Category: South East

Isoko Development Union (IDU), an apex socio-cultural umbrella of Isoko people, has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Delta South Senatorial District, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, as the candidate to vote for in the 2023 general election.

IDU President-General Prof. Christopher Akpotu led the endorsement on behalf of the union’s executive, Isoko Traditional Rulers Council, Clan President-Generals, Isoko Branches Council (IBC), clergymen, among others, at the annual general conference of IDU, held at Isoko House, Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government of Delta State.

He said Isoko people had resolved to support their own for equity and justice, as they had before supported their Itsekiri counterparts for two terms as governor and the Ijaw for 20 years at the Senate, as well as two terms as deputy governor.

Akpotu said it was only “reasonable, just and fair” for the Isoko to be supported for the Senate by Delta South ethnic groups, just as he observed that the Isoko nation had been marginalised for so long.

He, therefore, urged Isoko sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to take ownership of the senatorial candidature of Joel-Onowakpo of the APC, as an Isoko project, irrespective of their political leaning.

Describing Joel-Onowakpo as a “noble, credible and humble Isoko son, who is qualified in all ramifications to represent Delta South people at the Red Chamber”,  Akpotu advised the electorate to choose only credible leaders.

“A sure mix of your functional conscience and your thumb will do the magic of electing service-oriented leaders and not ‘mafiosaic’ leaders, who will not have anything to do with his electors after declaring them winners.

“Our peace must not be mortgaged for the desperate behaviour of any politician. In other words, no space should be left for political militants, rather a ground for rationale, objective and civilised democratic behaviour that solely lies on the thumb and not in fisticuffs,” he said.

In his endorsement prayers for Joel-Onowakpo, the Chairman of the Isoko Traditional Rulers Council and Odio-Ologbo of Oleh Kingdom, HRM A.W.O. Ovrawah, said the Isoko nation had unanimously agreed to elect Joel-Onowakpo in 2023.

Thanking Isoko people for standing by him, Joel-Onowakpo said he would serve Delta South with the fear of God and enjoined the people to be firm, resolute and stay true to their resolve.

He said supporting him is not just to correct the age-long marginalisation of the Isoko, but to send the most qualified person on the ballot in terms of qualification, public service experience, competence, track record and business acumen to represent Delta South.

The APC candidate said jobs, empowerment and development will be created, while ensuring that Delta South takes the centre stage at the National Assembly.

A group, Diasporans for Good Governance, has slammed oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, over the comments credited to him, asking the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, to forget his presidential ambition.

Eze was said to have told monarchs and women groups in his Ukpo country home on Christmas Eve that Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo was the expected Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, not Obi.

But the group, through its conveners, Johnny Obika and Franklin Nwakor said the billionaire magnate had no moral grounds to ask Obi to withdraw from the race.

It stressed that Obi’s candidature represented the new order, while Eze represented the old order of criminality that had held Nigeria down.

The statement said: “As a private citizen, Eze is entitled to his choice of candidate. He, however, does not have moral grounds to ask Peter Obi to withdraw from the race.

“When Peter Obi started talking about turning Nigeria from a consumption to a production country, we know those who profit from Nigeria’s dysfunctional rentier system will fight hard to retain the status quo.

“The people have, however, resolved to take their destiny in their hands. That’s why they want people like Peter Obi, who represent the new order.

“Gone are the days when Eze and a few privileged individuals like him decided for the people. Ordinary Nigerians have been pushed to the wall for far too long and this is why they are now deciding for themselves.”

Oil industry logistics and service company, CLEDD Nigeria Ltd, has demonstrated its commitment to partnering meaningful health institutions in Akwa Ibom State, to deliver its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to indigent members of the society.

Extending her annual charity to poor patients on admission in Akwa Ibom public hospitals, Mrs. Lucy Ukoette, representing the CEO/Chairman of the firm, Chief Charles Ukoette, led a team of the firm’s top management to offset outstanding medical bills held against some indigent patients in some of the health institutions.

Scores of patients are, however, confirmed to have benefited from the humanitarian gesture, including those who underwent surgical procedures, child birth delivery and other ailments, but couldn’t meet the prevailing cost of such medical treatment.

Making the charity presentation to Dr. Jeremiah Inyang-Okoro, medical officer in charge of Mount Carmel Hospital, Akpautong, in Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government, Mrs. Ukoette said the gesture was “meant to uplift the lives of affected persons and so bring hope and relief to beneficiaries during the season of joy and goodwill.”

She spoke words of encouragement to some of the patients, whom she met at admission wards and who were seen to be happy and relieved receiving the unexpected help.

At  St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, one of the prime medical facilities servicing Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Gabriel Ekong, the medical administrator of the institution, received and hailed the CLEDD team for sustaining its regular charity and humanitarian outreach to the less privileged during the season.

Monarchs of gas pipeline host communities in Akwa Ibom State have condemned the delay in the implementation of the three per cent Host Community Development Trust provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act.

They expressed their discontent in a communique signed by the royal fathers from Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Ibom, Uyo, Uruan, Oruk Anam and Etinan local governments, and made available to reporters yesterday in Uyo.

In the seven-point communique addressed to the Managing Director, Savannah Energy Nigeria Ltd, they also frowned at the delay in the inauguration of the persons nominated into the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Implementation Committee.

The communique said: “We the royal fathers of Abak, Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Oruk Anam, Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Ibesikpo Asutan, Uyo and Uruan local governments after deliberation on the host communities issues resolved as follows:

“That we greatly frown at the unnecessary delay in the implementation of the Host Community Development Trust, and the inauguration of the nominated persons into the Petroleum Industry Act Implementation Committee, which is viewed as an attempt by the company (Savannah Energy) to deny the host communities of their rights.

“That since the assent of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to the Petroleum Industry Act on 16th day of August 2021, the three per cent deduction of 2021 and the current year 2022 should be released to host communities for their intended projects.

“That the company in dealing with its host communities should do away with the involvement of the local government chairmen in the selection of persons into its Implementation Committee.

“This is meant to reduce the politicisation of the selection process and to avoid crisis between council chairmen and royal fathers in the gas pipeline host communities.”

The monarchs condemned a situation where politicians could not properly utilise or account for the 13 per cent oil derivation.

They, however, in view of Section 247(2) (a) of the PIA demanded at least one representative of host communities in all Savannah Energy impacted communities, to serve as non-executive members in the management team.

“Failure to comply with the aforementioned demands shall attract legal action demanding damages, inclusive of the unrealesed funds in your possession,” they said.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of appointing Ms. Lauretta Onochie as the substantive chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is a boost on calls for female inclusion in governance.

The lzu-lkei Aniocha-Oshimili Elders Association, kinsmen of the new NDDC chairperson, made this known in a congratulatory message to her.

The statement, signed by its President, Sir Clement Okonjo; Secretary, Chief Chris Biose and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Uchei Aboh, hailed the President for the appointment, describing it as a well-deserved one.

It also lauded Onochie for her intellect and loyalty displayed throughout the years she served as the social media aide to Buhari.

The family of Nigeria’s First Republic Minister of Aviation, the late Chief Mbazulike Amechi, has fixed February 16, 2023 for the burial of the elder statesman. 

A statement by his son, Tagbo Amechi, said the father, who died on November 1, 2022, would be buried in his home town, Ukpor, in Nnewi South Local Government of Anambra State.

He said a 34-member national planning committee to be headed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and CID Maduabum as the secretary has been constituted by the family in consultation with associates and other stakeholders to give the foremost nationalist a befitting burial.

He listed members of the committee to include: Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Tim Menakaya, Chief Simon Okeke, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Obong Victor Attah, Sen. Sam Egwu, Chief Achike Udenwa, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Sen. Theodore Orji and Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

Others are Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Amb.  Frank Ogbuewu, Amb.  Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Sen. Ikechukwu Obiorah, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Okey Ezenwa, Dr. Prince Ned Nwoko, Prof. Fred Eze, Prince Emeka Udodeme and Chief Uwakwe Azikiwe.

Appreciating the committee members for agreeing to be part of the assignment as a mark of respect to a great son of Nigeria, despite their tight schedule, Amechi said further details of the burial would be made public in due course.