News

Home Coming: Minister Of Budget State, Honoured

Published

4 years ago

December 24, 2019

Dignitaries from all works of life particularly from Edo North, Monday, converged on Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state to honour the Minister of Budget and National Planning, State, Prince Clem Agba in a warm party reception organised by Afenmai Patriotic development Association (APDA).

The rich culture of the community and others such as the Ainikeke masquerade of Weppa Uwanu kingdom were in display to hold guests awe with their acrobatic dance.

Presenting gift of honour to the Minister, the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness, Momoh Ikelebe, described Prince Agba as illustrious and patriotic son of Afenmai whose good works worth emulation.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, State, Prince Clem Agba

While making known that the Prince as a minister now belong to the whole country, he urged him to use his position to influence more development to the area and help Afenmai natives like he did when he was a commissioner in the state.

“We know as a minister, the whole federation is your constituency, we want to however implore you to use your present position to attract more development to our area like you did as a commissioner. We know you as a hardworking and illustrious son of ours, so please attract development to our area and help Afenmia people”, the Monarch added.

From left 3rd, Minister of Budget and National Planning, State, Prince Agba, his wife Mrs. Agba and the interim president of APDA, Kennedy, Otaru of Auchi HRH, Momoh Kélébé (2nd left) and another traditional ruler at the ceremony

Earlier in his speech, interim president (APDA), Patriot (SHC) Kennedy Izuagbe, said they were proud of the minister for flying the flag of Afenmai without blemish both in the state and national.

“We remain proud of the monumental strides he achieved as Commissioner for Environment in the glorious years reigning of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State”, he added.

He therefore urged Prince Agba to use his present position and collaborate with the state government to harness the abundant minerals resources in Afenmai to develop the area, saying Afenmai deserves more than what it receives going by the resources in the area.

He added, “We implore you to collaborate with the Edo State government for optimal and strategic engagement on the huge natural resources deposited in both land and seas on Afenmai land for the immediate benefits of the Afenmai communities/people.

“Afenmai land is the most blessed part of our dear Edo State but yet the least developed.

“So many of the federal, state and community roads are impassable and have made commerce and social life of our people miserable.

“Knowing your pedigree, we believe that this your appointment will kindle and trigger all that is required to address these yawning developmental gaps in our affairs as a people.”

On his part, the celebrant, Clem Agba, thanked APDA for deeming it fit to honour and give him such warm reception.

He specially thanked the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for recommending him to President Mohammadu Buhari and for Mr. President for appointing him into his next level cabinet, saying he is the first Afenmai person to be appointed at the Federal level since 1999.

While noting that Afenmai, which comprises of Akoko Edo, Etsako and Owan is peopled by the best brains and leaders that have over the years demonstrated selflessness and commitment to national development, he said the area produced the first female senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The minister who said though he has money to offer individuals, vowed to use his present position to attract more development to the area and also Influence job placement for the Afenmia in his little way.

News

JUST IN: Wike’s Loyalist Rejects Fubara’s Redeployment, Resigns As Rivers Commissioner

Published

14 mins ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

The Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zaccaeus Adangor, SAN has rejected his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office), and consequently resigned from the State Executive Council.

Adangor’s resignation came barely 24 hours after the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, redeployed him in a minor cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday.

Fubara, in a letter issued on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, redeployed Adangor alongside the State Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, who himself was moved to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment.

Letter by the commissioner
Adangor and Kamalu, as well as seven other commissioners who had previously resigned from Fubara’s cabinet in the heat of the political crisis that rocked the state, are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Adangor’s resignation was contained in a letter he personally signed, dated April 24 and addressed to the SSG on Wednesday and obtained by The PUNCH correspondent.

The letter was titled, “Cabinet Reshufflement: Notice of Rejection of Deployment and Resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council.”

Adangor accused Fubara of willfully interfering with the performance of his duties as Commissioner.

He further said the governor had in the last few weeks directed him not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against his office and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.

The six-point letter reads, “My attention has been drawn to your letter dated April 23, 2024, and widely circulated on social media whereby I was “deployed to the ministry of special duties (governor’s office).

Letter by the commissioner

“Further to the referenced letter, I hereby give you notice of my rejection of the said deployment and resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council with effect from the 24th day of April 2024.

“I wish to state for the record that I am no longer willing to continue to serve in the administration of His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, in any capacity whatsoever.

“It is important to mention that the Governor of Rivers State had in the past couple of weeks willfully interfered with the performance of my duties as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, by directing me not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against the Honourable Attorney-General and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.

“Having served the Government and good people of Rivers State dutifully as a member of the Rivers State Executive Council for the past five years, it has become imperative for me to quit the administration in order to preserve my reputation.

“I wish the administration of His Excellency well.”

News

BREAKING: FG Grounds Dana Air Operations After Lagos Airport Incident

Published

46 mins ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has suspended Dana Airline operations due to concerns surrounding the safety and financial viability of their operations.

One of the airline’s craft with registration number 5N BKI skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

Details later

News

Commuters Stranded As Petrol Stations Shut In Anambra

Published

1 hour ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

Thousands of commuters and motorists in Anambra State were stranded on Wednesday following the shouting down of petrol stations across the state.

It was gathered that most petrol stations in the major cities of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Umunze, Ekwulobia and other environs were dispensing fuel on Wednesday morning.

From the Upper Iweka parks in Onitsha to the Aroma roundabout in Awka and other major cities, the situation was the same.

As a result, the limited number of vehicles on the road significantly raised transport fares by more than 200 per cent.

Commuters who managed to get on the few available buses were forced to pay exorbitant prices.

For example, commercial transporters charge N500 for a trip of N200, whereas a trip of N500 costs between N1,200 and N1,500.

The sudden development caught numerous commuters off guard, forcing several commuters to trek to different locations.

It was also observed that many offices and business premises have not been opened as of 10:30 am because employees have not reported for duty.

The reason why the petrol stations were shut down could not be immediately ascertained.

Meanwhile, the development generated a lot of mixed feelings among the public.

Fear grips Anambra community as river submerges vital 53-year bridge
While some people believed that the petrol stations were on strike, others believed that it was a deliberate attempt by the marketers to increase the pump price of the commodity.

A tricycle operator plying the Onitsha axis, identified as Tochukwu, said, “I bought fuel from the black market for as high as N1,350 per litre this morning to do work as we discovered that filling stations did not open.

“Some of my colleagues went to Asaba in Delta State to get the product, that is why the prices of transportation are high this morning.

“We don’t know why the filling stations are shut, but we are hearing that it is like they are in a meeting somewhere in Awka.

“We have experienced this kind of situation before and when they came back from their meeting that day, they hiked the pump price of petrol. It’s likely to be the same situation, we are watching as events unfold.”

A commuter at Awka, identified as Chinwe Okeke, said, “I have been standing at the Regina Caelis bus stop, for over two hours waiting to board a vehicle to UNIZIK, but it has been difficult. The vehicles that are coming have been charging very exorbitantly, I don’t know what is really happening.”

Contacted about the development, the Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Anthony Ifeanya, said, “There is no cause for alarm and commuters and motorists should not panic.

“It’s likely that the petrol marketers are in a meeting and whenever they are having such a meeting, shutting down petrol stations is a way of compelling every member to attend the meeting. Their meeting usually starts from morning till noon.”

It was also observed that the sudden fare hike also affected both inter-state and intra-state movements.