News
Group wants ex-IG Okiro Ohanaeze Ndigbo President
A socio-cultural group in Rivers State, ‘Ogbako Egbema Alinso,’ has made a case for a former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, to succeed Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Chukwu was appointed to complete the tenure of Imo State after the demise of prominent politician and businessman, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, with the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, subsequently disclosing the zoning of the exalted position to Rivers State.
The election for the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is billed to be held between January 10 and 11, 2025.
While there has been support for the former IGP Okiro, to take on the mantle of leadership of the body, there have also been questions surrounding his ethnic qualifications for the role.
National President-General of Ogbako Egbema Alinso, Francis Igwebuike Ifi, at a press briefing in Egbema in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, maintained that Okiro is a bonafide Rivers indigene and enjoys the support of the Egbema people.
Igwebuike Ifi stated, “The insinuation that he’s not from Rivers State is what is doubtful in the minds of people, but today, let it be clear to all and sundry that Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, is an Egbema man from Rivers State.
“This is a social-cultural organization, because of the political divide, we’ve come together to say Egbema is one and we are not bending to any political delineation.
“So, if he aspires to vie for any position in the country, Egbema has asked him today to go ahead. He is qualified for it, he is a Rivers man, let him go ahead and vie for it as a Rivers man.”
Ifi further said, “Let the people who are making such insinuations (that Okiro) is not from Rivers State), let the people who want to denigrate him, please tow another line.
“When a man is qualified to get one thing, give it to him, don’t look at where he’s from. We assure the country that Sir Okiro is a born Egbema man from Rivers State.”
Earlier in his remarks, a monarch and Nzeobi of Egbema, Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, Eze Everistus Amuda, re-echoed Ifi’s stance, saying, “Dr. Okiro is my a member of my palace. He hails from Nzeobi, he never aspired for any position before he was enrolled in Nzeobi of Egbema and all the enrollment is his first involvement in Egbema.
“He hails from Ogba/Egbema Local Government Area. He is qualified to contest for the position.”
Meanwhile, the group has called for an end to what it described as incessant extra-judicial killings along the boundary between Egbema in Imo State and Egbema in Rivers State.
Expressing displeasure at the situation, the President-General of the body said, “The very incessant extra judicial killings at the boundary between Egbema Imo and Egbema Rivers is uncalled for. Who are the persons killing these people along Egbema? Just before the TCC or after the TCC, recently a woman, a pregnant young lady, was shot to death.
“With expertise and the position of our national leader, the Ogbako Egbema has condemned such extrajudicial killings in its entirety and we don’t want it to continue unless they don’t want the existence of Egbema people here.
“Whosoever is involved in such extra-judicial killings should stop, before they kill all of us. The killing has become too much. The Egbema people are tired of the extra-judicial killings along that place.”
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.
Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable.
The Sole Administrator stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen.
He said while the NBA reserves the right to choose a venue for its conference, the association had yet to address the issue of the refund of the hosting rights paid by the state government for the conference.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Federal Government has unveiled the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system across its four missions in United States, Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil.
The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS disclosed this in a tweet on its ‘X’ handle signed by Service Spokesman, ACI AS Akinlabi.
The statement reads; “ain continuation of the phased Roll-Out of the Contactless Biometric Passport Application System across Nigerian Missions abroad, the Nigeria Immigration Service under its
Comptroller General, Kemi Nanna Nandap wishes to inform the General public especially Nigerians in the Diaspora that it is implementing the next stage of the roll-out across the following countries.
“The Application System, which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS Mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for Biometrics enrollment. The Apple Store version will be onboarded shortly and an enhanced version of the NIS Mobile App for both Android and iOS users will be deployed to further improve users’ experience and accessibility.
“With this roll-out, the Service further informs the General public that the Contactless Passport App is now available in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil, Europe, and Asia. It is yet to be rolled out in Australia and Nigeria, a future date will be announced for both countries in due course.
“The Service remains committed to innovative and efficient Service Delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world”.
By Francesca Hangeior
At least eight of the 1,800 candidates shortlisted for teaching positions under the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission have been disqualified after testing positive for banned substances.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the TESCOM Press Secretary, Sam Onile, who quoted the Chairman of the Commission, Bello Abubakar.
According to the statement, the disqualified applicants tested positive for drugs, including benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana, and amphetamine.
The tests were conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency with support from the state government.
Abubakar said the affected candidates would be replaced by the next best-performing applicants from their respective local government areas.
“A major implication of this development is that the affected individuals will be replaced by the candidates who are next to them in performance from their respective local government areas,” the statement said.
“The idea is to send an unmistakable message about the state government’s zero tolerance for drug abuse. We have a duty of care not to expose little children to drug abuse under any circumstances.”
The TESCOM chairman praised AbdulRazaq for insisting on a merit-based recruitment process, noting that the governor had again demonstrated fairness and commitment to quality education in the state.
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