Abia State Government has assured the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) of the commitment of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration to clear the backlog of pensions owed its members.

It made this known yesterday in Umuahia after a meeting between government functionaries and the leadership of the NUP.

Finance Commissioner Dr. Aham Uko, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Eze Chikamnayo and Chief of Staff to the Governor Chief Okey Ahaiwe were members of the government representatives.

Elder Chukwuemeka Irondi, NUP Chairman; Elder Uma Kalu, Secretary; High Chief Uma Ukpai, Vice Chairman; Chief Anthony Ochuba, Treasurer; Sir Theophilus Ezebuiro, Trustee 1 and Julius Ikpe, Public Relations Officer, were part of the NUP delegation.

The government said it had begun the disbursement of money to members of the association.

It said those yet to receive theirs “should expect it before the end of today.”

The government, however, frowned at an attempt by some people to hijack the leadership of the NUP and allow the association to be politicised.

Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal against the nomination of Ikenga Ugochinyere as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in Imo State.

In a judgment yesterday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the appeal was not prosecuted within the time stipulated by the law, a development that robbed it of the jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

The judgment was on the appeal filed by George Igbo, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, which earlier upheld Ugochinyere’s nomination.

Dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the preliminary objections raised by Ugochinyere and the PDP.

•’I’ll leave my lawyer to comment’

Aforemost socio-cultural group in Akwa Ibom State, Ikpanya Clan Development Union, has accused the paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom, His Royal Majesty Edidem Ime Udousoro Inyang, of plotting to sell a parcel of land belonging to the clan, to Arochukwu in Abia State.

This was contained in a letter dated March 30, 2022, addressed to the Office of the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Commissioner of Police, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Chairman and Ibiono Ibom Traditional Rulers Council.

The letter, signed by President of the forum, Mr. Ekpenyong Udoekong; Secretary, Mr. Jacob Udoaba and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Okokon David, alleged that the monarch, in connivance with the Ikpanya Clan Head, His Royal Highness Isaac Onosin, were making efforts to execute the transaction after holding meetings in Arochukwu, Abia State and signing secret documents.

Read Also: Ondo monarch hospitalised after release from kidnappers

Ikpanya and Arochukwu have been involved in an age-long interstate boundary-related conflict, which sometimes leads to death, maiming and destruction of properties.

Following the latest wave of crisis this year, peace talks ensued. Talks later failed as Ikpanya people lamented that the paramount ruler did not consider their interest during his solo trips to Arochukwu for negotiation.

According to the association, the paramount ruler only agreed to the demands of Arochukwu people and ignored presenting the concerns of Ikpanya throughout the negotiation.

It said the issue of justice for the killing and gang-rape of Ikpanya people by Arochukwu indigenes was never raised by the monarch during his trips and negotiations with Arochukwu.

Contacted, HRM Inyang said: “I can’t speak on that. I’ll leave my lawyer to comment on the matter.”

The Olowu of Kuta Oba Dr Hameed Makama Tegbosun III has urged Nigerians to support the army more than ever as they strive to end the insurgency and other criminal elements in the country.

The monarch said the ongoing Chief of Army Staff Conference is another opportunity to demonstrate love for the army as the pride of the nation.

Olowu, in a statement by his media office in Kuta, maintained the military, especially the army should be given more support in this onerous task to keep Nigeria as one.

The monarch also congratulated eminent Nigerians who have contributed in no small measure to strengthen the army, especially the former Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Ambassador Tukur Buratai, a former army chief of staff whose efforts have led to seamless transition and template helping the military to conquer the Boko Haram elements.

Read Also: Makinde, Oluwo, others felicitate Olubadan at 80

He congratulated the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya for harmonious working relationships with other service chiefs.

He said; “ As the Nigerian army strives to rid the country of Boko Haram and other criminal elements in the country, it’s the time to lend a helping hand and support the army.

“Our spiritual and moral support are very key at this moment and also I want the army and the military generally to know that Nigerians appreciate what they do and are solidly behind them.

“We should also remember the fallen heroes and the families of those that paid the supreme sacrifice while serving their fatherland. This is the only way to give hope for the living and assure the dead that their death will not be in vain.”

The monarch thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the military the desired priority in budgetary allocation, asking the military to reciprocate the gesture by rooting our terrorists and criminal elements.

Rotary club has admonished youths to participate more in politics by joining parties and getting their Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs).

This was made known at the

The newly inducted President of the Rotary club Mende-Mid town, Lagos Femi Emmanuel urged the youths to think logically and avoid being used as tools for political violence.

The keynote speaker, Mr Wilson Ezekiel, harped on collaboration among citizens to build a strong, vibrant and economically stable Nigeria.

Read Also: There is hope for better Nigeria, says Rotary

He noted every citizen has a role to play in getting Nigeria to where it ought to be.

The District Governor, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson, who conducted the swearing-in, said the youths who constitute the majority of the members of Rotary club of Mende are very creative, resourceful and charitable.

Over 300 canteen owners and food vendors at the weekend participated in food business education workshop and roadshows, organised by Nestle Professionals, Nestlé Nigeria’s Out of Home business arm.

Nestle Professionals has been at the forefront of supporting food vendors and caterers, who help to meet the daily nutritional needs of busy urban communities.

Nestlé Professional’s food and product education workshop was held for the first time with over 200 canteens and food vendors in Ibadan, Oyo State in August, to equip food vendors and caterers with the knowledge needed to optimise their food business, using MAGGI powders.

The Business of Food roadshow to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was held in collaboration with Association of Caterers and Food Vendors (ACFV).

Participants at the workshop received tips on how to grow their food service businesses.

The caterers and food vendors were shown how to cook tasty meals that would delight customers, as experts shared knowledge and techniques for managing the complexities of food systems.

Speaking at the event, the Manager, Nestle Professionals Nigeria, Funmi Osineye, said: “Port Harcourt women are amazing. We are super excited to be here.

“The food workshop is an initiative we developed in response to the need to provide the support micro, small and medium scale food vendors need to scale their businesses.

Read Also: How we are building new agripreneurs, by Nestle

“We are also conscious of our responsibility as the Good Food Good Life Company, to contribute towards increasing knowledge of the role food plays in improving nutrition, health and wellness. We have brought these two objectives together in the business of food, which we are hosting in Port Harcourt today.

“Our customers and other stakeholders can count on us to consolidate this partnership with caterers and food vendors, to ensure better service in the industry.”

A member of the Association of Caterers and Food Vendors and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oromski Kitchen, Chef Oroma, said such workshop would help create employment for jobless youths.

Oroma said: “We have been looking for a platform like this for a long time and are excited that Nestlé Professional Business of Food has come to Port Harcourt today.

“We will like this workshop to continue so we can encourage and train upcoming chefs from the rural areas. This will help us create more employment to take our youths off the streets.”

The workshop combined knowledge sharing with a lot of fun, engaging activities to make it memorable for the participants.

It kicked off with a masterclass, followed by a cooking demo where Chef Lilian demonstrated how to prepare native jollof rice.

The event featured cooking competition, which was won by Team Yellow.

A former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, Mike Igini, has explained how the media can help the electorate to make informed choices in next year’s general election.

He said: “This is possible when the media sets the agenda on issues and policy debates for candidates and parties.”

Igini made this known in a paper he presented in Calabar during the 2022 Media Week, organised by the Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Igini’s paper was titled: “2023 General Election, The Nigeria Project and The Media”.

He said: “The most important role of the media in a democracy as a watchdog is setting agenda on issues and policy debates on security, economy, job creation and employment, education, health, infrastructure and foreign policy for parties and their candidates.

“This is the only way the media can help Nigerians to make informed choices of qualified and competent leaders that will occupy the legislative and executive arms of the government.

“My principal submission is that the success or failure of the Nigerian project is up to us the people of this country.

“The coming 2023 election is yet another opportunity for us to renew the journey of our country in terms of those who have run the affairs of the country and the policies that have been implemented in the last few years.”

Igini said 2023 was critical to the country “and we must make a success of it, hence must not be left in the hands of politicians alone.”

He said all hands must be on deck next year for the nation building process.

Igini highlighted some sections of the electoral act, which would make next year’s poll difficult to manipulate.

He said: “The whole of sections 29, 31, 33, 34, 43, 47, 50, 51, 60, 61, 65, 77, 81, 84, 91, 95, 115, 121,134 and 137 of the Act provides for compulsory use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) for the accreditation of voters across Nigeria.

“It’s a dual system i.e. biometrics and facial recognition. Consequently, the use of incident form is completely eliminated.”

The Chairman of Cross River State chapter of the NUJ, Nsa Gill, said the theme of the Media Week: “2023 General Election: The Nigerian Project and the Media”, was carefully and deliberately chosen for obvious reasons.

He added: “Whether we like it or not, we are faced with a political decision that will either make or mar our future as a country.”

he paramount ruler of Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, His Majesty Etim Abia, has said Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been hijacked by persons outside Niger Delta.

Speaking exclusively with The Nation in Eket at the weekend, Abia said NDDC, created by the Federal Government as an interventionist agency, had benefited people from other regions more than Niger Delta indigenes.

He decried the mismanagement and corruption over the years in the NDDC and demanded the publication of the forensic audit report for Nigerians to know the real characters behind the destruction of the commission.

The monarch queried the inclusion of people outside Niger Delta in the constitution of the board of the NDDC, describing it as an aberration and injustice to the region.

Read Also: NDDC board: Itsekiri are in line to benefit, say youths

“What has happened to the NDDC is that some people have run away with the commission. When the audit of NDDC affairs is published, I think Nigerians will bow their heads in shame. Terrible deeds would have been discovered. NDDC has been mismanaged over the years.

“Why has the audit not been published? Those who have enjoyed the commission are those outside Niger Delta. People outside the region have benefited more than the people of the region.

“Compare it to the Northeast Development Commission that has just been set up. I wonder why the NDDC should have people outside Niger Delta or other zones on the board of the NDDC. For what purpose? I don’t know,” Abia said.

On the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), he said the programme had not been of benefit to Akwa Ibom people, as it had been hijacked by Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

•Tabs, bags distributed to students

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has taken its campaign against drug abuse and cultism to students and other stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State.

The campaign, which was revived by the Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, was intended to sustain peace in the region by sensitising youths. especially secondary school students, on the dangers of cultism and drug abuse.

Speaking during the one-day campaign in Uyo at the weekend, tagged: “The Dangers of Drug Abuse and Cultism”, Audu-Ohwavborua said the two vices were destroying future of youths.

Audu-Ohwavboua, represented by the Director of Youths and Sports, NDDC, Mr. Offiong Ephraim, said youths must flee from the twin problems of cultism and drug abuse, to enable them contribute to development.

Addressing the youth, the NDDC boss said: “We decided to embark on this campaign because this is the right time to catch the young ones and tell them why they should not indulge in drug abuse.

“The problems associated with drug abuse are so enormous to quantify. We all know that even in our society, people are not sure of their safety because cult activities are everywhere.

“After this seminar, if anyone approaches you to join cults or indulge in drug abuse, you should be able to say ‘no’ because of the dangers that go with these vices.

Read Also: ‘Cultism, voter inducement threats to election’

“Many people have gone haywire, even mad, because of drug abuse and cultism, which will not allow you to concentrate on your studies, because if you are a member of any cult, you may likely drop out of school.”

Audu-Ohwavborua, who shared 100 educational materials, including tabs and bags to students, urged them to become ambassadors and advocates of anti-cultism and drug abuse in their schools, to help their colleagues shun such practices.

He enjoined the students to report anybody with drug-related problems to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) or the narcotic unit of the commission, to help in rehabilitating the victim.

Speaking about the effects of drug abuse and cultism on youths and students, the Akwa Ibom State Commander of NDLEA, Mrs. Obot Bassey, advised the students to avoid receiving gifts from strangers, noting that edible gifts might be soaked in drugs.

Police spokesman SP Odiko MacDon said drug abuse and cultism were interrelated and could make an individual to commit crimes punishable by law.

He urged the students to shun bad gangs and focus on their studies, for a better tomorrow, instead of weeping in prison due to wrong decisions.

One of the students, Mr. Israel Udoh, who came from Government Technical College, Uyo thanked the NDDC boss for the programme and promised to be an agent of positive change in his school.

Also, Praise Amos of Community Secondary School in Oruk Anam Local Government said she had learnt why she should refrain from drug abuse and cultism, adding that she would help others to also stand against such acts.