Hon. (Sir) Somto Udeze Calls for Youths Re-orientation Summit as the Bedrock for Youth Empowerment in Ogbaru

Up and Close With

Hon (Sir) Somto Udeze

Honourable Member Representing Ogbaru II Constituency

In Anambra State House of Assembly

I had a chat with Honorable (Sir) Somto Udeze during a visit to his Atani residence over the weekend and seized that opportunity to hear from him on why he decided to run for the State House of Assembly seat to represent our people.

It is worthy to note that my visit was inspired by series of activities he has spearheaded in this short time of his term in office in the state legislative chambers, it is obvious that he has been so exceptional in the service to our people. A lot of programs have emanated from him the past years which is not in my purpose here to document, but I visited him to have a sneak peek into what he has in stock for our people.

Below are the lines of an inspiring chat session with him.

Me: What prompted you getting into the house of Assembly to represent the people of Ogbaru II constituency was it preemptive or just purposeful, what was your intention when you choose to run for the seat?.

Hon. (Sir) Somto Udeze:  Me Thank you for this opportunity you created to chat with me. I am Hon. (Sir) Somto Udeze, Member representing Ogbaru II in Anambra State House of Assembly.

Initially, between 1998 and 2002, Ogbaru people have not been fairly represented both at local government and state levels. It was not a day’s choice, it was a kind of a life decision to see how to deliver dividends of democracy to our people.

What actually drives me is the fate of our youths within Ogbaru Local Government, how to focus our youths to face the reality of life, that is my drive.

Me: Thank you Sir, based on the foregoing, what are your intentions, how do you wish to enhance the welfare of the youths in your constituency, it is very well know to us right now that you are consulting with stakeholders in this constituency to see how the welfare of the youths will be bettered by the way of entrepreneurship and otherwise, what do you have in the pipeline Sir?.

Hon. (Sir) Somto Udeze:  I will be honest with you, by this time last year, if someone ask me what my plans are for the youths of Ogbaru.. I actually told a group that came that time that have no plans for the youths and as of that time I meant it, but I took time to study the problem facing Ogbaru youths, I now discovered that it is not about empowerment alone, because everybody is talking about how to empower our youths and so on. But of recent, I now discovered that there is a basic need to re-orientate our youths, to refocus their vision, because most of them have a clear vision but unfortunately majority of them doesn’t have a clear vision, so I believe there is need to organize an orientation program to refocus our youths, then if we can be able to engage them and discover what their needs actually are, if this is achieved, then the issue of empowerment will come in.

Therefore I want to tackle the issue of Ogbaru youth empowerment in two dimensions, first- Organise a RE-ORIENTATION PROGRAM for them and then the issues of EMPOWERMENT for the youths.

What I have at hand now is a target for December 2016, to have a forum where I can have Ogbaru youths talk to Ogbaru youths, it should be an in-house thing, We know that there are some established youths we can use as mentors to teach/show other ones that they can do it.

I think that if everything goes the way I want it, this December we shall have a YOUTH SUMMIT where our young entrepreneurs can talk to majority of our youths from all the communities.

Me: Thank you Sir, it’s been a good time with you Sir, I am glad to be here today and I believe from the outcome of this interaction we will take Ogbaru to the next level.

Thanks for your time.

By Comrade Ife Nwaolisa

Social Media Consultant and Blogger Discovers new ‘Model’ in Mark Zuckerberg’s Visit Photo-shoot

 
A pure water seller turned model in the making. Her mum must have pushed her to join the Zuckerberg's 'train' to Andela lol. After the story of the Jumoke the bread seller turned model went viral on Nigeria digital and print media circle, hawking is no longer business as usual, especially in the commercial city of Lagos because all hawkers are potential models.

This is more reason why with the recent ban on street hawking which the Lagos state government reactivated with a N90,000.00 fine for offenders, hawkers wont spare any opportunity to be photo-shot along a prominent figure, little wonder this August visit of the Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg enjoyed this trending company.

The main objective of this post is not just to make a model but to point to the fact that that young girl hawking pure water is of school age, though schools are on break, hawking on the streets should not be the right thing for her, she should be in an extra moral class or at home studying.

Since the purpose of Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to Nigeria is to promote and encourage young developers, I call on the Facebook team to use this opportunity to pick up this young girl and as part of their CSR train her to completion of her studies (probably secondary) and send her to one of the best colleges to learn APP Development .

If you have the details of this girl, send it to the email below, I want to pursue this cause with the Facebook team to see how we can help the young girl. #ServicetoHumanity#

 For more details on the pure water hawker email diamondictsolutions@gmail.com #noplay#

Photocredit : techpoint.ng

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President Buhari to Inaugurate 8th Assembly on Tuesday 9th June

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to inaugurate the 8th National Assembly on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, as part of his constitutional responsibilities.

Diamondworld noted that President Buhari has already written the Clerk of the National Assembly, Salihu Maikasuwa telling him of of his plans to inaugurate the new legislature.

The President has also directed Maikasuwa to convene the new session on the said date in accordance to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Principal officers of the National Assembly are expected to be elected after the inauguration.

Diamondworld

The Woeful Use of Our Youths as Thugs to Disrupt Community Development at Ochuche Umuodu

This is an official account of the incident that occurred at the Ochuche Umuodu Community site in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State on the 13th May, 2015 @exactly 11:00a.m.

The vigilante group attached to the new site acquired by Princess Stella Oduah for the development of Ogbaru, as part of her campaign promises was on their normal daily routine of ensuring that construction works/operations are carried out as planned, but the youths will not let them carry out their work plan in peace.  These same Ochuche youths have severally visited the site making monetary demands, even on few occasions beating the workers and having also to seize their work tools, thereby disrupting their activities in the last one week.

At the instance of all these, there has been an open window and invitation to the so-called Ochuche Youths by the office of the developer,          the Senator-Elect Princess Stella Oduah, to listen to their needs and possibly reach out to them but they would not bulge. This continued in the past week till the incident of today. All these while, the situation had been properly managed by the site workers to avoid any form of fracas with the youths. However, on this very day the Ochuche Youths led by their leader, Ugochukwu Obaze, who also represents and works for Chief Dubem Obaze as a community youth leader and a known thug in the Ogbaru community visited the site in the company of Dozie Ifeacho, aka Piakata, who is as well the commander of the youths,  Chijioke Okwuma, the assistant commander, another notable member of the acclaimed youth group, Okechukwu Okwuchukwu aka Nwanmo and others who are all fully under the engagement of Chief Dubem Obaze as his community thugs whom he engages in carrying out his dirty jobs. They all came in today as is their usual practice to harass the workers on site, making unnecessary demands and carting away their work tools.

All efforts and plea by the workers and the vigilante group to make peace with them proved abortive and in no time the situation got out of hands as the youths tried all they could to overpower the vigilante on ground, with the workers and the contractors at the site seriously beaten and wounded, the Ochuche youths were in the tussle with the sole aim of making away with their guns, and in the heat of the struggle to save their arms, the trigger of one of the three men went off.
It is also good to note that the so-called Ochuche youths had always visited this site riding in Dubem Obaze and Chinwe Nwaebili's branded cars, posing as their thugs.

Why should our youths be exposed to such danger at their early days by the so called leaders and those that direct the affairs of our communities?
Why can't they be positively mentored rather than use them to practice thugery and lead them into drugs and weeds intake that end up leaving them as nonentities in the society?
The more reason why we should have a good change in our leadership structure that will care and impact on the youths by creating jobs for them and assisting our youths in enhancing and developing their God given skills and talents.

It is worthy to note that the same Chief Dubem Obaze and Chinwe Nwaebili hail from the same community where this kind of menace is being witnessed and recorded from the youths who they stood for as their leaders. Also, they were the same people in power who actually mentored these youths who have become so displaced and misguided in the same community today.

We therefore call on all peace loving Ogbahuans to openly condemn this act of thugery and violence being masterminded by political and community leaders by woefully endangering our youths. Let us rather engage them creatively by providing them with skills and manpower development programs.

Media Directorate

PSOCO

CNPP Urges Aggrieved Politicians to Take Petitions to Tribunal

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday urged aggrieved politicians in the 2015 General Elections to take their petitions and appeals to the electoral tribunal.

The Chairperson of CNPP, Anambra Chapter, Mrs Kate Okafor, said this to newsmen in Akili-Ozizor near Onitsha, Anambra when she led her members to pay a courtesy call on the senator-elect of Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Princess Stella Oduah.

Okafor noted that there was no need for any individual to take the law into his or her hand since there was competent court of electoral jurisdiction, the tribunal, to listen to their complaint and found a way to redress them.

``In politics, if you are aggrieved, you are free to go to the electoral tribunal.

``But that might not be for the senator-elect, Princess Stella Oduah, because she won fairly and squarely,’’ she said.

Okafor, who is also the chairperson of the Advanced Congress of Democrats, promised to work with Oduah to achieve most, if not all; she pledged to do for the people of Anambra North.

``We are also willing to go with her wherever she goes to make her tenure a memorable one,’’ she said.

According to the chairperson, Oduah is tested, resolute and a known achiever; someone liked and loved by many, hence the masses gave her massive support at the polls for the first time; why should we resist working with her?

`` Above all, her antecedents speak volume about her.”

Responding, Oduah, who is a former Minister of Aviation, thanked the CNPP for the solidarity visit and assured them that she would work to move the zone and entire state forward.

``There is a lot of work to be done in order to alleviate our people from poverty, lack and neglect that I have seen and felt first hand.

``We must work together for the betterment of our people and CNPP active partnership with my campaign organisation would make a whole lot of difference to the welfare and wellbeing of our people,’’ Oduah said.

ODUAH WINS ANAMBRA NORTH SENATORIAL ZONE WITH LANDSLIDE

The PDP candidate for Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Princess Stella Oduah, has won the Anambra North Senatorial seat with a landslide victory, as declared in the early hours of Sunday 29th March 2015 Oduah polled 143, 178 votes to win; while Chief Dubem Obaze of APGA got 70,906 votes to come second in the race.Chief Ralph Okeke of the APC got 6,891 votes to come a distant third in the race.

Oduah beat her closet rival with a margin of 72,272 votes, where a total of 230, 498 votes was cast; and a total of 7,784 votes got rejected.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the zone, Mr. Celestine Sunday Okaro, who declared Oduah the winner at the Onitsha North Local Government Council Secretariat, said that Oduah stands returned as the Senator of the zone.

``By the powers conferred on me by the INEC Act as amended, I hereby declare Princess Stella Oduah of the PDP with 143,178 votes the winner; having scored the highest votes, returned.

``I would like to thank the party agents, security personnel, the media men and INEC officers for their co-operation, patient and comportment while this exercise lasted,’’ Okaro said.

Princess Oduah recorded about 62% victory over her opponents, winning in five out of the seven local governments of the zone, while her closet rival, Chief Dubem Obaze scored 31%.

She pulled 9,782 votes in Ayamelum to APGA’s 15,292 votes; in Onitsha North, she recorded a whopping 43,237 votes to APGA’s 8,860 votes. The Princess also proved a power house she is as she took Onitsha South as well, registering 25,875 to Dubem’s 10,110 votes.

In Oyi, she still kept the pace with 12,301, while APGA came close at 10, 682 votes. Anambra West also kept faith with the lady as she garnered 9,007 votes to Dubem’s 5,863. But Anambra East rebelled by giving her 8,871, while Dubem coasted home with 12,342 votes. But Ogbaru, her home Local Government gave her befitting last lap victory with 34,388 votes to Dubem’s 7, 747.

In another development, Chukwuka Onyema, popularly known as Ochendo, from Ogbaru Federal Constituency won the election with 30,004 votes to defeat Chinwe Nwaebili, the Speaker, Anambra State of House of Assembly, who got 10,737. Onyema is returning to the House after a first outing in 2007.

The Onitsha North and South Federal Constituencies relieved Chief Cy Egwuatu of his responsibility by transferring such to Chief Goodwin Idu Emeka, who got 48,754 votes to beat Anthonia Tabansi of APGA who got 21,622 votes.

Phil Balepo

Head Media

Princess Stella Oduah Campaign Organisation (PSOCO)

Princess Stella Oduah Emerges Winner of Anambra North Senatorial Polls

Below are the results of the Senatorial elections as declared by the returning Officer.

The result indicates a landslide victory by Princess Stella Oduah. 

We say congratulations

PDP- 42,239
APGA- 8,868
2. Onitsha South LGA
PDP- 25,890
APGA- 10,112
3. Ayamelum LGA
PDP- 9,782
APGA- 15,292
4. Oyi LGA
PDP- 12,301
APGA - 10,683
5. Ogbaru LGA
PDP - 33,542
APGA - 7,558
6. Anambra East LGA
PDP- 8,871
APGA- 12,342
7. Anambra West LGA
PDP - 9,007
APGA - 5,863
TOTAL
PDP - 143,478
APGA- 70,906
Winner - Princess Stella Oduah
Results declared by Dr Celestine Okaro, 

INEC returning officer

I will bridge the developmental gap between Anambra North and other zones - Oduah assures

The PDP Candidate for Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Princess Stella Oduah, has revealed that Anambra North was lagging behind in development in Anambra due to lack of people-oriented representation.

``I will bridge the development gap between Anambra North and other zones, if I am elected as your senator come Saturday,’’ Princess Stella Oduah said on Wednesday.

Oduah said this when addressing a mammoth crowd, including PDP faithful, in Onitsha during a mega-rally to mark the end of her three-month senatorial-wide campaign tour.

She noted that the tour had availed her opportunity to know the zone better and feel the pain and neglect of the people; adding: ``Honestly, I saw poverty and neglect at its peak’’.

``By the grace of God, I would work hard to address the challenge of abject poverty confronting our people especially those living in riverine communities.

``I clearly know we are behind other senatorial zones of the state in terms of human and capital development; however, God’s willing with your support, we would join hands and fast track development of our place and people,’’ she said.

Oduah, who was the former minister of aviation, noted that education was the key to a generational transformation.

``I will not spare anything to build and collaborate with other individuals and institutions to build schools and up-grade existing ones.

``While our farmers and fishermen and women would get soft credit grants to expand their businesses; while experts in these fields would come to educate them on best practices and ways to increase their catch or yields in order to improve our all over economy within the zone.

``Skill acquisition and talent development centres would be established to help those talented in various arts to master their trade and be the best they can be,’’ she assured.

Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of plaque of ``Excellence in Service of Humanity’’ to Oduah by the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra Chapter as well as a dance session by Oduah and her campaign team.

Onitsha South Political Stakeholders Accord Princess Stella Oduah a Rousing Reception

Onitsha South Political Stakeholders accord

                    Princess Stella Oduah a rousing reception                     

 Former Aviation Minister Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah was accorded a rousing reception by PDP stakeholders and other members of Onitsha South Local community when she visited the area yesterday.  

Speaking while receiving Princess Oduah, leaders of the various communities in Onitsha South Local Government Area namely Fegge, Odoakpu, Woliwo and Housing Estate said that following the  excellent performance of Princess Oduah in the aviation industry, they will not hesitate to endorse her senatorial ambition for the Anambra North Senatorial Zone.

One of the community leaders chief Sylvanus Ohaemesi described Princess Oduah as an embodiment of humility and achievement deserving of representing the people at the senate.  

Addressing the huge gathering, Princess Oduah lamented the wasting huge potentials of Anambra North in the area of human resources and agriculture which would have been used to better the lives of the people.

The Princess vowed to restore the glory of Anambra North Senatorial area if she realizes her ambition as a senator representing the zone and also will ensure that Onitsha traders no longer travel all the way to Lagos to offload their goods as she will provide enabling environment for them to do so in Onitsha.         

                   

Some of the leaders of the Onitsha South Stakeholders present on the occasion include Chief Basil Ejidike,Mrs Jessie Balonwu,Chief F.O Onwuachu and Sir GOG Umezoke.A delegation of Onitsha leaders of thought led by chief C N Udeh also attended  the reception.

By Ononye V.C 6th Dec., 2014. 

A community leader addressing the audience

The director, Stella Oduah campaign organisation Hon. Pandola Okwuosa addressing the audience

Another community leader addressing the audience

Another cross section of the high table

Community leader Chief Onwuachu speaking 

Cross section of stakeholders

Cross section of the high table

Cross section of the stakeholders

Hon. (Barr) Jessie Balonwu speaking 

Hon. Basil Ejidike welcoming Princess Oduah

Lady Ukeji meets the Princess

Leader of Anambra leaders of thought Chief C.N Udeh speaking

Leaders of Onitsha South Political Zones

Leaders of Onitsha South welcoming Princess Oduah

Praying for peace and success of the event

Princess Oduah recieved by a little flower girl

Princess Stella addressing the audience

Some of the stakeholders supporters

Princess Stella Oduah wins Anambra North Senate Primaries

Breaking News.....
Former Aviation Minister and aspirant  to Anambra North Senatorial seat Princess Stella Oduah has won the PDP senatorial primaries held this morning at Nteje,Oyi L.G.A. Anambra state.She polled 259 votes  to defeat incumbent Senator Margery Okadigbo who polled 8 votes while Chief John Emeka polled 15 votes.
The voting was peaceful.

From Ononye VC reporting from Nteje.

Anambra North Senatorial Seat: Endorsement Galore for Princess Stella Oduah in Onitsha North LGA

Anambra North Senatorial Seat:

Endorsement Galore for Princess Stella Oduah in Onitsha North LGA 

- Pledges Erection of Town Hall for Onitsha Community

Former Aviation minister and presently an aspirant to Anambra North Senatorial seat, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah OON won the hearts of Onitsha indigenes and the wider community as she announced that she will erect a Town Hall for the Community.

This is coming on the heels of unanimous endorsement of her senatorial ambition by political stakeholders across Anambra North senatorial Zone.

Princess Oduah made this pledge in Onitsha during a reception organized for her by the Onitsha North Political stakeholders and the indigenous community held at the KSM guest house Onitsha during the week.

There was wild jubilation amongst the huge crowd as most of them shared the view that the Princess has broken an age long jinx in the community where since Adam, a town hall serving as a rallying point for the community was non existent.

Addressing the political stakeholders and members of the community, Princess Oduah said, ‘coming to Onitsha is like home coming to me because where my parents were among the early settlers’.

She lamented lack of some basic amenities Anambra North senatorial zone and promised to attract them to the commercial city and called for alignment of all to the ruling party and (PDP) and support for President Jonathan.

The representative of the Obi of Onitsha and the Akpeh Olodi of Onitsha. Chief Chulo Asika expressed gratitude to Princess Oduah for her promise to attract democracy dividend and erection of a town hall for the community and the entire Anambra North senatorial zone.

According to Chief Asika, the antecedents of Princess Oduah and her monumental achievements of in the aviation industry speak volumes about her.

In their separate speeches, the President General of Onitsha improvement Union Mr. Peter Nwagu, the spokesman of the prestigious Agbalanze Onitsha society, Ononenyi Odi Obi, the spokesman of the Out Odu society Mrs. Mary Onwualu and Mrs. Nwachi Egwuatu for the Ikporo Onitsha group expressed their strong support for the candidature of Princess Oduah for the Anambra North Senatorial Seat.

Princess Oduah was accompanied to the reception by chairman of her campaign organization Chief Okwudili Uzoka, the Director General of the campaign organization Chief Hon Pandola Okwuosa, Hon. Jessie Balonwu and Her Excellency Mrs. Stella Odife.

Other members of her entourage include Princess Nwaka Ononuju, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, the PDP chairman Onitsha North Mr. Jonathan Iheme, the co-ordinator of campaign Onitsha North L.G.A Mr. Oraegbuna Amene among others.

By Ononye V.C

President General of Onitsha Mr. Peter Nwagu speaking

Hon Dr. Alex Obiogbolu speaking 

Hon Barr Jessie Balonwu addressing the audience

Princess Stella Oduah Hails Onitsha Monarch, Igwe Alfred Achebe At Ofala Festival - Women Groups, Others Cheer the Princess

Former Aviation Minister Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah’s arrival at the Ime-Obi Square, Obi’s palace Onitsha, venue of this year’s Ofala festival of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe, triggered excitement amongst hundreds of spectators especially women groups who wanted to catch a glimpse of her.

The excitement may have been elicited by the huge gathering following recent unprecedented humanitarian and charitable works and assistance given to the less privileged and especially widows by the Princess Stella Oduah Foundation across Anambra North Senatorial Zone.

Princess Oduah had attended the Ofala festival to pay homage to Igwe Alfred Achebe as a mark of respect to the monarch and appreciation of his peaceful reign in the ancient kingdom of Onitsha.

Before paying homage to Igwe Achebe, the Princess took time to trek round the arena to greet the cheering crowd after she was led into the arena by a cultural troupe and a retinue of aides which include a former Rep. of the Ogbaru Fed. Consituency, Hon. Chief Okwudili Uzoka, Hon. Pandola Okwuosa, Dr. Alex Obiogolu, Hon. Basil Ejidike, Princess Chuchu Onyema, Mrs. Amaka Ebenebe and Lady Nwaka Ononuju.

Reacting to questions from journalists after paying homage to Igwe Achebe, Princess Stella commended Igwe Alfred Achebe for improving tremendously on what his predecessors left behind in terms of customs and tradition of Onitsha people which she described as rich and historic.

She pointed out that as a Royal Princess of her home town Akili-Ozizor, she shares almost the same culture and traditional sentiments with Onitsha people just as the entire Onitsha and Ogbaru people see themselves as brothers and sisters. 

By Ononye V.C

Pictures of the event below

Princess fielding questions from Journalists

Princess Stella greeting cross section of title holders 

Princess Stella greeting women leaders

Princess Stella sitting in the midst of traditional rulers 

Hon. Engr. Egwuatu greeting the Princess

Igwe Alfred Achebe taking the Traditional Egwu Ota dance step

Mr. Peter Nwagu, President Gen. Onitsha Improvement Union greets the Princess

Prince Chuchu Onyema, Princess Oduah, Chief Hon Okwudili Uzoka at the venue

Princess greeting members of the Prestigious Otu Odu Onitsha

Princess greeting members of the Agbalanze Onitsha

Princess Adaeze Stella Oduah bends low to prostrate before the Obi as a mark of respect and homage

The Princess greeting Ikporo-Ogbe Onitsha

                                                          The Princess Stella arriving the Ofala with a retinue of aids