* Anambra State governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo has said that the ongoing free Rotavirus vaccination in the state serves a great opportunity for pregnant and nursing mothers to vaccinate their infants against the deadly disease. Mrs Soludo, who stated this in Awka recently, noted that the essence of making the exercise free of charge was to take away the heavy financial burden it posed on the poor and low income families to get their kids vaccinated, as well to ensure that the child-killer virus does not hold sway in Anambra State.
* Security operatives consisting of police, soldiers, civil defence and vigilante operatives on Tuesday morning stopped the youths of Nimo community led by Mr Chigbo Aniedobe who had planned to protest over the activities of a few rich people. ANN reports that the youths had gathered to register their displeasure but were stopped by the security operatives at Oye Nimo. The sight of the fully armed security operatives numbering about 100 in number, sent fears into most members of the community. The operatives stopped them from marching round the community with their placards, insisting that they did not get clearance from the police to hold any protest. The security operatives insisted the protest should be shelved for a later date.
* Some gunmen have reportedly abducted an Anambra businessman, Mr Alexander Nwosu.
Nwosu also known as ‘Uyoo’ was said to have been abducted at his hometown in Umuchi Village, Ekwulobia, in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State on Friday, March 31 and his whereabouts are still unknown. It was gathered that the victim, who runs a petrol filling station and a hotel known as Uyo Cool Joint in the community, was abducted while he was at home with his wife and children.
* Popular Anambra cleric, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere aka Prophet Odumeje has reportedly offered to take the place of Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, in a one-on-one debate suggested by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
* The police in Anambra State recorded a breakthrough by arresting six members of a notorious criminal gang that has been terrorising the Eziowelle community and its environs for a long time. Recovered from the daredevil members of the gang were some dangerous weapons which include: three English pump action rifles which they use for their operations. It was gathered that the criminals were rounded up after the State Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, received reports about their criminal activities in the area.
* The leadership crisis over the office of the President-General of Oba Patriotic Union (OPU) in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State has divided the community into two parallel camps, a situation that has attracted state government intervention. A camp known as Concerned Citizens had insisted that a Rev Chris Emelie-led executive of the town union had expired and should give way for a fresh election. Consequently, the office of the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, our Correspondent was told, had to set up a 10-man caretaker committee whose membership was drawn from the nine villages that make up Oba community.
* The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has commiserated with the family of Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Odera), first Executive Governor of the state, who passed on April 11, 2023 at the age of 78. ANN reports that the demise of the former Governor was announced by his son, Cheta Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Esq on behalf of the family. The late Mbadinuju was the former Governor of Anambra State from May 1999 to 29 May, 2003. He was elected Governor on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.
* A public policy analyst based in Awka, Anambra State, Chima Christian, has called for multi-stakeholder audits and integrity tests on the systems and processes of Nigeria’s National Population Commission (NPC) ahead of the country’s planned census exercise scheduled for May 3 – 5, 2023. In a social media post, Christian endorsed Nigeria’s gradual migration to tech-based solutions but expressed concern about the NPC’s “digitisation” of the upcoming census exercise.
* The Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Mrs Patricia Igwebuike has restated the resolve of the Ministry to ensure safety on the roads across the state. Mrs Igwebuike who said this while speaking with newsmen in Awka, urged Ndi Anambra to observe traffic laws and regulations. The Commissioner explained that motorists should avoid indiscriminate loading and offloading of vehicles on unauthorised sections of the roads and highways.
* The Organization for Advocacy for Peace and Values Re-orientation has awarded the Anambra Head of Service (HOS), Barr. Okwy Igwegbe, with the ‘Integrity Stewardship Award’. The award presentation, which was held at the office of the Head of Service, Jerome Udorji Secretariat Complex, Awka evoked an atmosphere of true feeling of accomplishment through reward for diligence in service. Receiving the award, Barr. Igwegbe thanked the Organization for considering it important to reward people like her who believed in quietly performing their service in truth and fairness.
