By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

Two women have been remanded in the Correctional Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, for allegedly battering a 10-year old girl, Chidimma Nworie in Ndiowu town in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, Nneka Ayaene (34) and Chinenye Okoh (22) reportedly poured hot water all over the body of the victim said to be their house help following her inability to return the bowl of water she brought for them.

The victim was said to have been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said: “It would be recalled that on the 5/1/2021 at about 1015:am, following a formal complaint of child abuse and grievous assault, police operatives attached to Oko Police Station arrested one Nneka Ayaene ‘f’ aged 34 years and Chinenye Okoh ‘f’ aged 22 years of Ndiowu town in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State.

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“Suspects allegedly assaulted their house help, one Chidimma Nworie Ani ‘f’ aged about 10years by pouring her hot water which caused her injuries all over her body due to her inability to wait and return the bowl of water she brought for the suspects.

“Meanwhile, police operatives visited the scene and rushed the victim to Best Hospital Oko for medical attention where she is presently responding to treatment.

“Consequently, the suspects have been charged to magistrate court Nanka for prosecution after conclusion of investigation.

“Case adjourned to 10/2/2021 and suspects remanded at the Correctional Centre Onitsha.”

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

A group of Igbo professionals under the aegis of Coalition of South East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora (CSEPNND), has alleged that ’desperate’ politicians are sponsoring the leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to scuttle the chances of the zone to produce the president in 2023.

Condemning the activities of IPOB and its leader, the Igbo professionals, urged the Southeast governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and we’ll meaning Igbo sons and daughters to rise against the proscribed group by denouncing it publicly.

It insisted that “the region must be vigilant and not succumb to Kanu’s antics of speaking or carrying out his actions for the South East interest.”

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In a statement, signed by its National President, Prof. Madumere Chika, and National Secretary, Mazi Anayo Uchemba, Friday, the group alleged that a certain Nigerian politician from the South is bankrolling Kanu to scuttle Igbo’s quest for presidency in 2023.

It claimed that it has been vindicated of its earlier position that certain forces were behind the IPOB leader and his inglorious activities following current happenings around him.

“We wish to authoritatively say that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not working for the interest of Ndigbo,rather he is being bankrolled by  a certain Nigerian politician who is contesting the 2023 presidential elections from the South against the Igbos,” it alleged.

“We are vindicated by the findings and happenings around  Mazi  Nnamdi Kanu, the fugitive leader of IPOB, and we call on all Ndigbo around the world to distance themselves from this Kanu and his terrorist group,” it added.

By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Protesting Itsekiri youths on Tuesday marched on the Delta State Government House in Asaba, the state capital, to protest the alleged ceding of Warri North chairmanship seat to Ijaw.

They said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Warri North were masterminding political tension in the area. They urged party leaders to avert impending crisis by reversing the decision.

The protesters vowed to use legal means to stop the ceding of Warri North chairmanship to Egbema Ijaw, insisting that all interested aspirants should be allowed to purchase forms and be screened.

They carried placards with inscriptions like “”We will never recognise any ceding of Warri North chairmanship to Ijaw”; “Warri North, stop the trading of Itsekiri”; “Itsekiri leaders, the youths can’t breathe”.

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Mone Oris, who spoke for the protesters, said instead of the PDP Electoral College with 25 persons, which should select candidates through primaries, only ‘two people masterminded the process from their homes and choose a candidate without consulting others in the council’.

He called for a PDP primary to be conducted by the 25 stakeholders to select the right candidate and allow a level playing field for all to participate.

President of Movement for the Protection of Iwere Homeland, Development and History (MPIHDH) James Aderojor stressed that Warri North chairmanship can’t be ceded to non-Itsekiri. He added that if the decision is not reversed, political peace will not be enjoyed in the area.

Aderojor cautioned those allegedly behind the decision to desist from such ‘failed political calculation’, saying ‘Ogheye Ward alone is more than the four Egbema Ijaw Wards in the local government area’.

Okowa’s Senior Political Adviser Funkekeme Solomon, who addressed the protesters, described the governor as a man of peace ‘who believes in fairness and equity across’.

He praised the youths for their peaceful disposition while assuring that their protest will reach the governor.

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chidozie Nwankwo, has said the party will form the next government in Anambra State

He said the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will not return to power.

Nwankwo, who addressed reporters in his Oko community, Orumba North Local Government Area, said: “Just watch, APC will form the next government in Anambra State. Then, you will know that I am a man of God. I don’t say things that don’t happen. Going forward, there will be change in the ruling party. Just watch and see.

Read Also: Anambra 2021: As Nwankwo joins the fray

“That will let you know that I am not just an ordinary aspirant. Yes! And that has been all my life. If you ask people who know me, they will tell you.

“Check everything that I have ever done. When I started selling roof tiles, nobody knew about it in Nigeria. But today, it is the in-thing everywhere. I have always gone ahead.

“The paint I am selling today is the first in human history that silicon base is used to make paints. There are some technological innovations that have never been used in any paint before. So, I always like to drive things.

“I study situations ahead of time. Watch and see, APGA will not rule Anambra again. Mark my word.”

By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

The Federal Government on Tuesday kicked off the 774,000 Extended Special Public Works Programme (ESPW) for 31,000 beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom State.

Governor Udom Emmanuel thanked the government for introducing the scheme.

Emmanuel, who was represented by Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo, said the programme will create 1,000 jobs in each of the 31 local government areas. According to him, the initiative will engage youths in communities and villages in skilled and unskilled professions.

The governor hinted that the benefits would range from feeder road maintenance, drainage clearing and maintenance, street clearing and general sanitation exercise, among others.

Read Also: 774,000 jobs: Delta gets N1.59b for beneficiaries

He said: “This is implemented in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). The ESPW is targeted at shielding the most vulnerable skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled youths in the 774 councils.

“It is projected that 31,000 youths will benefit from the ESPW programme in the initial three months of its implementation.”

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Ubokutom Nyah, said the introduction of the scheme became necessary with the emergence of COVID-19.

He said the programme will adopt a proactive approach in engaging youths and stimulating the economy.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has promised to complete all projects initiated by his administration before the end of his tenure.

Wike spoke on Tuesday when he led a former Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, to inaugurate the Rumuekini/Aluu Road, traversing Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.

A statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said Wike’s successor would initiate his own projects, instead of being burdened by uncompleted projects.

The statement reads: “There is nothing that will be given to you that will be too much. Nobody that will succeed me will complete any of my projects because I will complete all my projects before I go. I won’t leave any project burden for my successor. When the new person comes, let him initiate his own projects.

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“Before now, APC said we are building roads only in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor council. Now, they can’t talk again. We have inaugurated projects in Khana, Gokana, Eleme. We were also at Akuku-Toru and Emohua. We are a government for every Rivers person and every local government.”

Anyim said he was delighted to associate with Wike because he has shown, through his projects, that he is truly bonded with Rivers people and know their needs.

He said: “Governor Wike, because you commission projects, it is certain no project will be abandoned. I am proud to identify with the progress that you have made.

“I am proud to belong to the PDP family. It is the spirit of PDP that is at work in your government and that spirit of PDP will come to work in Nigeria…”

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Indigenes of Rumuolumeni Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have protested against the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder for arresting and detaining their chiefs.

Youths from the community blocked all roads in the area asking the Navy to release their community leaders.

The Navy was said to have invited the Community Development Committee Chairman, Ikechi Williams, Youth President, Chairman of Employment Bureau (REB) Noble Orluegele, and other leaders, for a meeting but detained them.

One of the youth leaders, Felix Chinda, said the protest was against the Navy for unlawfully detaining their leaders.

Chinda said the Navy, for over eight years, harboured a marine company within its premises and shielded the community from making contact with the firm.

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He said: “The protest is against the inhuman treatment against us by the Navy. Rumuolumeni has been a peaceful community and we host many companies and institutions. Since Navy came, we have never had it easy with them. They never support us during crisis.

“They will only come when they want to oppress us. Navy has hosted Ocean Marine Solutions in their premises for over eight years. We have written many letters but they have refused to listen to us.”

Vice Chairman of REB Emmanuel Ikenga said the Navy had shown disrespect for the host community.

Ikenga said: “Our CDC and REB chairmen have been held hostage by the NNS Pathfinder. When the youths heard of it, we came out to block the road. The protest will continue until they release our people. Our demand is that the company should come out clear and employ us.”

Henry Amaewhule, Secretary of CDC Rumuolumeni, threatened that the youths would remain on the road until their leaders were released and the marine company come to a roundtable with the community.

A Senior Naval Officer, who spoke in confidence, said the Navy was looking into the issues and would soon resolve them.

He said the Navy would make its position known in an official statement.