Our Reporter

Abia State indigenes living in the United States of America have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute the suspects of EFCC’s revealed Abia State Government’s financial dealings between 2007 and 2015, when Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji served as the governor and chief accounting officer.

They said failure to prosecute the suspects immediately will make a huge joke of both the commission and the anti- corruption posture of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The group also expressed concern over recent allegation that the “properties linked to the family of the Orji’s which was previously marked for EFCC investigation has now been totally cleaned out from the record with no court order backing such action,” warning that such a development, “if it is true, raises suspicion of compromise.”

Rising from a meeting in Houston Texas, the Abia indigenes, under the auspices of Abians in Diaspora (AID), led by the Chairman, Dr. Isaac Ogbonna, called on the EFCC to ensure the former governor and his associates give proper account of his and his government’s financial dealings between 2007 and 2015.

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“This has become necessary because the state of infrastructure in the state is nowhere near the billions of naira reportedly appropriated by Senator TA Orji while he held away as the governor of the state making the state the least developed in the country and ironically the fortunes of the Orji’s has greatly improved as can be seen by their now enormous financial war chest and the choice properties they own both in the state and all over the world.”

In a press release made available at the weekend, the group wondered why the suspects are yet to be prosecuted, “months after the EFCC painstakingly made public, a detailed revelation of how Senator Orji, as Abia State governor, dispensed his five hundred million naira, a month, security vote; how he and the state government expended the enormous Ecological Funds that accrued to the state then.”

The group also wondered “why the authorities have remained silent months after the EFCC’s revelation of the huge sums of money in Hon. Chinedu Orji’s numerous bank accounts even as they alleged that Hon. Chinedu Orji, who is former Governor T A Orji’s son and the current Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, prior to his father’s ascension as governor, had no record of employment or businesses to vindicate such alleged wealth.”

Chris Njoku, Owerri

The people of Ideato North and South of Imo State and kinsmen of the former governor Rochas Okorocha have dumped him to pledge allegiance to Governor Hope Uzodimma.

It was on a day the high and mighty from Ideato Nation paid a solidarity visit to Governor Uzodimma at the Government House, Owerri to present to him a catalogue of needs, not just as their in-law, but one they described as “parts and parcel of them.”

They said former governor Rochas Okorocha who is their kinsman, neglected them and their needs despite being in power for eight years and that they are confident Governor Uzodimma will completely wipe out their tears.

Led by their apex leader, Chief Tony Ezenna, Chairman of Orange Drugs Limited and key traditional rulers from the area, the people said they were not only excited about the emergence of Uzodimma as governor of Imo state, but regretted that the administration of Okorocha did nothing to improve their lot.

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Addressing the visitors, Governor Uzodimma, explained that God did not make mistake in bringing him on board the leadership of Imo state, and that what the Ideato Nation were not able to get from past administrations God could use him to actualise it.

Governor Uzodinma specifically commended the lawmakers representing Ideato North and Ideato South in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Arthur Egwim and Hon. Johnson Duru for their positive contributions in the House, as well as the Interim Management Committee Chairmen of Ideato North, Gloria Uche Mbadiwe and Ideato South, Chukwuma Ikeaka for their doggedness in the administration of the two Local Governments Areas.

The governor thanked the traditional rulers led by the Chairman of Ideato North and South Council of Ndi Eze, HRH. Eze Gerald Ezeiheakaibeya of Umuma- Isiaku Autonomous Community for their efforts towards peace and progress in their various communities.

In their address by Chief Ezenna, he described Governor Uzodimma as the “Governor whom we are well pleased,” and congratulated him on his well-deserved election.

Chief Ezenna appreciated the governor for finding some of the Ideato Nation’s sons and daughters worthy to be appointed into various offices in his administration, noting that they have never been so favoured.

By Elo Edremoda, Warri

Immediate past governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged Nigerian youths to shun kidnapping, as well as other social vices in the society.

Uduaghan stated this when he received former Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Christian Obodo, at his residence in Warri, Delta state, at the weekend.

He also apologised on behalf of Deltans for the ugly incident of the footballer’s kidnap in the state, while he was governor, eight years ago.

The footballer who retired recently from his Greece Football Club, Appollon Smyrnis, visited the ex-governor, to appreciate him for the swift response of the state government under his leadership at the time of his abduction.

He visited in the company of ace sports broadcaster, Azuka Chiamaka and a friend, Engineer Sam.

Recall that Christian Obodo was abducted by gunmen on Saturday, June 9, 2012 in Effurun, near Warri and whisked to the Isoko North axis of Delta state. He regained his freedom the following day.

Commending him for a “successful football career,” Dr. Uduaghan tasked youths to be creative and develop good skills, rather than take to acts of criminality.

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Speaking to newsmen shortly after the visit, Obodo who is renowned for his dribbling skills, urged youths not to allow hardship push them into criminal activities, as they may lose their lives in the process.

He further expressed gratitude to Dr. Uduaghan for the “fatherly support and love” showed him and his family when he was kidnapped.

Until his retirement, Obodo played for several foreign clubs such as Lecce, Torino, Udinese among others.

He hinted that he is now in the business of scouting for young and skillful talents who will take Nigerian football to greater heights.

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has inaugurated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for the October 31 Bayelsa Central senatorial bye-election.

The council has veteran politician, Chief Diekivie Oboh, as Director-General with a former speaker of the House of Assembly and current Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Konbowei Benson as Deputy Director General (Administration) and Ebiye Tarabina as Deputy Director General (Operations)

Diri’s spokesperson, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted him while inaugurating the council as expressing the optimism that the PDP would retain the seat he vacated after he was sworn in as governor on February 14.

He described the candidate of the party, Moses Cleopas, as eminently qualified to represent the people of the district in the Senate.

Diri commended the party faithful for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the primary election, which he said proved skeptics wrong.

The governor charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to build on the gains of the Edo poll by ensuring that the will of the people of Bayelsa Central prevailed over those of godfathers.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Collins Cocodia, expressed the optimism that with the calibre of persons in the campaign council, the party was sure of victory.

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The candidate for the central district bye-election, Moses Cleopas, who is the immediate past chairman of the party in the state, thanked other aspirants for their support and stressed the need for unity and commitment ahead of the poll.

In a related development, the campaign of former Bayelsa State governor and senatorial candidate of the PDP in Bayelsa West, Hon. Seriake Dickson, got a boost on Friday with community by community endorsement of the former governor’s candidacy by some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the district.

Stakeholders of the APC in Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Area converged at Isampou on Friday and decided that efforts must be made to prevent the political ambition of any politician from damaging the cordial relationship between Ekeremor and Sagbama, the two local government areas in the senatorial district.

Addressing other APC leaders in the district, the Chairman APC Grassroots Mobilization Sagbama/Ekeremor, Mr Ebide Brown, said that stakeholders of the party must take the bold decision to save the people of the area from needless bitterness and division.

Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

Authorities of the Nigeria Police Force, at the weekend prevented Brothers Across Nigeria, BAN, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organisation from holding its General Assembly at Wetland Hotel, a popular hotel in Ughelli, as armed police officers laid siege to the premises.

The group had insisted on holding its meeting, demanding from the police the reason why they should not hold their meeting.

The president of the group, Dr. Lewis Aitufe reacting briefing newsmen, described the action of the police as illegal and infringement on the fundamental human rights of the Nigeria citizens as enshrined in section 40 of the Nigeria constitution.

He noted that prior to the group assembling in Delta State, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, the Director of SSS, where duly notified through a letter dated August 18th, and submitted to the Ughelli Area Commander, the DPO and duly acknowledged by the police, approving the meeting.

Dr. Altufe alongside one of the past presidents of the group, Mr. Femi Osinbajo  and other members, said the group has obtain a perpetual judgment in court against the Nigeria Police in 2018 in a suit No. A/M/97/2018 from interfering in any of the group’s activities, but decried the gross disobedience of the police to court orders.

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He stated that with the above response and considering the huge resources that have been invested, we approached the High Court, Effurun Delta State for a court injunction in a suit No. EHC/M/77/2020, restraining the police from interfering in the activities of the Brothers Across Nigeria BAN, holding on September 25 and 26 respectively.

“With the above court injunction, the legal department of the body, were directed to write to the Inspector General of Police and also serve him the court order. To this he said; the IGP responded by asking the group to liaise with the CP Delta, and equally grant our request.”

In a memo showed to journalists and signed by DCP Idowu Owohunwa, a Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, reads, “I am to confirm that the Inspector General of Police has instructed the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command to handle your request. You may wish to liaise with him, accordingly. Kindly accept the assurance of the highest regards of the Inspector General of Police.”

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, said, “We had an intelligence, and base on insecurity report, we are stopping it.”

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige has described the authors of a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari by some All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Anambra State as mischievous.

The minister, who dismissed the letter to the President, described its writers as impostors who are neither members of the party in the wards, much less in the local government.

A statement on Thursday in Abuja by his Media Office reads: “They are free-wheeling, wheeler-dealers, hirelings and Trojan horses. They are gatecrashers, perennial ‘cross-carpeters’, bread and butter politicians who, unable to displace the original members of APC in access to patronage, and already one leg back in PDP, will be pleased to cause disaffection in the APC.

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“There is no reason genuine members in the state would feel marginalised or excluded in opportunities offered by the party. The board appointments referred to, as part of their grouse, were equitably distributed to members of the party in 2016 before the ‘Mfecane’; yes, before the wanderers and rolling stones from the PDP surged into the APC.

“It is on record that the APC liaised with a committee set up in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) where the stakeholders of the party from Anambra fully participated in the allotment of board appointments. There were no complaints because the act was performed before the Mfecane.

“Indeed, we make bold to state that the APC is a sky that is large enough for every bird of the air to fly and as wide as the deep blue sea for every member to freely swim.

“Senator Ngige does not and has never discriminated between the founding members and other members who joined after the APC came to power in 2015. He sees every member as one and united in achieving the larger party goals.”

Bassey Anthony, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said its members may go on an indefinite strike over the continued refusal of the government to pay its workers’ entitlements.

NLC State Chairman Sunny James told reporters yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, that the workers might join the planned national strike because all was not well with the state’s workers, especially those in the local government areas.

James threatened that if the planned nationwide strike sailed through, the workers in the state would go on an indefinite strike.

“This means that other offices will receive their pensions and then those in the local government system would not. Discussions on this have been going on for some weeks now with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. I do hope that government would give peace a chance to allow benefits go to whoever they are due.

“For gratuity, we are not doing well in Akwa Ibom State. There has been a halt since 2016 in the civil service gratuity; no explanation has been given to us, four years along the line.

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“In the local government administration, since 2010, it has not been paid to teachers; since 2012, it has not been paid to the local government workers. Therefore, 10 years after retirement, you cannot collect your gratuity. So, workers are not happy.

“What is burning at the moment is the non-implementation of promotion to Akwa Ibom workers. You have the letter, but it is not implemented.

“We are getting very uncomfortable about it. If the strike proceeds as planned, those are some of the things we may have to ask the Akwa Ibom State government to address before we go back to work. If the strike is allowed, then Akwa Ibom state government must solve our problems,” he said.

Nsa Gill, Calabar

Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Eteng Williams, on Thursday expressed support for the peaceful protest by over 2,500 workers whose names were delisted from the government payroll for over year without pay.

The delisted workers have been staging peaceful protests since Monday.

They have occupied the entrance gate to the state secretariat and marched to the House of Assembly, among other places.

Addressing the delisted workers, Eteng said: “We feel your pains. My younger ones are involved, about three of them. So, it is not just the number of you that have come out here. There are a thousand and one others out there.”

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The Speaker said he was embarrassed by the situation, adding: “On two occasions, we summoned the people in government handling the screening and verification. What we have asked is: ‘Are you not done with it? How long are you going to continue with it? You can’t continue with screening endlessly.’

“As a member of this government, I am embarrassed by this situation and the issue keeps embarrassing me. This screening is getting too long. I am saying it openly here without minding anything.”

On his encounter with the verification committee members, Etang said: “We told them to come out with a position paper on where they are and what they are doing. We told them to also let us know what the position of government is on what they are doing and where they are on their job.