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  • 2019: APGA factional governorship candidate predicts victory for PDP

    2019: APGA factional governorship candidate predicts victory for PDP

     

    The 2015 factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ), Chief Regan Ufomba has predicted a landslide victory for the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in 2019 general election. This is even as he vowed to resign from politics if APGA, his former party scores half of the votes they scored in 2015 come 2019.

    Ufomba claimed that APGA lacks the capacity in terms of exposure, experience, wisdom, spread, numbers, men, material, and therefore the required strength to play national politics in defense of the Igbo cause and redefine the naked social inequality in our polity

    Ufomba last week decamped to the PDP with his supporters in a rally held at Isiala Ngwa Mini Stadium and was received by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and other PDP stakeholders in the state.

    Ufomba while explaining on his Facebook wall why he rejoined PDP revealed some of the things Ikpeazu told him he (Ikpeazu) would do to improve and better the lots of Abians which includes prioritization, capacity building, intellectual and financial re-engineering, regular payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities, subject to availability of funds.

    The post on Ufomba’s Facebook timeline read “Great Friends, characteristically, I did carry you along sufficiently all through the process of our mass resignation from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to the point of rejoining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Yesterday, I promised to inform you of my awesome discussion with Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, that would translate into infrastructural and economic revolution in a couple of months. I am happy that contractors are mobilizing back to site already.

    “Of interest is our understanding that prioritization, capacity building, intellectual and financial re-engineering is required in this era of dwindling resources.

    “Going forward, emphasis will shift to capacity building, regular payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities, subject to availability of funds.

    “Ongoing road projects scattered all over the state will be completed, and on time too, especially those in Aba. Mechanized Agriculture, storage and processing of agro-products, youth employment and restructuring of the polity was amply discussed.

    “I must admit that APGA, which operates only from a tiny town of Agulu lacks the capacity in terms of exposure, experience, wisdom, spread, numbers, men, material, and therefore the required strength to play national politics in defense of the Igbo cause and redefine the naked social inequality in our polity. Only the PDP can!

    “So much is at stake nationally that requires time-tested men like us and time-tested party like the PDP to salvage. It is therefore no time to be selfish in one’s political pursuit or senseless in wisdom or tongue in cheek in our utterances.

    “I have read some silly comments and press releases from drowning political nitwits. I must state with emphasis that Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba will not jump into the mud with scavengers. It is their entitlement to mourn over their lost jewel, and cry irresponsibly like the animalistic cock they are, but not insanely mimic the owl or bark like a toothless bulldog as they’re doing right now. I do not envy them either.

    “Politics is a game of numbers and not a contestation of madness or beauty or media hype or even ugliness. I am very confident that, even if they were, we shall trash them silly at the polls considering the physical dwarfs, intellectual Lilliput’s and very ugly nauseating half creatures that populate that band of ‘cultural organization’ by whatever name called.

    “Take it from me, PDP will win landslide in the 2019 governorship election. I will resign from politics if APGA scores half the vote we scored in 2015 again.”

  • No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia – PDP

    No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia – PDP

    The Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has said that it won’t give automatic ticket to its members aspiring for any elective position for the 2019 general election in the state.

    The party stated that it will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants irrespective of the position involved.

    The State Chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo made the decision of the party known at the end of the State working Committee meeting held in Umuahia the State capital.

    He pointed out that the state PDP has resolved to do away with all manners of impositions and impunity in the party.

    Onuigbo noted that party also passed a vote of explicit confidence on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu based on his performance during the last two years and six months in office.

    He said, “The party has declared that all offices for 2019 general election are open and contestable in line with the Abia charter of equity and PDP zoning formula.

    “We urge all our party faithful to remain loyal, steadfast and continue to have confidence in party leadership”.

    Onuigbo also added that the SWC also passed a vote of explicit confidence on the state leadership of the party for transparence and effective leadership.

  • Gombe executive to back GOE bill passage

    Gombe executive to back GOE bill passage

    The Gombe State Executive Council has vowed commitment to support the passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities ( GEO ) Bill by the state House of Assembly with a promise to ensure full implementation after passage.

    This position is contained in a communiqué issued after a two-day sensitisation workshop organised for them by the European Union (EU) Women under its programmed tagged “Promoting Women Engagement in Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria.”

    The document signed the state Commissioner for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Mal. Yusuf Manu Swa and Ishiaku Mohammed, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Women Affairs also saw participants committing to active engagement of women and youths i peace-building process.

    Participants condemned in strong terms violence against women, girls, children and all vulnerable persons.

    It therefore resolved to speak against all forms of violence against all persons

    The workshop drew 40 members, which include commissioners, permanent secretaries, UN Peace and Security Project team and representatives of the gender committee.

    It was basically aimed at deepening the knowledge of the members of Gombe state executive on contents of Gombe State GEO Bill and to collate input from them on the content of the Bill.

    The workshop also provided a platform for direct advocacy for the passage of the Bill, while enhancing participants understanding of the United Nations Security Council Resolution ( UNSCR ) 1325.

    The meeting was funded by European Union ( EU )  and implemented by UN women in partnership with UNICEF and the state ministry of women Affairs and Social development.

  • Bells varsity graduates 384 students

    Bells varsity graduates 384 students

    Bells University of Technology, Ota will graduate 384 students  during its 9th Convocation today.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran, said at a pre-convocation press conference ‎that 37 of the graduates have First Class; 128 Second Class Upper; 152 Second class Lower and 67 Third Class.

    The graduates are from the four colleges – Natural and Applied Sciences (COLNAS) College of Management Sciences (COLMANS), College of Environmental Sciences (COLENVS) and College of Engineering (COLENG).

    The award of degrees is the climax of a week of activities including a health walk, induction of engineering graduates by the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a convocation lecture.

  • PHOTO: Couples arrested for robbery in Bayelsa

    PHOTO: Couples arrested for robbery in Bayelsa

    PHOTO: Couples arrested for robbery in Bayelsa

  • Secession: Channel your grievances through Ohaneze, Igbo leader advises IPOB

    Secession: Channel your grievances through Ohaneze, Igbo leader advises IPOB

    A leader of the Igbo community in Ibadan, Chief Aloy Obi, has advised members of the Independent People of Biafra ( IPOB ) seeking secession of Southeast Nigeria to channel their grievances through the umbrella body of the Igbo people, the Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    Obi, who is the Onyedu Ndigbo of Ibadan land, gave the advice in a statement yesterday.

    The Igbo leader said though it is obvious that Igbo people are not well represented in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, IPOB should channel its grievances through Ohaneze which is made up of elders and experienced people who can manage agitation successfully.

    He, however, criticized the Federal Government for classifying the group as a terrorist organization, saying agitation is acceptable in democracy.

    Obi also joined his voice to the call for restructuring of Nigeria. He said the need to restructure the country is sacrosanct, pointing out that the report of the 2014 national conference could serve as a guide for implementing restructuring.

    He, however, insisted that the unity of the country must not be compromised in attempts to restructure the country.

    He explained that a weak centre will be far better than the current strong centre, adding that the success of regionalism in the First Republic is a confirmation of the need to restructure.

    According to him, regionalism allowed the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to achieve several feats for the development of Western Nigeria.

    Obi also called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to the economy. He said indices of recession are still with Nigerians. He p, therefore, urged the government to embark on projects and policies that will erase the indices of recession.

  • NYSC sanctions 15 corps members in Nasarawa

    NYSC sanctions 15 corps members in Nasarawa

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) in Nasarawa State says 15 corps members in the Batch B Stream 1 had been sanctioned for various misconducts.

    The state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Zainab Isah, confirmed the action in an interview in Lafia on Friday.

    Isah said that the affected corps members had their service year extended by various periods.

    According to her, 2,224 Batch B Corp members successfully completed their service year.

    She added that the successful NYSC corps members were issued certificates of national service at a low key passing out ceremony held in Lafia, on Thursday.

    Isah explained that the decision to extend the service year of the erring corps members was the recommendation of the state NYSC Disciplinary Committee.
    She said the sanction was to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “We have four corps members who absconded from service. Then 11 of them have various disciplinary cases.

    “I am really disappointed that even with the noble effort of government through this scheme, some people are not taking advantage of what NYSC is offering,” she said.

    The coordinator, however, disclosed that three corps members would be given awards for outstanding performances in their host communities.

    Isah advised the just passed out corps members to be self-reliant rather than wait to seek for white collar jobs.

    “They should go ahead with what we taught them in camp. They should just continue with those trainings and I am sure those trainings will see them through and in no distance time, they too will be employers of labour,” she said.

    She thanked the state government for its support to the scheme and urged for its sustenance especially in the area of engagement of corps members who might have made significant positive impact in the area of their primary assignments.

    NAN

  • Trucks used in Nigeria are over 30 years old – FRSC Corp Marshal

    Trucks used in Nigeria are over 30 years old – FRSC Corp Marshal

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) yesterday decried the poor state of the trucks on the highways across the country.

    The FRSC disclosed that some of the trucks that travel on the highways are over 30 years.

    This, the Corp said has contributed to their frequent breakdowns and obstruction on the highway.

    To however address the poor state of the fleet, the FRSC and Nigeria Shippers Council signed a MoU; ‘Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme.

    The MoU which is expected to set standard for the operation of fleet across the country would also assist in data collection of truck drivers and owners.

    This was disclosed in Abuja when the MoU was signed by both agencies.

    Speaking on the importance of the scheme, the FRSC Corp Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi said: “We would partner with them to ensure that the parks they want to construct are appropriately located.

    “The Scheme provides for all the truck owners to register with the corps and it will make us have a joint database and with that, we should be able to tell the country how many trucks we have for planning and economic purposes.”

    On the poor state of the trucks, Oyeyemi said: “We should also be able to tell the state of these vehicles in order to encourage government to work on re-fleeting because most of these trucks on the highways are over 30 years and that is why we experience frequent breakdowns, especially in areas where the roads are bad.

    “We need to tell government the actual number of trucks available and their lifespan in order for government to assist in the re-fleeting, maybe through the Bank of Industry ( BOI ) or through any other means.

    “The truck owners are really in dare need of a life-saving intervention in terms of re-fleeting. We are battling with old trucks and there is an urgent need to really address this”.

    The Corp Marshal also noted that the implementation of the scheme which is immediate would carry stakeholders in the transport sector along.

    “The implication is that all truck owners must now comply with the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme. We need to get it right to stop all these indiscriminate parking, accidents, on the highway and once the drivers know that they are fully registered and can be punished, they will sit up.”

    Also seapking, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello said the scheme when implemented would boost the economy of the  country and help in the decongestion of roads.

    He also said the initiative would ensure quick delivery and distribution of goods adding that the first set of parks would be located in Enugu and Kogi States.

    He said: “We are concerned just like the FRSC about free movement of goods, the delivery of goods, good transport infrastructure.

    “As you know, 90 percent of the goods that come into Nigeria are distributed by road, so it is important we have not only the good road as an infrastructure but we should have supporting facilities like the Truck Transit Parks to ensure smooth delivery.

    On the essence of the MoU signed, Bello said: “it would help to standardize the vehicles because if you look at the fleet,  they are rickety and old and we need to start refleeting of these trucks.

    “Refleeting would help us look at the economic indices. We have been working with Automobile Council to see how it could be done and the truckers themselves”.

  • UniAbuja SUG gets new excos

    UniAbuja SUG gets new excos

    The Students Union Government ( SUG ), University of Abuja ( UniAbuja ) chapter, on Friday inaugurated its newly elected executives.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, while inaugurating the executives, congratulated them, saying that the management would look forward to a better working relationship with them.

    Represented by Dr Ishaya Dagwa, Director Academic Planning, Adikwu called on the executives to be mindful of the image of the institution and focus on things that would promote it.

    He also urged them to ensure peaceful atmosphere in and around the institution, wishing them a smooth transition.

    Earlier, the Dean of Student Affairs, Peter Adakayi, who was represented by his deputy, Jude Nduka, called on the executives to collaborate with them and help identify non students in the institution.

    Adakayi implored the executives to study the students hand book and follow the rulers and avoid issues that would be detrimental to the students and institution.

    According to him, it is always not good to use confrontation when demanding for something.

    Meanwhile, the newly elected SUG president of the institution, Mr Bashir Obasanjo, called for supports and collaboration from all students to enable them move the union forward.

    NAN

  • Nigeria to host ICAO World Aviation Forum

    Nigeria to host ICAO World Aviation Forum

    Nigeria is set to become the first country to host the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ), World Aviation Forum ( IWAF ), scheduled to hold from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22 in Abuja.

    Mr Ariyo Akinfewa, media consultant to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Friday in Lagos, said that although this was the third edition, it was, however, the first time it was being hosted outside the ICAO’s headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

    Akinfewa in a statement said this year’s edition was a special forum because the global aviation communities would converge in Nigeria to deliberate on the theme: “Financing the Development of Aviation Infrastructure.”

    “The country is more than delighted to play host to this all-important forum as the first country in the world to do so.

    “This is a rare opportunity for Nigeria being the first time the forum is being held outside Montreal and we are more than delighted to host it,” the Minister was quoted as saying.

    Similarly, ICAO in a publication on its website said the forum would explore how development of aviation infrastructure plays a key role in the achievement of the visionary United Nation’s Agenda 2030 and African Union Agenda 2063 prosperity objectives.

    According to ICAO, there will also be a special focus on funding and financing of airport, air navigation, and other aviation infrastructure projects.

    It said the forum would also stress the importance of aligning policies and planning for air transport with the national development planning.

    “This high-level event directly supports the ICAO ‘No Country Left Behind initiative’ and will be of key interest to Ministers and other senior government officials responsible for civil aviation, transport, infrastructure, finance, and tourism, as well as key industry and financial partners.

    “During the event, a day will be dedicated fully to Africa aviation development financing.

    “The second day of the forum will focus specifically on financing challenges facing aviation infrastructure and capacity development in Africa,” it said. NAN