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BRING BACK IKEDI OHAKIM (PART 2)

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8 years ago

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I will never forget my friend Jenifer. I have told you this story before. Situation demands that i say it again. I remember the first day when she walked into my room drunk. That was in 2012. She sat down. ‘I’ve come’ she said, ‘to tell you the latest news about Rochas Okorocha ,your Governor in Douglas House, Owerri. He is sacking more workers. After the 10,000 workers, he has sacked another 30,000 workers ’

Everybody knows Jenifer in the neighbourhood. She was among the 10,000 Imo State Civil Servants popularly known as Ohakim 10,000 jobs that Governor Rochas Okorocha sacked on the 6th of June 2011. Today, she hates Rochas with a passion for making her and her sister unemployed. She took up the vodka drinking habit when she lost her job. She has dark skin, tiny boobs, long shiny dark hair, and brown eyes. She looks very athletic. Her cloth hugs her body; the lightest of cotton.

When Jenifer told me that day of another mass sack in Imo State, it shocked me. I quickly made phone calls and discovered that the news was true. Jenifer pulled her hair up and piled it on top of her head. She let her eyes look at my eyes, and then she dropped her hair and let it fall down in front of her face. When I saw Jenifer in that mood, I felt her pains of unemployment and the sadness was so great. Today Jenifer is still drinking. She and her sister are still unemployed.

On that first day that she entered my room, i stood up , touched her wrists and hands. I felt sorry for her. Okorocha overlooked the fact that the average Nigerian worker has four dependents – at least two living with him and he removed food from the table of the masses that voted him into power. Jenifer walked away from the mirror and said something that is true today. ‘’This is not what we bargained. All the things we were told during the election, all the love we chased, all the good campaign promises, what happened to them?’ ‘We now have an Imo state of unemployed youths; Imo state were minimum wages are denied workers, Imo state were workers are owed salaries, Imo state were the people are being denied employment in spite of their potentials; Imo state of escalating executive lawlessness, Imo state were LGA funds are looted, Imo state of disregard for constitutional rights. Government in Imo today is Owelle only . Those in government today are suffocating. The teachers are suffering. The civil servants are suffering. Business men are suffering. Even the traders are suffering. What we have now in Imo State is the more you look the less you see’ she said

Just like Jenifer pointed out, politically, economically and socially, the government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha has shown inability to move Imo State forward. With Imo’s huge resources and financial allocations from FG the present state of socio-economic and political paralysis and unimaginable underdevelopment and mass misery of the vast majority of Imolites in all the LGA’s and sectors, provide an irrefutable proof of failure of the rule of Governor Okorocha.

For example, pension in Imo which previously is automatic for any worker that has worked for a certain period is now a cash pot for some capitalist thieving elements to embezzle and become financially bloated while thousands of Imo citizens entitled to pensions in Imo live or die in penury due to a backlog of unpaid pensions under one spurious excuse or another. The governor recently said he is going to pay pensioners but na so we dey always hear. Retired workers of Imo Broadcasting Corporation are still crying. Retired primary school teachers are crying. Staff of General Hospitals and Imo Transport Company are crying. I can go on and on to mention them.

Youths like Jenifer today, are completely without jobs. Governor Okorocha sacked 10,000 Imo graduates in the civil service and another 30,000 workers in our LGA’s . Why,why, why? Today he claims to have employed 15,000 teachers and 25,000 public servants when it is all scam. The great improvement, which the Imo working masses had previously got in the last administration vis-à-vis their working conditions have been drastically rendered ineffectual under the current and vicious neo-liberal, capitalist, anti-poor policies and practices of Okorocha.

He is not interested in genuine effort at developing public infrastructures or the economy through which millions of jobs can be provided. To him, economic growth is defined by the amount of billions that he can amass so as to compete with elements within his class. For me, Imo with its allocation and mostly untapped wealth, can guarantee decent and secure jobs for Imolites without tears. I cry for the members of the House of Assembly Service Commission that Okorocha sacked. I cry for the members of the Civil Service Commission that he sacked. I cry for the members of the Local Government Service Commission, Local Government Development Areas, Judicial Service Commission and Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers that he sacked. These are statutory commissions with fixed tenures that he illegally dissolved before the expiration of their tenure of office. I also cry for the 10,000 workers, people like Jenifer.

Okorocha’s government has also earned its name in the corruption hall of fame. His government’s corruption is gargantuan. Aside superintending over massive looting, the Okorocha’s government has openly and unashamedly associated with every tom, dick and harry in the corruption business. Financial scam is now everywhere in Imo State. What happened to the N13.3 Billion Bond Proceeds out of the N18.5 taken by the Imo State Government during Ohakim’s regime? What happened to the N3 Billion SUBEB project account? What is happening to our Sure-P funds? What happened to the N2.5 Billion Local Government Joint Project Account? What happened to the N3.6 Billion left in JAAC Account by the previous administration? What about the N488 Million in VAT account? Who squandered the N132 Billion Local Government Allocations for 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State from May 2011 to December 2013? Who squandered the N16billion ISOPADEC funds? Who squandered N670 Million Imo children funds? Who squandered the flood assistance funds of Imo State?

Where is the money stolen in Connivance with Jpros Company Limited from the Construction of Warehouse-Orlu-Road Junction? Governor Okorocha’s administration paid JPROS a total of N1.35 Billion Naira for the above road. Where is the N458 Million Naira laundered to Dubai and Lebanon with the connivance of the Governor’s former Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and strong political associate Prince Macdonald Akano and Mr. Joseph Dina of JPROS International Limited? I can go on and on.

Today he claims to be paying monthly stipend to pupils and students in all the public schools in Imo State when the payment is occasional. He claims to have spent millions of naira procuring free school uniforms, bags, sandals, desks, books etc for pupils and students in all the public schools in Imo State but provided only few uniforms and canvass to few wards. What about the sale of ADAPALM to Roche Group(his company), the sale of Imo Transport Company (I.T.C.), Concorde Hotel, Children’s Park (opposite Concorde Hotel Owerri), state General Hospitals etc for many years.What about the Sale of Imo Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA) graders, bulldozers, pay-loaders etc to himself . What about the alleged auction of world-class Printing and Sword Machines worth over 200 million naira belonging to Imo Newspapers to his private printing press in Lagos. What about the borrowing of many Billions of Naira from banks and denying that no money was borrowed?

My brothers we must get Imo out of this one chance vehicle. The people of Imo must first and foremost remove from power this ruling capitalist thieving elite and in his place institute a workers and poor people’s friendly government whose central strategy would be based on the mobilization of Imo’s human and natural resources to meet the needs of full economic development and decent living for all Imolites and not just for a few thieving capitalist elements. We need someone to proffer genuine anti-capitalist, pro-masses economic and political alternatives to the ruinous policies of the present capitalist thieving cabal in Imo State.

Who is the popular candidate with grass root support that will help us out among the lot? I will desire that all aspirant will engage all Imolite as Ohakim is doing. It is better we pick Ohakim from this point, give him all our expectations of responsible future leadership in Imo State.Let us give him an audience and hear him. He has realised that power really belongs to the people and is ready to lead the people with uncommon service. Imo must learn forgiveness from Ekiti so that the fresh air in Ekiti can get to the virulent section of the South East. Yes we needs someone that is more popular at the grass root than the lot and only a popular and experienced candidate can defeat a sitting governor. Let’s take the step to support Ohakim. As I said before it is better to bring out the diamond in Ohakim. Imo state need strong leadership-Men and Women who are simple,wise,humble, creative and above all courageous. Let’s Bring Back Ikedi Ohakim to give our youths jobs and to make Imo better.

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Beware of fake Oxycontin in circulation, NAFDAC warns public

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1 day ago

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March 21, 2025

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has alerted the public on falsified Oxycontin 80mg (oxycodone hydrochloride) which it says was detected in an unregulated market in Switzerland.

The public alert with No. 07/2025 was uploaded on the agency’s website on Thursday.
The agency said the issue about falsified medicine was reported to the World Health Organisation by the genuine manufacturer, MUNDIPHARMA, in February.

It said the falsified product imitated the genuine OXYCONTIN 80mg authorised for sale in Poland, adding that the genuine OXYCONTIN (oxycodone hydrochloride) is a semi-synthetic opioid indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.

It said laboratory tests of samples for the falsified product were conducted by the Drug Information Centre in Zurich, Switzerland, and that WHO, DIZ’s drug-checking service determined that the tablets did not contain oxycodone but a synthetic opioid likely to be a nitazene compound.

According to NAFDAC, Nitazene derivatives (e.g., metonitazene, isotonitazene, fluonitazene) are potent synthetic opioids, primarily used in research due to their high addiction potential and severe side effects.

It said these substances could be hundreds of times stronger than oxycodone, posing a high overdose risk, stressing that limited information is available on their risks, toxicity, side effects, and long-term consequences.

“The identified product in this alert is confirmed as falsified on the basis that it deliberately/fraudulently misrepresented its identity, composition, or source.

“The falsified product imitates OXYCONTIN 80mg manufactured and marketed by MUNDIPHARMA in the Polish market. MUNDIPHARMA has confirmed that the product was falsified and was not produced by their company.

“This falsified product has been found to contain undeclared nitazene compounds, which pose a significant risk due to the high likelihood of adverse events, even in small doses. Nitazenes produce similar effects to other opioids.

“Their high potency carries a high risk of overdose and death. Using nitazene derivatives has been linked to several deaths.

“Mixing them with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be very dangerous, leading to severe effects like respiratory depression, low blood pressure, coma, or even death,” NAFDAC said.

It said that this falsified product posed a particular risk to individuals with substance use disorders who might perceive this falsified product as a safe and quality-assured medicine.

NAFDAC said that visible discrepancies were observed on the falsified product such as the placement of the batch and expiry dates on the counterfeit product were incorrect.

It added that the falsified product batch and expiry date are visible on the front side of the blister strip, adding that genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch and expiry date visible on the back of the blister strip.

NAFDAC stated that on the falsified product, the expiry date is on the left and the batch number is on the right, pointing out that genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch number on the left and the expiry date on the right.

According to NAFDAC, all its zonal directors and state coordinators have been instructed to conduct surveillance and retrieve any falsified products of this medicine found within their zones and states in Nigeria.

It said that importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid importation, distribution, sale, and use of falsified OXYCONTIN tablets.

NAFDAC said that all medical products/ medical devices must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers, stressing that products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

It advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

It said that healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office.

NAFDAC said that healthcare professionals and patients could also report to the agency through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng

NAN

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Rivers emergency rule: Why I walked out – Senator Dickson opens up on what happened at Senate close section

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1 day ago

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March 21, 2025

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The lawmaker representing the Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Seriake Dickson, has revealed that he walked out of the red chamber on Thursday following a heated argument regarding the approval of the State of Emergency in Rivers State.

SOCIETY REPORTERS reports that the Senate on Thursday approved the emergency rule and the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all the state lawmakers, as declared by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.

During the Thursday plenary, Senator Dickson, who stiffly opposed the proclamation, had a brief argument with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, before the House proceeded to a closed session.

In a statement on Friday, Senator Dickson revealed that he raised his “objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription based on my views as a Democrat, sworn to uphold the Nigerian constitution.”

The lawmaker also revealed that though the Senate did not undertake the debate in an open session, “it was quite robust.”

The former governor of Bayelsa State listed Senators Waziri Tambuwal and Enyinnaya Abaribe among those who kicked against the proclamation.

Part of the statement reads: “I left the plenary before the Senate President was directed to report the outcome because I didn’t want to be present while what I opposed was being reported. I believe Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe, and others also left.

“I want to make it clear that, as I stated repeatedly, I spoke and voted against the proclamation in our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognized to speak.

“And so I want to thank all the senators who shared the view that I vigorously canvassed.

“I am, however, aware of the efforts made to modify the declaration as a result of the concerns and views we have expressed and canvassed over the past few days.

“Though I acknowledge the effort being made by the leadership and the President to moderate the terms of the declaration and to create a mechanism for oversight, theoretically, this does not counter the primary issue of constitutionality.

“The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority will have their way.

“I would have wished for a more robust and open debate so that all views and opinions could be openly canvassed, as I requested even at the closed session specifically, and thereafter, the majority could have their way. But as it is, both chambers have decided, and the ball is now in the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any challenge.”

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Just In: Court restrains INEC from receiving petition for recall of Natasha

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1 day ago

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March 21, 2025

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The Federal High Court, Lokoja, has granted an interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from receiving petitions for the purpose of initiating a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

SOCIETY REPORTERS reports that the push to recall the suspended senator intensified on Thursday, with more groups in Kogi Central throwing their weight behind the process.

However, a group of Ebira indigenes refuted the claim that the recall process was being sponsored and influenced with money by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political opponents.

Nevertheless, the court, which gave the order on Thursday, also restricted INEC staff, agents, privies, or assigns from accepting or acting on any petition containing fictitious signatures of purported members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District and from conducting any referendum pending the determination of the motion on notice to the same effect.

The court, according to the order paper made available to newsmen on Friday morning, granted the application following an ex-parte application for an interim injunction supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency.

The court processes were sworn to by Anebe Jacob Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of the Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State.

However, the application was moved by Smart Nwachimere, Esq., of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co., but the case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for a report of service and further mention.

Reacting to the development, a pressure group, Action Collective, commended the judiciary for granting the order.

The group’s coordinator, Dr. Onimisi Ibrahim, said in his reaction that the order would further expose the impunity of some sponsored individuals behind the failed plot to recall Senator Natasha.

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