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Tag: Ebonyi State

  • Umahi presents N188.4b 2019 budget

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has presented the 2019 appropriation Bill of N188.4b to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

    He also assented to the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill.

    Speaking during the presentation of the appropriation Bill of N188, 401, 913, 868, Governor Umahi said the state executive Council has painstakingly went through the performance of the 2018 budget and expressed satisfaction with the level of performance and implementation.

    Governor Umahi however disclosed that the 2018 budget witnessed a lot of bottlenecks ranging and affecting every sector of the state economy simultaneously citing global instability occasioned by persistent incidence of terrorism and other challenges.

    The Governor said the state pursued the implementation of the 2018 budget with resilience and determination to ensure the attainment of ambitious target even in the face of scarcity of funds.

    The 2019 budget christened Budget of Divine Fulfilment has expenditure ratio between recurrent and capital expenditure of 22.1 percent to 77 percent with recurrent expenditure gulping N41.556b and capital of N49.068b

    He said the 2019 budget which is lower than last year budget is expected to take care of recurrent expenditure and is expected to address all ongoing capital projects across the State.

    Read Also: Southeast future beyond partisan politics, says Umahi

    Earlier in the State Executive Council before the presentation of the 2019 appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly,  Governor Umahi assented to the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill to address health needs of the state civil servants.

    Governor Umahi said the assent to the bill followed the passing of the bill by the State House of Assembly, adding that the law when fully implemented is expected to address all health needs of the Civil servants.

    The Speaker of Ebonyi State House of,  Mr Francis Nwifuru earlier in his address extolled the prudent management of all resources accruing to the State by Governor Umahi and maintained that it was the magic behind massive infrastructural development in the state.

    He said the synergy between the executive and the legislature has provided the state enabling environment to excel above her contemporaries and had placed the state on a high pedestal of economic boom.

    Nwifuru noted that despite the hard bite of economic challenges,  Ebonyi State has remained on the rise through robust and healthy management of resources by the State governor and discouraging profligacy in governance.

     

  • 2019: NYSC DG urges Corps members to be neutral

    Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig-Gen Suleiman Kazaure has warned Corps members in the country who will be working as electoral officers during next year’s general election to be neutral while carrying out the all important national assignment.

    He stated this at the Ebonyi State Permanent Orientation camp, Afikpo while addressing the 2018 Batch C Stream 2  Corps members who are presently undergoing orientation course in the camp.

    The DG, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Okakwu, a Director in charge of PRS at the National Directorate of NYSC Abuja urged the present crops of corps members to maintain the integrity of the Scheme as the 2014 set who he said did the service proud during the election.

    He advised the Corps members not to get entangled with politicians as this could affect their ability to carry out the electoral assignment creditably.

    “You must remain unbiased at all times as you carry out this all important National assignment. Know that the future of the country is at stake and the integrity of the Scheme is also at stake, so you must do everything to ensure a free and fair election come next year”, the DG said.

    Read Also: Niger NYSC Camp is the worst ever – Kazaure

    The DG warned that any Corps Member who violates the electoral law will be dealt with accordingly.

    Briefing the DG, the State Coordinator of the Scheme, Mrs Ann Ibe said that at the end of registration, a total of 1681 Corps members were screened and registered comprising 936 males and 745 females.

    “76 of the females were either pregnant or nursing babies and so had to be leave the camp after registration either on instant relocation or to their homes within Ebonyi state”, she added.

    The State Coordinator further informed the DG that 55 Corps members with health issues were released to go home on instant relocation,

    “Six cases of biometric failure were recorded during the registration process and this has been reported to the ICT Department at the National Directorate Headquarters Abuja”, Mrs Ibe added.

    The DG later presented cash prices to the dance, karate, band and guard groups for their colourful displays during the event.

  • Soyinka praises Northern teachers, pupils for fighting for education

    A 19-year old man was on Thursday arrested with fresh human part at a healing home in Awka, Anambra State.

    The suspect, Sunday Owo, a native of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, was nabbed with the pubic region of a 4-year old boy, including his penis and fingers.

    The suspect, who was also found with a blood-filled bottle, confessed that he was asked by one Blessing, presently at large, to produce the human parts for money rituals.

    “She brought me here two days ago and said that madam instructed her to tell me to bring the body parts that I will have money.

    “Her name is Blessing, and also from Ebonyi state. We had to travel back to Ebonyi state to get these parts because she said we can’t get them here.

    “I paid her N50, 000 for linking me up to the natural healing home but I don’t know where she is now,” he said.

    Read Also: Soyinka to speak at Lafarge Literacy final

    Reacting, the owner of Centre for Psychic Healing and Administration (CEPHA), Awka, Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Ilonzo, said she had to invite both the police and the media to witness the act which she described as strange.

    Ilonzo said she was on ward-round after morning prayers with her staff when they saw the suspect who claimed to be looking for her.

    “We were on ward round when we saw a man with a nylon bag and said he was looking for me to hand over the bag to me.

    “As soon as we opened the bag and saw the content, I instructed my staff not to let him go and quickly invited security agencies and the media to witness what she saw.

    Ilonzo however admitted that one Blessing Eze had come to her office for fibroid issue, adding that she gave her prescription before she left but never returned.

    “I suspect frame up by people who wished to undo her as she has had such attempts in the past including failed efforts to take her life,” she added.

    She urged the Police to identify the owners of the murdered child and the Blessing working as the suspect’s accomplice.

    Officers of Nigerian Police were seen at the scene taking intelligence report.

  • Man nabbed with human parts in Awka

    A 19-year-old man, Sunday Owo, was on Thursday apprehended with fresh human parts at a healing home in Awka, Anambra.
    Owo was caught the genital organs, fingers and blood-filled bottle of a child suspected to have been killed by the man.

    The suspect, who was apprehended at the instance of the Proprietor of the healing home, Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Ilonzo, told newsmen that he hailed from Ohaukwu in Ebonyi.

    He said he was asked by one Blessing to get the human parts and bring them to a natural healing home in Awka for money ritual.

    He said that he paid Blessing N50, 000 for connecting him to the healing home.

    Owo confessed that the victim whose parts he had was about four years and that he killed him in a stream in his town and threw the head and other parts into the stream.

    “She brought me here two days ago and said that madam instructed her to tell me to bring these body parts that I will have money.

    “Her name is Blessing; she is also from Ebonyi state, but she said we can’t get these parts here, so we went back to Ebonyi state where I got it and brought it here.

    “I don’t know where blessing is now. I paid her N50, 000 for linking me up,” he said.

    Read Also:One killed, six injured in Awka auto crash in front of Govt. House

    But, Ilonzo, owner of Centre for Psychic Healing and Administration (CEPHA), Awka, said that she invited the media and the police on seeing such strange thing.

    “I and my staff were on ward-round after morning prayers when we saw the man with the human parts. He said he was looking for me as he had brought the items.

    “When the content of the black bag was opened, l instructed my staff not to let him go and invited security agencies and the media to witness what we saw.

    “One Blessing Eze had come for healing of fibroid and l gave her prescription after which she left but had not returned.

    “Eze’s consultation card bears Ifite-Awka as her address. This is some of the suspected frame-ups by people who wish to undo me.

    “I had witnessed such attempts in the past, including failed efforts to take my life,’’ she said.

    Ilonzo urged the Police to identify the owners of the child that was murdered and the Blessing working as his accomplice, saying that human life was sacred.

    The police at the scene arrested the man, and the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra command, SP Mohammed Haruna, said that investigation in the matter had commenced

    NAN

  • 2019: Police warns politicians against violence

    The Police on Tuesday warned that any politician in Ebonyi state caught engaging or instigating acts of  violence during the electoral period will be decisively dealt with.

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone C, Samuel Ogunjemi who gave the warning in Abakaliki, the  state capital, said that there will be nothing like federal might in the state in the conduct of the election.

    He said that any candidate banking on it to overrun his opponent would be disappointed.

    According to him, the police would play its statutory roles of protecting lives and property in a very neutral and professional manner.

    Ogunjemi spoke at the state police headquarters while addressing stakeholders of the state and various ethnic groups in the state.

    While assuring that the police in the state would do everything possible to ensure there is violent free elections , the AIG urged politicians to play by the rule.

    “Violence will not be tolerated whether from APC, PDP, SDP or Labour party we don’t want violence. Your power is your PVCs, it is the voting power you have. If you like a party, if you like a person or candidate, take your voting card and vote. If it will take the whole of the day for you to cue, do that.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected traffic robbers

    “If you want to do empowerment, do it now so that the people can vote for you. But it is not for you to create some thugs and think with that you will be able to overrun your opponent and will. The police will not sit idle and watch.

    “If you create problems or you bring thugs, we are going to deal with you mercilessly, very ruthlessly . We are going to deal with you very ruthlessly and we have that instruction and we are going to implement it to the later and we wouldn’t want that to happen here.

    “One of the Chairmen(APC) is here and since he is here I also want to make it  clear that there is nothing like federal might. We are neutral and we are going to remain neutral. Our function is to maintain security; credible, all inclusive, free and fair elections.

    “Without security all these cannot be achieved and that is why you have to corporate with us in the forthcoming elections to make sure the state remain peaceful the way it is”, Ogunjemi said.

    He noted that the police under his watch will not be involved in ballot box snatching  or colluding with anyone to disrupt the electoral process during the general elections.

    The AIG assured that the police will provide adequate security in the elections and will protect voters to ensure they exercise their franchise.

  • Six killed in ghastly Ebonyi road accident

    Six persons have died while several others sustained very serious injuries in a ghastly motor accident in Ebonyi state.

    Of the six dead victims, four are male while two are female, The Nation reliably gathered.

    It was leant that the two buses coming from opposite ends of the road had a head on collusion on the road while on high speed.

    The incident, it was further gathered, happened on Friday night around 6pm.

    Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Ebonyi State, Mr Okoro Monday confirmed the incident.

    He said the accident occurred close to Ezzamgbo Bridge on the ever busy Abakaliki-Enugu expressway.

    The spokesman said both the dead and wounded have been evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital for prompt attention.

    Read Also: Five killed in Ebonyi/Benue land dispute

    “Nine persons were injured. Out of the nine, 8 were male and one female. Number of persons killed were six; four male, two females”.

    “Those killed were taken to FETHA two and those injured were also taken to FETHA two were they were deposited at the morgue”

    “Precisely, it was caused by collision. Two vehicles had head on collision. It occurred very close to Ezzamgbo Bridge. The number of the vehicles involved are AWK 702 XA and JAL 376ZX which belonged to People Choice Motors”, the spokesman said. ENDS

  • Fake beggar nabbed in Anambra with drug, cash

    A 16-year old man has been arrested by the police for allegedly faking deformity to extort money from innocent residents of Awka, Anambra state.

    The suspect, identified as Sunday Justice, from Ebonyi state, was arrested at the popular Aroma junction, while begging for alms.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect who pretended to be handicapped, with bandaged left hand, was notorious for harassing pedestrians for money for feeding.

    Read Also: Anambra fights restiveness with skill acquisition

    A newspaper vendor who gave her name as Agatha, said luck, however ran out on him when some police officers, stationed at the area, accosted him after noticing his suspicious movements.

    “Upon investigation, the policemen discovered that Justice had no injuries on his bandaged left arm.

    “They also discovered cash of various denominations on him and a substance suspected to be drug probably used to get him high,” she said.

    When contacted, the Police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed the arrest, saying investigations were on-going.

  • Obi is competent to be VP but… – Umahi

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Tuesday said that he was not against the choice of former Governor, Peter Obi as the running mate to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    Umahi stated this in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    The governor has faced backlash since he led leaders of the party to complain against the selection process that threw up Obi as Vice Presidential candidate of the party with many people accusing him of sabotaging the interest of the Igbo nation.

    But, Umahi while clearing the air, said he was only against the process and not Obi who he noted was very competent for the job.

    He, however questioned how people from other regions will meet and take decisions that concerns me south east with the input of a single person from the region.

    “We have never said that we are against Peter Obi but what we have said is that if six people can come together from five other regions and look at recommendations for the south east and no south east person is there, that is not good for us.

    “We have never said that Obi is not good for us, we have nothing against Obi but we want when decisions that concern  us are being taken, we want to be part of that decision’, Umahi said.

    The governor also expressed displeasure on the imbalance in the initial five man shortlist for the VP candidacy which had no person from Imo and Ebonyi State on it.

    “Number two, the five names submitted, of course no governors in  south east  wants  to be Vice President; everybody wants to finish his tenure.  The Five names for VP should have been five names from the five south east states  but there was no name from Ebonyi and Imo states”

    “I am a fighter of marginalization of Ebonyi people. If we are going to vote, we must be treated with equity. These are the issues; two names came from Anambra, one from Enugu and two from Abia. So, what is wrong in having someone from Ebonyi and then one from Imo?

    These are the issues but there are not as terrible as is being looked at. I know that my people put me on social media saying so many terrible things about me but it doesn’t move me”

    “We must sit down with the presidential candidate and say look if we work together, we must be part of the decision making . I am not talking about myself, I am talking about the leadership of the south east”.

    “If six people can come from other regions to take decision and there is nobody from south east and our people think is right, so be it”.

    The Governor, who said he has a good relationship with Mr Obi said he has no regrets on his actions in the aftermath of Obi selection.

    “Nobody is against Obi. The leaders of Ndigbo are saying that when decisions are taken and you invite people from other regions, invite people from south east. They never issued any  statement and anybody from south east that is saying that my stand is not good, is not a human being because tomorrow is bigger than today”.

    Read Also: Umahi gives NYSC N400m

    “If Atiku had just announced his running mate without other people from other regions seeing the list and making inputs or choices , we wouldn’t have been bothered because nobody chooses a VP for anybody; it is like a wife. But if other people were there, at least one person from south east should have been there. Secondly, Ebonyi state shouldn’t have been neglected even if we will not make the list because the choice is for the man”

    “You remember that one of the reasons that Ebonyi man is not too comfortable with the issue of region is that we are afraid of further marginalization. So, these are the issues. Obi is my friend. You would have seen our pictures on the social media. Yes, he is my good friend and we have worked together very very well and he said something to me   ‘if I were you, I will be more bitter, I will make greater noise than you are making’.

    “Obi understands. And let me give you one shocking news! I was told in the course of our meeting in Enugu that somebody asked Chekwas Okorie why is it that Igbo don’t vote for their Vice Presidential candidates and Chekwas told him that anyday the Igbo man chooses his Vice Presidential candidate, the Igbo man will vote for the Vice presidential candidate and if you check be it Ekwueme or any other, you will  find out that we have never voted along that line”.

    “And I am very sure that in further decisions, the Igbo man must be called, that is just what we are saying. Nobody is against Obi and he is very competent to be VP but I alone cannot endorse Obi. So when my Chief Press Secretary issued a congratulatory message, the Leaders started calling me saying so you alone have made the VP. So I had to issue another statement to say look, I was not consulted. If that is my sin, I cannot repent”,he concluded.

  • Ebonyi Labour joins Nationwide strike

    Organised Labour in Ebonyi State on Wednesday night said it was joining the Nationwide strike called by the national leadership for Thursday.

    Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress in Ebonyi, Leornard Nkah and the Trade Union Congress Chairman, Mike Nwonu said they were in agreement with their national leadership over the issue.

    “Labour in Ebonyi state is in tandem with the organized labour of National Secretariat of NLC  and TUC and by midnight we will send our bulletin. Throughout tomorrow, we will be sending our bulletin”.

    “We have given directives to various unions to mobilize their members for the strike action. The industrial action is to put pressure on the government towards the agreement reached on the National Minimum wage for workers in the country”

    “So, we are in an agreement with the National leadership directive for the industrial action and it will be effective in the state because workers have always crave for enhance salary package”

    “We will join the industrial action; we will ensure we follow it up. We will also ensure that the agreement reached in Abuja will be implemented here in the state”.

    “Our Governor has said it in many fora including today’s meeting with us that he will pay whatever salary structure reached in the agreement over new National Minimum wage”

    Adding his voice, Mr Nwonu said the strike will be total in the state.

    Read Also: 2019: Coalition of Ebonyi youths backs Buhari

    “It will be total strike because we must submit to our National leadership. We received signal from our National leadership; NLC and TUC and today after our meeting, we have resolved to join our colleagues across the country by joining the strike action of which our bulletin is ready for circulation”.

    “We have also informed other affiliate unions for necessary action and we are to monitor it with every machinery”.

    Earlier, Governor David Umahi had met with the Leaders of the Unions in the state where he said that he will not oppose their joining strike action.

    The governor however urged the workers to be peaceful while embarking on the exercise.

    The governor disclosed that the state government has raked in over N3b from fix deposit accruing sine his administration came on board.

    He said the state policy under his watch had made it a policy that any government money that is staying in the bank beyond 24 hours must be fixed.

    He said over N2.9b of one of the ranches of the Paris Club had been given to the local government staff for salary and other entitlements.

    He noted that the past administration in the state could dd not pay pension and gratuities from 2006 till 2015.

    Governor Umahi lamented that past administration in the state could not give any account of the money recieved from the Paris Club refunds.

    “We wrote to the past administration to tell us how they spent the refund which made Ebonyi indebted to the tune of $500m, they didn’t reply and we decided to let the sleeping dog lie”

    Umahi also disclosed that UBEC counterpart funds were not paid by the previous administration, and maintained that his administration came under severe debt in the acruals from the Paris Club refunds.

    Umahi also disclosed that UBEC counterpart funds were not paid by the previous administration, and maintained that his administration came under severe debt in the acruals from the Paris Club refunds.

  • Sit-at-home: Total Failure in Ebonyi

    The sit-at-home exercise called by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, failed in Ebonyi state

    The group called for the sit-at-home to commemorate and protest the invasion of the country home of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, exactly one year on Friday.

    Since that invasion by the Military during the Operation Python Dance 2, Mr Kanu and his parents have not been seen.

    The new Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Kimo had urged residents to go about their normal business. He also held series of meetings with business owners where he assured them of adequate security.

    It was business as usual in the state capital Abakaliki, on Friday as residents went about their normal daily business activities.

    Read Also: 378 bags of ‘poisonous rice’ impounded in Ebonyi

    Shops, motor parks, banks and other major businesses remained open in the city from 8 am in disobedience of the order by the pro- biafran group.

    The Abakpa main market in the city, the mechanic village and other markets in the city were open as traders began making brisk business.

    However, Transporters had no buses going to Onitsha or Aba in Anambra and Abia states respectively.

    Joint security patrol teams patrolled the streets of the city with some others on standby at strategic points in the city.

    A resident, who spoke to our reporter, Geoffrey Igboke said he did not observe the exercise because he did not see the need for it.