Category: South East

The former Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief Simon Okeke, has advised Anambra State governor-elect Prof Charles Soludo to prioritise security.

He said the state would not be attractive to investors in the absence of security.

Okeke spoke yesterday during an interactive session with reporters at Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government.

He regretted the negative impact the collapse of security apparatus was having on the state, including gradual exodus of wealthy people.

Okeke said: “Anambra was one of the safest states in Nigeria. Governor Willie Obiano even got an award for being security conscious. Unfortunately, things are returning to old ways.

“Many residents of the state, especially the affluent ones, are relocating out of the state with their investments, following the current wave of insecurity in the Southeast and Anambra State in particular.

“Two policemen got killed during Prof Soludo’s campaign. We don’t even talk about robbery again, which has assumed high dimension, including abduction for ransom, which is an offshoot of EndSARS protests.”

“Policemen are even afraid to go back to their duty post. The effect of spill over from Imo State is taking its toll on Anambra communities such as Orsumoghu, Lilu, Azia, Ukpor, Ezinifite and so on. The situation is frightening.”

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has inaugurated internal road and a secondary school at Obogoro in Yenagoa Local Government.

He recalled how pathetic the road and school were during his previous visit to the area, a condition, he said, necessitated the decision of the government to embark on the projects.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that his administration would continue to deliver on its promises to bring development to the people.

He hailed the paramount ruler and people of the community for their support to the government and ensuring that the projects were hitch-free, saying such support would be rewarded with more projects.

Diri said the erosion control project in the community had begun; adding that the government would ensure it was completed to specification. 

He hoped that by the time the project was completed, there would not be erosion at Obogoro.

Inaugurating the classroom block at Community Secondary School, Obogoro, the governor described education as the best legacy any government could bequeath to the younger generation.

He said his administration was committed to development of the education sector.

Diri directed the commissioner for Education to ensure that another classroom block, a science and laboratory block and perimeter fencing were built, as well as engaging of security guards to stem insecurity.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said the 350-metre single carriage road was a footpath difficult to access by the students and the people of the community.

He said the government had completed 22 internal roads in the Yenagoa metropolis and assured the people that more would be done within and outside the state capital to make life easy for them.

Education Commissioner Gentle Emelah said Diri’s Prosperity Administration placed a high premium on education due to its crucial role in the development of any society.

Presenting a goodwill message on behalf of the Obogoro community, the paramount ruler, Chief Monday Igodo, thanked the government for the projects and pledged the continuous support of the people. 

Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, the member representing Yenagoa Constituency I in the House of Assembly, Oforji Oboku, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Igwele, his Information, Orientation and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Ayibaina Duba and other government functionaries.

Youths in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday staged a peaceful protest on the popular Abak Road, demanding the recovery of the body of a 60-year-old woman, who was swept away by flood on Wednesday.

The woman, Ekaette Uffot, a petty trader at Nkemba Street, reportedly fell into an open drainage at Iboko Offot in Uyo after a torrential rainfall that lasted for hours.

The incident, according to a resident of the area, Ubong Inyang, occured about 4:30pm on Wednesday.

He said the woman was returning from market when she was swept away and eventually drowned in an open drainage.

“We made efforts to rescue her when we noticed she was being swept away by the flood water.

“Before we got to her, the fast-moving water had already drawn her closer to an open hole linking the underground drainage facility”, Inyang said.

He recalled that officials of the state Waste Management and Environmental Protection Agency opened the slabs to remove sewage and clear the drains, but failed to cover it back.

Vehicles plying the road to Abak, Etinan and other adjoining areas of the state had a hectic time navigating through Ukana Offot, Nkemba and Clement Isong streets, to get out of the capital.

Effiong Asuquo, one of the protesters, blamed the Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals for what he described as “lack of sincere commitment to environmental protection”, vowing that “we will remain here until the government recovers the remains of the aged woman and adequate compensation is given for proper burial.”

The Commissioner for Environment and Solid Mineral, Sir Charles Udoh, expressed sadness about the incident and appealed for calm, “as frantic efforts are on to retrieve the body for burial.”

“I am on the spot of the incident right now to find the body. So, I have ordered for equipment to come. We need to break the slabs and the gutters so that we can pull it to find the body.

“After this, I will do a proposal to the governor on how to prevent future occurrence,” he said.

Police spokesman Odiko Macdon did not pick several calls to his phone.

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha 

Outgoing Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano’s decision to honour his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, was applauded yesterday.

But the governor-elect, Prof. Charles Soludo, was absent at the event.

Other prominent citizens of the state were also honoured as Grand Commanders and Commanders. Merit awards were given to some. Five hundred awardees benefited.

Also honoured were the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe; former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and ex-Senate President, the late Chuba Okadigbo.

Others who received honours included Nigeria’s first President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, former Vice-President Dr. Alex Ekwueme and ex-governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, among others.

The awards were given during the inauguration of the 12,000 capacity International Convention Conference Centre (ICC) in Awka and launch of a book on Obiano titled: “Akpokuedike, Call for duty “, written by a renowned industrialist, Ike Chioke.

Former first Aviation Minister, 92-year-old Chief Mbazulike Amechi, Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Sir Emeka Offor, Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa and Archbishop Jude Okolo were equally honoured.

Obiano said the awards were backed by Anambra State Honours Law of 1995.

He said the awardees contributed to the success of his eight-year administration.

The Chairman of the occasion, Anyaoku, described the event as an extraordinary occasion to honour extraordinary people with a sense of mission.

He said: “Obiano remains one of the most prepared leaders Nigeria ever had. He really proved he was prepared for the office.

“I’m pleased to associate myself with Obiano. I didn’t know him, but his predecessor, who introduced him to me, assured me he was capable.

“There’s no doubt that his administration has transformed the state in terms of security, infrastructure, among others. He is leaving behind legacies that will not be forgotten in a hurry.”

Achebe described the governor as a man that ruled Anambra most successfully, including the support he gave to monarchs.

“I dreamt of Obiano before he emerged. He brought his banking experience to bear during the eight years he held sway. He gave the monarchs support. He presented over 60 certificates to traditional rulers,” Achebe said.

Angry youths of Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, Udung Uko, Mbo and Oron local governments of Akwa Ibom State have threatened to stop next year’s general election in their domains because of the abandoned 55.1km Ibom Superhighway project.

They said they were disappointed that the government had abandoned the project six years after Governor Udom Emmanuel performed the groundbreaking.

The youth complained that the government orchestrated the destruction of houses, farmlands and economic trees in the affected communities to pave the way for the project.

They said the government had not compensated those whose buildings and farmlands were destroyed, adding that they were homeless and hungry.

Contract for the six-lane Ibom Superhighway was awarded by the government to Ebla Construction Company Ltd in 2017 on a Public Private Partnership arrangement (PPP), but the company was never mobilised to start work.

The protesters, who carried placards, prevented Ebla Construction Company Ltd from evacuating its equipment from its site yard in Ibeno.

Some of the placards read: ‘There will be no elections if this project is not continued in the host communities of Eket, Ibeno, Esit Eket, Mbo, Udung Uko and Oron’, ‘Abandonment of projects keeps host communities in starvation’, ‘The abandoned project was to service Ibom Deep Seaport’, ‘We need our right compensations for crops and buildings, ‘Please, government should tell us our position in this state’.

The youth warned Governor Emmanuel, former Works Commissioner Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen and aspirants seeking election next year not to come for campaigns in their local governments, to avoid catastrophe.

A youth activist in Esit Urua, Francis Itiet, said: “Since I was born, I have never seen the number of abandoned projects scattered everywhere in the state.

“We receive the highest federal allocation and the wealth of the state comes from this axis, but we haven’t been well treated by the Emmanuel administration.

“The Eket-Ibeno road has been abandoned, likewise the Ibom Superhighway project, despite destroying our buildings and farmlands, which our parents use in sponsoring our education.

“Now, the company is moving away its equipment because it has not been mobilised. We won’t allow this company to evacuate its equipment.

“We are warning Emmanuel and other aspirants not to come for campaigns in Eket, Mbo, Udung Uko, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Oron because there will be dire consequences if they do.”

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is engaged in consultations on the governorship ticket.

He said the party would do what was right for the people.

Ikpeazu made this known when he received a PDP governorship aspirant in the state, Prof. Gregory Ibe, at his country home, Umuobiakwa, in Obingwa Local Government.

The governor, who said every segment and zone had capable individuals who possessed what it would take to successfully run the affairs of the state, dismissed insinuations that aspirants from Abia North had been disqualified from contesting the 2023 governorship election.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality and calibre of persons who had indicated interest in the race, reminding politicians that even with the number of qualified persons, only one person could be governor at a particular time.

A new representative of Ngor-Okpala State Constituency, Blyden Amajirionwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was sworn in yesterday at the Imo State House of Assembly.

The Clerk, Mrs. Chinelo Emeghara, administered the oath of office and allegiance before Amajirionwu was ushered to his seat at the House.

Speaker Kennedy Ibeh (APC Obowo) urged him to abide by the rules of the Assembly and the oath of office and allegiance.

He assured Amajirionwu of the co-operation and support of other lawmakers in the discharge of his duties.

Speaking with reporters after the plenary, the new lawmaker expressed readiness to restore the lost dividends of democracy to Ngor Okpala Constituency.

He lamented that his constituents had been sidelined in the last four years as a result of poor representation and promised to remedy the situation.

Amajirionwu emerged victorious in the Ngor-Okpala by-election held on February 26.

The Speaker declared Ngor-Okpala seat vacant on December 24, 2021, citing failure of former House member Tochi Okereke to meet up with the requirements of his office, as reason.

Okereke, who won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only attended sittings 43 times in three years- 29 times in 2019, 14 times in 2020 and zero attendance in 2021.