Category: Southeast report

A spiritualist and farmer, Dr. Benjamin Onwukwe has said a combined team of security operatives maliciously attacked and invaded his spiritual colony and Shiva Shidhi Fellowship International Centre killing his gateman while chasing suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Imemuruoche, Umuogu,  Amuzu, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the state capital on Friday, Dr. Onwukwe, a native of Amuzu Mbaise, said that the security operatives who stormed the centre on May 20, 2023, shot dead his harmless, unarmed gateman who he identified as John Patrick Akinolo. He said the centre occupying over five hectares of land with investments in trado-medical industries, aqua farms, api farms, pilgrimage centre, vegetable farms, tropical cassava farms has investment in excess of N200million.

“I however regret to state that the environmental tranquility of the centre was violated on the 20th May, 2023 when in fashion of violence, which is hitherto unknown to the centre, some men alleged to be security operatives invaded the spiritual colony and not only damaged our investments therein but also wantonly took life of our John Patrick Akinolo, who until his death on that fateful day, served as our security man.”

Angry youths of Mbo and Eastern Obolo local government areas of Akwa Ibom on Thursday protested against the alleged plan by the state government to cede their ancestral lands.

The youths under the aegis of Protesting of Forum of Youth Presidents, Mbo Local Government Area and Obolo Youth Coalition shut down the activities of Universal Energy Resources in Unyenge, Mbo.

They were reacting to the ongoing move by the government to remap the state. The issue of remapping has led to serious oppositions and tension in affected communities.

The President of the Forum, Comrade Edward Moses said it was illegal for Governor Udom Emmanuel to restructure the state in the name of remapping just to give Onna, his Local government area access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Moses said the governor, through the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly also ceded coastal parts of Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and Mbo Local Government Areas to Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas which are land locked.

“This action of Mr Udom Emmanuel is the worst form of greed, impunity and abuse of office ever perpetrated by a public officer. How on earth would the Chief Executive and Chief Security Officer of a state claim the state he has governed for eight years doesn’t have a map?”

Speaking further, the youth leader said Akwa Ibom State was created in 1987 with well-defined boundaries and has been governed by at least six military administrators and four civilian governors.

“Until the twilight of the Udom Emmanuel administration, no past governor of Akwa Ibom state has been willfully confused about the boundaries of this state. Every indigene of this state knows his Local Government Area of origin. It is only the governor who doesn’t know those boundaries. This self-serving law meant to further his expansionist agenda cannot stand. It is impunity taken too far.”

Also speaking, the President of Unyenge Youth Association, Comrade Austin Nkwobia said it was wishful thinking for the governor to dream of using an illegal legislation to annex part of his community, vowing to resist such an attempt with every means possible.

In his remarks, the Vice President, Obolo Youth Coalition, Comrade Joseph Antai said by the singular action of attempting to forcefully annex other people’s ancestral lands, Governor Udom Emmanuel has exhibited every tendency of an imperialist.

Meanwhile, the umbrella organisation for Oro youth, Essu Nlap Oro has warned the State Government against enforcing the remapping law which they alleged was passed and signed into law without due process.

The President of the Association, Dr Kiso Oboho issued the warning while addressing a press conference, Wednesday in Oron.

He urged the incoming governor, Pastor Umo Eno to dissociate his administration from all anti people and oppressive policies of the Udom Emmanuel administration, including the remapping law.

Delta Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on his 96th birth anniversary.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, lauded the elder statesman for his commitment to the growth and development of the Nigeria and the Niger Delta.

He said Chief Clark’s wise counsel on national issues and the Niger Delta had continued to guide leaders across national and sub-national levels.

According to Okowa, the contributions of Chief Clark to the Niger Delta struggle are highly commendable. The people of the region and the country would remain grateful to the elder statesman.

He remarked that Pa Clark remained a dogged and patriotic nationalist, whose passion about the interests of his people and the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians were legendary.

“A staunch advocate of restructuring, Chief Clark as leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has consistently advocared resource control and devolution of power as the only solution to unity, political and socio-economic development of the country, and especially the under-development of the Niger Delta.

“As a state, we are proud of the elder statesman for his wise counseling on issues of governance and economic development of our dear state and country.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I heartily rejoice with our father and leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, on the occasion of his 96th birth anniversary.

“I join your family and your admirers all over the world in celebrating 96 years of great accomplishments and abiding fulfillment,” he stated.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Friday inaugurated some of the landmark projects executed by his administration in keeping with promises in his inaugural address to equip and modernise the university town of Nsukka which is the second largest city in the state.

The projects inaugurated by Governor Ugwuanyi to mark the successful completion of his eight-year tenure were the Enugu State Secretariat Annex, Nsukka; the Nsukka Conference Centre adjacent to the State Secretariat Annex; the 5,000-seat Nsukka Township Stadium; and the Nsukka Press Centre.

Inaugurating the State Secretariat Annex, Nsukka, Governor Ugwuanyi said that the iconic and befitting edifice on three floors with 27 offices and other ancillary facilities, located at Ede-Oballa, Nsukka Local Government Area has reduced cost, turnaround time and engendered cohesion and efficiency in the operations and coordination of government’s administrative activities.

Governor Ugwuanyi, who received accolades from the civil servants through the Head of Service, Ken Chukwuegbo and the host community, Ede-Oballa, through Chief Engr. Vita Abba and the traditional rulers of the four autonomous communities, for his vision, foresight and timely actualisation of the project, said that the operationalisation of the State Secretariat Annex has reduced the travel time/distance of staff of the state’s public service zonal offices who no longer need to travel to Enugu on a regular basis for the conduct of their activities.

Shortly after inaugurating the State Secretariat Annex, Nsukka, the governor inaugurated the state-of-the-art Nsukka Conference Centre, adjacent to the Secretariat Annex also constructed by his administration.

The Conference Centre comprises multiple halls for conferencing as well as indoor sporting and recreational facilities including adult and children swimming pools, lawn tennis court, among others.

From the Conference Centre, Governor Ugwuanyi proceeded to the 5,000-seat Township Stadium located at GRA, Nsukka, where he inaugurated the first ever stadium in Enugu North Senatorial District of the state.

The governor said that “the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District will definitely relish the opportunities that this sporting facility will unleash especially the development of sports talent among the youths.”

The story is the same at the inauguration of the Nsukka Press Centre newly built by his administration in fulfillment of its commitment to provide a conducive work environment for the Nsukka Correspondence Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Enugu State Chapter.

Dignitaries at the event include the Member representing Nsukka East Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, Head of Service, Mr. Ken Chukwuegbo, former State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Engr. Vita Abba, former PDP Presidential Aspirant, Chief Barr. Charlie Ugwu, former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dan Shere, Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Barr. Walter Ozioko, Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mr. Robinson Odoh, Deputy Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Mr. Sylvanus Asogwa, and former Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Ogbo Asogwa, Hon. Amos Amadi Agbo, clergymen, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, among others.

As part of his parting gift to the State, Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has disclosed that he would be commissioning at least six projects before his administration leaves office May 29.

According to Gov. Ikpeazu, the projects to be commissioned include, the new Abia Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, Multi-Specialist Hospital Aba, Mgbarakuma Road in Umuahia South LGA.

Others include New Garment Factory, Diagnostic Hospital in Isuikwuato LGA and the new permanent site of the Abia State College of Health & Sciences.

Read Also: Don’t conduct council poll, elders tell Ikpeazu

The governor who stated these while featuring on monitored programme said despite the memories of the 2023 elections where his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost both the governorship and senatorial elections, his zeal to serve the people of the state has not changed.

According to him, until his contract with the people of Abia State which he said started in May 2015 and graciously renewed in 2019 comes to end on May 29, he will not stop to give his best for the state.

The governor-elect of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Friday, declared his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), saying it is obligatory of every public officer to do so as required by law.

Mbah, who personally visited the Southeast Zonal Office of the CCB in Enugu, where he submitted his assets declaration forms, said the exercise was critical in the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance.

Speaking to journalists after submitting the form to the Federal Commissioner in charge of the South East Zone of the CCB, Barr. Benedict Umeano, the Enugu governor-elect said: “As the chief executive, we are meant to uphold the law. It is also incumbent on us to act lawfully, and what we have simply done here today is in line with the new direction of my career.

“As you also know, I am now migrating from the corporate environment to the public sector; and in the private sector, we have Codes of Corporate Governance and here in the public sector, we also have the Code of Conduct for the public servants.

“What we have simply done today is to comply with the requirements of the law by filling the forms as stipulated by law.

“The process is quite seamless and we have populated the forms, and we have also, in the presence of a Notary Public, executed the law as required.”

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State has condemned what it called ‘divide-and-rule’ treatment of its members by Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige over salary payment of last year’s 8-months industrial action.

Ngige had asked Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to pay 204 lecturers of medical science, basic clinical sciences, and basic medical sciences faculties respectively, of the institution their withheld salaries.

He said records jointly signed by the various faculty Deans showed that the said lecturers performed their duties while the strike lasted.

But addressing reporters in Awka on Thursday, the Union Chairperson, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh described Ngige’s claims as false, misleading and unworthy of a Minister, insisting that those who were paid participated in the strike.

He stressed that Ngige’s action further demonstrated his insensitivity to the plight of universities and incurable phobia for ASUU, urging him to purge himself of personal hostility towards the body.

He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the false claims by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige that ASUU members in three faculties of the institution namely: Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences and Medicine did not partake in the 2022 ASUU national strike.

“Recall that the 2022 ASUU national strike lasted between February 14 and October 17, 2022 and all the academic staff members of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka participated fully in the strike.

“The claim by Dr. Chris Ngige, that lecturers in the aforementioned three faculties did not participate in the strike is totally false, misleading, dishonourable and unworthy of a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Read Also: Osodeke is re-elected ASUU president

“Chris Ngige has cajoled his colleagues in the medical field into the ignoble act of claiming that they were on duty during the pendency of the strike in an effort to split the ranks of the union.

“Lecturers in these three faculties ought to realise that as intellectuals, they have a divine responbility to defend the truth. The absolute truth is that there was no teaching and consquently no examination was conducted throughout the period of the struggle.

“Dr Ngige’s incurable phobia for ASUU has eclipsed his sense of decency and he has gone ahead to pay his colleagues and probably kinsmen the eight months arrears of salaries without any verifiable evidence of the work purportedly done during the period.

“The big question is, what is in it for NGIGE? This obvious action of ‘divide and rule’  bespeaks the usual (Dis) honourable Minister’s insensitivity to the plight of universities in a country where every institution and every household  has become a municipality. 

“It is sad and most unfortunate that Dr Chris Ngige and his collaborators have continued in their shamefull and ignoble acts against the growth of public Universities even at the twilight of their administration. ALL LECTURERS at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka participated in the 2022 ASUU National Strike, Period.

“For the records, there are concrete and verifiable evidences from memos and publications from the university that  counter the false and trumped up claims of the minister, as evidenced in various memos of the university administration relating to the closing and re-opening of the University consequent upon the strike. Chris Ngige need to purge himself of personal animus towards ASUU.

• By Oluwaseyi Oso

Some years ago, I had a memorable encounter with a friend who possessed an unwavering thirst for freedom and hope. Whenever an aeroplane passed overhead, he would stop walking and fix his gaze upon it. The look on his face whenever he stopped to watch an aeroplane whirling by, no matter how intense our conversation was, landed in my mind recently. I saw that look of hope, of questions; a surging well of expectations; all at once reaching for that vehicle of desire—aeroplane—dreaming of a transcendence from his country, his birthplace, to a place he believes he would meet his freedom.

My recollection extends far beyond the individual experiences of my friend and myself; rather, it serves as a portrait of the Nigerian dream of freedom—freedom from poverty, from unceasing insecurity, inflation, scarcity of employment, disunity, nepotism, and more. As May 29, a significant date on our nation’s calendar, draws near, it is my fervent hope that the Nigerian people experience the freedom and inclusiveness that democracy portends.

Read Also: DSS uncovers plans to disrupt May 29 inauguration

There are many nations within a nation and these are the taxonomies of people occupying its space. I am a nation, you are a nation, and everyone, young or old, is pregnant with personal desires and dreams. Despite our private dreams, there is still a force that connects our spirits as a nation—the dream of freedom. We have watched our nation shapeshift into a seemingly uninhabitable zone; Nigerians quotidianly question the spiritual process that led to their birth in this space. Young people everywhere are losing the ideologies they stand for because they can no longer withstand the invisible earthquakes created by the state of the nation; they can no longer withstand their prolonged season of mental disasters. Our security has shrunk sub atomically. Hunger devours lives daily. The green in our flag is merely colour, many are searching for greener pastures. And just like my friend, several Nigerians gaze at the sky in hopes of a freeing day.

If I were to unfurl the Nigerian mind, I would find many reasons for this underlying quest for freedom. One of such is premised on private dreams: The desire to see one’s dreams fulfilled in an environment that nurtures them, from a young person’s perspective, overshadows what could have blossomed into a collective dream for the greatness of our nation. Dreams drive action; dreams require action; dreams haunt a dreamer when they cannot be brought to life. This hauntingness that our nation now possesses—politically and socioeconomically—is among the many reasons why the world outside poses as a pacific route; among the reasons why many Nigerian people including little children close their eyes and fantasize about the moment an aeroplane will thrust them out of the place that nature has found for them. Persistent insecurity in all its forms makes people wonder whether they can stay here for more years. The deteriorating quality of life scars Nigerian people inside and out. All of these, pitched together in the Nigerian psyche make the concept of freedom within our democracy and citizenship somewhat imprisoning. Just as a wrongfully convicted criminal strives to be free, Nigerians struggle for freedom while disconnecting from the elements of truth and nationalism passed down to us through our national anthem and national pledge. This leads me to question: Are we now patriots or merely endurers?

May 29 may hold the answer to the aforementioned question. The date, May 29, being a former democracy day, which is still ingrained in many minds, is a moment of national awakening and consciousness; a time for the incoming administration to acknowledge and address the pressing need for redemption across many parts of our nation. Nation building—and in this case, nation rebuilding—takes time but it has to start somewhere; it has to start from the very moment this administration begins. We don’t want our national trauma to persist; we don’t want to live like visitors in our God-given, nature-girded land. The incumbent administration has done the best it could but there are more concerns on the table for the incoming administration. Nigerians need to feel a sense of belongingness to their nation like never before.

It is the void of belongingness that has kept Nigeria neverendingly on the list of countries with some of the highest human trafficking victims in the world. It might startle you to realise that victims of modern slavery are not credulous people but individuals in desperate need of freedom. A research observed that 68% of those who died as a result of unsafe migration, attempting to migrate to Europe through the Sahara Desert in 2016, were Nigerian graduates. Graduates are products of universities (and other institutions), and universities train changemakers; however, these changemakers quickly lose their confidence in nationhood as they experience what Jacques Lacan would call “the real.” The real, in my understanding of Lacanian psychology, is a moment a person loses the protection of a mothering figure and confronts society as it truly is. Nigerian youths immediately turn toward unemployment upon graduation, which further fuels to their quest for freedom, salvation.

There is no savior among us unless one of us decides to become one. This is why we embrace democracy and elect leaders. Nigerians have been voting through the years of our emerging democracy and did not cease to participate in the February 25th election because there is still a belief somewhere that our current reality will not deter the future of our nation. I believe that the next administration recognises this and would raise that flag of hope, and internal freedom rather than solely relying on the external sense of freedom that has pervaded the Nigerian mind.

When the vision of a person becomes haunting it may delude them. They may be inclined to accept a distorted reality; being easily seduced by false promises disguised as freedom—modern slavery, scams, and more. The yearning for freedom persists within the Nigerian adults and even among Nigerian children. Poverty entices the mind into a desperate quest for survival and even though that survival presents itself as a trafficker or a scammer, the poor Nigerian does not cogitate anymore, he quickly plants his decision on the ground of his pursuit of freedom.

The Nigerian dream needs to be recalibrated and reinterpreted. For so long many have said that the common Nigerian dream is to leave the country. But how can that be considered a ‘Nigerian dream?’ A true Nigerian dream would stay and grow in Nigeria. A dream peculiar to Nigeria would aspire to bring glamour to the name of Nigeria; it would find security and support from the government; it would find freedom, stature and pillar for creative expression. A genuine Nigerian dream would prefer to build the nation before seeking external investments. I do not believe that the Nigerian dream is to leave the country. Instead, it is rooted in the innate desire for freedom, freedom from the socio-political traumas that plague our daily lives—freedom from poverty, nepotism, insecurity, unemployment, and other such challenges. This is why I hope that the next administration will set the stage for the redefinition of the Nigerian dream where Nigerian people no longer have to wish for freedom while gazing at passing aeroplane, but instead travel the world for the joy of exploration rather than as a desperate attempt to escape.

The world-class Teachers Continous Training Institute, TCTI, in Biase Local Government of Cross River State, was yesterday opened by the governor, Prof Ben Ayade

The magnificent Institute which is one of the legacy projects of the Ayade administration and the first of its kind in the country was set up to train and retrain teachers.

Ayade explained that the institute was envisioned to provide a platform for teachers to be celebrated and honoured.

According to him, this school represents the fountain of knowledge in character, intellect, learning and relearning and poise of the people.

He said: “The intent was to create a horizon for students to learn and become amazons in their endeavors. Therefore, this school was designed to improve the quality of learning and improve the knowledge of teachers in the country.

“The good news is that once a teacher goes through the the first three months, then six months and finally nine months of training, gets certified in West Africa, that teacher gets upgraded and earns befitting salaries because they can now impact extraordinary knowledge”

The out going governor disclosed that he sited the Institute in Biase local government area of the state where the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu hails from to honour him for his loyalty and dedication.

Ayade went on: “The choice of Biase for this Insistute is to honour my brother and senior colleague, Professor Ivara Esu.

“For eight years he provided a shoulder for me to lean on. He is a professor who has taught people who are now professors today.

“There are some deputies who cannot point at anything they did for their people for eight years, but here you are standing tall before your people.

“I celebrate your commitment to our Governorship for 8 years. God bless you. No other institute of learning in this country has the facilities this school has.”

Read Also: Ayade extends teachers’ retirement age by five years

A former University lecturer himself, the out going governor later took out time to teach students of the demostration secondary school of the institute morality, ethics, physics and computer science.

In his remarks, the elated Deputy Governor who was a one-time Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar eulogised his principal for bringing the institute to his council area.

“Today l am the happiest man because of the establishment of this Institute here in Biase. I want to say to my brother, friend and son, (Senator) Professor Ben Ayade, thank you so much. My relationship with you will be for life. As l retire, l retire very happily to my village.

“This institute is the gateway to Biase and we are very happy that this institution is in Biase”, Professor Esu said.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Director-General of the institute, Professor Taoheed Adedoja described the institution as wholly owned by Cross River State.

He however, announced that impressed by Governor Ayade’s foresightedness and dexterity in establishing the institute even in the face of lean resources, the federal government was now interested in it.

According the Professor Adedoja who is the pionneer DG of the Institute, the school has recorded many firsts in the education industry.

“This Institute is Nigeria’s first public institution to be accredited by Certiport as Center for Digital Literacy as well as the first Nigerian institution to conduct digital proficiency tests for various categories of workers

“It is also Nigeria’s first Public Institution to train participants up to IC3 Certification”, he said.

The highpoint of the event was the naming of the ultra-modern multi-purpose hall in the institution after Prof Ivara Esu, the deputy governor.

The omaluegwuoku progressive initiative will on Saturday hold Igbo Kwenu day to celebrate the victory  of Tinubu/Shettima victory of the 2023 at unity fountain Abuja.

The Leader and President of Omaluegwuoku progressive initiative Hon Chief Mrs Ginika Tor announced this at a briefing in Abuja. 

She said the rally is in conjunction with Tinubu Support Group(TSG) as part of activities to mark the Inauguration of Tinubu and Shettima and President and Vice President on May 29.

Read Also: Unify Nigerians, reverse insecurity in first 100 days, lawmaker tasks Tinubu

She said the celebration is to thank God for Tinubu and Shettima victory and appreciate his grand patron Chief Author Eze and all the supporters of Omaluegwuoku progressive initiative worldwide during the 2023 general election.

She promised that the ceremony would features Igbo delicacy, cultural display and talk show of its readiness to work with the incoming administration of Asiwaju.

Ginika said the Igbos are solidly behind Tinubu and holding the event to show their solidarity with the ongoing pre inauguration hangout that is ongoing at unity fountain in Abuja

Omaluegwuoku progressive initiative is the body used by Hon Ginika Tor to campaign for Tinubu/Shettima across the 36 States and the FCT during 2023 general elections.