The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta State

  • Tradermoni fundamentally flawed, says Atiku

    Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on Friday dismissed the Federal Government’s social investment programme, especially the Tradermoni scheme as fundamentally flawed.

    According to him the beneficiaries are” untrained, untraceable and funding inadequate”.

    Atuku, who was represented by his running mate Peter Obi, spoke at a two- day job creation exhibition in Asaba, Delta State.

    According to him, unemployment can only be solved by promoting micro, small and medium enterprises, urging the federal government to understudy the Delta State government’s scheme.

    His words: “The focus of every government is to create employment and you can’t solve unemployment anywhere in the world without promoting micro, small and medium enterprises.

    “So, what Governor Okowa is doing through the job creation office, training people and giving them the funding to start their businesses.

    “When you compare it with the Trader Moni initiative by the F.G, I really don’t want to compare them, but how can you give people N10, 000 without training?

    “Who do we even know that they are giving the money? How would they collect the money?

    “Here we train them and support them with funding. This is happening only in Delta.

    “Other government should come and learn from Okowa. So the Federal Government should come to Delta State and learn.”

    Read Also: Obi blasts federal government “tradermoni”

    Okowa said the economic downturn that heralded his assumption of office threatened to derail his campaign promise of prosperity for all Deltans, adding “our novel job creation scheme, geared at nurturing, supporting, supporting and promoting micro, small and medium scale enterprises is triggering off a new wave of economic growth, social inclusion and sustainable development.”

    He said 4,253 unemployed youths have become business owners across various skill areas since his administration came on board.

    Okowa listed the areas of job training to include ICT, catering, event management, beauty services, agricultural production and agricultural processing.

    He said the job creation scheme has been endorsed by the World Bank/European Union State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) for funding support.

  • NNPC School hike: Buhari, Kachikwu called to intervene

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to intervene on the staggering hike of tuition fees in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Leadership Academy, Warri , Delta state.

    Pupils of the school, through a representative of their parents, Mr. Patrick Edema, made the call Tuesday in Warri.

    According to the learners, who also appealed to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to step into the matter, increasing the fees mid-session may increase the financial burden on parents who had taken loans to ensure their school fees payment for the entire session.

    Describing the sudden increment as highly insensitive, considering the current economic hardship across Nigeria, they pointed out that the increase came in just two days to resumption of the present term.

    Read Also: Buhari to Ngige: end ASUU strike immediately

    The NNPC Leadership Academy, Warri, had allegedly increased tuition fees by 200%, giving parents barely 48 hours notification via SMS.

    However, the learners commended the management of the NNPC for subsidizing the school fee all these years.

    Remarking that it (school’s management) has the right to review the fees of the academy, they opined that it should be done at the beginning of a new session, adding that such way, parents will get ample notice.

    They also stated that refusal to review the decision may lead to mass withdrawal of pupils from the school which may lead to complete closure of the school.

    Further emphasizing that over ninety percent of pupils of the school are children of host communities, they charged President Buhari and Dr. Kachikwu to prevail on the management of NNPC to maintain the status quo.

  • Truck crushes bicycle rider to death

    A truck conveying cement to Warri, Delta State has crushed one Musa Abduramah to death at Evbukhu Junction along Sapele Road in Benin City.

    Musa was riding his bicycle with which he used to sell empty sacks of cement when a vehicle knocked him down.

    He was said to have fallen on the road while the truck driver that was trying to park properly crushed him.

    Read Also: Dangote: killer-truck not ours

    The victim was said to have three wives and many children.

    Eye witnesses said the car that knocked him down sped off after realizing the truck has crushed him.

    Brother to the deceased, Mohammed Shehu, called on the state government to fish out the fleeing driver.

     

  • Shagari’s counsel on national issues will be missed — Okowa

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State said on Saturday that Nigeria would greatly miss the late former President Shehu Shagari’s regular counsel on national issues and mediations for peaceful coexistence.

    Okowa made this known in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu in Asaba.

    “Shagari, embarked on the distribution of seed and fertilizer to farmers to increase nationwide productivity in farming.

    “He was a legendary public servant, who dedicated his life to the service of our nation in several capacities – as minister, legislator, and finally as president.

    “Shagari’s unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria had been a major encouragement to many governments.

    “He made personal sacrifices to help lay the foundation for sustainable democracy in Nigeria before he was overthrown in 1983.

    “As a country, we will miss his wise counsel on national issues and peaceful co-existence especially now that the nation is entering an election year,” Okowa said.

    Read Also: Okowa condemns murder of ex-CDS

    He added that the late Shagari worked assiduously to improve the livelihood of many poor and underprivileged people through the Green Revolution programme, which he initiated.

    “Our condolences to Nigerians, the Government and people of Sokoto State and Shagari’s family over the demise of the former president.

    “We commiserate with the entire Shagari village, the Sokoto Caliphate, and the Shagari family, over the loss of the ex-President.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I join the entire nation and the people of Sokoto State to mourn the passing of former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who was President in the Second Republic,” he said.

    The governor prayed the almighty God to receive his soul and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    NAN

  • Supreme Court okays emergence of Delta traditional ruler

    *Strikes out appeal against Uwaukoni as Iyasei of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom

    The Supreme Court has affirmed the emergence of Chief Mike Nwaukoni as the Iyasei (traditional Prime Minister) of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State.

    A five-man panel of the court, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, struck out the appeal filed by three members of two royal families in the kingdom for lacking in merit.

    Justice Dauda Sidi Bage, who read the lead judgment, faulted the competence of the appeal filed against the July 12, 2010 judgment of the Benin division of the Court of Appeal, which upheld Nwaukoni’s installation as the 13th Iyasei of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State.

    Justice Bage said: “The amended statement of claim was found to be defective. The entire appeal therefore collapses. This appeal is hereby struck out. Parties are to bear their respective costs.”

    Other members of the panel were Justices Dattijo Mohammed, Kumai Akaahs, Paul Galinje and Amina Augie.

    The Supreme Court’s decision on Friday brought to a close the about 13-year dispute over who should occupy the traditional stool.

    Read Also: Buhari tasks Nigerians on tolerance ahead of 2019 election

    Augustine Arueze, Okonkwo Iyase and Chief Colins Afuwah – had, on behalf of the Umu-Uti family of Agidiase Quarters of Ogwashi-Uku, instituted the appeal, marked SC/55/2011, before the apex court.

    They had prayed the Supreme Court to, among others, set-aside the July 12, 2010 judgement by the Court of Appeal, Benin, which upheld Nwaukoni’s installation as the 13th Iyasei of the Kingdom.

    The appellants had argued that the Court of Appeal erred in allowing Nwaukoni’s selection and installation as the Iyasei.

    They had equally contended that Nwaukoni is not a member of the two royal families, from where all the past Iyasei were selected.

    The appellants argued that it’s was only Ugbekide (from the Chami lineage) and Umu Uti (from the Jogwa lineage of Agidiase, Ogwashi Uku of Aniocha South LGA Delta State, could produce an Iyasei.

    The Benin division of the Court of Appeal had, in its judgment, reversed the March 20, 2008 judgment of the High Court in Ogwashi-Uku.

    The High Court had, in its judgment, faulted Nwaukoni’s selection by the Ogwashi-Uku Council of Elders, known as the Obi.

    The High Court had granted reliefs in a suit the appellants filed in 2005 to stop Nwaukoni’s installation as the Iyasei.

  • Supreme Court okays emergence of Delta traditional ruler

    …Strikes out appeal against Uwaukoni as Iyasei of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom

     

    The Supreme Court has affirmed the emergence of Chief Mike Nwaukoni as the Iyasei (traditional Prime Minister) of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State.

    A five-man panel of the court, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, struck out the appeal filed by three members of two royal families in the kingdom for lacking in merit.

    Read Also:Abe to court: declare me APC candidate

    Justice Dauda Sidi Bage, who read the lead judgment, faulted the competence of the appeal filed against the July 12, 2010 judgment of the Benin division of the Court of Appeal, which upheld Nwaukoni’s installation as the 13th Iyasei of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State.

    Justice Bage said: “The amended statement of claim was found to be defective. The entire appeal therefore collapses. This appeal is hereby struck out.  Parties are to bear their respective costs.”

    Other members of the panel were Justices Dattijo Mohammed, Kumai Akaahs, Paul Galinje and Amina Augie.

    The Supreme Court’s decision on Friday brought to a close the about 13-year dispute over who should occupy the traditional stool.

    Augustine Arueze,  Okonkwo Iyase and Chief Colins Afuwah – had, on behalf of the Umu-Uti family of Agidiase Quarters of Ogwashi-Uku, instituted the appeal, marked SC/55/2011, before the apex court.

    They had prayed the Supreme Court to, among others, set-aside the July 12, 2010 judgement by the Court of Appeal, Benin, which upheld Nwaukoni’s installation as the 13th Iyasei of the Kingdom.

    The appellants had argued that the Court of Appeal erred in allowing Nwaukoni’s selection and installation as the Iyasei.

    They had equally contended that Nwaukoni is not a member of the two royal families, from where all the past Iyasei were selected.

    The appellants argued that it’s was only Ugbekide (from the Chami lineage) and Umu Uti (from the Jogwa lineage of Agidiase, Ogwashi Uku of Aniocha South LGA Delta State, could produce an Iyasei.

    The Benin division of the Court of Appeal had, in its judgment, reversed the March 20, 2008 judgment of the High Court in Ogwashi-Uku.

    The High Court had, in its judgment, faulted Nwaukoni’s selection by the Ogwashi-Uku Council of Elders, known as the Obi.

    The High Court had granted reliefs in a suit the appellants filed in 2005 to stop Nwaukoni’s installation as the Iyasei.

  • We’re out to end PDP’s oppressive rule in Delta – Ogboru

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Delta state,  Great Ogboru has said that the APC was ready to put an end to what he described as 19 years of oppressive governance by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state with a clear victory that will return power to the people.
    Ogboru who spoke with reporters at the APC national secretariat in Abuja is confident that ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party will position it as a winning party on the state.
    “I have heard people saying Delta State is a PDP State, that is highly untrue because majority and a very significant number of our people are not PDP complaint. Most of the people in Delta State, the electorate have been oppressed by the PDP government for the past sixteen years, maybe for the past nineteen years.
    “But as you all know, the PDP has been able to sustain itself in many parts of our country, Delta State inclusive by means other than true or proper votes of the electorate. That is history now because times have changed, circumstances have changed, power has changed, the leadership of our country has changed and the thinking of our people across the country generally has also changed.
    “So, I believe that those limiting factors that militated against us in the past are not quite there anymore to make it impossible for us to achieve what we need to do which is to make sure the votes of Delta people will count, translate those votes into victory and to put the government in place for Delta people which is government for the people, by the people and for the people. That is why I am a candidate.
    “The crises are in two folds. One was the crisis that started during congresses, and those skirmishes that followed the primaries. We have done a lot as a party in the State to reconcile factions and aggrieved persons and the National leaders have sent a reconciliation committee.
    “At the governmental level, I know that the Vice President called aggrieved members and some warring factions to come and sit on the table of brotherhood to find a way forward. Largely put, I think progress is being made. A few grievances are still lying unresolved,  but now the party has put better input and resources in place  to put its house in order as much as it can to make sure that Delta State APC emerges victorious in the next election.”

  • ‘Why Delta State needs a female governor’

    Governorship candidate of the Change Advocacy Party in Delta State, Comrade Gloria Okolugbo, has said that it was time for a female to rule the oil rich state.
    Comrade Okolugbo said she was concerned about the high level for poverty and youth unemployment despite the rich resources of the state.
    Okolugbo spoke to newsmen at the Benin Airport while returning from Niger State where she went to consult with former Nigeria’s President, General Ibrahim Babaginda.

    Read Also: Delta gets new police commissioner

    She explained that her visit to IBB was because of the role the former President played in the creation of Delta State.
    Okolugbo who urged candidates from Delta Central and Delta North to step down from the race said it was the turn of Delta North to produce Governor of Delta State.
    According to her, “My agenda is to address issues like access to renewable energy, putting food on the table of the masses and driving the economy through agriculture as well as pursuing modular refineries.
    “We will develop light rail, health care and embark on meaningful projects.”

  • Delta community sacks monarch, installs a new one

    The traditional rulership tussle in Agbarho Kingdom, Ughelli North council area of Delta state escalated further on Monday as youths of the kingdom reportedly installed Chief Williams Onokpite as new Osuvie (monarch) of the kingdom.
    Before the reported installation of Chief Onokpite as new king, the youths had reportedly banished the embatled Osuvie, HRM, Chief Samson Oghughunwa, who had fled the kingdom for fears for his life.
    A source, who spoke under conditions of anonymity, told the Nation that the new king was the chief kingmaker and next in line to Chief Oghughunwa.
    Meanwhile, addressing journalists in his place of refuge in Uvwie council area, the embatled and deposed Osuvie of Agbarho Kingdom, Chief Oghughunwa, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to come to his aid.
    He also raised the alarm that Agbarho Kingdom is currently in the grip of criminals and ritualists, adding that his ordeal had been engineered by those who see him as opposed to illegalities being perpetrated in the kingdom.
    The embatled monarch said he managed to escape assassination when suspected hired killers invaded his palace on Sunday, adding that those who had been sponsoring his ordeal were both after his life and the destruction of the kingdom.

    “I learnt that some armed youths were coming to the palace, barely 30 minutes when I got the information, they were already at the palace, but I had to vanish. My two wives were held at gun point and traditional beads worth several millions of naira were stolen during the invasion.

    Read Also: Agip urges Niger Delta youths to embrace agriculture

    “My security details were beaten up, my children laptops were carted away. Properties worth over N30 million were collected from the palace during yesterday’s attack. The matter is now with UPU and the Delta State Governor, Dr. Okowa.

    “I’m calling on President Buhari, Governor Okowa and all the security chiefs to come save my life and the kingdom from the activities of criminals and ritualists who want to kill me. Soldiers and policemen came and they saw these youths were arms and ammunitions but did nothing. No arrest was made because they got a directive from a retired military general who is against me.

    “So, I am crying to the FG, heads of army, navy, police, DSS and the state government to come and save Agbarho from a hand of a retired General. Once the matter is settled, it is what the retired General says that this group of people who do not want peace will do”, he said.

  • Okowa advises politicians against politics of bitterness

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has advised politicians to shun actions that could jeopardize peace in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor gave the advice on Friday during the 87th Annual National Congress and Award of Honours of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta.

    Okowa urged candidates to shun politics of bitterness and focus on people-oriented programmes to woo the electorate.

    The governor said everyone should work toward free, fair and credible elections.

    Read Also: Okowa inaugurates 10 vehicles for campaign

    He attributed the success recorded by his administration to the peaceful co-existence of different ethnic groups in the State.

    “The peace and unity that exists among the different ethnic nationalities in the state has contributed greatly to the success story of my administration.

    “If there is division in any of the ethnic nationalities, there will be problem; and as long as each of the ethnic nationalities are at peace with themselves, it will be easy for government to manage its affairs,” he said.

    Okowa urged the various ethnic nationalities in the state to continue to live in peace.

    He said that he believed Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC) would listen to the collective voice of different ethnic nationalities and relocate to Warri, which would boost the economy of the state.

    “There is no doubt that the UPU is a very strong union; it is an embodiment of strength of the Urhobo people.

    “I thank the leadership for keeping faith with the ideals of the founding fathers of the UPU;  I must appreciate the traditional rulers who have come together to ensure that there is no division in the union,” he said.

    Also, former governor. James Ibori, commended the President-General of UPU, Mr Moses Taiga, and the traditional rulers for working for the  unity of Urhoboland.

    “The people should consider the overall interest of the Urhobo nation at all times.

    “As we continue to ask our governor to do more for us, we must keep the peace, which is necessary for development to take place,” he said.

    In his remark, Taiga commended Gov. Okowa for his developmental strides, especially in Urhoboland.

    He said that UPU would join forces with other ethnic nationalities to push for Shell’s returns to Warri.

     

    NAN