Category: SouthEast

The exclusion of the Ijaw of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State from the commissioners-designate list of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has continued to generate rancour in the state. The sub-ethnic group has threatened to shut down oil facilities in the area.

The leadership of Egbema under the auspices of Egbema Integrity Group (EIG) and Egbema Youth Council (EYC), at a news conference yesterday in Warri, re-echoed their grouse over the act of political “injustice” being meted out to them by the governor.

The people demanded a reversal of the decision that would see their inclusion in the State Executive Council (SEC) and a meeting with the Egbema leadership.

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They wondered the “rationale” behind the decision to shut them out of the SEC despite “overwhelmingly” voting for the governor in the last general election and being a major contributor to crude oil revenue in the country.

A statement made available to reporters at the end of the conference warned that failure of the governor to rescind the decision and meet the leadership would result in the shutdown of flow stations in the area.

The statement was signed by Francis Abulu Esq. for the leadership of EIG, as well as City Kelvin Eferusua and Ekpokeme Governor, president and secretary of EYC.

The statement said: “We demand to know the rationale for this unholy decision. The action of the governor violates Chapter II, Section 14 Subsection 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). 

“The two commissioners-nominee are Ms. Erode Uduaghan and Dr. Isaac Wiliky, both Itsekiri from Warri North. Injustice is the bedrock of political conflict. 

“Where the likes of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ejele (Diden) want everything, they should be courageous enough to demand their own homogeneous local government. We can only vote to increase their voting strength, but not good for appointment!?

“Our demands are: reverse the decision and appoint an Egbema Ijaw into the State Executive Council.

“Convene a meeting of Egbema leaders to resolve the impasse, whichever comes first.”

Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State has announced November 29, 2023 as the official commencement date for the burial of Amananyanabo of Kalabari, Prof. T.J.T. Princewill, Amachree the XI. 

A statement by his son and former governorship aspirant of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Prince Tonye Princewill, said the burial is expected to be concluded with the final interment. 

Until his death, the Amananyanabo was the longest reigning traditional ruler in Rivers State. 

Princewill said the date, which signalled the commencement of 21 days of ceremonies, was agreed upon following consultations with chiefs in the royal family, as well as titled chiefs in Buguma and Kalabari land.

He said other stakeholders like Amanyanabo of Abonemma, King Disrael Bob Manuel, King Alfred Diete Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, other Kalabari leaders and key non-Kalabari stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the date 

He said a formal burial committee would be inaugurated in the coming days to begin work towards ensuring a befitting burial for his Serene Majesty, King Prof. T.J.T Princewill, Amachree the XI and Amanyanabo of the Kalabari Kingdom. 

Members of the committee are expected to cut across the length and breadth of the Kalabari Kingdom, other Kingdoms in Rivers State, Ijaw nation as a whole, the wider pan Niger Delta region and other regions in Nigeria.

Ex-agitators under the auspices of Peace Initiative and Development (PID) of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have passed a vote of confidence in the Interim Administrator, Major Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd.), on his resilience, focus and re-positioning of the programme, “despite negative attacks and distractions from certain quarters.”

The group, rising from a crucial stakeholders’ meeting at the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, after exhaustive deliberations, in their resolutions unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Ndiomu over his achievements and working for the integration of the beneficiaries.

In a statement by its leader, ‘General’ Seiyefa Gbekede, aka Cairo, the former agitators said since Ndiomu’s assumption of office, he had guarded the programme with strategic policy direction, to achieve results and the set up aims and objectives of the programme.

He said Ndiomu had walked the talks and through collaboration with beneficiaries, stakeholders and government agencies had held peace and human capacity building summit across the region and the impact was well felt.

Gbekede said without any contradiction, Ndiomu had brought positive reforms and changes and a sense of belonging in the scheme of things in the programme. 

He said Ndiomu’s selfless services since he came on board as the Interim Administrator had made appreciative milestones, noting that he had also worked to sustain peace in the region, against the incessant protests and blocking of the East-West road. 

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Reacting to a report calling for the sack and probe of the Amnesty Office, Gbekede said the critics were motivated by their selfish desire to foment trouble where there was none. 

He said Ndiomu is competent to run the affairs of the programme, noting that he had never imposed himself on the people and was only on a national assignment.

Gbekede further said there were no envisaged threats to the prevailing peace in the region as some people were threatening because of Ndiomu. 

He urged fellow compatriots to sheathe their swords and embrace peace, in the interest of the region.

He noted that Amnesty Office could not have removed Joshua Maciver’s name from the captured biometric data of the programme, pointing out that there was no foul play anywhere because of politics. 

Gbekede said Ndiomu couldn’t have condescended so low to remove the name of Maciver, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship running mate to Chief Timipre Sylva, from the programme data because he was not the one that captured the delegates. 

He said Ndiomu was averse to corrupt practices and never encouraged one, stressing that people wanted Ndiomu to behead himself to satisfy their greed and primordial sentiments and to witness his downfall.

He said the orchestrated attack against Ndiomu was not necessary, adding that it would not do anybody any good, but would rather slow down the pace of development in the Niger Delta.

Gbekede said: “We also want to react to one Adokeme Michael accusing the Amnesty Office of working with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State. That accusation is not true. It is a lie from the pit of hell. 

“Ndiomu has no political affiliation with the PDP in the state. As an APC national government, the Amnesty Office cannot work in contrast with the Federal Government. We therefore urge the public to disregard the cheap blackmail.

“Therefore, we, the ex-agitators, have passed a vote of confidence in Ndiomu. We urge the entire security teams, including the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to work in synergy with the Ndiomu-led PAP to maintain the peace in the region.

“Also, we appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reappoint Ndiomu as the substantive Interim Administrator of the programme.”

• APC slams governor on deplorable highways

Residents of Edo State have mocked stranded Governor Godwin Obaseki at the flooded and deplorable RCC Junction, on Benin-Sapele Road, as the state’s helmsman blamed the Federal Government.

In viral videos yesterday, some of the displeased residents said: “When we told the government to fix the road, they were busy filling the potholes with broken blocks. They think they are punishing the masses. Now it is pay-back time, as the masses are not the only ones suffering the collapse of this road.

“Edo State governor is the person inside the vehicle, but it has stopped moving. He (Obaseki) cannot come down, as he is ashamed. Everyone is feeling the brunt of bad policies in the country.”

Governor Obaseki, yesterday evening in a damage-control statement by his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, claimed that the state government could not intervene in fixing the strategic Benin-Auchi, Benin-Sapele and Benin-Lagos roads, among others, as the Federal Government had already awarded contracts for their repairs.

He said much as Edo was a transportation hub, it was concerned that the major federal road network in the state, which connected many parts of Nigeria, was in a bad state.

Obaseki claimed that his administration had done everything to plead with the Federal Government to look into the repairs of the wide span of damaged federal roads in Edo State.

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He said his administration had drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the failed portions of Benin-Auchi, Benin-Sapele and Benin-Lagos roads, particularly the Ovia River Bridge, but nothing had been done.

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has slammed Governor Obaseki for being economical with the truth on the condition of federal highways in the state.

The party yesterday in an online statement by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Victor Osehobo, accused Obaseki of misleading the people with his claims on the state of Federal Government roads in the state.

The statement said: “The claim that the APC-led Federal Government has abandoned federal roads in Edo State is not only unfounded, but also a deliberate attempt to play politics with the development agenda of our great party. It is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.”

The governor said: “Look at the incident that happened on Ovia River Bridge three weeks ago, in which we lost many lives, following multiple accidents. Nothing has been done till now. This shows they do not care about us in Edo State.

“The issue on the Benin-Lagos road, particularly the Ovia River crossing, is becoming catastrophic. We have lost lives and done everything to get the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to work with us and put in place a palliative measure to stop carnage on the road.

“I was on Benin-Sapele road after the downpour. The road was impassable. What is ongoing on Benin-Sapele road is scandalous. I don’t think any region where the oil resources that sustain the country come from should be neglected. We have done everything possible. We do not know what to do again to draw the attention of the Federal Government to these roads.

“The Auchi-Ibillo road was so bad that some of our contractors could not go to their quarry site. We appealed to the Federal Government to do palliative work on the road, but the officials refused, saying the road is under contract. If I want to do the same to Benin-Sapele road, I am not allowed to do so. They claim the road has been given out to a contractor.”

Obaseki said that last year, Benin-Auchi road was locked for about two weeks, adding that food, animals and petroleum products could not reach their destinations.

He said he would not want such situation this year, urging the Federal Government to help. 

The governor said the Federal Government’s policy relating to the roads was very confusing, noting that in the past, states could rehabilitate federal roads and would give the Federal Government the bills, but that was no longer obtainable.

• ’Allegation untrue’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has alleged that ex-Niger Delta Affairs Minister Umana Okon Umana worked against the party’s victory in the last election.

It alleged that rather than work for the success of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Umana aligned with the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to betray the party.

In a petition to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume, signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. OtoAbasi Udo, the APC in Akwa Ibom at the weekend asked that Umana should not be appointed as a minister.

The party was reacting to a publication by a group named ‘Akwa Ibom APC Renaissance’, calling for the nomination of Umana as a minister by the Tinubu administration and accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of hijacking and ‘killing’ the state chapter of the party.

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The petition obtained by The Nation in Uyo yesterday said: “In the democratic system, the inevitable battle for victory is the electoral battle during elections. The victorious, based on votes from the electorate, assume power and a reward system by the political party in power allocates benefits according to your contributions to such victory.

“Akwa Ibom APC Renaissance”, based on the above simple analysis for reward according to your electoral value, how much did your master, Obong Umana Okon Umana, contribute to the victory of APC in Akwa Ibom State in the last general election? 

“Did he win his ward for APC? Did he win his local government, Nsit Ubium, for APC? Did he win his federal constituency, for APC? Did he win his senatorial district, Uyo, for APC? Did he win his state, Akwa Ibom, for APC?” 

However, Umana, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Iboro Otongaran, pledged his loyalty to the APC and President Tinubu.

He denied having any link with the Akwa Ibom APC Renaissance group, saying he was not using the platform to promote ethnic politics or cause crisis in the party.

A professor of Human Physiology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Daniel Nwachukwu, is now the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of the institution’s Enugu Campus (UNEC).

A statement by the institution said Nwachukwu emerged victorious in an election supervised by a team of university officials, following the expiration of the tenure of his predecessor, Prof. Edith Nwosu, who served for two tenure.

Nwachukwu, who hails from Okposi-Okwu in Ebonyi State, attended Government Secondary School, Okposi-Okwu. He passed out at the Federal School of Arts and Science, Suleja, Niger State in 1988.

Nwachukwu proceeded to the University of Lagos for his first degree in Human Physiology in 1995 and later moved to the University of Benin for his master’s degree in 1997 and PhD in 2012.

He joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka as lecturer II in 1999 and rose to the highest academic status of professor in 2016.

Imo State Government has destroyed what remains of its Zoological Wildlife Garden located at Nekede in Owerri West Local Government. 

In February, the animals at the zoo were translocated to Jos Zoo in Plateau State amid protests by the workers and professional stakeholders, who insisted that the government did not follow due process in moving the animals from their natural habitat, as some of the animals were reported dead on transit. 

It was learnt that two male lions, crocodiles, mangabey, nile monitors, some geese, three pythons, tortoise, three hyenas, three baboons and grey monkeys died during the evacuation. 

It was gathered that the state government yesterday brought in caterpillars to pull down the forests and trees at the zoological garden. 

The Commissioner for Tourism, Jerry Egemba, said the animals had been moved out of the zoo before the pulling down of the trees, adding that what remained in the garden were strayed animals. 

Environment commissioner Dr.  Major Emenike confirmed the destruction, saying the government ordered the action. 

Anambra State House of Assembly has identified lack of funding and weak committee system as major limitations of its Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in performing its responsibilities.

Chairman of the committee, Noble Igwe, disclosed this at an Audit Engagement Forum and Accountability Dialogue organised by Office of the State Auditor General, in conjunction with Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI).

Presenting a paper titled: ‘Understanding the Functions of Public Accounts Committee of the State House of Assembly’, the lawmaker listed lack of research report, politicking and lack of integrity in oversight functions as other factors impeding functions of the committee.

“Public Accounts Committee of the state legislature depends heavily on audit report from Auditor General’s office, meaning inappropriate report will undermine the functions of PACs,” he said.

Describing public hearing as critical to ensuring transparency and accountability at Ministries, Department and Agencies, Igwe revealed plans by the legislature to digitise the committee proceedings for live broadcast.

“Public hearing plays a vital role in our functions. Unfortunately, we don’t have allocations for it. But we’ll factor it in the 8th Assembly to ensure it’s given the credence it deserves,” he said.

State Auditor General, Daniel Okeke, reiterated the crucial role of audit work in building public trust and confidence in government financial transactions. 

“By maintaining independence, adhering to professional standards and delivering objective and reliable information, we contribute to the stability and growth of organisations and economies around the world,” he said.

The Executive Director, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), Olusegun Elemo, said the two-day engagement was targeted at fostering public accountability, spending efficiency, implementation of public policies and ensuring mobilised revenue was properly utilised.

He said the engagement was being carried out in five states, namely Delta, Ekiti, Yobe, Kaduna and Anambra.

He recommended synergy between the Executive, House of Assembly and Office of Auditor General to enact and implement the audit law effectively. 

“The Office of the Auditor General and Public Accounts Committee should proactively involve civic and media actors in the audit process, as a way of filing gap of poor participation mechanism,” he stressed.

A civil society activist, Prince Chris Azor, advised that Public Accounts Committee be headed by a lawmaker from the opposition party, to ensure effective implementation of accountability process.