Edo Election: INEC Warns Youths Against Violence

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo, Dr Johnson Alalibo, has warned the youth against violence during the September 19 governorship election in the state

He said that the warning to the youth was necessary so that INEC could deliver free, fair, credible and peaceful election in the state.

He stated this on Wednesday as a guest during the “Vote Not Fight Campaign,” programme organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Benin.


He disclosed that in the last one month, he had been making efforts to ensure a smooth, credible and peaceful conduct of the poll.

“To promote democracy, we must promote peace. In Edo, we have started seeing untoward activities by political actors and operators.

“The youth are more vulnerable to be used for electoral violence. If we want free, fair, credible and peaceful election in Edo State on September 19, the youths must shun violence during the campaigns and the poll.

“The politicians should avoid offensive language in their jingles and campaigns. To deepen democracy, the election must be devoid of violence,” he said.

While commending the NDI for the programme aimed at ensuring a rancour free elections in Edo, Alalibo urged the security agencies and other stakeholders to continue to support the electoral commission.



Similarly, Mr Johnson Kokunmo, Edo Commissioner of Police, said that the INEC and security agencies were on hot seat to get the election right to promote democracy and move Nigeria forward.

Represented by the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the State’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Ayo Faniyan, Kokunmo solicited credible information about criminals and illegal activities from the public.

He, however, said that the Edo Police Command was ready for the election.

NDI Senior Programme Manager Mr Bem Aga, who pleaded with Nigerians, particularly Edo residents not to cause violence, stressed that the governorship election should not be seen as war.

The NDI chief said that there would not be development without peace and that nobody would benefit from violence.

He called on the public to refrain from hate speech, misinformation, disinformation and fake news that could lead to violence.

In his remarks, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative Israel Orekha noted that the organisation decided to partner NDI to ensure violence-free election in Edo.

In her speech, Edo Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Grace Eseka, who was represented by the agency’s Assistant Director, Political/Civic, Ethics and Value, Mrs Ose Akhahon, noted that officials of NOA had been moving round the state to preach non-violence for credible election. (NAN)

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Edo election: INEC warns youths against violence - Orient Daily News

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo, Dr Johnson Alalibo, has warned the youth against violence during the September 19 governorship election in the state He said that the warning to

How Aba Tricycle Operators Sabotage COVID-19 Safety Measures
By Orientdaily
Failure of commercial tricycle operators in Aba to observe safety measures put in place by the Abia state government to checkmate the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state has been blamed for the high rate of COVID-19 cases in the commercial city.

Orient Weekend gathered that despite safety directives issued by the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led administration, the tricycle operators continued to carry five passengers, three passengers on the back seat, two besides the driver.


The flouting of the government directive on COVID-19 social distancing, this paper gathers was not as a result of ignorance but desperation by the operators to make money off commuters.Recall that Governor Ikpeazu, had earlier in April issued directives to Keke operators in the state to carry maximum of two passengers per trip- two behind and the operator making it three as part of social distancing protocol.

Mini buses, popularly called “Oke Bekee” were equally directed to carry only five passengers per trip, while 14-seater buses were to carry maximum of 8 passengers per trip with none in front except the driver. The inter-state bus parks or terminals were equally mandated to procure and deploy digital thermometers for screening of passengers, as well as provide hand sanitizers and hand washing materials for use, by all staff and passengers or risk immediate closure.

Shortly after issuing the directive as part of the lockdown measures to forestall further spread of the virus across the state, also set up COVID-19 enforcement task force to ensure strict compliance to the directives.Governor Ikpeazu would later on April 26 impose a dusk to dawn (6.00pm to 6.00am) curfew in the state as the crisis escalates nationwide and directed enforcement agents to drag defaulters of the lockdown directive to newly established mobile courts for prosecution.

Ikpeazu had, while appealing for understanding from citizens groaning under the pains of the lockdown explained that the stringent measures were imposed to checkmate the spread of the deadly virus in the state.Shortly after the government announced relaxation of the lockdown in early May, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chris Ezem, explained in a statement that commercial tricycle (Keke) operators and all other intra-state commercial transporters would be allowed to operate with some degrees of restrictions provided they obey the measures including use of face masks.

“While keke operators can only carry two passengers at every point in time, mini buses and other buses must not seat more than two persons per row with all passengers including the driver wearing face masks,” Ezem said.

Why we flout order Checks by this paper in the commercial city of Aba indicates that two months after the lockdown was eased, keke-operators have continued to flout COVID-19 safety measures, with even face masks’ wearing already becoming a thing of the past especially for passengers and pedestrians.

While some that spoke to the reporter blamed government for not doing enough to help the situation, others said that there is nothing like coronavirus in Nigeria not to talk of Abia state.Obinna, a keke operator who hails from Okigwe, blamed hardship for the flouting of the government safety directives.

“When COVID-19 started, we thought that it would be over in a matter of a month or so, just like Ebola; but the situation is not getting any better. Now look at it from March till today and count the number of months we have suffered under this so called virus.

I have a family I feed and cannot continue to give them excuses each time I return.”We have expected government to intervene and do something such as palliatives but they don’t but instead force hardship on us because they have other means of survival and a way to get us. Government should find a way to solve the issue before somebody will die of hunger,” he said.For Chinedu, another tricycle operator from Isuochi, who plies Obohia – Park axis, the government directive was impracticable. “There is no way I will bring out my keke and carry only two passengers.

That is not possible instead let the police chase me round the whole Aba town, I am equal to the task.“Since I started operating tricycle, I have never carried less than the normal passenger except there is no passenger to carry”, he added.Keke operator, who identified himself as George, claimed that he disregarded the government’s directive because COVID-19 is not in Aba and even in Nigeria. “All the stories are politics and a way to steal our money. If they say someone has COVID-19, let them bring such person let us see or even bring those they said have died let us see.This paper, however, discovered that some keke operators who operates from park to ogbo hill observe the safety measures as instructed by the state government especially in the area of the number of passengers to be carried on single trip but do not take serious the issue of face mask.

Fare Hike:A resident of Ogbohill, who spoke on the condition of anonymity told our reporter that following the COVID-19 order of 2 passengers only, tricycle operators are now forced to heap the full weight of their loss on the passengers as they (passengers) are now charged double of the usual fare. According to him, a drop from park to Ogbo hill is charge N100 while at times N150, obohia to either Ehi road or park is charged N100 instead of the usual N50 for the trip.

He said further, “From park to Nkwo Obohia used to be N50 for the four occupants of the seats but now passengers are forced to part with N100 even when the Keke operators carry four passengers as against the instructed two passengers”.

Chinyere Udensi, who works as sales lady at Ehi road but lives at Nkwo Ngwa told our reporter that following the hike in transportation fare within the town, she can barely afford to enter tricycle again.”Since the increase in the drop price, I don’t use keke again. I now prefer trekking so that I don’t waste all my salary enjoying keke.

My salary is not more than ten thousand naira and you calculate how much it will cost me to transport myself a month. The only thing I do is to wake up early so that I don’t have problem with my oga”.Another shop owner at cemetery market simply identified as mama Ejima, told our reporter that the price has been a burden on her since the emergence of COVID-19 lockdown especially the period when the market operations functioned for restricted days and hours. ” we barely sale anything but we have to return to our homes and pay for transports in the process.

We pay N100 coming and N100 going as against the usual N50″.When contacted, the chairman Aba Tricycle Riders Integrated Welfare Association (ATRIWA), Barr St. Moses Ogbonna denied the allegations adding that the operators under his leadership had been complying with the government order.

“Tricycle operators under ATRIWA have not been flouting the state government order except you are talking about other unions in Aba”.

However, efforts made to contact Comr. Eugene Eze-job of SATOA proved futile as his line was not reachable.

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How Aba tricycle operators sabotage COVID-19 safety measures - Orient Daily News

By Lawrence Nwimo Failure of commercial tricycle operators in Aba to observe safety measures put in place by the Abia state government to checkmate the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state has been blamed for the high rate of COVID-19 cases in

Abia Govt Set To Re-Engage 5,853 Sacked Secondary School Teachers

Abia state government says it is taking steps to engage some of the teachers illegally employed by the Secondary Education Management Board (SEM in the state.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made this public at a meeting he held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia with the SEMB staff from Abia Central affected by the recent employment racketeering at the board.


He assured that the employment the government intends to engage in would be done systematically and across all the LGAs in the state in line with the employment guidelines of Federal Character Commission.The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Anthony Agbazuere, said the government decided to take the steps as it has discovered that there is need to employ teachers in relevant areas in some schools.

He then directed head teachers of various schools in the state that have need for teachers to write to government and indicate areas they lack teachers. He said that his government understands their plight hence, the decision to assist them.Governor Ikpeazu used the opportunity to explain that the waiver granted to SEMB to employ was for 187 teachers only but regretted that a total of 5,853 was employed instead.

He stressed the need for government officials to work within the scope of their duties and not to embarrass government by their unguarded actions.In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Kanelechi Nwangwa urged school heads to inform government of their needs in terms of teachers. He assured that the state government would take some of the teachers formerly engaged by SEMB.

He thanked the Governor for his sincere love and concerns to Abia state school system and teachers.The acting executive secretary, SEMB, Lady Happiness Nwabaji appreciated the governor for his listening ear and his education friendly disposition. She appreciated him for taking measures to bring solution to the recent employment problem in the SEMB.

She urged the affected teachers to be patient with the government.In their responses, some of the affected teachers, Victor Nwadi, Eze Enyi and Onyenobya Precious thanked the governor for feeling their plights which made him to invite them for a meeting. They regretted the actions of the former Executive Secretary of SEMB that now affected them negatively and expressed hope that the government decisions would favour them.

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High Court Convicts 3 Pirates Over Kidnap, Hijack Of Vessel

The Federal High Court (FHC) Port Harcourt has convicted 3 of the 9 accused persons, who on March 21, hijacked an Equatorial Guinea flagged vessel, MV ELOBEY VI off Equatorial Guinea coast.Navy Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said Justice Ishaq Sani gave the judgement on Monday.

Dahun said the judge summarily convicted Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar and Ghane Gordon on counts 1 and 2. He said that the three were convicted under the new Anti-Piracy Act 2019 and ordered to pay a fine of N10 Million each on each of the counts.

Dahun said during the hearing, the prosecution filed an amended charge dated August 7. “In its ruling on the bail application, the bail application was not granted because the accused persons may not make themselves available to stand trial if granted bail.

Consequently, the court arraigned the accused persons on the amended charges.“During the proceedings, Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar and Ghane Gordon pleaded guilty to counts 1 and 2 and not guilty to counts 3 to 5, while the remaining 6 accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

“Accordingly, the prosecutor applied to the court to withdraw the charges on which the accused persons pleaded not guilty. The prayer was granted and the accused persons were discharged on counts 3 to 5,” he said.Dahun recalled that the Nigerian Navy had arrested Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar, Ghane Gordon, Hassan Hakeem, Gregory Smith, Ofem Uket, John Mark, Chidi Amadi and Eze Amadi, who were suspected to be members of the kidnapping syndicate that hijacked the vessel.

He said that it was reported that the kidnappers demanded for a 2 million dollars ransom out of which 200,000 dollars ransom was eventually paid. Dahun said after their arrest by the Nigerian Navy, the suspects were arraigned before the FHC, Port Harcourt on July 23 on a 7-count charge to which all the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

“As a result, the counsel to the accused persons made an application for bail pending conclusion of the trial. Accordingly, the matter was adjourned to Aug. 10, 11 and 12 for ruling on the bail application and commencement of the trial,” he said. (NAN)

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High Court convicts 3 pirates over kidnap, hijack of vessel - Orient Daily News

The Federal High Court (FHC) Port Harcourt has convicted 3 of the 9 accused persons, who on March 21, hijacked an Equatorial Guinea flagged vessel, MV ELOBEY VI off Equatorial Guinea coast.Navy Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, who ma

Today on the @theawakeningp, the guests will do justice to the theme - Exploring the Opportunities for Youths in the Agricultural Value Chain.

Do well to tune in by 2pm on @dream925fm
#theawakeningp #ekwendigbo @southsaharan

Today on the @theawakeningp, the guests will do justice to the theme - Exploring the Opportunities for Youths in the Agricultural Value Chain.

Do well to tune in by 2pm on @dream925fm
#theawakeningp #ekwendigbo @southsaharan

Today on the @theawakeningp, the guests will do justice to the theme - Exploring the Opportunities for Youths in the Agricultural Value Chain.

Do well to tune in by 2pm on @dream925fm
#theawakeningp #ekwendigbo @southsaharan