The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Obaseki to electorate: Come out and vote on Sept 19

    Obaseki to electorate: Come out and vote on Sept 19

    Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

     

    EDO State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has urged the state’s electorate not to be afraid to come out and vote on September 19.

    He expressed optimism of emerging victorious during the crucial election, in spite of the challenge by Edo governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who earlier stated that by God’s grace and the votes of residents of the state, he would be inaugurated as Edo governor on November 12 this year.

    Obaseki, the standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), spoke yesterday in Benin, the state capital, while addressing his supporters who put up a carnival-like march, termed: “Umbrella March,” to reinforce their support for him.

    Read Also: Can Obaseki avert mass resignation, defections?

    The march, which was organised by the Edo Voters Volunteers Assembly (EVVA), a grassroots voter mobilisation body, had over 2000 participants, made up of youths and women, mobilised from the 12 wards in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

    The march temporarily halted commercial activities in the early hours of yesterday in Benin.

    Obaseki urged Edo electorate to report acts of criminality by any person or group of persons to the appropriate authorities to forestall a breakdown of law and order, in the run-up to the governorship election.

  • Rivers SSG hails Odili at 72

    Rivers SSG hails Odili at 72

     Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

     

    THE Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has congratulated a former Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili on his 72nd birthday.

    Danagogo in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, to mark the birthday of the former governor, described Odili as a revered statesman, philanthropist, a father-figure and pillar for everybody in Rivers politics and the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration.

    He noted that Odili’s contribution to the socio-political and economic development of the state over the years was worthy of commendation.

    Read Also: EFCC grills Odili’s ex-ADC over alleged fraud

    He referred to the former ‘Golden Governor’ of the state as a detribalised statesman, who transformed many persons irrespective of tribe or creed.

    “His leadership qualities and strength of character are worthy of emulation to all. May Almighty God sustain and continue to grant you good health in the coming years as I join family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers to celebrate your birthday sir,” he said.

  • A’Ibom challenges NBS report on unemployment status

    A’Ibom challenges NBS report on unemployment status

    Bassey Anthony, Uyo

     

    THE Akwa Ibom state government has challenged the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report listing the state as the second with highest unemployment rate in the country.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong in a statement on Saturday queried the credibility of the ‘Labour Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report,’ released by the NBS.

    Ememobong argued that the NBS report does not represent the current reality going by the number of industries operating in the state coupled with the number of indigenes recruited in the state civil and public service.

    “The reality on ground in our state is in contradistinction to the Bureau’s report. As a responsible government, we intend to engage the National Bureau of Statistics, to ascertain the veracity of their processes and results. The role of data in a survey is to reflect the existing reality, not to project the imaginary,” he stressed.

  • Abia APC pays condolence visit to PDP chair’s family

    Abia APC pays condolence visit to PDP chair’s family

    Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

     

    THE leadership and Abia State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sir Johnson Onuigbo; immediate past chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State chapter.

    The APC team led by the State Chairman, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, Barr. Perfect Okorie, Secretary and Comrade Benedict Godson, Publicity Secretary visited the Onuigbo’s in their country home Umuobasi-Ibeku, Umuahia.

    Speaking at the visit, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, APC chairman described the late Onuigbo as a man of peace who played politics without bitterness.

    Read Also: Former Benue speaker returns to APC

    “We came here to pay our late brother the respect he deserved and to also sympathise with his family which he left behind. On my own side, I’m dumbfounded because we shared a lot in common with my departed colleague.

    “We mourn him today not just because he was a party leader, but because he was a uniting factor in many things.”

    Responding to their visit, Tochukwu Onuigbo, first son of the deceased thanked the APC SWC for showing respect to his late father and for proving to them that he was a man of the people.

  • Court restrains bizman from demolishing shopping plaza

    Court restrains bizman from demolishing shopping plaza

    Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

     

    AN Abia State High Court sitting in Aba, has restrained a businessman, Mr. Ikenna Madubike from further demolition of a shopping complex with over 80 shops located at No.31/32 Ngwa road, Aba.

    Madubuike, who is the Managing Director of Unimass Nigeria Limited, was alleged to have stormed the shopping plaza also known as Dandico plaza, on October 5, 2018 with thugs, claiming that he bought the property from the owner, D.D. Onyemelukwe Estates Limited.

    The thugs destroyed traders’ goods worth millions of Naira.

    Madubuike was also alleged to have on August 11, 2020, made another attempt where he further demolished the property. Traders at the shopping plaza lost goods worth millions of Naira.

    Aggrieved by Madubuike’s actions, the tenants filed a suit at the High Court, Aba, in Suit No: A/190/2018, Eugene Obiesili & Ors vs Mr. Ikenna Madubuike.

    Chairman of the traders’ union, Eugene Obiesile, disclosed that the directors of the company, D.D. Onyemelukwe, Estates Limited, wrote to them that the property is still in the company’s name and not for sale to anybody.

    Read Also: Fake news: Kogi court remands man in DSS custody

    He said, “We, the traders are left without any means of income. Our goods  looted,  cash robbed and shops demolished while the perpetrator of these acts moved freely, going about his daily business and boasting that nobody can dare him. He continued to harass the poor traders and disregarding court orders.

    In his ruling, Justice I.A. Nwabughiogu, ordered the parties to maintain status quo.

    “It is hereby ordered as follows; that the parties in the suit (claimants and defendants) are hereby restrained from further demolition of the shops at N0.31/32 Ngwa road, Aba, otherwise known as Dandico plaza pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

  • Residents condemn security operatives for ‘protecting’ internet fraudsters

    Residents condemn security operatives for ‘protecting’ internet fraudsters

     Elo Edremoda, Warri

     

    RESIDENTS of Effurun in Uvwie council area of Delta state have frowned on security operatives for guarding suspected internet fraudsters, otherwise called ‘Yahoo Boys’ in the area.

    The residents were particularly angered over the reckless driving by the youngsters, alongside a police van conveying six security operatives on the popular Jakpa Road, Friday evening.

    According to reports, the incident left people of the area in panic.

    They wondered why armed personnel would provide “protection” for notorious peddlers of cybercrime.

    Witnesses claimed that the youths, who seemed to be in their 20s sped through the road dangerously in front of the police armed escort, who ensured that they were not challenged by aggrieved residents

    They added that the suspected fraudsters, numbering about 10, stormed the area in several cars, including a Lexus IS and Toyota Camry.

    Read Also: Delta relaxes curfew, reopens markets

    A witness said, “The most annoying thing is that a police van, a Toyota Hilux, with armed policemen were providing security for them.

    “Where in this world do you see lawbreakers and law enforcement agents working together in the open as we saw yesterday?” one aggrieved resident of the area wondered.

    The source further disclosed that they rode into a suburb of the area where they apparently went to make inquiries for a landed property.

    “But we did not find it funny. These hoodlums, fraudsters and money ritualists are taking over this neighbourhood and our children and lives are being endangered. Sadly, the police that are supposed to protect law-abiding citizens are escorting them all over the place and that is the tragedy,” the source lamented.

  • Tension in Delta community over cult killings

    Tension in Delta community over cult killings

    By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba 

    There is tension in Umuagu Quarters area of  Asaba, the Delta State Capital, following the murder of two youths in cult related clashes.

    The Nation gathered that a young man identified simply as Obo, was killed in an  attack in the late hours of Thursday.

    It was learnt that the deceased, a graduate of Mass Communication from the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku was killed in a bar.

    A source who pleaded anonymity said: “He came to watch a football match in the bar and he was drinking around 10:00pm when a  gang of three men came in immediately there was power outage and told everyone to be calm that they came for him alone. They shot him four times and dragged him outside the bar”.

    Less than 24 hours after Obo’s murdered, another youth in the  neighbouring street was said to have been   killed in a reprisal attack.  The deceased was reportedly murdered in his house in Isieke Quarters.

    Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command,  DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident.

    She said the killings were as a result of attacks from two rival gangs, adding that investigation was ongoing.

  • Give APC no breathing space in Rivers, Wike charges PDP

    Give APC no breathing space in Rivers, Wike charges PDP

    By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Rivers State governor,  Nyesom Wike, has directed the state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Amb. Desmond Akawor, not to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) a breathing space in the state.

    Speaking when Akawor led the state executive committee members to present the party’s action plan to him in his office in the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike urged the committee to show more love to the party by being loyal and committed.

    Wike endorsed the action plan of the party and urged them to do their best in consolidating the gains of the party in the state insisting the APC had nothing to offer  Rivers people.

    He said: “As  officers, you owe the party a lot. You have to consolidate the gains we have already recorded.

    “No state can say they are better off than Rivers State. We have successfully conducted our congresses without problems. God has given us what it takes.  With all the people working with us and showing commitment, we will move this state to the next level of positive development.

    “I plead with you all to work cooperatively with the chairman and be united. We are going to  work together to draw up a plan that will make us more effective.

    “Let nobody deceive you to attend any meeting anybody will call  because he wants to run for governorship. We have not come to that point.  I have just stayed one year in office in my second tenure. We are working for our party to be united to make sure that APC does not have a breathing space in our state.

    “There is nothing the APC can say to Rivers people today as the reason they should be voted for. Whether it is the federal government, or their political appointees,  they have nothing to tell us.

    “The money they have approved for us as a refund has not been given to us. But I am not worried.  I will continue to work. We have something we can show to Rivers people.”

  • Dickson congratulates Buhari, Diri, others on commissioning of NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa

    Dickson congratulates Buhari, Diri, others on commissioning of NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa

    Immediate past governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the Bayelsa State Government on the commissioning of the 17- storey building  headquarters of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board in Yenagoa.

    The former governor also congratulated, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, under whose tenure the major project was completed and the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr Simbi Wabote, for the  successful completion of the multi billion naira structure.

    He commended the Federal Government for the structure which according to him has added to the beauty of the fast growing Yenagoa metropolis in addition to its economic benefits to the society.

    The former governor said  the state  government under him “dualized the Isaac Boro Road which passes through NCDMB headquarters and constructed the Restoration flyover to decongest traffic in anticipation of the world class developmental projects planned for the area which also plays the host to the beautiful Oxbow Lake.”

    Chief Dickson said in a statement by his Media Advisor, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, on Friday that the state government under his leadership collaborated with the NCDMB by donating the land for the 10 MW power plant designed to supply uninterrupted power to the building.

    The former governor said that the state government gave the land to the NCDMB as part of its contribution to the project.

    He said that it was rather heartwarming that the Buhari Administration saw to the completion of the beautiful project, the first of its kind in the oil industry in Bayelsa.

    He described the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Wabote, as a proud son of Bayelsa who should be commended for the feat.

  • Uzodinma commissions road projects

    Uzodinma commissions road projects

    By Chris Njoku, Owerri

    Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Friday commissioned some major road projects in the state which were started few months after he assumed office.

    Some of the roads are St Moore, Aladinma, Oparanozie and Douglas Road which is a two- lane road linking the state to Aba, Enugu and other Southeast states.

    Speaking during the road commissioning ceremony, Chairman, Njemanze Ruling Dynasty, Prince Declan Njemanze, expressed gratitude to the governor particularly for reconstructing the Douglas Road which he said was abandoned by the previous government.

    Njemanze recalled that Douglas Road was impassable throughout the tenure of Rochas Okorocha, adding that residents of Owerri as result suffered untold hardship plying the road.

    He lauded the governor on his promise of rebuilding their ancestral market (Eke Ukwu) which he said was demolished by the Okorocha’s administration.

    Reacting to the speech made by the elder statesman, Uzodinma assured the people that  his administration had come to reduce their  sufferings through provision of  such quality roads, revamping the health sector and providing them with clean water through rehabilitation of the Otamirri water scheme.