Category: Southeast report

A former presidential aspirant, Stanley Osifo has impressed on the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria the need to allow old N200, N500 and N1000 notes to co-exist with the newly redesigned notes as legal tender till December 2023.

This, he said, would help to reduce the tension across the country.

Osifo who made the call during a telephone chat with The Nation in Benin-City, the Edo state capital on Friday, said the old N200 note that president Buhari approved in his Thursday broadcast, to return to circulation with newly redesigned notes cannot assuage the excruciating pains and agony that shortage of bank notes has inflicted on Nigerians.

He urged the authorities to borrow a leaf from the implementation of redesigned N100 note by the Jonathan administration that coexisted as legal tender with the new one for many years after its introduction in 2013.

Reacting to allegations of vote buying in the forthcoming elections as one of the reasons for the policy, the APC chieftain noted that the current hardship that many Nigerians are going through may directly or indirectly trigger vote buying among the electorate which the government is trying to prevent.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State, Mr. Obo Effanga, has disclosed that 1,996,088 electorate will vote in the state on February 25 and March 11 this year, as the persons that have so far collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He also revealed that there were 2,501,081 registered voters in Edo, with 79.8 per cent (1,996,088) of them eligible to vote, as the people who spared the time to collect their PVCs.

Effanga made the disclosure yesterday at the Edo state office of INEC at Aduwawa, Benin on Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Expressway, at an interactive session with reporters.

He noted that at the 4,519 polling units in Edo, accreditation and voting would start at 8:30 a.m., and would end at 2:30 p.m., particularly when the last person in the queue was attended to, with the electorate free to vote for any of the candidates of the 18 registered political parties of their choice.

The REC of INEC in Edo disclosed that the commission in the state had just concluded the training of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) for the elections, while the three-day training for the Presiding Officers (POs) and the Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) would be between yesterday (Friday) and Sunday.

Effanga revealed that INEC’s Electoral Officers (EOs) in the local government areas affected by migration had gone to the locations to display the voter registers, for the electorate to be aware of the latest development, which he said could also be checked online (voters.inecnigeria.org).

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Nigeria’s security agencies, the media, and other professionals converged in Abuja on February 15 for the unveiling of PRNigeria’s report on security risks across the six geopolitical zones ahead of the 2023 general elections. In attendance were representatives of military, security, intelligence agencies and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).

Titled “2023 Election: SWOT Analysis of Major Presidential Candidates and Security Matters”, the assessment was produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA), and funded by the MacArthur Foundation.

The CEO of Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR), Yushau Shuaib said the report, which has media and security officials/experts as the major respondents, is part of the company’s contribution to the deepening of democracy. Already submitted to relevant security services and agencies, it contains components of likely security threats in the event some notable candidates lose.

“As part of PRNigeria’s commitment to entrench democracy through in-depth analysis of socio-economic issues and political events shaping the 2023 polls, we recently undertook a field trip to some states. Rivers, Delta (South-South); Enugu, Imo (South-East); Lagos, Oyo (South-West); Kano, Kebbi (North-West); Borno, Gombe (North-East), and Kwara, Niger (North-Central).

“We also undertook virtual surveys/interviews in other states regarding security concerns as well as aspirations of the electorates. This was with a view to draw the attention of the security agencies, in particular, to the places we have identified as flashpoints prior, during and even after the general elections,” Shuaib added.

The research identified states where violence may erupt if proactive measures are not taken by government agencies and other stakeholders. In characterization of challenges in regions, banditry, kidnapping and political thuggery are the main threats in North-West; insurgency and terrorism in North-East; farmers-herders’ conflicts, communal clashes and kidnapping in North-Central.

It also picked out secessionists’ agitation, political thuggery and communal clashes as the main threats in South-West; resource control agitation, militancy and kidnapping in South-South, while violent separatist agitation, kidnapping and political thuggery are the major problems in South-East.

In characterization of challenges in states, banditry and kidnapping were found to be rampant in Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Edo, Kebbi and Sokoto; separatist agitation in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi; insurgency and terrorism/violent extremism are more attributed to Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun, Kwara are noted for incessant farmers-herders/communal clashes; Kano, Lagos, Bauchi, Gombe, Kogi, Rivers, Osun, Jigawa and Cross River are the flashpoints for political thuggery, while resource control agitation are common in Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom.

The Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the top presidential candidates was carried out with a view to keep security agencies updated about their profiles and strength. It examined how the flagbearers’ participation may affect the fragile peace, unity and security of the nation.

The candidates are Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP); Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Omoyele Sowore, African Action Congress (AAC).

In reference to politically-motivated unrest and killings in recent years, the report said: “In November 2022, for instance, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, reported that there were 52 cases of political violence across 22 states in one month.

“Between 2019 and 2022, hoodlums attacked more than 50 offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 15 States. There have been cases of destruction of billboards, campaign vehicles, offices, and other property. Several campaign rallies have been violently disrupted and convoys attacked.”

The report says due to the naira crunch, the elections may witness cashless vote-buying/trading where electorates could get free tickets after voting to obtain goods and services from retailing outlets. It observed that polls and partisan projections have heightened public anxiety and influenced extreme optimism among candidates and their supporters, which could undermine national security.

Fearing the ruling parties in a number of states have perfected plans to ensure victories for their candidates at all costs, the research complained about disturbing ethnocentric and religious sentiments in political campaigns that have further created fright of potential violence during and after the elections.

It highlights some electorates’ belief that votes do not count and that the outcome of most elections are predetermined. Voter apathy may still be an issue in certain places as revealed by the report which urged parties and supporters to adhere to electoral rules and be quick to embrace sportsmanship when the results are announced.

“There is the need for candidates to demonstrate exemplary leadership by eschewing inciting utterances and actions capable of provoking social unrest. Community leaders should preach peace and unity, while encouraging youths to shun political thuggery and violence. There is the need for communities to support the government through sensitisation campaigns on tolerance and peaceful co-existence”, it reads.

The general public were urged to avoid any form of unrest that might scuttle the successful conduct of the election and undermine national security, while security agencies were advised to remain neutral and be steadfast in discharging their constitutional mandate of protecting lives and properties.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi commended PRNigeria for its efforts on security matters and crisis management in the country. He said environmental and threat evaluation would help to keep security forces alert to consolidate strategies for hitch-free elections and maintain national security.

As the lead agency in charge of internal security, the spokesperson assured the police would sustain collaboration with stakeholders, adding that the security branch and others are taking the charge of President Muhammadu Buhari seriously in order to deliver as anticipated.

“The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor is providing strong leadership and I am happy security agencies are working together. I want to commend the efforts of the CDS, he encourages us a lot. He is everywhere, working round the clock to ensure we give Nigerians the peaceful atmosphere to exercise their voting rights,” CSP Adejobi said.

Stressing that only personnel of the police, military, and other security agencies will be deployed to maintain law and order, the Force imagemaker said no local, regional or unofficial outfit would be allowed to go about as there will be strict restriction of movement on election days – February 25 and March 11.

Madobi is the author of “National Security Strategies – A Young Writer’s Perspectives.”

Two local governments in Imo State have commended United Nations Children’s Education Fund(UNICEF) for its efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) in their various communities saying the previous death toll was high in the communities as an outcome of infectious blades.

Residents of these communities in the council areas were full of praise for the agencies in the fight against female genital mutilation in their various localities.

The Nation reports that UNICEF and her development partners; the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Imo State, and the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) had embarked on a field mission to document and report the current situation and progress being made to end FGM practice in affected communities in Imo State.

In Owerri West Local Government Area, the President General of the Ohii community, Uzochukwu Azuatalam who spoke on behalf of the traditional ruler, HRH Eze Enwere Uzoh said the impact made so far by UNICEF and NOA for sustaining the fight against FGM was very commendable.

He also noted that the progress would not have been possible without his people adhering to the zero tolerance of FGM.

We commend UNICEF for their efforts in sustaining the fight against the scourge, they tried, they spent money and the message sank. I encourage other communities that have not embraced practice to do so for the good of their children.”

“We have told our people in Ohii the danger in mutilating female genitals and the message sank in and I don’t think they practice it in our community anymore.”

He, however, assured that his people would continue to adhere to UNICEF sensitization but regretted that only a few are still believing that hand-pressing does not mean mutilation.

“I cannot say that 100 per cent are compliant, only a few still feel that hand-pressing does not mean mutilation, but we are still preaching to them and I believe very soon everybody will comply with the practice,” he stated.

Mrs Helen Odor, a woman leader from Owerri Municipal Council told the field Officers that the compliance in her community was total considering the measures the women’s group had taken in their area.

According to her, we spread the message that any mother who cut the clitoris of her daughter has sinned God who created it and we have to preach to the mothers especially not to touch it either by cutting or pressing.”

A high chief of the council, Nze Henry Ogoma noted that the sensitization of zero tolerance of female genital mutilation in his community has been welcomed and his people are observing it.

Read Also : UNICEF, NESG partner to end poverty in children

He also noted that before the intervention of UNICEF FGM had killed so many babies in their community as a result of the infectious Razer blade that was used to mutilate the clitoris.

He expressed happiness that since the message came to his community to stop the practice there is no more recorded death due to infection.

“Since the message came to our community and the follow-up by the agencies, we in the eye’s cabinet made it so that every household is being monitored especially the pregnant women, their women-folks make sure they supervise them when the child is born they know the sex of the baby. If a baby girl is born, the women also monitor to ensure that zero tolerance of genital mutilation is followed,” he said.

The Nation reports that in 2003, the United Nations declared February 6th of every year as “The International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. The date has since been celebrated under the need to stem awareness and campaigns with aim of ending this harmful practice.

UNICEF partners with the media in ensuring massive public awareness is created, this year in line with UNICEF’s visibility and communication plans,

UNICEF Communication Officer of Enugu Field Office, Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe told journalists that “we are engaging the media in two affected states of southeastern Nigeria (Imo and Ebonyi) as front liners and to embark on a one-day field mission to highlight the current situation in the affected areas.”
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The ambition of former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, to represent Ogbia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives received a major boost yesterday from many communities in the local government area.

The communities include Otuegwe 2, Ibelebiri, Oruma, Otuesega, Imiringi, Elebele, Emeyal 1, Emeyal 2, Kolo 1, Kolo 2 and Kolo 3.

Members of the communities which made up the Constituency 3 declared their total support for the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) when he led his campaign team to visit them.

The jubilant crowd made up of men, women and youths, said from their assessment, Iworiso-Markson was far and above all other candidates and would best serve their collective interest.

They stated that their open endorsement was a clear evidence of the confidence they have in his capacity to deliver after listening to his message of a New Deal to help turn around the fortunes of Ogbia.

According to them, the message of providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in Ogbia, his resolve to create wealth through SMEs to support mostly women and farmers by providing them with resources through various agricultural schemes and projects resonated with them.

In his remarks, Iworiso-Markson lamented the poor state of infrastructure and acute under development in Ogbia, which he said could not continue.

The SDP candidate said the late Chief Melford Okilo, an icon of Ogbia Kingdom, would be turning in his grave because of how low Ogbia had fallen due to bad leadership and the unbridled greed of its political elites.

He said: “Today, we are suffering from the consequences of bad leadership and poor decisions made by government decades ago since our hero Okilo passed. It is so pathetic that in this present day Ogbia, not one stone has been put on top of the solid foundation Okilo laid to radically transform the infrastructural landscape of Ogbia over 40 years ago.”

Iworiso-Markson again used the occasion to present himself to the people and solicited for their votes in the February 25 elections to emerge as the next House of Representatives member for Ogbia.

“The people are eager to embrace the fresh air and victory for our candidate is assured come February 25,” he said.

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday constituted the Governing Council of the College of Nursing Sciences and Health Technology, Nsukka.

In a statement by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the constitution of the Governing Council of the College, chaired by Prof. Loretta Chika Ukwuaba, was pursuant to Section 8 of the School of Public Health Nursing and Health Technology Nsukka Law, 2012, No. 4, Laws of Enugu State, 2014 (as amended).

Other members of the Governing Council, according to the statement, are Dr. Amechi Edward Egbara (Provost of the College); Comrade John Odo Eze (Member representing Enugu North Senatorial District); Rt. Hon. Dennis Ifesinachi Agbo (Member representing Enugu East Senatorial District); Mr. Isaac Uchenna Onyia (Member representing Enugu West Senatorial District); and Prof. Anthony Amechi Attama (Member representing the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN).

Others are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education (Member); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health (Member); Mrs. Nkechinyere Elogu (Member representing Academic Staff; Mr. Uchechukwu Eze (Member representing Non-Academic Staff); and Ven. Dr. Joel Chinedum Ugwoke (Registrar/Secretary).

The Federal Government has announced that it has achieved the criteria to stop treatment for onchocerciasis (river blindness) in four additional states, namely: Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Anambra.

These states, which represent more than 18.9 million people, are no longer at risk of disease transmission, whose symptoms include severe itching, visual impairment, and disfiguration of the skin.

Through the Ministry of Health, it stated that these states join 10 others that have achieved interrupted transmission of river blindness, enabling Nigeria to stop treatment for more than 28 million people, more than any other country in the world.

Nigeria has the largest population at-risk for river blindness of all countries globally, with more than 100 million people in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory affected. The country has also made the greatest strides globally in eliminating the disease.

Speaking about the achievement, the Chair of Nigeria’s Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee, Professor B.E.B Nwoke, said: “I cannot express how gratifying it is to see millions of Nigerians free from the threat of river blindness. Today I’m proud that Nigeria, once again, serves as a beacon of inspiration not only for river blindness elimination globally but also for all the countries around the world working to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.”

In his remarks, the Chief of Party for Nigeria on USAID’s Act to End NTDs – East program, led by RTI International, Dr. Wangeci Thuo said: “Nigeria continues to achieve incredible progress in its effort to eliminate river blindness and serves as an example of what is possible. This latest announcement is the largest one-time achievement in the history of river blindness. We applaud the Nigerian government and health system’s dedication to freeing its people from the risk of this devastating disease.”

Dr. Abel Eigege, the Program Director for The Carter Center in Nigeria, added: “We thought we would be treating onchocerciasis indefinitely. It was a daunting challenge that had plagued our forefathers for generations.”

THE immediate past governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, described the state PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as the best candidate for Delta come Feb 25th, 2023 and appealed to Deltans to vote for him massively.

Speaking at the palace of the Odiologbo of Owhe Kingdom, Isoko North local government area of the state, after the royal prayers offered Oborevwori, the ex-governor said the PDP candidate is tested and trusted, affirming that he has worked under him when he was governor of the state.

While speaking, Oborevwori said, “I want to be governor to all Deltans and Isoko nation will not be left out. I am a Pan Deltan and a unifer. I am coming to do more for Deltans from where our governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of PDP, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa will stop in May 29th, 2023.

“Please, vote for me, vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor Okowa because that is the ticket that will rescue the nation. Our people should vote for all candidates of the PDP.”

Responding on behalf of other monarchs, the Chief Host and Vice Chairman of Isoko Traditional Rulers, HRM Romanus Ejirememe Inana, the Odiologbo of Owhe Kingdom, implored Oborevwori to remember the Isoko nation when he gets to government House; “We will give you the needed supports and as traditional rulers, we want to play pivotal role in your government.”

There has been outbreak of politically-motivated violence in Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State.

The incident has left many injured and belongings of party members destroyed.

Addressing reporters in Calabar yesterday, chieftains of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders of being behind the attacks, which began on Sunday and had lasted till yesterday morning.

Reading their statement, Sir Authur Archibong, flanked by former Deputy Governor Mr. Efiok Cohbam; Essien Ayi, a seating member of the National Assembly; Lady Emana Duke-Amawhe, the deputy governorship candidate of the party and Ntufam Ekpo Okon, the candidate of Cross River Southern Senatorial District, alleged that over 10 members of the PDP in Akpabuyo Local Government had been attacked.

They said: “The current barbaric attacks on our members began shortly after the candidate of the APC for Calabar South/Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency, Mr. Joseph Bassey and other APC leaders held a meeting on Sunday at Ikot Oyom, Akpabuyo. At about 8:15pm, Bassey and Cyril Anthony (a.k.a. Etete Nkukuk), without any provocation, led miscreants to destroy billboards of PDP candidates displayed on the premises of the house of Mr. Amanso Okon Etim, the Chapter Youth Leader of PDP, at Atimbo. They also broke into his house and destroyed his household items. At the time of the attack, Amanso was in Calabar to attend a party meeting.

“After that first attack, the hoodlums, armed with guns and other weapons, carried out an all-night attack on the homes and business premises of our party leaders and supporters in Atimbo East and Atimbo West.”

They listed some of the victims, who are PDP members, to include Mr. Amanso Okon Etim, Francis Ekeng, the State Organising Secretary of our party, Francis Effanga, the Director-General of our senatorial candidate, the Chairman Atimbo Westward, Elder Effiom Edet Ekpo.

Others include: Mr. Innocent Atsenudiara, Edet Okon Etim (a.k.a. Sunny), Emmanuel Eyo, Saviour Maurice, among others.”

The PDP leaders alleged that they made calls to the police for intervention, but nothing was done.

Reacting, APC candidate for Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency, Mr. Joseph Bassey, denied leading attack on anyone.

He said instead, PDP members had been attacking APC supporters in Akpabuyo Local Government.

He said the matter had been reported to the police.

The Chairman of Akpabuyo Council, Mr. Emmanuel Bassey, also accused the PDP of being behind the attacks.

He, however, called for calm.