The Nation Newspaper

Tag: David Umahi

  • Fire guts accounts section of Ebonyi govt. house

    The accounts section of the Ebonyi Government House was on Friday gutted by fire which disrupted activities within the complex.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no life was reported lost in the fire which started around 9 a.m.

     Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. David Umahi on Internal Security, told NAN that it took the combined efforts of workers and the State Fire Service to put out the fire.

     “The fire outbreak was caused by a faulty  electrical connection within the accounts section and the level of damage was minimal.

     “An upholstery and cottons within the section were completely burnt and we would ascertain the true extent of damage when the fire service concludes its task,” he said.

    An eye-witness, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told NAN that the fire started with a thick fume emanating from the accounts section.

     “The shouts for help attracted workers who used improvised items such as water and detergent to put out the fire before the arrival of firemen,” she said.

     Mr James Owoh, the state Chief Fire Officer, said that his officers promptly responded to the distress call from the Government House.

     “We have always been responsive to distress calls and Government House officials acknowledged that the situation was promptly put under control,” Owoh said.

  • Ebonyi govt to begin seizure of foreign rice

    Ebonyi govt to begin seizure of foreign rice

    Ebonyi state government has set up a Task force to move into Ebonyi markets and confiscate foreign rice found.

    The State Governor, David Umahi who had merely pronounced ban on foreign rice earlier, disclosed this while performing the ground breaking ceremony of ultra-modern Kpirikpiri market on Monday.

    The governor insisted that for one to sell foreign rice in the land of Ebonyi, the person must ensure compliance with all due processes to certify it is not poisonous.

    He said,” We have set up a Taskforce and directed them to confiscate foreign rice found in our market. The person should give us the certificate of the quality of the rice, you have to prove the import duties you paid for it, where you brought it from and you give us Standard Organization of Nigeria certificate to prove that the rice is not poisonous.

    Umahi said foreign rice is poisonous as according to him, some of them were stored for more then 20 years abroad before it would be smuggled into the country.

    “That is why we have cases of cancer, cases of kidney failure and all kinds of diseases that our people were not known for. So you are taking risk if you are selling foreign rice in the land of Ebonyi,”he added.

    The governor who said Ebonyi government had enough rice and looking for distributors, advised people to register and become distributors of Ebonyi rice.

    He promised to open up modern markets in all the thirteen local government areas of the state and assured that the kpirikpiri market when completed would compete with any other modern market in the country.

    Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the governor on Trade and Investment, Peter Obah have ordered all foreign rice dealers in the state to evacuate the produce from the state within two weeks.

    He said, “Foreign rice should be evacuated or moved out of the state within two weeks. Once again, no sale, buying or consumption of foreign rice in Ebonyi state”.

    ‘’This is to safeguard the lives of the people who now consume unhealthy substances packaged as foreign rice to Africa in recent times”.

    ‘’Action would commence to impound all foreign rice seen in the state within two weeks of this statement.”

     

  • Strike: Umahi sacks EBSU bursar

    Strike: Umahi sacks EBSU bursar

    …Suspends ASUU chairman, predecessor

     

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi Wednesday terminated the appointment of the Bursar of Ebonyi State University, Chris Ngwuta with immediate effect.

    The governor also ordered the suspension of the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ebonyi state chapter, Prof Ndubuisi Idenyi and his predecessor Prof Emeka Nwakpor for gross misconduct.

    The Governor made the pronouncement during an address to the people of the state on radio and television over the strike action embarked upon by the university.

    He said he took the decision to terminate the appointment of the bursar because the bursar was re-appointment did not follow due process.

    According to him, the bursar was reappointed for a second tenure by the school management without recourse to the visitor of the school and Governor of the state contrary to the laws enacted by the State House of Assembly.

    “When I asked the school management, they said he was only re-appointed and that re-appointment is normally done through the school senate and management. But I disagree because re-appoinment is also a form of appoinment and since the visitor made first appoinment, he should also be informed and his accent sought for his re-appointment. The law talks about appointment and only mentioned re-appointment once”.

    On the suspension of the two union leaders, Umahi accused them of misinforming the lecturers on what transpired at the meeting they held with him on Monday over the strike action embarked upon by the union.

    He also accused them of politicising the strike action.

    While calling on the striking workers to call off the strike, the governor further said the state government will adopt no work no pay if they refused to head the government’s call.

    He directed the freezing of the accounts of the school until the lecturers resume duties and also announced the witholding of the government’s subvention to the university.

    He, however, promised the lecturers that their agitations and demands will be looked into and fulfilled as government have already set up a committee to look into the matter.

  • Umahi condemns killing of man in Ebonyi

    Umahi condemns killing of man in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi Monday condemned the killing of a man in Isu, Onicha local government area by members of a vigilante group.

    According to the governor, the members of the vigilante outfit seized the man, killed him and tied his legs with bags of sand and threw him into the river.

    The governor, who said the incident came after he directed the scrapping of all vigilante in the state, said the Council Chairman and the Coordinator of the Development Centre will have to answer to him for flouting his directives.

    He said: “Another incident happened while I was away. The Chairman of the local government and the Coordinator of the Development centre will have to answer to me.”

    “They must answer to me because I directed that there should be no vigilante for now. It was my directive and vigilante killed somebody, it is terrible. The vigilante just ceased the man according to report, killed him, tied his legs with bags of sand and put him inside the river.”

    “So I want the Chairman and Coordinator to give me report.”

    Umahi who was away on his annual vacation when the incident happened revealed that another development Centre Coordinator is wanted by the police in two states.

    “We have another one in Ohaukwu involving one of the Coordinators in the local government, Offorbuike.”

    “After seven days, I will get rid of him and declare him wanted because the security agents have been on me. He was declared wanted in Enugu and declared wanted in Ebonyi.

    It was gathered that that the coordinator, Offorbike Onwe is wanted for various criminal offences ranging from gun running and car snatching.

    Umahi said the Police will be allowed to do their job in all the cases before the state government will act.

    “So, we are using the opportunity to report to police, SSG who will bring him to see me and I will now make him available the way the Deputy Governor made Ogbonnaya Eneh available in the case of Uzoamaka”.

    The governor also condemned the stripping and flogging of Miss Uzoamaka Chukwu by some persons in the area led by the Coordinator of Ohaozara Development centre, Ene Odii.

    “Stripping the young girl naked and flogging the girl. I watched the video and I felt so terribly about it. It is very inhumane to have so acted but sometime you don’t follow the masses”.

    He, however, condemned pressures being put on the state government to sack political appointees when the police have not concluded their investigations.

    While maintaining that no one is guilty until proven otherwise, Umahi promised that the government will act at the right time.

    “People were expecting that we should sack the Coordinator, no.  I directed the police to prosecute all those involved in the crime and I will act when the police would have finished their work”.

    “They must not do it the way the social media wants us to do it or very ungrateful elements would want us to do it.”

    “We condemn that in totality and we encourage the law enforcement agents to act accordingly, after that we act but the law enforcement agents must prosecute the person”.

    “The security agents respected us so much by not going after our appointees or elected people without first getting clearance from us and I think it is enough respect and we have to also give them their own respect”.

    “Let me emphasize that we can’t sack people anyhow. These are people that were appointed or elected, so if they commit offence, we must allow the law to take its cause and then we can now react”.

    Police spokesman George Okafor confirmed the killing of the man.

    According to him, the Police have arrested six persons over the matter.

    Okafor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police said the command sent divers into the river who recovered the corpse of the victim.

    He promised that all those found culpable of the murder will be prosecuted.

  • Edo primaries: PDP begins accreditation

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has started accreditation of delegates ahead of its governorship primaries scheduled to begin soon.

    Three aspirants -Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Solomon Edebiri and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen – are battling for the party governorship ticket.

    The accreditation of delegates is taking place in three different centres for each senatorial district.

    Delegates from Edo central Senatorial district are being screened at the party secretariat along First East Circular, while those from Edo South Senatorial District were screened at a former secretariat of the PDP, located at the popular five junction.

    Delegates from Edo North are at the JBS Estate, off Sapele Road, for the exercise.

    The PDP primaries will be conducted by Mr. David Umahi sent by the party’s national body led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi .

    Umahi promised to conduct a rancour free exercise.

  • Photos: Wike bids late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    Photos: Wike bids late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Thursday night at Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area during a wake keep for the Mother of the Ebonyi State Governor, Late Mrs Margaret Umahi.
    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Thursday night at Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area during a wake keep for the Mother of the Ebonyi State Governor, Late Mrs Margaret Umahi.

     

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Thursday night at Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area during a wake keep for the Mother of the Ebonyi State Governor, Late Mrs Margaret Umahi.
    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Thursday night at Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area during a wake keep for the Mother of the Ebonyi State Governor, Late Mrs Margaret Umahi.
  • Wike, Mimiko, others bid late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    Wike, Mimiko, others bid late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was among eminent personalities that attended the wake-keep of late Mother-General Margaret Umahi, mother of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi at Agu-Ugwu, Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Other dignitaries at the programme which took place on Thursday 31 March, 2016 include the Governors of Bayelsa, Henry Seriake Dickson, Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, Ondo, Olusegun Mimiko and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    Speaking at the programme, The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi noted that his mother lived a good life while, describing her as a mediator between God and man.

    He lauded his fellow governors and political associates for their sacrifices, love and honor shown him, his family and the people of Ebonyi State by attending the burial programme of his mother to commiserate with them.

    He expressed happiness over the love that exists between the present crop of governors which he noted is beyond party affiliation.

    Governor Umahi particularly thanked the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for accommodating good number of Ebonyi indigenes who lived and do business in the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the Governors at the occasion, Governor Henry Sariake Dickson of Bayelsa State said they were in the state to solidarize with their colleague and the people of Ebonyi state on the death of their mother as well as honor her for a life well lived.

    He noted that the worthy legacies of late Margaret Umahi will always be remembered and assured members of the Umahi’s family of their support.

    Governor Sariake Dickson prayed God to grant members of the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and for the soul of the deceased to rest in peace.

  • Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election

    Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election

    The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital on Friday upheld the election of Governor David Umahi of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election held in the state on April 11, 2015.

    In an eight hour judgment, the tribunal in its ruling held that the petitioner failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

    The Labour Party candidate in the election, Dr Edward Nkwegu had approached the tribunal seeking for the nullification of the victory of Umahi on ground that the election was marred by irregularities and substantial non compliance with the provisions of electoral act and provisions of the constitutions of the federal republic of Nigeria.

    The petitioner also contended that the election was marred by corrupt practices and that the first Respondent (David Umahi) did not score the majority of the lawful votes cast which he said were enough ground to nullify the election.

    The three-man panel headed by Theresa Egoche began by striking out paragraphs containing allegations against named and unnamed persons who were not parties contained in the petition on the grounds that they are vague, imprecise and lacking in simplicity in line with objections of the counsels to the Respondents.

    The panel also rejected INEC election guidelines for the governorship election tendered as evidence by the petitioner on the ground that it was not part of the list of evidences sought to be tendered in the petition by the petitioner.

    Also, the tribunals held that the electoral guidelines were mere instructions and have no force of law against the offenders/defaulters and as such cannot be a ground to challenge an election.

    She noted that a breach in the electoral guideline as alleged by the petitioner cannot be a ground to nullify the election.

    On the usefulness of the evidences tendered by the Expert witness called by the petitioner, the tribunal held that it never asked for any expert analysis to be able to consider whether there was over voting or not in the said election and for that reason cannot use such evidences in the analysis of expert witness as grounds to determine the petition.

    It ruled equally that the petitioner failed to tie evidences dumped before the tribunal to his claims noting that a judge is an adjudicator and not an investigator.

    It observed that the petitioner’s Witnesses on the process of cross examination discredited the evidences earlier tendered by the petitioner before the tribunal.

    She said: “The inability of the petitioner to call witnesses who were present during the election to prove his claim that the results shown through the card readers’ evidence were the authentic makes his claim doubtful and cannot be relied upon by the tribunal.

    “None of the witnesses called by the petitioner gave the evidence of how the card reader functioned at their polling units “the panel further held”.

    It also held that the petitioner who is alleging over voting did not tender any result sheet showing that votes were illegally allocated/awarded to the first Respondent.

    “We cannot see the evidence of non compliance to the electoral act or guidelines in the evidences given by petitioner’s witnesses”.

    “The petitioner having failed to provide evidence showing that he scored the highest number of votes proves that the first respondent was duly elected,” the tribunal said.

    Counsel to the petitioner A.I Akaraiwe thanked the panel and urged them to make the copies of the judgment available to concerned parties as soon as possible.

    Counsels to Chief Umahi (1st respondent), Chief Arthur Obi Okafor SAN , PDP Chief J.U.K Igwe SAN and INEC E.S Nriezedi commended the tribunal for the judgement.

    Reacting to the judgment, Governor Dave Umahi said he had relied on God throughout the period of the petition.

    He reiterated the readiness of his administration to fight corruption in the state.