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Enugu People Couldn’t Have Possibly Voted for You, Oriental Lawyers for Justice Replies New Governor

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The leading non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Enugu State, Oriental Lawyers for Justice, has responded to claims by the newly sworn-in state governor, Peter Mbah, that Enugu people voted for the Labour Party in four of the five rounds of votes in the 2023 general election but cast their lot with him and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the gubernatorial one held on March 18.


“There is nothing positively special about you and there is no way our people could have elected to pitch tent with the PDP after 24 years of state capture by the party”, the lawyers declared in a statement today in Enugu signed by its chairman, JohnBosco Aninwede, and the secretary, Mrs Ifeoma Ejike.

The Labour Party won seven out of the eight House of Representatives seats and two out of the three senatorial seats in the National Assembly election conducted on February 25 and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, got 88.7% of the 456,424 votes in the presidential election held the same day.

The party won 14 out of the 24 House of Assembly seats election on March 18 while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) controversially declared PDP’s Mbah the winner of the governorship contest held the same time.

Stated the Oriental Lawyers for Justice: “The last time you were in the news before you joined the governorship race was when the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government accused your Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company Ltd of deep involvement in the oil subsidy scam, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leading the charge.

“The Enugu people were not surprised because you had earlier been slapped with 31 offences by the EFCC following your role as the Chief of Staff and later the Commissioner for Finance under the Dr Chimaraoke Nnamani government from 2002 to 2007.

“You had a running battle with the EFCC for a whole 10 months which ended when Dr Nnamani reached a plea bargain deal with the anti-graft body, but not before several properties, the Cosmo FM station and the Rainbow Net Communications firm, among others worth billions of naira, were forfeited to the Federal Government because they were proceeds of crime”.

Stating that Mbah’s reputation as someone with a history of running battles with the EFCC could not have endeared him to Enugu voters, the NGO asserted that Mbah committed political suicide by relying on two former unpopular governors to deliver him in the governorship.


“Neither Dr Nnamani, who ran for the Enugu East senatorial zone”, said the Oriental Lawyers for Justice, “nor The Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who ran for the Enugu North senatorial seat, could deliver themselves in the 2023 general election, and yet you depended on them entirely.


“Ugwuanyi, the serving governor, was defeated by Barrister Okey Ezeah of the Labour Party right in his polling booth, his polling unit, and in his hometown of Orba as well as in his Udenu Local Government Area, losing finally by 46,948 to 104,492 votes”.

As regards erstwhile Governor Nnamani, who is now an outgoing senator, the lawyers recalled how little-known Kelvin Ugwu defeated him by as many as 69,136 to 48,701 votes in the Enugu East senatorial race on March 18 after the assassination of Sir Kelvin’s elder brother, Barrister Oyibo Chukwu who was the original Labour Party candidate, on February 22, three days before the earlier scheduled senatorial election.

“It is certain that Senator Nnamani would have been defeated with a much larger number of votes if Chief Oyibo Chukwu, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairman, had not been brutally murdered and had remained the LP’s candidate”, said the lawyers.

“After 24 years of Enugu State capture by the PDP, the Enugu people voted overwhelmingly for change, and so cast their lot with the Labour Party in the presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives, House of Assembly and, of course, governorship elections.

“Mbah and the PDP must respect the people’s will”.

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BREAKING: Tinubu to meet Obasa, Lagos Assembly members in Abuja

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President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to meet with the Lagos State House of Assembly, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Already, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, arrived at about 2:50 pm, while his colleagues had earlier arrived in two coaster buses.

The meeting may not be unconnected with the recent leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Obasa was impeached by some of his colleagues but he was later reinstated after the intervention of the political leaders especially the Governing Advisory Council, GAC.

Despite the Speaker’s reinstatement, it was gathered that the bad blood as a result of his impeachment is yet to be over.

Details later…

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UK, Nigeria launch creative industries technical Working Group

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The UK and Nigeria have officially launched the Creative Industries Technical Working Group, marking a pivotal development in the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).

This partnership aims to deepen bilateral ties and create a robust framework for growth within the creative sectors of both nations.

A statement by the UK High Commission in Lagos said the launch of this working group and a match-making event for UK-Nigeria creative industries leaders today in London represents a milestone in the UK-Nigeria relationship, designed to boost innovation, cross-border creative collaborations, and sustainable economic growth and development.

It said both events provided a dynamic platform to explore new opportunities and form commercial alliances within key creative subsectors such as Film and TV, Music, Fashion & Design, Architecture, Advertising, and Gaming.

The initiative is poised to foster long-term growth, enhance job creation, and unlock new pathways for creativity and innovation in both countries by prioritising collaboration and cultural exchange.

Speaking on the significance of the launch, Florence Eshalomi MP, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria and Co-Chair of the UK-NG Creatives Technical Working Group, said: “Today marks a significant moment as we launch the UK-Nigeria Creatives Working Group.

Our nations share a rich cultural bond and a deep belief in the transformative power of creativity, through music, film, fashion, and the arts.

“This initiative, rooted in our landmark Enhanced Trade & Investment Partnerships (ETIP), will drive stronger trade ties, foster deeper collaboration, and unlock the full potential of our creative industries.

“By enhancing market access and investing in skills, we are opening doors to new opportunities that will create jobs and boost economic growth in the UK and Nigeria.”

Emphasising the need for deeper creative and cultural ties, Mr Obi Asika, Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture and Co-Chair of the UK-NG Creatives Technical Working Group in Nigeria, said: “Nigeria’s creative economy is a global force, driven by our storytellers, musicians, designers, and digital innovators.

From Nollywood to Afrobeats, fashion to gaming, our industries are reshaping global culture and commerce.

“However, to unlock the full potential of this sector, we need strategic investment and support not just in talent, but in the institutions and infrastructure that will sustain long-term growth.”

Representing Mr., Obi Asika from the Nigerian side, Prince Baba Agba, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Creativity, underscored the importance of leveraging UK expertise for impactful collaborations, adding:

“The UK’s creative industries stand as a global benchmark for institutional excellence, market distribution, and innovation.

We are eager to tap into your expertise for meaningful partnerships.

“This Working Group isn’t just about discussions – it’s about taking concrete actions that will yield tangible outcomes for creators, businesses, and industry stakeholders on both sides.”

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BREAKING: Fubara denied access to present budget, locked out of Rivers Assembly complex (Video)

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara was on Wednesday denied access to the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, where lawmakers currently hold plenary sessions.

ohibaba.com gathered that the governor arrived at the Assembly quarters on Wednesday morning to present the state 2025 budget but was met with a locked gate, preventing his entry.

Fubara had earlier pledged to implement the Supreme Court judgment, which includes the formal presentation of the 2024 budget.

The budget was initially presented to a four-member Assembly faction in December 2023.

Last week, the Assembly issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the governor to present the 2025 budget.

In response, Fubara stated that he was awaiting the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court judgment before proceeding.

On Sunday, in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, and addressed to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, Fubara invited lawmakers for discussions on the Supreme Court ruling.

The discussions were expected to cover issues such as the budget presentation and the payment of outstanding salaries to the legislators, amongst other issues to chart a way forward for the state.

Watch video below:

Video source: ChannelsTV

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