Category: South East

The Oba of Benin, Omo ‘N’ Oba N’edo, Ewuare 11, said yesterday that the Benin people were writing their history by themselves for proper presentation of issues and events.

He said many accounts of the history and people of ancient Benin kingdom were written by others, who chronicled things from outsiders’ perspective.

The monarch said it was time they wrote their history by themselves for posterity.

He spoke at the palace of Alake of Egbaland in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after presenting a -7kg book – an anthropology containing short history of Benin, to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

The traditional ruler, accompanied by palace chiefs and officials, said he was at the Ake palace on a royal visit.

He hailed Oba Gbadebo for giving the Benin throne a warm reception.

Oba Gbadebo, who was joined by the Nigeria Ambassador to United Kingdom, Navy Captain Tunji Sarafa Ishola and former military administrator of Sokoto and Bauchi states, Alhaji Rasheed Raji, to receive his royal guests, prayed for the Benin throne. He said his people would not only lead his Edo people, but would also have a turn to lead Nigeria.

He later presented a gift to the Oba of Benin.

Ahead of tomorrow’s by-elections in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency of Cross River State, Police Commissioner Alhassan Aminu has warned that anyone or group of persons planning to disrupt the exercise will be dealt with.

The warning came amid tension, with the two top parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) making accusation and counter-accusation against one another over undemocratic tactics to manipulate election and officials.

Addressing reporters yesterday after the state security meeting, Aminu said the police were on ground and prepared for the election.

He said: “This is an election that involves two areas, in two different places in the state, one in the Southern Senatorial District and the other in the Northern Senatorial District. We cannot say we don’t expect any challenge.

“These challenges are what we have sat down to douse, so that the public, the electorate and the people involved in the exercises will have time to make them perfect. We have put adequate arrangements in place.”

However, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Venatius Ikem, yesterday alleged that “the PDP has received intelligence about a plan by the APC to collude with the military and some units of the police to disenfranchise voters and cause mayhem in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government. We have it on good authority that Governor Ben Ayade is mobilising the military, Operation Akpawu and the Sting Unit attached to the Governor’s Office to militarise the by-election and dissuade eligible voters from coming out to vote.”

Reacting, the governor, through his Deputy Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, said: “It is obvious that the PDP in Cross River State is in frantic search for an alibi for its inevitable defeat at the polls.

“Government is not, therefore, taken aback by the party’s unfounded but malicious allegation against Governor Ayade.

“For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency is an embodiment of civility and refinement. His political philosophy and creed, which is politics with ethics, has no accommodation for violence and electoral malfeasance, including illegal use of security agents to intimidate voters.”

There is palpable tension in Imo State, ahead of tomorrow’s Ngor Okpala State Constituency by- election in Imo State.

Three parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are the major contenders. They are trading tackles.

The parties showed their determination to win the election by embarking on campaigns to seek the votes of the people in Ngor Okpala.

Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday led a campaign team to the local government to drum support for his party’s candidate, Blyden Amajirionwu.

Analysts described the election as a litmus test for the parties ahead of the 2023/24 Imo governorship poll.

They said tomorrow’s election had generated fierce political firework, leading to accusations and counter- accusations by the parties

The PDP,  in a statement  by its acting Publicity Secretary, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, alleged that the ruling APC intended to abduct its leaders  during the election and disrupt voting at polling units across Ngor Okpala, by stationing 10 hoodlums per polling unit, to perfect their plans of rigging the election.

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

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

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

Information and Strategy Commissioner Declan Emelumba said: “PDP is a sinking party that foresees defeat in the by-election.”

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

“Governor 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.

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

APGA called for a peaceful election, but warned that it would not fold its arms and watch its supporters attacked or rigged out of the by-election.

The Chairman, John Iwuala, told reporters in Owerri that APGA would resist any attempt to attack its members or supporters before, during and after the poll.

Police Commissioner Rabiu Hussaini  warned the parties that the command would not tolerate breakdown of law and order before, during and after the election.

Hussaini, addressing reporters in Owerri yesterday, advised parties and their candidates to comport themselves in a manner that would guarantee peaceful conduct of the election.

The chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday emerged winners in the local government election held in 17 councils in Enugu State on Wednesday.

The party also won in the 260 wards during the poll marred by violence.

Gunmen attacked voters in some polling units in Enugu South, Nkanu West and Nkanu East councils, leading to the death of two policemen and six others.

Speaking before announcing the results, the Chairman of Enugu State Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Mike Ajogu (SAN), hailed voters for participating in the election.

He said the poll was free and fair, adding that the turnout of voters was impressive.

The ENSIEC boss thereafter issued certificates of return to the successful candidates.

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has summoned an emergency security meeting of stakeholders of Nkanu West, Nkanu East, Enugu South, Enugu North and Enugu East local governments.

A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, did not, however, state the reason for the meeting.

However, The Nation learnt that the meeting might not be unconnected with the killing of two policemen and six others in parts of the state during the local government elections held on Wednesday.

The killings followed attacks on some polling units in the affected local governments during the council election.

The statement said those invited for the meeting scheduled to hold at the Government House, Enugu at 2.30pm on Thursday are chairmen of the mentioned local governments.

Others invited are members of the House of Assembly representing  Nkanu West, Nkanu East, Enugu South, Enugu North and Enugu East constituencies, traditional rulers and presidents general of autonomous communities in the affected five councils.

Doctors in Akwa Ibom State have threatened to suspend their services if their colleague, Dr. Felix Ekpo, who was kidnapped on Tuesday by gunmen, is not released within 48 hours.

Ekpo, a senior medical officer, was abducted while on duty at Ikot Ekpaw Cottage Hospital in Mkpat Enin Local Government.

The hoodlums, in a commando-style, stormed the hospital on Tuesday morning and kidnapped Ekpo.

The Secretary of the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, in a statement yesterday in Uyo, threatened that doctors would be forced to suspend their services throughout the state if their colleague was not released within 48 hours.

He said the association was communicating with security agencies in the state on the matter.

Youth leaders from Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District have warned the sacked Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen, to desist from blackmailing the governor.

They accused Inyang-eyen of maligning Emmanuel because of the governor’s insistence that the Senate seat of Akwa Ibom South (Eket) must go to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.

The youth said the Senate seat in the zone had always been on the basis of rotation among the three federal constituencies that made up the area, namely Ikot Abasi, Eket and Oron.

Inyang-eyen, a former commissioner for Works from Eket Federal Constituency, had indicated his interest to vie for the Senate seat despite it being zoned to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.

The Chairman, Youth Leaders of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Mr. Theodore Williams, addressed a news conference yesterday on behalf of the youth.

The rift between Emmanuel and his former CoS, Inyang-eyen, deepened yesterday.

The Nation gathered that the governor’s wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, has removed wife of the sacked CoS, Mrs. Ime Inyang-eyen, as the coordinator of her pet project, the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path Initiative (FEYReP).

The governor on Tuesday relieved Inyang-eyen of his duties as the CoS, through a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Emmanuel Ekuwuem.

Our correspondent learnt that the governor’s wife has appointed Dr. Idorenyin Ekanem, wife of Onna Local Government Chairman, Elder Iniabasi Ekanem, as the acting coordinator of FEYReP.

Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka yesterday nullified wards, local governments and state congresses held by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party last month conducted congresses, which produced Mr. Basil Ejidike as the chairman.

But delivering judgment in a matter before him, Justice Ike Ogu of High Court four Awka ruled that the exercise contravened initial interlocutory injunction earlier issued by his court.

Ogu, whose judgment on the suit filed by Lawrence Emegini and others, ruled that the plaintiff’s case succeeded.

The court said the tenure of wards, local governments and states executives elected during 2018 congresses in Anambra subsisted.

Ogu noted that whatever congress conducted by APC and its representatives in the state while the tenure of the 2018 elected executives subsisted, contravened the order of the court.

He said Emeka Ibe-led executives should be allowed to complete their tenure, which was illegally terminated.

Reacting, the Secretary of APC in a faction loyal to Ibe, Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo, described the judgment as victory for the rule of law.

He decried efforts by some members to disorganise the party and hijack its leadership, thanking God that the court had liberated the party.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Chief P. I. Ikwueto (SAN), said the court decision had vindicated his clients.

The legal adviser of one of the party factions dissolved by the judgment, Chinoso Chinwuba, said their next move would be determined after studying the judgment.