EVENTS
GOV OTTI RECEIVES CHIEF OF AIR STAFF AS NIGERIA AIR FORCE MOVES TO SET UP BASE IN ABIA
Published
8 months agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has welcomed the decision by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to set up an operational base in the State, promising to give the Force all the support it needs to take off.
Governor Otti said the move by the Air Force to establish a base in Abia couldn’t have come at a better time than now that the Federal Government had put machinery in motion to build an airstrip in the State.
The Governor said the presence of the Air Force in Abia has become even more necessary at this time, following attempt by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen to scuttle the peace that Abians have been enjoying in the last one year, with the killing of five soldiers at an army post in Obikabia, Obingwa Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Otti spoke on Friday when he received the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who visited him in his country home in Umuehim, Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area.
“We want to particularly thank you for this very great approval that you have given to set up your presence in Abia State. It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Federal Government just approved that an airstrip be located in Abia and the authorities including the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, NAMA, and the rest of them, have been here. We had a very good engagement.
“We have already given them a site for the airport, which is a very large place. We are also committed to partnering with them to expand it from an airstrip to an airport.
“This is a great time for Abia, it’s a great time for you to be here since we have an airport coming. Luckily, it is a very large parcel of land and by that airport we are going to give you land to site your operations,” an appreciative Governor Otti told the Air Force Chief, while thanking him for the visit.
To further demonstrate his determination to have the Air Force hit the Abia skyline as well as put boots on the ground, Governor Otti offered a temporary take off location for the air wing of the Nigerian armed forces in Umuahia, capital of Abia, pending the construction of the permanent site.
According to him, this arrangement would help both the State and the Nigerian Air Force to quickly realise the good gesture that the air Chief had extended to Abia.
“So, we will give you a temporary site in Umuhia. We will also provide residences for your men and also provide vehicles for them to move around and any other thing that they require. I believe that we can achieve this in the next one to two months,” Governor Otti said, adding that the presence of the Nigerian Air Force in Abia “will be very useful to also support the activities of other security agencies that are working closely with us”.
Governor Otti told Air Marshal Abubakar that the citizens of Abia had enjoyed relative peace until last Thursday, May 30, when some dare devil criminals ambushed the army post in Obikabia and slaughtered the five soldiers on duty in cold blood.
“Interestingly, the government has placed a bounty of 25 million Naira, and just yesterday, an Abia son, who also comes from Obingwa and lives in the United States of America, sent us five million Naira to upgrade the bounty to 30 million Naira.
“So, I’m happy to announce that the bounty has been just upgraded to 30 million Naira to encourage anyone that has useful information that would lead to the apprehension of the criminals who came here to terrorise us,” the Governor said, describing the tragedy as “very unfortunate isolated incident”.
He reiterated the commitment of the Abia State Government to work with the various security agencies to ensure that the ugly incident of May 30 did not happen again.
“We are very, very single-minded about it. We must fish them out and ensure that they will get the message that this place is a no-go area for terrorists, for killers, for kidnappers and criminals.
“So, once again, I will like to say thank you very much for this visit. As you nominate one of your men that will work with us, the SA Security is hereby empowered to work with your men to ensure that everything that you require to hit the ground running, immediately, is provided, while we begin the process of the construction of the permanent site,” Governor Otti declared.
Earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar said that the essence of his visit was to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Governor and explore opportunities for collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force and Abia State.
Abubakar requested the state government to provide them a parcel of land for the establishment of an Air Force Base in Abia to enhance security not only in Abia but the entire South East Zone of the country.
He applauded Governor Otti for his dedication to governance and commitment to the development of the State as well as his leadership style, “which is people oriented and centered to judicious management of public resources in order to improve the living standards of Abians”.
AVM Abubakar used the opportunity to commiserate with the State Government on the unfortunate incident, which led to the loss of five soldiers at Obikabia, assuring that the Nigerian Air Force would partner other security agencies to bolster security in the State.
KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
June 7, 2024.
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EVENTS
POWA HONOURS HON DR SAMUEL UDEH WITH AN AWARD OF RECOGNITION; hands over to police, huge sum of cash forgotten by a passenger in a bus
Published
14 hours agoon
January 22, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Joined state police command, IIRS, Insurance companies in policy sensitisation
*Austin Jp*
Imo State Chairman of NURTW Hon Dr Samuel Udeh JP.Fcai (Eze Umuokorobia) was honoured with an award of recognition by police officers wives association (POWA) for his benevolence and philanthropic gesture towards POWA empowerment program and service to humanity.
The award was presented by Mrs Jemimah Aboki Danjuma wife of Imo State commissioner of police Mr Danjuma Aboki, at the command headquarters in Owerri.
Reacting to the award recognition, Chief Samuel Udeh in humility expressed gratitude and appreciation to police wives association of Imo State chapter for the recognition and honour to him.
Hon Sam dedicated his award to Imo State governor His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma (Onwa Onyoko) and reaffirmed his commitment to service for the betterment of our dear State and the society at large.
Also at the event, Ukwenga Samuel Udeh handed over a huge sum of cash forgotten by a passenger in a bus. The money was found by a member of the reformed union in the State under the leadership of Chief Samuel Udeh.
Handing over the cash to Imo CP, Hon Sam said this can only be done from a good spirited Nigerian which was as a result of the several reforms that has taken place in the union under his watch as the state chairman.
Imo CP commended the driver that found the money and the leadership of the union and said, such a Nigeria deserves a national award.
He said the money will be kept in their custody, while an announcement regarding the money will be put across the media platforms for the owner to come for claim. If after some time and the money wasn’t claimed, it will be paid into federal government account with the teller deposited in court.
Another event that took place at the state command was a seminar on the third party insurance policy, which involved representatives of the stakeholders from Imo State internal revenue service, insurance companies, national union of road transport workers and other related stakeholders were also present at the seminar.
Mr Aboki Danjuma stated that the essence of the seminar with the stakeholders is for them to go and educate their members on the new policy of third party insurance, as implementation and enforcement on the third party insurance will commence from 1st of February 2025 across the federation.The committee that will spearhead the implementation and enforcement were inaugurated at the seminar.
Importance of the third party insurance will be to assist the police in crime prevention. Whenever a vehicle is snatched, or used to commit a crime, it can easily be traced through the third party insurance database collection.
Answering questions from the pressmen after the seminar, Honourable Samuel Udeh said it is a good policy from the inspector general of police. The commissioner of police have said it all, it is now for us in the transport system to adhere to the advice of the commissioner of police and get the third party insurance for our vehicles.
He agreed with the police that the third party insurance will help to put to rest the issue of car theft in Imo State.
With database collection of the vehicles and the owners, together with other benefits of the policy which is paying compensation to accident victims by the insurance company, union will surely educate drivers who are members of the union on wheels to get their vehicles insured.
Chief Sam Udeh used the opportunity to thank the Imo CP for his commitment and dedication in securing Imo. He made a request for the officer in charge of the policy enlightenment to make out time to come to the union office to educate the members of the union, to enable total compliance from the drivers on wheels.
Content creator, actor, and friend Udaya Chidiebere Awesome, popularly known as Deacon Famous, has found love in Ghana. Deacon Famous recently took to social media to announce his engagement to Mawusi Faith, a lovely Ghanaian woman from the Volta Region.
In a heartfelt post, Deacon Famous expressed his joy and gratitude, saying: “Mawusi Faith, it’s an absolute delight to embark on this lifelong journey with you. I waited patiently for the right one, and now I’ve found my perfect match.” He also hinted at a possible Ghanaian wedding celebration, exclaiming, “Ghana, we’re coming again!”
Photo source: Instagram
EVENTS
My daughter planning wedding to pharmacist before murder – Mother of corper beheaded by gospel singer
Published
5 days agoon
January 18, 2025By
Ekwutos BlogMrs Ojomachenwu Adaidu, mother of Salome, a 24-year-old corps member who was murdered by an Abuja gospel, Timileyin Ajayi, speaks to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about her daughter’s ambition before she met her untimely death, and asks for justice to be done in matter
What is your relationship with the slain corps member?
I am Mrs Ojomachenwu Adaidu, the mother of Salome Eleojo Adaidu.
Where are you from?
I am from Ogodu in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.
How old are you?
I am 52 years old.
What do you do for a living?
I am into a small business.
Which tertiary institution did your late daughter attend before going for her youth service?
She graduated from Kogi State University.
How would you describe Salome’s personality and values?
Salome was a wonderful child, hardworking and responsible. Every morning, before I even woke up, she would sweep and tidy the house. Among all my children, she was the most hardworking.
Salome was serving as a youth corps member before the incident. Did she ever talk to you about her plans?
Yes, she told me she wanted to become a doctor after her service year.
What went through your mind when you heard the news?
I felt like my world had ended. It’s a painful experience, and it still feels like a bad dream. People tried to console me, saying I have other children, but no one should go through something like this. It has been extremely difficult. What I want is justice for her. (Sobbing) I am currently very ill.
The suspect claimed Salome was his girlfriend. Can you clarify this?
That’s a lie. Salome was not his girlfriend. He didn’t even know her name. You can see in the video that the killer has a beard. My children don’t like men who keep beards, and Salome had no relationship with him. She already had someone she was dating; a pharmacist. I told her we would do the necessary wedding introduction after her service year.
What do you want the police to do as the investigation continues?
I want the police to thoroughly investigate this case and make him confess what happened. He should face justice for what he did. The way he cut my daughter’s body into pieces is the same way I want him to be dealt with. They should cut him too into pieces; I want to see it done.
How many children do you have?
I now have five children, four girls and one boy. I used to have six before losing Salome.
Aside from being hardworking, what other qualities did Salome have?
She was very kindhearted. Every time, she received her alawee (youth service allowance), she would buy me drugs, foodstuffs, and provisions. She was so generous, and I miss her deeply. Since her father passed, she promised to stand by me and take care of me.
When did Salome’s father pass away?
He died on May 16, 2024. Now, I’ve lost both my husband and my daughter, two people so close to my heart.
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