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I Won’t Disappoint Your Expectations, Uzodimma Tells Owerri Leaders

By
The Source
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Governor Hope Uzodinma has expressed  delight over the cordial relationship existing between the leaders of the autonomous communities in Owerri, saying their desire to come together in the interest of their area will make his work easy for him.

He  also assured them that he will not disappoint their expectations as far as  implementation of the Charter of Equity is concerned. “I will enforce it. I won’t disappoint your expectations,” the Governor said.

He spoke on Sunday when he met with leaders from Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli local government areas of the State at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Council Chamber and at Agbala respectively.

The leaders from Owerri North, Owerri North, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli were led to the meeting, among others by APC chieftains – Chief Charles Amadi, Chief Henry Amadi and Dr. Macdonald Ebere – who brought some of their leaders, hitherto core opponents of the APC, to plead loyalty to Governor Hope Uzodimma.

They confessed that the leaders they brought to meet with the Governor were the greatest opponents the APC used to have in their areas, and as new converts, the coast is now clear for the Party and Governor Uzodimma to sweep the votes in their place.

Part of the reasons they said the leaders have resolved to join the APC and work for the Governor’s reelection on November 11 is because of the Charter of Equity whose implementation will favour Owerri zone after the Governor’s second term.

At the Central School Agbala field where Nzuko Owerre General Assembly made up of 47 autonomous communities in the Owerri Federal Constituency of Owerri North, Owerri West and Owerri Municipal came together to support and endorse the Governor for a second term in office.

They also unanimously upheld the Imo Charter of Equity as the best way for Owerri zone to produce the next Governor of Imo State by 2027.

In an address read by the National President of Nzuko Owerri, Hon. Dan Ikpeazu, they commended the elders of Imo State for drafting the Charter of Equity, saying “it is a solution to the rancour and bickering that have attended to the leadership and power transition in the State over time.”

Ikpeazu said the meeting is non political and that all the communities are united in making the Charter of Equity a success and “to leverage on the opportunity offered by the Charter of Equity to position Owerri Federal Constituency for legitimate claim to power any time soon.”

They noted that Governor Uzodimma has good intentions for Owerri Federal Constituency considering the number of infrastructure the area has benefitted from since his assumption of office.

They used the opportunity to call on their sons and daughters to come out en mass on November 11, 2023 and ensure that Governor Uzodimma is voted maximally in their respective polling unit.

They noted that they cannot achieve their developmental goals if they continue to appear hostile to any administration.

Governor Uzodimma commended them for uniting “to see the light” and “joining in the positive move to peaceful transition of power in the State from one zone to the other.”

He said that “politics is about reciprocity” and that “the activities of Owerri Federal Constituency in the recent days are in tandem with the foremost document of Imo Charter of Equity which is the only way of getting power peacefully anywhere in the world.”

The Governor said power is got via diplomatic engagement and not by confrontation because

“Power is a lion, you negotiate to get power.”

Governor Uzodimma assured them that having made the diplomatic outing, he is convinced that they are ready to take power and enjoined other Federal Constituencies in the State to toe the line of Owerri Federal Constituency to achieve same objective.

“Leadership is not easy. Though everybody wants to be a Governor, Imo State is looking for leaders who must be a men of vision with strategy to translate vision into practical reality. Again, a leader globally speaking must be innovative, have vision and mission with entrepreneurship that will create wealth and prosperity for his people.

“To lead, one must lead the people and be ready for the people, conceive, design, implement and ensure you realize the idea.”

He thanked the Owerri Federal Constituency leaders for their initiative, noting that in “the past years, the State has lost a lot of lives to unknown gunmen, violence that is avoidable and with this initiative the time has come for political stability in Imo State so that after this dispensation every political Party must go to Owerri Federal Constituency to look for a candidate.”

“The same applies to Okigwe zone and the next turn of Orlu zone so that brothers will know their brothers, and sisters will know their sisters, politics of kill and bury will stop and the entire State will be happy as political stability is assured and guaranteed in Imo State.”

He thanked the leaders for organizing the programme and that he is with them always and urged them to continue with the message of cordial relationship and come out on November 11, 2023 and vote their consciences now that they know that “the Charter of Equity is about the people and the way to go.”

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prince Lemmy Akakem welcomed the Governor and his entourage and expressed gratitude to the Governor for his benevolence to Owerri Federal Constituency, saying that he is not only their Governor but a friend of the Constituency.

He told the audience that the Governor has done so much for them in the areas of infrastructure and political appointments and that he has a heart of humility and passion for Owerri people and promised that they will reciprocate his kind gesture through the polls on November, 11 2023.

Unanimously, the leaders of the Federal Constituency who spoke – Hon. Ernest Ibejiakor, Hon. Noble Atulegwu, Dr. MacDonald Ebere and Sir Jude Ejiogu –  all agreed that come November 1, the Governor will be re-elected and that Owerri will show that they are ready to take over by the number of votes that will be counted and credited to the zone in support of the Governor.

At the meeting with the leaders from Owerri North, Owerri Municipal, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli in Government House, those in attendance spoke with one voice – to get their different communities to cast their ballot for the Governor in such a way that he would be glad.

Governor Uzodimma reiterated that he was happy with the development in the Councils under review and thanked the leaders for keying into the Charter of Equity.

The Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief COC Akaolisa, among other political appointees attended the meeting with the Governor.

Cross River: Anger As  Pregnant Woman Dies in Labour With Her Baby In-between Her Legs

By
The Source
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0

By Stanley Ekpenyong, South-South Bureau Chief

Residents of Sankwala, headquarters of Obanliku local government area of Cross River state, could not contain their anger when a pregnant woman died this morning with her unborn child in between her legs in a government hospital due to lack of doctors.

An investigative journalist and human rights activist, Agba Jalingo who shared the video of the heart-breaking occurrence captioned it:  “Woman In Labor Dies With Unborn Child In-between Her Legs In Obanliku Hospital Due To Neglect

“This is the General Hospital in Sankwala, Obanliku LGA in Northern Cross River.

A narrator in the video,  amidst the wailing and bowed faces of the residents,  especially women who thronged the hospital,  could be heard crying repeatedly, “Obanliku is abandoned”,  “Obanliku is abandoned”,  “no doctor is resident in Obanliku,  no chairs,  nothing; here is a woman who had no help,  she is late today with her baby,  Obanliku is abandoned”

Nigeria’s Victory Over P&ID Is Triumph For Africa – President Tinubu

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed Monday’s judgment by Judge Robin Knowles of the Business and Property Court in London, which gave victory to the Federal Government of Nigeria over a firm known as Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited.

In a judgment delivered by Robin Knowles, a Justice of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales, upheld Nigeria’s prayer to dismiss the fine.

The Court held that the ground on which the ill-fated gas processing contract was secured was illegitimate.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement pointed out that the victory has shown that nation states will no longer be held hostage by economic conspiracies between private firms and solitarily corrupt officials.

“Following Judge Knowles’ dismissal of the $11.5 billion (USD) value of the award plus accumulated interest, previously won by P&ID over a failed 2010 deal to allegedly build a gas processing plant, on the grounds that the award was obtained by fraud, President Tinubu commends the UK Court for prioritizing the merits of the case above all other considerations.

“This landmark judgment proves conclusively that nation states will no longer be held hostage by economic conspiracies between private firms and solitarily corrupt officials who conspire to extort and indebt the very nations they swear to defend and protect.

“Today’s victory is not for Nigeria alone. It is a victory for our long exploited continent and for the developing world at large, which has for too long been on the receiving end of unjust economic malpractice and overt exploitation.

“Nigeria is appreciative of the tremendous efforts of the defense team and acknowledges the role of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General in the process of defending Nigeria’s interest in this case.”

Osun: Governor Adeleke Bans Government Officials From Embarking On Foreign Trips

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ademola Adeleke sworn in as Governor of Osun State

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has suspended Government Officials from embarking on foreign trips till the end of the year.

The Governor said it was necessary to save funds as the State is experiencing paucity of funds.

He said that only an  emergency would warrant a foreign trip will only be condoned, as top Government Officials must adhere strictly to this order.

The Governor directed the Head of Service, Mr. Leye Aina, to prepare a memo that would state the relationship between the Commissioners and the Special Advisers to ensure efficiency in the governance process.

Speaking during a meeting held with members of the State Executive Council which deliberated on 2024 budget proposals from the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as a prelude to the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to the State House of Assembly, Governor Adeleke declared that excessive spending on recurrent and overhead expenses must be avoided.

While urging cabinet members to make personal sacrifices, the Governor explained that all members of the administration must demonstrate readiness to sacrifice in the face of the state’s harsh financial situation.

He called for due diligence in the budget preparation process, reading out key policy directives on the governance of the state.

A statement by the spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, on Monday, quoted Governor Adeleke further as  saying: “Foreign trips for top officials for the rest of the year are hereby suspended unless there is a direct emergency to be authorised by the Governor.

“We must sustain the momentum of our service delivery by avoiding excessive spending on recurrent and overheads.

“Our needs from office to accommodation are much, but our resources are limited. So we have to devise a coping mechanism pending the time our funding situation will improve.

“While memos by Special Advisers must pass through the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioners, the Commissioners must ensure fair play and an accommodating spirit.”

Ondo: Assembly Insists On Impeachment Process Against Deputy Governor, Again, Mandates Chief Judge, To Set Up Panel

By
Ayodele Oni
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Lucky Aiyedatiwa

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State House of Assembly has again insisted that the State Chief Judge, must set up a seven-man panel to investigate allegations against the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The fresh request is coming just as Aiyedatiwa was sighted at his office in Akure on Monday weeks after his absence due to the impeachment threat by the Assembly.

The Assembly had, last week, honoured the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which waded in to resolve the crisis.

The Assembly told Aiyedatiwa to withdraw the suit he filed at the Courts before meaningful dialogue could take place.

In what looked like a turn around again on Monday, the Assembly mandated the Chief Judge to go ahead with the constitution of the panel, saying “from the facts and legal advice at the disposal of the House, the earlier court Order restraining the House has now elapsed and/or become extinguished by the operation of the law.”

In the letter, signed by the Speaker, Oladiji Adesanmi stated that “Your lordship would recall that the ex parte order was made on September 26, 2023, after which the case was adjourned to October 9, 2023.

“The 3rd Defendant in the case filed a motion on October 4, 2023 to discharge the Order and/or strike out the case for want of jurisdiction.

“Fourteen days from October 4, 2023 when the motion was filed, terminated on or about October 18, 2023. The Court has not taken the application or renewed the Order, as evident in the Certified True Copy of the Court’s record of proceedings for October 9, 2023 and October 16, 2023.

“In fact, in Exhibit ODHA3, it was recorded that the motion was served on the Plaintiff in Court on October 9, 2023, after which the matter was adjourned to October 16, 2023.

“In view of the above facts, your lordship would agree that the said Order has elapsed by the operation of the law, and no longer constitutes an encumbrance for your lordship to discharge the sacred constitutional obligation placed on your office by virtue of Section 188 (5) of the Constitution to set up the Seven-man Panel.

“Consequently, the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly hereby calls on your lordship to kindly constitute the Panel without any further delay.”

From the latest development, there are indications that the peace move by the leadership of APC has failed to resolve the crisis between the Governor and Deputy.

Ondo Celebrates Third Position In Integrity Watch Rating, Says It’s In Tandem With Akeredolu’s Policy

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bamidele Ademola- Olateju

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju has described the rating of the State in third position by an International Transparency group as a sign of commitment by the present administration to ensure prudency in government.

The Commissioner, in a statement on Monday said “this very considerable, positive achievement did not come in one fell swoop.

“It was achieved in a structured way. Sudden leaps are the stuff of comic books, theater, and movies.

“The State is fortunate to have Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON, a man steeped in the notion of institutions as the decisive engine room for development as its helmsman.

“The steady climb up the transparency and accountability ladder by Ondo state is a laudable understanding of the foundations needed for sustainable as opposed to ephemeral development.

“Transparency leads to better costing of projects, and better service delivery. It also helps to develop the institutional memory needed for the long term.

“That is why the institutional philosophy of Akeredolu is the REDEEMED Agenda. The 8-point REDEEMED Agenda represents, Rural and Agricultural Development; Educational Advancement and Human Capital Development.

“It also include Development through Massive Infrastructure; Efficient Service Delivery, Development and Policy Implementation; Effective Health Care and Social Welfare Services; Maintenance of Law and Order for Adequate Security; Energy, Mining and Sustainable Industries; as well as Digital Revolution and Entrepreneurship.

“Akeredolu through this report has earned his place in history as the custodian of the tradition of accountability.

“This sets a marker which must be institutionalized before the end of his tenure in office. The gains must be protected and codified and must be protected! Akeredolu’s legacy must be built upon.”

“In a report recently released, the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW) in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, judged Ondo State third best among Nigeria’s thirty-six states in transparency and accountability in public fund management and the implementation of public policies.

“CeFTIW considered six key areas: Accessibility, Open Budget, Public Procurement, Human Resources, Anti-Corruption, and citizen engagement. The top five states in order are Ekiti, Kaduna, Ondo, Lagos and Gombe.”

P&D Gas Contract: British Court Dismisses $11Billion Fine Against Nigeria

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

It was a victory after five years of legal fireworks, for the Nigerian government as the British court threw away a fine of $11billion earlier awarded against Nigeria.

P&D had secured a contract in Nigeria which went sour. The company sued the Nigerian Government and secured billions of dollars in fine against Nigeria.

Nigerian Government hired legal experts that argued that the company secured the contract through fraudulent means.

But, a lower court in the United Kingdom fined Nigeria to the tune of $11 billion arbitration award in favour of P&ID.

In a judgment delivered by Robin Knowles, a Justice of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales, on Monday upheld Nigeria’s prayer to dismiss the fine.

The Court held that the ground on which the ill-fated gas processing contract was secured was illegitimate.

Before now, there were fears that if Nigeria loses, the fine would compound a fragile economy that has seen inflation jump to 26 percent in the face of dwindling power of the Naira.

A tribunal on January 31, 2017 had ordered Nigeria to pay $6.6 billion to P&ID. The money was with interests beginning from March 20, 2013.

Ondo NMA Berates Move To Regulate Medical Examination, Standard

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA), Ondo State Chapter, has frowned at attempts by certain individuals and bodies to interfere with regulation of medical education and standards especially as it relates to the board licensing foreign trained medical graduates.

The State Chairman of NMA, Dr Omosehin Adeyemi, told journalists in Akure on Monday that the association has carried out detailed review of the processes and content of these examinations and make bold to say that any medical graduate that fails them should be humble enough to seek help and not engage in brazen arm twisting and blackmail.

“We stand with the MDCN on this and encourage the Registrar to remain undaunted as no one can intimidate him while we watch.

“As stated in the Physicians’ Pledge, we shall do all within our power to “defend the honor and noble traditions of medicine.”

“We wonder why it is only the medical profession that faces this onslaught? Other courses are also read in Ukraine, Sudan, Egypt, Belarus, etc. But it is medicine that must be forced to accept all and sundry to practice whether qualified or not.

“If our government does not value the life of Nigerians then the NMA does and shall insist on not unleashing terror on Nigerians by licensing unqualified medical and dental graduates.

“Those that pass the licensing examinations are not aliens. If you cannot pass then seek help and try again. We wish to especially call on our beloved National Assembly to resist being used under any guise to compromise the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“If Nigerian trained doctors and dentists are poorly trained, they won’t be in high demand worldwide. Our government should immediately investigate the quality of medical education being offered to our children in Ukraine.

“Let us stand up in defense of the health of an average Nigeria. As the great physician Hutchinson said “from making the treatment of a disease worse than the disease O Lord, save us.

“We use this medium to humbly sound a note of warning to all and sundry to never try to run Nigerian doctors down in anyway but to always follow due process if aggrieved or in discharging their responsibilities.

“If anyone has any case against a doctor practicing in Nigeria, it should channel such to the Registrar of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for appropriate response being the body statutorily saddled with such responsibility.

“The Nigerian Medical Association hereby express her displeasure at the recent media trial of some healthcare workers by the Minister of Women Affairs. We believe that such behavior is infra dig for one that occupies such a lofty office.

The NMA chairman called on Ondo state government to commence immediate implementation of health workers’ hazard allowance to avert looming  strike by medical doctors working in the state government’s hospitals.

Adeyemi pointed out that members working under the state government have been patient enough over the failure of the government to implement a 100 percent Hazard Allowance for them.

He declared that the Association may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector, if the state government failed to release a circular for the implementation of the health hazard by Tuesday.

Dr Adeyemi said the hazard allowance, which had been approved since August this year, is being paid by the federal government and some other state governments.

“We as an association are exploring all peaceful avenues towards securing some economic reprieve for our beloved members.

“The progress towards payment of slightly improved salary to our members is just too slow. We are using this opportunity to call on government to immediately commence the payment of the recently reviewed CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures with their arrears and also other allowance for medical doctors and dentists.

“I hope there won’t be need for us to engage in another round of agitation for the implementation of what has been circularized since July 2023. Let’s make hay while the sun shines.”

Supreme Court: “Two Conflicting Letters From CSU On Tinubu’s Certificate Before Court”, Says “Case Must Be Proved Beyond Reasonable Doubt

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

The Supreme Court has observed that there are conflicting letters from the Chicago State University (CSU) on President Bola Tinubu’s certificate.

Justice John Okoro, Chairman of the 7-member panel hearing the application of Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), filed against the victory of President Bola Tinubu, made the observation on Monday in Abuja during the court’s sitting.

Atiku had sought Tinubu’s academic record from Chicago State University so as to prove his allegation that the president submitted forged documents to INEC.

Atiku asked the apex court to grant his appeal to tender fresh evidence, given the nature of the issue, but Tinubu kicked against this, saying granting such would amount to abuse of court process.

Atiku also pointed out that the presentation of a forged certificate disqualifies a candidate for all time, no matter when presented.

Speaking at the hearing on Monday, Justice Okoro said criminal matters have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

“But in this case, there are two conflicting letters from the CSU – one authenticating the President’s certificate and another discrediting it. Which do we rely on?,” he asked.

No Cause For Alarm Over Supreme Court Judgement Saga – Imo State Govt, Dismisses It As “Exercise In Futility”

By
The Source
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0
Hope Uzodimma

The Imo State Government has urged the people of the State to remain calm over the purported attempt by the opposition to seek an enforcement from the Supreme Court on its judgment of 2020 concerning the double nomination of Uche Nwosu for the 2019 gubernatorial election.

It described the latest suit by the opposition  as a distraction and mere academic exercise since the Supreme Court had laid to rest all issues pertaining to the election when it affirmed Senator Uzodimma as the validly elected Governor of the State.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba in a statement in Owerri declared that since it was obvious to the opposition Parties that they were losing the upcoming governorship elections to Governor Uzodimma, they have contrived the suit to cause confusion and distract the electorate.

He described the latest effort as an exercise in futility because the so-called ruling on  Nwosu was on nomination and not as the candidate of the APC in the said election.

According to him, “they have forgotten that Uche Nwosu later went to the Federal High Court to challenge the candidature of Senator Hope Uzodimma, and he lost. That judgment was never appealed.

“Secondly, they appear to suffer a selective amnesia  that, according to the relevant  Electoral Act, matters  pertaining to pre election matters are Statutes barred.  So, clearly, they are out of time.”

Emelumba wondered why anyone would wait few days to the election  to file a suit that is dead on arrival “if not for the fact that they know they will be defeated by Governor Uzodimma and APC in the November 11 governorship contest.

He described as a dramatic irony  the opposition elements approach to the same Supreme Court it lampooned and derided when it declared Sen Uzodimma as the validly elected Governor of Imo State.

“Are they now tired of calling Uzodimma the Supreme Court Governor that they are shamelessly going to the same Supreme Court?” he asked.

The Commissioner accused the opposition of engaging in abuse of court processes and wasting taxpayers’ money .

He wondered what else they were looking for since the Supreme Court has ruled that Sen. Uzodimma is the validly elected Governor and threw out the suit by PDP seeking a judicial review of the judgment.

He called on supporters of Governor Uzodimma and the entire Imo electorate to ignore the antics of the opposition and go ahead to vote for APC in the November 11 election.

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