Category: South East

Igbonine Socio-Cultural Organisation has condemned the razing of the Awo-Omamma, Imo State home of Prof. George Obiozor, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.

In a statement by the Secretary General, Dr. Dubas L. Agbasi, the organisation said it was a tragedy of immense dimension for such a fate to befall Obiozor after his many years of dedicated service to the Igbo nation and Nigeria as Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Nigerian Ambassador to Israel and the United States of America and currently serving as President General of the apex Igbo organisation.

The association recalled that a few years ago, the Ukehe, Enugu State home of Obiozor’s predecessor, Chief Nnia

Nwodo, was similarly torched by miscreants and wondered if public service in Igboland should be abandoned by brilliant and intelligent minds and left to “criminals, never-do-wells and dregs of the society.”

The organisation suggested that funds should be contributed or donated by Ndigbo all over the world to refurbish the burnt home of Obiozor, “an old man in his 80’s, to assure him that his many years of labour for Nigeria was not in vain.”

Igbonine urged security agencies to investigate the dastardly act and bring the culprits to book.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has advocated full utilisation of potential of the over 200 trillion gas deposits in the state, to enhance revenue generation in the country, particularly now that the Russia-Ukarine war is on.

Uzodimma, represented by his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, spoke yesterday in Owerri at the opening ceremony of a three-day ‘Sensitisation forum for stakeholders on institutionalisation of diversification of the economy, using natural gas,’ organised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Thanking the commission for its efforts, he offered the readiness of the state government under his watch to partner the Federal Government to achieve the harnessing of potential in the gas deposits domiciled in the state.

The Chairman of the Gas and Monitoring Committee of the commission, Patrick Mgbelu, said the committee would strive towards ensuring that gas, as easy source of energy, was deployed in the right direction and maximum utilisation of the over 200 trillion cubic feet of the resource in the state.

He said: “We need to make sure that gas, which is an easy source of energy, is deployed in the right direction because it has the capability to transform our economy.

“We wish to assure the government and the people of Imo State that RMAFC will effectively discharge its constitutional responsibility to ensure that the government invests in the commercialisation of the abundant gas resources in Imo State.

“This will reduce the incidence of gas flaring being practised by the oil companies.”

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State has expressed optimism of improved working relationship with Governor Charles Soludo.

The Coordinator, Yetunde Baderinwa, speaking yesterday at the swearing-in of 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream ‘2’ Orientation, at the Permanent Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, in Awka South Local Government, said the scheme had enjoyed cordial working relationship and support from the state government, security agencies and host communities.

She said: “Anambra is one of the friendliest NYSC states. We’ve always had a cordial working relationship with the former government.

“So, we expect a more robust relationship with the new administration. We’re just giving the governor sometime to settle down. I’m sure he’ll come and see us once he settles down.”

Baderinwa said 2,500 youth corps members were posted to the state, adding that 2,195 comprising 1,100 men and 1,095 women had registered to date.

She said none of them tested positive for COVID-19 after being subjected to screening to ensure fitness for the exercise.

All Progressives Congress (APC) has selected 180 delegates to represent Anambra State chapter of the party at the National Convention holding on Saturday.

They were drawn from the 21 local governments. Their names were announced yesterday at the party’s office in Awka by the state Chairman, Sir Basil Ejidike

He announced the names during the inauguration of the state zonal and local government executive committee members.

Ejidike said: “The delegates were selected, according to the APC Constitution, from the state Exco, LGA executive and political office holders.”

Congratulating the newly inaugurated state officers, Ejidike said: “I wish to restate and draw your attention to the essence of a political party. All political parties’ interest is to win elections and advance the cause of their environment.

“APC has all it takes to achieve this and more. Therefore, we must all put our hands on deck to reposition the party, and as well win elections.

“This is achievable in Anambra, as we have the human and material resources needed. As a new family, we will galvanise and harness our diverse potential and resources to put our party in political positions in our dear state

“It is indeed a fact that the APC-led Federal Government has benefitted Anambra State and people in terms of infrastructural development, human capacity building and empowerment.

“These have reposed in us the task of leading Anambra people into the mainstream politics of Nigeria. This we must accomplish.”

The absence of a former General Manager of Radio Bayelsa, Dr. John Idumange, who raised the alarm over alleged diversion of N3billion agriculture loan by state government officials, has stalled its trial at a state High Court in Yenogoa.

When the case was called yesterday, prosecution counsel Mr. Ebipamo Koroye decried the absence of the defendant despite a bench warrant issued to compel him to appear in court.

He noted that Idumange’s continued absence in court to face trial was a gross disrespect for the court.

Koroye urged the defence counsel, Mr. E. P. Joseph, to produce the defendant for trial.

Justice Iniekenimi Uzakah recalled that he had issued a bench warrant to compel Idumange to appear in court to take his plea and face trial.

He adjourned the matter till April 20.

Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Biriyai Sambo (SAN) filed a suit against Idumange for misdemeanour and seditious publications against government officials.

A Magistrates’ Court on March 11, 2021 in Yenagoa, ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days, pending police investigation.

Idumange, who had alleged that officials of Bayelsa government diverted N3billion agriculture loan and subsequently submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was arrested on March 10, 2021.

Officials of the state government had reported to the police that Idumange made seditious publications that maligned their persons in his claims.

However, the state High Court, Sagbama Division, granted bail to Idumange, who was also an aide on Research and Documentation and later Social Media to former Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson.

The case, earlier assigned to Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, was reassigned to Justice Uzakah following a written request by the state Attorney General to the Chief Judge of Bayelsa, Justice Kate Abiri.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has changed its tactics in its war against oil thieves, following the fire that razed its exhibit yard in River State.

It said the activities of saboteurs would not dampen the zeal of its personnel to tackle oil bunkering in the state.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commandant, NSCDC, Abu Tambuwal, said the command had put in place measures to forestall inferno at its facilities.

Tambuwal, who addressed the senior management officers and other ranks yesterday, said the fight against vandalism, operation of illegal refineries and other crimes would henceforth take a new shape.

He said the officers must remain firm, resilient, determined and courageous in the discharge of their duties without giving any room for complacency and unprofessional acts.

Tambuwal, who read the riot act to the officers and men, said the command would not tolerate indiscipline and any action inimical to the corporate existence of the Corps and its statutory mandate.

He said although the saboteurs might feel happy with the inferno that consumed the Iriebe exhibit yard, the outcome of the ongoing investigation would bring to book identified culprits within and outside the NSCDC.

He said: “We are not unaware that some saboteurs have expressed their excitement about the recent occurrence. However, I urge you all to remain firm and courageous.

“Trust no one, stay focused and man your duty post 24 hours. Our determination to rid this state of economic saboteurs remains unwavering. We will go after them, pursue them to their domains and dislodge their illegal refineries. I assure you that God will grant us victory.”

The NSCDC boss said to enhance productivity and job proficiency, there must be movement of personnel from one duty location to another.

The factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, to stop Worgu Boms from contesting in Saturday’s national convention.

Boms, a former Attorney General of Rivers State and Commissioner for Justice under ex-governor Amaechi, is the Director General of Freedom House, Senator Abe’s Campaign Office.

He has indicated interest to run for the Southsouth Vice Chairman of the party.

Abe alleged that Amaechi was going cap in hand, looking for any court that would agree to hit the aspirant with an injunction, to stop him from making further moves with his aspiration.

He made this known in a statement by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, in Port Harcourt.

According to the statement, Abe, who represented Rivers Southeast in the National Assembly, also alleged that Amaechi was planning protests in Abuja to ensure Boms was disqualified.

He wondered why those who professed to be democrats would not allow the people to have a say in a democracy, and advised Amaechi to take the matter to the national convention if he had a genuine case.

Reacting, the Rivers State APC described the allegation as demonic and a mere distraction, which the minister would not fall to.

In a statement yesterday by the state Assistant Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwuju, the party said Amaechi was not a member of the Screening Committee APC set up for the national convention, adding that he had more important tasks than to indulge in petty things, as being accused of.

Nwuju said the allegation was a follow-up to the attempts by the group to smear the minister, noting that they would continue to fail.

A former Commander of Niger Delta ex-agitators, Victor-Ben Ebikabowei, popularly called Boyloaf, has listed 40 students as beneficiaries of a scholarship scheme offered by his new foundation, the Boyloaf Foundation.

Officials of the foundation led by their Coordinator, Seleipre Tonbie, disclosed the offer when they visited Community Secondary School, Yenaka and other schools in Obele, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday.

Tonbie said the foundation would build 10 ICT libraries in selected schools as part of programmes and projects to mark the coming 50th birthday of Boyloaf.

He said the foundation was established as a non-governmental organisation based in Niger Delta to focus on education and enlightenment of youths in the region.

Tonbie said the foundation adopted 30 students from Community Secondary School (CSS), Yenaka and 10 from Swali/Obele axis of Yenagoa Local Government for the scholarships.

He said the aim of the foundation was to create a new set of leaders and responsible citizens among youths between 10 and 30 years in the Niger Delta.

Tonbie said the foundation would deploy formal and informal education, talent hunt, skill development, as well as facilitate and provide information as strategies to actualise its mission.

He said the offer of scholarships and the move to build 10 ICT libraries came from the ongoing need assessment being conducted by the foundation in secondary schools in Bayelsa State.

Tobie said: “The ICT libraries will be built in partnership with intervention agencies in the Niger Delta.

“You can see the excitement among students. They were given quality school bags and other educational materials.”

The Vice Principal (Academics), CSS, Yenaka, Dr. Million Asian, hailed Boyloaf for floating the foundation.

He said with the gesture, Boyloaf had shown his efforts in supporting the educational sector, especially for the proposed ICT libraries and internet access to schools in the Niger Delta.

He prayed that God should bless the former ex-agitator and urged other well-meaning individuals to emulate his kind gesture.

Former Senate President Dr. Adolphus Wabara has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might get a protest vote in Abia State next year, should the party fail to give its governorship ticket to his Ukwa clan or Abia North.

Wabara, who was apparently pained by the alleged marginalisation of the people of Ukwa in the scheme of things, said if Ukwa clan should not be considered because it belonged to Abia South Senatorial Zone “where power currently resides, then power should move back to Abia North where it started from in 1999.”

He warned that any attempt to make another Ngwa man succeed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who is also an Ngwa man, would be counterproductive for the PDP.

The ex-Senate President, who said he was raising the alarm because of his love for the PDP, advised Abia PDP leadership not to toy with the Abia Charter of Equity and zoning arrangement for which the party was known.

He said anything short of allowing power to come to Ukwa or rotate back to Abia North in 2023 would spell doom for the PDP.

Wabara said Abia State might be taken over by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), should PDP fail to do the right thing and in time too.