IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Some flights were affected on Monday when members of the National Association of Nigerian Students blocked a section of the access road to the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.

It was gathered that the protesting students carried placards having various inscriptions as they used vehicles to block inbound and outbound traffic from the Ajao to Hajj Camp area of the airport road.

The aggrieved varsity students protesting the seven-month industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities blocked the road around 8 am till press time at 4 pm, a situation that caused gridlock along the axis as the vehicular movement in and out of the airport was stalled.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says Nigeria may be headed for the rocks over the disregard for rule of law. He stated this in Abuja on Friday during the launch of the book, ‘Legal Paradigm in Nigeria: A New Direction in the Study of Law and Practice,’ in honour of retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Abdul Aboki.

According to the governor, Nigeria and its democracy can only survive if the judicial system is strong and alive. “The Federal Government continues to undermine the rule of law, while political parties and party leaders continue to exhibit utter arrogance and disdain for the electoral laws and the democratic process in their actions and conduct,” the governor was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.

“With cries of injustices, discrimination and inequities everywhere and with the rising instability and deterioration of law and order, only the undiscerning would believe that Nigeria is not headed for the hard rocks.” While blaming ineffective judicial performance on the lack of character, courage, and decency of some judges to live up to their oaths in the discharge of their functions, Wike said democracy and the rule of law are under constant threat, hence, the judiciary must be alive to its responsibilities.

“The judiciary dies where it lies comatose and removed from the aspirations of the citizens for good governance, the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights and the guarantee of free and fair elections.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State on Saturday said he never ordered the disruption of a solidarity rally by supporters of Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, in Abakaliki, the state capital, in South-East Nigeria.

Umahi’s Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Chooks Oko, made this known in a statement hours after policemen tear-gassed Obi’s supporters at a rally in the state.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will represent Nigeria on Monday at the State funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll of the United Kingdom, his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said in a statement on Saturday.

“Prof. Osinbajo departs Abuja today and will join members of the Royal Family, world leaders – including members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families – at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday,” the statement partly read.

The Nigerian Vice President will be received by King Charles lll and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace on Sunday. Osinbajo, who will also hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, is scheduled to return to Nigeria on Monday.

Queen Elizabeth ll who was the Head of the Commonwealth and the longest serving British monarch, passed on at 96 on September 8, 2022 at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, will depart Abuja on Sunday, September 18, for New York in the United States to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

This year’s UNGA with the theme, ‘A watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges’ will feature discussions on the Russia-Ukraine war, energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special Transforming Education Summit. Buhari will take his turn to deliver the National Statement on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, September 21.

“Aside his Statement, the President will also participate in High Level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU); Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP) Framework: A practical approach to sustainable durable solutions to ensure no one is left behind, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCC-NEPAD Programme on combating Illicit Financial Flows.

“President Buhari will also hold strategic bilateral meetings with World Leaders, renowned investors and heads of multinational organisations while in New York,” Adesina said. On the entourage of the President, who is expected back in the country on September 26, are some governors, ministers and top government officials.

- say, ' you all will retain your positions in my cabinet if elected as governor'

....  appoints Bon Unachukwu to lead campaign

Former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has pleaded with his appointees who served in his short-lived seven months administration as governor of Imo State to support him realise his 'lifetime ambition' of becoming governor in 2024.

Ihedioha made the plea during a consultative meeting with his aides.

He asked his aides to back his ambition since he won't be running for the party's governorship ticket as a sole candidate.

" The party's governorship primaries is coming. Our party's Ad-hoc delegates election is near. I need the guber ticket of our party.

 I can't achieve it by sitting at home. I believe, jointly, we can do it. I can't achieve this alone with the support of the state working committee of our party.

 I hope you can back me successfully for the aspiration of my lifetime ambition," he said. "Going by the counsel of the wise that says, "If you want to go fast, do it alone.

 If you want to go faster, go together.' You all benefitted during my short-lived administration and eventually when I emerge, you will all retain your same positions in my cabinet, he said. Ihedioha went further to appoint Sir Bon Unachukwu who served as Commissioner for Lands in his cabinet to lead the campaign.

It was learnt that the appointees of Ihedioha through its leader Sir Bon Unachukwu adopted a name ' Ihedioha Reelection Movement (IRM) as a platform in realisation of the governorship ambition of Chief Emeka Ihedioha.

 Report has it that the pro- Ihedioha volunteer political group kick started it's LGA tour on Wednesday with Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA at the residence of Chief Magnus Chilaka where they inaugurated  it's team both in the polling units, wards and LGA. Same was replicated  in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA at the residence of Chief Ugwuibe in Ogbe Ahiara, Chief Mike Ahamba's home in Lorji for Aboh Mbaise and Chief Emma Nwaoegu's residence in Amafor Imerienwe for Ngor Okpala LGA.

It also was gathered that the leader of the political group, Unachukwu disclosed that the Ihedioha Reelection Movement is a self funded body by aides of the former deputy speaker who benefitted from his short-lived seven months administration.

Meanwhile, political pundits in the state have opined Ihedioha's Reelection Movement as 'dead on arrival' some are of the view that he should pursue entirely a different political ambition and not governorship since the elective position has eluded him for two consecutive periods after clinching the party's governorship ticket both in 2014 and 2018, the party will be viewed as his personal business or enterprise, they said.