Born into affluence to the family of Chief Chike Okagbue, a successful oil magnet, Uzu Okagbue has maintained a level of focus and discipline that has distinguished him. In one of our conversations a while ago, Uzu recalled how his father, Chief Chike Okagbue, insisted that he maintained a strong work ethic, discipline, a sense of merit, respect for authority, and a high regard for family and friends. He also revealed that it was his...

“To date, there are many reports that students in some of the schools supposedly under the scholarship scheme of the state are still paying school fees. ” —Ebuka Onyekwelu Recent pronouncements by the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, very strongly suggest that the governor has fallen into hyperbolic gestures, as a viable tool to foster his political interests. “Political statements” as they are more popularly called, are mere embellishments, deceits, half-truths, or plain...

“The flood threatening Awka is caused by government’s poor approach to a sustainable environment. ” —Ebuka Onyekwelu On Wednesday night, a heavy downpour in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, left many homes flooded. So many houses around the capital city were nearly submerged by flood water. Several vehicles were submerged in many compounds, while some people were temporarily sacked from their homes as the flood took over their homes. Around the city centre, nearly...

“Nigerians are simply not interested in holding their state governors to the same standards of accountability they hold the president. ” —Ebuka Onyekwelu For some reason, Nigeria’s president is the ultimate and final focus of Nigerians in several efforts to hold government and public officials accountable. It is the norm to have the president of Nigeria thoroughly dissected, with clear evidence of leadership failure. This was the fate of President Olusegun Obasanjo; it became the...

“The worst that will happen if the local government election is boycotted is that the ruling party will simply have a field day .” —Ebuka Onyekwelu As of today, barely a month and six days to the first local government election in Anambra State in over a decade, there are deep concerns that the government of Anambra State is bent on having its way. First of all, the governor had promised to conduct the local...

“Anambra State appears to be on the brink of bidding farewell to APGA after nearly two decades.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu The inauguration of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission – ANSIEC, by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, signaled full preparation for the conduct of the Local Government Election in Anambra State for the first time in ten years.  The six-member Commission, with two persons each from the three senatorial zones, now has the mandate to fix a date...

“Your life serves as a source of inspiration for those who dare to dream.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu I weep over the sudden and painful death of Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah; a giant among men. One man who was everywhere and touched everything! I mourn your shocking death, Distinguished. Your death is just impossible to believe. Around the middle of this month, we had a long conversation about the coming governorship election in Anambra State and talked like...

“Soludo might as well be toying with his second-term bid, except he intends to run on another party’s ticket.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu It is now a little more than two weeks since the Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC, recognized Chief Edozie Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman, against Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, whom the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, still recognizes as the APGA National Chairman.  Prof. Soludo who doubles as both the only APGA governor...

“As of today, the majority of industries in Nnewi and Onitsha are no longer functional.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu Although a very age-long argument, perhaps, Asaba taking over Onitsha’s commercial advantage is now more real than before.  In the past few years, there has been consistent relocation of residences and businesses from Onitsha to Asaba. Nearly all major business owners in Onitsha and Nnewi have tactically moved a part of their business and residence to Asaba. The...

“In 2025, Anambra governorship election will remain an open competition where candidates from different political parties, regardless of their origins in the state, will compete.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu I have read the report by a colleague and a friend, David Eleke, titled, “Will APC Abide by Existing Zoning Formula in Anambra?“, published by This Day.  Quite frankly, I have more than a dozen reservations given the level of holes in David’s argument. Even more, his deliberate...