Category: South East

A former Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, Dr Walton Liverpool, has slumped and died.

Liverpool, who last year, was involved in a sex scandal in which a 22-year-old girl, Miss Charlotte Delhi, circulated his nude picture on the social media, reportedly died the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Edo State over alleged health complications while on a business trip to Ondo State.

Liverpool, who retired from the Bayelsa State Civil Service, was reportedly battling with High Blood Pressure (hypertension).

It was gathered that his health problem became complicated after a trip to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in a Tipper due to the flood that devastated the East-West road and boarded a plane to Lagos in his poor health despite being prevailed upon by his wife and children.

A close family source, however, said Liverpool’s health deteriorated when he got to Ondo and was rushed to a private hospital for treatment.

The source, who declined to mention her name, said the private hospital referred him to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The source said: “He had just come back from Abuja and he told his wife that he had to submit a document in Ondo State. The wife tried convincing him not to travel because of his health but he insisted that the document was very important.

“His wife then asked him to travel with someone to Ondo State but the person contacted was in Port Harcourt. He left and boarded a Tipper due to the flood devastation to the East-West road.

“By the time he got to Port Harcourt, his health was deteriorating. He managed to get to Ondo State where he collapsed.”

The deceased Liverpool was well known for his style of politics and his contribution to the education sector of Bayelsa State.

Only last year, he was involved in a sex scandal in which Miss Charlotte Delhi, aged 22, circulated his naked picture on the social media. He filed a case of blackmail against her at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa.

The South-South and South-East Zones of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have decried the lingering sit-at-home order been enforced across Southeastern parts of the country, stressing that it has continued to have rippled negative effect on the economy of the region

The Deputy President (NYCN), Mr Innocent Nduanya, who spoke at the weekend in Asaba, Delta State capital, also impressed on the youths the need to secure their permanent voters card (PVC) in order to participate in next year’s election.

The group urged youths to not only participate in political rallies election but to ensure they vote massively for candidates of their choice.

He said, “What is important for the youths is to go for their Permanent Voter Cards PVCs, you can’t desire for change with just spoken word. The youths must ensure they get their PVCs because that’s the only way they can change the narratives.”

He also urged the federal government, governors and leaders to tackle the issue of flooding in the region and assist farmers whose crops have been destroyed by the flood.

He commended Delta Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for his laudable achievements in infrastructural development, youth and women empowerment in the state.

He described Okowa as a youth-friendly governor and commended the Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga and the State Chairman NYCN Chairman, Kenneth Okorie, for protecting the interests of the youths of the state.

Vice-President South East, Smart Uwakwe, said the economy of the region has been crippled by insecurity and sit-at-home order.

He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to curb the alarming rate of killings in the region and foster better relationship with the youths to bring back the economy of the Southeast.

“We call on the Federal Government to ensure speedy completion of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road before the end of the Buhari administration.

“We also call on the Federal Government to support SMEs and manufacturing industries which is the hub of employment in the country.

“And finally let me call on INEC to ensure free, fair and transparent election as the youths are ever ready to resist any attempt to rig the 2023 general elections.”

The runner-up in the Delta State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries, Olorogun David Edevbie has expressed gratitude to his supporters for keeping faith with him during the duration of his legal battle before the Appeal and Supreme Courts.

Edevbie gave the compliment yesterday shortly after arriving back in his hometown, Afiesere from Abuja.

Recall that the Supreme Court affirmed the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Sherrif Oborevwori, as the bonafide candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Edevbie described his campaign organisation as a group of dependable politicians that are committed to modernising Delta State, something that only skilled development economists like him can accomplish.

He said the right decision that will benefit him and his team would be taken at the appropriate time.

He added that: “For the think tank members, the federal constituency, senatorial, Local Government area coordinators and ward counterparts, as well as directors in my campaign structure should remain high in the spirit as the struggle has just begun.

“I urged all my teeming supporters to remain United and speak with one voice to enable you all get the best deal in the ongoing political process,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Clement Ofuani, Director General of the Olorogun David Edevbie campaign organization, commended the supporters for their enormous turnout and belief in David Edevbie’s transformation agenda.

Abia pensioners have taken to the streets of Umuahia, the state capital to protest backlog of pension arrears owed to their members by the State government.

According to the protesters, the condition of pensioners in the state is nothing to write about.

The pensioners, who said they were only paid one quarters of their pension, claimed that they had been owed a cumulative of 45 months of pension arrears.

Accusing government of insensitivity to the plight of pensioners, the senior citizens said average of 10 pensioners die monthly across the state due to poor welfare package.

The pensioners begged Ikpeazu “to show regard for elders.”

They carried placards with various inscriptions such as: “Ikpeazu pay us our gratuity”; “Ikpeazu, be informed that many pensioners can no longer get medical care due to lack of money”; and “Ikpeazu, why should we  vote your candidates in the midst of this wickedness against pensioners?”

Coordinator, Chief Emeka Okezie while speaking with Journalists decried the condition of pensioners in the state and pleaded with Gov. Ikpeazu to stop hardening his heart against them.

He regretted that their leader, Elder Dan Amugo had died due to lack of adequate care.

Chief Okezie who spoke with emotion-laden voice, called on Abians to prevail on the State Government to show care to pensioners to reduce their mortality rate.

“Our coordinator, Elder Dan Amugo is in the mortuary and will be buried soon.

“A lot of us are in the mortuary, a lot of us are lying helplessly and no money to buy drugs.

“Government of Abia State is owing the Abia pensioners a backlog of over 45 months unpaid pensions.

“Throughout this year, they started giving us one-quarter of our monthly pay. Every three months we see one-quarter of our monthly pay in our account. That is all.”

“We are the fathers; they are supposed to help us. Is it how it is done in other states?

“We are suffering unimaginably. Why can’t this people help us?”

The leader of pensioners said that he would not stop demanding their rights despite intimidation by government.

“Last time, I was arrested and dumped in the police cell. I won’t be cowed. If they like, let them invite me again, I will still go.”

The police in Bayelsa State have apprehended six teenage boys at the state government’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Ox-Bow Lake in Yenagoa, the state capital, over alleged sodomy.

The men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Police Command effected the arrest of the teenage boys, whose ages range between 14 to 16.

It was gathered that the arrest came after the alarm was raised by some persons at the camp and reported to the IDP Coordinator and member of the State House of Assembly, Koku Obiyah Ebiowo (Yenagoa 3).

Ebiowo was said to have immediately involved the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

It was also gathered that the teenage boys involved were residents of the displaced Cameroon Camp along the submerged area of Azikoro Village road.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development.

Butswat, a Superintendent of Police, said because those allegedly involved in the sodomy were minors, the police would release them to their parents.

He, however, said that the police would conduct a discreet investigation over a possible influence by adults if any.

A source at the IDP camp said the proactive nature and vigilance of the IDP camp management committee led to the quick arrest of the situation.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The boys were discovered to have been engaging in the sodomy every night by the waterside near the IDP camp.

“On Thursday, someone alerted one of perpetrators’ parents about the act of her child and the mother immediately informed the camp management committee.”

Meanwhile, an advocacy group, the Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) led by its Chairman, Barrister Dise Ogbise, visited the camp to intensify sensitisation campaign by educating the inhabitants of the various IDP camps to guard against illicit sexual acts including homosexuality, sodomy and prostitution.

Also speaking, a member of GRIT and Chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Maria Osumah, also urged the residents of the IDP camps not to be cowed by the threats of violence or death after they were violated.

A female farmer and mother of eight children, Mrs Chiwendu Mbam of Okwereike Agbaja community in Ebonyi local government area, Ebonyi State has filed a case against her husband Family Law Centre for biting off her lip, ear, always squandering her farm produce and threatening her life.

At the Resolution centre, known for resolving family disputes, is a pet project of wife of the first Civilian Governor of the state, Eunice Egwu and presided over by Elizabeth Nwali.

Mrs Chinwendu Mbam accused her husband Ogwa Mbam of causing her grievous body harms, threat to life, always causing her emotional stress and squandering her farm produces at slightest provocation.

The man is said to have committed the purported offence because the woman’s children allowed goats into his rice farm which damaged a portion of it.

Chinwendu, who took her sick child to hospital at the time of the incident, pleaded with husband to forgive the children.

She also agreed to pay for the damaged portion of rice as demanded but the husband allegedly insisted she must leave his house with her children as punishment even after the payment.

The woman refused leaving her matrimonial home as usual because, according to her, the man uses that tactics to deprive her from harvesting and enjoying crops from her farm

For insisting on not leaving, the man beat her up mercilessly and in the process bit off her lower lip and ear.

At the Family Law Center, Madam Chinwendu called on the Government to compel the husband Ogwa Mbam to sign undertaking to ensure her security, see to the welfare of their children, pay for her medical treatment, release to her money realized from selling her farm produces last year among other demands.

The woman said, “I am the 2nd wife of my husband Ogwa Mbam, we are from Okwereike Agbaja in Ebonyi local government area of the state. We have 8 children together. But my problem is that every year, after cultivation of my farm my husband will create disagreement between us pursued me to harvest, eat and sell the produce with his first wife.

“This time around on it happened we planted all our crops and our children on 19th October 2022 went and tied our goats near his rice farm. Rope of one of the goats cut and it entered my husband’s rice farm and fed on it.

Collaborating her, the village head Nwogbaga Benard who was present said he supported the woman to report the matter to the Center because he was fed up with the Defendant’s wickedness towards the second wife.

According to Nwogbaga, Mr Ogwa Mbam who always create problems to victimize the wife had never abide to his verdict as the village head and pleaded with the Center to use stringent measures on him.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State at the weekend inaugurated a befitting Press Centre for the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state.

The facility was newly remodelled by the Ugwuanyi administration.

The remodelling of the NUJ Enugu Press Centre by  Ugwuanyi’s administration is the first intervention on the facility in the last 30 years.

Ugwuanyi, after inaugurating the remodelled Press Centre named after him as “Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi NUJ Enugu Press Centre”, inspected the projects executed at the centre by his administration and announced additional interventions that would make the facility more conducive for the journalists and the general public, amid jubilation.

Thanking the governor for the unprecedented intervention, the Chairman of NUJ, Enugu State Chapter, Mr. Sam Udekwe said that the governor’s gesture was a surprise package and a dream come true.

Udekwe described Ugwuanyi as a jinx breaker and promise keeper, stressing that his imprints in the centre will remain indelible in the history of journalism profession in Enugu State in particular and the country in general.

“We sincerely thank you, Your Excellency, for this wonderful intervention. We did not dream of it coming from you. This has been our dream, and today, it is a dream come true. You have done us proud and we are grateful to you sir,” the NUJ chairman said.

Speaking on the project, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji disclosed that the state government’s intervention was sequel to Governor Ugwuanyi’s visit to the centre.

Nnaji, who described the project as phase one, disclosed that “the last intervention was about three decades ago”, stressing that Governor Ugwuanyi is a man with the Midas touch in everything he does.

The State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani and Dr. Tony Okam witnessed the event.

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has recalled suspended members of the management staff of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

The state government had on July 20 announced the suspension of the members of the state polytechnic management team led by Elder John Nwangborogwu, including Dr. Kalu Osonwa, the rector; Oriaku Chinyere (registrar); Omenihu Friday (bursar); Ndulaka Chigozie (librarian) and Nwogu Jude (director of Works Services).

The dissolution of the management came about 24 hours after the leadership of the Nigeria Board for Technical Education (NBTE) announced the de-accreditation of the courses offered in the institution over unpaid 30 months workers’ salaries.

NBTE equally vowed that they were going to stop at nothing to ensure that the school did not mobilise students for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the next batch stream.

The Nation reports that the institution has been under the leadership of Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji, a former commissioner for Education and Agriculture under the Ikpeazu-led government with the charge of ensuring the restoration of the accreditation of the school within 30 days.

But the state government yesterday in a statement through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, announced their recall.

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday swore in a civil commissioner and 14 permanent secretaries.

Energy Commissioner Fred Obe’s tenure ends next May 29 at the expiration of the current administration.

The new permanent secretaries are Charles Diai, Omamuzo Erebe, Theophilus Aguonye, Gregory Ejohwomu, Patrick Ojeblenu, Patricia Esenjo and Fredrick Yoro.

Others are Nelson Tetsola, Philomena Okeowo, Evelyn Ndobu, Frank Aghara, Byron Unini, Fredrick Fuludu and Frank Omoko.

Dr. Okowa, the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaking in Asaba, hailed the permanent secretaries for their hard work over the years, saying the appointment was well deserved.

He said: “All of you have merited your appointments. I hope your loyalty to the government will continue.

“It is my hope that as the chief accounting officers, you will offer the best of advice and ensure that working with the commissioners, you will remain accountable, working diligently for the good of the people of Delta State.”

The governor advised the permanent secretaries to be conversant with the civil service rules, to enable them administer their offices in line with relevant laws.

He urged them to ensure fairness and justice in their MDAs.

“I hope you realise that the best manager and administrator is the one who truly works with others. The fact that you have been elevated to the position of permanent secretary does not mean your decisions will always be the best. “

“I believe the best administrator is the one that gives listening ears to those that work with him. It is part of my experience in life. So, try to hear your subordinates out because there is always something you can learn from them.

“I want to add that the new commissioner should resume as Commissioner, Ministry of Energy. You realise that you just have a few months to make a mark. This means you have to hit the ground running,” Okowa said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra State chapter, has cried out that the price of bag of rice is now higher than the minimum wage.

The union yesterday lamented the economic situation in the country, urging the government to increase salary, to address financial challenges.

NLC Chairperson Chinwe Orizu made this known in Awka at the opening of a three-day NLC Leadership Training Workshop with the theme: “The Role of Labour in the Growth and Development of Nigerian Economy”.

She stressed the need for prompt promotion and payment of workers’ salary.

Orizu said: “We appeal to the federal, state and local governments and other employers to provide decent working environment for their workers.

“We also demand prompt promotion of workers. It is not fair for one to wait for months or years to be paid one’s financial benefits after promotion.

“The economic situation has made it impossible for workers to live. What we collect now as ‘take home’ can’t take us home again.

“The price of bag of rice has risen to about N50,000. People are hungry. Some are underpaid, unemployed and underemployed.”

“Poverty affects workers’ mental being and output. Government should address these challenges.”

She said the workshop was aimed at building workers’ capacities, creating awareness among the working class as prerequisite for attaining a social change, deepening consciousness and building equal society.

A keynote speaker and lecturer from the Department of Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Geraldine Nzeribe, advised workers to utilise the opportunities available to them to build their capacities through training and retraining, which, she noted, would assist in developing the country.