Politics
Taliban officials to attend UN climate summit for first time since Afghanistan takeover

Published
4 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogThe Taliban is sending officials to attend the UN climate summit in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku starting on Monday, in what will be the group’s first appearance at the forum since its forceful takeover of Afghanistan.
The Taliban-controlled foreign ministry’s spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said officials from the country’s National Environmental Protection Agency have arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the Cop29 conference. The Taliban’s leaders have controlled the environmental agency for more than three years now, after they took power in Kabul in August 2021.
The group’s government is not formally recognised by the UN and the international community owing to its restrictions on the basic rights of citizens, particularly women, who are banned from education and the workplace. The UN has stopped the Taliban from taking control of Afghanistan’s seat at the General Assembly and continues to back the appointed representatives from the previous Ashraf Ghani administration to represent the country on the global stage.
Azerbaijan has invited the Afghan environment agency officials to Cop29 as observers, allowing the former insurgent group to “potentially participate in periphery discussion and potentially hold bilateral meetings”, according to a diplomatic source.
But the Taliban will not be allowed to take part in the proceedings of full member states as the Taliban is not recognised within the UN system as Afghanistan’s legitimate leaders, instead as de facto authorities, the source said.
So far the UN has only invited the Taliban to talks specifically on Afghanistan’s future in Doha. China and Russia have expressed willingness to foster ties with the de facto administration and have invited its ministers to attend forums in China and central Asia in the past two years.
Afghanistan has been badly affected by a succession of climate emergencies, including flash floods, torrential rains and droughts, in the past year.
Flash floods have killed hundreds this year, sweeping away villages and people in remote parts of Afghanistan. The war-ravaged country is heavily dependent on agriculture, but successive floods and droughts have wiped away fields and produce.
International isolation has compounded the country’s economic struggles, making its population one of the poorest on the planet.
“Afghanistan is one of the countries that is really left behind on the needs that it has. It is a double price that they are paying,” said Habib Mayar, deputy general secretary of the g7+, an intergovernmental organisation of countries affected by conflict.
“There is lack of attention, lack of connection with the international community, and then there are increasing humanitarian needs.”
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Politics
BREAKING NEWS: Senators and former ministers of Buhari are preparing to move from APC to SDP.

Published
2 hours agoon
March 16, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Strong signs that some of the former president Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers will turn to the Social Democratic Party altogether.
A senator in the ninth house of assembly, who talked with PUNCH newspaper on Saturday and asked for his name to be renamed, said at least 10 former members of Buhari are planning to return to SDP.
“What they are waiting for is the complete rule of the party in their states,” the sources said.
Our representatives have gathered that the top obedient to President Buhari’s next year include the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress National, Abdullahi Adamu; Former Federal Lawyer and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and former Senate Chairman, Ahmed Lawan.
El-Rufa’i has started taking action
One of Buhari’s loyalist and former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday transferred to SDP party, where he expressed the disagreement between him and the APC party as the first reason for making this decision.
Politics
Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma

Published
9 hours agoon
March 16, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma
… Charges community leaders to protect infrastructure in their domain
… Gives date for commissioning of more projects in the constituency
… Promises to resume distribution of Transformers to improve power supply
The member representing Ehime-Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, PhD, has, on Friday 14th March 2025 commissioned another Primary Healthcare centre, building in Umuaweke- Amainyi, Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area, Imo State.
The project, which, according to him, is in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people of the area, following a request by the traditional ruler and others.
He stated that, with this addition to the various Healthcare centres his had built across the Federal Constituency, his desire for affordable, proximate, adequate medical care is gradually being achieved. And this is meant to complement the Health sector effort of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma, in delivering quality healthcare to the people.
He therefore charged the leaders in the area, to protect the facility and other public infrastructure in the area, as any act of vandalism affects the people more than it does the government.
Speaking on the occasion, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, who performed the commissioning of the hospital complex hailed the large heart of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, and his determination to deliver democratic dividends to his constituents, despite all lacerating remarks, especially on social media. He urged him to not relent in doing as he is wont to do, because he will only be remembered for his great contributions by posterity, even in the area of Free WAEC registration for the people.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Honourable Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Health insurance and social services, Dr. Prosper success Ohayagha, who commissioned the Doctor’s quarters complex, of the project extolled the virtues of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, in his continued support for 3R administration of Gov. Hope Uzodimma through such interventions as he has been doing. He assured, that working with the Executive Secretary, Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Authority, Rev. Sis Dr. Maria-Johanness Uzoma, who was also present, they will ensure optimum performance of the facility. The commissioner had earlier paid an unscheduled visit to a similar Healthcare centre, in Amuzi, Obowo LGA, also built by Hon. Chike Okafor, to ascertain the level of optimisation of the facility.
The Local Government chairman, Hon. Obioha Ndukwe and the Hon. Commission for Water Resources, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu were full of praise for Hon. Chike Okafor for this laudable project and urged him to continue to do more to help the people.
The occasion was graced by Hon. Kelechi Ofurum, member representing Owerri North State constituency in Imo State House of Assembly, also had notable leaders across Ehime Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma, Obowo LGA and beyond, including: HRH Eze Kelechi Osita Okeke Ama of Umuaweke, HRH Eze M.O Onyemakwuru, Óma 1 of Umuoma, Eze Innocent Onuoha, Ikpe 1 of Ikpenwafor, Eze Pharm. Emeka Ogbonna (Ohazurume), Iyi 1 of Amainyi, HRH Eze Marcel Iheme, Egwunte III of Umuezegwu, HRH Uwangwanti-uzi of uzinomi, Hon. Prince Obioha Ndukwe, Ihitte-Uboma LGA chairman, Hon. Commission for Water Resources, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu, Hon. Commissioner Primary Healthcare Health insurance and social services, Dr. Success Prosper-Ohayagha, Executive Sec Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Authority, Rev. Sis Dr. Maria-Johanness Uzoma, Special Adviser, to the Governor on Security matters, Major Gen. Ogbonna, Rtd, Hon. Dr. Godrick Anosike, former Commissioner for health and former chairman of Obowo LGA, Hon. CHIDI Nwoke, for TC Chairman of Obowo LGA, Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Onwueyiagba, former Commissioner for Talents Hunt and Youth Development, among others.
Politics
Here are the three bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 14, 2025

Published
20 hours agoon
March 15, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
1. Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025
Purpose: To grant the House powers, privileges, and immunity to perform its legislative duties.
2. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025
Purpose: To repeal the existing State Electoral Law of 2018 and re-enact a new law to establish, define the composition, and outline the functions of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
3. Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025
Purpose: To repeal the State’s Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023, and 2024, and re-enact a new law for the administration of Local Government Councils.
These bills were passed during the 136th Legislative Sitting and have been forwarded to the Governor of Rivers State for assent.

BREAKING NEWS: Senators and former ministers of Buhari are preparing to move from APC to SDP.

Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma

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