Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr. Nsima Ekere has resigned from office today, October 31, 2012.
Available information remain sketchy but unconfirmed information indicate that the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio may have requested for the regsination of the deputy governor.
Stay tuned
The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with shock the gruesome murder of about twenty villagers in Kaboro, Zamfara State yesterday. It is surely very jolting to fathom the trauma that even the survivors of this heinous act went through as their night rest was abruptly interrupted by rampaging gunmen, resulting in deaths, sorrows and untold desolation. What will make the most hardened mind shudder is the reported story that the raiding criminals came into the village calling on residents of the area to remain indoors but ensure that their money and other valuables were kept within reach. Our great party is concerned that this is a sad statement on the value of human life in Nigeria. We condemn this, and other acts of wickedness against fellow citizens.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Dogon Dawa village in Birnin Gwari local government of Kaduna State was attacked in a similar way resulting in the death of over 24 villagers. What is more, Zamfara State was in June this year attacked by a gang of robbers who invaded Dan-Gulbi and Guru villages, moving from door to door as they shoot and slit the necks of defenseless villagers, leaving scores of Nigerian citizens dead. With so much money voted annually for security, our great party wonders what other stimulus is needed by the security sector in order to structure a water-tight and sustainable policing network that will include the hinterland, remote settlements and other rural clusters. The impunity shown by village marauders in recent times in carrying out their evil missions has clearly shown that the Federal Government has failed in delivering the first service to the people; that of security of life and property.
The ANPP therefore calls on The Police to go all the way in investigating the remote and immediate causes of this desecration of human life, in order to fish out the criminals so that a repetition would be averted. We also call on the Federal Government to reappraise its rural development strategies with particular emphasis on safeguarding and mainstreaming local seasonal commercial clusters. This is because as evidence has emerged, Kaboro village is known to realize a lot of money from the sales of livestock and farm produce during Islamic celebrations. As a party we believe that it is the first duty of government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens from evil elements even as they go about their legitimate occupation.
Signed:
Hon Emma Eneukwu
National Publicity Secretary
ANPP
31-10-12
Edo State Government has suspended the recruitment exercise undertaken by the state Post-Primary Education Board (PPEB).
In a statement by Mr Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Government noted that “preliminary investigations into the exercise revealed that it was fraught with unwholesome practices as the exercise sacrificed merit on the altar of other selfish motives.
“Consequently, in accordance with our commitment to transparency and accountability, the exercise is suspended and the appointment letters issued are hereby revoked. All those purportedly offered appointment through the exercise are advised to stay away.
“Government will review the entire exercise and give room to all to re-apply and only those who scale through the fresh test which will be transparently conducted will be offered appointment.”
Edo State Government has suspended the recruitment exercise undertaken by the state Post-Primary Education Board (PPEB).
In a statement by Mr Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Government noted that “preliminary investigations into the exercise revealed that it was fraught with unwholesome practices as the exercise sacrificed merit on the altar of other selfish motives.
“Consequently, in accordance with our commitment to transparency and accountability, the exercise is suspended and the appointment letters issued are hereby revoked. All those purportedly offered appointment through the exercise are advised to stay away.
“Government will review the entire exercise and give room to all to re-apply and only those who scale through the fresh test which will be transparently conducted will be offered appointment.”
Oct. 31 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama has a five- point lead in Ohio while Republican challenger Mitt Romney has all but erased earlier deficits in Florida and Virginia, according to a poll of likely voters in three swing states released today.
The narrowing of the race in competitive states mirrors a national trend in which several recent polls show the race tied or one candidate ahead by a single percentage point.
A CBS Times/New York Times/Quinnipiac University survey gave Obama a 50 percent to 45 percent edge in Ohio, a state without which a Republican has never won the White House. Obama has led by six to 10 points in earlier CBS/Times/Quinnipiac polls.
In Florida, Obama had a one-point advantage, 48 percent to 47 percent, after leading by nine points a month earlier. His 49 percent to 47 percent edge in Virginia is less than half of the five-point spread found in a poll earlier this month.
“After being subjected to what seems like a zillion dollars’ worth of television ads and personal attention from the two candidates reminiscent of a high-school crush, the key swing states of Florida and Virginia are too close to call with the election only days away,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Polling Institute in Hamden, Connecticut.
The states are among the battlegrounds that political observers of both parties say will decide which candidate wins the presidency.
Favorable Opinion
Romney’s surge in the polls tracks an increase in the percentage of voters who have a favorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor. He’s in positive territory for the first time in Florida, with 48 percent viewing him favorably and 47 percent unfavorably. In Virginia, he has a 49 percent favorable rating and a 46 percent unfavorable one, his biggest positive spread to date. Only in Ohio does a plurality still view him unfavorably, 48 percent, compared with 46 percent who view him favorably.
Majorities of voters in all three states view Obama favorably, 51 percent in Florida and 52 percent in Ohio and Virginia.
Voters in all three states cited the economy as the top issue. Romney had an edge over Obama on that issue in two of the states, 49 percent to 47 percent in Florida and 50 percent to 46 percent in Virginia.
Auto Bailout
Obama held a 49 percent to 48 percent advantage on the economy in Ohio, where one in eight jobs is connected to the auto industry. Obama backed the use of government funds to rescue General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, while Romney was proposing that they go through bankruptcy with private funding. Mike Jackson, chief executive officer of AutoNation Inc., the largest U.S. auto-dealer group, has said it was a “fantasy” that private financing was available.
Romney is running an ad in Ohio saying that Chrysler plans to move production of Jeeps to China. Obama has responded with an ad calling Romney’s spot dishonest. Chrysler, majority-owned by Fiat SpA of Italy, is retaining and expanding its Jeep production in North America, including in Toledo. It also is deciding whether to expand into China, the world’s largest auto market.
By 37 percent to 25 percent in Florida, 52 percent to 17 percent in Ohio and 39 percent to 19 percent in Virginia, voters said their state’s economy was getting better rather than worse, and at least two-thirds in each state who said the economy was improving said Obama deserved a lot or some of the credit.
Middle-Class Aid
Likely voters said Obama would do a better job than Romney on helping the middle class by 51 percent to 44 percent in Florida, 54 percent to 42 percent in Ohio and 52 percent to 44 percent in Virginia.
“In general, voters prefer Obama on a majority of issues and characteristics and rate the two candidates roughly even on the big one — the economy,” Brown said. “Likely voters think Obama better understands their needs and problems, but more voters see Romney as a strong leader.”
The Oct. 23-28 telephone surveys of 1,073 likely voters in Florida and 1,074 likely voters in Virginia had margins of error of three percentage points; the Ohio survey of 1,110 likely voters had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.
CBS/Times Poll
Separately, a national CBS News/New York Times poll taken before Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast put Obama ahead, 48 percent to 47 percent, among likely voters. Obama led Romney 49 percent to 46 percent in the poll last month.
In the CBS/New York Times poll, Obama was ahead among women, 52 percent to 44 percent, while Romney led among men, 51 percent to 44 percent.
Romney held a 51 percent to 45 percent edge on which candidate would do a better job on the economy and jobs, and a 54 percent to 39 percent advantage on the budget deficit.
While the nation’s unemployment rate slid to 7.8 percent in September, the lowest level since Obama took office in January 2009, it was the first time the rate had fallen below 8 percent in 44 months.
The national CBS/Times survey found voters, by 51 percent to 39 percent, supporting Obama over Romney on abortion rights. Romney has called for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that privacy rights entitle women to choose to have an abortion without restriction in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Medicare Bill
Obama also had an edge on handling Medicare, 51 percent to 42 percent. Romney’s running mate, Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, has sponsored House-passed legislation that would replace traditional Medicare for future recipients 10 years from now with vouchers to buy private insurance or a government plan with a cap on expenditures.
The poll of 563 likely voters taken Oct. 25-28 had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
A survey released yesterday of Hispanic Christian voters showed Obama with a 63 percent to 26 percent lead over Romney. The poll by Gaston Espinosa, a professor of religious studies at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, cited immigration as a key issue in keeping Hispanics in Obama’s camp.
Even so, Espinosa said, undecided Hispanic Christian voters who are socially conservative might break in favor of Romney, who opposes same-sex marriage.
Romney ‘Opening’
This “could provide Romney with precisely the opening he needs to win over a small but vitally important slice of Latino undecided voters in key swing states who can help him win,” Espinosa said.
The Oct. 4-10 survey of 1,000 likely Hispanic voters who are either Roman Catholic or Protestant had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Obama announced in June that the administration would no longer deport undocumented residents who were brought to the U.S. as children, have lived in the country for at least five years, had no criminal record, and were in school or had a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Romney earlier this year suggested that undocumented immigrants self-deport and described as “amnesty” any efforts to give them legal status without first requiring that they leave the country. Then, during an Oct. 16 debate with Obama, he said he supports the president’s action to let the children of illegal immigrants stay in the country legally.
In an interview this month with the Des Moines Register, Obama said he’s confident he can get an overhaul of immigration law through Congress next year if he’s re-elected.
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–Editors: Leslie Hoffecker, Steven Komarow
To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jeanne Cummings at jcummings21@bloomberg.net
From Precious Werner Ahiakwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Over 30 communities in Akuku-Toru LGA of Rivers state took to the streets of Port Harcourt in their hundreds to protest over the ceding of 90% of towns belonging to Rivers State to Bayelsa state by the federal government. This is according to the information available to 247ureports.com.
Protesters who carried placards with inscription, “for the sake of peace, return Soku to Rivers state“, Bakassi to Cameroun-good, Kalabari to Bayelsa-bad”, “we stand by the 10th Administrative map of Nigeria“,matched down to the government house accompanied by the council of chiefs of the kalabari kingdom to protest against the boundary adjustments.
The Amanayabo of Abonnema town, HRH Desreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel while presenting a document of the history and origin of the kalabari kingdom to the rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, pleaded to the government to wade into the matter.
“we are not ready to be under the Nembe traditional council, we are not ready to have our brothers be under Bayelsa while they are fed from Rivers State: we want to be together. There is no reason for the movement of the boundary and it was done illegal. We have come here as peace loving people to protest to the government and tell them to come and rescue us so that our peace won’t be taken for granted as this will result to the unknown. As you can see, the entire Kalabari nation is here because we know if we speak to His Excellency, the right thing will be done.”
Responding, the Rivers State governor who was represented by his deputy Tele Ikuru promised that the matter will be resolved amicably. He urged the national Assembly to review the boundary adjustments and restore lasting peace to the aggrieved Kalabari Kingdom.
“I say here as Chairman of the Boundary committee, that Asari-Toru and Soku have been a worrying issue to Rivers State. As a matter of fact, 17 billion naira rightfully accrue to Rivers State has been paid to Bayelsa State. As a State, we join voice with the Kalabari people to call on the National Assembly to please wade into this matter so that we will know where the truth is”, he said.
However, during an international press conference held after the peaceful protest, the Amayanabo of Kalabari, HRM, Professor J.T Princewill Amachree XI, described the move as politically motivated, “without mincing words, as inhabitants of the area under reference, that this position is totally unacceptable and it is clear manifestation of political manipulation intent on balkanizing Kalabari territory and ceding same to Bayelsa”, he said.
The Kalabari King called on Goodluck Jonathan to return the Kalabari kingdom back to Rivers State where it rightly belongs. “ We therefore unequivocally demand that whatever Administrative maps that has been issued that does not reflect the 10thEdition of the administrative map of Nigeria as it affects us, be withdrawn forthwith and status quo maintained as our known historical boundary with the Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State is the Santa Barbara River”.
The boundary dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa States started sometime in 1999 with the 11th Edition of the Administrative map of Nigeria unilaterally produced by the National Boundaries Commission and Federal Surveyor-General’s office in year 2000 but circulated in 2002, with boundary adjustments between the two States from the West of the Santa Barbara River to San Bartholomew River.
The Rivers State Government vehemently opposed the contraption seeking a total withdrawal of the map from circulation which they claimed no progress from the National Boundary Commission has being made to date.
It was however rumoured that, the 12thAdministrative map of Nigeria said to be under production will usurp 80% of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area in Rivers State by the shifting of the boundary line from San Bartholomew River to Sombererio River.
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Meanwhile, the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has denied allegations that his office is behind the unfolding development between the two states. In its response, it stated that “We consider these allegations irresponsible and most unfortunate considering the status of the persons who reportedly championed the protest. The statutory agencies being referred to by the protesters do not take orders from the President; they are independent bodies. Besides, there are laid down procedures for resolving inter-state boundary disputes”
It also went on to add that “the school-boy style protest is an attempt at cheap blackmail. We find the motive deplorable. It is all the more surprising that a man of Alabo Graham Douglas’s stature, a former Minister who ought to know what is right, will team up with a group intent on causing disaffection between the President and his Ijaw kinsmen”.
“We advise the Kalabari National Forum, its members and hidden sponsors, to avoid the temptation to instigate conflict between the Nembe and Kalabari people of Rivers and Bayelsa states, who are both of the same Ijaw stock. The statutory agencies assigned the responsibility of resolving boundary disputes should be allowed to do their work” – said the President through his spokesman, Dr. Rueben Abati
CORRECTION: This post has been corrected to reflect that Godswill Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta, has not been named Power Minister as earlier reported. It was the minister of state Niger Delta that swapped position with the minister of state for Power
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President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Godswill Orubebe as the new Power Minister.
Reuben Abati, the president’s spokesman said this on Wednesday.
Mr Orubebe was the former minister of the Niger Delta ministry.
The president also made a minor change to his cabinet.
The president swapped the Minister of State for Power, Gauis Dickson, with the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Zainab Kuchi.
The change takes effect from next week, Abati, the president’s spokesman said.
The president is yet to give reasons for the reshuffle.
Founder and the General overseer of Kingsway International Christian Centre, KICC, Senior Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo is embroiled in a new conflict, orijoreporters can reveal.
At one time, the stylish Pastor whose church’s headquarter is in United Kingdom had trouble with the British authority over alleged fraudulent activities including using the church credit card to buy a vacation home in Florida in United States, and also got 120,000 pounds to celebrate his birthday.
At another time, KICC was investigated by the Charity Commission for fraud, which discovered tsunami of financial irregularities in the church. Guilty as charged, Pastor Mathew was ordered to pay 200,000 pounds back to the church’s coffer.
This time around, Pastor Mathew is in deep trouble again. He has been dragged before Justice Akinyemi of Abeokuta High Court back home, for allegedly stealing 65 acres of land belonging to Taiwo Ijaosan and Olosunde families. It happened that Pastor Mathew’s church bought 35 acres of land from the two families in Ofada town in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State in 1987 for N80 thousand per acre.
But it came as a bit of a shock to the landowners when the Pastor allegedly went behind them with his surveyor, and property agent, one Mr. Olokodana who is now late to cede 65 other acres to the church, and made it a hundred acres.
Initially there was nothing to worry about as the highly revered man-of-God promised the landowners that he was going to pay the difference. And they waited with bated breath for that moment when Pastor Mathew would pay for the 65 acres his church acquired through the back door. But that moment never came. Instead, he was just playing pranks.
And after several years of waiting, the landowners who were angry with Pastor Mathew recently decided to drag him and his church, KICC before the law court. The case, which is yet to come up for hearing is before Justice Akinyemi in Court 5 at Abeokuta High Court.
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Source: orijoreporters
African Union of Local Government Employees has given award of Grand Patron to Delta state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for supporting effectively local government administration in the state.
The President of Nigerian Union of Local Employees Ibrahim Khalil who announced this when he led a delegation of the national Executive of the association to pay the governor a courtesy call in Asaba said the award of Grand Patron was bestowed on the governor for encouraging local government in the state to develop the grassroots.
Mr. Khalil described Uduaghan as a labour friendly governor especially for ensuring that there was harmonious relationship between the local governments and the state government.
He explained that the governor merited the award because of his people oriented projects even as he noted that Dr Uduaghan’s good gesture were worthy of emulation.
The NULGE President said the African Union of Local government employees searched through the length of Africa and discovered that it was only him that qualified for the award because of concrete achievement recorded at the grassroots.
Responding the state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan promised to support the local government administration to enable it meet the needs and aspirations of the grassroots.
Dr Uduaghan said local government have crucial role to play in grassroots development and stressed the need for the staff to be innovative and dedicated to duty.
He therefore pledged his commitment towards encouraging the local government system to generate the resources required for the execution of its projects.
The governor who explained that local governments have high level performance potential said the international award to be bestowed on him by African union of local government employees would motivate him to perform better.
His words “I will continue to provide support to the local government administration and I also will respect the workers of the system. Local governments are central to the distribution of amenities at the grassroots and if properly managed will assist the state government in accelerating development”
The governor therefore enjoined union leaders in the local government system to ensure good rapport with both the state and local governments explaining that labour conflict would stall development.
“We should work together harmoniously because nothing good comes out from any form of conflict to ensure accelerated development there must be good administrative system at the grassroots”.
We are delighted to inform the public that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of United Progressive Party (UPP) with the head of the tiger as its symbol, to function as a full fledged political party and participate in all political activities in the country henceforth. The registration of UPP by the Commission was conveyed to us via INEC letter reference number INEC/DPPM&L/UPP/446/Vol.1/167 dated 4thOctober, 2012 signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullahi A. Kaugama. The letter stated inter alia:
RE: REGISTRATION OF UNITED PROGRESSIVE PARTY (UPP) AS A POLITICAL PARTY
Your letter on the above subject dated 24thMay, 2012 refers.
The Commission, at its meeting held on Tuesday 2nd October, 2012 approved the registration of the UNITED PROGRESSIVE PARTY as a Political Party.
The Party Constitution, Manifesto, Logo/Flag and the list of its National Executive Officers were also approved.
The Certificate of Registration will be issued in due course.
Please accept the assurance of my high esteem.
Congratulations.
United Progressive Party is unique in the sense that it is designed to be a mass movement belonging essentially to Nigerian masses without the claim of any known or unknown cabal to its origin, formation or ownership. UPP is the product of the special circumstance in which Nigerian citizens found themselves having been alienated from the control and democratic choice of popular leadership and representation by the existing political parties that are in the firm grip of cabals of different conspiracies and gangs.
We are conscious of the challenges that confront an emerging political party in a seeming crowded political arena such as the situation in Nigeria today. We are resolutely determined and committed to hit the ground running and to carry out strong message of hope and political liberation to every nook and cranny of Nigeria.
In addition to canvassing vigorously our progressive political ideology as encapsulated in our party manifesto, we promise in our honour to observe and implement the highest culture of internal party democracy at all levels in consonance with our fundamental principle of citizen based political party. In UPP power truly belongs to the people and it is ordained by God. We believe that the voice of the people is the voice of God.
By the emergence of United Progressive Party the Nigerian political equation will be altered for the better. The UPP factor is a critical factor in the political calculations of the country leading to the 2015 general election and beyond.
In the next couple of weeks, the inaugural National Executive Committee (NEC) of UPP as a registered political party will be convened and a very robust political programme and policy thrust of the party will be unfolded to the public. Watch out for “the real mccoy”
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CHIEF OGBUEHI DIKE
NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY, UPP
Two civil society organizations have taken the Imo state government to task following a recent declaration by the government that it is operating ‘a rolling four-year budget’
The Southeast Governance Network (SEGON) and Legislative Watch accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state of operating an illegal budget.
The Imo state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor while reacting to the allegation that the state was running an inaccessible budget had said, as also published in a national daily, “Either you come to my office or ask any of the folks to come to my office and collect a hard copy of the budget. Some of these groups are either too lazy to mischievous or both in making the minimal effort to get to the truth. In any case, the fact is that Governor Okorocha on live television presented his budget to the House of Assembly. The unique feature of the Imo budget is that instead of an annual budget we have a rolling 4-year budget that has taken into account all capital projects within the tenure of this administration.”
Reacting, SEGON’s spokesman, Dr. Jude Ohanele said, “Rather than stooping low to look for words to describe our network for making a legitimate demand, Offor should address the cogent issues raised. If they are operating a lawful budget, they should post it on their government websites. I didn’t need to go to Ado Ekiti state to get the budget of Ekiti state; they have it available and accessible on the Ekiti state government’s website because they are operating a lawful budget. It goes without saying that the reference to a four years budget by the Imo state commissioner for Information is not only unconstitutional but deceitful. The people are waiting to see the budgets on the various government websites in the Southeast of Nigeria. ”
Citing Section 121(1) of the Nigerian Constitution which states that, “The Governor shall cause to be prepared and laid before the House of Assembly at any time before the commencement of each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the State for the next following financial year”, Ohanele stressed that the constitution renders the Imo state four-year rolling budget illegal and unlawful.
Commenting also on the issue, Hon. Ngozika Ihuoma, the National Coordinator of Legislative Watch, a legislative advocacy group maintained that Okorocha and the Imo House of Assembly are either displaying their lack of capacity to operate the constitution or engaging in mischief.
“Budget is a constitutional issue and Section 121(1) is very clear that budget of a state or LGA is annual because a financial year in Nigeria is 12 calendar months. Consequently, a four-year budget is illegal, alien to our constitution and is an impeachable offence on the part of the Governor while the members of the House could be recalled for being a party to such illegality. Budget is the only law the legislature must enact annually for the achievement of Chapter II of the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended. No state can amend Section 121(1). ”
Ihuoma however noted that there is room for a supplementary budget within the year to take care of unforeseen circumstances like the present flood in Oguta and Ohaji /Egbema council areas. According to him, a state can provide a medium or long term economic or development plan of 2-4 years but implementation of such arrangement, he said, must be presented to the House of Assembly annually for passage into law.
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