|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo exulted as President Bola Tinubu commissioned his projects, including a N150b Government House and a large amusement park called Solution Fun City. His citizens are mostly unimpressed. They shared critical commentaries.
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, issued a detailed statement about the gains of the Tinubu visit.
ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT
*HISTORIC VISIT: NIGERIA WINS, AS PRESIDENT TINUBU IS SET TO END SOUTH-EAST MARGINALISATION*
The government and people of Anambra State express profound appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his historic State Visit to Anambra on May 8, 2025.
The visit marks a pivotal turning point in the pursuit of inclusive national development. It marks the beginning of the end of decades of infrastructural and economic marginalisation of the South-East region. The government and people of Anambra State are deeply gratified that Mr. President, in response to the visionary leadership and engagement efforts of their governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, graciously approved key requests that were part of Anambra’s strategic ask-list.
The approved items by Mr President include:
1. The inclusion of Anambra State and the South-East in the National Railway Masterplan represents a bold step that promises to open new corridors of mobility, trade, and interconnectivity for the South-East and the rest of the federation.
Inclusion of Anambra and the Southeast in the nation’s Gas Pipeline Masterplan – A crucial enabler of industrialisation and energy access that will bolster the state’s expanding manufacturing and technology sectors.
2. Approval for the completion of the federal highway linking Anambra and Kogi State—this transformational project will reduce travel time to Abuja from Anambra by about four hours, fostering trade, mobility, and national unity.
The commencement of reconstruction works on the failed portions of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, the long-standing infrastructural challenge, is finally receiving the federal government’s attention under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
3. Mr. President pledged federal support for ecological investments to address erosion in Anambra State. This intervention is appropriate, given that environmental issues of this nature remain Anambra’s number one existential threat.
4. We also appreciate Mr. President’s acceptance of being conferred the chieftaincy title of “Dike-Si-Mba Anambra” by the traditional rulers in the state. This symbolic title is a testament to his large-heartedness, recognition of his contributions to national development and unity, and his friendship with the state.
5. Mr President acknowledged the vast potential of Anambra State. He pledged to work together with Prof. Soludo to fast-track his vision of transforming Anambra into an African Dubai, Taiwan, Silicon Valley (ADTS) in his acknowledgement of Professor Soludo as a Solution Provider and demonstration of Progressives Working Together.
6. Another critical request made by Governor Soludo was for the federal government to get the Onitsha River Port operational.
7. We are deeply grateful to Mr President for pledging the Federal Government’s continued partnership with Anambra State and the South-East for total restoration of security.
8. The State Visit is therefore a big win for Ndi Anambra and indeed all Ndi Igbo. It is a victory for justice, inclusivity, and visionary leadership. It is also a testimony to the power of constructive engagement, strategic partnership, and purposeful governance of the Soludo administration.
9. This bold response from the president is a commendable demonstration of friendship, one that transcends politics and is rooted in the shared aspiration for a more united and progressive Nigeria, showcasing progressives working together.
The Anambra State Government reaffirms its commitment to working collaboratively with the Federal Government to ensure the successful execution of these projects. We are confident that these landmark approvals will translate into tangible improvements in the lives and livelihoods of our state and its people.
Law Mefor, PhD
Commissioner for Information
Anambra State
May 10, 2025.
The tittle-tattle on Natasha versus Akpabio
The drama both inside and outside the Senate involving its president, Godswill Obot Akpabio, and Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan intensified over the last fortnight, with additional drama but no insights. Two women entered the fray on opposite sides.
Mrs. Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya stepped in last week to accuse Sandra Duru of falsehood and manipulating evidence against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. She turned Ms. Duru’s allegations against the senator on their head.
Ogbonnaya, a Nigerian journalist and former political aspirant, publicly accused Sandra Duru of attempting to hire her to produce a manipulated voiceover aimed at damaging Senator Natasha’s reputation. She claims that Mrs. Duru offered her N300000 as part of a N30 million fund for the Destroy Natasha project.
She alleged that Duru provided her with audio recordings and a script containing false and defamatory content, including fabricated claims that Natasha wanted to destabilise the “Yoruba” government.
Ogbonnaya refused to participate in the scheme, citing her journalistic integrity and political ambitions. She stated that she edited out the falsehoods from the script, which angered Duru.
She disputed Duru’s narrative that Natasha admitted to fabricating sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio, asserting that the original audio recordings showed Natasha describing experiences consistent with harassment.
Ogbonnaya accused Duru of being a “pathological liar and serial blackmailer” and expressed willingness to submit evidence such as WhatsApp chats and audio recordings to authorities, provided Duru faces the allegations directly.
Importantly, Ogbonnaya said she has no evidence linking Duru’s actions directly to Akpabio, though Duru claimed political backing.
Sandra Duru’s (Prof. Mgbeke) Position:
Duru has alleged that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan fabricated the sexual harassment claims and attempted to bribe her with N200 million to accuse Akpabio of organ harvesting falsely.
She claims to have recordings and call logs as evidence that Natasha admitted to fabricating the harassment allegations.
Duru accuses Natasha of being uncooperative, destructive, and on a mission to damage men and the government, framing her activism as politically motivated and harmful.
She has publicly shared some of these claims on social media and live videos, intensifying the dispute.
The feud between Mrs. Ogbonnaya and Sandra Duru centres on the authenticity and manipulation of audio evidence related to Natasha’s allegations against Akpabio.
Ogbonnaya dismisses Duru’s accusations and reveals an alleged plot to create fake audio against Natasha, while Duru argues that Natasha’s claims are fabricated and politically motivated. This clash adds complexity to the broader political and legal drama involving Natasha and Akpabio.
Social media claps back at APC Chairman Ganduje.
As citizens railed against the idea of a one-party state in Nigeria, APC Chair Dr Abdullahi Ganduje responded. He received a powerful clapback on Facebook.
Ganduje: China runs a one-party state, and it works for them.
Citizen: China also executes corrupt politicians, and it works very well for them.
Calling ICPC to the Argungu road project.
EXPOSED!!!
Dear @icpcnigeria, @officialEFCC & @FmstNg
We visited the site of the road project connecting Farin Tanki Muhammadu Mera to the Bye-Pass Road in Argungu, Kebbi North Senatorial District, facilitated by Senator Yahaya A. Abdullahi, and what we found was alarming. Despite ₦82,168,325.20 already disbursed to the contractor, Bidrite Nigeria Ltd, the project has been abandoned. Apart from a single culvert, the only other visible work is a poorly constructed drainage system that is already showing signs of failure. There is no sign of machinery, workers, or any ongoing activity on site.
This road was meant to transform the lives of residents, providing smoother access to markets, schools, and health facilities. It was designed to enhance economic activity and connectivity in a region long plagued by poor infrastructure. The project, supervised by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, was much more than a line item in the budget; it was a promise of progress to the people of Argungu.
Data from http://govspend.ng shows that ₦28,796,245.85 was paid to the contractor on March 21, 2023, followed by ₦53,372,079.35 on May 8, 2023, totalling ₦82.1 million, which is about 74.37% of the ₦110.5 million contract sum.
These disbursements were made with the expectation that significant portions of the roadwork would be completed, including grading, base laying, drainage, and surfacing. Instead, what residents have received is shoddy drainage work and a site left to deteriorate.
The impact on the community is deeply felt. Traders face increased transportation costs, farmers struggle to get their produce to market, and school children wade through muddy paths during the rainy season. The road, once viewed as a vital development project, has become a symbol of abandonment and broken trust. The frustration in Argungu is growing, as the community watches a much-needed project rot in plain sight.
We call on @ICPC_NG @officialEFCC, and the supervising agency, to investigate this project immediately. The people deserve to know why a road meant to change lives has been left in this state despite heavy financial investment. Argungu deserves better. Public funds must work for the public.
#GetInvolved
