Tag Archives: Ebonyi

Governor Umahi suspends Ebonyi attorney-general, solicitor-general

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Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has ordered the immediate suspension of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, for non-commitment to duty.

The governor also indefinitely suspended the state Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Justice, Mr Jonathan Okoronkwo for the same reason.

The governor announced the suspensions in Abakaliki in Abakiliki after the duo failed to turn-up for the swearing-in of the new auditor-general of the state and members of the state judicial service commission.

The officers also failed to witness the swearing-in ceremony of newly-appointed caretaker chairmen of some local government areas and development centre coordinators in the state.

According to the governor, the officers have been absent on such occasions thrice in the past as it caused serious embarrassment to the state government.

“This suspension will end the ceaseless embarrassment brought to the state by such absenteeism as the executive council members should convey the message to them, he said.

He subsequently appointed his Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters, Mr Uwabunkonye Anwusi to act as the attorney general and supervise the affairs of the ministry.

Nwankwagu was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011.

FIRS seals hotel of Egwu, ex-Ebonyi governor, over N5m tax.

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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has sealed off Gracecourt Hotel & Suites, belonging to Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi state.

The revenue-collecting agency shut the facility over a tax debt of about N5 million.

One of the sons of Egwu, who is currently the senator representing Ebonyi north senatorial district, was said to have attempted to prevent the enforcement team of FIRS from sealing the hotel.

According to a statement issued by the agency, Titus Lamorde, the state commissioner of police, had to intervene before the agency could carry out its duty.

FIRS said it had earlier served the management of the hotel located at 14, NNA Street, Abakaliki, the state capital, with warrant of destraint.

The FIRS team also shut the Sacramental Resources Ltd, a company at Water Works road, Abakaliki, for an outstanding 2016 tax debt of N454,000.

 

Source: The Cable

Ebonyi governor demands sack of soldiers who assaulted physically-challenged man

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David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, has demanded the immediate dismissal of the two military officers who brutalised Chijioke Oraku, a physically-challenged man in Onitsha, Anambra state.

He made the demand while receiving the victim, who is an indigene of the state, at the chambers of Government? House, Abakaliki, on Tuesday.

Umahi said the 21-day imprisonment given to the soldiers was not enough.

He explained that by sacking them, other law enforcement agents would be disciplined in their professional conduct and abstain from abusing the citizens’ rights.

He thanked Willie Obiano, his Anambra counterpart, for his “quick intervention” and the help extended to the victim.

“I want to thank the governor of Anambra state for his quick intervention on this matter, I was very happy when he reacted immediately and rehabilitated this young man, also I want to commend the chief of army staff for the disciplinary action so far taken on those two soldiers, but we believe that 21 days imprisonment is not enough they did not behave like human beings and to be demoted is not enough,” he said.

“I suggest to the chief of army staff that those soldiers should be sacked from the army and be prosecuted immediately.

“And so we are going to take picture him and send to the chief of army staff to demand for the sacking and prosecution of those soldiers who carried such unprofessional act.

“I believe that the army has to be disciplined in their conduct. I am also part of the constituency of the army and we would ensure that discipline is maintained in our society.

“If punishment is not meted on those two soldiers, they would still carry out the same act. I thank the people of Anambra and Ebonyi who followed up on this matter.”

Umahi gave N500,000 to Oraku for his treatment and upkeep, and directed one of his aides to liaise with the victim and recommend ways that the government can properly rehabilitate him.

The pleas of Oraku fell on deaf ears on the day the soldiers brutalised him.

Ebonyi State Government to partner with 50,000 farmers ‘to eradicate hunger’.

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The Ebonyi state government says it will partner with over 50,000 farmers to boost agriculture and the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) before the end of the year.

David Umahi, governor of the state, said this over the weekend when he received Zero Hunger Forum, an international group, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

He said apart from the farmers, 8,000 civil servants would benefit from FADAMA 3 programme, also an agricultural programme.

“IFAD injected over  N4 billion into the society by reason of empowering over 6,000  farmers,which of course we supported the farmers by way of standing in for them in their 50 percent equity contribution,” he said.

“Through direct funding, over 15,000 farmers were  funded directly by the state government. That is to me stomach infrastructure. So this year,we are targeting over 50,000 farmers to partner with and to see how we can begin to eradicate hunger in Ebonyi state.

“We want to marry them together and we have started the process of borrowing N1 billion from the banks and then to use it to pay the counterpart funding of FADAMA 3 of our civil servants.

“So we are targeting 8,000 civil servants that will benefit from this N1 billion in a way of counterpart funding on FADAMA 3 programmes.

“Our idea is that our civil servants who are interested should be able to go to work on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, they should go to farm and then be able to work through this programme.”

 

Source: The Cable

“We’ll vote Buhari in 2019 but APC will never have breathing space”, Umahi says.

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Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, says President Muhammadu Buhari has led well, so the Ebonyi people will vote him if he contests in the 2019 presidential election.

Umahi, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Buhari had won the hearts of Ebonyi people and had become the only recognisable figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor said this when a delegation from Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency as well as leaders from Onicha-east constituency paid him a New Year homage in Ohaozara local government area.

Umahi berated Ebonyi APC chieftains, saying they did not care about the welfare of the people.

“I have always said that APC is one man and that’s the president. The president is a man with good character and that’s why we are supporting him and he is supporting Ebonyi state,” Umahi said.

“Ebonyi state is very dear in the heart of the president but not in the hearts of the masquerades who have not given anybody chalk. If APC will get a vote in Ebonyi state, it will get vote by the President alone and nobody else.”

He said besides Buhari, the APC and its chieftains would never have breathing space in Ebonyi.

“Our people doing handiwork have refused to produce brooms again,” he said.

“When you have broom in Ebonyi state, where will you sweep? Is there any place to be swept? Is Ebonyi not clean? Is Ebonyi not neat?

“There is nothing to sweep. They have to take it (broom) to places that are dirty and continue their sweeping. But in Ebonyi state and because of the kind of people in APC, our people doing handiwork have refused to produce brooms again. So, there are no brooms in Ebonyi State because we have made everywhere to be very clean.”

Woman arrested for allegedly trying to sell 3 babies

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) in Ebonyi State has taken custody of a woman, Odinaka Ali, arrested by the police for alleged attempt to sell her three children in Enugu State.

The Desk Officer of NAPTIP, Florence Onwa, stated this in Abakaliki while briefing journalists on the rescue of her children.

The 25-year-old woman from Ezilo in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was said to be living with her husband in Enugu State with her three children until eight months ago when her husband abandoned them to an unknown destination.

According to the NAPTIP Desk Officer, Mrs. Onwa, police arrested the woman following a tip-off by a restaurant attendant she contacted to look for a trafficker who can buy her children as she could no longer take care of them.

“She wanted to sell the baby but it didn’t work. She was so unfortunate because the person she met to assist her sell the baby reported the matter to the police,” said Mrs. Onwa.

However, the suspect denied the allegation saying though she sought financial assistance from the attendant to feed her children and pay her house rent, she never discussed selling them with anybody.

The woman, who said her husband was from Amekpo Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, claimed that her arrest by the police and subsequent handover to the State Ministry of Gender Affairs in Enugu State before being brought to NAPTIP Office in Ebonyi State, was a frame-up.

She said, “My husband is from Amaekpo Ohafia, Abia State. I and my husband had issues before and we later reconciled. We did not have any problem when he abandoned us in April this year”.

“When I stayed few weeks I did not see him, I started doing menial jobs with my little children to enable me feed them. I kept doing this till it became so difficult for me to continue it and I decided to return to my village”.

“I didn’t want to sell my children at the initial time because I passed through caesarian operation before giving birth to all of them. I met a girl who sells food in a restaurant and narrated my problem to her and she promised to assist me.

“l met the girl before, so she asked me to come to her and wait for a woman who will enter into discussion with me. I waited for the woman and she did not come. I did this three times and I told the girl that I will not come again”.

“She persuaded me to continue coming and I changed my heart. Before I could notice it, Policemen stormed the place and started asking me what I was doing there and the whereabouts of the three kids I wanted to sell”.

“I told the policemen that I didn’t want to sell my babies because I gave birth to them through operations. The policemen asked me to follow them to their station and I refused.

“They immediately invited a policewoman who came and asked me to follow them to the station, that I should obey before complain and I followed them to the station.

“While in the station, the girl who asked me to come to her said I told her to start looking for who will buy my children.”

The head of Child Development Department, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Godwin Igwe, called on public spirited individuals to assist the woman take care of the children.

He said, “the three children and their mother just repatriated from the Enugu Ministry of Gender and Women Affairs to Ebonyi. The woman is from Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State. When we interviewed her, she said she is finding it very difficult to survive let alone feed her children. She said her purported husband abandoned her and the children in April”.

“She said it was very difficult for her to be carrying the third child of eight months old for menial jobs and she became a wanderer. So, the Enugu state government repatriated her. Her mother is late and the father is very old and has nothing doing.

“Her major problem is how to eke a living. She said if the government or public spirited individual can assist her, she is ready to take care of her children.

“If she is allowed to continue to wander in the streets, the children are at risk and if anybody approaches her for the children, she can easily release the children to the person and they will become victims of child trafficking. So, the Enugu government did not repatriate her out of malice or hatred but for safety of the children.”

Ogbeh: Ebonyi farmers need help, they’re still harvesting rice by hand

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Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture, says rice farmers in Ebonyi state are still in the business of harvesting by hand and with sickle.

Speaking at the ongoing African Economic Conference in Abuja, Ogbeh said government would intensify support for local farmers, and sustain plans by Akinwumi Adesina, former minister of agriculture, to help local farmers via e-Wallet.

“There’s a need to intensify support, and one of the things we are trying to do now is to reform the bank of agriculture; the African Development Bank is already giving support in that line,” he said.

“We’ve got to build that bank to the level where we can lend money at single digit, as down south as possible to single digit as we can.”

Speaking of the rice farmers and the need to support them with simple machinery, Ogbeh narrated an experience he had with them.

“Over the years, we, in the cities, have never really understood what goes on at the farms. We don’t know the stress of a peasant farmer.

“I was in Ebonyi last week, massive rice production; they are harvesting by hand, using sickle. Imagine a hectare of rice, that is a football field being cut by a man and his wife, bending down all day and then beating the rice on a stick to get the seeds of the tusk.

“If that guy has two hectares, he may not finish harvesting till the raining season arrives. So we need harvesters, we need threshers, very simple machines.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) earlier said that Ebonyi rice farmers had outstripped the earmarked production for the year.

Ogbeh assured Nigerians that there would be no famine in Nigeria, emphasising that the federal government has a plan to combat any occurrence of food  shortage.

Yuletide: Governor To Pay Ebonyi Workers13th Month Salary Bonus

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The Ebonyi state governor, Chief David Umahi at the weekend promised to pay extra one month salary bonus otherwise called 13th month to workers under the state employ in the spirit of Christmas celebration.

The state governor, Chief Umahi, who made the promise at a one-day official visit to the state owned University permanent site, Ezzamgbo noted that the State House of Assembly had already given approval to that effect. It would be recalled that Gov Umahi had recently announced five percent salary increment to all the workers on October this year.

He explained that junior workers would receive 100 percent bonus whereas senior ones would be payed 50 percent of whatever they receive monthly, boasting that his administration was neither owing workers salaries nor pensions.

He further disclosed his administration’s plan to begin immediate payment of gratuity arrears owed by both local and state governments since 1993 amounting to eight billion naira (N8bn).

The governor who expressed dismay that civil servants found it difficult to pay their retired colleagues their pensions but would

want to be paid when they retired, said the payment would begin payment of gratuities this December with the families of retirees who had already died.

He said,”We are not owing anybody pension in Ebonyi state. Gratuity is owed since 1993 and gratuity for both local and state governments

is over N8bn but the funny thing is that when you seat as a civil servants, you refuse to pay others their gratuities and when you now leave, you start insisting, we should pay gratuity.

“So, for those we have owed gratuity for a very long time;we are expecting a miracle. What we want to do for our brothers and sisters that were not paid gratuities and they are dead, we intend to look at them and see how we can pay off their gratuities through their families and we hope to do it this December.

“We also want to pay everyone that has retired 10 percent of whatever we owe him/her in the name of pension and other allowances”.

Credit:

http://leadership.ng/news/562611/yuletide-umahi-to-pay-ebonyi-workers13th-month-salary-bonus

Ebonyi governor orders University VC, principal officers to quit

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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has ordered the Vice Chancellor and other principal officers of the State University, Abakaliki, Francis Idike, to immediately vacate their seats having exhausted their eight-year tenures as stipulated in the 2016 EBSU amendment law 005 of 2016.

 

Shortly after assenting to the law at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House Abakaliki, Mr. Umahi said with the new law in place, the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor and other principal officers are expected to vacate the offices on or before November 26.

 

Mr. Umahi expressed concern with the five-year two terms contained in the previous law. He said any Vice Chancellor who spends 10 years in office may become inefficient.

 

The governor however said that the amended law allows a vice chancellor to remain in office after 70 years of age.

 

Governor Umahi urged the institution’s management to find ways to downsize the staff strength in the school to enable them meet up with the economic realities in the country.

 

“When you look at the staff strength of other tertiary institutions in the South East, you will realise that what we have in our own institution outweighs that of others,” he said.

 

Mr. Umahi frowned at the alleged harassment of members of the University staff and students by the host community, and mandated the Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odoh, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Sunday Inyima, and the Senior Special Assistant on Security, Kenneth Ugbala, to mobilize policemen to disperse all illegal occupants in the school’s land.

Ebonyi To Ban Sale Of Foreign Rice

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The Ebonyi Government has said it was concluding plans to enforce a ban on the sale of foreign rice in markets and other outlets in the state.

Governor David Umahi made the disclosure when participants of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Senior Course 39, Jaji, visited him in Abakaliki on Monday.

The governor said the order would soon be enforced to ensure that the residents patronised home-grown Ebonyi Rice.

“I will personally lead a task-force, consisting of the State Executive Council members to various markets and enforce the order.

“Individuals who are selling the produce will provide certification of its quality because most of the rice brought into the state is not parboiled.

“Any rice that is not parboiled after six months turns to chaff as most of them brought into the country stay for about 10 years before being imported.

“The rice then becomes poisonous and we have banned cooking of non-Ebonyi rice inside the state’s Government House, hotels and public functions.

“The Ebonyi rice still presents its unique taste even when cooked without meat and we will give you some quantities for attestation,” he said.

Credit: dailytrust

EFCC probes Ebonyi Gov. Umahi, places property under investigation.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed the property belonging to Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, in Abakaliki and other parts of the state.

The anti-graft sealed the Osborn La Palm Hotel, located at Mile 50, Abakaliki and Brass Filling stations along Ogoja and Afikpo roads within the state capital.

The hotel and filling stations belong to the governor. EFCC placed a sign, “EFCC under investigation” with the agency’s eagle’s logo on the affected property.

However, business activities were still going on in the premises when visited yesterday. The hotel security guards were seen at the gate when visited.

It was learnt that EFCC operatives from the Enugu zonal office came to Abakaliki, the state capital, to place the “EFCC under investigation” sign on the entrance gate to the Osborn La Palm.

Although there was no clear reason for the action, the development might not be unconnected with the alleged N400 million arms deal former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly gave to Umahi during the 2015 presidential election. The funds were allegedly diverted by the governor.

But, a top official of the Ebonyi State government, who did not want to be mentioned, denied the sealing of the governor’s property. He said that the EFCC’s logo on the hotel and filling station has been there for about four weeks.

He said that the hotel hosted a wedding reception on Sunday and, as such, has not been under lock and key.

He said: “Yes, there is an EFCC sticker on the properties. It is just an underinvestigation sticker. It is not as if the properties were sealed. They are still functioning. The truth is that they have been there for long. There is nothing new there.”

The EFCC had, in August, arrested three persons including the governor’s brother, Austin Umahi, and some people over a N400 million slush fund linked to the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort owned by the governor, were arrested following their refusal to honour invitations by the EFCC for questioning in an ongoing investigation involving both companies.

While the younger Umahi doubles as the chairman of both companies, Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo (the other two persons) are also signatories to the companies’ accounts.

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the N400 million was released by the Director of Finance, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Nenadi Usman, to the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP for the 2015 presidential election.

The said funds were moved from a bank in Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, to another bank, where one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100 million and N300 million respectively into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.

One of the suspects, Egwuche, allegedly withdrew the N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm which, according to her, was used to finance further the construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100 million paid into the account of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has made substantial breakthrough in its ongoing investigation of some judges of the Federal High Court.

Investigation revealed that operatives of the anti-graft agency have established “overwhelming” evidence against the judges, to warrant their trials in court.

It was learnt that most of the judges under probe could not explain the huge lodgements found in their accounts.

A highly placed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was mind-boggling that “one of the judges was found to (allegedly) own property in choice areas in Lagos and overseas.”

According to the source, “the commission will soon confront the National Judicial Commission (NJC) with overwhelming proof of evidence, to cause their suspension.”

He added that: “The EFCC is a thorough and professional anti-corruption agency, that recognises the rule of law, procedures and due process.

“When the commission arraigns those with whom prima facie cases have been established, the pub lic will get to appreciate the efforts and diligence put in the investigation process.”

The EFCC is investigating Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, Musa Haruna Kurya, Agbadu James Fishim and Justice Uwani Abba Aji.

At different times, the judicial officers had appeared at the Lagos zonal office of the anti-graft agency, for interrogation. Some senior lawyers, who were alleged to have induced judges, have either been arraigned, or quizzed.

For instance, Justices Yunusa and Nganjiwa are being investigated over allegations that they were offered bribes by Mr. Rickey Tarfa, and Dr. Joseph Nwobike, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

While Tarfa was arraigned on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged transfer of N1.5 million to Justice Nganjiwa, Nwobike is facing a fivecount charge before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of the Lagos High Court.

In another development, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday visited a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in EFCC’s custody in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to Fani-Kayode, Mr. Jude Ndukwe, said Fayose arrived the headquarters of the EFCC at 2:15p.m., and was received by a team of operatives.

The governor was said to have encouraged the former Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, to remain steadfast.

“The governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose, joined the ever growing list of dignitaries paying solidarity visits to the detained former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

“The governor visited Fani-Kayode in EFCC custody on Tuesday afternoon and spent quite some time encouraging him. He arrived the commission about 2:15p.m. and was received by a team of operatives led by one Mr. Madaki.

“He later departed the commission at 4:30p.m.,” Ndukwe said.

Barring any change in plan, the EFCC will arraign Fani-Kayode today on a fresh charge of alleged corruption.

Man who escaped twice from custody in Ebonyi rearrested.

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The police in Ebonyi on Tuesday re-arrested a man, Christopher Ochuba, who escaped twice from police custody.

The spokesman of the Ebonyi State command, Mr George Okafor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspect, a motor-mechanic, was currently undergoing investigation.

Okafor said that the suspect attempted to kill a police officer, Francis Alozie, during his last escape bid by stabbing him on the shoulder.

He said that the suspect, who hails from Ogbo in Ivo local government, was arrested for stealing and detained at Ivo.

Okafor said that in the process of his detention, the suspect brandished a ‘jack-knife’ and attempted to stab the officer.

“He used the knife to threaten other officers at the counter and escaped into the bush in the process,” he said.

The spokesman noted that the police launched a manhunt for him and that a surveillance team sighted him in his mechanic workshop weeks later.

“The suspect was re-arrested and in the process of taking him back to the station, he brandished the same knife and stabbed the officer, Alozie in the shoulder.

“He escaped again but the officers pursued, re-arrested and took him back to the station,” he said.

The spokesman said that the suspect was demobilised while the wounded officer was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

4,403 Teachers Fail Certificate Screening Test In Ebonyi

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Over 4000 primary school teachers in Ebonyi State have failed a test conducted by the state’s Universal Basic Education Board to determine the originality of their teacher training certificates.

Chairman of the boards investigating committee, Prof. Anthony Ani, who disclosed this in Abakaliki, the state capital over the weekend, said out of the 9000 teachers screened, half of them were discovered to have fake teacher training certificates.

He said, “The board should, as a matter of urgency, compile the names of teachers, especially those who presented statements of the result, testimonials, and photocopies and forwarded such names to acclaimed graduating institutions for verification and authentication.”

Ani also called for concerted efforts to revamp basic education in the state and recommended that teachers with severe medical challenges should be advised to seek medical attention with government support or be retired from the system, in line with government regulation.

Evangelist & Church Worshippers Kill Man With Stones In Ebonyi

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The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the murder of a man, Philip Ugwu, 60, by suspected worshipers following a land dispute in Afikpo Local Government Area.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, George Okafor, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Monday that the incident occurred at Amebo-Ndebo village.

Mr. Okafor said that the matter was reported to the police on September 30 by the wife of the deceased, Abani Ugwu, adding that one Tochukwu Okoh, an evangelist, had been arrested in connection with the incident.
He said the deceased’s wife alleged that Mr. Okoh and three others attacked her husband with stones.

The officer also quoted the widow as saying that her husband who could not withstand the attack eventually became unconscious and was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.
He said that his body had been deposited in a mortuary and would undergo autopsy.

The spokesperson said the divisional police officer for the area led a team of detectives and anti-crime patrol officers to the scene and arrested the suspect.

“We are currently on the trail of other suspects and I am sure that they will soon be arrested due to the useful information at our disposal,” he said.
“We assure the public that the matter will be investigated thoroughly while the culprits will be duly prosecuted,” he said.

NAN learnt that the victim, popularly called Boxer or Coach, had argued with the worshippers in a new generation church over the Attention of a fence to demarcate their lands.

“We heard Boxer’s wife screaming that her husband had been attacked by some worshippers and before we could get to the scene, he was lying unconscious.

“He was immediately rushed to the hospital but his wife identified one of the attackers still with a stone who was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police.

“The victim’s wife explained that he had purchased and built on the parcel of land even before the church came to lay claim over it,” a witness who preferred anonymity said.

The witness said that the matter had previously been reported to the traditional council during which the head pastor of the church, still at large, was invited.

Shade Of Life: Ebonyi People are myopic, they don’t behave like Igbos – IPOB

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The Indigenous People of Bifara, IPOB, has lampooned the people of Ebonyi State for spurning the sit-at-home order it passed.

The group had in a circular issued few days ago, asked Ndigbo nationwide to spend the day indoor in protest against the continuous detention of the leader of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The directive, however, witnessed non-compliance as normal activities and vehicular movements were unperturbed across Ebonyi State.

The Coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Ugochukwu Nweke while reacting to the development, described the people of Ebonyi as myopic and coward in the struggle for the actualization of Biafra.

“Ebonyi People are myopic but we the Indigenous People of Biafra are resolute, we cannot succumb to all manner of threats, intimidations and harassments by security agents and the Nigeria government.

“We are unstoppable and we cannot mind Ebonyi people who are not concerned on Biafra course, they have never behaved like Igbos”, he told Vanguard.

Checks around the state on Thursday show that public and civil servants were also seen on their duty posts while business activities boomed unhindered.

The presence of heavily armed policemen was seen in strategic locations including the popular Nkaliki where MASSOB office is located.

However, at Water Works and Ogoja roads, there were reports of teargas shot by security agents to disperse some groups suspected to be members of IPOB and MASSOB in the State.

Tension as EFCC Arrests Ebonyi State Governor Umahi’s Brother

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Austin Umahi, the brother to the current governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The man was arrested along with two others Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo over a N400m slush fund linked to the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to PM News, the suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, were arrested for refusing to honour invitations by the EFCC over an ongoing investigation of both companies.

While Austin Umahi doubles as chairman of both companies, Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo are also signatories to the companies’ accounts.

EFCC investigators alleged that the Director of Finance of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Nenadi Usman released N400m to the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP for the 2015 presidential election.

The said fund, the investigators said, was moved from Fidelity Bank Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, to an Access Bank, Abakaliki, account, where one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100, 000,000 and N300, 000,000 respectively into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.

One of the suspects, Chinyere Egwuche, subsequently withdrew the N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm, which according to her, was used to finance the construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100m paid into the account of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.

Although investigation is still ongoing, EFCC operatives said the companies to which the funds were transferred were traced to the Ebonyi State governor.

Mastermind Of Ebonyi Jail Break, Awaiting Trial Since 2007- Prisons Boss

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The mastermind of last Thursday’s attempted jailbreak at the Abakaliki Prisons in Ebonyi state has been at the facility since 2007 awaiting his trial.

Controller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service NPS, Ja’afaru Ahmed announced this in a statement issued Sunday morning in Abuja.

Prisons authorities did not immediately give further details about the ring-leader including his name, offences and whether he was among the inmates killed in the crossfire.

Built in 1946 with an installed capacity of 387 inmates, the Abakaliki Prisons had 920 inmates as at Thursday. Of the figure, “811 are awaiting trial prisoners leaving just 109 as convicted inmates.

The ring leader had in fact, spent about nine years awaiting trial,” he said.

Read More:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/mastermind-abakaliki-jail-break-awaiting-trial-since-2007-prisons-boss/

Police Foil Attempted Jail Break In Ebonyi State

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The Ebonyi State Police Command this morning, foiled an attempted jail break as Abakaliki prison inmates staged a riot inside the prison.

 

As at press time, Police had cordoned off all roads leading to the Abakaliki prisons. Gunshots could be heard intermittently as the police tried to recover a firearm allegedly taken from one of the prison officers. It was gathered that the inmates were protesting poor treatment especially inadequate feeding.

 

Unconfirmed reports said that some losses of lives had been recorded in the incident. Another source said some of the inmates capitalised on the riot to stage a jail break and had already succeeded in creating an opening on the wall before anti-riot policemen arrived and heavily tear gassed them into submission. The prison is located beside the police headquarters, leading to prompt intervention from the police.

 

Already the commander of military cantonment and the commissioner of police have visited the area and are directing the operations to restore sanity to the prison. The police spokesman, George Okafor, when contacted, said the command was still working hard to resolve the crisis. He, however, refused to confirm if anybody was dead or not.

 

“There was an attempted jail break and the prisons called in the police. We cordoned off the area and restored normalcy to the area. We will brief you later on the issue once everything has been sorted out”.

15 Feared Dead In Attempted Ebonyi Jailbreak

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About 15 inmates and one prison officer may have died following an attempted jailbreak at Abakaliki Federal Prison in Ebonyi State.

Governor David Umahi, however, has waded into the matter, promising to carry out rehabilitation of facilities at the prison.

He made this known, yesterday evening, when he visited the scene of the botched jailbreak. The State Comptroller, Mrs. Oputa Emilia, while confirming the incident, however, said three people sustained injuries, denying any deaths or plot by the prisoners to snatch guns from wardens.

Sources, nevertheless, insisted more than 15 persons including a prison officer were killed.

Trouble was said to have started in the morning when the prisoners revolted against what they said was poor treatment, especially inadequate feeding, by the prison’s authorities.

The inmates, who armed themselves with random objects at their disposal, attacked prison officers, injuring many. Two were reportedly hospitalised.

The wardens were said to have opened fire on the protesters, killing more than a dozen.

The situation was brought under control by men of the Nigeria Police Force and Army.

Umahi directed the state’s Director of Prisons, Adaobi Oputa, to compile cases and send them to him to enable him put heads together with the state’s Chief Judge, Aloy Nwankwo, to fast-track justice.

Read More:

http://guardian.ng/news/15-feared-dead-in-attempted-ebonyi-jailbreak/

Jail Break Attempt Foiled In Ebonyi As Inmates Riot

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Police in Ebonyi State on Thursday morning foiled a jailbreak attempt at the Abakiliki Prisons, where inmates rioted for hours.

Security sources said that at least two people died in the fracas. Source said two prison officials were killed by the inmates.

Police have cordoned off all roads leading to the facility.

Gunshots could be heard intermittently as police battle to recover a firearm allegedly seized from one of the prison officials, a witness said.

It was not immediately clear why the inmates revolted.

A security source said inmates made attempts at escaping after the riot started, and had already broken through a wall when anti-riot policemen arrived and tear gassed them into submission.

The prison is located beside the police headquarters, a proximity that enabled a rapid police response.

The military commander in the area, and state police commissioner have visited the area and were working to restore normalcy.

Police spokesperson, George Okafor, said the command was working hard to resolve the crisis.

He did not confirm if there were casualties.

Read More:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/208796-jail-break-attempt-foiled-ebonyi-inmates-riot.html

Ebonyi Wins 2016 Democracy School Debate

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It defeated Taraba and Police teams at the finals of the championship organised by the President’s School Debate Nigeria (PSDN) a non-governmental organisation from May 24 to May 28 in Abuja.

 

PSDN comprised private and public sector stakeholders. Dr Adaeze Nwauzor, Ebonyi Centenary Debate team leader, told NAN on Monday that Ebonyi would represent Nigeria in an international school debate competition in Indonesia. “By this feat, we have qualified to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming international school debate competition in Indonesia. “We were also presented with a trophy by Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the President, at a dinner party with the students. “My team won because of hard work coupled with their intelligence. We took time to select the best students in terms of debate for this competition. “We started by training the trainers – debate handlers – then we went round the 13 local government areas and selected the best speakers from each local government. “We went to three zones and selected the best speakers; then at the semi-grand finale, we selected the best speakers,’’ she said.

 

She commended, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, and his wife for their support and commitment to human development. Nwauzor, who is the Senior Special Adviser to Umahi on Higher Education, said that the governor’s support and passion for educational development of the state contributed to the team’s victory. She also thanked the organisers, especially, Dare Olotu, PSDN’s National Coordinator and all the members of the committee, for a well organised debate.

 

NAN recalls that Olotu had at the opening ceremony, said that the essence of the competition was to bring Nigerian students to debate on motions affecting the country. He said that wining team would have automatic qualification to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming international schools debate in Indonesia. Olotu said the topics of debate were: “This House Believes that the Agricultural Sector has Better Prospects for Nigeria’s Economic Growth. “This House Believes that Posting of National Youth Corps Members should be Limited to their Geo-political Zones.’’ No fewer than 13 teams drawn from Taraba, Imo, Niger, Ebonyi, Anambra, Kaduna, Oyo, Sokoto, Benue and FCT, participated in the competition.

Credit: Vanguard

Bird Flu Hits Ebonyi

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Ebonyi State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Orji Uchenna, has confirmed the detection of the first case of Avian Influenza (bird flu) infection in the state.

Disclosing this in Abakaliki, Uchenna said the virus was detected in a poultry farm at Ugwuachara area of the state capital, adding that the attention of his ministry was drawn to the development following death of birds.

He stated that officials of the state veterinary services took a sample to a research institute in Jos, where it was confirmed that the birds died from the H5NI strains of the Avian Influenza.

Mr. Uchenna directed the veterinary department of the ministry to isolate the farm and take inventory of all poultry and ancillary farms in the state, while sustaining enlightenment on the influenza.

Credit: Vanguard

No Boko Haram Inmates In Ebonyi- Gov. Umahi

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Gov. Dave Umahi, has dismissed media reports that Boko Haram members relocated from Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra State were transferred to Ebonyi State.

Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, yesterday disclosed how the governor made dramatic phone calls based on the re­ports only to find out that the news was false.

“We read with utter dis­gust, stories by two na­tional dailies that there was panic in Ebonyi State over rumoured transfer of some Boko Haram inmates from Ekwulobia Prisons in Anam­bra to Abakaliki Prisons.

“His Excellency, the Gov­ernor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, is surprised that al­most 48 hours after he ad­dressed a live press confer­ence denying the rumour, newspapers still went ahead to publish falsehood.”

Credit: SunOnline

Man To Marry Dead Woman In Ebonyi

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A family of a deceased woman have suspended her burial rites until her ‘husband’ who she was living with, performs her wedding rites.

The woman, Chinyere Mbam, died from the snake bite she sustained while returning from the wake-keep of her friend, Oge Ogashi.

She was taken to a traditional healing home in the area for treatment and thereafter back to the husband’s home where she died.

Her uncle, Ishiali Ikwe, confirmed her death.

But the deceased’s family have mandated her partner, Stephen Mbam, of  Enyi Igwe Village, Ezzainyimagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State to carry out her traditional marriage rites before she is buried.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Man Rapes Widow To Death

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A thirty four-year- old widow and mother of four children in Egwudunagu village, Amachi community, in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Ogodo Egede, has been allegedly raped to death by one Alex Nwabu, a forty-year-old man in the area.

Nwabu, who committed the act at the residence of the deceased in the night, was said to have been having constant affair with the widow, with a threat to kill her if she dares disclose it to anybody.

The poor widow, who depended on artisan work to cater for her children, was seen with bruises all over her motionless body following the incident.

A family source disclosed that when the suspect continued the act, the widow’s daughter, a 13-year-old girl, was forced by Nwabu to leave the house for threatening to expose him.

‘’The girl ran to her grandparents in the night because Nwabu threatened to kill her. She came to greet her mother in the morning only to see that she was dead and was covered with a wrapper.

‘’The girl went and informed the grandfather that her mother is dead. She had told the grandfather the action of Nwabu in the night’’, the source added.

Read More: dailytimes

Ebonyi State Governor Backs Buhari, Denies Dumping PDP

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The Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Dave Umahi, has thrown his weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s move to fight corruption, saying that is what the nation needs presently.

Governor Umahi stated this in an interview with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting he had with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also perceived that “without fighting corruption, Nigeria would never grow”.

Umahi visited the President to discuss the bad condition of some Federal Government roads in his state, especially roads that lead to the sites of some natural resources that investors had already expressed interest in.

He explained that investors would not be able to access the sites until the roads are fixed.

The Governor said, “Ebonyi State has solutions to the problems in the nation, in the area of agriculture, mineral resources like cement, lead, zinc, copper and coal. We also have a large deposit of salt.

“A lot of investors, when they heard of the patronage that the President intends to give to local production of these items, besieged Ebonyi State, because they want to invest in these areas.

“We have issues, the roads leading to these sites are federal roads and they are very difficult to access. So I came to ask Mr President for two things.

“One, some banks are willing to lend money to Ebonyi State to construct these roads and they want assurance from the Federal Government that when they lend us money to construct these roads, the Federal Government will reimburse them.

“Two, there are some people or companies that want to do Public-Private Partnership with the state government on the development of these roads and they want a guarantee from the Federal Government that they will allow them to put toll gates so as to get back their funds.”

Meanwhile, in reaction to claims that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor wants to defect to the APC, he said it was wrong to assume that he was planning to defect, adding that he was still very happy being a member of the PDP.

“That (I may be planning to dump PDP) is not correct. We have to understand what opposition is.

“When the President comes out to fight corruption, why should we oppose that? It is a very good job and that is what the nation needs.

“Without fighting corruption, there is no way this country can grow. So, we support the President because it is a very good policy.

“I support him personally because I am doing the same thing in Ebonyi State. I share the same character with him fighting corruption, and that does not amount to cross carpeting. I am still very happy being in PDP.”

Cholera Outbreak kills 8 In Ebonyi

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Eight persons have died as a result of fresh cholera outbreak in Ebonyi State.

Three of the deaths were recorded in Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.

Seventeen persons in the community were also hospitalized.

Five deaths were confirmed by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the state, Dr. Christian Achi in Ikwo community, Ikwo local government area of the state as a result of fresh outbreak of the disease in the area.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Francis Onwe and other officials of the state Ministry of Health were forced to visit the affected areas following the outbreak and distributed drugs.

A stakeholder of Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Chief Austin Igwe Edeze whose younger brother was among those that died following the outbreak said people who attended burial of a resident of the area came back and started vomiting and defecating uncontrollably.

He said:‘’Nobody suspected that cholera was responsible for the frequent vomiting and defecation by the people that attended the burial ceremony.

‘’ So before we could notice it is cholera, was down; vomiting and stooling and we took him to the hospital and he died early in the morning.

‘’We raised alarm to the Ministry of Health and the officials advised that we should quickly bury him to avoid the disease spreading to other people around which we obeyed and bury him immediately.

‘’The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry sent a team who visited us for enlightenment on the prevention of the disease and donated some drugs after the lecture’’ he added.

The state Epidemiologist Dr. Francis Onwe said the state health officials were contacted by Chief Austin Igwe Edeze whose younger brother was among those that died as a result of the epidemic.

He advised the residents to ensure personal and environmental hygiene to avoid contracting the disease.

Onwe further advised them to ensure they bury any victim immediately such person dies to avoid spreading the epidemic.

He also warned them to desist from drinking stream and contaminated water which he explained are sources of contracting the disease..

Enugu Govt Wants FG To Settle Disputed Border With Ebonyi

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The Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, has called on the National Boundary Commission to intervene in a boundary dispute between the state and Ebonyi.

The deputy governor made the call in Enugu on Wednesday when she received her counterpart from Ebonyi, Dr Kelechi Igwe.

She said the two neighbouring states had maintained a robust relationship and efforts should be made to sustain it.

The deputy governor appealed to the residents of the disputing communities to sheathe their swords and allow the relevant government agencies to settle the matter in the interest of peace.

Ezeilo commended the Ebonyi deputy governor for initiating the peaceful consultation, adding that the state government would do everything to bring the tussle to an amicable end.

Earlier, Igwe said that he was in Enugu to work out a lasting solution to the impasse between Ihenta in Akaeze, Ebonyi and Okpanku in Aninri, Enugu before it degenerated.

He said that it had become imperative to get the affected communities to respect protocols established in respect of the boundary pending a final resolution.

The deputy governor said that the two states needed to work out a lasting solution by mapping out a permanent boundary in the designated areas.

“We have to do everything within the law to protect the lives and property of our people,” he said.

Igwe solicited the cooperation of the residents of the concerned communities in finding a lasting solution to the problem.

French Tourist killed, Wife Molested In Ebonyi State

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A French couple, Nagnan Denis, 52, and his wife, Nagnan Mee Lavaud Liana, 53, were attacked by unknown hoodlums at a place where they set up a tent in Abomege axis of Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State on Monday June 1st. The man was killed while the woman was molested.

Ebonyi state Commissioner of Police, Maigari Dikko while speaking on the incident, said the victims were tourists who traveled through several countries to get to Nigeria and had traveled through many states and were heading to Calabar, Cross Rivers state when they made a brief stopover in Ebonyi state.

“We got the report yesterday from the DPO of Onicha council about the French nationals, a couple; they were tourists who left their country in December 2014 and arrived Nigeria through Badagry on May 3. They passed through Abeokuta, Benin, Onitsha, Enugu to Ebonyi with their vehicle; they were passing through Ebonyi to Calabar, when the incident happened. They arrived Abomega in the night. According to the widow, her husband had complained that he was tired and since it was late, they decided to pass the night there. They did not report their presence to any law enforcement agents around, but decided to look for a place that has natural shelter and so they went two kilometres off the road to pass the night. They found a quarry site and decided to camp there. According to the wife, when they were at the location, a motorcyclist and another man asked them who they were. Unless investigation proves otherwise, we are thinking that the motorcyclist was the informant to the hoodlums because an hour after he left, three people came into the camp. By then, they had already erected their tent atop the vehicle.”

The commissioner said 1,150 Euros and N13,000 was stolen from the couple during the attack. He also said 32 suspects have been arrested and are being interrogated at the state police headquarters. The French Embassy in Nigeria has been notified and their are plans to fly the victims body to France for burial.

A Glimpse Of Hope For Our Democracy By Ewah Otu Eleri

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It was about 6.30PM Saturday evening on the Election Day. The rain was merciless. It was as if the women were boiling in the heavy downpour. Young girls, old women – just everybody was dancing in a frenzy as I drove up the path to the Enohia village square on my way to see a cousin.
The women in wild jubilation were singing “Maria, Maria, Maria is our leader – in death or in life, Maria remains our leader”. Enohia, a small village in Afikpo North Local Government Area was only one of several villages I drove through on my way from my polling station in Amachara village, my ancestral home. Everywhere I drove through, people in beer parlours, village squares, including rival political camps were celebrating the victory of Maria.
Maria Ude Nwachi stood for election into the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. She had gone to the dominant PDP for a ticket but was turned down. The party had zoned the seat to another ward in the LGA. It was not the turn of her village. She went to the Governor Martin Elechi sponsored Labour Party, but again the seat was not vacant. A candidate that supports the Governor in the fight to impeach him by a faction of the State House of Assembly was currently occupying the seat. The party cannot afford to take chances. The show of shame between Governor Elechi and his estranged deputy was more important.
Maria went to the PPA – a party with no known presence in Ebonyi State. The party was only happy to splash its ticket on any lonely soul. And of course, the political establishment laughed at Maria’s chances. My friends, several of them “chieftains” of the national ruling party told me how everything was “under control” and how impossible her victory was. But not the Afikpo people.
At the end of the Election Day, Maria scored 7,730 votes; and all other candidates for the seat, including PDP and Labour Party combined could not match this figure. In my own polling vote, she scored 273 of all the 330 votes. Both the federal government supported PDP and the state government bank-rolled Labour Party was trailing far behind. One thing was curious. In my polling station, Maria’s PPA also “won” the governorship election, scoring 173 votes with both Labour and PDP even at 53 votes each. Mark you, Maria was not standing for the governorship election.
In fact I asked one of the women leaders in my village why they voted for Maria’s party even though she was not standing for the Governorship election. She apologised and told me the older women had asked “Why not? Maria should be both Governor and House of Assembly member. Do Governors have seven heads? She should also become governor”, they insisted.
How did Maria get here?
For over four months in 2014, the two Local Governments of Afikpo North and Afikpo South had had no electricity supply. Part of the 33kva line leading to the two LGAs had been destroyed. As December approached, and the well-known Igbo Exodus to the village began to set in, Maria told friends that she can’t stand our people returning home to a dark Christmas. She approached the Enugu Distribution Company and asked for an assessment of the cost of restoring power to Afikpo. Out of her own pocket, the young lady paid nearly two million Naira to bring light to her people. That’s how we had power during the last Christmas. So today, if electricity comes on in Afikpo, an entire people, especially children erupt in the chorus, “Maria aa!”
As Maria was talked into running for office, frustration began to slowly brew within the Afikpo political establishment. Normally, people who represent us are never really seen by the people. Their proxies share rice, cups of salt and some money before elections. After the election, all you hear about them is how rich they have become; how much contract money meant for our development is flowing through their bank accounts; and how many people they have shot dead; or how many, including their friends who have fallen from grace have been beaten up by their boys.
One narrative is that Maria saw a political opportunity by paying to restore power to Afikpo last year. But that’s wrong. I met Maria for the first time in 1999 at a party in her apartment in an up market neighbourhood in Manhattan, New York. It was spectacular. Nearly everybody in the party was from Afikpo. Most of them had been sent a ticket; and those that paid their way got reimbursement after the party.
Maria is crazy about Afikpo people. When she returned from the US, she settled at home and built the Maria Island Resort – part her own home, part event centre and guest houses. She established businesses for young people. At some point about ten years ago, she distributed 12 cars to young boys in one day. My sister had her restaurant completely made over with a new generator and refrigerators. My sister was not alone. Several others had businesses established for them. She never asked them to pay back. She paid hospital bills for people she never even met, trained kids in school and cleared farm roads long before she ever thought of running for office.
Over a drink the day after, I and some friends pondered over some of the lessons of the Maria-mania in Afikpo. Why are the people crazy about her; why is the political establishment jittery about her; can she maintain the momentum of public support; and what are the implications for good governance in our local government?
Perhaps there is something fundamentally shifting in Nigerian politics that goes beyond the APC change narrative. One is the opening of the democratic space. Votes are beginning to count. Village people are beginning to exercise the right to choose their own leaders. Secondly, there is an incontrovertible evidence that we have a surging middle class. As I watched in my polling station, there were fewer old people asking for help to identify the party of their choice. Most identified Maria’s party symbol without help. It is a new day. The election of 2019 is bound to see more Marias. There is a glimpse of hope.

Ewah Otu Eleri, Abuja

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent the views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Heavy Shooting Scares Voters Away In Ebonyi

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The governorship and State House of Assembly election in Ebonyi State has witnessed a low turnout of voters as hundreds of eligible voters did not come out to vote following heavy shooting witnessed in some parts of the state early this morning.

The heavy shooting which was witnessed within the Abakaliki metropolis, parts of Izzi, Ikwo, Ezza North, Ohaozara, Onicha caused panic in the state.

Some of the residents who spoke to LEADERSHIP  in Abakaliki said that in the early hours of today, there was heavy shooting within the town and most of the electorate are afraid to come out to vote for fear of being attacked by political thugs of the major political parties in the state.

At about 8. 30am when our correspondent visited station Urban Secondary School Abakaliki, Ebonyi local government area of the state, out of 989 registered voters, only 15 persons were on the queue for accreditation.

At Community Primary School Echi-Alike, polling booth 007 in Ikwo local government area, at about 09. 10am, out of 894 registered voters, only 90 persons came out for accreditation.

Meanwhile, there is heavy presence of security personnel deployed to the suspected trouble areas in the state.

Two Killed As PDP, LP Supporters Clash In Ebonyi

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Two people were killed on Wednesday when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) clashed in Ebonyi State. The incident happened in Amagu Ikwo community, Ikwo Local Government Area, the home town of Governor Martin Elechi.

Several other people were also injured in the clash. It took the intervention of security agencies before the situation was brought under control.

Read More: Naij

Ebonyi Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike

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Ebonyi State workers have embarked on an indefinite strike with effect from today to press home their demand for payment of September 2011 salaries withheld by the government and the implementation of 2011 minimum wage.

The Chairman of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) in the state, Ikechukwu Nwafor, said the union had earlier on December 23, 2014 given the state government 21-day ultimatum after which it embarked on another three-day warning strike on January 21, 2015 to meet their demands but to no avail.

He said: “Following Ebonyi State Government’s unwillingness to meet with the demands of the organized labour with respect to implementation of the submitted report of the committee that revisited the table of the Ebonyi state Civil/Public Salary Structure and September 2011 withheld salaries, the organized labour in Ebonyi State hereby declares an indefinite strike effective from Tuesday, March 10, 2015.”

Read More: SunNewsOnline

Rented Crowd Attacks PDP Chieftain Over Presidential Rally Mobilization Funds

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A notable chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State (names withheld) narrowly escaped being lynched last Friday.

Reporters gathered that no fewer than 500 irate persons who were hired to add to the crowd at the party’s presidential campaign rally in the state besieged him over non-payment of their entitlements.

Trouble started when the politician could not settle the young men after they had reportedly delivered at the rally which witnessed a mammoth crowd of party supporters who came to cheer the party’s presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and other party leaders that came to the state for the rally.

It took the quick intervention of some policemen at the Abakaliki Township stadium for the politician to be freed from the hands of the hired young men and women.

DAILY POST gathered that he, however, wrote an undertaking to settle them before Thursday next week when the money he was expecting would have arrived.

One of the youth leaders, Igwe Nwafor told newsmen that the politician in question had promised to settle them immediate after the rally having only given them a mobilisation money which was used to convey them from different local government areas to the stadium.

“We are, therefore, surprised that after the rally, he started telling stories. He’s lucky some policemen came to rescue him, otherwise, our plan is to also confiscate his cars until he pays the money.

“We are however releasing him based on the undertaking that he will pay the money not later than Thursday next week. If he fails, then he will see our bad side,” Nwafor noted.

Source – Daily Post Ng

Rich Kids, Poor Kids: States And The Pot Called Federal Allocation – Ogunyemi Bukola

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Yesterday budget and public data analysis platform BudgIT shared how much in total each state in Nigeria received as Federal Allocation in 2013. The list was divided into two. The top ten earner states:

Top 10 States

And the bottom ten:

Bottom 10 States

So this morning I decided to dance around the data a bit and see if numbers could talk. Here’s what numbers said:

My analysis is centred on the Top Four, and Top Six, states (the rich kids), and the Bottom Four, and Bottom Six, states (the poor kids). Figures are approximates.

The Top Four states (Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa) received a total of N928.2 billion in Federation Allocations in 2013. This is 5 times the total allocation of the Bottom Four (Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi) who received N176.6 billion.

The Top Six states (Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos and Kano) received a total of N1.1 trillion in Federal Allocations in 2013. This is 4 times the total allocation of the Bottom Six (Kwara, Gombe, Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi) who received N272.4 billion.

Bayelsa’s N182.5 billion is more than the combined allocation of Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi (bottom four) – N176.6 billion. The N237.8 billion Rivers got is more than the combined allocation of Gombe, Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi (bottom five) – N223.1 billion. While top earner Akwa Ibom got N293.5 billion in 2013, the bottom six of Kwara, Gombe, Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi got N272.4 billion combined.

 

It gets even better.

Akwa Ibom got 7 times the total allocation of Ebonyi. This means Akwa Ibom got in one year what Ebonyi will get in 7 years if rates are fixed. Rich Kid Bayelsa got 4 times the allocation of Poor Kid Osun.

Numbers wouldnt stop talking so I went online to get the population data of the Rick Kids, and the Poor Kids. Here’s what I found:

Top 6

What did numbers say?

The Top Four earner states have a combined population of 17.5 million (2011 projection figures), add Lagos and Kano to that and the population more than doubles, to 39.3 million. Divide the total allocation received by population and you realize the Top Four got about N53,ooo per citizen. This figure comes down to N28,000 per citizen when Lagos and Kano are considered.

Let’s see what the poor folks are up to:

Bottom 6Bottom Four total population is about 11.5 million, this goes up to 17 million when Gombe and Kwara states enter the fray. N15,000 per citizen is what you get when total allocation of bottom four states is divided by the total population, this goes up to N16,000 per citizen when all six states are considered.

For individual states, Akwa Ibom: N64,000 per citizen is what Akwa Ibom got, Bayelsa is N93,000 per citizen, more than 5 times the N17,000 per citizen for Ebonyi.

A quick look at the map of Nigeria shows that Top Four states are from the oil-rich South-South region. That is not surprising. What is surprising is that only one state from the North, Nassawara (North-Central), is in the Bottom Four, with two from South-West (Osun and Ekiti) and one from South-East.

Numbers started speaking French when I compared the data with primary school enrollment figures, state GDP, WAEC pass rates, health reports etc.

Instead of having all 36 come to him every month, one wearing Louboutins, the other rubber slippers, to give one money for private jet back home and the other just enough to board a train, why cant Big Daddy just let the mothers of these kids take care of them?

 

Ogunyemi Bukola (@zebbook) writes from Lagos. www.zebbook.com