Category: SouthEast

Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it had zoned the governorship position of the party to Isiala Ngwa North Local Government of Abia Central Senatorial District.

In a statement by the Vice Chairman, Abia North and Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Amah Abraham, the party stakeholders decided to zone the ticket to the same local government where the deceased candidate of the party, Prof. Uche Ikonne, hailed from.

The statement said: “Following the death of Abia PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne, on January 25, and the subsequent directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days to replace him, members of the Abia PDP State Caucus met today and zoned the vacant governorship seat to Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, the council of the late Prof. Ikonne.

“The decision was taken after a meeting of the Abia PDP State Caucus, whose membership is drawn from across the state, including Abia North, Ikwuano/Umuahia, Ukwa East and Ukwa West local governments.   

“Among those present at the meeting were Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, former governor Theodore Orji, Speaker Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and the other two senatorial candidates of the PDP, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa and Col. Austin Akobundu.

“Also present at the meeting were the statutory members of the Abia PDP State Caucus, except one who sent an apology for his absence.

“The party urges members to support the decision of the party caucus and work towards a successful primary election coming up on February 4.

“The party calls on members to remain vigilant and expect more information and briefing from the Publicity Department of the Abia PDP in due course.”

Pro-separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has suspended Kingsley Kanu, younger brother of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The younger Kanu’s suspension was announced in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group in Germany, Collins Chinedu and issued by IPOB’s spokesman Emma Powerful.

The group accused the younger Kanu of indulging in anti-IPOB activities with the aim of bringing the IPOB family in Germany into disrepute and by extension, disorganising the larger IPOB family worldwide.

Kingsley is also accused of insubordination to IPOB leadership, forming a parallel leadership in Germany and floating the group’s code of conduct.

The body said Kingsley has been using his affiliation to its leader, Nnamdi, to an unmerited super advantage and has been placing himself above IPOB rules and regulations guiding the noble IPOB in Germany and worldwide.

It noted that Kingsley is an ordinary unit member of the IPOB in Landsberg Am Lech, Germany.

The other offences against him, according to the statement, are: “Kingsley has been in the habit of flagrantly flouting every IPOB code of conduct, thereby seeing himself as above the law and often throwing every decorum to the winds.

“Reporting a fellow hardworking IPOB member to the German Criminal Police, contrary to IPOB Code of Conduct and in violation of his oath to the IPOB.

“Issuing orders to his superior officers in the hierarchy of IPOB without the approval of IPOB leadership.

“Imposing and parading an expelled IPOB member, Mr. Ogbonna Abraham, as the new national coordinator in Germany with the intent to cause division within the existing structure in Germany.

“Ordering his purported national coordinator in German to create another principle servants forum through which IPOB members are being lobbied to join his illegal group and to attend series of his illegally organised online.”

My removal a nullity, says Kingsley

Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Kingsley, is battling the leadership of Indigenous People of Biàfra (IPOB) for the control of the group.

While the group announced the suspension of Kingsley midnight on Sunday, the younger Kanu described the group’s action as null and void, as the officer who announced his suspension had earlier last year been removed by Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

Kingsley, in a reaction through his social media handle, said Mr. Collins Chinedu, who signed the suspension order, lacked the locus standi to sack him, as he had been removed as the National Coordinator of the group for Germany by Nnamdi Kanu.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has approved over N1.5 billion to clear the backlog owed 1,559 pensioners of the 18 local governments, which accumulated since 1986.

The Permanent Secretary/Chairman, Local Government Pensions Bureau, Washington Abbe, said yesterday that the affected pensioners were requested to bring their documents to the Local Government Pensions Bureau on or before January 27.

He said: “This is to inform Edo State local government pensioners that the state government has approved the immediate release of N1,509,333,776.26k for the payment of pension arrears to the affected 1,559 pensioners for the period of 1986-2021.

“The affected pensioners are by this announcement requested to avail the Local Government Pensions Bureau of the following documents, on or before January 27: pensioners’ identity cards, photocopies of biometric and pay advice and bank statements from the dates of retirement to December 31, 2022.”

Abbe urged the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Edo chapter, to take note.

Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Dr. Washington Osifo, have clashed over Governor Godwin Obaseki’s appointment of caretaker/liaison officers in the 18 local governments.

Nehikhare, the former publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, yesterday through the phone urged people to ignore Osifo.

He said: “Osifo has no locus standi. He is not an official of APC in Edo State.”

Osifo, a former commissioner for Education in Edo State during the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said: “Elected chairmen and councillors of the 18 local government councils completed their tenure since 2020. Since then, Governor Obaseki has refused to conduct an election to elect officials for these councils.

“Rather, he proceeded, first by handing over the control and management of these councils to civil servants, tagged: ‘Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA)’, and they held rein in office for almost a year and a half.”

Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called on Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo to declare a work-free day for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection.

It said this yesterday in a statement signed by the state Chairman, Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme, and the Secretary, Mr. Chidi Mbah.

According to the statement, made available to reporters in Onitsha, the CLO urged Soludo to declare a work-free day for PVC collection.

“The lukewarm attitude of citizens during the voter’s registration is still rearing its ugly head in PVC collection, notwithstanding the low voting strength of Anambra State and Southeast.

“It is of prime importance to remind citizens that voter’s card is the only leeway and power to enthrone good governance and leaders and vote out inept, corrupt and self-serving leaders,” the group said.

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has declared a two-day public holiday from Thursday to Friday for civil and public servants, including primary and secondary school teachers, for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He made this known yesterday in a statement issued in Abakaliki by Mr. Uchenna Orji, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation.

Umahi said this was in consideration of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) deadline for the collection of PVC nationwide.

Monarchs and chiefs in Obanliku Local Government of Cross River State have told Governor Ben Ayade that they would support his senatorial ambition.

They said they were preparing to celebrate his victory in next month’s senatorial election.

Ayade, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Cross River North, was in the local government in continuation of the party’s campaign tour of the senatorial district.

To show their support for Prof. Ayade and other APC candidates, the governor and the other candidates were given traditional blessings by the chiefs.

Speaking on behalf of the monarchs and chiefs, the paramount ruler of Obanliku, Dr. Amos Iten, said during a strategic consultation they had with Governor Ayade, they assured him that his return to the Senate was a fait accompli.

The paramount ruler said: “Obanliku is a local government that does what it says. If they tell you they have accepted you, just know that you have been accepted.”

Eulogising the governor, the monarch recalled that “Ayade started doing good even before he went to the Senate.”

Monarchs from the Trans Niger Pipeline host communities in Ogoni, Rivers State, have hailed the activities of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), for its robust community relations and engagement with respect to maintenance and security of the pipeline.

The traditional rulers in a communiqué issued yesterday after a meeting with the management of the surveillance company at Norkpo community, said PINL had shown an exceptional capability in the management of pipeline segment that traversed the communities.

The communique, signed by Chiefs Augustine Arminikpo, Kadilo Sooh, John Ngelale and seven other traditional rulers, also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for considering the plight of the host communities by awarding the pipeline surveillance contract.

The monarchs noted that the initiative was intended to prevent further environmental pollution due to pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the region.

They applauded the peace building effort of PINL in complementing the efforts of the government at various levels in the state and the host communities in particular through meaningful engagement of considerable chunk of unemployed youths in the surveillance of the pipeline and regular clearing of the pipeline right-of-way.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken its sensitisation campaign on the redesigned new Naira notes to major markets in Bayelsa State.

The Branch Controller of the CBN, Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Francis Asuquo, said the campaign was geared towards enlightening Nigerians on the redesigned currency which is aimed at checking counterfeit currencies, money laundering and control of Naira in circulation.

Officials of the CBN visited the Swali Ultra-Modern and the Kpansia Markets in Yenagoa for the exercise.

Asuquo told the traders that the redesigned currencies were part of efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to improve the nation’s currency, the financial system and the economy.

He stated that there was no going back on the January 31, 2023 deadline for the old notes to cease being used as legal tender.

The Branch Controller said it was about 15 years now that the Naira was redesigned, stating that it is a jailable offence to abuse the naira notes, either folding it, spraying it at an occasion, amongst others.

Asuquo stated: “The policy of the new note is the best, we know Bayelsa people always like money to be in their pockets.

“We want you to imbibe the usage of the new Naira note and the culture of e-naira and electronic banking, it is very risky to withdraw huge amounts of money, which may attract robbery or kidnapping.

“The usage of old notes will end by January 31, 2023. The new one must be in use and any bank that dispenses old notes will be sanctioned.”

The Officer in charge of the Swali Ultra-Modern Market in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mrs. Margaret Egele, said the programme had enlightened the traders on issues relating to the redesigned Naira notes.

Two officials of the CBN, Oluwasuen Oladipo and Valentine Nsikak, also sensitised the traders on Electronic-Naira, Digital currency and rights of consumers.

The event featured an interactive session with the traders making enquiries on the redesigned Naira and other policies of the CBN.

A trader at the Swali Ultra-Modern Market, Mr Samuel Obinna, commended the CBN for the enlightenment, saying that traders would ensure they adhere to the rules.

Officials of the CBN from Abuja had earlier visited some commercial banks in Yenagoa to ascertain the compliance level on the dispensation of the redesigned notes to customers through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM).