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Nigerian Senate passes Bill seeking the establishment of the South East Development Commission.

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The commission is to be charged with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region as a result of the effects of the civil war.

The Red Chamber took the decision while considering the bill’s clauses at its Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The House of Representatives, on December 21, 2023, at its Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who is also the sponsor of the bill, unanimously passed it for a third reading and sent it to the Senate for concurrence.

The commission, when established, shall, among other functions, “conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the South East states.

The areas of intervention will include transportation including roads, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialization, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications.

Other functions include, “tackling ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and mining of solid mineral, exploration of oil mineral in the Southeast states and advise the Federal Government and the member states on the prevention and control of oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental pollution; liaise with the various solid mineral extraction and mining companies and oil and gas prospecting and producing companies on all matters of pollution prevention and control; and execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Commission are required for the sustainable development of the South East States and its peoples.”

n his remarks after the Bill was passed, Akpabio noted that once the Bill becomes law, it will bring development and the region’s fears will be addressed.

Akpabio said, “It’s a very important bill passed by this 10th Senate. This bill addresses all the fears of our brothers and sisters from the South East. I want to say congratulations.

“I pray this commission will bring a lot of development to the South East and we will assist you to stop any form of agitation and bring peace to your region. When harmonised, it will address the fears of the southeast.”

With the passage at both chambers, a conference committee will be set up to harmonise differences before it will be transmitted to the President for his assent.

The Senate had on Wednesday, passed for second reading, bills seeking for the establishment of the South West Development Commission and North Central Development Commission.

Senator Gbenga Daniel in his lead debate for the South West Development Commission Bill, said the commission would be charged with responsibilities among others, to receive and manage funds from the Federation Account, including donations and gifts, for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructural damages suffered by the region and to tackle ecological, environmental and other developmental challenges and for related matters.

Senator Abba Moro, in his presentation, said the proposed North Central Development Commission will catalyse the development of the array of potentials of the North Central as well as address the gap in the infrastructural development of the region and related matters.

Politics

Kebbi ADC suspends state chairman, two others

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State has suspended its chairman, Engineer Sufiyanu Bala, along with his deputy, Junaidu Muhammed Mudi, and the state secretary, Hauwa Muhammed.

Speaking to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the party’s publicity secretary, Jamilu Muhammed, accused the Sufiyanu-led leadership of making decisions without consulting other executives.

“We address you today to announce the immediate suspension of Sufiyanu Bala, his deputy, and secretary Hauwa from the party with immediate effect,” he said.

Muhammed alleged that the suspended leaders allowed Abuja nomadic politicians to dominate the party, a move strongly opposed by the founding members.

“We will not, after tailoring the party to its present status, allow Abuja politicians to dominate it,” he added.

According to him, the decision came after an extraordinary meeting of loyal ADC members and stakeholders who have been with the party long before the coming of Abuja impostors.

The party has appointed Abdulrazaq Abubakar Isah Iko as interim chairman and Adamu Aliyu as acting secretary until a new congress is held.

The Kebbi ADC warned the suspended members to stop identifying themselves as party officials or carrying out activities in the party’s name.

It also condemned political gatherings organised by the suspended officials, saying such actions violate the Electoral Act.

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Ekwunife blasts Soludo, says government House not his birthright

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Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Uche Ekwunife has warned Governor Soludo to get ready to hand over power, insisting that the government house is not his birthright.

Senator Ekwunife stated this while addressing party faithful in her country home in Nri, Anaocha Council area of the state where she described the administration of the governor as an abysmal failure in all round development and security of lives and property.

“Soludo and I are not at war, what is happening is that what he is currently holding is what we want. The constitution of Nigeria made it four year term for every elected governor. And if you do well, you will be re-elected but in the case of Soludo, it is obvious he has lost touch with governance and that is why APC has presented veritable platform for the people of the state to reclaim their state from APGA misrule.

“The governor, rather than concentrate on positive governance, has been going about crying like a baby, calling my name up and down and we are not losing sleep over his rantings. He has not done well to deserve a second term and that is why the state seems to be on autopilot for four years.

“I make bold to say that Soludo was smart to have hurriedly parked into the uncompleted Anambra State government House, which goes to tell his state of panicky mood of losing this election which is going to happen. But he has forgotten that government is a continuum and when one stops, another person takes over and that is why we presented a veritable alternative to Ndi Anambra.”

Also speaking during the programme, the former Minister of State, Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh described the governorship election in the state as very vital in order to connect the state to the mainstream politics of Nigeria and called for total and massive votes for the party and her candidates, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife.

Ikoh said the time for the party to clinch Anambra State has come with the massive mobilization of stakeholders across the state and county in general to support the party and ensure smooth victory in the November 8 governorship election.

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I consulted for 6 months before dumping PDP for APC – Gov Eno

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In an interview with Channels Television, the governor said his state can’t be in the opposition after producing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

He said: “I consulted for six months before moving, I didn’t just wake up and decided to move. We have stayed in the opposition for so many years.

“There are enormous benefits to align with the centre. First of all, we have a Senate President in this country who is from here and we have to give him the support to be able to help.

“We can’t have the Senate President in another party and we are here in the opposition, you know how politics plays out here, it will keep weeping up sentiments.”

The new APC member said he believes in the policies of President Bola Tinubu.

He said Tinubu is making much efforts towards repositioning the economy, which was in a bad shape when he assumed office.

“Two, I believe in the programme of Tinubu – this economy was battered and we were really low by the time he took over power.

“We have seen the efforts he is making, the reforms he is making and he should have our support.

 

“States governments, I speak for Akwa Ibom have benefitted from those reforms and is why we are able to have the funds to do what we are doing.

“If somebody is doing well, you say he is doing well and if he is not doing well we say he is not doing well.

“If I can see him and discuss our issues and he listens to our issues and helps us where he can, why should I work against the President?”

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