STELLA ODUAH IN BIG DILEMMA, SET TO DEFECT FROM PDP...WHY SHE'S YET TO START HER CAMPAIGN

                                                       * Princess Stella Oduah

As the buildup continues for the 2019 General Election, there are very strong indications that Senator Stella Oduah will soon defect to another party.

ECD sniffed from reliable sources close to her office of her plans to shift base from her PDP family where she made her mark and propelled to the Senate representing Anambra North.

However to which party she is headed is still unknown.

Oduah popularly called Adaezechukwu by her close associates had allegedly planned to decamp to APGA following a pact with Governor Obiano to support him during his reelection.

Obiano in return was to guarantee his cooperation for her return to the Senate during the General Elections in 2019.

However,  her current travails and several invitations by the EFCC over alleged financial misdemeanor during her reign as Aviation Minister seems to be leaving her in a big confusion and causing a delay over her choice of party and time of bailing out.

This dilemma stems from the fact that not joining Obiano as agreed will seem like a big betrayal to a pact well made while defecting to APC may be the tonic to deter the EFCC from whirling around her ears like stubborn mosquitoes.

Again it is alleged that some friends are also wooing her for the new grouping in the SDP led by Prof Jerry Gana and co. 

These problems as well as many others are said to be preventing her from starting her campaign to return to the senate where she seems not to have an immediate competitor.

Oduah has been very angry with her party PDP in Anambra and even took it to court before the Anambra election for trumping up former Secretary of Anambra state Government Oseloka Obaze as its flag bearer over and above other old members, an action that may have polarized the party across board.

She is said to also be miffed by the non cohesion in PDP at the moment especially in Anambra where aggrieved members are yet to be appeased since “Peter Obi hijacked the party” according to a source

An insider told ECD that “Madam has not been happy with PDP in Anambra of late and still has not calmed down concerning the political arrangement of her party. I think she is waiting for the right time to dump his folks in the umbrella party” the source concluded

The top class business woman from Akili Ozizor in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state who played big in the oil and gas sector ran Sea Petroleum and Gas (SPG) for many years before the pull of politics dragged her away into its murky waters.

PETE EDOCHIE AT 71 ...20 AMAZING THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT HIM

1.He was born March 7, 1947

2.He was raised in Kaduna so speaks fluent Hausa

3.He attended St John’s school Kaduna

4.His late father worked with the Nigerian Railways

5.He started work as a radio announcer,   broadcaster, sports commentator and journalist

6.He worked for Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting service, East Central state Broadcasting Service and then Anambra state Broadcasting service(Enugu and Awka)

7.He set up and was first Director of first FM station east of the Niger ABS Sunrise 96

8.He has the greatest collection of classical music that any individual or organization in Nigeria

9.He presented the most popular classical music programme on radio for many years

10His role of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart gave him huge popularity and made the film win the Priced Pieces Award

11.His brother Tony also was a broadcaster

12.He is mentor to Kelvin Ugwu of FRCN, Iyke Agu of Magic FM Aba,  Helen Bassey Osijo formerly of Raypower/AIT,  Chris Agwo Odili(Snake), Gboliwe Iwobi Amakeze,  Ladygely Oby Okonkwo , Chris Ojukwu and a long host of others

13.He is an unrepentant Catholic who says 15 decades of the Rosary daily

14.He is one of Africa’s most talented actors

15.H.e is member order of the Niger

16.He produced a film; Avenge me Iwene my son..a film on Father Tansi

17.He is father to popular actors Linc and Governorship candidate, Yul Edochie

18.He is father to Leo, Adam, Linc, Eva and Yul

19.He got married to his pretty wife Josephine when he was 22 years

20.He has many grandchildren

MR FANS CLOSES OUTLET

                                                     * Fan Ndubuoke,.. Proprietor Mr Fans 

Signs are that popular eatery and entertainment spot Mr. Fans may have closed shop in Ejigbo.

To be seen at the eatery which hitherto was situated at the Iyana Ejigbo but later relocated to another expansive spot further down on Number 18 Ifoshi road is a closed gate and one or two security staff perambulating.

When ECD visited, the gate into the outdoor garden was permanently closed while the red colored railings of the dwarf gate into the eatery proper and the VIP bar have been turned into clothes hanger for washed clothes of the remnants of workers.

A car is seen parked inside the compound while another is outside the gates.

Also to be seen is a mattress at the entrance of the main eatery.

No statement has been made about the new development even as the remnant of staff remain mute to all questions. But many think that the closure of Mr. Fans in Ejigbo may not be unconnected with the low patronage and uncertain business climate generally being experienced in recent times

Mr. Fans is the brain child of popular sports journalists and administrator Fan Ndubuoke with branches across Nigeria.

The opening of the new and expansive Mr. Fans Ejigbo was a grand and memorable event which saw Nollywood stars including KOK , Victor Osuagwu etc on hand to spice up the event.

Dat Nigga Raw also performed at that grand opening. 

Several calls to Imo state born Ndubuoke who was former Manager of Heartland FC of Owerri did not go through however a reliable source say “ services has only been  suspended rather than closed”

Former Rivers state Governor Dr Peter Odili sets up first private medical University in Port Harcourt …To award 6 scholarships yearly

Celebrated Medical practitioner and former Governor of Rivers state Dr Sir Peter Otunuya Odili has given reasons why he set up the first private medical university in Nigeria.

According to Odili at the inauguration of former Head of state Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar as Chancellor of the fully equipped institution of higher medical learning it is “to provide excellent medical training for the production of world-class medical and health science professionals characterized by the core values of knowledge, discipline and humane service.

He declared “Firstly, PAMO University of Medical Sciences is the first private university of medical sciences to be established in Nigeria. Secondly, it has set a record in being the university that took the shortest time to plan and establish. It took only eleven months from submission of our “letter of intent” to the granting of an operating license by the Federal Government. Thirdly, PAMO University of Medical Sciences is the first private university of any type to be established in Rivers State”

Odili also said that “PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) is a citadel of excellence in the delivery of tertiary education in the medical and health sciences in Nigeria. The University represents the efforts of the PAMO Educational foundation and its Board of Trustees to make meaningful contributions to the development of medical education in Nigeria.

Three faculties including the faculty of Clinical sciences, Basic medical sciences and Allied health sciences already exists in the University Just as  calls for admission is already out for the 2017/2018 academic year at the school run by erudite Professor  Michael Diejomaoh formerly of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of  Kuwait.

The institution is situated on a large and expansive location of 21 acres land at No 1 Tap road Elelenwo, Port Harcourt,

Members of the Board of trustees include General Abdulsalam Abubakar as Chancellor with Justice Umar Faruk Abdulahi, Justice Olufunlola Adekeye(RTD), Senator Abu Ibrahim and Dr Peter Odili as members and founder respectively. Registrar is Barrister Walter Imoedemhe.

Dr Peter Odili has long had a vision to take his dedication to medical excellence to the next level via high-quality medical education to impact on future generations.

He also sees the realization of this dream as a prelude to Nigeria taking its pride of place in global medical tourism.

By Fred Iwenjora

TONY NWAULU’S SEAT AT THE FEDERAL HOUSE UP FOR GRABS AS AARE TAIWO TAOHEED PLANS TO OCCUPY IT

                                                  * Hon. Taiwo Taoheed...his eyes on the prize

Indications are that former Executive Secretary of Oshodi LGA Aare Taiwo Taoheed may have thrown his hat into the contest of who represents Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency 11 as jostling for the 2019 General Elections begins across board.Youthful, vibrant and upwardly looking Taiwo who started his meteoric rise in Lagos political circles in Isolo Oshodi in particular started from being a supervisor during the tenure of Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan as Chairman Ejigbo Local Council Development Area.

He later rose to serve as appointed Executive head of Oshodi where he was said to have contributed to the increment of internally generated revenue for Lagos state and worked for a cleaner Oshodi amongst other achievements on the seat.

Many think that as he now has his big eyes on the seat that Igbo born Tony Nwaulu is currently occupying, then the sky will be his limit as he has all it takes.

Since he posted his plans on Facebook and other forms of social media, positive comments have greeted his intention. 

The young man who just returned from a snowy vacation in the United States wrote; Together We Can and Together we will. Darkness cannot chase out Darkness...Only the Light can. Support me as we make history in Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency II.IT IS POSSIBLE! 

Watch out for more

FINAL BURIAL FOR RENOWNED IGBO MUSICIAN PERICOMO NWANKWO OKOYE

                                                         *Late Chief Pericomo Okoye

Renowned Igbo musician,  culture exponent and awe inspiring performer Chief Pericomo Damian Azubike Nwankwo Okoye who died February 16 2017 is set for final burial.

Even though the real cause of his death has not been given, but there are plans that the man who grew to become one of the grandmasters of Igbo traditional masquerade music whose style popularized his peoples (Aro Ndizuogu) culture and tradition worldwide is set to get a befitting burial.

According to ECD investigation, a burial committee made up of close family members, friends  and other great men and women of Arondizuogu including popular economist and banker HRH Prof. Greene Nwankwo who was ably represented by Prof Chinedu Uba, has reeled out a weeklong funeral arrangement.

Those who are privy to the arrangement say Chief Pericomo whose over 40 years of many albums tell tales of his immense talents will be interred at his Ndiogbuonyeoma, Ndibeuche Village on Monday April 9, 2018. 

In a social media announcement jointly signed by Mazi Uche Ohia and Ikenna Aniche, a wake keeping  and night of tributes will kick start the funeral activities for the late Icon on Sunday 8, April 2018.

 Condolence visits will continue throughout the week after the traditional Ipa Ota ceremonies.

Born in 1948, Pericomo Nwankwo Okoye popularly known with many sobriquets like Ichie Mezuo rose to musical limelight in the early 70s after the civil war when he joined the choir of St Michaels Catholic church in his home town.

He later was invited by the then famous Njima cultural music Troupe where he became their lead vocalist and shinning light.

After an album release, Pericomo also called Alusi Makaja left the group following a disagreement and gathered the nucleus of his own Troupe which perfected the fusion of the metal and wooden gongs and drums, flutes and other percussive instruments to drum home his very poignant messages bothering on societal ills.

                                           *Pericomo before another superlative performance

 His first solo album was made in 1976.

 Many other uncountable albums followed on a yearly basis including the famous Ejezuo,  Isi na Udo ga adi in two volumes, Ekere Mgba, Izu kamma na nneji, Obudu Special, Ute Nti, Aja Egbu edi, Irigworugwo, High Tension  etc.

Others are Nduka Aku, Oderigwugwu, Ogbaghara, Awirigidi, Zuzugboizugbo zugbo and a host of others.

One of his famous tracks was Oga atakwu ta ya aja( concrete) where he sang about how evil men will get their due punishment.

The Ikeeji, the famous new yam festival that put Arondizuogu into the world map of tourism also enjoyed the patronage of Chief Pericomo.

It saw every native son and daughter of Arondizuogu return home with their friends and will certainly not be the same since his demise.

In his later years, he started being referred to as Lion of Africa after being cast in a Nollywood movie of that title.

By Fred Iwenjora

IGBO BIG BOY SURVIVES ASSASINATION ATTEMPT …..How he disarmed one of his assailants *We’re on top of the matter…Police

                                                        Mr Imohimi Edgal, Lagos CP 

The Police in Lagos is currently on the trail of four suspected hired assassins who robbed and beat to pulp, popular Igbo trader ( names withheld )at Ladipo auto market, Lagos leaving him for dead.

The incident happened at Okeafa Ejigbo, Lagos.

Eye witnesses say the suspected assassins stormed the young father of two’s residence in oke afa Ejigbo in the wee hours of the night and scaled the fence landing inside his sitting room.

Said  the source “for two hours, the killers ransacked the entire house asking about the N3m he had sold earlier in the day. They tortured the man and his family including a young wife and two children.

They beat him with all kinds of objects breaking his head leaving him in a massive pool of blood and carting away money and other valuables from the house.

However luck ran out for one of the assailants who was last to leave the apartment when the man whom they had left for dead sprang up like a lion and grabbed him after his men had successfully scaled the walls in escape.

The alarm was raised and the entire neighbourhood descended on the criminal. He also tasted a bitter dose of his own medicine as he was beaten to coma.

Sources at Ejigbo Police station say the Police is on top of the issue following up on the investigation to unravel the brains behind the assault.

ECD gathered that the arrested suspect who spent weeks at the hospital is currently assisting the Police in their investigation.  

By ECD Reporters