* Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has called on Ndi Anambra and Nigerians in general, to use the period of Easter to show love and affection to one another. The Governor noted that the significance of Easter celebration calls for self introspection and a renewed commitment to enthroning a better society where love, tolerance, forgiveness, peace and unity will continue to reign.
* As a measure of the prudence of the present administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, the state’s Commissioner for Housing, Hon Pauli Onyeka, has told how the government drastically reduced the projected cost of the new government house and government lodge from N20b to N7.4b.
Speaking in his office in Awka, the commissioner recalled that when they came on board, it was discovered that for 32 years, Anambra had no befitting Government House and Governor’s Lodge.
* The Bishop of Aguleri Diocese, Most Rev. Denis Chidi Isizoh, has extended his solidarity to the people of Ogbunike as they cast their votes in the town union government election. Bishop Isizoh, a native of Osile Ogbunike, prayed for the people of Ogbunike to ensure that the process leading to the election is peaceful.
* The leaders of Uga community and Ekwulobia met at the Palace of the Traditional ruler of Ekwulobia, Igwe E.C Onyeneke for the first time since the unfortunate incident of the banishment of Mrs Azuka Emene, an Ekwulobia woman married to Uga town.
Mrs Emene was recently humiliated, paraded and subsequently banished from her matrimonial home on allegation of having a hand in the death of her daughter, Ogochukwu, an accusation championed by her second son,Mr Chukwunonso Emene,a local seer.
* Nigerians have been asked not to lose hope as the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, gets set to reclaim his mandate through the courts. The LP House of Assembly candidate for Anaocha 2 State Constituency in the last elections, Comrade Osita Kingsley Ozalagba, who spoke in Awka, said Obi’s known doggedness in fighting for his mandate should give hope to Nigerians.
Ozalagba who used the opportunity to wish his constituents a happy Easter Celebration, said only a person with the character of Obi could restore the hope to the country in this period of hopelessness.
* The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, COOUTH, Dr Joe Akabuike, has charged the Nigerian Youth to wake up and take back their country from those he described as the corrupt old guards. Akabuike regretted that the youths of the country were being destroyed today in the name of politics and used during elections, after which the results would be rigged by old men. He said it was even more unfortunate that those being used by the old men were unaware they were being used.
* The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, has tasked Christians nationwide and the good people of Anambra to emulate and adopt the selfless lifestyle of Christ as they join other Christians around the globe to celebrate Easter; the remembrance of the victorious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the price for the redemption of mankind. The CP sued for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians irrespective of their religious, political and socio-cultural leaning in consonance with the principles and teachings of Christ.
* The Concerned Traders of Anambra State have accused the umbrella market body in the state, the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) of failing to deliver the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidates in the last House of Assembly election.
Addressing Journalists in Onitsha, the Chairman of the group, Chief Augustine Echezona, said the poor performance of the party candidates in communities that host markets in the just concluded election was due to the failure of the President General of ASMATA, Chief Humphery Anuna, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Ezeajugh to offer traders of the State credible leadership.
* The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, says that Catholic priests are called by Christ with a duty to propagate the Gospel and win souls for God; just as they remain the spiritual leaders of the people of God. Bishop Ezeokafor also exhorted the Catholic faithful to always support their priests spiritually, physically and materially, saying that as followers of Christ, they should understand that priests are Christ’s representatives on earth and deserve to be encouraged and protected.
* Children of different age groups, ranging from one to fourteen years, not less than twenty in number, have been seen occupying some spaces under the Flyover at Aroma Junction, Awka, waving at passers-by for alms. These child-beggars who sit around, under the bridge, have been discovered to be natives of Enugu and Ebonyi States who have found a new home around the Aroma Junction Axis. The children come out for begging on daily basis, as early as 9am, till very late in the evening and do not go to school. These children are occasionally sighted handling some amounts of money realized through their begging activities. ANN recalls that the Anambra State Council of the NUJ had called on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs led by one of its Comrades, Ify Obinabo, intervened in resettling these children and their parents.
