in particular, the present worth of the investment made in SABMiller.
I want you to know that Obi’s camp is on your side. Peter Obi told the governor of Anambra in his customary calm manner, “We want you to succeed and cannot be a part of any plan against you.
Obi also stated that he was prepared to provide whatever assistance that “would redeem our state and put it back on the path of progress.”
The Labour Party presidential candidate claims that he supports Soludo because “when the state works, it is for the benefit of all” and that this is why he should be elected governor.
Obi, in a letter to Governors Soludo through his media aide, Valentine Obienyem said: “Our Dear Prof. Soludo. Let me once again congratulate you on emerging as the Governor. As I have always reminded you, going by your pedigree, we are hopeful that you will repair the wrongs in the State. When the state works, it is for the benefit of all.
“On the day you were sworn in, our joy was near complete on the attendance of Mr. Peter Obi, only to be completed when you allowed him the use of Government House Hall to meet traditional rulers. For everybody, that is the way to go.
“The banters by traditional rulers on that day revealed their hidden joy at the development. Watching them intently, I noticed many of them gazing at Obi with eyes dripping with admiration and devotion as they took him as the redeeming angel of the bastardized country.
“As far as I was concerned, two illustrious and experienced Anambra sons were united together in maturity and wisdom.
“When the news of the multiplication of Obi’s investment in SABMiller was published, I knew it did not come from you. I personally made it clear that it was not circulated by Obi’s Media, but probably by one of the youths, not under our control, but eager to throw in anything that glorified their hero–Obi.
“Do not judge Obi’s supporters based on these people’s cathartic reactions.
“It was saddening when one of the people you later appointed an aide, in a bashful, pugilistic manner, said I was the one that published it. “When your media aide rebutted it, I said he did what he was supposed to do.
“My argument was simple: Even if the news was true, it is wrong to put into your mouth what you did not say.
“I read the recent rebuttal by your Commissioner on the subject, what do I say about it? I only want to assure you that the Obi’s camp is supporting you.We want you to succeed and cannot be part of any plot against you.
“Some people are angry because we have chosen to identify with you; it is about time they realized that our only interest is recovering the eight years of retrogression.
“Anybody supporting Obi that fights you is on his own. I say this with all sincerity, especially knowing the brief I personally received from Mr. Peter Obi on this.
“Obi is ready to offer any support that will redeem our state and set it on the path of progress again.
“The way things are, anybody fighting you at the January of your tenure is simply being inconsiderate and insensitive. Please always sieve everyday reactions by people from the reaction from Mr. Obi’s official camp.
“As for Soludo’s supporters, take us as friends. We are one with you in the belief that Prof. Soludo should succeed for the good of our state”.
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.
Ike Ekweremadu and his wife were charged with conspiracy to bring a child to the UK in order to harvest organs
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, have been charged with conspiring to bring a child to the UK in order to harvest organs, the Metropolitan Police said.
Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55, and Ike Ekweremadu, 60, have been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court today.
Charges were brought against the couple following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team.
A child has now been safeguarded.
The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022, the force said.
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.
We are the reason why the East lost out in the power shift! We hailed when we ought to have wailed. When the two brothers were at daggers down. We were the cheerleaders. Pitching tents on both sides when we should have sued for peace
Amaechi didn’t lose. Neither will Wike lose. It is the people of the East that lost a golden opportunity
We always say: may the Labour of our heroes past not be in vain. Yet we have spat on the graves of our fathers. Whose sweat built the foundation of our unity. We played politics with ignominy
Today, we are yet playing second fiddle, waking up at midnight to look for our voting power. Fixing fast food just at the toll of the bell. When the elections are already here.
We seek a sudden messiah.
What we feared most has come upon us. Our lords have imposed a heavy tax on us because we failed to seek unity even in our diversity. The Tower of Babel has once again crashed and we are dancing to the discordant tunes. Maybe our dance steps will be uniform now. To entrench our feet in the seat of power.
Resilient and Tenacious people yet in disarray. Because we sold our pride cheap to those who trample on it. May the bonds we shared revive us again
Nigeria unarguably has one of the most expensive debt servicing obligations in the world. But they will never tell you about it. Not the DMO, the Minister of Finance, or the Presidency will say anything in this regard.
So whenever they return from their jamboree road shows and gleefully announce that their bonds offer were oversubscribed, the question a well-informed public should ask is, oversubscribed at what cost to generations unborn?
For emphasis, let us do a comparative analysis between the cost of Nigeria’s debt servicing and that of, say, South Africa. As of the end of December 2021, Nigeria’s total debt was only 30per cent of South Africa’s total debt. Means South Africa was more indebted than Nigeria ( the kind of example Nigerian leaders use to go cap in hand to borrow more after all even America dey owe).
But they will never tell you that it costs Nigeria far more to service its debt than it costs South Africa, even though South Africa’s total debt is more than half of Nigeria’s GDP.
Nigeria’s total debt as of December 2021 was $94.166bn (source: DMO) while South Africa’s total debt at the same period was $261bn (source: SA National Treasury).
A comparison of both economies shows that Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy at $420 billion ( just $131 billion short of the combined net worth of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos) according to the latest estimates from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), while South Africa’s GDP is second in Africa at an estimated size of $320bn.
But while Nigeria presently spends over 90% of its revenue to service its debt, South Africa spends about 20% of its revenue to service its own debt.
This is because if the amount you are borrowing is high, you are also obligated to pay more, secondly, Nigeria borrows at a very expensive rate, especially the Eurobonds, add to that, because investors see Nigeria as a very high-risk country, its debt service is very expensive. Same way, If the amount you are borrowing is high, you also have to pay more.
Nigeria debt service-revenue is not only the most expensive when compared to that of South Africa, it is the same when compared to that of Egypt. Egypt’s debt service-to-revenue was 20.5% in 2021, while Kenya’s was 60% and Uganda’s was30%.
Government apologists are quick to point out that Nigeria’s debt to GDP is still within the accepted threshold and one of the lowest globally, this deflationary tactic aims to give the impression that there is still good space within the borrowing headroom, thus they can still go cap in hand begging whosoever can lend them money, even when the funds are frittered away on non-capital, non-revenue yielding projects.
Some might even trickle down to marrying a new wife, or making a side-chic happy. Do you know how much from the borrowed funds leaked into the personal needs of the suspended Accountant General?
But they will never tell you that the debt-to-GDP ratio is a perpetual borrower’s mentality rather than having sleepless nights over the country’s revenue-to-GDP ratio, which is one of the reasons our debts are quite expensive because creditors factor in your ability and capacity to pay back.
Is it not a shameful thing that a country that “buga’s” around with shoulder-high as the biggest economy in Africa ($420b) has one of the lowest revenue to GDP in the continent, and to imagine that Nigeria with a population of over 200 million, and the largest market in Africa has revenue to GDP of just 9% compared to Ghana with a population of about 31 million, and revenue to GDP of 13%.
Further probe shows that Kenya has a revenue to GDP of 16.6 per cent, while Angola has a revenue to GDP of 20.9%. There are actually no positive global metrics in the world that Nigeria can be said to make the cutoff mark for a good result.
And why wouldn’t investors perceive the country as a high risk entity when there is basically no stats from Nigeria that gives hope.
In the just-released Global Peace Index (2022), Nigeria ranked Nigeria 143 among 163 independent nations and territories, according to the level of peacefulness. Nigeria moved three places up on the log from the 146th position it was ranked last year.
Many African countries are ahead of Nigeria in the ranking, such as Mauritius 28; Ghana 40; The Gambia 45; Sierra Leone 50; Equatorial Guinea 59; Malawi 65; Senegal 70; Morocco 74; Rwanda 72; Liberia 75; Gabon 75; Angola 78; Lesotho 100; Madagascar 8; Mozambique 122; and Namibia 68.
Others are Zambia 56; Tunisia 85; Tanzania 86; Niger 140; Burundi 131; the Benin Republic 105; Botswana 48; Republic of Congo 111; Ivory Coast 108; Cameroon 142, Djibouti 113, Algeria109; South Africa 118; Egypt 126, Eritrea 132, Guinea 123, Guinea-Bissau 110; Chad 136; Togo 102; Uganda 121 and Zimbabwe 127.
They are all ahead of Nigeria. This is why the world perceives you as a backwater country that should be escorted with a long stick like a Millipede….
But do you need the foreign investors to know that something is definitely wrong with the country?
A place where someone will wake up, walk into the forest, post a Tweet from that she has been kidnapped with other people, and start calling for help. A place where a man can be shot by the Police because his wife rebuffed the illicit advances of a celebrity…
Such a place should be high risk indeed, especially were peopled by a majority who have normalized the abnormalities.
Yet these things do not make it to the issues worth talking about in the upcoming elections…
These are the Facts of The Matter.
A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Adeyinka Adedoyin, has described the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as a symbol of strength, compassion and dignity for the people of Lagos State.
“Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is an extraordinary politician, a great leader and a man of principle. He deserves another term” Adedoyin said.
He also commended the presiding officer of the country’s House of Representatives for his commitment, courage and dedication to service.
“Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has done Surulere proud and we should all be proud of him as a Lagosian and a Nigerian.’’
In a congratulatory letter to the Speaker on his 60th birthday, Adedoyin extolled Gbajabiamila’s leadership qualities, high moral character and passion for justice.
“Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila remains the measurement of positive leadership, courage, accountability and performance in the country.”
He hailed Gbajabiamila for improving infrastructure in Lagos State, infusing hope in the minds of the youths and providing jobs for the people.
Adedoyin acknowledged the erudition, humility and charisma of Mister Speaker.
“Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has record of achievement. He has a lot to offer Nigerians in terms of development, stability and unity of our great country.”
The respected party man who is putting maximum efforts in the nooks and crannies of Surulere Constituency 1 to ensure the re-election of Mister Speaker next year commended him for improving the well-being of women in Surulere Constituency 1, showing the required courage, will power and ability to bring political and economic benefits to Lagos State.
“I rejoice with you as you mark your 60th birthday. The Almighty God will grant you many more years of exemplary service to our country.”
Particularly, the APC chieftain applauded Gbajabiamila for displaying a high degree of professionalism and astuteness in the National Assembly.
“We are celebrating what God has given to us. We are celebrating Gbajabiamila’s huge professional and political accomplishments. We are celebrating a personality of great honour and a man of the people.”
Adedoyin reminded Gbajabiamila of the decision of the wonderful people of Surulere Constituency 1.
“Surulere Constituency 1 is APC. There is no room for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Accord, Labour Party and others in 2023’. The candidates of the opposition parties lack political tact and diplomacy. They also do not have visible plan for the constituency.”
He urged Gbajabiamila to continue to serve the country prudently.
“I congratulate you for your noble service to our fatherland and your role in ensuring a better future for progress, prosperity and well-being for the good people of Surulere Constituency 1.”
Ending, Adedoyin said, “ it is my prayer that the Almighty God will continue to bless you with robust health and many more years of happiness and fulfilling service to our fatherland.”
…Tasks Rivers People to Use the 2023 Election to Sack the Very Corrupt PDP Administration
The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwumeka Eze has described threats by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that the Attorney General of the State, should set the court in motion against former Minister of Transportation, HE., Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the Rivers APC Governorship Candidate, Pst. Tonye Cole over Alleged N76B lroceed from sale of Rivers Assets as a ploy carefully crafted by the Governor to divert attention and Conceal the Careless misappropriation of N345B and N20B over his elusive Presidential and VP Dreams
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike after swearing in three new commissioners ( Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Isaac Kamalu as Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and Dr. George-Kelly, Dakorinama Alabo as Commissioner for Works and Special Projects) few days ago directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, to commence diligent prosecution of the alleged illegal financial dealings involving the immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Tonye Cole, Sahara Energy, and others over the sale of state assets.
“The world will see how $50 million Dollar from our account was moved to a company without nothing to show whether there was a business,”
Showing how mischievous and confused Governor Nyesom WIKE can be on the same occasion stated, “Adangor you are hereby directed to write a strong-worded protest letter to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission over the harassment of State’s Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Siminalaye Fubara.Ghe protest letter to be written to EFCC, Wike said, was predicated on the fact that, recently, its officers attempted to harass and intimidate Fubara, who before his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate, had served as the Accountant General of Rivers State.
Wike explained that before now, the Rivers state government had gotten a subsisting court judgment against the EFCC that it cannot investigate the state finances or its officers.
“Rivers State government had a judgment against EFCC since 2007. The court said you (EFCC) have no business in the financial transactions of the (Rivers) State. EFCC has been struggling to set aside that judgement until now. They have not even appealed it,” Wike stated.
The governor noted that nobody will accept the use of EFCC in such political period to intimidate persons in order to achieve their skewed political goals.
Governor Nyesom Wike knowing that Rivers State government had a judgment against EFCC since 2007. The court said you (EFCC) have no business in the financial transactions of the (Rivers) State. EFCC has been struggling to set aside that judgement until now. They have not even appealed it,” but he Woke has the right to continue to embarrass and innocent and respectful sons of Rivers State because of his useless type of politics.
The issues he raised in which has since assuming office for the past seven years are the same issues he has used to embarrass his benefactor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi before his nomination as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have addressed theseame issues in various fora and let me repeat myself again.
Eze highlighted that luckily the Supreme Court judgement has maintained that Judicial Commission set up by the Wike’s Administration lacked Powers to try Ameachi as the probe panel was a mere fact-finding commission and most importantly too, the said N96B was duly captured in the 2014 budget of the State.
According to the Supreme Court, the Rivers State commission of inquiry that indicted former governor Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi, is a mere fact-finding body with no powers to engage in the trial of anybody for anything whatsoever.
But Wike not relenting in his vendetta against a man who not for the grace of God in his life he wouldn’t be whatever he is claiming to be politically after failing and being rejected by the stakeholders and elders in his sinister motive still went ahead to direct his Attorney General to go ahead and pursue an issue he is fully aware is like chasing a shadow.
Nigerians are very much aware of Chief Nyesom Wike’s desperation to drag Amaechi’s name in the mud in order to continue to portray him as a corrupt person before the public
To begin with, Governor WIKE would have released Sim Fubara to the EFCC to explain how such whopping sums could be withdrawn on a single day instead, he iempowered supporters of the Rivers State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Sim Fubara to beat up officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when the EFCC operatives attempted to arrest him when the chartered plane carrying him and other PDP members landed at the Omagwa Airport in Rivers State from Abuja.
“His plots against Amaechi and the Rivers APC is an exercise in futility. He will not allow EFCC to investigate the former Accountant General and his guber candidate but he is giving directives moronic AG to file a case against his predecessor even when there is a perpetual injunction gotten by Gov. Odili against probing the financial activities of Rivers State Government officials. Let’s see how the Judge to handle this matter will ignore this existing injunction.”
Eze postulated that WIKE shouldn’t use Amaechi to cover the massive looting of the Rivers State treasury and explain how he wasted a whopping sum of N20Bn in pursuance of his failed presidential bid and bow the report trending is that he has also spent undisclosed amount in millions of dollars to bribe a panel to choose him as a running mate for Atiku Abubakar”.
Eze joined Dr. Dakuku Peterside to ask Wike to explain the rationale of his donation of about N10bn of public funds in unsolicited charity to States, and about N20bn pursuing his ill-fated presidential bid.”
The Governor is grossly corrupt and has only succeeded in ruining all forms of governance as Rivers State was named amongst other States that couldn’t attract one single investment to the State.
For Rivers Guber: Accountant-general to be declared wanted for N345 billion fraud by EFCC to be declared the Flag-Bearer of PDP in the 2023 gubernatorial election is nothing for Wike to protect all that he has looted and if Rivers State and his people are to be quiet and allow such group to be sustain in their state in government then the State will be ruined.
Eze cited a report by the National Bureau of Statistics which showed that only Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Anambra states, and the Federal Capital Territory attracted investment during the 1st quarter, regretting Rivers State under Wike has failed to attract a dime to the economy from investment.
According to the NBS’ Nigerian Capital Importation (Q1 2022), the total value of capital imported into Nigeria in the first quarter of 2022 stood at $1.6bn from $2.2bn in the preceding quarter, showing a decrease of 28.09 per cent.
…By destination of investment, Lagos State remained the top destination in Q1 with $1.1bn accounting for 71.16 per cent of total capital investment into Nigeria. This was followed by investment into Abuja (FCT), valued at $446.8m (28.40 per cent).
Anambra Oyo and Katsina states followed, with each raking in $4.1m, $2m and $700,000, respectively.
On the other hand, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kebbi states failed to attract any foreign investments during the period under review.
The party Chief lamented that the era of Wike as Governor will continue to be remembered as a watershed and monumental waste in the annals of governance in Rivers State and it will be of unblessed memory. He called on Rivers people to use the window of the 2023 election to correct every error of the past by electing Pst. Tonye Cole and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress, to inject a new lease of life on the economy and other aspects of statecraft.
Ends
Signed
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
APC Chieftain, member of APC Legacy Projects Media Team & former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP
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.
The fun-loving, inspirational Dubai Girls are heading back to Dubai for another exciting trip to the world’s top travel destination! For the Dubai Girls: Chioma Akpotha, Ufuoma McDermott, Uche Jombo and Omoni Oboli, this marks the third time the quartet will be visiting Dubai together. The first trip happened in 2018, and the second happened in 2019, where they faced off successfully against the Choplife Gang. The Girls have asked their fans and lovers of Dubai to join them on this trip, which takes place September 5th-12th, 2022.
The 2022 edition promises to be fun-packed, with a lot of suspense and surprises. In this edition, travellers to Dubai will stand a chance to win a return ticket to Dubai for their companion, with a 5-day Dubai experience with the Dubai Girls. Benefits and attractions include Accommodation for two including meals, access to the activities of the Dubai Girls and lots of surprises.
The Dubai Girls will randomly select winners on the 15th of August from individuals who meet certain criteria.
Some rules and terms include.
Individuals must purchase a ticket for travel to Dubai between September 4th – November 15th, 2022.
Purchase eligibility ends on August 12th
The buyer must purchase a ticket from any travel agent in Nigeria, that is registered with Dubai Tourism.
All travel agents registered on the DET database will be notified of this raffle competition on June 20th.
All travel agents registered on the DET database will submit a list of eligible entrées to DET on August 13th.
On August 15th, each Dubai Girl will select 2 winners, totalling 8 winners from the entrées from travel agents, via a Live Instagram session.
Ufuoma McDermott had this to say about the trip; “Dubai is no longer a city to me. It’s an inspiration. Each visit resets my goals and rejuvenates my God given abilities. This visit has me pondering on a new excitement based on new discoveries, new adventures and new infrastructure”.
Omoni Oboli had this to say; “The Dubai girls trip this year will be fun and bonding PRO MAX! You already know the Dubai girls are bringing the heat so come fully prepared to have the fun of your life! My bags are already packed!”
Uche Jombo had this to say about the trip; “Dubai is one of the most beautiful cities to visit for me and I bond with my girls all over again anytime we visit. I love the city, the experience, the places I visit and always look forward to the moments/memories we create”
Chioma Akpotha had this to say; Dubai, the beautiful city of gold with modern features and luxury at its peak! The safest city I have ever been to never had to worry about anything. When Dubai calls, I just pick up my passport and go…no need to pack a bag!
About Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)
With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading commercial centre, investment hub and tourism destination, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in achieving its competitiveness vision to position the emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism, and in boosting the emirate’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators. Under this remit, DET is driving efforts to further enhance Dubai’s diversified, innovative service-based economy to attract top global talent, deliver a world-class business environment and accelerate productivity growth. Additionally, DET is supporting Dubai’s vision to become the world’s best city to live and work in by promoting its diverse destination proposition, unique lifestyle and outstanding quality of life, overall.
DET is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for the licensing and classification of all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. The DET portfolio includes Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, Dubai Industries and Exports, Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI) and Dubai SME, as well as Dubai College of Tourism, Dubai Calendar and Dubai Business Events.
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.
The alleged culpable homicide suit against Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi in a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday, was stepped down in order for his lawyers to align themselves to represent him.
When the matter slated for hearing before Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme came up, the Prosecution Counsel, Aderonke Imana, informed the court that the matter was for hearing and that they were ready to proceed.
A. Ogbonna also announced his appearance as watching briefs of the nominal complainant.
The counsel that represented the defendant during his arraignment, Victor Abakpa, however, prayed the court to adjourn the matter until Tuesday, as another lawyer from a different chamber just informed that he was taking over the case.
He further stated that he was equally served additional proof of evidence in the court just before the court started the day’s proceedings.
I.A Aliyu on his part informed the court that he was briefed by the defendant on June 18 to take over the case.
The court, therefore, stepped down the case to 11 am in order for counsel to align themselves and come properly before it.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that in Monday’s proceeding, family members of the deceased singer, Osinachi were in court.
Prominent among the family members were her two children, mother, and twin sister.
The matter which was adjourned until June 16, could not go on due to the absence of the judge.
The defendant was earlier arraigned on June 3 and was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to the alleged homicide charge filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Nwachukwu was therefore remanded pending the hearing and determination of the 23-count charge bordering on domestic violence and homicide instituted against him.
He was arrested by the Nigeria Police after his wife died on April 8 following widespread allegations by their children, family and colleagues that he battered her leading to her death.
According to the charge, the crime Nwachukwu allegedly committed contravenes Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015, Section 221 of the Penal Code and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015.
The charge partly read: “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the April 8 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Osinachi.
“This was caused by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your act.
“Particulars of offence: That you, Peter Nwachukwu, male, sometime between Nov. 14, 2009, and April 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to wit: emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu (deceased).
“This was caused by humiliating her and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members.”
The statement of offence bordered on emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse contrary to Section 14(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
The late Osinachi was popularly known for her song “Ekwueme”
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.
Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi is inspiring a powerful, social media-enabled, youth-led political tidal wave that will radically change the contours of the 2023 election.
But APC and PDP operatives, still inebriated with the overconfidence of the size and deep pockets of their parties, are sniggering at the suggestion that Peter Obi’s Labour Party will change the game next year.
They comfort themselves with the mantra that there are no polling booths on social media where Peter Obi’s devotees form noisy cyber silos.
Well, there is no opponent more dangerous than an underestimated one. People who are habituated to the politics of the past may dismiss it, but something fundamentally novel is happening.
There’s an unstoppably growing corps of fired-up young (and not-so-young) people who are investing their time, energy, and emotions in Peter Obi. We have seen spectacular spikes in PVC registration and an increase in offline political mobilization, all thanks to him.
Three factors appear to be driving this. One, there is mass disillusionment with the quality and character of the presidential candidates of the two major parties.
They are the same woefully familiar, recycled, unimaginative, self-interested, careerist politicians who are deeply invested in sustaining the dysfunctions that keep Nigeria in the twilight zone between life and death.
They mouth the same flyblown clichés, can’t articulate any grand visions, are indistinguishable from past politicians, have no commitment to any grand ideals, and are in politics to steal from the public till and dispense favors to cronies.
Peter Obi seems to be different. He comes across as down-to-earth, self-aware, committed to transparency and the demystification of governance, and as someone who invests considerable intellectual energies into thinking about— and offering solutions to— Nigeria’s problems.
I am dubious of the facticity of some of his more self-righteous, messianic claims, and suspect that he sometimes hyperbolizes some of the too-good-to-be-true anecdotes about his time as Anambra State governor in order to gain the applause of his audiences.
As a scholar of rhetorical studies, I know that rhetors can sometimes feel an obligation to not violate the expectations of their captive audiences by telling stories that their audiences want to hear even if this means bending or sexing up the facts a little bit.
Nonetheless, compared to Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi is a breath of fresh air.
The second impetus for the dramatic surge in Obi’s political profile is religious. Many Christians in both the South and the North feel excluded from the presidential tickets of the APC and the PDP. Churches all across Nigeria are drumming up support for Obi in protest.
I think this is legitimate in the interest of representational justice, particularly because Obi isn’t some pastor with a predetermined agenda to advance narrow religious or sectarian causes.
Although Obi is a devout Catholic, he is thoroughly secular and, based on some of his speeches I’ve watched, has a deep understanding of the imperative of separating the sacred and the profane in the business of governance.
The third driver of his popularity is Igbo resentment at their systemic political exclusion. In my April 2, 2022, column titled “Why Nigeria Needs an Igbo President in 2023,” I wrote:
“The Igbo are almost in the same spot that the Yoruba were in in 1998. There is mass resentment among them. Several of them feel emotionally disconnected from Nigeria. And we all know why. Apart from the fact that they have never produced a president or vice president since 1999, Muhammadu Buhari has done an extremely poor job of husbanding Nigeria’s intricate diversity.
“The sense of alienation that a vast swath of Igbo people feel now has made several of them, particularly their youth, susceptible to the murderous wiles of the mentally and emotionally disturbed mountebank called Nnamdi Kanu.”
Some of the secessionist oxygen that sustained Biafra agitation has now been redirected to Peter Obi, and Nnamdi Kanu has now been pushed on the backburner. While some people have put a negative spin to this, I think it is a golden opportunity.
It shows that an Igbo presidency will solve the secessionist agitations and violence in the Southeast. For me, that’s a worthwhile reward for having a president who is Igbo.
Incidentally, in the April 2 column I referred to earlier, Peter Obi was one of two Igbo people I recommended as candidates for the presidency. The other was Kingsley Moghalu who sadly lost the primary election of his party.
I wrote: “The second is Peter Obi. In a March 25, 2022, article titled ‘Peter Obi: Applying to Be Driver of a Knocked-Out Car,’ I mentioned that listening to his speeches has captured my imagination. He appears to have a handle on Nigeria’s problems, and what I’ve read of his record as governor of Anambra State inspires some confidence that he isn’t just a talker.
“I can’t speak to his cosmopolitanism and commitment to seeing all of Nigeria as his constituency. That’s up to voters to find out.”
If Obi’s political momentum holds steady until February next year and the election is free and fair, I predict that he will cause a runoff.
If he leads with the youth, Igbo, and Christian votes (I know there’s an overlap in some categories), he will upset both the APC and the PDP to the point that none of them can win in the first round of the presidential election.
If he doesn’t win or qualify to participate in the runoff, whoever he supports will be the winner. So, an intelligent political party won’t antagonize him or his supporters just yet.
But there are dangers for Obi, though, should he somehow defeat the structural impediments on his way to become president. First, his devotees call themselves “Obidients” and demand “Obidience” to him. That’s horrible. They would be worse than Buhari’s BMC trolls.
What is needed in democracy is critical citizenship, not “obidience.” “Obidience” in democracy suggests a surrender of one’s critical faculty, which is what precisely what Buharism is. It’s the death knell of democracy.
Obi’s rise to political stardom is propelled by anger at the political establishment. That’s the literal definition of populism. Populism instrumentalizes anger for politics without being able to transform the lives of the angry in any meaningful way.
Obi’s devotees imagine him to embody the solutions to Nigeria’s problems and expect him to wave the magic wand and make them disappear. As he himself admitted in a previous public appearance, Nigeria’s problems are structural and systemic and can’t be resolved with a mere change of the personnel in the corridors of power.
If his presidency violates the expectations of his devotees, they will turn against him. In other words, he is riding the tiger of populism, and it will devour him when he dismounts from it.
Read more at
Sometime in 2009, ‘Mr’ (as he preferred to be addressed) Peter Obi, Governor Of Anambra State at the time, visited Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and myself in Dallas, Texas. He came to deliver a get-well message from Dr Good luck Jonathan and was billed to attend a black-tie event at the Dallas Marriot. Curiously, he flew into Dallas airport with one small carry-on luggage which he insisted on wheeling around himself, and on getting to our residence requested to freshen up. He opened his carry-on, filled with files and paperwork and a few toiletries and an extra shirt; when the Ikemba and I asked if he was expecting another item of luggage, he said no.
‘Then, what will you be wearing to the event tonight?’, we inquired.
Then, it struck him that he couldn’t show up in his casuals at such a ceremony. I insisted on taking him to the luxury men’s emporium at Nieman Marcus to buy a smart black suit. When we got there, he was busy doing the currency conversions. The suit that was a perfect match for him was a dapper Tom Ford suit with a price tag of 3,985 dollars plus tax.
He did the calculations and told me ‘do you know how many students this amount of money can train in Nigeria?’ I reminded him that he was the governor, and for the calibre of guests expected at that evening’s event including the mayor, senators and captains of conglomerates, he needed to be dressed in top form.
To cut the story short, he refused to pay what he termed that ‘outrageous’ price for the suit, and that was how we ended up at Steinmart where he agreed to pay a more acceptable price of 220 dollars, tax inclusive for a basic men’s suit which he was happy to wear to that evening’s event.
What struck me was that as we were on the way to the airport to see him off for his return flight back to Nigeria, he reached for his pocket where he brought out an envelope of crisp hundred-dollar bills. The amount in the envelope was 3,800 dollars. He said, ‘Anyanwu, this is the balance of the money I would have paid for the ‘Ford’ suit. If the label on the suit was ‘Peter Obi’, I am wondering if anybody in America will pay that amount for it. I have deducted the amount we paid for the suit we eventually paid for. Please use this balance for your Charity foundation to help those in actual need. I trust you will do so’.
We all laughed heartily. Vintage Peter Obi !
The eventual beneficiaries of that largesse were Madam Theresa Agbo, a yam seller who was displaced when her shed was gutted by fire, Callistus Egbe who was bedridden due to illness and needed help with the school fees of his young children, and the Mgbemena family of six who was thrown out of their accommodation (which we subsequently doubled to two rooms) because their breadwinner fell upon hard times and could no longer afford the rent.
In life, you either live by a creed or you desecrate the mould by which the Almighty created you. Any progressive nation measures an individual by his values, not his vaults.
If this way of life is what is derided as ‘stinginess’ on the part of Peter Obi, then we all need to adopt this mould for a more sustainable and more humane environment.
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