PICTURES: See What Happens During Ede Aro Festival in Abagana

A town known for its greatness. The only town in Africa with double mentions in Chinua Achebe’s “Trouble with Nigeria”. That town is Abagana hitherto known as “Mba Aga Na” (meaning No Trespasses).

The history of Nigeria’s civil war can’t be completed without the Abagana Ambush story.

The successful ambush at Abagana gave both Biafran soldiers and civilians hope in the war as well as halting the Nigerian advance into Biafran territory.

Abagana’s most celebrated festival remains the “Ede Aro” during which masquerades of different categories dance around to prove their prowess. Youths are also seen with special wickers engaged in exceptional ceremonies that literary determines strongest.

Ede Aro 2014 has come and gone…Here are some pictures to give you a feel of the popular and cherished festival of Ndi Abagana

Obiano Lends Helping Hand to Accident Victims

 The compassionate Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano once again showed his humane side today when he stopped his convoy to commiserate with some victims of an auto crash along the Awka Etiti - Iseke, Express way.

The accident ‎which involved a Mercedes Benz 230 salon and a Toyota Corolla with the sign of a learner was somewhat miraculous as no one was hurt in spite of the terrible shape of the vehicles after the collision.

In a move reminiscent of his recent rescue of an accident victim in Onitsha, Governor Obiano ordered his convoy to pull over and quickly moved to the crash scene to lend a hand.

On discovering that no one was hurt, the Governor heaved a sigh of relief ‎and ordered his men to take them to a nearby hospital for basic checks after saying some soothing words to them.

Here are the pictures...

Anambra Attracts $1.65B Investment, as Oduah heads Anambra Airport Project

 

In keeping with his avowed commitment to achieve increased investment in flow into the State, Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has said that the State has so far attracted about one billion, sixty-five million US Dollars investment from investors since March 17th, 2014 when the new administration was inaugurated.

These investments he said, were attracted to key areas‎ covering agriculture, hospitality and tourism industry, power generation, trade and commerce, among others.

Obiano who addressed journalists on the various programmes and achievements as well as challenges facing his government, also disclosed that he had appointed former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah as head of Anambra State Airport Development Agency based on her wealth of experience and track record of turning around the country’s aviation industry.

What You Must Know About this DPO in Fegge, Onitsha

 

According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) has bestowed on Mr Rabiu Garba the “NUF Best South-East Crime Fighter of the Year 2014’’

Mr Garba who is the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Fegge, Onitsha was honoured by the Igbo socio-political organisation at the NUF Secretariat, Onitsha.

Read what the Chairman of NUF, Mr Augustine Chukwudum, told newsmen…

You Won't Believe Why & How FRSC Convicted 26 Persons

 

Not using your car seat belt can take you to jail… Yes!

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) mobile court in Kaltungo, Gombe State, convicted 26 drivers for committing various traffic offences.

According to the Sector Commander, Mr Abayomi Omiyale:

Okey Ndibe Named African Writer of the Year

 

The Anambra born novelist, political columnist, and essayist, Okey Ndibe has been named as the African Writer of the Year 2014 by USAfrica.

A statement issued from Houston, Texas, by the Founder & Publisher of USAfrica and the first African-owned, U.S.-based professional newspaper published on the internet,  USAfricaonline.com,  Dr. Chido Nwangwu, notes that "the trinity of Okey Ndibe’s contributions as a critical commentator, a first-rate scholar and a novelist validates USAfrica editors’ decision to recognize his outstanding skills.

The riveting testimonial to his creative capacities is fresh and evident in Foreign Gods, Inc.

Okey Ndibe teaches African and African Diaspora literatures at Brown University. He earned MFA and PhD degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has taught at Connecticut College, Bard College, Trinity College, and the University of Lagos (as a Fulbright scholar).

Prof Okey is also the author of Arrows of Rain and has served on the editorial board of Hartford Courant where his essays won national and state awards.

Okey lives in West Hartford, CT, with his wife, Sheri, and their three children. 

Congratulations to you BOSS

PICTURES: Genevieve Nnaji Receives Chieftaincy Title

Our own star actress, Genevieve Nnaji took to instagram to share this “good” news.

She was recently installed as the “Eze Ada” of Amuzu Nweafor in Mbaise, Imo State.

Women titles in Igboland… hehehe

Congrats to her though!

See more pictures below...

Mrs. Obiano Takes Message of Love to the Prison Inmates

In keeping with the Christmas season of love and affection especially for the indigent and less privileged members of the society, the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano embarked on a round of visitation to Prison facilities in Anambra to celebrate the Christmas with inmates and encourage them to change and be reformed. The Prisons visited by the governor’s wife include Onitsha, Aguata and Amawbia as well as Daughter of Charity Orphanage Home at Fegge, Onitsha.

Speaking at each stop during the visitation, Mrs. Obiano told the inmates that as a mother she came with message of love because Christmas is a celebration meant to be shared with loved ones especially those of them who are currently restricted by their circumstances. According to Mrs. Obiano, “I came to celebrate with you because as the wife of the governor I am privileged to be the mother of all in the state, I see you as an important set of the one big family. The fact that you are in here does not mean that you cannot come out reformed and better than others and able to contribute to the service and progress of our state.”

The Day Phyno, Patoranking, Slow Dog, others, Lit up Anambra Heritage Festival

  

The maiden edition of the Anambra Heritage Festival recorded a huge success in terms of turnout of Christmas returnees and fans who poured encomiums on the State governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the manifest freedom and return of nightlife in the State which enabled them to socialize and catch fun with friends and relatives.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture came to a magical end with an amazing night of music, comedy and fun with an electrifying performance by Igbo hip-hop sensation, Phyno who brought down the roof with his trademark styles that sent the audience reeling in ecstasy and asking for more.

Since Governor Obiano took over the reins of leadership in Anambra State, the hitherto nonexistent social circuit has come alive with memorable nights like the hugely successful Miss Independent Beauty Pageant in October and a recent Literary Evening with novelist Okey Ndibe which saw residents and visitors to Awka, the state capital thronging Emmaus House and Havilah suites respectively  for the enthralling outings.

2015: APGA set to Take-Over Nassarawa State as Labaran Maku Emerges as the Party's Gubernatorial Candidate

 

The immediate past Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the February 2015 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Maku’s name is in the list submitted before the December 26 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to contest the governorship position on the APGA platform.

Other candidates submitted by the party as governorship candidates are the APGA National Secretary, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, Zamfara State, former Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Iheanacho, for Imo State, Senator Anthony Agbo, Ebonyi State, and the former Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Alex Otti, Abia State.

Governorship candidates for APC, Labour, PPA and PDP are named below:

PICTURES/VIDEO: Enugu Old Schoolz @ Xmas Party/Dinner with Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Support Group (UK)

Think of the old good days in Enugu (042) and imagine the expected glamour when Enugu Old Schoolz (EOS) gather.

The pictures herein are shots from one of the EOS events held in London last night but more striking is the short video that follows. 

The EOS were invited to a special Christmas Party/Dinner courtesy of Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Support Group (UK) held last night (December 27, 2014) at Ripple Centre,121-125 Ripple Road, Barking.

It was a night of fun and also a special ocassion to chart a way forward as Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi prepares to lead Ndi Enugu.

If you an Enugu Old School, currently reside in the Coal City or an 042 breed, you need to see these photos and video clip.

More of such groups and actions are expected of us all... Thumbs up EOS!

Watch the video below...

Recalling Obiano’s Colourful Ascension to the APGA Throne

 

Wednesday December 17 2014 was a special day in the life of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA).

The occasion was the special national convention of the APGA held at the Women Development Centre Awka, Anambra State.

Delegates numbering hundreds had converged at the convention venue for the event slated to start at 10am.

They came from all over Nigeria, North, South, West and East, comprising the country's six geo-political zones, without exception.

As early as 9.45am, the massive hall was filled to the brim, and over-flowed to the expansive lawn of the centre.

The party's captivating montage mixed with tunes in Nigeria's major dialects blared to high pitch, to the gyration of the mammoth gathering of party faithfuls, waiting patiently for the commencement of the "fiesta".

Anxiety rose when at about 2pm the host, Governor Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and other party stalwarts had not turned up.

Breaking News: Air Plane Goes Missing with 162 Persons On-board

 

According to CNN reports, the search is on for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 people that lost contact with air traffic control in Indonesia on Sunday.

Before communication was lost, AirAsia Flight 8501 asked to deviate from its planned flight route -- from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore -- because of weather conditions, AirAsia said in a statement.

Flight 8501 went missing at 7:24 a.m. Sunday (7:24 p.m. Saturday ET) as it flew over the Java Sea.

"At this time, search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority," AirAsia said.

Of the people on board the Airbus A320-200, 156 are Indonesian, three are South Korean, one is French, one is Malaysian and one is Singaporean, the airline said. It had earlier said 157 of those on the plane are Indonesian.

"The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to en route weather before communication with the aircraft was lost," AirAsia said.

Details as they break…

See How Lawmakers Fight Themselves on Boxing Day

 

Boxing on the Boxing Day is not really out of order but when it involves lawmakers, I begin to imagine.

On Friday Dec. 26th, some Georgian lawmakers boxed themselves in the parliament over disagreement in the constitution of a delegation to go for an assignment.

Some lawmakers ripped microphones off their tables and used them as weapons to fight their colleagues.

Watch the brawl HERE..

APC - PDP: The Current Dispensation is Irresponsible - Prof Osibanjo

 

If you think APC’s pastor turned politician VP candidate is new in the game, then you might need a rethink.

During a parley with journalists at his campaign office in Lagos yesterday, APC VP candidate Professor Yemi Osinbajo criticized the current government, saying:

"The problem is management of resources. If we plug the loopholes, you’ll see the resources being pooled together. Security is the first duty of any government; you cannot fight a war where leadership is uncertain; where leadership is not sure of itself and its responsibilities.

2015: Obanikoro Begs Supporters to Ensure Victory for Jonathan & Agbaje

 

Party or no party, politics remain a game and must apply the Fair Play rule.

Erstwhile Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has enjoined his supporters to work and win the forthcoming elections for President Goodluck Jonathan and the candidate of the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

Obanikoro urged them to forget the pains of the past and move on with zeal to ensure victory for the party at all levels.

He also used the opportunity to plead with his supporters not just to ensure Jonathan’s victory but also that of Agbaje.

His words:

Maheeda AGAIN? "My Vision Is ... To See My posters in People's Bedrooms"

 

There are things I never expected to be here so soon.

Caroline Sam popularly known as Maheeda has revealed her intent in choosing sex and nudity as her selling point.

Read what she said is her target… You might be a victim!

Do You Know Why President Jonathan Visited Babangida?

 

President Jonathan recently visited Nigeria’s former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB).

Many have wondered the benefits of such moves.

On why the visit… Read the reasons as given by President Jonathan:

Budding Actress & Singer, Harmony Opens Up "Kiss Makes Me Wet"

 

This gist is for mature readers only.

Do you know Susan Ekwe, a budding actress and singer known as Harmony.

Here is what Harmony said about sex in an interview with entertainment reporters:

Wow... Muslim Youths Protected Christians During Xmas Church Services

 

I don’t know if you have heard of this, I see the report as one of the greatest feats achieved by the Nigerian nation this Xmas Season.

More than 200 Muslim youth volunteers joined the security agencies to protect Christians during church services to celebrate this year’s Christmas in Kaduna, says Pastor Yohanna Buru.

Buru, a cleric of Christ Evangelical Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

According to him,