Featured

China Loan: Group Threatens To Recall Hon. Ossai

Published

5 years ago

August 19, 2020

…Commends Amaechi’s commitment on proposed coastal rail

A group under the aegis of Progressive Grassroots Forum(PGF) in the Niger Delta region has said it would not hesitate to initiate a recall of Hon. Nicholas Ossai, member representing Ndokwa/Ukwani federal constituency in Delta State and Chairman, Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements, should he continue to probe the loan facility from China which would be used to construct the Lagos-Calabar railway project.

The group also condemned in totality of the move by Hon. Ossai and some leaders in the region serving in the National Assembly to deny the region’s developmental strides of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

In a release made available to the press Tuesday in Abuja, the Progressive Grassroots Forum (PGF) berated Hon. Nicholas Ossai for acting in a manner capable of depriving the region of the coastal rail project which connects Lagos to Calabar and other parts of the South-south region.

It also described as uncharitable the way in which Hon. Nicolas Ossai was handling the investigation, noting that any attempt to truncate the realization of the railway project meant for the people of the area would be vehemently rejected.

The group wondered why a lawmaker from the region who ought to have used his position to cooperate with the Minister of Transportation to bring about the success of the railway project to the people would now become a hindrance to the project.

The statement which reads in parts said ” We must join hands to condemn the move by some Niger Delta Leaders to deny us our share of the developmental strides of the current administration as deserved. We are not happy that our own son, Hon. Nicholas Ossai is the one questioning the rationality of the loans for the proposed rail project coming to the South-south.

” We are particularly disturbed by the development. How on earth would our own brother elected to bring about developments in the region turn against his own people by probing the loan which would bring about overall developments to our people, even when he knows that probing the loan can scare the Chinese from granting Nigeria the loan thereby denying us the project.

” For the avoidance of doubt, let it be made clear that we are not in any way stopping the committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements from performing its job, what we are saying is that the committee chaired by Hon. Ossai should suspend the probe until the loan facility is granted by China.

” The Minister of Transportation Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said it countlessly that should the committee continue with the probe, it may scare the Chinese from granting Nigeria the loan meant for the coastal rail line.

“So it is in this regard that we are calling on the committee Chairman and his members to suspend forthwith, the probe until the loan is granted, to enable the South-south region benefit from the railway project”, it said.

While calling on prominent leaders of the region to call Hon. Ossai to order, the Progressive Grassroots Forum (PGF) warned that any further attempt by Hon. Ossai and his co-travelers to deny the region developments meant for them under the present administration would not be tolerated.

Recall that the Minister of Transportation Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had in a public hearing of the committee, said the country stand the chance of loosing the loan should the National Assembly continue it’s probe on the project.

The PGF further commended the Transportation Minister for his commitment to job delivery and advised him to continue to push for developments in the South-south region.

” We are particularly happy to have someone like the Minister of Transportation Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as our son has been championing developments in the region right from his days as governor and we know that he is fearless and would not allow anyone to deprive us of having the rail project. We commend his drive-in project delivery particularly the Lagos-Ibadan railway where over 20,000 workers were employed, we pray that he continues to push for the realization of the coastal rail without fear nor intimidation by any person or group of persons that do not mean well for our people”, the statement said.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

4 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

Share on Facebook