IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

BY CAJETAN DUKE 

Effective leadership is crucial for development of a state or country as it provides vision, direction, motivation, and the ability to navigate challenges, ultimately driving innovation, growth and resilience. 

Effective leadership must be purposeful, courageous, altruistic people and result-oriented.

A comparative analysis of the immediate post Independence Southeastern region under the leadership of late Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara and the present Southeast will show a yawning gap in terms of socio-economic development between the two despite the huge resources available to the present crop of leaders. The Southeast region then comprising of Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa-Ibom in addition to the present Southeastern region was one of the fastest growing economies in the world and on similar footing with or even better than Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore etc

That was when the region had purposeful and determined leaders, who were driven by an altruistic desire to serve the people objectively by using the available resources to develop the region for the good of all.

The late Sam Mbakwe PhD, was also part of that generation and understandably equally did very well, but unfortunately the Abacha coup of 1983 put a spanner in the works.

With the return to democracy in 1999, the optimism was that the military, which was then seen as an aberration with their despotic rule will now focus on their constitutional duties while allowing the civilians to govern the country and the states.

Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case as many Nigerians are now relishing the period of military rule especially as it concerns their economic well-being.

With particular reference to Imo State, we have seen promises upon promises that were never fulfilled by successive administrations. We have equally seen white elephant projects, abuse of office, financial profligacy, half-truths, balkanization and sectionalization of leadership. Indeed, It has been a sorry story, tale of woes and dismal performance vis-a-vis the stupendous amount of money received every fiscal year.

It is against this backdrop, that Dr Chima Amadi - the son of God Almighty with a track record of effective and productive leadership both IN business and human resources management is here to liberate Imo State.

Dr Amadi is coming like late iconic Dee Sam Mbakwe. He is coming like the Moses of our time to lead Imo into the Promised Land to ensure guaranteed prosperity.

According to him, "Enough is enough. I am ready to serve sacrificially." He said: "Imo deserves something better, AND The world will hear while Imo people and residents will rejoice and sing praises to God Almighty because finally a liberator and liberation has come and Imo will be free from economic subjugation, ineffective leadership, and mismanagement of resources. Imo must be set free from the clutches of mediocre leadership as intellectually average men, will no longer govern Imo State."

Dr Chima Amadi, is a good man. His beards are rich beards of wisdom and success. He is an upright man with strong character, charisma, candour, strength and immense resources at his disposal.

He is coming to reconnect the lost glory of Imo State AND to put smiles on the faces of Imo people.

He is coming to enlarge the coast of Imo State, to break barriers of inefficiency, ineptitude in governance, backwardness and unproductive style with a new set of leaders that mean well for Imo State.

The question is are we as a people ready for this beautiful gift from God Almighty and wonderful opportunity to take our destiny in our own hands?

Are we as a people ready to embrace change?

The momentum is tremendous, The Mazi Organization, TMO, is on the move and millions of Imo people are happily joining the train. However, the old established forces are jittery and understandably so. We know their fears and it is natural but the bad forces can't stop the hand of God.

Dr Chima Amadi is coming and he is unstoppable.

Duke writes from the ancient community of Nguru Umuaro, in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State. 

In a landmark ruling on Monday, March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed appeals filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly against the leave granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Court of Appeal to contest an order of perpetual injunction of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt that barred the Commission from investigating Dr. Peter Odili's tenure as governor of the state.

The dismissal by a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Okoro effectively cleared the pathway for the Commission to investigate Dr. Odili’s eight year rule of the oil-rich state and brought to an end EFCC’s long-standing legal battle to probe the administration.

The legal dispute took off in 2007 when Odili, who served as Rivers State governor from 1999 to 2007, obtained an order of perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt barring the EFCC from investigating, arresting, or prosecuting Odili, as well as prohibiting the anti-graft agency from examining the finances of the Rivers State Government during his tenure. Though the EFCC has contested the injunction since 2008, the order has effectively shielded Odili from any scrutiny by the Commission for nearly two decades.

In 2018, the Court of Appeal granted the EFCC’s request for leave to appeal the Federal High Court’s decision, which prompted the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly to file separate appeals at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision.

On March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court convened to hear the appeal filed by the litigants, marked SC/CV/318/2018. During the proceedings, Justice Okoro questioned the substance of the case, noting that the appeal was interlocutory in nature. The litigants’s lawyer, S. A. Somiari, SAN, argued that the appeal challenged the leave granted by the Court of Appeal for the EFCC to appeal the 2007 injunction. Justice Okoro, however, interjected, stating, “This is not the type of appeal we hear here,” and advised the parties to return to the Court of Appeal to have the substantive appeal heard before approaching the Supreme Court.

Recognizing the court’s position, Somiari applied to withdraw the appeal while the EFCC’s legal team, led by Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, alongside Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, and B. O. Obialo did not oppose the withdrawal.

Justice Okoro dismissed the appeal, stating, “The appeal is dismissed, having been withdrawn without any objection.”

A similar appeal, marked SC/CV/447/2018, filed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly was dismissed on the same ground.

Legs taut, backs bent at the waist, the wrestlers slowly stretched out their arms towards each other, searching for a grip while trying to avoid becoming exposed themselves.

In a flash it was all over — a tangle of grappling, pushing and jostling that ended with the Beninese fighter tossed to the ground by her Nigerian counterpart, the soft sand surface spraying out beneath her. Traditional West African wrestling — and the gargantuan, sometimes sumo-like men who step into the ring — captivates audiences across the region, from stadiums in Senegal to desert villages in Niger.

This month’s ECOWAS wrestling tournament, however, marked the first time that the annual showdown featured a women’s division, drawing competitors from across the regional bloc to the Nigerian capital Abuja. “Women know how to fight. We just had to be given a chance,” 33-year-old Ivorian fighter Celine Bakayoko told AFP from the sidelines.

She only started competing professionally in 2019, but she said she grew up wrestling with her friends, adding that “for us, it’s not a sport, it’s an innate practice.” “They look serious, they don’t look like they’re just coming here to fill a gap,” spectator Yussuff Fashola said. 

The Secretary to the Government of Rivers State (SSG), Dr Tammy Danagogo, has cautioned that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s calm and peaceful approach to governance should not be mistaken for weakness. He warned amid criticism from opponents of the Governor, especially the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Opponents had criticised Danagogo’s role in Fubara’s administration, particularly his decision to sign the letter inviting lawmakers for a meeting with the Governor.

Wike had described Danagogo’s letter as “useless”.

Speaking with journalists during the commissioning of Okrika Grammar School in Okrika, Dr Danagogo argued that there was nothing wrong with the SSG writing a letter for an informal meeting. He clarified that such communication was within his official responsibilities and not an overreach of his position. Danagogo, a lawyer from the Kalabari region, who also served as SSG during Wike’s second tenure as Governor, noted that he carried out similar duties under the former administration.

He emphasised that his response was not driven by political sentiment but by the need to set the record straight and counter misrepresentations. Danagogo commended the Governor for his restraint in the face of provocation, particularly the recent incident where the state assembly complex was locked, preventing him from presenting the budget. He remarked that some past governors in similar situations might have resorted to drastic measures, but Fubara chose to maintain order.

He further assured Rivers people that the state government remains committed to their welfare and economic stability. According to him, Governor Fubara’s reluctance to escalate tensions is rooted in his desire to avoid policies that could impoverish citizens. 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he expected Chelsea to be "contenders" to win the Premier League this season. The teams meet at Emirates Stadium on Sunday (13:30 GMT) with the Gunners currently second in the table and the Blues six points behind them in fourth.

However, the prospect of either catching runaway leaders Liverpool, who are 15 points clear at the top having played a game more, appears remote. The realistic aim now for Arsenal and Chelsea appears to be ensuring their place in next season's Champions League, with fifth spot now looking likely to be sufficient. The Gunners will also face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition this season.

But Arteta suggested he had anticipated greater things from Chelsea under Enzo Maresca this term. "From the moment I watched them play in pre-season, understanding how Enzo works and the talent they have in the squad, they were contenders to even win it from the beginning," said the Spaniard.

"They have so much there. The moment that everything lies together and they find that connection, energy and consistency, I think they can compete with any team." 

President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s economic reforms, stating that they were necessary to safeguard the country’s future.

According to a statement from his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of his former National Assembly colleagues from the aborted Third Republic, where he represented Lagos West as a senator.

He criticized past economic policies, noting that for decades, Nigeria spent beyond its means, using resources meant for future generations and subsidizing fuel across the West African subregion. He stressed that such practices made it difficult to plan for Nigeria’s future.

Reflecting on the challenges his administration faced upon taking office, Tinubu expressed gratitude for the delegation’s support in tackling economic and social difficulties.

“We encountered serious obstacles when I assumed office—very tough times. Without the actions we took, Nigeria would have been bankrupt, and we had to act to prevent economic collapse,” he stated.

He assured Nigerians that his administration had laid a solid foundation, pointing to the stabilizing exchange rate and declining food prices, especially during Ramadan, as signs of progress.

Reaffirming his commitment to democratic governance, Tinubu emphasized that democracy remains the best path for economic, social, and political development.

“I appreciate your unwavering belief in democracy. Some leaders failed along the way, but we remained committed to democratic ideals, freedom, and the right to aspire to the highest office in the land. I am a beneficiary of that commitment,” he added.