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UZII COMMUNITY ON THE MOVE: SET FOR TRANSITION OF POWER TO A NEW PG

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UZII Community
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~ DEVELOPMENT OF UZII COMMUNITY SHOULD BE YOUR PRIORITY ~ CHIEF OKWUDIRI ORJIAKOR OUTGOING PG

Uzii a community known for her hospitality in nature, with tourism sites to behold. Richly blessed with human and natural resources. Very hard working people, achieving positive results in different sphere of life. They are also blessed in agricultural produce.

Located in Ideato North local government area of Imo State. Uzii have ten villages that made up the town, which includes

1. Umudieshie
2. Okorokwara
3. Umuonuoha
4. Umuohachu
5. Umuokwarajiaku
6. Umuezeanoruo
7. Abiakanegbo
8. Umuobia
9. Ezihe
10. Umuerenama

In the realm of community development, having a visionary and strategic leader is crucial for the success and development of any community or society.

In the past, Uzii town have had good number of President General, who had taken turn in contributing their quote for the development and for betterment of the community. Uzii Town Union is the echelon body of decision making of the community.

Some of the past President General of the Uzii Town Union in their determination to repositioning the community for development, had made sacrifices for the good of the people and Uzii community.

Exceptional among the past President Generals is the outgoing PG of Uzii Town Union Chief Okwudiri Orjiakor popularly known as Obiadada. Chief Orjiakor whose tenure will be coming to an end on the 3rd of February 2024 being the handover date to the newly elected executives of the Uzii Town Union, which their election was held on the 29th of December 2023.

Obiadada has been described widely and referred to by many as exceptional strategist and a positive thinker.

This article aims to shed light on his instrumental role and emphasize the importance of his contributions to the development of Uzii ancient kingdom.

As an Uzian, is important to recognise and appreciate the profound impact Chief Okwudiri Orjiakor has made while piloting the affairs of the community through the town union as the president general.

Today Uzii Town Union has become so interesting for all sons of the community to join, courtesy of the vital role and people oriented policies enacted by the outgoing PG.

Obiadada has written his name on the marble and has done his bit in developing Uzii ancient kingdom.

At the last general assemble of the town union, he stated that for the incoming PG to excel, he should prioritise development of Uzii as his focus agenda and jettison any other distractions that may arise while on his journey to making a positive impact to the community.

The onus now lies on the newly elected President General Hon Chijioke Alaekwe (Ochinanwata) together with his team of Executives to take up the baton from Obiadada.

Like the saying goes, to whom much is giving, much is expected of him.

Is not in doubt that focus will now be shifted to the newly elected executives of the Uzii Town Union. The team has been adjudged as men of timber and calibre, with deep knowledge and experiences to take the community to a higher height and possibly achieve greater results than the past leadership of the community.

More especially, expectations are high from the people to see the new PG Hon Chijioke Alaekwe (Ochinanwata)make wonderful marks on the community as the President General.

The people wants to see new innovations and ideas that would catapult the community to limelight and as well rub shoulders with other sister communities around.

Just like it was at the newly entry of Chief Orjiakor, the people never knew what he could bring to table. So it is now with that of Ochinanwata as the new president general.

Few days after the election on the 29th of December 2023, Hon Chief Chijioke Alaekwe (Ochinanwata) took a good step in the right direction by assembling the newly elected executives of the town union in his house for familiarisation meeting.

In that meeting; some of us observed carefully to understood what he has to offer the community and direction in which he intends to achieve his set goals as the new PG of Uzii Town Union.

To our amazement,we discovered that Ochinanwata is embodied with qualities of a visionary leader. He is full of wisdom and well detailed on challenges the community are faced with. He knows what is expected of him and the entire new executives of the town union. He charged them not to fall short of expectations.

He spoke passionately about his love for Uzii and also talked about his desire to consolidate on major achievements of the outgoing. He said, we’ll equally study carefully the policies and see where can be amended if need be.

Hon Chijioke eluogised Chief Orjiakor over his achievements, commended him on the positive and critical decisions he made during his tenure. He appreciated his level of commitment and dedication to the good people of Uzii.

While at the meeting,i also noticed that Hon Alaekwe did not crown himself nor did he subscribe to the title of King Solomon in wisdom. He made it known that he will practice an open door policy, and will appreciate in high esteem ideas and suggestions within the core executives and beyond that will help and enable the community to move forward.

After the meeting, it became clearer that Uzii is on safe hands, as the new executive pinpointed key point agendas to focus on within the next four years of their stay in office as the leaders of the community.

I will be concluding by calling on all Uzii sons and daughters, Ndi Ishi Ala’s , Eze’s cabinet, town union branch chairmen,village chairmen, Umuada, youths and including Christian body and traditionalist and every other components in Uzii to please give maximum support to the newly elected President General and his team.

I also know that at every point in time, the new executives will be consulting with the former leaders of the community on issues that need a wider consultations.

May i plead that they afford the new executives the opportunity to offer suggestions and ideas that will help to take Uzii to another level.

Let us collectively always pray Maka Odi Nma Uzii, Nakwa Mmepe Ala Uzii.

I want to end with this phrase normally used by my predecessor

“Always remember, peace is priceless and terror is senseless, let’s give PEACE a chance”

 

God bless Alauri

God bless Uzii Ancient Kingdom.

Comr. Austin Udoka Onuigbo newly elected PRO Uzii Town Union.

EVENTS

Lagos Court Jails Man Three Months for Non-Declaration of $30,000 at Airport

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Justice Deinde I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, convicted and sentenced Okunfulure Olusola Steve to three Months imprisonment for money laundering.

The convict was arrested on March 28, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for false currency declaration to the tune of $30,0000.

The NCS had, on Friday, March 28, 2025, handed him over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos for further investigations.

Consequently, he was arraigned on Wednesday on one-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The count reads: “That you, Okunfulure Olusola Steve, on the 28th day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $20,000 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie called on Felicia Paul, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

 

Paul, while giving details of how she knew the defendant, told the court that the NCS handed him over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC on Friday, March 28, 2025.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Paul also told the court that the defendant was arrested with the sum of $30,000, which he failed to declare. She further told the court that “ his statement was recorded under caution and was served with the bail conditions.”

Thereafter, she identified the defendant’s statement, the handing-over note from the NCS, the arresting officer’s statement as well as the sum of $30,000(Thirty Thousand US Dollars) to the EFCC.

Okozie then sought to tender, in evidence, the documents.

Justice Dipeolu admitted and marked them as exhibits 1,2,3 and 4 and held that “ I have read the exhibits, the statement of the defendant, and I found him guilty. He is accordingly convicted as charged.”

Okezie thereafter prayed that the undeclared sum of $20,000 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and that the defendant be jailed.

Defence counsel, Joel Ogundere, while addressing the court, said that the defendant “is a first-time offender and is not aware of the disclosure policy . He is a family man and has responsibilities. His bank account shows the legitimacy of the funds.”

He also prayed the court to “ magnanimously waive any prison sentence”, adding that the convict would not mind forfeiting the sum of money or pay a fine.

Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced the defendant to three months imprisonment, with effect from the date of his arrest on March 28,2025. The Judge also ordered that the money be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Steve, a departing passenger on Delta Airline to Atlanta, United States had declared that he was not in possession of any sum of money in foreign currency but in Naira, while being profiled at the Currency Declaration Desk.

However, the sum of $30,000 undeclared was found on him during a search conducted by operatives of the NCS.

He was subsequently handed over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC for further investigations, a development that led to his arraignment and conviction.

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Nigerians in US to protest at White House over emergency rule in Rivers State

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A coalition of Nigerian activists in the United States, under the Democratic Movement, DM, has called on global leaders, the United Nations and the African Union to intervene in what it described as a blatant attack on democracy in Rivers State.

The pro-democracy movement also announced a planned rally at the United States White House to protest the declaration of emergency rule in the oil-rich state.

The coalition is demanding the reversal of the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the restoration of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The group also called on President Donald Trump to engage with Nigerian authorities and call for the immediate restoration of constitutional order.

A statement, on Thursday by the Coalition, signed by Cosmos Achief, its President, said the protest to the US white house aims to draw global attention to the “direct assault on democracy and the will of the people.”

The statement read, “We cannot sit back while an elected governor is removed, an entire legislature is suspended, and an unelected administrator is imposed. These are dangerous precedents that threaten Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

The coalition said the protest will take place in Washington, D.C., with demonstrators marching to the White House and the U.S. Department of State to submit petitions demanding international intervention.

“The world needs to see what is happening in Rivers State. A democratically elected government has been suspended under the guise of emergency rule. We are urging President Donald Trump to engage with Nigerian authorities and call for the immediate restoration of constitutional order,” the statement added.

“The president must understand that his actions could lead to serious diplomatic consequences. This move is a step toward dictatorship, and Nigeria risks facing international sanctions if democratic principles are not respected,” Achief warned.

The demonstration is expected to draw the attention of Nigerians in the diaspora, civil rights activists, and supporters of democracy who share concerns about governance in Nigeria.

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Former President Muhammadu Buhari sends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the of Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, Galadiman Kano, who passed away yesterday.

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Former President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, the Galadiman Kano, who passed away yesterday.

In a gesture of solidarity, Buhari also offered his sympathies to the Kano Emirate Council, the government, and the people of Kano State.

This move is reminiscent of Buhari’s previous condolences to the people and government of Kano State, following the passing of notable figures such as Alhaji Ibrahim El-Yakub, a former Federal Commissioner of Water Resources

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