The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger delta

  • NBA condemns vacuum in office of Cross River State Chief Judge

    NBA condemns vacuum in office of Cross River State Chief Judge

    Nsa Gill, Calabar

     

     

    The local chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Cross River has condemned the vacuum in the office of the Chief Judge of the state.

    Justice Maurice Eneji’s tenure as the acting Chief Judge of the state expired on September 2.  Justice Eneji cannot be reappointed having served for two conservative tenures of three months each.

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) was yet to act on the situation in Cross River State judiciary.

    Speaking in a telephone interview, the Chairman of Calabar branch of the NBA, Dr. Paul O. Ebiala, regretted the non-appointment of a substantive State Chief Judge

    He said the absence of the Chief Judge of the State portends danger and not a healthy development for the state.

    The lawyer said it was unprecedented in the history of the Judiciary in Cross River State to be without a Chief Judge

    “The absence of the Judiciary in Cross River State is like shutting down the system completely, it is just like having a state but no governor.

    “A state that has no governor is shut down completely; the Judiciary that has no Chief Judge is also shut down completely. A similar thing applies to the House of Assembly.

    “In the case of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, we have a Deputy Speaker and we also have a deputy governor but in the case of Chief Judge, there is no deputy.”

     

  • Zoning won’t work in Bayelsa West, says APC candidate

    Zoning won’t work in Bayelsa West, says APC candidate

    Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt and Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Bayelsa West Senatorial by-election Peremabowei Ebebi has asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to forget zoning.

    Ebebi, who hails from Ekeremor Local Government, argued that former Governor Seriake Dickson, of PDP, destroyed the zoning arrangement through choices he made before leaving office as governor.

    He said arguments by some PDP members that it was the turn of Sagbama, Dickson’s council, to produce the next senator, amounted to playing on the zone’s intelligence.

    Ebebi noted that those promoting such arguments were encouraging political greed and trying to make Sagbama superior to the principles of justice, equity and good conscience.

    A former deputy governor, he said Sagbama, through Dickson, occupied the governorship for eight years with his kinsman, Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo as commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

    Read Also: Bayelsa West: Dickson clinches senatorial ticket

    He said during 2019 election, Dickson brought Ehwrudjakpo to contest and win Sagbama West senatorial election, and still made Ehwrudjakpo deputy governor.

    The aspirant said if Dickson valued zoning, he would have supported someone from Ekeremor to be deputy governor, to give Sagbama moral rectitude to lay claim to the Senate.

    Ebebi insisted it would be unjustifiable and unfair for Sagbama, having occupied the governorship for eight years, to retain the positions of deputy governor and a senator, and make Ekeremor a political orphan.

    He said: “Zoning has been destroyed by Dickson. Dickson was governor for eight years and he should have considered Ekeremor, being brother to Sagbama, for deputy governor. But he gave it to the commissioner for Works, who was already a senator. He abandoned that senatorial seat to become a deputy governor.”

    Ebebi promised to pursue legislation to address underdevelopment and ecological problems in the zone, if elected as senator.

    He promised to focus on youth and student empowerment through scholarships and human capital development.

     

  • Ngige’s kinsmen insist on monarch’s suspension 

    Ngige’s kinsmen insist on monarch’s suspension 

    Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

    Residents of Alor in Idemili South Local Government of Anambra State have rejected moves by their monarch, MacAnthony Okonkwo, to protest his suspension.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige hails from Alor.

    Governor Willie Obiano suspended Okonkwo and 12 other monarchs for visiting Abuja without permission.

    Penultimate week, the people trooped out to protest against their monarch for desecrating the tradition. They called on Obiano to banish him from the community.

    The people, through President of Alor People’s Assembly Chief Uzoma Igbonwa appealed to Obiano to stop a caretaker committee in the area.

    Youths, at the weekend, stormed the community to protest the monarch’s suspension.

    They chanted songs and drove round Obi Alor square without challenge.

    Read Also: Arthur Eze, a fair weather politician, says Ngige

    But Igbonwa said ‘those people are not from our community. Whoever brought them wants war but Alor people are peace makers and their mission did not materialise.

    “I appeal to our people to remain calm as everything will soon be settled, we did not tell Obiano to suspend anyone. Alor will always support his administration and before the unfortunate show of shame by the miscreants on Saturday, the community had petitioned the governor, police and Department of State Services (DSS) on the planned mayhem.

    “Those behind what is happening in our community are the people appointed and given certificate as caretaker committee by the government, but they have turned against Obiano today.”

  • Dickson to revisit resource control

    Dickson to revisit resource control

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    A UNITED Nations (UN) Peace Ambassador Miebi Bribena has said fiscal federalism, resource control and neglect of Niger Delta will be revisited when Seriake Dickson wins the October 31 election to represent Bayelsa West in the Senate.

    Dickson was returned unopposed as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate at the weekend primary.

    Bribena said Dickson was returned unopposed based on his records. He noted that the decision of party faithful underscored his achievements as governor.

    He insisted the former governor would use his experience as crusader of justice, fairness and equity in the distribution of the country’s wealth on the floor of the Senate.

  • ‘PDP fielding best candidates for by-elections’

    ‘PDP fielding best candidates for by-elections’

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri has said People’s Democratic Party (PDP) carefully picked its candidates for the October 31 Bayelsa Central and West senatorial by-elections.

    Diri spoke at the weekend after the primaries, which produced his predecessor, Seriake Dickson, and former party chairman Moses Cleopas, as candidates for Bayelsa West and Central.

    A statement on Sunday by Diri’s Acting Chief Press Secretary Daniel Alabrah said the governor hailed the peaceful primaries.

    The governor was satisfied with the process, and praised the aspirants and delegates for being orderly.

    He urged party members to work for the success of its candidates in the by-elections.

    “The primary was orderly, transparent and fair. I am very sure that everybody is satisfied with the conduct.

    “You will also agree with me that we carefully selected and nominated our candidates.

    Read Also: Diri swears in commissioner-designates Tuesday

    “We are presenting our best in the election. The former governor is experienced in legislative and executive matters; he is also a lawyer.

    “Our former chairman is a good party man with oratory power and great leadership skill. They will be good representatives in the Senate and strong voices for Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation. I urge our people to support these great men in the election.”

    Dickson said he had no power outside God in his political career.

    A statement by his media aide, Fidelis Soriwei, said Dickson spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving service at his country home of Toru-Orua.

    Dickson stressed that God strengthened him and fought the political battles he won as governor and before then.

    According to him, God himself, as chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Universe, used his court to deliver the verdict, which stopped All Progressives Congress (APC) from taking over the state.

     

     

     

     

  • Nothing has changed in Ijawland, say leaders

    Nothing has changed in Ijawland, say leaders

    From Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Ijaw leaders have decried hard times and worsening conditions despite various interventions and existence of key associations claiming to champion their agitations.

    The leaders, who met in Port Harcourt under the auspices of Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), said they were worse off because major pressure groups they relied on failed them.

    One of the Conveners of MOSIEND, Kennedy Tonjo-West, regretted that Ijawland was still battling age-long foundational problems of insecurity, severe poverty, environmental degradation and high level unemployment.

    Tonjo-West said other Ijaw associations such as the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP), Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and many Niger Delta freedom fighters had withdrawn their membership of Ijaw foundational groups.

    He said MOSIEND was quickly rising to assume responsibility for Ijaw struggles for resource control and self-determinism and to become a major driving force for development in Ijaw nation.

    He said: “Today the Ijaw communites are experiencing very hard and unpleasant situation. The Ijaw communities are plagued with insecurity, severe poverty, environmental degradation, malnutrition, unemployment unimaginable diseases due to exploitation and exploration of our land.”

    Also speaking, MOSIEND’s incoming Eastern Zonal Chairman, Boma Dagogo, said MOSIEND would change the current narrative adding that Ijaw nation was no longer moving in the right direction.

  • 2023: Pick Northern candidate, forget Igbo votes – Ohanaeze tells PDP

    2023: Pick Northern candidate, forget Igbo votes – Ohanaeze tells PDP

    Innocent Duru 

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has cautioned the People’s Democratic Party against shopping for and fielding a northerner in 2023 as presidential candidate.

    In a statement signed by the President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the Secretary General , Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the group said:  “Igbos have voted  massively for the PDP since 1999. But it appears that the PDP regards the Igbos as cows that must be milked to death. The PDP is making subterranean  plans to retain power in the north in 2023.

    “The PDP must not insult the intelligence of the Igbo. If the PDP thinks the Igbo will wait till 2031 before it gets a chance at the presidential ticket  of the party then the PDP isn’t just treacherous, it is delusional. Perhaps the PDP doesn’t need Igbo votes.

    Read Also: Obaseki to electorate: vote for PDP

    “The youths of Igbo land will not sit astride and watch the PDP field a candidate from the north and come to Igbo land to hoodwink people with  sweetened gibberish. If the PDP  tramples on equity and commonsense , and opts for a northern candidate in 2023,  then the PDP should forget about coming to Igbo land to seek votes in the 2023  presidential elections.

    “No Igbo politician should accept  a vice-presidential ticket from any party. Any Igbo man or woman who grovels to  a vice-presidential ticket should consider political social distancing from Igbo land.”

     

  • Tension in Ngige’s community over move to banish monarch

    Tension in Ngige’s community over move to banish monarch

    Nwanosike Onu, Awka

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen.  Chris Ngige’s Alor community, says it has uncovered plot by some people to hire thugs to cause mayhem in the area on Saturday over the call to banish the monarch, Igwe MacAnthoy Okonkwo.

    The community, through its leadership, has petitioned Governor Willie Obiano, the State Commissioner of Police and the State Director, Department of Security Service DSS to come to their aid.

    The traditional ruler of Alor, Okonkwo, was one of the 12 monarchs suspended for one year by the Anambra State government for traveling to Abuja recently without permission.

    But the traditional ruler Okonkwo, in his apology to Governor Willie Obiano immediately, said they went to visit President Muhammadu Buhari to thank him on his developmental strides in the Southeast and for him to do more for them.

    The monarch further said he had no intention to disrespect the governor or his government, adding that he had been one of his loyal subjects, stressing  that nothing would make him work against Obiano.

    But last weekend, the people of Alor in their numbers, protested against their monarch ,while calling the state government for his banishment  and dissolution of a caretaker committee in the community.

    Read Also: Ngige, INEC REC lead protest against Anambra monarch

    The Community, Friday in a petition to Obiano, the Police and DSS, which was made available to reporters in Awka, said some group of thugs had planned to hire other miscreants to cause trouble in the community today and should be stopped.

    The petition was signed by the Public Relation’s Officer PRO of Alor People’s Assembly (APA), Mr Maduka Oyedu

    It reads in parts, ” Alor Community, has uncovered plans by few persons in the area  to recruit and hire 20 buses of thugs from Nkpor, Obosi, Onitsha and environs to storm the community on Saturday, 5th September, 2020, on pretext that they are protesting in support of the suspended Monarh, Mac-Anthony Elibe Okonkwo.

    “But their plans are to cause mayhem following the successful peace protest last Saturday for his removal by the Alor community over his (monarch’s) clandestine visit to Abuja without the permission of the state government.

    “The protest by Alor Community was based on his suspension by the Anambra State Government for desecrating the culture and traditions of the people.”

     

  • Pastor nabbed for killing 60-year-old native doctor

    Pastor nabbed for killing 60-year-old native doctor

    Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

     

    Police in Anambra  said they have arrested a 21-year old Pastor, Uchenna Chukwuma, for allegedly killing a 60-year old native doctor in Nkpo, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

    The spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed this in a statement on Friday, said the suspect claimed he was sent by God to kill the deceased.

    He said the machete used in committing the crime was recovered as exhibit, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for discreet investigation.

    He said, “On the 3/9/2020 at about 2:10pm, there was a report of alleged murder of a native doctor, one Oliver Chukwudi Ugwu ‘m’ aged 60 years of Umusiome, Nkpor but hails from Umuavor village Abor in Udi LGA of Enugu State by a self-acclaimed pastor, one Uchenna Chukwuma ‘m’ aged 21 years of Ugwuezue  Street,Umusiome Nkpor in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

    Read Also: 15 kidnap suspects held in Delta, Anambra

    “The suspect who hails from Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State claimed during interrogation that he was sent by God to kill the native doctor.

    “He further alleged that the victim was disturbing him spiritually and has not allowed him to progress financially.

    “Police detectives attached to Ogidi Division led by the DPO CSP Ekuri Remigius, visited the scene of crime and rushed victim who was found in a pool of his blood to Iyi Enu Hospital, Ogidi, for medical attention where he was certified dead by the medical doctor on arrival.Corpse was deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.”

  • Kuku was never indicted by presidential panel — Daunemigha, APC chieftain

    Kuku was never indicted by presidential panel — Daunemigha, APC chieftain

    Our Reporter 

    A chieftain of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Famous Daunemigha, has faulted the claim that former coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Kingsley Kuku, was indicted by the presidential panel set up at the behest of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mungono.

    In a statement issued recently by Daunemigha, the former governorship aspirant debunked the claim by a recent publication, saying it is misleading.

    “Our attention has been drawn to a front page report in a newspaper captioned “N712 billion looted by 3 Amnesty Coordinators”. The report gave the names of the three past Coordinators of the Amnesty Programme indicted by Presidential panel as Mr Kingsley Kuku , Gen Boroh and Prof Charles Dokubo.

    “It is instructive to state that the circulating interim report of the panel constituted by the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Mungono (Rtd), is at total variance with the report by The Sun Newspaper and a few online sources.

    “The circulating panel report did not investigate or review the stewardship of Hon. Kingsley Kuku who served as the last Special Adviser to a Nigerian President on Niger Delta Affairs. The PAP was domiciled in his office by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON, GCFR.

    “Without mincing words, Hon. Kuku served meritoriously and delivered without partisan inclination from 2011—2015.

    “We urge the people of the Niger Delta to be alert and reject the avoidable insults and denigration we face in whatever guise. The PAP under Kuku recorded tremendous strides. It started a downward spiral after Hon. Kuku left office. The last two coordinators, General Paul Boroh and Professor Dokubo, were appointed on the recommendation of the NSA. We urge the National Security Adviser, General Mungono, to do better judgement on leadership and public service in the Niger Delta. He should take full responsibility for the infractions of Boroh and Dokubo, and stop general-brushing as if there are no credible leaders from the Niger Delta who could have improved on the great strides of Kuku and his competent team at the PAP. The APC and indeed all political parties in the Niger Delta have competent, efficient and outstanding youth leaders and elders, men and women, who can effectively manage the PAP. We question the appointive judgement of the NSA, and urge him and Mr President strongly to look beyond military coursemaates and tutors to appoint the right people to manage highly sensitive and strategic intervention agency — the PAP.

    “I was a founding member of the Izon Youth Movement, former National Deputy President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), founding member and former governorship candidate of the CPC in Bayelsa State and currently, a chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa State and the Southsouth political zone.

    READ ALSO: Ijaw leaders condemn invasion of Kuku’s house 

    “I am, however, first an Izon and Niger Delta man. Stop insulting the intelligence and credibility of the Niger Delta people.

    “Appoint the right people and sustain the peace and security of the region.

    “Partisan differences apart, we urge our brother and son, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, wherever he is in the United States of America, to focus on his health and disregard this orchestrated media campaign and trial relaunched by reckless and irresponsible media outlets and their sponsors.

    “The PAP is a product of toil, sweat, blood, death and peace. It was effective under former Presidents Yar’Adua and Jonathan. Comparing Hon. Kuku and his team’s sterling leadership and performance at the PAP to the period you supervised it ( 2015 till now) is like heaven and hell; light and darkness,” the statement read.