Category: South East

By Daniel Adeleye

A former presidential aspirant and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Stanley Osifo has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to continue in the light that brought an end to the jobs of the former Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development Sabo Nanono and Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman during the week.

Osifo gave this advice during a telephone chat with The Nation on Saturday in Benin-city, Edo State.

The party leader noted that some of the ministers and heads of agencies are only filling up the space, saying political appointments are not a tea party.

Read Also; Buhari to doctors: Striking at this critical time isn’t a good decision

The former presidential hopeful tasked the ministers on periodic self-assessment which according to him will help them to know the extent of their abilities and to improve upon their ministerial duties and responsibilities.

“Talking about the ministry of agriculture and the ministry of power, they are key ministries because when you have these two working effectively in a country, that nation will get better.

“There are ministries and agencies that are doing absolutely nothing despite the money the government giving to them yet they are not using those things for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

“I will advise the president that any minister that he finds who is not measuring up, there is no need to waste time to let them go because it’s absurd to continue funding programmes and projects that are not yielding results,” he counselled.

By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Delta Information Commissioner, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said that the prevailing peace in riverine areas of the state is the result of impactful projects embarked upon by the Okowa led administration.

He said the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa demonstrated high political will by ensuring that projects were taken to the creeks where most of the oil production in the state takes place.

Aniagwu who spoke on TVC monitored in Asaba, said the state government held town hall meetings with the people and resolved to take developments to the creeks which were hitherto described as impossible areas to develop.

He said previous administrations were afraid of the humongous resources that would be deployed to construct a kilometre of road in the creek or to build a structure capable of housing students and people that live in the riverine communities.

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

“There was fear that if such funds were put in these projects they would not be visible to the public but the Okowa led administration has been able to put in a whole lot of resources to build roads in the difficult terrains of the state.

“In the course of his campaigns, the governor went to each of the 270 wards in the state, he listened to the cries of the people and saw the reasons why there were some forms of agitations, particularly in the creeks.

“The moment he came into office, he saw that for him to survive that agitation and have a very peaceful state to implement the Smart Agenda, there is the need to take action.

“In summary, they needed development, they didn’t have roads in the creeks even if it’s their motorcycle they want to use and move around.

“They didn’t have water, functional hospitals in the creeks, they didn’t have functional educational systems in the creeks and what did he do? He now said we will provide these.

“If you go to Burutu, we were able to give them good schools, we paved all the roads in Burutu town. He moved ahead to provide hospitals and when the people started seeing these things, they gave peace a chance.

“The 20.28km Obotobo I-Obotobo II-Sokebolou–Yokri-Road in Burutu Local Government Area inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in 2019, underscores our commitment to providing infrastructure of the most vital interest and consequence.

“Indeed, the riverside communities of Oporoza, Okerenkoko and Benekrukru, amongst others, have been given a facelift with well-paved roads.

“I can tell you authoritatively that in the last 6 years, no contractor was molested or kidnapped in the creeks of Delta,” he said.

Aniagwu said that as the people started seeing the sincerity of the Okowa led administration, it received cooperation from the youths, traditional institutions and women.

“So having been able to take developments to these areas, they now say let’s give this man a level of peace.”

According to him, the people keyed into the Smart Agenda of the governor because of the interaction and equity in distribution of appointments, government projects and programmes.

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

For Ndigbo to realize the 2023 Presidency, the plot will first start with the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Anambra State

This was the view of the Anambra State Chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike and former Southeast Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Okey Ezenwa

The APC chieftains, who spoke in Onitsha when members of the PDP joined APC, said the Igbo Presidency project was a collective responsibility, adding that Anambra State was important because it was the engine of Igbo.

Read Also: ‘Obiano’s successor I’ll emerge through votes not force’

Ejidike, said the people of Southeast knew how important 2023 Presidency was to Igbo, the reason, according to him, political leaders in the zone had joined APC like Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi among others

He said winning Anambra governorship election on November 6 would be the lee-way to actualizing the Igbo dream, which according to him, was the shortest way to it

According to the APC Chairman, “the target of Ndigbo is the 2023 Presidency. That is why winning Anambra November 6 governorship election is very important to Southeast

It was the reason why Ebonyi State governor joined APC and very soon two other governors in the zone will join, ” Ejidike said

Speaking in the same vein, former Southeast Secretary of PDP, who has joined the APC, Chief Okey Ezenwa, said Ndigbo would not want to fluff the opportunity of getting their due portion in Nigeria

He said all hands must be on deck to deliver Senator Andy Uba during the Anambra governorship election, which according to him, would give Ndigbo the upper hand

“Anambra is the heart of Igbo, once our party wins the election, it will be easy for Ndigbo to negotiate the 2023 Presidency and we are not leaving anything to chance in this election,” the man they call Igwulube said.

Our Reporter

Workers under the aegis of Indigenous Workers Union of OML 150 Communities have disowned a purported petition to the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission.

The workers’ leadership, represented by Messrs Nami Alube, Happy Eyefia, Christopher Mene, Bsnjamin Ajirieye and JemineIyen Omagbemi, in a correspondence to the Commission chairman, through their legal adviser, Mr. F.T. Egbe of Adonai Chambers, said they decided to write the commission in order to guide it properly so as not to be misled.

In their letter, the workers said they rejected in its entirety a purported legal letter/petition dated September 6, 2021.

Read Also; IEF urges investigation of alleged plot to take over Bayelsa’s oil fields

According to the union the writers of the letter do not have the right to write (the chairman) as they are not workers in the OML 150 Communities neither are they workers in Conoil Producing Limited or its subsidiary companies that do jobs in the OML 150 oil field for Conoil. The workers stated that Mr. Monday Agbeyi, who is an official of Warri North Local Government, had not breached any regulations of the Council or the Nigerian Constitution by his being made the Chairman of the Executive of the OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum.  They described as highly commendable Agbeyi’s efforts in rendering community service to his people which had in no way conflicted with his statutory job as Council Treasurer.

They stressed that: “The ratification of the appointment of the Executives of OML 150 Communities’ Consultative Forum has always been done by the Palace of Olu of Warri so also was the then executives led by Mr. Charles Omadeli whose tenure expired on December 21, 2020.”

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said that the state will become a centre for the training of magistrates and judges in the country.

The governor said the foundation stone for the National Judicial Institute would be laid during the next round of inauguration of projects  in the state.

Wike gave the hint while speaking shortly after inspecting the Rumuola and G.R.A Junction flyovers, and the Ezimgbu Link Road in Port Harcourt, the State capital on Saturday.

Read Also; Ondo may join Lagos, Rivers in VAT collection battle

The governor said that the state Executive Council would soon meet to determine the specific projects to be lined up for the next phase of inauguration.

He said: “Frankly speaking, it’s not going to be road infrastructure alone,  it will involve health, schools and other humanitarian areas.

“We believe that the Chokocho-Igbodo Road in Etche,  the Oyigbo Road are key projects we think will be included. And then, we are also going to lay the foundation for the Judiciary Institute that will train our Magistrates and Judges.

“We will also lay the foundation stone for the liaison office for the Federal Judicial Service Commission, which they have approved and should be sited, for the South-South Region, in Port Harcourt.”

“From what is seen,  I believe that all will be completed by the end of the month. You can see the beauty of the projects, the way the places look like. Everybody appreciates them.”

By Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

The Egbema Youth Council, on Saturday lifted its 14-day ultimatum given to the operators of OML 40, NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture Nig. Ltd, following the intervention of the Warri North Council Chairman, Hon. Smart Asekutu and warned the companies to honour the GMoU.

The youth council had, in their last meeting on August 30, 2021, issued a 14- day ultimatum to the operators of the joint ventures company to address their 7-point demands, that failure to comply will shut down their operations in the area.

In a press conference in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area, yesterday, the President-General of Egbema Youth Council, Mr. Ebidouwei Miyenpirigha, said the body suspended the ultimatum to allow NPDC/Elcrest Nig. Ltd Joint Ventures to address issues raised by the youth Council.

Read Also; Northeast commission constructs 500 houses for Yobe IDPs

The President-General said the 7-point demands that led to the 14-day ultimatum include: an upward review of the amount for the award of scholarship, capital projects infrastructure in the catchment area and non-capital projects for traditional rulers, among others.

He said they had also pleaded that the scholarship extended to cover post-graduate studies to the level of Masters and P.hD degrees, adding that they are also aware of bursary schemes but since NPDC/Elcrest took over from SPDC in 2013, they have not enjoyed any of those benefits.

The President General said, “we want to appeal to government to compel NPDC to do all the capital projects they promised such as water, 24 hours electricity, market, classrooms block, walkways, sand-filling of the communities, palace for traditional rulers and other infrastructure or we will stop their operations.

“We also reminded OML-40 operators of their promise to pay stipends to members of the host and impacted communities and central youth body to assist them in their administrative duties, employment for Egbema youths which form part of the GMoU, since they are academically qualified. No Egbema youth is employed as staff of the company.”

Agency Reporter

Police in Edo said on Saturday that they rescued five victims of abduction and arrested two suspects in connection with the crime committed on Friday. Police Spokesman, SP Bello Kontongs, said in a press statement that arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

He said the operatives acted on a tip off that suspected kidnappers, accosted a vehicle conveying a corpse from Lagos to Imo on the Benin-Lagos bypass, and they kidnapped three occupants of the vehicle.

“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Egba Division, SP John Emmanuel, mobilised operatives and the local vigilance group for immediate bush-combing.

Read Also; Police kill monarch’s daughter in Ebonyi

“They advanced into the nearby Ute Forest and after hours of bush-combing, they came across the suspected kidnappers who opened fire on them.

“The operatives engaged the suspects in a gun duel which forced the latter to abandon the victims.

“Two of the suspects, Mohammed Ishaku (25) and Mubarak Wada (26), were arrested while others escaped into the thick forest with bullet wounds.

“Three locally made guns, two live cartridges, two cutlasses and some charms were also recovered from the suspects,’’ Kontongs stated.

He said the kidnapped victims conveying the corpse were three in number and that they were rescued alongside two other victims that had earlier been abducted.

Kontongs stated also that the rescued victims had been taken to hospital while efforts were in progress to arrest the fleeing gang members.

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

One of the monarchs deposed by Governor Willie Obiano in Anambra State has been killed by gunmen.

The monarch of Mkpunando, in Aguleri, Alex Edozieuno, was allegedly murdered on Friday, along Ezu Bridge, Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He was among the 13 monarchs suspended last year for visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja with the oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze.

After the saga, he was subsequently dethroned by the governor alongside three others.

Read Also; Attacks on schools threaten Nigeria’s future, by UN agencies

The former monarch, 62, was killed alongside his driver, Chukwuemeka, around 10 a.m.

It was not clear what led to the killing suspected to be an assassination.

Edozieuno, was one-time Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Anambra State, during the reign of the former governor, Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju

In a trending video, the monarch was shot in the head and dragged into the nearby bush while his driver,who was equally shot in the head was left in the vehicle.

Police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident

He said the new Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Tony Olofu, had visited the crime scene.

He said: “the CP described the incident as man’s inhumanity to man and ordered an immediate investigation of the incident.

“The exhibits recovered from the scene were one Lexus 470 with registration number- Aguleri-1 belonging to the victim and some expended ammunition.”

Tochukwu added that the bodies of the victims had been deposited in one of the morgues in the State

By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

The Police in the State have explained that the daughter of a monarch who was killed on Wednesday night in the state died during a shootout with some criminal elements.

The victim, 25-year-old Elizabeth Agwu, was the daughter of Eze Agwu Nwaukpa, a traditional ruler in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State.

Sources told The Nation that the lady was shot near her father’s palace when the security agents invaded the area and shot sporadically in an attempt to arrest a coffin maker.

She is the sister of The Sun Newspaper’s Ebonyi Correspondent, Chijioke Agwu.

Reacting to the incident on Friday, the Police confirmed the death of Elizabeth was as a result of an operation it carried out in the area.

Read Also: Police kill monarch’s daughter in Ebonyi

Police spokesman, Levi Philips said that operatives were on the trail of a coffin maker who leads a local wing of Eastern Security Network (ESN), the security wing of proscribed, Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) in the area.

Levi explained that the Police had arrested four members of the group who had carried out the attack on innocent citizens on August 9th in the area.

He alleged that the gang gruesomely murdered seven persons on that fateful day along the Onicha-Ohaozara road.

He said that operatives had engaged the gang in a shootout during which two persons were like while others escaped with bullet wound injuries.

“Meanwhile, four of the fleeting suspects were arrested and confessed to the crime and being members of  IPOB/ESN”, he said.

Levi noted that following information from the suspects, the Police visited the area and arrested one Nweze Ezenwigboke, a casket maker.

The 52-year-old man, who hails from Ntiebor village was arrested at Alike Village on Wednesday.

He further noted that ‘’Nweze allegedly organized the illegal enforcement order of August 9 leading to the gruesome murder of 7 persons”.

“A few metres from where he was arrested close to the market, his gang members opened fire at the police operatives who were on their way out of the place and police repelled the attack and left the place back to base.”

Levi added that the police later received information that Elizabeth sustained a bullet wound in the crossfire between Police and the gang and later died while being rushed to a hospital in Abakaliki. safety.

By Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has rescued eight maritime  passengers who were abducted in two separate attacks last week.

Police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the rescue of the victims when he paraded a member of a suspected sea pirate gang, Baridule Gbolo who allegedly participated in the kidnap attacks.

The victims are: Grace Jumbo; Rita Allison; Johnson Osele; Gladys Long John; Maimuna Abiba; Obianuga Angus; Ossai Christian and Adekola Opayemi.

Read Also; Three abducted Obasanjo’s workers regain freedom

They were reportedly abducted along Bodo/ Bonny waterways but were rescued in a creek in Ogu /Bolo local government area of the state, Thursday night.

Omoni said their rescue was facilitated by the arrest of Gbolo, a 35- year-old boat driver/ sea pirate by men of Anti- Cultism Unit of the command who led them to the hideout where the victims were being held captive.

The Omoni said: “The suspect had opened up and made useful confessions, including revealing the identities of his cohorts and the place where the victims were kept, following which they were forced to abandon the victims.”

He assured that efforts are on to ensure the arrest of the other members of the gang.

According to him, security along Bodo/Bonny waterways has been increased to stem the tide of attacks in the area.

He however urged passengers and those using the waterways to avoid a late-night journey that is capable of exposing them to danger.