The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Wike presents N550.7b Appropriation Bill to assembly

    Wike presents N550.7b Appropriation Bill to assembly

    By Rosemary Nwisi and Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has presented the 2023 Appropriation Bill of N550.7billion tagged: ‘Budget of Consolidation and Continuity‘, to the House of Assembly for consideration.

    Presenting the budget yesterday in Port Harcourt, Wike said his administration projected N351billion as capital expenditure for the 2023 fiscal year.

    He said: “This amount represents about 63.2 per cent of the total budget and conforms to our practice of prioritising capital expenditure over recurrent.”

    Under capital expenditure, Wike said the state would spend N114.3billion on infrastructure, N37billion specifically on education and N31.5billion on health.”

    Read Also: Wike’s challenge

    He said: “Accordingly, the sum of N114.3billion is provided in the 2023 capital budget estimate to fund the completion of ongoing roads and other physical infrastructural projects awarded by our administration.”

    In the 2023 budget proposal, the governor said his administration had also proposed a recurrent expenditure of N175.3billion, representing about 31 per cent of the total budget for the 2023 fiscal year.

    He said in 2023, the state would spend N73.5billion on salaries of ministries, departments and parastatals; N 7.8billion on new recruitment; N33.6 on monthly pensions as well as N12billion on gratuities and death benefits.

    Wike said the fiscal year 2023 budget was targeted at delivering economic growth, additional infrastructure and prosperity for citizens.

    Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani noted that Wike had through prudent allocation of resources put in place a roadmap for the development of the state.

    Ibani, who hailed the governor for his achievements in the past seven years, said his infrastructural projects would positively impact on the development of the state in future.

  • NEMA donates relief materials to flood victims

    NEMA donates relief materials to flood victims

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated food and non-food relief materials to flood victims in Imo State, to alleviate their suffering.

    Receiving the materials on behalf of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, thanked the NEMA management, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and President Muhammadu Buhari for the kind gesture extended to the flood victims.

    He said although the flood was predicted, its magnitude and impact were “very devastating and almost overwhelmed some state governments.”

    He said Governor Uzodimma rose to the challenge by visiting the victims in their communities and local governments and donating food and non-food items to them.

    Njoku added: “What the state government has done so far cannot be said to be enough. As such, government is happy to receive food and non-food items from the Federal Government as an encouragement to the affected people and areas.”

    He took the opportunity to appeal to well-meaning individuals, philanthropists and groups to contribute their quota towards alleviating the suffering caused by the flood, “because government cannot do it alone.”

  • 2023: Umu Igbo let always think right

    2023: Umu Igbo let always think right

    • By Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu 
    Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo for a second time in a few days, put social media on fire with a long detailed article on his stand on the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, the chances of ndị Igbo in National Politics and crazy activities of social media bandits. In the article, Soludo clearly stated that Peter Obi is in a wild goose chase and that he knows that he is going nowhere. Soludo’s article is a comprehensive response to reactions by Peter Obi’s team of supporters who were obviously dancing to music played by the Labour Party Presidential Candidate. Recall that recently during an interview on Channels Television’s flagship programme “Politics Today”, Soludo made it clear that the purported investment Peter Obi made in his company with tax payers money worth next to nothing. The governor also condemned the administrative recklessness that Obi supervised and maintained that it is crazy for a governor to divert taxpayers money to invest in a company he has a personal interest in at a time when many classrooms were in very bad condition and when many citizens were in hospitals without proper medical care provided. After Soludo’s interview on Channels, Peter Obi in his usual style, commissioned his battalion of social media warriors to launch a humiliating attack on him. The attacks also came with threats which the governor confirmed in his article titled “History beckons and I will not be silent Part 1”.
    In his article, Soludo maintained that he cannot be cowed or bullied by some charlatans. He further made it clear that only two political parties are in the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Race and that other parties are just merely exercising their franchise. The governor further said that the Candidate of Labour Party for the election Mr. Peter Obi who is also onye Anambra is not going anywhere and that he knows he is not going anywhere but decided to play a game that is well known. Soludo also wondered why Obi abandoned the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which is the ruling party in his home state Anambra and preferred to run on a platform of Labour Party (LP), a political party that is neither here nor there especially when he knows that he is going nowhere. The governor further revealed that even though APGA which is his party has a Candidate in the election, it is clear it has no chances of winning. Soludo’s line of thought is aimed at promoting APGA which is a major regional party in Alaigbo to a full national party because if Obi preferred APGA to LP, it will create a room for more efficient negotiations of Igbos’ interests at the center considering the fact that APGA already has a sitting governor, state and federal legislators.
    Soludo’s line of thought is understandable and no Igbo man who truly wants to promote the collective interests of ndị Igbo at the center will oppose it. It is a fact that ndị Igbo lack the political strength and numbers to influence their way into Aso Rock and it is very unfortunate that over the years, ndị Igbo always repeat the fatal mistake of doing arrogant politics. The level of insults, name-calling, and verbal abuses dished out to compatriots that have the biggest political muscle in the country shouldn’t be expected from a region that is anxious of occupying the nation’s most powerful office. It is also sad that the South East is yet to understand that until the region is able to show other regions that they are ready and willing to work with them, no Igbo man can win a Presidential Primary Election of a major party not to talk of winning a presidential election because we lack the numbers and political strength. This is why I laughed out loud when some of my brothers were lambasting the main Opposition Paty, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for shifting the goalpost in the middle of the game. I understood clearly that the PDP is quite aware that it will head to nowhere if it fields an Igbo man as its presidential candidate. In fact if that happened, the party will be defeated even before voting is concluded in all parts of the country. No major party shall risk fielding a Candidate that hails from a region that sees themselves as the only qualified people and regards others as illiterates who only know how to rear cattle. You can’t be calling fellow compatriots names like cows, illiterates and even terrorists online and expect a major party to risk losing election and nominate you as its Candidate, doing such will automatically cancel the votes such party should get from the insulted region(s).
    It is very sad that the South East, a region filled with many learned and exposed citizens is so myopic politically and delights in committing same blunder each election season. The needless hate ndị Igbo have for other compatriots made them to keep supporting the PDP in presidential elections despite the fact that there is no tangible project executed in the region by the party despite being in power for sixteen uninterrupted years. The worst blunder was committed in 2015 when ndị Igbo had more reasons and better chance to leave PDP and join the national train but instead to doing the needful, ụmụ Igbo chose to remain in the camp of lies and self-deceit by massively supporting PDP for only one reason being that Buhari who was contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a Fulani man. Many Igbo leaders including Peter Obi championed a very suicidal propaganda against Buhari and APC, the self-destructive propaganda machine described Buhari as illiterate, a General without a certificate, brain dead, terrorist and arch enemy of the Igbo race that would islamize Nigeria if given power. They even earlier rebranded former President Jonathan with a new name “Azikiwe” to deceive many that the Otuoke man is son of the soil. They all did these in spite of the fact that Jonathan’s projects in Alaigbo were near to Zero especially after he upgraded the Enugu Airport to a glorified secondary school and showed no political will to construct the Ziks Mausoleum and Second Niger Bridge.
    In advancement of their needless hate for other compatriots, ndị Igbo refused to appreciate the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on his interventions in Igbo land. The social media warriors rubbished the Second Nigeria Bridge Construction which Buhari started with a claim that it is ndị Igbo that will fully pay for the project because a “Tollgate” was provided on it. What a dumb reasoning! Thank God the bridge is near completion and at least, the shallow minded compatriots rubbishing the project will drive through it or maybe, they will ‘cancel’ the project online.
    There is no reason why ndị Igbo should keep marginalizing themselves in National Politics. One major thing my brothers refused to learn from the APC Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu (may be due to their needless hate) is that you can’t make something from nothing. Tinubu fully upgraded his region into a national stakeholder by consistently standing wifh the Action for Democracy (AD) despite all temptations and threats from the center. He never abandoned the party which was a regional party (South West) to join another party but he continued to support members of the party to contest elective positions even after it was reformed and addressed as Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Action Congress (AC) and All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu never wanted to be king of Yoruba or Nigerian Politics overnight, he worked for years by building bridges across the country. He never underrated any tribe and in fact, he appointed some Igbos into the decision-making wing of his camp and party. He continued to exhibit humility and showed love to all irrespective of their ethnicity or religious affiliation.

    Read Also:Ebuka lauds Qatar 2022 World Cup Igbo commentary  

    If Peter Obi really meant well for ndị Igbo, he would have either remained in PDP and get a major stake on behalf of ndị Igbo there, joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and supported the grassroots development of the party in Alaigbo which if done, will bring the baseless sentiments against the party in the South East to an end and consequently, initiate the region into national politics, returned to APGA which is presently the ruling party in his home state Anambra and help promote the party fully in the South East and subsequently, initiate it into national politics or join the Young Progressives Party (YPP) which is another political party that is in possession of an elected public official and promote it to the level that it will fully become a national asset. If Obi has done any of the aforementioned facts, it would have strengthened the power negotiation capability of the race at the center. It is very unfortunate that instead of doing the needful, Obi preferred to run on the platform of a political party that has no grassroots base or elected official and that is a clear confirmation that he is not truly contesting but playing a game that will increase media attention on him, create more sentiments against notable parties, especially the PDP in the South East and make many of his supporters waste their votes. Even though it is true that Obi’s ambition which is nothing but a comedy show is an indirect blessing to APC because votes of the main Opposition PDP which had the South East in the bag will likely be divided in the region since he is from the region and will be on the ballot, the manner in which he chose to play his comic show will harm the political future of ndị Igbo the more. His ambition has opened more channels for online charlatans to further insult other compatriots and anyone who refused to join the bandwagon. This must not be encouraged!.
    After Soludo released the first part of his article, Peter Obi in his reaction urged Soludo to continue from where he stopped because that’s how government should be. He also acknowledged that he left classrooms without roofs and that Soludo is brighter than him. The sudden exhibition of humility by Obi shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that he is a gentleman or a mature leader. This is because it has always been his style to publicly pretend to be a Saint and act like a dragon in the background. Peter Obi is a politician that can apologise openly and go behind and recharge his propaganda machine to launch more attacks and that has been confirmed with responses from his campaign Director General, his campaign team, support groups and his anonymous handwriting. Governor Soludo should in the interest of ndị Anambra and Nigerians, release Part 2 of his article as soon as possible so that the public will know the truth and the truth will bring the days of internet bandits to an end. Indeed, history beckons and patriots will not be silent. It is time for ụmụ Igbo to think right.
  • Obi, others get two weeks to clear taxes in Anambra

    Obi, others get two weeks to clear taxes in Anambra

    Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has given former governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, two weeks to clear any impending debts on posters and billboards.

    The same ultimatum was given to other candidates and their parties through a statement by the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA), signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Ujubuonu.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze backs Obi for president

    The agency said enforcement would begin on December 5, 2022, and the billboards/posters of defaulters will be defaced.

    The statement reads: “We urge all Out-Of-Home advertising practitioners to revalidate and register all their billboards. According to a letter addressed to both OAAN and registered Non-OAAN practitioners, the agency has taken major steps towards sanitising outdoor advertising practice through ban on individuals, clients and government agency ownership of billboards. The agency thus expects maximum cooperation from practitioners, in terms of registering their billboards and payments, but is yet to get such.

    “Thus, the agency has directed all billboard owners to provide the information required to register each billboard and also pay up for any campaign on them. Through this release, political parties and candidates in the 2023 elections are urged to ensure those handling their campaigns pay to the government to avoid ANSAA defacing their campaign materials. They have two weeks to do this or face legal enforcement…”

  • Enugu 2023: Akpugo stakeholders adopt PDP candidate

    Enugu 2023: Akpugo stakeholders adopt PDP candidate

    Stakeholders and community leaders making up the Akpugo clan have adopted governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Peter Mbah for the 2023 election.

    They converged on the residence of the PDP Campaign Spokesman, Nana Ogbodo, at the weekend, to assure Mbah of their support, saying they have rejected the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and other parties because of Mbah’s qualities and capacity to deliver on their mandate.

    Read Also; Enugu PDP outlines strategy to retain power

    Ogbodo, who is Chairman of the Akpugo Stakeholders Forum, said the 12 autonomous communities in Apkugo clan, with five political wards, have no alternative to the PDP. He added that opposition parties had never worked for them, even when some of their members ran for elections on their platforms.

    He said: “You have shown us that you value Akpugo through your appointments in the campaign council. You are the only governorship candidate Akpugo people know. We assure you we are with you. We will campaign for you and ensure your victory.”

    A former Military Governor of Imo State, Navy Commodore James Aneke (rtd), expressed confidence that the election will be a walkover for Mbah through their unalloyed support. He said the people were eagerly looking forward to the development and infrastructure his administration will deliver to the state.

  • Akwa Ibom APC candidate to appeal ruling

    Akwa Ibom APC candidate to appeal ruling

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Udofia, will appeal the judgment which nullified the primary which produced him as the party’s candidate.

    Justice A.A. Okeke on Monday nullified the Akwa Ibom APC primary, and held that Udofia was not qualified to contest because he was not a member of the APC.

    However, Director-General of the Akan Udofia Campaign Council, Don Etim, who addressed a news conference at the weekend in Abuja, described the judgment as a gross violation and infringement of the constitutional right to Freedom of Association afforded Udofia under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, by denying him the rights and privileges available to him as a member of the APC.

    Read Also; APC support groups march for Tinubu in Kano

    Etim said there was preponderance of evidence showing that Udofia duly resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    According to him, Udofia’s resignation was formally conveyed to the PDP via a May 1, 2022 letter to the Chairman of Mbiaso Ward I, Nsit-Ibom, and stat chairman of the PDP.

    He said: “Obong Akanimo Udofia did not take part, participate, or in any manner contest the May 25 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Akwa Ibom State.”

    Etim stressed that May 12, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) granted Udofia’s application for a waiver to contest the primary in accordance with Article 31(3) (ii) of the party constitution as amended.

    “This judgment is a gross violation and infringement of the constitutional right to freedom of association afforded Akan Udofia under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution by denying him the rights and privileges available to him as a member of the APC.

  • Bianca Ojukwu recounts awful encounter with accident victims

    Bianca Ojukwu recounts awful encounter with accident victims

    Wife of late Odimegwe Ojukwu, Bianca, has recounted her awful encounter with victims of a recent accident.

    She recalled how she battled to rescue the accident victims while many were recording their agony.

    The former Ambassador to Spain on her Facebook page wrote: “HIGHWAY TO DEATH – Yesterday 19th Nov 2022 on my way back from a wedding ceremony late afternoon I stumbled upon a horrific accident scene at the Ugwu Onyeama Enugu Expressway. A tanker had just collided with a coaster bus carrying passengers who were on their way back from an event.

    “Mangled bodies covered in blood were strewn everywhere, people had clustered around the scene and the sight was traumatic . I had to make a split second decision whether to move on or to stop. I noticed one of the victims was moving, and requested my drivers to stop.

    “I alighted from my vehicle with my aides, including those in my back up vehicles and approached the scene. To my shock and dismay, most of the people standing around there, who just parked their own cars by the side of the expressway were simply busy with their cellphones taking pictures and making videos of the gruesome incident.

    “We literally had to fight many of them away from the scene, especially some heartless souls with their phones held up at point blank range against the faces of victims, recording their agony and their dying groans.

    “I noticed more of the victims were breathing and we tried to get motorists who were slowing down purely to watch the horror, to help us to transport the victims to the nearest hospital to no avail. They would slow down, peek and pass.

    Read Also; Bianca Ojukwu narrates encounter with ‘stingy’ Peter Obi

    “I made my way to the victim that first caught my eye, a lady who appeared unconscious but was moving her hand. When I approached her, and she heard my voice, all she could mutter was, ‘biko, jide m aka’ (please hold my hand). I assured her she would be ok, the lady lying beside her, also dressed in the same uniform was groaning in intense pain.

    “No emergency medical response services in sight, Not even Road Safety officials, I noticed a young man who introduced himself as Stanley Egbuonye from Obosi with his two relatives , and another lady, Mrs Ambrose Egbosimba, who were equally scouting for good samaritans to transport survivors to the nearest hospital. Nobody else seemed willing to help. Some were even trying to avoid my eye and my pleas as they snaked their way past the gory scene.

    “Together with Stanley and his two co-travelers , we lifted several of the victims into our vehicles and headed for the hospital. The road was blocked with traffic but we eventually got there.
    The hospital staff swung into action and battled to save those that were still breathing. Most of them did not survive.

    “It was tough to keep answering calls on their handsets…worried relatives wondering why they had not yet returned, and having to inform them of the accident, and to start heading out to the hospital but unable to tell them their loved ones had passed on.

    “We left the hospital late in the evening as some of the bodies were being conveyed to the hospital mortuary. Only God knows the fate of the already dead victims at the accident scene as we were trying desperately to save those that were still breathing.

    “I am yet to recover from the trauma of this incident, the thin thread between life and death and the callousness of everyday people to the plight of other human beings in distress.

    “The raw reality of the third world hits whenever situations like these arise. The highest point of civilization is the consideration, empathy and compassion for the other. Any country where functional emergency services or basic ambulance services is considered a luxury or even unattainable in this 21st century remains ‘underdeveloped’, not ‘developing’. It is as simple as that.

    “This could have happened to anyone. These were gaily dressed guests, many joyfully resplendent in their uniforms, probably happily chatting together in their hired bus returning from a function, but never made it home.

    “I keep replaying the voice of the victim who ,all she requested of me (a total stranger who she could not even open her eyes to see at that moment), believing she was about to make her transition from life to death, was that I hold her hand.

    “The loneliness and fear that grips every living soul at that critical moment of departure from this world hit me hard. I consider it a sacred privilege to have been there for her. She did not make it. Only God knows why I was on that highway at that material time when I could have chosen other routes.

    “Until we get our Accident and Emergency response facilities right in this country, we are all watching a ticking time bomb. Yesterday it was them, today and tomorrow…who knows who might be the next victims? In so far we all live in this country and do not mandate our governments to make this a priority, it will be turn by turn… I wish the injured speedy recovery. May God come to their aid.

    “May the souls of All who lost their lives yesterday in the tragic accident at Enugu Expressway Rest in Perfect Peace. Amen.”

  • Wike gets award for promoting girl-child, women rights

    Wike gets award for promoting girl-child, women rights

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is set to receive an award in Bayelsa State for boldly and audaciously signing into law the ‘Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law No. 2 of 2022’.

    Wike is to be honoured for his support and promotion of female rights to family property inheritance.

    The award, which is part of the Gesi Publication’s 20th anniversary public lecture and awards, is to be held at the Bayelsa State Medical University (BMU) Auditorium in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Saturday.

    Read Also: Buhari lauds Wike, commissions Port Harcourt Law School complex

    The Publisher and Managing Director, Gesi Publication, Mr Izontimi Otuogha, said in a statement yesterday that Wike would be honoured alongside prominent women trailblazers who had stood out in their advocacy for the promotion and protection of the rights of the girl-child, women and the vulnerable in the society.

    Otuogha said: “The Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law is a remarkable legislation which will check discrimination against the girl-child and women. And by this legislation, Governor Wike has etched his name in gold because history will never forget him and that is why we are honouring him with an award.”

    The Gesi Publication’s 20th Anniversary celebration will feature the unveiling of ‘Ebiere’, a women’s magazine and a public lecture with the theme, ‘Actualising the Oloibiri Oil Museum and Research Centre Project for the Rapid Industrial and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria’.

    The lecture will be delivered by Amaopusenibo Sofiri Brown, former President, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

  • APC women in C/River back Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket

    APC women in C/River back Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, Professional Women Council have expressed optimism and saying that the presidential join ticket of Tinubu/Shettima is a sure bet for victory for the party.

    The women spoke on Friday when they embarked on a city walk under the auspices of environment tidy up walk and “Tidy up Nigeria for Asiwaju/Shettima, Sen Prince Bassey Otu and other APC candidates

    Read Also: Tinubu: The message from Jos

    The spokesperson for the women who is also the State Coordinator, Barr Maria Ukpayang said, symbolically, every hindrance that may pose a challenge to the victory of Asiwaju/Shettima and other APC candidates will be swept away.

    The Environment tidy up walk kicked off at Eleven-eleven, Calabar, with the theme ‘Tidy up Nigeria for Asiwaju/Shettima, Sen Prince Bassey Otu and other APC candidates,’ converged women from different support groups.

  • Uzodimma blames bad politics for Imo killings

    Uzodimma blames bad politics for Imo killings

    Convinced that killings in Imo State are politically contrived, Governor Hope Uzodimma has said he is confident that God will expose all those behind insecurity in Imo in general, if the people remain fervent in their prayer.

    The governor also urged the Church to be steadfast in prayer as the instruments of war used by the enemies of the people to kill and destroy cannot be compared with the strength of God Almighty who protects His people in times of difficulties.

    The governor spoke on Friday in his remarks at the Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri,  on the occasion of the second edition of the annual ‘Imo Prays’ as the special guest.

    Read Also; Buhari to police: investigate Imo monarch’s killing

    The event which first edition was organised last year by the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has the theme, “At the name of Jesus,” for the 2022 edition.

    Governor Uzodimma said he is to be contradicted that the insecurity in Imo State is politically contrived and prayed God to “arrest and expose all those involved in the dastardly act no matter who they are and where they are.”

    While citing happenings in Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen and the attendant human misery brought about by the war in Russia and Ukraine, and how development in those areas have been arrested by wars and insecurity, Uzodimma however, acknowledged that the development today in Imo State is gradually picking up because the State is relatively coming back to normal.

    The prayer session had in attendance all the Bishops serving under the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Church headed by Most Rev (Dr.) David Onuoha who is also the Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese.