The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu State

  • Pensioners hail Ugwuanyi for paying gratuities

    A delegation of pensioners in Enugu State, who benefited from the monthly N100 million approved by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to pay their gratuities from last May, yesterday, visited the governor to thank him “for rescuing them in their time of need.”

    The beneficiaries, in an address by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Damian Udeani, praised God for using Ugwuanyi to perform miracle in their lives.

    They said they could not thank the governor enough for reviving the payment of gratuities in Enugu, saying that “over the years… pensioners have been denied their benefits.”

    According to them, “many pensioners have passed on without getting it. But now, you have gladdened the hearts of pensioners in Enugu with the revival of payment of gratuities.”

    Reiterating their support for the governor’s re-election, the happy pensioners also appreciated the governor for paying their pensions promptly, declaring: “We, our families and friends, will pray and do our part to see that you continue in office.”

    The retirees said they never lobbied before receiving the gratuities, and hailed the governor for the success of the exercise, which they attributed to “your order of non-interference in the committee’s job of disbursement of the N100 million …”

    State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chukwuma Igbokwe said over 600 retirees had got over N700 million, with arrears from January 2009 to March 2010 cleared.

    The committee said before the governor’s approval, “arrears of gratuities … amounted to N16,123, 841, 779.80”, adding “this amount covers retirees from January 2009 to May 2018.”

    “The beauty of this exercise is that it is devoid of manipulation… Most of the beneficiaries were called unexpectedly to come for their cheques while others on routine check saw their names on the notice board of their Sub-Treasury. They could not believe they could be paid without lobbying anybody for it.

    “…the beneficiaries of this your benevolence have returned like the biblical one leper to say THANK YOU for wiping their tears and bringing succour to their families”, it said.

    A beneficiary, Chief Benjamin Ejibe, thanked Ugwuanyi for rescuing him from his suffering, saying he was in hospital when “I received a call that my name was among those to be paid.”

    Chairman of Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries Mrs. Vivian Eze said “it has never been so before until you came into office…’’

  • Police nab three over alleged highway robbery in Enugu

    The police command in Enugu State has arrested three alleged highway robbers operating along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement issued on Sunday that the suspects were arrested on Feb. 15 at about 8p.m.

    Amaraizu said the feat was achieved by police operatives of Mbanabo Division who acted on intelligence information.

    He noted that the suspects specialised in planting sharp objects on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, thereby causing vehicles tyres to be punctured, forcing affected vehicles to stop and rob passengers.

    He said the suspects gave their names as Henry Odogwu of 36 Amechi Road, Awkunanaw; Clement Udo of 28 Odudukoko Street Gariki and Chinweuba Okoye of 17 Chikaogbe Street, Maryland Enugu State.

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    According to him, the suspects were nabbed on their way to carry oyt their activities where they were rounded up by the operatives.

    “In their separate reactions, suspects had maintained that it was their friend identified as one Ifeanyi from Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government Area of the state who lured them into the illicit business.

    “The sharp chisel-like objects are usually placed on the road along Ogbaku axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway at night.

    “They said their role was always to come out from the bush to rob occupants of  vehicle which tyres had picked sharp chisel objects placed on the road by the said Ifeanyi,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu said the suspects were regretting their actions and advised youths to know the kind of persons they keep as friends.

    He said this would allow them to avoid being misled into getting involved in criminality.

    He said that the suspects had been helping police operatives in their investigation, while manhunt on other members of the gang had been intensified. (NAN)

  • INEC to retrieve all sensitive materials in Enugu–REC

    Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu, of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State has said that all sensitive materials already distributed in the state would be retrieved.

    The Rec said the materials would be  returned to the custody of  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch in the state.

    Ononamadu said this at a news conference on Saturday evening in Enugu.

    “We have been directed to return all the sensitive materials to the CBN, Enugu.

    “And the process is already on as I am briefing you now under heavy armed security to ensure that integrity of the materials will be ensured.

    “It will be in the protective custody of the CBN, under heavy security presence, until Wednesday when it will be escorted by the same security personnel back the council headquarters.

    “While in the following day, beginning from Thursday, the sensitive materials will be moved to the Registration Area Centres (RAC) under heavy security as well,’’ he said.

    He assured residents of Enugu State of the integrity of the electoral materials especially the sensitive materials – ballot papers, its accessories and result sheets.

    The REC, who expressed regrets for the postponement and inconveniences it might have caused said the decision was taken to protect democracy.

    “It is a painful decision but one that must be taken to ensure integrity, a free and fair process,’’ he said.

    Ononamadu, however, noted that few lapses observed in the commission’s work in the state would be corrected before Saturday.

    The REC also revealed that over 1.7 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) had been collected so far among the 1.9 million registered voters in the state.

    “I will urge the residents of the state to keep faith with the commission as we are poised to organise credible, fair and free elections come Feb. 23,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Buhari is the best thing to happen to Nigeria, says Chime

    A former Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime has said President Mohammadu Buhari is the best thing to happen to Nigeria.

    He also cautioned against falling for the antics of candidates promising to restructure Nigeria in the presidential polls.

    Chime told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Enugu that it was deceitful for anyone to promise to restructure the country in six months.

    It would be recalled that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku was reported to have promised to start the restructuring of the country from May 29 if he is elected.

    Abubakar also said that about 80 per cent of the restructuring of the country would be completed within the first six months of his administration.

    However, Chime described the statements as a `deceit’ aimed at hoodwinking Nigerians.

    The former governor said that in as much as he was not against restructuring of the country, it would not come easily.

    He said that restructuring of any nation was a long term project and would never be achieved by any single individual.

    He said that the clarification had become imperative as many people from parts of the country were beginning to fall for the bait.

    “Let no one deceive you on this because restructuring of this country is beyond what the president can do alone. It takes a very long time to achieve that.

    “Nothing can be as deceitful as that and you cannot be talking about restructuring without constitutional amendment,” he said.

    Chime, who is a constitutional lawyer said that at the moment there was no legal framework that would support the clamour to restructure the country as the Nigerian Constitution did not recognise any form of referendum.

    The former governor said that for the current structure of the country to be tinkered, it must be subjected to a well-defined referendum.

    “As we speak there is no legal framework to guide us to the change of let us say a parliamentary system of government or any other one.

    “It will take not less than 15 years for the country to be so restructured in the true sense of the word,” he said.

    Chime also said that those who were advocating for the restructuring of the country should convince Nigerians on why the current structure should be altered.

    “They should convince us why it is better than what we have now,” he said.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had shown enough commitment in leading Nigeria out of the woods and needed to be encouraged to continue his good works.

    “Buhari is the best thing to happen to Nigeria now because he brought us back to what Nigeria used to be. This is not about sentiments,” he said.

    The former governor condemned what he described as `politics of segregation or ethnicity’ saying that it had affected governance of the country.

    Chime, however, called on Nigerians to reject those that want to drag the country back to the dark days. (NAN)

  • Boy, 13, beheads mum

    A 13 year old post primary school dropout, on Friday beheaded his mother at Isiagu Ibakwa in Igboeze South local council of Enugu state.

    The boy whose name was given as Ifesinachi Ugwueze was said to have hacked his mother, Beatrice Ugwueze, a widow in yet to be disclosed issue.

    The deceased was alone with her son in the house and grinding pepper for lunch with her local grinding stone when Ifesinachi descended on her with a cutlass and severed her head from the rest of her body.

    The screaming and groan of the deceased alerted the neighbourhood who chased  the suspect in his attempt to escape.

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    The incident set the community in a turmoil as an angry mob gathered to lynch the boy.

    He was tied and forced  to drink the pool of blood gushing out of his mother’s lifeless body.

    He later died before the arrival of the officers of Nigeria Police Force.

    Enugu command Police spokesman, Superindent Ebere Amaraizu said while confirming the incident said: “Tragedy had allegedly struck at about 1:30 pm at Isiagu Ibagwa in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State when a son identified as one Ifesinachi Ukwueze  had allegedly murdered his mother identified as  Beatrice Ukwueze  with a cutlass over a yet to be established issue/issues. It was further gathered that the action of Ifesinachi Ukwueze allegedly angered irate mob who had descended heavily on him and left him lifeless before the arrival of the security operatives.

    Meanwhile the dead body of the deceased son and the mother have been deposited in a nearby mortuary just as a full scale investigations have commenced into the incident.”

     

  • Court names Ogara Enugu APC’s governorship candidate

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declared George Ogara the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Enugu state.

    Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accept Ogara as the governorship candidate of the APC in Enugu state, having scored the highest valid votes casted in the 270 Wards of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The judgment was on a suit by Ogara, in which he named Senator Ayogu Eze, APC’s National Chairman, a chieftain of the party, Prof Moses Momoh and INEC as defendants.

    Justice Ekwo ordered INEC to recognize Ogara as the candidate of the APC for the purpose of 2019 governorship election in Enugu state.

    The Judge was of the view that the direct primary election of the party that produced Ogara as the party’s governorship candidate in Enugu was in compliance with the party’s guidelines as well as the Electoral Act.

    He ordered APC and its National Chairman to forward Ogara’s name to INEC as the party’s flagbearer in the 2019 governorship election in Enugu state.

    The Judge also restrained INEC from accepting any other name except that of Ogara, for the purpose of the 2019 governorship election in Enugu state, having scored the highest votes in the primary elections.

    Justice Ekwo declared that the plaintiff, having scored the highest number of votes cast by members of the APC in Enugu State for the Governorship direct primary election conducted on October 4, 2014 at the 260 Wards, is the nominated Candidate of the APC.

    He said the failure of the 2nd to 4th defendants to forward the name of the plaintiff to the 5th defendant (INEC) as the candidate of the 4th defendant (APC) and the refusal of INEC to publish the name of the plaintiff as the candidate of APC for the governorship election, is contrary to the provisions of Section 87 (3) of the Electoral Act. 2010 (as amended) and Article 20 of the APC Constitution.

    The judge further said: “Plaintiff’s name is entitled to be forwarded by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants to the 5th Defendant as the Candidate of the 2nd and 4th Defendants in the 2019 Enugu State Governorship election.

    “That the direct primary election for Governorship aspirants conducted on 4/10/2018, wherein the plaintiff emerged as the winner on 4/10/2018, having scored the highest number of Votes cast in the said direct primary election for Enugu State Governorship aspirants is consistent with and in compliance with the provisions of Section 87 (3) of the Electoral Act. 2010 (as amended) and Article 20 (iii) of the A11 Progressives Congress Constitution, 2014 (as amended).”

  • Ebonyi records two deaths from Lassa Fever

    Ebonyi state government has confirmed the death of two persons in recent Lassa fever outbreak in the state this year.

    Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezuruike Gabe the confirmation in Abakaliki on Saturday.

    According to him 10 other cases have been recorded in the state five of which have been treated and discharged.

    The other five are still receiving treatment at the Virology Centre built by the State government at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

    They are said to be in stable condition.

    The Commissioner said the two deaths were as a result of late presentation.

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    “One (of the dead) came from Enugu State. The deaths were due to late presentation, in fact, by the time the child came, he was already very bad, bleeding from different orifices which is the terminal stage. But the medical workers tried all they could but could not salvage the patient. The second one actually died before presentation”, he said.

    “The confirmed cases are 12. Five have been treated and discharged while five are on admission now doing very well.”

    Mr Umezuruike said the Virology Centre, which is the only such centre in the entire Southeast, has all the facilities to treat such diseases.

    “The truth is that our management in the virology centre is almost like 100 percent success because we have the dialysis machines; we have all the facilities to test immediately and confirm whether the person has Lassa fever or not”

    He, however, admonished residents and people of the region to always bring the suspected infected patients to the hospital on time so as to be able to save their lives

    “And once you confirm and commence treatment, the prognosis is always very good. Lassa fever is preventable and curable”, he said.

     

     

  • Buhari departs for Ibadan for APC `Next Level’ message

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday departed Abuja for Ibadan, Oyo State, to resume his re-election campaign after a day break on Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before the break, the president and members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were on Thursday in Anambra and Enugu states to launch the re-election bid.

    Buhari had on Friday, during the break, signed the Executive Order 007 of 2019 on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

    The scheme was part of the administration’s commitment to the provision of critical road infrastructure across the country.

    He also swore-in the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko, to replace Justice Walter Onnoghen, who has been suspended pending final determination of the cases against him.

    While in Ibadan, Buhari would meet with traditional rulers at the Chiefs Secretariat before moving to the venue of the APC campaign rally in the state.

    The president and members of the Presidential Campaign Council are expected to address the rally and deliver the `Next Level’ messages to the people of the state.

    Buhari is also expected to take his campaign train to Osogho, Osun state, later in the day.

    NAN

     

  • Man escapes lynching over theft of female pants

    A middle-aged man was nearly lynched by angry mob for allegedly selling ladies’ pants in Mgbakwu, Awka North local council area of Anambra State.

    The suspect, simply identified as Ifeanyi, a native of Enugu state, was reportedly caught in a students’ residential quarters while attempting to steal the undies.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect had confessed stealing over 58 female pants before he was caught by a lady in the early hours of the fateful day.

    A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity said the suspect gained entrance to the apartment around 2am.

    He said, “He headed to the rope where the pants were hung and was collecting them when a woman who came out to ease herself raised alarm.

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    “The neighbours quickly rushed to the scene and pounced on him, stripping him of his clothes.”

    The Nation further learnt that the suspect who was later abandoned by the angry mob after pleading for mercy confessed to have been into the act for years.

    “I usually sell them to one Emeka Ofor in Enugu at the rate of N500 per piece,” he said.

    The suspect who claimed to have dropped out of school as a result of mental illness blamed his traival on the devil.

    The State Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

  • Participate in 2019 elections, MASSOB directs members

    Foremost pan Biafra group, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB ) on Friday directed its members in the forthcoming general elections.

    MASSOB gave the directive after its National Executive meeting presided over by its leader Comrade Uchenna Madu at Awgu, Enugu state.

    The meeting was attended by all the state, zonal, LGA coordinators and National Directors.

    A statement by the group directed the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) should be allowed “to conduct elections in Biafra land for those that still believe in Nigeria state”.

    “MASSOB advised that other pro Biafra groups that planned to boycott the elections are entitled to stay at home during elections days,” according to a statement by its Director of Information, Comrade Samuel Edeson.

    MASSOB added: “In recognition of the freedom of political participation and exercises, we declare that this year general elections in Nigeria will not be stopped or boycotted in Biafra land.

    “Our people that still believe in Nigeria projects are free to participate in the electoral processes of Nigeria including this year as we have allowed INEC to conduct elections in Biafra land.”

    The group, however, reaffirmed commitment to actualisation of Biafra through the principles of non- violence and international diplomacy in collaboration and brotherhood with other progressive pro Biafra groups.

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    “MASSOB, having realised that Biafrans cannot forcefully impose our desirable interest on the people of Nigeria and also having understood the principles of non -violence, MASSOB unanimously agreed and resolved that Nigeria state will independently and internally observe and conduct their political exercises including general elections.

    “That Nigeria elections will come and go irrespective of whoever that wins in both national and state elections.

    “That we must continue with Biafra projects of actualization irrespective of both internal and external distractions.”