Category: South East

Former governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has said his administration will put food on people’s table if he becomes the governor after the 2023 general election.

He said he has plans to revolutionalise the economy, to create jobs outside the oil and gas sector, if he succeeds Governor Nyesom Wike after the 2023 general election.

Lulu-Briggs, who has not disclosed the party platform under which he will contest the election, spoke at the weekend at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omuagwa when he declared his interest to contest the number one position.

He said: “My vision of Rivers is a state where there is food on the table, where there is education for all.

“We want to look at the state beyond oil, because if you look at the indicators, we have asked all the questions, economists have told us, economy earners for the state is not even oil and gas, but tourism, ICT and agriculture. There is a whole lot we have not yet done.”

The oil mogul said: “There is work to do. The work I have been trying to do over the years. I’m still strong; I will have to give my best at all times. So, by the special grace of God, I will run.

“We need that kind of political peace. The kind of development I am going to bring to Rivers State, under my government, there will be calm, there will be development, my administration will see Governor Nyesom Wike and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi eating together.”

He believed that the reason he was the first in the state to make his intentions public might be because intending aspirants were still consulting stakeholders.

“Rivers State is blessed with many capable hands. I am sure that soon they will begin to express their interests,” Lulu-Briggs said.

Speaking about power shift to the South, he said: “I have always been an advocate of national cohesion. Even at the state level. Rivers State is a microcosm of Nigeria. What’s good in Rivers State is also very good in Nigeria.

“Definitely, power has to come to the Southern region this time. I don’t see any other argument we can present this time for it not to come to the South.”

“There are credible Nigerians in various parts of the country. Very capable hands. You find them in the Southeast, Southwest and Southsouth. So, I don’t see why there should be any argument this time after eight year of power being in the North, it should move down to the South.

“Also here in Rivers State, I think it is time for the riverine to have a shot. Of course, we have good talents across ethnic nationalities in the state, including the riverine areas.”

On the agitation by the Ogoni that the governorship should be zoned to them, despite being upland, the lawyer said: “In the upland, the Ogoni sure have an argument as well. You can’t run away from that. Moreover, they are a major ethnic block. But what we experience here is a sort of dichotomy between upland and riverine areas. So, having been in the upland for this long time, it is about time it comes to the riverine, at least for that cohesion.”

Ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim has reacted to the crisis in Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

The House last week controversially declared the seat of three members vacant.

Those whose seats were declared vacant include the Deputy Speaker, Obasi Odefa Obasi, Oliver Osi and NgÍzi Eziulo.

Anyim also spoke about the statement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter spokesman, Nwoba, from detention.

He has been in detention for more than a month after he was arrested for alleged publication of false and defamatory statement in the social media.

Nwoba was charged under the state’s controversial cybercrimes law, which was signed into law last year.

Anyim said in a statement that the bail granted Nwoba called for not only celebration, but also deep thought about the danger democracy was running into in Ebonyi State.

The former Senate president said the offence for which Nwoba was charged brought to the fore the fact that any fair comment on Ebonyi State Government was certain to be punishable.

“The celebration today is not just because Nwoba has been granted bail, but also because he is alive and that the deputy chairman was available and intervened to disrupt the abduction. Otherwise, he would have disappeared to be found dead.

“Nwoba’s ordeal is only one of the many cases of intimidation of the opposition or any person that holds dissent opinion in Ebonyi State,” he said.

Anyim, a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the Assembly’s actions as bizarre.

He said such declaration would not make the nine loyal PDP lawmakers in the House of Assembly to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Anyim said: “As a leader of a party built on the rule of law, the PDP, and a defender of democracy, I remain resolute in conjunction with other leaders in using lawful means to protect the citizens and obtain justice for the oppressed, the aggrieved and victims of nefarious activities sponsored by the government.

‘If the Assembly and their master care, they can declare the whole of the House vacant. This will not change the resolve of the nine of the 24 members that have vowed to remain in the PDP.

“No amount of torture, killing or abduction will change the resolve of well-meaning people of Ebonyi State from remaining in the party of their choice, the PDP.

“I, therefore, urge all ‘Ebonyians’ to remain steadfast; even in the face of intimidation and suppression, as actions are being taken to ensure that the state is rescued and made greater in 2023.

“The will of the people, working together, is stronger than the combination of guns of these official killers rampaging the state.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has raised the alarm over alleged attacks  of  members and sympathizers of the group in Imo State by Nigerian security agencies and  Ebubeagu security outfit.

The group appealed to the international community and men and women of good conscience across the world to call on the Nigerian government and Imo State government to withdraw military officers from the state and stop intimidation of helpless citizens.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB demanded that the Nigerian government and Governor Hope Uzodinma should stop killing and humiliating its people.

It also asked traditional rulers in the state collaborating with its oppressors to desist from their actions.

The statement reads in part, “We are the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB under the command of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.  We once again raise the alarm over the ongoing destruction of the innocent Biafrans and sympathizers of IPOB in Imo State by the Nigeria security agencies in collaboration with Ebubeagu security outfit.

“These agents of agony and death have been targeting sympathizers of Biafran agitation, inflicting pains and sorrow on them. In their desperation to further inflict pains on innocent Biafrans, today they took over Ngor Okpala LGA because of the House Assembly rerun election held today, 26th of February 2022.

“We are begging the international community and men and women of good conscience across the world to call the Nigerian government and Imo State government led by Hope Uzodinma to withdraw the military and stop intimidating helpless citizens because of rerun elections in the local government council.

“IPOB demands that the Nigerian government and Hope Uzodinma should stop killing and humiliating our people.

“The Nigerian government and its security agencies, especially the military are burning houses of our people and abducting them because they are members or supporters of Biafra agitation. Let the whole world take note and caution politicians and the Nigerian government to leave our people alone and fix a date for a referendum for the agitation for Biafra restoration and freedom.

“IPOB is crying and raising the alarm for the world to hear our cry and do the needful. The world should intervene now and not wait until Biafra land becomes another Ukraine.

“Traditional rulers in our land, Ngor Okpala LGA, especially Eze Umuneke Ngor Eze Fred Nwachukwu and Eze Lambert Onuoha of Obioma autonomous community colluding with our oppressors should immediately desist from their evil action.

“These two Ezes are aware of the intimidation of Ngor Okpala LGA citizens because of rerun election going in the local government and they must bear the consequences of their evil actions.

“Ngor Okpala is a peaceful environment that should not be destroyed. The treacherous traditional rulers in Ngor Okpala LGA are playing with fire. They should retrace their steps.

Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), has called on ex-agitators to avoid the temptation of owning illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.

Dikio, who classified operators of illegal refineries as murderers, lamented that they were contributing to the untimely death of many people in the Niger Delta.

The PAP boss spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at a one-day sensitization workshop organised by PAP’s Strategic Communication Committee (STRACOM) at the weekend.

Dikio said everyone living in Port Harcourt was at risk of dying from inhaling toxic substances, especially black soot from such refineries.

He appealed to all stakeholders, especially ex-agitators to collectively bring an end to illegal oil bunkering to save the region from the looming environmental and health disaster.

The PAP boss lauded members of STRACOM for putting together the workshop, saying he would continue to work with them to increase awareness on the negative impact of illegal oil bunkering.   He also charged youths in the region to stop making excuses for being idle and seize the numerous opportunities before them to earn a decent living and create employment opportunities for others.

He said: “If you are involved in ‘kpo fire’ (illegal refineries) you are not involved in a good success. You are a murderer pure and simple.  Niger Delta is too rich for anybody to be poor. You have to think beyond paper qualification and work for the development of the region. 60% of the small businesses that run America are owned by individuals and most of them don’t have college degrees.

“Here in Nigeria we pride ourselves as the most literate set of immigrants. How many of you are governors or own businesses or are senators? It’s high time we woke up. Collectively, we will change our narrative, Niger Delta will be the safest place to live and do business in Nigeria”, Dikio said.

Enugu State government has announced Thursday, March 3, 2022, as the date for the swearing-in ceremony of the 17 council chairmen and their deputies elected during the recently concluded local government elections of February 23, 2022, in the state.

According to a statement by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected council chairmen and their deputies will take place at Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu, at 10am.

In another development, the state government has banned forthwith the operation of tricycle (keke), motorcycle (okada) and tipper-truck in all communities in Nkanu East and Nkanu West local government areas of the state.  The state government also banned the operation of tricycle, motorcycle and tipper-truck in the following communities/neighbourhoods in Enugu South LGA; Amechi Uno, Amechi Awkunanaw, Amechi Uwani, Obeagu Main, Obeagu Uno, Centenary City/Obunagu, Obeagu, One Day, Garki, Akwuke, Ugwuaji, Ndiagu Onunyo, Maryland and Ikiriki.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ortuanya, disclosed that the decision was sequel to an emergency Security Council meeting held at Enugu State Government House, “on the heels of the recent spike in insecurity in parts of the state and Executive Order No.1: 2022 dated 24th February, 2022.”

Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, has blamed Thursday’s armed robbery incident at Uromi, Esan Northeast Local Government Area of the state on lack of intelligence by security agencies and the porous nature of the ancient town.

Onobun, an Esan man, yesterday, while speaking on a national television, which was monitored in Benin, condemned the armed robbery, which was carried out by no fewer than 20 gunmen who operated for over two hours. The robbers attacked  four commercial banks and carted away huge sum of money. Seven persons including two policemen lost their lives while many persons were injured.

The  Speaker and the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, later yesterday visited Uromi to assess the situation, emphatise with bereaved families and to greet the people who were injured.

Onobun said: “What happened at Uromi on Thursday came to us as a rude shock. It is what one can best describe as an invasion. With what we have seen, the pictorial evidence and some videos that have been around on social media, it is quite unfortunate.

“With what I saw, even though we have not been properly briefed about what actually happened, you could see that the security was overwhelmed. It is quite unfortunate that such an incident could be carried out without any formal intelligence to the various security agencies, because I do not think that such an action was just planned overnight, because you have these criminals numbering over 20, with various vehicles and all sophisticated weapons.

“Considering the locations of the financial institutions and the area, it is quite porous, because we have a boundary with Delta State, and of course, there are some other routes to some riverine areas, especially Illushi, where there is the River Niger.”

Onobun called on the government at all levels to increase their vigilance, in order to check future occurrence of such dastardly incidents, while calling on security agencies to use the available pictorial evidence and videos to fish out the criminals.

He said: “I want to believe, with what we have in place, the security architecture that is put in a place by Edo state government, we will be able to track the armed robbers and bring them to justice.”

“For the local government where the armed robbery happened, Esan Northeast, it is one of the most populous local governments that we have in Edo Central Senatorial District, which has a standard police station and divisional police headquarters. So, we expect that the policemen have all the required equipment. From what we were told, the police station was also attacked. So, this is part of the investigations that the security agencies have to carry out.

“There are so many questions that are begging for answers, in order to know the people who conspired to see that the attempts to raid the people were successful. We also need to know how the criminals got into Uromi, that the security agencies were unable to pick on them, and they drove freely.”

The Senate Minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has vowed to run an inclusive government if elected governor of the state.

Abaribe stated this on Friday as he officially declared his interest to run for the office of Abia State governor  in 2023.

Speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  secretariat located on Finbarrs Road in Umuahia, the state capital, Abaribe promised that he would be a governor for all Abians.

His words: “With the signing of the Electoral Act into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, there’s no more short cut to winning elections again except by fielding someone who has the ability to win elections.

“The bitter history we have to learn from is that we lost the Presidency to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and down from 23 states PDP was controlling before then because we did not field strong candidates.

“I have been an asset to PDP; I have delivered on my electoral mandate. I’m the only one that will lead PDP to victory in Abia.”

Abaribe, who claimed not to have any godfather, appealed to the state exco of the party to give level playing field to all aspirants.

“I have been doing my consultations, and that’s why I came to the state exco who I believe are in the rightful position to pick who would carry the party’s banner in the 2023 governorship election.”

Chairman of the party in the state, Asiforo Okere commended Abaribe for his steadfastness.

Describing Abaribe as an asset to the party, Asiforo promised to give all the aspirants a level playing field.

There is palpable tension in Imo State  ahead of the Ngor Okpala Imo State Constituency bye election scheduled for today.

Three political parties in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, are the major contenders in the election.

The three major parties exhibited their determination to win the bye election by embarking on campaigns to seek the votes of the masses in Ngor Okpala.

The state governor on Thursday led a campaign team to the local government to drum up support for his party’s candidate, Bleden Amajirionwu.

Some analysts described the election as a litmus test for the political parties ahead of the 2023/24 Imo governorship election.

They said the Saturday polls have generated fierce political fireworks leading to accusations and counter accusations by all parties involved.

The PDP fired the first salvo in a statement  signed by its acting Publicity Secretary, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini,  on Tuesday, when  the party alleged that the ruling APC intends to abduct its leaders  during the elections and disrupt voting in polling units across Ngor Okpala, by stationing 10 hoodlums per polling unit to perfect their plans of rigging the election.

“The APC in Imo, realizing how unpopular it is and that it cannot win any peacefully conducted election, has now resorted to violence” part of the statement stated.

The party further alleged that the APC candidate unleashed havoc on PDP supporters using hoodlums and militia groups to disperse a PDP rally.

Reacting to the development, the Imo State government faulted PDP’s claims.

Information and Strategy Commissioner, Declan Emelumba, said the PDP is a sinking party that foresees defeat in the bye election.

“The PDP knows that it will lose the bye election, hence it is looking for alibi.

“Governor Hope Uzodimma is a democrat who believes that people will always freely choose who they want in an election unhindered. He will never subscribe to vote buying.

“At any rate, Ngor Okpala people are sufficiently enlightened not to return an irresponsible party that abandoned their seat in the House of Assembly for two years, to the same House” he said.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the state, however called for peaceful elections, but warned that it would not fold its arms and watch its supporters attacked or rigged out of the bye election.

State Chairman of the party, John Iwuala, warned that APGA would resist any attempt to attack its members or supporters before, during and after the bye election.

“We would resist any attempt to attack our party members in Ngor Okpala. Anyone who unleashes violence on our members would be resisted and we would equally return violence for violence” he said. Meanwhile, INEC has expressed its readiness for Imo bye-election.

The commission said that 11 political parties would take part in today’s (Saturday’s) bye- election in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Francis Ezeonu, said that the commissioner was ready for the bye-election.

The state House of Assembly had declared the seat vacant citing the inability of the former occupant, Tochi Okereke, to perform his legislative duties.