Senator Okorocha speaks on working against Igbo lawmakers in Reps Speakership race

SPORTS

Senator Okorocha speaks on working against Igbo lawmakers in Reps Speakership race

 

Senator representing Imo West District in the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha, has denied involvement in the intrigues that denied Southeast the House of Representatives speakership.

Recall that Emeka Nwajiuba, lawmaker for Ehime Mbano/Ihiteuboma/Obowo federal constituency, had accused the former governor of working against Igbo lawmakers in the speakership race. 

Reacting in a statement yesterday, Okorocha’s Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, not only denied the allegation but queried how Nwajiuba arrived at the conclusion.

The statement read: “Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba of the Accord Party (AP) has, for some days now, done a lot of publications in the media accusing the former governor of the state and the senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, of being responsible for the loss of the speakership of the House of Representatives by the Southeast.

“Nwajiuba, however, did not state how he arrived at that faulty conclusion, except his contention that the former governor did not allow primaries to take place for the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 election.

“He did not also explain how, because it was the national headquarters of the party that handled the primaries of APC in the state, both the one Ahmed Gulak truncated and the second exercise.”

The Senator said it was unimaginable for him to have supported Nwajiuba for position of House of Representatives’ Speaker.

“It would have been unimaginable to believe that the president would adopt a member of Accord Party for such position, no matter the relationship, and even when his matter is at the Appeal Court.

“So, accusing Rochas Okorocha of being behind his failure to succeed with his name-dropping strategy this time was just a cover-up,” the statement added.

 

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June 12: How South East was denied opportunity to perform at Democracy Day celebration

NEWS

June 12: How South East was denied opportunity to perform at Democracy Day celebration

 

The South East region was not given the opportunity to perform during the cultural display at the National Democracy Day on Wednesday.

While the South West, North and South-South regions all showcased their cultural values, the South East was left.

The Yoruba of the South West were the first to showcase their cultural display to the gathering while the Fulanis of the North stepped in.

This was followed by the South-South which displayed their fishermen traditional dance steps.

However, we observed that as the South East prepared to take the stage with their masquerades and dancers, the guest of honour, President Muhammadu Buhari was ushered in for his inaugural speech.

One of the dancers, who spoke to us but in condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment, lamenting the time and resources she had invested into practising and rehearsing for the event.

Asked on how she felt about not coming out to perform, she said, “Well, at this point, there’s nothing I can do about it.

“There were four regions that prepared for the traditional dances in this event but I wonder why the Southeast was subsumed into the South-South.

“Maybe they were running out of time, I can’t tell.”

While the South-South dancers were performing, the moderator had said, “People of the South East and South South are mostly fishermen. Fishing is a tradition in the regions.”

The event host stated this when the Igbo dancers were still seen hanging around waiting to be called on stage.

 

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Reps Speakership: Southeast Leaders, PSC insist on Nwajiuba

POLITICS

Reps Speakership: Southeast Leaders, PSC insist on Nwajiuba

 

Ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, groups under the aegis of Presidential Support Committee (PSC) and South East Equity Alliance, made up of leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Southeast zone have urged the leadership of the party to cede the position of the Speaker to the zone.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Owerri on Thursday, Engr. Prince Chamberlain Adiaso, the Southeast Zonal Coordinator of Presidential Support Committee (PSC) expressed the groups’ unalloyed support for Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the House of Representatives member-elect, representing Okigwe South to clinch the office of the Speaker, Federal House of Representative in the 9th Assembly.

Adiaso, argued that, “it is an injustice for the South West to produce Vice President of the country and still wants to lay claim to the speakership position”.

The Coordinator further said, “Barr. Emeka Nwajiuba being a detribalized Nigerian, should be considered for the position so that he can become a rallying point for the whole APC in the South East geopolitical region.”

He pointed out that the people of Southeast assisted President Muhammad Buhari to get 25% votes, noting that zoning the speakership to the southeast was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of inclusive government.

He said “Nwajiuba is best qualified and most suited for the position because of his legislative experience,” and emphasized that “such zoning has become necessary, considering the fact, that APC has made progress in 2019 elections.”

“Nwajiuba as Speaker would ensure the independence of the legislature and harmonious relation with the executive and judicial arms of government.

“We are calling on all well meaning Nigerian to allow the people of South east produce the next Speaker of the 9th assembly,” he said.

While speaking over the speakership race, Chief Nwoha Amaechi, Spokesperson to South East Equity Alliance and former Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, said Emeka Nwajiuba’s cognate experience in legislation makes him credible to be the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Nwoha seized the platform to call on the APC and Nigerians to support the clamour for a progressive and fair national leadership equation.

The former lawmaker said that a Speaker of Igbo extraction was necessary for not only political fairness but natural justice considering the 25 per cent votes given to Buhari in the last election.

Also speaking, Barr. Kingsley Onunuju said the only way to put an end to issues of IPOB and MASOB agitation was to ensure that position like Speakership was zoned to the Southeast.

He said Nwajiuba’s Speakership would increase the popularity of APC in the South-East.

He restated the imperatives of supporting Nwajiuba, noting that it would increase the popularity of APC in the zone.

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2019: Why Igbos Should Vote Buhari - SGF Boss Mustapha

​BREAKING NEWS

2019: Why Igbos Should Vote Buhari - SGF Boss Mustapha

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has revealed why people of the South-East should support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid.

The SGF said supporting Buhari’s second term bid was the “shortest way” to Igbo presidency.

Mustapha said this while receiving a delegation of the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

According to the SGF, with Buhari’s declaration, the APC needed to open its doors to others.

He said, “Preach it to the other south-east states that the shortest way to Igbo presidency is to support Buhari in 2019.

“This is the time to open your arms and your doors to even those that are perceived as enemies, you must have a large heart to receive them.

“That is why Mr President himself specifically directed the party to consider the provisions of waiver as provided for in our constitution. Why is he saying that? It is because in this game there are no permanent enemies or friends.

“The dynamics of politics can change and people that you perceive today are not with you, will be with you tomorrow. So, your ability to receive them with grace will determine whether they will feel welcome or isolated.”

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Bishop Orizu Insists Igbos Are Jews, Not Nigerians

​BREAKING NEWS

Bishop Orizu Insists Igbos Are Jews, Not Nigerians

President of the Redeemed Israel Community of Nazarene Association (RICONA) of Nigeria, Bishop Ignatius Orizu, has insisted that the Igbos are Jews.

According to him, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sampling conducted by the Jewish Voice Ministries International last year in search of the lost tribes of Israel, which allegedly proved that Igbo were not Israelites, must be repeated.

Orizu made the call when the association hosted the founder of ShuvuTV, Rabbi Itzhak Shapira, in Nnewi, Anambra State, during his first visit to Nigeria.

The cleric argued that after a careful study of the whole exercise, the association came to the conclusion that the sampled population was statistically small and did not represent the true population of the Igbo.

“The idea, I guess, was to randomly sample the Igbo population, for the discovery of Jewish root. The Igbo population is not less than 50 million, but, unfortunately, a population of 120 people, which is not even up to one percent of the target Igbo population was sampled.

“I, humbly, suggest that an improved sampling process be adopted. The whole Igbo states should be randomly sampled to involve about five million Igbo, which is about 10 percent of the Igbo population. With this, the whole population will be affected and any result obtained from the process would be accepted by the Igbo populace,” Bishop Orizu insisted.

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