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Ikpeazu frowns at activities of street traders in Aba, warns them to steer clear

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The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has noted with great dismay what he called the unwholesome activities of emergency street traders around the area between Oomne Road Junction through Ngwa High School up to Osisioma Junction.

In a release signed by the chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, the activities of these street traders are negatively affecting the ongoing reconstruction work on that end of Aba Owerri Road.

According to him, these traders mindlessly place tables and chairs on recently laid asphalt that is yet to solidify, thereby creating crevices on the ongoing project and disrupting the smooth laying of asphalt. In addition, they pour all sorts of liquids ranging from palm oil, engine oil, kerosene and even petrol on the site. These liquids affect the settling of the asphalt layers.

“Government can no longer watch while these mindless activities go on.

“Consequently, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD has ordered an end to all forms of street trading around that area, effective immediately.

“The Governor hereby orders the Honorable Commissioner for Environment to immediately constitute a crack Task Force to ensure the strictest compliance with this directive. This task force is expected to commence work tomorrow morning, Monday, 9th December, 2019” he said.

He directed the Head of Service, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Abayi Division and the Head of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osisioma to work with the Task Force to arrest any person who chooses to flout this directive. Any goods or items of trade found around that area shall immediately be confiscated and such trader prosecuted.

“Government hereby warns these street traders to steer clear from that area in their own interest. There has never been a market there and there will never be.

“Government is investing lots of money in that project and will not tolerate any action that will impact negatively on it.”.

[OPINION] POOR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN ABIA STATE, BY NWAGBOGU AMARA

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Education in Abia state, especially in the public sector is in a state of dysfunction. The students are disillusioned with public education. Their teachers are frustrated in the face of poor motivation and Lack of good facilities.

What is clear is that successive governments have paid lip service to revamp a sector bedevilled by low budgetary allocations, poor incentives for teachers and it is for those reasons and more that the states educational system is in a mess.

Education infrastructure needs to be revamped, especially at the primary level. School graduates often find it difficult getting jobs that match their education, the younger generation frequently sees little practical value in staying in school beyond a few primary grades.

For how long will this continue, nobody knows.

We should appreciate all those who have contributed selflessly over these past 59 years to the promotion of Education. This is the time to remember people such as Prof. S.O Awokoya, the architect of the first free primary education programme in Nigeria. Alvan ikoku who was among the first set of Nigerians to build privately funded secondary schools and all those who built regional universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, secondary and primary schools, the teachers who toiled over the years to advertise, globally, the innate qualities and talents available in the country.

Education experts say, it is difficult not to agree with them.

NWAGBOGU AMARA GODGIVE writes from Umuahia

DSS Doesn’t Need Buhari’s Permission To Arrest Sowore – Presidency

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The Presidency has said that the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, planned to cause trouble in the country and disappear like the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The Presidency said this in reaction to the insinuations in the media about the rearrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) of Sowore.

Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Spokesman, the Presidency noted that, “The DSS does not necessarily need the permission of the Presidency in all cases to carry out its essential responsibilities that are laid down in the Nigerian Constitution – which was the foundation for the restoration of democracy in our country in 1999.

“However, it should not surprise anyone who has followed his actions and words that Sowore is a person of interest to the DSS.

“Sowore called for a revolution to overthrow the democratically elected government of Nigeria.

“He did so on television, and from a privileged position as the owner of a widely read digital newspaper run from the United States of America.

“He founded an organisation, Revolution Now, to launch, in their own words, ‘Days of Rage’, with the publicised purpose of fomenting mass civil unrest and the elected administration’s overthrow.

No government will allow anybody to openly call for destabilization in the country and do nothing.

“Mr. Sowore is no ordinary citizen expressing his views freely on social media and the internet.

We Tracked 387 Hate Speech On Social Media In November – CITAD

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Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has said it tracked a total of 387 Hate speech on Facebook and Twitter handles in Nigeria in November.

This was made known to the public by Hamza Ibrahim, CITAD Coordinator, Countering Hate Speech Project, at a Post-Gubernatorial Election Press briefing organised by the Centre and supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Thursday in Lokoja.

Ibrahim said, “Our analysis established that the speech instances occur in textual, video, pictorial and symbolic forms and 32 per cent of the offending species were ethnic-based while 26 per cent were election-related,” he said.

According to Ibrahim, ethnic-based and election-based, dominated the list, beating religion-based hate speech which used to top the list in the last two months.

He said, “We want to specifically draw the attention of the entire people of Kogi to the dangers and consequences of hate speech and therefore urge that they neither engage in or accommodate hate speech on social media platforms or at community gatherings.”

Better Days Are Ahead, Gov. Ikpeazu Tells Abians

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Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has assured Abians that better days are ahead despite the challenges confronting the State.

He gave the assurance while speaking at the Bible Believing Mission, aka Talk Na Do, Osisioma.

Dr Ikpeazu admitted that the task of State building is not easy but stated that his administration was building a foundation that would last.

He disclosed that because of the constant menace of flooding over the years, he cannot build a road in Aba without drainages and expressed confidence that he will succeed as his policies and programmes are centred around the people, stating that he is not taking the opportunity he has for granted.

The Governor then appealed to the church to pray for his administration to succeed “because I am aware that ‘Unless the Lord builds a city, they labour in vain who build it'”.

In his sermon, the presiding minister who is also the minister-in-charge of the Bible Believing Mission, Pastor Innocent Kingsley, pointed out that Abia is working and urged Abians to pray that God will continue to use the Governor, Dr Ikpeazu, to make the State better.

According to him, the coming of Jesus into the world was to fulfill God’s design to redeem the world. He therefore admonished Abians to keep faith with God.

Policeman Shoots Graduate Who Just Returned From India Dead In Kano (Photos)

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I A graduate of computer science from India was reportedly shot and killed in cold blood by a police officer in Kano over a minor misunderstanding.

According to report, the deceased just returned to Nigeria from India.

Traffic Light Offenders To Pay N50,000 From 2020 – FRSC

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According to Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, “You can’t hold the phone with one hand and drive with the other while using google map. That is distracted driving and the law is clear on that. When you stop people for traffic violations, their lawyers would write to you and threaten to sue.

“FRSC has 120 lawyers and I would recruit more next year; The level of violent reactions in this country is alarming.”

“We have noticed the rising incidents of traffic light violations and so, we are going to increase the minimum fine to N50,000 from N4,000. Offenders would also undergo an emotional psychological test at the hospital to determine if you are fit to drive.”

Oyeyemi, condemned in strong term a situation where people would veer their anger on officers of the FRSC and personnel of other paramilitary agencies and violently attacked them.

BUHARI SALUTES ANTHONY JOSHUA ON COMEBACK VICTORY

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President Muhammadu Buhari thumbs up World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, for regaining his belts Saturday night in a rematch with Mexican, Andy Ruiz Jnr.

The President rejoices with Joshua, saluting him for bringing joy to millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, who had rooted for him to regain the titles he lost about six months ago.

“The downfall of a man is truly not the end of his life. There’s always another, and better day. This is a lesson we must all learn from you as a country,” President Buhari tells the comeback world champion.

He wishes Anthony Joshua well as he seeks to bring more glory to Nigeria, and to the boxing profession.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
December 8, 2019

Kogi PDP woman leader burnt to death, buried amid tears

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The charred remains of Mrs. Salome Abuh, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) woman leader, who was burnt alive at Ochadamu, Kogi State, on Nov. 18, have been committed to mother earth.

Abuh was laid to rest amid tears and wailings by relations, friends and associates on Saturday at her village, Aji-Obala, Ofu Local Government Area.

The Officiating Minister, Rev. John Adino of the United Evangelical Church, Idah, in his sermon, called on Christians to give their lives to Christ before it is too late.

Local rice sells for N16,000 in Enugu as price of imported variant soars
He said that death could come at any time, saying that anybody could die under any circumstances.

”It is always good for people to die in the course of the Lord,” he said.

While reading from the book of Revelation, chapter 14 verse 13, Adino said that all human beings would face the ultimate judgment of the Almighty God.

“Whether human beings like it or not, judgement day is awaiting every mortal.

“No lawyer will defend or stand for any one except the good things people did while on earth,” he stated.

The cleric lamented that public office holders in the country had lost focus and failed woefully in providing basic amenities for the people
He charged political leaders to always remember that they would account for their deeds and misdeeds before God.

Abuh was burnt alive in her house at Ochadamu Kogi State on Nov. 18, shortly after the announcement of the results of the governorship election held in the state on Nov.16.

The state police command has said that six suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The husband of the deceased, Elder Simeon Abuh, in a tribute, said that his late wife had paid the supreme price for the unity of Igalaland.

He described her as “a martyr, whose political sagacity will remain fresh in the mind of her associates”.

Abuh called on the police and the Federal Government to ensure that the killers of his wife were made to face justice.

The candidate of the PDP in the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi State, Mr Musa Wada, said that the late Mrs. Salome Abuh died for Kogi and Igala nation as a while.

Wada promised to keep her memory alive by maintaining focus on plans to liberate the people of the state from the hands of oppressors.

He said that no amount of intimidation and harassment could stop him from reclaiming the stolen mandate freely given to him on Nov. 16.

“I am not going to relent a little bit; I will pursue this gruesome and senseless killing of Mrs. Abuh to its logical conclusion.

“Whenever I think of the circumstances of her death, I wonder who will ever wish that for his enemy, but the unfortunate thing is that the killing was perpetrated by the children of Igala nation, who joined hands with the oppressors to kill members of the opposition parties.

“Regardless of their intimidation and oppression, we will reclaim our stolen mandate because they are just keeping it temporarily,” he said.

Mrs. Margaret Omoniyi, the State PDP Woman Leader, described the late Salome Abuh as a lively person, and a committed and versatile politician.

She urged the children of the deceased to follow her footsteps by upholding her good legacies.

Also speaking, the only son of the deceased, Mr David Abuh, described his mother as a lover of people, who had invested much in assisting the needy in the society.

He called on the Federal Government to ensure that justice is done over the killing of his mother.

(NAN)

We won’t declare Orji Kalu’s seat vacant, says Senate

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The Senate on Friday ruled out the possibility of declaring his seat vacant, the seat of its Chief Whip, Senator Orji Kalu, following his conviction by a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday.

Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment over a N7.1bn fraud charges against him since 2007 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, 12 years after the EFCC filed the suit against him.

Kalu was convicted alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Jones Udeogu, who served under him as the director of finance and account at the Abia State Government House in Umuahia.

Reacting to the calls on the leadership of the Senate to declare his seat vacant, the Spokesperson for the red chamber, Senator Godiya Akwashiki, said it was not possible.

He said such a request would only be considered after the embattled senator had explored all the legal options available to him without success.

Akwashiki argued that the constitution of Nigeria does not mandate the Senate President to unilaterally declare the seat of any senator facing prosecution or convicted by a lower court, vacant.

He said, “The Senate has no reason to declare his seat vacant. This is not the first time that such a thing would happen.

“There is no provision in the constitution that says the seat of any senator facing prosecution or convicted at a lower court should be declared vacant.

“He still has the opportunity to appeal the case.

“Even the tenure of a former governor Joshua Dariye, who has been in prison for some time now, ran its course until the end of the 8th National Assembly. Nobody declared his seat vacant.

“The Senate President cannot declare the seat of Kalu vacant. It is against the law.

“Tell those who are canvassing such things that there is nothing like that, it is a non-issue,” the Senate spokesperson added.

He therefore directed our correspondent to liaise with the management of the federal parliament for its decision on the issue.
Attempts to speak with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani- Omolori, through the Director of Information, Mr. Rawlings Agada, failed on Friday.

Repeated calls made to his mobile phone did not connect while he had yet to reply the text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

©Punch

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