Category: South East

…Supports proposed schools sports festival

In a bid to promote school sports in the state, the Bayelsa State government has said it will henceforth deny approval to applications for the establishment of new schools that do not have fields for sporting activities and facilities for physical education.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this during a courtesy call by the Chairman and some directors of the Bayelsa State Post-Primary Schools Board at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor emphasized that going forward, government would only grant approval to schools that have a space for outdoor sports events.

According to Ewhrudjakpo, this measure will go a long way to assisting the state in developing young malleable talents, especially at the secondary school level.

He remarked that the reintroduction of physical education in the school curriculum to promote sports development was an imperative that needs to be vigorously pursued by all stakeholders in the education value chain.

He said the government would, through its Ministry of Education and that of Youths and Sports Development, organize a special training programme for games masters in all secondary schools across the state.

He noted that the proposal of the Post Primary Schools Board to organize a biennial sports festival among secondary schools was a welcome development that must be encouraged.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Board, Chief Millionaire Asangba, explained that the board was seeking the approval and support of the State Government to train games masters at the post primary school level.

Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

The Delta state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, has said that the era of election maneuvering, invalid votes and incident forms used to elect governors, senators and other elective officers are over with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), adding that 2023 is a jubilee year for APGA.

Speaking at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, during the flag-off of the party’s governorship campaign in Delta South Senatorial District, Chief Ogboru popularly  known as the ‘Peoples’ General, noted that Delta is a high profile state and it should be governed by a high profile personality.

Ogboru said resources misappropriated in the state if well utilised would be enough to offer free education to all Deltans, pointing out that his administration will initiate policies that will end unemployment if elected.

Ogboru said, “APGA has plans for every Deltan in the area of Education, Health, Agriculture, Infrastructural Development, Environment, investment comparative areas that we have, to equal opportunities in local government development initiatives.

“We have manifesto that meets the sustainable aim of the United Nations. We know that unemployment is an issue and we are saying that by this manifesto and all the critical areas that we have mentioned that unemployment will be a thing of the past.”

Earlier, Chairman of APGA in the State, Chief Afamefume Enemokwu, thanked the party faithful for their “sprit of never give up; we are committed to this race and struggle”, expressing optimism that the party would win the election in the state.

Chairman of the party’s Campaign Council, Prince Emma Okotie-Eboh advised the people against voting for recycled politicians, saying PDP and APC the same in the state.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed not to tolerate or allow any negotiation between some leaders in Enugu State and Fulani herdsmen that will allow terrorist encroachment in any part of Igbo land.

IPOB said that they are for peaceful negotiations in as much as it would not allow the Fulani herdsmen to take any part of the state.

While describing the herdsmen as 4th deadliest terrorist groups in the world, IPOB in a statement issued on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, said that numerous killings and kidnappings were perpetrated by these Fulani herdsmen.

He reiterated that any peace talk between the indigenes of Enugu State and Herdsmen regarding the massacres of Eha Amufu people by Fulani terrorists must be done without ceding any part of land to the Herdsmen.

•Uzodimma borrows to develop the state-APC

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State on Friday called on state Governor Hope Uzodimma to account for N180.6 billion belonging to 27 local governments his administration has received from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in last 36 months.

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Collins Opurozor, the party said there was nothing on ground particularly in rural areas to show that such amount has reached the local governments.

“In last thirty-six months, the regime of Senator Uzodimma has received from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) a total of N180.6 billion meant for the Local Governments in the State. Today, there is nothing on ground that shows that even a Kobo has gotten to the LGAs. Senator Hope Uzodimma must, without any further delay, tell Imo people where he kept the N180.6 billion belonging to the Local Governments.”

The party noted that Imo is currently the most indebted Igbo state, with a debt profile which stands at N220 billion.

“That means that the regime of Senator Uzodimma has doubled the debt profile in less than three years. And the fundamental question is: “What has the regime done with over N100 billion it has borrowed so far?”

The party also faulted the 2023 state budget which it said has a deficit of N354 billion.

“For instance, the entire receipts from FAAC to the State for the year would be in the region of N70 billion.  13% Derivation Fund would be N9.6 billion. IGR would be N13 billion. And other interventions and grants, including UBEC, would be N28 billion. That brings the total income of the State for the year to about N120.6 billion.

Yet, Senator Uzodimma is already planning to spend the sum of N475 billion within the year. The deficit of N354 billion would be raised through borrowings. It must be noted that there is no single plan on ground to execute any project that would meet the basic needs of Imo people.”

It said that in all of the landmark borrowings by the governor, no effort has been made to redraw the industrial landscape of the State by re-jigging investments in the hugely vital agro-industrial sector where Imo has major comparative advantage.

“Adapalm has remained moribund, Imo Rubber Estates and Avutu Poultry Farm have remained comatose. Equally, Nsu Tiles Company, Umuna Bricks Factory, Egbema Power Plant and Inyishi Aluminium Extrusion Plant are some key investments with the capacity to rev-up the local economy and employ a vast majority of the teeming unemployed Imo youths. Yet, they have been left to rot away.”

Reacting, the state Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Cajetan Duke described PDP as a drowning party.

“PDP is only demonstrating their fear that they have lost the 2023 general election in the state which of course the APC will win with a landslide.

“We don’t expect PDP to clap or commend Hope Uzodimma. The truth of the matter they have confirmed that the governor has done 48km road from Owerri to Orlu.

“Talking about borrowing, there is no government that is not borrowing in Nigeria. The problem is what are you doing with the money you are borrowing. Hope Uzodimma is using the money he has borrowed to improve the infrastructural needs of the state and he is investing the money in the critical sectors of the economy.

“So, the question is Hope Uzodimma borrowing to build a private residence for himself, is he borrowing to take his family abroad or borrowing to renovate his house like Emeka Ihedioha.”

The Director of Strategic Engagement, Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, has boasted that the first four years of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in the Senate would be better than the 16 years of Senator Abaribe’s representation of the people of Abia South Senatorial District.

Okiyi-Kalu, who is also the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, speaking in a monitored radio programme in Aba, lamented absence of quality representation in Abia South Senatorial District during the 16 years of Abaribe’s representation of the people of the zone.

He said Ikpeazu would focus on exploring opportunities and using his contacts and goodwill to pursue and attract projects that would improve the lives and well-being of the people of Abia South Senatorial Zone, unlike Abaribe, whom he accused of choosing to fight the Federal Government, which he (Okiyi-Kalu) noted had caused dearth of Federal Government presence in the zone.

The Trade and Investment Commissioner, predicting landslide victory for Ikpeazu on February 25, said he was the most qualified Abia South Senatorial candidate, adding that his boss had over the last eight years proved that he had the track record of a people oriented servant-leader, who could work to ensure the well-being of the people.

“There was no good road in Aba in 2015 when Ikpeazu took over the mantle of leadership in Abia State. It was difficult for people to come to Aba from neighbouring Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. But today, we now have good roads that people can ply. People no longer spend hours on our roads, especially the Osisioma junction where people spend several hours during festive periods.

“If you look at the Aba of 2015 and Aba of 2022, you will attest to the fact that the current government has been able to make tremendous progress. As at 2015, there was no government-owned streetlight in Aba, there was no single government installed traffic light in Aba. Today Aba is alive and kicking.

“Governor Ikpeazu among those contesting for the Abia South Senatorial Zone in the 2023 general election is the only one with the experience to work across party lines.

“As the governor of Abia State, he was able to work with the APC-led Federal Government to bring Rural Electrification Agency to deliver power to Ariaria International Market. He worked with the same APC-led government on Enyimba Economic City where the Federal Government led by the APC invested N20billion in a state project.

“Governor Ikpeazu’s character and disposition and his humility, his passion and love for the people recommend him to go to Abuja and solve the problem of Abia South Senatorial Zone.

“Governor Ikpeazu has said if in four years, he was unable to get the Federal Government to fix Aba to Ikot Ekpene and Aba to Port Harcourt federal roads, people shouldn’t vote for him again.

“If you are a National Assembly member, don’t lose sight of the fact that you are representing a constituency and that you should be able to solve the problems of that constituency that are solvable from the federal level. It is your job to make sure that our roads are in the national budget and that the budget related to our roads are funded.”

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said an estimated 250,000 out-of-school children in the state is alarming.

He urged parents, traditional rulers and community leaders to join hands with the government to ensure a reversal of the situation.

Diri spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital, during the launch of a national campaign on out-of-school children organised by the Federal Ministry of Education.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor said his administration would do its part to ensure education was accessible to every child of school age.

He advised parents and community leaders to encourage their children to enrol in schools.

Diri said the state government supported free primary and secondary education with the purchase of uniform and other instructional materials.

Lamenting the number of out-of-school children in the state despite an existing law to check the menace, he implored relevant ministries to ensure the law was publicised and implemented. 

Diri hailed the Federal Ministry of Education for bringing the campaign to Bayelsa, saying the people and Niger Delta would benefit from the initiative. 

He said: “A law was passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on this matter in 2018. So, Mr. Minister, Bayelsa State had addressed the issues long before now. But your coming is key, as it has opened our eyes to the level of out-of-school children in our state.

“The issue is mostly about implementation. We have the laws to ensure our children are educated. This law has to be implemented across our communities. The Ministries of Information and Education must do all within their power to ensure the public is aware of this law and it is implemented.

“It is unbelievable that a law like this was enacted and assented to by a sitting governor. Yet we have out-of-school children.”

“Let me take this opportunity to call on parents to ensure they take advantage of the provisions of government. There is free primary education. Uniform and other instructional materials are being provided by the government. So, why won’t parents send their children to school?

“As a state, we will continue to prioritise education and have a paradigm shift that will be beyond certificates. We have introduced technical education and by our third anniversary, we will inaugurate some of the schools.”

The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah-Opiah, said education was a collective responsibility and called on stakeholders to join forces to eradicate the menace of out-of-school children in the interest of the country.

He said the Federal Ministry of Education had put in place mechanisms to ensure education was accessible to children of school age and appealed to the state government to prioritise education.

Bayelsa State Police Command has ordered investigation into the alleged attempt to dethrone and kill King Benedict Thompson, the Paramount Ruler of Adiegbe community in Ekeremor Local Government.

It was learnt that King Thompson’s alleged attempt to stop some individuals in the community from diverting funds from oil companies into private pockets put him on a collision course with his opponents.

It was also gathered that the monarch, in conjunction with the Community Development Committee (CDC) leadership, had in the last few months raised the alarm over allegations of impersonation of his person and the CDC leadership to divert royalties meant for the community from the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Darlon Oil and Gas Nigerian Ltd.

They were said to have dragged the identified individuals before the Ekeremor High Court and security agencies to desist from their criminality as well as asking the oil companies to stop patronising them because they were fake. 

Police Commissioner Mr. Ben Okolo, acting on a petition filed by King Thompson, had ordered investigation into the allegation of unlawful possession of firearms, local warfare and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace in Adiegbe community against Messrs Salvation Kano, Julius Kano, Selebi Sanuku and others.

In the petition dated January 4, 2023, King Thompson alleged that the suspects on January 1 at about 8pm at Adiegbe community were armed with dangerous weapons, including guns, machetes and sticks, threatening to kill him.

He alleged that the suspects later proceeded to a radio station claiming that he had been dethroned and was no longer the Amananaowei (King) of the community.

It was also gathered that one of the suspects was recorded on phone while threatening to beat up and kill the paramount ruler. 

Also recorded and tendered in evidence to the police were claims by the former CDC chairman to also deal with the paramount ruler, threatening that he should resign and allow them enthrone another monarch.

He also accused one of the suspects, Salvation Kano, of specifically threatening to kill him and become the traditional ruler of the community.

A senior police source confirmed that CP Okolo had directed that an investigation be conducted and those mentioned in the petition be invited.

King Thompson confirmed he wrote the petition before the Bayelsa Police Command, insisting that his effort against cases of impersonation, illegal diversion of community funds and threat of violence was to keep together families’ unity.

He said his effort was to evolve a communal system that would promote peace and promote inclusion of each family in the community as beneficiaries of empowerment and development.

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday swore in Alhaji Adamu Uba Musa and 12 others as commissioners.

Following this development, Musa becomes the first non-indigene Muslim to be appointed as a commissioner in the state.

The governor also announced a minor exco reshuffle in two ministries. Eric Anderson becomes the new commissioner for Information and Orientation.

The new commissioners filled positions made vacant by their former occupants, who left either to vie for elective offices or resigned following the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The swearing-in, which took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar was attended by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Evara Esu, Chief Judge Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme, the governor’s wife, Dr. Linda Ayade, among other top government functionaries and guests.

Prof. Ayade urged the new commissioners to work assiduously, to ensure his administration finished strong.

He said: “Your coming on board is not by accident; you have been carefully selected based on your integrity and competence to bring your wealth of experience to bear on our administration.

“I, therefore, advise you to work assiduously to ensure we finish strong as an administration. Your jobs are cut out for you. I expect that you make our dear state proud.”

Responding on behalf of the new commissioners, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, who replaced APC’s National Woman Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, as Commissioner for Health, commended the governor for “finding us worthy to join you in the crystallisation of Cross River State, changing and transforming our state for the betterment of the citizens.”

Ekpenyong, who was before her new position, the Director General of Cross River Primary Health Care, pledged that she and her colleagues would represent the governor well in their ministries.

“We will work in line with your vision and plan for Cross River State,” the new health commissioner said.

The other newly sworn in commissioners and their portfolios are: Mrs. Ekwele Agube (Sustainable Development); Prince Sunday Williams Awara (Social Housing); Wogor Umari (Homeland Security); Dr. Hippolytus Lukputa (Water Resources); Patrick Ebam (Special Duties) and Okama Inyang (Infrastructure).

The rest are Janet Eyo Nsing (Climate Change); Goddy Eta (Finance); Arikpo Pius Edet (Science and Technology); Ntufam Ekpenyong Effiom Iso (Culture and Tourism); Associate Professor Gertrude Njar (Women Affairs) and Alhaji Adamu Uba Musa (Inter-Governmental Affairs).

Anderson, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, was named the new Commissioner for Information, while Oliver Orok, hitherto Commissioner for Sustainable Development, now takes charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says he will be leaving office in May with a sense of fulfilment that he has not disappointed the people.

He implored Rivers electorate to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship, national and state legislative candidates in the general election, to consolidate on his infrastructural revolution.

The governor spoke yesterday after inspecting the ongoing dualisation of Azikiwe -Iloabuchi Road,  Rumuola- Rumuokuta and Mgbuoba- NTA-Choba flyovers  in Port Harcourt.

Wike said the huge number of Rivers people who thronged the streets to commend him at the various project sites, was an indication that he delivered on his mandate and had not disappointed the people.

He said: “You can see the happiness radiating on their faces. This makes us happy that the people are happy with us. That means when government or leaders have made promises, they should fulfil their promises.

“I think we can say with all good authority, we are happy and we can go home satisfied that we have not disappointed our people. That is the major thing for me, that you’re going home not disappointed that you made promises to the people and you didn’t fulfil the promises.”

Wike noted that it was unprecedented in the history of the country that a government with barely four months left to the end of its tenure, could still be kicking off new projects.

He said: “We are still launching new projects, which are key, and people are asking what kind of government are these people. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a government is inaugurating and launching more projects when they have less than four months to leave.”

The governor, who expressed confidence that his administration would finish strong, said voting for the PDP governorship and legislative candidates would guarantee the consolidation and sustainability of the infrastructural transformation recorded in the last seven years by his administration.

“It is unprecedented, but again, Rivers people deserve the best. This is why we are saying to Rivers people with what we have done, we are preaching for consolidation”, he said.

The governor remarked that when in his second tenure, his administration started the construction of 12 flyovers; some cynics questioned where the state would get the resources to accomplish the projects.

“We are doing flyovers and at the same time carrying out other projects. Today, we have completed 10 flyovers and inaugurated them, remaining two,” he said.