IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

An unkempt man has been found at a parked aircraft in Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital. The man, said to be middle-aged and unconscious, was found on Sunday morning during a pre-flight inspection at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2. 

It was gathered that the suspected stowaway was arrested and taken in for interrogation. In a statement issued by the airline, the aircraft last operated Abuja-Lagos at 7.30 pm on September 3, 2022 and was securely parked at the apron following a post-flight inspection.

“During preflight inspection this morning, a stowaway was found in one of our aircraft parked at MMA2 Ikeja,” the airline’s spokesman, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, said. “The middle-aged man, who looked unkempt and is suspected to be unconscious, was arrested and taken in for interrogation.

Uchegbu stated that FAAN AVSEC and Bi-Courtney security services are on the ground and an investigation has opened into this security breach at MMA2. The affected aircraft is being screened and prepared for service in accordance with United Nigeria Airlines’ strict security and operating standards.

A remarkable summer transfer window closed on Thursday with a number of new spending records set - including the most expensive ever deadline-day signing in Manchester United's £82m purchase of Antony.

That deal helped set a new Premier League spending record of about £1.9bn - smashing the previous record of £1.4bn in 2017 - and dwarfing the rest of Europe. Nine of the 20 top-flight clubs spent in excess of £100m as total expenditure bounced back after two seasons of Covid-impacted decline.

Other records included:

 Premier League clubs spending more than Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A and the German Bundesliga combined

 Chelsea spending more in one window than any other club in Premier League history

 Manchester United smashing their own summer spending record

 Nottingham Forest signing more players in one summer than any other British club in history

The combined outlay of the 20 clubs during the window, which was open from 10 June until 1 September, was 67% higher than the previous summer's total of £1.1bn.

According to financial services firm Deloitte, the 2022-23 season already has the highest transfer spend since the two-window season began - exceeding the previous record of £1.86bn, set in 2017-18, by 3%. And that is before the January transfer window has even opened.

A State High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Friday, discharged and acquitted a former governor of the state, Jonah Jang, of over the N6.3 billion corruption charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court presided over by Justice Christy Dabup also discharged and acquitted a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Yusuf Pam, who was accused alongside the former governor.

Jang had in March 2021 appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to pardon another ex-Governor of Plateau, Joshua Dariye; a former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame.

The Council of State led by the President subsequently in April 2022 approved the pardon of 159 convicts including Dariye and Nyame.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the people of Okigwe Zone have unanimously called on Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu to run for Governor, describing him as the only one that can liberate and salvage Imo state from its current challenges.

Similarly, the leadership of Mbaitoli Young Leaders led by, Sir Prince Gerry Amajionyi have join hands with Imo people to persuade the PDP National Secretary to accept the call to run for the number one seat in the state come 2023.

The call was made weekend by both groups in Owerri, the capital of Imo state.

Speaking separately on behalf of the three blocs in Okigwe Zone, Chief Max Ikeokwu (Ota Nchara N’ota Nzu bloc), Engr Paschal Ibekwe (Mbano bloc), and Hon Basil Okewulonu (Etiti bloc) said that the visit was to appeal to Senator Anyanwu to join the 2023 Governorship race.

According to them, “while Okigwe Zone had waited patiently for a good leader to rescue the state, it is now obvious that our people can go home and sleep having identified the man with the magic wand to salvage the state from maladministration, insecurity and economic setbacks”

Leader of the delegation, Chief Ben Duru who is the Deputy Director, Divine Mandate Movement (Okigwe Zone) said, their support to Senator Anyanwu became necessary after one of their sons, Hon Ngozi Ogbu was appointed the Director General of the movement.

Chief Duru expressed the readiness of Okigwe Zone to support their Owerri Zone counterparts to grab the Governorship seat, only if a credible candidate like Senator Anyanwu could be presented to them.

On his part, President of Mbaitoli Young Leaders, Sir Amajionyi said that their priority was to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and any capable person to develop the state.

He said, “The establishment of Mbaitoli Young Leaders is to galvanize support for PDP and bring all leaders in the LGA together for a common goal. We shall do everything possible to realize this divine project staring at us.” 

Responding, Senator Anyanwu commended them for the genuine support, recalling how Okigwe Zone had demonstrated sincere love for him.

Anyanwu said that the call on him to run for the number one position in the state was surprising owing to the fact that the delegation was filled with known political leaders in Okigwe Zone, who have made verifiable impacts in the society.

According to, “If it is your sincere wish that I join in the Imo Governorship race; I want to plead with you to give me sometime to conclude consultations, after which, I shall notify you”

“No doubt, am capable for any position in Nigeria, but one thing I promise you is that if finally, I accept your calls and subsequently becomes the Governor of Imo State; I will make sure that the Government House is decentralized. By this, I mean that there should be government liaison offices in Okigwe and Orlu Zone in order to bring government closer to the people”

Anyanwu cried over the level of insecurity in Okigwe and Orlu zones as well as lack of feasible development, saying that he would do his best if God appoints him the Samuel for the state.

He therefore charged them to remain firm with the PDP, and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to change the old political narratives in the state.

...... HOW HIS GREED, SELFISHNESS, VINDICTIVENESS FORCED MBAISE LEADERS OUT OF PDP

- Nze Iweajunwa Emmanuel, Owerri.

While leaders across other zones in the state strive to work with their brothers and sisters to achieve a common goal, Chief Emeka Ihedioha is busy chasing away his brothers and sisters out of PDP, only to satisfy his greed, selfishness and ego.

Reason, be that he wants to be the only cock that crows in the entire Mbaise nation. In the whole Imo state, Mbaise nation alone parades the highest number of graduates, Catholic/Anglican Priests, and Professors etc; but a mere OND/B.Sc holder like Ihedioha, is holding Mbaise on the jugular. His actions have created division and disunity in the clan.

 It is on record that each time an Mbaise son or daughter expresses interest in any elective position particularly, senatorial or Governorship ambition, Ihedioha views such project as a threat to his political future. 

He devises every means within his reach to frustrate such ambition. Ihedioha, a son of a retired teacher who is expected to be humble and at peace with all that comes around him but the reverse is the case.

The list of Mbaise leaders he has selfishly and wickedly trampled upon out of PDP is countless but for the purpose of the piece will be limited to: 

1. Chief Alex Obi (Mbaise)

2. Sen Bright Nwanne (Mbaise)

3. Hon Okey Eze (Mbaise)

4. Hon Stanley Amuchie (Mbaise)

5. Sen Chris Anyanwu (Mbaise)

6. Chief Frank Nneji (Mbaise)

7. Late Engr Emma Ojinere (Mbaise)

8. Chief Chidi Ibe (Mbaise)

9. Hon Nnanna Igbokwe (Mbaise)

10.  Dr Iheanyi Nwachukwu (Mbaise)

11. Hon Chidi Waturuocha (Mbaise)

HABA! 

How long shall we continue to watch Ihedioha destroy Mbaise nation and the PDP?

> Nze Iweajunwa writes from Oboama, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State

- Persuades Assembly Aspirant To Withdraw Case From Court 

Peace is fast returning to the embattled Aboh Mbaise PDP, with the withdrawal of the contentious suit instituted by Barr. Gozie Nwachukwu against the nomination of Ezinwa Ugochukwu Amuchie challanging the ill-fated State Assembly primaries for Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, conducted on the 26th of May, 2022.

Our source revealed that normalcy returned after the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu intervened.

Sen Anyanwu, popularly known as SamDaddy was said to have started reaching out to Aspirants still aggrieved over the outcome of the party’s primaries few months ago to bring lasting solution to all lingering disputes

In a telephone chat with our political correspondent, Barr. Gozie Nwachukwu confirmed that the National Secretary of PDP, Senator Anyanwu pleaded with him to withdraw the suit against the party's candidate in the interest of peace and reconciliation.

According to Barr Nwachukwu, the National Secretary told him that the party needed to reconcile everyone after the primaries, noting that series of litigations plaguing the just concluded primaries of PDP in the state should be settle out of court.

He said, “I saw reason to withdraw the suit because the passion and sincerity of purpose in the PDP National Secretary to bring peace in my LGA even when he is from Ikeduru must be appreciated. This is a sacrifice every genuine party member should make, in line with our party's vision to rescue Nigeria”

Barr. Nwachukwu further maintained that such passionate plea and entreaty to him by the National Secretary has led him unconditionally to withdraw the suit, adding that if the case was allowed to continue, it was capable of denying PDP the opportunity to present a candidate in the 2023 elections for Aboh Mbaise.

He enjoined other leaders to emulate the reconciliatory posture of the party's National scribe.