The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • NANS hails Ugwuanyi over justice for #EndSARS victims

    NANS hails Ugwuanyi over justice for #EndSARS victims

    Our Reporter

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for moving to secure justice for the late Ejike Okeke.

    The deceased was a student of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, who was hit by a stray bullet during the #EndSARS protest hijacked by miscreants.

    In a statement by the Deputy Coordinator, NANS Zone B (Southsouth, Southeast) Comr. Darlington Ugwuegbe and NANS Chairman, Enugu State, Comr. Romanus Ogene, the students expressed satisfaction that “the Ugwuanyi administration has swung into action, dispatching government delegation to pay condolences to the bereaved families and initiating an investigation panel geared towards identifying perpetrators of these crimes.”

    Read Also: Ugwuanyi most youth-friendly governor, says NANS

    They said the government has also gone further “to demonstrate pro-activeness by setting up a panel on victims of #EndSARS protest, to investigate and ascertain peculiar cases surrounding every victim of the protests and report for urgent government action”, in line with their demands.

    NANS stressed that “these urgent actions by the Governor Ugwuanyi administration clearly demonstrate responsiveness and forthrightness of the government”, and have gone further to reaffirm “our faith and trust in the current administration”.

  • Uzodimma launches road construction

    Uzodimma launches road construction

    Our Reporter

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has launched the construction of the 12 kilometre Awo-Omamma-Okwudor Road in Oru East and Njaba local government areas of Imo State.

    The road, which past administrations ignored for reasons known to them, will be completed in 18 months, according to the governor.

    The governor said he has engaged a reputable company, HENAN D.R., to “do a world-class road that will compete with any other construction anywhere in the world.”

    Read Also: Uzodimma seeks patience over bad roads

    He said Awo-Omamma-Okwudor road will have double drainage and will help to address the road infrastructural deficit in Imo State as well as improve the economic activities in the two local governments in particular and Imo State in general.

    Governor Uzodimma said the road is part of government’s efforts to strengthen the economic activities in Imo and to “help the rural farmers in the area to be able to evacuate their farm proceeds to the urban areas and maximise the gains of their agricultural output.”

    Commissioner for Works Raph Nwosu, who gave a brief history of the road, said it had broken down for the past 20 years and became a source of concern to the Shared Prosperity Government in Imo State, hence the need for the construction.

  • ‘Protesters destroy historical heritage in Abia’

    ‘Protesters destroy historical heritage in Abia’

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    The Ukwa/Ngwa ethnic nationality of Abia State has urged the protesters of the EndSARS campaign to pursue peace and stop the destruction of private and public properties in Aba and Umuahia.

    The group, who embarked on a clean-up and sensitisation of market associations in Aba, described the destruction of the famous Aba town hall as a desecration of the land.

    They lamented what they described as the destruction of the over 100 years Ngwa historical artifacts of the Ngwa nation and the Igbo race at the popular Aba Town Hall, where other properties including the Aba South Local Government offices were also destroyed by the protesters.

    Addressing youths and people of Aba, the Coordinator of the clean-up exercise, Chief Uzo Ihuka, explained that the agitations had drawn the attention of the federal and state for negotiations before the shooting incident at Lekki toll gate in Lagos brought about a twist of events.

    He said the shooting led to the infiltration of hoodlums into the ranks of the protesters who started unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting citizens and destroying public and private properties.

    Read Also: Anambra, Abia tighten security as IPOB shelves protest

    He said: “We cannot but weep at the extent of wanton destruction of our historical heritage, the Aba town hall which is over 100 years.

    “For instance, Aba town hall was where the famous Aba Women riot of 1929 kicked off. Residences, financial institutions and businesses were not spared. This violence resulted in loss of lives.

    “Aba belongs to all of us, the indigenes and the inhabitants; the combination of all of us is what makes Aba thick.

    “We must not also forget that Aba is our motherland, where everyone can come empty handed and rise to the peak of whatever trade they choose.

    “We all should strive to leave a better Aba for our children as we inherited from our fathers.

    “It is the fundamental right of the youth to protest, but that right must be exercised within the ambit of the law. And we must not allow any ethnic agitation that will bring about wanton destruction of infrastructures like we have witnessed, to continue.

    “Do not forget that destruction of properties and businesses can only create unemployment and backwardness. Development can only come in time of peace.”

    He sympathised with those affected by the destruction and urged them not to take laws into their hands.

    The group leader, who noted that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the incident and make recommendations, said victims would get succour.

  • I have original Aburi accord tapes, says Kanu

    I have original Aburi accord tapes, says Kanu

    From Chris Njoku, Owerri 

    The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said he is in possession of the original Aburi accord tapes, “which will vindicate the late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and Biafra before the world.”

    The Aburi accord is an official record of the minutes of the meeting of Nigeria’s military leaders held in Aburi, Ghana shortly before the outbreak of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

    Kanu claimed yesterday in a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful that he possessed the original Aburi accord tapes, whose content would shock the world.

    He said the tapes would vindicate Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and Biafra.

    Read Also: Nnamdi Kanu threatens to disgrace corrupt politicians abroad

     

    Kanu said the tapes had startling revelations of what transpired on that day, which he said would shock the British Government and media.

    “Our eternal leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and Biafra are about to be vindicated before the world. All the lies concocted against Ojukwu and Biafra by the BBC and world media are about to be blown out of the water.

    “A very massive earthquake is coming. Britain, Gowon, Nigeria and the media are about to receive the greatest shock of their lives,” he said.

     

  • Bank closure leaves customers stranded in Abakaliki

    Bank closure leaves customers stranded in Abakaliki

    The continued closure of commercial banks in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, in the wake of the violent EndSARS protests in the city, has left many bank customers stranded and frustrated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that banks in Abakaliki closed for business on Monday, when the protest assumed a violent dimension, with the torching of private and public property.

    A NAN correspondent, who visited some automated teller machines (ATMs) in the city, reports that they were not dispensing cash, an indication that they were not loaded with cash. It was learnt that banks decided not to open to public to avoid being attacked by hoodlums.

    The protesters razed the Central Police Station, Onuebonyi and destroyed public buildings as well as private and public vehicles in the city.

    NAN also reports that major roads in Abakaliki were yesterday barricaded by security operatives deployed in strategic locations in the city to help bring the situation under control.

    Read Also: Access Bank offers N50b interest-free loans to MSMEs, youths

     

    A cross-section of the residents has decried the alleged hijack of the otherwise peaceful  EndSARS protest by suspected hoodlums.

    Speaking in interviews with NAN, they called on the security agencies to take steps to bring the crisis to an end.

    A bank customer, Mrs. Grace Okome, told NAN that the protest had lost its essence and now poses threat to the nation’s economy and security.

    “Look at how we are suffering. Even in your street, you are not safe. Crime is now on the increase.

    “The worse now is that there is no money because the banks are not working and one cannot withdraw money through the ATMs.

    “The protest has done more evil than good to the people. Everybody is frustrated.

    “Even when you have the money, it’s still difficult to buy anything because of the high cost of commodities in the market,” Okome said.

    Also, Mr. Chimaobi Okafor regretted that he could not withdraw money to meet his needs because the ATMs were unable to dispense cash.

    “I have visited four to five banks but none is working,” he said.

    “The protesters are heartless. How can they be destroying private and public property in the name of protest.

    “Positive change does not come in an atmosphere of chaos and disorder.

    “See how people are suffering. From curfew to where we are now, no access to our own money in the bank.

    “Please, they should end the protest to move the state and country forward. The protest has disrupted governance at all levels,” Okafor said.

     

  • Ugwuanyi constitutes panel on #EndSARS protest victims

    Ugwuanyi constitutes panel on #EndSARS protest victims

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has constituted a nine-member administrative panel of inquiry to look into the recent loss of lives and/or other grievous bodily injuries to citizens and security personnel, resulting from the hijack by miscreants of the otherwise peaceful #ENDSARS protests.

    The panel will also look into the related destruction of properties of citizens and security infrastructure in Enugu State.

    According to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the panel was constituted by Governor Ugwuanyi “pursuant to Executive Order No. 04 of 2020 dated 27th October, 2020, made in the exercise of his powers under Section 4 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law Cap. 24 of the Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004”.

    Prof. Ortuanya said the terms of reference of the panel, which has 60 days to conclude and submit its report to the governor, are “to identify private persons and security personnel who lost their lives and recommend compensation that may be paid to their families” and “to identify private persons and security personnel who sustained grievous bodily injuries and recommend compensation that may be paid to them”.

    Other terms of reference are “to determine private properties and security infrastructure destroyed and recommend compensation and/or remedial measures” and “make any recommendations arising out of the evidence, considerations or findings of the administrative panel in relation to the matters set out in paragraphs A to C above that the panel considers appropriate”.

    The SSG disclosed that membership of the panel, which will be inaugurated today at the Government House, Enugu at 1pm include – Justice Fredrick Obieze, (rtd.) – Chairman; Prof. Frank Ezugwu (Provost, ESUTH College of Medicine) – Member; Prof. Agozie Ogbodo (Dean, Faculty of Law, Godfrey Okoye University) – Member; H.R.H. Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu (Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike)  – Member; Prof. Ngozi Ejionueme (Head, Department of Marketing, ESUT) – Member.

    Others are Rev. Emmanuel Edeh (CAN Chairman in Enugu State) –Member; Chief Frank Maluze (Chartered Estate Surveyor and Valuer) – Member; Comrade Modester Onwuha (Vice-President, SUG, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus) – Member; Barrister Ben. Chinedu Oloko (Private Legal Practitioner representing the Youth) – Member and Mr. Charles Abugu (Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service) – Secretary.

     

  • Ex-militants threaten resumption of agitation

    Ex-militants threaten resumption of agitation

    From Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    Ex-militants, under the Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, have threatened to go back to the creeks over the plight of beneficiaries whose training, empowerment and reintegration programmes have been suspended abruptly.

    The third phase ex-agitators, under the auspices of the United Amnesty Delegates, yesterday frowned at the abandonment of the reintegration and empowerment component in a radio programme monitored in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    They noted that reneging on

    full reintegration of all ex-agitators captured during the disarmament stage amounted to a breach of the terms of the amnesty agreement and advised the government to keep the pact.

    According to the leader of the group, Mr Ebi John, the development followed the non-payment of verified PAP’s contractors since November 2019 up till date.

    He also said the speculations on plans to scrap or wind down the Amnesty programme without fully reintegrating the 30,000 beneficiaries had caused apprehension among their fold as they were contemplating a protest to demand the resumption of the exercise.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on August 26, 2020 announced the sacking of Prof Charles Dokubo, who was earlier suspended in February 2020 and appointed Col Milland Dikio (retd.) as the Interim Coordinator of the programme.

    Speaking during the programme, the ex-militant leader lamented the pains the ex-militants in the Niger Delta were going through as a result of the non-payment of contractors handling various trainings and empowerment schemes in the programme.

    Ebi explained that the most critical part of the Amnesty programme is the reintegration of the ex-agitators into civil life, saying reintegration comprised the training and empowerment of the ex-agitators to enable them to have sustainable sources of livelihoods in line with the amnesty deal with the Federal Government.

    He said that the suspension of training and empowerment of the ex-agitators was an clear indication of the rumoured scraping of the Presidential Amnesty Programme by the present administration, adding that the move would be resisted.

    He stated: “Our findings indicate that the National Security Adviser has been in charge of the programme and we shall not accept  scraping the Presidential Amnesty Programme without achieving its objectives.

    “The United Amnesty Delegates is sending a message to the NSA that the alleged plot to scrap the programme is now clear to the entire Niger Delta people, particularly the ex-militants and we will resist it with our blood as usual.

    Read Also: Five killed as troops raid militants’ camp in Bayelsa

     

    “The non payment of contractors/vendors by the Amnesty office since November last year is a ploy by the NSA to cleverly scrap the programme as beneficiaries of the programme no more undergo trainings.

    “This is because of the backlog monies the office is owing contractors. We are calling on the Federal Government to caution the NSA to pay all verified contractors to enable beneficiaries to return to their various training centres to continue with their training and empowerment schemes without further delay.

    “If the government fails to address this appalling situation, we shall have no other option but to go back to the creeks and take actions that will compel the Presidency to react immediately.

    “The payment should cut across board and devoid of bias. The United Amnesty delegates demand an explanation as to why the NSA is still the one running the office after an interim coordinator has been appointed.”

    Chairman of Amnesty Vendors Forum, Mr Samson Graham, in a reaction said the Amnesty office stopped paying contractors since November 2019.

    According to him,  the contractors cannot continue their trainings and empowerment schemes without funds, hence, everything about training and empowerment has been halted for about one year.

    He appealed to the Presidency to facilitate the payment of verified contractors to enable them to return to the various training centres to continue their jobs.

    A source at the Presidential Amnesty Office who spoke on condition of anonymity stated that the delays were due to several audit investigations in the tenure of the last Coordinator.

    End.

     

  • ‘We won’t allow IPOB to cause chaos in Bayelsa’

    ‘We won’t allow IPOB to cause chaos in Bayelsa’

    From Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC) has warned that it would not allow any secessionist group such as the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to cause chaos in Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states in the name of #EndSARS protests.

    It condemned the attacks on the police and security agencies in Rivers State, which led to the death of some policemen, including Mr. Oliver Igbani, a police inspector from Otuokpoti in Bayelsa State.

    IYC spokesman Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, speaking yesterday at a news conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, urged the Federal Government to begin the process of implementing the 2014 National Conference report as part of measures to address the myriad of challenges confronting the country.

    He called for an independent judicial panel to investigate violence and killings in parts of the country during the #EndSARS protest, including the beheading of Mr. Oliver Igbani, a police inspector from Otuokpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, by pro-Biafran youths in Oyigbo area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Read Also: Anambra, Abia tighten security as IPOB shelves protest

     

    Ekerefe said the answer to some of the #EndSARS unrest and other contentious issues experienced across the country could be quickly resolved with the implementation of issues bordering on federalism, resource control and restructuring.

    He said: “Ijaw youths are unrepentant apostles of resource control. It is on this note that we support the gold mining of Zamfara State Government, as this is the hallmark of true federalism.

    “All we ask for is that the Niger Delta people should also be allowed to control our oil and gas resources. It is double standard and provocative when the Federal Government criminalises oil bunkering in the Niger Delta and supports gold mining in Zamfara State.”

     

  • Anambra, Abia tighten security as IPOB shelves protest

    Anambra, Abia tighten security as IPOB shelves protest

    By Nwanosike Onu, Awka; Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    Security was beefed up in Anambra and Abia states on Monday following a plan by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stage a protest in the Southeast and Southsouth.

    IPOB had on Sunday urged members to join the peaceful protest, during which cities would be cleaned up.

    But the group, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said its Anambra Command had already cleaned up the mess caused by the miscreants that held the state hostage for the past one week.

    “Residents of Nnewi and Onitsha are asked to go about their businesses while waiting for further directives from the supreme leader.

    “We are also disassociating ourselves from the faceless viral video threatening to attack prisons in Anambra State.

    “It is cowardly. We do not hide our faces while making our statement. We are fearless. We are not in support of such cowardly statement,” IPOB said.

    Read Also: Five soldiers killed as Wike declares war on IPOB

    The protest or clean-up also did not hold in Aba and Umuahia, Abia State, as earlier announced.

    When our reporter visited parts of Umuahia, people were seen going about their business.

    There was no sign that the clean-up exercise and the peaceful protest took place anywhere in the city.

    Stern-looking security personnel were seen at strategic places as the state government had earlier assured it was going to protect lives and property.

    In Anambra, security patrol teams made up of the Joint Task Force (JTF) were seen moving around major the towns of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi as directed by Governor Willie Obiano.

    They were also seen at strategic locations, especially government establishments, wielding sophisticated weapons.

    IPOB has threatened to disgrace corrupt politicians whenever they are found outside the country.

    Its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in a live broadcast, said there would be no hiding place for looters anywhere in the world.

    He said: “Any day any corrupt Nigerian political office holder is sighted in any foreign country, such a person will be publicly disgraced and humiliated.

    “From today, October 25, 2020, if we get you abroad, we will disgrace you. Stay at home until you meet the 23 demands of the youths,” he said.

    Kanu blamed the infrastructural decay and endemic corruption in Nigeria on the avarice of the politicians.

    He said politicians let schools collapse while funding their children’s education abroad with stolen funds.

    “The children of such politicians schooling abroad will be chased back home by the diasporan Nigerians to enrol in schools which their parents failed to renovate and fund at home,” he added.

    The IPOB leader said he was aggrieved by the shooting of youths who were protesting against police brutality at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

  • Bayelsa community reports oil leak at Agip’s oilfield

    Bayelsa community reports oil leak at Agip’s oilfield

    Agency Reporter

    The people of Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have reported an oil spillage at an oilfield operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    A community spokesman said the pollution was causing untold hardships to the predominantly fishing population in the community.

    The spokesman, Chief Inikio Sele-Dede, who is also the chairman of Okpoama Kingdom Chiefs’ Council, raised the alarm in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yenagoa.

    He described the community as where the Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, hails from, saying youths in the community were being restrained from resorting to violence.

    He disclosed that youths had threatened to attack the Agip CudenTerminal in Brass over the leakage, which occurred along the 243  Ogoda-Brass Trunk line operated by NAOC at Ikuiku, near Ewoama-Brass in Bayelsa State.

    Sele-Dede said the spill, the second in the area since last May, was discovered on October 8 and that it had continued to discharge crude into the creeks and damaging the environment.

    Read Also: Avengers issues 21-day ultimatum to FG, threatens attacks on oil facilities

    He lamented that the leaking oil had spread to Fantuo, Canus Kiri Okpongbokiri, Inibomoye Kiri, Alafurughakiri and Inengigha kiri because of tidal currents.

    The community leader said, however, that officials of NAOC had visited the scene of the spill but were not able to stop the flow.

    “In May this year we had a similar incident not far from the current spill site.

    “In this case, just like the previous case, Agip officials came secretly to attempt to stop the leakage, but were overwhelmed by the pressure.

    “You can imagine the quantum of oil that has gone into the creeks, given the number of days of leakage from October 8.”

    Sele-Dede described Ikuiku community as an area where women go to harvest periwinkles, saying people no longer go to the area to fish because of pollution.

    “I understand the anger of the youth because the company which provides power in the community has not provided power to the community in recent times.”

    Sele-Dede pleaded with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to intervene in the management of the spill.

    Contacted on the development, Eni, the parent company of NAOC, in a statement, confirmed the spillage, but regretted that its response had been hampered by denial of access by host communities.

    “Preliminary findings show that the event is a minor spill, estimated in less than two barrels and containment measures have been deployed.

    “However, community disturbances linked to issues of land ownership involving multiple communities have been delaying our access to the area.

    “Regulators and authorities have been duly informed and we are continuing to engage the community to get access to the area,” said Eni management.