Category: SouthEast

 Elo Edremoda, Warri

THE Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Etiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, Obukowho Whiskey, has warned that the peace in the Niger Delta is being ‘threatened’ following the appointment of a sole administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The traditional ruler insisted that inauguration of the screened NDDC board remains the only solution to issues plaguing the commission.

Whiskey, in a statement on Sunday, said Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio ‘cannot continue to dictate to the Niger Delta people’.

The statement reads: “As a major stakeholder in the Niger Delta project, I cannot pretend that all is well with daily developments selfishly targeted at igniting fresh crisis over President Muhammadu Buhari’s deliberate refusal to inaugurate the confirmed Board of the NDDC, under the Chairmanship of Pius Odubu and Bernard Okumagba, as managing director.

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“Signals coming from the region are making monarchs like me worried because no right thinking person will sit aloof while his house is on fire. It is becoming clear that Akpabio is a merchant of many bad products that are not good enough for our people’s consumption. Or how can a statutory Federal Government agency suddenly 0become a private enterprise that its leadership keeps changing dangerously, without the input of other critical stakeholders?

“NDDC is Niger Delta’s common concern and no individual should be allowed to run it aground. The president must stop this very offensive macabre dance before the situation becomes uncontrollable…”

 Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

ANAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano has lifted the suspension of some monarchs.

Obiano suspended 12 monarchs some months back for visiting Abuja without permission.

Obiano last week lifted the suspension of five and dethroned three. The fate of others remains unknown.

But the people of Alor said lifting the suspension of their monarch, Anthony Okonkwo, does not concern them. They insisted the community has a new monarch – Ebelechukwu Chukwumesili.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige is from Alor.

President-General of Alor People’s Assembly (APA) Sir Uzoma Igbonwa, in a statement yesterday, said Okonkwo was an imposition on the community.

The statement reads: “The government has lifted the suspension placed on some traditional rulers, including the self-styled and purported traditional ruler of Alor, Mac-Anthony Okonkwo. However, the APC cannot assure or stop the people’s ‘passive resistance’ to this six-year-old imposition re-enacted by the extant restoration of certificate to Okonkwo as a monarch.

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“The reason is that every ruler needs the acquiescence of the subjects to be. Unfortunately, Okonkwo has none and therefore cannot be. We dare say that by the reason and decision of the majority of Alor people, he is not our monarch. Certificate makes no Igwe, just as the hood makes no monk. Only the will of the people, clearly expressed in the sovereign power, does.

“The power and the authority of the people have been given to Collins Chukwumesili as Ezediohamma III, the Igwe of Alor…”

But Okonkwo hailed Obiano for ‘his magnanimity in lifting his suspension’. He insisted he was still the recognised traditional ruler of Alor

He appealed to the people to remain calm as ‘Alor is united and peaceful.’ Okonkwo maintained there were no two monarchs as being speculated, and called on all sons and daughters of the community to unite to make the land a better place.

 Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

THE Bakassi Returneees’ camp in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has got a make-shift primary school 14 years after the camp was set up in 2006.

The camp is occupied by over 300,000 indigent Bayelsa families who returned after the Federal Government ceded the Penissula to Cameroon in 2006.

The camp has been without a school and other basic amenities after series of promises by the state and local governments.

But the Rotary Club International, in partnership with the Love to Slum Initiative, at the weekend handed over a complete makeshift school to the camp.

Assistant Governor of District 9141 (Zone 14) Owebi Godspower said the donation was part of the seven areas of focus in the Rotary International peace advocacy initiative.

He said: “The Rotary International believes that with basic education and literacy, the people will embrace peace and development.

“I thank the club’s president, Izibeloko Jack-Ide, for her leadership role and in ensuring that this project came to fruition.”

The club also distributed dictionaries to pupils in higher classes to aid learning amid encomiums and heartfelt gratitude

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Head teacher Eniekebi Ebilakaemi said the make-shift school – God’s Favour Academy – was built with planks few years back to bridge the gap in the educational development of children in the camp.

He, however, praised Rotary International and Love to Slum initiative for upgrading the school building with blocks, and donating dictionaries to the children.

Camp Chairman Godbess Ojoto thanked their benefactors, and called on the state and local governments to come to the community’s aid by providing modern school structures and basic amenities.

Governor Duoye Diri has praised Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva for his contributions to the state’s development.

The governor spoke at the weekend during a reception in Sylva’s honour at Okpoama Kingdo, Brass Local Government Area.

Diri, represented by his Chief of Staff, Benson Agadaga, also hailed the Amanyanbo of Okpoama Kingdom, Ebitimi Banigo, and other stakeholders for recognising Sylva’s modest effort.

He said: “Honour is given to whom it is due. Today, we’re enjoying your contributions as a former governor and now minister of state.

“We thank you for those things that you want to do for the state that will increase our IGR. We also felicitate with you for the new face of Bayelsa, the face of love and collaboration…”

Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

THE police in Rivers State have arrested a Sergeant who allegedly killed Abiodun Jimo (38).

Jimo, a father of three, was killed last Friday at the gates of Elelenwo Police station, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

A statement on Sunday by the police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, said Commissioner of Police Joseph Mukan regretted the act.

He added that the suspect has been arrested and orderly room trial will begin, even as plans are on to test his psychological status.

The statement reads: “Commissioner Mukan condemned the killing of a civilian by a Sergeant serving at Elelenwo Police Station.

“The incident happened at the station. The Sergeant, without justification, shot Abiodun Jimoh, who was rushed to the hospital but later died. His remains have been deposited in the mortuary.

“The incident is being investigated and the outcome will be communicated to the public. Meanwhile the suspect is in custody for debriefing and psychological evaluation. His Orderly Room Trial will begin in earnest for possible arraignment…”

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The deceased younger brother, Ismaheel Jimo, who witnessed the incident, said they were returning from a party; they rode on a motorcycle.

“My brother and I were returning from a party on Friday when a some policemen stopped us. They searched us and found only our identity cards and three phones, two belonging to my brother and one mine.  They said we should follow them to their station at Elelenwo and we did not argue with them.

“When we got to the gate of the station, instead of driving in, one of the officers asked us to bail ourselves. We still did not argue but told them we had only N1,500 left on us.

“The team leader then asked that we be allowed to go since nothing incriminating was found on us, but one of them insisted we could not be freed like that. Instead of letting us go, the officer who later shot my brother began to beat me, hitting me with his shoes and gun.

“His colleagues and my brother begged but he did not stop. Then my brother decided to go inside the station to look for the DPO but, sensing what my brother was up to, he shot him on the leg.

“My brother died of blood shortage having lost so much blood from the injury. Efforts to save him failed as the three hospitals we took him to rejected him, including his company hospital.”

Ismaheel appealed for justice, calling on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mukan, civil society groups and well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid, and give justice to his innocent brother.

The deceased’s wife, Azeezat, described her late husband as law abiding citizen. The mother of three called on the government, police authority and well meaning Nigerians to come to her aid.

 Emma Elekwa, Onitsha and Chris Njoku, Owerri

THE proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has slammed governors of the Southeast for rejecting the ‘Eastern Security Network’ (ESN).

IPOB last week announced the inauguration of ‘Eastern Security Network’ to check activities of herdsmen in ‘Biafraland’.

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, who doubles as Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum (SGF), had reportedly distanced the governments and people from IPOB’s security arrangement.

But a statement on Sunday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described the governors as cowards with shameful actions.

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The statement reads: “We condemn the shameful statement credited to Governor Dave Umahi, on behalf of his fellow coward governors, against the Eastern Security Network.

“Such a cowardly statement is nothing but a shameful display of their irredeemable enslavement and loyalty to their slave masters who, in the first place, appointed them governors.

“We reiterate that ESN is not a Biafra army, but a vigilante group established to protect Biafrans against terrorists. The outfit is a child of necessity born to bridge the gap of leadership failure by states and the federal government to protect lives and property of Biafrans who are daily dehumanised, raped and killed by herdsmen and terrorists unchallenged by any security agency.

“ESN is beyond IPOB; it’s the people’s irreversible resolve to defend themselves against conquest and occupation by aliens who enjoy protection of the Federal Government and security agents. Anyone trying to oppose the security outfit is testing the will of the people, and does so at his own peril.”