The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Uzodimma presents N345.1b budget for 2021

    Uzodimma presents N345.1b budget for 2021

    By Chris Njoku, Owerri

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma on Wednesday presented a budget of N345 billion to the House of Assembly for the 2021 fiscal year.

    The ‘Budget of Wealth Creation’ earmarked N74 billion (50 per cent) for recurrent expenditure and 271 billion for capital expenditure.

    The Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges (CRFC), representing 20 per cent is N13 billion, proposed personnel cost is N14 billion, overhead costs (33.7 billion) and subvention costs (N723 billion).

    Read Also: Bauchi governor presents N213.9b budget

    Uzodimma said an increase in the personnel cost for ministries is anticipated to accommodate the new minimum wage.

    He, however, said the government would adopt strategies to reduce fiscal wastages and apply prudent utilisation of resources to execute projects.

    The governor also promised that the state will continue to bridge the infrastructural deficits through creative financing strategies and private public sector driven initiatives.

    Speaker Paul Emeziem said the budget was aimed at reconstructing the infrastructure in the state which has suffered decay and abandonment.

    He adjourned sitting till today for the second reading.

  • Ikpeazu rewards 15-year-old with scholarship

    Ikpeazu rewards 15-year-old with scholarship

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia 

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has rewarded 15-year-old Chibuike Ibekwe with a scholarship.

    Ikpeazu also gave Ibekwe’s mother, Mrs. Chika, money to support her petty business.

    Master Ibekwe dropped out of school and resorted to disposing refuse at the Ariaria International Market, Aba.

    The young Ibekwe, who hails from Mbano, Imo State, came to public knowledge after Mrs. Goodness Uzoukwu, a trader in shoes and clothes at Ariaria, narrated how Ibekwe returned a bag containing new shoes after she gave him to dispose, thinking it was trash.

    Mrs. Uzoukwu posted the video on her Facebook page and it has since gone viral.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu to reward exceptional corps members

    Ikpeazu, who received Ibekwe, his mother, and Chairman of Ariaria International Market, Emeka Igara, at his Umuobiakwa country home in Obingwa council, hailed the boy for his honesty.

    He said: “Your name is Chibuike, and mine is Chibuike too. I am happy you’ve proven to be very honest.

    “Honest people go far in life. Those who do not take what does not belong to them are people that God helps and saves in their times of difficulty. Thank you for being honest and for not taking what did not belong to you. You will go far in life.

    “Your today can’t decide your tomorrow because you are honest. You will go back to school. I will ensure you finish your secondary education because you are honest. If you remain honest, you will remain my friend and I will ensure you see me every month. What you have done by returning the goods to the owner is a mark of honour and proof of your honesty. Thank you, once again, Chibuike for being honest.”

  • Edo tribunal: Obaseki, others, know fate January

    Edo tribunal: Obaseki, others, know fate January

    By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin and Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

    The Justice Yunusa Musa-led Edo State governorship election tribunal will hear four petitions separately on January 11, 12 and 13 2021, it was learnt on Wednesday.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki; Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are respondents in the petitions.

    The tribunal is sitting on the petitions following the December 11 dismissal of a petition by the Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Ukonga Onaivi, against Obaseki, PDP and INEC, for failing to file pre-hearing notice.

    The four other petitions were filed by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its candidate Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party (APP), without joining its candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Allied Peoples Movement (APM), excluding its candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede; and Tracy Agol, without her party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    APP and Agol’s petitions would be heard on January 11, APM (January 12) and ADP (January 13).

    Read Also: Insecurity: Ize-Iyamu berates Obaseki’s silence

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered accelerated hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja, of the suit seeking to sack Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for alleged certificate forgery.

    A three-man panel of the Appeal Court, presided over by Justice Stephen Adah, rejected an application for stay of proceedings filed by Obaseki.

    Justice Adag held that the constitutional provision which stipulates 180 days for the hearing of pre-election cases did not permit granting of a stay of proceedings in such matter.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and a party member Williams Edobor are seeking Obaseki’s disqualification.

    They alleged that Obaseki forged his Bachelor of Arts Degree certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the last governorship election in Edo State.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed (before whom the case is pending at the Federal High Court) elected, in a ruling on Tuesday, to adjourn proceedings indefinitely pending the Court of Appeal’s decision on Obaseki’s application for stay of proceedings pending the hearing of an appeal he filed against an earlier ruling of the trial court.

    At the hearing of the application at the Court of Appeal yesterday, the appellate court disagreed with the position of Justice Mohammed, saying Section 258 of the Constitution does allow for a stay of proceedings in a pre-election or election matter.

    The panel in its unanimous decision ordered a return of the case to the trial judge.

  • Aguma: only judiciary can decide Rivers APC’s fate

    Aguma: only judiciary can decide Rivers APC’s fate

    By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee in Rivers State Igo Aguma has said only the judiciary can determine the party’s fate.

    Aguma insisted the state chapter was exempted from the National Executive Council’s dissolution of party structures across the country because prior to the resolution, the party already had a caretaker committee led by him, and as declared by the court. He said since no higher court had reversed the decision, he remained the acting chairman.

    Read Also; Rivers APC: Aguma insists on chairmanship

    He said: “The purported resolution by NEC was that the existing elected structures of the party at all levels be converted to caretaker committees, and this was already in place in Rivers State under my legitimate caretaker committee, which is still a subject of various appeals while the judgment remains in force.

    “We shall test every question, including all issues, up to the Supreme Court because only the judiciary can determine the fate of the APC in Rivers State, and we are fully committed to the rule of law.

    “All we are demanding and asking for is constitutional and inclusive democratic politics in line with our party constitution.”

    Aguma regretted that the party was back to a similar route it took in 2019, which made it impossible for it to field candidates in elective offices thereby dashing the hope of traumatised party faithful.

  • Ojezua joins PDP

    Ojezua joins PDP

    By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

    Factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State Anselm Ojezua has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ojezua cited loss of confidence in APC national leadership and alleged disobedience to the party’s constitution as his reasons for leaving.

    The factional chairman and some of his supporters took the decision at an ‘enlarged meeting’ of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of APC, which was attended by members of the State Working Committee (SWC), the self-acclaimed party chairmen in the 18 local government areas and Edo ‘leaders’ of the party.

    The resolutions, signed by 22 members of the SWC, reads: “Having reviewed the activities, particularly the romance between the National Caretaker Committee and leaders of a parallel group – the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), it is hereby resolved that our members should join other leaders and members who earlier relocated to the PDP with Governor Godwin Obaseki and Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

    “We encourage our members and leaders at all levels, numbering over 150,000, to also renounce their membership of the APC.”

  • ‘Reposition APC to guarantee victory’

    ‘Reposition APC to guarantee victory’

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has urged members of the caretaker committee to reposition the party ahead of the 2021 governorship election.

    Chairman Sir Basil Ejidike spoke on Thursday when he inaugurated members of the committee.

    He said: “As new leaders of the party, our duty is to ensure successful running of the party at the grassroots to maintain its strength in the state. We must take the party to the grassroots, make the people feel its impact, and assume its ownership.

    “I hail all leaders for your continued support for the party, and pray for cooperation of all to get APC into the Government House in 2021.”

  • Ikpeazu seeks victory for party

    Ikpeazu seeks victory for party

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has admonished stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bende Local Government Area to take advantage of their numerical strength to win the council election.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu preaches reconciliation

    Ikpeazu spoke when he kicked off campaigns at the Practicing School, Uzuakoli. He described Bende as important and strategic in the political history of Abia North and the state.

    The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko-Chukwu, said with PDP at the helm of affairs, wonderful transformations will continue to happen in the state.

  • Philanthropists pay hospital bills of 12 indigent mothers

    Philanthropists pay hospital bills of 12 indigent mothers

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    Despite came the way of about 12 nursing mothers in Nnewi, Anambra State, when a group of Nnewi indigenes resident in Atlanta, United States of America (USA), paid their hospital bills.

    The benefactors stormed the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) and paid the bills of eight indigent mothers.

    Their representatives – Mrs. Grace Okeke (a retired Assistant Director of Nursing at NAUTH); Mrs. Chioma Egbonu and Mrs Tawa Anigbogu, said the benefactors were more interested in nursing mothers.

    “We are here on behalf of Nnewi indigenes resident in Atlanta, USA. It has been an annual event because they do send some help to alleviate the sufferings of indigent patients, especially nursing mothers,” said Mrs. Okeke.

    The team also visited Immaculata Hospital, Okwuani, where four patients benefited from the gesturre.

    This mission was the third in the series.

  • Court stays hearing in suit to sack Obaseki

    Court stays hearing in suit to sack Obaseki

    By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja and Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

    A Fedderal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely proceedings in the suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member, Edobor Williams, praying for the sack of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    The plaintiffs are querying Obaseki’s academic qualification and want the court to disqualify him.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed yesterday granted a request by Obaseki’s lawyer, Ken Mozia, for an indefinite adjournment to enable the Court of Appeal determine an application to stay pending appeal.

    Justice Mohammed, who said he was not ready to put his court on a collision course with the Court of Appeal, said he would prefer to await the appellate court’s decision on the application for stay of further proceedings.

    The judge said none of the parties drew his attention to any authority that allows a trial court to continue proceedings when an application for stay of proceedings and appeal against its decision were pending before the appellate court.

    He said he would await the Court of Appeal’s decision  on the application for stay and was ready to proceed with the case should the appellate court so direct.

    Olujinmi said parties would be before the Court of Appeal today in respect of the application for stay of proceedings filed by Obaseki.

    Read Also: Obaseki swears in SSG

    Edo University, Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area, established by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has been renamed through an executive bill.

    Ten of the 24 member-House of Assembly amended the law establishing the university. The lawmakers amended Section Four of the Edo State University Law, thereby replacing Iyamho with Uzairue, the generic name for Etsako clan.

    The lawmakers acted on the executive request, with the committee of the whole suspending Rule 20 of the Assembly to enable it consider the request and amend the university’s law, which was quickly done.

    Speaker Marcus Onobun directed that the bill be given an accelerated third reading for clean copies to be sent to Obaseki for assent.

  • Wike: sack incompetent, unqualified lecturers 

    Wike: sack incompetent, unqualified lecturers 

    By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has urged universities to sack unqualified, incompetent lecturers to improve the quality of graduates.

    The governor said there was no need retaining teachers without the right qualification and problem-solving capabilities.

    He suggested that universities’ curriculum must address skills, linkages to industries and relevant competencies for job creation or self-employment.

    A statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said Wike spoke yesterday at the 32nd convocation and 40th anniversary of the Rivers State University in Port Harcourt.

    He said for the universities to have international standards, stakeholders must address the declining quality of graduates.

    Read Also: PDP greets Wike at 53

    Wike said while government would continue to address faculty shortage, the universities must do something about their curriculum, quality of teaching staff and research outputs, to be at par with international standards.

    He said: “There is no use employing or keeping teachers who do not possess the right qualification, competence, character and commitment to quality teaching and problem-solving research, if our universities must improve on the quality of graduates they turn out.”

    According to him, the zeal to expand access to tertiary education informed the investments he has made to upgrade and expand educational facilities in the university.

    “Our responsibility therefore is to ensure that this university develops into becoming one of the best tertiary institutions in the country to serve our people, nation and mankind,” he added.