Category: SouthEast

By Precious Igbonwelundu

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has said its anti-piracy initiatives within the country’s waters and up to the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) would be sustained, warning criminal elements to stay off.

This is just as the service canvassed improved support, collaboration with the United States of America (US) especially with regards to sea riders.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan made the commitments while receiving a five-man delegation from the US Congress led by subcommittee Staff Director, House Foreign Affairs Majority, Joe Foltz.

Read Also: How Navy protected creeks, others in Southwest, by FOC

The visit was to review some of the donations to the Nigerian Navy by the US government; understand areas of importance to the NN for future assistance and improve existing relations between both countries and navies.

Noting that both maritime countries has come a long way in terms of collaboration, the FOC said the presence of the US Navy in the GoG would serve as encouragement to the NN especially with the current initiative it was driving.

“The developing countries, which Nigeria is one of its disproportionately affected by piracy and because we have more dependence on sea, with 90% of our trade using water transport.

“The developed countries have other alternatives to reduce that figure, but for developing countries, it is just the sea, so piracy creates so much negative effect.

“The multiplying effect of insurance premium on goods coming and so many unwanted, undesired offence also affect our economy. So anything to do with providing more security at sea, to deal with illegal activities in our waters is a welcome development.

“One of the things that can foster cooperation is the issue of sea riders. We haven’t had that with the United States warships in recent time. We have had that with French and Spanish sea riders.

“There has to be cooperation, where we get our men posted onboard US Naval warships and vice versa, maybe during an important exercise. It’s also something that widens our scope and bridges the gap that might be existing,” said Akpan.

The FOC pointed out that beyond piracy illegal and unregulated fishing was also a problem affecting economies of countries in the region.

“It is a big issue for countries in the Gulf of Guinea; I think it’s only Nigeria that is actually trying to get to the fringes of 350 nautical miles and beyond where most of these things take place. Other countries or Navies are too small to deal with that. So it’s another issue that has to do with food security in countries,” he said.

The FOC told the visitors that plans were underway to launch a joint taskforce for the GoG which was being sponsored by Nigeria, adding that all participating countries were in a meeting and signed a communique at the end of the day on the way forward.

“We have already apportioned some ships in the Nigerian Navy that will form the Task Force. I think the idea is that we need to do more at the fringes of our maritime environment, maritime law enforcement so that it will keep in abeyance, the security threats. The more they are kept away, the better for us,” said Akpan.

A lawyer and rights activist, Chief Robinson Ariyo, has appealed to Delta State Governor , Sheriff Oborevwori, to refrain from making appointments along ethnic or sectional lines .

Ariyo, who is also a public analyst made the call at Ubeji in Warri South Council area , while briefing reporters.

He noted that the Itsekiris seem to have been left out in the number of sensitive appointments so far made by the new government.

Chief Ariyo asserted: “I am particularly disturbed that the allegory ‘Ukodo’, which the Governor assured Delta would be equitably shared appears to have left out a very critical ethnic nationality that contributes a chunk of the oil resources of Delta State and indeed the country.

“Several sensitive appointments have so far been made and while some ethnic groups already have two or more, the Itsekiris do not have any”.

The Itsekiri chief emphasized that the founding fathers of Nigeria intended that every government “promotes was national unity and the feeling of inclusion”.

Read Also: Appointments: legal imperative for prioritising women, minority groups

He cited Section 14 (4) of the constitution which provides that “the composition of the Government of a state or any of the agencies of such Government, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation”.

According to him, having taken oath to discharge his duties to the best of his ability and in accordance with the constitution, it would be too early in the day for the governor to begin manifesting traits that appear to reflect the contrary.

The Warri lawyer who is also a peace building expert, however, urged all well-meaning Itsekiri leaders to close ranks and think beyond their personal interests.

“In every society there is usually a tension between the individualistic and communal interest but posterity never forgets those who perpetually sacrifice communal interest for their personal interest.

“I have observed many influential Itsekiris constantly sacrificing the communal for their personal interests and seek to give the impression that they are patriots; there is nothing that can be more deceitful. We must begin to think more of what we can do for the community than what we can do for ourselves.

“We cannot go to church every Sunday and sit on front row while the cardinal doctrine of Christianity; love thy neighbour as thy self does not resonate in us. We must begin to give effect to what we preach and claim to stand for.

“The level of hypocrisy in our land is unprecedented. Let us remember the last words of Late Dele Giwa; ‘No evil deed will go unpunished; any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if not now then certainly later; if not by man, then by God for the victory of evil over good is temporary’,” he concluded.

The All Progressives Congress Youths and Student Council are rooting for the return of  Goodluck Opiah as Minister of Education.

The group said Opiah, who was instrumental to the resolution of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) impasse is perfect for the vision of the Renewed Hope Government of President Bola Tinubu.

Director General of the Council, Mazi Ezenwa Onyirimba made this known in a statement.

He said Opiah was during his time as the Minister of State for Education, at the forefront of the development of technical and vocational education which is a cardinal unit of the proposed reforms of the education sector.

Onyirimba  said: “According to the renewed hope published action plan, the specific policies and reforms are, massive investment in educational infrastructure, development of new accreditation and curriculum standards from primary to tertiary, improve teachers training and school management etc.

“Consequently, it is believed that this lofty vision of the Renewed Hope Government of President Bola Tinubu will require a special breed of personality with prerequisite experience as education minister and a thorough mix of political savviness to help coordinate a cohesive approach to the implementations of every detail of the action plan. The education minister must most critically be someone who shares the same vision with His Excellency President Bola  Tinubu.”

“It is no gainsaying the fact that  Goodluck Nana Opiah best fit this description of the minister of education needed at this critical point to drive home the implementation of this lofty vision for the Nigeria education sector.

“Rt. Hon Goodluck Nana Opiah having served as the immediate past minister of state for education was able to distinguish himself to the consternation of the Nigerian populace. He was instrumental to the resolve of the ASUU impasse which almost became a national embarrassment, he was at the forefront for the development of technical and vocational education which is a cardinal unit of the proposed reforms of the education sector.”

Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Chinonso Ajah, has imposed a dusk- to-dawn curfew on Okposi, Ugwulangwu and Uburu communities in the council area.

Ajah said yesterday that the decision followed recurring restiveness in the communities. Immediate past Governor David Umahi is from Uburu.

“All forms of movement, including activities of motorcyclists and commercial tricycle operators within the areas have been outlawed. The people are advised to adhere to this directive to avoid further threats to peace,” Ajah stressed.

The chairman advised traditional and religious leaders, as well as town union executives, to sensitise their subjects on the need to comply with the curfew.

“This is because violators will be dealt with severely. The curfew takes effect from 6pm today, he added.

The Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, has warned students against visiting places prohibited by the school authority, especially the Otamiri River.

The warning followed the death of a student, Emmanuel Onyenuforo, of the Department of Dispensing Opticianry, on June 2, when he reportedly went to swim at the Otamiri River.

A memo yesterday by the Registrar, Mrs. E. Anuna, commiserated with Emmanuel’s family, the students’ union, and warned students to keep off areas prohibited by the school authority.

The memo reads: “…the sad incident of June 2, 2023, where Emmanuel Onyenuforo drowned in Otamiri River, was avoidable. Management wishes to reiterate that students should adhere strictly to its earlier warnings and refrain from visiting places that would put their lives or academic pursuit in danger.

“All students, and especially non-indigenes, are warned to desist from going to swim in the Otamiri River as the consequences for non-adherence could be fatal. Deans and Heads of Departments should please bring the contents of this memo to the attention of students under them.”

Mrs. Anuna also advised parents to warn their wards to stay away from these dangerous places.

• ’House lost two members, passed 50 bills’

There was panic at the Anambra State House of Assembly yesterday as four armed men, suspected to be operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), tried to arrest the lawmaker-elect for Nnewi North, Onyekachukwu Ike.

The armed men drove into the Assembly complex in three vehicles and grabbed Ike after the valedictory thanksgiving mass for the Seventh Assembly.

Ike was taken their vehicle but couldn’t drive out of the Assembly complex as security personnel locked the exit gate.

Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs. Esther Aneto, and other senior staff members lamented that the armed men did not inform them or even the policemen attached to the Assembly before carrying out their action.

One of the armed men however explained that they had a court order to arrest Ike.

It took the intervention of the Speaker, Uche Okafor, and Deputy Governor Onyeka Ibezim, who represented the governor at the Valedictory session, before Ike was released.

Meanwhile, the Seventh Assembly lost two members and passed 50 bills, the speaker Okaor said. He described the bills as ‘people-oriented which brought about remarkable legislative improvement and service delivery in the state’.

He also paid special tribute to the two deceased members Okechukwu Okoye (Aguata I) and Nnamdi Okafor (Awka South I).

He said: “We were privileged to represent our different constituencies in the last four years, and I’m happy to say that the Seventh Assembly achieved some success in the number of bills that were passed, motions moved, oversight functions and other legislative duties. We passed 50 people-oriented and landmark bills and I appreciate my colleagues for their support, impactful constituency projects and empowerment programmes.

“The Seventh Assembly can be adjudged to be peaceful as there were no impeachment threats or thoughts against the Speaker or other principal officers. We have laid a solid foundation in terms of character, commitment, dedication and leadership, and I urge the Eighth Assembly to emulate and build upon this foundation and support Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.”

Governor Soludo appreciated the legislators for conducting themselves peacefully and ensuring thorough scrutiny and oversight function that kept the executive on its toes.

Soludo, who was represented by Ibezim, appreciated the Speaker for his outstanding leadership role and for ensuring cordial relationship between the two arms of government.

The House was thereafter adjourned indefinitely.

Twenty two members of the Seventh Assembly, including Okafor, will not be part of the Eights Assembly to be inaugurated on June 12.