Category: South East

Pandemonium yesterday erupted at New Tarzan area of Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State, following gas leakage from an articulated vehicle conveying cooking gas on the Onitsha-Awka Road.

The tanker was said to have spilled its content along the road.

The incident, which occurred around 10am, caused traffic jam, with motorists plying the axis trapped in the gridlock, while traders whose shop were located around the area fled for safety.

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Commuters were compelled to trek long distances, as the area was cordoned off to avoid fire outbreak, while men of the Fire Service were on standby to forestall calamity.

Reacting, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Adeoye Irelewuyi, advised motorists to use alternative routes.

He said: “From Awka, enter at Nkwelle Junction to burst out at 33 to GRA or Nkpor to burst out at Boromeo roundabout and to Onitsha.”

The tanker’s content was still spilling at press time.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri branch, has lamented the danger posed by roadblocks by miscreants and paramilitary agencies on the Warri/Benin Expressway in Delta State.

It said security agents rather than check the excesses of miscreants, turned a blind eye on their nefarious activities.

NBA said areas stretching between Effurun and Oghara communities had over 32 roadblocks, excluding those mounted by the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

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The NBA in a statement by its Chairman, Chief Oghenero Okoro and Mr. Slyvester Ediagbonuvie urged the state government to liaise with the Army and Police to rid Warri-Benin road of illegal roadblocks.

It urged the state government to fix Effurun Roundabout: a major gateway into Warri and Effurun in Warri South and Uvwie local governments.

NBA blamed herders for crimes in communities around Eku-Abraka and Ohoror-Bomadi axis, saying farmers have been forced to flee their farms and homes.

Commuters plying the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Anambra State have cried out over increasing gridlock occasioned by deplorable condition of the road and extortion by security agents.

They said the situation was worsened by potholes, refuse and flood, which had taken over the road, particularly on the Amanator axis, forcing Upper-Iweka-bound traffic to join the Owerri-bound section in order to proceed to their destinations.

Our correspondent observed that the Metallurgical section through to the Amanator axis and off to Upper-Iweka, near the River Niger Bridge Head have become bad, posing challenge for motorists.

Emeka Eze, a bus driver, said commuters had been experiencing the problem over the years, adding that appeals for a palliative measure had been unfruitful.

Read Also: Fire destroys shops, building in Ilorin, Onitsha

“Our problem is compounded by touts, who have taken over the responsibility of traffic wardens, who are hardly seen controlling traffic. The touts take the opportunity to extort motorists,” he said.

The Chairman, Great Tippers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, Nze Chukwuemeka Olekpe, lamented regular falling of trucks on the roads, describing it as a nightmare.

He said over six people, including members of the association, had died, while many others were injured recently as a result of fallen trucks on the road.

A personnel from the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, who preferred anonymity, said efforts by the agency to offer palliative measures on the road in the past had always been frustrated by hoodlums.

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, blamed the situation on traders who preferred displaying their goods along the road, as well as potholes at certain portions of the road.

He said: “Onitsha is a very challenging situation in terms of traffic management, especially at spots like the Bridge-head, Tomato Market, Building Materials Market, Tazzan, Barracks areas and Uga Junction.

“We tend to have regular obstruction to traffic flow in these areas and this is due to the activities of traders and the failed portions and potholes on the road.

“We have made recommendations to the Federal Ministry of Works that we need to do something about these big potholes along that Onitsha road, because they are causing gridlock.

”We are engaging the ministry on the possibility of getting the road repaired. They need to fix the road before Christmas.

“The activity of traders is also an issue. Vehicles bringing goods park along the road to offload and sometimes, after offloading, they break down, causing traffic jam.

“We appeal to the market executives to tell their members to shift away from the road or sell inside the market.

“Our next line of action is to approach the local government and the Ministry of Trade and Commerce to erect barriers to prevent traders from selling on the expressway.”

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has said his predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano, needs to be celebrated at 67.

The former governor turned 67 yesterday. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, also turned 70 yesterday.

In his message yesterday in Awka, signed by his Press Secretary, Chris Aburime, Soludo hailed Obiano’s passionate service to the state and the people.

He said: “Attaining 67 years is a milestone deserving of celebration, having served and become an accomplished politician, banker and technocrat within these years.

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“As the fourth democratically- elected governor of Anambra State, from March 17, 2015 to March 17, 2022, you have contributed your best and history will be kind to you.

“Indeed, generations of Ndi Anambra and Nigerians will look back in history to appreciate your exemplary leadership and contributions in the area of infrastructural development and community service.

“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Anambra State, I wish you long life, sound health and many more years of service to your fatherland and humanity.”

Supporters of two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State have indicated their interest to work for the success of the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Senator Bassey Akpan.

The PDP aspirants, Onofiok Luke and Mike Enyong are serving lawmakers representing Etinan and Uyo federal constituencies.

Luke last week declared his support for Pastor Umo Eno, the PDP governorship candidate, while Enyong, according to sources, intends to collapse his political structures for the YPP candidate, Akpan.

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The Nation gathered yesterday that Luke’s supporters might likely remain in the PDP while working for the YPP candidate.

It was learnt that Enyong and Akpan are working out modalities to actualise a pact, which is in favour of the YPP candidate.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said there was a plan to forge a  merger to work against the PDP candidate, Eno.

He said: “Since the duo are in the National Assembly as representatives of Uyo Senatorial District, there’s the compelling need to create a synergy to enable them achieve their goals.”

At press time, the two camps were seen doing everything in common in order to meet their targets.

Political allies of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, under the auspices of Friends of Senator Douye Diri (FSDD), have begun to drum support for the governor’s re-election and that of the other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

They have inaugurated eight executive members in the eight local governments of the state to work towards the success of the PDP in the coming elections.

FSDD President Chief Bodi Arerebo said yesterday at the inauguration in Yenagoa that the occasion was to prepare towards the 2023 general election by ensuring that the PDP candidates had a landslide victory.

He urged the newly-appointed coordinators to put in their best, work in unity with other party members to deliver the party candidates.

Arerebo said: “The inauguration of the FSDD local government coordinators is just to prepare ourselves towards the forthcoming elections. All the people inaugurated today are people who love Governor Diri to the core and are ready to give necessary support in any way to him and other PDP candidates.

“Our priority is to ensure PDP candidates record landslide victories in the 2023 general election. We are behind Diri’s transformational leadership in the state. Since he assumed leadership in Bayelsa, the governor has carried out a lot of infrastructure developments, which are visible to all.

“We implore our coordinators to do all they can for them to see that we work together in unity and deliver PDP candidates.

“Also, as part of the resolutions of the group, we agreed that we should empower children with HIV/AIDs. They are our children and the children of this state. They have the right to be happy, to live the best lives they can live, hence we provided them with educational materials, including 1,000 notebooks, to enable them pursue their education despite their challenges.”

Speaking on behalf of the local government executives, the Coordinator of Brass Council, Mr. Gony Onah, expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity given them to serve and deliver the party’s candidates across board.

He said: “We promise to go back to our councils, carry out the mandate of the group and ensure that we deliver PDP candidates in the coming elections in the state.”

As part of the activities lined up for the inauguration, FSDD lifted many students who have dropped out of school because of poverty and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Arerebo presented the educational materials, including over 1,000 notebooks, to a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Synergy Care Development Initiative (SCDI), that has been catering to the needs of the HIV patients, who have been out of school.

The initiative was designed to empower out-of-school children to enhance their educational pursuit and show empathy to their plight.

Receiving the educational materials on behalf of the vulnerable children, the Executive Director, SCDI, Mr. Akpata Joseph, said the gesture was a welcome development not just for the NGO, but also for Bayelsa as a whole.

He stressed the need for such gestures to be extended to other NGOs in the state in need of assistance.

Authorities of Abua/Odual Local Government Area (ABOLGA) of Rivers State and community leaders have differed on the number of deaths arising from alleged measles outbreak in the area.

News of death of over 50 children from three communities in the local government, following the outbreak of the fisease, broke in Port Harcourt yesterday.

The communities allegedly affected are Amorutor, Emagor and Akani.

The Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of one of the affected communities, Ibiba Marcus, who broke the news, put the number of deaths recorded in the last one week at 50, and lamented absence of government presence in the area for intervention, despite reaching them.

He appealed to the Ministry of Health to come to their aide before the epidemic spreads to neighbouring communities.

Speaking to The Nation on the phone yesterday, the Press Secretary to the council chairman, Pelini Dugo, denied the number of deaths reported by Marcus, saying ”this is not possible.”

Dugo, however, said a team of community health workers had been assembled for on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the communities, with a view to addressing the cause of the measles.

Corroborating Dugo, another community leader, Believing Wariboko, quoted a health personnel at Emagor Primary Health Centre as debunking the number of deaths.

He said the health officer admitted that although there was a case of measles in the area, it had not reached epidemic stage, hence it could not be said that there was an outbreak of disease.

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has extolled the qualities of Supreme Court judge and an indigene of the state, Justice Emmanuel Agim.

He described him as a source of inspiration to many.

Prof. Ayade spoke at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar at a reception in honour of Agim by Obudu-Obalinku Elite Forum to celebrate his elevation to the apex court.

The Supreme Court justice, who hails from Obudu-Obanliku area of the state, was the Chief Justice of the Republics of Gambia and Swaziland.

Ayade said: “Justice Agim has been an inspiration. His rise to the pinnacle of his career is conditioned by the dint of hard work and persistency of purpose.

“Obudu and Obalinku local governments have produced quite a large number of lawyers because everybody looks up to Justice Agim.”

The governor said the Supreme Court justice brought panache, academic and brilliancy to the apex court, making his rulings a must read.

He said: “Of all the accolades heaped on Justice Agim, what is omitted is that he is a legal poet. When you read his judgment, you will think he is a professor of literature. If you read him upside down, you will see deep philosophy, if you take it straight forward, you will see jurisprudence.”

Ayade expressed delight that “Obudu-Obalinku as a people and as a political entity have made progress in human and infrastructural development.”

“Today, you have the British-Canadian University, Obudu-German Specialist Hospital, dual- carriage way criss-crossing Bekwara, Obudu and Obalinku.

“At present, massive overhauling is taking place at Obudu Cattle Ranch with a view to making Obanliku Nigeria’s tourism capital,” he said.

Agim said he was overwhelmed by the show of love by his people.

“Today’s message is not lost. Coming together to be happy that somebody is successful is something that is remarkable and worth mentioning,” he added.

He attributed his rise in the judiciary to divine providence, “because I did not achieve anything, God did everything; there is no one thing I did by my initiative or by my brilliance or by my ability; everything was done by God.”

Agim urged public office holders to put God first in whatever office they found themselves.

“When you are given an office, please see it as an assignment from God. See it as God’s assignment so that God who gave you the assignment will be with you and carry you along. We owe this country a duty to salvage it from the situation we find ourselves now and we can only do that if we remain God-focused.”

The apex court justice said he was delighted about the unity of purpose existing at Obudu-Obanliku, hailing his people for “uniting for peace, uniting for strength.”

“I’m just lucky, it is a privilege that it fell on me to be used as a point for this type of unity,” he said.

At a thanksgiving mass in his honour at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, the Catholic Bishop of Uyo, Bishop John Ebebe Ayah, who delivered the homily, advised Justice Agim to be firm and fearless in the temple of justice.

The events were attended by Deputy Governor Prof. Ivara Esu, Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Supreme Court justices, chief judges of some states, legal luminaries, among other dignitaries.

GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has described the party as the fastest growing political party in the state.

Abe, who stated this while addressing the SDP national leadership in Abuja, during his thank you visit, said the party has lived up to its mandate as a social democratic organisation to improve democratic practices in the country.

The governorship hopeful expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the party for giving him the opportunity of flying the party’s flag in Rivers State and promised not to disappoint them.

He said: “Sir, I am here today to thank the Social Democratic Party for the privilege and honour you have given me to fly your flag in Rivers State.

“I know that it could not have been an easy decision for you given that at any given point in time the party has several options of who to give their flag and honour without prejudice, but in your wisdom, you choose to give us that honour and that privilege.

“If we want to see what we have not seen before, we must do what we have not done before, that’s why today we are in the SDP, because we have not been here before so we are doing a new thing and Rivers people who have not voted SDP before are also prepared to do a new thing, they too are doing what they have not done before so we are going to do a new thing on the 29th of May, 2023.”

ANAMBRA State government began distribution of 3.8 million mosquito treated nets to all the 21 local government areas across the state today.

But the government says the security challenges in some of the communities are giving it lots of concerns.

Again, another major challenge the distributors are going to face, apart from the security issue, is how to access the riverine areas in the state.

The distribution of the mosquito treated nets, according to the Commissioner of Health, Dr Afam Obidike, is part of the war against malaria in the State

However, he said, the government had mapped out strategies to surmount such challenges by engaging people from those areas to take care of the distribution.

The areas with such challenges are Ihiala, Orumba North, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru and Orumba South.

Obidike, therefore, denied the interference of politicians in the distribution as as being speculated in the state

Obidike, was represented by the head of Department, Public Health and Disease Control, Dr Anaeme Afam at the media awareness at the weekend.

It was in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Malaria Consortium and Give Well Open Philanthropic funding.

He however, said such allegations were not unexpected against political office holders.

“We know the sacrifices we’re making to ensure a hitch-free exercise, amidst the risks and uncertainties, including getting the governor to release funds for flag off, and got the wife to sleep under the net to showcase to the world as net ambassador.

“Yet they said government is hijacking the process. Anyway, these are part of the things you get as a political office holder. I consider this as one of those allegations against government.”

According to Obidike, the 3.8million nets would be distributed through a door-to-door approach across the LGAs of the state.