Category: SouthEast

  • Edo varsity holds convocation

    Edo varsity holds convocation

    Our Reporter

     

    EDO State University, Iyamho, will hold its second convocation on November 7, it has been learnt.

    The ceremony will hold at the university campus in Iyamho.

    Vice Chancellor Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, who addressed a news conference, said activities for the occasion included a Jumat Service and a thanksgiving service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church/Edo University Chaplaincy.

    The rescheduled Fourth Founders’ Day via webinar will hold today. It will be delivered by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Prof. Suleiman Bogoro.

    A second convocation lecture will hold on Friday, and it will be delivered by Prof. Adam Zahier of Worcester State University, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, and chaired by the Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

  • Militants give Emmanuel 14 days to publish council allocation

    Militants give Emmanuel 14 days to publish council allocation

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    Militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) have given Governor Udom Emmanuel 14 days ultimatum to publish federal allocations to local governments in Akwa Ibom State.

    The agitators asked the governor to make public records of council allocations received by the state from June 2015 to date, failing which they will stage a mass protest, which may lead to some grave impacts on the state.

    The NDLF last week accused the Emmanuel administration of stalling development at the grassroots by tampering with council funds since his assumption of office in 2015.

    But the state government denied the allegation.

    In a statement at the weekend by the state commander of the NDLF, ‘Captain’ Victor Eyoh and four others, the group asked the state government to prove its innocence by making public records of council allocations.

    The statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, as indigenes of Akwa Ibom State, we are aware that during the first five months after the inauguration of the outgoing local government councils, the 31 councils were operating on zero allocations.

    ‘’In subsequent months, N6 to N8million per month were disbursed to each local government for the payment of political office holders, elected councillors and traditional rulers.

    ‘’We, therefore, stand by our earlier claims that the state government has been illegally tampering with local government funds, and challenge the government to publish for public scrutiny details of the monthly receipts of revenue from the Federation Account from June 2015 in respect of the allocations to the 31 local governments and records of disbursements of same to the councils.”

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, has denied tampering with council funds, saying Governor Emmanuel is not a signatory to any local government council account.

    Ememobong, who said the NDLF might be working for the opposition, asked the group to approach the Federal Government for records of funds allocations to local government councils in the state.

    He said:  ‘’The publication of allocation to local government areas is done by the Federal Government and is available for all to see.

    ‘’The local government leadership through ALGON can answer whether the governor has been tampering with their allocation or not.

    Read Also: Emmanuel extends curfew in A’Ibom

    ‘’However, for your information, the governor isn’t a signatory to any local government council account and therefore cannot tamper with an account he’s not a signatory to.

    ‘’But it’s amazing how a militant group can now claim to be spokespersons for issues  that make them sound like echo chambers of some Akwa Ibom opposition chieftains’’.

  • ‘Obong of Calabar has nothing personal against Ayade’

    ‘Obong of Calabar has nothing personal against Ayade’

    By Nsa Gill, Calabar

    The palace of the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has said the Obong has nothing personal against Prof. Ben Ayade, the governor of Cross River State.

    The clarification came on Sunday from a palace source who pleaded anonymity and insisted that the Obong will not speak further on the matter, “but the truth is that the Obong has nothing personal against Governor Ayade”.

    Our source said the Obong spoke when he received in audience, former governor Liyel Imoke on a visit in the wake of the devastating destruction of properties of the government, individuals and organisations.

    Read Also: Ayade opens school, others

    “The Obong is unhappy about the level of wanton destruction of government institutions, structures and private investments in Calabar, Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas. The protest was purportedly on the #EndSARS agitation and it became hijacked by violent elements”, the palace source said.

    He added: “The Obong believes there was a security breakdown in the state on October 23 and 24 with the governor as the chief security officer of the state not holding a timely security council meeting of the state.”

    In a swift reaction to the position of the Obong suggesting that the governor should step aside, Mr. Asu Okang, the commissioner for Information, said: “We are in a democracy and everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.”

  • Wike slams churches for disobeying COVID-19 protocols

    Wike slams churches for disobeying COVID-19 protocols

    By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has slammed churches for disobeying COVID-19 regulations.

    He threatened to impose fresh restrictions on worship centres.

    Wike spoke at the weekend at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt Local Government, during Chief Azubuike Nmerukini’s family special thanksgiving service organised in honour of his wife, Dame Oroma Nmerukini, who survived a critical medical condition.

    The governor said he observed during the service that more than 80 per cent of worshippers did not wear face masks.

    Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, warned that if violation of the protocol continued, he would revisit his position on the population of worshippers at the worship centres.

    He said: “Eighty-five per cent of those who are here are not wearing face mask. That is the problem we have. Nobody wants to obey simple instruction.

    “The mere fact that we have agreed that we should worship and allow everybody, does not mean that we should disobey the protocol.

    “My lord Bishop, encourage our people to wear their face masks. It is very important. If this continues, then I will go back and review the restriction to say it cannot be more than a particular number.”

    Read Also: Wike urged to relax curfew in Oyigbo

    The governor thanked God for the healing of Dame Nmerukini, describing her as a sister and mother.

    In his sermon, the Bishop of Diocese of Niger Delta, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo, admonished the congregation to discard the habit of bemoaning what they lack.

    Thanking God for the restoration of her health, Dame Nmerukini said the experience was bitter, but she was grateful to God for healing her.

    The governor was accompanied by his wife, Justice Suzzeette Nyesom-Wike, state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Desmond Akawor, Chief of Staff,  Government House,  Chukwuemeka Woke and Head of Rivers State Civil Service,  Rufus Godwin, among others.

  • Diri orders Works ministry to fix collapsed federal bridge

    Diri orders Works ministry to fix collapsed federal bridge

    Our Reporter

     

    BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri has directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to repair the collapsed portion of the bridge on the Edepie-Otuasega-Imiringi road in Ogbia Local Government.

    The governor, who gave the directive at the weekend during an inspection of the failed portion, said he asked the ministry to carry out remedial work on the federal road project, as its users were Bayelsans who suffered the effect of the damage.

    The road, which links three local governments, was cut off by erosion last Wednesday, leaving commuters stranded on both sides.

    The governor’s spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him in a statement as saying that his administration would not fold its arms and watch Bayelsans suffer as a result of the collapsed bridge.

    He said the level of damage indicated that thorough work was not done by the contractor and the engineers that supervised the construction.

    “Recently, the Federal Government told states not to repair their roads. But this road links three local governments and the primary users are Bayelsans. So, while we know it is a federal road, we had to take immediate action.

    Read Also: Rogue on the Airtel network

    “To ameliorate the suffering of our people, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure mobilised down here to ensure that remedial work is done to allow our people move.

    Read Also:

    “It is, however, unfortunate that the job that was done appears not to be a very concrete one. I’m sure if the engineers come here, they will know where the problem lies,” the governor said.

    Responding to questions from reporters, Senator Diri said with the pace of work, the failed portion would be fixed in about one week.

    He was accompanied by Speaker of the House of Assembly Abraham Ingobere, another legislator, Tonye Isenah, the Chief of Staff, Government House,  Chief Benson Agadaga as well as the Commissioner for Special Duties (Bayelsa East), Preye Broderick and her Communication, Science and Technology counterpart, Dr. Promise Ekio, alongside other top government functionaries.

     

  • Anxiety over strange deaths in Delta

    Anxiety over strange deaths in Delta

     Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

     

    NO fewer than 15 people have died following the outbreak of haemorrhagic fever at Ute Okpu and Idumesa communities in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, the Delta State Government has said.

    It said outcome of the samples collected by the Ministry of Health officers would give an indication of the disease and determine the next line of action.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Mordi Ononye, who spoke on Sunday at Ute Okpu in Ika North-East Local Government, said the state government had constituted a team to unravel the mysterious disease that had claimed 15 persons from 18 to 25 years in the past two weeks.

    He said: “Delta State Government has received information about seemingly mysterious deaths at Ute Okpu and Idumesa communities of Ika North East Local Government, which prompted Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to direct the Ministry of Health to investigate these deaths, identify the  cause/causes and effect containment measures.”

    Ononye said a directive has been given by Governor Okowa to upgrade the Comprehensive Health Centre in Ute-Okpu to a full-fledged hospital, and called on members of the community and residents of the state to observe good hygiene, as the dry season approaches, by covering their food, cutting grasses around their surroundings, eliminating rats in their houses and observing the COVID-19 safety guidelines by washing their hands with soap and running water.

    Read Also: Okowa relaxes curfew in Delta

    But Dr. Richard Ikwuogu, the state epidemiologist, said his office sent officers to the community immediately the information reached the Ministry of Health, adding that the active case search that began the previous day continues.

    He said his team had visited the families of the affected persons in the community, collected their samples and interviewed them.

    Ikwogu said although a suspicion of viral haemorrhagic fever, or substance abuse, the outcome of the test on collected samples would give clear information on the disease and that would determine the next line of action.

     

     

  • ‘No govt has developed Uzo-Uwani like Ugwuanyi  administration’

    ‘No govt has developed Uzo-Uwani like Ugwuanyi administration’

    Our Reporter

     

    THE lawmaker representing Enugu North, Senator Chukwuka Utazi and the monarch of Nkpologu community, Igwe Simeon Idu, have thanked Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his special attention in Uzo-Uwani Local Government through landmark development projects.

    Speaking when Senator Utazi received Governor Ugwuanyi at his country home at Nkpologu, Igwe Idu thanked the governor for the ongoing massive work on the long-neglected 39km Umulokpa-Adaba-Ukpata-Uvuru-Nkpologu road, which links communities of Uzo-Uwani Council to their headquarters at Umulokpa.

    The monarch, who expressed the joy of the people of the community to the governor, disclosed that “before now, we have not gone to our headquarters in Umulokpa without passing through four local governments of Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti, Udi and Ezeagu.”

    He said because of governor’s special love for the people of Uzo-Uwani, “the building of the road (Umulokpa-Adaba-Ukpata-Uvuru-Nkpologu) is ongoing and has reached advanced stage” courtesy of the state government, in collaboration with Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II).

    Igwe Idu also thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for asphalting of the 26.665km Ukpabi-Nimbo-Ugbene Ajima-Eziani road as well as the Edem Ani-Urobo-Abbi road (earthwork).

    While maintaining that no past government has channelled infrastructural development to the rural communities as the current administration has done, the royal rather appreciated the governor for choosing Uzo-Uwani as one of the seven benefiting local governments where Type-3 primary health care centres are being constructed.

    He also hailed the governor for siting the all-important health facility in Nkpologu.

    He assured the governor of the unalloyed support and solidarity of the people of Uzo-Uwani Local Government and applauded his visit to the community.

    Receiving Governor  Ugwuanyi in his country home, Ama-Ezikeani, Senator Utazi endorsed the speech by his traditional ruler, stressing that the governor’s achievements in infrastructural development in Uzo-Uwani Local Government are unprecedented and commendable.

    Read Also: Ugwuanyi most youth-friendly governor, says NANS

    The lawmaker said Ugwuanyi’s administration has executed “the longest earth road in Enugu State” in the council area and reassured him that they will not take such considerations for granted.

    Dignitaries at the event included the former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi; the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Augustine Nnamani; the member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Prince Cornelius Nnaji; the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; the former state Chairman of PDP, Chief Vita Abba; former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okey Ezea; members of the House of Assembly, EXCO and council chairmen from Enugu North Senatorial District, among others.

     

     

  • Recounting laudable contributions of Ayodeji Adewole towards Akeredolu re-election success

    Recounting laudable contributions of Ayodeji Adewole towards Akeredolu re-election success

    Our Reporter

    Honor to men deserving, Dignity only for those whose life holds meaning; one above them that makes them give purpose to their existence.

    Exalting the laudable attributes of Mr. Adewole Ayodeji aka Major Dee, a seasoned businessman, politician, and philanthropist.

    One of the very few who has etched for himself and Honorable path which sets him aside from his pairs as a true progressive, a good son of the soil who has ever remained committed to his roots; one whose people can truly call “OMOLUABI” that’s a child well birthed and nurtured.

    His few decades on the surface of the earth has seen him rise from humble beginnings by embracing the cores and values of hard work, diligence, and an unresolved commitment to rising fighting against the odds to becoming a highly respected business man and politician.

    Mr. Adewole Ayodeji, MD/CEO of Major Dee Global Motors, hailed from Akure, Ondo State rising comes as no surprise as he continues to expand his tentacles across the country with his various chains of businesses and enterprise.

    Outside the business world, Major Dee as fondly call has continued to make himself an asset to his people as he has continued to identify with them, channeling his resources towards their welfare.

    Not relenting on this, he has also made himself a man of immeasurable value and importance to the Akeredolu led administration in Ondo State as a result of his numerous contributions to the success of the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa election success.

    The large-heartedness of Major Dee and his goodwill saw him reaching out to his community during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic which saw to the imposition of the lockdown rules and social distancing guidelines. With many shops closed, offices on lockdown, and the means of livelihood of the people were grossly affected by the outbreak. Major Dee went the extra mile by making provisions for Palliatives packages for his people to cushion the effect of the pandemic.

    READ ALSO: Notable forces behind Akeredolu’s re-election

    And in the distribution of these items, he made sure that everyone was entitled to this; no one was left out irrespective of political affiliation, social status, or age differences.

    Asides from the aforementioned, there are several Initiatives and projects which had been carried out by him which were all geared towards making life better and easier for his people.

    These actions did not go unnoticed by his people as they came out to identify with him and his candidate in the October 10 Gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

    Towards the success of the Akeredolu/ Ayedatiwa re-election bid; he once again proved his mettle as the man of the people. For a man who has always been involved in the political activities of the All Progressive Congress (APC), he took it upon himself to channel his resources, both moral and financial to advancing the ultimate goal of the campaign which was to emerge victorious in the State Gubernatorial election.

    For a man who has already created an identity and personality which draws and attracts people to him, he was able to leverage on this to sell the Governor well. The door to door campaign exercise which was facilitated by him, the massive publicity he gave the governor within and outside his community went a long way in winning and acquiring the much needed votes for Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN in emerging victorious in the just concluded election.

  • Nigeria ready for global sciencetech competition – Onu

    Nigeria ready for global sciencetech competition – Onu

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has reassured of preparedness to reposition Nigeria in science and technology for wealth creation and global competition.

    He revealed Nigeria had made unprecedented improvement in technological advancement in several fields capable of transforming her into the first technologically advanced nation in the African continent.

    Onu spoke weekend in Nnewi, Anambra while commiserating with family of late Major General Samuel Momah (rtd) who was laid to rest in his Umudim country home.

    Late Momah was the Minister for Science and Technology between 1995 and 1999.

    He said: “We’re working strategically to reposition Nigeria in science and technology for wealth creation and global competition to make the country, as the largest market, the first technologically advanced nation in the African continent.”

    Read Also: Global move to reduce hunger, poverty

    Describing late Momah as great, intelligent and perfect gentleman who contributed immensely to the growth of Science and Technology Ministry during his time, Onu noted that the best way to immortalize him was to make sure his dreams and ideals were actualized.

    He also recalled his time with the deceased at the Nigercem, Nkalagu in Enugu State, saying the firm experienced reformation and was profitably enhanced through their efforts.

    The Minister, who later paid a condolence visit to the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III, urged him to bear the loss with fortitude.

    He enjoined the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that late Momah would be remembered for all he did for the nation and humanity.

    “I knew Momah for over 40 years and had a lot in common with him. I was close to him up to when he rose to the rank of Major General and later became Minister for Science and Technology. Sincerely, the news of his death came to me as a shock,” Onu added.

    In his funeral rite, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai described the deceased as an articulate, dedicated, loyal and hard-working officer with a good sense of purpose.

    Buratai, represented by Major General L.A. Adegboye, said late Momah’s demise was a great loss to the Army, Nigerian nation and his family.

    Some of the deceased children, Dr Emeka and Dr Tobe Momah, described their father as a man of discipline who laid solid foundation for his entire children, academically and otherwise.

  • #EndSARS: Nwafor stopped kidnappings, robbery in Anambra, groups claim

    #EndSARS: Nwafor stopped kidnappings, robbery in Anambra, groups claim

    By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

    A coalition of four groups in Anambra state, have faulted those calling for the prosecution of former SARS Commander in the State, CSP James Nwafor as the real enemies of the people

    Nwafor, who retired from the Police as a Chief Superintendent of Police, was allegedly linked to many killings during his time as commander of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS in the state

    But four coalition groups in Anambra state, have described the allegation as unfounded, adding that those accusing him were ignorant of what he did in Igbo land

    The groups are, Anambra Security Network (ASN), Nnewi Elders Forum (NEF), Awka Consultative Assembly (ACA) and Anambra Traders Union (ATU).

    In a statement Saturday on in Awka, the spokesperson for the groups, Chief Simon Okonkwo, said Nwafor even went as far as Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu to fish out criminals during his time.

    They said without Nwafor, the entire Southeast would have been sacked from their respective states as prominent citizens of the states were not coming home again for fear of being abducted.

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap Professor in Anambra

    “Contrary to Igbo customs and tradition, they were conducting traditional marriages in Abuja, Lagos and other places outside Igbo land where they were residing because of fear of being abducted and killed by suspected kidnappers.

    “Most of the people condemning Nwafor lacked knowledge of the dynamics of hunting down criminals,” Okonkwo said.

    The groups insisted that Nwafor rescued many prominent persons in the State, who were abducted by kidnapers between 2011 and 2017.

    The group mentioned names of prominent Easterners the former SARS commander  rescued from the claws of kidnappers  in Nnewi, Awka, Onitsha, Ekwulobia, Lagos, Owerri, Port Harcourt and other parts of country.