The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Delta governorship: Gbagi files petition against Oborevwori, others

    Delta governorship: Gbagi files petition against Oborevwori, others

    Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, yesterday filed a 76-page petition at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Asaba.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the March 18 poll declared Delta Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori winner of the election with 360,234 votes.

    The petition lists 13 persons, including Sheriff Oborevwori (PDP) 3rd, Monday Onyeme (PDP) 4th, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC) 6th, Friday Osanebi (APC) 7th, Ken Pela (LP) 9th, Julie Mukoro (LP) 10th, Great Ogboru (APGA) 12th and Chinedu Allanah (APGA)13th as respondents.

    Gbagi, a former Minister of Education (state), told reporters in Asaba that his petition was hinged on three grounds.

    He said it was firstly challenging the non-qualification of the governorship candidates and their parties.

    Gbagi said the poll was not conducted in line with the Electoral Act and other statutory provisions of the law.

    He said the election was marred by rigging and other malpractices.

    Others who filed petitions include Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (APC), currently in jail. He is challenging the election of Ned Nwoko (PDP), who won Delta North poll.

  • Edo deputy governor Shaibu sacks Chief of Staff

    Edo deputy governor Shaibu sacks Chief of Staff

    •Reappoints Ehigiamusor as replacement

    Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has sacked his Chief of Staff, Mr. Inusa Imonofi, and replaced him with the former occupant of the office, Mr. Kingsley Ehigiamusor.

    This was made known yesterday by Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Musa Ebhomiana.

    Shaibu thanked Imonofi for the services rendered and wished him well in his future endeavours.

    No reason was given for the sack, but the deputy governor said he looked forward to working with Imonofi again in future. Ehigiamusor, a public affairs commentator and lawyer from Igueben Local Government, was the Minority Chief Whip from 2007 to 2015, and Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition and Legal Matter.

    The reappointed Chief of Staff was first appointed by Governor Godwin Obaseki on November 16, 2016, shortly after his inauguration.

  • Reps put NDDC N15b counterpart fund request on hold

    Reps put NDDC N15b counterpart fund request on hold

    House of Representatives yesterday asked the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to put on hold the release of N15 billion counterpart funding requested by the Federal Government, pending the approval of the commission’s budget by the National Assembly.
    Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Unyime Idem, the House also resolved to mandate its Committee on NDDC to scrutinise such request made by the Federal Government and report back to the House for further legislative action. 
    The House expressed concern that the commission had been operating for the past three years without an approved budget, as provided for in the laws of the country.
    Leading a debate on the motion, Idem accused the commission of spending public funds since 2021 without budgetary approval by the National Assembly, adding that the 2021, 2022 and 2023 budgets of the commission were yet to be approved by the parliament.
    He said there was the need to find out where the commission had been getting money for its operations since 2021, since its budget had not been approved by the National Assembly, saying spending of public funds without approval was an illegality that should not be allowed.
    He said the Ministry of Niger Delta was inaugurated by the Presidency to attend to intervention and humanitarian needs of the Niger Delta and promote physical development of the region.
    Idem said since its inauguration, the Ministry of Niger Delta had executed fundamental and important humanitarian intervention projects across the region.
    He said part of the fund available for use by the commission was money recovered on its behalf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and given to the commission, to ease the implementation and its financial obligations.
    He said the Federal Government sent a special request mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta to jointly finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums running into several billions of Naira, using the money recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision.
    Idem said such request for intervention and humanitarian proposals by the Federal Government without requisite financial appropriation and approval by the House was illegal and a breach of the Appropriation Act.
    Deputy Minority Leader Toby Okechukwu said although the N15 billion being sought was for flood control, it should be put on hold while the House should investigate where the commission had been getting the money it had been spending, since its budget for three years had not been approved.

  • Enugu APC expels ex-governor Chime, others

    Enugu APC expels ex-governor Chime, others

    •Nnamani, Onyeama, suspended

    • ‘You can’t get ministerial position by chasing everyone away’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has announced the expulsion of a former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime.

    Also expelled is the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, former Enugu House of Assembly Speaker Eugene Odo, an aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Flavour Eze, Mr. Joe Mmamel and Mr. Maduka Arum.

    Similarly, the party suspended former Senate President Ken Nnamani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.

    The disciplinary actions were announced yesterday by the Enugu State Secretary of the party, Mr. Robert Ngwu.

    He presented the report of a disciplinary committee.

    Ngwu said the report was ratified by an enlarged state Executive Committee meeting.

    The expelled and suspended members were accused of anti-party activities.

    They were alleged to have supported candidates of other parties during the 2023 general election.

    The state Chairman of the party, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, said the disciplinary action would signal an end to the crisis in the party.

    He said: “These men have actually had the history of instigating crisis in the party. Their expulsion and suspension signal the end to crisis in the party.

    “The party suffered a rare case of moles, who were here to disable and undermine this party. I can assure you that this decision was unanimous and I’m happy that the party leadership has done the needful.

    “We’re going to rebuild this party to make it a credible alternative and platform for change in Enugu State.”

    Eze, an aide to Onyeama, described the action as “rantings of a frail and sapped politician of yesteryear.”

    Eze, who was the Enugu State Media Director of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Independent Campaign Council (ICC), said the gloating of Agballah had been APC’s albatross in Enugu State, stressing that the foundation members of the party in the state were unfazed by his recent unbridled verbal and media attacks on Onyeama, Nnamani and other founding members of the party.

    He slammed Agballah for struggling for the position of a minister in a proposed government he worked against its victory and urged Nigerians to treat him with ignominy.

    Eze, an APC leader in Udi Local Government, said it was such a pity that Agballah, who claimed to be chairman of the party, instead of engaging in canvassing votes for the party, chose to engage in imaginary fisticuffs as smokescreen for his incompetence and corrupt management of the party.

    Eze added that Agballah in a coup d’etat dispersed meaningful members of the party and arrogated himself in selfish aggrandisement, trumped up acrimony and polarised the party in order for the real leaders of the party to give him way to conduct business with the party.

    He alleged that Agballah made good his business and gave opposition parties in the state victory in exchange for the porridge he bargained for and turned around to blame the founding leaders of the party for his incapacity.

  • Senate job: Forum makes case for APC chieftain

    Senate job: Forum makes case for APC chieftain

    National Young Progressive Forum has supported aspiration of Senator Osita Izunaso, pioneer national organising secretary of  All Progressives Congress (APC), who has shown interest in contesting for Senate president.

    The forum, in a statement signed by National.Coordinator,  Alhaji Sulaiman Talba, and Director of Media & Publicity, Kayode Lawal, said  he is one of the few leaders from All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) extraction  that collapsed their structures into APC.

    It said Izunaso’s leadership qualities and display of organisation acumen stands him out.

    The forum described Izunaso as a nationalist, selfless leader, and detribalised citizen as well as pan Nigerian who possess the attributes to function as Senate president.

    “The nation will need a man of impeccable character like Izunaso who has no criminal or any corrupt charge against him.

    Read Also: You are celebrating stolen mandate in South East, APC PCC tells LP

    “Izunaso is well known among his colleagues  and we see him as a rallying point in achieving greatness for the institution of parliament.

    “As a young patriot with the progressive fold,  it is bound on us in  appealing to President-elect, Bola Tinubu, national chairman of our party, members of National Working Committee (NWC) and  stakeholders to ensure one of their own is considered for the position at this crucial period of democracy in Nigeria.’’

    “It’s a known fact that our party  has not taken a decision on the zoning arrangement, which we believe is morally right to zone  the position of the senate president to the south-east.

    “Our belief is that his candidature will be  generally accepted nationwide as we are counting down to the proclamation, swearing-in and inauguration of the (10th) National Assembly by Tuesday 13th June, 2023”, the statement noted.

  • Delta APC debunks Omo-Agege’s sack

    Delta APC debunks Omo-Agege’s sack

    Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Mr. Omeni Sobotie, has described the purported expulsion of Deputy Senate President and Delta governorship candidate, Senator Ovie-Omo Agege, as “a ruse and of no consequence.”

    He urged security agencies “to take note of the wanton rascality and the unscrupulous intent to cause disharmony and a breach of public peace.”

    The chairman, in a statement yesterday, urged the public to ignore the purported expulsion of Omo-Agege as the handiwork of “mischief makers”.

    He said: “We, the legitimate and only recognised State Executive Committee of the party, at the national headquarters, in consultations with other levels in the chain, hereby disclaim the publication as fraudulent, a ruse and of no consequence.”

    He described persons behind the expulsion as faceless, noting that they were not elected members of the state executive committee.

    Sobotie said members of the subsisting state executive committee of the party were elected at congresses organised by the party.

    He said: “The executive committee members of the APC at the wards, local governments, senatorial districts and state levels, were duly elected at the congresses organised by the party. They remain legitimate and still hold their offices and positions in accordance with the APC Constitution.

    “The various levels of the executive committees of the All Progressives Congress at the wards, local governments, senatorial districts and the state, were elected by bona fide members of the party, in an open. transparent process, duly designated, approved and coordinated by the national headquarters.”

    Sobotie said signatories to the publication were not only dubious impostors, but also very reckless with their publication, adding that the claims could cause a breach of public peace and must not be permitted.

  • Bayelsa worried over N7b councils’ pension liabilities

    Bayelsa worried over N7b councils’ pension liabilities

    Bayelsa State Government has constituted a 13-member committee to review the pensions and gratuities being owed by the local governments.

    Setting up the committee in his office during a meeting yesterday, Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo expressed worry about the increasing pension liabilities of the councils and the need for drastic steps to be taken to liquidate them.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted the deputy governor as putting the liability at over N7billion, which he noted had become an albatross to the local governments.

    Senator Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that although it was the responsibility of the councils to pay the pensions and gratuities of their retirees, current realities indicated that that would not be possible without the intervention of the state government.

    He urged the committee to determine the number of actual retirees, the amount involved and recommend effective modalities on how to generate funds as well as pay the retirement benefits.

    Ewhrudjakpo, who directed the committee to submit their report within four weeks, hoped that the state government would assist the councils in defraying their pension liabilities.

    He said: “I want us to do something quickly and submit the report. I will present the report to the governor, who I believe will do something gracious about it.

    “I’m not necessarily concerned and motivated to do this because I’m also affected. But I believe it is right to do it for the sake of justice and equity.

    “The impression out there is that, the local government workers are not being taken care of, which is not true. Because they belong to a different tier of government with a different procedure of service.

    “However, we must not also ignore the eye that is crying so much. The nose should not feel unconcerned and say no, because it is not directly affected. This is why I believe the state government will assist.”

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Barnabas Simon and the state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Pensioners, Chief Shell Alafa, hailed the deputy governor for the initiative.

    The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue, Mr. Timipre Seipulou, is the chairman of the committee, while the Director of Pensions, Local Government Pensions Board is to serve as secretary.

    Other members include a representative each from the offices of the SSG, Accountant-General, Ministry of Local Government, Heads of Local Government Councils and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

  • Bulldozers demolish illegal structures in Anambra

    Bulldozers demolish illegal structures in Anambra

    Residents of Think Home Estate, Government Reserved Area, Awka, Anambra State have been rendered homeless, following the demolition of their buildings reportedly erected without approval.

    The victims, who are counting their losses, reportedly built the structures with disregard to a court order over a 21-year-old land dispute.

    The demolition of over 20 houses, including upstairs, church and other structures, followed judgment on the lingering legal battle between the landlords and Chief Jude Osude and his firm, Bekilo Farms Ltd.

    The judgment averred that some land grabbers connived with certain individuals in the Ministry of Lands, using their position to dispossess rightful land owners of their property without valid allocation papers or Certificate of Occupancy.

    The judgment, delivered by Justice Fredrick Oziakpano, was also ignored by the government, which was a party in the case.

    The judge said government, which allocated or granted the land in dispute to Bekilo Poultry and Agriculture Farms, and subsequently issued a Certificate of Occupancy to it, could not revoke the said certificate by mere intention.

    According to the Appellate Court, it is settled position of the law that a notice, simpliciter merely constitutes an intention on the part of government to acquire or revoke interests in the land and does not vest until the notice of acquisition is served on the owners under sections 28 and 44 of the said Land Use Act, Cap L 5 of the laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

    Following the appeal court judgment, Osude and his company moved in and began demolition of buildings and structures erected in the estate.

  • Abia APC suspends members

    Abia APC suspends members

    Abia State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the suspension of the former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development and 2019 governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Uche Ogah.

    A statement issued by the party yesterday by the Chairman, Kingsley Ononogbu and Chief Chidi Avaja, Secretary, also suspended the Director South East/Parliamentarian APC Presidential Campaign Council and Abia State Women Coordinator Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu.

    The statement, which was copied to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Deputy Chairman and Vice Chairman (Southeast), also named former deputy governor of the state, Comrade Chris Akomas, former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Stanley Ohajuruka and the senatorial candidate of the party for Abia Central Senatorial District, Sam Onuigbo and Anyim Nyerere Anyim.

    Also suspended were the past National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Executive Secretary, Mr Paul Ikonne, Sam Nkire and Mr. Nduka Anyanwu.

    The statement said the members were suspended because of their support for candidates of other parties during the general election.

    The state chairman of the APC said in a phone interview that the affected members were suspended by their ward chairmen, who notified the state leadership after their suspension.

    Reacting to their suspension, Ohajuruka and Nwaogu dismissed the actions of the state leadership of the party.

  • ‘EMOWAA not rival to Benin royal museum’

    ‘EMOWAA not rival to Benin royal museum’

    A top official of Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA), Mr. Andrew Okungbowa, has described the museum as a collaborator, not a rival to Benin Royal Museum initiated by Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, and located opposite the palace on Plymouth Road, Benin, to house the 1897 looted artefacts, being returned from Europe.

    EMOWAA, under construction at the site of the demolished century-old Central Hospital, beside Edo Specialist Hospital, between Sapele Road and Ezoti Street, Benin, is also referred to as a world-class institution, with focus on West Africa.

    Okungbowa, who declined to give his designation, made these known yesterday in a statement.

    He said: “EMOWAA is a not-for-profit public trust, with recognised trustees, promoters and international donors, committed to the promotion of arts, heritage, culture and tourism.

    “EMOWAA has not been conceived as a rival to the Benin Royal Museum, but as a collaborator, since both organisations have their mandates, which we believe are for the good of Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Edo people, artists, lovers and promoters of the art.

    “The ongoing construction is not a museum, but a research facility, which will among others, serve as a world-class archival, archaeological and materials research institution, focused on West Africa.”

    With last year’s demolition of the Central Hospital, and relocation of the patients, workers and equipment to Edo government-owned Stella Obasanjo Specialist Hospital, off Sapele Road, Benin, the state’s Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (rtd.), opposed the turning of the site to a motor park.

    He said he expected Governor Godwin Obaseki to use the site for the second phase of Edo Specialist Hospital, started by the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who later became the national chairman of the APC, now the Senator-elect for Edo North Senatorial District.

    Obaseki, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose second term would expire on November 12, 2024, however, said the site would be utilised for the-then-unnamed project that would be in the best interest of Edo residents and other people worldwide.

    Some of the returned artefacts, including a cockerel and the bronze head of one of Benin monarchs, are being stored inside the palace of the first-class monarch, pending the completion of Benin royal museum.