Monthly Archives: January 2013

Enugu state Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime flanked by some members of the Governor's forum, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state (l) and their Rivers state counterpart, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi in London on Tuesday.

The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East region, has rated Governors Rochas Okorocha, Peter Obi and Sullivan Chime high in infrastructure and human capital development.

This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by CD in Onitsha , Anambra on Tuesday.

The statement was signed by Mr Uzor Uzor and Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, chairman and secretary of the group respectively.

The statement said within two years of Gov. Okorocha administration he had tarred close to 500 kilometres of roads, most of which were in the rural areas of the three senatorial zones of the state.

``Apart from road, the Okorocha's administration had erected monumental buildings and also erected a central gate-way in each of the senatorial districts of Imo.

``As well as the current building of the ultra-modern general hospitals in the 27 council areas of the state and running a functional free education system from the primary school level to tertiary institution in the state.

``However, apart from the recent N500 million given to security agencies as a motivational measure; the governor had not done so well in terms of security.

``Imo is still fraught with a lot of criminality and making the state unfavourable for investors,’’ it said.

CD said Anambra scored second in ranking in the zone; adding that Gov. Obi had tarred over 500 kilometres of roads within his six years in office.

``Obi renovated and revitalised secretariat complexes of 21 council areas of the state; built new civil servants’ secretariat headquarters, new teaching hospital, ultra-modern electronic library and built two stadia in Onitsha .

``Constructed over 50 bridges across communities in Anambra especially those at the grassroots; gave security agencies over 400 operational and equipped vehicles; and paid salaries, pension and entitlement of its workers promptly.

”But Obi had failed to provide water for the teeming population in Onitsha and its environs; non conduct of local council elections.

``No investment in job creation, which had led to high incidences of commercial motorcycle riding as well as high crime rate,’’ it said.

The statement also noted that Enugu State Government was another administration that had shown commitment to the development of its people.

``Gov. Chime embarked on massive development of urban areas and through this uplifted the status of Enugu from a colonial city to a modern mega city with first class amenities.

``The governor had also conducted local council election, which had eluded other states and restored grassroots political participation and economic development.

``However, chime had failed to provide social amenities to rural dwellers in the state, especially at the boundary communities between the state and its neighbouring states,’’ the release added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has not been served with the court order on the removal of Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the National Secretary of PDP. Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, said in Ab...

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) said it would confer Citizens Responsibility Recognition (CRR) award on Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi for declining to be flown abroad for medical treatment.

The Director-General of the agency, Mr Mike Omeri, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday in a statement.

Omeri said that the award was sequel to the governor’s refusal to be treated abroad following his involvement in a car crash.

He said that this was in line with the agency's campaign to encourage Nigerians to patronise the country’s local health facilities.

Omeri called on all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of receiving treatments locally, and said that Wada’s action was a vote of confidence on the capability of the country’s medical sector.

The director-genaral said that the governor’s action was, therefore, worthy of emulation by Nigerians.

In a letter to Wada, Omeri said, ``We are delighted by your action, which will encourage more Nigerians to patronise our local health facilities.''

The NOA boss asked all Nigerians to pray for the governor’s quick recovery after his surgery.

He, however, condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate accident.

NAN recalls that Wada was involved in a car crash on Dec. 30, 2012 while returning to Lokoja from Ayangba and was still being treated at a private hospital in Abuja.

NOA has been consistent in recognsing what it describes as the nationalistic disposition of citizens by presenting them with its “Citizens Responsibility Recognition Award” with a token sum of N30,000.

Former Governor of Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has described the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria as God’s plan for the country to develop into a world power.

Ezeife told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that Nigeria was endowed with human and natural resources capable of making it a rallying point for other countries.

He said, ``The colonial masters were only implementing the desires of God. God wants us to be together,’’ the former governor said, referring to the 1914 unification of the two protectorates by the British colonialist to form Nigeria.

The former governor also said, ``Black men need a rallying point and a big brother.

``They need someone to develop into a super power to raise the prestige and respect of black people anywhere they are, and that is the role of Nigeria.

``That is Nigeria’s destiny which we are running away from.’’

He called on Nigerians to harness their potentials towards developing the country, adding that the clamour for the country to divide would not be in the interest of peace and harmony.

``We have competed with whites in several ways and we have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nigeria is richly blessed, but how do we show the world what we are made of if we keep developing backward.

``There is the need for us to harness our potentials so that the country can compete favourably with other countries of the world,’’ he said.

The former governor called on politicians to emulate the American election to enhance development.

He described Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s acceptance of defeat in the U.S. Presidential election as a wakeup call for Nigerian politicians to avoid unnecessary bickering in the interest of the country.

``We should give peace a chance in Nigeria.

``There were lots of problem between Romney and Obama but they had to tolerate each other.

``At the end it was what they could do for America that mattered,'' he said. (NAN)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, on Tuesday stressed the need for training on global best practices for officials at the nation’s port of entry. Ashiru said this at a two-day workshop on ``Global Best Practices’’ ...

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, in Abuja on Tuesday called for the inclusion of water experts in the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geosciences (COMEG).

Ochekpe made the call at the ``Stakeholders forum on Mapping Fresh Water Aquifers of Coastal Nigeria”, organised by COMEG.

She expressed concern on the non-recognition of the water sector in geosciences, which she described as worrisome.

The forum was organised to present the report on salt water intrusion study in coastal areas of the country and discuss ways to tackle it.

``I have been informed that the water sector is not represented in the membership of COMEG because of its merger with the agriculture in the past.

``The non-recognition and inclusion of a major sector like water in geosciences is, therefore, worrisome to me.

``May I appeal to the chairman of the council and its members to kindly review the situation and grant water the deserved recognition and inclusion on the council.

Ochekpe, who said the challenges in meeting the country’s water needs was multi-faceted and daunting, however, praised COMEG and its registered members for their efforts in solving some of the problems.

She expressed regrets about the intrusion of salt water in fresh water, particularly in the coastal areas of the country, pointing out that this was one of the major challenges facing the country's water sector.

The FCT Independent National Electoral Commission has said that preparation is on top gear for the area council elections scheduled for March 16.

Mr Okezie Nwankwo, Head, Department, Public Affairs, Political Party Monitoring and Liaison of the commission, dropped the hint in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said, ``We have started holding meetings with various stakeholders; we have held inter-agency consultative committee meeting on election securities which the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner co-chaired with the police commissioner.

``The meeting was also held with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety, Immigration, the State Security Service and other relevant security agencies .

``We are also training and re-training staff of the commission, there will be workshops on voter education in all the six area councils of the FCT, which will include the electoral officers.

``The workshop will also involve Assistant Electoral Officers and officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).''

Nwankwo said the aim of the meeting was to ensure security of the electoral process and avoid violence during election.

He said that the commission would hold meetings with the traditional institutions at the grass-roots level on the rudiments of elections. (NAN)

The Police on Tuesday arraigned one Nnamdi Ezeh before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly seizing one Austine Ochoga’s school certificate for a four million naira ransom. Ezeh of no fixed address, is therefore, standing trail for joi...