Category: Southeast report

By Chris Njoku, Owerri

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State Ambrose Nwaogwuwu’s mother Mrs. Anna Nwaogwugwu from Umukabia Umuhu Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, has been butchered by suspected political assassins.

Ambrose, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, disclosed the ugly story to newsmen on Friday, saying it happened at his mother’s residence in Owerri, early hours on Thursday.

He added that the suspected assassins would have hack the mother to death if not for the alarm raised by the little girl she was staying with which attracted her neighbors.

At the moment, he said the mother was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where medical experts have been battling to rescue her life from the injuries sustained from the attack.

He also confirmed that the suspected assassins had been arrested by the Police.

According to the APC Chieftain “I received a distress call from my younger sister that our mother was being attacked by assailants in her Owerri residence. She was macheted all over her body, deep cuts in the skull and one of her ears cut off.

“The intention of the assailant was to murder her but fortunate enough, the girl that stayed with our mother raised alarms prompting the intervention of her compound people to rescue her from the attacker.

“Fortunately enough, Cathechist in our local parish who is her neighbor was still in a mass session when his daughter put a distress call to him and he quickly rushed in with a medical doctor who was in the same mass and they rushed her to his hospital where she was given first aid to stop her profuse bleeding and later referred to another hospital where she’s currently receiving medical attention. Still unconscious.

“She has been in the oxygen since morning, only this evening it was rested. Under many stitches. All her backs were macheted. The assailant was apprehended and currently in the police custody where he is assisting the police with investigation,” Ambrose said.

It should be recalled that Ambrose headed the Imo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, New media before he joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State.

Reacting, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abatam, shortly said he would get back to the reporter on the matter and that his on it.”

By Innocent Duru

Flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6th governorship election in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, has dispelled rumours that he was quitting the party to actualise his ambition elsewhere.

He spoke at a town hall meeting with PDP stakeholders in Awka, the state capital, where he also unveiled his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo, a former Commissioner in the state.

His announcement was greeted with joy and celebration, especially among the women present.

“All members of PDP NEC, BoT, PDP governors and other stakeholders in other political parties are rooting for us and with that level of support, there is no need to contemplate moving to another political platform,” he declared to resounding applause.

“This is PDP’s time to shine and produce the Anambra State governor. I cannot overemphasise this,” he said.

He also assured that the litigations within the party would be resolved in a short time.

He revealed that a competent team of legal experts is “on top of the matter” and “the distractions would be in the past.”

The respected business leader declared that the party was ready to kick off its campaign when INEC declares the games open early in August.

He urged the PDP leadership, at all levels, to get set to take up the challenge of taking the Ka Anambra Chawapu message to the grassroots of the state as the upcoming election would be “won in the hearts of Ndi Anambra.”

Ozigbo urged the party faithful not to spare anything to ensure total victory for PDP at the polls, noting that PDP remains the only platform that genuinely cares for the people.

Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi urged every aggrieved person to let go of the past and forge into the future.

 

 

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

THE National President of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko, said yesterday that Abia State Government owes lecturers at the state-owned college of education 31-month salary as at July 2021.

He said the workers of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu have not received salary for 31 months, while those of the defunct Edo State College of Education, Ekiadolor are being owed salary of many months.

The COEASU national president said over 500 workers of the Edo State College of Education, Ekiadolor are yet to be properly deployed in the three campuses of the state-owned colleges of education.

Describing the development as unacceptable, Olugbeko said his administration will explore measures to ensure that states owing members of the union pay them, to mitigate the suffering of the lecturers.

He spoke while delivering his inaugural speech at the National Delegates’ Congress of the union in Abuja.

The COEASU national president lamented the delay in the conclusion of re-negotiation of the FGN-COEASU 2010 Agreement.

He said: “The flagrant impunity and open display of executive insensitivity against our members by some state governments is a sheer lack of respect for human dignity.

“The unsavoury report revealing some state government’s refusal to pay salaries of workers for months/years is regrettable and appalling.

“Some state governments have abdicated their primary responsibility of funding their colleges to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

“For instance, as at end of July, workers of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu have not received their salary for 31 months, while officials of the defunct Edo State College of Education, Ekiadolor are being owed salary of many months and over 500 workers of the institution are yet to be properly deployed in the three campuses of the state-owned colleges of education.

“We shall hit the ground running with appeals for expeditious attention by the governors of the states where these colleges of education are situated towards mitigating the sufferings of our members, by addressing these lingering challenges with dispatch.”

•Akpabio begs youths to allow workers back to site
•Protesters play tennis, football on road as blockade enters day four

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja and Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Federal Government has released N2.5billion for the payment of compensation for property owners on the East-West road, so that work can resume on section 3 of the road that has been barricaded by protesting youths.

Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio, who made the disclosure last night, appealed to the aggrieved Niger Delta youths to vacate the road, to enable contractors to begin work.

The minister made the appeal in Abuja after a meeting with contractors handling different sections of the road.

Ogoni youths protesting the abandonment of the Eleme section of the East-West road in Rivers State, were yesterday seen playing lawn tennis and football on the road.

They vowed to continue the blockade of the major road that leads to the Onne Port, the Port Harcourt Refinery, other factories and companies until the government showed seriousness to rehabilitate the road.

While the youth used one lane to draw a lawn tennis court on the ground, they turned the other lane into a five-aside football pitch.

They said they were not happy that the  Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, failed to fulfil his promise that work would soon start on the road.

They were particularly unimpressed by the presentation made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Babayo Ado, who was sent by Akpabio to appeal to them to withdraw from the road.

It was gathered that instead of giving a timeline of when work would begin on the road, the permanent secretary spent time  tracing the recent history of the road and when contract for the reconstruction of the entire road from Warri to Prom was awarded, a contract that excluded the Eleme section of the road.

The permanent secretary appealed to the protesters to exercise patience.

He said: “Eleme section was not part of the contract initially awarded in 2006 because it was in good condition, having been dualised earlier. The  Port Harcourt – Onne junction portion had progressively deteriorated as a result of heavy axle loading, flooding and is no longer serviceable for the current traffic volumes.

“Therefore, the ministry had to award the contract for additional works to Messrs RCC Nigeria Limited to upgrade the Port Harcourt Onne Port Junction.

“The initial design for interchange bridges at Onne Junction is to be substituted with a flyover bridge due to space constraints caused by the newly constructed Power Sub-Station, which cannot be relocated due to higher cost implication interchange bridge initially designed for Refinery Junction new flyover bridge has been designed for Akpajo intersection.

“The scope of works include and not limited to; widening the road from two-lane dual carriage to a three-lane dual carriageway; increasing the thickness of the asphalt layer; constructing interchange bridges at Refinery and Onne Port Junction to smoothen traffic flow and constructing a new 51m long reinforced concrete bridge on Port Harcourt- bound carriageway at Aleto

“The condition of the road deteriorated during the period of delay and there has been serious encroachment on the right-of-way initially delineated for the road.

“It is in pursuance of this objective that the ministry stepped down 345 projects and committed N10billion in the current 2022 budget, while Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) made provision of N10billion in the 2020 annual budget and another N25billion in 2021 budget to impact positively on the rate of progress of work on the East-West road.”

Street parties were held at the Refinery and Alode junctions of the road by youths, who were entertained with live bands and refreshments.

The leader of the protest, Legborsi Yamabana, said they would not leave the road until the government mobilised contractors to the area.

By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday swore in 11 commissioners, with an advice to the seven women among them to justify the confidence reposed in them.

He urged the commissioners to eschew suspicion and promote unity in their utterances and actions.

Dr. Okowa said Delta was breaking the frontiers of female representation in government with the appointment of seven women commissioners and 17 female vice chairmen of local governments, as well as other positions of responsibility in governance.

He said: “With today’s swearing-in, we have concluded the process of reconstituting the Executive Council (exco) that was dissolved a little over two months ago.

“With two more women- commissioners, the (exco) now has seven women, further extending the frontier of female representation in this government.

“Delta State is breaking new grounds in this regard. To all the commissioners, it is my hope that you will justify the confidence that has been reposed in you with these appointments.”

The governor advised the commissioners to avoid issues that would breed distrust, exclusion and resentment among the people, saying they emerged through a rigorous selection process that was necessary, especially as the administration entered a critical phase in its tenure.

He said his administration had made breakthrough in its quest to build a stronger Delta standing on the tripod of prosperity, peace and progress.

He said his administration had anchored the entrepreneurship development programmes with over 100,000 youths being empowered to become self-employed and employers of labour.

Okowa enjoined the commissioners to work towards achieving the administration’s set targets within the remaining period of his term.

“With less than two years to the terminal date of this administration, every remaining minute counts as we strive to deliver on our goals and promises to the good people of Delta State.

“From our novel entrepreneurship development programmes, to the massive infrastructure investment in the state, especially in the riverine communities, we have sustained our efforts to leave a legacy of a strong, united and prosperous state.

“These efforts are being acknowledged by those who understand what development is all about,” he said.

He assured Deltans that his administration still had more grounds to cover in tackling youth unemployment, widespread poverty and social cohesion, noting: “It is going to take all of us talking together, planning together and working together to change the current narrative in many of our communities.

“As you begin your stewardship today, I want to leave you with some leadership principles that are vital to your success.

“You must make it a priority to align yourself and your ideas to the key policy thrusts of this administration.

“An idea may be good in and of itself, but may not be very relevant to the focus of this administration. Hence, it is imperative that as commissioners, you are constantly in tune with the direction we are headed, to make a quick success of your work.”

Okowa urged the commissioners to promote unity in diversity and work towards a peaceful coexistence.

Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Prof. Muoboghare thanked God for the appointment and appreciated the governor for finding them worthy to serve.

He pledged the commissioners’ resolve to render effective and efficient service to the citizens.

 

 

By Nsa Gill, Calabar

Joe Agi, SAN, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Steven Odey and Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will know their fate today, as judgment will be delivered at the Appeal Court on who is the lawfully elected senator representing Cross River North.

The case followed the December 5, 2020 by-election in which Sen. Odey of the PDP was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and was sworn in by the National Assembly.

The appeal panel of three, headed by Hon. Justice Chioma Iheme Nwosu, at the hearing on Tuesday, made to consolidate the three appeals filed by Agi, SAN, of the APC, Odey and Jarigbe, both of who are claiming the candidature of the PDP in the by-election.

The APC candidate represented by his counsel, Mathew Burkaa Esq, said the PDP had no candidate in the by-election because the Supreme Court had declared Jarigbe as the candidate at a time the PDP had refused to field him as their candidate in the December 5, 2020 by-election. And that they (PDP) rather fielded Odey against the order of the court.

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and youths from Ekeremor Local Government have warned politicians engaged in arguments over the zoning of the Bayelsa West Senatorial seats, to desist from heating up the polity.

He threatened to sanction members of his executive council (exco) involved in the controversy of who occupies the National Assembly seats in 2023, telling them to either resign or be sacked.

The youths under the aegis of Ekeremor Youths Stakeholders (EYS), warned those plotting to scuttle the zoning arrangement between Sagbama and Ekeremor local governments to stop, in their own interest, or face the wrath of the people.

They said it is the turn of Ekeremor to produce the senator and Sagbama to produce member of House of Representative in 2023, in the spirit of the existing power rotation in the district, adding that they will resist any attempt to scuttle the arrangement.

The youth comprising stakeholders from Ekeremor Council, in a communiqué yesterday after their meeting in Yenagoa, said any politician interested in contesting the National Assembly seats in Bayelsa West must honour and conform to the zoning arrangement.

In the communiqué read by Mr. Dimaro Fidelis, after their meeting, the youth decried the conduct of the council Chairman, Perekeme Bertola, by taunting the conventional agreement between Ekeremor and Sagbama on the zoning agreement, saying the arrangement had upheld equity and was mutually beneficial to the people.

Fidelis said: “The youth laud the outcome of the Ekeremor Elders Stakeholders’ meeting held on July 22, where they resolved to respect the zoning agreement and called on politicians from Bayelsa West to honour and consolidate the zoning agreement.

“Youth stakeholders from Ekeremor agree and vow to resist any political leader from Bayelsa West who dares to breach the existing zoning arrangement between Ekeremor and Sagbama.”

Mr. Mitin Joseph from Ekeremor Ward 10 and the President of the Bayelsa West Youth Movement, Mr. Edesemi Olorogun, agreed that the involvement of an Ekeremor politician in the last senatorial election did not invalidate the zoning arrangement.

They insisted on zoning and warned those people, who rode on the back of zoning to go to the National Assembly, to stop causing confusion in the area or else they would face the wrath of the people.

Lending credence to the youths’ concern, Diri said although politicians have a right to argue on issues of interest, the ongoing controversy among politicians from Ekeremor is heating up the polity and threatening to cause a breakdown of law and order.

He warned politicians involved in the Bayelsa West seats’ controversy, saying: “I like to caution and admonish political appointees that have started heating up the political temperature of the state to stop forthwith, or else they will be  sanctioned.”

 

 

 

 

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

One of the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, has picked Lady Azuka Enemuo as his running mate.

The woman was the commissioner for Local Government during the tenure of former governor Peter Obi.

Ozigbo, who introduced Enemuo to the stakeholders yesterday, said he picked her to tap from her experience.

Ozigbo, a Catholic, picked Enemuo, an Anglican and a great mobiliser, during the reconciliation meeting with stakeholders of the party, at Oma Event Centre, Awka.

Although many leaders of the party did not attend the meeting, ex-governor Obi and Sen. Ben Ndi Obi were present.

Enemuo did not speak much. She thanked Ozigbo and the party leaders for finding her worthy for such an exalted position, saying: “I will never disappoint you and our party.”

 

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and one of the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, have pleaded with the party’s stakeholders to unite for victory during the November 6 governorship election.

The duo spoke yesterday in Awka during the reconciliation meeting of the party convened by Ozigbo after the party’s primary election held on June 26.

Ozigbo and Senator Ugochukwu Uba emerged the candidates of the party during the parallel primaries held simultaneously at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre and Paul University Field, both in Awka.

However, during the reconciliation meeting, the 15 other governorship aspirants in the PDP were absent, including notable leaders of the party like Senator Joy Emodi, former minister Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Chief Olisa Metu, among others.

But Obi, who left after addressing the crowd at the event centre, said he came to beg everyone to unite for the governorship election in November, adding: “The primary election is over.”

“I’m ready to beg all the aspirants for us to win the election. This candidate must win this election and we will not run away in our state because of anyone.

“I will win my local government and this is my assurance. Nothing will stop us from winning the governorship election. Anambra must not go back to what it used to be.

“PDP has the best candidate for this election and we are going to win it. We have a formidable candidate and we need a formidable team to win.

“I’m committed to PDP 24 hours and the party’s governors in the country are committed to winning Anambra State election. It is our own election and we will win it,” the former governor said.

Ozigbo, who disclosed the efforts he had made in reconciling every member and aspirants, regretted that the litigations had held them down, saying the party’s legal team was not relenting in overcoming the obstacles.

He said: “I didn’t win the primary election, but PDP and Anambra won. We’re one family. We are going to unite soon. Our enemies are not within, but outside PDP.

“PDP is a platform that will bring Igbo together. Nobody should be worried about what is happening now. We’re going to occupy the Government House by the grace of God.

“The major reason for the gathering is to thank you for what you did and thank you for what you will do in the coming days because the real battle is coming.

“We are not celebrating because the real celebration will happen on November 6.

There’s need for us to go into the governorship battle as a united family.

“I’ve visited my co-aspirants and I received positive response from Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Chris Azubogu, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, Dr. Godwin Maduka, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo and others.

“What I want to tell you is that every other party in this state is a counterfeit, from APGA, to APC, to YPP. This is why I’m begging our stakeholders to have faith in me. I won’t disappoint them.

“They should forgive and forget. I’m ready to make sacrifice for all of us to come together. We want to make the founder of PDP, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, proud where ever he is. This is the assurance I gave his daughter, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe, when we spoke before the meeting.

“My vision is how to win the election. One of the issues is litigation. In the record of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the only name there is Ozigbo and we’re confident that soon the cases will come to pass. The two cases pending now are distracting us and we are not resting.

“We are going to start our local government campaigns on August 9 and it’s going to be ‘Operation deliver your area’.

“PDP will win wards 326 /326 and not only 21/21. I want to beg everyone to be dedicated. It’s our project and we must come out victorious. We are going to release the campaign structure next week.

“The entire PDP governors are behind us. This is the time to end hunger, it’s time for us to shine and I’m promising today that everything in me will be brought to bear for PDP to win this election.”

 

 

By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

Iyom Chinelo Amechi, the wife of First Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, is dead.

She was 91.

Mrs. Amechi died on July 23, 2021, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi after a 10-day illness.

A native of Umuoji in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, Amechi retired as Chief Nursing Officer in 1982 at the Mburi General hospital, Nnewi now NAUTH.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday in his Ukpor country home, in Nnewi South Local Government Area, the husband, Chief Mbazulike, described the late wife as a typical professional nurse and good housewife who was able to blend her professional work with home management.

He appreciated the time he spent with the beloved wife, saying her many good legacies would be greatly missed by the entire family.

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He said: “She was a typical professional nurse and a good housewife. She was able to blend her professional work with home management.

“I’m happy to marry her because she helped to nurse me. She was the head of the Catholic Women Organization in the church. She also played a prominent role during my nationalist drives.”

Describing himself as a trado-Christian with a dislike for multiple wives, the elder statesman said he had sworn as a member of the Zikist movement never to marry until Nigeria gained independence.

He however noted he later wedded at the Holy Trinity, Onitsha after about 10months of courtship.

A statement from the family signed by Mr. Tagbo Amechi said details of the burial arrangements would be announced later.