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Tag: Ethiope East

  • Stop reckless cross-carpeting: Ethiope East shows the way – By Festus Okubor

    Stop reckless cross-carpeting: Ethiope East shows the way – By Festus Okubor

    Dr. Festus G Okubor

    In the evolving story of Nigeria’s democracy, the ugly trend of cross carpeting — the shameless jumping from one political party to another — has become a stain on our political culture. It is a practice devoid of principle, driven not by ideology, not by the sincere pursuit of better governance, but by personal greed and stomach infrastructure. It reduces party politics to a mere social gathering, stripping it of the seriousness it demands. Party politics is not a carnival ground; it is serious business for serious minds, entrusted with the affairs of man — God’s highest creation. It demands the highest ethical standards.

    What we see today, however, is the opposite: parties are treated like marketplaces, where politicians hawk their loyalties to the highest bidder. This has nothing to do with the good of society and everything to do with the insatiable appetite of self-seekers. And the truth is, not even society itself can satisfy them. They are rolling stones that gather no moss, constantly in motion but contributing nothing meaningful to the development of the land.

    Ethiope East Local Government has shown a commendable example that the rest of Nigeria should learn from. Here, politicians have embraced a sense of stability and ideological consistency. They understand that party platforms exist for a reason — to articulate visions, pursue defined policies, and provide citizens with clear choices at the ballot box. When parties become dumping grounds for political nomads, the electorate loses faith in the system, and democracy itself is weakened. Their rejection of the attempt to cross carpet, again, by Chief Great Ogboru is commendable. He has been in all the political parties at one time or the other, seeking the title of leader, looking for contracts and appointments for himself and his children and his cronies only. We, the people, must stop this rubbish by self-centred politicians.

    I call on the Nigerian electorate to take a stand: reward politicians who show loyalty, character, and consistency. Punish those who see parties as mere vehicles for personal gain. And to our political parties, it is time to uphold some dignity — stop being safe havens for cross carpeters. A political party without a clear identity is nothing but an association of convenience. Nigeria deserves better.

    Let the Ethiope East example stand as a bright light in a dark tunnel. Let every politician remember: when you treat party politics as a joke, you make a mockery of the people’s trust. Let the era of cross carpeting without ideology come to an end — for the sake of our democracy, and for the future of Nigeria.

  • Ethiope East LG boss denies knowledge of N5,000 POS levy

    Ethiope East LG boss denies knowledge of N5,000 POS levy

    Pharm Victor Ofobrukueta, Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area (LGA) has denied knowledge of the N5,000 POS levy that has caused a stir.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pharm Ofobrukueta specifically stated that he never approved the POS levy, nor the notice distributed by the council’s POS Central Sub-Revenue Committee.

    Mr Tega Enakerakpo, Chairman of the POS Central Sub-Revenue Committee of the LGA verbally assaulted a reporter of TNG as a result of the POS levy.

    Our reporter had sought clarification, and provided Mr Enakerakpo the opportunity to address issues arising from the annual levy.

    Operators of POS across the LGA had lamented the N5,000 levy, describing it as draconian, and an effort to further increase the burden of the people.

    “The council just wants us to suffer. How can they say we should pay N5,000 as levy for operating POS. There are other deductions accrue to us in operating POS. At the end of the day, it’s the masses that will suffer it,” one of the POS operators in the LGA, who asked not to be named told TNG.

    TNG reports the Ethiope East Local Government council announced the N5,000 levy in a release on Tuesday, requesting POS operators across the LGA to comply within 27 days.

    The release titled ‘Demand Notice on POS Operation’ was signed and released by Mr Enakerakpo, the Chairman of POS Central Sub-Revenue Committee Ethiope East Local Government, Islokolo.

    A bank account the Ethiope East Central Sub-Revenue Committee operates with Zenith Bank was also attached with the release along with the contact phone number of Mr Enakerakpo.

    The council also threatened legal action against POS operators who will fail to comply with the notice.

    The release reads in part: “As part of the urgent need of Ethiope East Local Government Council to have a proper and approved P. O. S., operators in the Local Government Area, the Local Government has decided to notify you to pay your P. O. S., annual operational levy of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000.00) only.

    “Take note, that you are requested within 27 days to make payment to the account stated below as failure to abide by this demand notice will attract serious legal action against you”.

    When contacted, Mr Enakerakpo shouted, screaming on top of his voice, saying our reporter “should get out of his phone”. He directed our reporter to reach out to other LGAs that sundry and similar levies are also being collected.

    After introducing himself, and the reason for the call, the committee chairman immediately cut in saying: “Bros, other committee dey for other local government. Make una no dey post nonsense wey una no know on Facebook. All the ones wey una dey do since, I dey see am. So, no dey call me to dey ask me. Anything wey dey your mind do. No be only Ethiope East dey charge POS levy. Abeg, get out from my phone”.

    However, Chairman of Ethiope East LGA has denied knowledge of the N5,000 POS levy.

    In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary of the LGA, Ehwarieme O. A., the LGA Chairman, Ofobrukueta said he never authorized anybody or committee to distribute a demand notice on POS operators in the local Government Area.

    He further said members of the POS Committee have been invited to his office to clarify their stance.

    The statement reads: “It has been brought to the notice of the authority of the Executive Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Council, Rt Hon Pharm Victor Ofobrukueta and his executives over the unwanted act of some individuals who without the authorization of the Local Government Chairman distributed notifications urging POS Operators/owners to pay the sum of #5,000 ( five thousand naira) as revenue.

    “The Chairman frowned and debunked the allegations in its entirety. “I have not authorized anybody or committee to distribute demand notice on POS operators in the local Government Area. Though we believe that little financial contributions from everyone who renders certain services and earned money within the LGA will contribute to the growth and development of the local government. We would rather do it within the ambits of the law and without putting more burden on our people. We regret the inconvenience such demand notices might have costs our dear citizens and we have therefore put in place necessary steps to correcting them”.

    “The Chairman was taken aback that the committee went ahead to distribute demand notices without his approval.

    “Meanwhile, all contributions, suggestions, and ideas geared towards the growth and development of the Local Government should be channelled to: www.ethiopeeastlga.dl.gov.ng

    “We regret such misleading information as all the members of that Committee are invited to his office to clarify their stance”.

  • Delta council committee chairman verbally assaults journalist over POS levy

    Delta council committee chairman verbally assaults journalist over POS levy

    Mr Tega Enakerakpo, Chairman of the POS Central Sub-Revenue Committee of Ethiope East Local Government, headquartered in Islokolo on Tuesday verbally assaulted a reporter of TheNewsGuru.com (TNG).

    Our reporter had sought clarification, and provided Mr Enakerakpo the opportunity to address issues arising from an annual levy of N5,000 the council is aiming to collect from operators of POS across the LGA.

    Operators of POS across the LGA had lamented the N5,000 levy, describing it as draconian, and an effort by the council to further increase the burden of the people.

    “The council just wants us to suffer. How can they say we should pay N5,000 as levy for operating POS. How much is our gain. We cannot even make ends meet with the POS business. We just using it to get busy.

    “There are other deductions accrue to us in operating POS. At the end of the day, it’s the people of the LGA that will suffer from it because we add it into the charges they will pay,” one of the POS operators in the LGA, who asked not to be named, told TNG.

    TNG reports the Ethiope East Local Government council announced the N5,000 levy in a release on Tuesday, requesting POS operators across the LGA to comply within 27 days.

    The release titled ‘Demand Notice on POS Operation’ was signed and released by Mr Enakerakpo, the Chairman of POS Central Sub-Revenue Committee Ethiope East Local Government, Islokolo.

    A bank account the Ethiope East Central Sub-Revenue Committee operates with Zenith Bank was also attached with the release along with the contact phone number of Mr Enakerakpo.

    The council also threatened legal action against POS operators who will fail to comply with the notice.

    The release reads in part: “As part of the urgent need of Ethiope East Local Government Council to have a proper and approved P. O. S., operators in the Local Government Area, the Local Government has decided to notify you to pay your P. O. S., annual operational levy of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000.00) only.

    “Take note, that you are requested within 27 days to make payment to the account stated below as failure to abide by this demand notice will attract serious legal action against you”.

    When contacted, Mr Enakerakpo shouted, screaming on top of his voice, saying our reporter “should get out of his phone”. He directed our reporter to reach out to other LGAs that sundry and similar levies are also being collected.

    After introducing himself, and the reason for the call, the committee chairman immediately cut in saying: “Bros, other committee dey for other local government. Make una no dey post nonsense wey una no know on Facebook. All the ones wey una dey do since, I dey see am. So, no dey call me to dey ask me. Anything wey dey your mind do. No be only Ethiope East dey charge POS levy. Abeg, get out from my phone”.