The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Local Government Area

  • Ondo violence: Group seeks compensation for victims

    A group of eminent personalities in Ondo State under the aegis of Akoko Development Group (ADG) have pleaded with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to compensate the families of those  affected during the bloody political violence in Oba-Akoko, Akoko Southwest Local Government Area.

    The non-partisan group, at the weekend, condemned  the mayhem witnessed during the March 9 House of Assembly elections in the sleepy community.

    Two persons were reportedly killed during the mayhem and many houses and vehicles worth millions of Naira were burnt by irate youth.

    The development forced the state government to impose a curfew that paralysed economic activities in the community for almost two weeks.

    ADG blamed politicians for the crisis, stressing that the development fell below accepted norms of human behaviour at both local and international levels.

    It hailed the state government for its quick intervention in dousing the tension and restoring normalcy in the town.

    Besides, the group called for compensation to the families of those killed, injured or having their businesses and properties destroyed.

    Akeredolu had instituted a probe panel to investigate those behind the attack, particularly politicians and those causede the destructions in the community.

    The group urged parents and politicians, who promoted the ‘miscreants’ to desist from such act, stressing that such incidence should not be allowed to happen in any part of Akoko land again.

    It also advised politicians to always play the game according to veritable and acceptable rules and standards.

  • Adamawa APC rejects inconclusive governorship election

    The Adamawa Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has rejected the result of Saturday’s governorship election in some local government areas in the state.

    Mustafa Salihu, APC National Vice Chairman, North East, announced the rejection on Monday in Yola.

    Salihu, who was the state collation officer of Presidential and Governorship elections, alleged that the governorship election that was declared inconclusive by INEC was full of irregularities.

    “We want to bring into the notice of the public serious irregularities associated with the just-concluded governorship election. As a party, we reject this result in totality.

    “Because there are evidences that voting process were compromised, in a lot of Polling Units, Card Readers were not used. There were over voting and our agents were chased away,” Salihu said.

    He said the party had petitioned INEC on the election process from polling units, wards, local government, and the state level but the petition was rejected.

    Read also: Passenger dies aboard Delta Airlines en route Lagos

    He listed the areas where he alleged the irregularities took place to include Demsa, Lamurde, Numan, Guyuk, Michika and Madagali Local Government areas.

    Salihu alleged that the polling units that INEC declared the Saturday’s governorship election inconclusive covered just one percent of polling units and urged the commission to expand its investigation to cover more areas.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that INEC on Monday announced that Saturday’s governorship election in the state was inconclusive because the number of votes canceled was higher than the margin between the leading PDP candidate and the first runner up APC candidate. (NAN)

  • 20 abducted in Danmusa, Katsina

    About 20 people have been abducted by armed men in Dan Musa, Local Government Area of Katsina, it was learnt on Saturday.

    There have been security concerns over likely spill over from frontline states sharing boarder with the state.

    Nine Local government areas share borders with some troubled states, including Zamfara state.

     Reacting to the reported abduction, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Jubrin Zarewa said the commission was still trying to get the true position of things.

    He noted the information from the area was still sketchy.

    Read also: 10 held over clash at Ijanikin, says CP Ebrimson

    Zarewa stated the latest report indicated that some people ran away as a result of fear and they have started coming back.

    He therefore said the commission was working to ascertain the true position of things, noting ten of the said abducted people have come out to say that they ran away out of fear.

    The REC however said that the commission was anticipating that there might be some skirmishes and placed the security agencies on a red alert in all identifies flashpoint areas in the state.

    Details later…

  • Security operatives apprehend ballot box snatchers in Eket

    Security operatives have apprehended two men in possession of a ballot box along Iko Nkwo street in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The suspected ballot box snatchers were riding on a motor bike when they were trailed and arrested.

    The suspects were promptly ferried to the Divisional Police station along Eket-Oron road.

  • Community seeks more for Belemaoil

    The people of oil-rich Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have urged the Federal Government to approve operatorship licence of more Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) to indigenous oil company, Belemaoil Producing Ltd.

    The Paramount Ruler of Kula Kingdom,  King Kroma Amabibi Eleki (JP) (Sara XIV), made the call at a one-day  Special Prayer and Thanksgiving event in the community organised by Kula Council of Chiefs in honour of their illustrious son, Jack-Rich Tein Jr, an engineer, who is the founder and president of Belemaoil Producing Limited.

    Kula Kingdom is one of the core island communities of Rivers State, located right behind the sea, sharing boarders with their neighbouring Bayelsa State.

    Kula, like other riverine communities, has no access road, hence their only means of transportation remains boat ride but the area is rich in oil and gas, and plays host to Anglo-Dutch multinational company, SHELL, for over 50 years.

    However, the area is grossly neglected, with the land and people highly impoverished.This was evident in the absence of government presence in any part of the communities.

    The young and old, chiefs, men, women, youths and children came out in their numbers to give thanks to God for the gift of  a son like Tein Jr. and to also pray to God to  continue to bless and protect him, his family and business from all evil and enlarge his business coast.

    Speaking at the event, King Eleki said the special prayer was a way to express profound thanks and appreciation to God for the unprecedented developmental projects Belemaoil has carried out in the area within a short period of operation in the area.

    The monarch said of Tein Jr: “I am filled with joy and laughter because God has answered our prayers of many years as our illustrious son, Engr Jack-Rich Tein Jr. has wiped off tears from our eyes. For that we thank him and we thank the Almighty Father who has blessed him to bless us.

    “Even in the bible the parable of the talents, those who were given five, they turned it to ten, those who were unable to do something to what they had, even what was given to them was taken away from them.and added to the other person that prove resourcesfulness, going by this bible principle, I think since he (Tein Jr) has been able to double what was given to him, the government should give him more OMLs to operate in the Niger Delta so that he will do more for oil bearing communities in the region.”

    He approved the requests by the company to renovate and upgrade some of the existing health facilities in the area as he declared, “I grant you permission to renovate people’s dispensary hospital where you can develop and it will serve you people and they were negotiating for land for this project, we have all agreed to provide land for Belema oil to execute this project and for that we have signed papers for them for this project.

    “In addition he will provide two giant generators for the community and also wire the whole community that  should have been done by Jan 31st both because the equipment are not available they have to be ordered from abroad… I thank you very much may God continue to bless and protect your founder.” he informed the crowd.

    He further called for unity and cohesion among the people and appealed for more support and the cooperation of the Host Community for Belemaoil for better improved lives in the communities.

    Corroborating the monarch, another Paramount Ruler, in the area, His Highness, King Boudillon Ekine Oko, (OKO XXVIII), equally admitted that the Tein Jr. has greatly improved the wellbeing of the people of Kula with meaningful projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.

    King Oko added that host communities of other oil blocks in Kula Kingdom should be given the right of first refusal by the federal government in the divestment or approval of operatorship licence of oil assets in the area.

    “Every kingdom that has the privilege and the honour to enjoy such opportunities as have given us by Belemaoil will want that the presence of such company to remain in the area, and we are not exception, hence if there are other presence of such opportunity that need to come to the territory we will still want Belem oil to inherit that opportunity,” he said.

    King Oko went on: “Belemoil is not just a son but a  Messiah sent to us by God to make the men happy, make the kings happy,  make the chiefs happy, make the women happy, even the politicians are happy, everybody in the communities are happy.”

    He agreed with the otjer speakers that Tein Jr.  is a gift to the body of the kula people and prayed against anything, person or group that would want to bring to a halt the good things that has begun to come to the community through Belemaoil, and those that are yet to come, “we will all in a perfect match rise up to say no,” he assured.

    The Manager, External Affairs of the company, Samuel Abel Jumbo, called on the Kingdom to eschew bitterness and rancor among themselves for the prosperity of the community.

    He said the company has provided over 1,000 jobs to youths across the host communities. He outlined some projects which Belemaoil is currently carrying out and those it intends to carry out in the near future to include; the 85KM Kula Road to Port-Harcourt, the Belema Atlantic Island, Belema Industrial Base, Belema Atlantic Office, Billionaire Atlantic Island, Belema Trading Island, amongst others.

    “We cannot imagine the thousands of employments which these projects will generate for our people in Kula. We also cannot imagine the jobs and contracts that will be available for our business men and women who will be huge beneficiaries of this projects.All these shall happen in our life time.

    “And so, our dear fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, at this time in our history, I will implore you all on behalf of Belemaoil Producing Ltd., to eschew bitterness and rancor, and embrace peaceful coexistence and togetherness which has kept us together and made us the envy of our neighbours,”he said.

    He hinted the community about the passion of their son to open up the Island area for investment and tourism,

    ”As a very young company with a little over two years in operations, and, with a very strong filial bond with our host communities- Kula being one of them, our determination to radically develop our host communities is of very paramount interest to us given the fact that these communities are the basis upon which our operations are successfully carried out.

    “Indeed, our relationship with our communities can only be compared to that of a Siamese twin. And this reinforces the reason  in our very short history, we are grateful to God Almighty for using us as a vessel to impact very positively in the lives of our communities in such a way that has led to this Farthering.

    “In collaboration with the Federal Government, we have commenced preliminary work and approvals for the commencement of the construction of the 85Km Kula-Port Harcourt Road, which will link up all our satellite communities and settlements of Belema, Robertkiri, Luckyland, Boro, through Idama Kingdom and Degema. This multi-billion-naira project shall, when completed, not only guarantee the security of our lives and properties as we will no longer be preys to marauding pirates on our seas and water ways.

    “Through our investment and development affiliates: J+G Global Gas and Oilfield Ltd and Jack-Rich Tein Aid Foundation the Belema Industrial zone has already taken off the drawing board with the on-going reclamation work at Roberkiri for the citing of a world class Airport which will stimulate the attendant developments and additional projects and business opportunities that will be attracted to the Community, which shall include amongst others.” among other projects mapped out by the firm.

    In his sermon, the pastor of one of the Pentecostal churches in the community, Revd. Victor Iyaye, lauded Tein Jr. for being kind to the poor and the people of under developed oil bearing communities, and assured him that he will be rewarded by God, he appealed to him not to relent in the good job.

    He prayed for rapid growth and expansion of investment for Belemaoil in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    The President Kula Youth Organisation, Christian Eleki, assured of the support of the youths for the success of the firm’s presence in the area, noting that youths of Kula have benefited immensely from the company, especially in the area of employment and empowerment.

  • Delta PDP petitions police over members’ death

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State has petitioned the Commissioner of Police to investigate the murder of its members during last Saturday’s elections.

    A statement by the chairman, David Oghenekevwe, said the deceased members – Messrs Michael Chubiuke and Jeffrey Otevane – went to vote when they met their death.

    He accused Moses Ogodo, a House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his gang of masterminding their death.

    Read also: Security agencies uncover plot by PDP, others to discredit poll

    The statement reads: “Between 13:00hours and 14:00hours on February 23, at unit 15 ward 9, which is very close to Moses Ogodo’ residence, Ogodo and his cohorts came out armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

    “According to an eyewitness, Ogodo shot and killed Michael Chubiuke, while Shaldrack Nebragho killed Jeffrey Otevane, and they continued to shoot sporadically.

    “This untoward behaviour is unacceptable; we condemn it and call on the Commissioner of Police and other security agents to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “Those who committed this crime are well known; we call on relevant security agencies to take necessary action and bring the culprits – Moses Ogodo, Shaldrack Nebragho and others to book.”

  • Okorocha inches close to senate seat

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha is cruising home to victory in the Imo West Senatorial election.

    The Imo governor has won eight out of the nine Local Government Areas where results have been announced so far.

    As at the time of filling this report, results from three Local Government Areas were still being expected.

    Imo West Senatorial zone is made up of 12 Local Government Areas.

    The results so far announced were:

    Nwangele LGA

    APC – 4997

    PDP – 4905

    APGA – 4253

    NKWERRE LGA

    APC – 5637

    PDP – 4905

    APGA – 662

    IDEATO SOUTH LGA

    APC – 24, 106

    PDP – 3,108

    APGA – 2834

    ORU EAST LGA

    APC – 8243

    PDP – 4614

    APGA – 2904

    ISU LGA

    APC – 7406

    PDP – 6524

    APGA – 1812

    IDEATO NORTH LGA

    APC – 8028

    PDP – 5174

    APGA – 2276

    NJABA LGA

    APC – 8549

    PDP – 5982

    APGA – 1875

    OHAJI/EGBEMA LGA

    APC – 8348

    PDP – 5928

    APGA – 3820

    OSU LGA

    APC – 7746

    PDP – 7746

    APGA – 2582

  • Etiebet decries violence at Oruk Anam

    Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in Akwa Ibom state, Chief Don Etiebet, has decried widespread violence in most of the wards in his local government area of Oruk Anam.

    Etiebet said thugs allegedly brought into his local government area from neighboring states by chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had invaded polling units earlier today and disrupted accreditation and voting exercises.

    He said two persons were injured during the pandemonium and fingered a serving lawmaker for sponsoring thugs to cause mayhem.

    Read also: 2019: Large turn out of supporters at Akpabio’s unit

    The APC chieftain, who spoke with our correspondent at Ward 1, Ikot Ekpuk in Oruk Anam local government area, said he put a call to the police authorities who sent in their men to restore law and order.

    He, however, said normal voting continued thereafter which enabled him and other voters to cast their vote.

    Etiebet assured that President Buhari will get eighty percent of votes in Akwa Ibom as the state has benefited tremendously from the APC led federal government in terms of federal appointments.

  • Fear in Osun communities over political attacks

    •Five houses, car burnt, politicians injured •APC, PDP trade blame

    Residents of Igangan in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State now live in fear.

    This followed the violent attacks on the community last Sunday evening.

    During the attacks, allegedly carried out by political thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), five houses and a car were burnt.

    Since the attacks on Sunday in Atakumosa East and another on residents of Kajola in Atakumosa West Local Government Area, on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the state have been trading blames against each other.

    At Igangan, five houses, a car and other valuables valued at millions of naira were destroyed.

    At Kajola, the incident, which reportedly happened between 8 p.m to 9 p.m, allegedly affected some APC members who were said to have been injured during the attack.

    Narrating her ordeal, a victim and member of the APC, identified as Iyaloja of Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Mrs. Iyalode Adegboku, alleged that they were attacked by “PDP thugs” while holding a meeting on Friday at Kajola on the eve of the postponed February 16 presidential and National Assembly polls.

    According to her, those at the meeting were thoroughly beaten.

    Mrs Adegboku said she got a machete cut on the leg while the finger of her son, Olalekan Jimoh, was cut with an axe while she was defending her.

    Describing the incident as barbaric, callous and wicked, the businesswoman urged security agents to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    APC Chairman in Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Francis Famurewa, who said the incident had been reported to the police, wondered why politics degenerated into maiming and killings.

    Early last week, APC candidate for Osun East Senatorial District, had accused his opponent in the PDP, Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, of procuring arms ahead of the last weekend’s postponed polls.

    Famurewa, who addressed reporters, accused Fadahunsi of buying and importing 100 guns (60 AK-47 and 40 pump actions).

    He also alleged that Fadahunsi used political thugs, led by some known criminals, to unleash terror on Ifewara, Iwara, Olowu, Atorin, Temidayo, Tobalase, Lapaide, Faforiji communities in Atakumosa East Local Government Area.

    But Fadahunsi accused the APC for the attacks.

    Threatening to sue Famurewa over the allegation, he said: “I give him (Famurewa) seven days to prove where he saw me importing guns into Osun East Senatorial District to attack residents. And if he fails to do so, I will not hesitate to institute litigation against him.”

    Addressing reporters in Ilesa, Fadahunsi, who denied the allegation, said: “I don’t need to purchase guns to arm my people. I am rather interested in developing my people.”

    The politician insisted that those Famurewa named were people who worked for the APC in the previous elections.

    He said: “I can say boldly that the thugs were those who have worked for the APC in the previous elections. They were popularly called ‘State Boys’. When they were working for the APC, they were not called thugs, but when they renounced their past deeds and stopped working for the APC, they are now called thugs.”

    Police Commissioner Mrs. Abiodun Ige, who visited the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment, said investigations had begun to unveil those behind the incidents.

    She assured that whoever is found culpable for the attacks, not minding his or status, would not go unpunished.

     

     

  • Gunmen abduct two saw millers

    • N5m ransom demanded

    Residents of Akunu in Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State were in confusion yesterday, as two prominent saw millers, who have their factories at Ikakumo-Akoko, were reportedly abducted by gunmen. The incident happened between Akunu and Ayere in Kogi State.

    Eyewitnesses, Mrs. Kudi Obayan and Mr Bello Michael, said the victims were three and were in a Honda Accord car when the gunmen waylaid them and dragged two of them into the bush.

    They said the third one was spared so that he would inform the victims’ families, to facilitate the collection of ransom.

    Police in Akunu said the spot where the kidnappers struck was in Kogi State.

    The kidnappers, according to a source, have demanded N5million ransom.