South East
Abduction: Onovo Cautions Against Ransom
Worried that the problem of kidnapping has persisted, the Inspector – General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, has advised Nigerians especially people of South East and South – South geo – political zones to stop negotiating ransom money with kidnappers whenever their relations are abducted.
Such discussions with perpetrators of the criminal act, he regretted, has continued to encourage the nefarious business in the country.
According him, rather than engaging the criminals in such negotiation, families of the victims, should alert the police or other security agents for prompt action, insisting that payment of ransom to kidnappers has done more harm than good to the entire country.
He maintained that payment of ransom to kidnappers has made the criminal action one of the most lucrative businesses in the country especially in the two aforementioned geo political zones, calling on the people to always give the police and other security agents useful information that could assist them in apprehending hoodlums in the areas.
The police boss , who spoke yesterday at a two –day security summit for South East and South – South zones put together by the Enugu coalition of business and professional Association (ECOBPA), expressed worry over the alarming rate of the canker worm in the two zones, stressing the need for all and sundry to join hands together in fighting the ugly trend.
Represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Larry Osita, the police chief, also blamed the high level of criminal activities among the nation’s youths on unemployment.
He , therefore pointed out that if most of the nation’s moribund industries are functional, it would go a long way in checking the problem as most of the youths perpetrating the evil act would be engaged in such establishments because “an idle mind is always the devil’s workshop.”
Mr. Onovo further noted that if industries such as the moribund Nkalagu cement factory in Ebonyi state and the Nigeria Railway Cooperation ( NRC) are functional, the problem of youth unemployment in the two zones would have been reduced drastically as the outfits would have provided job opportunities to scores of the youths.
While welcoming guests, chairman of ECOBPA, who is also President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Sir Okechukwu Nwadinobi, disclosed that the coalition was inaugurated on July 9, 2009 at the end of a two – phased centre for international private Enterprise CIPE sponsored capacity building workshop with the election of an 8 member local coordinating committee, LCC.
He added that the coalition comprising 25 business / professional associations spread across 7 major sectors / trade groups , such as industries, commerce, and trade, agriculture, NGOs, /CSOs professional practice, oil and gas, as well as hospitality and tourism .
According to the ECOBPA boss, one of the major objectives of the body is to support, collaborate and cooperate with governments at all levels including stake holders in the private sector with a view to improving the Enugu, South East and South- South business economic environment and Nigeria at large.
“Our deliberate strategy is to constantly advocate for business friendly policies to government and its agencies, stressing that the aim was also to improve the business environment through removal of all impediments that would negatively affect the development and expansion of business and economic activities in the area.
Declaring open the summit with the theme: “Security of Lives Fundamental to Business Growth and Socio – Economic Development”, governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, who spoke through his Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Clement Okwor, assured that his administration would continue to create the enabling environment for private sector to strive, especially the small and medium enterprises, SMEs, which he noted , remains the engine room for development of the economy of any nation.
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.