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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
FG Approves 16 as Minimum Admission Age into University
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said this on Tuesday when he declared open the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Abuja.
The Federal Government has mandated 16 as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said this on Tuesday when he declared open the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Abuja.
Alausa declared that the official age of 16 set by the government is not negotiable.
He warned that the heads of institutions found to be engaged in admission fraud would face prosecution.Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa warned that any admissions outside JAMB’s CAPS platform are illegal. Institutions involved in admission fraud will face prosecution, as the government moves to enforce transparency and integrity in the process.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members nationwide to begin an indefinite strike over the federal government’s delay in paying June 2025 salaries.
According to reports, this decision, which enforces the union’s “No Pay, No Work” policy, has already taken effect in several universities.
Branches of ASUU at the University of Jos and University of Abuja have withdrawn their services, with members suspending academic duties and meetings.
The strike is in line with a National Executive Council (NEC) resolution that mandates withdrawal of service if salaries are not paid within three days of a new month.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, confirmed that the directive was necessary due to persistent salary delays and hardship faced by members.
He noted that the switch from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) has worsened the situation, leaving lecturers unpaid for days after the month ends.
He explained that despite meetings with key government officials including the Minister of Education and the Accountant General, no solution has been provided.
According to Piwuna, the delay is not due to any technical problem with the payment platform but appears to be a deliberate move by some officials.
The union is also calling on the federal government to immediately release the outstanding N10 billion balance from the N50 billion meant for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), warning that further delay may spark another phase of industrial action.
At the University of Jos, the branch chairman, Jurbe Molwus, confirmed that the congress backed the NEC resolution, leading to a halt in lectures and other statutory duties.
A strike monitoring team has been activated to ensure compliance.At the University of Abuja, members have also stopped work in protest.
ASUU declared the only way to end the ongoing disruption is for the government to stop delaying salaries and fulfil its obligations to university staff.
News
Keyamo tells Mbah: “Do not let Enugu Air go the way of Nigerian Airways”
“Beyond party line, we should not be afraid to say it. You have a progressive spirit, you’ve done well for Enugu State, and you’re one of the best performing governors.”
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Monday urged the Enugu State Government to ensure that Enugu Air is run professionally and shielded from political interference and bureaucratic inefficiency.
Keyamo also hailed Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as one of the best-performing governors in the country, despite belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during the inauguration of Enugu Air in the state capital, Keyamo commended Mbah’s leadership style and development strides.
“I want to mirror what the president said the other day to commission project. Dr Peter Mbah, you’re in PDP, but we’re scared of you.
The way you’re going, we don’t know what will happen, and we don’t know how to drop a scheme to defeat you, but we will be planning,” Keyamo said.
“Beyond party line, we should not be afraid to say it. You have a progressive spirit, you’ve done well for Enugu State, and you’re one of the best performing governors.”
“What is left to advise is, do not let Enugu Air go the way of Nigerian Airways. Run it professionally and do not let bureaucracy kill Enugu Air. Be prompt in your departure and arrival.”
The airline will begin operations with a fleet of three Embraer jets from the E170 and E190 series, selected for their operational efficiency, passenger comfort, and suitability for regional routes.
Its inaugural routes will form a strategic triangular network connecting Enugu, Abuja, and Lagos. Plans are also underway to expand services to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, Kano, and other major cities across Nigeria and beyond.
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