Category: SouthEast

 Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

FORMER Niger Delta agitator Sobomabo Jackrich has said the region remains volatile because the Federal Government refused to address issues that led to the execution of the Ogoni Nine led by the late Kenule Saro-Wiwa.

Jackrich, in a statement to commemorate the death of the Ogoni Nine, urged the government to exonerate Saro-Wiwa and pursue the realisation of the issues which led to their death.

He said: “It is with pain and a bleeding heart that I join the world to remember the unjust killing of the Ogoni Nine, led by the renowned playwright and environmental rights activist,  Kenule Saro-wiwa, 25 years after they were killed by the Gen. Sani Abacha-led government on November 10, 1995.

“Saro-Wiwa, like Isaac Boro, inspired many of us in this struggle, and it hurts that we are still dealing with the issues they died for.

Read Also: Omo-Agege to Niger Delta agitators: don’t attack oil facilities

“Saro-Wiwa raised valid questions that have troubled the average Niger Delta person, environment and the minority tribes. As such, the unjust conviction and murder of Saro-Wiwa and others in 1995 can be regarded as a conviction and killing of the peoples of the Niger Delta who have continued to demand for resource ownership and control, environmental justice, devolution of powers and others.

“As long as these questions remain unaddressed, they remain an indictment on the Nigerian State which continues to survive economically and, in every way, on the resources that solely come from the Niger Delta.

“As a leader in the Niger Delta who has been in the forefront of justice for our region, I join the Ogoni to demand for the exoneration of the Ogoni Nine, and also urge the Federal Government to give attention to the questions of the Niger Delta, total environmental impact assessment and repair of the region and compensation, necessary environmental justice, proper stakeholder engagement with the people, resource ownership and control, devolution of power and the total restructuring of Nigeria.

“I call on the government to stop criminalising the people’s agitations because a right can never be a gift or a privilege.”

Our Reporter

ENUGU State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has approved free transportation for indigenes who intend to return home for the yuletide.

A statement by Managing Director of Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) Bob Itanyi noted that the gesture was in keeping with the governor’s commitment to the people’s well-being.

He said Enugu indigenes living in Zamfara, Kebbi, Yobe and Jigawa states, who had earlier registered, are also included. Itanyi added that all protocols and guidelines for the containment of COVID-19 would be strictly adhered to.

According to him, a timetable for the exercise would be released soon.

Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

IRATE youths of Ute-Okpu, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday took to the streets to protest rising deaths of youths in the area.

It was learnt the youths got angry after four of them died.

The protesters reportedly burnt the market, but were unable to raze the monarch’s palace as they were stopped by a team of soldiers and policemen.

About 34 persons have died mysteriously in the last three weeks.

Read Also: Final year Law student drowns in Delta hotel pool

A resident, Roland Chuks Agbontai, who lost his 22-year-old son, is convinced that the strange deaths have not abated because the communal deities, Agba-Egbo and Akpu, have not been properly appeased.

He said after the youths consulted the oracle, they were told to appease both deities. But while Agba-Egbo was appeased, Akpu’s shrine was left desolate after a church uprooted the deity, he added.

But Commissioner for Health Dr Ononye Mordi attributed the deaths to yellow fever.

Police spokesman Onome Onowakpoyeya confirmed the incident.

Our Reporter

THE Federal Government, through Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has donated medical equipment to Enugu State.

Commissioner for Special Duties and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Mrs. Mabel Agbo presented the items on Tuesday.

She said: “Today, SDGs formally presents 12 cartons of face masks, 100 automated hospital beds, 100 bedside lockers, 100 pillows and others to Enugu State as palliatives from the Federal Government.”

Commissioner for Health Prof. Emmanuel Obi, who received the items, praised the Federal Government and SDGs for the gesture.

“It is my honour, and on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to say thank you to President Muhammadu Buhari. We will ensure that these items are used for the good of the people,” Obi said.

Our Reporter

OBONG of Calabar Edidem Ekpo Okon (Abasi Otu V) has declared his full support for Governor Ben Ayade and his administration.

The monarch spoke yesterday when Ayade visited his private residence in Adiabo, Odukpani Local Government Area.

Okon described the governor as ‘my brother, my friend, the great Governor of this state’.

He said: “You are our own son, you are with us and we will work to make sure this state is rebuilt. Rest assured that we love you and want you, no matter how people are trying to divide us.”

Ayade thanked Okon for his numerous fatherly advice and support for his administration, saying he would continue to hold the monarch high.

Read Also: Ayade presents N277.7b budget for 2021

He said: “The Obong of Calabar was personally in my hometown for my thanksgiving in 2015 after my election as governor. The monarch was at the forefront of my re-election and was with us at the Calabar International Conference Centre, making a strong declaration that Ayade must have a second term.

“The Obong of Calabar stool is one of the most eminent stools in this country and you can never undermine that position.”

 Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

TWO persons have been arrested by the police in Anambra State for the alleged murder of Governor Willie Obiano’s wife’s brother in August.

The suspects are Osita John (21), from Ifite Ogwari, Ayamelum Local Government Area, and Achewa Musa of Abinsel, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, but lives in Garki, Awka South council of Anambra State.

Mrs. Obiano’s brother, Azubuike Ekwegbalu (43), was murdered at his home in the Commissioners’ quarters in Awka on August 9, about 1.30am. He hailed from Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area.

Read Also: Obiano plans N140.8b budget for next year

Police spokesman Mohammed Haruna said: “The suspects were arrested after monitoring them; they voluntarily confessed to have scaled into the deceased house and stabbed him on his lower abdomen before stealing two of his mobile phones.

“Exhibits recovered from them include the two android phones and one knife allegedly used in perpetrating the act. They were today (Tuesday) charged to court and subsequently remanded.”

 Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

IMO State High Court in Owerri yesterday declined an application by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim for some policemen and a business woman, Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa-Igwebe, to be imprisoned.

Ohakim filed a suit to enforce his fundamental rights. According to him, the respondents disobeyed a September 10 court order for them to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.

His lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, said the former governor, on September 10, got a restraining order against officers – DCP. Kolo Yusuf; SP. Mohammed Yusuf; Stanley Nwodo; Orji Kanu and Commissioner of Police Tuesday Osayemo, all of whom are of the Prosecution Section of the police headquarters in Abuja.

Ejimakor said the order was duly served on all the parties. He noted that the police, acting through the officers and on apparent prompting from Ms. Amuchienwa-Igwegbe, proceeded to file charges against Ohakim and caused the charge to be published in newspapers and the social media.

The lawyer noted that subsequent summons for Ohakim’s alleged arraignment on November 11 was also published in newspapers but was not served on him. It was in view of the developments that he applied to the court for committal on the officers involved.

He said: “The business of the court today is form 49 which has been filed and served. It was served on November 4. We’re trying to restrain the police from doing anything.

“However, we proceeded with the form 49 since it has become clear that the order has been disobeyed. We have also served the police.”

Lawyer to the police and its agents, M. O. Omosun, and that of Ms. Amuchienwa-Igwebe, I. O. Nwaeze, opposed the application, saying the order had been varied and already expired as at September 25.

Nwaeze drew the court’s attention to Order 9 rule 1 of the fundamental right enforcement procedure rule 2009, which states that nothing should stop the hearing for breach of fundamental right.

Read Also: Police probe dirty fight between Ohakim, woman

He thus applied that the counter affidavit of the fifth respondent (Amuchienwa-Igwe), which was filed out of time, be regularised so that the matter of fundamental right would be taken.

Justice I. G. Chukwunyere, who refused to grant the complainant’s application, said the substantive suit needed to be looked into.

“Pursuant to Order 9 rule 1, and also Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, and having critically considered them, I therefore grant leave to the fifth respondent to regularise the application,” Justice Chukwunyere said.

The judge adjourned the definite hearing for fundamental right till December 3.

 Bisi Olaniyi, Benin 

EDO State Governor Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday presented a budget of N153.4 billion for the 2021 fiscal year to 10 of the 24 members of the House of Assembly.

The presentation was done inside the Government House.

The ‘Making Edo Great Again (MEGA)’ budget represented a 9.7 per cent increase from the revised 2020 budget. It allocated N94.8 billion for recurrent expenditure and N58.6 billion for capital expenditure.

Speaker of the Assembly Marcus Onobun hailed Obaseki for prioritising the people’s welfare and assured him of the House’ support in his quest to make Edo great again.

The House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the 2020 revised supplementary budget of N139.8 billion.

Read Also: ‘INEC lacks power to disqualify Obaseki for forgery’

The house in July revised the N179 billion budget to N128.8 billion, representing a 30 per cent reduction. Governor Godwin Obaseki sent the bill to the House on November 9.

Deputy Speaker Roland Asoro (Orhionmwon South) moved a motion to dissolve into the Supply Committee to consider the law. The motion was seconded by Majority leader Henry Okhuarobo (PDP –Ikpoba/Okha).

The recurrent expenditure was revised from N79.4 billion to N76.5 billion while capital expenditure was adjusted from N49.4 billion to N63.2 billion, with a difference of N13.8 billion.

Onobun directed that clean copies of the law be sent to the governor for assent.