Category: South East

By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is to hold a public hearing today to get inputs from stakeholders on the contentious anti-open grazing bill.

The bill, which sailed through the second reading last Thursday, is to be passed into law tomorrow, our correspondent learnt.

House Committee Chairman on Information Mr. Aniefiok Dennis, who disclosed this to The Nation yesterday, said representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association, owners of livestock, the Muslim community and other stakeholders have been invited to the public hearing.

Read Also; Herders defy southern states’ ban on open grazing

“The essence of the hearing is to get inputs from stakeholders before we pass the bill into law. We want to be thorough and democratic about it.

“Akwa Ibom is a peace loving state. So, we won’t ignore the feelings and opinions of people and groups relevant to the bill.

“I assure you that the House will pass the anti-open grazing bill on Tuesday. I also trust that the governor will give it expeditious assent because as you can see, Akwa Ibom is behind the deadline agreed to by the Southsouth governors at their last meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.’’

By Elo Edremoda, Warri and Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

• Diri hails INEC on BVAS

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded by-election in Isoko South Constituency 1 of Delta State, Evivie Ovuakpoye, has been declared the winner.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced this yesterday morning at the constituency’s collation centre in Isoko South INEC Local Government Area (LGA) Office.

The PDP, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were the major contestants in the election.

The seat at the House of Assembly became vacant following the death of the member representing the constituency, Mr. Kenneth Ogba, in June.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Christopher Onosemuode, said the PDP candidate won with 6,957 votes.

APC candidate Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo polled 1,301 votes, while the candidate of the SDP, Mr. Emumena Paul, scored 1,291 votes.

The election ended on a sad note with the killing of Aziakpono Igwhe, said to be a vigilance group member and the APC agent at Irri Ward 10 by suspected thugs.

Read Also; 2023: Whither the PDP?

The winner dedicated his victory to God.

Speaking at a special thanksgiving service held yesterday at St. Paul Anglican Cathedral Church, Oleh, the headquarters of Isoko South Local Government, Ovuakpoye said: “Whatever victory we recorded in the just concluded by-election is as a result of God’s benevolence.”

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has hailed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the electoral body for the successful introduction and deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

INEC introduced and tested the new voter accreditation device last Saturday in Isoko South Constituency 1 by-election.

Diri, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said the successful deployment of the device ensured that the accreditation and voting process were fair and credible.

He hoped that the deployment of the right technology alongside INEC’s sincerity portended good signals for future elections in the country.

He noted that once INEC got the accreditation process right with proper usage of technology to electronically transmit the results of elections, the outcome would reflect the true wishes of the electorate.

Urging the electoral umpire to ensure that the coming elections in Anambra, Osun and the 2023 general election were free, fair and credible, the governor said INEC’s honesty would instil confidence in the electoral process.

He said: “The successful introduction of the new voter accreditation system in Saturday’s by-election in Delta State raises a lot of hope for future credible elections.

“INEC’s sincerity with the electoral process will instil more confidence and bring credibility to elections in the country. I, therefore, commend Prof. Yakubu and INEC for the bold steps to raise the bar of credible elections.”

Diri congratulated Ovuakpoye for emerging the winner.

By Elo Edremoda, Warri

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has urged security agencies to fish out killers of Aziakpono Igwhe, a victim in Isoko South Constituency 1 by-election held last Saturday.

The governor in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, condemned the killing.

Read Also; Love, peace panacea for Nigeria’s unity – Okowa 

He said: “Despite the peace that characterised the election, I decry the reported killing of a voter at Irri Ward 10 and I urge security agencies to go after the culprits and bring them to justice.”

Dr. Okowa congratulated Mr. Evivie Ovuakpoye and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the victory in the by-election.

Our Reporter

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged youths to promote peace and oneness that will bring a positive change in the country.

The National Youth Leader of the group, Mr. Damian Okafor, gave the advice on Sunday at a ceremony to celebrate his position as the leader of the youth wing of Ohanaeze, at Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State.

He said the importance of peace and oneness to national development could not be overemphasised.

Okafor said his focus in his new position would be youth development.

He advised the people to support good policies that would move not only Ivo, Ebonyi and Igbo forward, but also Nigeria.

Read Also: No going back on one million protest at UN General Assembly — Yoruba Nation, IPOB, others vow

“As a new leader, l will work hard and support government policies to ensure that every factor facing the youth becomes a thing of the past.

“I pray God for wisdom to carry on. My advice to the youth is to work towards strengthening the unity of Nigeria and oneness.

“Nigeria is one and we will continue to preach such. The youth must be liberated.”

“I thank our governor, David Umahi, for his support, the Igbo leaders, youths for choosing me as their leader and the Ivo Local Government chairman,” he said.

Governor Umahi, represented by the Chairman of Ivo Local Government, Mr. Onyebuchi Ogbadu, described unity and peace as key to sustainable development.

He took the opportunity to thank the Southeast states for their support in ensuring that someone from Ebonyi State emerged as Ohanaeze national youth leader.

The Assistant Treasurer, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Mr. Okechukwu Okorie, said they would work as a team for national development.

The event also featured award presentation to the national youth leader for his loyalty and commitment to service of humanity.

By Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

A group, the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC), has urged the Federal Government to hand over those fingered in the alleged mismanagement of the funds of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

President Muhammadu Buhari had claimed that N6trillion had been invested in the Niger Delta intervention agency in the last 18 years without anything to show for it.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, had claimed that the auditors had concluded the examination and documentation of 13, 777 contracts for projects and programmes awarded to contractors and consultants in Niger Delta states from 2001 to August 2019, at a final contract value of N3,274.206,032,213.24.

Read Also; Nigeria spends N6tr on war against terrorism, loses N5.4tr to tax evasion – EFCC chairman

The body said in a statement that it had become necessary for the government to come hard on culprits, to act as a deterrent to others.

It said: “We call on the Federal Government to direct the EFCC to go after the persons involved in the looting and mismanagement of these funds.

“We advise President Buhari to direct security agencies, most especially the EFCC, to go after the looters of the humongous amount of money of the NDDC.”

The group urged the government to take action and not to play politics with the audit report.

”We advise the Federal Government not to use the release of the forensic audit report of the NDDC as a mere press release. Each person that has a hand in the looting and mismanagement of these funds should be arrested and prosecuted.”

By Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Despite the signing into law of the Rivers State ‘Open Rearing and Grazing Prohibition Law No 5 of 2021’ by Governor Nyesom Wike last month, the law is yet to be enforced.

Members of the House of Assembly passed the bill into law on August 18, Wike signed it and urged the police to ensure compliance, but this is yet to take effect.

Read Also: Herders defy southern states’ ban on open grazing

However, the police appear not to be aware of the signing of the law by the governor.

Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, a Superintendent of Police (SP), yesterday assured The Nation in Port Harcourt that “we will enforce the law when we confirm governor’s assent and so long as it does not conflict with the provision of the constitution.”

He said the police would enforce the anti-open grazing law to the extent it agrees with the constitution, but “if it is at variance with the constitution, then that of the federation will take precedence.”

By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HostCom), has advised Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano to establish the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ANAMSOPADEC).

HostCom National President Dr. Benjamin Tamaranebi spoke at the weekend in Awka at the convention and inauguration of 21 local governments’ coordinators and executives.

He said the commission would not only facilitate development of local communities and peaceful disposition of indigenes, but would also dissuade youths from economic sabotage of pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, illegal refineries and other crimes.

Read Also; Six trillion for NDDC in 19 years: Why isn’t Niger Delta transformed?

Tamaranebi said: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria does not have an operational youth and women developmental policies. There is also lack of jobs for youth groups.

“This has contributed to youth displacement into militancy, political unrest, kidnaping, hostage taking, armed robbery, terrorism and banditry happening in almost every part of Nigeria.

“This is why HostCom has been striving all these years, negotiating with the government to address  underdevelopment in oil and gas host communities.

“Today we have got three per cent HostCom trust fund, instead of the 10 per cent we agitated for at the National Assembly. We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the promise kept.”

While soliciting support in the ongoing negotiation for total inclusion and trust fund management in relation with monarchs for sustainable developments, he enjoined community leaders to ensure judicious use of the three per cent trust fund to drive developmental projects in the host communities.

The monarch of Umunya and Grand Patron of HostCom, Chris Onyekwuluje, praised Governor Obiano for ensuring that the state joined the league of oil producing states.

The state Chairman, HostCom, Chief Victor Emeka, promised that no community would be left out in their move to explore dialogue to attract development to communities.

“Let’s work together to achieve greater things for our communities. We promise to carry every community along in our quest for infrastructure and human development,” he said.

Anambra State officially joined oil-producing states, following an approval granted by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which has ratified the attribution of 11 oil wells to the state.

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia 

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has submitted the names of 27 commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly for screening.

The governor, since the dissolution of his executive council (exco) in January, has been running the state with a few members of the exco.

Although Dr. Ikpeazu’s action has been defended by Information Commissioner Mr. John Okiyi-Kalu when quizzed on the matter, concerned citizens and opposition parties, who saw the act as illegal, have advised Ikpeazu to reconstitute a full exco.

Read Also; No going back on one million protest at UN General Assembly — Yoruba Nation, IPOB, others vow

The governor in a statement yesterday signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chris Ezem, named the nominees as Mazi Donatus Okorie, Ndom Godwin, Chief Okezie Erondu, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji, Karibe Ojigwe, Chief Uwaoma Olewengwa, Prince C. O. Enweremadu, Charles Esonu, Chief Chinagorom Nwankpa,  Monday Ajaegbu, Mr. Sopuruchi Bekee, Deaconess Rose Urenta, Chief Kingsley Imaga, Chidiebere Kalu, I. C. Mark, Chief Chisom Nwachukwu, Chief Eze Nwanganga, Mr. Tony Nwanmuo, Mr. Sam Nwogu, Dr. Chidi Onwuchuruba, Ugochukwu Emezue, Mrs. Adaku Oseiza, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, Chief Godswill Nwanoruo, Prince Obinna Okey, Chief Ukwu Rocks Emma and  C. C. Emelogu.

The statement said the governor had sent the names of the commissioner- nominees to the House of Assembly for screening, which would be conducted by the 7th Assembly lawmakers at a later date.

Reports have it that the names of the nominees will be presented at the floor of the House when they resume from annual recess.

Residents and opinion leaders have frowned at the recycling of names as commissioner-nominees.

They said the list comprising names of former commissioners and political appointees in Ikpeazu’s administration is a recycling of people as a result of party affiliation and not because of competency.

By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin  

The Amakosuwei (oldest man) at Inikorogha, an Ijaw community in Ovia Southwest Local Government of Edo State, Chief Joseph Megbuwei, has urged security operatives to leave the peaceful community alone. He said Inikorogha does not harbour criminals, arms and ammunition.

Megbuwei described as untrue, the allegation of violence at the community.

He said the residents enjoyed peace; hence they did not need security operatives to invade their community and harass them.

Read Also; How landgrabbers sacked us from our ancestral land, by Ibeju-Lekki community

The man faulted the claim of election of an interim community executive, saying there was an existing leadership structure led by Timi Robert.

He opposed the claim that there were firearms at Inikorogha, allegedly owned by a former militant leader and said that last month, military personnel were at the community on search, using drones and other equipment, but they did not find incriminating items.

Another leader of Inikhorogha, Andrew Egiri, said the indigenes had organised themselves, thereby making it difficult for criminals to infiltrate the community