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ASATU Prime Minister Metchie begins construction of joint security base for Army, Police, others in Anambra
Photo caption:
Amb John Metchie (Middle on ash Safari suit), Sen. Emma Anosike (speaking) and others at the foundation laying event weekend
By our reporter
A joint security base that would accommodate the Nigerian Army, Police, Civil Defence and similar agencies is underway to cater for Omambala region of Anambra State.
The project which is being funded solely by the Prime Minister of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Ambassador John Metchie who is also the President General of Umueri community, is part of efforts to frontally tackle and combat insecurity in about four local government areas of the state.
Cited at the border between Anambra-East and West, the base when completed, would make it easier for the benefitting security agencies to engage in rapid response against banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities in area.
Performing the foundation stone laying ceremony, a former lawmaker, Senator Emma Anosike said the project is a welcome development and a timely response to insecurity in the region.
Anosike stated that security is a collective responsibility of all and maintained that the establishment of a joint unit for the Nigerian Army and other agencies would go a long way to guarantee a secured atmosphere not only in Umueri community but the entire Omambala region comprising Anambra-East, Anambra-west, Ayamelum and few other local governments in the North senatorial district.
The former lawmaker therefore thanked Chief John Metchie for his lofty ideas and service to humanity adding that his philanthropy has yielded monumental results to the benefits of the communities and humanity in general.
In his response, Metchie who is also the Deputy Commander General of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) in charge of Technical Service said he chose to construct the joint base for the security agencies to foster unity of purpose among them in order that they would synergise to rid the region of criminalities.
Metchie said the project was another way he is responding to the call of the state Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo for all hands to be on deck in issues of security in particular and overall development of Anambra state in general.
The Umueri President-General further disclosed that with the recommendation of the Police, Army, the DSS and the local government chairman, a security post was voted to be cited at the border between Anambra-East and West for crime control in the area.
He however admonished other well to do members of the society and communities to borrow a leaf from Umueri community as government, according to him, cannot do everything alone, adding that citizens should be able to assist government in addressing basic needs and challenges affecting their respective domains.
Metchie equally lauded the efforts of the government of Soludo in combating insecurity in Anambra state, stressing that it was Governor Soludo who upon inception of office, initiated home land security for Ndi-Anambra.
Chief Emma Edochie a prominent citizen of Umueri community who commended the President-General for the project he undertook singlehandedly, said the nearest Army base is Onitsha, adding that to have a base in Umueri community will enhance security and reduce crime rate in the area.
Present at the official foundation stone laying ceremony were military officials, officers of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service among other dignitaries.
News
Turaki-led PDP wins as Court of Appeal affirms Wole Oluyede as duly nominated candidate for Ekiti
Dr. Wole Oluyede has been affirmed as the duly nominated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Ekiti State governorship election.
The Court of Appeal, Akure Division, made the affirmation in a landmark judgment, thereby giving validity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election for the same.
In a unanimous decision, the three-man appellate panel led by Hon. Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah, alongside Hon. Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang and Hon. Justice Peter O. Affen, set aside the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti.
The justices held that the primary election conducted by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) was valid, transparent, and complied with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
On the 13th of January, 2026, the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti nullified the Ekiti State Governorship primary election conducted on the 8th and 9th November, 2025.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Party appealed to the Court of Appeal and today, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court..
The Court further held that the primary election was duly conducted.
This judgment effectively puts to rest the leadership and candidacy disputes that have shadowed the party’s preparations for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election. By upholding the Turaki-led process, the Court has provided the necessary legal finality to ensure the PDP enters the general election as a unified front.
News
India slaps Nigeria, rejects Tinubu’s ambassador-designate
India and some other countries have reportedly declined to accept some of President Bola Tinubu’s recently posted ambassadors-designate due to diplomatic policies that discourage receiving envoys from administrations with less than two years remaining in office.
According to reports in the media, India, where career diplomat Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru has been designated to serve, maintains a standing policy against accepting ambassadors from governments with tenures of less than two years remaining.
India is exercising its discretionary powers to turn down the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ request to accept Dahiru’s posting.
According to sources quoted by the report, the Federal Government was already receiving signals from New Delhi and possibly other capitals about their reluctance to grant agrément.
Agrément is the formal approval given by a receiving country to accept a diplomat designated by the sending country, and it is a prerequisite before an ambassador can assume duty.
“They don’t accept an ambassador from an administration that has less than two years in office. So they are giving us that body language already,” a Presidency official was quoted to have said
The source continued, “Some countries are reluctant to accept some people, not because of the individuals but because of time. They are already seeing the Tinubu government as an outgoing government.
“So their concern is that he has just one year left, so what if he doesn’t win the election? Another government may come and remove them. We also understand that some countries have this policy. Any ambassador from an administration that has less than a year or two in office will not get accepted. And one of such countries is India.”
News
Belonging to two political parties to attract imprisonment
The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended Section 77 of the recently assented Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe two-year jail term or N10 million fines or both, for anyone who knowingly maintains membership of two political parties at the same time.
Lawmakers during the committee of the whole presided by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, made amendment to section 77 of the 2026 Act by inserting three new clauses 8, 9 and 10 which were considered and approved by lawmakers after a heated session of back and forth debates.
According to the new clauses approved by lawmakers, any party member found to be registered as member of more than one political party at the same time will have his or membership of the said parties voided.
Clause (8) of the approved amendment stipulates that “A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time.”
Clause (9) stipulates that “Where it is established that a person is registered as a member of more than one political at the same time, such dual membership shall be void, and the person shall cease to be recognised as a valid member of any political party pending regularisation in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the constitution of the political party concerned.
Clause (10) stipulates that “A person who knowingly registers or maintains membership in more than one political party at the same time commits an offence is liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years, or both.”
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