The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Obaseki prepares for Nov. 12 inauguration

    Obaseki prepares for Nov. 12 inauguration

    By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

    Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, is preparing for his November 12 inauguration, while assuring that human capital development will dominate his second term.

    He noted that the inauguration, along with that of his deputy, Philip Shaibu, would hold alongside the annual Alaghodaro Summit.

    Obaseki, yesterday in a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, noted that the inauguration was fused with the yearly Alaghodaro Summit to showcase the “numerous” achievements, reforms and initiatives of his administration and engage with key stakeholders in assessing progress made in the governor’s first term in office.

    He reassured that his government would in the second term continue on the economic trajectory of fiscal discipline and prudence, prioritisation of human capital projects and driving impactful social welfare programmes.

    Edo governor noted that the Alaghodaro Summit, in its fourth edition, was anchored on his “Making Edo Great Again” manifesto, thereby focusing on the government’s delivery on promises in education, healthcare and job creation, among others.

    He said: “Plans are in top gear for the inauguration. Benin City has become a beehive of activities. The Alaghodaro Summit, which showcases reforms, policies and programmes implemented by the administration, aims at opening up the space for private investment, inclusive economic growth and improvement of the people’s livelihood.”

    Read Also: I’m in govt to serve, not for fame, money, says Obaseki

    Obaseki also stated that giving priority to human capital development in his second term was part of efforts to place Edo state on a sustainable path of development and economic prosperity.

    He said: “In the next four years, we will consolidate on the achievements recorded in basic education, as more teachers are being recruited to teach in rural and remote communities, under the Edo Supporting Teachers to Achieve Results (Edo STAR) teaching fellowship programme across the state’s three senatorial districts.”

  • Ugwuanyi, others visit victims of road accident, promises to pick medical bills

    Ugwuanyi, others visit victims of road accident, promises to pick medical bills

    By Chris Oji, Enugu

    The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has announced that the state government would take care of the medical bills  of victims involved in a road accident at Nkwo junction, Awgu Local Government Area in Enugu state, between a truck and a school bus conveying pupils.

    This announcement was made when the governor alongside other prominent Igbo leaders, visited the injured students of the Presentation Nursery and Primary School and other victims at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla, to empathise with them.

    The tragedy which struck on Wednesday afternoon, had left 21 persons dead and others receiving treatment in the said hospital, after the incident was blamed on a mechanical failure by the truck.

    Those who accompanied the governor included; the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; the Deputy Minority Leader and member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. Cornelius Nnaji.

  • IYC seeks stakeholders’ support on true federalism, resource control

    IYC seeks stakeholders’ support on true federalism, resource control

    Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    THE leaders of the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC), have converged on Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, over the vexatious issues of true federalism, the militarisation of Niger Delta communities, gas flaring, water resource bill and restructuring.

    They, therefore, declared their readiness to confront the Federal Government with their demands for equity, justice and resource control.

    The IYC zonal leaders, elders, past presidents and deputy presidents of the council including Dr. Chris Ekiyor, the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Ijaw National Affairs, Onifie Jon Jon, among others, were present at the well-attended meeting chaired by the President of the IYC, Comrade Peter Igbifa.

    They resolved that a final position on the issues raised at the consultative meeting would be unveiled at the end of the ongoing consultations with various ethnic groups and state governors across the Niger Delta region.

    Also speaking, the spokesman for the IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, noted that the position of Ijaw youths on various contentious issues of resource control, restructuring and many others would be a watershed for the country in the next few weeks.

  • Bayelsa First Lady, others raise awareness on cancer

    Bayelsa First Lady, others raise awareness on cancer

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    AN advocacy group, Ethanrose Foundation is set to take cancer awareness campaign to communities in Bayelsa State to help prevent the dreaded disease.

    The foundation said over 140 cases of breast cancer had been diagnosed with over 30 deaths recorded between January 2018 and October 2020 in the state.

    In collaboration with the wife of the state governor, Patience Diri, who is also the Life Patron, the foundation held a breast cancer awareness trek and free test for women at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, the state capital, with a call on women to observe regular checks.

    Read Also: Bayelsa youths demand resource control

    In her remarks, the Executive Secreatry, Ethanrose Foundation, Annette David-West, said early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer generally increases the chances for successful treatment.

    She said the foundation believed that information, education and communication is key and that was why the cancer awareness programme was designed to inform and enlighten women on the importance of early detection in line with the theme for this year, ‘Early Detection Can Help Save Lives.’

    In her address, Mrs Diri reiterated that early detection was critical to improving cancer outcomes and survival.

    She said about 2.1 million new cases with 627, 000 deaths from cancer related ailments are recorded every year across the world, adding that breast cancer remained the most common cancer among women worldwide.

    In her lecture, the Registrar, Cancer Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Mrs. Ememaize Oshogbunu, said breast cancer is the highest form of cancer disease recorded in the state.

     

     

  • Okowa relaxes curfew in Delta

    Okowa relaxes curfew in Delta

    Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

     

    THE Delta state government has announced a relaxation of the statewide curfew imposed on 22 October, 2020 following wanton destruction of public property.

    The curfew which had run from 6p.m. to 8 a.m. would now be between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. with effect from Saturday, State Information Commissioner, Charles Aniagwu disclosed.

    Aniagwu, in a statement on Saturday expressed appreciation to Deltans for observing the curfew, which is expected to restore normalcy in the state.

    Read Also: Creation of new wards to correct imbalance in Delta – Okowa

    “As a government we are not unmindful of the stress our people are going through on account of the curfew, but it was inevitable in order to protect lives and property of Deltans.

    “I must thank Deltans for protecting the interest of our common patrimony by ensuring that no further destruction of public buildings was recorded in the state.

    “As part of our avowed commitment to build a stronger Delta with our youths, let me also express the determination of the state government to give effect to the decisions reached at the recent Town Hall meetings with youths in the state,” he said.

  • NYSC seeks urgent help in C/River after hoodlums’ raid on secretariat

    NYSC seeks urgent help in C/River after hoodlums’ raid on secretariat

    Nsa Gill, Calabar

     

    THE National Youth Service Corp NYSC has appealed to Federal Government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the Cross River State secretariat in Calabar to rebuild the assets that were destroyed amid the #EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums.

    The Cross River State Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Mohammed Nakamba at the weekend inspected the vandalised secretariat in company of the Commissioner for Youth and Skill Acquisition, Signor Omang Idiege and Chairman Cross River State Youth Council, Comrade Nkanu Obo.

    He noted that the next batch of corp members are expected in the state by November 10th but the state risk missing corps members mobilised to the state if nothing is done to mitigate the difficulty that has been brought to the state secretariat by the hoodlums who looted and vandalised the office, including operational vehicles.

    Read Also: No palliatives stored in any NYSC camp, says DG

    Speaking to news men after the inspection, the Commissioner expressed unpleasant surprised at the extent of destruction he witnessed at the NYSC secretariat.

    According to him, “the governor is so touched and embarrassed despite all his efforts to ensure that all is well with the youths, particularly since the inception of his office, he makes sure that all his policies were geared towards youth development.”

    On his part, Nakamba expressed gratitude to the Almighty that no staff and corps members’ live was lost in all of this series of mishap.

    The Chairman Cross River Youth Council, Comrade Nkanu Obo commiserated with the NYSC and assured that the council will do all it can to ensure that most of the looted items are recovered.

  • Voter apathy in A’Ibom LG election as APC, other parties shun exercise

    Voter apathy in A’Ibom LG election as APC, other parties shun exercise

     Bassey Anthony, Uyo

     

    THE local government election which was held across the 31 council, areas in Akwa Ibom state on Saturday was devoid of the usual boisterous and competitive atmosphere.

    Major political parties especially the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not participate in the council poll thereby making the exercise purely a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) affair.

    The APC had accused the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) of aligning with the ruling PDP, declaring its lack of confidence in the electoral body to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

    The opposition party had also kicked against the creation of additional 39 wards, saying it was unconstitutional and a ploy by the AKISIEC to rig the council election in favour of the PDP

    As a result, the APC had declared its intention to boycott the local government poll in a press statement signed by its state publicity secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere.

    Expectedly, Saturday’s council election witnessed massive voter apathy across most units and wards in the state.

    In the Eket local government area, for instance, some units did not receive voting materials on time even as distribution of materials was very slow when they finally arrived.

    Materials arrived at Eket central 3, Afia Nist at about 10.42am, only the electoral officers and security agents were available.

    In Uyo urban ward 1, 2, 3 and 4, no voter was seen around the polling units even though electoral officers were on ground and ready for the elections by 9am.

    But the exercise was generally peaceful as no case of ballot snatching, reckless driving and violence was reported from the units visited as at time of filing this report.

    However, Governor Udom Emmanuel has commended the AKISIEC for working to ensure a transparent and smooth Local Government election in the state.

    Read Also: ‘Akwa Ibom is all we have, let us protect it’

    Emmanuel gave the commendation on Saturday at his polling unit, Awa ward 1 after carrying out a simultaneous accreditation and voting at 10am.

    “I think this is one of the peaceful elections we have ever had. I drove from Uyo down here trying to monitor the elections. I like the quietness and orderliness of the elections and I am also surprised at the preparedness of AKISIEC, the quality of materials; it is of a very high standard.

    “The transparency of the processes is commendable. They have done a good job but it is unfortunate that people will still be complaining even when we score the process 99 percent. I would only encourage them to do more.”

    Fielding question from reporters, Emmanuel expressed confidence in the electoral process. Raising some posers, the governor said, “I have confidence in the system. If I didn’t have confidence, why should I waste my time coming here? I have much more confidence than ever before. This is the most peaceful elected to elected elections, grace pass grace.”

    The Presiding Officer of the ward, Destiny Bob who also spoke with reporters said accreditation and elections were done simultaneously, adding that despite the poor turnout of voters, the elections would end by 2pm.

    His words “elections started by 8am but it’s now 10am, we are still waiting for voters. No party agents are here but I believe they will come.’’

  • Why I am fighting for Biafra, by Kanu

    Why I am fighting for Biafra, by Kanu

    By Chris Njoku, Owerri

    Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has said that the convergence of the diverse core value systems of the North, West and East is posing a serious obstacle for Nigeria to function as a viable state.

    Kanu who said this on Friday in an interview with an publisher of Ovation magazine, Chief Dele Momodu on an IPoB community radio, argued that bringing Nigerians together without paying attention to the core value system of these ethnic groups was the bane of development and unrests in the country.

    ”So, these are the anomalies that Africans particularly educated Nigerians need to sit down to address. That’s why we have unrested development, that’s why nothing seems to be working because the convergence of these diverse core value system of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo is making it  impossible for Nigeria to function as a viable state.”

    Read Also: Away with Igbo presidency, give us Biafra – IPOB

    The IPOB leader made it clear that he would not have been agitating for sovereign state of Biafra if Nigeria was created by a Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa man.

    “Nigeria was not constructed by a Yoruba man, if it were I would have accepted it, Nigeria was not created by a Fulani man,  if that was the case who knows I might have accepted that, Nigeria was not created by an Hausa man either, Nigeria was created by a white man and named by a woman.”

    “Nobody came from these ethnic groups, they never got together to say our name should be Nigeria.  A white man determined that. I cannot get to England to  say to the English people I want to rename Liverpool, I want to give it another name, I am sure they will think I am mentally ill or unstable and put me in jail.

    Now the problem is why should Nigerians or Africans  accept the name Nigeria,  which does not mean anything in Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa language,”  he stated.

  • Police deploy 7,194 officers for A’Ibom council election

    Police deploy 7,194 officers for A’Ibom council election

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Amiengheme Andrew, has deployed 7,194 policemen for Saturday’s local government election in the state.

    This is in addition to other sister security agencies which will be posted to all polling units and wards across the 31 council areas of the state for the exercise.

    The CP in a statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Odiko MacDon, on Friday warned residents of the state against violating the movement restriction of the state government.

    Read Also: Police arrest ex-Minister’s son over alleged robbery at Bureau De Change

    ‘The statement reads: “The Commissioner of Police, while assuring Akwa Ibomites of adequate security before, during and after the election, warned residents against violating the restriction of movement order which will commence from 7:00am to 2:00pm of Saturday, 31st October, 2020.

    ‘’He therefore enjoins all voters to turnout peacefully and perform their civic responsibility, while warning trouble shooters to stay away from the polling units as no acts of lawlessness will be tolerated.

    ‘’However, in an event of any distress within the State, the Command can be reached on 08039213071 or sent a WhatsApp message to 08084667720’’.

  • N’Delta group cautions ‘APC ex-agitators’ against blackmailing Buhari, PAP 

    N’Delta group cautions ‘APC ex-agitators’ against blackmailing Buhari, PAP 

    Our Reporter

    The Niger Delta Agitators for Good Governance has cautioned a group which called itself Coalition of APC Youth Leaders and  Beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme against blackmailing the President and the leadership of the Amnesty Office for selfish motives.

    The National Coordinator of the Group, Chief Moses Bebenimibo, said in a statement on Thursday that the Niger Delta agitators who embraced amnesty are not divided along party lines. He cautioned against using the platform of agitators to blackmail authorities with intent to score needless political goals and targeted pecuniary benefits. He described statement credited to the amorphous group as a brazen and unconscionable attempt to cause avoidable division in the rank of Niger Delta people involved in the agitation for fairness in resource allocation and good governance in the country.

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

    Bebenimibo said that true agitators who are motivated by patriotism and the genuine interest of the Niger Delta would not draw a line between APC Niger Deltans and PDP Niger Deltans. He also called on the Federal Government to discountenance the call by some ‘merchants  of mischief’ to sack the Amnesty Boss for allegedly engaging non APC members in the office. He said that the crude sentiments expressed by the group of self- styled Coalition of APC ex-agitators, which called on the Federal Government to make APC membership as a condition for engagement in the Amnesty Office,  is condemnable and indeed a recipe for division and avoidable unrest. Bebenimibo commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of an Ijaw son as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    The activist, who also thanked the National Security Adviser, Major Gen Babagana Monguno, for recommending Col Dikio, urged the President to give him the free hand to take the requisite steps to reposition the PAP. According to him, the culture of impunity and diversion of the objectives of the PAP would continue unless Dikio embarks on tough, deliberate and decisive steps to enthrone sanity in the agency.