The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Uncertainty in Edo over lists of PDP’s candidates for poll

    Uncertainty in Edo over lists of PDP’s candidates for poll

    Edo State residents, especially politicians, were uncertain yesterday of which of the lists of candidates of the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be considered for the 2023 general election.

    A faction led by Governor Godwin Obaseki and a legacy group led by the National Vice Chairman, (Southsouth) of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, the former chairman of the party in Edo; held parallel primaries and later proceeded to courts, with the matters yet to be totally dispensed with.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as at Monday, recognised the list from Orbih’s faction, based on court order, but yesterday morning, there were rumours that the electoral umpire had considered the list from Obaseki’s faction, based on an unnamed court order.

    The candidates for the 2023 elections in Edo will be for House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, while the governorship poll will hold towards the end of 2024.

    Orbih, an ally of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, decided to keep mute over the development, while supporters of Edo governor, particularly at the Government House, Benin, jubilated and celebrated the “victory.”

    INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity Timidi Wariowei, however, said on the phone that the commission had not received new list of candidates.

    He said: “People should be wary of these online publications flying everywhere. We are not hiding anything; there is no new list from INEC as at today (yesterday).

    “Some issues are still in court. So, whatever the court decides, INEC will comply and act accordingly.

    “If there is any court directive, we will comply, but as at today (yesterday), what we have is what has been displayed. We will also comply if there is any directive to carry out any other action.”

    Wariowei said INEC remained independent, adding that its officials would not take sides.

  • Odioma crisis: Bayelsa govt reads riot act to Chiefs’ Council

    Odioma crisis: Bayelsa govt reads riot act to Chiefs’ Council

    Bayelsa State Government has given members of Odioma Chiefs’ Council in Brass Local Government option to either withdraw their membership of political parties or resign from the traditional leadership council.

    The state government has constituted a six-man peace and reconciliation committee to look into immediate and remote causes of the communal unrest and insecurity threatening the peace of Odioma community.

    Governor Douye Diri spoke yesterday at an enlarged meeting with the chairman and members of Odioma Chiefs’ Council and other stakeholders of Odioma at the Government House, Yenagoa.

    He said his administration would not tolerate breakdown of law and order at Odioma or any other community.

    He advised them to live together in peace and avoid actions capable of causing a recurrence of the 2005 experience during which soldiers invaded and destroyed Odioma.

    The governor, represented by his deputy, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stressed the need for Odioma Chiefs Council to remain apolitical and proactive in addressing communal issues.

    He warned that henceforth, members of the Odioma Chiefs’ Council, who belonged to a party, should either resign from the council or withdraw his party membership, to enable him lead the people without divided interests.

    He said: “Under our watch, we cannot allow history to repeat itself at Odioma, because we all witnessed what happened there in 2005. We want to avoid a recurrence of that.”

    “For now, the police will remain there until we have resolved the major issues. Secondly, Council of Chiefs, you have to be more proactive and live up to your responsibilities.

    “This idea of trying to give party aligning is not your duty as chiefs. If you are a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, from the day you were elected as chief, you drop that party membership card because they are irreconcilable.

    “So, I want you the chiefs to know this: once you are a member of the Chiefs’ Council, quit PDP, quit APC. As you are leaving here, PDP members go and resign your PDP membership; likewise APC members go and resign your APC membership. If you are not ready to do that, then resign from the Chiefs’ Council.”

    The six-man Odioma Peace and Reconciliation Committee has the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), as Chairman, while the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, CP Akpoebi Agberebi (rtd), is to serve as Secretary.

    Other members of the committee include the lawmaker representing Brass Constituency 2 at the House of Assembly, Timi Omubo-Agala; the Technical Adviser on Conflict Resolution, Chief Boma Spero-Jack; the Commissioner of Police, Ben Nebolisa Okolo and the state Director of Department of State Services (DSS).

  • Governor bans use of residential areas for campaign offices

    Governor bans use of residential areas for campaign offices

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has signed Executive Order 22 banning parties from the use of buildings in residential areas as campaign offices without approval.

    According to the order, such approval must come from the Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning.

    The order, which the governor said would back the enforcement of Rivers State Outdoor Signage and Advertisement Law (RISAA), also banned the posting of bills or posters or any other material in unauthorised places.

    Speaking while signing the Executive Order 22 in Port Harcourt, Wike condemned the incessant defacement of expensive public properties, particularly in Port Harcourt through indiscriminate posting of handbills, banners, posters and all sorts of unauthorised materials.

  • Wike: Rivers PDP will provide my successor

    Wike: Rivers PDP will provide my successor

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has boasted that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fubara Siminialaye, will succeed him.

    He reassured the people that he would not leave office without completing his projects, saying if he, however, failed to complete any of them, Siminialaye would do so in the spirit of continuity.

    Wike said: “I will not leave any project unfinished. I will make sure the projects we have started are finished. If they are not finished, maybe at 90 or 95 per cent completion, when my successor, Siminalaye Fubara and Prof. Ngozi Ordu, come, they should use them for their first 100 days in office projects and inaugurate them.

    “This is because they are part of what we are doing. When I say my successor, you know they will win. You know they will win because our report card is there to show what we have done. We are in the period of ‘operation show your report card’.”

    The governor spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt at the inauguration of the twin buildings housing the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences and Faculty of Clinical Sciences, performed by the Chairman of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Prof. Abba Hassan.

    He described Rivers State University Teaching Hospital as the best in Nigeria, following the huge investment his administration made to strengthen the capacity of the specialist hospital in the training of medical personnel, research and medical innovations.

    Wike said other health service providing facilities had been integrated into the teaching hospital for holistic service delivery.

  • IPOB: Court suspends Kanu’s trial indefinitely

    IPOB: Court suspends Kanu’s trial indefinitely

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely further proceedings in the trial of self- acclaimed leader of the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    Kanu was arraigned at the court on the terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

    He was being tried on the charge before the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which faulted the manner he was brought back from Kenya by government agents, and proceeded to discharge him, a decision the Federal Government has appealed.

    Kanu has also appealed some portions of the judgment by filing a cross-appeal and proceeded to file another appeal against the Appeal Court’s October 28 ruling staying the execution of the October 13 judgment.

    Read Also: Malami making mockery of legal training, judiciary – IPOB

    Yesterday, lawyers to the prosecution and defence told the Federal High Court about the pending appeals at the Supreme Court filed by both sides, following which Justice Binta Nyako elected to adjourn indefinitely pending the outcome of the appeals.

    At the mention of the case, lead prosecuting lawyer Mohammed Abubakar told the court that Kanu refused to be brought to court from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) in protest of his claim that the Federal Government failed to obey the judgment freeing him.

    Kanu’s lead lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), did not dispute Abubakar ‘s position on why his client was not in court.

    Ozekhome later urged the court to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of the appeals filed by both the prosecution and defence before the Supreme Court, a request Abubakar did not object.

    Ozekhome subsequently noted that his client was not yet served with a copy of the amended charge recently filed by the prosecution.

    He claimed that the defence legal team only heard about the filing of an amended charge on social media.

    Ruling, Justice Nyako said the case would be adjourned sine die pending the outcome of the appeals before the Supreme Court.

  • Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary

    Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary

    A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has annulled the governorship primary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) held in the state on May 26.

    A former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang, had gone to court, alleging that the APC primary was characterised by illegalities.

    Enang, in one of his claims, said Akan Udofia was not a member of the APC in the state.

    But Udofia argued that the party had given him a waiver that qualified him to contest the primary election.

    Read Also: Court sacks Emenike, affirms Ogah as Abia APC guber candidate

    In a judgment yesterday, Justice Agatha Okeke cancelled the APC primary poll and ordered the party to conduct another primary within two weeks.

    Justice Okeke dismissed the purported waiver granted Udofia and ordered the party to conduct another primary in a fortnight where the authentic governorship candidate of APC would emerge.

    The judge also ordered that Udofia, who claimed to have won the aborted primary election, should not participate in the fresh primary.

    Reacting, Udofia assured his supporters that he would be on the ballot.

  • Commission demands increased funding to tackle ecological disasters

    Commission demands increased funding to tackle ecological disasters

    Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has demanded funding to enable it tackle ecological disasters by hydroelectric dams in member-states.

    The commission lamented that poor funding was affecting humanitarian intervention in the affected states, namely Niger, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Benue and Plateau.

    The Managing Director, Abubakar Yelwa, spoke yesterday in Uyo at the opening of a five-day retreat tagged: ‘Building Resilience in Work Place’.

    He said: “Since it became operational in 2021, funding has not been optimal in tackling huge humanitarian crises in the host states.”

    Yelwa said the operations of the dams usually resulted in perennial flooding, which had affected farming, fishing and other agricultural activities, destroyed buildings, power facilities and rendered residents jobless and stranded.

    Read Also: Africa faces funding challenge for climate adaptation

    He said no fewer than 300 people died yearly from boat accidents in the rivers around the operational areas of HYPPADEC, until the commission intervened to clear the surrounding Rivers Niger, Benue, Kaduna and others of fallen trees and other impediments for free sailing of boats to the shores.”

    “The challenges of these communities are enormous and multi-dimensional, while resources to face the challenges are very limited. This has made it mandatory for the management committee to act consciously in taking decisions that will improve the living conditions of communities in our areas of operation,” he added.

    Despite poor funding, the managing director said: “We are gradually changing the narrative of the living conditions of people in the communities, especially in the areas of maritime safety, security, education, health, agriculture, water projects, youths’ empowerment and social support packages.”

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of the commission, Joseph Ityav, underscored the importance of the forum and urged the delegates to thinker and aggregate ideas towards greater efficiency in work place situations and best practices in delivering on the mandate of the commission.

    He reminded workers of the need to address socio-economic challenges affecting the host communities.

    Former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices (and other related offences) Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, who chairs the Nigerian Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, advised participants to be conscious of personal security and functional retirement from service for a problem-free life after work place activities.

  • Onitsha market to reopen seven days after explosion

    Onitsha market to reopen seven days after explosion

    Commercial activities will resume today at Onitsha Bridgehead market, Anambra State exactly one week after it was shut, following chemical explosion that rocked the drug (Ogbogwu) section of the market, which claimed five lives.

    The Chairman of the market, Chinedu Ezekwike, made this known yesterday at the new yam festival celebration of his Public Relations Officer, Peter Okala, at Okasi, Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government.

    A two-minute silence was observed in honour of those killed by the chemical explosion, as directed by Ezekwike, who managed to be in attendance, as he was still mourning the deceased.

    Read Also: How collapsed building killed four traders, injured scores in Onitsha market

    He said the market was temporarily shut to save the health of traders, as directed by the Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, after visiting the market to ascertain the extent of destruction.

    Okala urged explosion victims to take heart, praying for the repose of the deceased’s souls.

    He bemoaned the impact of the flood that ravaged the state recently, appealing to the lawmakers present and good spirited individuals and groups to assist the victims and find solution to the problem.

    Dignitaries at the event included the member representing Ogbaru federal constituency Chuma Onyema; Anambra Drivers Welfare Association Chairman Adindu Okpala; Chairman of Landlords’ Association of Okasi, Fredrick Muogozie and Chairman of the occasion, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagwu.

  • Ikpeazu decries attack on PDP’s campaign DG

    Ikpeazu decries attack on PDP’s campaign DG

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has condemned the alleged attack on Chinedum Elechi, the Director General (DG) of campaign organisation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Prof. Uche Ikonne.

    The incident, according to a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, occurred in Umuahia on Sunday.

    The DG was reportedly attacked by an operative of the Ebonyi State Command of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

    The unnamed DSS operative was said to have attacked Elechi with a sharp machete, leaving him with cuts.

    Read Also: 2023: Ikpeazu assures Abians of Fed Govt. presence

    According to Ememanka, Dr. Ikpeazu praised the courage of the public and the police, who helped to overpower the assailant and recover the instrument of attack.

    The CPS said the governor demanded investigation into what he described as inexplicable display of murderous barbarism and urged the police commissioner to ensure that the assailant was made to face the full weight of the law.

    “The governor assures well-meaning citizens of their safety, reiterating the commitment of his administration to ensure criminals are not given space to operate in the state, especially as the political space gets set for serious activities.”

    “He is grateful to God for sparing Elechi’s life, a former deputy speaker of the House of Assembly and ex- commissioner, and wishes him quick recovery.”

  • Ihedioha emerges Atiku’s campaign chair in Imo

    Ihedioha emerges Atiku’s campaign chair in Imo

    Imo State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Charles Ugwuh has said former Governor Emeka Ihedioha has been inaugurated as chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party in the state.

    He spoke yesterday in Owerri during a stakeholders’ meeting.

    Ugwuh said; “Today begins the journey of the PDP to win the 2023 elections in Imo State. We have received formal approval of the Presidential Campaign Organisation in Abuja through a letter to proceed with the inauguration, and this meeting is to brief you as stakeholders.”

    Read Also: Imo: For Ihedioha, it’s raining troubles

    He said in compliance with the guidelines set by the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ihedioha emerged as Chairman of the council in the state, while former state Chairman Chief Charles Ezekwem was chosen as Director of Campaign.

    According to him, the Presidential Campaign Management Committee has 11 basic directorates, as well as the organs and structures of the campaign council designed for the smooth and effective running of the campaigns.

    He expressed satisfaction about the composition of the presidential campaign in the state and described the duo of Ihedioha and Ezekwem as round pegs in round holes.

    He congratulated them and other directors and members of campaign directorates on their new roles, noting that the task of PDP recording landslide victory in Imo at the polls in 2023 was already accomplished.