News
Traditional ruler tasks politicians on peaceful governorship polls
The Oku Ibom Ibibio, Nteyen Solomon Etuk, has urged politicians in Akwa Ibom and across the country not to see the March 11 governorship and state Assembly elections as a do-or-die affair.
Etuk made the appeal in a statement issued by the royal father in Uyo on Friday.
He urged political parties, candidates and supporters to direct their energies in canvassing for votes and avoid violence during the polls.
Etuk, who is also the Chairman, Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council, enjoined residents of the state to avoid rancour before, during or after the elections.
“Election is a democratic contest and not a war. Nobody should beat war drums. Candidates, political parties and supporters should cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship and go into the contest with open minds. Winners should be magnanimous in victory and losers should be gallant in defeat.
“Pre-determined mindset of ‘I must win at all cost’ is against sound democratic values. Let us all give people the opportunity to vote and learn to respect the outcome of the polls.
“Akwa Ibom State is greater than any one person or group of persons. We have enjoyed peace and unity under Gov. Udom Emmanuel since 2015. Let this peace and unity continue,” Etuk said.
The traditional ruler said the forebears and past leaders laboured for the creation of the state and today’s politicians must protect and not destroy it.
“As we know, peace and tranquillity are necessary for society to witness progress and general development. We need a peaceful state.
“Our forebears and past leaders laboured in their agitation for the creation of this state. They kept laudable antecedents and we have to sustain their legacies.
“Let us continue to nourish Akwa Ibom State towards greater heights, rather than destroy ourselves and slow down the pace of development. I call on all sons and daughters, including residents, to give peace a chance.
“Power comes from the Almighty God and He gives it to whosoever He wants. I also call on security agencies to maintain peace throughout the period.
“As Traditional Rulers, we will continue to cooperate with security agencies for the maintenance of peace and security in our domains,” he said.
He warned youths to avoid being used for thuggery and shedding of blood by candidates or political parties, stating that each life is more precious than the ambition of any individual.
Etuk also urged all citizens, especially politicians and their supporters, to eschew violence and hatred against other contestants.
He said: “Let us cooperate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and transparent polls,” Oku Ibom Ibibio cautioned.
Besides, the traditional ruler called on all successful candidates to know that the primary purpose of their election is service to the people, advising them to work hard and fulfil their campaign promises to the people.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, has confirmed the death of a woman in an accident at Okpoko Market on the Asaba-Onitsha Road.
The Sector Commander, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the accident to journalists in Awka on Thursday, said that the woman was hit while she was crossing the road.
He said that the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a commercial tow truck with registration number XA550BMA.
“Eyewitness report reaching us indicates that the truck was towing a vehicle in an uncontrollable speed along the axis.
“The vehicle that was being towed got detached from the tow truck.
“It hit and killed a female adult, who was said to be crossing the road, while the tow truck continued its movement.
“FRSC rescue team came to the scene and took the woman to Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where she was confirmed dead and her body deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.
While sympathising with the family of the dead, the sector commander urged motorists, especially tow truck drivers, to exercise a high level of professionalism.
He also urged the drivers to always use standard equipment and avoid speeding.
The Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, said the state government’s maize palliative to members of the association made a positive impact on the sector.
Iyiola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
“We received about 150,000 tons of maize in February from the Lagos State government as palliative to cushion the effect of high feed prices.
“The major benefit of the palliative is that it actually cushioned the cost of production for most poultry farmers in the state.
“The palliative was beneficial as it made the cost of some poultry produce, especially eggs to drop,” Iyiola said.
He noted that prior to the palliative, a crate of egg was sold between N3,500 and N3,700 at the farm gate, but after the palliative, it now sells between N3,200 and N3,400.
According to the PAN chair, retailers and middlemen who sell from N3,800 to N4,200 do that for their personal gain.
“We have urged our members to sell their eggs at reasonable prices following the receipt of the palliative from the government.
“We appreciate the Lagos State government for the palliative but we also urge the federal government to do likewise, to further reduce the cost of production in the sector.
“This will consequently lead to drop in the prices of all poultry produce across board,” he said.
He said the palliative was shared among financial members of the association at no extra cost.
“As an association we shared the grains equally across PAN’s eight zones in the state equally. We also mandated each zone not the sell even a grain of the maize.
“We, however, considered new poultry farmers who wanted to the join the association as beneficiaries of the palliative,” said Iyiola.
He noted that through the palliative, more poultry farmers were recruited into the association.
“The maize was shared only to poultry farmers and not feed millers, it is the major component of poultry feed formulation,” he said.
Woman killed while crossing road in Anambra
LASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair
Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty
BDCs now buying dollar at ₦980 — ABCON President
Osun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver
Seplat Energy celebrates a decade of Dual Listing with Bell Ringing Ceremony at Nigerian Stock Exchange
3 teens arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting terror attack
Breaking…Naira abuse: Court sentences Bobrisky to 6 months in custody
Lagos Court Grants Emefiele N50m Bail
Unknown Gunmen Abduct Channelstv Reporter In Port-harcourt
Seplat Energy celebrates a decade of Dual Listing with Bell Ringing Ceremony at Nigerian Stock Exchange
BDCs now buying dollar at ₦980 — ABCON President
Osun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver
Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty
LASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair
Woman killed while crossing road in Anambra
-
Business2 days agoSeplat Energy celebrates a decade of Dual Listing with Bell Ringing Ceremony at Nigerian Stock Exchange
-
News2 days agoBDCs now buying dollar at ₦980 — ABCON President
-
Metro2 days agoOsun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver
-
Headline2 days agoFagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty
-
News2 days agoLASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair
-
News2 days agoWoman killed while crossing road in Anambra