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“In Enugu There is No Honour Among Political Thieves”, Say State Stakeholders
Enugu State stakeholders have described the absence of erstwhile Governor Chimaroke Nnamani at the inauguration on Monday of Peter Mbah as the new state governor as a manifestation that there is no honour among those they call political brigands in the state.
“There is honour even among thieves, but it is not so among the swindlers in our state who robbed the people of the mandate they freely gave the Labour Party on March 18”, declared the Enugu State Stakeholders Forum (ESSF) in a statement today signed by its president, Professor Joseph Aneke, and the secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Agbo.
Outgoing Senator Nnamani brought out the “purported governor-elect from nothing and placed him on a high pedestal”, observed the stakeholders,“ yet he did not find it worthy of attending Mbah’s swearing-in as governor because they could not keep their agreement to shortchange the Enugu people”.
The stakeholders recalled how the then-governor made Mbah his Chief of Staff fresh from school and later appointed him the Commissioner for Finance.
The statement alleged that Mbah and Nnamani, both from the Nkanu sub-ethnic group, parted ways even before the conclusion of the 2023 general elections because of their “crass selfish interests which turned out to be mutually exclusive”.
The former governor has publicly been accusing fellow PDP leaders in the state of betrayal since he lost the Enugu East senatorial race on March 18 to little-known Sir Kelvin Chukwu of the Labour Party, a younger brother of Chief Oyibo Chukwu of Labour Party who was assassinated three days to the National Assembly poll, a development which compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the Enugu East senatorial election to three weeks later.
Dr Nnamani has in a series of statements accused the immediate past governor, The Right Honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Mbah of masterminding the rigging of the gubernatorial poll in favour of their party but refused to rig for him during the senatorial election for fear that the reaction of the people would be too severe for the PDP to bear.
“It was Senator Nnamani who convinced Ugwuanyi that Mbah is the right person to protect his interests after leaving office on May 29 as governor and should, therefore, anoint him as his successor”, claimed the stakeholders.
“Still, both Mbah and Ugwuanyi had no scruples in ditching him when it mattered most because there is no honour among the political scavengers of our state”.
The ESSF described the parting of ways between Mbah and Nnamani as paradoxical because Mbah stoutly refused to betray him when he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after serving as the finance commissioner.
Though a lot of assets including a number of properties, a radio station and a telecommunications company belonging to Dr Nnamani were confiscated by the EFCC which told the court that they were acquired with proceeds from corruption, Mbah is reputed to have done well to avoid implicating his former boss.
“His performance at the EFCC impressed Nnamani so much that he decided to reward him with a higher political position at the right time”, said the stakeholders.
“He had no difficulty convincing the then governor to adopt Mbah as his candidate in the PDP primaries, all the more so since Mbah has made so much money through his Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company and was eager to spend a lot of it in order to become the Enugu State governor”.
With Ugwuanyi’s support, Mbah secured the PDP gubernatorial ticket by a landslide on May 26, 2022, at Nnamadi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, scoring 790 out of the 807 votes.
The ESSF advised Senator Nnamani to testify honestly at the Enugu State Election Petitions Tribunal where Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, is contesting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) declaration of Mbah as the elected governor.
“The testimony will not be borne out of vengeance against his party but to free his conscience and help liberate the state from brigandage”, stated the stakeholders.
News
Protesters storm Federal High Court Abuja over moves to deregister ADC, other opposition parties
In court filings before the Federal High Court, the AGF supported a case instituted by some former lawmakers asking the court to compel INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress and four others.
Protesters, under the aegis of Concerned Northern Nigeria Stakeholders, staged a protest on Monday at the entrance of the Federal High Courtin Wuse, Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards with inscriptions such as “No Opposition, No Election,” “Tinubu, Let Our Democracy Breathe,” and “AGF Must Be Neutral.”
The protesters are warning President Bola Tinubu against interferences in the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The leader of the group, Banki Sharrif, raised alarm over what he described as growing threats to judicial independence and democratic institutions, accusing the Federal Government of undermining due process.
He said, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately cease all forms of interference, overt or covert, with the judiciary. Courts must never be reduced to instruments of political engineering. The moment justice is manipulated, the nation itself is placed on trial.
“A government that seeks to weaken opposition betrays a lack of confidence in its own legitimacy. Democracy thrives on competition. Suppressing it is not strength; it is fear.
“Elections without credible opposition are nothing more than staged exercises. Democracy demands fairness, openness, and equal opportunity for all political actors.”
The demonstrators warned that democracy cannot function under “intimidation, coercion, or calculated manipulation,” insisting that civic space and opposition remain central to a functioning republic.
Monday’s protest comes amid heightened political tension over a suit backed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, seeking the deregistration of several political parties.
In court filings before the Federal High Court, the AGF supported a case instituted by some former lawmakers asking the court to compel INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress and four others.
Other parties listed in the suit include the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and the Zenith Labour Party.
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S’Africa: FG hurrying to evacuate 130 Nigerians as another wave of protest expected
The minister added that another wave of demonstrations is expected between May 4 and 8, 2026, prompting further security and diplomatic coordination between both countries.
•Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has confirmed that so far, 130 Nigerians have registered for voluntary evacuation flights from South Africa amid rising tensions linked to anti-foreigner protests in the country.
The minister added that another wave of demonstrations is expected between May 4 and 8, 2026, prompting further security and diplomatic coordination between both countries.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a situation report via her X handle , said that the evacuation arrangement is part of broader diplomatic and security measures being coordinated with Nigerian missions in South Africa.
She emphasised that the
The minister explained that the evacuation plan follows directives from President Bola Tinubu, who ordered heightened monitoring of the situation and stronger protection for Nigerians abroad.
News
Nigerians to return home as S’African attacks worsen
The protests, according to reports, are being driven by community groups, anti-immigration organisations, and social movements such as Operation Dudula, the March and March Movement, and similar local initiatives, often under the banner of tackling illegal immigration and unemployment.
The Nigerian Consulate in collaboration with the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has offered a free repatriation flight to Nigerians willing to return home permanently amid the ongoing worsening attacks on foreigners.
The President of NICASA, Frank Onyekwelu, disclosed that the situation had forced many Nigerians to shut their shops and businesses.
According to him, there is currently no structured support system in place for affected Nigerians, but the consulate’s intervention is already providing an option for those who wish to leave.
” The process is ongoing as we have recorded many Nigerians signalling interest to return home, ” said Onyekwelu .
Violent anti-foreigner protests erupted recently in cities such as Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, East London, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in harassment, looting, property damage, and injuries.
The protests, according to reports, are being driven by community groups, anti-immigration organisations, and social movements such as Operation Dudula, the March and March Movement, and similar local initiatives, often under the banner of tackling illegal immigration and unemployment.
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