2018 Budget: Every Community In Anambra Will Have Something To Celebrate –Ezeugwa

Chidozie Ezeugwa

Chidozie Ezeugwa, is the senior special assistant to the Governor on Legislative Matters. Last week Thursday when the 2018 Appropriation Bill was passed by the state House of Assembly, he was full of smiles and CHUKWUJEKWU ILOZUE engaged him in this interview. Excerpts:

The state House of Assembly has just passed the 2018 appropriation bill. What do the people look forward to?

It is still part of what we said before. Recall that last year, 30th November 2017, His Excellency was at the chamber to present the budget and today the budget had been passed, read for the first time and final assent. It is a budget of diversification of the economy; budget of creation of jobs; budget for value for money; budget of hope. That means that His Excellency will go into action. In a couple of days, he will give assent to it.

Well, you heard the comment made by the Speaker in the chamber. They implemented up to 80 percent of last year’s budget and trusting His Excellency, he will implement up to 90 percent this time.

I noticed that the budget was slightly increased from N166.9 billion to N170.9 billion. How was the haggling like in arriving at the new figure?

You must respect the constitutional position of the legislators that appropriated the bill sent by the Governor. So, it could be plus or minus, or whatever depending but knowing properly that such arrangement will always be done through the understanding of the two parties.

In this case, was the capital expenditure increased or decreased?

A little bit capital expenditure from N106billion initially what we have are some other figures attached to it, so likewise the current expenditure from N63billion to N64billion. So, those are the little adjustments that can be taken care of.

So, what are the expectations?

If you recall, during the last year when we were campaigning and touring constituencies, there was a promise made by His Excellency that all on-going projects will be completed and so what we have is win-win-win. So, there will be always development -infrastructural development in all the communities. You remember, ‘choose your project initiative’ given to all the communities and His Excellency has made it clear that any community that finishes its own will come again. So, any community that finishes its own will come again and I believe that by the expiration of his tenure in the next four years you can see each community in Anambra State having something to celebrate and to remember His Excellency, what he has done#

Isuofia Ends Age-long Communal Feud

Willie Obiano

Awka – The twenty-year-old intra-communal crisis in Isuofia town, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has come to an end following the reconciliation of the two factions and the election of a new town union executive council.

Trouble started in 1997 when a quarter of Isuofia community announced its secession from the town, declaring that it was now Isuanioma Community which led to break down of law and order in the area.

While the communal crisis lasted, over nine buildings were torched and over thirty-six families fled their homes for fear of attacks while two persons were alleged to have been missing.

Consequently, the then Isuofia People’s Union Federated Executive functioned for about eighteen years which the rest of the community described the body as illegitimate.

But just last year a peace and conflict resolution committee was set up made up of clerics from the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches and some stakeholders in the community which resolved the two-decade face off.

However, a lawsuit was filed shortly after the truce by Chief Samuel Nwankwo and eleven others against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, eight clerics and twenty-two others which was however quashed by the presiding judge of Aguata High Court, Justice Obiora.

It was on the strength of this development that the two warring camps in compliance with the directives of Special Adviser to Anambra State governor on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Ikechukwu Onyeabo, conducted its town union election to elect a new executive.

Speaking shortly after the election that produced Mr. Jude Okeke as the President General, Soludo told newsmen that it was a new dawn in Isuofia community.

“War or crisis is an evil wind that blows nobody any good and you can imagine what our community has lost in the last twenty years, socio-economically.

“I wish to announce my support for the new executive and I call on all and sundry both those that won the election and those that did not win to work together for the progress and development of Isuofia town.

“I also thank the Anambra State government for its role in ensuring peace in Isuofia town and we the people of Isuofia would ensure that we cue into all the developmental schemes and policies of this executive and the state government,” he said.

Zimbabwe: TB Joshua Fails to Meet Mnangagwa

TB Joshua coming to Zimbabwe.

Popular Nigerian preacher Temitope Balogun Joshua (TB Joshua) left Harare on Friday night after failing to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa under unclear circumstances.

The government said the Nigerian had no scheduled meeting with Mnangagwa amid reports that the organizers bungled.

Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and Scholarships minister Christopher Mushohwe met TB Joshua, who was said to be eager to meet Mnangagwa.

Acting Information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said the government was not aware of TB Joshua's invitation and reports that Mnangagwa snubbed him were misleading.

"The president is not a snubber. We are not aware as the government of any meeting that was set up between the president and TB Joshua," he said..

Sources said one of the people that tried to arrange the meeting, Josey Mahachi, had approached Mnangagwa seeking his help to invite TB Joshua to conduct a day of national prayer.

"The president, while happy to have a national day of prayer, did not, however, want to be associated with one particular religious leader and instead said if churches in Zimbabwe organized the prayer meeting he would attend, but would not invite one prophet ahead of the other," said the source.

According to the sources, after failing to see the president, Mahachi tried without success to engage members of the first family to secure an appointment.

"Josey tried until late evening [Friday] to get some family members to assist, but it was turned down," the source said.

"This caused anger within the TB Joshua camp resulting in him leaving via the back door of his hotel to Robert Mugabe International Airport for Victoria Falls."

Mahachi's husband, Olusegun Agbeniyi, who was part of the team, which was managing TB Joshua's visit, said Mnangagwa sent Mohadi to meet the preacher because "of the sensitivity of the death of MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai".

Mohadi, Mushohwe, and Tsvangirai are some of the prominent local politicians who visited TB Joshua's church in Nigeria in recent years.

Nigerian Child Comedienne Emmanuella Lands Disney Acting Role

Seven-year-old Emmanuella Samuel, popular for the comedy skit "This is Not My Real Face Oh" has landed a Disney acting role. The young comedienne has gained a large following throughout the world. We wish her all the best in her career.

Small beginnings sometimes lead one to big places. The case of popular Nigerian child comedienne Emmanuella Samuel, who is popularly called Emmanuella, easily comes to mind. The seven-year-old who turns eight in July started out her entertainment career by featuring in the Mark Angel Comedy.

Mark Angel Comedy discovered Emmanuella through the acting school run by the Mark Angel foundation. Unlike other comedy skits that are produced in affluent places, Mark produced his comedy in the environment he found himself in. Emmanuella, however, started acting in Mark Angel comedy when she was five years old and only in primary one (grade one).

Emmanuella received wide acclaim around the world after the comedy skit "This is Not My Real Face Oh" went viral. The video has currently been viewed over 4 million times on YouTube. The Mark Angel Comedy channel has over 1.7 million subscribers, with videos gaining 1 million views within a week.

Emmanuella has been a recipient of various awards both within and outside Nigeria. In Australia, she was awarded the Princess of Comedy and Prominent Kid Comedienne awards.

A recent post on Instagram from an unverified Emmanuella account said, "Thanks, @disneystudios God bless everyone whose support has added to bringing us here. I never dreamed of being here so soon. I miss Success. I love you all."

Congratulatory messages have been pouring out both from the general public and Nigerian politicians. The Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki said in a Twitter post "your story is an inspiration. Come by the Nigerian Senate sometime, let's discuss how we can develop the potential of our young talents in the creative industry."