By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of defrauding the state.

A statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said the governor spoke on Thursday when members of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, led by its Chairman, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

According to Wike, NDDC was acting like a state on its own, refusing to interface with governors of oil-producing states to strategically develop the Niger Delta.

The statement reads: “We agreed to build a regional hospital called Mother and Child Hospital for N1.7 billion. We were to bring N800 million while NDDC would bring N900 million. The state paid its N800 million and NDDC mobilised the contractor with N400 million of the amount. But it abandoned the contractor and the contractor left site.

“When we came on board, we said no more partnership and asked for a N400 million refund, but that became a problem as politics set in.”

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Wike added that the state has gotten a court order to ensure NDDC does not embark on indiscriminate execution of projects without its consent.

He also said despite the inauguration of the commission’s advisory council, it was still sidelining oil-producing states from its affairs.

“Even when we are inaugurated, we were not involved in anything that happens in NDDC, which is most unfortunate.

“NDDC is like a state on its own without working with states; it is so because the states of NDDC are controlled by the opposition party, therefore there is no need to consult with them,” he added.

The governor urged the National Assembly to be resolute in its oversight function by ensuring that the NDDC stopped frittering resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta on building roads in Army barracks, police stations and spending billions to ensure he did not win re-election.

Tunji- Ojo said the visit was predicated on the fact that Wike was a principal stakeholder in the affairs of NDDC.

He promised that the committee would ensure the NDDC worked in synergy with critical stakeholders of the region.

“…I assure you the committee will ensure NDDC works in synergy with critical stakeholders of the region.”

By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has sacked the Fred Udogu-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee. The court described the committee as illegal.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the purported committee constituted by the PDP national leadership. It maintained that the dissolution of the state Executive Committee was illegal and cannot stand.

The order followed a suit by Nnachi Okoro, legal adviser to the Onyekachi Nwebonyi-led PDP executive, which was dissolved in November 2020 after Governor David Umahi defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okoro argued that his purported removal from office by virtue of the dissolution of the state executive, and without fair hearing, was contrary to the party’s and Nigeria’s constitution.

Justice Aluko Akintayo ruled that the dissolution was absurd and inconsistent with the party’s and Nigeria’s constitution.

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He noted that the party acted harshly without any evidence of wrong-doing against the plaintiff, adding that Governor Umahi’s defection to the APC was in exercise of his fundamental right of freedom of association, and cannot be a justifiable ground to remove Okoro from office.

The court maintained that the plaintiff, having been duly elected to serve as PDP legal adviser, had acquired a vested right to occupy the office until his tenure elapsed.

Consequently, the court declared the PDP action illegal, null, and void, and ordered the party not to recognise any other legal adviser until the expiration of Okoro’s tenure.

Igbo Michael, who appeared for the defendants’ lawyer, Kenneth Jamanze, said they would meet and decide on the next action.

Nwebonyi welcomed the judgment, and described it is a victory for democracy.

But lawyer to the Fred Udeogu-led executive, Mudi Erhenede, said they would appeal the judgment. He added that they would get a stay of execution against the ruling pending the determination of a substantive appeal.

By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Students of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, on Thursday marched on the campus to protest the alleged death of five of their colleagues.

The protest kicked off at the permanent site of the institution, causing a gridlock on the busy Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway.

Policemen and soldiers were deployed last night to ensure the protest does not turn violent.

According to sources, five students slumped on Wednesday in a stampede at the school’s ICT centre slated as an examination hall.

A source said the university had adopted the Computer Based Test (CBT) for some General Studies Program (GST) courses which are compulsory courses taken by all students, irrespective of the department or faculty.

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The source said the hall was too small for the crowd of students that were to sit for the exam. It was also gathered that students from the four campuses were told to come to the ICT centre to take the exam.

The source said: “There was poor planning of the exams. The hall has about 500 computers and students to sit for the exams were over 1,000. The university administration should have staggered the exams so that the hall will not be crowded.

“Knowing well that a one-room apartment paraded as an ICT centre cannot accommodate all students to write GST 101 and 102, they should’ve typed out the questions and made photocopies. About 4:15pm, the invigilators announced that the exam, which had been written midway, was cancelled.

“About five students collapsed. The worst part is that there was no medical centre to rush them to as they struggled for survival.”

Students Union Government (SUG) President Abanni Samson regretted the incident, and described it as avoidable

He said: “We assure everyone that never again will EBSU students, under our leadership, go through such horror in the name of writing any exam or undertaking any academic activity.

“The planning could have been better to prevent the mayhem. I am personally sorry for all who got hurt.”

Samson implored the students to remain calm until confirmation is made over the rumoured death but the students embarked ont the protest yesterday.

Spokesman of the institution Patrick Itumo could not be reached for comments. His phone was switched off.

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has said his administration has done creditably well one year after assuming office despite the challenges it faced.

Diri, at an interactive session with reporters in Yenagoa, recounted his stewardship in one year, a statement by his media aide, Daniel Alabrah, said on Thursday.

The governor enumerated a number of projects being executed by his administration, and lauded the media for the objective reportage of his administration’s activities.

Diri said he has mobilised contractors to resume work on roads in the West and Central Senatorial districts. According to him, contract for the federal Yenagoa-Oporoma road, started by his predecessor, was reviewed upwards to about N27 billion, including construction of a bridge to link the road to Oporoma in the central flank of the state.

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According to the governor, N1 billion was released for the ongoing rehabilitation of all internal roads in Yenagoa, as well as re-awarding of the contract for construction of Phase 2 of the Gloryland Drive road from the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene to link Amassoma road.

The governor, who lauded reporters for their support for his administration, also directed that the DiriBoost scheme be extended to media personnel.

He added that his government was developing a blueprint on agriculture and small and medium scale enterprises as part of efforts to empower Bayelsans to take charge of the local economy.

To this end, he said the House of Assembly has given approval for the government to secure two agricultural loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with minimal interest rate to empower farmers.

He said the government has accessed N3 billion agricultural credit facility from the CBN while another N8 billion was being awaited.

Diri said: “We didn’t go for those loans for the government, but in the interest of our farmers so that our people will also be beneficiaries of these facilities that other states had accessed far more than we have.”

Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Samuel Numunengi sought the governor’s attention on welfare issues for journalists. He stressed the need for government to support media workers for basic journalism training.

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Prof. Gregory Ibe, has expressed his interest in the Abia State governorship in 2023.

Ibeh is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He served under past governments at the federal level. According to him, he has all it would take to place the state on the global map.

The don said his decision to withdraw from the governorship race in 2014, and support Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, was in line with the principles of the Abia Charter of Equity on power rotation.

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He said: “I have the full intention to govern Abia. I started showing interest in 2011 when I began to inform my leaders. By 2014, then Governor Theodore Orji said he’ll follow zoning. I withdrew on December 7, 2014, during clearance and supported Abia South.

“Orji said to me ‘you’re still a young man, wait till 2023’. I’ve waited and that’s it. Have I not waited? Am I not an Abian? I’m more than interested because I have something to offer Abians.”

On the 2023 agitation for a president of Igbo extraction, the educationist said if the wounds of the Nigerian civil war should be healed, and justice done to the people of the Southeast, an Igbo man should become the president in 2023. He added that Ndigbo have paid their dues in the country in all facets of life.

“The Igbo needs the presidency now more than any ethnic group. Since Nigeria came to existence over 60 years ago, other ethnic groups, except the Igbo, have occupied the position. Therefore, justice and fairness demand that an Igbo man should be allowed to be the president in 2023. If a man from the Southeast becomes the president, the Igbo will not depend on him for survival, they will rather be contended with the fact that their son is the president,” he added.

By Mike Odiegwu and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has approved N16.6 billion to upgrade facilities at the state’s university and College of Medical Sciences.

According to the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, N9 billion of the amount would be used as take-off grant for the university’s three new campuses at Ahoada, Emohua and Etche.

Each campus would get N3 billion for faculty building, hostels, offices, libraries, auditorium, lecture halls and other relevant requirements.

Nsirim described the development as landmark in the history of the institution, which he said had maintained one campus since its establishment in October 1980.

The commissioner added that N7.6 billion had been released to the College of Medical Sciences to establish the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and erect the Pathology Building.

He said: “With the establishment of the three new campuses, the host communities will be opened up for consequential development and economic activities. This is in addition to creating employment.

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“The approval will also properly position the College of Medical Sciences to fully begin the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). It will give the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) the required facilities to strengthen accredited departments and those that are due for accreditation.”

The Coalition of activists groups in Rivers State, under the aegis of Rivers Civil Society Organisations (RIVSCO), has given Governor Wike one month to clear the five years’ unpaid salaries of teachers of demonstration schools or face unending protests.

The group gave the ultimatum yesterday at a news conference organised on behalf of the over 250 affected teachers.

A statement by an executive of RIVSCO, Enefaa Georgewill, said Wike, five years ago, sanctioned members of some schools’ academic union for allegedly flouting the government’s no-school-fee order. According to him, the governor directed that the teachers be delisted from the salary voucher.

Georgewill added that Wike also directed that the teachers would pay themselves from the fees they collect every term. The directive however excluded the non-academic staff members of the schools, as they had been then received their salaries.

RIVSCO explained that efforts by the affected workers to seek the governor’s forgiveness failed. He added that Wike also refused to obey two court judgments.

The activists appealed to Governor Wike to tamper justice with mercy and release the teachers’ salary. They gave him from February 8 till March to pay up.

The statement reads: “We join the over 250 teachers, who are government workers, to plead with Governor Wike to revisit the decision on their salaries and pay up their five years’ unpaid salaries.

“These workers have suffered great hardship and death while their punishment lasted. These are Rivets people, the fees they allegedly collected were not given to them. They have families, children and spouses, most of them are the breadwinners and some are widows.

“We give the government until the middle of March to pay them their arrears or we mobilise civil society organisations to a peaceful demonstration and remain there until he pays them.”