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Tag: Enugu

  • APC: Parallel LG congresses hold in Ondo, Kwara, Kogi, 4 others

    Police arrest three over killing of man in Lagos

    Kwankwaso, supporters boycott exercise in Kano

    Commissioner escapes death in Edo State

    … Zamfara, Bayelsa, Kwara, Abia also

    In at least seven states, factions elected parallel executives during yesterday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government Congresses. Reports filed by state correspondents show that some of the states where parallel congresses held yesterday include Enugu, Kogi, Ondo, Zamfara, Bayelsa, Kwara and Abia.

    In Enugu State for example, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Special Assistant to the President on Judicial Reviews, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku and the Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, emerged as delegates. But they were elected from parallel congresses of the Udi Local Council.

    Onyeama and Ibekaku, as well as other key officials of the Udi APC Local Government, were elected unopposed at a parallel congress held at Comprehensive High School, Abia-Udi.

    Okechukwu was elected at a parallel congress held at the Udi APC Local Government office, 9th Mile Corner, Ngwo, near Enugu.

    Okechukwu was returned unopposed likewise two other national delegates, Mr. Charlie Chime and Maureen Anosike, at the same venue.

    Onyeama, while commenting on the congress, said: “But unfortunately, those who want to be elected and the congress team that came here, the chairman, claimed that the National Working Council said they should only meet with the chairman of the state party.

    “The chairman of the state party himself is interested in competing, so you can imagine a situation where they said that the person who is interested in being elected should be the one that should carry out the election process.

    “So, what has happened is exactly what you would expect to happen; he now keeps all the forms for himself and completely excludes everybody else; in fact, he excludes the majority of the people. And we can’t allow that to happen.

    “So we have gone on with the parallel congress. I spoke to the chairman of the congress; I said to him you just impose a democratic process on the state; but he said no, he had instruction from Abuja that he should relate with the chairman, and that he knows is not fair, and that he knows that will just come up with a list without having gone through any electoral process at all.

    “But we are going to fight it today because you’ve seen so many people here, and by God’s grace, their votes must count.”

    The APC National Vice Chairman for South-East, Emma Eneukwu and the Acting Women Leader, Mrs. Oby Nwofor were among the party chieftains from the local government who attended the congress in which the VON Managing Director was elected.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ?were also in attendance at the Udi APC office.

    Reacting to his election as national delegate, Okechukwu assured that he would use the mandate given to him to support the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve infrastructure in the South-East geo-political zone.

    At the congress which held at the St. Luke Primary School, Adankolo in Kogi State, the Audu/Faleke faction of APC, elected Usman Mamanlafia and Abubakar Nagogo Maiyaki as the chairman and secretary, respectively, in the 27-man executive.

    The faction is alleged to be sympathetic to the embattled APC state chairman, Alhaji Haddi Ametuo.

    The congress was supervised by officials of INEC, amidst the presence of some operatives of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad.

    But Okene, the faction loyal to Governor Yahaya Bello, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Ohere, were observed putting final touches for the LG congress, at the popular Lafia Street area, while similar arrangements by Bello’s loyalist, led by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mathew Kolawole, were ongoing in Kabba, as at 2pm.

    In Zamfara State, a group loyal to the chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa, yesterday organised a parallel congress across the 14 local government areas of the state.

    The congress, according to a statement by the camp, signed by Bello Soja Bakyasuwa Maradun for the group, said the parallel Congress recorded a large turnout across the 14 local government areas of Zamfara state.

    The camp had last week threatened to block the local government Congress over the alleged refusal of Ambassador Dauda Danladi-led committee to organise ward Congress.

    Marafa’s group accused Ambassador Danladi of pitching tent with Governor Abdulaziz Yari to scuttle the will of Congress members of the party in the state.

    ” Our group is the only faction that fulfilled all the party conditions, having paid the prescribed fees through the designated banks for all our candidates during the just concluded ward Congresses that were held nationwide last week,” the statement reads in part.

    Parallel local government congress was also recorded in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    Two  factions loyal to a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, and a former Acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo, conducted separate congresses.

    Sylva commended the delegates and party members for the peaceful conduct of the congresses.

    But Binabo claimed that the LG congresses conducted by them were the real ones, describing Sylva’s faction as fake.

    Ondo is another state that recorded parallel congresses. At least, two visible factions held congresses across the 18 local government areas.

    One of the factions was loyal to the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and the Acting Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, while the other group supported the embattled chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke.

    It was a supremacy battle between the two factions as they struggled for the group that is authentic.

    However, the congresses were devoid of violence.

    Some of the local governments where the parallel congresses were reportedly held included Akure South, Ifedore, Akoko South-West, Ondo West, among others.

    The Acting Chairman, Adetimehin however denied having parallel congress, saying the real congress which was conducted and attended by the congress committee, set up by the national secretariat, Abuja, was the authentic congress.

    Commenting on the exercise, a leader of the APC in Ifedore Local Government and leader of the Kekemeke’s faction in the local government, Bamidele Baderinwa, a federal lawmaker, said the congress was held at the APC secretariat, Igbara Oke, the headquarters of the local government.

    In Abia State, the congresses were peaceful across the 17 local government areas but reports confirmed that parallel congress was held in some areas.

    Our reporter who was at the party’s secretariat in Umuahia, Abia State capital, reports that materials for the congress in all the 17 local government areas of the state were distributed as early as 7:30am including Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isiukwuato, Ikwuano, Umunneochi, Bende, Ukwa East and West, Ugwunagbo, Obingwa, Aba North and South, Osisioma, Umuahia North and South respectively.

    Meanwhile, NAN reports that a faction of the party loyal to Chief Ikechi Emenike also held a parallel congress at Umuawa Alaocha Primary School in Umuahia North LGA.

    The congress, which also adopted Option A4, elected Chief Nelson Udenze (Chairman), Onyebuchi Igodo (Treasurer), Chigozie Oriaku (Secretary) and Mercy Uchechukwu (Women Leader).

    Speaking with newsmen at the end of the exercise, former Deputy Gov. Chris Akomas, who is a delegate and member, Board of Trustees of the party, expressed joy over the peaceful congress in the area.

    In Kwara also, two parallel congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took place across the 16 local government areas of the state yesterday.

    A faction of the party loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and another led by Senate President Bukola Saraki conducted different congresses.

    The congresses were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

    Just like what happened during last week’s ward congresses, APC stakeholders in most local government areas in the state picked their executives through a consensus arrangement

    The faction loyal to President Buhari said its grievances against the other faction included maginalisation and inaccessibility to nomination forms.

     

  • Enugu govt gives 150 schools ICT tools

    Enugu State has equipped 150 schools with Information Communication Technology (ICT)  tools, to encourage use of computers, Post-Primary School  Management Board (PPSMB) Chairman Nestor Ezema has said.

    He spoke in Enugu when the House Committee on Education visited the board.

    Ezema said the board equipped the schools, mostly in rural areas, in line with the government’s zero tolerance for exam malpractices.

    He said the difference between the child in private or public schools was about equipment and usage.

    The chairman said the government was recruiting 2,000 teachers in batches.

    He said 1,000 were already in place.  Ezema said the state would no longer lack teachers, especially in rural areas, after the  exercise.

    He noted that the board banned inter-zonal transfer to stop those teachers influencing transfer from rural areas.

    Ezema said the government trained 11,000 teachers to update them on modern teaching.

    Chairman, House Committee on Education, Mr. Matthew Ugwueze, said the visit was to identify challenges facing the board and how to tackle them.

    He decried the rising land encroachment in schools.

    Ugwueze urged public companies and financial institutions to partner the government in building and renovating schools.

  • NANS lauds Buhari’s commitment to human rights

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to human rights and investigation of human rights abuses in the country.

    NANS National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Bestman Okereafor, gave the commendation in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Our reporter recalls that the commendation was a fall out of Buhari’s strong comment against human rights abuses and explanation on how far his administration had embarked on investigation of human rights abuses during his interaction with President Donald Trump of U.S.

    NANS implored  the presidency and security agencies to ensure freedom from oppression, equity and social justice for all Nigerians regardless of religion and tribe.

    “NANS appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the principles of human rights as well as the promotion and protection of people’s freedom, even in the process of fighting terror, as stated recently during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House.

    “President Buhari’s commitment to ensuring that all documented cases of human rights abuses are investigated and those responsible for violations held accountable for their actions is laudable,’’ he said.

    The PRO, however, call on security agents to intensify efforts aimed at tackling insurgency and armed herdsmen, who had been terrorising and wreaking havoc in some parts of the country.

    NAN

  • Workers’ Day: NANS urges FG, states to implement new minimum wage

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal and State Governments to urgently implement the new minimum wage as the present N18,000 was “grossly insufficient for any worker.’’

    NANS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Bestman Okereafor, made the call in a statement made available to the News Men on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Okereafor said that the leadership of NANS was joining millions of Nigerian workers in solidarity as they celebrate this year’s workers’ day.

    According to him, NANS appreciates the positive impacts of Nigerian workers and their contributions to the nation building.

    “In lieu of this we are joining our voice with the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to demand for the implementation of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers considering the economic situation in the country.

    “It is clear and obvious that N18,000 is insufficient to meet the present economic demands of a Nigerian worker.

    “It is noted that workers, who create wealth for a nation, must be adequately taken care of as this will equally go a long way in curtailing corruption in our beloved country.

    “NANS is finally calling on Nigerian workers to remain steadfast and committed to the service to humanity and father land,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • NAF Commander calls for closer synergy among security agencies

    Group Capt. John Ukeh, Commander, Base Services Group ( BSG ) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Enugu, has called for more synergy among the various security agencies in the country to tackle the various security challenges.

    Ukeh made the call after the NAF Second Quarter Route March in Enugu, which took place between Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Abakaliki Road on Saturday.

    He noted that no single security agency or formation can effectively shoulder the security responsibility of the country.

    “This route march as directed by the Chief of Air Staff ( CAS ), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is meant to keep the troops ready and fit for deployment to combat and trouble zones.

    “It will help to strengthen the health of NAF personnel and ensure that they are agile at all time.

    “This exercise also promotes inter-agency relations as we have members of sister security agencies marching in unison with our personnel this morning.

    “It is clear that no single agency or security formation can effectively tackle security challenges in the country.

    “So, we needed to create avenue for greater and closer synergy among all security agencies,’’ Ukeh said.

    The commander, however, urged the troops to be dedicated to their duties and bring innovative ideas meant to facilitate the mandate of the Chief of Air Staff and NAF in general.

    Speaking, Mr Cyriacus Enechukwu, Area Commander, Police Area Command in Enugu, lauded the NAF for keeping to its tradition of quarterly route marches and involve sister security agencies.

    “It is heartwarming that security agencies are working together to provide solutions to security challenges; and this will definite produce better results,’’ Enechukwu said.

    Read Also: NAF destroys Boko Haram Terrorists logistics base at Tumbum Gini

    Mr Agu Justin of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Command, Enugu and Mr Chukwuemeka Ochi of Nigeria Immigration Service, Enugu joined in thanking the NAF for putting up a “well-organised and well-attended’’ route march.

    “This gesture of carrying everybody along will help security agencies understand one another and improve the overall security of Enugu State and by extension the country,’’ they said.

    The newsmen reports that personnel from four formations within NAF in Enugu took part in the route march, which covered 10 km.

    The formations included: Headquarters Ground Training Command, 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group, personnel from NAF Comprehensive School, Agbani and personnel of Base Services Group.

    NAN

  • Xenophobia: South African mob burns another Nigerian alive

    The Nigerian Community in South Africa has announced the killing of Clement Nwaogu, who was burnt alive by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in that country.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Habib Miller, confirmed the killing from Pretoria in a telephone interview with our reporter in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    He said the victim, a native of Njikoka in Anambra and an upholsterer in South Africa, was attacked and killed by a mob in Rustenburg, North West Province.

    Miller said that the victim was murdered in cold blood over his accent and habit, which the mobsters supposedly found offensive.

    “The mob descended on him like a common criminal with all sorts of dangerous weapons in the presence of South African police officers.

    “Eyewitnesses say the victim beckoned for help from the police to intervene and help him, but they turned a blind eye.

    “When Nwaogu could no longer persevere, he ran for safety; the mob chased and caught him, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze,” he said.

    Miller said that the mob then left Nwaogu when they thought he had died.

    The spokesman said that shortly after the mob left Nwaogu that some passersby called emergency personnel, who later took the victim’s charred body to the hospital.

    “The eyewitnesses feeling that the victim was still alive called for help; unfortunately, Nwaogu could not survive the ordeal and died at Job Shimankane Hospital in Rustenburg,” he said.

    In another development, Miller said that 14 Nigerians, who protested the killing of a fellow citizen in that country’s North West Province in February, are still in detention.

    He said the police officers murdered the Nigerian in cold blood on Dec. 17 after failing to extort money from the victim.

    Miller said that the police officers had since been released on bail while those who protested the killing were still languishing in detention.

    “Our legal team is doing everything possible to facilitate the release of the protesters.

    “We are worried that nothing has been done by the Nigerian government to stop the killings.

    “We once again call on the Nigerian mission in South Africa to do the needful urgently because things are getting out of hand.

    “The union with its legal desk will follow up the matter with the appropriate institutions until justice prevails,” he added.

    Nwaogu was married to a South African and was blessed with two children; aged three and five years.

    Our reporter recalls that the killing of Nwaogu follows extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro, 30, by the South African Police Flying Squad.

    Okoro, a native of Ogbaku in Awgwu Local Government Area of Enugu, was shot dead at Hamburg, Florida West Rand, Johannesburg on April 9.

    Records show that no fewer than 118 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since February, 2016.

    NAN

     

  • Enugu U-18 beats Rangers feeders 2-1 in friendly encounter

    The Enugu U-18 football team for the upcoming National Grassroots Sports Festival in Abuja, on Wednesday defeated Rangers Feeders 2-1 in a friendly match in Enugu.

    Following the victory, the team’s coach Anistar Izuikem, told the newsmen that his team would do well and probably win the football event of the festival.

    “Apart from Rangers Feeders team, we recently defeated another Nationwide League One ( NLO ) side, Lamray FC and they are a force to be reckoned with.

    “I feel honoured to have outwitted the two clubs in the test matches and besides, we are going to the festival with positive results,’’ the coach said.

    He added that the players were ready for the festival and would win the football trophy, just like the state had been doing in grassroots football competitions.

    The newsmen reports that Rangers Feeders dominated the match and took the lead before the interval through Kenechukwu Okolie.

    Read Also: Suspected robber nabbed in Enugu

    The U-18 team, however, equalized through their Captain Chidera Pius in the 57th minute after an enterprising buildup.

    The team’s leading goal scorer, Promise Eze, eventually took the match beyond Rangers Feeders, by scoring the winning goal in the 87th minute.

    Izuikem told the newsmen that 18 players and three coaches would be making the trip to Abuja.

    He said the team would depart Enugu on Thursday, instead of Wednesday the earlier scheduled day for departure.

    NAN

  • Suspected robber nabbed in Enugu

    Enugu State Police Command has arrested a suspected robber, who specialised in snatching tricycles (Keke Napep) in Enugu metropolis, spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement yesterday in Enugu.

    He said the suspect was nabbed on April 8, adding that a stolen tricycle was recovered from him.

    Amaraizu said operatives from the Central Police Station, Enugu, acted after receiving a tip-off from the public.

    “It was gathered that the suspect with his cohorts at large, allegedly at gunpoint, robbed their victim of his tricycle registered as UWN 418 QK, at Mbanugo Coal Camp axis of Enugu and escaped.

    “Through a distress call, operatives swung into action and pursued the hoodlums, which paid off, as one of them was nabbed, while others escaped.

    “Recovered from the suspect is the tricycle,’’ he said.

     

     

    The spokesman said the suspect was helping the police in their investigation, adding that a manhunt for the fleeing accomplices is on.

     

  • Seven die in Enugu accident

    Seven persons, including an eight-month-old baby, died in an accident at Ugwuoba on the Enugu/Onitsha expressway.

    The accident involved an articulated vehicle (KTU 31 XA), as well as two Mitsubishi buses: XE 911 JJT and FGG 233 XG.

    A statement by spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said the articulated vehicle collided with one of the buses, which hit the other.

    The identities of the deceased were yet to be ascertained.

    Other injured passengers were rushed to Salvation and Faith Hospitals, Oji River.

    The bodies were deposited at General Hospital mortuary, Oji River.

    Amaraizu added that investigation has begun.

  • Police confirm seven persons dead in multiple auto crash in Enugu

    The Police in Enugu has commenced investigation into a multiple motor accident that claimed seven lives in Ugwuoba Community, Oji-River Local Government Area, along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    The Command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Wednesday that the incident, occurred on Sunday, April 8 at about 8 p.m.

    “It was gathered that an articulated vehicle with registration number; KTU 31 XA collided with one Mitsubishi bus with registration number XE 911 JJT.

    “The bus in turn hit another Mitsubishi bus with registration number FGG 233 XG, and as a result, both vehicles crash landed on the truck.

    “No fewer than seven passengers were confirmed dead including an eight-month-old baby who later died at a nearby hospital during medical attention,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu noted that the identities of the deceased persons were yet to be ascertained.

    According to him, other victims who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to Salvation and Faith Hospitals in Oji River for treatment.

    “The deceased bodies have been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary in Oji River,’’ he added.

    NAN