Author: The Nation

Ijaw and Urhobo communities in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the Supreme Court judgment on fresh delineation in Warri, before the conduct of the 2023 general election.

They said failure by the electoral body to implement the judgment would amount to contempt of court.

In a communique at the end of their meeting in Abuja, which they presented to the commission, the communities said the decision of the commission, as conveyed by the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner that the present wards and units would be used in the 2023 elections, was illegal and violated the decision of the apex court.

Presenting the communique to the commission, their spokesman, Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, said after 11 years of legal tussle, the Supreme Court ordered the commission to conduct a delineation of wards and units in Warri Federal Constituency for the purpose of future elections.

He said: “For us, the 2023 general election falls within the definition of future elections and we would want the commission to obey the court judgment before the elections.”

He said in a judgment delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji on December 2, 2022, the Supreme Court ordered INEC to carry out a fresh delineation of “all the units and wards in Warri Federal Constituency for the purposes of future elections.”

There was no response from the commission regarding the judgment at press time.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained security agencies and Rivers State Government from arresting supporters of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Justice A. T. Ibrahim issued the order against the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), following a motion ex parte filed by some members of the PDP in the state.

Justice Ibrahim ordered the Rivers State Government and other respondents to maintain status quo until the determination of the suit.

The appellants are former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, Sen. Lee Maeba, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sen. Geroge Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia, Austin Opara, among others.

The appellants accused the Rivers State Government of harassing and intimidating their supporters.

The Atiku Support Organisation had alleged that 30 of its members were arrested in GRA, Port Harcourt during a meeting to prepare for the proposed campaign visit of Atiku

A few days later, the Police, through its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said operatives raided criminals’ hideout and arrested 32 suspected cultists at two locations.

About 20 of the suspects were arraigned at a magistrates’ court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Chief Magistrate Collins Ali.

The court directed that the suspects be remanded at the correctional centre and adjourned the case till March 22 for bail consideration.

Bayelsa State Government has said the priority of the Governor Douye Diri administration is to ensure every local government is accessible by road.

The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Ayibaina Duba, made this known in Yenagoa at the Correspondents’ Forum, a platform by the Federated Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, as activities are intensified to mark the third anniversary of the Diri administration.

The commissioner noted with regret that since Bayelsa State was part of the old Rivers State, which was created in 1967, many communities in the state had never been accessible by road.

Duba said determined to reverse the trend, Diri’s administration’s focus was hinged on construction of key road projects to connect most of the communities located along the coast.

He said at the moment, three local government headquarters of Brass, Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor were not accessible by road, hence the decision by the governor to allocate resources to fund ongoing construction works on the Nembe-Brass, Yenagoa-Oporoma and Sagbama-Ekeremor roads to link communities in the three senatorial districts.

Duba said: “For over 50 years when we were in the old Rivers State, the impression given was that there was no land to even construct any road to Ekeremor. It’s not because there is no likely access to these communities, particularly the local government headquarters.

“A few days ago, I went to Ekeremor and I drove through the road to Ekeremor, not to talk of Oporoma. As far as the ‘Prosperity Government’ is concerned, Governor Diri is committed to end that. It must end with him.

“Like Agge is in the Atlantic Ocean, we have come to realise that it’s possible to have a road to Agge. Look at what we are doing in Nembe/Brass. Agip has its base there for many years. The terminal is there, that is where crude oil is sold to the international community and there is no road there.

“One of the greatest things we want to achieve is to make sure Bayelsa State is connected by road, every local government must be linked by road.”

He said the Diri administration was eager to continue and complete projects initiated by previous administrations to fast track the development of Bayelsa State.

The Chairman of the Federated Correspondents Chapel (FCC), Mr. Tife Owolabi, said the forum was an initiative of the group to provide a platform for public office holders and personalities to interact with members on policy and other national issues.

Activities to mark the 3rd anniversary of the Diri administration began yesterday with the passing out of members of the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps, at the Peace Park, opposite Government House, Yenagoa

There was also the inauguration of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Administrative Building by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, at the Secretariat Complex, Yenagoa, and the Transport Terminal at Igbogene by former governor Senator Seriake Dickson.

Other activities include the launch of the Glory Drive (Igbogene Airport Road) by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, which will hold next Monday. The 3rd anniversary dinner will take place at the Chief DSP Alamieyesigha Banquet Hall, Government House Ovom, Yenagoa.

On February 20, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will inaugurate the completed Sagbama-Ekeremor road project.

Abia State Government yesterday banned roasting of fish, meat and cooking of food at major markets.

Trade and Investment Commissioner Chief John Okiyi, in a statement made available to The Nation in Umuahia, attributed the decision to the recent fire outbreak at Ngwa Road Market in Aba South Local Government.

He said the fire was caused by the carelessness of a food vendor at the market, who failed to put off the stove she used to cook before leaving for home on Tuesday, resulting in a midnight inferno that gutted two shops at Line 27 of Ngwa Road market.

According to Okiyi, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, while commending the efforts of the firefighters to contain the fire, sympathised with the traders. “The governor has directed the Ministry of Trade and Investment to evaluate the extent of damage to goods at the affected shops, with a view to supporting the traders.”

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has launched its governorship campaign.

The standard-bearer, Obong Akanimo Udofia, promised to accelerate infrastructural and human capital development, to make Akwa Ibom State a destination of choice for investors and tourists.

He addressed a mammoth crowd at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium.

Udofia extolled the visionary leadership of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he would partner him to bring development to the state.

The governorship candidate said he would prioritise workers’ welfare through prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

He promised to continue from where former governor Chief Godswill Akpabio stopped by paying workers an extra month salary in December, ensuring free and compulsory education, payment of bursary, scholarship and grants to Akwa Ibom students.

Udofia said he would enter into a contract with Akwa Ibom people to bring prosperity to all.

“Upon assumption of office as the governor after my swearing-in on May 29, I will grant the local government administration full autonomy; support our local economy and the development of the grassroots people.

“I will also be very intentional about the educational development of our youths and health care of the young and old indigenes of Akwa Ibom State,” he said.

On his plans for aviation development, Udofia said: “Akwa Ibom State Airport will be designed with full capacity as an international airport three months after my swearing-in as the governor. Within 90 days in office, I will conduct groundbreaking for the construction of underground road from the international airport to Oron. The project was conceived since Akpabio’s government, but abandoned by his successor.”

He expressed gratitude to the APC and Akwa Ibom people for what he described as their resilience, unwavering support and show of love and urged them to join hands with him in the upcoming elections to build Akwa Ibom State of their dreams.

Akpabio, the candidate of APC in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, said Udofia was not chosen by man but by God, who would grant him victory at the polls next month.

He described him as an international businessman with experience and connection to turn things around for the better.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of flags to APC candidates by the state Chairman of the party, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, who urged them to carry the message of prosperity to be instituted by the APC administration to every nook and cranny of the state.