Author: The Nation

For entrepreneur, Emmanuel Alonge, living a selfless life and being committed to sharing his resources with people has helped him to become a better person in life.

 From entertainment to real estate and other industries where Alonge has played over the years, his mantra has always been about adding value to lives and making efforts to support the people.

 According to the man who is largely loved for his love and passion for the entertainment and showbiz industry, no life is a waste and no life is more important than the other, we just have to show equal and mutual love to all.

 Alonge, who has thrived in real estate, hospitality, and entertainment noted that one of the biggest lessons for him is that wealth creation without human capacity and development is a mere jamboree that is not sustainable.

Alonge , a philanthropist said his passion for welfarism was borne out of his conviction that providing necessary support for people, particularly in the entertainment sector is something he has remained committed to.

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 For me, my joy rests in seeing that people are happy and fruitfully engaged in what makes them happy. If we don’t get it right, many will go astray and become a menace” he added

 Alonge maintained that he has not just been involved in helping people, be has been committed to using all his interests including entertainment and hospitality businesses to change and transform lives.

 His words: “I look at our society and I realise that it would have been a lot better and beneficial if people could show more love and kindness to the man next door.”

The International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a committee to reconcile Nigerians and ensure there is peace and unity across the country.

It made the call in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day celebration.

African Director of the body, Ambassador John Metchie, who said this in a statement, praised the President for signing the Electricity Act 2023 into law, saying it would contribute to the rapid infrastructure development of the country.

In addition, he expressed joy that the Act is in line with the Light-Up Umueri Project, his personal initiative which has been distributing solar-powered energy to hundreds of households in the community.

 He expressed hope that with the signing into law of the Electricity Act, the President would as well sign the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Bill into law.

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 Metchie issued the statement in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he is scheduled for a meeting of the Global Eminent Peace Ambassadors to review decisions taken at the UN-Habitat Assembly meeting which took place last week in Nairobi, Kenya.

His words:”The highly contested 2023 presidential election in Nigeria shows that the country and its people have come to a consensus that democracy is the best form of government.

“However, since the election witnessed an unprecedented level of hate speech and threat of violence, there is need for a committee for healing and national reconciliation.

 “According to data available at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), there were over 53 reported incidents of hate speeches during the 2023 general election.

“The hurting speeches were made by politically exposed persons including governors, lawmakers and community leaders, and others. The speeches bruised a lot of individuals and groups across the country.

“For the administration of President Tinubu to achieve its set objectives, all hands must be on deck to support the efforts of the President. There must be a deliberate attempt by the government to carry all citizens along, irrespective of their ethnic, political and religious leanings.”

On the President’s assent to the Electricity Bill, Metchie said: “The law, which empowers states, firms, and individuals to generate electricity is one of the best decisions of the Federal Government in recent times. The law satisfies the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of Nigerians for the unbundling of some sectors of the nation’s economy, including electricity, education, and police, among others.

“I am hopeful that with the prompt action of the President in signing the Electricity Act into law less than two weeks of his assumption of office,  the NHFSS Bill Tinubu inherited from his predecessor, would also be assented to very soon.

“Apart from curbing the various crimes, signing the bill into law would enable the government to recruit thousands of young men and women as hunters, which would help to solve the issue of acute unemployment, one of the most serious challenges facing the nation.”

• ‘Labour Party desperate to subvert justice’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has condemned relocation of the state election tribunal to the Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, allegedly at the government’s instance.

 A statement by the Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman (Abia North), Abraham Amah, accused Governor Alex Otti and leadership of the Labour Party of trying to manipulate the tribunal.

 Amah said the PDP believes in the independence of the judiciary, and so called on President of the Appeal Court to investigate concerns raised by the party, and ensure the right thing is done to protect the judiciary’s integrity ‘and save our nascent democracy from the hands of new home-grown fascists who would stop at nothing to acquire power’.

 The statement reads: “The Abia PDP has credible information that the State Election Petition Tribunal has been relocated to Umuahia. We frown at attempts by Dr. Alex Otti and the Labour Party to manipulate the outcome of the tribunal.

Read Also: Onoh hits Atiku over Tinubu, says PDP almost destroyed judiciary

 “Recall that the state tribunal, with alongside that of Ebonyi, Rivers and a few others, were relocated to Abuja on the premises of volatility of the environment. But curiously, only the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal was relocated to Umuahia immediately after Otti’s inauguration as governor. We also learnt that members of the panel have been given residence in the Government House Banquet Hall, governor’s wife office and the Presidential Lodge right inside the Government House in Umuahia.

  “This is the first time since the return to civil rule in 1999 that an Abia Election Government House, and this presents an anathema to the finest principles of justice. The smoking gun here is that members of the tribunal have been changed even before the start of hearing. This clearly presents a conflict of interest, and Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party are trying very hard to be judge in their own case.

 “Any right thinking person would understand that this is intolerable, but we will not watch the course of justice perverted and desecrated…”

 “Fair trial is an indispensable ingredient of justice, and many international charters give credence to that. Any judicial norm that detracts from the principles of fair hearing is at best a judicial suicide which demotes the value of justice and can render society anarchic.

 “We call on the President of the Court of Appeal to investigate these concerns and ensure that the right thing is done to protect the integrity of the judiciary, and save our nascent democracy from the hands of new home-grown facists who would stop at nothing to acquire power.

 “The Abia PDP believes firmly in the independence of the judiciary and would do all we can to support that.”

 The Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM) described the relocation as a ‘desperate attempt by the Labour Party (LP) to manipulate the process and subvert justice’.

 A statement yesterday by its Convener, Comrade Ukachukwu Chukwunonso, and Secretary-General, Mrs. Maria Nwokoma, said while it does not support any political party, ‘it will speak up against attempts to manipulate the judicial process to favour any political party’.

 The statement reads: “Like every peace-loving Abian, we see the relocation as a desperate attempt by the Labour Party (LP) to manipulate the process and subvert justice given that they are the party in power. Why would the tribunal be relocated from Abuja to Abia and, to make matters worse, right inside the Government House in Umuahia, when all circumstances that informed the initial relocation to Abuja are still prevalent?

 “We also wonder how the President of the Court of Appeal could have acceded to such a request and fall for such manipulation by the Labour Party when it is obvious that justice cannot be guaranteed in such circumstances.

 “Boycott of the proceedings as a result of such impending harassment and intimidation in the name of security check by the security apparatus inside the government house might just be one of the civil actions available to the PDP candidate, lawyers, party leaders, members and supporters. Should the situation degenerate to that level, it will be an indelible stain on the fabric of the judiciary, and the only way to avoid such a danger is to relocate the tribunal back to Abuja.”

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has decried the adverse impacts of erosion on the residents.

He spoke yesterday when he went on an inspection tour of some affected areas in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Local Government Areas, in the state capital.

At Yellow Duke Street in Calabar South local, the governor bemoaned the danger posed to residents and pledged a short to medium intervention to safeguard lives and property.

Besides this, the governor promised to reach out to the Federal Government and donor agencies which offer long-term solutions to such situations.

Read Also: Otu pledges vibrant agric agenda in Cross River

He said: “The World Bank has intervention programmes which I intend to follow up with, and this has informed my being here. We will take a look at the drawings, see what the existing plans are and work quickly to safeguard those who live around this area.”

Governor Otu, who was accompanied by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, said the inspection was necessary for him to acquaint himself with first-hand knowledge of some of the adverse erosion sites in the state capital, such as in Lemna/Federal Agriculture axis, the failed drainage along Yellow Duke Street and another at Efio-awan street in Calabar South, among other areas.

He assured residents that though state resources are limited, his administration will work to bring relief to their plights.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki will today swear in the first batch of members of the State Executive Council (EXCO).

They are Ethan Uzamere, Christopher Nehikhare, Monday Osaigbovo, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe, Isoken Omo, Stephen Idehenre, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Patrick Uanseru and Dr. Samuel Alli.

Others are Adaze Aguele-Kalu, Kingsley Uwagbale, Uyi Malaka, Joshua Omokhodion, Ojiefoh Donatus and Christabel Omo Ekwu.

Read Also: Edo Assembly confirms 15 nominees

The nominees were cleared last week by the House of Assembly.

A statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, reads: “I have been directed to inform you that the swearing in ceremony of members of the Edo State Executive Council will hold tomorrow (today) at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, at 11am.

“Members taking the oath of office should be seated with their spouses at 10:45am.”

Host communities to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 34 are set to shut down operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production (E&P) Limited, and ND Western Limited Joint Venture, for failing to discharge its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and other promises to the people.

Presidents-General (PGs) of the host communities – Akpos Maduku (Otor-Udu); Francis Uzoh (Effurun Otor); Edafe Kporharo (Ekakpamre); Solomon Okorodudu (Eruemukowharien); Stephen Asheshe (Okpare-Olomu); Moses Odata (Uwviamuge) and 20 others – in a joint statement yesterday, called on the Federal and Delta State governments to call the company to order to avoid disruption of its operations.

They also accused the firm of ‘ill-treatment, negligence and failed promises, expressing total displeasure with the disposition towards their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

OML 34, a critical oil and gas asset, comprises the Utorogu field which is a major supplier of gas for electricity generation in Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries.

The statement reads: “We wish to place on record that for the past one year, the 28 host communities of OML 34 have been engaged in a running battle with the Management of NNPC E&P Ltd and ND Western Ltd Joint Venture bordering on their CSR/failed promises to the host communities. 

“Our grouse are unpaid four-year scholarship arrears spanning through 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; unpaid penalty fines from the expired GMoU spanning through 2016-2019; unpaid Peace Award of 2022, and unpaid Courtesy Call of 2023.”

Read Also: NNPCL renews OML 130 Production Sharing Contract

They also said the 28 OML 34 host communities traversing the Ughelli East and West fields would want a separate Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) different from others across the Warri River field.

“The Host Communities from the Utorogu, Ughelli East and Ughelli West fields (numbering 28 Communities) that have been operating one GMoU before the PIA came into force, want their own separate ‘Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT)’ from those communities in the Warri River field that are in OML 34.

“Since the PIA is yet to kick off, the first tranche of the 2023 GMoU should be paid to the OML 34 Community Development Board (CDB) to enable it carry out some developmental projects in the communities, and the amount released should be deducted at source when the PIA per cent fund is eventually released.

“This is because till now, the Management of NNPC E&P Ltd and ND Western Ltd Joint Venture are yet to call a meeting of community representatives to pick the final names to be used for the incorporation of the OML 34 Host Communities Development Trust, in addition to picking name to be used to register the OML 34 Host Community Development Trust with the Corporate Affairs Commission at Abuja,” the statement added.

The PGs also decried the non-pensionable employment of their indigenes by the management of ND Western from their 45 per cent quota equity participating shares since the company’s acquisition of OML 34 assets from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2012.

“It will be recalled that the management of SDPC gave pensionable employments to the indigenes of the OML 34 Host Communities from their 45 per cent equity participating shares, while managing the OML 34 Oil and Gas facilities and some of these persons rose to the positions of managers and senior staff before retirement and are today drawing pensions and gratuities from SPDC. This was even before the Local Content Act came into force in 2010,” the PGs noted.

However, they said a list of few indigenes who graduated with First Class and Second Class Upper Division or their equivalents, in engineering and sciences, had been forwarded to the operators for employment as permanent staff in line with Article 28 (2) of the Local Content Act.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has mourned the death of 10 Ijaw indigenes in last Sunday’s twin accidents.

Six band members of popular Ijaw musician, Barrister Smooth, died in the Kogi-Abuja road accident, while four supporters of the bayelsa Queens Football Club died in the Kwale-Asaba highway accident in Delta State.

Diri, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, described it as a ‘Black Sunday for Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation’. He said their deaths were painful as ‘those youths were active and impacting lives through their musical talent, as well as following their passion to support the state’s darling female football team’.

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The statement reads: “Our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased. I also commiserate with the leader of the band, Barrister Smooth. These are very unfortunate incidents, and it is a great loss to our state and the Ijaw nation as young talents and bread winners following their passion departed suddenly.

“I pray the Lord console the families for the painful loss, and pray for quick healing for the injured.”

• Ogbaru produces speaker again

Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has urged members of the House of Assembly to join him and the judiciary to create a new Anambra.

Governor Soludo, while proclaiming the Eighth Assembly, described the legislature as ‘a crucial partner in the quest for good governance.

He said: “I congratulate our newly inaugurated legislators. Irrespective of your party affiliations, you have been employed by the people to ensure that Anambra blossoms.

“The executive, the legislature and the judiciary must work collaboratively, coordinate and cooperate to achieve project Anambra by making the state liveable and prosperous. If you all act fully in accordance with the oath of office and allegiance you have taken, I am sure Anambra will have the most productive legislature in the country.

“It is a new productive partnership and as the head of the executive arm of government, I am ready so that we can achieve our common goal which is a greater Anambra.”

Read Also: Soludo inaugurates Anambra 8th Assembly, calls for productive partnership

Meanwhile, Somtochukwu Udeze, who represents Ogbaru II, was elected Speaker of the Assembly. He is the second lawmaker from Ogbaru to become speaker in 10 years.

Udeze was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 2023 elections. He, however, defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) few days to the proclamation of the Eighth Assembly.

He was unanimously elected by the 30-member Assembly.

Udeze was nominated by Ikenna Ofodeme (Ekwusigo) and seconded by Chimezie Ikwunne (Awka North). He is a three-term member of the Assembly, having won his re-election in the March polls. He first became a lawmaker on the platform of of APGA in 2015, but defected to the PDP and won his re-election in 2019.

Chukwuma Okoye (Awka South II) was elected deputy speaker following a voice vote, and the two were sworn in by the Acting Clerk, Mrs. Esther Aneto.