Category: Southeast report

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has declared an end to sit-at-home in the state, effective from June 5.

He said it was restricting creativity, entrepreneurship and productivity.

Mbah, however, expressed government’s readiness “to engage in dialogue with the people, who have genuine grievances towards bringing lasting peace and security to Enugu State.”

Read Also: IPOB declares May 30 as sit-at-home in Southeast

The governor spoke yesterday at the Government House in Enugu at the end of his first security council meeting with the heads of security agencies.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to quicken the much-needed healing process in Nigeria.

Enugu is the only state capital in the Southeast where sit-at-home is still being fully complied with, with its attendant consequences on the state economy.

Traders selling dried meat, under the aegis of Dried Meat Preservers Traders Association (DMPTA), have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue them from alleged harassment and extortion by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

They said they have suffered extortion despite approval of their business by relevant national agencies in charge of the business.

The appeal followed a recent statement by the NCS, Kebbi State Area Command, that it had seized a truck loaded with donkey meat, skin and hides belonging to the association, but intended to be smuggled out of the country.

Addressing reporters at their national headquarters, Onitsha, Anambra State, the National Chairman of the association, Chief Ikechukwu Aniude, described the statement as wicked, a tissue of lies and a concoction to blackmail their business.

He appealed to National Assembly members-elect from the Southeast to save them from the allegations, to avert being thrown out of business.

Read Also: What’s the fuss about red meat?

He said: “On March 8, 2022 our goods worth about N200 million were seized and destroyed, followed by another one on March 22 last year when a trailer load of our goods worth N200 million was unjustly seized and quickly destroyed.

“The latest one was impounded in Kebbi State on May 18 this year and seized on a flimsy allegation that it was carrying hide and skin and made to be exported to another country.

“This is another wicked allegation to blackmail our business. Our business was declared legal by the agencies set up to regulate the business. 

“We don’t deal in hide and skin or indulge in exportation of our products to other countries, as wickedly alleged by the Customs.

“We rather engage in donkey meat preservation, which is certified legal by the national approval agencies set up to regulate the business.”

Obolo youths under the aegis of Obolo Youth Coalition Worldwide have withdrawn the quit notice issued to oil companies operating in their homeland in Akwa Ibom State.

The youth had on May 22 ordered oil companies to vacate within seven days, Obolo traditional homeland, over alleged attempt by the Akwa Ibom Government to cede their land through remapping.

But in a statement signed by the President General, Obolo Youth Coalition Worldwide, Mr. Ijonama Mkpon Amon, the youth cancelled the quit order.

The statement said the decision to reverse the quit order was due to intervention by respectable stakeholders across the country.

It said: “This is to inform the public that respectable personalities across Nigeria, who appealed for calm and dialogue, have intervened and have committed to a resolve and to support the cause of justice and fairness for Obolo people over the recent unconstitutional remapping and annexation of parts of the local governments indigenous to Obolo people in Akwa Ibom State. 

Read Also: Appeal Court stays proceedings in Eremor Marginal Oil field case

“Obolo youths have heeded the calls and hereby withdraw their demand that the companies operating within the traditional homeland of the Obolo people in Akwa Ibom State; especially in Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and Mbo local governments, to shut down operations within six days, starting from Monday, the 22nd day of May 2023 due to dire and aggravated safety and security concerns in the area.

“The companies are at liberty to continue their usual lawful businesses as at the moment. There is a glimmer of hope for safety and relative security in the area due to the said intervention, even as we look forward to justice and lasting peace in the area.

“Therefore, it is important at this point for me to specially thank all the youth, women, elders, etc., who came out in mass to implement the traditional order given to the companies operating in our land to shut down their operation. 

“My appreciation equally goes to Universal Energy, Exxon Mobil, Sterling Global, etc for their compliance to our traditional order.”

• •’Diri deserves re-election’

A former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Bayelsa State, Daniel Iworiso-Markson and his supporters have returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the November 11 governorship election.

The returnees declared support for the second term ambition of Governor Douye Diri. 

Iworiso-Markson last July left the PDP for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), to contest Ogbia Federal Constituency seat, following pressure on him by his supporters and stakeholders, who believed he was capable to represent them at the House of Representatives. 

Making his formal return to the PDP, the ex-commissioner and philanthropist said he came back to help Diri get another term, noting that he deserved a second term because of his achievement in the last three years. 

Read Also: Two PDP Senators Urhoghide, Akinyelure resign from party

Iworiso-Markson in a statement explained that his return to the PDP followed meetings with Diri, whom he described as a passionate leader committed to the peace, stability and development of Bayelsa State. 

He said besides his desire to represent the people of Ogbia at the Green Chamber, he left the PDP to test his popularity and acceptance at the grassroots after some of his traducers labelled him as a political lightweight. 

Iworiso-Markson said: “I am glad to be back to the PDP. I thank His Excellency for receiving me and my supporters. Prior to this time, I had meetings with him. We had been in touch and I assured him that I would return. 

“A lot of people don’t know that beyond politics, I have a close relationship with the governor. We have mutual respect for each other and I admire his passion for the peace and development of our state. We were also like a family in the Restoration Government of former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson. 

“I have put the past behind me. What led to my exit from the PDP was my desire to serve, after a call by my people.”

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called for an investigation into funds released by the administration of ex-Governor Nyesom Wike to provide water for civil servants at the state’s secretariat.

Sir Fubara, who visited the secretariat complex yesterday to assess the conditions of workers, lamented that despite the funds, there was still lack of water at the facility.

Insisting that there was no justification for the money spent on water, the governor promised to address the scarcity and provide other lacking utilities at the secretariat.

Fubara, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Boniface Onyedi, said his administration would prioritise workers’ welfare.

The governor, accompanied by the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. George Nweke and permanent secretaries, was received by the elated workers.

Read Also: I will protect Wike’s legacies, says Fubara

He said the visit was to make on-the-spot assessment of the state of the facilities and address the challenges, to improve workers’ productivity.

He urged the civil servants to show commitment and dedication to their duties, noting that he would not tolerate indolence and nonchalance.

Fubara was said to have earlier held an inaugural meeting with the HoS and permanent secretaries at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt, promising to reorganise the civil service for greater efficiency.

Speaking after the meeting, the HoS, Dr. George Nweke, said the meeting provided an avenue for the permanent secretaries to inform the governor of how to improve the civil service.

He said the permanent secretaries assured the governor of their commitment to strengthen the state workforce through effective mobilisation of workers. 

Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rivers State Governor Siminialaye Fubara on their inauguration.

The group urged them to prioritise the development of Niger Delta and Ijaw riverine communities.

IYC President Peter Igbifa, in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt also canvassed for massive youth empowerment in the region and Rivers State.

He appealed to Sir Fubara to undertake road projects that would link riverine communities, to facilitate movement of goods and speed up development.

He said the Rivers governor should develop new cities in the riverine area that would have the trappings of living in Port Harcourt. 

Igbifa urged Fubara to prioritise job creation, employment opportunities and youth empowerment programmes, to engage youths, as the best means of fighting crime.

He said: “We congratulate Sir Fubara on his inauguration as the governor of Rivers State. This is time for governance.

“We call on the governor to pay attention to creation of jobs, employment opportunities and massive empowerment programmes for youths in Rivers State because we believe engagement of youths will help to fight crime.

Read Also: ‘Tinubu’ll implement transformational reforms’

“We urge him to carry out integrated development of the rural communities and consider building a modern city in such area. The governor should create roads that link rural communities and consider developing the ancient town of Opobo and other Ijaw communities into cities.” 

Igbifa, extolling Asiwaju Tinubu, implored the President to fund Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ministry of the Niger Delta, to propel the development of the region.

He enjoined Tinubu to turn Niger Delta into a massive construction site, by ensuring completion of abandoned projects.

Igbifa called for the declaration of state of emergency on the East-West road, saying the people would be grateful to Tinubu if his administration could complete the abandoned road.

He appealed to Tinubu to appoint Ijaw people in key positions in his government, to give them a sense of belonging.

He said: “We are calling on the President to develop a seaport in the Niger Delta. It is long overdue. He should also strengthen and expand the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), to engage more youths.”