Category: South East

A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday declared Sen. Bassey Otu qualified to remain the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit brought before her by Sen. Owan Enoh seeking to disqualify Sen. Otu as the APC standard-bearer.

She said: “A candidate contesting the position of governor must be a Nigerian, meet the stipulated age requirement and have basic qualification according to the constitution. The matter of determination of governorship candidate of a political party is and still remains the right of a party.”

The judgment said in the seven- paragraph affidavit submitted by the plaintiffs, the allegation of forgery could not be established.

Justice Ojukwu said: “The plaintiff failed to provide what constituted or constitutes the false information provided by the third defendant, who is the candidate of his party in his affidavit or any document submitted as contained in the constitutional requirement.

“There is nowhere in the seven-paragraph affidavit submitted by the plaintiff that the third defendant submitted any false information.

“The allegation of forgery was not established in any manner.

“None of the documents or certificates submitted by the third defendant gave evidence of forgery.

“I have carefully perused the averments and find no evidence of false information.

“The party that alleges false information according to Section 29:5 of the Electoral Act has the onus to prove, but this was not discharged.

“For the court to rule otherwise, there must be cogent evidence to the contrary, but in this case there is none that is presented before this court.”

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has submitted 18 commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

A statement signed by the Clerk, Stanford Oba, invited the beneficiaries to appear before the house on October 25 (today) for screening.

Those named in the list are Prof. Princewill Chike, Jacobson Nbina, Mr. Ndubuisi Okere, Mrs. Inime Aguma, Charles Amadi, Mrs. Tonye Oniyinde Briggs, Mr. Ben Daminabo, Mr. Chris Finebone, Austin Ben Chioma and Mr. Uchechukwu Nwafor.

Others are Dr. Fred Barivule Kpakol, Emenike Eke, Mr. Prince Ohia, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, Mr. Ezekiel Agri, Mrs. Ukiel Oyaghiri, Damiete Herbert Horsfall and Emeka Onowu.

The nominees were asked to submit 35 sets of their credentials to the office of the clerk and come along with original copies, including tax clearance certificate, for the screening.

•Allegation false, says ruling party

Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State has accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of offering monetary inducements to its members in order to deplete its membership.

The party alleged that the PDP, afraid of losing next year’s elections, had perfected plans to flood the state with money it intended to use to buy votes and secure victory for its candidates.

YPP House of Representatives candidate for Ikot Abasi federal constituency Nsikan Udoh made the allegations yesterday during a chat with our correspondent in Uyo.

Udoh, an architect, alleged that members of his party were being bribed with N500,000 for them to defect to the PDP, adding that the strategy was to weaken the strength and popularity of the YPP ahead of next year’s elections.

Reacting to the allegations, PDP said YPP was already crying foul, knowing that it had no chance of victory in the state.

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Borono Bassey, described the allegation as “absolutely false and preposterous.”

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has cancelled the recruitment of teachers for the second time, over alleged irregularities.

The Nation gathered yesterday that the directive for the cancellation was with immediate effect.

The development has made applicants to panic, as they do not know their fate.

About 40,000 applicants applied for the online job the first time, while 31,800 were shortlisted for interview.

But following what played out during the first exercise, the governor angrily cancelled the exercise, as he wanted to get it right for the state.

wants a transparent exercise about the recruitment.”

On Sunday, the Ministry of Education released a list of about 5,000 recruited teachers, which sparked condemnation across the state.

Contacted, Information Commissioner Sir Paul Nwosu did not pick his calls.

But a senior officer in the Ministry of Education, who did not want to be quoted, confirmed the directive to The Nation.

The source said some people had made it a point of duty to frustrate Soludo, adding that it would not work because the governor was serious in getting the best for Ndi Anambra.

The Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) said arrangements have been concluded for commencement of free immunization for elimination of measles and other infectious diseases.

The exercise followed reported deaths of about 14 children and over 400 other cases linked to the disease outbreak in nine local government areas of the state. 

Addressing newsmen during a briefing in Awka, Executive Secretary ASPHCDA, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu, said the exercise which would commence on October 25 till November 2, is in collaboration with Ministry of Health and other partners.

Ezenyimulu, represented by the Agency’s Director of Disease Control/Immunization, Dr. Uliagbafusi Nnamdi,  said the exercise would take place in all the primary health centers and other designated vaccination sites in the state.

“Childhood vaccines will be administered to children aged 0-23 months, while measles will be administered to children aged 9-59 months, respectively. Adults from 18 and above will be allowed to vaccinate themselves against COVID-19,” she added.

Read Also: Gunmen set 15 shops, vehicles ablaze in Anambra

While advising caregivers to seize the opportunity to avail their wards of the exercise, Ezenyimulu hinted that healthcare workers would be deployed to visit churches, schools, parks as well as mosques to vaccinate eligible persons around communities in the state.

State Epidemiologist, Dr. Chuma Emembolu, said the exercise was targeted at eliminating spread of the diseas and other infectious types such as cholera likely to spring up due to the recent flood menace which had contaminated waters in some parts of the state.

State Technical Officer Non-Polio Supplemental Immunization Activities of WHO, Chris Ezenwanne, and UNICEF Anambra State Consultanlt, Kenneth Mac-Fisi assured of their presence to ensure every child in the State was vaccinated.

Anglican Bishop of Afikpo Diocese, Ebonyi State Rev. Paul Udogu, yesterday condemned insecurity and communal clashes in some parts of the state.

Udogu said the church was worried about the recent assassination and wasting of innocent blood in Isu community, Onicha local government area of the state.

The Bishop spoke at the church Cathedral, Afikpo, Afikpo North local government area of the state during his charge at the 6th synod of the church.

He noted that the traditional ruler of Isu community in the state, HRH Ambrose Ogbu was kidnapped six months ago and has not been released till today.

Udeogu disclosed that President General of the community, palace Secretary of the community and some other prominent members of the community have been assassinated.

“The people of Isu living in serious fear as many people have migrated to safe areas. Nobody can say exactly what is happening at Isu.

“We call upon the David Umahi led Ebonyi State government to use her instruments of power to discover the remote and immediate causes of the Isu trouble and proffer solution to the problem. We also appeal to the perpetrators of this act to lay down their arms and use dialogue to resolve whatever is the problem.

“The Isinkwo- Abaomege crisis is still lingering. We are happy that soldiers are stationed there now. However, there is still need for government to proffer a lasting solution and bring reconciliation between the warring communities of Isinkwo and Abaomege,”he said.

The government of Abia State has announced the closure of seven private schools operating in different parts of Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Hon. Ukwu Rocks-Emma said that the action of the government was to sanitise the education industry in the state, adding that while some of the owners of the affected schools were operating without obtaining requisite state government’s approval, others after getting the approval of the government, went back to compromise standard.

A statement issued from the Ministry of Education which threatened long lasting blacklisting and possible prosecution of the proprietors of the affected schools, called on parents/guardians of pupils and students schooling in the affected school to withdraw them from there.

The statement reads “Consequent upon our resolve to sanitise the education industry in Abia State as it concerns the establishment and running of schools, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Hon. Ukwu Rocks Emma hereby directs all illegal schools in Abia State to shut down operations and close shop.

“Note that for a school to operate in this state, the proprietors must guarantee an enabling environment for teaching and learning and the schools are certified thus.

“We have observed with dismay, the irresponsibility of some individuals running schools without obtaining requisite Approval (written, signed and sealed) from the Commissioner’s office.

“And henceforth, approvals obtained but later compromised by subsequent lowered standards shall automatically meet with withdrawal.

“All genuine proprietors are to display copies of approval instruments publicly and show original copies to our officers on demand.

“Every school should also as a matter of urgency cue into the electronic portal of the Ministry.

“This is for authentication and easy operations in this digital age. Time for half measures and amnesty is over! The clampdown is on.

“The public is hereby notified that the following schools have been closed and disbanded include Bethesda House International school, 42 Owerri road off Okigwe road Aba, Lily Brains International School, 57 Erondu street, Aba, Conquering Ground International School, 35 7up road Ogborhill Aba, Presbyterian Academy, 35 Glass industry extension, 7up area Ogborhill Aba, Shade of Mercy International School, Fruitful Ground Christian School, Aba, His Mercies Christian Academy, St. Eugene Road Aba. Parents and guardians are advised to immediately withdraw their children from these schools. Sabotaging this order by the proprietors behind our back will earn such persons long lasting blacklisting in matters educational in Abia State. They may also face prosecution. Please Support Abia State to get rid of this cankerworm called Quack Schools.”

Imo State Government yesterday expressed worry over vandalisation and theft of construction equipment belonging to contractors engaged by the government to rehabilitate roads in the state.

The government said such vandalisation and theft of the equipment might cause temporary job delay and possible penalty for the contractors.

Addressing leaders and stakeholders from Avu, Obosima, Ohoba, Umunwaku and Ntekwuru Autonomous communities, where such vandalisation and theft was reported, the state Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu warned them to caution their youths to stop such act capable of derailing progress made so far.

Nwosu who described the theft of equipment in some communities as alarming, said despite government efforts in ensuring rehabilitation of these roads, the communities should cooperate with the construction company concerned to safeguard these equipment.

“The deplorable condition of the road is unfortunate, that is why the Imo State Government has decided to collaborate with NDDC to remove shame from all of us but painfully the youths of these communities are stealing and vandalising the construction equipment to sabotage these efforts,” he said.

Some of the stakeholders who spoke during the parley blamed the construction companies of not carrying the indigenes particularly the youths along, adding that most times, they don’t even pay their security men.

However, Head of Construction, Globa Enco Network LTD, Henry Iyoha said they stopped paying the security men when they noticed that their equipment were vandalised and stolen.

Also, the managing director of the company, Chukwuma Nwachukwu said that the vandalisation of equipment belonging to construction companies in Imo state “is getting too much. We bought new equipment about 48 pieces of them on loan to replace the ones stolen, we call for cooperation from the communities to be able to turn out quality job at the end of the construction period.”

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has commended the resilient spirit of indigenes of the state in excelling in their various business endeavours nationally and internationally in spite of the challenges confronting the country, stressing that “Ndi Enugu have shown resilience in the face of the nation’s economic challenges.”

Ugwuanyi made the assertion, yesterday, when he inspected the 1500-120 TPH capacity Marini Batch Asphalt Plant at Emene, Enugu, newly built by an indigenous construction company, Eketeson Resources International Limited.

In a special thank you message to the Managing Director of the company, Chief Engr. Donald Ekete, an indigene of Enugu State, the governor lauded the bold initiative, describing it as a great project.

The governor, who attributed the existing peace and security in Enugu State to God’s kindness and mercy, beseeched Him (God) to give more indigenes of Enugu State the enablement to invest and open more business ventures in the state.

While stating that the Eketeson asphalt plant project will be a reference point in the next 50 years, the governor prayed that the company will grow from strength to strength and provide employment opportunities for more people of Enugu State.

He therefore used the opportunity to appeal to other indigenes of Enugu to come home and invest; stressing that God is in charge of the affairs of the state.

Welcoming the governor to the asphalt plant, Ekete said it was a great honour and a demonstration of the former’s commitment to investment and business growth in the state.

Ekete disclosed that the Eketeson marine asphalt plant is 001-2022, adding that “Eketeson has the latest version in the world.”

The Eketeson boss further explained that the company’s asphalt plant produces 120 to 150 tons per hour and has the capacity to do any mixed design for its clients, noting that “It is only RCC and Julius Berger that have this kind of asphalt plant in Nigeria.”

In his goodwill message, the traditional ruler of Agunese Mmaku Kingdom, Awgu Local Government Area, HRH Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi, applauded Ekete for the milestone achievement and appreciated Governor Ugwuanyi for providing peace and security in Enugu State which he said made it possible for the siting of the asphalt plant in the state.

The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke; the Commissioner for Rural Development, Dr. Kingsley Udeh; HRH Igwe Eric Chijioke Nwafor; Permanent Secretary and Liaison Officer, Enugu State Liaison Office, Abuja, Barr. Chukwuka Ugwu; the representative of the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ogugua Emehelu; Engr. Ekete’s wife,  Elizabeth Chidimma; and the General Manager, Eketeson Resources International Limited, Emmanuel Abbi were among the dignitaries at the event.

The All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, Delta State governorship candidate for 2023 general elections, Chief Great Ogboru has commiserated with flood victims, urging the federal and Delta State government to act swiftly before it gets out of hand.

Ogboru who stated this in a press statement yesterday, made a case for the victims, stressing that National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies to act fast by providing the affected victims and communities relief materials.

According to him, hundreds of families and communities in Delta State are currently being displaced including their property and farm produce worth several millions of naira being destroyed by the ravaging flood.

Ogboru said, “I want to sincerely commiserate with our beloved mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who have been faced with ravaging flood that have claimed several lives and properties across the state and leaving them on a devastating condition.”