The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Orji: those wishing me dead will die before me

    Orji: those wishing me dead will die before me

    Abia State former governor Chief Theodore Orji has debunked rumours that he has died.

    Our correspondent reports that news from unverified sources had filtered into the state that the ex-governor, popularly called Ochendo by his admirers, had died.

    According to reports, Orji, the senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, was said to have died in an unnamed Kaduna specialist hospital where he had gone for medical attention, as his travelling documents were reportedly still being held in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters.

    Efforts to get associates and relations of Orji to comment on the rumour failed. Those contacted remained mum when our correspondent sought clarifications.

    However, Ochendo, in a three minutes video suspected to have been recorded by one of his aides, which went viral across social media platforms last Saturday, debunked the death rumour.

    He said those wishing him dead would die before him.

    Orji in the video said: “For sure, I am alive. Are you not seeing me? No be man dey talk?

    “The rumour (of my death) doesn’t mean anything to me. I am used to rumours; I am used to serious rumours. So it doesn’t mean anything to me.

    “It is you who are my friends that are worried and you have come to verify and you have seen the truth; that I am alive. I dey kampe.

    “It was a very wicked rumour. This is not the first time it has happened in Abia.

    “People go into their rooms, concoct story and push it out and those who are gullible will buy the idea. Social media is open to every person and my good friends will start fumbling.

    “I am not perturbed at all. You have access to me and I am here. I have been in Umuahia.

    “If not for the shift in the election, I could have been at my polling unit voting.

    “To the people of Abia State, I will encourage them to be steadfast. They should stay strong. Things are hard, but it is not hard for people only in Abia State, it is hard for people in other states. They should endure because one day, it will be better.

    “They should disregard the rumour (of death). Since they said I am dead and I am alive, I don’t know the type of rumour that they will be generating tomorrow that will be more than this one.”

    Asked his prayers for those that wished him dead, Orji said: “You can’t have your cake and eat it. If you wish me well, God will wish you well.

    “If you wish me bad, evil will follow you. This is what will happen to those people who are carrying rumour that I am dead.

    “Death is waiting for them sooner or later. They will die before me. Even if they are younger than me, they will die and I go dey here kampe.”

  • Amaechi’s ‘desperation’ reopens old wounds in Rivers

    Amaechi’s ‘desperation’ reopens old wounds in Rivers

    The move by former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi to pave the way for his political godson and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, has unsettled the state.

    Amaechi, who had not been visible in the state since the campaigns started, appeared in Port Harcourt last week and promised the Igbo community compensation for losing their properties in the state during the civil war.

    The former governor, in a bid to solicit support for Cole, gathered the Igbo at a stakeholders’ meeting and told them that if Cole emerged as governor, he would compensate the people, who lost their properties in Port Harcourt during the war.From Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Amaechi’s desperate campaign style was, however, viewed by most people in the state as divisive, provocative and capable of causing ethnic crisis between Rivers people and their Igbo neighbours.

    They recalled that Amaechi was speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years and two-term governor of Rivers, but kept mute over the Port Harcourt abandoned properties.

    Governor Nyesom Wike was particularly unhappy with the decision of Amaechi to use such divisive matter as his campaign weapon.

    To defuse the tension generated by Amaechi, the Rivers governor initiated meetings with Igbo stakeholders and urged them to disregard Amaechi’s statement.

    The governor met with Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and other business associations dominated by the Igbo such as the Technical Dealers Association of Nigeria (TDAN), Computer Dealers Association (TDA), Garrison Phone Dealers Association (GPDA) and Building Materials Traders Association (BMTA).

    Wike slammed Amaechi for lying to the Igbo living in the state that if they elected Cole, he would ensure compensation for their purported abandoned properties during the civil war.

    He said: “When you have a child (Chibuike Amaechi), who wants to destroy a home, to open up old wounds at this time in Nigeria, in Rivers State, is a terrible thing. He is trying to put us and the Igbo at loggerheads for us to fight. God will not allow us to fight.”

    The governor said because of election, Amaechi started scratching old scars and fanning the ember of violence to disrupt the prevailing cordial relationship and peace between Rivers people and the Igbo.

    Wike wondered why he could not implement such compensation when he was governor for eight years if he loved the Igbo.

    The governor recalled that when Amaechi was the Speaker of the House of Assembly, he opposed a plan to compensate the Igbo, who lost their property in the state during the civil war.

    “It is absolutely mischievous for Amaechi, who also served as Rivers State governor from 2007 to 2015, to wake up in 2023 to resurrect the issue of abandoned property because of his inordinate political ambition.

    “If Amaechi loves the Igbo, why did he not support Obi? Instead, he supported Atiku. He did not want power to return to the South because he lost APC ticket.”

    Wike said despite what Amaechi did, Igbo and Rivers people would continue to live together as one people, who had largely intermarried.

    The governor wooed the Igbo community for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sim Fubara.

    He announced the allocation of 150 plots of land to the Computer Dealers Association and 30 plots of land to Computer Dealers Association to develop an industrial park in Port Harcourt.

  • 34th Enugu Trade Fair kicks off March 24

    34th Enugu Trade Fair kicks off March 24

    The leadership of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has said no fewer than eight countries across the globe have indicated interest to participate in the 34th edition of the Enugu International Trade Fair, which kicks off on March 24.

    It said the fair would run up to April 3 at the International Trade Fair Complex, Golf Course, Enugu.

    ECCIMA President Jasper Nduagwuike, who disclosed this while briefing reporters on the forthcoming fair, said the organisers had begun moves to actualise a larger participation.

    He listed the countries expected at the fair to include China, Pakistan, Namibia, Zambia, Brazil, among others.

    Nduagwuike said there would be a unique draw that would empower the winner with one million naira worth of training, adding that there would be additional working capital.

    He hoped that the event would be well attended, since the country had a peaceful general election.

    The ECCIMA president, who spoke through the Vice-President in charge of Trade Fair, Nonye Osakwe, an engineer; reasserted their concern on deepening democracy in Nigeria.

    He said there was no doubt that it was only with a thriving economy and free enterprise “that our democracy will be rooted and sustained.”

    Noting that the theme of the 2023 edition of the fair is: ‘Harnessing Nigerian Human Capital Resources for Global Economic Advancement’, the ECCIMA president said the minister of Trade and Investment would declare the fair open on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The chamber has made progress to ensure the fair is successfully held to the satisfaction of stakeholders, especially in this election period.

    “Let me emphasise that although we are passing through election and democratic transition in the country, we need to be upbeat about our economic affairs because the economy remains the centrepiece of our survival, growth and development.

    “The 34th Enugu International Trade Fair will, therefore, provide the cleavages to gauge the economic outlook of our nation, the attendant/available human capital market/opportunities that will be inclined to industrial development to make informed business and investment decisions.

    “We are hopeful that the 34th Enugu International Trade Fair will be a success, despite attendant challenges in the economic environment,” he said.

  • Ahiwe visits Mbaka at Adoration Ministry

    Ahiwe visits Mbaka at Adoration Ministry

    Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka yesterday hosted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Okey Ahiwe.

    The renowned priest gave his blessing to Ahiwe at the adoration ground, Emene, Enugu State where the Abia PDP governorship candidate worshipped with other adorers.

    Ahiwe who is a Knight of the Catholic Church and was in Enugu on Sunday to worship at the Adoration Ministry where Mbaka is the Spiritual Director.

    Mbaka said it was his duty as a Spiritual Father to bless anyone that so desires.

    He added that it shall be well with Ahiwe as long as his ambition is to better the welfare of the poor masses of Abia State.

    The famous priest went further to advise Abia’s electorate to think well before making a governorhip choice.

    He stressed that he is very sure that if the Abia electorate can look well, they will know the right person to steer the affairs of the state.

    Mbaka said that he is not after the name of any leader, but only interested in anyone who will use the opportunity to serve to bring joy to the people.

    He stressed that leaders has the responsibility to bring joy to the people that voted them into office.

    The cleric urged prayed for Ahiwe and wished him well.

  • ‘2023 Census will give Nigerians reasons to smile’

    ‘2023 Census will give Nigerians reasons to smile’

    The National Population Commission (NPC) has said the outcome of the 2023 Population and Housing Census would not only be acceptable, but would also give Nigerians reasons to smile.

    Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State, Chief Chidi Ezeoke, said this yesterday in Awka at a three-day zonal level training of local government area comptrollers from Anambra, Enugu and Imo states on critical census processes.

    Ezeoke was reacting to worry being expressed as regards involvement of Nigerians in the forthcoming headcount, following perceived dampened spirits over outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He said: “No matter how dark the night is, there must be morning. I believe this census we’re about to conduct will bring a lot of smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    “Besides, our scope is not the same with that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). For example, everybody, including children born today, is involved in census, but you must be up to 18 years before you can participate in election.”

    Ezeoke said the training was targeted at updating participants on the roles of census functionaries, modalities of local government area (LGA) training of enumerators, publicity and advocacy strategies, among other contents.

    Describing the comptrollers as critical to census functionaries, the NPC boss challenged them to be acquainted with operations of the exercise, to enhance its success at the grassroots.

    “Your assignment is very important and sacred, which must be given deserved attention. The success and failure of the exercise depend on the way and manner you arrange for the real census functionaries.

    “This is why care and mobilisation are needed. It is what you know you’ll impact on others and you can only be proud of what you’ve done when you do what’s right,” he added.

    State Director, Dr. Joachim Ulasi, said 65 comptrollers, comprising 21 from Anambra, 17 from Enugu and 27 from Imo State, as well as directors and facilitators were involved in the training.

    “Our activities are gradually moving down to the grassroots where the real actions are to take place. The comptrollers, as engine room, are expected to meet with presidents- general, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure seamless exercise,” he said.

  • Activist sues Agip, DSS, police for two-year unlawful detention

    Activist sues Agip, DSS, police for two-year unlawful detention

    An Ijaw youth activist, Comrade Collins Opumie, has sued Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Department of State Services (DSS) at Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa, over his alleged illegal arrest and detention in an underground cell in Abuja for 730 days.

    Opumie demanded N9billion damages for alleged injustice meted out to him by Agip and DSS.

    He prayed the court to declare that his arrest, torture and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years were gross violation of his rights to dignity as a person.

    In his eight prayers before the court, Opumie sought the order of the court against the defendants, jointly and severally “for damages suffered as a result of the false imprisonment for two years under the custody of the DSS (2nd defendant) in their prison facilities without bail or arraignment in a court of law, at the instance of Agip (1st defendant), false and malicious complaints/reports against him.

    Hearing on the matter has been fixed for March 15.

  • Imo workers reject NLC president’s call for strike

    Imo workers reject NLC president’s call for strike

    Workers in Imo State comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday rejected a call by the leadership of the NLC led by Comrade Joe Ajaero to embark on strike over alleged militarisation and brutalisation of workers during the state congress on Tuesday.

    Briefing reporters in Owerri yesterday, the state Chairman of NLC, Philip Nwansi, said the national body erred in its call for strike in the state, as there was nothing to suggest that workers were brutalised during the congress.

    Dissociating themselves from the industrial action called by the Ajaero- led NLC, effective midnight of March 8, Nwansi said the NLC president had no reasons to call their members out for strike, “as labour in the state has no issues with the state government.”

    He said: “The call for strike in Imo State is embarrassing, unnecessary, uncalled for and most importantly, surprising, as the state government is neither owing nor having issues with workers’ welfare to elicit the call for strike.”

    Supported by the Secretary of the state’s Congress, Comrade Uche Chigaemezu, Nwansi noted that the only issue at hand in Imo NLC was “an internal problem of postponed delegate conference election and a resultant purported caretaker committee, which is alien to the congress and the constitution.”

    Nwansi said they got approval for their delegate state conference elections to hold on March 7, but for reasons best known to the screening committee, they were unable to publish the list of qualified and disqualified contestants, which created confusion and uproar on the election day, “as all were gathered for the election, but to no avail.”

    “This resulted in the postponement of the election to a later date, following the directive from the national body to do so,” he said.

    He added that when the delegates had dispersed, as the election could not hold as planned, they were surprised to “hear of the establishment of a caretaker committee of the body made up of contestants on the other of the divide,” and which excluded his own group.

    “Worse still, a caretaker committee for NLC is unconstitutional and alien to NLC.”

    Nwansi said: “The right thing to do would have been to allow the (existing) leadership to remain,” since, according to him, “their tenure of four years is supposed to end on April 19 and 20.”

    He appealed to the national body of the NLC to come to Imo State and ensure peaceful reconciliation of both sides that might have disagreed over certain issues on the election and possibly schedule a new date for the elections to hold, rather than heating up the polity.

  • Ex-agitators accuse Omo-Agege of withholding pipelines surveillance funds

    Ex-agitators accuse Omo-Agege of withholding pipelines surveillance funds

    Protesting youths under the aegis of Niger Delta ex-agitators have accused the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, of withholding crude oil pipeline surveillance contract funds meant for youths of Isoko and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State.

    They issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), beginning from yesterday, to arrest the Delta Central senator.

    Bearing placards with inscriptions such as: “Orogun senator, where is Isoko/Urhobo Pipeline Surveillance slot?”, Orogun senator, how come Tompolo is paying N200k and you N60k”, the former militants stormed Ovwian expressway junction in Udu Local Government yesterday morning to protest.

    They warned that there would be more showdown on the streets if their demand was not met.

    Senator Omo-Agege is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the March 18 governorship election in Delta State.

    In a statement read by one of the ex-militants, who is the Secretary General of Ovwian community, Okoro Godspower, the protesters claimed that they had, at different occasions, met with DSP Omo-Agege over the matter, but nothing had been done.

    Reacting to the allegation, Omo-Agege denied involvement in pipeline surveillance contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Sunny Areh, the APC governorship candidate described the protesters as “hirelings” of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s “misguided Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and government in Delta”.

    “Having lost woefully in the presidential election and currently struggling on all fronts in the governorship race in Delta, they mistakenly think they can dent the solid and untainted profile of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Omo-Agege, who is clearly surging ahead to become the next elected governor of Delta.

    “Senator Omo-Agege is not a contractor and obviously has no contract with NNPCL on pipelines surveillance. This is an easily verifiable fact.

    “What you are seeing is just the last kicks of a dying horse. Ignore them as the losers that they are and will continue to be. We only pity the juveniles that they are paying peanuts to misbehave.

    “‘Deltans’ have made up their minds to sweep away Okowa and whatever looks like him, especially his lackeys and stooges. Nothing will change that.

    “But we must warn those who allow the wayward Okowa government to use them, to seek legal guidance on our laws in relation to the subject of defamation,” Areh said.

  • APC moves to reverse LP gains in Southeast

    APC moves to reverse LP gains in Southeast

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast has said it has begun moves to reverse the gains made by the Labour Party (LP) in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, ahead of the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly polls.

    National Vice Chairman (Southeast), APC, Dr. Ijioma Arodiogbu, who disclosed this to reporters in Enugu at a meeting, said the party was determined to win the election after the February 25 upset.

    He said the APC would bounce back during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, as adequate preparations had been put in place to avoid a repeat of the events of February 25.

    Arodiogbu thanked Nigerians for giving the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, overwhelming victory at the polls, noting that the victory was a testimony of the huge support the president-elect enjoyed across the country.

    “The meeting was also to celebrate ourselves for the resounding and well- earned victory of our party in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, which our candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, won clearly and squarely.

    “Nigerians were happy with the APC. That’s why they voted for our candidate at the centre,” he said.

  • IWD: BAT targets more women in leadership, management

    IWD: BAT targets more women in leadership, management

    As the World marks the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme: ‘Embrace equity,’ British American Tobacco (BAT) in West and Central Africa said it is aiming to enhance the proportion of women in leadership and management in the company.
    The company said the theme of the 2023 celebration is a call to action for accelerating women’s opportunities and promoting equity to forge harmony, unity and help drive success for all

    BAT, in a statement, said: “It is proud of its diversity and inclusion agenda, remarkably, we were globally awarded the Brandon Hall excellence award for best diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, recognized in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index inclusion for demonstrating a commitment to addressing gender diversity and transparent reporting.

    “The BAT of tomorrow will be a high growth, consumer goods company, with sustainability and diversity at our core. To further help accelerate the pace of progress, we have set bold ambitions, increase the proportion of women in senior leadership teams to 40 per cent, increase the proportion of women in management roles to 45 per cent, and achieve at least a spread of 50 per cent nationalities within all key leadership teams.

    “This accelerated focus on diversity is crucial in creating a dynamic and inspiring workplace that will propel BAT into the future and create A Better Tomorrow™ for all our stakeholders. In building A Better Tomorrow™ we understand and are committed to fostering a gender equal-equity workforce which is evident in the independent accreditation from Fair Pay Workplace (FPW) for equitable pay practices.’’

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    BAT’s External Affairs Director, West and Central Africa, Odiri Erewa-Meggison said: ”Identifying the unique skills set and capabilities, perspectives, ideas, and background of our employees, empowers them and creates an inclusive culture that unites us as ONE and makes BAT a great place to work. And at BAT we create an inclusive workplace that acknowledges the unique contributions of women to the organization”.

    Human Resource Director, Sergio Berlanga said: “As we aim to transform our business, we need to challenge the status quo and drive innovation. This means becoming better at attracting and retaining an increasingly diverse set of capabilities, welcoming a more inclusive working environment, and striving for even greater gender balance.”

    This year, employees of BAT in West and Central Africa marked the day with the theme #Embrace Equity and a call to action for accelerating women’s equality in the workplace and society at large.

    Hosting a series of activities and open forum conversations, calling for change, and leading the way in bringing about change for an equitable environment where everyone can thrive. Equality is the goal, equity is the means to get there, through the process of equity, we can reach equality.