Category: South East

The National Population Commission (NPC) has begun a training workshop ahead of the trial census scheduled to hold in nine local government areas of Imo State.

Federal Commissioner representing Imo State Prof. Uba Nnabue said the commission is determined to conduct the trial census in the quest to deliver a credible, reliable, acceptable and verifiable census in 2023.

Nnabue, at the opening of the training yesterday, said the commission demands high performance and not excuses from participants.

He said: “The commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure the trial census is done meticulously, professionally and scientifically to provide a good foundation for the smooth conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

“At the national level, the trial census will cover the 36 states and the FCT. Six local governments have been selected from six states in the six geo-political zones for full population enumeration, while 45 Enumeration Areas (EAs) were selected each from the remaining 30 states and the FCT.

“In total, 4,608 EAs have been selected for this trial census to test run the suitability and readiness for the actual census.”

Prof. Nnabue added that 13,500 field officers, comprising 11,510 enumerators, 1,529 supervisors and 823 facilitators, will be deployed for the trial census.

 

Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has picked Ossai Osanebi as his running mate for the 2023 election.

Osanebi’s nomination is contained in a statement yesterday by the Director of Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Ima Niboro.

Osanebi represents Ndokwa East in the House of Assembly.

Niboro hoped expressed would add immense value to the ticket. He also hailed Omo-Agege for having confidence in the youths, noting that his choice was a ‘testimony of his belief in the ability of the younger generation to drive the needed positive change in the state’.

He added that the wild jubilation which greeted Osanebi’s announcement was a clear indication of his wide acceptance as a grassroots politician.

He urged the people to support the Agege/Osanebi ticket to build the state, stressing that the team had developed a carefully thought-out roadmap to take the state to greater heights.

The statement added: “Our constitution only allows one choice and we know that Osanebi is a great choice. Nonetheless, I am confident that with God on our side, and by the electoral will of our people, each eminent person who was considered in the vetting process will be given a chance to add value to public governance in strategic roles after the 2023 general elections.

“I am confident that working with Osanebi as our deputy governorship candidate offers the people of Delta, especially our youths, a unique opportunity to repair our broken leadership foundations and build a new Delta. I humbly urge all our people to embrace this as our real chance for true greatness. We are marching toward the New Delta of our dream, and we are unstoppable.”

 

Youths and women groups in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State are seeking the removal of the Chairman, Ibe Nwoke, for ‘abysmal performance’.

They staged a peaceful protest yesterday at the council’s headquarters in Mgboko. They alleged that peace has eluded the area under Nwoke’s administration.

The protesters also claimed that many of Nwoke’s actions could reinvent youth restiveness that the people of Obingwa had long nipped in the bud. They, therefore, pleaded with the leaders and political stakeholders to use every necessary legal processes to remove Nwoke from office ‘before he destroys the peace the local government was enjoying’.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like ‘Michael Ibe Nwoke as ALGON chairman sacked council workers’; ‘Local government chairmanship is not a Yahoo business, resign and go back to Yahoo Business’, and more.

Leader of the women group Mrs. Ijeoma Ngozi said the privilege given to Nwoke to direct affairs of the council and coordinate the youths has been bastardised with signs of violence to emanate again.

“It’s barely five months for his tenure to be over and he has not done any meaningful thing for our people. We don’t have an office here as women as everywhere have been converted to tricycle confiscation centres.

“Thugs are everywhere seizing tricycles, collecting N40,000 from all of them. All we see every day are thugs and all sorts of bad people with no meaningful development. We’re tired of watching our children be used for violence. Since Governor Okezie Ikpeazu took over, Obingwa has been very peaceful.

“It’s unfortunate that the chairman is now regrouping such youths that could cause problems for us. We don’t want it again. We don’t want anything that will arm our children and lead them to their untimely deaths. This is why we’re calling for him to be removed before it gets out of hand.”

A youth leader, Chinkata Nwachukwu, said the youths were once hopeful that Nwoke would organise the council, ‘but rather than work for the interest of staffers, indigenes and residents, he chose to satisfy himself’.

“He has been insulting everybody and we’re tired of him. When he was ALGON Chairman, he was quarrelling with his colleagues. He’s our brother but we cannot because of him and sacrifice our peace here in Obingwa.

“We’ve gone round and we’ve discovered that almost all the buildings in the council secretariat are dilapidated and nothing is working. Look at how grasses have taken over everywhere. He is busy harassing all our brothers who are tricycle riders.

“We call on all our leaders from Governors to the House of Assembly to help us. We call on councilors to quickly impeachment him. Enough is enough,” Nwachukwu said.

Nwoke could not be reached as at press time last night, but a source close to him described the protest as sponsored.

According to the source, a powerful politician in the council was sponsoring some councilors to impeach Nwoke, ‘but Nwoke is responsible for all Obingwa indigenes and not a few individuals who think they are gods’.

 

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday upheld the MacDonald Ebere-led State Executive Committee in Imo State.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary Yakubu Ajaka stated this after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja.

Recall that on June 15, a letter was purportedly written by the party, recognising the leadership of Dan Nwafor. While empowering Nwafor to take immediate control of the party machinery, the letter however said his tenure ends on July 31, 2022.

But on June 28, the National Vice-Chairman (Southeast), Ijeomah Arodiogbu, in another letter, upturned the June 15 letter on grounds that the matter was never discussed or agreed upon by the NWC.

Ajaka, who addressed reporters, said: “The National Working Committee just finished its meeting and has rescinded the June 15 letter. So the status quo in Imo remains that the MacDonald Ebere-led state committee remains and Ebere the substantive chairman in Imo State.

“There is no change of leadership, what happened was a mere mistake. The Supreme Court judgment was very clear, but the current MacDonald Ebere-led executive is a product of congress.”

“The congress which produced Nwafor’s group has just elapsed by decision of NEC in 2022. So the current exco now is the only recognised leadership in Imo. This is the decision of the NWC.”

 

The National  Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday declared as valid, the employment of the former Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University (RSU), formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Barineme Beke Fakae.

Justice P. I. Hamman ordered his employers – RSU – to pay him his monthly salaries and allowances for the over seven years he was not paid.

Prof. Fakae, a veterinary scientist, in 2015 filed a suit against RSU for the illegal stoppage of his salaries shortly after he left office in 2015.

The don was moved from the Polytechnic Bori as Rector to rescue the then UST, a task he undertook for eight years and handed over to Prof. Blessing Didia in August 2015, only for his employment not to be recognised and his salary stopped.

Aggrieved, Fakae files the suit seeking several reliefs.

In his judgment, Justice Hamman criticised the RSU for withholding Fakae’s salaries for years.

He ordered that the claimant’s employment with the defendant vides a ‘Letter of Offer of Appointment’ dated May 16, 2014, which was accepted by the claimant by a letter dated May 16, 2014, be respected as valid and still subsisting.

The court declared that Prof Fakae is entitled to all his entitlements, remunerations and/or other privileges which accrued to him as an employee of the defendant vides the letter of Offer of Appointment’.

It ordered RSU to pay him his salaries from November 2015 when the suit was initiated till yesterday when judgment was delivered and the same sum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is fully liquidated.

The court held: “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the defendant either acting by itself or its servants, agents, privies, assigns or whatever capacity as howsoever called or described from stopping the payment of the claimant’s salary including the arrears and other entitlements ascribed to him as an employee of the defendant.

“The terms of this judgment shall be complied with within 30 days from the date of delivery failing which same shall attract interest at 10 per cent per annum.”

The judge did not award any costs.

He also did not agree to award Prof Fakae’s demand for N20m as general damages for injury, hardship, inconvenience, pains, and embarrassment.

The court also turned down his demand for an accumulated leave of absence of 240 days as of July 2015 in line with the condition of service of senior staff of the RSU.

The judge said he reached the decision after listening to the submissions of Femi Bobade and O.B Wokeh for Prof Fakae and J.T. Okulu and H.E. Roberts for the RSU.

Prof Fakae was drafted from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to revamp the then-ailing Rivers Polytechnic Bori under then-Governor Peter Odili.

 

The Edo State Government has commenced the Stream Seven of the Edo Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs) paid internship and apprenticeship programme for 200 youths in the state.

Managing Director of Edojobs, Ukinebo Dare, yesterday in Benin disclosed that the beneficiaries were deployed in different organisations to acquire first-hand knowledge of how organisations operate, thereby gaining soft skills and technical experience in a real work environment.

She noted that the programme would help the beneficiaries to gain knowledge and enhance their competencies and overall employability.

She pointed out that it was organised in partnership with the German development agency, the Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).

Dare stated that the project was an arm of the Rural Youth Employment (RYE), to tackle unemployment in rural areas.

She said: “Having done other streams since 2018, which have impacted more than 1,700 youths, we thought it necessary to continue. So that other youths can get the opportunity to become relevant in the workforce.

“As it stands, we are currently in stream seven. The target for this phase is to engage 200 interns and apprentices for three months.”

The scheme, according to her, began in June and would end in August, while targeting youths residing in Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South senatorial districts, including returnees and persons living with a disability.

“The internship and apprenticeship scheme gives qualified candidates, who have little or no experience in the corporate world, the opportunity to work within the organisation for three months, to gain valuable skills,” Dare added.

One of the beneficiaries, Akhigbe Esther, hailed the state government for the opportunity, adding that she applied and was surprised when she was called to come for screening and deployed to an organisation in Ekpoma.

 

The Nko community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State and the Army yesterday in Calabar disagreed over who was to blame for their children missing West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.

Nko community stakeholders claimed that the presence of troops denied their children the right to education.

The Army deployed troops to the community to restore peace after a communal clash between Nko and Onyedama communities over an expanse of land.

Dr. Akpama Akpama, a former commissioner of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), spoke on Nko’s behalf.

He told journalists that the presence of the troops made it impossible for children to partake in the ongoing WAEC and NECO examinations.

“The four secondary schools in Nko community are involved in the ongoing NECO examination nationwide. The students, as we speak, cannot go to school or write the examinations.

“This is appalling and would affect our growing youths.

“Our children generally have been denied their right to education as they cannot continue their learning in an unsafe environment,’’ he said.

Akpama also told newsmen that the community disagreed with the way the troops managed the crisis and cited their approach as unethical and unprofessional.

“While we support every responsible and meaningful effort to maintain lasting peace in the area, we call on the Cross River government and the military authority to stop the raid on Nko community.

“The security situation in Nko community has remained tense and fragile.

“For more than five days running, many people have been killed through shooting on sight and a lot more wounded; properties that cannot be quantified at the moment have been destroyed.

“Women and children have abandoned their homes to take refuge in unknown locations, suffering the harsh effects of the rainy season,’’ he said.

Akpama denied an allegation that an army captain was killed and six others missing in Nko,

Reacting to the allegations, the Directorate of Army Public Relations, denied any wrongdoing by its personnel in Nko.

Brig,-Gen. Onyeama Nwachukwu, the army’s spokesman, said the troops did not conduct themselves unprofessionally.

“Troops were legitimately deployed to restore law and order in a communal clash between Onyedama and Nko communities.

“The troops were attacked and shot at with firearms. Five personnel who were critically wounded are currently under intensive medical care,’’ Nwachukwu said.

Meanwhile, Nko community has welcomed the decision by the Cross River government to take over the parcel of land in dispute.

It charged the government to take adequate possession of the land by using it effectively so that further crises would not arise.

The Cross River government on Tuesday dethroned and de-certificated the clan heads and chiefs of the two communities as a way of restoring peace in the area.

 

Over 1,000 protesters under the aegis of the Coalition of Political Parties yesterday barricaded the Akwa Ibom Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, demanding the removal of its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini.

They faulted a comment Mr. Igini allegedly made in an interview, which they considered biased against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to them, this showed that the REC had deviated from his role as an unbiased umpire to a partisan politician.

The Nation reports that they blocked the INEC office entrance, chanting ‘Mike Igini must go’, and prevented workers from entering their offices.

They also displayed placards carrying inscriptions including; “Igini is biased”, “Democracy is not for sale”, “INEC must act now”, and “Akwa Ibom REC is compromised”, among others.

Speaking with our Correspondent, the Leader of the Coalition of Akwa Ibom State Youths in Opposition Parties, Mr. Ubok-Obong Umoh claimed Igini had a ‘personal vendetta’ against the main opposition party which should be probed.

He added: “We are protesting clear partisanship demonstrated by a supposed umpire, Mike Igini. Between 2019 and now, Igini has shown he has no faith in Nigeria’s democracy and so he is acting the script of the Akwa Ibom State government.”

Umoh claimed that the REC, in an interview, said the “APC in the state will not have any candidate for 2023 elections”.

“His statement is unacceptable, not just to members of APC, but to the generality of the peace-loving people of Akwa Ibom State.

“Opposition is meant for checks and balances but if Igini feels there should be no such in Akwa Ibom state, he should pack his belongings and leave,” Umoh added.

APC Youth Leader Awak Clement claimed Igini had openly declared war against APC even before the primaries, ‘but for peace to reign, the REC should either resign or be sacked’.

He appealed to INEC to act quickly on the matter.

But Igini denied the allegations, adding that INEC was and would remain unbiased in the conduct of all its elections.

Speaking during a press briefing, the REC said the electoral umpire would continue to exercise its functions as enshrined in the Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act.

He said that protesting for his removal was not a new thing as this was done while he was serving in Cross River, adding that protest was unnecessary.

“Based on the petition we have received this morning and also coupled with what happened in the last few hours, some persons have led a protest to our office, with the petition that we have received this morning, raising issues on the background of party primaries.

“The protest is unnecessary as it does not represent the position of true Akwa Ibom youth.

“As an umpire, we will continue to remain unbiased, as the Commission has improved in all elections conducted.

 

The Police were yesterday invited to the Mgboko headquarters of Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State following tension over an alleged plot to impeach its Chairman, Ibe Nwoke.

The presence of the police operatives from the Abia State Command reportedly forced council staff to leave earlier than usual.

Obingwa is the LGA headquarters of Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who is from the Umuobiakwa community, about 10-15 minutes drive away.

Sources within the council told our correspondent that the presence of the security operatives was connected with the power play between a group loyal to Nwoke and another group on the side of other political stakeholders in the LGA.

It was gathered that Nwoke has been under pressure after he and others withdrew from the recently concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, citing manipulation of the three-man delegates list.

The council chairman publicly denounced his membership of the PDP and declared for the Young Progressives Party (YPP) where he is seeking to represent the Osisioma/Obingwa/Ugwunagbo federal constituency in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

A letter that circulated on social media at weekend claimed that the LGA chair was suspended from the party by his ward chairman over anti-party activities.

But the council boss maintained that the PDP could not suspend him after he had left the party.

A source at the LGA council told our correspondent that the chairman on Monday raised the alarm about a plot to remove him from office.

The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna had yet to reply to the SMS sent to his mobile number at the time of filing the report.

 

 

The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has cleared the People Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Chika Nwoba following an investigation it launched over his ‘Biafran wedding cake’ saga.

Mr Nwoba had last Saturday during his wedding unveiled a cake which was designed with Biafran insignia including the flag and coat of arms of the defunct republic.

The picture of the cake trended on social media at the weekend attracting widespread attention including that of the DSS which invited him to its state headquarters Tuesday.

Nwoba, while announcing the invitation, said he had sympathy for Biafran agitation but was against violence of any kind being used by some of the agitators.

He explained that he did his wedding cake with the Biafra insignia to show solidarity with the Biafra cause.

According to him, every Igbo man, no matter his political affiliation, ought to embrace the struggle for Biafra.

“I did it to pass a message, that no matter our political inclinations, we still have the interest of the Igbo nation at heart. It is to show my love and my commitment to ensuring that the gospel for the creation of a country of Igbo extraction comes to fruition.

“So, I’m a fan of Biafra agitation. That’s why I said, okay, to contribute to the Biafra struggle, I have to do my cake, giving it Biafra colours. I’m not against Biafra agitation, but I’m against going about it violently. I did it just to show my concern,” he said.

Nwoba’s wedding took place on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at St. Joseph Anglican church, in his country home, Ekpelu community in Ikwo LGA of the State. The reception also took place in the community primary school.

Nwoba told The Nation that the security agency cleared him of any wrongdoing after asking him some questions.

He said he was asked to go on Tuesday and return yesterday, after which he was told he was free.

He said: “I went there yesterday and responded to their questions after which I was asked to go and come back today (Wednesday)”.

“I went back and they said I was free to go and that I had not done anything wrong. I just left their office some moments ago”, he said.

Nwoba commended the DSS for the professional way they handled the matter, stating that the officers who handled his matter were courteous and respectful towards him at all times.