Category: SouthEast

A coalition of Niger Delta groups have urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to focus on infrastructural development of the Niger Delta communities instead of engaging in political patronage.

The groups include Niger Delta Civil Action Advocacy Group, Association of Waterways Ambassadors of Nigeria, Movement for Oil and Solid Minerals Producing Communities, Coastal People’s Consultative Council, South South Communities, Abuja, and Niger Delta Non-violent Agitators Forum.

Others are Ijaw Youth Council, Abuja/Northern Nigeria Chapter, Southern People’s Foundation, Ijaw Wari Worldwide and Progressive Youth Leadership Foundation of Niger Delta.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, they lamented that political patronage has taken the centre stage of activities within the commission to the detriment of oil producing communities.

Spokesmen of the group – Wisdom Ikuli, Chief Sara-Igbe and Jude Tabai – were confident that the Managing Director has the capacity to transform the commission into a result-oriented organisation, having been part of the agitation for a better Niger Delta.

Sara-Igbe praised President Bola Tinubu for allowing the commission operate independently. He said President Tinubu has done the right thing by allowing the Managing Director continue in office, noting that a working NDDC would mean a working Nigeria as it would provide the enabling environment for the smooth operation of oil production in the country’.

Ikuli said the re-appointment of Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of the NDDC showed the president’s determination to ensure even development of the country.

He added: “This appointment, like those of the Service Chiefs and election of the principal officers of the National Assembly, are reflections and evidences of Mr. President’s stance for equity, justice and fairness, and his strong determination to run an inclusive administration that will give all tribes, religions and sections in the country high sense of belonging.

“Gladly, since the establishment of the NDDC in 2000, this is one of the few moments that people of the Niger Delta are feeling a high sense of belonging because of the very strategic efforts of Chief Samuel Ogbuku, who has shown strong determination to change the negative narratives about the interventionist agency.

“The strategic engagements and all inclusive leadership style of Ogbuku has resulted to the prevalent peace and security that has made the Niger Delta the safest in the country, and this has to be sustained.

“It is based on the need for equity, justice, fairness and inclusiveness that these groups appeal to the President to give Chief Samuel Ogbuku the necessary support to consolidate the great work he is doing in prioritising staff welfare, youth and women empowerment, general projects and over all development of the Niger Delta.”

• Unfolds manifesto, laments leadership failures in Bayelsa

The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the November 11, 2023 Bayelsa State governorship poll, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, has lamented acute leadership failures in the state.

Eradiri, a two-time commissioner in the state and former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, said he decided to participate in the governorship election to wrest power from Governor Douye Diri and give direction to the state.

The LP standard bearer, who spoke yesterday at his pre-campaign press conference in Yenagoa, the state capital, said if elected governor of the state, his programmes would be anchored on PEAP — People, Education, Agriculture and Power.

Eradiri, who is upbeat that he would win the coming election, stated: “I have decided to participate in this process so we can give direction to Bayelsa State. Bayelsa, as we speak, is going through a lot and all our problems are caused by leadership failures.

“We lack competent leadership in Bayelsa State. If you compare the state to every other states in the country, you will discover that we are backward in all indices and yet we are supposed to be the richest state.

“We have had trillions of naira over the years and when you compare Bayelsa with states like Ebonyi, Gombe that were created at the same time and don’t receive one tenth of what we take home every month, you will be shocked and disappointed. For instance, go to Ebonyi and come back to Bayelsa, you will be ashamed and wonder whether you are on this planet earth.

“All this underdevelopment is as a result of leadership failure and I think I will no longer be part of those who will continue to complain endlessly but to take actions and it is that action that has brought us to this point.”

Delta state is the second most indebted state in the country, according to a release by Debt Management Office (DMO).

The domestic debt of Delta State stands at N421.8bn.

The release showed that some of the oil producing states of the South are heavily indebted.

Among them are Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers.

These states receive monthly 13 percent derivation from federal allocation.

Lagos State leads the pack of indebted states with its domestic debt at N812.4bn.

The figures released by the Debt Management Office are for first quarter of 2023.

The total domestic debts for the state is N5.48 trillion.

Ogun State occupies the third position with N293.2bn debt while Rivers State debt is N225.5bn in the fourth position.

Akwa Ibom occupies the fifth position with N206.6bn while the sixth position goes to Imo state with N202.6bn.

Cross Rivers State debt stands at N196. 3bn in the seventh position.

The eighth position goes to Oyo state with N161.7bn.

Plateau state debt is N148.1bn.

The tenth position is occupied by Osun State with debt of N147.1bn.

Only Plateau state among the ten most indebted states is from the north, the remaining nine are from the South.

The least indebted state is Jigawa with N43.6bn while the Federal Capital territory debt is N84.8bn in the 28th position.

• … hail speaker for choosing Ezenwankwo

The All Progressives Congress APC in the Southeast has debunked claims that the party is protesting following the appointment of Hon Okwudili Ezenwankwo as an aide to the speaker of house of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass.

The APC Vanguard Group, Friday in Awka, hailed the speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass for choosing Hon Okwudili Ezenwankwo as one of his aides representing the zone

Ezenwankwo, who represented Orumba North and South at the House of Representative, was appointed Special Assistant, to the speaker on political matters from Southeast recently.

But one faceless group, in a recent press conference, attacked Mr. Speaker, describing Ezenwankwo as none APC member.

Speaking with reporters Friday in Awka, the group led by comrade Chinonso Onwuchekwe, said the choice of former lawmaker by the Speaker, was a right move in a right direction.

“It is a well deserving appointment, which is acceptable by APC members in Southeast and beyond”

The commended the Rt. Honorable Speaker for finding Ezenwankwo worthy of the appointment, stating that the appointee was very well qualified having been a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly.

“Hon. Okwudili Ezenwankwo is an experienced lawmaker and will no doubt help the Honourable Speaker in steering the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives in the right direction considering the enormous expectation of Nigerians from this administration.

They therefore, condemned the purported rejection of Ezenwankwo’s appointment by a faceless APC group in Southeast, saying that the said non-existing APC group made a series of publications and some malicious comments aimed at misleading unsuspecting members of the public regarding the well-deserved appointment.

Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara yesterday forwarded a supplementary appropriation bill of N200 billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The request was conveyed in a letter to the House dated June 27, 2023 and read at plenary by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.

The appropriation budget is said to be meant for the execution, completion of ongoing capital projects in parts of the state.

Fubara is seeking the sum to enable the young administration to embark on construction of a critical capital project in the state capital.

He appealed to the lawmakers to graciously consider and approve the budget for execution of the project.

This is the first budget proposal by Fubara since he was sworn in as governor of the state on May 29, 2023.

The bill passed first reading at plenary yesterday.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the plenary, House Leader, Edison Ehie said the governor is empowered by the constitution, to seek for permission to increase the state annual budget by presenting a supplementary bill for approval in situations of insufficiency of funds.

“In this case, the reason for making the request is very clear, as the governor stated that it will be used to construct a ring-road in Port Harcourt capital city.

“This bill tends to alter the 2023 appropriation law from N544. 6 billion to N744.6 billion.” he said.

Ehie said the bill having passed the first reading, will next week move to committee level and public hearing to allow members of the state to make input, criticise the bill, before approval.

He assured the people of the state that the Fubara-led government will continue to be transparent as it is determined to serve the state unto more development.

Meanwhile parliamentarians of the Students Union Government of the University of Port Harcourt (SUG/UNIPORT), embarked on a solidarity match, peaceful protest to the state House of Assembly yesterday.

It was a World Day of Parliamentarians and the students parliamentarians used to opportunity presented to visit their senior colleagues in the state House of Assembly to encourage them in the “good job they are doing for the state and to appeal to them to speak to the governor on their behalf to activate the process to begin the payment of the yearly student stipends to assist in their education in the state.

The students were led by the Senate President, Emmanuel Uzoamaka. They were received in the lawmaker’s complex by the Assembly Speaker, who lauded the students for coming to mark the day with them and for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

He promised to transmit the request to Governor Fubara, assuring them that they will hear from the government soon.

The Rivers State Government has ordered a manhunt for the engineer behind the collapsed two-storey building at Rumuoke Street, off Okilton junction, Ada George in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

Though four injured people had already been rescued from the site, the government confirmed that it was still searching for more victims.

The government in a special announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo, ordered the immediate arrest of the engineer handling the construction of the building.

Danagogo said the government had ordered the immediate closure of the construction site and evacuation of the debris.

He said: “The government directs the immediate arrest of the construction engineer of the collapsed building for proper investigation.”

Danagogo said the government would constitute an investigative panel to look into the immediate and remote causes of the collapse.

He said: “We warn professionals in the building sector of our state to henceforth comply strictly with all necessary regulations as the Rivers State Government will not condone any deviation from extant laws and regulations in the sector.

“We, hereby, call on the public to report to the authorities, activities of suspected unauthorized builders across the state.”

The representative of Ovia constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives,  Dennis Idahosa, has raised the alarm over the imminent danger on the Ovia River Bridge, on the ever-busy Benin-Lagos Expressway, if the defects are not urgently addressed by the concerned authorities.

Idahosa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday in an online statement to condole with the families of the eleven passengers of the18-seater bus, who lost their lives on the accident-prone bridge on Thursday, insisted that the auto crash was avoidable.

He noted that he earlier made efforts to address the issues surrounding the Ovia river bridge.

The federal lawmaker said: “My earlier motion for the rehabilitation of the failed portion of the Ovia River Bridge was crucial in ensuring the safety of commuters.

“It is disheartening to hear that the defect on the bridge led to the unfortunate accident.”

Idahosa also stated that he was deeply saddened to learn about the tragic auto crash on the same bridge, with eight persons injured, and still receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

He said: “On behalf of the people of Ovia Federal Constituency, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, during this time of immense grief and sorrow.

“It is essential to identify the factors that led to the auto crash, so as to prevent any reoccurrence. I always prioritise the safety and well-being of my constituents. All necessary measures to ensure the integrity and reliability of our infrastructure must be taken.

“I want to assure the families of the victims that I share in their moments of grief. My thoughts and prayers are with them in this difficult time. I pray that they find the strength and courage to overcome the unimaginable loss. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”

Scores of traders, predominantly widows on Friday, protested alleged plot by leadership of Onitsha South Local Government Area headquarters, Anambra State, to eject them from Oduigbo section of the Ochanja Central market.

The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions accused Council chairman, Emeka Orji of collaborating with chairman of the market, Chief Bonaventure Muo to eject them in the guise of building modern shops.

Some of the placards read, “Council chairman, Emeka Orji, what have we done to you, we are widows and eke out living from Oduigbo market, Gov. Soludo come to our rescue, they want to demolish the shops in the market to acquire more shops to be the ones they have”, among others.

Speaking to reporters at the council headquarters’ entrance, leader of the protesters, Chief Chukwudi Eke appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to their rescue.

He said, “The market chairman, Chief Muo and the council chairman, gave us two days to vacate the market or they will use caterpillars to demolish the over 300 shops.

“They said Sunday and Monday would be used for the demolition and asked us to vacate the market before they come up with their weapons of destruction.

“There was a time when the government came and told us that the market was dark and that there should be light in the market by renovating it.

“We told them that we can do that by ourselves to their taste but because of the interest they have in the market to have shops, they now want to eject us.

“We plead to Soludo to come to our rescue as no other person will understand our predicament except him as Nwa Mgbafor.”

Also reacting, spokesperson of the widows, Mrs Ifeoma Emeka, lamented that widows that constitute the majority of the traders in the market were being treated like slaves.

President Bola Tinubu’s ex-spokesman in the south east, Dr. Josef Onoh, has frowned at the emotional outbursts of the Anambra Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Dan Ulasi where he insinuated that President Tinubu was not generous in making an Igbo the Chief of Naval staff.

Onoh also hit the leader of the Nigeria Delta Volunteers Force, Asari Dokubo for his continued emotional outbursts, which many have misconstrued to mean that President Tinubu was in agreement with his verbal attacks against the Igbo.

Onoh said that Dokubo Asari spoke on his own accord and personal capacity as a Nigerian which he is entitled to stating it does not mean the President supports his statements.

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“This administration inherited a united Nigeria and will rule same. So far by actions since assuming office our president has demonstrated his commitment to Nigerians to ensure we renewed hope,” Onoh said.

He accused Ulasi of bad politics, attempting to instigate strife because his preferred Presidential candidate lost the election to President Tinubu.

Onoh said he expected Ulasi, at his exposure and age to heal the wounds of the nation other than exacerbate it, promoting divide than peace.

Onoh urged Ulasi to emulate President Tinubu’s renewed hope other than being obsessed with the President’s achievements.

He faulted Ulasi’s ethnic lean, particularly on the appointments of Security Chiefs, stating that the appointments were based on merits and competence and not by politics. He warned Ulasi not to use the security appointments to promote hate and divide by attempting to politicise the appointments.

“In the case of Asari Dokubo, as a Nigerian citizen he has the right, like other Nigerians, to visit Mr. President, but his comments after his visit did not represent in any way the opinions of Mr. President, or the Presidency. They were personal utterances and did not in any way represent the opinions of Mr. President hence any attempt by any quarter to politicise it is condemned.

“In as much as I do not condone Asari’s outburst in so many ways, his comments were personal to him and that’s why Mr. President cannot join issues on that. If anybody feels injured or offended by Asari’s comments, he or she is free to seek redress in the court or make an official report to the security authorities rather than in media platforms.

“However I condemn in entirety Dan Ulasi’s divisive motive. Asiwaju respects the Igbo and all other ethnic groups that makeup our great nation in every way and so both Ulasi and Asiri Dokubu should not try to paint Mr. President in any bad light of nationalism, rather we should join hands and build the Nigeria of our dream.

“I’m proud to say that today by his actions and commitment since assumption of office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the undisputed father of modern Democratic Nigeria,” Onoh stated.