NEWS
Kwande/Ushongo Palliatives Damaging Under Rain, Sun in Benue Gov’t House – Ugbor
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Member of House of Representatives for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency Hon. Terséer Ugbor, on Tuesday, raised alarm that, the palliatives deployed to his constituency by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) through his office and confiscated by the Benue State governor, have been left damaged at open space and are being beaten by rain and sun at government house Makurdi.
Ugbor who lamented that the truck drivers have also been sleeping outside for almost a week, stated the seizure of a truck of palliatives by the state government which belong to him but meant for distribution to IDPs in his constituency was politics taken too far. The Kwande/Ushongo representatives who spoke to our Correspondent on phone in Makurdi said that he was yet to take legal action against the governor because he was trying to explore all the necessary avenues to resolve.”There is no further action yet. We are trying to explore all avenues to resolve the issue with the governor. Our only worry is that the palliatives are parked under the rains and sun which could cause damage. The truck drivers have also been sleeping outside for almost a week now.”I still wonder why the Governor would accuse me of diverting palliatives that I got approval for, from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.”Remember I told that I wrote to NEMA over 6 months ago for palliatives which were finally approved on August 27, 2024 for onward distribution to my constituency.”NEMA told me to make the necessary arrangements to move the palliatives to my Constituency. I made necessary arrangements between Wednesday and Thursday last week. I paid for the truck and the palliatives were moved to Benue State.”As soon as we arrived Benue, I had earlier sent a letter ahead to the DSS because that is the procedure that must be followed for monitoring and distribution of palliatives. I said even though the palliatives are in huge quantities, we do not have the ware house to accommodate such quantity and we do not have a centralized IDP camp where we can offload the palliatives in Kwande.”We have not made the necessary logistical arrangements to take the Palliatives to the IDP camps. I explained to the DSS and the palliatives came into town. We had agreed with NEMA that they will be kept in Makurdi for two weeks and within these period, we will make the necessary arrangements where NEMA and SEMA will be there to be part of the distribution on an agreed date.“As soon the palliatives arrived, we got an open place on Gboko road opposite Benue State University where they were to be offloaded.”But as soon as the trailer arrived, as we were still making the necessary arrangements to offload, we saw Police from Government House who said that the Governor said that the palliatives have been diverted. When they came, they thought it was SEMA palliatives but they were told that it is palliative for member of the House of Representatives that had just arrived from NEMA office in Jos.”They asked why we are offloading it there and we showed them all the allocation papers including my acknowledgement of receipt of the goods from NEMA and they asked us to go and file Police report. I questioned such action but agreed to file a police report which was stamped and sent to the Governor.”The DSS and the Governor’s security told him that this is not SEMA but NEMA palliatives meant for the rep member and there was no issue with it. I called the Governor to tell him that these are NEMA palliatives meant for me and they are in safe hands, and the day we will distribute them, SEMA will be involved but he refused to pick my call. I sent him a message and he refused to reply to my message and the next day he travelled to London for a program to attend Tiv Day this was since Thursday and every day the truck parks there, am paying demurrage.”The drivers are sleeping outside and I feed them. I called the traditional rulers to speak to him to allow the truck leave. I have spent over 5.5 million to get the truck to Benue. If I wanted to divert them why will I bring it to Benue and you still accuse me of diverting palliatives. Some of the items like garri which is over 500 are perishable; there are wrappers, mosquito nets, mattresses. One truck is in the ware house and the other seized. This is very embarrassing.
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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