NEWS
Uzodinma Takes Oath as Imo Governor
Sen. Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sworn in as the new governor of Imo after the Supreme Court declared him winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
Uzodinma was sworn in by the Imo Chief Judge, Justice Pascal Nnadi with his team of over 30 judges from the state judiciary at exactly 7.
25 pm after his Deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku who took his oath of office by 7:15 p. m.The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Hero’s Square in Owerri on Wednesday.
Nnadi while performing the swearing in said: “In line with section 185 (2) and Section 187 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and with the powers vested on me by the constitution, I hereby swear in Sen.
Hope Uzodinma as the sixth democratically elected governor of Imo state.”Uzodinma, in his inaugural speech, described his victory as `rare’ and a reminder that God is faithful and does not abandon those who trusted in him.
He thanked the apex court for restoring the people’s confidence in the judiciary and the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole as well as the party’s central working committee for their efforts in ensuring that justice prevailed.
“It is a historic judgement which has assured Nigerians and Imo in general that the judiciary remains the hope of the common man. This victory is for all Imo people, it is victory against impunity, victory for justice,” he said.
Uzodinma said he had forgiven all his political enemies and would carry everyone along adding that his government would revolve around reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery to ensure good governance.
“I will respect the principle of separation of powers and allow the other arms of government to operate independently for a better Imo. God bless Imo state,” he said.
The inauguration was attended by former Gov. Rochas Okorocha of the state and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, and Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume.
Others were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and serving members of the Federal House of Representatives from Imo, Mr Chike Okafor and Mr Kingsley Uju.
Also in attendance were the Ministers of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, and his counterpart in Solid Minerals, Dr Uche Ogah.
Others were traditional rulers, members of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Mr Chiji Collins, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, heads of security agencies, religious leaders and sundry.
Uzodinma had earlier received a Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja barely 24 hours the apex court nullified the election of Mr Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo. (NAN)
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
High Court sitting yesterday in Effraya, Etung local government area of Cross River state has granted motion exparte, disbanding the state Cocoa Allocation Surveillance team from operating at the government Cocoa estate.The court placed the injunction order restraining the team from harassing allottees of government cocoa farms in Etung local government of the state.
The order came five days after Otu’s administration issued a statement suspending activities of the surveillance team barring them from operating at government Cocoa estate in the state. The court presided over by Justice Amajama Eneji, yesterday after the proceedings, adjourned the matter for argument till May 23,2024 after a counter affidavit to the motion on notice and statement of defense was filed by counsel to Cross River State government Barr.Woda Ogar.In a brief interview with journalists at the court premises at Effraya, counsel to Cross River State government, Wada Ogar, said, “ I just came today to find out that there were 27 others recently filed.”The application ex parte was taken and has been variously adjourned to May 23rd for hearing of the motion on notice. But what I came here for was suit no. HA/16, 17 and 18, 2024 which have been served on me and I have filed my responses.”Well, it is the allegation of the claimants that some hooligans are taking over the plots over which we are in court, harassing the people and all that.”That is why in the first place, they brought an application ex parte to restrain those people and then they alleged that, surveillance committee set up by the government was being used to perpetrate illegalities, because of that, the court made another ex parte which had gone viral” Woda said.Meanwhile counsel for claimant, Mba Ukweni ( SAN),averred that he and his clients (claimants ) came to court to take a motion for interlocutory injunction to restrain government and its agents, her appointees from interfering with allottees of government cocoa farms.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State in his 100 days in office has been said to have made history with the payment of 100 percent monthly pension to Local Government Pensioners and 85 percent monthly salary to local government workers in the state.This positive development which started in the month of April, 2024, is coming after several years of percentage payment being experienced by local government pensioners and workers in the state.
It was a jubilation galore for the beneficiaries as they said that it will go a long way in cushioning the effect of the current economic hardship as well as giving them a sense of belonging with their counterparts in the Kogi State Civil Service. Governor Ododo also made his mark within the 100 days in office by entrenchment of good governance through the appointments of capable Commissioners and Special Advisers to kick start effective administration.In the education sector, Governor Ododo made his feat in the payment of external examination fees such as WAEC and JAMB, creation of online registration portal for the registration of indigenous students of Kogi in tertiary institutions across the country for payment of their bursary allowances, payment of outstanding fees to all Students’ Associations and Youth Organisations in the state.Ododo equally ensured the completion of internal roads at Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara as well as inspection of legacy projects in the institution and Kogi State University, Kabba.Furthermore, the Governor embarked on training of teachers in the Kogi State Public Schools/ Deployment of a new set of teachers recruited by the Kogi government.Inorder to boost food security within the period under review, Governor Ododo’s administration, cleared over 8,000 hectares of farmland for this year’s farming season, conducted a census of genuine farmers in the state to determine farmers to benefit from government subsidies and interventions and refurbishment of over 200 Tractors which were distributed to farmers across the state to carry out their farming activities.On information dissemination, the Governor installed a Transmitter at Radio Kogi headquarters in Lokoja to ensure effective publicity of government policies and programmes, provision of operational vehicles to the Radio Station and Solar Power to ensure uninterrupted transmission.In an effort to avert possible flooding in the state during this year’s raining season, Governor Ododo within his 100 days in office, awarded contract of N29.9Billion Erosion Control Projects at Ankpa, Okene and Ijumu local government areas
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Unknown gunmen have invaded Piko, a remote community in Bwari Area Council of Abuja and allegedly kidnapped thirteen persons.The operation which occurred midnight Sunday in the community, lasted for over one hour without any challenge from either the vigilance group or other security agencies.
A close source at the community said that the Madaki of the community, Chief John Jatau has confirmed that 10 residents were kidnapped from his domain, including 4 nomadic Fulani herdsmen. He noted that out of the four Fulani people, one escaped from the kidnappers’ custody.While he said that the kidnappers have demanded for a ransom of N900 million Naira, he also gave the names of the kidnapped victims from his community.According to him, the following people were kidnapped from his community and are still with their abductors, Nuhu anyiwoyi, Emmanuel Nuhu, Danjuma Ali, Parisa Numa, Ezekiel Jatau Shekwosa Ezekiel, Roseline Samuel, Salome Jacob, Abyelo Ezra, and Ezra Male.The source said, ” the kidnapping incident occurred last night being Sunday 05/05/2024, at about 11pm. The kidnappers raided the village for about one hour without any response , reaction from the community or outsiders, the major challenge the community faced last night in terms of communication to others was as a result of no telecommunication network in the village, so they picked people house to house from the community, picked about 13people, and later release three.”The madakin piko, he informed me that they have called and they said they need the ramson of N900,000,000 million (nine hundred millions). They picked about four Fulani people and one of them is released.”The FCT Police Command Public Relations officer, Josephine Adeh who was contacted through a WhatsApp message, neither confirmed nor refuted the Kidnap incident.She only asked “when was that” and never reacted till the time this report was filed.
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