Category: SouthEast

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki will today swear in the first batch of members of the State Executive Council (EXCO).

They are Ethan Uzamere, Christopher Nehikhare, Monday Osaigbovo, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe, Isoken Omo, Stephen Idehenre, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Patrick Uanseru and Dr. Samuel Alli.

Others are Adaze Aguele-Kalu, Kingsley Uwagbale, Uyi Malaka, Joshua Omokhodion, Ojiefoh Donatus and Christabel Omo Ekwu.

Read Also: Edo Assembly confirms 15 nominees

The nominees were cleared last week by the House of Assembly.

A statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, reads: “I have been directed to inform you that the swearing in ceremony of members of the Edo State Executive Council will hold tomorrow (today) at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, at 11am.

“Members taking the oath of office should be seated with their spouses at 10:45am.”

Host communities to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 34 are set to shut down operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production (E&P) Limited, and ND Western Limited Joint Venture, for failing to discharge its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and other promises to the people.

Presidents-General (PGs) of the host communities – Akpos Maduku (Otor-Udu); Francis Uzoh (Effurun Otor); Edafe Kporharo (Ekakpamre); Solomon Okorodudu (Eruemukowharien); Stephen Asheshe (Okpare-Olomu); Moses Odata (Uwviamuge) and 20 others – in a joint statement yesterday, called on the Federal and Delta State governments to call the company to order to avoid disruption of its operations.

They also accused the firm of ‘ill-treatment, negligence and failed promises, expressing total displeasure with the disposition towards their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

OML 34, a critical oil and gas asset, comprises the Utorogu field which is a major supplier of gas for electricity generation in Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries.

The statement reads: “We wish to place on record that for the past one year, the 28 host communities of OML 34 have been engaged in a running battle with the Management of NNPC E&P Ltd and ND Western Ltd Joint Venture bordering on their CSR/failed promises to the host communities. 

“Our grouse are unpaid four-year scholarship arrears spanning through 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; unpaid penalty fines from the expired GMoU spanning through 2016-2019; unpaid Peace Award of 2022, and unpaid Courtesy Call of 2023.”

Read Also: NNPCL renews OML 130 Production Sharing Contract

They also said the 28 OML 34 host communities traversing the Ughelli East and West fields would want a separate Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) different from others across the Warri River field.

“The Host Communities from the Utorogu, Ughelli East and Ughelli West fields (numbering 28 Communities) that have been operating one GMoU before the PIA came into force, want their own separate ‘Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT)’ from those communities in the Warri River field that are in OML 34.

“Since the PIA is yet to kick off, the first tranche of the 2023 GMoU should be paid to the OML 34 Community Development Board (CDB) to enable it carry out some developmental projects in the communities, and the amount released should be deducted at source when the PIA per cent fund is eventually released.

“This is because till now, the Management of NNPC E&P Ltd and ND Western Ltd Joint Venture are yet to call a meeting of community representatives to pick the final names to be used for the incorporation of the OML 34 Host Communities Development Trust, in addition to picking name to be used to register the OML 34 Host Community Development Trust with the Corporate Affairs Commission at Abuja,” the statement added.

The PGs also decried the non-pensionable employment of their indigenes by the management of ND Western from their 45 per cent quota equity participating shares since the company’s acquisition of OML 34 assets from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2012.

“It will be recalled that the management of SDPC gave pensionable employments to the indigenes of the OML 34 Host Communities from their 45 per cent equity participating shares, while managing the OML 34 Oil and Gas facilities and some of these persons rose to the positions of managers and senior staff before retirement and are today drawing pensions and gratuities from SPDC. This was even before the Local Content Act came into force in 2010,” the PGs noted.

However, they said a list of few indigenes who graduated with First Class and Second Class Upper Division or their equivalents, in engineering and sciences, had been forwarded to the operators for employment as permanent staff in line with Article 28 (2) of the Local Content Act.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has mourned the death of 10 Ijaw indigenes in last Sunday’s twin accidents.

Six band members of popular Ijaw musician, Barrister Smooth, died in the Kogi-Abuja road accident, while four supporters of the bayelsa Queens Football Club died in the Kwale-Asaba highway accident in Delta State.

Diri, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, described it as a ‘Black Sunday for Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation’. He said their deaths were painful as ‘those youths were active and impacting lives through their musical talent, as well as following their passion to support the state’s darling female football team’.

Read Also: Diri, Uzodimma, Sylva, Melaye, Anyanwu make INEC final list for governorship polls

The statement reads: “Our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased. I also commiserate with the leader of the band, Barrister Smooth. These are very unfortunate incidents, and it is a great loss to our state and the Ijaw nation as young talents and bread winners following their passion departed suddenly.

“I pray the Lord console the families for the painful loss, and pray for quick healing for the injured.”

• Ogbaru produces speaker again

Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has urged members of the House of Assembly to join him and the judiciary to create a new Anambra.

Governor Soludo, while proclaiming the Eighth Assembly, described the legislature as ‘a crucial partner in the quest for good governance.

He said: “I congratulate our newly inaugurated legislators. Irrespective of your party affiliations, you have been employed by the people to ensure that Anambra blossoms.

“The executive, the legislature and the judiciary must work collaboratively, coordinate and cooperate to achieve project Anambra by making the state liveable and prosperous. If you all act fully in accordance with the oath of office and allegiance you have taken, I am sure Anambra will have the most productive legislature in the country.

“It is a new productive partnership and as the head of the executive arm of government, I am ready so that we can achieve our common goal which is a greater Anambra.”

Read Also: Soludo inaugurates Anambra 8th Assembly, calls for productive partnership

Meanwhile, Somtochukwu Udeze, who represents Ogbaru II, was elected Speaker of the Assembly. He is the second lawmaker from Ogbaru to become speaker in 10 years.

Udeze was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 2023 elections. He, however, defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) few days to the proclamation of the Eighth Assembly.

He was unanimously elected by the 30-member Assembly.

Udeze was nominated by Ikenna Ofodeme (Ekwusigo) and seconded by Chimezie Ikwunne (Awka North). He is a three-term member of the Assembly, having won his re-election in the March polls. He first became a lawmaker on the platform of of APGA in 2015, but defected to the PDP and won his re-election in 2019.

Chukwuma Okoye (Awka South II) was elected deputy speaker following a voice vote, and the two were sworn in by the Acting Clerk, Mrs. Esther Aneto.

One of the contestants for the Igweship throne of Akama-Oghe community in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State, Chief Christian Akpata, has called for an investigation into the failed assassination attempts on his life.

The assassination attempts, which happened twice, led to the destruction of one his cars with bullets, and saw him sustain gunshot injuries.

It was gathered that on May 9, 2023, some men in tricycle and Camry car had trailed him from his house to Enugu Timber Market, where they shot severally at his car and left him with bullet wounds.

The assailants were reported to have returned back on June 8, in his house, and attempted to abduct him.

Addressing journalists in Enugu weekend, Akpata, said the suspected assassins had come into his street in his estate and pretended to be his visitors to some neighbours, adding that when they started following him with their Camry car, he became suspicious.

He said: “My life is under threat. I have escaped two assassination attempts in less than one month. They attacked me on May 9 and returned back to my house on June 8.

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has appointed Prof. Grace Umezurike as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) making her the first female to occupy the position in the state’s history.

The appointment was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor and made available to newsmen on Friday night. According to Uzor, the appointment is with immediate effect.

“She will be sworn-in on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the executive council chambers of the government house, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State” the statement read.

• Governor receives endorsement to end Monday sit-at-home

Stakeholders from different sectors in Enugu State on Saturday commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his attempts to get the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu freed from detention.

The stakeholders also endorsed the governor’s declaration to end the Mondays sit-at-home in the state, saying it had done more harm than good.

The endorsement was made at the town hall meeting held by the state government with individual groups and stakeholders following the ban of the Monday sit-at-home.

The meeting was attended by stakeholders and representatives of various bodies, traders, transporters, religious leaders, institutions, organisations, associations, including government officials and heads of security and intelligence agencies at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu, on Saturday, to further deliberate on the subject matter and the way forward.

In the communiqué issued after extensive and exhaustive deliberations at the town-hall meeting, which also had the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, in attendance, was resolved that the decision of the Enugu State government cancelling the Mondays sit-at-home order was in the best interest of the state considering its detrimental impacts on productivity, investment flow, and the Igbo spirit of creativity, entrepreneurship and commerce.

In the communiqué, which was signed by leaders of the different organizations, the stakeholders commended Governor Mbah on the laudable steps taken so far to ensure peace was returned to the state, which included his recent visit to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; opening door for dialogue with those with genuine grievances.

The communiqué reads: “That the town-hall commends the State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, on the laudable steps taken so far to ensure peace is returned to the state, which include his recent visit to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; opening door for dialogue with those with genuine grievances.

“That the town-hall reiterates the position of the State Government, and further appeals to the President to act on the governor’s request by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and expedite the process of national healing, national integration and national reconciliation.

“That the town-hall calls on the State Government to resuscitate, overhaul, rejig and strengthen internal security mechanisms such as the Community Policing, Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, amongst others, in the state.

“That the town-hall enjoins members of the public to resume work and go about their normal daily businesses as various security and intelligence agencies have, in their joint and collaborative efforts, given assurance(s) of their safety, including proactive responses to distress calls any time of the day.

“That the security agencies should continue to work round the clock in order to reassure citizens and residents of their safety, not only on Mondays, but also on other days of the week.

“That the town-hall proposes that the government should procure special commercial city buses and taxies that will ply the routes beyond 9.00 pm when tricycle operators are prohibited from doing so.

“That the town-hall supports any security measure or measures and other steps the State Government deems necessary in order to end the Monday sit-at-home and get people back to work in the overall interest of the state and its residents.”

The People of Tamazo Autonomous Community, Koluama 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have expressed implicit confidence in the leadership of their paramount ruler, Chief Diepreye Amadein.

The community dismissed as false and malicious reports which claimed that six oil communities were at the risk of breakdown of law and order over leadership tussles.

The leadership of the community made the position known in a statement yesterday signed by the Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Chief Dimeari Charles Gabby, and the Secretary, Chief David Sintei.

The community said that the people of Tamazo Autonomous Community are peace loving people, noting that they had implicit confidence in the leadership style of Amadein.

They insisted that Amadein was the genuine and government recognized Paramount Ruler of Tamazo Community, maintaining that Solomon Ebifatei who was not originally in the picture was foisted on Koluama people by some individuals.

The statement read in part: “There is nothing like discord or chieftaincy dispute among the good people of this peaceful community and its neighbours.

“We, the good people of Tamazo Autonomous Community, are peace loving people and we are solidly behind His Highness Diepreye Amadein.

“We have observed that one Solomon Ebifatei is the one behind this falsehood.

“The clan head is rotational between Koluama 1 and Koluama 2. When J. I Olotu the then Clan Head, who was from Koluama 2 died, 10 chiefs from Koluama 1 contested the throne because the stool had rotated to Koluama 1.

“Solomon Ebifatei who is from Koluama 2 was not even a chief at that time. How he manoeuvred his way into the throne still remains an amazement to stakeholders.

“Recently he had issues with Koluama people bordering on PIA and company matters.

“The matter was reported to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The commissioner called him to resolve the matter but he bluntly ignored the commissioner’s call.

“It is disheartening to see that someone with questionable character is parading himself in the corridors of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council.

“We therefore urge the executive governor of our great state and the general public to ignore the false publication and radio announcement in its entirety.”

Reacting in a telephone chat, Clan Head of Koluama, Chief Solomon Ebifatei, said that he did not recognise Amadein’s leadership as he was recognised by the Bayelsa government.

Ebifatei claimed that there was a chieftaincy tussle in the community.

He said: “There is a chieftaincy issue in the Tamazo community that has been in the court. I was arrested.  Somebody has been the Amanaowei of Tamazo since 1992 and somebody who has never been a chief in the clan wants to become Amanaowei of Tamazo which is not possible.   That is the problem we have.

“Diepreye is not a chief. Diepreye is not known to the clan as a Chief, so he cannot come and react. I don’t know Diepreye as a Chief in the Koluama kingdom.

“I’m the Ibenanaowei of Koluama kingdom, so forget about that report. The matter is in court. If the governor wants to call us he will call us.

“We want that matter resolved by Governor Douye Diri. Somebody issued him a certificate at the back and that is what we want to correct. The certificate should be given to the right person.”

With hundreds of studios within and outside Nigeria ‘under his belt’, music production sensation, Dr. Edward Sunday, has listed factors that drive him to strive for excellent production in his field.

Speaking with newsmen, Edward, who’s called Nigeria’s one-stop shop, for music, media and sound versatility; said his diligence to duty, result driven character, self motivation as well as key interests in perfection and paying undivided attention to details, is apparently what had given him an edge above his contemporaries when it has to do with service delivery in reputable organizations.

According to him, “Some of the companies who hired me because of my ‘proclivity’ for excellent ‘output’ include consultancy services, production management services, sound installation services etc  like: Project Fame West Africa, GT Bank (activation), Multichoice Nigeria (Gotv Lunch), This Present House (TPH), Streams of Joy (NSPPD), The Water Brook (TWB), The Elevation Church, Covenant Nation, Sound and Pro Light seminar Dubai just to mention a few.

The police in Anambra State have rescued two persons accused of ritual killings in Ihiala Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The victims, a male and a female paraded naked in a viral video, were accused by a mob of killing three persons in the area.
The mob forced them to carry the corpses in a wheelbarrow.
A male voice in the video claimed that the duo killed the deceased for money rituals before being caught by residents.
But Police Spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga in a statement absolved the duo of the accusations, saying they were falsely accused.

Read Also: Police arrest man for allegedly defrauding Catholic Seminary

He clarified that the case was that of suspected murder and not of rituals as alleged, adding that the deceased had been deposited in a morgue, while the victims were receiving treatment.
He said: “The Command’s operatives by 10am on 7/6/2023 rescued two victims and a suspect, who were about to be lynched by a mob at the Total junction, Ihiala.
“To set the records straight, it is not a case of ritual killing, but a pure incident of murder. Preliminary information reveals that the two culprits, a man and a woman, who were humiliated and paraded as shown in the video by the angry mob were erroneously accused as they were seen at the scene where the murder took place.
“Also, both the suspect and victims are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, while the deceased has been deposited in a morgue.”
Ikenga said Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng had called for calm, while the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for a comprehensive investigation.