News
Enugu guber: APGA candidate, Nweke denies stepping down for Ubah
A week to the governorship election, the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance Frank Nweke has denied media report that he has stepped down for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barrister Peter Mbah.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday at his campaign office in Enugu, Nweke said he never stepped down for anyone and insisted that he remain a man to beat.
He urged the public to ignore reports making round, adding that purveyors of the fake report are afraid of him.
“I will begin with addressing the upsurge of fake news, misinformation and the misrepresentation of my character in the media As I shared in my statement yesterday. I believe that calumny, fake news and character assassinations are disrespectful to our people who face real and dire challenges in their everyday lives.
“Those who spread such falsehood have no interest in service but desire to keep Enugu in a web of lies and ineptitude. Therefore, will address these issues summarily. Yesterday, an attention seeking propagandist reported that I stepped down for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Peter Mbah
“Please, tell everyone you know, that Frank Nweke Jr is in this governorship race to win it for the good of Enugu,” he said.
Speaking on Enugu State PDP’s plan to disrupt the State General Election of March 11, 2023, Nweke said that PDP have compromised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, warning that they will not take lightly any plan to subvert or abuse the democratic process.
“I am compelled to bring to the attention of the public the grand and devious plans of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State to compromise INEC officials and adhoc staff to bypass the use of BVAS and generally disrupt the governorship and house of assembly elections in the state through the use of thugs to cause mayhem. with a view to dispersing voters at polling units in order to have opportunity to rig the elections, subvert the will of the people to achieve victory at all costs.
“Since suffering massive losses across the state on February 25, 2023, the PDP have held series of meetings at various locations to perfect their nefarious plans to ensure that they disrupt the electoral process, compromise INEC staff and deploy maximum violence.
“A source that attended the meetings reported that they lamented that they were falsely led into believing that BVAS was impregnable by INEC and that manual voting was impossible.
“According to them events in Port Harcourt and some parts of the country had demonstrated otherwise, and that they must now take advantage of it by deploying sums of money to compromise INEC staff, buy votes and cause maximum violence to scare voters who do not vote for them and intimidate others into voting for them against their will.
“They have therefore resolved to buy INEC staff to sabotage the elections as described above, and also to specifically ensure that the original result sheets are neither brought to the polling units nor the ward and local government collation centres.
“Since the iREV malfunctioned last Saturday, they reasoned that they would calmly write new results when the representatives of other political parties disperse at various collation centres in the belief that results had been announced.
“The compromised INEC team is led by a staff of INEC called ‘Ifenna Onoh’ who for several years has been the liaison between the State government and in particular, the Chief of Staff, Enugu Government House and INEC officials. It would appear that the relationship has been groomed for years in preparation for this election.
“It was reported that Mrs Ifenna Onoh has been a beneficiary of land allocations, and pilgrimage allocations and in exchange, has succeeded in recruiting staff for the benefit of the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, particularly into the ICT department.
“We have also been informed that sums running into hundreds of millions have been exchanged over the years and through third-party agents to conceal the money trail. Mrs Onoh is therefore under obligation to do everything in her power to ensure the declaration of Peter Mbah as the next Governor of Enugu State,” he said.
According to him, currently, INEC maintains a secret office at Fontana Hotels located at Independence Layout for the purpose of rigging election.
“They have also produced Security Systems Uniforms for thugs to disguise as escorts to INEC personnel from the point of dispatch to a pre-arranged location where rigging will be carried out using the non-collected PVCs of voters across the 17 Local Government Areas.
“The above information has been shared with the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the State Security Service, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defence staff and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The purpose of this revelation is to let Ndi-Enugu know that the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Enugu will do all that is possible to guarantee the safety of our people. Ensure that you exercise your right to vote on March 11 and see that your vote is protected,” he said.
On the purported endorsement and congratulatory message to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nweke Jr, denied endorsing him, saying it was absolutely false and concocted from the imagination of mischievous Individual, adding that he is Obidient and believe on competent of Peter Obi.
“I can confirm that it is absolutely false and concocted from the imagination of a mischievous individual. have never hidden the fact that I support Peter Obi and as have often said, I am Frankly Obidient. My position on who I believe is most competent to lead our nation has not changed,” he said,
News
Edo Killings: Governor Okpebholo, Barau vow justice as 14 suspects moved to Abuja for interrogation
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau have vowed that perpetrators of the heinous killing of 16 northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State on Thursday last week are brought to justice to serve as deterrence to others.
This was even as Okpebholo paid a condolence visit to the Deputy President of the Senate, over the killings of travellers in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The governor was at the Maitama residence of the Deputy President of the Senate in Abuja on Monday.
A mob had intercepted the innocent travellers who were on their way to Kano State for Sallah celebrations, ransacked their vehicle and gruesomely murdered them on Thursday. The victims who were hunters are from Kano State.
The Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ismail Mudashir, said the governor extended his condolences to the Deputy President of the Senate, who is from Kano State, pledging that the state government will assist the families of the victims.
The Edo State governor disclosed that the 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killings of the innocent travellers are going to be taken to Abuja for further interrogation.
While assuring that the perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law, he described the killings of the innocent travellers as unfortunate and condemnable.
” It’s unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to say, to let you and other people know that we are not happy.
The president is doing something drastic about this. He’s not happy also. The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects.
” So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased,” he said.
Responding, the Deputy President of the Senate said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
” We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want – all Nigerians, what they are looking forward to is to make sure that these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction. And I’m also glad you’ve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected.
” I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. It’s a barbaric action, to say the facts.
“If they are brought to justice, it would serve as a deterrent to those who might want to do this in future. I know that people from other parts of the country have been staying with your people in Edo for centuries in a very conducive atmosphere. And this barbaric act has never happened. I’m sure, under your watch, this will not happen again.
” I thank you very much. You’ve told me now that you’ll meet the Kano State governor today. This is very good. Please continue what you are doing. Mr President also told us that you are doing very well in this direction, and we have seen it because, as I said, we have spoken several times on this matter in the last 72 hours,” he said.
The Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Edison Ehie, has revealed how he was offered the sum of N5 billion to coordinate the impeachment of his principal, Siminalayi Fubara.
He stated this on the popular Channels Television on Sunday Politics, claiming that he has evidence stored on his phone to substantiate his claims.
The impeachment of the governor has been the desire of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers and a current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, hence, the claim, if substantiated would have been linked to the camp of the Minsiter, Nyesom Wike.
“I can also open my phone to show you, in the beginning of October 2023, when they approached me with a bribe of N5 billion. It is here in my phone.
“It was for impeachment. It’s here. I have it and I have printed it and distributed it, in case, in their evil imagination, they decide to attack me. I already have a son and a brother,” he said.
According to Ehie, the mouth watering offer was made while he was serving as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Reacting to claims that the embattled governor told him to bomb the State House of Assembly, he denied, saying that Fubara never told him to do so, while he challenged the former Head of Service prove evidence.
His denial was at the backdrop of claims by the former Head of Service of Rivers State, George Nwaeke that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie at the Government House to organize the bombing of the House of Assembly complex to avoid impeachment of the governor.
Nwaeke however, said, he didn’t the amount of money in the bag that was handed over to the Ehie.
Dismissing the claims as false and politically motivated, Ehie said, “It is very important to clarify that I had no hand and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Like everyone else, I woke up in the early hours of 30th of October 2023 to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
Ehie stated that he had instructed his lawyers to file a lawsuit against Nwaeke for criminal libel.
“I will not join issues completely with Mr. George Nwaeke because I have already instructed my lawyers to file an issue of criminal libel against him, and I hope he is very prepared to substantiate his claims and his allegations,” he said.
He further alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned as head of service.
Rivers State has been in turmoil since Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike.
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended both the governor and his deputy.
Subsequently, on March 26, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.
The Education Ministry said it is in contact with security and education officials and is coordinating with admins and parents.
A plane carrying a group of 150 Israeli students on a trip to Poland made an intermediate landing in Antalya, Turkey, the Education Ministry said on Monday.
The landing was made following concerns about a technical malfunction, and for reasons of caution, a decision was made to stop in accordance with aviation rules.
N12 reported that a bird had entered the plane’s engine during the flight.
The high school student delegation – from Ein Kerem High School in Jerusalem – was en route to Poland on a standard school trip to learn about the events of the Holocaust. They were accompanied by security personnel from the Shin Bet, as is customary for any delegation to Poland.
The Education Ministry said that they are in continuous contact with security and education officials and are in coordination with school administrations and parents.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. September 19, 2021. (credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)
It was reported that all the students “are feeling well, staying in a safe and protected area within the airport, and are closely accompanied by the teaching staff who are with them at all times.”
In addition, the ministry was informed that a replacement plane is on its way to them, and it is estimated that at 3:00 p.m., they will take off for Krakow to continue their educational journey.
Holocaust learning
Israeli school trips to Poland typically take place in the winter and the summer, and, according to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, aim to allow “students to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, to be exposed to the atrocities that took place, and to prove the victory and resurrection over the attempt to destroy the Jewish people.”
In November 2023, the ministry announced it would cancel the winter Poland trips due to the rise of antisemitism worldwide in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.
Edo Killings: Governor Okpebholo, Barau vow justice as 14 suspects moved to Abuja for interrogation
Rivers Chief of Staff reveals how Wike’s camp offered N5bn bribe to impeach Fubara
Plane carrying Israeli students to Poland makes emergency landing in Turkey
-
Foreign1 week agoHouthis declare Ben-Gurion Airport ‘no longer safe’ after renewed Gaza fighting
-
News2 days agoKogi Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo salutes Tinubu at 74
-
Security2 days agoNew Commissioner of Police in Niger, Elleman sends strong warning to criminals
-
News1 week agoUmeh denies receiving $10,000 with other 42 Senators to support state of emergency in Rivers
-
News1 day agoAbia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support
-
News2 days agoPlateau LP stakeholders endorses Barr Gyang Zi’s defection to APC
-
Sports1 week ago2026 World Cup Race: Ekong says Eagles feel great to be back in contention
-
News2 days agoAkpabio pays historic visit to office of SA to President on Senate Matters