The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Tourists, celebrities hit Mbaise for new yam

    This year’s edition of the Iri Iji Mbaise festival witnessed tremendous and remarkable improvements by all measurements. The culture, glamour and blitz that attended the festival proved that it has the potential to take the centre stage in the tourism industry in the country.

    This much was confirmed by the dignitaries that attended the festival from across the country and beyond.

    The Iri Iji Mbaise has gradually evolved from a mere gathering of indigenes of the three Local Government Areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte, otherwise known as the ‘Mbaise Nation’, to an annual event that commands global attention.

    Visitors were as usual treated to rich cultural display and served the traditional roasted yam eaten with red oil as farmers display prize yams. The occasion has served as a rallying point for the people of Imo State, where people from diverse political and religious backgrounds converge to forge ways of addressing the socio-cultural challenges confronting the people.

    One significant aspect of the Iri Iji festival is that it has served as a clarion call on the people to continue to embrace agriculture as a viable means of ensuring food security in the state.

    Meanwhile, the enthusiasm that heralded this year’s festival was unprecedented, the people were ecstatic, the preparations were elaborate as Mbaise natives from home and in the Diaspora came in their numbers to be part of the event and the reason for this surge of interest is not far-fetched, one of their own, Emeka Ihedioha, is now the governor of the state.

    Expectedly, the occasion was graced by governors of various states and other highly placed Nigerians. Leading the pack were governors of Sokoto and Enugu states, Aminu Tambuwal and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    Also in attendance were the famous King Jaja of Opobo,  Obong of Calabar,  Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi,  the Amayanabor of Okirika, the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers,HRM Agunwa Samuel Ohiri, the Obi of Obinugwu, Eze Cletus Ilomuanaya, among other first class traditional rulers.

    Speaking at the occasion, Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was the Special Guest of Honour,  said that if the cultural potentials in the Iri Iji festival is properly harnessed, it will make Imo State a destination for tourists from within and outside the country.

    Tambuwal, urged the government and people of the state to improve of the festival and ensure that emphasis are paid on agriculture as advocated by the Iri Iji Festival.

    He solicited supported for the state governor, Emeka Ihedioha, who he said will reposition the state by engaging the people and encouraging their culture and customs.

    Meanwhile, the Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi described Mbaise nation’ as a peace-loving and hospitable people who have been consistent in sustaining the age-long Iri Ji tradition.

    The Enugu governor, noted that the Mbaise nation “had shown great desire in hosting the cultural flag of the Igbo tribe with regularity and passion”.

    Addressing the ecstatic crowd, at the government secondary school, venue of this year’s event, Governor Ihedioha, assured that “the Iri Ji festival will be sustained, not only in Mbaise nation but other parts of the state”.

    He noted that the growing acceptability of the festival within and outside the state can attract huge socio-economic gains for the state.

    Ihedioha revealed that the festival triggers bountiful harvest for farmers and general prosperity for the people. Governor Ihedioha noted that the celebration often serves as a bond for the Mbaise nation.

  • ‘No IPOB member arrested in Ebonyi’

    THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Saturday, said no member of the group was arrested in Ebonyi State.

    The Ebonyi State Police Command, had on Wednesday, confirmed the arrest of 15 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra.

    It said the suspects were arrested at a bush at Amasiri in the Afikpo North local government area of the state on Tuesday by men of the Nigeria Police and other security agents while allegedly planning to hold their 2019 summit in the state.

    But IPOB, in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the report came to it as a surprise as it had no event in the state that would necessitate the gathering of people on a large scale.

    The group maintained that it was not in the habit of celebrating any anniversary either in Biafraland or in the diaspora since inception.

    Read Also: Yellow fever claims 16 in Ebonyi

    In the statement which read in part, the group said, “Our attention has been drawn to the purported mass arrest of supposed members of IPOB in Ebonyi State by Governor Dave Umahi and his Fulani handlers who mischievously labelled those they abducted as Biafrans planning an anniversary.

    “This attempt by Dave Umahi to prove to his Fulani masters that he is anti-Biafra and IPOB has led him to round-up and illegally lock up land owners in Ebonyi State under the pretext of fighting Biafra agitators but of which the true intention is to pave the way for Fulani herdsmen to take over community lands for their RUGA settlement in the state.”

  • Pipeline surveillance: Ex N/Delta agitators demand job

    EX-AGITATORS in the Niger Delta region are calling on the federal government to fulfil its promise to engage them with pipeline surveillance jobs.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, the former militants said their patience is wearing out, having waited on the presidency for three years to no avail.

    Urging the presidency, including the current amnesty boss, Professor Charles Dokubo, and relevant security agencies to intervene, they called for the needful to be done.

    Read Also: Time to intensify Niger Delta development efforts

    Speaking on behalf of the former militants, a leader of Peretorogbene Community in Bayelsa State, Comrade Bossman Abodedike, stated that the promise to engage the youths was reached during one of the peace meetings with former coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. General Paul Boroh, held in the creeks.

    He revealed that the meeting, which was organised to persuade the “boys” to lay down their arms for smooth oil and gas operations, had relevant stakeholders and ex-agitators of the Niger Delta in attendance.

    Abodedike, while stressing that implementation of the said agreement has not been reached till date, quoted Boroh to have stated, “The Niger Delta is a serious concern to the federal government, it was revealed in a security meeting. The intention of the federal administration is to engage our youths on pipeline surveillance job. Each community will be responsible for the provision of pipeline security in their community.”

  • Anambra market leader denies alleged cult financing

    CHAIRMAN, Eke Awka Market, Anambra State, Emeka Agummadu, has refuted reports alleging him as being a financier to cult activities in Awka and its environs.

    He said he was neither a cultist nor sponsored cult killings or any related crimes in the state.

    The police had, on Wednesday, issued a statement that the market leader, a.k.a Baby Awka, was arrested alongside three others over alleged sponsorship of cult related killings in the area.

    But addressing newsmen in Awka on Saturday, Agummadu described the allegation as false and unfounded, aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

    Read Also: Anambra teachers fight Lassa fever

    He called on the Nigeria Police to thoroughly investigate the matter.

    He said, “I’m not a cultist and I don’t sponsor cult killings or any related crimes. The allegation is a handiwork of mischief makers bent on tarnishing my image.”

    While condemning cultism in its entirety, Agummadu called for denunciation of those involved, urging them to engage in legitimate means of livelihood in order to be useful to themselves and society.

    “As a philanthropist, I have changed the living conditions of so many Awka indigenes and contributed immensely to the development of the town,” he added.

    He pledged unflinching support to Obiano’s administration, including provision of security network for the lives and properties of the citizenry.

     

  • INEC withdraws C’River REC’s powers

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has withdrawn all powers and functions delegated to the Cross River Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Frankland Briyai.

    Briyai on Thursday announced his resignation from his position to enable him participate in the forthcoming governorship election.

    But the commission said it has no information to that effect from the REC.

    INEC said the REC’ s resignation did not follow due process and thereby withdrew all powers delegated to him.

    According to a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye , the Administrative Secretary of Cross River State has been directed to oversee the office and take over the functions and duties of the REC until further notice.

    Read Also: JUST IN: INEC sacks Cross Rivers REC

    The statement reads: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Cross River State of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Dr. Frankland Briyai yesterday addressed the media to the effect that he has resigned his position as REC with effect from 8th August 2019 and joined a political party on whose platform he intends to contest the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State. Although this was done at the commission’s Cross River State office in Calabar, the commission is yet to receive any communication on this from Dr. Briyai.

    “The commission strongly frowns at the RECs’ expression of partisan interest. We note that the constitution precludes National and Resident Electoral Commissioners from belonging to political parties. Also, the use of INEC’s premises and facilities for such declaration or for any political purpose is unlawful and contrary to the Code of Conduct subscribed to by all INEC officials.

  • Controversy trails arrest of notorious cultist Bobrisky in Rivers

    CONTROVERSY is trailing the announcement by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, that the Nigerian Army has arrested Bobrisky, a notorious cultist in the state.

    Wike during a security meeting with leaders of Rumuolumeni Community at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yon Friday, announced the capture of Bobrisky, an alleged mastermind of dastardly killings in Gokana Local Government Area of Ogoniland.

    But a source at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, debunked the claim, challenging the governor to parade the criminal to validate his claim.

    The governor, during the announcement said: “The army has captured Bobrisky of Gokana. I will pay the bounty that I promised to the Nigerian Army. Anyone who generates insecurity in Rivers, I am ready to pay any amount to ensure the arrest of that person.”

    Governor Wike called on community leaders to provide information to the State Security Council on criminals in their communities to frontally reduce crime in the state.

    He described Rumuolumeni as one of the flashpoints in the state where criminals had been using the waterway as a getaway point. Wike urged the community leaders to cooperate with the Rivers government to check the activities of cult groups and insecurity in the area.

    On the issue of road construction, Wike assured the people of the area that key roads in the community would be constructed by his administration.

    Read Also: We’re ready to tackle insecurity, says Wike

    He stated that at the end of this month, contractors would be mobilised to commence work on the selected roads.

    The governor said: “Key roads in the area (Rumuolumeni) have been primed for construction. I urge you to have confidence in us that we will continue to develop the area.”

    Wike reiterated the proscription of youth groups in Rivers State, stressing that any youth body that plans to operate must first be profiled by security agencies.

    Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, said almost all communities in the state had been overrun by cultists, declaring that security agencies would not watch and allow the situation to degenerate. He hailed Wike for donating vehicles and other equipment to the security agencies to fight crimes, while assuring that security agencies would intensify the battle against crimes, to achieve results.

    A source at the 6 Division, Port Harcourt,debunked the governor’s claim, saying: ”Let me confide in you that Bobrisky has not been arrested. I do not know what Governor Nyesom Wike intends to gain by lying and misleading members of the public. Since Gov. Wike insists that Bobrisky has been arrested by his army, not the Nigerian Army, let him parade Bobrisky on Saturday (today), Sunday or Monday.

    With the lie by Governor Wike and the press statement by his media aide, Bobrisky will escape from Nigeria or he may go underground. The truth remains that Bobrisky has not been arrested.”

  • Nigerian dies in Ethiopian prison

    A Nigerian inmate at the Kaliti Prisons in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has died after suffering an undisclosed ailment. The deceased, identified as Odemu Efe, hailed from Warri, Delta State.

    The Nation gathered that Efe was among the about 150 inmates of Nigerian descent at the prison. It was also learnt that they are being detained on allegations of possession of hard drugs and money laundering.

    The Nation gathered that several inmates have fallen ill due to malnourishment as they are allegedly fed once a day with rice without sauce, all year round.

    The deceased, according to a source, died on July 13 because of poor medication after he took ill. The source added that efforts to draw the attention of Nigerian officials to his deteriorating condition failed.

    A concerned Nigerian, Miss Chika Nwachukwu, accused Nigerian officials of not showing concern about the welfare of the inmates, noting that there was lack of commitment on the part of the home government to facilitate their repatriation even when the Ethiopian authorities are willing to release the inmates.

    She said: “As we speak, some inmates are very sick and they are not getting good medication. Nobody knows whether they will survive since Odemu died in a similar condition.

    “The Federal Government should please activate the relevant ministries and agencies to bring succour to these citizens languishing in foreign land by bringing them back home. Most of them are ready to pay any cost incurred in the process, and also ready to face trial at home for the alleged offences for which they are being detained.”

    Miss Nwachukwu appealed to chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, to mobilise stakeholders in the region to free the inmates, claiming that over eighty percent of them are from the Southeast.

    According to the source, the governments of other African countries, including Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea, whose citizens were also trapped in the Kaliti prisons, activated their foreign missions in Ethiopia to set their nationals free.

     

  • Bayelsa launches new Yenagoa city project

    The Bayelsa State government will launch a new Yenagoa City project to control development at the capital city on August 7.

    The government also condemned the invasion of Azagbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area by the Army following the murder of two soldiers in the area.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Daniel Iworiso-Markson on Thursday said the decisions were taken at the 109th State Executive Council meeting.

    According to him, the launch would attract people from all walks of life, and Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) will be issued to persons already allocated plots of land in the new city.

    Iworiso-Markson said the government was doing everything within its reach to enable Bayelsans and friends of the state, who acquired plots in the highbrow area, develop their landed property with ease.

    He said: “One of the things we must bring to the fore regarding the launch of the New Yenagoa City is the fact that there will be controlled development. As much as possible, the city, as being envisaged, will compare favourably with any of its kind anywhere in the world, given the amenities that have been provided there already.

    Read Also: We’ll conduct free, fair election in Bayelsa, says INEC

    “An 18-hole Golf course; rebranded Castle Hotel and a Polo Club which is at its final stage of completion are all there. C of Os will also be issued for most of the plots that day; there are over a thousand plots there. This is another way of generating revenue for our state, but more importantly, we have created a GRA that we all will be proud of.”

    The commissioner also condemned the murder of soldiers by criminals at Azagbene, and the consequent sacking of the community by the military in a reprisal. He, however, called on leaders and the media to partner the government in sensitising the youths on the need to shun criminal activities in the interest of peace and development.

    “We all have our roles to play as religious leaders, community leaders, political or opinion leaders, and even youth leaders, by talking to our people because it is our people, the innocent ones, who suffer whenever such senseless actions happen. The Odi incident is still very fresh in our memory,” he added.

    The governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Chief Boma Spero-Jack, condemned the murder, but said the military should have adopted a professional means of seeking justice rather than sacking the community.

    According to him, the government has dispatched a committee to carry out an on-the-spot assessment on the destruction in Azagbene to provide some relief to the people.

  • Foundation tackles suicide among youths

    An organisation, John Bosco Onunkwo Foundation has intervened in the rising cases of suicide among youths, appealing to them to refrain from taking their own lives. The organisation renowned for its humanitarian services across the country, organised a symposium for youths in Anambra State where they were made to understand that at the end of every dark tunnel, there is a silver lining. The programme, which was tagged the “New conversation” and organised  in collaboration with the state chapter of Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria, gave the platform to seasoned resource persons to educate youths on how to rediscover themselves and depend less on government to realise their dreams and aspirations.

    The theme of the symposium which was “Redeeming Our Youths To Rediscover Their Roots: A Capacity Building Interactive cum Initiative Forum “was an intervention to end the menace of suicidal, as it sought to address erratic thoughts and actions amongst youths which could lead them into committing suicide.

    Founder of JohnBosco Onunkwo Foundation and convener of the symposium, Chief JohnBosco Onunkwo, an accomplished Anambra-born oil and gas magnate based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, took time to explain to the youths that there was no reason youth should commit suicide when he or she can persevere to become a force to reckoned with as well as a reference point in history.

    Onunkwo, who spoke to the youngsters at Omar Event Centre Awka, told the story of how he rose from grass to glory as a youth who had to fend for himself most of the time. He emphasized that no guts, no glory; that there was need for youths to rediscover themselves and diversify into other spheres where they have comparative advantage.

    He said, “We have to tell the people that government cannot do everything. Time has come when the people should call themselves to a meeting and begin to think about what they can do within themselves and be able to stand. I believe in capacity building and I believe in the diversification agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari where he said that people should not only think of one source but should think about diversification. Diversification is a survival strategy.”

    He noted that youths should tap into their talents to get greener pastures. The business mogul equally stated that people perish for lack of knowledge and that the seminar has produced positive response, which will go long way to reduce suicide and other social vices. He pointed out that the symposium exposed youths to the dangers of suicide and why the idea of suicide should not be conceived in the first instance. That the whole essence of the interactive forum was for people to have hope in themselves as well as believe in themselves. He said it was the second edition of the New Conversation series where people were told to be less dependent on governments, politicians and others for their daily bread even as he noted that he has been in philanthropic services for more than fifteen years uplifting humanity. He however revealed that subsequent editions of the New Conversation series would be held before long, stressing that he would use the platform of the interactions with the youths to further encourage them to be innovative, inventive and resourceful to be able to attain economic independence while his foundation would provide the needed backing to those who discovered as well as explored other areas of comparative advantage to stand out amongst the crowd while making efforts also through John Bosco Onunkwo Foundation to disabuse as well as dissuade young people from attempting suicide or other vices detrimental to their dreams and aspirations and capable of putting them in perpetual jeopardy.

  • Imo tackles polio, infant mortality

    The Imo State government has focused attention on ridding the state of poliomyelitis and infant mortality. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    Antenatal and post-natal risk factors have been largely to blame for infant mortality in Imo state, resulting in avoidable deaths and deformities. The state has also been grappling with reported cases of polio and other life-threatening ailments among infants, leaving it with an unenviable status.

    It was therefore a huge relief for parents, especially mothers, when the state government has declared war against Polio and infant mortality.

    Wife of the governor, Ebere Ihedioha, while flagging-off the 2019 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIMPDs) campaign at Umuelemai in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state, disclosed that the state government is committed to eradicating Polio and infant mortality in the state.

    She said that Poliomyelitis was a disease affecting mainly children under 5 years of age and among the top four child killer diseases.

    According to her, the state government has procured equipment and paid counterpart fund for the Polio vaccinations to demonstrate its commitment to tackling health challenges in the state.

    She said, “To further demonstrate the commitment of this present government in tackling health challenges, the government released funds for the procurement of emergency cold chain equipment and accessories to ensure adequate vaccine storage during this campaign and beyond.

    “The state government has also approved and released counterpart funds for the smooth and seamless implementation of this campaign.”

    She tasked parents to ensure that their kids are vaccinated within the period, adding that the benefits of the immunisation cannot be undermined.

    She said, “The benefits of immunisation cannot be overemphasised. The mortality and morbidity prevented by immunisation translates into long term savings and potential economic growth for developing countries.

    “We cannot continue to live with the fear of immunisation. A great number of families are still opposed to Immunisation and some of our remote communities are still inaccessible. Hence the need for us to do all we can to reach every community and enlighten families and to reach every nook and cranny of the state.”