The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Bayelsa APC youths stage solidarity walk for Tinubu/Shettima

    Bayelsa APC youths stage solidarity walk for Tinubu/Shettima

    Hundreds of youths from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State on Friday staged a solidarity walk for the election victory of the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice Presidential candidate, Mr. Kashim Shettima, during the February 25th Presidential election.

    They described Tinubu and Shettima emergence as a new dawn for the nation.

    The solidarity walk, which was led by the State Youth Leader of the party, Mr. Preye Agama, and other youth leaders from the wards and local government areas of the state, started from the popular Tombia roundabout and ended at the State Party Secretariat at Kpansia area of the state capital where they were received by the State Chairman, Chief Dennis Otiotio.

    Speaking at the party secretariat, the State Youth Leader of the party, Mr Preye Agama, said the solidarity walk was a deliberate show of appreciation by the youths of Bayelsa State for the election victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    He described the last Presidential and National Assembly elections as free, fair, transparent and credible.

    Agama told party supporters that despite the dissenting voices from some opposition candidates in the Presidential election, “our solidarity walk is to celebrate the personnel of security agencies, INEC and other stakeholders who participated in the elections. These are the best elections handled by the INEC. The outcomes showed high level of transparency.”

    Also speaking, a chieftain of the party, Mr. Jude Tabai, commended a foremost former Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, for supporting the APC youths in Bayelsa to stage the solidarity walk in the state capital, describing him as a pyramid of the Niger Delta region.

    Earlier, the State Chairman of the party, Dennis Otiotio, expressed appreciation over the turnout of youths of the party for the solidarity walk, calling on the youth wing of the party to work in unity to ensure victory in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in the state.

    According to Otiotio, though the party lost the Presidential election in the state, in the next election, the APC would defeat Governor Douye Diri for allegedly rigging them out.

    He stated: “You are aware that in the past elections, in all local government areas, the PDP rigged the elections. We would have won about 14 seats of the State House of Assembly. In places we were winning, they came with the Police, the military and rigged us out.

    “We are happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has concluded his good work successfully and he will surely hand over to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. When Tinubu came to Bayelsa during the last campaigns, he told the traditional rulers that he had conquered the Atlantic Ocean and he would replicate it in Bayelsa by conquering the floods affecting the state. He will surely do it.”

  • Malnutrition: UNICEF gifts therapeutic diets to Bayelsa lactating, expectant mothers

    Malnutrition: UNICEF gifts therapeutic diets to Bayelsa lactating, expectant mothers

    In its drive to fight malnutrition, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has donated therapeutic diets to lactating and expectant mothers (pregnant women) in Bayelsa State.

    Therapeutic diets are usually a modification of regular diets and in administering therapeutic diets, modifications are done in nutrients, texture as well as food allergies and food intolerance.

    The international humanitarian agency had recently drawn the attention of the state government to issues concerning exclusive breastfeeding and child nutrition in the state.

    Making the donations at the Primary Health Centre, Sagbama Town, headquarters of the Sagbama Local Government Area, Head, UNICEF Port Harcourt Field Office, Dr Anslem Audu, stated that the essence of the donations was to ameliorate the impact of the shortage of adequate nutrition for children in the area.

    The UNICEF team was accompanied on the trip to Sagbama by officials from the state Ministry of Health and select journalists. The visit and donation came just as UNICEF said that data from its research and partners showed that Sagbama LGA was among the worst hit councils by the 2022 ravaging floods which destroyed farm lands and other sources of staple foods, leading to high rate of malnourished children in the area.

  • Right group cautions Enugu CSOs against being used by politicians

    Right group cautions Enugu CSOs against being used by politicians

    The International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (IS4PAHRI) has cautioned Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Enugu State to stay clear from and resist the temptation of getting into any venture that would denigrate their integrity and wash away their relevance.

    The group which gave the advice weekend also urged politicians to desist from plunging CSOs into the muddy waters of partisan politics.

    IS4PAHRI which took exception to the action of some CSOs in Enugu that were allegedly lured into being part of recently unveiled Peter Mbah Mandate Movement Group meant for the pursuit and promotion of the political interest of the governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, said their action was against the rules of engagement.

    Dissociating itself and Enugu State Network of Civil Society Organisations (ENSNET) from the Peter Mbah Mandate Movement Group, IS4PAHRI in a statement signed by Osmond Ugwu and Dr Jerry Chukwuokolo, President and Secretary respectively, said the best any altruistic politician could do was to support genuine programmes and projects of CSOs that geared towards the promotion of public good as well as seek for advice from experienced practitioners in civic enterprise.

    It therefore charged the practitioners in the field to always be conscious of the fact that their mission was like a calling and should be guided and led by the international best practices of civic and system engagement.

    The statement reads in parts, “The attention of International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (IS4PAHRI) has been drawn to an attempt by some individuals masquerading in the guise and image of Civil Society to destroy the sanctity and historical integrity, values and unique essence of Civil Society Organisations in Enugu state and beyond at alter of partisan politics in Enugu state.

    “This ugly development manifested in the recent sponsored public show of some people using cloak and banner of civil society organisations in Enugu state in the name of Peter Mbah Mandate Movement Group for the pursuit and promotion of political interest of the declared winner of governorship position of Enugu state during the concluded gubernatorial election in Enugu, Mr Peter Mbah.”

  • Three bodies float ashore in Bayelsa boat mishap

    Three bodies float ashore in Bayelsa boat mishap

    Three bodies have been recovered from Thursday’s boat mishap at the Yenagoa-Brass Waterway.

    Initial reports had stated that occupants of a passenger boat that capsized near Okoroma in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa swam to safety.

    The reports said a cargo boat that was also involved in the accident sank.

    Chairman of Bayelsa chapter of the Maritime Workers Union, Mr Ipigansi Ogoniba, however, updated the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) about the accident on Saturday in Yenagoa.

    He said the mishap involved only the cargo boat, which had an encounter with high waves.

    He said preliminary investigations showed that the cargo boat, MV Tari, had at least 100 passengers on board when the accident occurred, but some of the passengers swam to safety.

    He expressed regrets that passengers boarded cargo boats that had no provisions for comfort and safety so as to pay cheap fares

    “The local boats are designed for heavy cargo and not for passengers, but people smuggle themselves into these boats and pay very little fares to operators.

    “Unfortunately the regulation on the use of safety jackets is weak. The boats are not primarily meant for passengers; there is no manifest to ascertain the exact number of passengers on board.

    “The captain of the boat estimated that about 100 passengers were on board and we found that the load it carried was not balanced.

    “The practice is to put heavy load in the lower compartment and the lighter ones on top.

    “We learnt that the operator did not follow this rule and made the boat vulnerable to high or turbulent waves,’’ Ogoniba said.

    He noted that statutory regulatory agencies had abdicated their operational safety roles and left the regulation of the marine transport sector to the Maritime Workers Union.

    Ogoniba said it normally took 24 hours after a boat mishap for drowned victims to float.

    He told NAN that one of the three corpses recovered, a woman, had been identified by relatives who took the remains to a mortuary in Yenagoa, while the two other victims (males) were awaiting identification.

    Police spokesman in Bayelsa, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the accident but said the casualty figure had yet to be ascertained.

    Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has expressed sadness over the fatal boat accident.

    It has yet to be confirmed the number of persons still missing in Thursday’s mishap involving a local passenger boat, MV Tari.

    Governor Diri has directed the relevant government agencies, including security agencies, to collaborate in the search-and-rescue efforts and ensure the recovery of all missing persons.

    The Bayelsa helmsman sympathised with injured victims and the families that lost persons in the sad incident.

    He prayed that God would succour them over the unfortunate accident.

    He added that the government would review the cause of such incidents in order to take steps to ensure safety of lives and goods on the state’s waterways.

  • Olumba Obu admonishes politicians to be mindful of their actions

    Olumba Obu admonishes politicians to be mindful of their actions

    The Universal Leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu has called on all political leaders at all levels of governance in Nigeria to be cautious of their actions.

    He made this call during a world press conference held in Calabar ahead of Sunday 9th April when the BCS is hosting a Spiritual and universal Program , tagged, ” Divine Numbering of the Elects”, which began April 3rd and will climaxed tomorrow at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    The event is expected to gather thousands of BCS faithful from across African countries, Europe, America, and Asia.

    The spokesman of the BCS, Brother Amah Williams (PCS) who read the press statement of the organization, noted that “Nigeria is the physical abode of God and a nation after God’s heart, therefore, all those fanning the embers of disunity, violence and those who perpetrate corruption should know that the wrath of God shall soon come upon them.”

    Taking a look at global events, he said: “recent global events have exposed the limits of man’s knowledge and ability to solve its own challenges. The depletion of Man’s natural resources, war, climate change, natural disasters, outbreak of pandemic, increase in crime rate and numerous challenges faced by the world today all show that we are seeing the signs of the end time as spoken about by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. However, despite these situations, hope is not lost. Leaders of the world and Government at all levels must know that the solution to the myriads of problems bedeviling mankind today can be found in the teachings of Leader Olumba Olumba Obu as encapsulated in His Everlasting Gospels.”

  • Residents cry out over dilapidated roads in Imo communities

    Residents cry out over dilapidated roads in Imo communities

    Residents of Ihiagwa, Umuokpo, Emeabiam, Eziobodo and Okolochi communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State have expressed worries over slow pace of  construction of Ihiagwa road and adjourning neighbouring roads and urged the state government to expedite on the roads before the rainy fully set in.

    Phase one of the Ihiagwa road which links Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, Federal University Technology Owerri (FUTO), Police College and Divisional Police Headquarters was completed by President Muhammadu Buhari last year.

    The residents said the roads when constructed would ease traffic, enhance relaxation, development, as well as strengthen commerce at the communities.

    One of the residents, a trader, Eberechi Okoro, regretted that the Ihiagwa road has become a nightmare.

    “Residents and motorists suffer adversely due to the bad state of the road. I’m surprised that the road is still not completed after it was awarded many years ago by Emeka Ihedioha led Rebuild Imo short lived administration. This deficiency slows commercial activities in Ihiagwa and environs,” Okoro said.

    A farmer and retired civil servant, Nze Oha, who frowned at the state of the road, urged the administration of Hope Uzodimma to ensure that the road is fixed before the rainy season fully begins.

    “Farming will be enhanced when there is a quality road as farm produce would easily be conveyed to the markets. A farmer is always happy and at home when his or her produce is easily and profitably sold to willing and happy consumers”.

    He wondered why the construction of Ihiagwa/Naze/Nekede road was being delayed or stopped near the Police Post Umuoma, Nekede.

    “This lack of political will by rulers shows a nonchalant attitude on the plight and suffering of the people who produce the wealth of the state. It is bad that nothing is moving well in Imo State despite the huge economic resources herein. People are just suffering and smiling. No steady electricity and water supply. No healthcare service, poor education has been an issue.

    Petrol, kerosene, cooking gas, diesel, inflation are factors that militate against good living and common existence,” he noted.

    A teacher from Emeabiam community, Mrs. Theresa Ekeh, said the government should “extend road construction to Emeabiam, Umuokpo, Okolochi and Eziobodo in their rural road project to enable the people to effectively engage in productive activities like farming, trading and artisanship.”

  • Enugu guber: Groups unveil movement to defend Mbah’s mandate

    Enugu guber: Groups unveil movement to defend Mbah’s mandate

    Various interest groups in the Enugu State have launched ‘Mandate Protection Movement’ to defend the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Peter Mbah in the March 18 governorship election. 

    The groups, which include Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Obidient Movement, NCFront, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and League of Women Voters, among others, unveiled the Mbah Mandate Movement (M3 GROUP), stating it was basically to “safeguard the mandate of Mbah against all forms of potential threats or distractions.”

    The Convener and Lead Speaker of the group, Kennedy Iyere, told the gathering that it was necessary to defend the mandate given to Mbah to fast-track development in the state.

    Iyere affirmed that Mbah’s administration would engender responsible government whose priority is to accelerate social and economic development for sustainable well-being of the state.

    He said: “Tell me which of the three key candidates in the just concluded Enugu governorship election is most acceptable, considering the record of their past performances, if not Mbah.

    “His victory was well deserved, and the results of the poll reflected the will of the people.

    “Look at his achievements in the private sector where he distinguished himself as a pacesetter. His Pinnacle Oil and Gas proudly has over 8,000 employees. His ‘Peter Mbah Foundation’ has shown compassion to thousands of persons through various humanitarian interventions.

    “Mbah has come to serve and to move Enugu to its next realm of development. Therefore, those who are making efforts to distract his focus are advised to distance themselves from him. This is the reason stakeholders have gathered to launch the ‘Mbah Mandate Movement.’ It is a widespread advocacy group whose aim is to safeguard the mandate of Mbah.

    “We must defend Mbah’s mandate, because of his passion to serve and develop the state

    “Leadership is all about commitment and competency. That’s why we have no other option but to support and defend Mbah’s mandate, because we believe he will do everything possible to move Enugu forward.”Various interest groups in the Enugu State have launched ‘Mandate Protection Movement’ to defend the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Peter Mbah in the March 18 governorship election. 

    The groups, which include Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Obidient Movement, NCFront, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and League of Women Voters, among others, unveiled the Mbah Mandate Movement (M3 GROUP), stating it was basically to “safeguard the mandate of Mbah against all forms of potential threats or distractions.”

    The Convener and Lead Speaker of the group, Kennedy Iyere, told the gathering that it was necessary to defend the mandate given to Mbah to fast-track development in the state.

    Iyere affirmed that Mbah’s administration would engender responsible government whose priority is to accelerate social and economic development for sustainable well-being of the state.

    He said: “Tell me which of the three key candidates in the just concluded Enugu governorship election is most acceptable, considering the record of their past performances, if not Mbah.

    “His victory was well deserved, and the results of the poll reflected the will of the people.

    “Look at his achievements in the private sector where he distinguished himself as a pacesetter. His Pinnacle Oil and Gas proudly has over 8,000 employees. His ‘Peter Mbah Foundation’ has shown compassion to thousands of persons through various humanitarian interventions.

    “Mbah has come to serve and to move Enugu to its next realm of development. Therefore, those who are making efforts to distract his focus are advised to distance themselves from him. This is the reason stakeholders have gathered to launch the ‘Mbah Mandate Movement.’ It is a widespread advocacy group whose aim is to safeguard the mandate of Mbah.

    “We must defend Mbah’s mandate, because of his passion to serve and develop the state

    “Leadership is all about commitment and competency. That’s why we have no other option but to support and defend Mbah’s mandate, because we believe he will do everything possible to move Enugu forward.”arious interest groups in the Enugu State have launched ‘Mandate Protection Movement’ to defend the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Peter Mbah in the March 18 governorship election. 

    The groups, which include Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Obidient Movement, NCFront, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and League of Women Voters, among others, unveiled the Mbah Mandate Movement (M3 GROUP), stating it was basically to “safeguard the mandate of Mbah against all forms of potential threats or distractions.”

    The Convener and Lead Speaker of the group, Kennedy Iyere, told the gathering that it was necessary to defend the mandate given to Mbah to fast-track development in the state.

    Iyere affirmed that Mbah’s administration would engender responsible government whose priority is to accelerate social and economic development for sustainable well-being of the state.

    He said: “Tell me which of the three key candidates in the just concluded Enugu governorship election is most acceptable, considering the record of their past performances, if not Mbah.

    “His victory was well deserved, and the results of the poll reflected the will of the people.

    “Look at his achievements in the private sector where he distinguished himself as a pacesetter. His Pinnacle Oil and Gas proudly has over 8,000 employees. His ‘Peter Mbah Foundation’ has shown compassion to thousands of persons through various humanitarian interventions.

    “Mbah has come to serve and to move Enugu to its next realm of development. Therefore, those who are making efforts to distract his focus are advised to distance themselves from him. This is the reason stakeholders have gathered to launch the ‘Mbah Mandate Movement.’ It is a widespread advocacy group whose aim is to safeguard the mandate of Mbah.

    “We must defend Mbah’s mandate, because of his passion to serve and develop the state

    “Leadership is all about commitment and competency. That’s why we have no other option but to support and defend Mbah’s mandate, because we believe he will do everything possible to move Enugu forward.”

  • ‘Ebonyi schools registering pupils for WAEC exams’

    ‘Ebonyi schools registering pupils for WAEC exams’

    Ebonyi State Government yesterday said secondary schools were registering pupils for West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE) and Junior Secondary School Examination (JSSCE).

    Education Commissioner Mr. Sunday Nwangele made this known at a news briefing in Abakaliki.

    He said following timely intervention by the government, the deregistration of 345 secondary schools by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had been lifted.  

    The commissioner, who debunked media reports that schools in Ebonyi were not registering pupils for WAEC exams, noted that the state had a good working relationship with the examination body. 

  • ‘Query your children’s wealth’

    ‘Query your children’s wealth’

    Mrs. Nonye Soludo, wife of Anambra State Governor Ckukwuma Soludo, has identified failure by most parents to question the ‘sudden’ source of wealth of their children, as one of the problems threatening today’s society.

    The governor’s wife, who spoke yesterday in Awka, expressed worry about parents’ abandonment of primary ethos of truth, honesty and principle in child raising, including moral inculcation and valued traditional etiquettes.

    “Such costly parental neglect has resulted in negativities bedevilling today’s society, with crimes and misdemeanours slowly becoming institutionalised to the detriment of hard work and genuine means of survival. “Where parents deliberately refuse to question the source of their children’s sudden wealth, especially when it appears questionable, they have indirectly approved mediocrity and fuelled moral depreciation,” she said.

    Appealing to parents and guardians to alive to their responsibilities, Mrs. Soludo said the society they desired for the next generation might be a mirage if the current social errors were not corrected. 

    She added: “It is time for parents, guardians, social engineers and other stakeholders to come together and reassess their roles in child and societal developments, with a view to tackling immorality.

    “The age-long values of hard work must be preached and appreciated among families, while parents and caregivers must appreciate the success pace of their children or wards.”

  • Obaseki approves employment of first-class graduates of Edo origin

    Obaseki approves employment of first-class graduates of Edo origin

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has approved employment of first-class graduates of Edo origin in Nigerian universities into the state’s civil and public service.
    The approval was conveyed yesterday by Head of Service Anthony Okungbowa, who hailed Obaseki for the kind gesture, which he described as pace-setting and a worthy move that would equip the civil and public service with the best brains to engender the vision of making Edo the best place to live and work by 2050.
    Okungbowa said the gesture was initially extended to the best graduating students of Edo State University, Uzairue during its third convocation, but was later extended to the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Edo government-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
    He said the names of 15 first-class graduates and the best graduating students from the universities had been forwarded to the Edo Civil Service Commission for further action.
    Okungbowa called on vice chancellors to forward the names and particulars of first-class graduates, who are Edo indigenes, to the state government for the purpose.