The governor of Plateau state, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has announced the dissolution of the 17 Local Government Transition Implementation Committee Chairmen, effective from September 6, 2024.
The Governor in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs Mr Gyang Bere and made available to Newsmen Friday night directed all Directors of Personnel Managements (DPMs) across the 17 Council areas to assume responsibility for the administration of the local governments until elections are held on October 9, 2024 to fill the positions.
Governor Mutfwang commended the Transition Committee Chairmen for their exemplary leadership and dedication to advancing developmental projects that have directly impacted their communities.
He expressed pride in their accomplishments and urged them to continue offering valuable counsel to promote peace and unity within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Plateau State.
Governor Mutfwang also encouraged the former chairmen to collaborate with their constituents to ensure the party’s success in the forthcoming local government elections.
He thanked the people of Plateau State for their unwavering support, noting that the outcome of the PDP primaries for the chairmanship and councilorship elections reflects the deep connection the people have with the party.
The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to running an inclusive, transparent, and accountable government that serves the interests of all Plateau citizens.
Recall that the Transition Implementation Committee was constituted on June 9, 2023 upon assumption of duty by the Executive Governor of the state.
It was all crying and wailing Friday, at Afia Ekwe Building Materials market, Ogidi/Ogbunike, Idemili North/Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, following the submerging of the market by flood which resulted in the destruction of goods worth millions of naira.
Lamenting the gross destruction, one of the victims, Okechukwu Edwin, told newsmen that, “We came to our market this morning, being Friday, and found out that the entire Afia Ekwe Building Materials market has been submerged by flood caused by last night’s heavy downpour.
“You can see the traders trying to pick some of the destroyed goods. The flood came from Ogidi and Ogbunike. There is a drainage system that passes through the market and I believe the drainage system may have been blocked with wastes which resulted in the submerging of the market by flood.
“Again the drainage system is narrow and needs to be expanded to contain the volume of flood that comes from Ogidi and Ogbunike communities. It is worrisome that leadership of this market is not interested in the welfare of the traders but only interested in collection of money from traders,” he fumed.
Contacted, the chairman of the market, Hon. Adinnu Onyechi, said that the flooding was an annual occurrence that is a natural disaster even as he decried the magnitude of the damages done to the goods by the flood this time around.
“We experience the flood yearly and the last we witnessed the devastating effect was in 2019 before this very one that happened on the night of Thursday, when we came this morning, (Friday), we couldn’t believe our eyes, the destruction to goods was so devastating.
“The cause of this is that the drainage system that passes through the market is so narrow that it couldn’t contain the volume of flood from Ogidi and Ogbunike communities. We don’t have the huge sum of money for this project of expanding the drainage system.
“We appeal to the state government to come to our rescue. goods destroyed by the flood worth millions of naira. The victims are crying and pleading for assistance from the government,” he stated.
Contributing, another victim, Chinonso Okafor, while crying for government intervention, disclosed that it was the attachment built on top of the drainage system that blocked the flood from flowing through the drainage system and thereby submerging the market.
“That attachment was built on top of the drainage and it blocked the gutter and resulted in the flood submerging the market whenever there is rainfall. Those places blocked should be reopened. The gutter crossed the expressway but was blocked.
“This flooding has not been happening until they blocked the drainage at Attachment line and the one at the expressway. We urge Governor Soludo to come to our rescue by ensuring that these blocked portions are reopened,” he pleaded
The Ebonyi state government led by governor Francis Nwifuru on Thursday threatened to arrest and prosecute over 63 indigenous contractors for failure to complete the ongoing housing projects located at Amanze and Izzo communities, Ishielu local government area of the state.
The state government through the commissioner for housing and urban development, Francis Ori and commissioner for information and orientation, Jude Okpor, made this known while briefing journalists in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State.
Ori emphasized that the administration of governor Francis Nwifuru has issued an ultimatum of 25th September, 2024 to all contractors to complete all the housing projects and failure to do that, will attract immediate arrest and prosecution.
He said that 24 contractors out of the 87 others have completed their housing projects.
According to him: “You will recall that on 22nd September, 2023, Ebonyi State government awarded contracts to various contractors for the construction of 140 units of three bedroom bungalows for Izzo and Amanze autonomous communities. These one hundred -forty bedrooms were shared evenly 70/ 70 per autonomous community.
“Some of these contractors are still waiting to see what we will do up till a few days before the Ojiji festival, the Governor directed that any contractor who fails to finish his job on or before 25th of September shall be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the contract agreement.
“They are also aware that this is a contract and I do not see reasons contractors should default. There are ways we are going to go with them as contained in that agreement. Each of the contractors like a cheque or a guarantor deposited in the ministry that if we fail to do this work, deposit our cheque in a bank and get your money. It was written in the agreement and they all signed.
“So, it is one of the measures we are going to take against them. We will arrest the contractors if they fail to complete the job on or before September 25th and we will take that contractor to court to compel him to adhere to the contract agreement.
“I am not aware of any Governor’s kinsmen or stakeholders handling a project there and they are those I am having problems with. The law is there and it is a respecter of nobody. You cannot just wake up in the middle of the night and decide to change the goal post. It is not possible” he stated.
Responding, the commissioner for information and state orientation, Jude Okpor said: “The truth remains that Ebonyi is an economy all of us must make conscious effort to stimulate if the resources of the state are given access to participate in the execution of contract.
“It will go a long way to stimulate the economy of the state, because these people are going to buy materials from people of the state and invariably it will help them to pay their taxes and other obligations to the State.
“So, no matter who is involved as His Excellency said, the law will take its course at the end of the expiration of this time that has been set by the state government because nobody is going to drag the state government out because of its magananity to patronise local content” he stressed.
The national president of the association of local governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Maifata Aminu Mua’zu, together with the ALGON chairman Ebonyi State chapter, Moses Ogodo-Ali Nomeh have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governor Francis Nwifuru for granting financial autonomy to local government areas as stipulated by the supreme Court of Nigeria.
The duo, however warned the new council chairmen in the thirteen local government areas of Ebonyi State to be watchful and be mindful that the economic and financial crime commission, EFCC, will come after them, if they misuse the financial autonomy granted to them by the supreme Court.
The national president of ALGON, Mua’zu and Ogodo-Ali made this known while speaking with newsmen shortly after a program marking the inauguration of council chairmen in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State.
They said that the new council chairmen are privileged to witness the financial autonomy being granted to the local governments at this point in time, and as much, will ensure that there is massive development at the grassroots and communities in the state.
In their separate reactions, Mua’zu who was represented by the ALGON chairman of Kaduna state, Shuaibu Bawa Jaja said: “I charge the newly sworn-in local government chairmen, our colleagues in Ebonyi state to take charge of their constitutional responsibilities to manage the affairs of the local government, to manage the resources, to ensure the respect to the fundamental rule of law, to ensure the development of infrastructure, to ensure the welfare and well-being of the electorates who brought them into power.
“The financial autonomy is a welcome development in our body politics and we want to thank the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting the autonomy to the local governments, which we hope, it will serve in advancing the administrative and financial autonomy of the local governments, which we hope, very soon a lot of projects, a lot of welfare packages will come to the people at the grassroots” he stated.
Responding, the ALGON chairman, Ebonyi State chapter, Ogodo-Ali said: “I received the news of the financial autonomy to the local governments with mixed feelings. This is because, to whom much is giving, to whom much is expected. It is my belief that the council chairmen are capable of handling the financial autonomy given to them by the supreme Court.
“Financial autonomy has to go with caution. Caution in the sense that, we are under the rule of the law. When you are under the rule of law, you have to count on what you are doing. As you are getting autonomy, the EFCC will be watching you, the electorate is watching you and the governors will equally be watching you and it will be incumbent on you to mind your steps.
“We give thanks to God, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to our governor, Francis Nwifuru” he stated.
The member of house of representatives, representing Odukpani /Calabar Municipality, Bassey Akiba has called on the people of Aki Efa Community to take ownership of the ICT facilities in their Area, not to allow vandals to have their way by destroying them.
He made the call when wireless infrastructure providers operating under the aegis of ATC Nigeria wireless infrastructure limited commissioned a multiple million naira information and communication technology ICT Resource Centre to expose Akai Efa Community youths to digital education.
The reps member hailed the firm for setting up the facility that would encourage e-learning in the community, stressing that plans are in advanced stage sponsorship of over one hundred students of tertiary Institutions to acquire skills in various aspects of information and communication technology within a period of one.
“By the grace of God,our people will be coming here to learn and know how to access the entire world.
“And for us, we are coming here on September 8, 2024, on that day known as literacy day with about one hundred students from the tertiary Institutions to train them, and equip them with skills in various areas of ICT.
“We are going to launch an APP for our people to come here and apply,the first hundred students in the tertiary Institutions will be supported by us”.
“I want them to come here, open the website, open the website and apply. Apply for jobs everywhere”.
“On behalf of our royal fathers, village head,the leadership and entire people of Akai Efa community, on behalf of ATC Nigeria wireless communication services, I want to on behalf of everyone today August 31,2024, commission and open this centre for you”. He maintained.
Also speaking at the ceremony, representative of ATC Nigeria who facilitated the project at Akai Efa community,Mr Franklin Danmoul, averred that over 24 youths in Akai Efa community will be trained at the resource centre at a time adding that though the firm operates across 20 states of Nigeria,its operation is limited to communities where Peace thrived.
“Most of the things that we are going to teach during the training session are things that are taught in schools.He said.
In her remarks, female traditional ruler and village head ,Akai Efa community Her Royal Highness (HRH), Henrietta Efa-Akpera, who attracted the project to her domain canvasses stakeholders’ support for sustainability and protection of the facility against vandals’s attacks
The monarch lauded the development partner, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited, creating a platform for acquisition of digital education by the community youths and commended the reps member Hon. Bassey Akiba for providing quality representation that has ushered in development in the constituency.
Plateau State governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has joined the cream of well-wishers across the nation and beyond to pass a vote of confidence on the Vice President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima for his ability to steer the country’s economy.
The governor, Mutfwang extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, GCON, on the occasion of his 58th birthday.
Mutfwang in a message by his Director of Press and Public Affairs Mr Gyang Bere expressed confidence in the Vice President’s ability to steer the country’s economy to greater heights toward sustainable development.
He described Shettima as a dedicated and forthright leader, whose loyalty and commitment have significantly contributed to the success of the Renewed Hope Administration under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Mutfwang noted that this milestone in the Vice President’s life is a testament to his relentless hard work, dedication, and pursuit of excellence in public service.
“Throughout his distinguished career, from serving two terms as the Executive Governor of Borno State to representing Borno Central in the Senate, and now as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has exceptionally contributed and impacted countless lives across the nation.
The Governor further highlighted Shettima’s quest for justice, peace, and unity in the country, as his influence transcends ethnic, religious, and regional boundaries, showcasing his commitment to the nation’s indivisibility.
Mutfwang on behalf of the government and the peace-loving people of Plateau State, warmly congratulated Vice President Shettima on this remarkable occasion.
The Governor prayed for God’s continued blessings of good health and strength upon him, as he continues to render result-oriented service that will be a source of pride for the nation.
The Special Adviser to governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, on Trade and Markets, Evarist Uba, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Samuel Ike at the weekend, stressed the need for the people in the state to embark on self farming as remedy for the hunger in the country.
Speaking during the maiden new yam festival of the president general of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Humphrey Anuna, held at ASMATA secretariat, along Modebe road Onitsha.
Uba recalled that immediately after the nationwide hunger protest, that governor Soludo told Anambrarians that the only way out of the hunger was agriculture, especially farming.
“This is what will sustain us, all should embark on farming and there is a new method of farming. You farm at your doorstep, backyard, any little space, you now farm with baco bags. Governor said people should farm to stop hunger.
“The ASMATA is today celebrating his new yam festival, the yams he is using are the ones he brought from his farm and we need to emulate him as it is in line with the governor’s appeal for all to go into farming to stop hunger. It is a good thing to encourage people to farm,” he stated.
On the fear that Igbo culture and tradition may go into extinction, he reiterated that it is not possible adding that traditional wedding, kindred meeting, new yam festival, among others are part of the culture and tradition which unite most communities.
Also on the magic wand that brought about the peaceful atmosphere in markets in the state he disclosed that when a round peg is put in a round hole there will not be problem adding that Governor Soludo picked himself and others to sanitise, restore the lost glory of the markets and develop the markets.
“Also I am one of the traders and I grew up in Onitsha and as such I know the Knitty gritty of markets in the state. As a leader in the market you protect the traders and interest of the government. Once these things are done and government revenue generated, there will be no crisis in the market and this is what we are doing,” he further explained.
Contributing, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ike, said that his presence represented the interest of the government in the new yam celebration by the ASMATA, adding that it showed the PG is doing well in piloting the affairs of the traders.
“”I am happy to see the crowd, that shows the PG is doing well. If not there wouldn’t have been this large turn up of the traders. New yam festival is what Igbos are known for. Yam is the Chief crop that is cooked, fried, pounded and roasted. These four things about yam represent the four Igbo market days. Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo.
“The yams we are eating I was told were brought from the PG’s farm and that is what the present administration is preaching, go and farm to sack hunger. All hands should be on deck for more farm produce as Igbos are known for farming,” he pleaded.
He expressed satisfaction that the president general has been able to increase the revenue base of markets to #4.5million in 2023 stating that the PG has pledged to even increase it to #5billion during 2024 fiscal year.
In his own contribution, the Onitsha Main market zone 11 Public Relations Officer, PRO, Hon Chijioke Okpalugo, stated that the ASMATA PG was the first to celebrate a new yam festival as ASMATA PG adding that the yams were also cultivated in his farm.
“It shows that he is a good leader because he lives by example and as such should be emulated. I urge the traders to emulate our PG, he is doing us well and we will not relent in supporting our Governor through the PG.
“We also appeal to the Governor to enthrone good leaders at Onitsha Main market because what we have there are not good leaders but selfish leaders. Soludo is working and we have to pay our levies for development. He has sacked touts in the state,” he further disclosed.
In his response, the ASMATA PG said the new yam will be an annual event to promote culture in the markets and commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Governor’s aide, Uba, Permanent Secretary, market leaders, traditional title holders and stakeholders for joining him to celebrate the new yam festival despite their tight schedules.
Highlights on the occasion were honouring the ASMATA with a plaque by his executives on behalf of the entire traders in the state and presentation of certificates to about 200 market stakeholders by the president general, for their contribution towards market development.
The governor of Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru has threatened to arrest contractors for sabotaging his administration on project execution.
He noted that over 292 road projects that were awarded to various contractors in the state were abandoned, even when the contractors were mobilized to site by his administration.
The governor also approved the payment of Seventy thousand Minimum Wage to Civil Servants under the employ of the State.
Nwifuru, made this known while fielding questions from newsmen at the new government house, centenary city Abakaliki, shortly after the grand finale of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival 2024.
He said he has directed relevant government authorities to draft out modalities for the payment of the New Minimum Wage commencing September.
The governor, however, vowed to implement fully the local government financial autonomy, starting from the month of September 2024, adding that it’s unnecessary and inhuman for anyone to abandon state allocation and be putting eyes on the local government funds.
He frowned at the lackadaisical manner at which government projects awarded as contracts to prominent leaders of the state were handled, especially the housing estates at Izo Autonomous Community in Ishielu Local Government.
He gave a marching order to the Commissioner for Housing to ensure the painting of the houses immediately.
He further called on the people of Ebonyi State not to hesitate to report government projects suffering delay by contractors, even as he said anyone working against his government is working against the collective interest of the people of the state.
A women group under the umbrella of ‘Concerned Ohaukwu Women organization’ have few hours to the swearing-in of council chairmen in the state, petitioned the governor of Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru and the wife, to intervene and stop one, Mrs Gloria Ugwoke (elder Sister to the Ohaukwu Council Chairman) from parading herself and impersonating the wife of the chairman, Mrs Ukamaka Odono.
The women group who condemned in totality what they called impersonation and absurdity going on unabated in Ohaukwu Local Government Area since August, 2022 when Chief Ikechukwu Odono was sworn in as Chairman of the Council, vowed to stage a protest on the swearing-in day.
They accused Mrs. Ugwuoke of allegedly hijacking the position of Chairperson of the Council, and parading herself as one and taking all responsibilities and benefits accrued to the position, instead of the wife of the Chairman, Mrs Ukamaka Odono.
The women in a statement signed by it’s Chairman, Mrs Odinaka Eze and made available to Journalists in Abakaliki, urged the wife of the governor, Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru to use her good office and stop Mrs. Ugwuoke from impersonating the wife of the council chairman, insisting that they won’t allow such absurdity to happen again in the chairman’s second tenure.
They said that this impersonation has lasted for two years despite public outcry and the bad image it is bringing to Ebonyi State Government and Ohaukwu Local Government in particular. The women lamented that instead of minding her own home, Mrs Gloria Ugwoke, a Civil Servant with Ebonyi State Government, quickly abandoned her work on his younger brother’s assumption of office, relegated the Chairman’s wife to the background, grabbed the Chairperson’s position by force with the support of few individual members of the family who ganged up against the wife of the Chairman.
They recalled that on the day of the inauguration of the Chairman, Mrs Gloria Ugwoke, forcefully asserted herself as the Chairperson of the Council, attacked and pushed down the wife of the Chairman at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium and sat on the seat tagged for the wife of the Chairman. Since that day, she has been administering the office with impunity, attending meetings with other Chairpersons and hosting public functions as Ohaukwu Chairperson.
The women alleged that Gloria and her cohorts used diabolic means to cage and draft the Chairman into their agenda.
The women who said it is time to let the wife of the Governor, Chief Mrs Uzoamaka Nwifuru know that the person attending her meetings on the capacity of Chairperson of Ohaukwu is an imposter, noted that such wouldn’t have happened during the time of Chief Mrs Eunice Ukamaka Egwu, Chief Mrs Josephine Elechi and Chief Mrs Rachel Umahi.
They called on the Governor’s wife, Chief Mrs Uzoamaka Ogbonna Nwifuru to stand up and save her fellow woman from such humiliation and depression in order not to leave a legacy of bad precedent.
The petition reads in part: “We have endured so much and we have exhausted our patience. This time we are going to face her and her charms. We will arrest her for impersonation. We already have records of that. We can embarrass her anywhere if we see her parading herself. Since she doesn’t have shame and conscience, we will force her to have it this time.” They added.
“Position of Chairperson is not captured by the constitution of Nigeria. We know that. But it has been a practice since 1999 from Federal to Local Government level. By political definition, Chairperson means spouse and Gloria Ugwoke is not Odogwu’s wife. She should mind her husband and stop behaving in a manner that suggests she is regretting her marriage. What goes around comes around.
“She is sowing a seed she will definitely reap either today or tomorrow. But we are saying enough is enough. If the Chairman is not using his wife as Chairperson this time, let him close the office and run without the Chairperson. We won’t allow any other person except the right person.
When contacted, the Chairman’s wife, Mrs Ukamaka Odono who initially declined comment said “I love my husband and my husband loves me. I am living with him and I will continue to live. But I don’t know what is happening. I think he is being manipulated diabolically to deny me my rightful position. It is not ordinary. Nobody can help me. But I have handed it over to God” she lamented.
In a swift reaction, Mrs Gloria Ugwuoke said: “If they wrote a petition against me, Her Excellency, the wife of the governor, would not call me. She has my contacts and everything. I didn’t appoint myself as the Chairperson of Ohaukwu LGA, somebody appointed me.
“I’m waiting for the wife of the governor to call me, she knows me and has my contact. She knows that I’m the sister to the Ohaukwu Council chairman, Ikechukwu Odono and it’s not a hidden thing. And I didn’t appoint myself as the Chairperson of Ohaukwu LGA” she stressed.
The Chairman, Ikechukwu Odono, is yet to respond to the messages sent to him at the time of filing this report, and even when contacted on phone for reaction, he told The Nations News Nigeria correspondent, that he will call back and never called.
The Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone in the national assembly, Anthony Okorie Ani has urged Nigerians to continue having patience with President Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration, assuring that the President’s policies will soon yield positive results.
Okorie made this known while addressing a mammoth crowd during the empowerment event and distribution of over 1,000 bags of fertilizer to farmers and 65 motorcycles to youths that took place in Onicha Local Government Area of the state.
Senator Ani reiterated his commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to his constituents while advocating for continued support for the current administration.
He explained that the motorcycles that were distributed to youths are intended not only to empower the youths, but also to ease transportation challenges in the rural areas where vehicles cannot easily access.
“The only way to come out of economic gridlock is to be fully engaged in agriculture,” Senator Ani stated. “And the only way to boost agriculture is through fertilizer, giving it the manure it requires so that it will do well.”
The senator also outlined some of the constituency projects he has attracted to the zone, including the construction of 5km of roads in each of the five local government areas of Ebonyi South Senatorial District and the installation of solar-powered street lights across various communities.
In addition to these projects, the Senator mentioned the facilitation of employment placements for several constituents in key federal government agencies.
Adding “support to our farmers and economic empowerment of women and youths, some of which included the 65 Nos of Motorcycles that have been given out today. We have also facilitated employment placements of many people from our Zone into key federal government agencies,just to mention a few”.He said.
“Also, in the coming months, we shall be launching our educational support programme and digital tech skills drive among our teeming young population.Digital technology skill is a key requirement for survival in today’s world and we are embracing it squarely to ensure that our young people are sufficiently equipped to fit into the 21st century society”. He added.
Ani also called on Nigerians to remain patient with President Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, assuring them that the President means well for the country.
He expressed confidence that the policies being instituted would soon yield positive results, and Nigerians would eventually “sing songs of praises” for the President.
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