The Igbo Province Executive council passes vote of no confidence on the coming Ohaneze election; advices Rivers contestant to reconsider their candidacy.

The council maintains that featuring a candidate from the south East in an election whose slot is for Rivers state damages the founding principle of Ohaneze aimed at equity and curbing over politicking hence the rotational presidency.

The council noted that while by Nigerian constitution, it may be considerate for citizenship to be affiliated to the mother’s state, however in Igboland, citizenship is patrilineal (attached to the father) and Ohaneze is going the part that will put many unique aspect of Igbo culture to a test.

The Okpara concept is strong in Igboland. It is only in few Igbo communities that a man is allowed to take up the citizenship of the mother’s community and that is usually when the bride price of the mother is not paid and even at that the said son can’t aspire for certain position in the mother’s community. Again, a candidate with strong ties with the south East will definitely have an upper hand in an election where southeast is responsible for over 80% of the voters.

The council also recognizes the right of full rivers contestants to go ahead with the election if they so desires but noted that they stand no chance against a veteran like former ISP of Nigerian police from Imo state irrespective of how one chose to look at it.

The council cautioned Ohaneze’s Ime Obi to go back to the drawing board and consult elders of AlaIgbo before taking a step that may undermine the very fabric of our culture and threaten the integrity of the institution (Oheneze) due to politics.

The institution also advised against inflammatory statements as the fragile peace in AlaIgbo needs to be preserved. For those who prefer to continue with the contest, best wishes, those who feel aggrieved may use appropriate channels to seek redress.

Unify IGBOS Now

President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with Southeast leaders in Enugu, where he announced plans to drive development in the region.

He promised to complete the Eastern Rail Line, which will connect Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

The President noted that the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the project is already done and assured that the remaining parts will be finished to improve trade and transportation.

He also pledged to support the development of the Anambra Basin, a region rich in oil and gas, with reserves estimated at 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.

Tinubu said this project would boost energy production and help industries grow.

The President spoke about the need to invest in gas infrastructure, which he sees as an important alternative to petrol.

He explained that this would strengthen Nigeria’s energy system and reduce reliance on fuel imports.

On security, Tinubu highlighted the importance of modern methods.

He praised Enugu’s CCTV systems and surveillance-equipped patrol cars, saying these are better than the outdated roadblocks still used in many places.

He assured Southeast leaders that the government would support such advanced security strategies.

Tinubu also commended Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for his efforts in building roads, schools, and a new Command-and-Control Centre.

The President promised that the federal government would continue to support these initiatives.

During the meeting, Tinubu acknowledged that some of the region’s challenges have been longstanding.

He reassured the leaders that he is committed to solving these problems and working with governors to achieve progress.

The speaker of the US House said Sunday he was pushing an “aggressive” timeframe for getting a multi-trillion-dollar bill addressing immigration, tax cuts and more to Donald Trump’s desk by April, within his first 100 days in office.

Speaker Mike Johnson and fellow congressional Republicans are eager to help the incoming president enact his campaign promises, including unprecedented border security spending, business deregulation, boosting energy production and raising the US debt ceiling.

But with a new razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives and similarly tight Senate margins, Democratic opposition could stymie the efforts.

Johnson said he has strategized with Trump about combining several priorities into one gigantic piece of legislation that could move through Congress under rules of so-called reconciliation.

Such a tool allows budget-related bills to clear the 100-member Senate with a simple majority, rather than a typical 60-vote threshold.

“We can put it all together, one big up-or-down vote, which can save the country, quite literally, because there are so many elements to it,” Johnson told Fox News.

“That’s why we’re going to be so aggressive about getting this through in the first 100 days,” he said.

Johnson said he aimed to have an initial House vote on the bill as early as April 3. He envisioned it then clearing the Senate and being signed into law by month’s end.

According to Johnson, the bill would include funding for securing the US-Mexico border and deporting undocumented immigrants.

Trump focused much of his 2024 presidential campaign on immigration and, after his victory in November, said he could use the military to deport millions of people.

Johnson also said the mega-bill would “restore American energy dominance,” extend tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term, and slash red tape “that has smothered our free market.”

He also pledged to include a provision extending US borrowing authority.

The United States routinely runs up against a legal constraint on paying for bills already incurred, and Congress is called upon to either formally raise the debt ceiling or suspend it.

A suspension of the debt limit reached by lawmakers in 2023 ended this month, and the country could bump up against the ceiling by June.

During December budget negotiations in Congress, Trump insisted the debt ceiling be raised or even eliminated altogether, but he was unsuccessful.

Johnson on Fox defended the apparent paradox of wanting to increase the limit on government borrowing while boasting of seeking to reduce the deficit.

“We’re the team that wants to cut spending,” he said. “But you have to raise the debt limit on paper so that we don’t frighten the bond markets and the world’s economy.”