Category: South East

Former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Bayelsa State governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ebegha Tarelayefa, have expressed sadness over the killing of an APC chieftain, Sunday Frank-Oputu.

The APC stalwart was on Wednesday morning assassinated by unidentified gunmen at his Bay Bridge residence in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The assassins shot him dead through his bedroom window which he allegedly left open to get fresh air because there was no light in the neighbourhood on the fateful day.

Speaking on the gruesome murder of Frank-Oputu, Lokpobiri described the gory killing “as one too many”, averring that the killing was barbaric, primitive and an act of cowardice.

While he commiserated with the family of the deceased, the people of Igbomotoru community of Bomo clan and the entire Southern Ijaw Local Government Area for the irreparable loss, Lokpobiri called on the security agencies to carry out thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Also lamenting the murder of the APC chieftain, Mr Ebegha Tarelayefa, expressed sadness over the killing, saying the state was tired of unresolved murders.

The protest against the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) by hundreds of casual workers of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), in Warri, Delta state, entered day two, Friday.

The protest which is ongoing inside the premises of the WRPC continued to ground activities of the company.

The protesting workers, some of whom have worked for 28 years, are demanding “conversion from casual to permanent staff, increase in salary, payment of all outstanding allowances, better working condition and welfare.”

Some are requesting payoffs, since the NNPC management has “refused” to yield to their demand for regularisation over the years.

They called on the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari to urgently meet their demands, vowing to continue the protest after the public holidays.

The protesters accused the NNPC management of consistently lying and failing to honour promises made over the issue that has lingered for many years.

Bearing leaves and placards with inscriptions such as “No conversion, no quick fix,” “15, 25, 27 years of slavery must stop,” “NNPC stop technical lies,” “WRPC, KRPC, PRPC must work,” “Increase our salary,” among others, they chanted solidarity songs.

Speaking to the protesting workers, Friday, the Manager, Personnel and Employment of WRPC, urged them to return to their offices, as management was on top of the matter.

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has called for the immediate release of a member of the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo, an Ijaw man, arrested on the alleged orders of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Dagogo was arrested over an allegation of violence against the Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers.

The IYC noted that despite their call on Wike to rescind his arrest order against Dagogo, he still went ahead to arrest and arraign him.

In a statement on Friday by the national spokesman for IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, the Council called on the court to immediately release Dagogo as the charges against him were politically motivated.

The IYC said: “We may not be a partisan political body, the arrest and arraignment of Hon. Fara Dagogo is in bad taste to the Ijaws. While it may seem Wike is deliberately ignoring the calls by the youths of the region, we call on the court not to allow itself to be used in an effort to get political revenge over the choice to support any presidential aspirants within the PDP.

“Already, despite the calls by stakeholders on Wike to give a level playing field to all those who are vying to become the governor of Rivers in the next governorship election, the arrest of Dagogo will be viewed as showing that there is no level playing field. There is a selective witch-hunt in the processes leading to the selection of governorship candidate of the PDP in the state.

“This is totally unacceptable and we are calling on the security agencies in the state to carry out their duties professionally as any attempt to intimidate Farah Dogogo and any other Ijaw son by the Rivers government at a time the Ijaw nation is clamouring for a riverine governor will be seen as an affront.”

A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ebonyi State and member representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial district in the Senate, Senator Obinna Ogba has declared that the party would win the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi State irrespective of whoever else emerges as the candidate of the party.

Ogba, who spoke to newsmen after he subjected himself for the screening by the PDP Screening Committee for Southeast Zone in Enugu, insisted that Ebonyi State remains a PDP state irrespective of the party in charge of the state government.

He said, “Ebonyi State is not under APC control. Just get it. You can talk about the government of Ebonyi being APC. But that does not mean that Ebonyi is APC.”

The senator who tagged his campaign slogan, ‘Ebonyi Will be Happy Again’, said, “Our government will be basically welfarist and building the capacity of our economy so that we can provide jobs for the youths, make Ebonyi attractive, suitable and secure for businesses,” Ogba said, adding that he would focus on rural development.

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Egbema Voice of Freedom (EVF), has said 30 people from Rivers were among victims of the illegal bunkering site in Abaezi, Imo State.

The organisation named the deceased hailed from Mgbede, Aggah, and Okwuzi communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Its Coordinator, Everestus Nicholas, who led a delegation to the communities, appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike to assist the bereaved families.

Nicholas said: “We want to ask why the state government, even the local government, denied the fact that people from Aggah, Mgbede, and Okwuzi communities are part of this disaster. We are saying the Federal Government should condole with the Rivers people and Governor Wike should know that Rivers indigenes are affected.

“We heard yesterday that he donated N200 million to Kaduna State, let him also extend that magnanimity to bereaved families of that are from Rivers State.”

The Federal Government has directed security agencies to clamp down illegal refineries and oil bunkering activities across the country.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday, when she visited the state.

Farouq said the step would protect lives, property and the environment in the oil sector. She also called on security agencies to conduct day-to-day compliance checks for companies operating in the oil sector to ensure they meet the industry’s health, safety and environment compliance standards.

She said: “We implore the collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as you crack down on illegal refineries and oil bunkering activities, as well as conduct day-to-day compliance checks for companies operating in the oil sector to ensure that they meet the industry’s health, safety and environment compliance standards.”

Farouq, who was represented by the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation in NEMA, Alhassan Nuhu, urged security agencies to collaborate with regulatory bodies in the oil and gas sector to nip this ugly trend in the bud.

She also called on community leaders, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups to join hands with NEMA to serve as watchdogs and continuously advocate against the set up and safe use of refinery facilities in their communities.

“Unfortunately, we lost many lives. No amount of response or relief will be able to compensate for these wanton loss of lives, property and livelihoods,” she added.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State said 23 corps members will repeat their service year, while five others will serve an extended year.

State Coordinator Mrs. Blessing Iruma stated this at Washington Memorial Grammar School Onitsha, during the passing out ceremony of the 2021 Batch ‘A’ (stream 2), corps members.

She hinted that 2,701 corps members were issued their discharge certificates having completed the service year.

Iruma encouraged violators to turn a new leaf, and urged the successful ones to shun corruption and sharp practices, internet fraud, get-rich-quick syndrome and other vices capable of destroying their lives.

She said: “Remember that God rewards decency and hard work. In NYSC, we will stop at nothing to recognise and celebrate hardwork and accomplishments, be it academic, entrepreneurial and innovativeness.

“I am aware of the usual fear of unemployment that grips some unprepared ones, but the scheme has prepared you with skills and funding options for post service challenges. I therefore charge you to step into the outside world with confidence, endeavour to remain focused and relevant at all times, and God will definitely bless the work of your hands if you are diligent.

“On behalf of the NYSC Director-General, Maj.- Gen. Shaibu Ibrahim, Governor Chukwuma Soludo and people of the state, I congratulate you for upholding the scheme’s policies by leaving your footprints in the sands of time here in our dear state. I however regret that 23 will be repeating their service, while five others will serve extension.”

Two commissioners in the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration – Chief Lucky James (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) and Mrs. Inumidun Idehen (Women Affairs) – have rejected Oshiomhole’s senatorial ambition.

Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declared his intention to contest for the Edo North senatorial district on April 4.

But James and Idehen, in a joint statement they personally signed yesterday, said they were pitching their tent with incumbent Senator Francis Alimikhena. They said Alimikhena’s re-election would guarantee a bigger deal for the district.

The statement reads: “Edo North APC youths should work in synergy with their leaders to ensure victory for Alimikhena. To show the seriousness attached to Alimikhena’s re-election, his campaign organisation has been strengthened and our principal is the first to obtain the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

“At my age and with my pedigree, I cannot deceive my own people. I owe it a duty to lead rightly and Alimikhena is the right person for 2023 Senate, Idehen said.”

APC leader in Akoko-Edo, Ayo Olowojoba, said supporting Oshiomhole would drag the district backward. “We cannot be dragging Afemai backward by allowing a new person to go to senate. We will deliver Alimikhena by our unity, especially the Owan and Akoko-Edos,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) has announced the resumption of voter registration in 24 of the 27 local government areas of Imo State.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. Francis Ezeonu, who addressed reporters, said the exercise was however still suspended at Njaba, Orsu and Ihitte-Uboma councils due to insecurity.

He advised people from the affected areas to register in any other convenient area as arrangements have been made to distribute their cards at the state office.

Prof. Ezeonu hinted that 7,145 of the 16,511 voters, who registered using the Automated Biometric Identification System, were declared invalid because of dual registration. He, therefore, appealed to voters not to duplicate their registration, adding that the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) does not expire.

The REC also urged those who lost their PVCs to come along with a court affidavit to get a replacement, warning that attempt to do multiple registration would amount to electoral crime. He also advised prospective voters to take advantage of the fourth quarter of the registration exercise which began April 11 and would end June 30.

He added that the online portal will be shut down midway into the quarter to allow sufficient time for all online pre-registrants to go for the biometric capture before June 30.

Senator Seriake Dickson has said he will support and work for the success of all candidates picked through the process instituted by Governor Douye Diri and party stakeholders.

He spoke yesterday at the Bayelsa airport after arriving from Abuja. A crowd defied the heavy rain to welcome him home.

Dickson, who thanked the party members for their continued support for the governor and the PDP administration, said: “I thank you all and I urge you to continue to support our party and our government. I believe I will join the governor, who is the leader of our party, to campaign for all the candidates that he and stakeholders will select in accordance with the constitution and guidelines of our party.”

The former governor said he was visiting the state to present himself for screening by the party in accordance with stipulations of the law and the party’s guidelines, with the start of the political process.

He thanked the people for defying the rain to show sustenance of their solidarity and support and prayers.

Some top politicians from Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Areas, making up the Bayelsa West Senatorial District, had bought the expression of interest and nomination form for Dickon, and presented it to him in Abuja on March 30.