Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

FEDERAL Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer roads and environment for the public.

Sector Commander Andrew Kumapayi gave the assurance yesterday during the 2020 World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic Crashes. The event was themed ‘Remember, Support, Act’.

According to Kumapayi, the trauma occasioned by the #EndSARS protest would not deter his officers and men from rendering quality and efficient services to the people.

Read Also: FRSC Corps Marshal warns officers against bribery

He said: “Our men have been instructed to go back to work. It’s a service we’re rendering to the motoring public. Despite the assault on our workers, we’re fully committed to providing quality service to Nigerians.

“It’s on record that our workers have been killed in the line of duty, but we won’t allow innocent citizens die on our roads.

“We are also very mindful of our safety because we’re not armed. Thank God people have started clamouring that FRSC should also carry arms.”

 Chris Njoku, Owerri

SOUTHEAST leaders and organisations, particularly town unions in Igboland, have begun consultations to pick a consensus candidate to replace incumbent President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, whose tenure expires in January 2021.

Sources close to one of the town unions in Owerri, Imo State, said the decision to pick a consensus candidate was taken at a meeting called by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu last Tuesday.

“We have started consultations on a consensus candidate for Nwodo’s replacement after a meeting in Owerri last week. We also decided that we have to put our house in order before the January 7 election.

“We are expecting 30 delegates from each of the five states in the Southeast, 10 delegates each from Rivers and Delta States, and five delegates from other outlets,” the source said.

It was however gathered that because of the important role the organisation would be playing in the 2023 election, there has been divided interest in the choice of candidate for the position.

Read Also: Ohaneze, IPOB reconcile as Kanu retracts threat

While the northern political leadership is well disposed to the candidacy of former ambassador, Prof. George Obiozor, Western leaders are aligning with former Inspector-General of Police (IG) Mike Okiro.

However, majority of Ndigbo want the former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwogu, because of his experience and integrity.

“Igbo leaders and organisations want Nwogu due to his experience in the organnisation,having served as the former Secretary-General and three times organising committee chairman for Igbo day,” the source added.

By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it lacks the power to investigate or disqualify Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting the September 19 election for alleged forgery.

It said only a court order could disqualify a governorship candidate from participating in an election.

INEC insisted it could not investigate the originality, authenticity or otherwise of the disputed certificate presented by Obaseki as it was beyond its responsibility.

The commission gave the responses at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal as the first respondent in a petition by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel.

The response was signed by its lead lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

INEC said: “The information given by the third respondent (Obaseki) in the affidavit and documents submitted as a candidate in the election in INEC’s nomination form (Form C.F. 001) are presumed manifestly true or prima facie correct until and only if the contrary is proved and/or pronounced false by an order of the court.”

Read Also; Edo lawmakers will not hesitate to checkmate Obaseki, others, says speaker

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week admitted there were noticeable errors in Obaseki’s certificate, which it claimed occurred while filling the forms for the election in 2016, with the governorship candidate ‘mistakenly’ writing 1976 as his year of graduation, which ought to be his year of admission.

A PDP chieftain  Kenneth Imasuagbon has assured the people that Governor Obaseki will fulfil his campaign promises.

He urged the people to keep supporting Obaseki’s administration to move the state forward.

Imasuagbon, a former governorship aspirant on the PDP’s platform, spoke at his Ewohimi home in Esan Southeast Local Government Area when he hosted party supporters from ward one to four at the weekend.

The party chieftain said the event was to appreciate his people for voting for Obaseki. He also pleaded with the youths to shun violence.

He said: “I am here with leaders of this local government, especially from ward one to four, to say thank you for re-electing Godwin  Obaseki. I told Obaseki that I was coming to Ewohimi and he asked me to thank you for your support…”

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

• Governor approves N30,000 student support fund

• APC: it is a Greek gift

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has abolished the Pandemic Prevention Fee (PPF) which management of the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, directed students to pay.

The university administration, in a memo by its Registrar Acho Elendu, said students returning for the 2019/2020 academic session today should pay N15,000 to gain entry into the campus and participate in the first semester examination scheduled to begin on November 16.

But Governor Ikpeazu abolished the fee and instead announced the payment of N30,000 to each student as support fund.

Ikpeazu, in a series of tweets, said: “…I’ve directed the scrapping of the PPF; our government will instead pay N30,000 to each Abia student in the institution as further support to them, their parents and guardians in this difficult time…”

Read Also: Ikpeazu to prioritise workers’ welfare

But a statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary, Benedict Godson, described the N30,000 student support fund as a Greek Gift.

Godson described the N15,000 pandemic fee as the most ‘absurd academic decision and another exhibition of administrative rascality and recklessness’ from the government.

He said: “While other governments are busy slashing tuition and subsidising other charges, Abia is busy planning and executing disheartening extortionist policies against her own by imposing a compulsory N15,000 ‘Pandemic Prevention Fee’.

“Governor Ikpeazu’s tweet in defense of this fee is even more embarrassing. The proposed N30,000 support fund for the students must not be tantamount to any form of school fee or dubious fee increment, as we’re aware that they’ll try to make parents indirectly pay for the proposed support fund which may end up becoming a Greek Gift…”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri have called for the adoption of electronic voting to curb insecurity and hooliganism.

The two spoke at the weekend during the Third Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbia held at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Otakeme.

Jonathan blamed the insecurity in the country on activities of politicians who are hell-bent on grabbing power through the backdoor.

According to the former president, over 50 per cent of problems bedevilling the country, including insurgency, cultism and corruption, will be addressed if e-voting is adopted and effectively utilised.

He said: “Our political activities, particularly the use of young people as militiamen and thugs to win elections, have increased the security challenges facing our country. Some of these youths are so protected that even the police cannot arrest them because they are ‘boys’ to powerful politicians who use them during elections.

“That is why I have always advocated that for us to move forward as a country, we must adopt electronic voting where nobody will use thugs to win elections. With electronic voting, hooliganism and cultism will drop by at least 50 per cent.”

Read Also: Bold steps on e-voting

Diri, who was represented by Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, urged youths to shun politicians who only use them as canon fodders to achieve their selfish political goals.

The governor called on the people to key into the government’s prosperity agenda by embracing agriculture and small scale businesses to better their lot.

Diri said: “Just like our father said, I encourage our youths to resist evil politicians who do not mean well for them. If they invite you to carry guns, ask them, where are your children? You must learn to love yourself above any politician.

“For us as a government, we are determined to improve the lives of our people. And our focus is to see how prosperity can be engendered. Prosperity is not engendered by coming to beg a politician to give you something to eat.

“The man who teaches you how to fish is better than the one who gives you fish. To be taking fish from a politician everyday is to be dependent. To be a fisherman is to be independent. And to be independent is the glory and desire of every reasonable man.

“So we are ready to make our youths self-reliant and prosperous by teaching them how to fish in agriculture and other legitimate endeavours.”

Both leaders donated to the Ogbia Diocese and urged the clergy and laity not to relent in their prayers for the state and country.

Our Reporter

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has called on the Federal Government to repair its roads in the state.

Ikpeazu, in a series of tweets, noted that almost all federal roads linking Abia to other states are in total disrepair. He lamented the untold hardship the situation has brought upon the people.

He said: “…almost all the federal are dilapidated, causing untold hardship to motorists. I call for the urgent intervention of @NigeriaGov in revamping these roads which include the Aba/Port Harcourt section of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Highway; Aba-Ikot Ekpene and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene roads linking Abia to Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, and Umuahia-Ohafia-Arochukwu road, among others.”

Read Also; Budget 2021: FG to prioritise completion of ongoing roads, bridges – Fashola

Ikpeazu feared that Abia might be landlocked if nothing is done to salvage the situation.

“Given that our people have trade and commerce as their main source of livelihood, land locking Abia will amount to asphyxiation of our citizens. Save for the alternative new road we built between Akwa Ibom and Aba, through Ekwereazu, the plight of our traders would have been unimaginable!

“We, therefore, appeal for federal intervention on these roads, including Osisioma Owerrinta through the NNPC depot in Osisioma, where the federal Ministry of Works has been stopped from continuing our work,” he added.