The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Governor Eno approves additional N6.43 billion for payment of gratuities, other entitlements

    Governor Eno approves additional N6.43 billion for payment of gratuities, other entitlements

    In his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise of allocating substantial funds for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements to retired workers in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno, has approved the release of N6,432,924,257.62.

    The breakdown of this payment is as follows: N1,000,000,000 for gratuities for retired primary school teachers (SUBEB); N500,000,000 for retired local government workers; N2,220,524,257.62 for gratuities, pension arrears, and an en-bloc payment for state retired civil service workers; N597,400,000 for the 2014 leave grant for local government workers; and N2,115,000,000 for leave grants for State Civil Service workers. This brings the total amount disbursed by Governor Eno in July and August to N6,432,924,257.62.

    Overall, Governor Umo Eno has now allocated over twenty-eight billion Naira for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements since he took office a little over a year ago.

    Governor Eno has consistently emphasized that, with the robust infrastructure provided by previous administrations—which he aims to maintain and expand under the Arise Agenda—the primary focus should now be on enhancing the well-being of the people, boosting their material conditions, and accelerating development in rural areas.

    Read Also; Fuel crisis deepens in Lagos as prices soar, scarcity bites harder

    His passionate dedication to the welfare of the most vulnerable and the neediest in society has seen him construct, and hand over 36 fully -furnished and fitted 2-bedroom bungalows under the Arise Compassionate Homes Initiative to the poorest and the most vulnerable so far, with 164 currently under construction.

    His deep commitment to supporting the most vulnerable has led to the construction and handover of 36 fully furnished 2-bedroom bungalows through the Arise Compassionate Homes Initiative, with another 164 units currently under construction.

    He also plans to deliver 200 units in his second year and 400 by the end of his first term.

    Additionally, 150 out of 236 units at the Grace Homes Estate will be allocated to civil servants from grades 1-8, free of charge, via a raffle draw.

    The Arise Elderly Care Initiative provides N50,000 monthly to 600 elders across the state’s 368 wards. Bursaries are being awarded to students in public tertiary institutions, grants are available for students with disabilities, and WAEC fees for all students are covered, contributing to a significant increase in the state’s pass rate.

    Governor Eno is also actively addressing food security by distributing staple items to the most vulnerable through the Bulk Purchase Agency and is appreciative of the palliatives provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Apart from the above humanitarian interventions, Governor Eno is also undertaking audacious capital projects such as the completion of road infrastructure inherited from previous administrations and the ongoing construction of numerous other road projects he has initiated throughout the state, the flood control tunnel on Atiku Abubakar Way which he started and was commissioned last May, the audacious Arise Park which is a miracle to behold given the fact that the location was previously a desolate and erosion- ravaged ravine, the plan to acquire two brand new CRJ-900 series Bombardier jets to expand the fleet and routes for Ibom Air, to be purchased outright; these add to the planned 19- Storey Ibom Towers in Lagos and the 3- Star Ibom Hotel in Abuja among others.

    Governor Eno is leveraging state resources to positively impact lives, demonstrated by his consistent payment of gratuities and expansion of infrastructure. Akwa Ibom is indeed rising and thriving.

  • Group lauds Tinubu’s appointment of new DGs for DSS, NIA

    Group lauds Tinubu’s appointment of new DGs for DSS, NIA

    The Advocates of Justice in Africa (AJA) has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing new Directors-General for the Department of State Services (DSS) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

    In a statement by Barrister Johnson Ali Usman, the group said Mohammed Mohammed and Adeola Ajayi’s appointments demonstrate the President’s commitment to reforming critical institutions.

    According to Ali, Mohammed’s experience and dedication make him an excellent choice while Ajayi’s rise through the ranks and wealth of experience make him an ideal candidate.

    “Mohammed, who joined the NIA in 1995, has served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to Director and subsequent appointment as head of the Nigerian mission to Libya,” he said.

    “His vast experience and commitment to service make him an excellent choice to lead the NIA. Ajayi rose through the ranks to attain his current post of Assistant Director-General of the Service, serving as State Director in various states. His dedication and leadership qualities make him an ideal candidate to head the DSS.

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    “We hail President Tinubu for taking the bold decision to revamp the secret police and intelligence agency.

    “This move demonstrates his commitment to reforming critical institutions and ensuring they serve the nation’s best interests. His decision sends a strong message that he is willing to make tough choices to address the nation’s security challenges.

    “President Tinubu’s decision to appoint new heads for the DSS and NIA is a step in the right direction. It shows that he is committed to addressing the nation’s security challenges and ensuring that critical institutions are led by capable hands.”

    However, the AJA urged President Tinubu to extend this sanitisation to the oil and gas sector by replacing the heads of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

    Usman alleged the sector’s inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement have led to billions of dollars lost to fraudulent activities.

    AJA cited the sector’s failure to effectively manage resources, lack of transparency and accountability, and widespread corruption as reasons for the urgent need for new leadership.

    They argued replacing the current heads of NNPC, NUPRC, and NMDPRA was crucial to address the sector’s challenges and prevent further damage to the President’s reputation.

  • I made a difference in eight years, governor boasts

    I made a difference in eight years, governor boasts

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has stated that he has shown in eight years that it is possible to make a difference, while assuring that his successor will build on his legacies.

     He noted that his administration resolved to create an enabling environment that had been fostering learning, creativity, and excellence.

    Obaseki spoke yesterday at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub on Airport Road, Benin, at an event put together by Edo Ministry of Education, with the theme: “15 Sectors of the Edo State Regional Masterplan. Education: Pathway to the New Edo Nation,” in celebration of Edo at 33.  

    Edo governor expressed optimism about the future of the state, while assuring that it had the potential to become a glorious nation.

    Read Also: Appeal Court voids judgment faulting Edo PDP governorship primary

    He highlighted the challenges his administration faced when he assumed office on November 12, 2016, including human trafficking and slavery, while revealing that the challenges had been surmounted.

    Obaseki stated that his government had made significant progress in addressing developmental issues and setting Edo state on a path to greatness.

    Edo Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, earlier in her welcome address, noted that education ecosystem played a vital role in aligning with Edo state masterplan, while ensuring that the students were equipped with knowledge, skills, and values necessary to drive progress and development.

  • Obaseki: collect your PVCs, vote against APC

    Obaseki: collect your PVCs, vote against APC

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has urged eligible voters in the state to go to the designated centres across Edo to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and come out en masse on September 21, 2024 to vote against the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District.

    Obaseki, who urged Edo voters to use their votes to protest against the APC government, blamed the opposition party in the state for economic hardship the country faces.

    Obaseki made the call when he attended the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at his Ward 4, Benin in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo.

    Read Also: Obaseki: Edo masterplan not a political document

    He expressed confidence that the PDP’s standard bearer, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, would come out victorious in the election, despite his being accused of not being a homeboy, and unable to speak his Esan language, not minding his claim of growing up in his Ewohimi village in Edo Central Senatorial District. Edo governor stated that his government’s self-acclaimed outstanding performance across all sectors of the state’s economy in the last eight years would earn the PDP victory in the governorship poll.

    “This election will not be difficult, because you have campaigned enough. It is not my election, because when I did my own election, things were not as bad and difficult as they are today.

    “When our people wanted to protest, we pleaded with them not to do so, because some bad people planned to use the opportunity of the protest to destroy the government’s infrastructure. This election shall be our protest. We shall use the election to tell them that APC as a party is forbidden in Edo State.”

  • My campaign will be issue-based, says Ighodalo

    My campaign will be issue-based, says Ighodalo

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has disclosed that he promised himself to always place emphasis on issue-based campaigns, while declaring that no circumstance will make him derail.

    Ighodalo disclosed this in Benin, while reacting to trending videos on social media, containing the remarks, at campaign rallies, of a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole, an ex-Governor of Edo state, who currently represents Edo North Senatorial District.

    Oshiomhole reiterated that Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, who hails from Ewohimi in Esan Southeast Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District, could not speak his Esan language, despite his claiming to have grown up in his hometown, thereby needing an interpreter in Ewohimi, unlike the standard bearer of APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, also an Esan indigene, who currently represents Edo Central Senatorial District, and speaks Esan language fluently.

    Read Also: Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC (Oshiomhole), also claimed that Ighodalo had no house in Ewohimi. The governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, however, stated that Oshiomhole had visited his house in Ewohimi on many occasions.

    He said: “Someone will stand on a podium, regardless of his age, and lie through his teeth, and we think that people should believe.

    “Oshiomhole said, l do not have a house in Ewohimi, but he came to my house when my father died. He was there, and he spoke at my father’s funeral, eulogising my family. He came and stayed in my house. When his (Oshiomhole’s) wife died, he and some of his guests stayed in my house at Ewohimi.”

  • ‘PDP candidate, an excellent product’

    ‘PDP candidate, an excellent product’

    The Deputy Director-General, Media and Publicity, Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State for the September 21 election, Rev. Olu Martins, has described the PDP’s governorship candidate in Edo, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, as an excellent product that sells itself.

    He noted that Ighodalo, a lawyer, did not require surreptitious means to win the crucial poll. 

    Martins, yesterday in a press statement, stated that Edo people were intelligent and observant enough to distinguish between a thoroughbred and a “wannabe” candidate. 

    He said: “It seems the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already developing cold feet for the coming governorship election. I read a rather boring write up, which reeks of a worn-out methodology by the nomadic, serial defector, contractor spokesperson of the APC, where he claimed that plans were underway by Edo State government to rig election for our candidate, the very ebullient and cerebral Dr. Asue Ighodalo. 

    Read Also: Osun PDP suspends Oyinlola’s ex-CoS over anti-party activities

    “Knowing APC for its well-developed penchant for lies and falsehood, it would not have been necessary to respond to Kassim Afegbua’s anachronistic style of campaign of calumny, but for those who may not know Afegbua, it is necessary to put the record straight. 

    “Dr. Ighodalo does not need any introduction to the Nigerian people, especially Nigerians who appreciate hard work and ingenuity, attributes that are strange to the APC.

     “Dr. Ighodalo is the international award-winning serial entrepreneur and investment banker, who has held sway as chairman of many multinationals and organisations. He was chairman of Sterling Bank, Dangote Flour, and Nigerian Breweries, just to mention a few.

  • Civil servants will enjoy my administration, says APC candidate

    Civil servants will enjoy my administration, says APC candidate

    As campaigns for governorship elections in Edo State heat up, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has said that when elected, his administration would not engage consultants to do the work of civil servants.

    The APC governorship hopeful also said that the monthly minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants would not be reduced, as widely alleged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Okpebholo, who spoke on Monday in Benin City while addressing members and supporters of the APC in Oredo Local Government Area, assured that his administration would declare a state of emergency on education, health, security and infrastructure, among others.

    He also assured that his government would bring all-round developments to the state.

    According to him, Edo will witness a new development.

    “Let me tell you, this is the time the civil servants in the state will enjoy. There will be no consultants coming from somewhere to do their jobs.

    “We will give them a chance to do their job. Their salaries would be guaranteed. Nobody is going to reduce it.

    “We are going to declare a state of emergency in our education, security, health, infrastructure and others once we emerge as we are elected into office in Edo State so that things will work again in Edo,” he said.

    Read Also: Ondo poll: APC members dump party

    The APC candidate posited that to bring the needed development to the people and alleviate their plights, his administration would be declaring a state of emergency in all sectors of the state.

    He also promised that his government would employ 5,000 teachers on assumption of office as well as give out interest-free loans to market women in the state to boost their businesses.

    Earlier, the former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North at the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, appealed to the people to vote for the candidate of APC in the forthcoming election, claiming that the PDP is dead in the state politically.

  • INEC concludes wards PVCs’ distribution, moves to 18 councils

    INEC concludes wards PVCs’ distribution, moves to 18 councils

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that arose from the recently-conducted Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at the ward level, thereby turning to the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

    According to INEC, of the 184,438 new PVCs available, 125,928 cards were collected by voters, representing 68.3 per cent of the total, the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days since the commission introduced the CVR ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.

    INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, yesterday disclosed that the commission carefully packaged all the PVCs by poling units, wards and LGAs.

     He also revealed that INEC produced the collection register, providing details of the voters, whose cards were ready for collection and uploaded the same to its website.

    Olumekun said: “As earlier announced by the commission, PVCs from the recent CVR in Edo state would be available for collection at two levels. First, across all the 192 wards from Thursday, 22nd to Monday, 26th August, 2024. Secondly, in our 18 LGA offices.

    “The commission is pleased to announce the conclusion of the collection at ward level. Learning from the lessons of the previous collection of PVCs, the commission has carefully packaged all the PVCs by polling units, wards and LGAs.

    Read Also: Nigeria has 10m voters more than all ECOWAS countries, says INEC Chairman

    “We contacted the owners of the PVCs, using the addresses provided at the time of registration. As a result, out of the 184,438 new PVCs available, 125,928 cards were collected by voters, representing 68.3 per cent of the total. This is the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days since the commission introduced the CVR, ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.

     “A detailed breakdown of the collection by LGAs has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information. The collection will resume in our 18 LGA offices in Edo state from 28th August, 2024 and end on 8th September, 2024.”

    The national commissioner of INEC also urged the remaining voters to pick their PVCs in person from the commission’s LGAs’ offices, while insisting that it maintained its policy that no card would be collected by proxy, adding that detailed information on the locations of INEC’s LGA offices was already available on the commission’s website.

  • Okpebholo promises functional Marine Police for riverine communities

    Okpebholo promises functional Marine Police for riverine communities

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo State governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to fully equip and make functional the Marine Police units in all riverine areas of the state if elected.

    Senator Okpebholo made this promise during the APC’s campaign in the Ologbo Dukedom of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area on Wednesday.

    He assured the people of these localities that his administration would provide the necessary amenities to improve their quality of life.

    “I heard that your land has been taken from you; I will return it to you immediately after I am sworn in as the governor of Edo State. I will also ensure that the roads in your community are paved to make them easily accessible.”

    He further promised, “I will make sure to pave the roads immediately after I assume office. I know that Ologbo is a fishing community, so I will ensure that we provide soft loans and fishing equipment to help you carry out your business.”

    On agriculture, Okpebholo stated that his administration would support mechanized farming and provide soft loans to both men and women to assist in their farming activities.

    “We will employ 500 teachers within the first 100 days in office to teach in our schools and provide pipe-borne water so that the people can have access to clean water,” he added.

    The Minister for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Abubakar Momoh, also addressed the crowd, dismissing rumors from the opposition party about a crisis within the APC in Abuja.

    “There is nothing like that; they just want to distract you,” he stated.

    During the campaign, the team visited the Palace of the Enogie of Ologbo, His Royal Highness, Prince Owenvbiugie Jason Akenzua, where Senator Okpebholo sought royal blessings.

    In Uteh, within Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Okpebholo assured the community that the major road passing through the area would be a priority for his administration, ensuring the people of Uteh can access their community with ease.

    At Aduwawa livestock and Kara Market, Senator Okpebholo, speaking in Hausa, promised to build a modern, conducive market and abolish double taxation. “I will rebuild the market, pave the road, and ensure that you trade in a very conducive environment,” he said.

    Read Also: Okpebholo woos auto spare parts dealers

    “I am coming to work for the people of Edo State, not to steal their money. Vote for the APC on September 21, and freedom will come your way,” he urged.

    Former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, also spoke, vouching for Okpebholo’s capabilities. He assured the people that the APC candidate would deliver positive results for Edo State.

    “I stand here today to assure you all that Okpebholo will deliver Edo people from the PDP. I appeal to you all to come out en masse and vote APC on September 21,” he pleaded.

  • Uzodimma calls for unity, sportsmanship in Imo APC

    Uzodimma calls for unity, sportsmanship in Imo APC

    Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the forthcoming local government election in the state to embrace unity and sportsmanship in the face of competition.

    Governor Uzodimma, who addressed the 305 councillorship and 27 chairmanship aspirants at the party secretariat, Owerri, emphasised the importance of collective victory, inclusivity, consensus-building, and democracy, acknowledging the diversity of local government areas and the need for graciousness in both victory and defeat.

    In a remarkable display of leadership, Governor Uzodimma advised the party to refund the money spent by losing aspirants to buy nomination forms, ensuring a fair and supportive political environment.

    He said: “This move prioritizes collective victory and accommodates both winners and losers, promoting a positive and collaborative political culture.”

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    By focusing on consensus-building and inclusivity, the party can become more harmonious and unified. The approach acknowledges the diversity of local government areas and the need for adaptable strategies.

    Governor Uzodimma’s leadership style prioritizes the collective interest over individual aspirations, fostering a sense of shared purpose among aspirants.

    He called for unity, consensus, and sportsmanship adding that addressing local peculiarities will be a guiding force in shaping a more inclusive and collaborative political culture in the state.