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Tag: Ike Ekweremadu

  • Boko Haram: Ekweremadu to lead Senators to Adamawa

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, will today lead some Senators to Adamawa State as part of Senate’s move to obtain first hand information on the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

    The visit will also take the lawmakers to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state.

    This is sequel to the resolution of the upper chamber on the need to establish a Presidential Intervention Committee for the rehabilitation of the North East.

    The motion was sponsored by Senators George Thompson Sekibo (River East) and 35 others on the urgent need to establish a Presidential Intervention Committee for the rehabilitation of the North East zone being ravaged by the insurgents.

    Apart from Ekweremadu, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki also listed other Senators on the trip to include Senators Ahmed Lawan, (Yobe North) Murtala Nyako, (Adamawa Central) Binta Garba, (Adamawa North), Ahmadu Abubakar, (Adamawa South) George Sekibo, (Rivers East), Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) and Bashir Marafa (Taraba State).

    Saraki had on Monday led some Senators on the spot assessment of the security situation in Borno State.

    He also visited IDP camps where he made a cash donation of N10million in support of the upkeep of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

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  • Forgery: Court refuses to stop Ekweremadu, others’ investigation

    Forgery: Court refuses to stop Ekweremadu, others’ investigation

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to stop the police from its ongoing investigation of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and others in relation to the alleged forgery of the 2015 Standing Rules of the Senate.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole in a ruling on Monday refused an ex-parte application filed by Senator Prince Gilbert Emeka Nnaji, with which he sought to among others, restrain the police from proceeding with the investigation and making public the report of the inquiry.

    Nnaji had sought interim orders to restrain the defendants in the case – the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) – from continuing with the matter, pending the determination of his substantive suit.

    The plaintiff is challenging the constitutionality of the investigation within the context of the doctrine of separation of power.

    Justice Kolawole said he could not grant the prayer sought by the plaintiff at ex-parte stage when his court possesses the power to conduct a judicial review of the action complained about in the substantive suit.

    He also refused the plaintiff’s request to abridge the time within which the defendants could respond.

     

  • Ekweremadu fights Malaria

    Ekweremadu fights Malaria

    The Ikeoha Foundation, a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation founded by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday presented 20,000 doses of free anti-malaria drugs to the people of Enugu West Senatorial District.

    This is part of efforts to fight malaria in Enugu State.

    A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, said the drugs- Artecxin Child, an Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy, ACT, for combating malaria in children, valued at over N16million, were donated in partnership with the Afrique Biotech West Africa Ltd.

  • We didn’t endorse Ekweremadu, says town union chief

    We didn’t endorse Ekweremadu, says town union chief

    The people of Udi town in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have denied a report that they endorsed Senator Ike Ekweremadu for another term.

    The President-General of the Udi Town Union, Mr. Emma Eneoli, said in a statement yesterday that there was no truth in the report.

    He said the report was the “handiwork of mischief-makers, whose intention is to embarrass Governor Sullivan Chime by publishing false stories about his kinsmen.”

    Eneoli added that Udi indigenes were proud of Chime and supported his senatorial ambition.

    His words: “That report was a mischief. I am the President-General of Udi Town Union and we never endorsed Senator Ekweremadu for another term. We have not discussed or contemplated anything like that.

    “He (Ekweremadu) came to Udi for a funeral and that was all. It was a private visit. How that visit turned into an endorsement beats one’s imagination. Let no one be fooled, Udi is solidly behind Chime not only because he is our brother, but also because of his exceptional performance as a governor. We will never abandon him.”

    Urging the public to disregard the report, Eneoli enjoined politicians to desist from spreading falsehood to gain sympathy.

    He said any politician, who indulged in such acts, could not claim to have the interests of the people at heart.

     

  • PDP, group fault reports on Ekweremadu’s endorsement

    PDP, group fault reports on Ekweremadu’s endorsement

    Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF) has dismissed as false and “utterly ridiculous”, a report in the media that Governor Sullivan Chime’s kinsmen at Udi had endorsed Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu to retain the Enugu West seat.

    Also, the Ward Chairman of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) at Udi, Ogochukwu Chime, yesterday denounced the report, saying it was baseless. He described those behind it as mischief-makers and political desperadoes.

    The EPF in a statement by the interim President Nebechi Ugo described the report as a syndicated fabrication as “not only did no such thing happen, but the people mentioned in the story are not from Udi and therefore cannot be Chime’s kinsmen.”

    The group noted that the event reported was not a political gathering, but a funeral attended by Ekweremadu and his friends, “which they sought to make a false story out of because it occurred in Chime’s town.”

    The statement said: “The story is as false as it is mischievous and ridiculous. How can a funeral become a forum for the endorsement of a candidate for political office? They claimed it was done by Chime’s kinsmen, but everyone knows that Chief Mike Ugwu, whose name was mentioned as the main speaker at the event, is from Affa and not Udi. The other two speakers- Anayo Onwuegbu is from Akpugoeze in Oji River Local Government and again by their admission, Dr. Nnamdi Ene is from Obinagu and not Udi. So how are they Chime’s kinsmen?”

    The EPF said Chime had been endorsed by the leadership of the PDP in Enugu West, adding: “The false claim about his kinsmen endorsing another person and the publication it enjoyed can only be a ploy to deceive people and deflect the impact of the endorsement given to Chime by the Enugu West PDP.

     

     

    “This report suggests a high level of desperation on the part of whoever originated it. It was really clumsy. Not only was it manifestly false, one wonders at what effect it would even achieve when the leadership of the party in Enugu West had met and officially, I repeat officially endorsed Chime for Senate. That a group of friends met at a funeral in Chime’s hometown is of no effect at all as far as the PDP in Enugu West is concerned. This is why the whole thing is ridiculous.”

     

     

  • Expedite action on 2015 budget, Senate urges Presidency

    Expedite action on 2015 budget, Senate urges Presidency

    The Senate yesterday  asked the Presidency to expedite action on the preparation and presentation of the 2015 Appropriation Bill.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary session, said the National Assembly is set to receive the 2015 budget in the weeks ahead.

    Ekweremadu added that the National Assembly planned to pass the bill before the end of the year to pave way for its full implementation.

    Non-implementation of previous budgets has always been blamed on late presentation and passage of the Appropriation Bill.

    The September deadline set by the Senate for the presentation of the Appropriation Bill every year has always been breached by the Presidency.

    Observers believe that if the Presidency fails to present the Appropriation Bill before the end of the month or the first week of November, members of the National Assembly may be unable to pass it before the end of the year.

    The Senate has about eight weeks to work before the end of the year.

     

  • Ekweremadu’s Dream FM asked to tender plan

    Ekweremadu’s Dream FM asked to tender plan

    •Enugu agency give station three days 

    A radio station belonging to Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu – The Dream FM – got a letter from the  Enugu State Government yesterday to submit its building plan within three days.

    The reason for the short notice could not be immediately ascertained last night.

    But it was learnt that the letter was delivered by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).

    Although the radio station was not the first to receive such letters, it was learnt that the action might not be unconnected with next year’s governorship race.

    Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime have been at daggers drawn on the senatorial zone to produce the next governor.

    At the premises of Dream FM yesterday, all was normal but none of the workers would comment on the development.

    The management was said to be studying studying the letter.

    The Commissioner for the ECTDA, Mr. Ike Ugwuegede, could not be reached last night on phone. He did not pick his call.

    But a senior aid to the governor, who spoke in confidence, said there was nothing wrong in calling for building plans.

    According to him, the exercise had been ongoing and there was no victimisation about the action.

    “It is not in the habit of this administration to discourage investment. The radio station is an investment which benefits Enugu State,” the source said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • We’ve lost a quintessential journalist, Ekweremadu declares

    We’ve lost a quintessential journalist, Ekweremadu declares

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu yesterday expressed shock and deep sorrow over the death of the Vice Chairman of the Sun Publishing Limited, the late Pastor Dimgba Igwe, who died in a fatal auto accident on yesterday.

    A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, quoted Ekweremadu to have described the late Igwe as a “quintessential journalist.”

    He added that Ekweremadu said that the death was a “typical thunderbolt from a blue, serene, sky”.

    Ekweremadu said: “I am short of words to describe this sad event. Sometimes, life could be cruel beyond measure, and this is one of such instances. It is a grievous loss to not only the Sun Publishing family, but our media industry and the nation as a whole.

    “Pastor Dimgba was one of the finest hands in the nation’s media industry.

    Besides leaving footprints of excellence on many of the nation’s leading media houses, including the Sun Publishing Limited, his regular column, “Sideview” was a prototype of excellence and professionalism. He was a flawless writer, a compelling analyst, and God-fearing media guru.

    He told the truth, as he knew it, in a sermon-like manner that held his readers addicted and spellbound. He will be highly missed.”

  • Senate seeks probe of Ecological funds’ beneficiaries

    Senate seeks probe of Ecological funds’ beneficiaries

    The Senate yesterday urged its relevant committees to investigate those who have benefitted from the Ecological Funds to ascertain whether or not the money was properly utilised.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu gave the directive, following a debate on a motion, titled: Ocean Surge in Coastal Areas and Consequences for Coastal Dwellers, sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), and 30 others.

    Ekweremadu said the Senate believed there was no proper application of the ecological funds for the purposes for which it was set.

    He said: “I believe that our appropriate committees need to investigate to find out who receives this ecological fund and how it is being applied, to ensure that it is being applied appropriately for matters, such as this (ocean surge).

    “The government at different levels – the states, the local governments and the Federal Government – need to also show more interest regarding our coastal lines to save lives and property of our people living there…”

    Paulker called the attention of the Senate to the plight of coastal communities in Bayelsa and Delta states, who were recently displaced by rising ocean waves.

    The senator said the affected communities include Koluama I, Koluama II, Foropa and several other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    He said the residents had “cried about the current ocean activities in the area, which have killed many of their people, wiped out their communities and destroyed their markets and property worth billions of naira and permanently altered their lifestyles”.

    The Senate adopted the prayers of the motion. It urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send materials to those displaced by the ocean surge.

    It urged the Federal Government to ensure proper utilisation of Ecological Funds and pay compensation from Chevron to the affected communities.

    Ayogu Eze (Enugu North) advised relevant agencies to ensure effective enforcement against oil companies that breached environmental impact assessment laws.

     

     

     

     

    Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) said the misapplication of the ecological funds by various tiers of government was the major cause of ecological challenges ravaging parts of the country.

  • Mark, Ekeremadu, Uba mourn

    Mark, Ekeremadu, Uba mourn

    Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday lamented the death of former Information Minister and Director General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and control ((NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili.

    Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, described Akunyili as an intellectual of international repute.

    Mark stressed that Nigerian would not forget in a hurry her resolute and relentless war against fake and counterfeit drugs when she chased the illicit drug peddlers out of the market.

    According to him: “We have lost a great amazon. We have lost a scholar. We have lost a crusader.

    “We have lost a soldier who stood to be counted when it mattered. We shall miss her robust and honest contributions to the socio- political and economic development on Nigeria.”

    Ekweremadu, in a statement entitled “Akunyili: “It is the Exit of an Uncommon Role Model”, lamented the passing of the former minister.

    The Deputy Senate President called for the immortalisation of Akunyili.

    He said, “Prof. Dora Akunyili was a woman of enormous integrity, a quintessential professional and public administrator per excellence.

    “She was amongst the brightest in our galaxy of eminent women and never dimmed in quality and character. She was faithful and true to the nation till the very end and will be seriously missed.”

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Andy Uba, described her death as “a colossal loss”.

    In a statement in Abuja, Uba said that Nigeria has lost one of its finest,  “a woman who did her very best for her country and served Nigeria with all her strength till the very end.”

     

     

     

     

    “Women like Dr. Akunyili are rare and they do not come often in a lifetime. We owe her a debt of gratitude, even though she died at a time like this, we are comforted that she came and left her indelible footprints in the sands of time.”