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2019 presidential primary: Ebonyi APC chairman commends peaceful conduct of delegates

Peace

By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Chief Eze Nwachukwu, the Ebonyi Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), has commended the conduct of party members that elected the 39 ad-hoc national delegates for the party’s 2019 presidential primary.

Nwachukwu who addressed journalists on Thursday in Abakaliki, said that the exercise took place in all the 13 local government areas of the state.

The chairman, who monitored the exercise in selected local government areas including Ohaukwu and Ishielu, described the exercise as successful, credible and transparent.

According to him, each local government area elected three delegates, bringing the total number of delegates from Ebonyi to 39.

The chairman said that the exercise held simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.

Nwachukwu said that delegates would be voting on Oct. 20 to affirm that the party used direct primary election for the presidential primary earlier adopted by the party.

“The National Executive Council (NEC) of our great party had in its last executive council committee meeting approved direct primary election for the presidential primary election.

“According to party election time table released for the 2019 general elections, our party will be conducting its presidential primary on Sept.  20 while the affirmation will hold on Oct.  20.

“The 39 ad-hoc delegates which we have chosen from the 13 local government areas of the state will join the rest of the statutory delegates to vote in affirmation that party’s presidential flag bearer emerged through a direct primary method approved by the party.

“I congratulate our party men and women for orderly conduct and for ensuring that the exercise was peaceful, transparent, credible and devoid of manipulation.

“Reports indicate that the delegates emerged through consensus from most of the local government areas, except Ishielu that adopted ‘option A4’ election method.

“The exercise was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and other security agencies, “Nwachukwu said.

He called on the electorate not to sell or exchange their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and appealed to those yet to collect their PVCs to do so. (NAN)

ODO /FNO/OU

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Edited by Franca Ofili/Obike Ukoh

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2019: Ex-Ebonyi Perm. Sec, Ann Agomeze declares senatorial ambition for Ebonyi South zone

Senate

By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Ann Agomeze, former Permanent Secretary in the Ebonyi Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing, has declared her intention to contest the Ebonyi South senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The seat is currently occupied by Sen. Sonni Ogboji, who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 and re-elected in 2015.

Ogbuoji defected to the APC in January, and is one of the front runners for the 2019 APC Ebonyi governorship ticket.

Agomeze declared her intention at a press conference on Thursday in Abakaliki.

The former permanent secretary said that she was eminently qualified for the office, adding that she would offer qualitative, effective and credible representation if elected into the senate.

“I will use my cognate experience in public service to offer the best of quality representation in the senate through sponsoring of bills that will impact on the lives of the people, especially the ordinary Nigerians.

“I will attract and utilise accordingly whatever dividends that is at the disposal of the office and ensure high level of women and youths representation.

“I will be gender sensitive and gender responsive; I will be more disposed to give more priority to social concerns and to the relatively disadvantaged population and vulnerable groups.

“I will attract as well as create job opportunities where necessary for unemployed youths and women from my z.one.

“I will ensure that people of my senatorial zone participate in legislative business by creating town hall platforms for quarterly meetings in order to create awareness to the people and listen to their needs.

“In order to encourage girl-child education and empowerment, I will provide scholarships to deserving female students at basic education levels and across various institutions of learning,” Agomeze said.

Agomeze said that she should be given a chance as no woman from the Ebonyi South senatorial district had represented the state at the National Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ebonyi South senatorial district comprises five local government areas: Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Onitcha, Ohaozara and Ivo.

NAN also reports that Agomeze is from Onitcha, the only local government yet to produce a senator from the zone since return of democracy in 1999. (NAN)

ODO/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Flood

By Muhammad Auwal

Yola,Sept. 13, 2018 ( NAN) Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency ( ADSEMA) said flood had killed 10 persons and displaced scores of others, following the recent heavy rainfall recorded in the state.

Dr Muhammed Suleiman, the Executive Secretary of the agency, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Yola.

Suleiman said that hundreds of domestic animals, including cattle, were also lost to the flood.

He said that the deaths recorded were particularly from Yola South, Guyuk,  Lamurde and  Song  Local Government Areas of the state.

” Flooding is becoming a serious challenge for us in Adamawa and the situation is indeed alarming.

” We lost 10 people and hundreds of people have been displaced. Domestic animals in large numbers were equally lost to the deadly flood.

” Also, hectares of farmlands especially in nine local government areas located at the bank of River Benue have been completely submerged,” Suleiman said.

He said the flood was also posing serious challenge to farming activities in the state, adding that it could be a threat to food security in the state.

Suleiman said that more than half of the state population was currently under threat of impending flood and urged residents to be on the alert.

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 states are said to be prone to flood this year, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency | NIMET. (NAN)

AMA/AZA/DUA

Edited by Polycarp Auta/Dada Ahmed

Skybird incident: Abuja Airport runway reopens after 6 hours closure – FAAN

Runway
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has announced the reopening of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following an incident involving a Gulfstream four aircraft being operated by Skybird on Wednesday night.

A statement by Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, on Thursday disclosed that the aircraft overshot the Runway while landing and consequently got stuck on the Runway End Safety Area (RESA).

Yakubu said that FAAN had reopened the Runway to take arrivals and departures, subject to a reduced threshold of 3000 metres.

She assured airlines and passengers that the airport was safe for normal operations, adding that FAAN was committed to her core values of safety, security and comfort.

“This is following the partial closure of Runway 22, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 2200hours, on Wednesday night.

The closure was due to an incident involving a Gulfstream four aircraft being operated by Skybird that overshot the Runway while landing and consequently got stuck on the Runway End Safety Area (RESA),” she said. (NAN)
OYS/COO/AFA
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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Felix Ajide

Fayose
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado Ekiti, Sept. 12, 2018  (NAN)  The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti on Wednesday described  as  suspicious and  diversionary  the offer by the outgoing governor, Ayodele Fayose,  to voluntarily surrender himself to the EFCC on the day he would be  vacating office.

The APC insisted that the outgoing governor was  planning to seek safe landing to enable him run away from the country.

The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, questioned the rationale behind Fayose’s request for the approval of N10 billion extra budget by the state House of Assembly less than one month to the expiration of his tenure.

” This will certainly be at the expense of the welfare of the pensioners and workers  who he will be abandoning in a state of penury and frustration due to months of unpaid salaries

” Fayose and his cronies are recklessly looting the state treasury and they are smiling home with billions of Naira at the expense of Ekiti tax payers, ” the party said.

The party, which described   Fayose’s readiness to appear before the EFCC as a welcome development, however, warned that this may be a decoy  ” knowing Fayose is full of pranks and capable of playing tricks on the EFCC and other security agencies.’’

” The letter to the EFCC can be used by Fayose as a distraction and diversionary tactic  to pave way for his escape from the country, thereby running away from justice.

“ Fayose’s promise to appear before the anti-graft agency on the handover day sounds too good to be true and highly suspicious

” We therefore recommend that he be put under serious close surveillance  since he is morally and duty bound to account for many of his recklessly corrupt practices that have made him billions of state money richer than the state itself

” No matter how smart Fayose thinks he is and no matter how fast he thinks he can run, the long arm of the law must catch up with him to refund our collective wealth and money for the benefit of all in our dear state, Ekiti,’’  the party  said. (NAN)
ARIS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Weightlifting
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) Team Osun has  continued with its  brilliant run at the ongoing National Youth Games in Ilorin, picking laurels in weightlifting and Ayo Olopon.

Edin Emmanuel swept home three gold medals in the male weightlifting event in 70kg, 75kg and 81kg categories beating his colleagues from Kwara and Akwa Ibom.

Also, Rafiu Akinpelu clinched bronze medal in the male single event of Ayo Olopon, becoming the second bronze winner for Osun after Zainab Hammed in female weightlifting.

Ogun -born Segun Kilani won gold medal in Ayo Olopon  while Lukman Yahaya won silver.

In Karate, Osun athlete, Fausiya,  lost to her colleague from Abia.

Osun athletes will further compete in taekwondo, female Ayo Olopon as well as  female weightlifting.  (NAN)
OOH/USO/OJO
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(Edited by Sam Oditah/Mufutau Ojo)

Inauguration
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) As part of activities marking his first 100 days in office,  Yomi Adefusi, the Chairman of  Ibadan West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), on Wednesday inaugurated projects worth millions of naira.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Adefusi was sworn-in as the democratically elected chairman on May 14 by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

Among the projects inaugurated were a block of four classrooms each at St. Michaels African Church School, Apata and Abiola Jacobs Primary School, Foko all in Ibadan.

“I wish to let you know that the main aim of building the classroom blocks was to give the pupils a pride of decency and their teachers’ comfort in carrying out their duties,’’ he said.

Adefusi said his administration was poised to deliver more people-oriented projects as directed by the governor.

“I was most worried seeing this local council area looking like a  deserted area. We have been able to cut down frivolities and manage our resources prudently.

“We have been able to tar roads, provide intervention where necessary, increase revenue generation and bring innovation to the management of our local government.

“Some other ongoing projects are road rehabilitation and hospital rehabilitation among others,” he said.

The council boss said that his administration had also awarded scholarships to five indigent students to study at the newly established Technical University and had paid their tuition for three years.

He pledged that the council would continue to lay a  solid foundation that could be built upon, adding that his administration would execute projects based on the people’s needs.

“Let me assure you all that we would do all that is needful within the next three years. I am not here to deceive anybody. It is my burning desire to take development to our communities.

“I am not here to loot council fundS. I have a big journey in politics and this is my starting point to create a good record,’’ he said.

Adefusi urged the communities to make good use of the projects and ensure proper maintenance.

He expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity given  him to serve in that capacity.

Mr Bimbo Kolade, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, urged other council chairmen to emulate Adefusi.

Kolade, who was represented by Mrs Olayinka Olaleye, the Acting Permanent Secretary in  the ministry, said it was important for the chairmen to replicate the achievements  of the governor in their respective councils

NAN reports that the event was attended by council officials, party faithful and councillors among others. (NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Budget
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado Ekiti, Sept. 12, 2018  (NAN) Ekiti Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi,  on Wednesday called on Gov. Ayodele Fayose to refrain from  actions capable of plunging the state into further financial crisis through irregular and unconstitutional means.

The governor-elect,  in a statement issued by the Media Director of his campaign organisation,  Mr  Wole Olujujobi,  said the consequences of illegal appropriation of public funds would be very grave for individuals who participated in any illegal act to defraud the state.

Fayemi counselled ministry officials and Assembly members against being used for illegal appropriation of public funds.

He warned that participants in such illegal acts  would be called upon to account for their actions when the new administration takes effect on Oct. 16.

Fayemi queried the rationale for the  N10 billion   supplementary budget barely a month to the handover date.

“The media report alleging that Fayose coerced the Ministry of Budget officials to make a demand backdated to Aug. 23, 2018 for a supplementary budget of N10billion a few days to the end of his administration is fraudulent and not in the interest of the state

“The governor’s covering note also backdated to Aug. 30, 2018 for the legitimacy of such request was equally done with fraudulent intention

” It is worrisome that the alleged supplementary budget was presented to the Assembly Clerk for immediate approval without presenting it to Assembly members at the plenary to go through all parliamentary procedures in budget processing.

“The latest development today, after the plot leaked on this fraudulent conduct,  is that the budget is now before the House for a hush-hush debate for immediate approval,” he said.

Fayemi warned that all individuals, who allowed themselves to be co-opted into any appropriation fraud, should be ready to account for their actions when the new government takes effect next month.

“We have warned government officials and Ekiti people in general against participating in illegal acts by the governor and this fraudulent supplementary budget is not an exception

“The incoming administration has a responsibility and commitment to the protection of Ekiti people from abuse  by political leadership

“This is our pact with Ekiti people and we will never shirk from this responsibility to ensure accountability and good governance for our people,” he said. (NAN)
ARIS/KTO/OJO
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(Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Mufutau Ojo

NAF to graduate 1,558 recruits

Recruits

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Wednesday it will graduate 1, 558 recruits of its Basic Military Training Course on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was on physical fitness, mental alertness, weapons handling, field training, discipline, regimentation and team work.

The recruits had also undergone drills on functional living, appropriate service knowledge, internal security duties and dangers of drugs abuse.

The Air Secretary, AVM Muhammad Abdulwahab, who was the special guest at the Beating of Retreat ceremony to mark the end of the course, challenged the young airmen and women to always put the service first.

“You must be loyal at all times and prepare to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. “Abdulwahab said.

The Air Secretary challenged them to place high premium on excellence, prudence in the management of resources, comradeship and inter service cooperation.

“Let me on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar ,assure you that NAF is committed to your welfare and well being,” he added.(NAN)

TJ/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed