South East
Ekweremadu Flags Off N15bn Road Project
A N15 billion road project has been flagged –off at Mpu, in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, with a call on his fellow lawmakers from the state in the National Assembly to come together and work as a team in order to serve the people better than what is obtainable at the moment.
Chief Ekweremadu said that the call had become necessary in order to better the lots of the people of the state adding that “I believe all of us working together as members of one family we will continue to serve our people much better”.
The Road Project , Oji – Achi –Obeagu – Mmaku – Awgu – Ndeaboh – Mpu – Okpanku – Ogidi, is being executed by SETRACO Nig. Ltd, while the contract was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Abuja , and it is expected to be completed in 24 Months.
The road which has 5 bridges which were destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War, 42 years ago, also leads to Akaeze in Ebonyi state, and when completed would go a long way in helping the people of the area who are predominantly farmers to evacuate their farm produce not only to the urban areas of the state, but to neighbouring sister states like Abia and Ebonyi .
According to Chief Ekweremadu, presidential candidates, senators, local government chairmen, governorship aspirants, House of Assembly members , among others had at one time or another in the past promised to do the road and the bridges, but never did. He expressed happiness that “ today we are opportune to be part of the generation that have this accomplished”.
Senator Ekweremadu further said: “As a young man growing up, I have had cause to attend political rallies where promises were made that they would do this road and the bridges, but all the hopes were dashed . Budget after budget since 1970, the government of the then Anambra state had included this road in their various budgets and appropriation act . But like other promises they never came through”, he also stressed.
He, therefore, used the occasion to thank the Federal Government , especially “Mr. President , Dr Goodluck Jonathan , who had made this possible. So on behalf of the communities and all other people that will use this road , I want to appreciate Mr. President for harkening our voice by making this possible”.
While thanking friends of his community in the Senate and House of Representatives, and all those who offered all kinds of prayers to make the award of the road contract possible, Chief Ekweremadu , equally praised his people for waiting patiently for 42 years, adding “I think there is a new dawn. We are witnessing something new and it will be sustained in Jesus name”, he further prayed.
Chief Ekweremadu, however, urged the contractors handling the project to endeavour to complete the job earlier than the scheduled time.
The high point of the occasion which attracted many important personalities including some members of the Enugu and Ebonyi states Houses of Assembly, religious leaders, traditional rulers, among others, was the driving by senator Ekweremadu,to the admiration of the large crowd of people present, of one of the heavy earth-moving equipment already assembled in their numbers by the contractor handling the job.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.