The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Appeal Court reserves ruling in Omo-Agege, Gbagi, Pela’s petitions

    Appeal Court reserves ruling in Omo-Agege, Gbagi, Pela’s petitions

    The State and National Assembly Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has reserved judgment in three appeals by the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ovie Omo-Agege; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Labour Party (LP), Kennedy Pela, challenging the election of the People Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Sheriff Oborevwori as Delta State Governor.

    The three-member panel presided over by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, leading Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole and Justice Hadiza Shagari, reserved its decision after taking arguments from counsel for all the parties.

    Read Also: Delta guber: Appeal Court reserves ruling in Omo-Agege, Gbagi, Pela’s petitions

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Oborevwori as the winner after he polled 360,234 votes, as against former Deputy Senate President Omo-Agege’s 240,229.

    Dissatisfied, PDP, SDP and LP challenged the declaration.

    But Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba affirmed the election of Oborevwor, saying the opposing petitions lacked merit and failed to prove their allegations of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act and over-voting.

  • We won’t lower standard of projects in Rivers, says Fubara

    We won’t lower standard of projects in Rivers, says Fubara

    Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has promised that no situation will compel his administration to lower the standard of projects he inherited from his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

    Speaking when he inspected work done at the Woji-Aleto-Refinery Road project, Sir Fubara said Rivers would continue to witness more projects.

    “I can assure you and the world that no matter what the situation is, we are not going to lower the standard we have come to meet,” he said.

    Fubara explained that the Woji-Aleto-Refinery road was inherited from the former administration, saying it was important to create an alternative route before the reconstruction of the East-West road.

    The governor said the state government met its commitment to the contracting firm, Raffoul Construction Company and expected them to speed up work for early completion.

    Read Also: Fubara/Wike rift: Asari Dokubo, Jack-Rich sue for peace in Rivers, urge support for Tinubu

    He said: “We had an understanding with the contractor and we did our own part of the commitment, so we are here to see what they are doing because we have given them a time line when the project should be completed.

    “This is a follow up of one of the commitments we made to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when we visited him about two months ago to thank him for all the good things he’s doing for us; appointment of our illustrious sons into very important positions. During that visit we promised him that in a way to help the Federal Government, we will create an alternative route to decongest the East West road.

    “We inherited it and we promised that in line with our commitment of our mantra of consolidation and continuity, we must see that this road is completed.”

    The governor expressed satisfaction about the state of work done and urged the contractors handling the project to ensure speedy delivery.

  • ‘Abia ready to investigate School of Nursing’s admission racketeering’

    ‘Abia ready to investigate School of Nursing’s admission racketeering’

    Abia State Government has said it is ready to investigate allegations of admission corruption going on at Athe School of Nursing during its Preliminary Test Sessions (PTS) held recently.

    The government in a statement signed yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor, said the government was concerned with allegations of bribery and other forms of process distortions going on at the School of Nursing.

    He urged parents with evidence to forward same to the government.

    Our correspondent reports that the state government decided to investigate the allegation of corruption at the School of Nursing after some parents and students had during a protest in front of the Government House in Umuahia accused some workers of the School of Nursing of corruption and other forms of financial inducement and exploitation.

    Okafor, who said the Governor Alex Otti administration would be transparent in every process of governance, noted that every allegation would be investigated against officials of the School of Nursing.

    He said all accused persons would be called to present their side of the story. 

    This is even as the state government noted that nobody would be shielded and that nothing would be swept under the carpet. 

    “Abia State Government wishes to acknowledge the grievances expressed by certain students and parents, who were involved in the recent Preliminary Test Sessions (PTS) examinations into nursing schools owned by the state government.

    “Being a government that is responsive and sensitive to the feelings of its citizens, the administration is concerned about the allegations of bribery and other forms of process distortions as the affected students and their parents have publicly made. 

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila, UN special representative inspect solar project at Iponri market

    “Even then, responsible governments all over the world, it must be noted, act only on facts and established evidence, and not on hearsay and conjectures. 

    “As the officials who addressed the protesting students and parents in front of the Government House, Umuahia directed, the students and their parents are required to write a formal petition to Governor Otti, stating the issues and providing reliable, foolproof evidence to substantiate their allegations. 

    “Such petitions should reach the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor as quickly as they can be properly put together. 

    “We assure citizens that every allegation will be investigated and all accused called to present their side of the story. Nobody will be shielded and nothing will be swept under the carpet. 

    “Governor Otti is committed to running a transparent and sincere administration where international standard practices will be adhered to in all issues regarding service delivery. He has already directed that nobody should honour any illegitimate request allegedly coming from him,” the statement said. 

  • No student died in weekend’s stampede at UNICAL, says varsity

    No student died in weekend’s stampede at UNICAL, says varsity

    Director of the Center for General Studies, University of Calabar, Prof. Takim Asu Ojua, has debunked reports that students died in a stampede that happened during a CBT examination.

    Prof. Ojua also confirmed that all 21 students taken to two different hospitals have been stabilised, with majority of them discharged and returned home.

    According to a statement by Prof. Ojua, the examination of November 11 started smoothly, with the third batch almost finishing, before some students, who either missed the exams, were not scheduled to write in the morning, or were not even part of the examination, became unruly, uncontrollable, impatient, defiant, and tried to break into the venue forcefully.

    He added: “As a result of an unprecedented surge by a mass of students, the gate leading to the venue of the CBT Center was pushed down, causing a stampede. Some members of staff and students salvaged the situation and rushed the casualties to the University Medical Center and the Teaching Hospital.

    “14 students were rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and seven were taken to the Medical Center for emergency treatment. And, before 5pm, more than 10 were discharged and taken home, remaining just a few who are to be further examined, though they are fully stabilised and recuperated.”

    Prof. Ojua further explained that the fully equipped CBT Center has the capacity to conduct larger examinations such as the last UTME (Jamb) which had a far higher number of students than those sitting for Gss Exams.

    Read Also: APC kicks as Diri coasts home to victory in Bayelsa

    “The examination was scheduled in batches, with specific faculties scheduled to write on stipulated time and dates. Unfortunately, some students refused to abide by the timetable, and decided to gate-crash, resulting in the avoidable incident.

    “The essence of the introduction of the GSS CBT exams is to ensure fast service delivery, easy access to examination and results, and to reduce the stress on students during examination periods.

     Stories and narratives making rounds on social media about the number of casualties, deaths, lack of venues and accommodation for the exams, insufficient computers etc, are untrue and does not reflect the situation on ground, considering the fact that GSS CBT examination has been ongoing since 2020.

    “The Management and staff of the Center regrets this ugly incident, which was avoidable, had the students kept to the scheduled timetable, not destroy the canopies and maintained the queues as instructed,” he added.

    Prof. Ojua added that the exams has been postponed until further notice, and that students were free to travel back home.

  • ‘Discontentment, complexes fuelling rivalry among health professionals’

    ‘Discontentment, complexes fuelling rivalry among health professionals’

    Medical and health professionals have identified discontentment, complexes and unequal remuneration among healthcare professionals as major factors fuelling rivalry among health workers and dysfunctionality of healthcare system in the country.

    Speaking during a summit by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Anambra State, themed ‘Professional Synergy in Healthcare Provision; A Panacea for Quality and Stable Health’, the professionals canvassed for synergy and tolerance as solution to rivalry in the health sector.

    One of the discussants and National President of Nigeria Academy of Neurological Surgeons, Prof. Jude-Kennedy Emejulu, regretted that the identified negative tendencies have contributed to growing mortality rate in the country.

    He said: “The root of rivalry among professionals is pecuniary. Besides is the creation of trade unions where people seek for relevance. Social strife is another factor. You see antagonisms and industrial unrests; petitions and pull –him-down syndrome

    “More worrisome is the issue of complexes. It takes an inferior mind to feel inferiority complex, and to begin to advocate superiority complex. If you’re comfortable where you are, you don’t need to make too much noise.”

    Emejuru proffered job description, massive advocacy among trainees and students, seeking guidance from other climes and legislative discipline to curtail prevalent rascality among professional bodies as solutions to rivalry among health workers.

    “Once we blunder in this profession, lives are lost, quite unlike most other professions. The mortality rate is high, reason we need to be serious with the job God has anointed us to do. Above all is contentment which is a godly virtue. If you don’t have it, you can’t be satisfied, regardless of your position. No matter where you are, people will come looking for you, so long as you have skills, service or product you’re marketing,” he added.

    Read Also: Melaye kicks as INEC declares Ododo Kogi Gov-Elect

    Another discussant, Pharmacist Josephat Obasi, underscored the place of communication, teamwork and synergy in improving healthcare and reducing mortality rates associated with poor inter-professional collaboration.

    APBN National President Manason Rubainu represented by Engr. Sunday Ali, said addressing challenges in healthcare system, such as professional participation, practices and ethical conduct were key to sustainable development of health sector.

    Commissioner for Housing Paul Onyeaka advised professionals to avoid imposing negative status on themselves, urging them to improve on their image and believe in their distinguishing qualities.

    “As a government, we’re not only committed to ensuring unity and equal treatment to all, but looking for those with integrity, honestly, competence and capacity to ensure speed,” he added.

    State Chairman of APBN who doubles as State Director, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Joachim Ulasi, described the theme as apt and chosen to address professional quackery among health workers.

    “The APBN comprises 30 bodies with six sectors. For past years, we’ve been discussing topics around building collapse. This year we decided to delve into health to ensure proper synergy among health workers,” he said.

  • My role is complimentary, says Mrs. Otu

    My role is complimentary, says Mrs. Otu

    • Governor’s wife solicits media support for husband

    Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Mrs. Eyoawan Otu, has described her role as complimentary in helping her husband succeed in his mandate. According to her, she prefers staying off media interviews and highlights because she is not the governor.

    Mrs. Otu spoke in Calabar when she hosted leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by the Chairman, Comrade Nsa Gill. She noted that she initiated a solemn assembly to pray for the peace, restoration and total recovery of the state having lost a lot over the years, given to many reasons, including the sad ENDSARS insurgencies of 2000.

    Mrs. Otu insisted she enjoys remaining private but providence has put her in the position to be supportive to her husband who is the governor. She solicited good representation and reportage of government programmes because ‘the governor is committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people’.

    Read Also: APC kicks as Diri coasts home to victory in Bayelsa

    Gill said the union came to build a working relationship with the Office of the wife of the governor because it has recorded success in the numerous programmess initiated for the wellbeing and welfare of the les-privileged.

    He noted the free medical outreach to some communities, outreach for expectant and nursing mothers, as well as back to school programmes were students in some communities were supported with new pairs of uniform, school bags and books.

    The NUJ also congratulated the governor’s wife on her recent investiture as a champion in nutrition advocacy and breastfeeding.

  • Monarch seeks action on Delta’s airport, infrastructure

    Monarch seeks action on Delta’s airport, infrastructure

    The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, has decried infrastructure deficits across the state, including Osubi Airstrip, ports, and roads, among others.

    He called on President Bola Tinubu to take swift action.

    Sideso spoke at a reception in honour of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN), at his palace.

    Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Areas); former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), federal and state government functionaries, and captains of industries, including aviation stakeholders, were among those who graced the event.

    The traditional thanked President Tinubu for Keyamo’s ‘back-to-back appointment as Minister’, describing it as a ‘personal triumph’. He, however, noted that Urhobo nation, and Deltans at large, are expectant of the Tinubu-led government to fix the dire state of infrastructure in the state to improve the people’s economic fortunes.

    He said: “We seek revitalisation and upgrade of the Osubi Airport to a world class airport; revitalisation and revamping of the NPA ports at Warri, Sapele and Koko, to accommodate bigger vessels; release and reversion of the portion of our land which was acquired for the Army’s use as barracks which are now being sold to private developers.”

    The monarch also appealed for full implementation of the Act establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) to enable adequate funding of the institution, as well as reconstruction of the failed Warri-Effurun-Sapele-Benin Road and the Orerokpe-Eku-Abraka-Agbor roads which have become ‘an embarrassment to the Niger Delta’.

    Sideso urged Keyamo to ensure completion of federal projects he attracted to the area during the past administration, saying ‘this time around, the entire Urhobo nation are eager to see what you will do to Osubi Airport’.

    Keyamo promised to carry the king’s requests to the President, and also affirmed that his return as Minister, first in the history of Delta State, was ‘by the grace of God Almighty’ and not because he is ‘exceptional’.

    Read Also: Melaye kicks as INEC declares Ododo Kogi Gov-Elect

    “Once God does that for you, you should realise that he’s not doing it for you. He’s actually doing it for the people you represent. And so this office is one that belongs to all, not myself. So I feel the weight of expectations on my shoulders. I see my people, the Urhobo people, the Niger Delta people.

    “Perhaps we have suffered for so long in so many areas, and it is time that we begin to push our sons and daughters to very prominent positions to speak up and speak out on our behalf,” he added.

    Keyamo acknowledged the need to do something about the Osubi Airport and others linking the Southsouth, saying ‘we have concern for almost all the airports in the country, especially the ones that have very poor infrastructure in terms of navigational equipment and all others. We are concerned about all of them and we shall give equal attention to all’.

    Governor Oborevwori described Keyamo as a man who had made his mark before joining the political terrain, stressing that ‘politics didn’t make him’.

    He urged the minister to not leave the state behind in whatever is due it, adding that “Delta is proud of your achievements, as well as the fact that you have been selected by our president to represent us at the Federal level. And we are not in doubt that you are going to give us a very worthy representation” he added.

  • ‘We’ll replicate Soludo’s Healthy Living Project in Anambra communities’

    ‘We’ll replicate Soludo’s Healthy Living Project in Anambra communities’

    • From Awesome Ekene

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said it will replicate the Healthy Living pet project in the 179 communities of Anambra State.

    The Healthy Living is a pet project of the governor’s wife, Dr. Nonye Soludo.

    State Coordinator, Mrs. Blessing Iruma, stated this at a symposium, Healthy Living Advocacy, organised by the Anambra State Association of Town Union (ASATU) Youth Secretariat Hall, Government House, Awka.

    Mrs. Iruma, represented by Assistant Director of Information, Emeka Ugwu, said the project is not only noble, ‘but has a semblance of NYSC’s Health Initiative for rural dwellers and should be adopted by NYSC and replicated in all the 179 communities in the state’.

    According to her, the scheme has enough corps doctors, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists and other paramedics to carry out the assignment.

    Read Also: APC kicks as Diri coasts home to victory in Bayelsa

    She said: “The areas of coverage include free sensitisation campaigns, medical checks, counselling, diagnosis, referral and prescription. Any community that invites the NYSC for the medical outreach is expected to source for drugs for use on that day.”

    Mrs. Iruma called on ASATU Youths to sensitise their communities on NYSC collaboration with Mrs. Soludo, and invite NYSC to their communities to assist rural dwellers have healthy living lifestyle.

  • Eno reiterates commitment to educational advancement

    Eno reiterates commitment to educational advancement

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has said his government will continue to prioritise investment in educational development.

    Eno gave the assurance at the combined convocation ceremonies of the University of Uyo, which held at the weekend. He noted that education is one of the pillars of the ARISE Agenda, ‘and government is investing in education beginning from the foundational to tertiary’.

    The governor, himself an alumnus of the University of Uyo and a Ph.D candidate, said that as part of his administration’s commitment to actualise the educational advancement component of the ARISE Agenda, the government will continue to support UNIUYO to enhance its pursuit of academic excellence, expressing hope that products of the school will continue to contribute to the development of the State and society in general.

    Read Also: Melaye kicks as INEC declares Ododo Kogi Gov-Elect

    The governor congratulated the university on its successful combined convocation and felicitated with the 14,866 graduating students and those conferred with honorary degrees.

    He said: “I commend you on the successful hosting of this joint convocation. Let me particularly pay special tribute to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, on his strides since assumption of office. You’re not just a pacesetter, but a shinning and worthy ambassador of all of us. And as the saying goes, a good job done means more jobs to be done. We know and trust that you will excel.

    “Our administration will continue to work with the University of Uyo and indeed all other universities and tertiary institutions in the state. We will support them because education is one of the pillars of our ARISE Agenda, and we’ll continue to demonstrate good faith working with you and supporting you as much as possible.”

  • APC chieftain congratulates Onowakpo

    APC chieftain congratulates Onowakpo

    • Hails Ibori, Omo-Agege, others

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Dr. Sylvester Onoyona, has congratulated Senator Joel Onowakpo (Delta South) on his victory at the Appeal Court. He described it as ‘well deserved and a hand of God in the affairs of man’.

    In a letter he personally signed, Onoyona hailed the former governor and party leader, Chief James Ibori, and governorship candidate in the 2023 elections and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, praising their dexterity and rigor to defend the mandate freely given to Senator Onowakpo and others.

    Onoyona also commended Senator Onowakpo for his resilience and fighting spirit to have defeated those ‘marauding PDP goons, both at the polls and in the courts, but was quick to give glory to God saying, but for God, it wouldn’t have been possible’.

    Read Also: APC kicks as Diri coasts home to victory in Bayelsa

    He also praised the people of Delta South for standing behind Onowakpo whom he described as ‘astute, eminent gentleman who is hungry for the development of his people and material resources’. He hailed the party leadership, led by Chief Omeni Sobotie, who he described as the father of the APC in the oil-rich state.

    According to him, with Onowakpo in the saddle, ‘there will be a new lease of life for the people as every constituent will be carried along, noting, in that wise, every Onowakpo voter is a Senator’.

    “Rally round our distinguished Senator Onowakpo to enable him to deliver quality representation and to bring dividends of democracy to the doorstep of every Delta southerner. The time has come for the people to see the difference between deliberate misrepresentation and quality representation. While the PDP, according to the politician, epitomises misrepresentation, APC’s Onowakpo will sure wear the crown of superlative representation and the delivery of quality service to the people,” he added.