The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Akwa Ibom South PDP elders hail Emmanuel

    Akwa Ibom South PDP elders hail Emmanuel

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders from Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South) have praised the decision of Governor Udom Emmanuel not to contest the Senate seat of the area in 2023.

    They spoke at a meeting hosted by a former minister for Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien, held to inform of Emmanuel’s decision not to contest the senatorial seat in the coming election.

    The elders said the governor was a honourable man, who sought the interest of the district, adding that his decision was against the tradition with exiting governors.

    After a few contentions, the elders resolved to zone the Senate seat to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, noting that it was in tandem with the power rotation formula of the three federal constituencies of Eket, Oron and Ikot Abasi.

    Essien, the political leader of Eket Senatorial District, said: “At a meeting we had with Governor Emmanuel last week, he told us that he was not interested in the Senate for 2023. This is why, among other issues, we are meeting today to also take a decision that will continue to foster unity and peace of the senatorial district.”

    He hailed the governor for toeing the path of honour by not showing interest in contesting the senatorial seat, “as is becoming a tradition with governors,” thereby scuttling the principle of zoning, which has been the unifying factor in the body politics of Akwa Ibom State and Eket Senatorial District in particular.

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, a former attorney general of the state, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, Obong Chris Abasi Eyo, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, Obong Obot Etukafia, Benjamin Udobia,  Akpadiaha Ebitu and a host of others gave credence to the principle of zoning and maintained that the system should remain sacrosanct, as it had curtailed rancour in a multi-ethnic senatorial district, for equity, justice, peace and a harmonious co-existence.

  • INEC withholds officers’ allowances

    INEC withholds officers’ allowances

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State said yesterday that it had placed embargo on allowances of over 630 ad-hoc workers engaged in the November 6, 2021 governorship election.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, who disclosed this at a news briefing, said the decision followed concerned officers’ failure to return some of the devices and materials given them for the exercise.

    He said the missing materials, which were in their hundreds, were mostly components of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), including scanners, power packs, cables and other accessories.

    He expressed displeasure about the act, urging the public, particularly the ad-hoc officials, to see the commission’s property as national assets and treat them with care.

    The REC announced the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise from January 25, after its suspension on September 15, 2021.

    “The resumption will offer eligible, but unregistered voters the opportunity to get registered and enable already registered voters to transfer and update their registration.

    “In addition, registered voters will collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the period,” he said.

  • Anambra court orders Obiano, police to remove roadblocks

    Anambra court orders Obiano, police to remove roadblocks

    Anambra High Court has ordered Governor Willie Obiano and the police commissioner to remove roadblocks.

    The judgment was delivered yesterday by Justice Ike Ogu in the case of Francis Moneke v. Anambra State Govt. & Ors. (A/Misc. 194/2021)

    The judge held that the government and police had no legal justification to erect roadblocks on major roads in the guise of checking insecurity.

    He said such illegal blockage violated the applicant’s right to freedom of movement.

    The court further ordered the government and police to remove roadblocks, to allow free movement of persons and vehicles.

    The respondents were ordered to pay some amount of money to the applicant as compensation for the violation of his right to freedom of movement.

    Since the era of “unknown gunmen” last year, the police command, in liaison with the government, has blocked major roads in the state, especially the Amawbia end of the popular Zik road

    The situation has inflicted hardship on the residents and visitors, as it has become difficult for people to connect some areas in the state.

    Not only that, it has become an avenue to extort huge sums from the commuters.

  • Constituents threaten to recall Bayelsa deputy speaker over communal crisis

    Constituents threaten to recall Bayelsa deputy speaker over communal crisis

    Constituents of the Deputy Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Ogbere, in Ekeremor Local Government have threatened to recall him, if he does not stop harassing and intimidating constituted communities’ authorities.

    The leadership of Egbemo-Angalabiri community, therefore, called on the lawmaker to focus on his lawmaking tasks and stop meddling in the community’s affairs if he did not want to incur the wrath of his constituents.

    The community leaders accused him of sacking the legitimate leadership of the community and replacing them with his loyalists.

    At a news conference yesterday in Yenagoa, the leadership of the community led by the acting Royal Highness of Egbemo-Angalabiri, Chief Ayakurai Gometi, appealed to Governor Douye Diri and House of Assembly Speaker Abraham Ingobere to intervene and caution the lawmaker over his meddlesomeness.

    Gometi, accompanied by Chief Elkanah Seibokuro, Chief Simon Ebikebina, Chief David Atiye and other members of the Egbemo-Angalabiri Council of Chiefs, asked the lawmaker to retrace his steps and avoid actions that would tarnish the image of the legislative arm.

    They said: “Some youths loyal to him have his instructions to sack all the chiefs in the community from their homes.

    “All the chiefs were asked to leave the community or face being dealt with severely. As we speak, all the houses/residences of the chiefs have been disconnected from electricity.”

    Spokesman for the community leadership, Chief Elkanah Seibokuro, alleged: “Hon Michael Ogbere said he wanted to be the next Royal Highness of the Egbemo-Angalabiri community by all means necessary. Hence he has been going about harassing and intimidating the leadership of the community.

    “Ogbere’s desire is to appropriate all available community positions from the youth, Community Development Committees, Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) and the Council of Chiefs so that he can subsequently install himself as the Amananaowei (King).”

    Reacting to their allegations, Ogbere said the so-called leaders that addressed the conference did not constitute the leadership of the community, as they had allegedly vacated their positions in line with the recommendations of the panel constituted by the state government.

    He noted that he was not a member of the panel which investigated the crisis bedevilling Egbamo-Angalabiri, stressing that Messrs. Seibokuro, Simon and Atiye participated in the proceedings before the panel and therefore were bound by the recommendations.

  • Ebonyi declares ex-Rep Okorie wanted

    Ebonyi declares ex-Rep Okorie wanted

    Ebonyi State Government yesterday declared wanted a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Linus Okorie.

    It accused him of posting inciting statements on his Facebook page, which heated up the polity, particularly in Ikwo Local Government.

    The government said that the statements by Okorie, who represented Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2019, contributed to the beheading of an Ebubeagu operative in the local government two weeks ago.

    Okorie is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a critic of the government.

    Information Commissioner Uchenna Orji, who briefed reporters in Abakaliki on the decisions of the State Security Council, which met yesterday, said: “Council considered a report presented to it by security agencies on the beheading of an Ebubeagu official in Ikwo Local Government on January 9.

    “The council noted the report on the issues and the revelations contained in that report and therefore resolved to declare wanted, Linus Okorie, for the publication of inciting statements, some of which were posted on Facebook that were traced to be part of the inflammatory publications that really incited that very tension that led to the beheading of the Ebubeagu official.”

    Orji said the Security Council noted that some other persons were accessories to the gruesome murder of the individual.

    He said the council urged security agencies to expedite action on the investigation with a view to bringing those involved to face the law.

    Heads of security agencies in the state attended the meeting, which was chaired by Governor David Umahi.

    Okorie described the declaration as another ploy by the governor to silence opposition voices by criminalising its high profile leaders.

    He alleged that the government was planning to use Ebubeagu to eliminate him on the excuse that he was evading arrest, saying it should be held responsible should anything happen to him.

    Okorie further alleged that the government also planned to close down CitiHub, a popular event centre in Abakaliki owned by him.

    He said: “It is also a ploy to distract attention from the carnage Ebubeagu has been wrecking on the people, as symbolised by the riots and killings in Akaeze in the past few days.

    “Governor Umahi is simply looking for a high profile scapegoat to take attention away from the many lives being lost to Ebubeagu operatives across the state; and he has chosen me, using his state Security Council.”

  • FRSC records 23 deaths in four weeks

    FRSC records 23 deaths in four weeks

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State said yesterday that it recorded 23 deaths from 33 road crashes between December 17, 2021 and January 15.

    Sector Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, who disclosed this to The Nation, said 72 people sustained injuries.

    He said 473 people were arrested for offences, adding that they were booked, with some prosecuted.

    Irelewuyi, however, attributed the crashes to speed limit violation.

    He said: “We began ‘Operation Zero Crash Special Patrol’ on December 17, 2021, which ended on January 15. This is part of strategies targeted at minimising road traffic crashes during the Yuletide.

    “The number of deaths increased, compared to previous years. While we recorded 23 deaths within the period, seven deaths were recorded in 2020 and 2021.”

    The FRSC boss said the state recorded a larger percentage of free traffic flow throughout the period, especially on the Niger bridge.

    He advised motorists against speeding, saying there was the need for them to be cautious while on the road.

  • EEDC revenue drive threat unsettles customers

    EEDC revenue drive threat unsettles customers

    There is anxiety among customers of the Enugu Electricity Distribution (EEDC) PLC in the Southeast, following plans by the company to embark on revenue drive across its franchise area.

    Head of Corporate Communications Mr. Emeka Ezeh said in a statement yesterday that the move became necessary to enable the firm sustain its operations and provide quality services for its customers.

    He said the exercise, which would last for one week, would also assist the firm to pay for the energy it imported and meet up with its obligations to the market operators and other stakeholders.

    The statement said: “The revenue drive is to enable the company cover up for the lost days experienced in January, occasioned by the imposed sit-at-home order and insecurity situation in the Southeast, a development that has impacted on its revenue and efficient operation.

    “The exercise will entail visits by officials of the company to its customers for payment of their energy bills, as well as disconnection of those indebted.

    “EEDC, therefore, appeals to its esteemed customers to cooperate with the officials that will visit their premises during the drive.

    “It is pertinent to note that the power sector cannot effectively operate if energy bills are not paid by customers.”

    “To avoid being disconnected, customers are advised to visit the EEDC cash offices nearest to them or any of the collection agents within their locality, to pay their bills.

    “Payments can also be made through online channels. These include: EEDC Connect, Energy Pay (via EEDC website: www.enugudisco.com), Bank Apps, etc

    “EEDC assures its customers of its commitment to delivering quality service to them, and count on their support during this revenue drive exercise.”

  • UNIPORT gives trespassers deadline to vacate property

    UNIPORT gives trespassers deadline to vacate property

    The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, has given persons, who encroached on its land, till end of this month to vacate its property.

    Spokesman Sam Kpenu, in a statement warned land speculators to stay away from the institution’s property.

    He said the management observed with dismay, the brazen act of coveting land owned by the Federal Government by speculators.

    Kpenu said: “If at the end of January, persons who have put up structures on the university land fail to remove them, appropriate steps will be taken to remove the structures and prosecute the owners of such structures.”

    He said the university enjoyed supportive relationship with the landlord community and there was no way any chief or family in the community would attempt to sell or lease any part of the land acquired by the institution many years ago.

    Kpenu said the Federal Ministry of Education was interested in the matter, adding that law enforcement agencies might be invited to restore sanity after this month.

  • Nwosu: Ohanaeze chieftain urges IGP to ensure justice

    Nwosu: Ohanaeze chieftain urges IGP to ensure justice

    A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Chidi Ibeh, has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba to ensure speedy dispensation of justice of the security operatives involved in illegal arrest of Uche Nwosu, son-in-law of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    Ibeh, a factional leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo, gave the advice while addressing reporters in Owerri.

    Nwosu, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance in Imo in the 2019 general election, was arrested by policemen last December 26 while attending the outing service of his late mother, Jemaimah Nwosu, at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Umunwokwe, Eziama-Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government.

    Ibeh, who described Nwosu’s arrest as a “desecration of the church and an insult to the Igbo nation”, urged the IGP to bring the policemen and soldiers involved in the act to book.

    “We learnt that the policemen and soldiers, who came for the operation, have been arrested. We want the IGP to bring them to book without further delay.

    “We commend the IGP for his boldness, level of tolerance and maturity in handling this matter and urge him not to relent until justice is served to the perpetrators of this heinous, dastardly act.”

    “On behalf of Ndigbo, we appeal to the police authorities to make public the result of their findings so that Nigerians will not misconstrue the powers and activities of the police. Nobody knows who the next victim will be,” he said.

    He added that the Ohanaeze would “take legal actions in the absence of substantial results from police investigations after a reasonable length of time.”

  • Residents count losses as fire guts building in Umuahia

    Residents count losses as fire guts building in Umuahia

    Residents of one of the buildings near the former Timber Market, located on World Bank Estate in Umuahia North Local Government of Abia State, are counting their losses after their building was razed in an inferno at the weekend.

    The fire, which began about 11pm after the public power was restored, destroyed property worth millions of naira.

    It was gathered that four shops and two bedroom apartments were gutted in the inferno that lasted hours.

    The Nation learnt that efforts by neighbours and others, who were among the early callers on the scene of the fire, prevented it from spreading to adjoining buildings before the arrival of fire fighters.

    A victim, who gave his name as Friday, said he lost six sewing machines in his shop, which costs about N180, 000 each.

    Friday, who spoke amid tears, listed some of the lost belongings to include two generators, customers’ cloths and other valuables.

    One of the fire service officials, who pleaded anonymity, said the quick intervention of the firemen saved property worth billions of naira.