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Tag: Ebonyi

  • Lassa Fever: Death toll rises to four in Ebonyi

    The death toll of victims of the Lassa fever outbreak in Ebonyi State has risen to four, an official has said.

    The Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezuruike, also said 139 persons have been placed under surveillance in the state.

    Also schools have been shut down in the state as government scrambles to curtail the rampaging deadly disease.

    Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, Mr. Umezuruike revealed that a total of nine cases have been confirmed.

    “At present, the state has a total of nine confirmed cases, four deaths and three others on treatment including 139 persons now under surveillance.

    “Also, a mother has been confirmed positive and is presently taking treatment and this incident happened yesterday (Wednesday).”‎

    “We have three patients on treatments and all of them are doing well and we have contact tracing and we have 139 people we have kept on surveillance

    Mr. Umezuruike however assured that the state government was handling the situation well.

    “We have set up all the committees and strategies to ensure that this disease is brought under control within the shortest possible time and the strategies are working out well. We don’t have new cases of the disease as at yesterday, so the situation has been brought under control.

    “Schools closure came up when we had three positive cases and ministry of education noticed that one of them has children in schools and closed down schools in Ebonyi State. We have put all the strategies and everything is working out, we believe that the situation will be brought under control.”

    Meanwhile, the outbreak has also forced the wife of the governor, Rachel Umahi, to cancel her visit to Afikpo Local Government Area which was scheduled to take place on Friday.

  • Ebonyi, BOI float N2bn loans for civil servants

    The Ebonyi State Government has urged civil servants in its payroll to key into the N2 billion loan scheme being operated by the government and Bank of Industry to improve their standard of living.

    Mr Pius Eze, Chairman of the 15-man committee inaugurated by the state government to work out the modalities for the loan disbursement, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the committee has embarked on sensitisation visits to local government areas of the state to enlighten the workers on the importance of keying into the scheme.

    He said that it was difficult under the present economic situation for workers to save about N300,000 and N500,000 from their salaries to start up a business, hence the need to key into the project.

    He said government and BOI contributed N1 billion each into the scheme and stressed that beneficiaries would pay a paltry six per cent interest.

    He said that the loan would assist civil servants to engage in alternative sources of income to better their welfare and economic wellbeing.

    He said that the workers’ monthly pay could no longer sustain them and their families under the present economic situation hence need to diversify sources of income.

    “Thye Governor, David Umahi, is interested in alleviating the plight of Ebonyi workers and that is why he has earmarked N1 billion as loan for workers to access and this is in addition to the N1 billion he attracted from the BOI

    “The loan, which has only six per cent interest, will enable civil servants to invest the fund in any business of their choice which they can fall back on during their service and after retirement from active civil service.

    “The whole idea is to empower the Ebonyi civil servants and enable them to improve on their monthly in come generation by engaging in other alternative sources of income.

    “The Committee has embarked on sensitisation campaigns to local government councils to educate the workers, enhance their understanding and appeal to them to exploit the huge opportunities being provided by the loan scheme, ” Eze said.

     

    NAN

     

     

  • Ebonyi commences data capturing of IPOB members

    The Ebonyi State Government has commenced the data capturing and registration of members of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) from the state.

    The state Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Uchenna Orji, disclosed this in Abakaliki.

    He said the exercise is going on simultaneously in the 13 local government areas of the state.

    According to him, the present administration has done a lot in the area of youth empowerment.

    He said the initiative by the state government apart from making the IPOB members economically independent, would also help to reduce social vices and other forms of criminality currently plaguing the society.

    The commissioner, who said the state government had extended its empowerment schemes to Ebonyi youths in other states of the federation, added that over 3,000 youths had been empowered in the state.

    “These IPOB youths are being registered in the Department of Education and Social Welfare in the LGAs. After their capturing, the state government will create a programme to train them in their chosen career,” Orji said.

  • Bring it on! Probes are not new to me – Elechi fires back Umahi

    Former governor of Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi has said he was ready for probe by his successor, Governor David Umahi, alleging that he had been under investigation since 2015.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Umahi had on Saturday in Abakaliki, threatened to probe his former boss’ administration of 2007 – 2015, for “massive financial malpractices”.

    Umahi had stated that he had covered his predecessors ‘sins’ enough and would publish the details of the probe in newspapers and other media channels.

    He accused his former boss, who he served as deputy governor, for failing to pay past leaders, including the Minster of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, their pensions and severance allowances.

    The governor faulted Elechi for ‘crying’ over non-payment of his pensions “when he failed to pay pensioners in the state since 2009.

    But Elechi told newsmen in Abakaliki on Thursday that the governor had been probing him and his two sons since 2015.

    “I handed over to Umahi on May.29, 2015, participated in his thanksgiving service on June 7, 2015, but received a letter of summon from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 9, 2015.

    “The petitions, which EFCC sources said were more than 50, were written by the present Ebonyi government through the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    “We visited the anti-graft agency regularly since and the last time I visited there in May 2016, I was shown a later from the Attorney- General where I was accused of several financial malpractices,” he said.

    Elechi said that the petitioners’ allegations against him included his government’s involvement in the establishment of the state cement, oil and gas, rice production companies, among others.

    “I gave my own side of the story and presented copies of the same petition which the attorney-general issued me in November, 2015 over the same alleged offences.

    “It is then clear that Umahi must not be saying that he will probe me but say that he will continue from where he stopped with the probe since 2015.

    “When I rejected the car offer Umahi made to me over these issues, he denied that his government had hands in the probe and I consider this statement as a lie.

    “There is no way Umahi will not be aware of a probe instituted by the Attorney-General of his government.

    “One of my sons is currently facing a court trial instituted by Umahi’s government.

    “I am not running away from Umahi’s probe. I have survived five different probes when Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s administration was toppled, having served in the East-Central state administration.

    “I faced two judicial and three administrative boards of inquiry, was arrested three times by the police and had two suits filed against me at the Enugu High Court, all within that period.

    “All these fizzled because I was not found culpable and there was no way I would be afraid of probe presently, especially when it was ongoing,” he said.

    The former governor noted that his government earmarked N10 million monthly to offset pensions all through his administration and the public could verify from the office of the state Accountant-General.

    “The circular over the payment entitlement of past leaders was issued by the Federal Government and Onu’s own payment was supposed to be made by the Abia government, as the governor of the old Abia.

    “Umahi has the right to feel bad that I failed to support him to succeed me, but I don’t regret my actions and he should not see me as problem of his administration,” he said.

     

     

     

  • I’ll probe your eight-year administration as Ebonyi Governor, Umahi tells former boss, Elechi

    …Go ahead, i’m unperturbed, Elechi tells Governor Umahi

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has vowed to probe the eight years (2007-2015) tenure of his predecessor and former boss, Chief Martin Elechi.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Umahi served as the deputy governor during Elechi’s second tenure as governor.
    Umahi who spoke in Abakaliki while interacting with newsmen in Abakaliki, said that he would publish the details of the probe on the pages of newspapers.

    According to Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, he had shielded his former boss enough from the enormous monumental financial fraud he committed during his administration.

    “I am aware of the petition filed against me by the opposition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and I will invite the anti-graft agency to investigation every detail of it.

    “I will also submit the financial details of the state from 2015 till date to the EFCC for proper auditing as the commission had
    investigated our usage of the Paris Club refund three times and found us free of any wrong doing,” he said.

    The governor noted that he was paying Elechi his pension out of human feeling, because he did not deserve to be paid having failed to pay others.

    “Elechi was not paid for just one month and he started crying everywhere and the same person failed to pay pensioners their pensions all through his administration.

    “We are currently paying pensions and severance allowances backdated to 2009 as Elechi did not pay the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnia Onu, his severance allowance as a former governor,” he said.

    He explained that a law was made during Elechi’s administration to pay Onu and others, but Elechi vehemently refused to implement the law.

    “I remember meeting the state’s Attorney General who was the House of Assembly Speaker at that time inside Elechi’s office and the issue of Onu’s payment was being discussed.

    “The speaker asked Elechi what should be done about it as it was in his hands, but he said that the matter should be forgotten.

    “Elechi and Onu are now friends, but my government would not be distracted because the opposition’s desires to continue looting the state’s treasury,” he said.

    He noted that his administration has gotten interest of over N2billion from fixing unused funds in fixed deposit accounts with that
    of the Paris Club refund, generating over N300million.

    “Elechi should tell the people which amount he fixed for the state’s benefit as his administration fixed funds in private accounts with the interests accruing to them,” he said.

    In his reaction, Elechi spokesperson and his former Commissioner for Education, Mr Ndubisi Agbo, described Umahi’s allegations against his boss as frivolous.

    According to Agbo, it was not the first time the governor was making the threat of probing Elechi and wondered why he had not done so since.

    “I am stating without fear or favour that my principal is neat and free of all allegations, as he has no skeleton in his cupboard.

    “Elechi is not perturbed with Umahi’s gimmicks as he has sponsored over 50 petitions against him without any iota of truth established.

    “It is unfortunate that he can say such things against a man he publicly calls a father even inside the church and this is in public knowledge,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Elechi parted ways with his former deputy as he did not support Umahi’s governorship ambition. Elechi’ men decamped to Labour Party when Umahi emerged Ebonyi PDP governorship flag bearer.


    TheNewsGuru.com reports that after Umahi’s victory in 2015, Elechi decamped to APC.

     

     

     

     

  • Ebonyi APC holds rally for Buhari, says he’s fit to contest 2019 presidential election

    Ebonyi APC holds rally for Buhari, says he’s fit to contest 2019 presidential election

    The Ebonyi chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC on Monday in Abakaliki held a rally to kick start campaigns for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office.

    Acting state APC Chairman, Eze Nwachukwu, commended party faithful for turning out in their large numbers for the rally.

    “We thank God for the recovery of Mr President from his sickness and successful return from the medical vacation in London to resume his normal duty as president.

    “The overwhelming crowd that attended the rally is a clear indication that Ebonyi is indeed an APC state and by massively attending this solidarity rally is another indication of the love Ebonyi people have for our president and his populist government.

    “This is the third time APC in Ebonyi is organising this type of rally to demonstrate its love, support and loyalty for Buhari and APC led central government,” Nwachukwu said.

    He added that: We have witnessed tremendous live-transforming programmes and policies which are impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary citizens, including job creation, economic repositioning, infrastructure, anti-graft and fight against insecurity, among others.

    “We are calling for more support for Mr President while urging him to avail himself for 2019 to enable him consolidate on the many achievements so far recorded by his administration.

    “We want to reiterate that Ebonyi is an APC state and that we pledge our unalloyed and unflinching support and loyalty to the President and Commander – in – Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor of Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, among other top party members were all in attendance for the rally.

  • Release 180 Ebonyi indigenes incarcerated in Lagos prisons, Umahi begs Ambode

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has called on the Lagos State Government to unconditionally release 180 Ebonyi indigenes, incarcerated in Lagos for engaging in hawking.

    Umahi made the call on Thursday in Abakaliki, when he received a delegation of Ebonyi indigenes residing in Onitsha, Anambra, who visited him over the plight of its indigenes in the town and across the country.

    Umahi represented by his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, noted that the government received with dismay, the gory ordeals of the victims as narrated by the Ebonyi Development Association in Lagos.

    “The 180 victims were accused of contravening a law of the Lagos Government on street trading, but the intriguing aspect is that they had been incarcerated before the law was enacted.

    “Most of them had spent over two years in incarceration before the law was enacted, but they were unfortunately charged under the same law.

    “I will immediately consult and interact with my Lagos counterpart to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the victims,” he said.

    The governor remarked that the days of treating Ebonyi citizens as second-class citizens in the country were over, as the government would extend its empowerment schemes to its indigenes residing across the country.

    “The government would immediately procure over 130 tricycles to enable hawkers of Ebonyi origin in Onitsha and environs, quit the trade and be gainfully employed.

    “We would accommodate over 20 indigenes in Onisha in our empowerment scheme, which would offer them a grant of N250, 000 each, to quit street trading and be gainfully employed.

    “The beneficiaries would cut across the 13 local government areas of the state and would consist of 50 per cent male and 50 per cent females.

    “The empowerment scheme would be extended to over 300 indigenes in Anambra and would subsequently accommodate those in states such as Abia, Kano, Lagos, among others,” he said.

    Mr Mathew Njoku, leader of the delegation and the Governor’s Senior Technical Assistant, Onitsha Liaison Office, thanked the governor for the reception and pledged to contribute its quota in the state’s development.

    “We thank you for graciously including Ebonyi indigenes in Onitsha and across the country in your empowerment schemes because it would help eradicate the humiliating experiences they undergo while hawking and engaging in other menial jobs.

    “Ebonyi indigenes are ranked among the most successful exporters of goods in Onitsha, and are willing to transfer such business acumen to enhance the state’s economy,” he said.

    Njoku also pledged that the state’s indigenes in Onitsha would support the governor’s second term bid and also his future political ambition.

     

     

    NAN

  • Tourism: Money spinner if properly developed, says commissioner

    The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Elizabeth Ogbaga, says that the tourism sector can be a money spinner if properly harnessed.Ogbaga told newsmen in Abakaliki, that the state is endowed with several tourist sites which could enhance its internally generated revenue(IGR).

     

    The commissioner listed the sites to include: the Nkpurukem Cave in Afikpo, Nkpumakpatakpa in Izzi Local Government Area, the Ivo Pottery Site and the Uburu Salt Lake in Ohaozara.

     

    She said the sites were categorized into natural and artificial classes but guaranteed maximum entertainment to tourists.

     

    The commissioner called for the development of the sites by both the state and the organised private sector to enhance their sustainable growth.

     

    She said that the current administration in the state had given the sector its pride of place, thereby, placing it among the state with the greatest tourist potentialities in the country.

     

    Ogbaga said that efforts by the state government to further develop the sites were hampered by the current economic situation across the globe.

     

    “The sector would have been developed beyond this level if not for the current global economic challenges,” she said.

     

    The commissioner urged the residents of the state to attach more value to tourism by visiting tourist centres for recreational and enlightenment purposes.

     

    She also said that when many visitors and tourists patronage the sites; they would create employment opportunities for many unemployed and yield revenue for the state government.

     

    The commissioner appealed to local government councils in the state to join in the identification and development of tourist sites.

     

    She said this would help to shore up the income to be generated by the rural populace.

     

    Ogbaga said she was worried with how foreign cultural traits were beginning to erode the indigenous cultural values.

     

    The commissioner said this had affected the identities of the people.

     

    “There are some mature persons who cannot speak their mother tongues. They dress indecently and display unpleasant mannerisms at the expense of their culture.

     

    “It is also worrisome that many have abandoned their local dishes in preference for junk foods” Ogbaga said.

     

    She said these and others are areas we need to look into as we make efforts to restore and promote our indigenous cultures.

  • Ebonyi SIEC fixes April 22 for LG election

    The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) says it will conduct Local Government elections on April.22.

    Chief Jossy Eze, Chairman of the commission, disclosed this on Friday when he released the timetable and other guidelines for the elections to stakeholders in the elections.

    According to him, the election notice is pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    “The notice is also pursuant to the Ebonyi state Electoral and Related Matters Law No.001 of 2017 and all powers enabling her in respect thereof.

    “The elections will take place on April 22, 2017 throughout the state and the nomination papers are to be delivered at EBSIEC headquarters in Abakaliki.

    “We are also distributing to relevant stakeholders, the election guidelines, manuals, time-tables and materials needed to ensure a hitch-free election,” he said.

    The EBSIEC chairman remarked that the meeting was convened to inform the stakeholders on the provisions and regulations of the elections, to ensure a hitch free exercise.

    “We assure all political parties of a level-playing ground during the election as all contributions and inputs will be welcome.

    “We also solicit the cooperation of securities agencies to ensure adequate security before, during and after the elections and give it the much desired credibility.

    “We are desirous to ensure that incidences of voting malpractices, thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, among others are eradicated to ensure that the best candidates are elected,” he said.

    Mr Useni Abdulah, the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in Ebonyi, noted that the directorate would ensure adequate security during the election.

    The director represented by Mr Chika Eze, called on the political parties to abide by the rules to make the job of providing security at the polls easy.

    Chief Ben Nwaobashi, Factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, noted that the party would participate effectively at the elections and record tremendous success.

    “We appeal to EBSIEC to create a condusive environment for all parties to thrive and ensure that the deserving candidates are declared winners irrespective of their parties,” he said.

     

    NAN

  • I will never abandon PDP for APC – Ebony Gov

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has pledged not to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in spite of the crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.

    Umahi made the pledge on Sunday during a Christmas ‘Get-Together’ he organised for the State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP including its local and zonal committee members.

    The governor spoke against the backdrop of fears in the state that he would soon dump the party due to the crisis and to secure his second-term bid.

    According to him, the current challenges confronting the party will not lead to its demise as it will soon fizzle out with the commitment of its dedicated members.

    “Anybody who believes that I would leave PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party is sleeping and should be woken from sleep.

    “APC and other parties cannot win election in this state because PDP has performed marvellously and cannot be arm-twisted,’’ he said.

    The governor said that infrastructure projects, especially roads were being executed in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, courtesy of the PDP- led government.

    ‘“We are not just constructing roads but doing so on asphalt and stone base and other sectors such as education, health, agriculture, human empowerment among others, are feeling our impact,” Umahi said.

    The governor advised the party leaders to shun corrupt and divisive tendencies in order to succeed and reposition the party for the onerous tasks ahead.

    “You must avoid taking bribes, embezzling party funds among other negative acts, as contentment and Godliness is very important to achieve success.

    “When you are given N10 million for instance, present the actual amount to the members because the worst thing in life is to embezzle funds meant for all, alone,” he said.

    The state PDP Chairman, Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, thanked the governor for the reception and pledged to support him in justifying the mandate given to him by the people.

    “We have learnt from the mistakes of the past and have been repositioned to maintain our resounding electoral success in 2019 and beyond.

    “The people are witnesses to your massive infrastructure strides and impact in all sectors of the state which would make us maintain our overwhelming dominance in the state,” he said.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh, thanked the governor for identifying with various sectors of the state during the yuletide.

    “Ebonyi is the only state that earmarked N1.7billion to touch the lives of its people during this Christmas period.

    “This will definitely cushion effects of the current recession in the country and make the people part of the state’s governance,’’ Odoh said

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party stakeholders used the occasion to suggest ways of enhancing the party’s well-being and pledged their support for the governor.