By Nsa Gill, Calabar

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH), Cross River State, has promised to probe the death of a neurosurgeon and medical consultant in the hospital, Dr. Mathias Nnadi.

Nnadi died at the weekend on his way to the hospital. His sudden illness was reportedly triggered in a gridlock.

A statement on Tuesday by the Corporate Affairs Department reads: “Our attention has been drawn to various accounts, especially on social media, of the death of Dr. Mathias Nnadi, a neurosurgeon. Some of these accounts emanate from professionals who ought to know better.

Read Also; NiDCOM describes death of US-based Nigerian doctor, wife as shocking

“These accounts contain a gross misrepresentation of facts. We urge the public to discountenance them and await a confirmation of events leading to that unfortunate outcome.

“In pursuit of UCTH’s commitment to transparency and improved healthcare, we will conduct a full inquiry into the events, the role(s) played by individuals, the failings, if any in our system, etc, to ascertain if another outcome was feasible in this case. We wish also to learn from this incident and strengthen our system.

“We commiserate with Nnadi’s family, and ask the public to allow the family and community mourn this loss with dignity.”

By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has signed the 2021 budget of N346.2 billion into law.

Uzodimma said the ‘Budget of Wealth Creation was a realistic thinking of what will drive Imo to the next level if fully implemented’.

According to him, the budget, if well implemented, will address unemployment, provide infrastructure, provide counterpart funding to the state’s global partners and bridge the gaps that in its local economy and other economies.

Read Also; Makinde signs N268.8b 2021 budget into law

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has assented to the 2021 appropriation bill.

Umahi, on December 15, presented a N122.8 billion appropriation bill to the House of Assembly. It was tagged ‘Budget of Stabilisation and Consolidation in a Recession’.

The governor reiterated his commitment to prioritise education and health in 2021. He hailed the House for passing the bill early enough and for their patriotism and peaceful disposition. He also praised the House for being the most peaceful in Nigeria.

Speaker Francis Nwifuru promised that the House would continue to give accelerated attention to the governor’s demands to accelerate development.

By Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakliki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State are in a war of words over the recent violence in the state.

Nine persons have been killed in what the police and government described as ‘cult-related’ killings.

A statement by the PDP Acting National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Ali Odefa, accused APC of orchestrating the murder of two party members.

He said: “The PDP notes with serious concerns the ugly developments in Ebonyi State in the last few weeks, which has led to the death of many innocent people.

“On November 27, Governor David Umahi made wild allegations against our party leaders, saying ‘I needed to raise an alarm because lives will be lost’. True to his threat, barely three days after that televised threat, a loyal member, Shedrak Nwode, from Umuezoka, Ezra South council, with his fiancée, were killed by a senior official of Umahi’s government.

Read Also: PDP, APC trade words over insecurity in Ekiti 

“The late Nwode’s crime was refusing to shout ‘APC –Change’ at a wedding. Three days after Nwode’s death, on December 4, three prominent supporters of our party in Ugwulangwu community were arrested on trump up charges of sponsoring cultists and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). It took serious interventions, including a threat to protest naked in Abakaliki by old women, for them to be released.

“…our members yet again suffered injuries with cars vandalised and many of them lost their valuables.”

Odefa also accused security of being passive and seemingly unconcerned.

But the APC debunked Odefa’s accusations.

Acting Chairman Stanley Okoroemegha said the nine persons were killed in cult clashes.

According to him, the governor has given ultimatum to arrest and prosecute the culprits.

Okoroemegha, who is also Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, said the Umahi-led government believes in freedom of association.

He said: “It is a wrong accusation. There is freedom of association. In fact, Ebonyi remains the number one place where it is being practiced.”

 Elo Edremoda, Warri

THE Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Etiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, Obukowho Whiskey, has warned that the peace in the Niger Delta is being ‘threatened’ following the appointment of a sole administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The traditional ruler insisted that inauguration of the screened NDDC board remains the only solution to issues plaguing the commission.

Whiskey, in a statement on Sunday, said Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio ‘cannot continue to dictate to the Niger Delta people’.

The statement reads: “As a major stakeholder in the Niger Delta project, I cannot pretend that all is well with daily developments selfishly targeted at igniting fresh crisis over President Muhammadu Buhari’s deliberate refusal to inaugurate the confirmed Board of the NDDC, under the Chairmanship of Pius Odubu and Bernard Okumagba, as managing director.

Read Also: NDDC: Court should void Akwa’s appointment

“Signals coming from the region are making monarchs like me worried because no right thinking person will sit aloof while his house is on fire. It is becoming clear that Akpabio is a merchant of many bad products that are not good enough for our people’s consumption. Or how can a statutory Federal Government agency suddenly 0become a private enterprise that its leadership keeps changing dangerously, without the input of other critical stakeholders?

“NDDC is Niger Delta’s common concern and no individual should be allowed to run it aground. The president must stop this very offensive macabre dance before the situation becomes uncontrollable…”