Category: South East

Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Elias Mbam has said he wants to become Ebonyi State Governor in 2023 because of his desire to serve the people.

Mbam said the state was in a hurry to catch up with the other developed states, noting that Ebonyi needs a person with vast experience in micro and macroeconomics to drive the Ebonyi project.

This was contained in a statement by his media aide, Obinna Udenwe.

Mbam, who is yet to officially declare his intention, said he was still consulting with critical stakeholders, within and outside the state.

According to the statement, the RMAFC chairman, who recently met with Ebonyi indigenes residents in Abuja, said the creation of Ebonyi was divine.

He said: “Some of us who followed the process knew that Ebonyi’s creation was nothing but the hands of God. There was a time we had to task ourselves to raise money for the actualisation of this dream; others were coming with a ‘Ghana-must-go’ bags of money, but God still gave it to us.

“God didn’t give us a state for just nothing, God gave us a state for a purpose; to enable all Ebonyi people develop their innate potentials, to work together as brothers and sisters; to exploit and develop the natural resources Ebonyi is endowed with, and these are parts of the dreams of our founding fathers.

“After I have appraised the journey so far, and the need to continue to grow Ebonyi, I feel that I have a service to offer to Ebonyi; I feel I’m in a position to contribute further to her growth.

“I feel that I have been blessed in many ways and need to give back to our state and so I have decided that I will consult with my brothers and sisters to tell you that I’m available to serve, and I need your advice on this project.”

The governorship aspirant said that every indigene of Ebonyi should make a commitment towards the realisation and sustainability of the dreams of the founding fathers.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has called for collective efforts to fight all forms of attack on the Niger Delta, particularly the destruction of the region’s environment.

According to Sylva, the region is at risk of extinction because of the harmful practices of a few misguided elements, who engage in the mindless attack on oil facilities.

The minister spoke when he received the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (rtd), at his country home in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He said: “We must let our people know that we gain nothing from cutting our noses to spite our faces. As far as I am concerned, degrading our environment exactly means that we are cutting our noses to spite our faces. At the end of the day, who is suffering?

“You blew up a pipeline and there is spillage, whose environment is suffering? And this is the same environment that has sustained our ancestors that we expect to sustain us and also sustain future generations. But our young men have totally gone astray, and have decided to wage a war against this environment that should sustain us, so we are at the risk of extinction.

“Mr. President has given us the mandate to stamp out this menace and we cannot do it without collaborating with you. So, please let us work together, not only as brothers from the region, but as co-workers of the Federal Government.”

Sylva also lauded Dikio for delivering the scheme’s mandate despite lean resources. He said Dikio’s achievements were a clear demonstration of his zeal to find himself on the right side of history.

The minister however frowned at the inability of various intervention agencies set up by the Federal Government to address concerns of the people of the Niger Delta, saying it was time to make them work.

He added: “We have to, as a people, stand together. We have had the Presidential Amnesty Programme for a long time but we have not been fortunate. If you look at what the programme was meant to achieve, we have currently not achieved it. We can say that about the NDDC too. If you look at the two organisations, there are some reoccurring decimals.

“You’ve come at this juncture of history and we are proud of you because you’re doing well. We must say you’re even late in the day because today the amnesty programme is not even getting as much as it used to get. If at this moment you’re doing so much with the little you’re getting, we can only imagine what you would have done during the hay days of the amnesty programme when there was a huge cash flow.

“Every time I see the National Security Adviser, I thank him for you and I have always pledged my support that anything required from me concerning the amnesty programme I will willingly do it.”

Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, has accepted the party’s decision to adopt Tonye Cole as its candidate for the 2023 elections.

Princewill said he will support Cole to fly the party’s flag because the party needs to unite and forge a common front to effect the needed change in Rivers State.

Cole was the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 election before the court disqualified the party from the elections.

Princewill however denied reports that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, handpicked Cole,  saying the minister was not part of the decision.

He said: “I was looking forward to leading the APC into battle with PDP in 2023. So to say I’m happy would not be an accurate reflection of how I feel.

“The decision is still fresh and feelings are still raw. Many are still in shock. Some are still sad. However, I subscribed to a team and I signed up to a political process. That makes it my responsibility to live up to the rules of the game. That makes it my responsibility to support Tonye Cole. And so I will.

“To all those who supported me, I want you to think of what I represent and why that means that we need change in Rivers State. We began this consultation because we wanted to hear your voices. That listening ear will never ever change. It remains to be seen what God has in store for us. The leader graciously asked me to join him in Abuja, so my attention will shift there, but my heart remains in Rivers State. ..”

READ ALSO: TONYE PRINCEWILL: Why I decided never to fly first class again

Cole has also explained that the decision of the Rivers State APC to make him a consensus candidate for the 2023 governorship election was taken after a heavy debate.

He said following the mistake of 2019 when people labelled his candidature an imposition by Amaechi, the party set up a better process that led to his adoption as a consensus candidate.

He said: “Our great party has adopted me as the consensus candidate for the 2023 governorship election. This decision did not come lightly and was heavily debated.

“Many lessons were learnt from my emergence as the flag bearer in 2019, the primary one being that I was erroneously labelled as an imposition. To avoid any such controversies this time, all the persons interested in contesting the position were asked by the party to carry out wide consultations with stakeholders, and an agreement was reached for a committee that would not include the leader, to critically analyse each aspirant and arrive at a consensus candidate that is best suited to achieve the party’s vision, and for the sake of its unity and progress.

“I thank the committee for an unbiased assessment that ended up making me the consensus candidate. I thank all the aspirants for their magnanimity, and pledge of support to me and loyalty to the party…”

“The work ahead of us is immense, but the path to victory is much clearer today than it was yesterday. We must therefore agree to stand as one body and work together to deliver APC in the elections in order to give our dear Rivers State a new lease of life through purposeful and progressive governance that will bring about social cohesion and economic prosperity.”

Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume today in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma said yesterday.

He spoke after Sunday service at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, as Catholics marked the 2022 Mothering Sunday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week placed a ban on registration, citing insecurity and death of its personnel.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, reads: “By Monday (today), CVR will resume in all the designated centres, while the three local government areas under ban will carry out the registration at their headquarters.

READ ALSO: 100 burnt to death, vehicles razed in Imo illegal refinery explosion

“Those deliberately scaring the people away from registering are enemies of the state who want to draw the state back knowing full well that INEC registration and the population census are yardsticks for Federal Revenue Allocation to states and local governments.”

“Therefore, there is every need for every citizen of Imo State, 18 years and above, to register and obtain the PVC for the election.”

Governor Uzodimma also condemned the Ohaji Egbema fire explosion where about 100 persons died. He emphasised that ‘the right of oil allocation and refining only belongs to the Federal Government’.

“It is an economic sabotage and a taboo to engage in such clandestine business. Imo people involved in such activities should desist from such,” he added.

Uzodimma also condoled with bereaved families and prayed for the repose their loved ones.

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Ben Akak, has said the impact of the investments undertaken by Governor Ben Ayade towards industrialising the state is a huge job creation opportunity for his successor.

Akak spoke at the weekend, after his three-day tour of projects across the state. The aspirant noted that Ayade has done well for the future of the state by building factories and initiating projects that will stimulate job creation.

According to him, if given the opportunity, he will ensure that all income generating industries built by the Governor Ben Ayade-led administration operate at full capacity.

Among the factories and industrial concerns visited were the state independent power plant, pharmaceutical company known as Calapharm, Kisimie Instant Noodles factory, Chicken Processing factory christened Calachika, Garment Factory, and Rice Seedling factory, all of which are located in Calabar, the state capital.

He also visit the Poles and Pillars company in Akamkpa, the Teachers Continuous Training  Institute at Biase, the Rice Mill at Ogoja, the Specialists Hospital at Obudu,  the Canadian School also at Obudu and the 148km link road across four local government areas in the northern part of the State.

READ ALSO: Cross River APC chair urges aspirants on party funding

“The next governor of Cross River State should be one who can provide jobs. And what governor Ayade has done will ease the efforts for job creation for his successor. I speak as one who has investments and knows what it takes to achieve what I have seen. Besides, providing jobs will reduce insecurity, crime and all that kind of vices. So I I’ll consolidate on what is on ground. There are a few touches we will do to ensure the people get the benefits of all the industrial projects,” Akak said.

Speaking at the premises of the Teachers Continuous Training Institute he emphasized the need for discipline and maintenance culture among all those working in the institute and in other industrial establishments put in place by the governor.

“The investments are huge and the standard of infrastructure must be maintained. There must be orientation and understanding on how to handle the infrastructure; orientation on usage and discipline in terms of the maintenance.”

The governorship aspirant noted that the tour of the projects has given him first hand information on what is on ground.

Senator Magnus Abe has promised to deliver quality governance and service to the people of Rivers State if elected Governor in 2023.

Abe spoke during a ‘meet the people of Okrika and Ogu/Bolo’ at Okrika Local Government Area.

Addressing the crowd, Abe said: “We have a track record of standing by what we say. If you give me the opportunity to serve you, I will serve you in a way that you have not been served before; I will put the people first in everything that will bring about quality of live and welfare, contrary to what is happening in governance presently.

“I started the concept of putting the people first in this state, and people understand what I meant, when you put the people first, when it comes to pay, you pay before them, it comes to contributing, you contribute before the people, when it comes to chopping, they chop before you, that is what is putting the people first.

READ ALSO: Addax: Senator Magnus Abe affronted Buhari, goofed

“You cannot say you put the people first when it comes to chopping, you chop everything, when it comes to pay, the people will pay first, when it comes to making sacrifices, it is the people that makes sacrifice before you, but I will be a leader that will put you first because you are the reason we are in government.”

Abe, who represented Rivers South-East in the Senate, formally declared his interest to contest for governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his Bera hometown in Gokana Local Government Area, penultimate weekend. He was at Okrika yesterday to meet with APC members ahead of the primaries.

He earlier visited the Paramount Ruler of Okochiri community in Okrika, Ateke Tom, to seek his support and blessing.

It was joy and jubilation yesterday across Agbarha Otor communities as a member representing Ughelli North South and Udu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Rev. Francis Ejireoghene Waive restored electricity to Agbarha-Otor Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area Delta State.

Wavie who spoke to the newsmen shortly after he personal switch on the electricity, said, “The kingdom has been in total darkness for eight years., Particularly  our people in Agbarha  town had no electrical power for eight years of blackout.”

The progressives lawmaker who is also returning back for second tenure bids, said, ” after countless meetings with the Agbarha Royal Palace, HRM Akorefe 1,  people’s and authorities of the utilities company concerned (BEDC) to rescue the Agbara Otor communities from the darkness, “Hon  Waive with guidance from the Deputy Senate President, Most Distinguished , Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, swap into action to restored power to Agbarha and today is there is electricity. Waive went to Agbarha personally to switch on the light.

Stax, a fintech brand, has launched its Student Ambassador Program (SAP), a youth-engagement initiative aimed at providing an alternate source of income for youths in Africa especially Nigeria and Kenya.

According to a statement, the SAP was unveiled recently as an opportunity to empower students by helping them earn extra money in a simple way while also enabling them to cultivate relevant skills and personal financial management.

Speaking further on the initiative, Head of Growth at Stax, Peace Itimi, stated, “We are passionate about young people, and how we can build an inclusive internet for all and give young people tools to achieve their dreams. Our student ambassadors will spread the word about the brand and build a community of Stax users within their tertiary institution while building better and stronger financial habits with their peers.”

On why the organization chose to target students, Itimi, explains.

“In my conversation with some students during my travels between Kenya and Nigeria, one thing was clear – Students are very conscious about their money.

They are always looking for ways to make quick extra bucks and they are always looking for ways to spend less. So we wondered how we could help them achieve these two things and that’s how the Stax Student Ambassador Program came up.”

The Head of growth said student ambassadors are expected to spend their time with other students and people in their community to sign up and use Stax. They will promote Stax at campus events, and spread Stax goodwill to their fellow students. They will also collect feedback and help improve Stax for their community.” She noted.

On how the students will benefit from the program she notes.

“Each ambassador beyond earning money while in school, will be exposed to leadership, technical and communication skills. Also, the most active ambassadors will join Stax on yearly Stax retreat outside the country.They’ll also access internship and mentorship opportunities with Stax.

Participants will also get a certificate of recognition and incorporate their own ideas. They will get support in a creative environment.” She added.

Stax, an offline payment app for Africans, is a  product of Hover, founded by Ben Lyon, Jess Shorland, David Kutalek. At its core, Stax is all about making life easier and better, saving users money, gives a holistic view of users finances. The app  helps people send money, buy airtime, and pay bills offline or online, Students can now save money on data. They can spend less buying airtime. The statement noted.

A new Coordinator has assumed duty at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Secretariat, Anambra State, in the person of Mrs Blessing Iruma.

Iruma assumed duty as the 14th Coordinator of the Scheme in the State.

Speaking during the handing over formality, outgoing Coordinator, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, who had previously reported to Lagos State Secretariat as Coordinator expressed gratitude to members of management for their dedication and transparency.

“Your dutifulness, open-mindedness and general positive attitude to work translated to the success recorded during my tenure in Anambra.

“I’m confident that same high level cooperation you gave me will be extended to my successor. With this team, excellence is guaranteed” she noted.

In her acceptance speech, Iruma thanked her predecessor for creating the enabling environment for her to carry out her new assignment, assuring that, “We are going to be a family.”

She called on management team to accord her the same cooperation the erstwhile Coordinator enjoyed.

As Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate the Earth Day, an environmentally focused group, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has said that Nigeria has gravely ignored the need to see climate change as a catastrophic phenomenon.

HOMEF’s executive director, Nnimmo Bassey, in his address at an activity to mark the day, said global leaders were more ready to invest in destructive activities than to invest in climate action.

In a statement yesterday by Media/Communication Lead, HOMEF, Kome Odhomor, Bassey said Nigeria and the rest of Africa, people tended to believe that if other regions gained by polluting the atmosphere, they must exercise the right to pollute so as to attend their level of so-called progress.

He said: “The World Earth Day reminds us as human that the earth is ours to protect and preserve but over time humans have abandoned their roles in protecting the planet because of selfishness and drive for profit.

“The International Mother Earth Day’s theme this year urges us to ‘Invest In Our Planet’ as a means to building a livable future for humans, other beings and natural systems.

Bassey further said: “Today is a good day for everyone to decide to be active ecological defenders in our communities. We should also reject risky agricultural genetic engineering as it erodes our biodiversity and thus negatively impact our environment. Do not engage in polluting activities such as destructive mining, oil theft, deforestation and other wasteful actions. Reject single use plastics.”

Also speaking, a ranking official of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Babawale Obayanju, who spoke on the ‘Future of the Earth; Plastic or Fish’, noted that over the years, the investment in the future had been investment in machines.