South East
Group Protests Impeachment Plot Against Elechi
Over 2,000 concerned citi
zens of Ebonyi State on Monday staged a peaceful protest against the impeachment plot of the state Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The lawmakers had last Friday passed an impeachment notice on the governor
over alleged gross misconduct, fraud and breach of the constitution. Our correspondent gathered that since the notice was passed, there had been tension in the state with divided opinions on the action of the lawmakers, coupled with the accusations and counter-accusations between Elechi and his deputy and the
Peoples Democratic Party (POP) governorship candidate, Dave Umahi, over the crisis in the state.
The protesters, who converged on the state township stadium as early as 8a.m. disrupted human and vehicular movement with heavy security personnel positioned at strategic places to forestall any break down of law and order.
However, a new twist arose when the Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation of Umahi accused the state government of mobilising supporters to stage a protest against the visit of the wife of the president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan at the weekend.
The Chairman of the Media, Research and Strategic Team of the organisation, Senator Emma Onwe, informed the first lady that the good people of the state were not in any way swayed or intimidated by the action of “the governor who hides under the Labour Party (LP) to create crisis and disrupt the visit of the first lady to the state.”
He said: “The attempt to prevent the visit of the first lady by the state government has been rejected by Ebonyians.”
However, the governor’s supporters, who are mainly members of the opposition LP were received at cabinet office in the Government House by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Chief Boniface Chima, and
Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Tim Odaah, among others.
Addressing the protesters, Odaah urged the state Commissioner of Police to stop the fire burning in the state because some distractors, manipulating the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, ChukwumaNwazuku, want to take the governor’s seat by force even with less than 100 days to stay in office.
The commissioner promised the unwavering commitment of the people of the state to the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, asking the president to be wary of those pretending to be working for him, as they are destroying him.
According to him, “Elechi is an achiever. When he has less than 1 00 days to wave good bye they want to take the seat by force. I want to serve this message to the president, Ebonyi likes him and he should note the predators because those pretending to be working for him are destabilising him. They are causing distractions and creating problems.”
The spokesman of the youths, Mr. Leonard Igboke, warned against the impeachment which he said might spark off violence if allowed to happen especially at this critical period when the governor has less than nine weeks to vacate office.
Igboke noted that the impeachment would amount to over heating the polity which is already charged.
More facts have emerged on how Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, was disgraced and booed in the commercial city of Aba during the burial of the pioneer Catholic Bishop ofthe Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia, last Fr
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.