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Tag: Ebonyi

  • 2019: Oshiomhole, Amaechi pressuring me to support Buhari – Umahi

    Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said that he is under intense pressure to support President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 16 polls.

    According to a statement during the weekend by the Chairman, Strategy Committee of Divine Mandate, Umahi’s campaign organisation, Chief Emmanuel Igwe, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi are leading the pressure to get the governor support President Buhari’s reelection bid.

    However, he said all Governor Umahi asked of President Buhari is to allow free, fair and credible election in the state.

    He said that Umahi, as a mark of respect for the president, had promised to mobilise 2000 PDP members to come out and receive the president during his campaign stopover in Abakaliki, the state capital, this week.

    His words: “The governor wishes Buhari and his entourage a happy stay as APC Presidential Campaign Council visits Ebonyi on the 30th of January, 2019.

    “Governor Umahi wishes to put it on record that the President, Muhammad Buhari is his personal friend and a friend of the state. He has much respect for the office of the president.

    “The Governor has been under pressure to support the re-election of my president by APC bigwigs especially the party chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Chibuike Amaechi just to mention but a few who come under various guises that the APC has no interest in Ebonyi guber race.

    “The Governor has no need for external forces to win convincingly in Ebonyi since over 95 per cent of the electorate is supporting his re-election.

    “The Governor has been too magnanimous to the APC by donating the sum of five million naira to her guber candidate, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji to enable him print campaign posters and promised to mobilize two thousand people that will welcome Mr President on the proposed campaign rally,” Igwe stated.

    Warning that Ebonyi people will resist any form of manipulation or rigging and intimidation with the last drop of their blood, Umahi urged the APC presidential campaign council to make out time and inspect both completed and ongoing projects in the state during their campaign tour.

  • 2019: Gov. Umahi cautions against do or die politics

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has cautioned against do or die politics ahead of 2019 general election.
    Umahi, also Chairman, South East, Governors Forum stated this in a New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Uzor on Monday in Abakiliki.
    He advised Nigerians to be more positive about the country and urged politicians to play by the rules as the country gets ready for the 2019 general election.
    The governor acknowledged that Nigeria went through turbulent times in 2018 and called for a renewed belief in the country.
    “As Nigerians approach the poll to elect their leaders in the New Year, one thing should be paramount to approach every election with every sense of brotherliness as elections are not wars,” Umahi.
    He further advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to remain neutral in the conduct of the coming election.
    He, however, maintained that the future of the country would be determined by the conduct of the 2019 general election.

  • Ebonyi Gov. increases corps members allowances

    The National Youth Service Corps members in Ebonyi are currently receiving the increased monthly allowances granted them by the state government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. David Umahi, during his recent visit to the scheme’s orientation camp in Afikpo, promised to increase the corps members’ monthly allowance from N5, 000 to N10, 000.

    Mr Charles Akpuenika, the Chairman of the NYSC governing board in the stateEbonyi made the disclosure to NAN on Tuesday, noting that the claim could be verified from the NYSC.

    Akpuenika, who is the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, said the corps members had continued to send messages of gratitude on receiving the increased allowance.

    “It is also noteworthy that the governor also released the sum of N400 million for the rehabilitation of the NYSC orientation camp to ensure that its environment is more condusive,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the road leading to the camp was being constructed with concrete as directed by the governor while the streetlight installation was also ongoing.

    “The hostels, parade ground and other facilities are also being reconstructed as the governor is determined to support the NYSC scheme to achieve its objectives.

    “Ebonyi should rank as one of the states where corps members enjoy such largesse as the governor realises the importance of the scheme to national development,” he said.

    Mrs Ann Ibe, the NYSC State Coordinator in Ebonyi confirmed receipt of the increased allowance by corps members and thanked the governor for the kind gesture.

    “Corps members started receiving the allowance before the beginning of November and this would motivate them in effectively discharging their duties to the fatherland.

    “The rehabilitation of facilities at our orientation camp has fully commenced as promised by the governor and we want to publicly attest to this kind gesture,” she said.

    NAN

  • Ebonyi Govt seals Abakaliki rice mill over alleged poison

    The Ebonyi Government on Tuesday sealed the Abakaliki Rice Mill Limited over the alleged infiltration of poisoned and adulterated rice in the mill.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internal Security, who announced the state government’s decision at a news briefing, said that the closure was with immediate effect.

    Ugbala noted that the state Executive Council (EXCO) had received the news of the poisoned and adulterated rice with shock and deliberated extensively on it to save lives of citizens.

    “The EXCO subsequently directed the concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of health, agriculture, commerce and industry and internal security to seal the rice mill for full investigations to be carried out.

    “The Ministry of Environment, which firstly received the report, informed us that the products are not fit for human consumption.

    “The primary aim of every government is to protect the lives of its citizens as we want to prevent unsuspecting citizens from purchasing such products,” he said.

    Commenting further on the situation, Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, State’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, noted that the government did not know the source from which the products infiltrated the market and the type of poison involved.

    “We do not know whether they are rat or other type of poisons but the commissioner for environment quickly dispatched a team to the mill on receiving the news of the infiltration.

    “The team confiscated some samples of the product and they had labels of ‘not fit for human consumption’ boldly written on them.

    “We will not go into the semantics of such labels but any responsible government should take precautionary measures immediately such development is discovered.

    “This government being a responsible one took the normal, precautionary step to safeguard its people’s lives,” he said.

    The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SSA on Internal Security and other authorities involved in the sealing left the EXCO chambers immediately to enforce the directive.

    NAN

  • Pandemonium in Ebonyi as man machetes father, sister to death

    Pandemonium in Ebonyi as man machetes father, sister to death

    A community in Ebonyi State was on Sunday thrown into pandemonium following the murder of one Nwode Nwignoaka and his seven years old daughter by his 25 years old son, Julius Nwode.

    The incident happened at Ifelemenu community, Ekpaomaka in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

    According to an eyewitness, Julius went berserk killing his father and sister before attacking six other residents of the community who came to intervene in the matter.

    He inflicted serious machete cuts on the six other residents of the area before he was later gunned down by a husband of one of the victims of his attack, a source said.

    While the reason for his actions could not be ascertained, a source who did not want to be named, said the suspect had taken hard drugs when he came into the house.

    An altercation reportedly occurred between him and his father who asked him where he had been.

    “When he was attacking his father with machete, Julius’ sister came out and asked him why he was attacking their father. And he descended on her and macheted her to death after killing the father.

    “Some neighbours who saw what happened came to the scene. Julius attacked about six of them with the machete. As he was leaving the area wielding the machete, a man called Peter whose wife was among those macheted, went inside his house, brought his gun and shot him and he died instantly,” he narrated.

    The corpses of the victims have been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki while the injured are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.

    The spokesperson of the police in Ebonyi, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident.

    She, however, said Julius reportedly killed himself after killing his father and sister.

    “The boy is about 25 years and he burns candle and reads some religious books. So he came home and attacked his father and seven years old sister with Axe and machete. Thereafter he killed himself,” she said

    She said the police were still investigating the incident and she has not been properly briefed on the number of casualties.

  • Ebonyi lawmakers’ ultimatum to Anambra government, By Carl Umegboro

    By Carl Umegboro

    The up-to-the-minute squabbles between Anambra state government and Ebonyi House of Assembly is to say the least uncalled for and trivial. The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano renamed the old ‘Abakaliki Street’ in Awka to “Club Street’ purportedly to synchronize the master-plan. Consequently, he designated another street the government considered suitable and more strategic for its swap. Unfortunately, the development was probably misunderstood, hence offensively rebuffed by the Ebonyi lawmakers leading to a seven-day ultimatum slammed on Obiano to revert to status quo ante or face their sanctions. Since then, it has become a supremacy battle, funnily through press wars with threats of sanctions if unheeded. But the question is, is a trifling issue as this amongst the reasons why lawmakers are elected into offices by the people?

    The sanctions reportedly included having all the institutions, streets and monuments named after Anambra indigenous people scrapped or renamed in Ebonyi state. However, the state government through its spokesman, C. Don Adinuba debunked malice but elucidated that the contentious area is over the years notorious as a dungeon; a slum with shanties and illegal structures where prostitution and other illicit activities triumph, and added that the government merely did sensitive restructuring exercise which didn’t erase the state’s name in the state capital as purported but a strategic swap noting that the two states are brothers and sisters that have maintained harmonious relationship over the years.

    Obviously, issues of this nature are best resolved through channel of mild communication and dialogue especially for two states under a geopolitical zone, and not by ultimatum as issued by the protesting lawmakers let alone through the media. The simple truth is that Anambra or any other state doesn’t require permission or consultation with another state to embark on restructuring exercise within its landscape especially to restructure its facilities. The appropriate action on discovery of the renaming exercise would have been to send delegation to the state government for firsthand fact-finding, explanations and motives for such action rather than dangling on assumptions.

    In structured system, to pass a resolution directing another state government to comply is alien, aberration and amounts to legislative rascality. The reason is that resolutions at plenary can only be implemented when reasonable, realistic and within jurisdiction. The worst part is the press war adopted to deal with a matter that should soundlessly be handled by the two state governors without third-parties’ knowledge. Nonetheless, as long as a new place was designated for its swap, apparently, no harm was done except a mischief could be substantiated or it could be established that the area has exceptional interests that characterize Ebonyi and its people which may be jeopardized if altered. Above all, change is always constant.

    Thus, it calls for maturity, understanding, mutual respect and cooperation. It is never an issue that should be subjected to open show of muscles or ultimatum but reverence and dialogue. To forcefully demand the governor to revert is completely out of it but a tete-a-tete with the state government. For all intents and purposes, the fight is grossly trivial as it cannot add any value to the lives of indigenous people of either state. Had the fight been tied to a dispute over control of infrastructural developments or mineral resources in the area that can impact positively in the lives of the people, it would then worth the time and energy more especially sitting allowance of the lawmakers as the people deserve value for their money. Unfortunately, it is naively a fight over mere alteration of designation. Hence, there’s urgent need for restraint and to sheathe the swords in the interest of peace, unity and stability. The two states are joined at the hip and should not be seen fighting each other sadly without clearly defined purpose. Some communal disputes had in the past originated in comparable manners and degenerated to something terrible and unfathomable. Sadly, the grass-root in all the cases ended up bearing the repercussions.

    To sum, a legislative house cannot go outside its territory to give orders and ultimatum to another government, instead should espouse diplomacy and internal dispute resolution mechanism. In addition, embrace protocol; by mandating its state governor who is the chief executive officer to liaise with his counterpart when there are external sketchy matters to deal with. The ultimatum should have been aptly directed to their governor to find out the reasons for such action by a sister state. Then, on the choice of ‘Club Street’ over a place that is already tainted, the state government may have to reconsider its position as the idea may not be a positive verdict in the long run vis-à-vis values and mores. It is akin to endorsing anomalies, oddities and deformities. Be that as it may, live and let live!

    Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and an associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom). [07057101974 SMS-only]

  • Herdsmen attack: Police confirm 4 dead in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi Police Command on Monday in Abakaliki confirmed a herdsmen attack on the Onunwakpu community of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi which left four persons dead.

    ASP Loveth Odah, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), told the News Agency of Nigeria that the dead included three natives of the community and a herdsman.

    Odah disclosed that the incident had occurred when one of the victims had gone to tie down his cow inside his farm to feed it in the traditional way.

    She said it was in the process of this that he had encountered herdsmen whose cows were also feeding inside the farm.

    “We cannot ascertain what transpired between him and the herdsmen, but his shouts attracted fellow villagers who rushed to the scene to discover that his two hands had been severed.

    “The ensuing altercation grew in intensity and security agencies immediately intervened to bring to normal the clash which also left many persons wounded.

    “One of the herdsmen has been arrested by army personnel, and we assure the public that modalities would be put in place to ensure that such occurrence does not repeat itself.

    “We call on members of the public not to panic over the incident and advise them not to engage herdsmen in physical fights but instead report disagreements to security agencies,” Odah added.

    A native of the area where the incident occurred, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, also corroborated the account given by the police.

    He told NAN that his kinsman (one of the victims) had gone to feed his cow inside his farm and was attacked by herdsmen.

    “He had to fetch grasses for his cow to feed and was appalled that the herdsmen’s cows were feeding on his crops which he laboured to plant.

    “We heard his shouts and when we rushed to the scene, his two hands had been severed and the clash which resulted in the deaths ensued.

    “This is our land and we are not going to leave it for any group of people, even at the risk of our lives,” the community member said.

    NAN reports that Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi had recently banned cows from feeding on farmlands in the state.

    He had also announced that various forms of punishments await farmers and herdsmen who cause trouble in the state.

     

  • We don’t have land to spare for cattle colonies, Ebonyi Govt insists

    The Governor Dave Umahi led Ebonyi State Government has insisted that it does not have lands to spare for the Federal Government proposed cattle colonies.

    This was revealed by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Donatus Njoku on Saturday.

    According to Njoku, the state government’s rejection of the policy is irreversible.

    Njoku made the assertion in Abakaliki on Saturday, while briefing journalists on measures adopted by the government to ensure peaceful co-existence between herdsmen and residents in the state.

    The commissioner emphasised that the state government had no land to give out for cattle colonies, adding that the available land in the state was for agricultural purposes.

    Addressing reports on social media that the state government had embraced the cattle colony policy, he said, “The rumours on social media are a misrepresentation. Governor David Umahi never said the state would give out land for creation of cattle colonies.

    “In Ebonyi State, there is nothing like cattle colony. The position of the Ebonyi State Government is that those herdsmen that have been in the state for years, living harmoniously with the people, cannot be asked to go. Our concern is the killer herdsmen who carry rifles and AK-47.

    “Any time the herdsmen want to move cattle to another location, the attention of the traditional rulers/town unions that reside in the community must be sought, indicating the routes/passages to follow.”

    Njoku stated that the state government had enacted a law prohibiting open movement of animals such as cows, goats and cattle, in addition to the inauguration of a special task force to ensure that cattle herders confined their cattle to one location.

    He said, “If you have cause to move the cattle, let the government know when and where you are moving them to and the routes to follow. It is important.”

    The commissioner wondered why herdsmen in the state would engage in open grazing despite state government’s law against open movement of animals, goats, cows, etc.

    “We have a law that specifies fines for defaulters. In addition, there is a taskforce that checkmates any form of rearing of animals such as cattle and goats. We are monitoring indiscriminate movement of cattle,” he added.

    Njoku commended the Federal Government for inaugurating the presidential committee on reconciliation of herdsmen/farmers, under the chairmanship of Umahi.

    “Very soon, the nation will come up with a permanent solution to the frequent clashes between farmers/herdsmen in the country,” he promised.

    On the activities of illegal miners in the state, the commissioner emphasised that the state government had laid out guidelines, which mining operators must adhere to.

    He said, “For one to mine in the state, you must adhere to the standard, conform to the Environmental Impact Assessment, and provide safety kits for the mining workers, etc.”

     

  • Herdsmen/farmers clashes: We won’t tolerate open grazing in Ebonyi – Umahi

    …orders traditional rulers to compile data on herdsmen

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has directed traditional rulers to collate data on herdsmen operating in the state for easy identification and maintenance of peace.

    Umahi, who gave the order on Friday in Abakaiki at a meeting with traditional rulers and miners in the state, noted that the data should include herdsmen’s names, location and contact phone numbers of their leaders.

    The governor remarked that the decision was reached after series of meetings with security agencies, various committees and representatives of herdsmen in the state.

    “Traditional rulers should hold constant meetings with the herdsmen so that they can identify those from Niger Republic and other areas that foment trouble.

    “We have been living in peace with the herdsmen for several years but still maintain that there would not be movement of cattle from one area to another in the state.”

    He urged the traditional rulers and other concerned authorities to agree on grazing locations with the herdsmen where they would be restricted for their grazing activities.

    “I will provide amenities such as water in such locations because the state government does not have the resources for ranching.

    “When the grasses in such areas finish, you should arrange for another location for grazing because we would not tolerate cattle eating or destroying crops on our farmlands.

    “Trouble is inevitable but we can handle them maturely through the various committees on herdsmen in the villages, communities and state levels,” he said.

    Umahi warned that henceforth, anybody that killed herdsmen’s cows would make double payments with the herdsmen collecting one part and the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, collecting the other.

    “The herdsmen will be severely warned if they destroy farmers’ crops and when such persists after investigations, the herdsmen would be forced to leave the community.

    “We want to put such restraining measures to prevent cattle rustling because the cows are dear to the herdsmen while the crops are dear to the farmers.

    He noted that existing mining laws in the state would be reviewed to make illegal miners to get jail term of five years for engaging in such activities.

    “We would send the bill to the House of Assembly as it would also become illegal for traditional rulers or town unions to lease mining sites without government’s clearance,” the governor said.

    Chief Samuel Okoronkwo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, noted that the ministry had intensified efforts to check the activities of illegal miners, especially those from neighbouring Imo and others states.

    “We have also sensitised traditional rulers, town unions and other stakeholders to engage the government in mining activities in their areas to enable government to generate the accruing revenue.’’

    The Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council in the state, Igwe Charles Mkpuma, pledged that traditional rulers would collaborate with the government to check illegal mining activities.

    A miner in the state, Chief Basil Igboke, noted that mining business was capital intensive and appealed to the government for financial assistance to support miners.

     

  • 2019: Ezza youths shop for candidates, vow to claim more political seats in Ebonyi

    The Ezza clan in Ebonyi state has vowed to claim more political seats come 2019 elections in the state, saying blanket automatic tickets being promised everybody by the governor is not to their advantage.

    Some of the aggrieved Ezza youths stated that popular candidates in the states are being offered tickets in parties other than their clan.

    “As politicians strategise for power in 2019, it has become glaring that they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
    Not even the membership of another political group will convince them to look elsewhere.

    This seems to be the case in Ezza clan of Ebonyi state where perceived popular candidates are being offered tickets in parties other than theirs.

    This is coming on the heels of the adoption by the Ezza clan of the incumbent governor. Opposition parties have started intense lobbying of political heavyweights in Ezza to shop for Governorship, senatorial, and candidates for other elective positions.

    People in and outside government are being contacted to destabilize the incumbent major support base.

    The major grouse is that the people feel that those representing them currently have not done a good job of it.

    “the blanket automatic tickets being promised everybody by the governor is not to our advantage. In fact, we feel insulted. We are looking for credible people to run the elections for us, all the elections except the presidency” fumed Nwali Obinna, a leader of youths in the area.

    Similarly, a member of Ezzas in the diaspora organization, Ken Nwoyoke vowed that the clan must make its own statement in the coming elections.

    “they have taken us for a ride for too long, we will give them a shocker this time “.