Category: Southeast report

The people of Akam Oghe community in Ezeagu Local Government of Enugu State have celebrated the 2021 new yam festival.

Community leaders led by the town union President, Celestine Ukwuani; the Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Edwin Umeh; cabinet members; the Igwe-elect,  Onyeka Ofodile; friends and well-wishers attended the ceremony held at Akam Oghe Civic Centre.

The event tagged: ‘High Mass/ Iwaji Festival of Akam Oghe’, was preceded with a Holy Mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Peter Anyanwu of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Akam Oghe.

Speaking before the traditional prime minister, Umeh led the cabinet chiefs to perform the ceremony. Ukwuani described the festival as a moment of thanking God for his mercies, saying it was an annual event.

He said the festival affords the people the opportunity to showcase their rich cultural heritage, lamenting that some indigenes were bent on stopping the annual festival by serving them court order.

“But we’re not breaking any law. This is our annual celebration when our people come together to thank God for being alive,” he said.

The Bayelsa State Post-Flood Management Committee has said it received N552,000,000 from public-spirited individuals during the 2012 floods.

A report obtained from the Secretary of the committee, Mr. Iniruo Wills, said the committee received N500million from the Chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga.

It stated further that the Bayelsa State Government under Senator Seriake Dickson authorised the release of N32,000,000 for administrative expenses and another N20million for relief materials (mattresses, food items, medical consumables, toiletries, etc.)

The committee’s report was released following a petition by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging diversion of N17.5billion.

The committee’s report indicated that the NGO misinformed the EFCC and should apologise to Senator Dickson and Nigerians.

The report said the committee embarked on intervention efforts in 350 communities ravaged by the flood to complement the efforts of the state’s Flood Emergency Relief Management Committee led by the then Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd).

It said the Jonah-led committee was funded by the state government with no donor funds.

The report said: “Soon after inauguration, the Post Flood Committee embarked on the distribution of relief materials such as mattresses and medical consumables to schools, health institutions and youth corps members’ lodges.

“Affected communities benefited from food items and other consumables to complement the earlier relief efforts by the state’s Flood Emergency Relief Management Committee led by John Jonah.”

A copy of the report produced by the Chairman, the late Chief Francis Doukpola, the former chairman, Bayelsa Council of Elders; and Mr. Iniruo Wills, an ex-commissioner for Environment, said the committee took further steps to ensure that houses that were affected by the flood were salvaged.

It said 140,000 bags of cement were donated to 350 communities. Each got 400 bags.

The committee rejected the claim that it received N17.5billion for flood victims at any time.

Dickson had denied in an earlier statement that the state government did not receive such funds while he was the governor and that the government handed over the N500million donation by Adenuga to the post-flood committee.

Indigenes of Oghede in Ovia Northeast Local Government of Edo State, yesterday protested the alleged destruction of their buildings and tombs by soldiers, who, they said, claimed ownership of the land.

The protesters, who carried placards, alleged that the soldiers came from Ekenwan Barracks in Benin.

They wondered how the military would allegedly acquire their ancestral home without documents.

The protesters’ leader, Chief Festus Aghahowa, said the only acquisition the Army made in the area was between 1964 and 1965, while a demarcation was made.

He said: “We took the matter to Oba of Benin’s palace, under Oba Erediauwa. The Army has not done any other acquisition, besides the one that was done during the reign of his father, Oba Akenzua II. So, the soldiers should stay in their barracks.

“They are claiming that they made a second acquisition, whereas there is nothing like that. We have gone to court, but they have been frustrating the efforts of the court with frivolous motions.

“The more we complain, the harder they (invading soldiers) are to us. They are committing all sorts of atrocities. They have been using bulldozers to destroy our structures. Even where people were buried, they destroyed the land, including the dead. They said we could not live and erect any structure within 200 feet.”

One of the demonstrators, Rev. David Ugolor, said the land his family acquired in 2013 to bury the wife of his elder brother, who died in the United States of America (USA), was invaded and the tomb destroyed.

A widow, Mrs. Faith Omoregie, said: “My late husband built a house (bungalow) for me. I did not have a child for him. So, my husband’s family gave me the bungalow as my inheritance. This is all I have. The soldiers are now saying I must pack out. We want the government to rescue us.”

Spokesman for 4 Brigade Capt. Yemi Sokoya denied the allegations.

He said: “The land belongs to the Nigerian Army, but the community’s elders keep selling the plots of land to civilians. The Army took them to court and the presiding judge ordered that nobody should continue work on the land, pending the determination of the matter.

“Since the matter is in court, the protesters should allow the court to do its work, rather than telling lies.”

Sokoya said the indigenes were warned to discontinue the lawlessness, but they did not listen.

Itsekiri youths under the aegis of the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) Worldwide have promised to shut down operations of Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL).

They said they would do this because the company failed to regularise the employment of the Itsekiri, who went through its vocational training programmes (VTPS/OTP2 and VTP6).

NAIG President Ben Eyitemi Eburajolo and Secretary Esiategiwa Mino spoke yesterday at a news conference at the group’s secretariat at Ugbori in Warri South Local Government of Delta State.

Issuing a 28-day ultimatum to CNL to ensure the reclassification of their kinsmen, the youth described their continued casualisation as “gross marginalisation,” one they would no longer be silent about.

They recalled that the late Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, in 2017 prevailed on CNL’s management to do the needful, which they (CNL) promised to do the following year, but failed.

Demanding urgent attention to the matter, NAIG said the affected Itsekiri sons and daughters “are the least ranked and underpaid among CNL labour contract personnel.

“They have been found competent at their locations and none has violated any of the company’s laid down rules, regulations or safety procedures.”

The youth said the falling crude oil price, which Chevron gave as an excuse for not reclassifying their people, had risen to $70/bbl.

They accused some Itsekiri leaders of “aiding and abetting CNL to use and dump Itsekiri people for selfish gains.”

The statement signed by Eburajolo and Mino said: “It should be noted that their reclassification should be backdated to January 2016 and January 2017 for VTPS/OTP2 and VTP6.

“Resume Operation and Maintenance (O&M) training with employment in view immediately, as enshrined in our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with you.

“Community development in oil producing areas should resume immediately. All Itsekiri host communities to CNL should be given electricity and potable water.

“We are, therefore, giving Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) 28 days to begin or put to action the reclassification of our Itsekiri graduates of VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6, or else we will have no choice but to shut down CNL operations in our land.”

When contacted, Chevron’s External Communications Coordinator in Warri, Mr. Kayode Adeboye, promised to respond via email. He didn’t do so at press time.

A group, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), yesterday hailed the Enugu State Government and the House of Assembly for moving to ban open grazing of cattle through legislation.

The anti-open grazing bill last week went through the second reading at the House of Assembly.

ADF spokesman Abia Onyike, yesterday in a statement in Enugu advised other states in the Southeast to emulate Enugu.

It said the recent banning of open grazing by the Katsina Emirate Council, which was in accordance with the customary laws, should be copied by communities in Igboland.

The statement advised communities in the Southeast to apply their customary laws, to secure their land, economic crops and natural resources.

“Since some governments have decided not to use legislative means to ban open grazing of cattle  in their states, traditional rulers and town union leaders should invoke the  customary laws of their people, to defend them, based on their fundamental, natural and human rights.

“The people in the communities have a right to organise farming and other activities to feed themselves and a right to protect the modalities of such activities.

“Under the customary law, Igbo communities, which are mainly agricultural communities, have  recognised rules/laws to protect their communities. For example, their domestic animals are tethered with rope and are not allowed to roam about and graze on people’s crops. They are kept in pens and fed. Occasionally, they are taken out, tied with ropes and taken to uncultivated forests where they can chew fresh grass.

“When the domestic animals stray to destroy other people’s farms, they are caught and sold off to pay for the crops eaten or destroyed.

“The application of these customary laws does not depend on state or federal laws. They are the natural laws of the communities,” the statement said.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said his administration will equip youths with globally-sought-after skills, to enable them take advantage of the opportunities to produce healthy food for the growing world population.

He urged them to join the global efforts in exploiting technological innovations to build enduring systems to tackle food challenges, so as to feed the world’s growing population, in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Obaseki, who spoke in Benin, at the commemoration of the International Youth Day, marked by the United Nations and its sister organisations, said: “Through the Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), we organise training for youths to encourage them to provide solution for the global demand for healthy food.”

He said his administration would sustain the execution of other youth-focused training, as Edo would transit to the technology hub of Southsouth geo-political zone.

On the 2021 theme of the International Youth Day: ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’, the governor said: “On our part, besides providing our youths with training, we are also working with other partners to assist young people to have access to grants and funds, to equip them with the skills to compete in global markets.

“Through these strategic partnerships, our youths have an edge to showcase their talents in contributing to the efforts to transform food systems that are safe.”

The Chairman, Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Mr. Michael Diden, has said the Ijaw will get Delta Political Vanguards’ backing in the state’s 2023 governorship election because they supported Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in his governorship bid in 2014.

Diden, aka Ejele, said the Ijaw’s bid to be governor in 2023 was not a misplaced ambition.

He pledged his group’s support for the Ijaw governorship aspiration if Governor Okowa backs them.

Diden spoke in Sapele when the Delta Ijaw for Governor 2023 Lobby Team led, by the former Police Affairs Minister, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, visited him.

He said the Ijaw quest for the governorship seat in 2023 would be considered by Itsekiri stakeholders.

He said Bozimo and the Ijaw supported Okowa in his bid to become the governor in 2015, adding that Bozimo’s disposition gave him confidence.

Diden said: “When the struggle for Okowa to become the governor began, one man that stood firmly for him and could not be swayed was Bozimo. His disposition gave us confidence to the extent that the confidence made us the younger ones to remain resolute and he became a field marshal, while we became his lieutenants.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State has disclosed its preparedness to deliver a credible electoral process in the November 6 governorship election.

State Coordinator Mrs. Yetunde Baberinwa spoke at the weekend at the scheme’s carnival ceremony at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Unity Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, in Awka South Local Government.

She said 2,206 corps members have been registered and trained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state for the exercise.

Baberinwa said the corps members would carry out a transparent process without fear or favour, adding that they had conditioned their minds to serve their fatherland.

Said she: “The scheme is committed to the entrenchment of credible electoral system. The trained corps members are in good spirit to ensure seamless and credible election in the state.

“They have, however, been warned that any violation of the scheme’s code of conduct will attract consequences, as provided in the electoral law and the NYSC bye-laws.

“Parties and their candidates have also been warned to play by the rules and avoid any act capable of distracting corps members from discharging their assignment during the exercise.”

Baberinwa said the carnival was designed to bring corps members together culturally to promote national unity as well as educate them on the diverse tribes and culture of the country.

“The cultural day celebration is to bring cultures close to the young ones to appreciate and get familarised with them. To relate as friends and accommodate each other on camp and beyond,” she added.

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has said Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is the best person to succeed him.

He spoke at the weekend at Isuofia Civic Centre, at the 2021 New Yam Festival of Isuofia community in Aguata Local Government.

Soludo is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the party ruling Anambra in the past 16 years.

Obiano said Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, has the intellectual capacity, local and international contacts and other qualities required to serve as the governor.

He recalled the ingenuity of Soludo as the then CBN boss to come up with the bank N25 billion consolidation fund policy, noting that the step ended the problem of failed commercial banks.

He said he was convinced that if elected as the next governor, Soludo would introduce a lot of policies and programmes that would make Anambra stand out as a reference point among other states.

The governor hailed the Isuofia community for recognising the roles of their son, Soludo, in reconciling feuding groups in the town.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Soludo was crowned with the chieftaincy title of “Dike Udo Isuofia” (Strong Man of Peace in Isuofia) by the traditional rulers of the six communities of Isuofia clan.

Soludo, who was elated by the recognition, said what the Isuofia people did was opposite of a popular saying that a prophet was with honour except in his community.

“I must first thank God, Governor Obiano and his wife Ebelechukwu, the six communities that make up Isuofia and numerous dignitaries that gathered here for today’s New Yam Festival.

“My people have demonstrated that I have honour and this is in addition to the honour the leader and entire membership our party, APGA, accorded me by electing me the governorship candidate for the November 6 poll.

“My promise is that I will not fail you and the state. But all my appeal today is that everybody must support this governorship project by ensuring that we get our INEC voters cards,” he said.

Chief Jude Okeke, the president general of Isuofia People’s Assembly, said the community used this year’s New Yam Festival to bestow honour on Soludo due to his roles in resolving crisis that had affected the town.

Senator Uche Ekwunife has said the political godfather of Anambra State, Chief Chris Uba and Chief Linus Ukachukwu are two political heavyweights nobody can toy with.

She added: “We must reconcile with them to achieve victory.”

Ekwunife spoke yesterday at the inauguration of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo’s campaign team in Awka, ahead of the take-off of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) campaigns for the November 6 election.

The lawmaker, who represents Anambra Central, is the chairperson of the Anambra State Governorship Campaign Council of the PDP.

Ekwunife called for cooperation of leaders and stakeholders of the party to wrest power from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

She said for the PDP to do that, chieftains like Uba and Ukachukwu, among others, must be involved. She described them as those “you can’t wish away in a battle of this nature.”

Ekwunife said such personalities had contributed to the progress of the party, not only in Anambra State or Southeast, but also in the entire country.

“Take it or leave it, people like Chris Uba, Linus Ukachukwu and others remain our leaders. They can’t be wished away as far as the coming governorship election is concerned. We’ll continue to appeal to them so that they will join us to go into the election,” she added.

Describing the party’s candidate, Ozigbo, as a product of divine providence, Ekwunife promised to support his candidature. She urged others to support him.

“The task ahead of us does not call for mere occupying of positions. Rather, it is a call to service, so that Anambra State will maintain a stable and an effective leadership in 2022.

“This meeting is not only targeted at inaugurating SEC, it is also a platform for us to share and reflect on the Council’s Terms of Reference, and set preliminary timelines for setting up a formidable election management in 21 local governments and 326 electoral wards.

“No less is expected of us than our utmost best, which calls for dedication and commitment. More importantly, your demonstration of ingenuity, creativity, innovation and pro-activeness in the handling of both individuals and group tasks shall provide the magic that will enable us overcome our opponents.

“Therefore, your conduct and performance must at all times reflect your sensitivity to the needs, for our candidate to emerge victorious on November 6.”

The Director General of the campaign organisation, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, a former governorship aspirant in the party, thanked stakeholders and members of the campaign organisation for their efforts towards uniting the party.

He advised the party supporters to approach the coming election with sincerity and unity of purpose, so that the party will emerge victorious on November 6.

Obiogbolu said in a few days, the party’s campaign council would be inaugurated in the 21 local governments and 326 wards for effective grassroots campaign.