Category: South East

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has thanked the citizens for supporting his administration.

He spoke yesterday at the state’s 10th Annual Thanksgiving Day.

The governor, who was full of joy for the peace, stability and unity enjoyed by the people, said he had not much to say than to thank leaders and founding fathers of the state for supporting his administration.

He promised to continue to churn out projects that would improve the living standard of the people.

Diri hailed former governor Senator Seriake Dickson for initiating the Thanksgiving Day celebration and for putting up the magnificent Ecumenical Centre, which has become a rallying ground every November 2 for people to appreciate God for His blessings.

The event attracted prominent Nigerians.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Chaplain of the Aso Rock Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo, commended Governor Diri, saying the developmental strides witnessed in the state attested to the presence of God as a result of the recognition accorded Him.

Dickson, who came with his wife,  Rachael, also appreciated Diri for continuing the programmes and projects his administration initiated.

The former governor of old Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George, said Bayelsans have reasons to thank God, as the state has produced prominent leaders, including ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

He added that Bayelsa is blessed with human and natural resources.

Guest preacher Rev. Uma Ukpai made prophetic declarations and proclaimed healing and blessings on the people of the state.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has promised not to divert state funds to his personal enrichment.

He made this known during a three-day solemn assembly to usher in the annual state thanksgiving at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.

The governor stressed that he had no reason to own landed property in foreign land while serving in public office.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that despite receiving several of such offers, he had often resisted them because of his conviction that state funds were for development and not for personal acquisition.

Diri said he would not renege on his oath to use state resources for physical infrastructure and human empowerment of Bayelsa and its people.

He said: “I have no reason to own property in London or in the U.S. They have come several times and I have always said no.

“I can buy a property there if I am doing private business and with my private funds. It is not wrong to own property outside the country, but I will never do it with the public money of Bayelsa.

“We are using our state funds to build roads and schools, to pay salaries, gratuities and pensions to our people. If we do otherwise, then you have every reason to criticise us.”

The governor urged the people to shun hatred, embrace love and join hands with his administration despite their political affiliations, so that the state could make progress.

He stressed that as the only homogeneous Ijaw state in the country, it is imperative to unite as a people and forge a common front.

Diri said the state was in safe hands with him and his deputy steering the ship.

In a sermon, the founder of the Royal House of Grace International Church, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey, recounted reasons the state should render thanksgiving to God even in the midst of the challenges in the country.

He said thanksgiving to God unlocks supernatural breakthroughs.

Anambra State Police Commissioner Echeng Echeng has said there will be a 48-hour lockdown of the state ahead of the November 6 governorship election.

He said the lockdown, which takes effect from Thursday night, is meant to prevent troublemakers from entering the state from anywhere else.

The police boss, who spoke in Awka, the state capital, assured all stakeholders that the command had put in place contingency plans to identify flash points so that the force would be able to handle any unforeseen situation.

Echeng said: “We intend to have a lockdown to enable us control access into the state to ensure people don’t come in to foment trouble.

“We think we’re good to go. Those who think the election will not hold have been proved otherwise. Come November 6, election will hold.”

He added: “Assets and personnel have started arriving. We have 85 per cent of them on the ground. We’ve started deployment.

“We have enough vehicles, helicopters and marine boats to take care of the waterways, which will be complement by the Navy.

“For the past one week, the police have been on confidence building patrol of all nooks and crannies of the state. We’ve had meetings with stakeholders to discuss the way forward, and they have assured us of maximum security.

“We send warning signals to those who want to foment trouble that it’s not going to be a tea party for them. Those who attempt to test our will won’t have a good story to tell, if at all they’ll return to their camps.

“Camps have been identified and operations are ongoing. For those who would not be taken out that day, we have plans for them.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has been providing robust and actionable intelligence, and we’ve been responding accordingly. We have two Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) and five Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) on the ground to coordinate the force activities and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to take care of all the local government areas.

“DSS, Army, Navy, NSCDC, Immigration and FRSC have all deployed. Our deployment must have been completed by Thursday.”

Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has reassured all stakeholders that Saturday’s governorship election remains sacrosanct.

The INEC boss spoke yesterday in Awka, the state capital, during a consultative interagency committee on security arrangement for the poll.

He said: “When the commission released the timetable 11 months ago, it sounded like the election would never come. But here we are: 11 months have been reduced to four days.

“We reassure all registered voters that the election is going to be free, fair, credible and, upon the assurance of security agencies, peaceful.

“The only outstanding issue that several persons raised concerns about is the availability of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) for the new registrants and replacement with issues of transfer.

“All the cards for all new registrants have been printed and delivered to Anambra State and have been distributed to all the 21 local government areas in the state.

“Beyond that, due to the technology we deployed for voter registration, we were able to harvest the telephone numbers as well as email addresses of new registrants. We’ve contacted all of them.”

Former Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development Dr. Victor Nnam has threatened to sue the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Enugu State councils, over allegations that he revoked workers’ land and reallocated same to others.

The workers had in a statement declared that the former commissioner must face justice despite his resignation, insisting that the reasons Nnam gave for his resignation were far from the truth, as he was only trying to escape the long arm of the law.

But in an interaction with The Nation, Nnam said he had already briefed his lawyers to take legal actions against the labour unions for levelling a malicious allegation against him.

The ex-commissioner described the labour leaders as hirelings of political jobbers and mischief makers.

He said the workers had no title on the land. Therefore, land without titles could not have been revoked.

He said: “Ask any of them to provide you with a copy of their title documents (not allocation letter) or receipt of payment to the government coffers for the said land.

“I am confident that they have no title on the land, let alone anyone revoking such titles.

“They are hired by political jobbers and mischief makers. My lawyers are preparing legal actions against them for their malicious publication.”

A group, Concerned Enugu Professionals, has carpeted the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees for its position on the resignation of Nnam.

NULGE accused the former commissioner of not being truthful with the reasons adduced for his resignation.

The union accused him of giving its land and that of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Enugu branch, to a real estate developer, Hymac Real Ltd.

The Concerned Enugu Professionals, in a statement by its President, Mike Ugwu, said the position of the NULGE was faulty.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Edo State chapter, has said workers of the 18 local governments are being owed over N4 billion salaries.

It appealed to the Edo State Government and heads of local government administration to begin payment of the arrears.

The state NULGE president, Imokhai Adorolo, made this known yesterday in Benin during an interactive session with reporters.

He lamented that workers of the 18 local governments were downcast, following the non-payment of their salaries.

Adorolo said: “Our expectation was that as the allocations improve, there ought to be corresponding improvement in the payment of outstanding salary and deductions. If we cannot help ourselves who will help us?

“With the proceeds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared for October, there is no reason for the councils’ inability to start offsetting the arrears.”

“We know that the allocations to the councils have improved, while their expenditures have dropped, as there are currently no political office holders, whose bills would have eaten deep into the revenue. So, why are they not paying our salaries and arrears?”

He admonished Governor Godwin Obaseki to prevail on the local government bosses to do the needful.

The Army has claimed that recent killings, arson and destructions in the Southeast were orchestrated and executed by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, stated this while briefing reporters on the ongoing army exercises across the country yesterday in Abuja.

He said the group had engaged in killing of innocent citizens and burning of houses and turned round to accuse soldiers of perpetrating the acts.

He urged the public to disregard the videos in circulation depicting soldiers as enemies of the people.

Nwachukwu said that troops of 82 Division operating under “Exercise Golden Dawn” in the region had continued to protect lives and property as well as checkmating the activities of IPOB/ESN.

He said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on October 4 inaugurated Exercises Still Waters, Enduring Peace and Golden Dawn in the Southsouth, Southwest, Northcentral and Southeast covering 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Imo State residents are still cautious of their movements for fear of unexpected attack by gunmen for violating the self-imposed sit-at-home order.

When our correspondent monitored the situation in Owerri metropolis yesterday, many people were afraid to step out of their homes, as palpable anxiety still persisted in the state over IPOB’s Sit –at- home order.

Commercial activities resumed yesterday in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, as the leadership of IPOB marked its 13th ghost Monday sit-at-home in the Southeast.

It was, however, a different story in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, as traders and shop owners in major markets, including but not limited to Ariaria International Market, stayed away from their shops and markets in adherence to the sit-at-home order of IPOB.

The sit-at-home order imposed on the Southeast by IPOB witnessed another success in Anambra State yesterday.

Banks, markets, schools and shops failed to operate.

But security operatives were on parade in a show of force.

About 31 motorcades moved from old Road, Mkpor in Onitsha to Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Awka, to announce their readiness against non-state actors.

Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu told The Nation that it was not being done to frighten people, but to create awareness.