Tag: Charles Soludo

By Ovat Abeng

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has mourned the death of Rt. Hon. Anayo Nnebe, a former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly and currently a Special Adviser on Legislative /State Assembly Matters to the governor.

He passed away today, January 24, 2024 after a brief illness.

Soludo in his condolence message signed by his press secretary, Christian Aburime, described Rt Hon. Nnebe as a distinguished son of Anambra State, a patriotic Nigerian, who served the state with honour, integrity, and excellence.

He was a visionary leader, a brilliant legislator, and a passionate advocate for the welfare and development of his people and Anambra State.

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He was a man of peace, wisdom, and compassion. The governor has lost a trusted ally, a dependable colleague, and a dear brother in the former Speaker.

His death is also a huge blow to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and to the entire people of Anambra State. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

On behalf of the government and the good people of Anambra State, Governor Soludo extends his heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, associates, and constituents.

May God grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and grant his soul eternal rest,” the statement end.

By Ovat Abeng

Forum of Labour Party, State House of Assembly Candidates in Anambra, has says that there was no existing law/code of conduct prohibiting Anambra State Traditional Rulers from conferring chieftaincy titles on non-indigenes of their communities.

The forum warned the State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo to stop playing God, noting that power is transient.

The LP support group were reacting following the suspension of Igwe Damian Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni community, in Anoacha local government area of Anambra State for conferring chieftancy title to Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah and the trending alleged destruction and burning of petty traders goods in Awka, the State Capital.

According to them in a statement signed and made available to Journalists in Awka on Monday by Mr. OCN Okafor, the forum coordinator.

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“On 8th January 2024; the Government of Anambra State, through the office of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs via a widely circulated letter on media, suspended the Traditional Ruler of Neni community, H.R.H Igwe Damian O. Ezeani, for conferring a Chieftaincy title on a Serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Also on January 16, 2024; there were viral videos on social media of public destruction and burning of goods and wares of some street hawkers in Awka, by men armed with cutlasses and axes, working in the office of Awka Capital Territory Authority.

“We condemn these two actions of the State Government on her citizens, as they are barbaric, inhuman and wicked, and we warn the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo not to throw our dear State into anarchy with his tyrannic tendencies.

“As much as we are not encouraging the disobedience to existing laws in the State; from our investigations, there was no existing law/code of conduct prohibiting Anambra State Traditional Rulers from conferring Chieftaincy Titles on non-indigenes of their community. This was affirmed and validated by the widely circulated letter by the Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, H.R.M Igwe Dr. Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe (CFR), a first class Traditional Ruler of repute.

“Furthermore, after a careful study of the Anambra State Land Use Law, there was no clear contravention by the street traders that warranted the trauma, intimidation, humiliation and threat with cutlasses and axes, before destroying and burning their goods and wares.

“However, assuming without conceding that they contravened any law or agreeing with the State Government’s claim that they were constituting nuisance, they could have been removed peacefully; even though, no neighborhood market was constructed by the State Government for proximity for the residents of the area.

“We request that the State Government should pay compensation to those that their goods were destroyed within 21days. Failure to do so, we shall encourage our members that their indigenes or residents in the affected Local Governments  to seek redress in court.

“Finally, we commend the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, H.R.M Igwe Dr. Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe (CFR) and the House of Representative member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu for publicly speaking against these intimidations and barbaric acts by the Anambra State Government,” the statement ended.

By Ovat Abeng

The traditional ruler of Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Daniel Ogochukwu Obelle, has apologized to the State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, for flouting the code of conduct guiding the conferment of chieftaincy titles in the state.

The Paradise News had earlier reported that the Monarch, on January 4th, 2024 confer Chieftaincy titles to over 40 Philanthropists in recognition of their various commitment towards human capital development.

The Traditional ruler tendered the apology in a press statement he personally signed and made available to Journalists in Awka, on Tuesday.

The statement read in part;

“My attention has been drawn to a press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters., Mr. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne alluding to some Ndi Igwe in Anambra State that recently conferred chieftaincy awards on certain personalities without clearance from the state government.

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“I wish to state that as a new comer to the royal throne of Nawfia Community, I was not aware the existence of the circular in question. Besides. I am not a member of the State Traditional Rulers Council where the said circular was issued.

“In the peculiar circumstances. I declare my unalloyed loyalty to Mr. Governor Prof C. C. Soludo, CFR, and my unreserved apology for the omission of not obtaining his approval before conferring the chieftaincy awards on deserving citizens who were thoroughly, screened before the awards were bestowed on them.

“Sir, it’s pertinent to state that the chieftaincy awards and commendation certificates are intended to motivate and galvanize indigenes and non-indigenes of Nawfia towards community development.

“As partners in uplifting Anambra State to make it liveable and secure, Mr. Governor, kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem and respect,” Igwe Obelle appealed.

It was gathered that in a release signed by the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs Mr Tony-Collins Nawbunwanne said the Governor’s directive to suspend Traditional rulers that confer Chieftaincy titles to some persons without Government approval is in exercise of his powers under Section Two (C) of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law 2020 as amended.

The release explained that the directives was because of the violation of Traditional Rulers Code of Conduct.

According to the release, the Code of conduct for traditional rulers in Anambra State provides that no traditional ruler can confer Chieftaincy title on anyone outside his community without obtaining the permission of the traditional ruler of the recipient community while the state government has equally issued a directive to the effect that no such Chieftaincy title should be conferred by any traditional ruler on a recipient outside his community without obtaining clearance from the ministry.

It explained that the regulations and measures are to among other things prevent abuses and trading of chieftaincy titles for money thereby bringing the traditional institution to disrepute.

By Ovat Abeng

Some Elders of Awkuzu Community in Oyi local government area have appealed to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra to wade into brewing crises which may cause serious security breach in the town.

The elders under the aegis of “Ojiani Ifite Awkuzu” who thronged the Government House, Awka in their numbers with placards with various inscriptions demanded the urgent need for government intervention.

The elders submitted a protest letter to the governor and Department of State Services.

They bore placard with varying inscriptions including “Igwe Charles Anikweze,Stop Interfering in Our Communal Land”, “We Are Ojiani, Custodians of Land and Tradition of Awkuzu, Respect Our Land”, “Igwe Charles Anikweze, Respect the Culture and Tradition of Awkuzu,” among others.

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They accused the traditional ruler of Awkuzu Community, Igwe Prof. Charles Anikweze of sacking members of cabinet, popularly called Ichie and trying to replace them with younger people against the tradition and constitution of the town.

Chief Peter Aniemena, 82, who spoke on behalf of the protesting elders  alleged that Igwe Anikweze was making efforts to distabilise the community through his attempt to  dethrone two titled men in his cabinet by unconstitutional means.

They claimed that the move to dethrone the two lifetime titled men was for their uprightness and defense for the right of the people and interest of the community.

Chief Aniemena said the elders of Ifite Awkuzu deemed the move by the traditional ruler as an attempt to aggravate the already heightened tension in the community.

He called on the Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to take necessary steps and halt the enthronement ceremony of the two illegal Ichie scheduled for Dec. 26 as the event may trigger a serious crisis in the community.

According to him, the Constitution and tradition of the Community provides that the two titled men remain Ichie till they die or the demise, dethronement or resignation of the traditional ruler.

“The two titled men, Ichie Ikechukwu Okafor and Ichie Nweke Oniezue of Isiorji village who are still alive, active and never tendered any resignation letter to anyone,” he said.

The elders alleged that the move by the traditional ruler was not unconnected to a vast land at Egbegolu Ifite which the traditional ruler planned with few persons to allot to developers against the wish of the people and original beneficiaries

Also speaking, Chief Goodwin Igbanugo, a septuagenarian , called on the Commissioner of Police and other security operatives to consider the brewing crisis serious and take urgent steps to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Igbanugo said the traditional ruler could not handpick titled men which was the responsibility  of the entire Community to nominate and select when necessary.

In a reaction, Mr Vin Anyanechi, the Palace Secretary said he could not speak on behalf of the traditional ruler on the matter, noting that it was internal to the community.

Anyanechi however said that a committee was set up for event and that they were working ahead of the event according to norms.

When contacted, the Igwe Anikweze switched off his phone after journalists introduced themselves and the topic.

By Ovat Abeng

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has says the proposed  2024 budget estimate if passed in Law will explore the State’s five trillion naira economy to the fullest.

Soludo disclosed this through the State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, while fielding questions from journalists during a budget breakdown session at the Government House, Awka, revealed that it can change the fortunes of the state if taken advantage of.

Recall that Governor Chukwuma Soludo last Tuesday presented a budget estimate of over N410b to Anambra State House of Assembly.

According to Mrs Nnake, the proposed budget size is N410,132,225,272, compared to the 2023 approved budget of N258,984,875,905.

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The recurrent expenditure amounts to N96,201,936,746 compared to N95,476,462,873 of the 2023 budget, while the capital expenditure amounts to N313,930,288,526 compared to N163, 508,413,032 in the 2023 budget with a deficit of N120,840,513,618.

While explaining the government’s strategy to balance the budget and reduce the deficit, the Commissioner pointed out that a concessionary loan that will place  emphasis on project financing will be acquired citing the agreement entered by the Anambra State Government with Afrexim Bank to the tune of $200 million.

She noted that the budget has various sources of income, stressing that the current administration is only interested in loan facility options that have the ability to repay itself.

According to her, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will get N141 billion to complete ongoing and new road projects, including single and dual roads, as well as N2. 5 billion for urban regeneration for Anambra iconic designs, road mapping, among others.

Four billion naira according to her will go into the Airport, Industrial Cities, New Cities, Branded Hotel, SID, among others, while the Ministry of Housing is proposed to get N10,525,000,000 for the completion of Anambra State Government house, Lodge and commissioners quarters, construction of old
People’s home and other buildings.

To revamp of Education System, the Ministry of Education is projected to get N20, o34, 078,600 while the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism will get N10 billion for the development of leisure/entertainment centres across the State.

The Ministry of Health will get N16,722,033,554 to revamp the healthcare system, Ministry of Power and Water Resources is projected to get N8,195,000,000 for revamping of urban water schemes.

Also, the Ministry of Youth Development and Solution Innovation District is voted to get N4,134,358,500 for Youth Innovation and empowerment Programmes and well as Solution Innovation District.

In order to pursue the agenda of everything technology and
technology everywhere, the ICT Agency will gulp N2,762,500,000, while the Ministry of Transport will get N5,378,790,000 to improve the transport infrastructure, revamping water transport with boats and buses for mass transit.

Ministries of Information, Women Affairs, Agriculture, Economic Planning and Budget as well as the Sports Development Commission are all captured in the budget as well.

The Media conference was also attended by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu and Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime.

By Ovat Abeng

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo has tasked Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife on helping in nation building.

Governor Soludo was speaking when he received the Ooni on a courtesy call at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, on Thursday.

The Governor described the Ooni as a bridge builder, going by his antecedents and wealth of experience garnered through his many travels around the country and the world, pointing out that traditional institutions are the building blocks to ensure the stability of the country.

He emphasized that a stable institution is the source of stability for the nation, making a call for more national leaders who see everyone as one people and the country as one entity.

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The Governor who canvassed support for the President to succeed, described the Ooni as a symbol with a national and global outlook, making a call for the likes of Ooni to emerge as bridge builder, for national healing.

The Ooni, while presenting a symbolic gift of artwork to Governor Soludo asked him to keep hunting for innovations.

He recalled the glory days of Governor Soludo at the Central Bank of Nigeria and his achievements and encouraged him to continue his selfless service to the Society.

It was gathered that some kings accompanied the Ooni on the visit.