The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Residents, business owners decry epileptic power supply in Enugu

    Residents, business owners decry epileptic power supply in Enugu

    • Situation beyond us, says EEDC

    Residents and business owners in Enugu metropolis have lamented power outage in the city, saying their businesses are fast crumbling.

    The capital city and its environs have been witnessing unusually prolonged power outage that has thrown the metropolis into darkness, with a few places having epileptic supply.

    While residents cry out over the continuous outage at a critical season of excessive heat, some business owners, especially hoteliers, printers, beer parlour operators, among others, who spoke about the development yesterday, bemoaned the power outage, noting that businesses were folding up over the development.

    They said they were losing customers over their inability to buy diesel at the current pump price of N1,300 per litre to provide power for their businesses and offices.

    A printing press owner on Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu, who identified himself as Anayo Okenna, said he had consistently run at losses due to overspending on diesel.

    Okenna said: “All the printing jobs I collected since January have been stalled because what I charged my clients is far less compared to what I’m spending to produce the books.”

    Reacting to the development, EEDC Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said the poor power supply experienced by its customers across the Southeast is beyond the organisation.

    The company attributed the situation to low energy generation, which had resulted in a drop in power supply availability.

    “The worst is in the past two weeks where you can hardly find power within the day. Within the period, I was spending about N45,000 daily on 40 litres of diesel just to work.

    “The situation is quite frustrating. I must tell you. I don’t know what the matter is with Nigeria. Nothing seems to be working again.”

    A manager in one of the hotels operating in the city, Sandra Isife, lamented that her hotel spends an average of N250,000 daily to purchase diesel to provide electricity for customers.

    She said after managing to pay workers their January salary, the hotel owners can no longer continue with such spending, as it is no longer sustainable.

    “You can’t imagine that any night you have only three guests, you will also run your generator as if you have 50 guests. That’s where our problem lies,” she added.

    She expressed fears that if Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) does not immediately restore constant power supply to the city, hotels and other business owners may be forced to lay off workers due to the high cost of keeping their business afloat.

    A welder, Ugochukwu Nwobodo, said he had not worked for almost two weeks since the EEDC began epileptic power supply, adding that the situation was compounding economic woes of the people.

    A resident of Ikirike in Idaw River Layout, Ijeoma Nebe, said since harmattan season stopped, she and many others had hardly enjoyed sound sleep because of the extreme heat.

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    “You can imagine that we didn’t watch this past AFCON tournament. Even on the day Nigeria was playing finals with Ivory Coast, there was no electricity. What is even infuriating enough is the fact that we no longer sleep because of heat,” she said.

    Reacting to the development, EEDC Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said the poor power supply experienced by its customers across the Southeast is beyond the organisation.

    The company attributed the situation to low energy generation, which had resulted in a drop in power supply availability.

    The Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who made this known to reporters, appealed to customers to bear with them.

    He said the development had resulted in low generation, leading to reduction in the quantum of daily megawatt hour (MWH) of energy allocated to distribution companies nationwide, thereby impacting the quality of service to its customers.

    “We understand the inconveniences this situation has caused our esteemed customers and appeal for their understanding, as it is beyond us,” Ezeh said.

    “We can only distribute what is allocated to us. Effort is being made by the stakeholders in the power sector to address this issue, and we hope this yields positive result so that normal distribution will return,” he added.

  • Ex-PDP spokesperson remanded for alleged defamation

    Ex-PDP spokesperson remanded for alleged defamation

    A social media critic and member of the Interim Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, Chika Nwoba, has been remanded in prison custody by an Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court.

    Nwoba, a former spokesperson for the party, was arraigned by the police yesterday on a three-count charge following his arrest on Sunday.

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    His arrest followed a petition by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oguzor Offia-Nwali.

    Nwali had in a petition alleged that Nwoba in a series of posts he made on social media, defamed him, threatened his life and falsely accused him of fraud and diversion of state government funds meant for empowerment of hawkers.

  • Diri confident of victory at tribunal

    Diri confident of victory at tribunal

    Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has said efforts by some persons to stop his second term at the Election Petitions Tribunal failed before and will fail again.

    He spoke yesterday at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government at a memorial service for his father, Abraham Diri, who died last year.

    The governor will be sworn in tomorrow. He defeated Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who came second in the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

    Diri said: “A tribunal that you wanted to rig and you were stopped from rigging, and we even accepted some of your fake results from Nembe-Bassambiri, and you are the one going to tribunal.

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    “You know what he is doing now? You know when people are fake they do fake things. They want to go and bring police results as it happened sometime somewhere. They are bringing police report. They are subpoenaing police commissioner to come and testify at the tribunal.

    “Is it police that give result or INEC? Fake people. We have crossed that bridge long time ago and everything they are doing we know and we keep quiet. All we do is to stop them and we will stop them again.”

    He attributed his election victory to God, saying: “We have a master strategist who is Master Jesus. We will stop them from rigging at the tribunal again.

    “If you want to subpoena anybody, subpoena the Independent National Electoral Commission because they are the ones who prepare the results, the police are there for security.”

    Vowing to be serious and follow up on all issues at the Election Petitions Tribunal, Diri said: “I will follow them ‘bumper to bumper’.”

  • NDDC to begin work on Ibeno road second phase

    NDDC to begin work on Ibeno road second phase

    Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has assured the people of Ibeno Local Government of Akwa Ibom State that work on the second phase of Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuoachang Road, an extension from the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge, will be accelerated to ensure its completion.

    Speaking during the inspection of the road and bridge project, Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, accompanied by the Executive Director (Projects), Sir Victor Antai and other directors said it was necessary to assess the status of the project, which he noted, had suffered setback.

    Ogbuku said the first phase, a 6km road and 600-metre bridge across Qua Iboe River, had been completed and would be inaugurated soon.

    He assured Ibeno people that the NDDC would give them the special attention they deserved as a major contributor to the oil wealth of the country.

    He said: “This project is strategic and important to NDDC, considering that Ibeno is the operational base of ExxonMobil, which is the second largest producer of crude oil in Nigeria after Shell.

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    “We recognise the importance of Eket and Ibeno local governments to the Federal Government, especially as they constitute the major oil-producing hub of the state.”

    Ogbuku appealed to the youth in Ibeno to be peaceful and cooperate with the contractor handling the project, to ensure the job was completed without delay.

    The MD, in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said: We have to support one another to ensure successful completion of the project”

    He said the completed Ibeno Bridge was not inaugurated because NDDC wanted to see that the road connected the intended inland communities.

    The paramount ruler of Ibeno, Dr. Effiong Achianga, appealed to the NDDC to complete its projects in the area for the benefit of the oil-producing communities.

    The traditional ruler, represented by the village head of Iwuoachang Community, Chief Daniel Abia, praised NDDC for completing Ibeno Bridge and called for more efforts to complete the second phase of the project.

    He said: “NDDC has made it possible for us to interact with our kith and kin in the adjoining communities. That was not possible in the past because the river stood between us.”

    The former Chairman of Ibeno Local Government, Chief Williams Mkpa, said the people were delighted that work would resume on the second phase of the Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuoachang Road.

    He said the aim would be to connect communities in two local governments in Akwa Ibom State that had been separated by Qua Iboe River.

    “Our hope is that the road and the bridge will connect Iko, Rikang, Akata, Opolom, Ikot-Enwang, Okoroutip and Iwoachang communities with about 24 others. If this happens, it would have linked all the communities to modernity, while enhancing our socio-economic fortunes,” he said.

  • Soludo: monthly birth rate has risen from 200 to 1,600

    Soludo: monthly birth rate has risen from 200 to 1,600

    Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has said birth rate in the state has increased from 200 to 1,600 per month in less than two years.

    He attributed the development to huge investments his administration had made in the health sector, including introduction of free ante-natal and child delivery.

    Speaking at the 65th birthday ceremony of Sir Emeka Offor at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government, the governor said 52 per cent of the free ante-natal beneficiaries were non-indigenes.

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    He said: “We have made a lot of progress in health care. When I assumed office, the state was recording birth rate of 200 monthly, but now, it has increased to 1,600 with zero mortality.

    “This is because of the free ante-natal and child delivery we have instituted.

    “Out of these beneficiaries, 48 per cent are Anambra indigenes, while the rest are from outside the state.”

    Soludo hailed Offor for living an impactful life and reaching out to the poor and widows, describing him as an example of the “Anambra spirit” of philanthropy and community service.

    Offor thanked friends and well-wishers for celebrating with him on his birthday, promising to spend the rest of his life in the service of God and humanity.

  • LP national chair vows to conduct congresses in Imo

    LP national chair vows to conduct congresses in Imo

    The National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has endorsed a proposal to conduct state congresses of the party at the ward, local government and state levels in Imo State.

    Abure, who was in Imo to attend the LP stakeholders’ meeting held in Owerri, hailed the state Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, for his wisdom and innovative spirit in the running of the party affairs in the state.

    He said he was proud that LP, which was very insignificant in the past, is now a household name in the state and is being feared by opponents.

    Abure endorsed the proposals made by Ihejiagwa for the growth of the party, which included conducting state congresses at the ward, local government and state levels.

    He promised that as soon as the state was ready, he would approve and invite INEC to come and supervise the congresses.

    The party’s governorship candidate in the November 11, 2023 election, Senator Athan Achonu, said he was proud of the state exco led by Ihejiagwa, who stood firm and resolute in ensuring that “our party’s position was made clear at INEC, notwithstanding that he was beaten by the enemies of democracy who do not believe in doing the right thing during elections, but only believe in ballot box snatching and other anti-democratic activities.”

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    He promised to support the party at the ward, local government and state levels, especially in the soon-to-be-announced revalidation exercise and payment for party offices.

    Ihejiagwa thanked stakeholders for turning out en masse to attend the meeting, which was on a short notice.

    The epoch-making event attracted a galaxy of members from all walks of life, prominent among who were Abure; the National Youth Leader, Comrade Ahanotu; the Vice Chairman, Southeast, Chief Innocent Okeke.

    Others included a representative of the senator representing Imo East in the National Assembly, Chief Ezenwa Onyewuchi; two members representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala and Owerri federal constituencies, Matthew Nwogu and Tochukwu Okere (Toska). The rest are Clinton Amadi; Deputy Minority Leader and member representing Owerri Municipal in the House of Assembly, Dr. Geff Ojinika; candidate for Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency and other candidates as well as LP diaspora members represented by Chief C.N.C. Awobue from Oru West Local Government, who lives in New Jersey, USA.

  • IPOB warns Southeast governors against establishing cattle ranches

    IPOB warns Southeast governors against establishing cattle ranches

    Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned Southeast governors, particularly Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, not to establish Fulani cattle ranches in any part of the region.

    It said any attempt to establish ranches at Nimbo in Uzowani community of Enugu State or any part of the Southeast would be resisted.

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    IPOB urged the governors to shun establishment of cattle ranches in any state in the Southeast.

    The group said yesterday in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful: “IPOB and ESN operatives won’t allow establishment of Fulani camps in the name of cattle ranches in any state in the Southeast.

    “IPOB is monitoring the governors, especially Peter Mbah of Enugu State. They should know IPOB will not allow the establishment of any murderous camps in the name of cattle ranches in Enugu or anywhere in the Southeast.”

  • ‘How APC will win Edo governorship poll on Nov 12’

    ‘How APC will win Edo governorship poll on Nov 12’

    The Acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has said the party is determined to take back the governance of the state on November 12, 2024.

    He said APC would do all within the purview of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; the Electoral Act, 2022; and the spirit and letter of APC’s Constitution, for its governorship candidate to win the September 21 election.

    Tenebe assured the citizens of a level-playing field for the 12 screened and cleared governorship aspirants of APC, ahead of the February 17 primary election.

    He spoke yesterday at Edo secretariat of APC on Airport Road, Benin, while addressing reporters.

    He said: “Edo APC assures all the 12 governorship aspirants that a level-playing field shall be provided them, with a view to ensuring a rancour-free primary election, which shall lead to success in the September 21 election.

    “The party wishes to re-emphasise that it has not and will not endorse any of the aspirants that has not been cleared by the committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC), neither has it given any of its organs, persons or groups to do so, on its behalf.

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    “Edo APC congratulates the 12 aspirants on their successful screening and wishes to express that the party, basking in the euphoria, has pillowed on the democratic tenets of unhindered and unencumbered participation of the 12 aspirants in the primaries, as the party has not endorsed any preferred aspirant, going into the primaries, fixed for February 17, 2024.”

    The acting chairman of APC in Edo said between February 8 and 9 this year, the 12 governorship aspirants that purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms of the party were taken through the screening by the committee set up by the NWC of APC.

    He said: “As a prelude to the primaries fixed for February 17, 2024, and in line with the timetable released by the national secretariat of APC, the party did the membership revalidation between February 10 and 11 2024.

    “Today (yesterday), in continuation of APC’s desire to ensure actions that ultimately deepen internal democracy, deployed men and resources in the 18 local governments and conducted the ward delegates’ congress, as the delegates shall affirm the results of the direct primaries.”

    Tenebe enjoined APC faithful in Edo to remain committed to the ideals of a unified, noble and big political family, signposted by the party (APC).

  • Uwazuruike: Nigeria should be split into six regions to avoid more hardship

    Uwazuruike: Nigeria should be split into six regions to avoid more hardship

    • ’If I die no pastor should touch my body’

    Leader of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independence Movement (BIM),

    Ralph Uwazuruike, has said for Nigerians to avoid more hardship, the country should be divided into six regions to allow the zones manage their resources and develop at their own pace.

    He spoke yesterday during the group’s monthly meeting at Ojukwu Memorial Library Auditorium, New Owerri, Imo State capital.

    He said: “Nigeria will always be difficult to govern the way it is, except it is split into six republics or regions according to the existing six geopolitical zones of the country for easy management.”

    Uwazuruike added: “Each of the regions should be allowed to develop at its own pace.

    “Nigerians are experiencing hardship and there is nothing in place to remedy the situation, except if each region is allowed to manage and develop in the area of comparative advantage.”

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    He berated clerics, accusing them of hobnobbing with governors and politicians.

    Uwazuruike said: “There are no men of God in Nigeria and Southeast in particular. They are not genuine; they are businessmen and politicians who are errand boys to the governors and politicians just for a mere peanut.”

    Uwazuruike, who approved and recognised Bishop Gregory Ashiegbu as the Archbishop of Biafra, directed MASSOB and BIM members not to allow any bishop or pastor to touch his body when he dies, except the newly-ordained Archbishop of Biafra, Ashiegbu.

    He said: “Don’t take my body to any church because I don’t belong to any of them. Don’t also allow any pastor, reverend father, bishop or archbishop to touch my body because they are politicians and businessmen and their hands are dirty

    “If I die, it is only my ordained Archbishop of Biafra land, Bishop Gregory Ashiegbu, who will take care of my body.”

  • Niger Delta leaders decry allegations of financial wrongdoings against Boyloaf

    Niger Delta leaders decry allegations of financial wrongdoings against Boyloaf

    Stakeholders from the Niger Delta have condemned the allegation of involvement of a frontline former militant leader, Chief Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, popularly called ‘General’ Boyloaf, in the financial wrongdoings levelled against the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) by an online publication.

    The stakeholders, comprising elders of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, monarchs, youth and women groups across the region, described the online tabloid’s report as a selective witch-hunt, sponsored personal attack and deliberate plan to cause disaffection and security breach in the region.

    The online publication had last Wednesday alleged that the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta was among the Federal Government’s ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) that had violated the Financial Transparency laws by authorising the payment of huge sums of public funds into private accounts.

    The report had claimed: “The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta tops the list of MDAs making such controversial payments.”

    The stakeholders argued that their findings showed that the publication failed to state exactly how much was paid monthly to those leaders for onward payments to thousands of delegates in their camps.

    They also said that the tabloid’s report failed to account for the number of delegates in the camps across the region as well as to explain what other way or mechanism the Federal Government should utilise in paying thousands of ex-militants across the region if not through their private accounts.

    The stakeholders in a joint statement issued in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and signed by Chief Bubaraye Daniels, noted that the allegedly sponsored report was misleading and a personal attack on Boyloaf by disgruntled and failed politicians, who blamed him for their election losses.

    They said: “Do they think the security agencies are not aware of these payments?

    “Despite that the report of the online tabloid is incorrect, Boyloaf is known to his followers and millions of people across the region as a credible, upright, formidable ex-warlord and disciplinarian, who in recent years has risen to the role of a great statesman, a peace and conflict resolution strategist and advocate.

    “The online tabloid has turned into a gossip and blackmailing medium, and has done great disservice to its reputation as its mischief became obvious by their decision to single out Chief Victor-Ben without listing other prominent former militant leaders that received larger amounts, and paid in like manner by the PAP office for onward payments to thousands of delegates and beneficiaries in their various camps across the six states in the Niger Delta.

    “The amount quoted by the online tabloid is not only small, but also insulting and belittling, given the thousands of lives lost and the monumental contributions made by these former militant leaders in achieving sustainable peace across the region that enabled the Federal Government and multinational oil and gas companies to explore, extract and export crude oil and gas products from the region.

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    “Let it be known that Boyloaf is neither a civil servant nor a career politician. He is a statesman of high repute and loved by his people. Boyloaf was not only a co-founder, but he was also extremely instrumental to the successful establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and has continued to fulfil his obligations under the agreement reached with the Federal Government since 2009 to ensure sustained peace and stability in the region.

    “Hardly can you find anyone across the region that understands the workings of the PAP better than Boyloaf. He has not only maintained the peace accord reached with the Federal Government, but has also transformed himself and thousands of his followers in ways unimaginable, both educationally and politically, and contributes immensely to the political and socio-economic growth and development in the region and the country at large.

    “Since the inception of the PAP, never has anyone heard that delegates from Boyloaf’s camp were protesting against the non-payment of their monthly stipends.”

    The stakeholders called on the Federal Government to incorporate the structures and ideas of the ex-militant leaders in order to achieve peace and stability across the country.

    They noted: “The peace in the Niger Delta has allowed our nation to profit from the sale of crude oil and gas products and it is clear evidence that it has worked over the decades.

    “Boyloaf’s records and reputation speak for themselves, and as we are all aware, no one better understands these security challenges and strategies more than Boyloaf.

    “The Niger Delta peace is a collective action that must not be truncated by politically sponsored and incorrect publications.”