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Reps By-election: Hon. Usibe Emerged PDP Flag-bearer

Published

4 years ago

February 4, 2022

…as groups felicitate with the winner

Cyril Ogar, in Ogoja The former commissioner for New Cities Development, Mr. Mike Usibe, has picked the Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives by-election ticket for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency bye-election scheduled for February 26, 2022. Usibe defeated two other contestants as follows.

Usibe scored 184 votes to beat his closest challenger Godwin Offiono scored 45 votes and Mrs. Magaret Odey got 5 votes, there was 1 invalid vote. The primaries took place at Ogoja Recreation Club in Ogoja local government area, in Cross River northern senatorial district of the state on Thursday.

Declaring Usibe the winner, the chairman of the Primary Electoral Panel, Alh Hasan Yakubu, averred that a total of 235 votes were cast with one invalid.INEC monitoring team from Abuja who observed the primary, and members of PDP congress committee observed the process which had large delegates turn out yesterday said the exercise was “conducted in line with INEC guidelines and was, therefore, satisfactory.

The presiding officer and chairman of the Primary Electoral Panel, Alh Hasan Yakubu, described the process as peaceful and orderly, as he declared Usibe as the winner of the primary election having scored the highest number of votes.“Based on the power conferred on me as Returning officer, I hereby declare Mike Usibe as the winner of this primary election.“It is a novelty exercise and in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser as God gives power.

I enjoin other contestants who lost out to take it in good fate.“PDP is not a personal estate, it belongs to all of us. I appeal to all to lay down arms and plead with the winner to carry others along.

In his post-election speech, the PDP Candidate Usibe stated,” I commend all the stakeholders including the delegates, fellow contestants and everyone who played a part in my emergence. I personally call on the contestants to come and let’s work together to deliver the party on Saturday, February 26 by-election.”

In his reaction to Usibe’s Victory, PDP state party chairman, Barr Vena Ikem, Esq, who was excited with the outcome of the poll, charged the PDP to work at all times as a one united and formidable family ahead of the 2023 general where the party shall return to power at all levels.

“It has been an intensive exercise and I promise that the party would bring everybody who took part in the contest to an around the table and see how they can work to deliver the party.

“I love the fighting spirit we witnessed at the beginning of the exercise. That is the spirit of an opposition party ready to win an election. We promise to deliver our candidate.”

While lauding Usibe for the stride, the only female aspirant and a party Chieftain, Mrs. Magaret Odey said:” I see the exercise as free and fair and pledged to resolve every difference for the interest of all of us. We are one PDP family and we look forward to working together to deliver the party.”

Also, Offiono Godwin stated:” I congratulate Usibe and ask the electoral panel to ensure every party has a copy of the result.”Meanwhile, the Ogoja youth forum has congratulated Hon Usibe on his resounding victory at the PDP primary. in a similar vein, Ukelle National Development Forum and other critical stakeholders have congratulated Rt Hon Usibe on his victory at the PDP Reps By-election primary.

In a congratulatory message signed by Barr. Alex Edim on behalf of the chairman Mr. Festus Ekwok made available to Aljazirah News, expresses support to the candidature of Hon Mike Usibe saying that the people’s will has prevailed assuring him of victory come 26th during the main election.

The read in part, “Ukelle national Development forum (UNDF) Abuja chapter, I wish to express our deepest congratulations to the capacity Mike Usibe, on your victory at the just concluded Ogoja/Yala federal constituency bye-election primaries of the PDP, held on Thursday the 3rd day of February 2022, at Ogoja.

Your victory is a practical demonstration of the will of God and the affirmation of the people’s mandate and desire for good governance as epitomized by the exemplary leadership you have shown over time.

They however called on the losers especially his main challenger Offiono Godwin to accept Usibe’s victory as an act of God and work together to ensure the victory of the party at the main election.

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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.”

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