The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Obaseki: my govt has created over 300,000 jobs

    Obaseki: my govt has created over 300,000 jobs

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday said his government has created over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in partnership with the private sector.

    Obaseki also claimed that his government had engaged more youths and reduced employment through pragmatic reforms and interventions that revived the state’s economic landscape and attracted more investors.

    He said: “Apart from interventions by the state’s skills development agency, EdoJobs, in the information technology, manufacturing, construction and the creative industry, we have embarked on people-centric programmes that have transformed the job landscape and positively impacted the livelihoods of the people.”

    The governor listed some of the interventions to include the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ossiomo Power Company to provide stable power to drive the state’s industrial sector and the establishment of the 6000bpd Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited.

    He also identified the extensive agricultural development programmes, such as the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), which he claimed had opened up space for large-scale commercial farming in the state, and impacted the lives of thousands of farmers, among other initiatives.

    “We have also up-skilled our youths and placed them on a pedestal to actively participate in the fourth industrial revolution through capacity building and skills development initiatives, chief among which is the Edo Tech Park programme developed in partnership with a leading technology company, Decagon, through which we are training not less than 15,000 software engineers in the state in the next five years.

    “The Edo Innovation Hub, Edo Production Centre, the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Sound Stage are other expressions of how we have meaningfully engaged our youths, leading to the creation of over 300,000 jobs in the state,” he added.

    But state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (rtd), asked Obaseki to be truthful and stop misleading the people with bogus claims.

    Imuse reiterated that many qualified youths were still unemployed and not empowered. He, however, said the APC-led government would ensure good governance.

     

  • Emmanuel lauds PDP local govt congresses

    Emmanuel lauds PDP local govt congresses

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has lauded the smooth conduct of the local government congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which held yesterday.

    Emmanuel said the large turnout of party faithful showed that the party was ready for its primaries. The governor also congratulated the 62 national delegates elected at the congresses.

    Speaking after participating in the exercise at QIC Group School, Awa Iman, venue of the exercise in Onna council, Emmanuel hoped subsequent congresses will be hitch-free and delegates elected will deliver on the interest of the party in due course.

  • Rivers APC accuses Wike of desecrating pulpit

    Rivers APC accuses Wike of desecrating pulpit

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of desecrating the pulpit following his remarks at the St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, said the governor turned the thanksgiving to an avenue to insult people.

    The statement reads: “No sooner Governor Nyesom Wike was availed the opportunity to speak than he started to curse and rile in his characteristic savage manner. The height of his usual vituperation was when he invoked thunder on the Ijaw National Congress (INC) that had given him a 48-hour ultimatum to release one of their own, Farah Dagogo, from incarceration.

    “There is no doubt that some of those present, especially children, would feel it is the right way to speak to or curse those who annoy them.”

    The APC called on the church to desist forthwith from offering platform to politicians such as Governor Wike from desecrating the pulpit.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has also condemned Wike for attacking the Ijaw ethnic nationality. It described Wike’s outbursts as ‘insulting and unacceptable’.

    A statement by the spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, noted that such ‘tactless and disrespectful comment by Wike is the height of his prolonged disdain for the Ijaw nation as a whole, and Rivers Ijaw people in particular, since he became governor’.

    The statement reads: “It is even more shocking that the governor took his unrestrained verbiage to the hallowed pulpit of a church and desecrated the altar of God. The only ‘sin’ that attracted Wike’s ire was the IYC’s demand for the release of an Ijaw son, Farah Dagogo, who was arrested and remanded in prison on his orders.

    “Wike should be reminded that such unguarded and incendiary comments are capable of rupturing the existing good relationship with the Ikwerres, and his kinsmen are advised to caution him.

    “Wike has forgotten that by calling fire and thunder on the Ijaw nation, his benefactor and our revered leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan, is an illustrious Ijaw son. This ‘thunder’ did not fire the former president when, despite all odds, he made him the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State against the wishes of other competent Ijaw aspirants.

    “We, therefore, call on our people to see Governor Wike as an enemy of the Ijaw Nation. We urge Ijaws all over the world to speak against his tyrannical behaviour. We also call on our Ijaw brothers that are delegates in his party not to vote for him during the presidential primaries as this will be viewed as betrayal of our heritage. Suffice to say that if a governor can cast aspersion on an ethnic nationality, what would become of him as president of the most populous black nation on the planet?”

    The IYC also reminded Wike that power is transient and that by May 29, 2023, he would vacate the governorship seat that he had equally ridiculed to become an ordinary citizen like others.

  • Peter Mbah and the campaign of calumny

    Peter Mbah and the campaign of calumny

    I read with dismay, the irritating write-ups on the Enugu State governorship candidature of Peter Mbah dotting some of our WhatsApp fora. The attacks and vituperations on this candidate are becoming as nauseating as the shallow thought processes instigating the write-ups. I hate to say that it gives a below average impression of the level of awareness of Ndi-Enugu in the political process.

    I am constrained to make this piece because I strongly believe that elections are won on aggressive grassroots buildup and not on energy dissipation on twitter and WhatsApp but often we are pushed to join in the stubbornness of the political arguments even in the face of facts.

    That much is the problem of Nd’Igbo even at the national levels. Peter Obi is easily the most deserving of the presidency in the minds of Nd’Igbo come 2023 and they are unrelenting in dissipating every energy in the social media about it. The north appears calm, surreptitiously watching events and planning their grassroots’ strategies. Let us stop and ask ourselves one vital question: How can Obi win the national election in 2023 when Kano alone delivered 2 million votes in 2019 which equates the votes of the entire southeast put together. The strategies must be reappraised. For come to think of it, the north does not see politics from the moral question of what can make the country great but from the selfish interest of what is best for the north. Perhaps, they may be the right.

    Our political naivety in dissipating energy over ephemeral issues have made us captives of our own delusion. We must begin to think out of the box and strategize on how to use the issues of collective interest to force executive responsibility.
    The recent piece on the so-called gang-up of the present Governor to hoist a candidate is laughable. Moreso when read in the context of the numerous visitations of the delegates of the three senatorial zones to Governor Ugwuanyi asking him to lead in the provision of a nominee for the Lion Building. The piece was struggling with little success to paint a devilish picture on the candidature of Peter Mbah through the use of concocted stories of oath-taking and shrine covenants with the sitting power. Certainly a paradox of some sort!

    These old styles are clear to us and they have never worked. We recall the Ngige vs Ubah saga that ultimately led to the liberation of Anambra state. Let us work with political realities to liberate our political sentiments.

    In all the write-ups, I have not seen one that seeks to know what does Peter Mbah possess that places him on a good stead to raise the bar of governance in Enugu State. What is his pedigree that will enable Ndi-Enugu to trust him with the leadership that will transform education, health and the economic fortunes of the state? All that these self-seeking writers are indulging in are propaganda and cheap lies. Arrogating themselves to the status of law enforcement commissions charged with the prosecution of trumped-up corrupt offences by declaring innocent persons as guilty.

    In the so-called matter quoted to be before Justice Samuel Candido-Johnson in Lagos State High Court Igboshere in July 2012; it was said the case was withdrawn to enable EFCC obtain more facts for re-arraignment. The question is: why has the re-arraignment not taken place ten years after its hearing and is suddenly resurfacing, not in the courts but on the pages of the social media. People who have occupied offices should know that visitation to EFCC for questioning does not amount to criminal liability. The law enforcement arm should be left to do their job and if they find anybody liable, the law will take its course.

    As a consummate academic with more than six decades of existence and proven clout of international reputation, I am tasked in conscience to preach what I consider as the truth. I am yet to find an iota of dent concerning the candidature of Peter Mbah. Rather than busy ourselves with the obnoxious issue of anointing of candidates to produce lackey governors, we should begin to do a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the administrative capacities of the candidates. Lackey governors have never worked in our climes. The story of Enugu state in the past democratic dispensations are still fresh in our minds. So, no right thinking governor will exacerbate unnecessary efforts seeking to install a governor for personal selfish interests. It doesn’t work!

    The noticeable indicators of democratic paradigm shifts are becoming palpable as the youths of this country are increasingly becoming restive on matters concerning the choice of their leaders. Gradually, it is dawning on us that soon it will not be business as usual. The ASUU strike is still lingering and students are idling at home, our health institutions are comatose and the general situation of things are terrible to say the least. The Nigerian political landscape is in dire need of technocratic leaders who will transcend beyond the pursuit of mere parochially driven sectional interests to chart a roadmap for the economic emancipation of the state. At all levels of governance, the story is the same. This should form the fulcrum of our assessments and projections.

    Perhaps, it might be necessary to examine the profiles of people seeking for governorship positions to enable us judge their characters and pedigree. An insight into the personality of the gubernatorial aspirations of Peter Mbah will serve as the barometer for our judgement and for once, let us practically see politics as a realistic venture to better the lot of Nd’Enugu and not an idealistic endeavour.

    .Anibeze, a public analyst, writes from Abuja.

  • Dagogo accuses Rivers police boss of bias

    Dagogo accuses Rivers police boss of bias

    The embattled member of the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo, has accused the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, of bias following his claims on circumstances that led to his arrest and detention.

    Eboka, on a television programme, narrated the circumstances that led to Dagogo’s detention.

    He said: “On April 27, during screening for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for House of Assembly and House of Representatives, about 30 boys stormed the venue with weapons like daggers, cutlass, axes, and they were singing cult songs. Some of them were saying no Farah, no screening, no Farah, no PDP.

    “They were shooting indiscriminately. Our men on ground had to chase them and about 15 were arrested. Their behaviour that day and the fact that they were mentioning Farah made the governor declare him wanted.

    “I am not aware of their (Wike and Farah) political differences. We are not here for politics. We are fighting crime and criminality. We cannot watch people come to a gathering and start shooting indiscriminately, disrupting the process.

    “The following day, Farah came to the same venue; he was identified and arrested based on what happened the previous day. We invited him, told him what happened, but he refused to make any statement. He also refused to call his lawyer. We then prepared charges and took him to court the following day.”

    But Dagogo’s media aide, Ibrahim Lawal, countered Eboka’s account, insisting there was no incident by any member of the public on April 27 as the screening went smoothly and was concluded the next day.

    Lawal said the sporadic gunshots witnessed on that day were fired by the policemen who were harassing and molesting party faithful who came to support the aspirants.

    He said: “Dr. Farah Dagogo is a governorship aspirant and was never at the venue for the screening of National and State Assembly aspirants. The 15 persons the CP claimed were arrested as cultists have since been interrogated and charged to court, our lawyers are privy to their statements.

    “None of them mentioned Dagogo as the one who brought them to the secretariat. They explained their presence to the police in their statements that they are party faithful, who went there to support their aspirants. Again, Farah Dagogo is not an aspirant for those positions.””

    Lawal also said Eboka didn’t invite Dagogo, and challenged him to present proof of the invitation. He said Eboka did not disclose the fact that he had a telephone conversation with Dagogo few minutes before he went to the screening venue, and that he told the lawmaker that Governor Nyesom Wike had no powers to declare him wanted.

    The media aide asked Eboka to provide evidence to justify his claims that the 30 boys stormed the venue with weapons.

    He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to begin investigation into the circumstances that led to Dagogo’s arrest.

    “Dr. Dagogo’s health condition is now perilous. A request from the personal physician to the lawmaker for a referral to another medical facility was thwarted by the the Rivers State government through its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. Dr. Dagogo is a responsible lawmaker and he is entitled to adequate medical care,” he added.

     

  • Patients, relatives lament rejection at hospital

    Patients, relatives lament rejection at hospital

    Patients and their relatives have lamented the inability to access treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Cross River State.

    The facility has been rejecting patients, especially those requiring  surgery, following the power outage in Calabar and surrounding towns, going to two months, and the facility’s inability to afford diesel to power its generators.

    While patients who can afford it have moved to private facilities, others are writhing in pain, calling on authorities to restore power to avert too many deaths.

    A relative, Akiba Ekpenyong, said: “Surgery is being postponed because some of these patients cannot afford surgeries at private hospitals. My patient has been booked for a major surgery more than three times, but the excuse has always been that they cannot proceed because of lack of power.”Ekpenyong advised the hospital to think out of the box, stressing that the lives of patients are at stake. “What I witnessed on Friday was not palatable,” he lamented.

    But spokesman for the hospital, Roseline Ikpeme, in a comment to Akiba’s complaint on his Facebook page, said: “We regulate power supply in laboratories, clinics, theatres etc from 9am to 2pm just like every institution does this period in Calabar. But in all wards, we supply light from 9am-3pm and 7pm to 12 midnight.”

    The Chief Medical Director, Prof Ikpeme Ikpeme, did not respond to his calls.

  • Umahi thanks Buhari for visit

    Umahi thanks Buhari for visit

    The Ebonyi State government has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his two-day official working visit to the state.

    Governor David Umahi yesterday expressed ‘deep gratitude’ over the visit.

    President Buhari, on May 5 and 6, visited the state and inaugurated some projects, including King David University of Medical Science and Technology, the University Flyover, dualised concrete road, and Presidential Lounge of the International Airport.

    Umahi, who described Buhari’s presence as ‘generous’, said: “We are pleased to convey to you the warm appreciation of Ebonyi people and the Southeast, over your positive dispositions to the development of the zone.

    “While we assure your Excellency of our unwavering support and solidarity, please accept always, the assurances of the esteemed regards and best wishes of the government and Ebonyi people.”

  • Cross River APC: governorship aspirants reject consensus option

    Cross River APC: governorship aspirants reject consensus option

    About three of the 17 governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State have kicked against a consensus candidacy.

    An earlier scheduled state caucus meeting of the party was called off on Saturday after the committee set up to reduce the number of aspirants submitted its report.

    Leader of the seven-man committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, said: “We carried out a very difficult assignment; an assignment to tell many not to aspire, which is very hectic to do; to do so and manage people’s political aspirations in such a way that we remain a political family, a united political family.

    “It has been 48 hours of fasting, 48 hours of sleeplessness, 48 hours of conversations, unending conversations. And we are proud that despite the challenges, despite the difficulties, we have concluded on that assignment.”

    Ndoma-Egba emphasised that his committee didn’t have the powers to screen. “But we have the privilege to advise. And we believe that after 48 hours of non-stop brainstorming and engagement, we have come out with this report, which is an advisory that will be useful as a roadmap in charting a course to an amicable exercise.”

    The content of the report is yet to be made public, but State Chairman, Alphonsus Eba, explained that the state leadership prefers to pick the party’s candidate through a consensus option that is transparent and all engaging.

    According to him, any aspirant who backs out of the consensus option will not be stopped, but must be ready to contest with the party’s choice. Eba said a meeting of governorship aspirants was held two weeks ago, and the aspirants agreed that the consensus option be given a chance, and only a single form be bought

    But one of the aspirants, Senator John Owan-Enoh, countered the purported resolution of the meeting, saying he told the meeting he would only accept that if the form is purchased in his name.

    Owan-Enoh argued that having been the party’s authentic flagbearer in the 2019 elections, he should be given the right of first refusal.

    The Nation gathered that with the deadline for the purchase of nomination forms drawing close in less than 24 hours, three aspirants have already backed out of the consensus option and have purchased both the interest and nomination forms for the governorship race. It is expected that more aspirants would engage in the last hour rush for the purchase of governorship forms to remain in the race after the failure to get a consensus candidate.

     

  • Gully erosion claims life in Delta

    Gully erosion claims life in Delta

    Gully erosion has claimed the life of a yet-to-be-identified victim following a heavy downpour at Alibuoba quarters, Agbor in Ika South LGA, Delta State, The Nation has learnt.

    It would be recalled that in June 2019, two teenagers of same parents aged 15 and 17 years, were swept away by the ravaging flood occasioned by the gully erosions.

    The victim was seen lying in the gully measuring over 50 feet deep and 30 feet wide along the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Road, beside Agbor Technical College.

    Some residents said the foul stench emanating from the gully drew their attention to the decomposing body.

    The apprehension in the neighbourhood as the perennial erosion challenge is worsening as over 20 buildings are currently under threat of possible collapse.

    Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Landlords/Landladies Association in the Area, Comrade Chukwuyem Odia said that the erosion menace has continued to pose great challenge and danger to residents in the area.

    He added that residents were already relocating from the area.

    Odia noted that efforts by landlords and residents in the area in checking the erosion had not yielded any result, and government to intervene to solve the erosion menace.

    He said that the landlords in the area had reached out to the Member representing Ika South Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Festus Chukwuyem Okoh, Member representing Ika Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, among others, yet nothing has been done.

  • Businessman lauds Ugwuanyi’s development strides in Enugu

    Businessman lauds Ugwuanyi’s development strides in Enugu

    An outstanding entrepreneur and illustrious son of Ishienu Amagunze Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Capt. Evarest Nnaji, popularly known as “Odengene”, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his passion and special interest in developing the long neglected rural areas in the state.

    Nnaji, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Odengene Airshuttle Services (OAS), described Ugwuanyi as “a good man” who has demonstrated enormous commitment to the wellbeing of the rural dwellers through his administration’s rural development policy.

    Speaking when the governor inaugurated the 5.4km Amagunze asphaltic concrete road he (Nnaji) constructed, the OAS boss pointed out that “elsewhere governors will build roads and other development projects where people will clap hands and take pictures, but our governor (Ugwuanyi) goes to the rural areas, where people who ordinarily will never be remembered live and fix their roads without unnecessary publicity.”

    The governor urged all users of the road to own and protect the key infrastructural asset and observe road traffic safety protocol.