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President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, High Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has called on the Igbos in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration to succeed.

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Iwuanyanwu stated this when he received the leadership and members of the Igbo Community Assembly in his Abuja home on Thursday.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain said although the Igbos did not vote for the President during the 2023 general election because they believed it should have been the turn of the South East, he said nonetheless the Igbos will give every support to make sure that the current government succeeds and bring succour to Nigerians.

He said President Tinubu is for all Nigerians because the apex court in the land, the Supreme Court, declared him as the duly elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He stated that should Nigeria fail as a country, it is the Igbos that will suffer the most because they have invested in Nigeria more than any other tribes and believe in the unity of the country.

“I want to let you know that during the last general election, we didn’t vote for the present administration but he (Tinubu) has been declared the President of Nigeria by the Electoral Commission. The court has declared him up to the Supreme Court. So, as your leader, I have proclaimed that Igbos, as good citizens of Nigeria, will support him. We are going to support him because we want Nigeria to be a success. If Nigeria fails, Igbos are going to suffer more than any tribe.

“If Nigeria is a corporate body like a company, I think we (Igbos) have more investments than many other tribes. Like Abuja for example, the Igbos have a lot of investment here. So if Nigeria has a problem, Igbos are going to suffer. So, if the government fails, Igbos are going to suffer more than any groups because Igbos have more investments in most parts of the country than other groups.

“I think it is my duty as your leader to say that we are going to give every support we can to help the government to succeed. But we also expect the government to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that what belongs to us is given to us. Nobody likes a situation where what he has is taken from him.

“You all know that the President worked for MKO Abiola and Abiola was my friend. I knew him (Tinubu) that time through Abiola. It is true that we didn’t support him during the election because we believe that it should be an Igbo person. Now we have no reason not to support him and I don’t have anything whatsoever against him. All we require now is to expect him to ensure that what belongs to us and what we have already is not taken away from us,” Iwuanyanwu said.

 

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Kaduna: Juji residents cry out over abandoned bridge

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Residents of the Juji community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have raised fresh concerns over the abandonment of a bridge project linking the town to Ungwan Gimbiya, warning that the situation has worsened with the onset of the rainy season.

The bridge, which has remained incomplete for several years, is now severely affected by erosion and stagnant floodwaters, leaving it nearly impassable and posing serious risks to residents.

Speaking with reporters, locals described how heavy rainfall often renders the route unusable, disrupting daily life.

“Each time it rains, children can’t get to school, and many parents are unable to leave for work,” a resident said. “We are cut off completely. The waterlogged path is dangerous to cross.”

Community members say the abandoned infrastructure has left them stranded and exposed, especially schoolchildren and traders who rely on the route.

They are calling on the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Roads Agency, KADRA, to urgently resume and complete the project.

“This is no longer a minor complaint, it’s affecting our survival,” one resident added.

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Nigeria has regressed to electoral autocracy – LPPMC

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The Liberal Progressive & Patriotic Members Congress, LPPMC, has observed with dismay that Nigeria has regressed to electoral autocracy and needs constitutional disobedience to reset the system.

In a communiqué issued by the National Coordinator of LPPMC, Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, on behalf of 21 other leaders, the Congress stressed the need for an immediate biometric audit of INEC’s voter register, blockchain-based voting systems to prevent tampering, and live streaming of all results collation.

The meeting stated that when courts legitimize electoral heists, democracy becomes tyranny, and resolved to pursue a constitutional amendment to punish judicial officers who subvert electoral justice and impose a 90-day limit for election petitions.

The communiqué stated that 25 years of democracy have not addressed northern marginalization and called for constitutional recognition of power rotation between regions and religions.

On grassroots mobilization, LPPMC says it would launch “Democracy Literacy Campaigns” in all 774 LGAs, assuring that it would reserve 40% of leadership slots for women and youth (per gender policy debates).

LPPMC said, “The 2023 elections showed rigging is now institutionalized. We must act now or lose Nigeria completely.”

It alleged that Labour Party’s hijacking proves the need for new safeguards against political predators and called for the formation of a 37-state Coalition for Electoral Integrity by July 1.

It gave INEC an ultimatum to clean the voter register by August 30 and commence mass voter education by September 12.

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Apo mechanic village traders to shut shops for President Tinubu’s visit, project commissioning

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Traders, mechanics, and shop owners in Abuja’s Apo Mechanic Village said they will temporarily close their businesses on Friday, June 13, to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This is as he commissions a major road project in the area. This is contained in a statement signed by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant, Public Communications and Social Media on Thursday.

According to him, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has  announced that the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Stage II — from Ring Road I (RRI) Junction to Wasa Junction — will be officially commissioned by President Tinubu at 2:30pm.

As part of the arrangements, the Apo-Wasa road will be closed to vehicular movement from 11:00am to 4:00pm to ensure a smooth ceremony and adequate security, the statement added.

He said motorists are advised to use alternative routes during this period.

He said, “Also, traders, mechanics and other shop owners in the Apo Mechanic Village have offered to close their shops tomorrow, to enable them give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a rousing welcome, and participate in the commissioning of the road project.”

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