Hoodlums have again, attacked and demolished a 67-year-old visually impaired man’s house, Mr Anibeze Nnadi.from Awoke-Agana family in Uwani-Otobo, Umuezike Aku in Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State.

The hoodlums was said to have arrived Nnadi’s house in their numbers at midnight when he was asleep, shot sporadically in the air, attacked him and brought him outside before demolishing the house.

Speaking to newsmen on Sunday in Enugu on the development, Nnadi accused the son of the suspended traditional ruler of the community, Prince Uzochukwu Okwor, of being responsible for the attack.

Reports says that Uzochukwu’s father, Igwe Christopher Okwor, was on September 2021, suspended by the Enugu State Government for allegedly demolishing a two bedroom building belonging to Nnadi, a house built for him by Ezemagu family over land issues.

Nnadi, who said that he had no issue with anyone, wondered why he had become a subject of attack.

“I am not quarrelling with anybody but they frequently attack me.

“I was in my house on Tuesday when I heard gun shots but before I knew it, they started beating me, drag me outside and demolished my house.

“This is the sixth time they are demolishing my house that good Samaritans built for me.

“The land they built on belong to me,” he said.

Nnadi, who said he had been suffering from serious body pain since the incident, however, appealed to Enugu State Government to come to his aid and build him another house.

The eldest man in Ezemagu family, Chief Daniel Ezemagu, said that the perpetrators carried out the act because the blind man had nobody to speak for him.

“We could not resist the attack because they came with guns and other weapons and were shooting everywhere.

“I want peace and I want Enugu State Government to help us achieve that peace by allowing truth to prevail,” he said.

Ezemagu further said that the continuous delay by the Enugu State Government to release report of its panel of enquiry on the matter was contributing to the suffering of the victim and causing breakdown of law and order.

He described the act as painful, stressing that they were suspecting Okwor’s son to have perpetrated the demolition.

He hinted that the community was planning for peace on Sunday but they came on Tuesday and demolished the place, leaving Nnadi homeless.

“I don’t know their interest in the matter. Government should help us to unravel those behind the demolition as we now live in fear,” he appealed.

Reacting, Okwor’s son, Prince Ugonna Okwor, said no member of the royal family had been attacking anybody.

He said that all the allegations were untrue and a ploy by Nnamdi Ezemagu to tarnish the image of the royal family.

According to him, there are several pending cases in court; they destroyed the building themselves and run to the media to seek sympathy.

“They have seen that my father is about to be reinstated by the Enugu State Government and came up with the demolition allegations.

“We agreed that everybody should build their own and that nobody should touch one another’s buildings but they continue building and demolishing and run to police to intimidate my younger brother.

“There is no blind man connection to the ownership of the land in suits in court,” Okwor said.

According to him, Nnadi had a house which they say it was inhabitable for him.

“Why can’t they build in his old house they demolished but prefer going to the land that is in contention to build for him?” he asked.

When contacted, Nnamdi Ezemagu stated that allegations by Okwor were false and a calculated attempt to divert the attention of the public from the criminal activity of his brothers and their gang.

He said that one Kenechukwu Ani was arrested and confessed to the crime of demolishing Nnadi’s house in 2021 through the connection of Uzochukwu Okwor and his father. (NAN)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun is his dancing partner.

Obasanjo made the remark at the inauguration of a VIP lodge in Osun Government House, on Sunday in Osogbo.

He, however, told Adeleke, who is usually referred to as the “dancing governor”, to focus on governing the state and do so with honesty and integrity.

“You remember that at one time I phoned you; I told you I didn’t have problems with your dancing.

“Some people once despise you as just a dancer, but I said only happy people dance; you are my dancing partner.

“You have to be honest with your conscience, with the people and with your God.

“You have to be a man of character. Let people say ‘when he sees opportunity to dance, he will dance, but he is a man of integrity, he is honest and works hard. It is very important.

“Anywhere we meet, we would dance and rejoice, if anybody wants to abuse us, they should go ahead,” he said.

 Obsanjo also commended Adeleke on his developmental programmes in Osun.

According to him, what he heard and saw since his arrival in the state was a testimony to the good work the governor was doing.

 “You are working on roads, don’t joke with it because when we make necessary provision for the people to have jobs, the state will work.

“Many Yoruba people want to work, but what is impeding that is the road to ply.

“When we provide wherewithal for them, they would work. I will plead with you to continue with that.

“You said government is a continuum and that all the abandoned projects are being completed.  God will make it good for you,” he said

In his remarks, Adeleke said that his administration would continue to ensure that laudable projects were completed for the common use of the people.

The governor, who noted that the VIP lodge was started by the APC government, said that he completed it due to his belief that public infrastructure should not be politicised.

“We assure all lovers of good governance that our administration is passionate about delivering on quality pro-peole policies for the benefit of all residents of the state,” he said.(NAN)

Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts toward fixing the country.

The Primate, in an address delivered to the second session of the 12th Synod organised by the Diocese of Abuja, identified the economy as one challenging area the President was striving to fix.

The synod had the theme: “By This Time Tomorrow: Breaking the Siege upon the Nation (2 Kings 7:1, 6-7)”.

It focused on breakthrough, deliverance, belief and strong faith in God

The Synod is the highest decision-making body of an Anglican Diocese. It is held every year with the Bishop presiding.

Synod of the Church of Nigeria is a platform for prayer, discussion of Church and national issues, decision-making, accountability, among others.

He said that the country’s economy was in a bad shape with the ordinary citizens feeling the pain on a daily basis.

He added that Tinubu needed strong recommendations from his Economic Policy Planners and Think-Tank in his drive to get Nigerians out of the current situation.

The Anglican Primate also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, for his visible developmental efforts that had ensured the completion of some infrastructural projects in the FCT.

He commended the Federal Government for renovating public schools and giving special attention to rural communities, adding that the collaboration with community leaders to achieve peace was also commendable.

“The efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and his team to stabilise the exchange rate are also commendable.

“Going forward, there is still a need to address some other factors that are contributing to the adverse economic conditions in Nigeria.

“In all, it has been an eventful first year of President Tinubu in office,” he said.

According to him, continuous borrowing contributes to inflationary pressure on the economy, adding that when government injects more money into circulation, it drives up prices which lead to a high cost of living for ordinary citizens.

He further maintained that the recent fuel scarcity and increase in the tariff on power were making life more difficult for the citizens.

“We support organised Labour’s demand that the Federal and State governments should intervene through the relevant ministries to alleviate the suffering of the people.

“The review of the minimum wages of Nigerians is very necessary in view of the hyper inflation and general harsh economic environment,” he added.

On food security, the Primate said that Nigeria was blessed with lots of natural resources, adding that its citizens were enterprising and hardworking.

He advised government to ensure that no Nigerian is left hungry or be unsure of food for its family.

“Food security is vital to the overall growth and stability in the country. So, our leaders must address the issue of insecurity because the challenge the citizens face concerning hunger and starvation is alarming.

Primate Ndukuba, however, said that the Church’s theme for the 2024 Synod was a message of hope and demonstration of the power of God to bring divine help in an overwhelming political and socio-economic misery.

“We need the word and divine intervention in our nation, Nigeria. We speak healing and restoration into the Nigeria situation. This siege must be broken, and total restoration shall come to Nigeria.”

Former Archbishop of Abuja Province and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh, in his goodwill message, urged Nigerians to join hands in praying for the actualisation of God’s intervention in the country.

He emphasised that the prophesy delivered by the Primate took a lot of courage and prayed for God’s intervention on His children and the country.

“When the people were suffering in Egypt, they were with the belief that a deliverer is coming to rescue them, which is the message that has just been delivered today.

“We are all anxiously waiting for these transformations in our country for the sake of our children who have no other country except Nigeria.

“Therefore, join your hands in prayer and join your hands in everything good for the actualisation of what God is doing,” Okoh said. (NAN)