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Buhari, Jonathan, Others to Attend Ekwueme’s Burial

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President Muhammadu Buhari, former president Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara have indicated readiness to attend the funeral service of Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

Chairman of the Publicity subcommittee of the South East Governors’ Committee on the burial of the late political leader, Chief Maja Umeh, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the activities of the committee.

It was also gathered that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not only grace the event but has been scheduled to speak at the burial ceremony.

Ekwueme passed on at a London hospital on November 19, 2017 and will be interred on February 2, 2018, at his home town, Oko, in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State.

Umeh said apart from Buhari, other past and present political leaders of the country, as well as prominent sons and daughters of Igboland were expected to feature in the programme which mainly begins with a commendation service at Enugu on Wednesday January 31.

Umeh said that the funeral activities would be a solemn event devoid of partisan political pronouncements.

“We commend the Federal Government for setting up National Burial committee which has representatives of South East Governors Forum and Ekwueme’s family”, he said.

The committee said that the burial arrangements had already started last week Friday 19th January, 2018 at Lagos where a commendation service was held for late Vice President at Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, and evening of tributes and music at Muson Centre

Onikan, all in Lagos.

It said that there was a memorial service at St. Marylebone Parish Church, London, on Saturday 20th January, 2018, while there will be service of songs and evening of tributes at International Conference Centre, Abuja on Sunday 28th January, 2018.

The committee further announced that there would be Parade of Honour for the late Vice President at Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday 29th January, 2018, while there would be service of songs at Cathedral of Good Shepherd, Independence Layout Enugu on Tuesday 30th January, 2018.

On Wednesday 31st, 2018, there will be South East Zone commendation service at Okpara Square Enugu, while the remains moves to Anambra on Thursday 1st February, 2018 for commendation ceremony at Ekwueme Square, Awka, before the body departs for Oko by motorcade.

The final rites of lying in state will take place on February 2nd 2018 at Ekwueme compound, Oko, funeral service at St. John the Divine Church Oko and interment at Ekwueme compound, Oko, followed by reception.

On immortalisation, Umeh said the governors of the zone would make the request during the commendation service as the late political icon deserves the best in view of his enormous contributions to National development. (THISDAY)

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IPOB Declares May 30th As Sit-at-home Day Across The Southern East States To Honour Biafran Fallen Heroes

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The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.

The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.

He cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.

The IPOB statement also directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.

He also called on christians and traditionalists to pray to Chukwu okike abiama for the fallen heroes, And also for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria.

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Anambra State Government Arrests Man For Marrying Off His Underage Daughter

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The Anambra State Government has arrested one Uzochukwu Okoli, for marrying off his underaged daughter.

Okoli was apprehended after his daughter reported to the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the alleged ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.

The daughter, Chioma Okoli, who is currently 16 years old, said after the death of her mother, her father took her and her sister out of Edo state and brought them to Anambra.

She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-plus-year-old man at the age of 14 but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu Nweke as husband.

Chioma who was in the company of her sister, explained that life with Chinedu has been a living hell because he allegedly beats her and sometimes pees in her mouth.

She said this act made her run away with their 9-month-old baby. Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, on the other hand, claimed her daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said she is 20 years old.

After he was handcuffed, Mr Okoli threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged Chioma and her sister to pray he dies in prison because he would make life more miserable for them.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, has instructed that the case be charged to court so that the girl can get justice.

Both Mr Okoli and Chinedu Nweke were arrested and will be arraigned in court.

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Nigerians Seek Woman Who Spoke Out Eloquently Against Fuel Scarcity In Viral 1994 TV Clip

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April 30th 1994, 30 Years Ago, And Till Today Nothing Has Really Changed.

Netizens have gone in search of a beautiful and well-spoken woman who spoke out against fuel scarcity 30 Years Ago.

A user on X.com, Jackie, who identifies as #JWEZEE had shared the video yesterday with the caption, “On this day April 30 1994, same day same time, only difference 30years ago.

“Nigerians in long fuel queues lamenting, 30years later they are still lamenting. And In another 30years will still lament, why? Because patterns don’t lie.”

In the video, which has since gone viral, Nigerians were seen queuing to purchase fuel and lamenting their predicament as citizens waiting in long queues with their gallons to buy fuel.

The woman passionately addressed the unfairness of soldiers skipping queues to resell fuel, highlighting a longstanding problem.

She said in part, “You have the soldiers that come, they buy petrol, they put it in jerry cans they sell it right in front of these people, it’s ridiculous.

“They get the fuel themselves, why do they have to come here, they don’t join the queue, they just buy and they sell right in front of people, it’s ridiculous. Something has to happen.”

The 30-year-old video which recently surfaced coincides with the current fuel price hike across the country.

Here is the viral video from 30 years back.

Currently, the country is facing fuel scarcity and price hike, with fuel being sold at N900 per litre in some states. This has affected the price of goods in the nation.

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