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IMO STATE GOVERNMENT

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Ohakim: Elect Uzodimma For Second Term To Guarantee Imo Charter Of Equity In Nov. 11 Guber Poll

By: Michael Mike

The former governor Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim has called on the electorate in the State to elect the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for second term in the November 11 governorship election in order to guarantee the implementation of Imo charter of equity.

Ohakim stated this on Monday in his Owerri Residence during an interaction with journalists, adding that the Imo charter of equity which started in 1998 was only truncated by 2011 by Senator Rochas Okorocha.

He maintained that it is only the incumbent governor, Uzodimma that can implement the charter to the fullest, having only one more term to complete his Constitutionally guaranteed eight years in office.

Ohakim who traced the historical background of the charter however, blamed the collapse on the lies sold to the Imo people by Okorocha that he would serve only one term as well as promoting false allegation against him of flogging a reverend father, hence the Catholics without proper investigation bought the lies which eventually truncated the charter of equity in the State.

According to the former governor, I totally agree with the elders who drafted the current charter with the proviso that its implementation will begin after the incumbent governor, Senator Uzodimma, would have completed his second term in 2028.

“Given our experience in 2003 and 2015 – forget the aberration of 2011 – we have to take into consideration the factor of a sitting governor. It is heartwarming that Governor Uzodimma is favourably disposed to the idea of returning to the charter because it will take a sitting governor to make it work; as we witnessed under Governor Achike Udenwa and as it the case in all the States around us where power sharing is working.

But if Uzodimma gets his second term through another round of scrambling for power among the three zones, it will again be ‘to your tents oh Isreal’. In other words, contrary to the thinking in some quarters that Governor Uzodimma might have engineered the new interest on the Charter,the truth is that it will be impossible to implement it without taking his interest – as an incumbent – into account,” he stressed.

On insecurity, Ohakim admitted that the situation is worrisome in the State and across the South East, but he exonerated Governor Uzodimma from the insinuations that he deliberately hoisted it in the State.

He described such notion as nonsensical even when the governor and himself had been victims of insecurity, noting that Governor Uzodimma is on top of the situation.

Ohakim maintained that verifiable statistics with the Nigeria Police does not show that Imo State has the highest number of crime in the South East.

“As a private citizen, I move around the South East and I can say without any fear of contradiction that on the matter of insecurity, our dear State, Imo, is not worse off. That does not mean that we should give any room for complacency but we should not blackmail ourselves and act in a manner that would rubbish the collective integrity of our dear State and it’s people.

“I have been personally involved in several meetings on the matter of insecurity in the South East and I know that the governors are doing quite a lot. Whether we like it or not, the matter rests squarely on the shoulders of the Federal Government; which is why I would once again restate my position that in this highly tempestuous time, we need a governor who enjoys a good rapour with the federal authorities as Governor Uzodimma does,” he stated.

Ohakim also called the youths to try as much as possible to protest the elders instead of being used as tools to destroy their future and render the society ungovernable.

IMO STATE GOVERNMENT

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US Says Latest Visa Decision Against Nigeria Unconnected to BRICS, Venezuelan Refugees

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US Says Latest Visa Decision Against Nigeria Unconnected to BRICS, Venezuelan Refugees

By: Michael Mike

The United States Mission has explained that recent reduction in visa validity for Nigerian nonimmigrant travellers is not tied to Nigeria’s position on BRICS nor the Venezuelan deportees.

US President Donald Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on “Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS”

Trump made the statement few days ago while BRICS leaders and associates
met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 2025 summit.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar had on Thursday on one of the National Televisions during his reaction to recent stringent visa regime to Nigerian travellers by the American government noted that it may be as a result of non acceptance of Venezuelan deportees, insisting that the country has trouble of its own

Tuggar said: “We already have over 230 million people,” and cannot add to our headache.

The US Mission in Abuja while clarifying the latest visa validity decision on Friday noted that the decision was rather based on a global security and technical review.

The mission in a statement on Facebook also reaffirmed its commitment to bilateral cooperation with Nigeria and expressed willingness to work with Nigerian authorities to meet the necessary criteria.

The statement read: “The U.S. Mission Nigeria wishes to address misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant U.S. visas in Nigeria and other countries. This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.

“The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.

“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations.”

US Says Latest Visa Decision Against Nigeria Unconnected to BRICS, Venezuelan Refugees

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Six community guards killed, others feared abducted in Zamfara bandit attack

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Six community guards killed, others feared abducted in Zamfara bandit attack

By: Zagazola Makama

At least six members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) in Zamfara State have been killed and others feared abducted following a deadly ambush by armed bandits in Bungudu Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama report that the attack occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday as the CPG members were travelling from Bungudu to Yar Katsina in Kekun Waje District to condole with the family of one of their colleagues who was killed by suspected bandits a day earlier.

According to sources, the group was ambushed along the route by heavily armed attackers who opened fire on them, killing six CPG personnel on the spot.

The assailants also reportedly made away with several pump-action rifles belonging to the victims and one motorcycle.

Shortly after the incident troops of Operation FANSAR, were deployed to the scene. However, the attackers had already fled into the bush before their arrival.

The remains of the slain guards have been transported to Bungudu Town for burial rites, while efforts are underway to trace and rescue other victims suspected to have been abducted during the attack.

Six community guards killed, others feared abducted in Zamfara bandit attack

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Suspected gunman dies after clash with police in Kogi, officer injured

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Suspected gunman dies after clash with police in Kogi, officer injured

By: Zagazola Makama

A suspect linked to unlawful possession of firearms has died following a violent clash between his gang and police operatives in Idah, Kogi State.

The incident began on July 8, when detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lokoja visited Aija area in Idah to arrest the suspect, simply identified as Enemi. Upon sighting the police, the suspect reportedly fled by jumping over the fence of his residence and had remained at large.

However, on July 10, fresh intelligence on his whereabouts prompted the Divisional Police Officer in Idah to mobilize a team of operatives, led by Inspector Ojumu Rokan, to effect his arrest.

While attempting to apprehend him, the team came under sudden attack from members of the suspect’s gang, who allegedly tried to disarm and mob the officers.

In the process, the suspect was shot in the leg while trying to escape, but was quickly whisked away from the scene by his accomplices.

During the confrontation, a police officer, PC Usman Kebiru of the Area Command, Idah, sustained multiple injuries after being attacked with machetes, cutlasses, and stones.

He was rushed to the General Hospital in Idah for treatment.

Subsequent reports reaching the division later confirmed that the injured suspect died at his family residence in Idah.

Security across the area has since been heightened, with all formations placed on red alert. Intensive patrols are ongoing to prevent further unrest and track down members of the fleeing gang.

Suspected gunman dies after clash with police in Kogi, officer injured

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