Category: Southeast report

Ebonyi State Government plans to arrest stakeholders in host communities of its international airport if they fail to identify those destroying the facility’s perimeter fence.

Information and Orientation Commissioner Mr. Uchenna Orji made the declaration in a statement he issued at the weekend in Abakaliki.

He said stakeholders on government’s radar include traditional rulers, town union presidents, councillors, development centre coordinators and village heads of the host communities.

“The government has in the past six months rebuilt parts of the fence destroyed by members of the host communities.

“Government is worried that this development may hamper the smooth take-off of the airport’s operations in 2022.

“Government is dismayed that airport’s perimeter fences in other states are not being destroyed or vandalised by their host communities,” the statement said.

Orji regretted that the airport had been under attack since construction began.

“The government has, therefore, decided to take steps to secure the fence and property to enable operations of the airport take-off as scheduled.

“This is the final warning from the government in this regard,” the commissioner said

The airport is situated in Amuzu community of Ezza South Local Government and Oriuzor at Umuezekoha in Ezza North Local Government.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, captains of industry and literary giants were among dignitaries at the 97th birthday celebration of King Christian Otobotekere, the Amananaowei of Tombia community in Ekpetiama kingdom.

At the event held yesterday at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, Jonathan extolled the virtues of one of Nigeria’s longest serving monarchs.

He described the royal father, who ascended the throne in 1975, as a man of many parts, who deserved to be celebrated.

Jonathan, represented by the Obanobhan of Olei (Oloibiri Kingdom) in Ogbia Local Government, King Amalate Turner, said Otobotekere was an Ijaw icon and a role model the state and the entire Ijaw nation owed a debt of gratitude.

He hailed the monarch for a fruitful time on the throne, which he said he used to promote social justice and the well-being of his people.

Diri expressed delight that the monarch was being celebrated while alive.

He stressed the need for ‘Bayelsans’ and humanity at large not to wait until death to celebrate the achievements of humans.

Adamu thanked God for keeping the monarch up to 97 years and for giving him a purposeful life.

He said having worked with his daughter, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, as a permanent secretary of his ministry, he had no doubt that the king inculcated the right values in his children.

He said the monarch had built a name for himself and urged his children to protect the legacy, stressing that it was the best gift they could give to him.

During a review of two of the monarch’s new books: “At One With The Spirit” and “Background Report”, renowned poet, literary critic and author, Odia Ofeimun, described him as a literary giant, who had inspired many and shaped society through his literary works.

The people of Umuode clan in Ndiolumbe community, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government of Abia State, have raised the alarm over an impending epidemic following unclaimed bodies in a morgue.

Youths last week attacked the morgue, Prince ‘O’ Medical Service, alleging that the owner engaged in selling human parts.

People, who spoke to our correspondent at the weekend, feared that yet-to-be claimed bodies might start decaying.

Sources in the community said as at Friday night, there were about 100 yet-to-be claimed bodies at the morgue.

They feared that if nothing urgent was done to evacuate them by relatives, the owner of the mortuary or the government, there could be possible outbreak of epidemic.

A member of the community, who preferred anonymity, said: “The truth is that this is the first time we are hearing this kind of news.

“The morgue has been here for years and has served our people.

“The owner is known here and has been living peacefully with us.

“The news was a surprise to us. A lot of people came that day and the next day to evacuate their dead from the morgue.

“While some paid between N15, 000 and N30,000 to the youth before they were allowed to take the bodies of their dead to another morgue, those who could not afford the fees have not come to carry the bodies.

“The fear now is that since the owner of the morgue is nowhere to be found, efforts should be made to ensure that the remaining bodies are given mass burial or their relations are allowed to bury them. ”The bodies, when they start decaying, may constitute health hazard.

“We want the government to step in and see how they can stop the impending health danger the continued presence of the bodies may cause in the community.”

The President and Founder of Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Writers Africa (BEWA), Eno Sam, has made another giant stride with the successful hosting of this year’s edition of the BEWA Writers Festival.

According to Sam, the festival which attracted several participants across the state, held recently at the E-Ibom Library, in Akwa-Ibom State, and is acclaimed as the biggest convergence of writers, authors and digital content creators in Africa.

Addressing participants at the event, she said thought leadership begins with sharing one’s creative content and not just reading from others, hence, the idea of hosting a festival to change the narrative.

“I am of the opinion that readers ought to move from just consuming content to producing content as well because this is the new economy for creators.”

Speaking on the significance of the event, the Convener, said, “The aim of BEWA Writers Festival 2022 was to educate writers and creators on how powerful and relevant “Content” is, in building a highly profitable brand in any industry they find themselves.

The creative expert, explained that the event had three major segments which started with the pre-festival conversations whereas the convener, she shared inspiring lessons from her writing journey on the BEWA community.

She explained that this is a non-voting award recognising creativity and excellence as well as appreciating the work and impact of content creators in digital media, leadership, fiction, academia & personal development, corporate communications, spoken word poetry and family affairs.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State, Pastor Donatus Obi-Ozoemena, has condemned the demolition of building materials section at the popular Kenyatta market, in the State, describing the action as insensitive.

Ozoemena, who made the condemnation in a statement, entitled: “Kenyatta Market Demolition: What manner of government?” also bemoaned what he described as enormous economic waste occasioned by the exercise.

According to him, the State Government’s action was ill-advised, ill-timed and rash owing to the current harsh economic realities in the State and Nigeria in general.

The politician also queried the rationale behind such exercise at a time that, according to him, other governments were busy mapping out palliatives and other support programmes for traders and artisans.

The statement reads in part: “When I saw pictures, audios as well as reasons adduced by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) for crushing people’s hard-earned shops and livelihood at Kenyatta Market in Uwani Enugu, I screamed ‘What manner of Government?

“My heart was broken because of the poor judgment of the current State Government and her usual abysmal handling of critical issues especially at this time of biting hardship and insecurity across the State and country.

“How could a government preoccupy itself with such ill-idea of killing businesses, throwing more families into acute poverty, hunger and hopelessness at a time that other governments are having sleeplessness nights trying to support businesses so as to pull as many of their citizens as possible off poverty, hunger and criminalities?

“Is it not obvious that Enugu is in dire need of a deliverer to usher in a new status quo; a leader that would create more opportunities and incentives to do business in the State rather than killing existing ones?

“For us, the excuses given by the ECTDA justifying government’s action are lame, unfortunate and condemnable.
“Such cannot occur under ADC government, pastor Ozoemena stated”.

The Chairman of ECTDA, Dr Josef Onoh, had told journalists that the exercise was carried out because activities of the affected traders were “hurting the economy of the state and affecting the development and growth of the city” adding that they were merely carrying out a court order in line with the agency’s development exercise.

According to the ECTDA boss: “We now have an over populated arena which has contravened the city’s development plan and we had given them successive notices to move to the new International market at Ugwuaji; the New International Market had been developed and designed to accommodate them but they refused to relocate.
“For two years now, I have been meeting with the leaders of the market but they are not in unity.
They should blame their leaders not government.”

However, Ozoemena disagreed with Onoh’s submissions, insisting that the demolition exercise was tantamount to throwing away the baby with the bath water, alleging that the development would increase the economic woes of the state and likely increase crime rate, as well.

He urged citizens to remain calm and endeavor to use their Permanent Voters card (PVCs) wisely in 2023.

Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Joseph Ekwealor has said the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration required the support and prayer of all and sundry to deliver on its campaign promises.

Ekwealor, who made the call weekend at his country home, Umuoba Anam, Otuocha, however called for patience from residents as the government commenced implementation of its developmental initiatives.

He said there was no doubt that Soludo is carrying heavy burden of expectations on his shoulders, stressing that it could take some time before the impacts of his ‘Soludo Solutions’ mantra would be felt around the state.

While applauding Soludo for his systematic and innovative models of governance, APGA boss urged residents at home and in diaspora to rally behind the government to take the state to greater heights.

He said, “We know that Soludo is carrying a heavy burden of expectations on his shoulders right now as people expect so much from him. But let us bear in mind that such things as development does not happen overnight or few months.

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“He needs our support, especially now that he is trying to bring some radical changes in the state.”

Speaking on his recent Award of Excellence for a Distinguished Community Service’ by Rotary Club of Enugu Municipal, Ekwealor said he felt fulfilled that his grassroots development efforts was recognized by such international organization.

“The Rotary award for my community service was very emotional to me because it finally reminded me that the reason I returned from South Africa to champion development at the community level was not waste of efforts and resources.

“The recognition, has also spurred me to do more, especially now that I am a political leader. It was like adding a new oil to an engine for optimum performance.

“I look forward to contributing my quota to the development of my constituency and Anambra State in general,” he adds.

A former Student Union President of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mr Anslem Eragbe has won the Labour Party’s (LP) senatorial seat for Edo North.

Eragbe emerged through affirmation by delegates from six Local Government Areas that made up the senatorial district.

The Returning Officer, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalim said 30 delegates participated in the primaries held on Wednesday in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.

In his acceptance speech, Eragbe appreciated the delegates, leaders and party members for finding him worthy to fly the party’s flag in the election.

“I must thank the Labour Party for giving me the platform to fly the ticket come 2023 and I will not take it for granted and by the special grace of God, we shall win the election,” he said.

According to him, the Labour Party is the best alternative for Nigerians to rescue the country.

He, therefore, urged the electorates to rally around the party to secure the desired victory during next year’s general election.

The Nigerian Correctional Service, Rivers Command, led by the Controller of Corrections, Felix Lawrence, on Tuesday had a show of force in partnership with the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Airforce and the Nigeria Navy.

DSC J Ofoni, Public Relations Officer, Corrections, Rivers State Command, in a statement, spoke on behalf of Lawrence.

“This show of force is meant to sensitise the inmates and communities in and around Port Harcourt metropolis that the Custodial Centres have been declared a red flag zone.

“And on red alert for all who think of attacking the centres and to ward off any would-be attacker.”

Also, the Deputy Controller of Corrections, in charge of Port Harcourt Maximum Custodial Centre, Etim Effiong, said that it was better to be proactive than preventive.

He appreciated the joint operation of the Military for finding time to partake in the operation.

The National Population Commission (NPC) has allayed the fears that poor network connectivity in most rural communities would hamper the conduct of census exercises in Enugu State.

Some stakeholders, particularly traditional rulers in had expressed concerns that the absence or poor internet connectivity would deny their people the right to be counted as Nigerians during the census exercise.

But addressing the stakeholders of Udenu, Igbo-Eze North and Uzo Uwani local government areas in Enugu North senatorial district to brainstorm on the importance of the census and how to achieve success during the trial census exercise, the NPC federal commissioner, representing Enugu State, Hon Ejike Eze said the commission had been taken care the situation.

According to Eze, the NPC is prepared to prepare to conduct a credible and acceptable census, using the ongoing trial census in Enugu State as a springboard.

He said that NPC had intensified preparatory activities for the successful conduct of the first digital census in Nigeria.

Eze said the stakeholders’ engagement was to seek the support of the whole community towards achieving good results during the trial and general census exercise.

He said the commission is working hard to ensure that they get accurate data, stressing that accurate data would help in proper planning for development across the country.

“We are here to interact with the stakeholders of the Senatorial zone and seek the support of everyone in the zone to carry out the trial Census exercise diligently. The interaction will allow us to be in the right direction during the trial census.

“Census is important, it brings development and any country that wants to progress must have data and our National Chairman deemed it necessary to conduct census with accurate and acceptable data,” he said.

The chairmen of the host council, Udenu council, Solomon Onah lauded the effort of NPC so far to conduct a credible and acceptable census.

Onah, represented by Deputy Chairman of Uzo Uwani, Chief Pius Okeagu on behalf of other chairmen assured the support of council areas during the trial census exercise.

They urged all the stakeholders to take the message home and educate their wards on the importance of the census, urging them to welcome the enumerators coming for the exercise and work with them.

The Delta All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has appointed former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe as the Director-General of his campaign organisation.

Mr Ima Niboro, the Director, Communications and Media Strategy of the organisation, said this in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

Niboro quoted Omo-Agege as saying that Orubebe was brought on board toward enriching the organisation with his wealth of experience.

“Orubebe shall, side by side with me, lead critical engagements and drive consultations and by his renowned robustness, up the ante for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Together with the rest of the team, we shall show PDP the way out of Government House in May 29, 2023,” he said.

He said the selection of the Ijaw-born politician was due to his knowledge, capacity and pedigree.

“Bringing him on board strengthens the campaign organisation straightaway and builds a strategic redoubt of crucial stakeholders at the grassroots for the contest ahead,’’ he said.

Orubebe was born on June 6, 1959, at Ogbobagbene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

He attended the University of Lagos, where he earned a B.Sc. degree in Political Science in 1985. He later attended Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where he obtained a Master’s degree in International Relations.

Orubebe was a supervisory councillor and later chairman of the Burutu council.

In July 2007, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua appointed him as the Minister of Special Duties. He was later to become Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs when the ministry was created in December 2008.

Orubebe, who worked with former President Goodluck Jonathan, shared the credit for instituting the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme which successfully won the hearts of most Niger Delta people and brought peace to the region.

He resigned from office in February 2014 to contest the governorship seat of Delta State in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.