By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Ahead of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has handed its ticket to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

But the party’s State Chairman Norbert Obi described the development as fake news

A chieftain of the party, who spoke in confidence with The Nation in Awka, the state capital, said APGA decided to hand the ticket to Soludo because the party believed he is the only person who can win the election for the party.

The source also said the obstacle Soludo was facing in the hands of one of most powerful persons in the state had been cleared and the person had given the nod for him to sail with the party.

Though, according to the source, the party had stopped all groups from campaigning for anyone as campaigns had not begun, he said some people were working underground for Soludo to carry the APGA flag.

But Obi said APGA was making sure that it followed the party’s guidelines.

Read Also: Ekwueme’s wife, others drum support for Soludo in Anambra

The chairman said three persons had shown interest in the governorship ticket, including Soludo, adding that by January, things will become clearer.

Other aspirants, according to Obi, are Sir Damian Okolo, from Nnewi and Sullivan Nwankpo, from Okija

He said: “APGA has not chosen anybody; never mind the rumour-mongers. People have interest in representing the party, but we should exercise patience till early next year. I hope other names will still emerge.

“APGA is a solid party and a mass movement. Other political parties are just queuing behind it, as far as Anambra State is concerned. We don’t believe in noise-making. All I want to say is that we are ready for the election.”

Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has shut seven examination centres across Bayelsa State for allegedly violating its rules and regulations.

It was learnt that the shutting of the centres leaves the state with only four centres to cater for about 24,000 candidates.

The State Coordinator of JAMB, Abdusalam Mohammed, spoke during a visit to the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Ernest Sese Ikoli Press Centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Mohammed explained that some of the examination centres were delisted for alleged duplication of the Virtual Private Network (VPN) of their routers.

He said: “Initially, Bayelsa State had 11 examination centres. So far, seven of this number have been delisted from our platform for various infractions. The owners of some of these centres tampered with the VPN of our router. And that is a very big offence.

“They duplicated the VPN by moving the router from one location to another location where they did whatever they liked. This is a very big offence. Others were delisted for overcharging candidates.

“During registration, we sent out a monitoring team and they came back with the report that candidates were charged N5,000 for a service that should ordinarily cost N2,500.”

Mohammed also gave insight into the level of preparedness of the board to conduct examinations amid fear of COVID-19 spread.

He said: “Even before the lockdown was lifted, we had started training our workers on how to attend to candidates. We have also embarked on sensitisation of candidates and provided personal prevention equipment.

“In order to reduce the crowd at our office during registration, we have introduced what we call ‘appointment for candidates’. This means that candidates can only come to us when they have an appointment. The intention is to reduce body contact between workers and candidates.

“Before Coronavirus, we used to do what is called thumb-printing for candidates during registration but that has been stopped in order not to spread the virus. What we now do is that a One-Time Password (OTP) is sent to the candidate. That will now verify the candidate as the original owner of that particular application.

Read Also: JAMB to higher institutions: start 2020/2021 admission processes

“In the past it was difficult to have 20,000 candidates for JAMB, but this year, the number has skyrocketed to over 24, 000 candidates, meaning that there is an improvement in the enrolment of students in Bayelsa. However, in Bayelsa awareness on our activities is low, so that is why we have come to visit you.”

The State NUT Chairman Samuel Numonengi frowned on the activities of the operators of the delisted examination centres.

He said their actions did not portend a good the future for the state.

Numonengi said: “We cannot stand people jeopardising the future of our children in Bayelsa State. So, it is on this note I want to join you to condemn their actions and encourage parents and candidates to stand up against any form of infraction perpetrated by these individuals that have questionable character.”

Our Reporter

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has restated the need for Ijaw people to embrace unity and speak with one voice to actualise their dreams and developmental aspirations.

The governor spoke at the weekend during a funeral service in honour of Nigeria’s pioneer Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Dr. Mofia Tonjo-Akobo, at Tombia in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Read Also: I’m God instrument, Diri reacts to Appeal Court victory

A statement on Sunday in Yenagoa, the state capital, by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, said Diri was represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The governor noted that the current realities in the country called for a more cohesive Ijaw nation where its people must work together to build on the achievements of their forebears.

He said although the Ijaw tribe is the fourth largest ethnic nationality in the country, it had not achieved much because of lack of unity and oneness of purpose in the pursuit for development and progress.

 Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri has described the first civilian governor of the state, the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as a selfless leader who always placed the interest of the Ijaw nation above other considerations.

Diri, who spoke in Amassoma during the fifth annual memorial anniversary programme in honour of the former governor in his home town.

The governor said Alamieyeseigha is a hero that will always live in the hearts of Bayelsa indigenes due to his laudable legacies, which include laying the foundation for the development of the state.

He paid tributes to the late governor for establishing the Niger Delta University, saying his passion for education had empowered many Bayelsa and other Niger Delta residents.

Diri said: “How many people died five years ago and are remembered in this fashion? For me, it is a day of joy for us to remember the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State who started laying the foundation of our dear state. He came, he saw, he conquered and he is now resting.

“Let me, on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, today commemorate the fifth anniversary of the death of our hero, of a man who lived for his people and not only for his family, of a man who left legacies and started laying the foundation blocks of a modern Bayelsa State. His memories will continue to linger in Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.”

 Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

THE Rivers State government on Sunday denied a viral report linking Governor Nyesom Wike to a remark on the pact between the Zamfara State government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Zamfara gold.

Rivers Information and Communications Commissioner Paulinus Nsirim described the report being circulated on the social media as completely false and misleading.

He said: “The purveyors of this barefaced fallacy suggested in their warped story that Governor Wike was unhappy with the decision of the CBN to buy gold from Zamfara State.

“They claimed that Governor Wike, who lamented that the same privileged attention had not been given to the oil from Rivers State, demanded that gold should be made a national cake, adding that he too would proceed to own a gold well in Zamfara State.

“Let us state here categorically that Governor Wike never made such a statement. In fact, we note with a sense of relief that no major, mainstream news media or press organisation, either print, electronic or online attached to Government House, Port Harcourt, carried this concocted story.

“So, it is a wonder where the mushroom, less than credible social media outlets got the comments, which they claimed Governor Wike made ‘while addressing the press’.

Read Also: Nigeria’s future bleak with current structure – Wike

“It has indeed become the ugly penchant, in recent times, of some cynical and dubious detractors to drop or insert Governor Wike’s name in their calculated crusade to ignite unprovoked conflict with the hidden ploy to disrupt the recently emerging warm cordiality which has defined the relationship between him and some leaders across geopolitical divides in the country.

“These naysayers have also commenced a devious gambit to insidiously tarnish the overwhelming goodwill which the burgeoning image and reputation of Governor Wike has been enjoying across the country, and this latest story is simply the latest installment of their failed efforts.

“Those familiar with Governor Wike will know that he does not need to resort to such churlish and petty grandstanding, portrayed in the silly story, to speak up on any matter whatsoever.

“The write-up is thus just another figment of the convoluted imagination of its authors. Nigerians are therefore advised to completely disregard the story, especially now that the Federal Government, the CBN and the Zamfara State Government have all come out to speak clearly on the matter and set the records straight.”