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  • Akume: my ministerial appointment a honour by God

    Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Sen. George Akume has described his appointment as a great honour by God that is worthy of appreciation.

    He spoke yesterday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Bua, Ameladu, Ipav, in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State during a thanksgiving mass organised in his honour by members of the community.

    Represented by his wife, Regina, the minister said his appointment is a fulfilment of God’s words in Isaiah 61:7 where He assured his children that “instead of shame and dishonour, you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance.”

    Mrs. Akume, who thanked God for using Father Emmanuel Asue for positive spiritual uplift of the community, hailed the decision of members of the host community to thank God on behalf of her husband, saying the excitement expressed by the people about his appointment indicates that like Joseph, Akume’s brothers shall see him in greater glory.

    Read Also: Akume inaugurates skills acquisition centre, water project in Benue towns

    Rev. Fr. Asue had enjoined Christians in a homily to turn away from sins, to avoid punishment of death as promised by God.

    He advised the minister’s associates and aides to pray for him and give him wise counsel. The cleric prayed God to enable the minister discharge his duties with the fear of God and for the good of humanity.

    The former Chairman of Gboko Local Government, Simon Abua Yajir, praised the Catholic Church for its discipline and for always upholding truth.

    Associates of the minister, including former members of the Benue State Executive Council, former council chairmen in the state, party leaders and others attended the thanksgiving mass.

  • ‘Anambra locals dying for lack of quality health care’

    A CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Johnbosco Onunkwo, an engineer, has decried the lack of quality and affordable healthcare delivery services in most rural communities in Anambra State.

    He regretted that the near absence of quality health facilities had led to periodic deaths among rural dwellers in various communities of the state.

    Speaking during a free medical outreach programme by his foundation, Johnbosco Onunkwo Foundation in Uga, Aguata local government council area, Onunkwo described health as wealth, stressing that one can only think of what to do to earn a living only when one was healthy.

    He said, “My foundation deemed it necessary to bring this most important sector to the door steps of these dwellers after being deeply touched by the travails of rural dwellers in accessing quality health care services.

    Read Also: Landlord, son ‘beat female tenant to coma’ in Anambra

    “Our people die on daily basis over health issues that can ordinarily be solved if there are quality and affordable healthcare delivery services in our rural areas.”

    He said the gesture was borne out of love and service to humanity, expressing joy at the turn out of people in the community visited.

    Onunkwo revealed that the foundation would in few months make in roads into communities in Orumba North and South to complete the old Aguata Union before taking it round the state.

    “We commenced this in my community, Umuchu many years ago but the positive impact on the people as well as the clamour from neighbouring towns led us to take it to all the towns in the council area,” he noted.

    Earlier, Consultant physician and Director of the Foundation, Dr. Ejike Ibeanusi said over 600 locals were attended to from each of the communities during the exercise.

    He said the outreach featured health education, donation of home kits for blood pressure and blood sugar test, free laboratory test and free out-patient consultation and drugs.

  • Why I wrote book on masturbation, by author

    A writer, Beryl Ehondor, said she wrote Pants Down to sensitise the youths on the dangers of masturbation. According to her, the book contains insights on how to break free of the habit.

     

    Ehondor is a life-coach, communications consultant and doctoral scholar at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University.

    She is the founder, Monteeclairs Initiative – a platform that inspires godly and purpose-living for young persons.

    Read Also: Effects of masturbation

    The author said: “It seems that parents are paying for the erosion of good African and godly values to the detriment of the children and society. Keeping quiet is no longer an option. It is imperative to confront the issues by discussing the right values in the light of current realities.

    “Hence, the book, Pants Down, also on Okadabooks.com (for the Nigerian market), Amazon and SmashWords.”

    Ehondor is the author of Kaleidoscope – an exciting collection of short stories on everyday people and issues, as well as the The Ant & The Pig, which explores the power of folktale and explains why the Pig is the face of savings.

  • Rivers election: Awara abandons ‘police result’

    Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State Biokpomabo Awara has abandoned results tendered by Superintendent of Police, Solomon Egba, to the governorship election tribunal.

    Awara brought in Egba as a subpoenaed witness to tender concocted results/documents, but lawyers to the defendants opposed their admissibility because they were part of paragraphs already struck out by the tribunal.

    At the resumed hearing on Sunday, Awara’s lawyer, Emenike Ebete, said his client decided to abandon the police documents because they were of no value, and since they were dumped on the tribunal.

    He said: “We will not be tendering the documents brought in by the police. They are of no value to us. We hereby abandon the documents brought by the police.”

    Read Also: Court dismisses AAC’s suit against Rivers election

    Emmanuel Ukala, lawyer to the Rivers State governor told Awara that no subpoena was served on the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) as the tribunal registry indicates.

    Awara was a petitioner-witness yesterday. He was cross examined by lawyers of AAC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He admitted that the results, marked exhibit, were not signed, without INEC’s official stamp, had no names of Collation officers and were not signed by party agents. According to him, the results had no authenticating features because that was how his agents received them from the field.

    Awara, during cross examination by AAC’s lawyer, Henry Bello, admitted that other than the official INEC results, he had no other results. Though he held no rallies in any of the 23 councils, he did a few consultations in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.

    The candidate, during cross examination by INEC’s lawyer, Steve Adehi, admitted that he did not tender all the results declared by INEC after the election. He also admitted that results were declared for Obio/Akpor council after due collation.

    The tribunal adjourned till today for the second petitioner, AAC, to open its case.

  • FUOYE killings: Fayemi urges police to fish out culprits

    EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has ordered the Police to conduct a thorough investigation into last Tuesday’s protest in Oye-Ekiti and fish out culprits.

    Two students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti- (FUOYE) – Joseph Okonofua and Kehinde Dada— were killed in the violent protest by students against poor power supply in the community.

    Dr. Fayemi, in a broadcast, on Sunday, described the killing of the two students as a major tragedy.

    According to him, any shooting arising from legitimate protest is a dent on the nation’s democracy and “calls to question our commitment to fundamental human rights.”

    Recalling that he had suggested to the police authorities to explore the use of non-lethal rubber bullets in managing public protests, Fayemi said the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) will take the issue up at the highest levels in government.

    The governor said the various statements by the university authorities and the students’ union had shown that the shooting was not ordered by the wife of the governor, nor any official of the state government.

    Read Also: FUOYE killings: God will judge Fayemi’s wife – NANS

    Fayemi said: “To be sure, our government prides itself on its strict adherence to the rule of law. The right of citizens to protest on any issue relating to governmental actions or inactions is a fundamental component of our good governance agenda.

    “We could not therefore under any circumstances have directed that deadly force be used on any of our citizens freely expressing their right to protest.

    “Even before the conclusion of the investigations into this matter, we have taken a number of steps; a high level government delegation has visited the families of the deceased.

    “This will not be a one-off intervention. We will stand firmly with, and support the families at this time. Those persons with varying degrees of injuries will also be given support whilst their hospital expenses will be defrayed by government.”

     

     

  • Zikist-Buharist movement greets Buhari

    The Zikist-Buharist-Movement (ZBM) in the Southeast has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the tribunal.

    A communiqué by the Chairman Godwin Onwusi and Secretary Stanley Ohajuruka reads: “The ZBM is happy with the unanimous decision of the election petition tribunal, especially its thoroughness and diligence in puncturing the balloons mounted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “ZBM is at a loss why eminent senior lawyers of the PDP relied heavily and inadvertently on a server unknown to the Electoral Act 2010, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, hence neglecting the position of jurisprudence and trite law that you cannot build something out of nothing.

    Read Also: Buhari’s tribunal victory, FUOYE killings, VAT increment, xenophobic attacks and others top this week news

    “Or the embarrassing national joke of the year that a man who attended Katsina Provincial College; Mons Officer Military Cadet Academy in Aldershot, England; United Military College in Pennsylvania, and who was a former Head of State; did not meet the fine conditions of qualification intended by the spirit and letters of our constitution and extant laws.”

    ZBM urged Buhari to address the dilapidated federal roads in the Southeast, second Niger Bridge, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway line, non-existent gas pipelines in the region, especially Nnewi industrial zone, and revamp Enugu Coal.

    “…your remaining four years is important to us, because of the trust the international investors and lenders have on you … We, therefore, plead that the Southeast is adequately considered to avoid the exodus of our youths to South Africa and other places…”

  • Man mobbed for ‘manhood theft’

    A dwarf, simply identified as Anayo, was at the weekend mobbed in Enugu for allegedly causing a man’s manhood to disappear after shaking him.

    Anayo was beaten up by an irate mob before policemen rescued him.

    A statement by police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said the victim gave his name as Sunday Ebubechukwu, of Obiagu axis, Ogui Enugu.

    Read Also: Mob ‘critically’ injures ASP, two other policemen for shooting pregnant woman dead in Lagos

    Ebubechukwu allegedly raised an alarm, which attracted sympathisers to the scene at Obiagu, saying someone who he shook hands with might have caused his manhood to disappear. The people descended on Anayo and beat him up before policemen from Ogui intervened.

    Amaraizu said: “The Enugu State Police Command, through its operatives at Ogui Division, is trying to unravel the mystery of a missing male organ. Investigation has begun.”

  • AMMC moves to mitigate abuse at Abuja recreational parks

    WORRIED by the increase of nefarious activities within recreational parks in the nation’s capital city, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) on Sunday revealed  advanced plans are in place to mitigate the menace.

    AMMC said that it has resolved to intensify enforcement to address all infractions on approved land use especially noise pollutions and all sorts of illegal activities around parks and gardens in the Abuja.

    To this end, AMMC officials has commenced comprehensive tour and marking of structures within parks and gardens in the nation’s capital city.

    The AMMC team, led by its Director of Administration and Finance (DAF), Mallam Suleiman Abdurameed and other heads of departments such as Parks and Recreation, Development Control, Urban and Regional Planning, visited the busy Millennium park in Maitama, Surich Park and Covenant Park in Wuse Zone 6.

    The team also visited Peka Parks and Garden, Wuse Zone 3 and Unique World Guarden, Wuse Zone 5, respectively, during which abatement and removal notices were served on operators of gardens.

    Speaking with reporters during the exercise, Mallam Abdurameed, who is overseeing the affairs of AMMC, said the assessment and warning tour followed a directive by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello.

    He said that the FCT Administration will no longer condone the infractions.

    He decried increasing illegal structures and activities within approved FCT parks and gardens, as they are not in conformity with their original land use plan.

    According to him, this time around, the Council through its relevant departments will not only stop and remove operators of illegal activities within designated parks and gardens, but prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others.

    Read Also: Security beefed up around Court of Appeal, Abuja

    “For instance, this place is supposed to be a garden, the other part there is supposed to be a residential area . They have converted it to entertainment spot .

    “You can see loudspeakers everywhere, booming loudspeakers and there is always music in the night depriving the residents in this area from having a good night rest and so on. So, the minister has directed that the FCT Administration will not condone this type of behaviours any longer.

    “They had notices before that they should revert to original land use. We are just coming round now, taking the final stock of what is happening here, we are definitely not going to allow this to happen.

    “So, we are coming round/again to remark and we are telling them (Parks operators) to revert to the original land use for which these places are meant for,” he stressed.

    Asked about the timeframe for the removal exercise, the AMMC boss said: “We are not giving any definite time. We have to come and enforce them to reverse to original land use.

    “We have our plans, to make sure that these places are developed to their original use. And I cannot come to a place and start disclosing our strategy for somebody to pick up and start to sabotage.”

  • PDP governors shun meeting in Anambra

    The four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the Southeast  – Emeka Ihedioha (Imo); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) – did not attend Sunday’s zonal meeting in Anambra State.

    The meeting, however, was attended by zonal PDP Chairman Austine Umahi and governorship hopefuls for Anambra 2021.

    Leading the pack of governorship hopefuls were Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Chris Azubuogu.

    They vowed to work together to ensure victory in the 2021 governorship election to make the zone a PDP-controlled zone. They also vowed to prevent moneybags from hijacking the party.

    Read Also: Anambra 2021: It’s time for PDP to take power back

    Umahi urged interested aspirants to work hard rather than hoping to hijack the party.

    He said: “We’re happy that Anambra PDP today is one family. There is no faction in the party, and I assure you that under my watch, no one man can hijack this party.

    “My wish is that under my watch, Anambra will join PDP. I am not in doubt that you have the capacity to do this. You have people in Anambra who are capable, and the party in the state also has the resources.

    “When we started working to win Imo State, I was going to the state weekly. It was like a joke but today Imo is a PDP state. We hope Anambra will be the fifth PDP state in the southeast, and when I am handing over, I will do so happy.”

    Anambra State Chairman Ndubuisi Nwobu said the party would not do any form of merchandising in the election. He urged those interested in contesting the governorship to seek the people’s support and not think of inducing the party to hand them the ticket on a platter.

    He said: “Anambra PDP comprises people who are easy to govern. I found this out since I became the chairman. All you need to cage an Anambra man is to keep telling him the truth. As elections approach, I want to say there won’t be merchandising. The primary election of will be very transparent.”

  • IPOB alleges plot to attack Kanu’s home

    THE proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday said it uncovered a plot to attack the ancestral home of its leader Nnamdi Kanu in Isiama, Afara-Ukwu Ibeku in Abia State.

    It accused Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of being behind the plot.

    But, the governor described the allegation as baseless. His Special Adviser on Media, Enyinnaya Apollos, said the Commissioner of Police confirmed that policemen were deployed in Kanu’s family home to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

    He said the Police got a report that IPOB members planned to converge there to mark an anniversary.

    Kanu’s home was allegedly attacked by soldiers on September 10, 2017, following which he fled the country.

    The group alleged that a “killer squad” was stationed in front of Kanu’s compound by persons allegedly sent by the governor and his collaborators.

    Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful urged the international community to prevail on Ikpeazu to withdraw the killer squad or be held responsible for any loss of lives.

    Read Also: Southeast governors: IPOB unfit to issue travel ban

    The statement said: “Another round of genocide looms at the front of our leader’s compound in Isiama, Afara Ukwu-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State.

    “IPOB Intelligence Unit is gathering information on a killer squad stationed in front of our leader’s compound in Isiama Afaraukwu, the ancestral home of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “The assassins in a white Toyota Hilux loitering in front of our leader’s house in Isiama-Afaraukwu better retrace their steps.

    “We are calling on the international community and civilised citizens across the world to be aware…If anybody killed in Afaraukwu, Okezie Ikpeazu and co would be held accountable.”

    But, the governor’s spokesman said the governor did not conspire with anyone to draft any squad at Kanu’s country home nor has he any reason to do so.

    He noted that when IPOB members may have provoked the governor in the past by denying him access to the Government House, he never overreacted.

    He wondered why the governor would send anyone to Kanu’s “empty home” when neither he nor his parents were there.

    “Nnamdi is not in the compound. His father who is a traditional ruler is not in the community and has refused to return despite the governor’s assurances.

    “So, is it an empty compound that the so-called killer squad plans to attack?” the spokesman asked.

    The governor’s spokesman said he spoke to the police commissioner, who confirmed that it was his men who were on patrol in the vicinity.

    He said it was to ensure the safety of residents and to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.