Category: South East

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has accused Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of stunting growth in other parts of the State by his lopsided development of his hometown, Owa- Alero, Ika North East LGA.

He said Governor Okowa and the PDP has done damage to the State, and urged Deltans to vote PDP out of power in 2023.

He spoke on Friday at Ovwor-Olomu, Ughelli South LGA while receiving PDP decampees from Olomu Wards 1 and 2, Gbaregolor, Ewu, Orere, Arhavwarhrien, Erhruvwaren, Olota, Okparabe, Asa, Otu-Jeremi and Effurun-Otor to the All Progressives Congress (AP).

Flanked by the member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Francis Waive, APC State chairman-elect, Omeni Sobotie, Delta Central APC Chairman, Adelabu Bodjor, Paulinus Akpeki and other party chieftains, Omo-Agege, said Okowa and the PDP had failed in his bid to rescue Delta and so cannot rescue Nigeria.

Delta State Chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Erue, assured the new members that they would enjoy the same privileges as old members.

The Bayelsa State Government has called on the youths to support the fight against oil bunkering, illegal refining and other unwholesome activities that impact negatively on oil production and revenues accruing to the state.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call yesterday at a meeting with youth leaders from Ogbia Local Government Area in Government House, Yenagoa.

Pointing out the direct relationship between oil production and revenue generation in the state, Ewhrudjakpo lamented the dwindling federal allocations to the state in recent times.

The Deputy Governor, who decried the sharp drop in Bayelsa’s oil production, said several oil wells were operating at zero output level.

He blamed the development on the activities of oil thieves, illegal refining of crude and unnecessary stoppage of the operations of oil companies.

He said that while the present administration would not support the oil companies to shortchange their host communities, there is need for the people to channel their grievances to the government for amicable settlement.

According to him, apart from the 13 per cent oil derivation, all the other parameters used by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for revenue sharing do not favour Bayelsa.

He therefore charged the youths to stand against any activity that would reduce the quantum of crude oil being produced in the state.

Ewhrudjakpo stressed that it was unjustifiable to complain against environmental degradation caused by oil companies, when people from the Niger Delta are also contributing to it through illegal refining of crude oil.

The Deputy Governor, who urged all stakeholders including community leaders to work closely with security agencies to stop the menace, maintained that illegal oil refining does not only endanger the health of the people but also destroys the environment of both the present and future generations.

Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, urged Nigerians to emulate the late Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Samuel Oseji’s virtues of humility, simplicity and hard work in order to make the Nigeria a better place.

Okowa made the call at the funeral service held in honour of the late jurist at Idumuje-Unor, in Aniocha North LGA.

He noted that Oseji, who died at the age of 67, was a noble man, a man of integrity and a man that loved all, saying that if Nigerians could imitate him, lives of citizens and the nation could be much better.

He remarked that the late jurist was a man full of wisdom, adding the deceased drew strength from God as he surrendered his life to Him during his lifetime.

According to him, the late sexagenarian judicial officer never believed that he could do anything without God, and God was always with him even as He (God) is with him today.

Earlier in his homily, Bishop Wale Ajayi of Church of God Mission International said that the late Justice Samuel Oseji slept in Jesus Christ because, he put his faith and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ajayi said the late Justice Oseji was a devout Christian who put his total faith and confidence in Jesus Christ, adding that the deceased jurist vehemently believed that Christ died for him, that Christ rose from death and that Christ will come again.

In his remarks during the ceremony, son of the deceased legal icon, Mr. Samuel Oseji (Jnr.), expressed appreciation to Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the immeasurable love he had shown to the family, and thanked Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal as well as other members of the legal profession for being with them in their moment of grief.

Shortly after the funeral service, the remains of the erudite jurist were taken to his home for interment.

Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Anambra state has congratulated Prof. Chukwuma Soludo on his victory as the governor-elect of the state in the just concluded governorship election.

The President, Comrade Chikwelu Adigwe, in a statement on Friday said the victory did not come to the Union as a surprise, saying it was a demonstration of the people’s love for him.

He expressed confidence that Soludo’s influence would encourage workers’ productivity, just as he looked forward to harmonious working relationship with the governor-elect.

The statement reads, “We congratulate His Excellency, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the governor-elect on your victory in the gubernatorial election.

“Your win was not a surprise to us, it has proven that the people love you. Now it’s your turn to love them back. We have full believe and confidence in you, and we know you will do amazingly as an elected governor of our state.”

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has promised to immortalise the late former Military Administrator of Anambra and Enugu States, Col. Herbert Obi Ezeh (rtd) for all he did to attract development to the South East.

Speaking at the commendation service held in honour of late Col.Ezeh at St. Jude’s Catholic Church 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze on Friday, Governor Uzodimma described the deceased as “a very good man, a statesman par excellence who was always interested in the welfare and well-being of his people.”

He therefore and promised to name an edifice in Imo State after the late Col. Ezeh as a way of appreciating his selfless service to humanity while he was alive.

The governor noted that as a former Military Governor of Anambra and Enugu States, Col. Ezeh served the country not only as a soldier but also served his community. “That he was instrumental to many developmental projects that came from the federal government to the Southeast, because he attracted a lot of things to his people, is an understatement.”

The governor reminded the Orsu people that while alive, their brother, Col. Ezeh, was concerned about the security situation in Orsu Local Government Area, warning that he is afraid the things Col. Ezeh “laboured for, championed and fought for Orsu people are gradually getting eroded.”

In their various tributes at the commendation service, the Nigerian Military represented by the Brigade Commander, Brig. General RT Utsaha described late Col. Ezeh as “a fine gentleman who served meritoriously and won many medals as a leader and Commander of several Commands.”

The former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim described Col. Ezeh as “a decent and unassuming gentleman who was not selfish till death.”

Two retired Army Generals who spoke – Major General Chikwe and Major General Laz Ilo – described the life and times of late Col. Ezeh as one worthy of emulation.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has assured the woman, Mrs. Augustina Ifebuchechukwu Eze, whose seven-year-old son was allegedly killed by her husband, Chidi Onyishi, for money ritual that the state government will do everything within its powers to ensure that she and her children do not suffer.

Speaking when he led a delegation from Governor Ugwuanyi to commiserate with the mourning woman and her children, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo stated that the state government will stand vigorously behind them to overcome the shock and mitigate their suffering.

Oruruo who disclosed that the governor was saddened by the news of the unfortunate incident, condoled with the woman and her children and prayed for the repose of the slain child’s soul, stressing that the act perpetrated by the father of six (her husband) was “unimaginable and unthinkable by all standards.”

Consoling Mrs. Eze and her children, Oruruo who presented Governor Ugwuanyi’s initial cash donation to them for interim upkeep said: “We want to reassure you that the state government will stand vigorously behind you and mitigate the suffering of your kids and contribute immensely to your recovery from this shock.

“And it is the wish of the government to use all legal means to ensure that there is diligent investigation and that the course of justice cannot be subverted. The government is poised not to allow it to be truncated.

“Everything that needs to be done will be done by Enugu State government to ensure that you find justice and overcome this challenge.

“Our governor is a good-minded person who is interested in your wellbeing and that of your children. So he has sent us to come and commiserate with you and reassure you that you will not stand alone. Government will be with you and will give you support as we pray that God will give you stronger reason to find comfort.

“The governor has delivered the sum of N500,000.00 to you and your kids in the interim and every other thing that should be done will be done and this interface will continue between you and the state government to ensure that you and your children are comfortable.”

Responding, Mrs. Eze, who said she was speechless at Governor Ugwuanyi’s gesture, thanked the governor for his compassion and benevolence, explaining that she is still in shock over her son’s sudden death.

A Non-Governmental Organisation based in Finland, Centre for Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation (CEMRI) and the University of Port Harcourt  Entrepreneurship  Centre (UPEC), have begun a three day conference to brainstorm on ways to explore ways to rebuild African economy after Covid-19  pandemic.

The workshop tagged: “International Conference on Entrepreneurship,  Business and Economic Restoration in Post Covid-19  Africa (CEBER), which began yesterday at the University  of Port Harcourt  Campus is expected to feature both foreign and local resource  persons.

In his opening speech, the President of CEMRI,  Dr. Dandison Ukpabi observed that although  the number of Covid-19  deaths recorded in African continent  negates the expectations of the international  world, but it’s devastating  effects in some countries of the continent  cannot be denied.

Akpabi said whereas Professionals of African origin have proven themselves in various endeavour, business, medicine, technology, among others, yet foreign media have constantly reported the continent in bad light, casting negative images about the continent, to scare away  investors, the continent canemploy scientific, technological approach to redeem the image and recover the economy.

He said: ‘Within the last few years, some countries in Africa have recorded many giant strides in information technology, medicine and health, education, tourism and banking.

“Similarly, many Africans in diaspora have distinguished themselves in their respective professions.

“However, the reportage of Africa by majority of the international media organizations have consistently centered on the negative, thus, casting pale of hopelessness and gloomy future on the continent.

“This does not only affect the perception of Africans about their richly endowed continent, but also affect international investors’ interest in our continent.

“While we acknowledge the daunting challenges facing Africa, just like developing countries in other continents, we believe that a scientific approach, rather that a media hype, to identifying these challenges and proffering solution where necessary will go a long way to providing sustainable solution to these challenges.”

The CEMRI as “group of scholars of Africa origin who ply their trade both home and abroad and are connected by the common and burning desire to challenge and change the negative stereotypes on Africa.

Rivers oil mineral host communities, under the aegis of Coalition of Rivers Oil and Gas Host Communities, (CROGHCOM), has warned against an attempt to include Lagos, Bauchi and Ogun states in the Niger Delta Development  Commission (NDDC).

It said it suspected that it was a ploy to box the region into a corner.

In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday by the Chairman of the group, Barituka Loanyie, the people vowed to resist the move.

The statement said: “The attention of the coalition of Rivers Oil and Gas Host Communities has been drawn to an ongoing attempt by the Senate to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act to include Lagos, Bauchi and Ogun states in the commission.

“We wish to remind the Senate and any other secret hands behind this bill that NDDC was created to serve as an interventionist agency for the development of the Niger Delta region, following years of unthinkable damage caused by oil multinationals and the degradation caused in our communities in the Niger Delta.

“We want to state unequivocally that we will resist any attempt to shortchange and box our people into a corner.”

The people of Ogbozinne-Ndiagu community, Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government of Enugu State have appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Police Commissioner Abubakar Lawal to probe the alleged unlawful arrest and prosecution of their Village Head /Chairman of the locality, Chief John Oko and others by the police.

Oko was reportedly arrested last month when he went to the Agbani Police Station to report the suspicious manner Mr. Ikechukwu Nwobodo allegedly murdered his 32-year-old son, Chika Nwobodo and planned with some members of the community to bury him.

The villagers said the development could be likened to a case of police turning a complainant to a suspect.

They called for investigation into the matter, noting that the unconditional release of the detainees became necessary because Oko and others were suffering for an offence they never committed.

This, they said, is necessary to avoid resurgence of crisis.

One of the community leaders, Chief Hyman Obodo, said: “The detainees should be released unconditionally, because the arrest of the village chairman for unjust cause may lead to resurgence of violence in the community, even as the Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, the late Justice Agbata, advised the parties to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance.

“After the panel, the community came together and started living in peace until one of their kinsmen was killed by his father, which prompted the report to the police and subsequent detention of the chairman of the community.”

The Ogoni ethnic nationality has urged the Federal Government to declare November 10 as a public holiday, in honour of their executed hero, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others.

The President, Ogoni Youth Federation, Legbrosi Yamabana, speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in commemoration of the killing of Saro-Wiwa and eight others, said they were not in support of the proposal by President Muhammadu Buhari to grant pardon to their slain heroes.

He said the activists, who were unjustly treated and died while undertaking a similar cause like Saro-Wiwa had been granted posthumous honours by the Federal Government.

Yamabana said: “We are still seeking justice 26 years after. Justice has not been done to our slain hero, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others also known as the Ogoni nine.

“We need a posthumous recognition to be bestowed on Ken Saro-Wiwa. We need his name and those of his colleagues to be exonerated. We want every November 10 to be declared a public holiday in Nigeria. We believe what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.

“Is it because we are of the minority that they are treating us like this? Just recently some Ogoni leaders visited the President. To our surprise, Mr. President was talking about a pardon. We reject it in its entirety.

“This is not the yearning of the Ogoni or Niger Delta. Pardon is given to criminals.

Ken Saro-Wiwa was a hero. He committed no crime to be given a pardon. Instead, he should be exonerated. The Nigerian state will not know true peace until this is done.”