Category: Southeast report

Despite ongoing controversies and cases arising from last year’s governorship primary election, stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have insisted that Akan Udofia is the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana, said there was no going back on Udofia as the APC governorship candidate.

He said the party had forwarded his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and would do everything legal to ensure his name was on the ballot for the general election.

Udofia last year defeated five others in the governorship primary of the party, but cases filed by some of the defeated aspirants have stalled his recognition by the electoral body.

Umana has notified stakeholders that the National Executive Council of the party has presented the name of Udofia to INEC as its governorship candidate, but only awaiting confirmation by the court for INEC to do the needful.

Umana, who called for collective support for the oil mogul, urged party stakeholders to cease dwelling in the past and rather look at the bigger picture the future holds for the party in the state.

“Let us move away from petty bickering and wrangling over the past. Now, we are to focus on the APC presidential rally, while strategic steps are being taken to peacefully redress the protracted challenges in our party,” he said.

A former presidential aspirant in the party and ex-governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who hailed Umana for the meeting, said Udofia was the duly elected and recognised as the governorship candidate of the party.

He called on supporters to rally round him.

Udofia praised the resilience of members who had remained faithful and committed to the party.

He thanked stakeholders for their doggedness and loyalty to the party.

From Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

A don, Prof. Alex Ikeme, has identified lack of interdisciplinary studies as one of the factors contributing to the slow response in stemming the tide of COVID-19.

He spoke at a two-day international conference of Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with the theme: “Post COVID-19 Resilience: Role of Biosciences”.

The lecturer, from the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, urged bioscientists to provide solution to possible prevention and control of disease outbreak, COVID-19 inclusive.

He said: “COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world with shock and overwhelmed the health system of most nations, causing global social disruption by limiting global social relations.

“Bioscientists and medical professionals discovered that the virus had the propensity to kill more than 50 million people worldwide, which led to the research for a vaccine and how to build resilience against the spread.

Read Also: Global COVID-19 surge: Fed Govt urges Nigerians to get vaccinated, take booster doses

“But there has been resurgence of coronavirus in some countries and the Federal Government has intensified surveillance and sensitisation on vaccination and adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

“The fight against COVID-19 should be a collective responsibility. There is need to bring together bioscientists of related disciples to find solution to controlling and managing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Interdisciplinary cooperation can help to handle the consequences of the pandemic and avoid the recurrence of future pandemic.”

The Vice Chancellor, NAU, Prof. Charles Esimone, decried the recent upsurge of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, urging bioscientists to search for solution to mitigate COVID-19 immediate and post effects.

Esimone, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Frederick Odibo, said Bioscientists in the institution were well-equipped and endowed to provide solution to the challenges of the time.

“Nigeria and indeed sub-Saharan Africa are being plagued by diseases such as Ebola and Lassa Fever, which are virulent. Our scientists should be well equipped to find solution to these outbreaks,” he said.

The Dean, Faculty of Biosciences, Prof. Stanley Udedi, said the conference was targeted at discussing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with emphasis on survival strategies.

“The conference will strategise and repackage the role of teaching, research and community service by showcasing what the faculty can offer in the face of the global challenge,” he said.

The Bola Tinubu’s campaign spokesman in the south east Dr. Josef Onoh has mocked the vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed for crying mournfully in a live television programme over a matter he brought upon himself.

Datti broke down with a child-like cry in a town hall television programme while reacting to Femi Fani-Kayode’s (FFK) lampoon on him following  his uncomplimentary remarks on the former Minister of Aviation t to which the latter reaponded .

Onoh said he was flabbergasted by Datti’s display of emotion at such a public square, noting that the LP vice presidential candidate sold himself out as an immature character, not man enough to assume Nigeria’s number two position that he seeks.

He however offered handkerchief to Datti for more tears he would shed, noting that if the LP VP candidate were to be in the shoes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who receives sever knocks every now and then from all angles, he would have fainted or quit the political scene.

Onoh said that the LP presidential running mate has explicitly told Nigerians that he will form an emotional government if he becomes a Nigeria leader and advised Datti to quit the race if does not want to cry more after February 25 when he would have lost the election. 

He said the unfortunate display of juvenile emotion by Datti would make disastrous office holder if ever he would succeed.

Onoh stated that Fani-Kayode did not do much damage to Datti as the Obidents have done to even his own late father (HE, Chief C.C Onoh), stating he has been threatened with his immediate family for supporting Tinubu but that he remained resolute in his conviction.

“No presidential aspirant or candidate in the history of Nigeria has been insulted as Asiwaju but he has taken them in good strides and he was prepared for the insults. Senator Datti has just had an inch and he is now saddened to high heaven. If he wants to ditch the Labour Party because of insults, he still has enough time to step aside so he could save himself from weeping the more.

“He can also save his tears from what will be the outcome of the February 25 presidential election, else I would hand over to him packs of handkerchiefs to dry his tears. May the soul of his departed father continue to rest in peace, but in spite of his tears, Datti now understands the pains that the Obidents cause for some of us that have opposing aspirations to them.

“He is now seeking sympathy with the Nigeria populace, yet he never for one day criticized the insults and the threats that his followers have been giving to us in the parallels with them for supporting another candidate; yet we’ve carried the insults with elegance, indicating the Tinubu emotional maturity to run the affairs of Nigeria, but we never displayed such emotion as Datti did on the open media.

“If he was shedding tears because of the insult on his father that died 35 years ago, then he lacks the emotional maturity to run the affairs of Nigeria. So I urge him to hold back his tears as he just felt a pinch of what his social media followers have all the while unleashed on others. If he is still in doubt that his supposed Obident followers had caused such attacks on us, he should feel free to go and verify,” Onoh chided.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has said Niger Delta people will only support a presidential candidate with the sincerity of purpose for true federalism.

Spokesman Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe made this known yesterday in an interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

He said the council has taken a look at the transitional journey of the nation towards this year’s presidential election and reaffirmed the call on the people of the region to back a presidential candidate that supports true federalism, justice and equity for all regions.

Ekerefe said: “We particularly call for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general election and we are ready to work with the security agencies to thwart any plan by anti-democratic agents, non-state actors, proxies or hired hands of any candidate plotting to disrupt peace in the region.

“The IYC, in line with its tenets, will continue to promote constructive agitations to attract the attention of the authorities at the state governments, the Federal Government and the multinational oil companies towards the development of our region.

“Our quests are particularly in the areas of job creation for the teeming unemployed youths and addressing the effects of climate change, which is causing serious devastation to our environment as well as impeding our livelihoods.

“We frown at the Federal Government lackadaisical attitude towards addressing the effects of the devastating flood in the Niger Delta, especially Bayelsa State that is adjudged to be the worst hit.

“We expect serious interventions from the Federal Government to help the affected states of the region to fix roads washed away, provide grants and soft loans to farmers to start all over again and give medical support to aggressively fight cholera and other communicable diseases.”

On pipeline surveillance contract and its impact on the nation oil revenue, he reiterated that the bold decision taken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd to award pipeline surveillance jobs to indigenous companies, particularly Tantita Security Ltd owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was already yielding desired results.

He noted: “With reports and improving oil output data available, IYC wants to urge the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, plough back some of the proceeds to the development of the region.”

“While we urge the crude oil pipeline contractors to remain focused and continue assisting the Nigerian nation to improve the proceeds from the oil revenue, we demand that the East-West Road be completed in 2023 and the Federal Government projects in the region, which are yet to be completed, be given the deserved attention.”

Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has urged past and current Southeast governors and federal lawmakers to account to Ndigbo what they did with their positions while serving the people since 24 years of uninterrupted civilian rule.

Speaking to reporters in Owerri yesterday, the National President, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, called on Igbo politicians, who had held public offices in Igboland, to publish their achievements in local and national newspapers.

He threatened to lead a mob action against politicians, who failed to comply.

On insecurity in the Southeast, Igboayaka blamed governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, House of Assembly members, ministers and directors of federal and state parastatals for “their failure to deliver good service to the people.”

He alleged that since 1999, over N5.7 trillion local government allocations had been embezzled by the leaders.

He said: “Since 1999 to date, over N5.7 trillion has been sent to the Southeast by the Federal Government as local government allocations. 

“Our state and local government funds are embezzled by these governors. They use them to satisfy their families, cronies and to gallivant. 

“No state in the Southeast has ever been denied federal allocations by the Federal Government.  Allocations come regularly, yet these government officials have made it to look like the problem of Ndigbo is Fulani or President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“State civil servants in the Southeast are living in abject poverty. Pensioners are dying in dozens in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states. Unemployment is affecting Igbo youths. These social evils are not caused by the Federal Government or any Fulani person. Rather, it’s a deliberate social evil perpetrated by Southeast governors, who use such positions to victimise Ndigbo.”

The National Vice Chairman (Southeast) of the Labour Party (LP), Chief Sunday Okeke, has urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare one week public holiday, to enable students of tertiary institutions go home and collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs).

He said not doing so would disenfranchise youths, who were registered as prospective voters during the eight-month strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Okeke said with INEC insisting on the January 22 deadline for the collection of  PVCs, it would be difficult for most eligible voters to collect their PVCs “now that the students are back to school and many are far from their homes.”

Okeke, whose views were contained in a statement he issued in Enugu yesterday, said: “The school academic system has been disrupted. 

“It will be wise for INEC, ASUU and other relevant bodies to declare one week compulsory holiday for students to go home and collect their PVCs and also the same holiday in the week of the election, so that they will be part of this needed change.

“The future lies with the youth and the youth of our country must be encouraged, including making necessary sacrifices for them to participate in the election.”

TRADITIONAL ruler of Abacha in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Godwin Odiegwu has urged this subjects and people of the state to support Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration to assist him surpass achievement of his predecessors.

He commended Soludo for the achievements recorded in the last nine months in office.

Speaking through his Cabinet Secretary, Chief (Amb) Jeffery Ubah, the monarch solicited the co-operation of the people of the community to ensure new era of peace and joy was enthroned after a period of retrogression.

He said, “We commend the governor for the rapid developmental feats recorded within a short space of time in office.

“From the impressive achievements the government has so far recorded from the little time he has stayed in office, I’m sure if given maximum support, he will achieve more than all his predecessors in office.”

The royal father also pledged to uphold the sanctity of the throne as well as carry everybody along irrespective of status, promising to carry along his cabinet members, town unions and other stakeholders in decision making.

Commissioner for Culture, Don Onyenji praised the people of Abacha on their peaceful disposition and maximum support to the monarch as can be attested by their massive turnout for the event.

In honour of its members of staff who passed on during the pandemic era, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital  (LASUTH) held a football competition tagged: “Head of Service Games/LASUTH Games Y2022.” The 3rd edition of the tournament features sports games including table tennis, draught and chess competitions.

Some of the winners include Olabode Ijaola of the Dental Department, Morolayo Kikelomo of Radiology, Kunle Ajayi of the Engineering department, Aramide Toriola, Administration and HR, as well as Prof. Olaitan of the Dental department.

The Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabanwo during his opening speech at the grand reception ceremony, urged the winners to continue their winning streak. 

“I appreciate the management of this hospital, the Golden LASUTH Football Team, the coaches and our supporter’s club for winning this year’s trophy. We are proud of you. The journey to this sweet victory started many years back. It’s like something you desire but you never get it but we thank God that this year, 2022, we finally got it.

“We, at the top-management committee decided to have this kind of high-profile reception and award ceremony for the winners of our annual competition. We’ve re-energised ourselves and reconfigured our thinking to say that by the grace of God, we are going to be holding a reception to celebrate winning the football cup. Also, from next year, we are making an entry for the female football competition to encourage our female workers.”

The CMD, on behalf of the Lagos State Government and the hospital management, presented cash awards to the winner of the football competition and the supporter’s club for their effort. “Congratulations! This team members have officially become millionaires,” he said.

Its Director, Hospital Administration (DHA), Kehinde Gbajumo said the competition was launched three-year ago to celebrate some of the falling heroes – doctors, nurses and workers – of the health institution.

According to Gbajumo, LASUTH Games won’t only promote bonding among the staff but a form of exercise and also in recognition of some of their colleagues who died during the pandemic COVID-19.

CANADIAN Deputy Premier of Alberta and Minister of Skilled Trades and Profession, Hon. Kaycee Madu, has lauded Governor Hope Uzodimma over his numerous people-oriented programmes such as road projects.

Madu spoke at his village in Umuevu Okirika Nweke in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, during the burial of his father, Sir George Amajuoyi Madu who died at the age of 90.

The burial Service was held at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church Parish, Umuevu Okirika Nweke.

“We appreciate the great work Governor Hope Uzodimma is doing in Imo State. We will continue to stand with him for the greater good of Imo people. The newly constructed road he has done for my community, here in Okirika, Ahiazu Mbaise is an enduring testament of his love for the Mbaise Nation. We thank him.”

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Madu, an attorney and politician has been member, legislative assembly of Alberta in Canada since 2019 and was appointed minister in October 2022.

Governor Uzodimma, who was represented at the burial programme by his Deputy, Prof Placid Njoku, had conveyed his heartfelt condolences on his behalf and that of his family and the good people of Imo State to the Madu family.

He said the late Sir Madu led a great and remarkable life of impact to his community and the society at large and urged the family not to depart from the good works the deceased left behind.

Prof Njoku congratulated Hon Madu for being a good ambassador of Imo State, Nigeria, the African continent and black race to the Canadian community and government, and urged his kits and kin to emulate him.

Apart from Prof Njoku, other top government officials from Imo State who graced the burial were the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Tony Mgbeahuruike and the Sole Administrator of Ahiazu Mbaise, Chief Tony Anakani.

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; former Governor of old Enugu State and former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Sunday Onyebuchi; Hon. Justice Centus Chima Nweze of the Supreme Court; Members of the National and State Assemblies from Enugu State; State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani; Council Chairmen; Chief Maxi Ukuta; and other PDP candidates in the state, were among the dignitaries at the funeral of Fidelis Ugwuoke Ossai (Government), the father of the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, held at Ezimo, Udenu Local Government Area, on Friday.

The PDP governorship candidate in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, who is out of the state presently, was at the wake observed yesterday evening.

Ossai’s father died at the age of 89.