Category: Metro News

  • Inyang Asibong Dedicates Her Fellowship In Community Medicine To Governor Ben Ayade, And Her Senior Colleague, Dr Linda Ayade

    Inyang Asibong Dedicates Her Fellowship In Community Medicine To Governor Ben Ayade, And Her Senior Colleague, Dr Linda Ayade

     

    The Cross River State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong, has passed the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) Fellowship Examination with flying colours.

    With this, Asibong is now a Medical Consultant and a Fellow of the Prestigious West African College of Physicians, the highest Examination body recognized in the Medicine and Surgery cadre. She is also now a Fellow of Community Medicine.

    Dr Asibong, a former commissioner for Health, who dedicated the result to her boss, Governor Ben Ayade and wife said she passed the examination on the day the Governor secured his victory at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “The Lord has been really good to me and my wonderful Boss, and I dedicate my fellowship in Community Medicine to His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade, and my senior colleague, Dr Linda Ayade” she explained.

    She thanked everyone who contributed to making this dream come true.

    Established in 1960, the West African College of Physicians is a professional organization that promotes education, training, examinations and research in Medicine in Africa.The college is the first organization to organize Medical subspecialty training in the region. It awards fellowships in Medicine following rigorous training and Examinations and is one out of two bodies that accredits institutions to train Medical Resident Doctors in West African member countries.

  • Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: PDP Petitions Ayade’s CSO, Mark Anyogo For Alleged Electoral Violence

    Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: PDP Petitions Ayade’s CSO, Mark Anyogo For Alleged Electoral Violence

     

    Culled From CrossRiverWatch

    The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) has asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba to investigate and sanction CSP Mark Anyogo, who is the Chief Security Officer to Governor Ben Ayade, over his alleged role in the violence that occurred during the February 26th 2022, legislative by-elections in Cross River State.

    The party, through its lawyer, First Baba Isa in a letter addressed to IGP Baba and dated March 2nd, 2022 said CSP Anyogo with AP/no 94062 masterminded and carried out some of the violence and voters intimidation witnessed at the polls for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye-election

    The petitioner alleged that “On the 26th of February, 2022, during the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye-election, where the State Governor relocated the entire machinery of government to the Constituency and under his watch, violence of ineffable proportions was unleashed on the electorates who came out to vote; many persons were injured and maimed”, and that many witnesses confirmed it was CSP Mark Anyogo that led the security operatives.

    The petitioner called on the IGP and the police hierarchy to carryout “a thorough investigation of CSP Mark Anyogo and the other police personnel under his command who unleashed this monumental violence on innocent Nigerians.”

    Sources at the Force Headquarters say Mr. Anyogo has since been invited by the police service commission and is scheduled to appear before them on April 7th 2022.

  • Navy Inaugurates 22 Military Officers For Naval Warfare Course 6

    Navy Inaugurates 22 Military Officers For Naval Warfare Course 6

     

    The Naval War College Nigeria (NWC) has inaugurated 22 officers drawn from the Navy, Air Force and the Army as participants for the Naval Warfare Course 6.

    The senior officers were inaugurated on Friday in Calabar by the Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. Sahad Akinwande, who was represented by the Acting Commandant, Commodore Ajibola Ogunleye.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the officers, the Commandant said that the College was established in May 2017.

    He said that the College was established to build the capacity of selected naval officers and their equivalent in sister services at the operational level of maritime and joint warfare by developing their critical competencies.

    He said that there was an increasing sophistication of maritime security challenges such as piracy, armed robbery against ships, crude oil theft, terrorism, banditary, cultism among others.

    He added that such security challenges have all aggregated to expand the responsibilities of the Nigerian Navy beyond its traditional roles.

    “These security challenges, which are mostly asymmetric in nature, place increasing demand on our national resources and response capacity, hence the need to continually develop the professional ability of command level officers.

    “It is against this backdrop, that the NWC was structured to equip operational level officers with the requisite skill set in leadership, national security strategy, and operational art to overcome contemporary security challenges.

    “I charge you participants of the NWC to take advantage of this curriculum to better equip yourselves with the needed professional acumen for the security challenges currently facing our dear nation,” he added.

    Special Guest of Honour at the event, Rear Adm. Sanusi Ibrahim, said the objective of the College was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers of the Armed Forces.

    Ibrahim, noted that the NWC was aimed at developing operational level commanders who can deal decisively with the contemporary complex national security problems.

    Ibrahim, was represented by Rear Adm. Gregory Oamen, Chief Staff Officer of Eastern Naval Command.
    He said that such officers are prepared to make sound decisions in the application of maritime force as a policy option.
    “It is pertinent to state that the contemporary security challenges in the maritime environment have expanded the navy’s traditional roles

    “These roles moves from Maritime Security Operations to include inter-agency cooperation, international collaboration and large scale internal security deployments”, he said.
    Guest lecturer at the event, Rear Adm. Aliyu Lawal (rtd), delivered a lecture on the topic “Understanding Operational Level Wafare: Operational Art in Perspective.
    Adm. Lawal advocated for the inclusion of ‘cyber warfare studies’ in the curriculum of the NWC.
    He said that cyber studies was needed in the 21st century with a view to curb all cyber attacks from a distance.
    He urged the participants to see themselves as a model of operational level commanders of the armed forces.

  • NHRC Condemns Alleged Murder, Burning Of A Single Lady Who Demanded Father’s Inheritance In Ebonyi

    NHRC Condemns Alleged Murder, Burning Of A Single Lady Who Demanded Father’s Inheritance In Ebonyi

    By Peter Okiri – Abakaliki, Culled from Vanguard

    The National Human Right Commission, NHRC, yesterday condemned the gruesome murder of an Ebonyi lady who demanded her own share of her father’s inheritance.

    The single lady, Nnenaya Onu, 35, was allegedly murdered and burnt alive by her assailants as there have not been any record of their (assailants) arrest in the State, since the incident occurred.

    She was allegedly beaten, stripped naked, dismembered and burnt alive in Onicha Igboeze Community of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Vanguard investigation revealed that the victim was murdered behind her late father’s house as her only brother died some years ago, under a mysterious circumstance in the community.

    Confirming the incident, the State Coordinator, National Human Right Commission, NHRC, Mr. Christopher Onyekachi Okorie added that: “She was murdered in cold blood, her leg chopped off and her whole belongings heaped on her while she was burnt beyond recognition.

    “All these happened behind her father’s house at Onicha Igbeze of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    “Her offence is that she insisted on demanding her father’s inheritance as a woman. She was not married but lived in her late father’s house at Onicha Igbeze.

    “Her only brother died years ago under mysterious circumstances according to the old mother. She has a surviving sister, Juliet Onu, who is married.

    “Her old agonizing mother points at her cousins as the suspects of this atrocity due to their (the said Cousins) numerous threats to her life before she was eventually murdered, dismembered, and burnt.

    “Her killers forbade any person from the village from talking about the incident nor even sharing the photo of her burnt carcass either on social media or otherwise.

    “Her poor mother wants justice but has no money to sponsor police investigations and arrests.”

    Vanguard gathered that the victim was killed when her mother traveled out of the community to Abakaliki to visit Juliet, her daughter.

    Speaking with Vanguard on Phone, the State Coordinator of NHRC said, he has written a petition to Ebonyi State Police Command over the incident as he was yet to get any response from the Command.

    “According to the sister of the deceased, the incident took place on the 23rd of December 2021 and since then nothing has been done to bring justice to the victim.”

    Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Police Command, DSP Loveth Odah, who confirmed the incident added that she will get back to Vanguard on the present status of the case.

    https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/nhrc-condemns-alleged-murder-burning-of-a-single-lady-who-demanded-fathers-inheritance-in-ebonyi/amp/

  • 18 Year Old Obudu Born Blessing Ikung Graduates From US Military School

    18 Year Old Obudu Born Blessing Ikung Graduates From US Military School

    18 Year Old Obudu Born Blessing Ikung Graduates From US Military School

    She attended the army basic training school in Fort Jackson, South Carolina State, U.S.A and graduated as Private E2.

    She’s from Ibong village in Obudu Local Government Area.

    Blessing Ikung was born in Nigeria and moved to America with her parents in 2021.

    Her proud mother, Theresa Undie shared pictures on social media with the caption ‘I am the mother of an American soldier 🇺🇸

  • Woman Caught With Kidnapped Children In Port Harcourt

    Woman Caught With Kidnapped Children In Port Harcourt

     

    Children allegedly kidnapped by an aged woman have been rescued at Mango Estate, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.

    The woman whose name is still unknown, allegedly kidnapped and kept the children in her house.

    According to an eye witness, one of the children had escaped and informed people around. A mob broke into the house and found 6 children with their hands tied to their back with one already dead.

  • Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko?

    One of the amusing retortions I have received since I expressed readiness to set off from Okpoko is, “why Okpoko?”. There seems to be some sense of self-centred prioritisation from a few who believe there are more pressing issues than heading to Okpoko on a rescue mission. When you probe further to situate their dissent in context, what you get is that innocent desire in all of us to always “begin charity from home”. This may not be totally bad, especially when we all agree where home is or should be.

    For me, it is One Anambra, one People, one Agenda.

    If this be the case, it then follows that the often taken for granted but real assumption that “every system is only as strong as its weakest link” must then apply. This makes Okpoko a priority for starters and should worry every onye Anambra how a State that prides itself as the light of the nation would keep a deafening silence as Okpoko dies, yet spreading infectious social, economic and environmental malady that leaves Onitsha as a City in self-destruct.

    Ụmụnnem, ife dị na Okpoko; the Genius, the unemployed and the criminal. The challenge before us is to decide whether to continue ruing the ugly situation or turn the flipside that will provide us enormous opportunities for the development of our Homeland.

    Okpoko is the largest Urban slum in Anambra State. Therefore, we have to begin our urban renewal effort from our weakest link. Like my now 16 year old daughter once asked me when she was just 14, “it is not enough to wish change or show the will to cause a change. How are you sure, Daddy, that the people themselves want to change?”

    Of course, this is not so easy a question to be answered without far-reaching consultation with the people. So far, the people of Okpoko and residents, from Ndikpa to East Niger, are more in a hurry for a change than we can ever be.

    That trip I made in 2009 to Okpoko where I was accosted by a little boy, who raced towards me and audaciously demanded, “Soludo nyem ego” still occupies a better part of my memory. That boy, and millions like him need much more than money. They need a life.

    May God help us!

    CC. Soludo

  • NJC Places FCT Judge On Watchlist Over Misconduct

    NJC Places FCT Judge On Watchlist Over Misconduct

    Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, has been placed on watchlist over alleged misconduct.

    Soji Oye, spokesman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), announced this in a statement, saying the action was taken at the 97th meeting of the council on March 15 and March 16, 2022.

    Justice Idris was indicted for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgement in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd. The Suit was for recovery of demised property.

    The Council said the action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgement Enforcement Rules 2004.

    Another judge, Mohammed M. Ladan of the Kaduna State High Court, was issued a warning.

    The Council reportedly found merit in the petition written against Ladan in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University. He signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.

    According to Oye, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Chief Justice of Nigeria, recommended the appointment of six heads of courts and nine judicial officers for the federal and state high courts.

    The Council considered the list of candidates presented by its interview committee and recommended 15 judges to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment.

    Chief Judge David Gwong Mann (Plateau); Chief Judge Joseph Ahmed Awak (Gombe); Grand Kadi Abdulrahman Umar Abubakar (Kaduna); Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar (Kaduna); Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad (Taraba); President Customary Court of Appeal Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor (Rivers); and President Customary Court of Appeal Sampson Mbeh Anjor (Cross River).

    Meanwhile, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Emmanuel Gakko and the Deputy Chief Registrar, Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye are among the six judges appointed to the court.

    Others are, Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Aminu Garba, Musa Sulaiman Liman, and Ahmad Gama Mahmud.

    Others are Joseph Adebayo Aina (FCT); Sharia Court of Appeal Kadi Sallau Ismaila Madugu (Taraba); and Judge Customary Court of Appeal Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen (Taraba).

  • Linda Ayade Joins Ministry Of Women Affairs To Commemorate 2022 IWD In Calabar

    Linda Ayade Joins Ministry Of Women Affairs To Commemorate 2022 IWD In Calabar

    By Margaret Asikong

    The wife of Cross River State Governor, Lady Dr Linda Ayade, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs (MOWA), have joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) recently in Calabar, with the theme: “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.

    Speaking at the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Hope Waddel Avenue, Calabar, the venue for the celebration, the First Lady of the State, DrAyade said that it is an honour for her to be in the company of many amazing women on the special occasion of celebrating womanhood and reviewing their progress in the fight for freedom from stereotypes and discrimination that has gone on for many years.

    She stated that the theme for 2022 IWD focuses on breaking the bias against women and that they want a world where their uniqueness as women is valued as well as celebrated rather than for it to be opposed, despised and ignored, adding that they want a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, amongst others.

    She maintained that it is in pursuit of these goals that the UN Women aptly chose the theme for 2022 IWD.
    According to the Governor’s wife “Our society is better off when women get the opportunities they deserve. Our society has been deprived of certain advancements as a result of the woman being denied leadership opportunity and for many years this has been the status quo”, adding that, “Our plight as women in Nigeria is largely in our hands and whatever path we choose to follow will determine our ultimate end”.

    Dr. Linda Ayade lamented that among the sixty-eight proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution that members of the National Assembly had to vote on recently, only one out of the five gender equality bills passed, while the other four failed, adding that, about 95% men voted against some of the constitutional amendments that women want, such as; the right for a women to take indigene-ship of her husband’s state after five years of marriage, 35% affirmative action for women in party administration and leadership; 35% appointed positions to be reserved for women, specific seats to be allocated for women in the National Assembly and the right for a Nigerian woman to grant her foreign-born husband Nigerian Citizenship, yet, according to her, a Nigerian man’s foreign-born wife gets automatic citizenship.

    She maintained that having women in leadership position should become the norm and not the exception as many women have reached the apex of business conglomerates and banking institutions, while many seat on decision-making boards across the country and that excluding the woman from leadership positions is to exclude half of the country’s population from exercising their inherent talents and abilities. She however expressed joy that CRS is taking the lead in the political empowerment for women, with abundance of women at every strategic position in the state such as; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioner, Special Adviser, Director-General, Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Councilors, adding that, the narrative has changed, they have been strong in their fight for emancipation.
    She called on CRS women to become mentors to the younger generation that their daughters can look up to, teaching them by example to be assertive and also respectful; visionary, contented, hardworking and submissive to their husbands, amongst others, while applauding the women who have taken the bull by the horn on building a sustainable future for the young women.

    Lady Dr Ayade stated that her pledge to continue reaching women and the vulnerable in every LGA in the state with livelihood support and health inputs is real and that she has continued to redeem this across the state through the many activities and interventions of her NGOs – the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) and Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative (CROWEI).

    She used the occasion to express thanks to the organizations whose invaluable partnership has made their work impactful in various communities in Cross River and beyond such as; the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN women, UNFPA, Lafarge Africa, United Purpose, amongst others, while also expressing thanks to all present, especially the women of CRS for their support, as she looks forward to achieving a gender-balanced CRS with their support and wished all a happy women’s day.

    Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Mrs. Tina Banku Agbor said that the IWD is a special day to celebrate themselves as women not as men. According to her, a house without a woman looks different and is not complete, for the woman’s role is complementary, while admonishing the men to allow the women to be equal even in leadership position, for with a woman they can always sleep with their eyes closed, adding that, the women are capable of discharging their duties and assigned responsibilities effectively and efficiently and will not betray the men, amongst other things.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Surv. Dr. Gertrude Nnanjah Njar, on behalf of the entire staff of CRS Ministry of Women Affairs welcomed the wife of the State Governor and members of her entourage, as well as distinguished guests, the women of CRS and all present to the 2022 IWD.

    According to her, the MOWA is the hub of great activities in the Ayade-led administration with its mandate to cater for the women and children and that it has gone to the level of catering for the men as well as they are part of the women and society, hence the less traffic of complaints to the Office if the Wife of the Governor.
    She maintained that March 8, is always a great day for the women and girls internationally and that the women of CRS are joining their counterparts globally for the celebration of the great day set aside for women since 1917 after the Soviet-Russia women protest for the right to vote and be voted for, while lamenting that 105 years later, the women are still agitating for gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow.

    Surv. Dr. Gertrude Njar stated that women have strategic objectives and goals especially to groom leaders for tomorrow; create more successful entrepreneurs; create employment and wealth for women and girls, connect communities and build an ecosystem where everyone will connect digitally, share knowledge, as well as build communities for the future.

    In their goodwill messages, the Chairman of Calabar South LGA, Hon (Mrs) Esther Bassey, her counterpart in Odukpani LGA, Ntukai Hon (Mrs) Justina Edem and the Vice Chairman of Bakassi LGA and President of CROWEI, Eti-Eka Lawrencia Ita (JP) also lend their voices to congratulated all the women who have excelled in their chosen fields and expressed appreciation to Lady Dr Ayade and her dear husband for ensuring that many women are being brought into the Ayade-led administration , adding that, it is high time they showcase their God given talents, amongst other things.

    Highlights at the event included; presentation of award to Dr Linda Ayade, award of prizes to the winners of the march past, with Odukpani LGA taking the 1st position, Calabar South, 2nd position and Calabar Municipality taking the 3rd position respectively; goodwill messages, from UNFPA, NIDF, GADA, FIDA, MWA, CCCRN, NCF, GPI, amongst other partners, cultural displays, group photographs, amongst others.

  • CORAfrica Partners CWO To Commemorate International Women’s Day 2022

    CORAfrica Partners CWO To Commemorate International Women’s Day 2022

    By Elijah Ugani

    Children of Rural Africa, (CORAfrica) in partnership with the Catholic Women Organization (CWO of Ogoja Deanery) held a one day public lecture on the theme #BREAKING THE BIAS: Gender Equality Today for Sustainability Tomorrow; as part of its activities to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day.

    The event commenced with a road walk by the women which took off from Mount Carmel Secondary School, Igoli-Ogoja to the Thomas McGettrick Institute of Technology (old TTC).

    At arrival, the event began with series of lectures on the need and importance for women to rise to the challenge of Gender equality so as to break the bias against women.

    Declaring the event open, the Vicar General Administration of Ogoja Diocese, Spiritual Adviser of the Ogoja diocesan CWO and Founder of Children of Rural Africa, Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue PhD, noted that there is an urgent need for women to raise awareness on the need for gender equality for sustainability of the woman and the girl child.

    Fr Abue pledged CORAfrica’s commitment to collaborate with women organizations such as the CWO.

    In his words “There is an urgent need now more than ever to raise awareness on the need for gender equality for sustainability of the woman and the girl child especially in the face of ritual killings of our girls in Ogoja land and maltreatment of women especially widows in households.

    “CORAfrica as an organization is ever more ready to collaborate with women groups like the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) to help in the basic education, healthcare and economic empowerment of children and families to enable them thrive in thier respective locations.”

    He thanked the Deanery President of the CWO in Ogoja deanery Mrs Grace Modey for helping to organize her members towards a successful celebration of the IWD 2022.

    On her part, one of the speakers, Mrs Ann Modey who spoke on the theme, Breaking the bias through Security and Child education, cited Nehemiah’s prophecy and called on the women to rise to the challenge of ensuring that normalcy returns to Ogoja.

    She posited that the walls of Ogoja has been broken. And that it has never been as bad as it is currently. She decried the incessant ritual killings of female children and noted that children are highly in danger.

    Mrs Modey noted that sometimes women inadvertently act as accomplices to their children in cultism and prostitution through their inactions. She however, charged them to be open to their female children and tell them the truth about sex education.

    In another development, Mrs Anna Agba whose lecture was centered on Breaking the bias through Security and Awareness programmes, admonished women to desist from attitudes that lead to child trafficking as it has the tendency of impacting negatively on the overall well-being of the girl child.

    She listed some of the causes of child trafficking to include: Ignorance on the part of parents, poverty, greed, unnecessary competition among women, illiteracy, school dropout among other reasons.

    She cited a scenerio in Ogoja where a woman who lost her husband had used her three bedroom apartment to keep eight teenage girls and used them as sex workers for men. She lamented the situation and called on the police and law enforcement agencies to be alert in the area to abet such situations.

    In his closing remarks, the National Programme Manager of CORAfrica- Nigeria, Mr Attem Udejor expressed his appreciation to all participants and enjoined the CWO, UNCHR and the general public to always work together in support of CORAfrica activities.

    The event featured presentation of certificates of honor to deserving women who have distinguished themselves in different categories.

    The awardees were:
    1. Hon. Rita Ayim for Women participation in Political Activities and Awareness.
    2. Mrs Grace Modey for Women participation in Church Activities.
    3. Mrs Cecilia Ogar for Women activeness in the Civil Service
    4. Mrs Theresa Omara Achong for Women participation in Community Development and finally
    5. Women caring for Refugees and IDPs given to the UNHCR, Ogoja Sub Office, which was received by the Protection officer of UNHCR Mrs Molestsan Mmone.