Category: Southeast report

Rivers State Leaders of Thoughts have called on President Bola Tinubu to consider Senator Magnus Abe for a place in his cabinet.

The leaders, under the umbrella body, Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thoughts, said Abe is a proven Tinubu loyalist who had worked for the success of the president at the poll. 

The elders, in a statement signed by High Chief Sunnie Chukumele FOSHA, Hon. Josiah Onoriode, convener and Hon. Josiah Onoriode,  Secretary respectively, also stated that Abe  would be an added advantage to President Tinubu’s administration.  

The statement reads in part: “We believe that appointing Sen. Abe whose profile is intimidating into Pres. Tinubu’s cabinet will also be a succour to the President’s original believers and followers in Rivers State. If their leader is rewarded, naturally they are affected.

“These people should not be traded for interests and people we call the “Latter Day Saints”. These are mere turncoats.

“From the foregoing submission, we want to in conclusion remind Mr. President that he has been a man noted to reward loyalty at all costs. The Holy Book says that a labourer is worthy of his wage or reward.

“We pray that Senator Magnus Abe’s position as Pres. Tinubu’s first and main loyalist in River State should not be swapped or short changed for another.

“Majority of Rivers people shall be glad to see Sen. Magnus Abe nominated by the President into the Federal Executive Council which he is about to constitute.”

Read Also: Ministerial appointment splits Wike’s, Abe’s camps

They also noted  “That we bring to the notice of Mr. President, that the Ogoni people being the second largest ethnic group in Rivers State have never enjoyed a full ministerial position in this country since after the administration/cabinet of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, where the late Dr. GB Leton served as Federal Commissioner several years ago.

“Mr. President, it may further interest you to know that the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality has never produced a Deput Governor, or even Speaker of the state Legislature. Ogoni land and Ogoni people have contributed immensely to Nigeria’s economy. We see it as equitable that Sen. Magnus Abe and Ogoni people be compensated, having given up the quest for the governorship of the state.”

The Elders also commended Abe for voluntarily withdrawing his case against the Peoples Democratic Party at the tribunal.

“That we commend Senator Magnus Abe for voluntarily withdrawing his petition at the Election Tribunal. This we see as a generous gift and gesture to the governor of River State Sir Siminalayi Fubara to settle in to serve the good people of the state.”

The police in Rivers have killed six suspected kidnappers during a gun battle in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Emeka Nwonyi, who confirmed the incident in a press briefing on Friday said operatives of the anti-cultism and other tactical units killed the suspects in a gun duel at Obelle town.

He said the gang was led by one Uchechukwu Daniel adding that some of the suspects escaped with bullet wounds.

Nwonyi said: “Sequel to the criminal activities along the East-West road axis in Emohua, operatives attached to the anti-cultism unit in conjunction with a tactical team invaded a hideout of one Uchechukwu Daniel Okana,  aka Horn man at Obele community in Emohua.

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“On sighting the operatives, they opened fire on them. The rapid response from the anti-cultism unit in collaboration with other tactical teams neutralised and dislodged them as they scampered for safety. Six  were neutralised while six were arrested. The six arrested suspects are helping the detectives in further investigation.”

Nwonyi said that operatives of the command on patrol along King Perekule junction GRA, Port Harcourt, intercepted and rescued one kidnap victim.

“The victim narrated that one of their friends was kidnapped and taken away by the hoodlums, who were operating in a carton colour Lexus RX 350 jeep after shooting at their vehicle tyre. Pieces of 7.2 empty shell and a techno phone belonging to the victim was also recovered.”

Nwonyi said some kidnappers were trailed to their hideout at Ozuoha in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state where a victim was rescued unhurt while one of the suspects Mr. Buchi David was arrested.

Local divers have recovered a Nissan Frontier pick-up truck that plunged into the Ovia River on the Benin-Ore Expressway, Monday.

This is just as the search for occupants of the truck by the divers who were engaged by Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, continued yesterday evening.

The deputy governor had paid the locals N1.5m when he visited the portion of the Ovia River notorious for accidents. Shaibu was accompanied for the bridge’s inspection by the Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere as well as other senior government officials.

Speaking at the scene, the deputy governor said the state government had engaged Levante Construction Company to immediately commence palliative works in the area.

EDO State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, has disclosed that he and other top officials of Edo government decided to specially celebrate Governor Godwin Obaseki’s 66th birthday with children with special needs, with expensive  gifts and cash given, for the children to have a sense of belonging, and not to see their challenges as the end of life.

Okungbowa, a lawyer; Edo permanent secretaries; Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), among others, were yesterday at Roseluyi Exceptional Students Academy (RESA) to celebrate Obaseki at 66.

Edo governor earlier made a special appeal to all the people who wanted to celebrate his birthday, to channel all their gifts and donations to the academy, for children with special needs in the state.

Obaseki noted that the school demonstrated excellent capacity in the development of children with special needs, urging all to participate in his birthday celebration, to honour the children with special needs.

Edo head of service presented

a cheque of N500,000 to the fqounder of Roseluyi Exceptional Students Academy (RESA), Osarhiemen Rosemary Isaac-Aluyi, to support the upkeep of the children with special needs.

Okungbowa said: “Due to the passion of Mr. Governor on the environment, we decided to pull resources together to clean the environment to commemorate Edo governor’s birthday.

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“This special sanitation was initiated by the body. Edo Ministry of Environment promised to sustain the exercise, going forward. This is the first part of the celebration.

“The second part of the celebration is a visit to this school, following the wish and instruction of Mr. Governor that all gifts for him on his birthday should be brought to the school, to take care of the children of the school who have various needs.

“We are here to celebrate the governor’s birthday with the children. Also, we are here to see the children and know how things are going with them in the school. We are here to present the children a little gift we contributed as our little contribution to support these special children.“We have a token to appreciate God for our governor. We hope they are doing well. Thank you for all you are doing. We heard you are doing a lot, and doing your best for the children to get the best.”

The Founder of Roseluyi Exceptional Students Academy (RESA), Osarhiemen Rosemary Isaac-Aluyi, who received the cheque on behalf of the school, thanked Edo government’s delegation, for their kind gesture.

Isaac-Aluyi said: “We appreciate this visit, and thank you all for this donation. I am overwhelmed by this gift to the children.

“I thank my teachers, they are special, and have been of great help, as I cannot do it on my own. I thank Edo governor for this, and wished him a wonderful and prosperous birthday.”

• •One life lost, 12 injured in crash – FRSC

ABOUT eight persons were on Saturday feared dead in a ghastly multiple motor accidents along Awka-Onitsha expressway Anambra State.

The incident occurred at the Odumodu junction in Umunya, Oyi Local Government area of the state.

An eye witness, a motorcyclist who blamed the crash on overspeeding by one of the truck drivers who could not observe the bad portion of the road, said victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

“I was waiting for passenger when I suddenly saw a trailer coming from Onitsha with speed. Due to his speed, he couldn’t hold the brake and suddenly rammed in-between another trailer a bus loaded with passengers,” he said.

One of the survivors who preferred anonymity, while wailing profusely said they were heading to Enugu when suddenly she heard a big bang and the next she saw was passengers and their traveling bags littered everywhere.

Confirming the incident, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC Adeoye Irelewuyi said one person died in the crash, attributing the cause of the fatal crash to speed.

He sympathised with deceased family, wished the injured victims quick recovery, just as he warned motorist to desist from speeding and ensure they drive within minimum safe speed to save their lives and that of other road users.

He said, “Five Unidentified drivers were involved in a fatal road traffic crash at Odumodu junction Umuya by Nteje-Awka Expressway today 1st July, 2023 at about 12:40hrs.

“Vehicles involved were Toyota Hiace (ENU 32 XD), Mack/ Tanker (with PMS) (LSD 339 XA), Toyota Yaris (KSF 646 BZ) Mack/Tanker (BAU 305 ZE) and Toyota Camry (ABN 64 JA).

“26 people comprising 20 male adults, and 6 female adults were involved in the crash. Injured victims were 12, comprising 9 male adults, and 3 female adults. One male adult was killed while 13 people were rescued unhurt.

“The FRSC rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje in collaboration with a team of Officers and men from Anambra Sector Command, Awka rushed the victim to Boromi and Divine Favour Hospital, Umuya.

“The dead victim is still trapped under the truck as at the time of this report while the team are still on ground controlling traffic and ensuring obstruction caused by the crash is cleared.

“Efforts are being made to remove the trapped body. Fire Service has been contacted are on their way to the scene.”

ANAMBRA State Government has announced commencement of installation of clock-in device in public health facilities targeted at curbing absenteeism and ensuring health workers take their duties seriously.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike who disclosed this on Saturday during a meeting with public hospital’s administrators in the state lamented that during his unannounced visits to some of the hospitals, many health workers were absent, while some health facilities were under lock.

He further regretted that such attitudes was contributing to rate of mortality recorded in the state as well as hindering progress in the health sector, expressing optimism that the device would go a long way in checkmating absenteeism and indolence among health workers.

He said, “Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is taking healthcare seriously and wants residents to have access to quality health services at the primary health centres, general hospitals and the tertiary health facility.

Read Also: Workers’ absenteeism contributing to mortality in Anambra hospitals’

“This is part of the reasons for the installation of the clock-in device in all government hospitals to ensure that healthcare workers are at their duty posts to attend to the health needs of the people.

“The device will also monitor the hours health workers put in each day and that will subsequently determine their monthly salaries and allowances.

“The goal is to eliminate maternal and infants mortalities, as well as restore the confidence of our people in the healthcare services we provide in the state, so they do not go to quacks and get killed.”

Obidike further revealed that government was digitising the healthcare services through telemedicine and strengthen referral system among the hospitals in the state.

He urged hospital administrators to hold weekly clinical and mortality reviews; and report same to the ministry for appropriate actions.

“We are establishing the ‘Hub and Spoke approach’ for proper networking among the hospitals. The telemedicine will also allow primary healthcare centres have access to different doctors.

“We are strengthening at least one general hospital in each local government area so that primary health centres can refer patients when the need arises.

“The state government is doing all it can with limited resources and as healthcare providers, we cannot afford to fail,” he said.

COMMUNITIES hosting gas pipelines in Akwa Ibom State have demanded for the amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 2021, saying the Act is ambiguous and fraught with flaws.

The State Coordinator, Comrade Kufre Emmanson, who made the call during the weekend, on behalf of the Host communities stressed that there was need to review the 3 per cent operational expenses allocated to Host communities in the PIA.

Emmanson stressed that the impacted communities in Akwa Ibom State also want the Senate to look into the delay in implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund (HCDTF).

His words: “The Nine Gas pipeline Host communities in Akwa Ibom State comprising Abak, Etim Ekpo, Etinan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Ibom, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Uruan and Uyo local government areas, demands the amendment to the Petroleum Industry Act.

“There is need to review certain provisions of the Act in order to address loopholes and flaws in the Law such as the 3 per cent operational cost ceded to impacted Host communities by the 9th National Assembly.

Read Also: Pipeline surveillance: firm denies ex-agitators’ claims

“Also we are calling for the implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund ( HCDTF) which is meant to enhance development in affected communities of the Niger Delta region.

“We, the impacted communities in Akwa Ibom State call on the 10th National Assembly to impose penalty to any settlor who fail to implement the HCDTF as soon as possible.

“We want to use this medium to specially commend President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu for taken a bold decision in removing fuel Subsidy so as to foster development in the country.

“We are optimistic that he will actualise his ‘Renewed Hope agenda’. In the same spirit, we congratulate Senator Godswill Akpabio on his emergence as the President of the 10th Senate.

“We pray God to guide him and give him wisdom to pilot the Affairs of the National Assembly. As an uncommon performer we are optimistic he will make people of the South South and Nigerians in general proud.”

From Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

THE Bayelsa Development Initiative (BDI) has slammed Governor Douye Diri for his continuous ban on night operations of commercial tricycles popularly known as Keke in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The BDI in a statement on Saturday by its Secretary, Michael Sam Rodamini, said it was insensitive and unimaginable for the governor to have allowed a ban, which was supposed to have been a stop-gap measure, to last beyond one month.

Rodamini said for Diri to have feigned ignorance of the overall destructive impact of his ban on the general economy especially on nightlife was a confirmation of his lack of capacity and cluelessness in handling issues affecting the state.

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While condemning the incident that led to the ban, he said it should have since been lifted to ease the pains of the helpless masses, who did not have private vehicles to undertake their activities after 7pm.

He said since Keke had become the only popular means of transport in the state especially for the masses, the ban had worsened the condition of the poor and made quick responses to emergency situations difficult.

Rodamini said for Diri to have allowed the ban to linger even in the face of ongoing inclement weather caused by the rainy season was a demonstration of his absolute lack of care and concern for the common people of the state.

He further said the group had received reports of many Bayelsans attacked and robbed by criminal elements while trekking on dark, lonely roads and streets at night to their destinations.

He observed that the ban had increased the insecurity in the state especially in view of the pitch darkness that usually envelops the state at night following dysfunctional streetlights across the entire capital city.

Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, has hailed President Bola Tinubu’s bold decisions in removing fuel subsidy and the unification of naira exchange rates.

He noted that the policies of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) administration of Tinubu would give Nigeria excess of N2 trillion in a short time.

Aziegbemi, an Economist, yesterday at an interactive session with reporters in Benin, insisted that the President’s decisions were the best way to go for the country.

He stated that many Nigerians were worried about the nature of paliatives that the Federal Government planned to put in place, in order to ameliorate the suffering of citizens as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The PDP chairman also expressed concern that there were too many crooks around, while admonishing him to be wary of such people, while he should endeavour to keep the strong men at the back seat of governance, so as not to create bad image for his government.

Read Also: Dogara, Osoba back petrol subsidy removal, Service chiefs

He declared that it was reprehensible for the top politicians made by the PDP to throw mud at the party, for not getting what they wanted.

Aziegbemi stressed that character mattered in politics, while declaring that the tyranny of the vocal minority in Edo and other parts of Nigeria had to stop forthwith.

He pointed out that members of G-34 that formed the PDP in 1998, especially Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Dr. Alex Ekueme, Chief Tony Anenih, would be turning in their graves, seeing what some errant politicians were doing, but he assured that Nigeria’s main oposition party would not die, but would become much stronger, going forward.

The chairman asked governorship aspirants on the platform of the party in the state to be calm, maintain decorum, give peace a chance, and slow down their consultations, in view of the precarious situation of PDP, and the forthcoming local government chairmanship and councillorship elections in Edo, and urged leaders in Edo not to align with any aspirant at the moment, in order not to be accused of taking sides.

Aziegbemi noted the Edo helmsman, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was the most misunderstood governor in Nigeria, but had achieved the most, while stressing that “Obaseki phenomenon” was about hard work and due process, among others.