IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Hassan Abubakar has approved the redeployment of 98 officers of air rank. Prominent among the new appointees are Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service Establishments, and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) institutions, according to a statement by NAF spokesperson, AK Famuyiwa.

The newly appointed senior officers are expected to assume office not later than Monday, July 3, 2023. The newly reappointed senior officers comprise 52 AVMs and 46 Air Commodores (Air Cdres), among whom are the former Commandant Air Force War College (AWC), AVM Abraham Adole now the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP) at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ); while AVM Nkem Aguiyi takes over as the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI) at the DHQ; and AVM Ahmed Shinkafi becomes the Chief of Defence Space Administration (CDSA).

At the NAF Headquarters (HQ NAF), former Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command (AOC GTC), AVM Sayo Olatunde is now the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP); AVM Ibikunle Daramola remains the Chief of Communications Information Systems (CCIS); AVM Pius Oahimire appointed the Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CAcE), HQ NAF; while AVM Uchechi Nwagwu takes over as the Chief of Accounts and Budget (CAB). Others include former AOC Special Operations Command (SOC) Bauchi, AVM Abubakar Abdulkadir now the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP); AVM Dominic Danat as the Chief of Logistics (CLOG); AVM Ahmed Bakari as Air Secretary; AVM Michael Onyebashi as Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), HQ NAF; AVM Idi Sani as Chief of Administration (COA); AVM Anthony Ekpe retains his appointment as the Chief of Medical Services (CMS); while Air Cdre Friday Ogohi is now the Chief of Air Intelligence (CAI), HQ NAF.

The newly appointed commandants include AVM Adeniyi Amesinlola who now heads the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC), Oshodi; AVM Hassan Alhaji takes charge of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji; AVM Sani Rabe heads the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna; AVM Adebayo Kehinde takes over command of the Air Force War College, Makurdi; while AVM Esen Efanga is Commandant Air Warfare Centre, Abuja.

Also affected by the latest redeployments are AVM Francis Edosa appointed the AOC Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Makurdi; AVM Tajudeen Yusuf as AOC Mobility Command (AOC MC), Yenagoa; AVM Eneobong Effiom as AOC SOC, Bauchi; AVM Nnamdi Ananaba as AOC Air Training Command (AOC ATC), Kaduna; AVM Usman Abdullahi as AOC GTC, Enugu; and AVM Abubakar Abdullahi as AOC Logistics Command (AOC LC).

The European Union Election Observation Mission, on Tuesday, presented final report on the 2023 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC made this known in a tweet on its Twitter handle on Tuesday.

According to the Tweet, the EU Mission was received by the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and the National Commissioners of the electoral body. “The European Union Election Observation Mission, today, presented its final report on the 2023 general elections to the commission. “INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and National Commissioners were on hand to receive the visitors,” the INEC tweet read.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) today presented its final Report on the 2023 General Election to the Commission. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and National Commissioners were on hand to receive the visitors.

The EU Election Observation Mission was deployed by the European Union upon an invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Millions of Muslim faithful in Nigeria on Wednesday joined hundreds of millions more across the globe in celebration of Eid-el-Kabir. The annual festival, also referred to as Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca by countless devotees from around the world.

It is usually celebrated with prayers offered on the Eid ground, followed by the slaughter of goats, sheep and cattle in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to Allah.

Following his return to Nigeria from London on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to join fellow Muslim faithful for the Eid prayers at the Obalende Eid Prayer Ground, located at Dodan Barracks, the former seat of the Nigerian government.

According to a statement by the President, Eid-el-Kabir comes as the end of religious activities spanning the first 10 days of the Islamic Month of Dhul Hijjah, enjoining Muslims to show mercy and compassion to fellow humans.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (BAT) is one of Nigeria’s most visionary, astute and strategic politicians. A man who dream dreams and works painstakingly to realize them. A man who garners men of intellect around him to assist him achieve his goal.

Born (officially) on the 29th of March, 1952, after an illustrious career in the private sector that saw him working for top blue chip firms including, Arthur Anderson, Deloitte and GTE and then Mobil Oil Producing as an Accountant. He joined partisan politics and was elected a Senator in 1992 under the Social Democratic Party, SDP. 

In 1983, MKO Abiola (the presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential election) had his "victory” cut short by the military junta led by late Gen. Sani Abacha, forcing Tinubu and others to flee Nigeria in 1994 to form and fund NADECO (National Democratic Coalition), a pro-democracy group that fought against the military for the restoration of democracy.  The fast thinking Tinubu immediately the transition was announced by Gen. Abubakar, returned home in 1998 with the impending exit of the military unlike most other activists and seeking to be and was elected as a two term Governor of Lagos State. As Governor of Lagos state under the Alliance for Democracy, AD, Tinubu survived the guile and trickery of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo who sought an alliance with the South West. While PDP made a clean sweep of the zone, Tinubu alone stood tall. Also, despite his struggle with the Obasanjo led Federal Government, Tinubu performed wonderfully well and changed the face of Lagos State with landmark achievements in all sectors of the state.

In 2006, Tinubu’s quest to be President resonated and commenced in earnest. He dangled the Presidential ticket of AD before Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the then Vice President of Nigeria with a plan to be his running mate. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar accepted the offer but chose Senator Ben Obi as his running mate but, regrettably, he lost to the PDP. 

In 2009, BAT returned to his political chess board planning a Mega Party to challenge PDP. In February 2013, Tinubu was top on the list of several prominent politicians who formed a "mega opposition" party with the coalition of Nigeria's three biggest opposition parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the new PDP (nPDP), a faction of the then-ruling People's Democratic Party into the All Progressives Congress. He again dangled the ticket of the new party this time to General  Mohammadu Buhari (Rtd) to also be his running mate but this dream was aborted when the fear of a Muslim-Muslim ticket made PMB pick Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, a protégé of BAT. They both won the 2015 presidential election . Again in 2019, BAT supported PMB and his deputy to get re-elected and patiently bid his time. He threw his support 100 percent behind the PMB led government in spite of provocations from several quarters, BAT remained focused.

In June 2023 at Abeokuta, while addressing his people from the South West after declaring his interest in presidential election, BAT spoke in his native tongue declaring it is "his turn” (emi lokan) to be President. That declaration drew mixed reactions of support and condemnation but it was the audacity of a dreamer and his dream. A focused man and his life long ambition. Of a politician and his quest for public office. Of a strategist and his strategy. Of a player with his eyes focused on the ball. For a very long time, Nigeria has be led by reluctant leaders. President Shagari wanted to be a Senator, Jonathan was happy as governor, Obasanjo asked how many presidents they wanted to make of him. Buhari was satisfied tending to his cows. Those who really aspired never got it. Late MKO Abiola, late sage, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, late Pa Awolowo etc. 

Today, the 29th day of May, 2023, the dreamer President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has realized his life long ambition. He is worthy of being studied and emulated. It is the stuff that focused and ambitious men are made of.  

As President of our dear nation, we are obliged to pray and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  even while his victory is under judicial scrutiny. We must allow the judiciary do their job. Nigeria must prevail.

Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I doff my hat for you and the audacity of your dream. 

Long live Mr President  

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Ik Ogbonna, fcai, anipr is an Owerri-based journalist and PR/Media Consultant

ikogbonna@gmail.com. +2348037203559

IMO has found their servant ruler as Hon. Uche Ben Odunzeh declare to put smile to Ndi-Imo as Guber candidate of NNPP.

The party Chairman officially handed over the party flag today at the Party Secretariat in Owerri the imo state capital.

Hon. Chief Uche Ben Odunzeh was  today officially announced as the governorship candidate of NNPP, he expressed joy and happiness with optimisim to change Imo state for better state come 11th Nov, 2023.

Today 22nd of May, 2023, the National Executives of the and State Executives of NNPP including INEC observed the Substitution exercise as Hon. Uche Odunzeh emerged the governorship candidate come 11th November governorship election of Imo state.

In his speech,  the NNPP candidate, Hon. Uche Ben Odunzeh promised to eradicate poverty with the provisions of making jobs available to the young graduates including skills and professional programs for our youths, he assured Imolites of better days ahead as insecurity shall be his priority in One hundred days in office if elected, he further told Ndi-Imo, that the problem of Imo state is leadership problem and egocentric problem, therefore with NNPP as an umbrella and solution is here, with my economic experiences, Imo must smile again, in terms of SECURITY, CONDUCIVE ALMOSTPHERE where investors will troop into Imo state for industrialization and commercialisation.

Hon. Chief Ben Odunzeh promised to industrialize each local government areas like Late Barr. Samuel Mbakwe, he promised to bring the government closer to the people, he explained reasons behind the bottleneck and assured Imo state solutions to the bewildered condition now. In furtherance to that he call on Ndi Imo to vote NNPP and enjoy forever.

Isiala Mbano Youth Assembly endorse Imo Governor For Second Tenure in 2023.

Rising from a general meeting held at Nkwo Mbaa, on 25 April, 2023, where the Isiala Mbano Youth Assembly endorsed the people's Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma to go back and complete the good work he has started in Imo State because of Hon. Ruby Emele who has taken it upon herself to carter and accommodate the youths of the area irrespective of political party affiliation and family background.

 The youths made the following statements:

1. We have come together under one strong and united umbrella to be the voice of the people of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

2. We want to reassure the Amazon of our time and the performing Honorable commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs in the state that we have adopted the Governor Hope Uzodimma as our sole candidate in the 2023 Governorship election in Imo State to continue the good work.

3.We have seen that Governor Hope Uzodimma is the most qualified to govern the state again considering his overwhelming performance in his first tenure.

4. We want our people to know that the Governor is the best amongst all the candidates jostling to govern the state in 2023..

5. We want our people to understand that any other person aside the Governor will be a green horn who will need time to understand the job.

6.We have taken notice of the superlative performance of the Governor in the whole of the three senatorial zones in the state especially the reconstruction of the federal roads in Owerri/Orlu road, Owerri/Okigwe road and that of the Owerri/Mbaise/Umuahia roads respectively.

7. The Imo Governor should be accorded the necessary respect he deserves for taking the bull by the horns to stop insecurity in Imo State. 

9.It is on record that Hon. Ruby Emele has worked tirelessly with the true leaders of the party in moving APC party forward in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

10. We know that the Governor has shown his undying love and passion to Imolites, hence we shall give him our full support to build the Imo of our collective dreams.

10.We will resist youths that may wish to cause trouble in Isiala-mbano Local Government area of Imo State in the name of opposition during the general elections.

11. In view of the above, we reaffirm our full support to our highly respected leader, Governor, Hope Uzodimma and we back him for another tenure in 2023 and the Youths have put this call to practice by coming together in the interest of the people of Isiala Mbano Local Government.

13.We enjoin the entire people of Isiala Mbano comprised of indigenes and non indigenes to take note and join hands to work towards actualizing our resolutions. 

Signed:

Comrade Chukwudi Onukwuire- Osuama-Anara ward

Comrade Chima Ekejiuba - Osuowerre ward 1qq

Comrade Akachukwu Iwuagwu- Osuowerre ward 2

Comrade Chibueze Diala -Osuachara ward

Comrade Iyke Nduka-Ugiri Oka ward

Comrade Emma Uchendu - Ogbor ward

Comrade Kelechi Chukwuma- Ibeme ward

Comrade Nnamdi Njoku -Obollo ward

Comrade lKechukwu Nwaneri - Umuozu ward

Comrade Muna Odor - Amaraku ward

Comrade Onyekachi Ndukuba- Umunkwo ward

Comrade Chukwuka Ike- Amauzari ward.