Category: South East

An educationist and founder of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Prof Gregory Ibe, has joined the 2023 governorship contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Similarly, a federal lawmaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, has indicated interest in the governorship seat in Delta State.

Senator Bassey Akpan and Pastor Umo Eno are set for battle in Akwa Ibom, as the two aspirants picked their nomination documents last Thursday.

Akpan is set to battle Eno, who has been tipped as successor to incumbent Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The governor had, a few days ago, unveiled Eno as his possible successor and had presented him to the people at a public function.

But that did not deter Senator Akpan, whose supporters described as the best man for the job.

Pastor Eno, who was accompanied to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja by a large number of Akwa Ibom political bigwigs, was thankful to the governor for finding him worthy as a possible successor.

He said the governor settled for him after consultations with stakeholders in the state, adding that Emmanuel and Akwa Ibom people believed in his vision.

On why others are joining the race, Eno said all interested aspirants have a right to test their strength at the primaries.

“Everyone has the right of expression you cannot take away from them. So just like I am being endorsed, other people also have been endorsed by young people. It’s a normal thing in a political process,” he added.

Abia State aspirant, Prof. Ibe, whose form was picked on his behalf by a support group, said he had a lot to offer his people.

His promoters said the educationist had made contributions to the development of Abia and that winning the governorship seat would give him the drive to do more for the people.

Delta State’s Oborevwori said having been in the House of Representatives in the past three years had equipped him for a more challenging elective office.

DR Gloria Diri, wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and other women groups have intensified their advocacy against gender-based violence and sexual abuse in the state.

They have launched a frantic sensitisation campaign against sexual and gender-based violence in schools and churches in the state, calling on the girl-child to be aware and protect themselves against sexual predators.

The advocacy campaigns, organised by the State Gender Response Initiative (GRIT) under the directive of Mrs Diri in collaboration with gender-based advocacy groups, have toured many public and private schools and churches in the first batch of its sensitisation.

The other groups working in concert with the Governor’s wife are Standup for Women Society (SWS), Nigerian Association of Female Engineers of Nigeria (Bayelsa chapter), the Starrz Safety Initiative, the Carenepere Initiative and the Albinos Foundation

The Chairman of GRIT, Mrs Dise Sheila Ogbise, while speaking at the end of the first phase of the campaign held at St. Judes Secondary School, Amarata, Yenagoa, commended the Bayelsa First Lady for giving members of the team a platform to work.

Ogbise stated that the partnership with other organisations had helped to pass on the message across the state capital, describing her symbolic participation to wrap up the first phase of the sensitisation campaign as laudable.

Ogbise, a renowned lawyer, said:  “This sensitisation is so symbolic because, for the first time, we had the presence of a governor’s wife in a school sensitisation.

“The sensitisation that has been ongoing for over three weeks has yielded positive results as more awareness has been created on preventive and protective strategies to curb issues of sexual and gender-based violence.

“We also appreciate Mrs Diri for the lead as this move has further strengthened GRIT’s relationship with other civil society organisations.”

In her speech, Mrs Gloria Diri called on the girl-child to be conscious of the happenings in their surroundings and not allow sexual predators to jeopardise their future.

She said: “Protect yourselves and don’t allow any man to jeopardies your future. You should always be conscious of your surroundings and everybody around you. Everyone is a suspect including some parents, guardians and teachers.”

At the Bishop Dimiari Grammar School, Yenagoa, which is a school for boys, the First Lady challenged the boys to always learn to love and protect their sisters by ensuring that they are safe from any form of violence.

CANDIDATE of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 Anambra governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo said he would partner Onitsha Business School (OBS) to revive the Igbo apprenticeship system popularly called igba boi.

Ozigbo disclosed this in Onitsha at the OBS 7th vision anniversary and graduation ceremony where BBA, MBA/MSc and DBA/PhD certificates were presented to 13 graduands.

He stressed the need for youths to imbibe culture of improvement in terms of value system, cutting wastages, distractions, among others.

He said, “We must see how we can elevate the system so it will not only be a tool for economic emancipation, but something to showcase and export to the rest of the world.

“This we can achieve through strong ecosystem, gathering stakeholders and defining their roles as well as monitoring their progress.

“That’s why I’m glad to find a worthy partner in Onitsha business school. Onitsha is the best place to site this school as it remains an epitcentre and biggest market in West Africa.”

Earlier, Governing Council Chairman, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, while congratulating the graduands, said the institution had mentored over 300 apprenticeships.

He said, “OBS is committed to making her graduates/students expert creative thinkers, leaders, managers, professionals and super resourceful entrepreneurs.

“We’ve been doing lot of things secretly. We’ve produced chartered accountants and several others and we’re planning to take more 200 unemployed graduates out of the streets.”

On his part, the Registrar, Sylvanus Izebhokhae said the school has produced 62 Chartered Accountants, 15 Associates of Chartered Institutes of Bankers of Nigeria, over 300 Associates and full members of Strategic Management Nigeria.

“This is the second graduation ceremony we’re holding in our 7years existence. The first was in 2018 where we presented 4 MBA certificates for our graduands from Rome Business School, 2PhD from European Global School (EGS) University and 30 Strategic Masterclass graduates,” he said.

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the electoral amendment bill.

The party also applauded the National Assembly for passing the electoral amendment bill, describing it as a landmark legislative amendment “in our electoral process.”

Addressing a press conference in Enugu on Saturday during the meeting of the Forum of State Chairmen of ADC, chairman of the forum, Prince Joe Chukwu described it as a pragmatic response to the realities of the Nigeria electoral experience.

Prince Chukwu, who doubles as the Delta State chairman of the party, said, “We applaud the National Assembly for passing the electoral amendment bill and President Muhammadu Buhari for signing it into law. This landmark legislative amendment by National Assembly in our electoral process is a pragmatic response to the realities of the Nigeria electoral experience.

“This Amendment Act will help to raise the quality of Nigeria’s Democracy by ensuring that our leadership recruitment process is rested on a credible and transparent electoral framework. The early release of electoral funds will strengthen INEC financial independence.

“Also, the inclusion of electronic transmission of result, power to review election results declared under duress, political neutrality of INEC personnel, legalisation of electronic accreditation of voters, inclusion of persons with disability, using accredited votes to determine total votes, early conduct of party primaries, elongation of campaign period before election and substitution of candidate in the event of death in an election will help to inject sanity and credibility in our electoral process.”

THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disassociated itself from what it termed ignoble and criminal activities of Simon Ekpa and his autopilot group.

It said Ekpa and his group were neither part of the group’s family nor subscribed to its operational methodology.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB warned the public to stop associating Ekpa and his team with IPOB under its command headed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

It also warned Ekpa and his group to stop their attempts to ridicule and debase various institutions Kanu established.

The statement partly reads, “We wish to disassociate our noble movement from the ignoble and criminal activities of Simon Ekpa and his autopilot group.

“IPOB has been existing long before Simon Ekpa and autopilot group came on board. Simon Ekpa and his group are neither part of IPOB worldwide family neither do they subscribe to our operational methodology and people should therefore stop associating them with the revered IPOB under the command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Henceforth they and the general public are put on notice to desist from using the name of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, ESN and IPOB to defraud the unsuspecting public or for any of their activities.

“Ekpa and his group should stop their attempt to ridicule and debase the institutions our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu sacrificed all to establish.

“We want to place it on record that Simon Ekpa is not, and has never been a member of IPOB. Since he does not want to abide by the ideals of IPOB he should form his own group and pursue Biafra freedom the way he is convinced and stop attaching himself to the cherished name of IPOB.

“Simon Ekpa should know that the politicians sponsoring him and his group to demonise IPOB, ESN and Nnamdi Kanu will soon abandon him and his sinister activities.

“We want his family, friends and associates who know him to advise him to leave IPOB out of his activities.

“Simon Ekpa, autopilot and Umuada highways in America should stop their attempt to tarnish the hallowed name of IPOB and its security arm the ESN established by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to liberate our people from the bondage of Fulani terrorists nation called Nigeria.

“The purported Nollywood classroom unveiling of what was termed M.Branch was a folly taken too far which simply revealed the motive and the agenda of Simon Ekpa and his sponsors.

“The general public should stop associating IPOB with such Nollywood movies. We are confronted with very serious existential threat and cannot for any reason turn this noble cause of freedom and liberty of the Indigenous People of Biafra into a circus. Please the public and the mainstream media should be properly guided.

“These self-acclaimed autopilots without aeroplanes should desist from creating the impression that they are part of this noble family led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because they are not.

“We are calling on European Union and the world to take note of anyone trying to use the name of IPOB to instigate crisis in our land

“We want to clarify that M-Branch which these dissidents are claiming to be forming in a room somewhere, was commissioned by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu many years ago before launching ESN.

“IPOB’s M-Branch personnel do not have uniform. M -BRANCH is the IPOB international secret service. They are not in uniform, just as secret service people anywhere are not uniformed men. So, anybody claiming to be forming M-Branch with uniform is on his own.”

THE monarch of Warri kingdom, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri, has lauded the Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, Smart Yomi Asekutu over his developmental strides and the sustenance of peace in the area since he assumed office as the council boss.

This commendation was coming after bagging a national award as the best performing Local Government Council Chairman in Delta state which coincided with his one year in office.

The Warri monarch who gave the commendation in Koko, headquarters of Warri North council during a visit to inspect a 52 hectares of land allocated to 90 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigeria Army Barracks, Lol, Warri North Local Government Area, revealed that he has been awash with news about the giant strides being recorded under Asekutu’s watch, and therefore urged him not to rest on his oars.

Ogiame Atuwatse III, while speaking further said the council chair will continue to make the kingdom proud mostly with the relative peace existing in the area and charged him to keep it up.

Asekutu had within one year made purchased 200hp speed boat for to ease transportation in the riverine community, purchased a 140 KVA power generator for the Council, purchase and supplied  medical equipment to primary health centres, renovated the council’s lodge as well as built a staff canteen, amongst others.

An elated Asekutu while commending the royal father for the visit and advice, however assured him that he will continue to do his best to ensure that there is peace in the area at all times.

The aspirant for the Obudu,Obanliku and Bekwara Federal Constituency seat of Cross River State in the National Assembly, Mr.  Kjay Jedy-Agba has argued that zoning remains an important factor in Nigeria politics but for the People Democratic Party fielding the best candidates in all positions to return to power in 2023 is uppermost.

Speaking in an interview with The Nation, Jedy-Agba who had once served as Chairman, Cross River State New Cities Development Commission said the question on zoning has become sensitive “but I can assure you that it is not an individual decision to make. I am very certain that at the appropriate time stakeholders would sit down with the leadership of our great party, the PDP and the right decision would be taken that would serve the interest of all party men and women.”

He added that by his personal opinion, “what should preoccupy the minds of every loyal member of my party at this moment is how we can take back our mandate from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“However, zoning most often comes with its drawback. Many have argued that zoning has the ugly potential to breed mediocrity and i agree with them entirely, most essentially when you juxtapose it with the yearnings of the generality of society and their desires for accelerated growth, you would begin to see the need to put square pegs in square holes.”

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, has picked the governorship nomination form, assuring that he would run an all-inclusive government if elected.

In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dennis Otu, said the Speaker who is also the National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, gave the assurance after purchasing the nomination form at the headquarters of the People’s Democratic Partyb (PDP) in Abuja.

Oborevwori said last Wednesday, he was at the party Secretariat, Asaba to consult with the party executives on his governorship ambition and today, and he has taken a step further in his aspiration by purchasing the governorship nomination form at the headquarters of their great party in Abuja.

While assuring Deltans that he is fully in the race, Oborevwori said they should expect the best from him as he is coming to continue the good work of his governor, Sen. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa.

Oborevwori who expressed gratitude to Deltans for the massive supports so far given to him on his governorship aspiration, said he is encouraged by the level of acceptance and support from Deltans and assured them that he will not disappoint them if elected the next governor of Delta state.

Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi State, Chief Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo says he will approach the Appeal Court seeking to join the defection suit against Governor David Umahi.

Mr Chibueze-Agbo in a statement said that he is the rightful person to replace Governor David Umahi and not Idu Igariwey of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Inyang Ekwo in a judgement on 8th March ordered the sack of Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe for defecting to be the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the PDP.

The court also ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to two nominees of the PDP to replace Umahi and Igwe.

But Agbo, a former Commissioner for Education in the state, claimed that the PDP nominees, Igariwey and Fred Udeogu, were not qualified to become Governor and Deputy Governor as they did not participate in the 2019 governorship election.

The SDP candidate, who disclosed that he came third in the 2019 election, added that Senator Sunny Ogbuorji of the APC who came second in the election should stop angling to be declared Governor because according to him the court had disqualified him.

He claimed Ogbuorji was disqualified because he failed to meet other mandatory criteria and qualifications as provided by the Constitution.

He therefore asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him and his Deputy, Mr. Iheanacho Nwugo, Certificate of Returns to enable them to be sworn in as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state.

Mr Agbo said he has therefore concluded arrangements with his Lawyers and will be approaching the Appeal Court to be joined in the Umahi Vs PDP suit, and to pray the appellate court to declare him the rightful beneficiary of the judgement.

The police in Imo State have rearraigned a traditional ruler, HRH Eze Peter Ezechikere Njemanze, who is the head of Amawom Autonomous Community in Owerri Municipal Council before Chief Magistrate U.Adikaibe of the Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Owerri Magisterial District, on charges bordering on defamation, falsehood, conspiracy, rumour and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

Others rearraigned in court on Thursday alongside the traditional ruler as defendants are the Editor of a local tabloid, Emmanuel Madumere and columnist, Ikenna Onuoha.

Eze Njemanze was alleged to have conspired with two others to make defamatory publication against  a former member of the 2004 National Conference and Scion of Njemanze dynasty Bob Kay Njemanze.

The police prosecutor, Doatus Iwu, a legal officer with the State CID had alleged that the traditional ruler and others on June 5, 2020 at Okigwe road, Owerri in the Owerri Magisterial District conspired to commit defamation, falsehood, conspiracy, rumour and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code,Cap “C38”, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.

Part of the charge read: That you Ikenna Onuoha a Columnist with Announcer Express of Announcer Newspapers (Nig.) LTD, HRH Eze Peter Ezechikere Njemanze and Emmanuel Madumere the Weekend Announcer Editor of Announcer Newspapers (Nig.) LTD on or about the 5th day of June, 2020 at Okigwe road Owerri ,in Owerri Magisterial District conspired amongst yourselves to commit offence and punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.

That you Ikenna Onuoha a Columnist with Announcer Express, of Announcer Newspapers Nig LTD, HRH Eze Peter Ezechikere Njemanze and Emmanuel Madumere the Weekend Announcer Newspapers Nig LTD on the 5thday of June, 2020 at the same place in the aforesaid Magisterial District made defamatory publication in Announcer Express of Announcer Newspapers Nig LTD that Prince Bob Kay Njemanze’m’ is a bastard and fraudster, knowing same to be false, which is likely to injure his reputation by exposing him to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or likely to damage him in his profession or trade and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 373 and punishable under section of the Criminal Code, Cap, “C38” Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as applicable in Imo State.

The court had earlier issued a warrant of arrest for the Monarch who was absent when the case was called up on 9th March for hearing .The said warrant was subsequently set aside after the plea by the accused counsel.

The three defendants pleaded not guilty. They were subsequently admitted to bail and the matter adjourned to the 21st of April for hearing.