Republican Mitt Romney has erased President Barack Obama’s advantage in the race for the White House and the two candidates are now tied among likely voters, according to a Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll released on Tuesday.

With the November 6 election four weeks away, Romney and Obama each command 45 percent, the daily tracking poll found.

The Democrat held a steady lead in the poll for most of September, but Romney narrowed the gap following a strong debate performance last week. Obama had been leading by 2 percentage points in the last poll on Sunday.

The poll reflects a closely divided electorate and a sluggish economy, Ipsos pollster Cliff Young said.

“It’s a much tighter race and Romney became much more presidential in people’s eyes,” Young said. “Things are probably back to where they should be.”

Romney’s improved prospects have shown up in other polls, after the former Massachusetts governor launched aggressive criticism of his rival’s economic record during the debate in Denver.

Obama’s advantage had already started to fade before the debate as Romney recovered from a series of campaign missteps.

The online survey of 1,157 likely voters was conducted between October 5 and October 9. The precision of Reuters/Ipsos polls is measured using a credibility interval, which in this case was plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

Among a larger sample of 1,370 registered voters, Obama led by 3 percentage points, 45 percent to 42 percent.

Voters’ personal views of Romney improved across a wide range of attributes following the debate, the poll found.

By a margin of 38 percent to 34 percent, registered voters now say that Romney is more likely than Obama to be effective in Washington.

The two candidates are now essentially tied when voters are asked whether they are tough enough and smart enough for the job, whether they have the right values, and whether they will protect American jobs. Obama had previously led Romney on these questions.

Obama is still viewed as more likeable, more eloquent and more empathetic than Romney by wide margins.

GAINING GROUND ON THE ECONOMY

An earlier round of Reuters/Ipsos polling found that Romney gained the most ground on the economic questions that were the focus of last Wednesday’s debate.

In the week ended September 30, Obama held a lead of 4.3 percentage points when voters were asked which candidate has a better plan for the economy. As of Sunday, Romney held a lead of 4.6 percentage points on that question.

On job creation, Romney led by 2.4 percentage points, erasing Obama’s earlier 5.8 percentage point lead on that issue. The bad numbers for Obama come despite a monthly jobs report last Friday that showed unemployment fell to a nearly four-year low in September.

Romney led by 7.7 percentage points when voters were asked which candidate would better handle the federal budget deficit.

Obama’s lead on taxes fell from 10.5 percentage points to 4.9 percentage points. His lead on Social Security fell from 12.4 percentage points to 6.7 percentage points.

This earlier poll relied on a sample of 1,689 likely voters, conducted over a seven-day span that ended on Sunday. It has a credibility interval of 5.1 percentage points.

The Abia state government under chief TA Orji says it has constructed 13 roads in parts of the state since May last year.
Governor Theodore Orji disclosed this during the commissioning of the Amaekpu-Okagwe Ohafia road built by the government.
He said that the 9km road constructed by Worldwide Construction Company at the cost of N1.1 billion is aimed at giving Ohafia people a sense of belonging, adding that the road is in fulfillment of his campaign promise to Ohafia people.
Chief Orji promised that the Ohafia general hospital will be given a face lift in due course and pointed out that government has continued to give appointments to Ohafia sons to show them love.
He assured that his government will continue working until 2015 when his tenure is expected to terminate.

Earlier in a welcome address, the president general, Ohafia Improvement Union, Sir Jonathan Agbai- Kalu thanked the governor for the completion of the road which he said was vital to the people and associated themselves with the developmental strides of the governor.
He however appealed to the state government to reactivate the Ohafia general hospital which he said is in a deplorable state and assured the governor of the continued loyalty and support of Ohafia people.
The governor was later conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ifemba Owuwanyanwu by traditional rulers of Ohafia.

SPRING LAKE — An anti-Obama display in a local clothing store’s front window evoked support and outrage from local business owners and residents Monday afternoon.

The display includes an image of President Barack Obama’s head superimposed on the body of a witch doctor above the word “ObamaCare.” It also contains a hat with the letters “F.Y.B.O.”, an acronym for an explicative phrase against Barack Obama, and an Obama doll wearing a long-sleeve shirt that reads “Hoax.” The sign is on display in the left storefront window of Skuby & Co. Lifestyle Clothing at 1210 Third Ave.

“It’s not political, it’s personal,” said Bill Skuby, 66, who has owned the store in the downtown section of Spring Lake since 1999. “We deal with a 1 percent customer; they come in here and shake my hand. My business is through the roof because of this.”

Nancy Pugliese, 63, was outraged when she noticed Skuby’s display Monday morning. She said the issue goes beyond politics and comes down to the display of U.S. presidents, who deserve respect.

“It’s disrespectful to have our president displayed in a costume like that. It’s very offensive,” Pugliese said. “If someone comes here as a visitor and goes by that store, it’s very upsetting to think they’ll see Spring Lakers as racists.”

“Lots of the children here go downtown to display their costumes (on Halloween),” Pugliese said. “That means all of the local children are going downtown and seeing their president displayed that way. That’s really shameful.”

However, Halloween and passing children are the main reasons Skuby built the display, he said.

“Halloween’s huge here; we got 1,500 kids walking past here,” he said. “I couldn’t think of anything scarier than that guy (in the) window.”

Skuby is the father of six adult children,  between the ages of 24 and 40.

Skuby said he uses humor to get his points across. However, there is a serious message behind his display.

“I’m mad,” Skuby said. “I want to see a change and I have a right to do this. It’s called the First Amendment.”

Richard Clayton, 64, of Manasquan, agrees Skuby has a right to display what he wants, but does not think it will sway voters.

“As a business community, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, but he has rights,” said Clayton, a registered Democrat who votes across party lines. “Personally, I would never do anything like that. I would keep that to myself.”

Clayton also owns a small business in Spring Lake, which he did not want named.

While he maintains that the display has boosted business, Skuby said some customers have stopped shopping in his store since the display went up.

“At some point in your life, you (have) to stand up for what you believe in,” he said. “I’m taking a stand.”

The decision to display his dissatisfaction with Obama is something that Harvey Casey supports.

“Skuby’s always been very outspoken, and that’s fine,” said Casey, 75, of Brielle, a retiree. “I’m sure he offends a lot of people, but they know where he stands.”

“It doesn’t bother me at all. It comes in under the first amendment, and he can do whatever he wants with it,” said Casey, who bought an F.Y.B.O. hat for $25 before leaving the store Monday. Skuby said he donates the profits to a local charity that helps disabled veterans, Operation Beachhead.

Similarly, Barbara Labe, who passed the storefront during a chilly, rainy Monday afternoon, did not see much wrong with Skuby’s display.

“I don’t see anything racist here at all,” said Labe, of Hershey, Pa., an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “I just see somebody who has strong political views and I think that’s a great thing in our free country.”

Other local business owners and workers declined to comment on Skuby’s display.

Skuby claims he has voted for both sides of the political fence in the past, including local Democratic politicians. Skuby said he plans to vote for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney next month.

The Egi People’s Assembly has called on the Total E&P operating in the Egi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government Area to work out modalities that will lead to a Community Environmental Management Plan CEMP, as stated in the Egi, Total agreement.

President-General of the Egi People’s Assembly, Chief Oris Onyiri made the call during a sympathy visit of the Managing Director of Total E&P, Mr. Guy Maurice over the flood disaster in Egi Land, Rivers State.

Chief Onyiri also stated that the Total E&P flow station located on a vital wetland of the community with its recent acquisition and expansion for the OML58 projects upgrade have resulted in alteration of natural terrains and waterway which the speed of the flood has proved.

He also urged the Total M.D to expedite action on negotiations concerning the gas blow-out at all levels to avoid unnecessary bickering and misrepresentations of issues by various interest groups.

In response, Managing Director, Total E&P, Guy Maurice reiterated the company’s full commitment to the resolution of the gas blow-out adding that a team has been set up to evaluate the impact of the flood menace in the various communities affected and come up with a palliative that the company will use to assist victims.

The Total boss also restated that the company will always take proactive steps in empathizing with the Egi people especially at this moment of grief and distress.

It will be recalled that last week, some Egi communities witnessed massive flooding. The worst hit communities are Ogbogu, Obagi, Oboburu, Akabuka, Obigbor and Ohali-Elu. The flood came suddenly and submerged thousands of homes and property worth millions of naira, displacing thousands of people and destroying farm lands, fish farms and vital community livelihoods.

As at the time of filing this report, our correspondent who went round the submerged communities reports that more streets and houses are being covered by the flood leaving more residents relocating to other communities and makeshift homes.

Some affected residents told our correspondent that this kind of flood has not been witnessed before by the community, they described the flood as an evil omen and a disaster.

The Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi has arrested oil magnet, Mr Ifeanyi Uba, the Managing Director of Capital Oil & Gas Industries Ltd over the involvement of his companies in the fuel subsidy scam.

Uba was taken into custody at exactly 2.20pm this afternoon with his team of lawyers and is being currently interrogated.

His company was indicted  by Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede’s led 15-man Presidential Panel constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan to re-investigate the findings of the report of an earlier investigation panel set up by the Ministry of Finance on Fuel Subsidy payments valued at over N2 trillion.

The petition of Maj.-Gen Charles Airhiavbere, the PDP candidate in the July 14 gubernatorial election in Edo State suffered another setback yesterday as the State Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday struck out his application to bring in additional witnesses in his bid to reverse the re-election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Governor of the state.

General Arhiavbere had challenged the July 2012 election on two major grounds: the academic qualification of Governor Oshiomhole and alleged irregularities in the election in contravention of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal had on September 27 struck out parts of the petitioner’s application on the alleged non-qualification of Comrade Oshiomhole based on his educational qualification, citing lack of jurisdiction in compliance with the provision of the constitution. The tribunal maintained that the issue of education qualification is a pre-election matter which ought to have been taken before a Federal High Court prior to the election

At the petition’s sitting on Monday, Maj-Gen Arhiavbere (petitioner) had requested leave of the court to bring in additional witnesses to testify on his behalf to which Counsel to Governor Oshiomhole (1^stRespondent) and ACN (2^nd respondent) filed a counter-application asking the court to dismiss the petitioner’s application, on the ground that it had been overtaken by events.

The 3^rd respondent, INEC, aligned itself with the position of the 1^st and 2^nd respondents seeking leave of the court to strike out the petitioner’s application.

The tribunal which also concluded its pre-trial conference yesterday decided that the live issue for determination before it at the main trial is the issue “whether the petitioner’s allegation that the gubernatorial election of 14^th July is invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended ought to be sustained having regard to the evidence adduced and the remaining paragraphs of the petition.”

Counsel to Comrade Oshiomhole, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, told reporters yesterday that the Governor’s team is prepared for the remaining part of the case if the petitioner is ready.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu told reporters that the case had been unnecessary from inception and that live issues before the tribunal are inconsequential to the determination of the winner of the July 14, 2012 election.

The tribunal adjourned further sitting to the October 23, 2012.

….seeks Assembly approval on N1.5billion for displaced persons, relief materials

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of Private and Public schools in the State following the rising water level and the reported threat to the residents of the state capital and its environs.

The order was also followed with a request sent to the state House of Assembly for its approval to allow his administration spend the sum of N1.5billion from the N27billion Compulsory Savings Account of the state to tackle the rising cases of emergency relocation of displaced persons and provision of relief materials to the affected communities.

Bayelsa residents are now living in fear as everybody is weary over the increasing flood situation in the state capital, just as the few safe houses are occupied by relations and friends who are equally faced with hardship as the cost of food stuffs are increasing geometrically.

Governor Seriake Dickson,in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by the Chief Press Secetary (CPS),Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the order for the closure of schools became necessary due to the reported and alarming rise in water levels across the State and the danger it poses to the Citizenry, “The Governor has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of all schools in the state. The decision was taken to safeguard the lives of children and to keep them away from possible dangers that could arise from the flood”.

“Government is by this appealing to parents and guardians to accept the decision as it was taken in the interest of all Bayelsans. We want to assure you that, normal academic activities will resume as soon as the situation is brought under control. His Excellency the Governor of Bayelsa State wishes to reassure the people of the state of government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of Bayelsans of all ages, especially at these trying times”.

Meanwhile, the members of the State House of Assembly yesterday announced the receipt of a letter from the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, asking for the permission of the House to withdraw the sum of N1.5billion from the State Consolidated Accounts initiated by its administration for emergency cases such as the ravaging flood in the state.

However, what the state government should look at is the increasing rise in the cost of food stuffs which is caused due to the blocked access to and fro Bayelsa and neighboring Delta where most of the food items comes to the state, as a rubber of garri which hitherto costs N300 is now sold for N1, 500 while bags of rice are gradually disappearing from shops. There is panick buying in the state as nobody knows when the ravaging flood would cease.