Category: South East

The founding leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, yesterday, said those disgruntled All Progressive Congress, APC defectors to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are not members of Emerhor Political Forum, EPF.

Emerhor made this statement while debunking a media report that members of his political group, Emerhor Political Family (EPF) are set to decamp to the PDP, noting that only a few disgruntled individuals led by the former Deputy State Chairman, Chief Cyril Ogodo are defecting.

The 2015 APC governorship candidate in Delta State said the categorisation of the defection of a few stomach politicians to the PDP after allegedly receiving cash inducements, as a move by Emerhor Political Family, EPF, is not only laughable but also mischievous and disingenuous.

The Delta State APC Chieftain and leader said the purported defection of Chief Cyril Ogodo, Chief Sylvester Kohwo and a few others to the PDP does not mean that members of the Emerhor Political Family are decamping to the PDP as reported, saying that only a few disgruntled individuals are involved.

Emerhor said, “Only Chief Ogodo, Chief Kohwo and a few who have now become stomach politicians are decamping after allegedly receiving cash inducements as ‘rally mobilisation.

“Emerhor’s political structures are intact. Hon Chief Alfred Oloko is the State Coordinator and Head of the EPF. Chief Cyril Ogodo was never the Head.

“The EPF Elders Forum is also intact. The Elders Forum is meeting this week to replace Chief Sylvester Kohwo, the erstwhile chairman. Indeed, I met with these few over this last weekend and after our discussions, it was clear to me that it is greed that is behind their defection.”

He noted that as individuals, they are free to associate with any group or party in their political quest, stressing that it is, however, mischievous for them to try to use the name and clout of EPF to promote themselves in order to up their stake and cash price with PDP.

He said the defection of a handful of individuals whose membership of EPF is at best parasitical, does not in anyway diminish the resolve of genuine members of EPF to join other progressives to rescues Delta come 2023.

The Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Chief Uroupaye Nimizuoa, has asserted that his council in collaboration with security agencies have minimised the activities of hoodlums, cultists and other criminal elements in the area.

Nimizuoa, popularly called the ‘Mayor of Yenagoa City’, made this known in an interview to reflect on his administration’s two years in office.

He said since he came on board, he had ensured that the security apparatus and networks within the area were beefed up, noting the council administration provided necessary security gadgets for the security personnel and restored solar light for the secretariat complex.

Nimizuoa said: “In order to curb activities of hoodlums, suspected cultists and other criminals, we gave marching order to fence round the Amarata Health Centre in Constituency 1 where some hoodlums used to meet.

“You know Yenagoa City is the host to Bayelsa State capital where all kinds of characters exist. So the first thing we thought of was the security of lives and property of the inhabitants.

“When we came on board, we started by setting up a security committee which swung  into action by going to the communities to discuss with the Community Development Committees (CDCs) on  how best to tackle security challenges in the communities in Yenagoa.

“No doubt, security  is a major challenge. So we went into the flash points to see what we could do. We moved into the communities and discussed with the leadership and set up vigilance groups because security is everybody’s business.

“This we did in conjunction with youth leaders who are more familiar with the terrains. We also supported them financially to carry out their duties. We also ensured that we settled some of the communal crises. We know that the settlement of such crisis is very important because a divided community could also affect governance.”

He said that in Constituency 3, there was a health facility built by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which had no access road and it was agreed that it would have three components of partnership to bring it to life.

Nimizuoa said: “The partnership comprised the oil major, the community and the local government. The community was to provide the land and the council was to construct  the walkway to the facility. That was the first thing we did  in Constituency 3 in Tuburu community. That one has been completed, awaiting inauguration.

“Also in Constituency 1, we looked at the Igbogene market that usually disrupts traffic as a result of trading activities along the road. So we deployed resources to renovate the market and that action has helped considerably to ensure free flow of traffic on market days.”

He said the council administration enjoys a cordial relationship with the Douye Diri administration.

He said all the successes his council had recorded in curbing criminal activities could not have been possible without the assistance of the state government.

The LG chair stated: “On security, as the host council area, we carry out orders from the Governor. We are his foot soldiers. For instance, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we set up task force in response to the state government’s order.

“During the #EndSARS protests, we carried out orders from the government. Governor Diri is a listening governor, so when he gives orders, we carry it out to the letter. So the relationship between the council and the state government is very cordial. We thank Governor Douye Diri for always being there for us.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, has paraded 17 suspected illegal oil bunkerers in the state.  The suspects were reportedly apprehended by the NSCDC Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGIS) and some personnel of the State Command.

Parading the criminals at the Corps Zonal Command in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday, the spokesman of the command, Akin Oguntuase, said six trucks and a bus used in conveying the illegally refined products, particularly kerosene and diesel, were impounded during the arrest.  Oguntuase noted that the effort was meant to ensure the protection of critical national assets and the fight against soot in the Niger Delta environment, stressing that the fight will continue until the criminals are arrested.

He said, “Today, we are parading 15 suspected oil thieves, who were arrested by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGIS) in collaboration with the personnel of the State Command.

“A total of six trucks and a bus used to convey the illegally refined products like kerosene and diesel were arrested.

“Two out of the six trucks were handed over to the command by Dr. Chidi Lyold, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of the State for investigations and possible prosecutions.”

Also, “On the 25th January 2022, at about 13.05 hours, close to Olu Obasanjo Road, two suspected oil thieves were arrested and a truck with registration number RNG 18LX yellow and white colour were arrested along with the  suspects who are going  under interrogations , they  would soon be charged to court.”

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, yesterday, received a Haitian delegation at the Government House, Enugu, amid excitement and fulfilment.

The 10-man Haitian delegation, led by Senator Moise Jean-Charles, were on a home-coming mission to Enugu, the historic capital of Igboland, to perform conventional Igbo rituals such as traditional naming and name adoption, after they traced their roots to Igboland.

Addressing the delegation, Gov. Ugwuanyi represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, delightfully welcomed them to Enugu State in particular and the entire Igboland in general, and commended them for the bold step.  Gov. Ugwuanyi also appreciated them for “keeping a date with history, for following your heart, and for following your roots and getting back to your roots.”

The governor, who stressed the significance of the visit, stated that “today is a new beginning for all of us”.

He added: “We open our doors to you and we are ready as we have demonstrated. We also want you to know that changing your names is in agreement with the Igbo tradition that you have a new name for a new born.

“Today, you are born new in Enugu State and in the land of your fathers. Congratulations!”

In his address, the leader of the delegation, Sen. Jean-Charles, who described the visit to Enugu State as home-coming, rooting back to their origin in Igboland, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the hospitality accorded to them in the state.

He recounted the affinity of the people and culture of Enugu State and Haiti, revealing that Enugu has five letters as Haiti and that Enugu and Haiti mean cities on top of a hill.

According to the leader of the Haitian delegation, “I have visited many countries, many places around the world but this is the first time I have visited a country that everybody looks like me.”

Sen. Jean-Charles went further to say: “I have not come here as a foreign person. I have come back home. Before I keep on talking, I want to on behalf of all Haitians, all the blocks in Haiti, to thank you (Ugwuanyi) for receiving us after 218 years.

“We have decided that people in the whole continent of Africa and all of us who are there in Haiti are a wind following the bird from the African continent and it has brought bear in America which means all of us are one”.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ugonna Ibe, the Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and Ozo (Dr.) Ferdinand Anikwe, gave a historic background of the Haitians and their link with Igbos, applauding the visitors for taking such a bold step in identifying with the people of their origin.

The climaxes of the event were the traditional naming and name adoption by the Haitian delegation, which were performed by Igwe Agubuzu in company of other traditional rulers present, dancing of Igede cultural dance by the visitors, and presentation of souvenirs to them by Enugu State government.

Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, State Executive Council (EXCO), Special Advisers to the Governor, other top government functionaries and the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Enugu State, Prof. Fred Eze witnessed the historic event.