The NYSC Batch B Corps Members posted to Ebonyi were inducted on Thursday at the Orientation camp in Afikpo.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Charles Akpuenika represented Governor Umahi at the event.
Apart from the usual slow and quick match by the corps members, there were also thug of war, taekwondo and cultural displays to add colour to the event
The Ebonyi Police Command on Sunday, confirmed the release of the kidnapped Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) Dr Emeka Ogah.
It can be recalled that Ogah was kidnapped on Nov 15 at Ajaokuta, Kogi on his way to Abuja on an official assignment.
The CMD was kidnapped alongside the hospital’s Director of Administration, Chief Christopher Ogbu and Mr Sylvester Ugama, the Director of Finance while his driver escaped with bullets wounds from the abductors.
ASP Loveth Odah, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), gave the confirmation in an interview with NAN, noting that Ogah and others have reunited with their families.
“The kidnap victims were released by the abductors on Saturday night around the area they were abducted and they are presently in good state of health.
“I cannot confirm whether ransom was paid for their release but the kidnapping unit of the command is working in collaboration with its counterpart in Kogi to track and arrest the kidnappers,” he said.
Dr Ifeanyi Ariom, Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA ) Ebonyi chapter, thanked God for the release.
“We appreciate the demonstration of love and solidarity shown by all, particularly the Ebonyi government,” he said.
Gov. David Umahi had on Friday while addressing protesting doctors and other hospital staff, vowed that his administration would ensure that the victims were released without harm.
“When they are released, I will come into the hospital and find out if bad eggs were involved because this matter does not matter whether it is a state or federal institution.
“The rights of our people would always be respected and anybody who doesn’t want to stay here can go to another place and stay.
“People who feel that an Ebonyi man cannot be a CMD will be made to know that an Ebonyi man can be such and if the CMD is doing some wrong things, we can sit down and discuss such,” he said.
NAN
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night in Abakaliki explained that many appointments in his administration were done purely on merit and proven track records.
Speaking at a State dinner organised in his honour, Buhari said that he always considered what was best for the country in taking such decisions.
‘‘Some of the people holding high positions in the government, like my ministers, will tell you that I didn’t know them from Adam.
‘‘I just came across their names from the records and I worked with the records. I thank God that I have a very good team,’’ he said.
The President commended Gov. David Umahi for his development strides in the State, saying ‘‘the absolute commitment of the Governor to his position is very remarkable and I am very impressed.’’
He expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ebonyi for recognising his modest contribution to the country.
Buhari described Nigeria as a great country with incredible resources and highly talented people.
‘‘We should continue to pray to God that the elites that will be in charge of the country in the future fear God,’’ he said.
The Ebonyi Police Command on Monday warned the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and political parties’ supporters against disruptive acts during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state on Tuesday.
Ebonyi Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Titus Lamorde, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.
He gave the assurance that the command was well equipped to deal with all forms of security challenges before, during and after the President’s visit.
According to Lamorde, any individual or group of persons that foment trouble before, during and after the visit would be severely dealt with, as people are advised to conduct themselves well.
“I will not disclose the number of personnel we have drafted for security reasons, but I assure citizens that enough personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure a hitch-free visit.
“The President’s visit is a welcome development as the citizens should cooperate with security agencies to make it a successful one,” he said.
He stated that his officers had been adequately trained to relate well with the citizens during the visit and advised people to conduct their activities within the confines of the law.
“We would not meddle into political issues as security outfit, but the visit is developmentally-oriented because of the numerous projects the President would inaugurate.
“My officers would not intimidate or harass individuals or groups as the duty of ensuring a hitch-free event is a collective one,” he said.
NAN reports that some proscribed IPOB members have been making uncomplimentary remarks while the rivalry between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC)
members, had heightened prior to the visit.
Stakeholders in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi have pledged their support for Gov. Dave Umahi second term ambition in 2019.
They spoke at Isu, headquarters of Onicha Local Government Area, during the inauguration of “Rachael Umahi Women for Akubaraoha 2019,’’ a political support group.
Mr Obasi Odefa, the Deputy Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, who spoke, said that the people would speak through action not by words when the time comes.
“I assure you that Onicha people will vote massively even beyond what was seen during the last general election.’’
The deputy speaker said that Onicha Local Government would remain a strong base of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Another member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Valentine Okike-Uzo, who spoke, also assured the governor come 2019.
The assembly member also said that the governor’s wife, Rachael Umahi, had impacted positively on women and children in the area.
“Your passion for upliftment of widows, downtrodden, women and children through your pet project, Family Succour, has changed their lifestyle; we are committed in supporting you, “Okike-Uzo said.
Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, former Ebonyi Deputy Governor and Pro-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, who also spoke, assured the present administration of total support of people of the area come 2019.
Ogbu who was also the chairman of the occasion, commended Gov. Umahi for executing development projects across all the communities of Onicha Local Government Area.
Mrs Rachael Umahi expressed appreciation to the people for their support and solidarity.
She urged eligible voters to ensure they registered, as well as collect their voter’s cards, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Mr Felix Igboke, Chairman of Onicha Local Government Council, said that Gov. Umahi has transformed the state and should be given a second term to enable him complete his good works.
He said that the people of the area would vote massively for Gov. Umahi in 2019.
NAN
To grow its economy in the face of oil revenue challenges and exploding population, Ebonyi State has mounted a campaign for residents to cut down on reproduction. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports
What can a governor do if he wants to grow his state economy when the odds are stacked against him? Crude oil has fallen out of favour and the population is growing at an alarming rate. Residents should go easy on procreation.
In Ebonyi State, birth control is one sure way to tackle the challenge. That was why Governor Dave Umahi launched the Resources for the Awareness of Population Impacts on Development or RAPID.
Umahi’s administration believes a controlled population is easier to manage in the face of limited resources.
At the launch which took place at International Conference Centre Abakaliki, the governor said the state government would embark on massive sensitisation of the people on fertility control measures.
The event was attended by political office holders and traditional rulers in the state.
RAPID is a report of a survey sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID through Health Policy Plus Nigeria.
Presenting the report, the Country Director of Health Policy Plus, Dr. Onoriode Ezire said Ebonyi has the highest fertility rate of 5.3 per cent in the Southeast.
He said the implication of the fertility rate was that the population of the state which was estimated to be about 2.9 million presently would reach seven million by 2050 without corresponding economic growth.
While launching the report, Governor Umahi explained that the state government was committed to controlling the population of the state considering the prevailing socio-economic challenges in the country.
He described as unacceptable the report that about 28 per cent of girls and 14 per cent of boys in the state were out of school. He announced the commencement of a N1bn Patients Ward Project at Federal Teaching Hospital (FETHA) Abakaliki.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezuruike described the report as laudable as it would help in the reduction of maternal mortality rate in the state which stands at 310 per 100,000 live births.
The state government is surely working on other options to grow the economy but with a controlled population, things get a bit easier.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi chapter, says it will support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
“The Ebonyi chapter of APC would throw its full weight behind the President should he declare interest to run again,’’ Acting Chairman of the party, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, said on Thursday.
Nwachukwu said this in Abakaliki that the party took the decision after close assessment of the achievements of the present administration especially in, job creation, economic revitalisation, agricultural revolution and war against corruption.
According to him, it is natural for the party to back Buhari, so as to consolidate on the gains so far achieved.
The chairman said the national leadership of the APC should prevail on the President to go for second term.
“We have assessed the achievements of the present administration and have come to an undeniable truth that Mr President has done so much in areas of physical infrastructure, war against financial graft, job creation, economic repositioning among others.
“It is only natural that the President is given another opportunity to consolidate on the gains so far made in enthroning genuine democracy and putting the nation’s economy on the paths of economic growth.
“We are going to mobilize both party and non party members to support Buhari for second term.
“We are only praying that Mr President will listen to the popular voices calling on him to throw himself in for re-election in order complete the good work that his administration has started, ” Nwachukwu said.
He claimed that the APC was `robbed’ of electoral victory in 2015, but assured that it would have a “clean sweep at the governorship and presidential polls in the state come 2019.
“We are set to take over the Government House in Abakaliki by 2019 and APC will have 100 per cent votes cast in both the governorship and presidential elections.
“Ebonyi belongs to APC and I am saying that APC will take 100 per cent of votes cast for the Presidential and governorship polls and we are going to prove this fact in 2019.”
NAN
•Victim locked inside coffin
Gunmen have abducted and tortured the Coordinator of Ikwo South Development Centre, Marvin Anari.
The incident, it was learnt, occurred at Ukwuachi playground, Amagu in Ikwo Local Government, venue of a stakeholders’ meeting.
“Armed men invaded the venue, dragged the coordinator out, stripped him naked, defied pleas by elders, took him out of the venue of the meeting to Eke Amagu market, bought a coffin, pushed him inside in a pool of blood and closed the casket”, a source said.
He said residents discovered where he was dumped by his abductors and took him to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
Last night, the council chief was in coma.
Governor David Umahi, who visited the victim yesterday, described the incident as barbaric.
He called for investigation into the incident and urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the suspects.
The Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC ) in Ebonyi, says the approval given by Gov. Dave Umahi for the payment of workers’ 2016/2017 leave allowances will enhance productivity.
The state NLC Chairman, Mr Leonard Nkah, on Friday in Abakaliki, said that the approval was a welcome development.
“We have been negotiating with the government on the issue of the payment of arrears of workers’ leave allowances and other statutory workers’ entitlements; and we are happy that the governor has graciously approved the payment.
“The action will not only motivate the workers to greater productivity, it will also enhance more service delivery.
“Workers have been subjected to more hardship with their families and other dependents, suffering excruciating pains under the present economic recession.
“The payment of the leave allowances will no doubt alleviate the sufferings and ensure that they put in their best.
“We commend and congratulate the governor for keeping to his promises to better the welfare and wellbeing of the Ebonyi workers, ” Nkah said.
Nkah, who is also the President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE ), Ebonyi chapter, said NLC would continue to engage the state government in constructive dialogue on matters concerning workers’ welfare.
He said that payment of workers’ promotion arrears and lifting of embargo on promotion were being discussed and would soon be addressed by government.
The chairman urged workers to be more dedicated to their duties, promote work efficiency and avoid acts that could impact negatively on service delivery.
Workers in Ebonyi were yet to receive entitlements accruing from their annual leave since the inception of the present administration on May 29, 2015.
NAN
“After his arrest, Ogonna was helping the police to arrest the two other gang members but unfortunately, on the night of October 22, policemen of the state CIID on Cell/Counter duty negligently allowed the escape of kidnap suspect, Ogonna Alioka and three other suspects of various offences”, the commissioner said
Mr Lamorde said all the policemen on Counter duty on the day the suspects were arrested, detained, defaulted and tried in an orderly room.