By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

• Governor approves N30,000 student support fund

• APC: it is a Greek gift

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has abolished the Pandemic Prevention Fee (PPF) which management of the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, directed students to pay.

The university administration, in a memo by its Registrar Acho Elendu, said students returning for the 2019/2020 academic session today should pay N15,000 to gain entry into the campus and participate in the first semester examination scheduled to begin on November 16.

But Governor Ikpeazu abolished the fee and instead announced the payment of N30,000 to each student as support fund.

Ikpeazu, in a series of tweets, said: “…I’ve directed the scrapping of the PPF; our government will instead pay N30,000 to each Abia student in the institution as further support to them, their parents and guardians in this difficult time…”

Read Also: Ikpeazu to prioritise workers’ welfare

But a statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary, Benedict Godson, described the N30,000 student support fund as a Greek Gift.

Godson described the N15,000 pandemic fee as the most ‘absurd academic decision and another exhibition of administrative rascality and recklessness’ from the government.

He said: “While other governments are busy slashing tuition and subsidising other charges, Abia is busy planning and executing disheartening extortionist policies against her own by imposing a compulsory N15,000 ‘Pandemic Prevention Fee’.

“Governor Ikpeazu’s tweet in defense of this fee is even more embarrassing. The proposed N30,000 support fund for the students must not be tantamount to any form of school fee or dubious fee increment, as we’re aware that they’ll try to make parents indirectly pay for the proposed support fund which may end up becoming a Greek Gift…”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri have called for the adoption of electronic voting to curb insecurity and hooliganism.

The two spoke at the weekend during the Third Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbia held at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Otakeme.

Jonathan blamed the insecurity in the country on activities of politicians who are hell-bent on grabbing power through the backdoor.

According to the former president, over 50 per cent of problems bedevilling the country, including insurgency, cultism and corruption, will be addressed if e-voting is adopted and effectively utilised.

He said: “Our political activities, particularly the use of young people as militiamen and thugs to win elections, have increased the security challenges facing our country. Some of these youths are so protected that even the police cannot arrest them because they are ‘boys’ to powerful politicians who use them during elections.

“That is why I have always advocated that for us to move forward as a country, we must adopt electronic voting where nobody will use thugs to win elections. With electronic voting, hooliganism and cultism will drop by at least 50 per cent.”

Read Also: Bold steps on e-voting

Diri, who was represented by Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, urged youths to shun politicians who only use them as canon fodders to achieve their selfish political goals.

The governor called on the people to key into the government’s prosperity agenda by embracing agriculture and small scale businesses to better their lot.

Diri said: “Just like our father said, I encourage our youths to resist evil politicians who do not mean well for them. If they invite you to carry guns, ask them, where are your children? You must learn to love yourself above any politician.

“For us as a government, we are determined to improve the lives of our people. And our focus is to see how prosperity can be engendered. Prosperity is not engendered by coming to beg a politician to give you something to eat.

“The man who teaches you how to fish is better than the one who gives you fish. To be taking fish from a politician everyday is to be dependent. To be a fisherman is to be independent. And to be independent is the glory and desire of every reasonable man.

“So we are ready to make our youths self-reliant and prosperous by teaching them how to fish in agriculture and other legitimate endeavours.”

Both leaders donated to the Ogbia Diocese and urged the clergy and laity not to relent in their prayers for the state and country.

Our Reporter

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has called on the Federal Government to repair its roads in the state.

Ikpeazu, in a series of tweets, noted that almost all federal roads linking Abia to other states are in total disrepair. He lamented the untold hardship the situation has brought upon the people.

He said: “…almost all the federal are dilapidated, causing untold hardship to motorists. I call for the urgent intervention of @NigeriaGov in revamping these roads which include the Aba/Port Harcourt section of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Highway; Aba-Ikot Ekpene and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene roads linking Abia to Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, and Umuahia-Ohafia-Arochukwu road, among others.”

Read Also; Budget 2021: FG to prioritise completion of ongoing roads, bridges – Fashola

Ikpeazu feared that Abia might be landlocked if nothing is done to salvage the situation.

“Given that our people have trade and commerce as their main source of livelihood, land locking Abia will amount to asphyxiation of our citizens. Save for the alternative new road we built between Akwa Ibom and Aba, through Ekwereazu, the plight of our traders would have been unimaginable!

“We, therefore, appeal for federal intervention on these roads, including Osisioma Owerrinta through the NNPC depot in Osisioma, where the federal Ministry of Works has been stopped from continuing our work,” he added.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt 

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend  inaugurated 969. 4 metres’ long Rebisi Dual Carriage Flyover Bridge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Fashola commended “the massive urban regeneration and renewal programme of the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The Rebisi Flyover Bridge is one of the five overhead bridge projects started  simultaneously in the state by governor Wike.

The minister, who toured the bridge in company with Wike, said such development efforts would promote peace, tourism and return Port Harcourt to its Garden City status.

Fashola, who earlier toured the Rumuogba, Okoro-Nu-Odu, Rumuola and GRA Junction flyovers, said: “What I witnessed is a massive urban regeneration and urban renewal of Port Harcourt”.

He said ministers were mandated to support the developmental initiative and aspiration of every state in the country adding that it was the reason the Federal Government took a decision to refund money spent on federal roads by states.

He said the first tranche of refund was about N577bn, while the second tranche, for which, Rivers State was a beneficiary, was N148bn.

He said: “In the second tranche, it was five states. Out of those five states, I think  only two were APC states and it was a total of N148bn and Governor Nyesom Wike and Rivers State got lion share. He got N78bn. Don’t sit here and think he has received N78bn, he still has to go to National Assembly because this is part of Nigeria borrowing plan”.

Fashola commended Wike for naming the Rebisi Flyover, located at Garrison Junction, after the community.

“This place use to be known as Garrison. But, clearly  as we begin to shed our military toga and our democracy ages and deepen, we will see a rebirth in our unity, our oneness and our shared developmental aspiration” he said.

In his remarks, Wike said when the state government flagged off the Rebisi, Okoro-Nu-Odu and Rumuogba flyovers simultaneously in October 2019, many sceptics questioned the possibility of the  completing the projects within the estimated timeframe of 16 months.

Read Also: N6.26 trillion needed to complete ongoing road projects, Fashola tells Reps

He explained that the contractor, Julius Berger, worked assiduously, even during the COVID-19 lockdown, just to ensure that the projects were delivered on time.

“By December, we have to commission Okoro-Nu-Odu flyover. By February, we have to commission Rumuogba and Rumuola; by March-April, we will commission the GRA flyover”, he said.

Wike expressed satisfaction that his administration was able to fulfil the promise of constructing five flyovers with one of them achieved in 12 months.

The governor said the flyover bridge by CFC/Corpus Christi bus stop would be expanded to make it the sixth flyovers project under construction in the state.

The governor, who noted the leadership role played by Fashola in the assessment of the application for refund of money spent on federal projects, appealed that the money spent on the new flyover projects should be considered for a refund.

The governor frown on the refusal of traders to obey government’s directive not to display their wares along the roads said he would sign an executive order to discourage the practice.

He said  any landlord, who allowed traders to displays wares for sales in front on their buildings after the order would forfeit them to government because they would be acquired for public use.

Rivers Commissioner for Works , Mr.  Eloka Tasie-Amadi said when the Rebisi Flyover Bridge was flagged off on the 24 October 2019 and  was to be delivered in 16 months but it was achieved within 12 months.

He said the project improved the aesthetics of the city, enhance traffic flow,  relief transport time,  eradicate traffic conflict at the junction and reduce vehicular damage that bad roads cause.

By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

Tipper drivers in Anambra State have threatened another round of protests in the state over government’s alleged refusal to obey court judgement which declared collection of fees on latrite, stone and sand illegal.

The drivers, under the aegis of Anambra/Imo Tipper Drivers Association had repeatedly blocked the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, decrying extortion, harassment and imposition of leadership by suspected officials of government.

National President of the body, Comrade Emmanuel Ezeokafor, had in a recent protest in Awka, accused government of setting up kangaroo leadership structure made up of politicians to pave way for continued perpetuation of corruption in the system.

Speaking in Onitsha during the group’s meeting, Ezeokafor regretted that harassment and extortions of his members had continued unabated even after the association agreement of a N10m remittance to government coffers.

He said, “It’s no longer news that the tipper drivers association had gone to court and won; and we have the documents. But it’s highly regrettable that the extortion had continued despite the court order.

“We’ve even written to the DSS complaining about our plight but they feigned ignorance. But they will realise how serious we are the day we will block the highway again.

“We could have done another protest if not for the #EndSARS protests. We felt that if we come out, they would mistake us for hoodlums. But we will seize this opportunity of fighting illegality until our plight is addressed.”

The National president however cautioned his members against incivility especially in their dealings with the task force.

Read Also: Obiano welcomes security beef-up in Anambra

“Don’t try to run away when they are stopping you. Otherwise, you may knock down someone in the process. We’ll only support the government activities that are legal. But forcing us to belong to where we don’t want to be will not be tolerated.”

Earlier, a human rights activist and Convener, Recover Nigeria Project, Osita Obi informed the drivers that they had what it took to hold the government to ransom.

He said, “I support revenue drive, but not the one that’s obnoxious. The essence of revenue is for development, including road construction, so you’ll have where your vehicles can ply.

“Unfortunately, the roads are in terrible conditions because the money meant for the repairs is being diverted into individual pockets.

“One wonders how a contractor should be made a leader of tipper drivers association if not for him to be used to milk money from you.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC), has again called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to quickly mobilise contractors to complete the East-West Road, particularly the Bayelsa axis.

The appeal is contained in a statement yesterday by the Chairman, Central Zone of the IYC, Comrade Clever Inodu.

The IYC described the East/West Road as a death trap and wondered why the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and other critical stakeholders had been playing politics with the road.

It warned that Ijaw youths would not continue to watch the deplorable condition of the road, a major expressway that links the Southsouth to other parts of the country.

The IYC said that lack of political will and gross underfunding had hindered the completion of the critical road which started 14 years ago.

The council said: “Despite the economic importance of the road, which crisscrosses five out of the six states in the South-South, for the past 14 years, barely 50 per cent of the road has been completed, due mainly to lack of political will and funding constraints by the successive and present administrations.

“The bad road has caused untold hardship, frustration, accidents and uncountable deaths.

Read Also: Buhari: govt will no longer tolerate threat to peace, unity

“It is quite saddening to see the East-West road in such a deplorable condition. For over a decade, the road has been a nightmare to commuters and other road users who transit between the West and East of the country. Thus, it is imperative for the needful to be done.

 Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

 

BISHOPS of the Anglican Communion, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger on Saturday applauded the Nigeria youths for the courage they demonstrated during the recent #EndSARS protest.

They described the protest as timely and welcome development, urging the federal government to treat their demands with urgency.

Speaking during the seventh edition of the Anglican Prayer Rally of Anambra State held at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, however condemned the use of force on the protesters and the attendant loss of lives.

He said, “The federal government should without further delay respond to the demands of the youths in order to soothe all the frayed nerves during the protest and the resultant deaths that came with it.

“We equally condemn looting of properties by hoodlums, and appeal to those doing that to desist from such act. We however urge the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to take leadership and bring peace to the nation by responding to the demands of the youths.

“It is a known fact that Nigerian youths are faced with the environment that presents little or no hope. Massive unemployment, dysfunctional education system, hostile environment for business, insecurity, all points to the fact that all is not well.”

Read Also:  #ENDSARS: A revolution delayed

On his part, Bishop of Amichi diocese, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor described the protests as a warning to political leaders that the people could not be held to ransom for too long.

“We have been warning them to look at the people’s complaints but they refused and now the youths came up with their protest because they cannot take it any longer. To me the original #EndSARS protest was a complete welcome development to tell our political leaders that we cannot continue with their deceit.”

In his sermon, Bishop of Nnewi diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi urged the Nigerian masses to put their trust in God who has taken over their battles, assuring them that the battle brought to their domain had been fought and won.

Among the Bishops that attended the prayer rally included Israel Okoye of Ihiala, Prosper Amah of Ogbaru, Samuel Ezeofor of Aguata, Johnson Ekwe of Mbamili and former Archbishop of Province of the Niger and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Godwin Okpala and Bishop of Nnewi, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi.

Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

 

A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Core Advocate for Genuine Change and Peace Initiative (CAGCPI), has lamented the alleged neglect of flood victims by relevant authorities in Bayelsa State.

The Director General, CAGCPI, Mr. Jacob Obekuma, in a statement sought urgent intervention by the Bayelsa State Government for the victims before the unimaginable happened.

He blamed the misfortune of the victims on the state government, alleging that it had shied away from its statutory responsibilities to the residents.

He said the residents had been groaning under the heavy pains foisted on them by the floods that had wreaked havocs in many parts of the state.

Obekuma said many residents had lost their means of livelihoods and assets worth billions of naira following the perennial annual flood that hit the state and its environs amid the ENDSARS crisis that rocked the country.

Read Also: Cultists invade MTN office in Bayelsa, kill customer

The ex-militant leader wondered why Bayelsa, one of the states that receive the highest allocation from the Federation Account, exclusive of the ecological fund, excess crude, among others, had yet to respond positively to the disaster.

He called Governor Douye Diri to take advantage of the coming dry season to embark on massive infrastructural projects, especially construction of new roads, the proposed flyover at Tombia roundabout, as well as putting up standard drainage system across the state to avert future flood.

He commended Bayelsans on their peaceful comportment during the ENDSARS protest in the state.