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Tag: Ebonyi State

  • Umahi-Anyim face-off: Ebonyi Commissioner writes EFCC, withdraws surety for Pius Anyim

    Umahi-Anyim face-off: Ebonyi Commissioner writes EFCC, withdraws surety for Pius Anyim

    The Commissioner for Investment and Abuja Liaison in Ebonyi State, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama has withdrawn his surety for former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.

    Nkama had stood as surety for Anyim in a trial instituted by the Economic and a Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former Senate President.

    However, Nkama withdrew his surety status due to what he termed “recent events in the last two weeks” involving the ex-Senate President.

    The Commissioner withdrew his surety in a letter addressed to Chairman of the EFCC on Friday.

    The letter reads: “Ekumankama, Joseph Nkama, Commissioner of Investment & Abuja Liaison, Ebonyi State Government, wish to formally withdraw as the surety for His Excellency, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

    “You may recall Sir, that Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was detained while under investigation and when given bail conditions by commission, I availed myself as his surety knowing fully well the adverse effect his action and inaction could impose on my constitutional rights should he decides to act in a manner devoid of the expectations of him by the Commission.

    “Sir, I regret to inform you that recent events in the last two weeks in my State has given me food for thought and my conscience could no longer allow me to continue to stand as a surety for Senator Pius Anyim.

    “I have also considered the recent event involving Senator Ali Ndume and Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Defunct Pension Reform Task Team, I am most particularly convinced that my decision to withdraw as surety will best grant me the needed peace of mind to function effectively in all responsibilities demanded of me.

    “Please accept the assurance of my esteemed regards”.

    Recall that Anyim and the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi have been involved in a face-off, following the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Umahi had alleged that he planned his defection with Anyim but the latter changed his mind at the last minute.

    In a response to Umahi’s claim, the former Senate President had alleged that his life was threatened for refusing to defect with Umahi.

  • I actually joined APC on Nov. 10 – Gov. Umahi

    I actually joined APC on Nov. 10 – Gov. Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, says he actually joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Nov.10, when speculations were rife that he was leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Umahi made the revelation on Thursday morning in Abakaliki during a reception for the Progressives Governors Forum signaling his official admission into the fold.

    “My defection to APC was in obedience to God’s will, respect for President Muhammadu Buhari and an honour to dignitaries present as well as obedience to the wish of Ebonyi people.

    “Money means everything to many people but I choose wisdom from God.

    “People asked why I was leaving PDP, but I told them that if APC would treat me nicely when I don’t have any relationship with it, what will happen when I am in its fold.

    “I told them that even as large as APC is, one man does not control the party but in PDP, one man controls the party,” he said.

    Umahi advised that Nigerian politicians should try and get close to President Muhammadu Buhari to understand him, saying that the president never asked him to quit PDP.

    “As the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, I applied for N10billion for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the president obliged without conditions.

    “The president never treated any governor with disdain and presently that I am in APC, there is no guarantee that I will be treated better than those already in the party as well as the PDP governors.

    “We can boast of infrastructure and economic supports from the APC-led federal government, but we cannot do such for the PDP led administration since 1999,” he said.

    Alhaji Mai Buni, APC National Caretaker Chairman, congratulated Umahi and his supporters for joining the party, saying that he was entitled to all rights and privileges due to progressives’ governors.

    “You are automatically the leader of the party in the state and a waiver has been granted to you and your supporters across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    “You should try to be fair to all members of the party, you must realise that there were people already there before you,” he said.

    He said that the APC caretaker committee has approved the dissolution of the state executive committee of the party.

    “We will be inaugurating the state caretaker committee of the party which will ensure the formation of all structures at wards and LGA levels,” he said.

    Governors at the event included those of Kebbi, Jigawa and Niger state.

  • Umahi’s defection won’t add anything to our party – APC Chieftain

    Umahi’s defection won’t add anything to our party – APC Chieftain

    Chief Egwu Chima, a former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation in Ebonyi says Gov Dave Umahi’s defection from the PDP to APC would not add tonic to his new party.

    Chima, who stated this in an interview on Wednesday in Abakaliki, declared that the defection by the Governor to APC would hurt the integrity of the party rather than reinvigorate and enhance its fortunes.

    Gov. Umahi announced his defection to APC at a news conference on Tuesday in Abakaliki, ending months of speculations.

    He said his defection was to protest against the injustice meted to the southeast by the PDP, the party he had supported since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

    Chima, a chieftain of the APC and one-time chairman of Afikpo South local Government Area, said, however, that Umahi’s mission in the APC was known only to him.

    “While in the PDP, Umahi’s love for President Muhammadu Buhari was a sing-song though Buhari has lost every election in the governor’s polling unit, ward and local government. Now that he is in APC, we are going to win elections in these otherwise weak areas.

    “With the governor now in our party, Ebonyi will be counted as an APC-controlled state and no longer in opposition,’’ Chima told NAN.

    The APC chieftain also told NAN that there was no leadership vacuum in Ebonyi APC and that Umahi’s claim that he would take over the leadership of the party in the state and reposition it is a farce.

  • Police confirm killing of Ebonyi Deputy Speaker’s aide

    Police confirm killing of Ebonyi Deputy Speaker’s aide

    The Police Command in Ebonyi has confirmed the killing of Mr Kingsley Obasi, an aide to the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly by suspected gunmen.

    DSP Loveth Odah, Public Relations Officer of the command, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abakaliki, said the incident happened on Wednesday night.

    Odah said that the command has began investigation into the matter with a view to arrest the perpetrators.

    “We gathered that the victim was trailed by the gunmen on Wednesday night on his way home before killing him,” she told NAN.

    The spokesman said that the gunmen also collected his bag before shooting him.

  • COVID-19: Ebonyi Govt. slashes EBSU’s tuition fees

    COVID-19: Ebonyi Govt. slashes EBSU’s tuition fees

    The Ebonyi Government on Monday announced a slash in the students’ tuition fees in the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki.

    The review, which took immediate effect, was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Dr Kenneth Ugbala.

    According to the statement, the reduction is aimed at mitigating the hardship caused by the novel Coronavirus pandemic, which affected global and local economies.

    Ugbala stated that the governor had graciously approved N20,000 and N10,000 reduction of EBSU’s tuition fees for indigenes and non-indigenes, respectively.

    He further stated that government was aware of the impact of the pandemic on the world economies “of which Ebonyi was highly affected.

    “We know that the finances of our people are highly affected, which will in effect, affect the education of our children.

    “To lessen the burden on parents, especially in catering for the students of EBSU and encourage more of our students to go to university, the governor has approved reduction in school fees for the students.

    “The reduction is effective from the 2020/2021 academic session and is from Year one to the Fifth year.

    “All non-indigenes will have their tuition fee reduced by N10,000, while all indegenes in the university will have their fees slashed by N20,000.

    “This amount will be aggregated and paid directly to EBSU’s management sometime in 2021,” the statement added.

    The SSG further stated that government had earlier released all monthly subventions owed to the university.

    He added that additional N200 million salary intervention fund, totalling N500 million, was also released to assist in the payment of staff salaries.

    “This sacrifice will be affecting some other government programmes, like infrastructure development and provision of medical services, which have become opportunity cost.

    “We request our young ones to start registering for the 200 youths per Local Government Area to benefit from the #EndSARS Empowerment Fund to be launched in November,” Ugbala added.

  • Defection: “We will welcome Umahi with open arms”- Ebonyi APC Chairman

    Defection: “We will welcome Umahi with open arms”- Ebonyi APC Chairman

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman in Ebonyi, Mr Nwachukwu Eze, says the opposition party will welcome Gov. David Umahi with ‘open arms’ if his reported defection to the APC is true.

    Recall that Mr Chinedu Ogah (APC-Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency), on Saturday announced that Gov. Umahi has defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and commended him for making the move.

    But Gov. Umahi has debunked the allegation.

    His Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, described the report as ‘a figment of imagination of the person circulating thyat “rumour”.

    Eze, the APC Chairman, however, told NAN on Sunday that the party will be happy to work with Umahi.

    “We will not be against his joining us though nothing has suggested such to me or my office and none of our national leaders has communicated us to that effect.

    “We, however, want our party to grow, spread its ideology all over Nigeria and make Nigerians believe that it is the party to identify with,” he said.

  • PDP sweeps LG polls in Ebonyi

    PDP sweeps LG polls in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) on Sunday announced candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of all the chairmanship and councilorship seats in Saturday’s council polls conducted across the 13 Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.

    Mr Jossy Eze, Chairman of EBSIEC, made the disclosure in Abakaliki while announcing the results of the elections held across the 171 electoral wards and 13 councils of the state.

    Eze announced that the commission has ratified and adopted the chairmanship results for the 13 LGAs as announced by various LGA returning officers and the councillorship results announced at the 171 electoral wards.

    “Chief Emmanuel Nwangele won the chairmanship position for Abakaliki LGA, Mrs Obiageri Oko-Enyim—Afikpo North, Chief Eni Uduma– Afikpo South and Mrs Chinyere Nwogbaga–Ebonyi LGA.

    “Dr Nora Alo won the Chairmanship seat for Ezza North LGA, Mr Kenneth Eze—Ezza South LGA, Chief Stephen Orogwu—Ikwo LGA, Mr Henry Eze—Ishiellu and Mr Onyebuchi Ogbadu—Ivo LGA.

    “Chief Paul Nwogha won the chairmanship position for Izzi LGA, Mrs Chinyere Iyioku—Ohaozara LGA, Clement Odah—Ohaukwu LGA and Mr Felix Igboke—Onicha LGA,” he said.

    The EBSIEC Chairman, however, declined to disclose the figures of the results.

    He thanked all stakeholders involved in the conduct of the elections, for their support and encouragement.

    “I particularly thank the state government for not interfering in the conduct of the elections as this helped in making it credible, free and fair.

    “The election has been won and lost, but the victory is for everybody who participated at the elections.

    “The winners should carry everybody along and everyone should contribute in delivering democratic dividends to people at the grassroots, which the local government areas represent,” he said.

    Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, PDP Chairman in the state, commended EBSIEC for conducting a hitch-free election and all stakeholders who contributed to its smooth conduct.

    “We congratulate our candidates for the victory as its overwhelming nature shows that Ebonyi is a PDP state.

    “We assure the electorate that our candidates will continue to deliver democracy dividends to them under the able guidance of the state governor,” he said.

  • Ebonyi State Govt. blows hot at striking judiciary workers

    Ebonyi State Govt. blows hot at striking judiciary workers

    The Ebonyi Government has ordered members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in the state, to immediately suspended their industrial action or be sacked.

    Recall that JUSUN members in the State embarked on the indefinite strike on August 13 over non-implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CJSS) by the state government.

    The union defiled Gov. David Umahi’s threat in a recent state function, to sack the members if they embarked on the strike.

    The government’s order for the strike’s suspension is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abakaliki by Dr Chamberlain Nwele, Ebonyi Head of Service, mandating the JUSUN leadership to immediately comply with the order.

    “JUSUN members in the state are therefore directed to return to work on Friday, Auguat 14 or risk being dismissed from service.

    “Attendance of judiciary staff will be taken by state government officials, to aid payment of August 2020 salary,” the statement read.

    Nwele in the statement, noted that Gov. David Umahi considers the strike as an act of sabotage which the government will not tolerate.

    “This is a period when other states of the federation are unable to pay workers’ salaries due to the negative impact of COVID-19.

    “The Ebonyi Government has painstakingly ensured that salaries of workers are consistently paid.

    “It therefore believes that agitation for salary increase at this time when the state‘s revenue is on steady decline is unpatriotic.

  • Maku assumes office as Ebonyi Commissioner of Police

    Maku assumes office as Ebonyi Commissioner of Police

    Mr Philip Maku, the newly posted Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, has assumed duty in Abakaliki.

    DSP Loveth Odah, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said this in a statement in Abakiliki on Tuesday.

    “Maku hails from Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa state.

    “He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a course one—Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (Cadet-ASP) in 1988.

    “He was trained for 18 months and was posted to the police command in Plateau where he later became the PPRO.

    “He has served in various capacities in the force and attended several professional courses in law enforcement, crime prevention, control and management within and outside the country,” she said.

    Odah said that Maku was the immediate past Commissioner of Police in Bauchi and the former CP Administration, Department of Logistics and Supply at the force headquarters, Abuja.

    “The new CP was the former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-Cooperative Society Lagos, DCP-Federal Operations (Fed-DOPS) Abuja, DCP-Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi among other positions.

    “He has successfully coordinated and supervised tactical and intelligence response team operations which led to the arrest of high profile criminals and recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition,” she said.

    She said that Maku was the 23rd CP in the state which was created in 1996.

    Maku took over from Mr Awosola Awotinde who retired from the service on May 14 after attaining the age of 60.

  • Umahi directs army, police to ‘take over’ two warring Ebonyi communities

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has directed the Nigerian Army and Police to take over Isinkwo-Ukawu and Abaomege communities of Onicha Local Government Area of the state and immediately restore law and order in both communities.

    The directive which is contained in a statement signed by Mr Uchenna Orji, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, on Sunday stated that the governor is saddened by developments in both communities.

    The statement said that the governor expressed dismay over the activities of the youth in both communities who resorted to taking ‘laws into their hands’ and inflicting injuries on the people because of land dispute.

    “The state government has henceforth taken over the disputed land effective from June 6, 2020, in line with the laws of the state.

    “The governor has directed the state Commissioner for Lands and Survey to immediately acquire the disputed land for the government, in overriding public interest,” the statement read.

    The statement added that Umahi further warned both communities to ‘pull out’ completely from the disputed land.

    “All concerned are to take this matter seriously,” the statement read.

    Recall that similar violence had erupted in Izzi recently where over seven houses were burnt at Amuzu villge in Igbeagu community of Izzi Local Government Area, over a village headship tussle.

    The crisis resulted in the arrest of no fewer than eight persons by the police including the traditional ruler.