The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Sylva victory excites Bayelsa APC

    Sylva victory excites Bayelsa APC

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has  described as big win for democracy,  the judgement which reversed the   disqualification of its candidate for the November 11, 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election Chief Timipre Sylva.

     The Court of Appeal had on Tuesday in Abuja  reversed the disqualification of Sylva for the November 11 polls.

     This followed the October 9 judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided by Justice Donatus Okorowo which nullified the candidature of Sylva in the November 11 governorship election on the excuse that he had taken the oath of office twice as Governor of Bayelsa State. This led to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) de-listing  Sylva’s name from the list of candidates.

      A statement by the APC  Publicity Secretary in the state,  Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said justice has been served and it is victory for the state.

       “The Appeal Court by its ruling has given the people of Bayelsa State a choice on November 11. A choice between light and darkness. A choice between moving to the mountain top and descending to the valley below. A choice between moving forward and backward. Democracy is about choices. And the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in sponsoring this frivolous case has demonstrated its mortal fear of our party, APC, and candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.

     “The PDP is desperate. They do not want us on the ballot. We thank God that this distraction is now over. justice has been served.”

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     “The Appeal Court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, ruled that the first respondent (Mr. Demesuoyefa Kolomo) is not an aspirant in the elections and therefore lacks the locus standi to file the case; that the upper court cannot exercise jurisdiction where  the lower court lacks it; and that the appeal is meritorious and allowed. A cost of N1 million was  awarded to the appellant.

     “Provision of adequate and affordable housing in both urban and rural areas in secure, healthy and decent environment for all Nigerians is the primary mandate of this Ministry and equally one of the cardinal focuses of the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Therefore, the issues of Housing and Urban Development are being given the deserved attention. The Ministry intends to actualize the aforementioned mandate, through a multi-stakeholders and institutional engagements and collaborations.”

     Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Sen. Gbenga Ashafa said the government has to make concerted and deliberate effort at urban development, through building of new cities and regenerating of the old ones.

     He said through this, not only will we provide houses to our people, we will also deliver more liveable and secure environment to them.

     He added, “More importantly, the value chain of the housing industry remains the surest bet of creating jobs, both directly and indirectly, employing both professionals and non-professionals. This will enable us to reinforce growth and recovery in our Urban Economies.”

  • Our plans for  Benue IDPs, by Fed Govt

    Our plans for  Benue IDPs, by Fed Govt

    The Federal Goverment has restated  it’s commitment to address humanitarian challenges bedeviling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State.

    A Federal Commissioner ,  National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, gave the assurance during the flag off   of the distribution of relief materials in Ichwa IDPs camp in Makurdi, the state capital .

    Aliyu said that the Federal Government’s ultimate goal  has been to see peace and security restored in Benue and in Nigeria, so that the IDPs can return to their homes and rebuild their lives.

    He said: “The Commission is working hard to strengthen our collaboration with the state government to address the humanitarian challenges and provide durable solutions. The plight of our dear brothers and sisters who have been forced to flee their homes by conflict is a pressing concern.

    “My dear brothers and sisters, I have seen you beaten by rain and scorched by the sun because you live in dilapidated make shift shelters. You have fled your homes and left behind your farm lands and lost your livelihoods. As a Commission, we are not oblivious of the numerous problems  you face.

    “I want to assure you that as the Federal Commissioner of The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, we are fully committed to assisting you with relief materials in the short term and livelihood restoration, housing, education for your children and healthcare for all.

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    “We are working with the state government to provide you with durable solution. As a gesture of our commitment, today, we will distribute some food items, non food items and empowerment materials. I assure you that we will come back to provide you with more support and more sustainable interventions,” he added.

    The federal commissioner noted that while efforts of cushioning the living conditions of IDPs in the camps is ongoing, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged that humanitarian aid alone cannot address the underlying problems, adding that the President under the Renewed Hope Agenda is working tirelessly to tackle the challenges of insecurity in the state and facilitate the IDPs return to their ancestral homes.  

    The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. James Iorpuu, intimated that there were  14,229 people made up of 2403 households in the Ichwa camp.

    Also, the Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Aondowase Kunde, said that the humanitarian crisis in all of 21 IDPs camp in the state with over two million population had been quite overwhelming for the state government alone to handle.

  • Imo NLC drops strike plan over court order

    Imo NLC drops strike plan over court order

    Imo State wing of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has dissociated its members from the plan of the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to occupy Imo State from today.

    Addressing reporters in Owerri after a meeting with other Labour leaders in the state, the state Acting Chairman of NLC, Rev. Philip Nwansi, said organised Labour in Imo would not be part of the planned action because of a subsisting court order stopping the NLC from embarking on any such action.

    The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State chapter, has cautioned the Ajaero-led NLC against any strike in the state, saying “Occupy Imo is politically- motivated.”

    The Industrial Court sitting in Owerri on October 27 granted an order restraining the NLC from embarking on any industrial action in Imo State.

    The NLC chairman said based on the court order, the planned strike code- named: ‘Occupy Imo’ had become illegal.

    “All the affiliate unions, we are obeying the court order and we urge Imo workers to be at their duty posts tomorrow as law- abiding citizens,” Nwansi said.

    He said besides the court order, the organised Labour in Imo State did not see any reason the national body should order a strike.

    “Imo State workers say no to ‘Occupy Imo’ because we have not found reasons enough for the action,” he said.

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    Nwansi noted that Labour in Imo State had been on the same page with the state government and wondered why the national body should cry more than the bereaved.

    He said since the Labour had no industrial dispute with the state government and since the court had declared the planned strike illegal, workers should go about their duties.

    CAN Imo State chapter enjoined the NLC leadership to shelve the idea of occupying Imo State in the name of a strike because of the negative impact it would have on the people.

    It said it was unthinkable for Labour leaders to contemplate strike in Imo or any other part of the country now because of what the people are passing through.

    CAN Chairman, Rev. Eches Divine Eches, gave the advice when speaking to reporters during a call on Governor Hope Uzodimma at the Government House Owerri, by the group.

    Eches, who said CAN had come to restate its position on the Imo Charter of Equity as the way to go in guaranteeing political stability in Imo, praised the governor on the giant strides he had recorded in the state since being in the saddle.

  • Monarchs reject suit withdrawal against Akwa Ibom govt 

    Monarchs reject suit withdrawal against Akwa Ibom govt 

    Thirteen paramount rulers have rejected withdrawal of the suit they instituted against Akwa Ibom State Government over the controversial Traditional Rulers Law.

    On October 17, Governor Umo Eno met royal fathers and asked them to withdraw the matter from court for settlement.

    Addressing a news conference in Uyo yesterday, one of the lead counsel for the plaintiffs (paramount rulers), Jumbo Udom, said the plaintiffs would not accept full withdrawal of the case from court.

    He said the defendants (Akwa Ibom Government) sought outright withdrawal of the case from the court and the motion did not go down well with the plaintiffs.

    He said the motion of leave of the court sought by his clients to explore peaceful settlement was enough for the defendants to accept.

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    The plaintiff’s counsel accused the counsel for the defendant, the state Attorney General, Uko Udom (SAN), “of vehemently opposing plaintiffs’ application for leave to settle the matter and for adjournment sine die.”

    “Udom insisted that the only condition for settlement is outright withdrawal of the case; otherwise, the defendants are prepared for the case to proceed.”

    According to him, the defendants’ counsel insisted that ‘‘if plaintiffs do not accept the condition to withdraw, the matter should proceed for further hearing.”

    He stressed that the matter would be statute-barred after three months if the governor employed delaying tactics in resolving the thorny issue.

  • Attorney-General accused of stalling peace efforts 

    Attorney-General accused of stalling peace efforts 

    Despite the push for an out-of-court settlement by Governor Eno, legal fireworks over the amended Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Law began yesterday.

    Monarchs from Annang, Oro and Obolo ethnic groups had proceeded to court to challenge the amended law, cap 155.

    They are against the aspect of the law that confers in perpetuity the position of President-General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers on the Ibibio, the majority ethnic group in the state.

    The monarchs through their counsel, Jumbo Uyo-Obong Udom, accused the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN, of stalling the peace process.

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    Addressing reporters in Abak Local Government yesterday, Udom, who spoke on behalf of other lawyers, said out of respect for the governor, and in view of the limitations period to the case in court, the traditional rulers sought a middle ground and filed a motion asking for leave to explore settlement and for adjournment sine die to enable parties meet and explore settlement with the governor.

    He lamented that despite their efforts, the Attorney General opposed the plaintiffs’ application for leave and instead insisted that the only condition for settlement was to withdraw the case, otherwise the defendants were prepared for the case to proceed.

    Efforts to speak with Udom were not successful, as he did not pick his calls at press time.

  • Communities seek N10b from firm over destruction of property

    Communities seek N10b from firm over destruction of property

    • Company: we will address their grievances

    Some oil-bearing communities in Akwa Ibom State have protested the destruction of their buildings, farmland and economic trees by Geoseimic Survey Ltd.

    The communities, namely Ikot Oyoro and Ibiote in Mkpat Enin and Ikot Akan in Ikot Abasi local governments are demanding N10billion as compensation from the firm.

    Geoseimic Survey Ltd is seeking oil deposits in the affected communities for Sterling Global Petrochemical Company situated in Eastern Obolo Local Government.

    Youths and women of the communities stormed the premises of the company last weekend, alleging that the activities of Geoseimic Survey Ltd had destroyed their buildings, farmland and economic trees and polluted their rivers.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Geo Seismic Survey lack respect for local content’, ‘We seek government, civil rights society intervention’, ‘We prefer mutual dialogue to violence’.

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    Others are ‘We solicit the assistance of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly’, ‘Farmers lament over crops and economic trees destroyed during your seismic activities’, ‘We plead for compensation’, among others.

    Former Youth Leader of Ikot Akan community in Ikot Abasi, Imo Usen, said the peaceful protest was to draw the attention of the company and the state government to their plight.

    He added: “We have through our lawyers written to the management of Geoseimic Survey Ltd to address the havoc caused by their activities in our community, but they paid deaf ears.

    “Our buildings, farmland and even our rivers have been destroyed and polluted. An evaluation team was despatched to assess the damage done, but the company has refused to take responsibility.

    that the community would go to the extreme if the company did not pay the compensation for the destruction it had caused.

    Akwa Ibom State Local Content Monitoring and Compliance Committee has given the company three days ultimatum to address the concerns of the affected communities.

    The Community Affairs Manager of Geo Seismic Survey Ltd, Philip Aguda, an engineer; promised to address the grievances of the affected communities.

  • Youths pledge support for Tinubu

    Youths pledge support for Tinubu

    Youths of Rivers State under the aegis of Rumuhechiorlu Youth Forum (RYF), a socio-cultural organisation, have congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his Supreme Court victory.

    In a statement by RYF Coordinator, Innocent Okocha, made available to The Nation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the youth described the apex court victory and affirmation of President Tinubu’s victory at the polls as well deserving; and pledged their support to ensure his administration succeeds.

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    They pledged their continued support to President Tinubu through the representative of the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Tony Okocha.

    The youth lauded President Tinubu for appointing Okocha into the NDDC board, saying he made the right choice.

  • ‘Soludo breaking poverty cycle through youths empowerment’

    ‘Soludo breaking poverty cycle through youths empowerment’

    Bigly Oil & Gas Services, one of the authorised revenue collectors and partners of Anambra Internal Revenue Services (AIRS), has praised Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo on his quest to break poverty cycle with the 1Youth 2Skills Initiative. 

    Soludo recently empowered 5,000 youths with N2billion and in the process, churned out 5,000 job creators in a massive human capital development drive. 

    Addressing reporters, Bigly Oil & Gas Services, through its spokesman, Dr. Harris Chuma-Odili, hailed Soludo for ensuring youths were not only being taught how to fish, but also given fishes. 

    He said: “It is certainly an unprecedented feat that over 5,000 Anambra youths, who were trained across life transforming skill sets, were equally empowered with N2billion as start-up grant with huge opportunity to access another N2billion loan from the Bank of Industry at single digit interest rate.

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    “At Bigly Oil & Gas, we are proud to identify with the ‘Solution Government’. With this initiative, Mr. Governor has not affected just 5,000 families when you analytically look at the ripple effect of this unprecedented empowerment. 

    “Governor Soludo, within a short period of time, has shown strong focus on addressing core issues of development. With this 1Youth 2Skills Initiative, the governor’s promise to create 1,000 youth millionaires annually is certainly realisable. 

    “Anambra is on the right track to become a major player in the MSMEs in Nigeria.

    “As one of the strong believers in the capacity of the Prof. Soludo-led administration, we enjoin Ndi Anambra to continue to support Governor Soludo and key into the policies being marshalled out to take the Light of the Nation to greater heights.”

  • Ebonyi senator, rep, others resign from PDP

    Ebonyi senator, rep, others resign from PDP

    The implosion of the Ebonyi chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued at the weekend, as Senator Obinna Ogba, ex-House of Representatives member Livinus Makwe and other top stakeholders resigned from the party. 

    The two former National Assembly members announced their resignation in a letter dated October 27, 2023 to their ward chairmen.

    Ogba represented Ebonyi Central District between 2015 and 2023, while Makwe represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency from 2019 to 2023.

    Also, six local government chairmen of the party announced their resignation.

    They include Agbom Friday (Ezza South), Nwofe Philip Don (Izzi ), Nwobasi Ude Chizoba (Ohaozara), Chukwu Micheal (Ivo), Ifere Sunday Bright (lkwo), Ndukwe Orji Okam (Afikpo South).

    Others who announced their resignation include James Alaka (State Organising Secretary), Ebeh Kingsley (Zonal Youth Leader), Uchenna Nwafor (former Zonal Auditor Southeast) and Samuel Onyeleke (Zonal Youth Leader, Ebonyi North).

    Ogba in his letter said the decision to quit the PDP was personal.

    “As an individual, I have made my modest contribution by working for the growth and development of PDP from ward to national level since its creation in August 1998,” he said. 

    The senator said the party had contributed towards the growth of his political fortunes.

    “I will remain grateful to the party and its leaders from the ward, local government, state, zonal to the national level. But it is time to quit,” he added. 

    On his future political plans, the senator said he would make this known in future after consultation with his immediate family, political followers and associates.

    Makwe said he resigned from the 

    party after consultation with his followers, supporters and well-wishers.

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    “Accordingly, I hereby resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, October 27, 2023.” 

    “The National Chairman of PDP, National Vice Chairman PDP (South East), Ebonyi State PDP 

    Chairman and Ivo Local Government PDP Chairman are by copies of this letter hereby accordingly notified of 

    this decision. 

    “I wish to thank the party for the platform and opportunity given me in the past to serve our nation, especially as a member of the 9th House of Representatives.

    “That is something I will always cherish. I do hope that this my resignation will be accepted in good faith by you and other members of 

    the party,” he said.

    The six PDP chairmen and other officers in their own signed letters said the reason for their resignation was personal. 

    A factional deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Nwabueze Ajah, has also resigned from the party.

    He said it would serve no meaningful political interest for him, political associates and supporters to hold further the membership of the Labour Party. 

    “The development will enable me explore other options that may accommodate my political aspirations, that of my associates as well as supporters,” he said.

    But the Caretaker Chairman of Ebonyi chapter of the PDP, Augustine Nwazunku, said the party was not aware of the resignation of the heavyweights.

    He alleged that they did not follow due process for resignation as enshrined in the party’s constitution. 

  • Ex-agitators warn against PAP termination

    Ex-agitators warn against PAP termination

    Ex-agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have warned against scrapping of the scheme, noting that those calling for the termination of the programme do not mean well for the people of Niger Delta.

    The ex-militants under the Second Phase Amnesty Ex-Agitators Forum, reacting to calls for the programme to be scrapped by a group, said findings showed that those calling for the liquidation of the programme were not from the region.

    The National Spokesman for the Second Phase Amnesty Ex- Agitatators Forum, ‘General’ Salvation Ibena Rufus, said in a statement yesterday that no true son of the Niger Delta or beneficiaries of PAP would seek or call for the termination of the programme or sack of the Interim Administrator of the programme, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd.

    He said under Ndiomu’s watch at PAP, beneficiaries had had it so good in recent times, adding that a breath of fresh air had been injected into the scheme. 

    Rufus said what critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta were clamouring for since the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the confirmation of Ndiomu as the substantive coordinator of the PAP, noting that the listed beneficiaries were appreciative of the superlative performance of the interim administrator.

    He said: “We are in harmony with genuine stakeholders from the region on the call for President Tinubu to confirm Major-General Ndiomu (rtd.) as the substantive boss of PAP.

    “We are urging these faceless characters and desperate political jobbers to leave the Presidential Amnesty helmsman alone to concentrate on his task of taking the Presidential Amnesty scheme to greater heights.” 

    “We have it on good authority that the authors and sponsors of the calls for scrapping of the PAP are not from the Niger Delta. Our intelligence gathering suggested that the motive behind the blistering media war is to compel the government of President Tinubu to terminate and liquidate the Presidential Amnesty Scheme. “

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    “No true son or daughter of Niger Delta and a beneficiary of the PAP will seek or call for the sack of Ndiomu. He has done well since his assumption of office at PAP. He should be encouraged instead of being bullied by unscrupulous elements.”

    Rufus said it was laughable, preposterous and ludicrous as some faceless characters claimed that N2.5 billion in the coffers of the Presidential Amnesty Corporative Loan Scheme had vanished into thin air. 

    Dismissing the allegations as a farce, the national spokesman said: “There is no iota of truth in this unfounded allegation. 

    “What these uninformed and faceless characters failed to understand is that the alleged N2.5 billion was a seed money to kick start the laudable initiative and so far more than 1,000 delegates have benefited from the soft loan depending on what you intend to do with the money. 

    “The wisdom behind the Presidential Amnesty Scheme (beneficiaries), Cooperative Society Ltd (PAPCOSOL), is to ensure that delegates and beneficiaries of the PAP initiative do not rely on N65,000 monthly stipend paid to ex-agitators till eternity.”