Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says Nigerians no longer believe that government can do anything for them. Speaking virtually at the inauguration of the 100-member Abia transition council, Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday, said Alex Otti, the governor-elect, must run a clean and transparent administration. The WTO DG asked the incoming government to focus on “disruptive strategies rather than traditional operational systems. ” “I told the governor-elect that everything we’ll do will depend on this governance,” she was quoted by NAN. “Nigerians, especially from that side of the south-east, have lost faith in governance. “They no longer believe the government can provide anything for them. “They provide for themselves boreholes, electricity and every other thing for themselves. “Although that is entrepreneurial, but on the other hand, that is not how to run the place.” She further advised Otti to run a “better and cleaner, transparent governance” that should be exemplary to everyone. Okonjo-Iweala expressed hope that through Otti, “there is a unique chance to set Abia on the right side of development and modernisation through digital disruptive technology”. She said the governor-elect should think of how to make Abia function in line with the modern world and join the train into the future of humanity. Okonjo-Iweala also asked indigenes abroad who have the capacity to assist by returning to the state, so as to recover the state and upgrade development. On his part, Otti thanked everyone, who honoured the invitation to be part of the council, for joining him to “create a new Abia”. Otti said he was a bit surprised by the jubilation that followed his announcement as the winner of the governorship election. Otti said Okonjo-Iweala has told him repeatedly that “she does not envy him”. He said his 42-page manifesto contains his plans for the state and would be a guide for the transition council to do its assignment. “But the good news is that we are prepared to do that work and I have a lot of hope that I can draw from your expertise,” he said. He added that he chose the inauguration in Aba because he had plans “to attack the deterioration in Aba headlong”. Vincent Onyenkpa, chairman of the transition council, described the council’s task as “very daunting but meant to help Otti achieve the miracle he was expected to perform in the state”. In March, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Otti as the winner of the Abia governorship election. Otti polled 175,467 to defeat Okey Ahiwe, his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 88,529 votes.

  The Delta State Police Command has arrested a butcher for allegedly stabbing his wife to death in Warri metropolis. The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday evening when the suspect tried to scoop hot water to bathe on returning from the market. PUNCH Metro gathered that his wife refused and asked him not to touch the hot water on the cooker claiming he did not provide money for house upkeep nor to refill cooking gas cylinder. But the suspect reportedly ignored his wife’s refusal and forced his way to the burning gas cooker to scoop the hot water. Consequently, the aggrieved wife reportedly attacked him during which a fight broke out between the couple. In the ensuing scuffle, the wife was said to have rushed for a kitchen knife with the intention to stab her hubby. However, the man reportedly overpowered the wife and forcefully collected the knife from her, and used the same to stab the woman several times until she collapsed. It was gathered that at that point, the suspect, seeing the gravity of his action, carried the agonising wife to a private hospital for treatment. His daughter, pained by the development, was said to have rushed to a nearby police station where she reported the incident and the suspect was immediately arrested. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident. The PPRO said, “Confirmed” without providing much details.

  Sunday 16 April 2023 How Nigeria spent N207 billion on 68 million Nigerians who didn’t vote Nigerians’ve lost confidence in govt— Okonjo-Iweala I watched helplessly as mob set my son ablaze – Ondo mother Gunmen shoot ex-Indian lawmaker, brother dead on live TV Deadly Fighting Between Army, Paramilitaries In Sudan Kills 27 Senator Achonu Emerges Imo Labour Party Governorship Candidate House Majority Leader Doguwa Wins Tudun Wada/Doguwa Seat In Kano Labour Party Conducts Parallel Governorship Primaries In Imo Report: How Chinese are funding terrorist groups to gain access to mineral reserves in Nigeria Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Senator Athan Achonu has emerged the governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 governorship election in Imo State. Achonu who represented Imo North senatorial district in 2015 won in a keenly contested Election held in Owerri, the state capital, on Saturday night. The governor- elect of Abia State, Alex Otti, who served as the chairman of the election panel declared Achonu the winner of the primary having scored the highest number of votes. In declaring Achonu the winner of the exercise, Otti said that he scored 134 votes while his closest rival, Jack Ogunewe, got 121 votes. Jubilation erupted at the venue immediately Achonu was returned as the winner of the election by Otti.

  The Labour Party in Imo State is currently conducting parallel primaries at two different locations in Owerri, the state capital. The two factions are laying claims to the authenticity and legality of the primaries. A faction headed by Onyekwulisi Festus is conducting its primaries at Andreas Hotel along MCC Road while another group which has former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie is conducting its own at the Landmark Event Centre in Owerri and has the Abia state Governor-Elect Dr. Alex Otti as the Returning officer and chairman of the electoral panel. While accreditation is ongoing at the MCC Road, the primaries are yet to commence at the Landmark Event Centre as delegates and contestants are arriving one by one. A total of about 14 governorship aspirants are to contest in the different primaries ahead of the November 11 governorship elections. The Associate Professor revealed that: The leadership of Labour Party “does not want to learn from the tragic event of the collapse of APGA in 2018. The Open Bazaar for delegates has commenced, contrary to the assurances that Labour Party is determined to avoid the path of ignominy that led to defeat for APGA in 2019 elections.”

  Hoodlums guided by suspected armed security men on Saturday disrupted and snatched the ballot box at Umuarusi Amandugba hall in the Isu local government area of Imo state. Newmen were at the scene when about five thugs invaded the polling units at about 09:19 Am. The thugs invaded the area despite the heavy presence of security men. However, voters have expressed fears over the security armored vehicle patrolling the area before the snatching of the box.

  Human Rights and Pro-democracy groups have urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to with immediate effects sack the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Communication Commission (NCC) due to the failure of the Commission to effectively monitor and checkmate the ongoing criminal and economic sabotage cum activities of service providers in the country. The groups also asked the Federal Government to impose severe sanctions again on the service providers for flouting the rules of sim card registration in line with our extant regulations. In a joint statement, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) in the South East zone and the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’Foundation (HURIDE) lamented that both NCC and Service providers in the country have continued to encourage crime in the country by their continuous sale of registered sim cards by subscribers in open and black markets. Unfortunately, said the groups, the NCC has failed woefully to exercise its statutory function to checkmate the sale of registered sim cards all over the country. They said that their investigation showed that NCC’s failure to carry out the enforcement of the non-sale of registration of sim cards in the country has paved the way for the massive sale of registered sim cards in open markets in the country. “This has therefore increased a quantum leap in the increase in crime throughout the country. “President Muhammadu should immediately sack the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC and equally bring him to book with all those people who failed to carry out their duties,” said the groups in the statement signed by Dede Uzor A Uzor, Chairman CD, South East zone and Executive Director, HURIDE in Abuja The rights groups decried the manner the registered sim cards have flooded many popular markets in the country without NCC doing something to arrest and charge the defaulters in court. They said registered sims are sold in major markets like Kano, Alaba International, Computer Village, Main Market Onitsha, Ariaria Market, and Abuja Market among others markets in the country. Said the rights groups: ” There is no market where already registered sim cards are not sold in the open market in Nigeria. Who are those behind the registration and sale? What is their motive if not to encourage crime”? They said it is these registered cards that kidnappers and Yahoo boys use in their criminal activities, they can use one sim card to defraud about 200 people”. The groups then called on the Federal Government to begin immediately clamping down on service providers like MTN, AIRTEL, 9MOBILE, GLO and ETISALAT, especially MTN and AIRTEL are notorious in already registered sim sell in open markets and these unpatriotic and obnoxious activities should stop forthwith while the offenders shall be severally punished accordingly, Dede Uzor Warned. .

Saturday 15 April 2023 Amaechi ignored govs’ counsel to retain me – Usman, ex-NPA MD Delta police arrest butcher for stabbing wife to death Supplementary Polls: APC, PDP go for broke in Adamawa, Kebbi guber races Russian strike kills nine, including toddler, in eastern Ukraine Cult leader arrested over death of 4 members who starved to ‘meet Jesus’ Rivers Police Bust Child Trafficking Ring, Arrest Four Suspects Yahaya Bello’s Ally, Usman Ododo Emerges Kogi APC Gov Candidate Suspected Boko Haram Terrorists Kill Nine In Yobe Days After DSS Ordeal, Prophet Arayomi Reveals US Immigration Detained Him Ododo, Yahaya Bello’s anointed candidate, wins Kogi APC guber primary Emefiele: IMF growth projection for Nigeria shows we are doing something right Okonjo-Iweala: Nigerians no longer believe government can provide anything for them Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…