IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

At least six people have been killed in a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Tse Ugema Chul, Mbakesa community, Ugbaam in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack occurred on Saturday night, forcing many residents to flee the area.

A local source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that seven bodies had been recovered, while several others remain missing.

It was gathered that the violence erupted after local youths mobilized to chase away cattle that had strayed onto their farmlands, destroying crops.

The source explained, “As the youths attempted to drive out the cattle, gunmen who had been waiting in ambush opened fire, killing some of them. So far, six bodies have been recovered.”

After the killings, the attackers reportedly looted farm produce and destroyed properties in the community.

One of the victims, Michael Adeke, had recently posted on Facebook about repeated attacks in the area by armed herders, calling on residents to defend themselves.

The Chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr. Jonathan Modi, who visited the scene, confirmed the attack, stating, “I am in Zaki Biam right now, and I am deeply pained by what happened. I cannot speak at the moment.”

However, the Benue State Police Command Spokesperson, CSP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive an official briefing on the incident. 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, lived a worthy life, describing his death as a monumental loss to Nigeria. Atiku said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Yoruba leader on Sunday with his entourage.

“It is quite true that this house has hosted me a couple of times. What did I take away from this house? The virtues that Pa Adebanjo lived and preached throughout his life,” Atiku said. He added, “So, it is a matter of honor, respect that after his demise we should come and pay respect to his life, his works, his contributions to the unity and peaceful coexistence of this country.

“His loss is a monumental loss to the immediate family and to those of us who have admired him and tried to emulate his ways of life and his belief in the unity of this country. “Therefore, it is my singular honour and privilege to identify with his immediate family in this grave and irreparable loss which has affected the family. “We all have to go one day but with some God, he lived a worthy life and a life that can rarely be compared to so many people.

“Therefore, on behalf of the very short entourage that has accompanied me here, we are here to condone the family to let you know that we share your loss because he was also a father to us.

“He was a father, he was an adviser, he was a guide in what we have set to do for this country, and he has always made sure that he told us the truth and nothing but the truth So we will continue to honour him. What I mean by honoring him is to honor the family he left behind.” 

+ Njoku Macdonald Obinna 

Owerri, Imo State.

Media propaganda has been a veritable tool adopted by most politicians who use both hack writers and paid media herlings to influence public perception and opinion; which, if not thoroughly checkmated and tackled headon, may heat up the polity, incite people against themselves, deepen misunderstanding, and inspire anarchy.

Reading through a hurriedly - written response by a certain Prof. Mark Anyanwu, whose claims to be a lecturer at the Bowen University-Iwo is still in doubt, against Dr. Chima Amadi (Mazi Gburugburu) ; rave of the moment and the new conservation of Imo politics: my attention, was once again, drawn to yet another fictious, invented fiction, and politically sponsored story by one Ikecukwu Iwuagwu; with the caption: `` Exposing Chima Amadi: The Billionaire Without A Traceable Source Of Income``, making it the 14th sponsored stories in the last four days cooked up against one man whose only crime is showing interest in running for Imo topmost governorship seat through the activities of The Mazi Organization (TMO); a fast growing socio-political movement that serves as a catalyst for sensitization, humanitrian outreach, advocacy for good governance, and also a launch pad for his guber project.

While many erroneously think he is a political neophyte and Jonny Just Come (JJC); Dr. Chima Mathew Amadi has come a long way in the private sector; a silent achiever, a dangerous giver without noise, a powerful bridge builder, a renowed scholar of international repute, respected community leader, and uncommon philantropist who doesn't play to the gallery, or make boast about his achievements but keeps leveraging his rich contacts within the corridors of power and across government's institutions to assist the key political players in Imo and beyond. 

To those who have known him in the last 20 years and still counting; they can confidently tell you of a workaholic , consistent, dogged, and result -oriented business maverick and serial entrepreneur who started his life's trajectory as a major dealer of staple food supply -chain from the North where he would buy these products direct from farms in large quantities, load them in about five heavy duty lorries , transport them to Abuja, before wholesalers would gather to purchase these farm produce. Without Chima Amadi most families may not eat stock fish (okporoko). This is one of the few shocking surprises to those who are questioning his source of wealth as this man has been a major importer of stockfish in Nigeria. This claim is verifiable.

While others were grossly involved in party politics and contracts lobbying, Dr. Chima Mathew Amadi was busy building his business empire with interests spanning; agriculture, telecommunications, media, real estate, management consultancy, and finance. He also devouted ample time to rigorously pursue his academics; acquiring degrees from Nigerian Universities, in United States of America, as well as United Kingdom, which served as a fulcrum to establish one of the leading civil society and advocacy groups in Nigeria; ISDMG.

The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group, an intellectual initiative of Dr. Chima Amadi, is a Civil Society Organization birthed with the sole purpose of assisting the people in ensuring that effective service is rendered by government institutions especially those that have been mandated with specific statutory functions.

Aspiring for Imo topmost seat in government is no small feat. It demands adequate preparation, resilience, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence and leadership. Dr. Chima Amadi (Mazi Gburugburu) is quite aware of all this , and also quite aware that power would not be handed over to anyone on a platter of gold just like success, little wonder, he committed his time over the years to building his business conglomerate, expanding his network, acquiring degrees, attending leadership courses overseas, and silently empowering men in politics and entreprenurship. 

 His growing popularity in the Imo political space is not a surprise to keen observers of his journey through life and silent involvement in enthroning political leaders , especially, at the national level as he is little known back home.

To the conservative, there are lasting lessons to learn from the driving passion for service, socio-economic philosophy, leadership style and political trajectory of Dr. Chima Mathew Amadi. 

Today, he stands out as one of the frontline contenders for Douglas House ahead 2027, judging by his robust political engagements, humanitrian outreach and social activities. No sane mind would deny this even if you are not rooting for him. 

While he is dogged and courageous in any people - orinted good cause, Dr. Chima Mathew Amadi is a peerless brand of humility, integrity, financial discipline, prudence, love for the poor, honesty of purpose, candour and a patriotic fervor still uncommon in Nigeria's effervescent political horizon.

A brand , according to marketing expert and newspaper Columnist with The Punch, Azuka Onwuka, `` is the sum total of the relationships a company, product, service or even a person has with the customers``. It is not a mere living or breathing organism but an experience - a worthy one at that . And so it is with Dr. Chima Amadi. A glimpse at some of the instances when and where he had demonstrated the afforementioned leadership qualities would serve as an enduring guide. 

Dr. Chima Amadi recognizes that in every religion, including the metaphysics that the spirits are the harbingers of both fortunes and misfortunes that visit mankind , thus, he chose to toe the path of transcendental virtues of charity, honesty, humility, and passionate service to mankind: contrary to those who indulge in vices of hate, envy, anger, callousness, smear campaign of calumny, and pull him down syndrome. 

Mazi Gburugburu has made men and built powerful institutions, and through his appropriate engagements and relentless service to humanity, has also built a formidable wall of goodwill around himself. 

Let other contenders present their report cards, we are here to do justice to them! 

Njoku Macdonald Obinna`is a Media Consultant|Newspaper Columnist|Public Analyst|PR- Expert and Independent Publisher. 

Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Nigeria’s Senate President, has filed multiple lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court in Abuja, citing breach of fundamental rights and defamation over statements made by the Kogi Central senator on Arise News.  

In one of the suits, Mrs. Akpabio is seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further allegedly scandalous statements. She is also demanding N250 billion in punitive damages for the alleged infringement of her fundamental rights and an additional N1 billion in damages for the purported harm caused by the defamatory remarks.  

Another lawsuit specifically challenges Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim on Arise News that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made sexual advances toward her, arguing that the statement has damaged her reputation and that of her family.  

Mrs. Akpabio is also asking the court to order a formal retraction of the statements and an unconditional apology published in two national newspapers, including ThisDay. 

... as Onyeocha lauds Governor Uzodimma. 

The National Sports Festival Zonal Elimination for team teams have come and gone as Imo State came tops from South-East claiming Gold in male and female category in all featured sports except in football where they yielded for the silver medal. 

Some of the Imo contingents on returning from Enugu, venue for the games praised the efforts of the Honorable Commissioner for Sports Development in Imo State, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha for galvanizing support and boosting their morale before their departure to Enugu. 

According to Chibuzor, a volleyball player, "The Honorable Commissioner really tried for us. He made sure our journey to Enugu was worthwhile and we have rewarded him with Gold Medals. This is first of its kind". 

Also Obi a football player eulogized the Commissioner for his kind heartedness and described him as a Saviour of Sports in Imo state. "It has never happened before in Imo State where we go for games and return with only gold Medals. The Commissioner is God sent", he noted. 

Welcoming the Imo contingents, the Honorable Commissioner thanked them for making the state proud with their performance at Enugu and tasked them to replicate same feat during the National Sports Festival that will be holding in Ogun State in a matter of weeks. 

He appreciated the efforts and large heart of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma who he described as a Sports Ambassador who have revolutionalized Sports in the State. "The Sports loving Governor has yet again shown that sports must thrive in our state through continued support and encouragements.

It will be recalled that 5 states of the South-East participated in the games with Imo State sweeping Gold Medals in Abula, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Beach Volleyball and Volleyball except for Football (Female category) where they settled for the silver medal. 

Liverpool announced a pre-tax loss of £57 million ($72 million) for the 2023/24 season, attributing the setback to their absence from the Champions League and rising operational expenses.

Despite the loss, the club’s overall revenue increased by £20 million to £614 million, with commercial revenue surging by £36 million to £308 million. However, a £38 million drop in media revenue contributed to a second consecutive year in the red.

Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17 impacted finances, though matchday income grew by £22 million following the expansion of the Anfield Road stand. Staff costs, including wages and bonuses, rose by £13 million to £386 million, partly due to incentives for Champions League qualification and their League Cup victory in Jürgen Klopp’s final season.

Severance payments for Klopp and his coaching staff totaled £9.6 million, while the departures of high earners like Roberto Firmino, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson helped ease the wage bill. The club also invested around £150 million in new signings, including Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch.

Finance officer Jenny Beacham emphasized the club’s commitment to financial sustainability, citing the importance of increasing revenue streams to balance rising costs.

Currently, Liverpool is on track for a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title, leading the Premier League by 13 points with 10 games remaining. They are also set to face Newcastle in the League Cup final on March 16 and will play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16.