Category: SouthEast

Experts have urged the  Federal Government to  establish  National and State Internally Persons Commission, provide compensation and monthly stipends and  build a comprehensive database  to effectively tackle the challenges of IDPs.

They spoke at a roundtable conference at the University of Mkar, Benue State. The conference had as theme:   The IDP question in Benue State.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zacharys Gunduz  noted that the discussion was aimed at drawing the attention of the state, Federal Government, and spirited individuals to the poor living condition of IDPs in the state.

He called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to rehabilitate them.

Zacharys said over 2million IDPs came about from attacks  by suspected herdsmen who took over their land and occupied it.

The Lead discussant Dr  Sebastian  Agbinda sought the  establishment of National and State IDPs Commission by both State and Federal Governments.

” It is time government moves away from Police to legislation on IDPs,  it also means there would be a House Committee of IDPs for oversight functions as the present scenario where it’s only police does not bode well for their welfare,” he said.

The don said there must be bills, laws, compensations and monthly stipends to fight their course because they have become permanent IDPs after spending over 15 years in camps.

Veronica Onyenisi in her presentation stated that women have suffered the most in IDPs camps as young girls are forcefully raped.

She called the IDPs Commission to cater to victims of herdsmen attacks and other crises which led women and children into IDP camps.

On his part, Isaac Kugbe called for comprehensive data on Internally Displaced Persons to effectively tackle  humanitarian challenges.

“IDPs don’t participate in governance, they have no voters card and don’t enjoy any form of support,” he said.

Member representing Awka North in the Anambra State House of Assembly, John Nwokoye, has urged people of the Southeast to make peace their watchword.

Nwokoye gave the advice in his Achalla country home, Awka North Local Government Area, when he received the ‘Person of Peace’ award from the Igbos for Progressive and United Nationhood (IPAN). He said people have always been known as peaceful and accommodative, urging them to maintain same in their various locations.

Nwokoye thanked IPAN for honouring his works during his time at the House of Assembly, and promised to continue to justify the confidence reposed in him.

He said: “I thank IPAN for recognising my works while in the House of Assembly, and fighting for peace and the rights of Igbo people in Nigeria, the same course that has made IPAN a very important organisation.

“I call on Nigerians, particularly Ndigbo, to make peace their watchword. Ndigbo all over the world should remain diligent, hardworking and law abiding in their various locations.”

IPAN’s National President, Comrade Lawrence Onuzulike, hailed Nwokoye for his achievements in the House, especially his empowerment programmes. He said the choice of Nwokoye for the award was informed by his peaceful disposition, especially fighting for peace and rights of Ndigbo across the country.

“We decided to single you out for this special award due to your numerous achievements in the house, especially your various empowerment programmes. We’re convinced that the award will spur you to greater and unprecedented achievements even outside the shores of the House of Assembly,” he added.

The award presentation was witnessed by the Uthoko Na Eze VI of Achalla Kingdom, Igwe Ositadimma Sunny Nwokedi and his cabinet members.

Edo State House of Assembly yesterday cleared the first batch of 15 commissioner-nominees presented by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, in a letter to the which Speaker, Marcus Onobun, said more names were expected to be presented in the coming days.

The letter reads: “I write at the instance of Governor Godwin Obaseki, to forward the under-listed names of commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.

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“The names 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.

“I am to request that the above nominees be expeditiously screened and confirmed. Please accept the assurance of the warm regards of the governor.”

The lawmakers screened and confirmed all the nominees after due deliberation. Six members of the dissolved state executive council made the list.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the March 11 election, Prophet Chris Adol-Awam, has rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 Adol-Awam announced his defection, which he described as a return back to his home, at the weekend in Abakaliki, the state capital. According to him, he was returning to the APC with over 2,000 supporters, party members, running mate and party members across the 171 political wards and 13 local government areas of the state.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has said the party’s governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, lost because of his anti-party activities during the presidential election.

 Okocha, who was the Chairman, Independent Campaign Council (ICC) for Tinubu-Shettima, renewed allegations of anti-party activities against Cole at the weekend in Port Harcourt. He told Cole to forget his matter at the tribunal and channel the energy in clearing the anti-party allegation against him.

 He said: “Cole has not challenged the burden of anti-party activities against him, during the February 25 presidential election. It was his anti-party activities that infuriated the mainstream APC members, who believed in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sway support to the PDP governorship candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, in reciprocation of former Governor Nyesom Wike and PDP’s support for Tinubu.”

 Okocha also enumerated reasons why the national APC withdrew its petition from the election tribunal and abandoned Cole. 

He said: “It is rare to have a party withdraw a petition and allow the petitioner to his fate. Many reasons abound. First, the party may have found it a waste of time and resources knowing that the grounds of challenge are puny. Secondly, the party may have been irked too by the candidate’s infidelity to the party.”

• Issues seven-day ultimatum to Shell

The Ugborodo community in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State has established the Ikpere Host Community Development Trust to aid implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The community also gave a seven-day ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), starting June 3, to meet with the community as regards the PIA. The community remains autonomous in the implementation of the PIA, it added.

The people spoke at a general meeting of its five federated communities – Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Ijaghala and Madangho, at the community town hall in Ode-Ugborodo, at the weekend. It was attended by the Igbajor of Ugborodo, Prince Perry Atete; All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Ayirimi Emami; the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Daniel Uwawah; former Executive Director, Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, the Olare-Ojas of the five Ugborodo communities and several other leaders.

A community leader, Alex Eyengho, who addressed reporters after the meeting, said deliberations centered on a recent protest against Chevron Nigeria Limited and other internal issues.

According to him, the protest was suspended to allow dialogue.

He said: “We suspended the protest to give room for further discussion. It was a tripartite meeting between the community, Chevron and the regulatory commission of the PIA. A follow up meeting will be held this Tuesday (tomorrow). “Chevron is showing commitment; they have visited this community twice and talks are ongoing. Parts of our demand at the protest are that Ugborodo community wants to have its own PIA. Our own trust is different from any other trust in Itsekiriland.

“Ikpere is synonymous to Ugborodo. The indigenes at this meeting have resolved that our PIA be called Ikpere Host Community Development Trust.

“We have issued SPDC a seven day notice from yesterday (Friday), to do what Chevron is doing, by coming to Ugborodo to discuss with us because the PIA and its accompanying regulation by the regulating agency is very clear. We are only saying follow the extant law of the PIA in constituting the three organs of the PIA – the Board of Trustee, the Management Committee and Advisory Committee.

“We expect Shell to take us seriously. We have written to them several times and we expect them to take us seriously.”

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has appointed special assistants on internal security.

 A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, said the governor also appointed special assistants on Primary Education and New Media.

 “The appointees include Emerike Chinedu (Senior Special Assistant on Security) Felix Okemini (SSA Security); Sunday Ogbonna (SA Security) and Mbam Obinna (SA, Internal Security).

 “Others are Ogbonna Tobias (SA Internal Security); Chukwuemeka Nwokpo (SA, Internal Security); Godwin Okum (SA, Internal Security); Desmond Edeke (SA, Internal Security) Easy Okike-Uzo (SA, Internal Security); Chukwu Godwin (SA, Internal Security); Obinna Oko-Enyim (SA, Internal Security).

 “Chima Nnachi Okoro (SA, Internal Security); Cletus Nga (SA Internal Security); Boniface Nwankwo (SA Documentation); Leo Ekene Oketa (SA New Media); Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu (SA Primary Education); Dr. Sabinus Nwibo (SA, Primary Health Care) and Pan Christ Ikechukwu Eze (SA, Capital City).”

• Spokesman refuses to speak on incident

Aggrieved indigenes of Sangana Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday protested against Conoil Producing Plc over its alleged refusal to perform its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

 They also accused the firm of complicity in the murder of a youth by suspected security agents.

 The indigenes, comprising elders, youths and women, dressed in black and went on rampage to draw the attention of relevant authorities to their plight in the hands of the oil major.

 They chanted solidarity songs and brandished placards with inscriptions such as ‘We are tired of Conoil’s oppression’; ‘Stop killing us, stop the shooting’; ‘Why kill an innocent youth?’; ‘Ikiowori Benson is dead, why now?; ’25 years of operations in Sangana and nothing to show for it’, among others.

The protesters demanded that the oil frim address the lingering issues with stakeholders of the area or vacate their land.

The protest is coming few days after a youth was reportedly killed by security agents attached to the oil facility. Many people were reportedly injured and two others are still missing after the incident.

Former Chairman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Sangana clan, Otonbara Sigimo, said they were out to express their anger over the ill-treatment meted to them by the oil firm. He added that the neglect could no longer be overlooked.

According to Sigimo, several years after the signing of series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), the oil firm had failed to abide by any provisions agreed upon. He noted that indigenes of Sangana had no other option than ask the oil company to vacate their community.

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He said: “How can they deprive our people of the benefits we are supposed to get? Worst still, an unarmed youth was killed in the area during a peaceful protest. We are not happy and we have endured for so long.

“A few days ago, we went on a peaceful protest and the result was the shooting of our brother. What was his sin, or what is our sin? We just went to have a peaceful discussion but rather they brought in military personnel to kill us. They must leave our territory because they don’t mean well for us.”

The Amanayabo of Moko Ama Sangana Kingdom, Moses Kenibara, expressed anger that the community had been hosting Conoil for over 25 years with nothing to show for it.

“They have rather impoverished the community. Before they started operation, there was no impact assessment of the area. The community has been talking to them but they blatantly refused. They write MoUs with us but never implemented it. This is not acceptable because it isn’t the standard of operation and we are aggrieved.”

Spokesman for Conoil, Richard Edegbai, said he would not speak about the incident on the phone.

He asked our reporter to book an interview with the organisation’s offices in Warri, Delta State, or in Lagos before the company could respond to any enquiry on the incident.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has said the party’s governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, lost because of his anti-party activities during the presidential election.

 Okocha, who was the Chairman, Independent Campaign Council (ICC) for Tinubu-Shettima, renewed allegations of anti-party activities against Cole at the weekend in Port Harcourt. He told Cole to forget his matter at the tribunal and channel the energy in clearing the anti-party allegation against him.

 He said: “Cole has not challenged the burden of anti-party activities against him, during the February 25 presidential election. It was his anti-party activities that infuriated the mainstream APC members, who believed in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sway support to the PDP governorship candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, in reciprocation of former Governor Nyesom Wike and PDP’s support for Tinubu.”

 Okocha also enumerated reasons why the national APC withdrew its petition from the election tribunal and abandoned Cole. 

He said: “It is rare to have a party withdraw a petition and allow the petitioner to his fate. Many reasons abound. First, the party may have found it a waste of time and resources knowing that the grounds of challenge are puny. Secondly, the party may have been irked too by the candidate’s infidelity to the party.”