Category: South East

Ex-Senate president and presidential aspirant for 2023 general election Anyim Pius Anyim will host Southeast leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu today.

This is part of his efforts to secure his party’s nod to fly the PDP flag in the presidential election.

Anyim declared his intention to vie for the party’s ticket at its national convention in Abuja on October 30 last year.

He is expected to meet Southeast PDP leaders in Enugu today to brief them on his aspiration.

According to a letter of invitation issued to the PDP zonal leaders, Anyim said the meeting was scheduled to hold at Best Western Hotel, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Youths from Akwa Ibom State have cried out that an Oro person is yet to govern the state since its creation in 1987.

The stakeholders, under the auspices of the Oro Youths Movement (OYM), urged other ethnic nationalities to help Oro people produce the next governor in 2023.

In a communiqué after its Annual General Assembly at Oron, OYM said: “We call on well-meaning people of Akwa Ibom State and other Nigerians to support the sincere and patriotic agitation of Oro people to govern the state in 2023, having not produced a governor since the creation of the state in 1987.

“We are making this demand based on the principles of tripod, equity, justice and in the interest of democracy that Oro ethnic nationality, being an integral part of Akwa Ibom State, be given a chance to govern the state, as was done to our brothers- Ibibio and Annang.”

The communiqué was signed by the Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Philip Nkanginue; National Secretary, Sunday Offiong; National President, Edet Eyo and Director, Media and Publicity, Roselyn Ntekim.

The group urged Governor Udom Emmanuel, political leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to convene a summit to discuss issues surrounding the 2023 governorship election.

People yesterday shed tears of joy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, as Nnewi indigenes living in Atlanta, United States of America (USA), cleared the medical bills of indigent nursing mothers.

The women, discharged by the hospital management after being delivered of their babies, said they had been stranded at the maternity wards for weeks, following their inability to foot their bills.

The donors’ coordinator, Mrs. Grace Okeke, said they contributed N1.5 million for the rescue operation, adding that the target was to give succour and put smiles on the faces of the mothers.

She said: “Mrs. Ekwegbalu and I from Atlanta, USA, representing Nnewi Union group, were touched because these people could not pay their bills.

“What we are doing now is part of our philanthropic activities. We are here to assist those who are stranded. We got information and decided to come here to release them.

“Every year, we focus on different things. Sometimes motherless babies, other times on people with kidney problem. This time we focus on those who are unable to pay their hospital bills.

“Some of the bills were over N250,000 and many of the mothers said they had spent more than two weeks after their discharge, waiting for help.”

NAUTH Chief Medical Director Dr. Joseph Ugboaja thanked the Nnewi indigenes for their think-home-philosophy and kind gesture.

He said: “The hospital is interested in partnership and how it can be helped to link up with high-ranking health institutions and individuals from Nnewi and Anambra State for the ongoing transformation of NAUTH.”

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said the government has received with a deep sense of grief, the news of the death of a former Military Administrator (MILAD) of the state, Col. Anthony Obi (Rtd).

Obi, according to reports, died on January 1 at the age of 70.

He was appointed as a military administrator in August 1998 and ruled till May 29, 1999, handing over to Orji Uzor Kalu.

Obi was Osun State MILAD prior to his transfer to Abia State, where he took over from Col. Moses Fasanya.

Dr. Ikpeazu described Obi as an officer and a gentleman, whose career in the Army witnessed successes.

The March 17 swearing-in of Anambra State governor-elect Prof Charles Soludo is likely to take place at the 10,000 capacity International Conference Centre (ICC), in Awka.

Governor Willie Obiano gave the hint yesterday while on inspection tour of the centre, alongside Aguleri traditional council members.

ICC is one of the legacy projects by Obiano, including the Anambra Cargo and Passenger International Airport at Umueri

He said his motivation for the architectural design of the project was the popular ‘American Still Jet’, which, according to him, moved silently.

The governor said it was one of the best in the American military arsenal, hoping that it was a replica of an average onye Anambra.

He said with the airport in place, the centre would be viable.

Obiano said he believed that the contractor was competent to deliver.

On its maintenance and sustainability plans for the project, the governor said the contractor would be as facility managers to maintain the place.

He said it was the only way it would last, just like the airport and stadium.

The contractor, Mr. Mark Tu, said the centre had a seating capacity of between 10,000 and 12,000 people at once.

He said they were rounding off the ceiling and the lighting work, adding that they were about to begin the final painting of the building.

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described as a lie, the besieging of the palace of Eze Emmanuel Okeke of Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government of Imo State, by operatives of its Eastern Security Network (ESN).

It said its security operatives had no issues with traditional rulers and accused the Army and the Police of attempting to create a wrong impression that the IPOB was hunting monarchs.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB accused the Ebubeagu security outfit of killing and burning down properties belonging to Governor Hope Uzodinma’s political opponents.

The group urged Imo people to take statistics of persons killed in the state since Uzodimma came to power through his agents called Ebubeagu security outfit, stressing that he must be made to account for his alleged atrocities.

The statement said: “Following the frustration and lack of professionalism by the security agencies, they have as usual resorted to lies and propaganda to deceive gullible minds.

“The Army and the Police parading and killing innocent citizens in Imo State have started with falsehood to demonise their innocent victims. They can only deceive those who don’t know what is happening in Imo State.”

Akwa Ibom State Government has banned the activities of scrap metal scavengers over the recent clashes, which caused the death of three persons.

It said it took the decision because of crimes and threats to peaceful inter-ethnic coexistence, especially between the Hausa and the indigenes.

Two Hausa boys were burnt to death on Sunday in a reprisal, following the killing of an indigene by persons suspected to be Hausa scrap metal collectors.

The situation has led to tension between the Hausa and the indigenes.

The government also reiterated the ban on the operation of commercial motorcyclists in Uyo and its environs.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, in a statement yesterday on behalf of the government, accused the scavengers of infractions against public peace and safety.

He said the ban followed “incidence of grave infractions, including acts of criminality and threat to peaceful inter-ethnic relationship by operators of this enterprise.”

The statement said: “The government action is also in consonance with public sentiments amid popular complaints against the activities of these scavengers, who violate people’s properties, stealing and assaulting law-abiding citizens.

“Last year, multiple explosions, causing fatalities, were recorded in Oruk Anam Local Government in the course of scavengers sorting out what turned out to be military brand explosives.

“About four persons died in this incident. Similarly, on January 2, 2022, scavengers violated the premises of a citizen at Afaha Oku in Uyo Local Government, in an attempt to cart away properties.

“While attempting to prevent the scavengers, the citizen was killed, while a mob action was visited on the scavenger’s assailants, resulting in the death of two scavengers.

“Sundays appear to be the busiest day for these scavengers, who take advantage of mass church attendance to invade homes and cart away valuables, leaving hapless citizens with tales of woe upon their return from church.

“As a responsible government, we can no longer tolerate the activities of this industry, which is in no way adding value to the socio-economic well-being of the state, but is rather escalating tension and threatening the peace and security of the state.”

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has queried the Transport Minister and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi’s silence on the agitation of stakeholders for a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

IYC President Peter Timothy Igbifa, in a statement yesterday to herald the new year, wondered why Amaechi, hitherto known for his boldness in speaking out, had remained unusually quiet since the agitation for justice and fairness started in the NDDC.

Igbifa, who reflected on some of the achievements of the council since he took over its leadership, also condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on the NDDC board during his  recent speech to inaugurate a hostel project completed by the commission in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

He said although the extension of Effiong Akwa’s tenure as NDDC sole administrator ended on December 31,  the Presidency was doing nothing to inaugurate the NDDC board.

The IYC boss said the council would continue to demand transparency and accountability in the NDDC and urged the President to make the forensic audit report of the commission public.

He said the IYC remained committed to having governors from Ijaw extraction in Rivers and Delta states in 2023.

He, however, asked Ijaw politicians and persons sympathetic to the cause of the Ijaw Nation to begin consultations and grassroots mobilisation to actualise the vision.

Igbifa said the IYC would monitor the implementation of the Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA), to ensure it would not become another political strategy to steal billions of naira to run the 2023 elections.