The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Club partners for medical outreach

    Club partners for medical outreach

    Lions Club International District 404B2 Nigeria, Lagos Central Lions Club, has taken its charity work to Alausa in Ikeja.

    It partnered TESS Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, for a medical outreach in the community.

     The services are eye screening, blood pressure checks, sugar checks, malaria test and free drugs for those with high blood pressure, malaria etc.

    Read Also: FG, labour to meet on 15-point MoU implementation

    Gbenga Bolarinwa, club president, said Lagos Central Lions Club and TESS were set to make an impact on health care accessibility.

     Baale of Alausa, Toyin Badmus, who welcomed the team which included Lolade Adewunmi, Bimbo Bolarinwa, Ashiru Waheed and others, said: “The gesture is a great service to humanity.”

     Lions is a body committed to humanitarian efforts, while TESS Foundation specialises in health care initiative.

  • Ebonyi senator, rep, others resign from PDP

    Ebonyi senator, rep, others resign from PDP

    The implosion of the Ebonyi chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued at the weekend, as Senator Obinna Ogba, ex-House of Representatives member Livinus Makwe and other top stakeholders resigned from the party. 

    The two former National Assembly members announced their resignation in a letter dated October 27, 2023 to their ward chairmen.

    Ogba represented Ebonyi Central District between 2015 and 2023, while Makwe represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency from 2019 to 2023.

    Also, six local government chairmen of the party announced their resignation.

    They include Agbom Friday (Ezza South), Nwofe Philip Don (Izzi ), Nwobasi Ude Chizoba (Ohaozara), Chukwu Micheal (Ivo), Ifere Sunday Bright (lkwo), Ndukwe Orji Okam (Afikpo South).

    Others who announced their resignation include James Alaka (State Organising Secretary), Ebeh Kingsley (Zonal Youth Leader), Uchenna Nwafor (former Zonal Auditor Southeast) and Samuel Onyeleke (Zonal Youth Leader, Ebonyi North).

    Ogba in his letter said the decision to quit the PDP was personal.

    “As an individual, I have made my modest contribution by working for the growth and development of PDP from ward to national level since its creation in August 1998,” he said. 

    The senator said the party had contributed towards the growth of his political fortunes.

    “I will remain grateful to the party and its leaders from the ward, local government, state, zonal to the national level. But it is time to quit,” he added. 

    On his future political plans, the senator said he would make this known in future after consultation with his immediate family, political followers and associates.

    Makwe said he resigned from the 

    party after consultation with his followers, supporters and well-wishers.

    Read Also: FG, labour to meet on 15-point MoU implementation

    “Accordingly, I hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, October 27, 2023.” 

    “The National Chairman of PDP, National Vice Chairman PDP (South East), Ebonyi State PDP 

    Chairman and Ivo Local Government PDP Chairman are by copies of this letter hereby accordingly notified of 

    this decision. 

    “I wish to thank the party for the platform and opportunity given me in the past to serve our nation, especially as a member of the 9th House of Representatives.

    “That is something I will always cherish. I do hope that this my resignation will be accepted in good faith by you and other members of 

    the party,” he said.

    The six PDP chairmen and other officers in their own signed letters said the reason for their resignation was personal. 

    A factional deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Nwabueze Ajah, has also resigned from the party.

    He said it would serve no meaningful political interest for him, political associates and supporters to hold further the membership of the Labour Party. 

    “The development will enable me explore other options that may accommodate my political aspirations, that of my associates as well as supporters,” he said.

    But the Caretaker Chairman of Ebonyi chapter of the PDP, Augustine Nwazunku, said the party was not aware of the resignation of the heavyweights.

    He alleged that they did not follow due process for resignation as enshrined in the party’s constitution. 

  • Ex-agitators warn against PAP termination

    Ex-agitators warn against PAP termination

    Ex-agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have warned against scrapping of the scheme, noting that those calling for the termination of the programme do not mean well for the people of Niger Delta.

    The ex-militants under the Second Phase Amnesty Ex-Agitators Forum, reacting to calls for the programme to be scrapped by a group, said findings showed that those calling for the liquidation of the programme were not from the region.

    The National Spokesman for the Second Phase Amnesty Ex- Agitatators Forum, ‘General’ Salvation Ibena Rufus, said in a statement yesterday that no true son of the Niger Delta or beneficiaries of PAP would seek or call for the termination of the programme or sack of the Interim Administrator of the programme, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd.

    He said under Ndiomu’s watch at PAP, beneficiaries had had it so good in recent times, adding that a breath of fresh air had been injected into the scheme. 

    Rufus said what critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta were clamouring for since the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the confirmation of Ndiomu as the substantive coordinator of the PAP, noting that the listed beneficiaries were appreciative of the superlative performance of the interim administrator.

    He said: “We are in harmony with genuine stakeholders from the region on the call for President Tinubu to confirm Major-General Ndiomu (rtd.) as the substantive boss of PAP.

    “We are urging these faceless characters and desperate political jobbers to leave the Presidential Amnesty helmsman alone to concentrate on his task of taking the Presidential Amnesty scheme to greater heights.” 

    “We have it on good authority that the authors and sponsors of the calls for scrapping of the PAP are not from the Niger Delta. Our intelligence gathering suggested that the motive behind the blistering media war is to compel the government of President Tinubu to terminate and liquidate the Presidential Amnesty Scheme. “

    Read Also: German gives €81m grant to ECOWAS for electricity, others

    “No true son or daughter of Niger Delta and a beneficiary of the PAP will seek or call for the sack of Ndiomu. He has done well since his assumption of office at PAP. He should be encouraged instead of being bullied by unscrupulous elements.”

    Rufus said it was laughable, preposterous and ludicrous as some faceless characters claimed that N2.5 billion in the coffers of the Presidential Amnesty Corporative Loan Scheme had vanished into thin air. 

    Dismissing the allegations as a farce, the national spokesman said: “There is no iota of truth in this unfounded allegation. 

    “What these uninformed and faceless characters failed to understand is that the alleged N2.5 billion was a seed money to kick start the laudable initiative and so far more than 1,000 delegates have benefited from the soft loan depending on what you intend to do with the money. 

    “The wisdom behind the Presidential Amnesty Scheme (beneficiaries), Cooperative Society Ltd (PAPCOSOL), is to ensure that delegates and beneficiaries of the PAP initiative do not rely on N65,000 monthly stipend paid to ex-agitators till eternity.”

  • NNPP crisis: Southeast stakeholders disown Kwankwaso

    NNPP crisis: Southeast stakeholders disown Kwankwaso

    The leadership crisis in the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) has deepened, following the stand of the Southeast stakeholders that their presidential candidate during the February 25, 2023 election, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, is no longer a member of the party.

    The stakeholders from Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states met yesterday in Awka, Anambra State, where the decision was taken.

    They reaffirmed the dissolution of Kawu Ali’s led-National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    They alleged that Kwankwaso and some of his Kwankwasiya movement expired immediately after the conclusion of the February 25 presidential election.

    The Southeast leaders, therefore, called on the public not to have any political dealings with Kwankwaso and his group on the platform of NNPP again.

    The Southeast leaders said the founder of the party 21 years ago, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, remained the national leader of the party under the chairmanship of Dr. Agbo Major.

    The resolution was moved by Chief Ozeogu Stephen, acting Ebonyi State chairman of NNPP, and seconded by Nnani Emmanuel, acting publicity secretary in Imo State.

    The leaders accused the current NWC and Kwankwaso of hijacking the party structure from the original owners and for not involving the founder, Aniebonam, in the party’s scheme of things.

    Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Felix Chukwurah, said: “We are aware that NNPP as the number four out of 18 parties after the last general election has encountered encumbrances capable of destabilising its pursuits in many fronts towards claiming God’s mandate of producing number one citizen (the president) in Nigeria and other political offices in the three arms of government in the next political dispensation in 2027.

    “APC, PDP, LP and the rest of the political parties in Nigeria, including ours, are burdened with colours of quagmire internally and externally to the extent that some candidates who came out victorious in the last elections are already defecting to other parties for one reason or the other.

    “Our party, NNPP, is not immune to party quagmires, but the peculiarities in our circumstances are worth dealing with decisively to resist the obvious. 

    Read Also: FG, labour to meet on 15-point MoU implementation

    “We have a situation where the party constitution was grossly violated and abandoned for a new fresh one under the guise of amendment by some recent entrants in the party to enable them perfect a hijack of the party, founded and nurtured for 22 years by Dr. Aniebonam, supported by some other pioneer members.

    “We have a situation where the NWC was swallowed and manipulated by a few new entrants. They marshalled the NWC members to meetings in their private houses for easy access and control for selfish and unpopular decisions.

    “They frame anybody they set their eyes on, especially some state chairmen, who are not likely to support their hijack agenda and suspend or expel them all together. 

    “They conspired and replaced their imaginary enemies in many states with some Kwankwasiya members as the caretaker chairmen.”

    He, however, said NNPP was ready to take over Imo State Government House in the November 11 governorship election.

  • Supreme Court verdict, vindication of Tinubu’s popularity, says Sylva

    Supreme Court verdict, vindication of Tinubu’s popularity, says Sylva

    Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State and its governorship candidate in the November 11 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory in the presidential election litigations at the Supreme Court.

    He welcomed the Supreme Court judgment as a crucial opportunity to vindicate Tinubu and his wide acceptance among Nigerians.

    He saluted Tinubu for remaining steadfast and focused on governance throughout the election litigation period.

    Sylva hailed APC for its commitment to the progress and prosperity of Nigeria.

    He said the party’s ability to rally Nigerians towards common national objectives was unmatched and remained at the core of the presidential election victory.

    The Supreme Court on October 26 dismissed the appeals brought by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate at the February 25 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, seeking to overturn Tinubu’s victory at the polls and the Presidential Election Petition Court.

    Read Also: German gives €81m grant to ECOWAS for electricity, others

    In his congratulatory message, Sylva said: “I send my warm congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your victory at the Supreme Court, which is actually a vindication of your national acceptance.

    “The presidential election litigation was an opportunity well utilised by our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the opposition alike to fully confirm your popularity among Nigerians. It was also a critical chance to prove the people’s good reason for choosing APC.

    “With the presidential election legal process now over, I wish you a most successful tenure as you face the responsibilities and challenges of your high office with even greater vigour.

    “I call upon the opposition and, indeed, all Nigerians to rally round the president and support him every step of the way as he steers the ship of this country towards the El Dorado we all crave.

    “Here in Bayelsa State, we look forward to working with you before and after our governorship election next month, and developing deeper relationships for the good of the state and country.”

  • ‘Soludo’s N2b to 5000 youths will curb crime’  

    ‘Soludo’s N2b to 5000 youths will curb crime’  

    Acting National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, has described distribution of N2billion grants to 5,000 graduates of the One Youth Two Skills initiative of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as a giant step towards fighting crime and insecurity in Anambra State.

    Soludo had during the graduation, certification and start-up grants ceremony at the weekend, presented sums of grants, ranging from N500,000 to N1,000,000 to the graduates trained across skills under the entrepreneurship and apprenticeship systems.

    Okpalaezeukwu in a statement yesterday, said engagement of the youth in gainful ventures had made them unavailable for crime and vices.

    He said: “Anambra State under Governor Soludo has again recorded a major milestone by this initiative. Recall that he had in his manifesto, promised to raise 1,000 youth millionaires annually. 

    “These graduates, with the grants given to them will go ahead to become wealth creators and employers of labour,

    which will in turn, translate many of them to millionaires, billionaires and even so much more.”

    “For me, the governor did not just teach these youths how to fish, he also gave them the nets, the hooks and other equipment to fish. They will have no reason whatsoever, to look in the direction of crime. 

    “This is what Ohaneze Ndigbo under the leadership of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has been preaching and it is such a delight to see Governor Soludo thinking in this direction.

    Read Also: FG, labour to meet on 15-point MoU implementation

    “This is consistent with the apex Igbo socio-cultural group’s vision to build the Igbo land of everybody’s dream.”

    While commending the form the program was designed to first empower the youths with skills before providing them with seed capital, the youth leader argued that the arrangement would ensure the grants were not wasted.

    He also applauded the mentorship and business development support which the government has negotiated with some partners, to enable the beneficiaries grow their businesses.

    “I wish to remind the beneficiaries that they have a huge responsibility to take up the challenge of building other youths who were not fortunate enough to benefit from the process.

    “With the grants they can become creators of wealth and labour, moving other unemployed youths out of the unemployment net.

    “The governor has set the ball rolling, it is now the duty of the beneficiaries to see to it that this initiative blossoms, by appropriately deploying the start-up capital to grow their businesses.

    “We are looking forward to a spike in the number of start-ups in the state, as well as Small and Medium Scale enterprises, who are the actual drivers of any economy.

    “The challenge is now theirs and we are hopeful that they will not betray the trust reposed in them by Mr Governor,” he added.

  • Akwa Ibom to host musical fiesta

    Akwa Ibom to host musical fiesta

    Troupes from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja will converge on Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, for a four-day pan-Nigeria cultural and musical fiesta.

    The fiesta named Nigerian Cultural and Musical Fiesta (NICUMFEST) has as its theme: ‘Mobilising Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity for National Economic Prosperity’.  

    A statement at the weekend signed by Akarandot  Kokobassey and Idorenyin  Aquaisua, the event’s national  coordinator and director of administration, said the fiesta would hold at Ibom Hall, Uyo between November 22 and 25.

    The statement said NICUMFEST was a private-sector-government-driven initiative promoted by Arts Impacts Productions.

    It said the fiesta was also a prime cultural and musical feast structured for live performances, competition and exhibition by troupes from the 36 states, FCT and privately-owned cultural and musical troupes.  

    The statement said: “Unlike similar national events that basically gather performers for fun and festivities, NICUMFEST is conceptualised with an innovative vision to amass distinctive arts, cultural and creative resources in states for value-addition and functional investment drives. 

    Read Also: German gives €81m grant to ECOWAS for electricity, others

    “This will be done through clinical documentation of the defining cultural potential and artistic assets across states of the federation and deployment of a broad range of targets-specific post-event promotional and marketing services for intentional year-round promotion of these resources on national and international media platforms and investment markets to attract the needed partnerships for meaningful development and foreign direct investments in the sectors. 

    “The fiesta is a unique national platform to: harness and showcase creative talents; promote the defining artistic assets in Nigerian cultural, choral and Afro beats brands; upscale creative capacity and competences; and practically evolve strategic national synergy to deploy Nigeria’s vast cultural potential and assets to generate employment, promote and export Nigerian creative resources worldwide and enrich the lives of people with our exclusive musical styles and rich culture.  

     ”Therefore, ‘NICUMFEST UYO, 2023’ is a national, cultural and musical feast and melting-pot for the global arts community”. 

  • Businessmen arrested at Abuja airport for ingesting cocaine, heroin

    Businessmen arrested at Abuja airport for ingesting cocaine, heroin

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested two businessmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja, with consignments of cocaine and heroin concealed inside their stomachs.

    A yesterday statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said they were heading for Hong Kong and France.

    According to the statement, one of the suspects, 38-year-old ThankGod Chimamkpa Emenike, was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on October 20 during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France flight 818 to Paris.

    Read Also: German gives €81m grant to ECOWAS for electricity, others

    The second suspect, 41-year-old Agbo Chidike Prince, was taken into NDLEA custody on October 21 while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 950 to Hong Kong via Addis Ababa, Babafemi said.

    He said they were both arrested and detained after their body scan showed they ingested illicit drugs.

    He said after days in custody and a number of excretions, Emenike excreted 72 wraps of heroin weighing 1.171 kilogrammes, while Chidike discharged 49 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 998.53grams.

    Babafemi said in his statement, Chidike claimed he is a businessman dealing in spare parts at the Alaba International market in Ojo area of Lagos State.

    The suspect said he was to be paid N3.5million, which he intended to use to import goods from Hong Kong.

  • Gunmen abduct councillor, others in Niger community

    Gunmen abduct councillor, others in Niger community

    Gunmen have killed one person and abducted several others, including a supervisory councillor at Ijah Gwari ward in Tafa Local Government of Niger State.

    The incident occurred last Friday at about 8 pm.

    Read Also: FG, labour to meet on 15-point MoU implementation

    The Chairman of Tafa Local Government, Danladi Iya, who confirmed the incident, said scores were kidnapped and three people were shot, with two sustaining injuries, while one died immediately. He added that a member of a vigilance group was also shot at Gyedna community, Garam ward.

    The chairman expressed concern about the safety of residents of the local government.

    He implored the state government to intervene.

  • Sea pirates kill nine fishermen, injure 15

    Sea pirates kill nine fishermen, injure 15

    Suspected sea pirates have killed nine fishermen and inflicted gunshot and machete injuries on 15 others on Akwa Ibom State waterways.

    The hoodlums, who have sustained attacks on fishermen in recent times, also reportedly seized over 200 wooden boats and outboard engines from their victims.

    The fishermen, mostly Yoruba of the Ilaje stock, lamented that they had being subjected to hardship due to the activities of sea pirates.

    Speaking at the weekend, spokesperson for the fishermen at Uta Ewa, Ikot Abasi Local Government, Mr. Agborabo Jeremiah Gbogbolese, told The Nation that they paid N400,000 to sea pirates on a monthly basis so that they could be allowed to fish.

    Read Also: German gives €81m grant to ECOWAS for electricity, others

    He said: “It has become unbearable for us to comply with the imposition of stringent conditions and payment of N400,000 as demanded on a monthly basis by sea pirates before they can allow us to fish.

    “Apart from nine of us who have been killed by sea pirates, 15 fishermen also sustained severe injuries from gunshot and machete cuts.”

    Gbogbolese said the presence of operatives of Nigeria Navy Ship Jubilee (NNS), Marine Police and other security agencies on the Ikot Abasi waterways had not helped the situation.

    He called on the state and federal governments to come to their rescue, as findings showed the hoodlums operated from Otoyo and Agbama community in Andoni Local Government of River State.