News
Enugu marks 33 years of statehood, set to celebrate 115th Anniversary of Coal City
…As Gov Mbah pays tributes to founding fathers
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Tuesday, joined the people of the state in commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the state’s creation, saying that his administration was also getting ready to celebrate the 115th anniversary of Enugu city as a pre-eminent centre of history, commerce, and administration.
He paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the state, reiterating his administration’s determination to hasten their lofty dreams to fruition.
Speaking at the ceremony organised by the Enugu State Development Association, ESDA, in the state’s capital to mark the 33rd anniversary of the creation of the state on August 27, 1991, Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, said his administration was determined to bequeath a state where unprecedented development, social justice, and equal opportunity reign.
The governor said, “As we commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the creation of Enugu State, I congratulate Ndi Enugu and enjoin them to always take pride in its long and illustrious history. Enugu State may rightly be described as 33 years old as a formal state. Yet, its history stretches farther back.
“The history of Enugu is very much the history of Nigeria’s evolution from pre-amalgamation, when the discovery of coal in Enugu, in 1909, became a watershed moment for the then fledging Southern and Northern Protectorates.
“So, today is an opportunity to recall the sacrifice of our founding fathers, for whom the creation of our dear state was a lifelong project. We honour their steadfast commitment, not just in words, but by our bold actions aimed at enthroning a new socio-economic order consistent with the dreams that birthed Enugu State.
“We carry in our hearts the fire of the dreams of the titans whose struggles helped make Enugu the cosmopolitan state that it is today.
“Indeed, we recall as well the sacrifice of our forebears whose sweat and toil built the coal mines from where much of the wealth that oiled the wheel of development of our dear nation was derived. Let us be inspired by their resilience and sacrifice.
“In November, we would be celebrating the 115th anniversary of Enugu as a pre-eminent centre of history, commerce and administration. The pride that Enugu State’s history inspires should never seem like a false dawn.
“Today serves as yet another reminder that we carry the weight of history and the people’s expectations, which could be lessened only through sustained delivery of people-centred governance. It is a cause to which I am wholly committed.
“Together we can make Enugu State the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and a place where basic utilities can truly be taken for granted. We are actually ticking all the boxes – from public water supply to quality public education and expanding the primary healthcare system.”
Calling for optimism, Mbah assured, “The dreams of Enugu’s founding fathers are not dreams betrayed. We have an absolute fidelity to those dreams, and to our pledge to bequeath a society of which the generations yet unborn will always be proud.
“So, let optimism blossom where cynicism once reigned, for we are on the cusp of a renaissance.”
In his welcome address, the President-General of ESDA, HRH Igwe Ezeudo Abel Nwobodo, paid tribute to the founding fathers and leaders of the state from inception till date, lauded Mbah transforming dreams to reality at grate speed.
“We are indeed particularly grateful to God for our amiable, capable, indefectible, and quintessential governor, whose mantra, ‘Tomorrow is here’, is a manifestation of fulfilment of the dreams of our founding fathers, who saw a greater tomorrow ahead of them,” the elder statesman said.
In his remark, the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Samuel Asadu, said Governor Mbah was divinely prepared and preserved to lead Enugu into the long-awaited development and prosperity.
Asadu also stressed the need to educate the younger ones on Enugu’s historic journey to statehood to enable them appreciate the sacrifices and struggles that birthed the state to prepare to work for its continued greatness.
At least 286 inmates have reportedly escaped from the Maiduguri medium security custodial centre following severe flooding in the capital city on Tuesday.
Already, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is in Maiduguri to assess the flood’s impact on the facility.
Nevertheless, a statement from the spokesman for the service, Umar Abubakar disclosed that the federal government is working to evacuate the correctional centre.
Umar assured the public that the service is working with sister security agencies to take the necessary measures to ensure public safety.
The Federal Government has also begun the evacuation of residents of the affected communities in the flooding that has ravaged North-Eastern city.
A statement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday, said it is also working on the provision of food, shelter and medical assistance for the victims.
The unfortunate flooding situation in the Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State, which started last weekend and increased in the early hours of Monday, 9th September 2024, resulted from excess water from the Alau Dam.
One of the spillways of Alau Dam collapsed, leading to a significant increase in water flow downstream and exacerbating the flooding in surrounding areas.
The areas impacted by the incident include Shehuri, parts of the Government Residential Area (G.R.A.), Gambomi, Budum, Bulabulin, Adamkolo, Millionaires Quarters, Monday Market and Gwange.
As a result, NEMA said the Borno State Government has opened up Bakassi Camp to accommodate those displaced by the flood.
“We are working, alongside the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, in providing humanitarian assistance to the distressed in the camp,” the statement read partly.
NEMA’s response came after President Tinubu ordered the Agency to immediately swing into action, and assist the flood victims.
Unprecedented incident
NEMA has described Tuesday’s flash flood in Maiduguri as an unprecedented incident.
“It is an unprecedented incident,” NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP on Tuesday. “Some of the central parts of the city that have not witnessed flood in so many years are witnessing it today.”
Thousands of homes have been submerged by the rapid rise of waters after the rupture of the Alau dam on the Ngadda River, 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Maiduguri.
“The last three days have over 150,000 individuals with over 23,000 households affected,” said NEMA zonal coordinator Surajo Garba.
But with more locations being hit, “we are sure the figure will be much over 200,000 individuals,” Garba forecast.
“The flood, which began over the weekend and worsened in the following days, was the direct result of excess water from the Alau Dam,” said Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who hails from Maiduguri as he visited the area.
“The collapse of the spillways unleashed a significant surge of water downstream, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding communities,” added Shettima.
The flood also inundated the city’s post office and main zoo, with authorities warning that “deadly animals has been washed away into our communities (sic).”
Social media showed pictures of an ostrich, which had supposedly escaped from the facility wandering the streets of the city.
The Anambra State Government through the state Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, has ordered a probe into the case of the alleged murder of one Mrs. Ogechukwu Okafor, who was allegedly killed by her husband, Mr Elijah.
It was gathered that the incident happened on August 13, 2024, but was reported to the ministry by the deceased family, following suspicious moves from the husband.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Wednesday by the media aide to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu.
According to Ikeanyionwu, the culprit who is said to be a pastor, committed the alleged incident in Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
The statement read In part, “The deceased uncle, Mr Samuel Onuorah, from Abatete community, who led the family member to lay the complaint at the ministry, alleged that he got a call from her late niece’s husband that her niece, Ogechukwu, fell from four-storey building and died.
“Mr Elijah Emeka Ibeabuchi, who hails from Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of the Anambra State, is the husband to the late Ogechukwu Okafor.
“Seeking for justice at the office of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, the uncle of the deceased, Mr Onuorah, noted that they discovered that their daughter did not fall as claimed by the husband, but was rather killed with a knife, stabbed on her neck and chest by Elijah.
“He further revealed that their doubts were cleared after they went to the mortuary where the said husband had deposited their daughter’s corpse and saw evidently that she didn’t fall from any storey building as claimed by the husband.”
Responding to the development, the commissioner, Ify Obinabo, called on all stakeholders, women groups, human rights activists, and social media users to support the state government in ensuring that the deceased gets justice.
Obinabo vows that the state government would probe the incident while urging everyone to lend their voice on the matter.
She added that she would also notify the state governor and the matter will be taken up so that the deceased will get justice.
PUNCH
A 25-year-old woman, Zainab Musa, on Wednesday, returned the N100,000 dowry she received from her husband, Musa Sani, in exchange for a divorce at Rigasa Shari’a Court, Kaduna.
The woman had earlier prayed that the court should dissolve her two-year-old marriage through the Khul’i (redemption), an Islamic ruling that gives a woman the right to redeem herself from marriage.
Mr M.S Aliyu, who stood as neutral counsel to the parties, said all efforts to reconcile the couple through their parents proved abortive.
He said “the parents of the couple have agreed that the N100,000 dowry paid during the wedding be returned, and we have the money in cash.
“As for the one child they have, Zainab’s parents will accept any amount the defendant can afford as upkeep allowance.”
On his part, the husband said he still loves his wife but has no choice than to let her go since she is no longer interested in the marriage, adding
that he has accepted the N100,000 dowry.
The Judge, Malam Mukhtar Aliyu, confirmed the dissolution of the marriage through Khul’i, adding that the complaint should start observing her iddah immediately.
Agency report said that Iddah is a waiting period that a Muslim woman observes after the death of her husband or after a divorce.
The waiting period for a divorced woman is three menstrual circle, as one of its main purposes is to remove any doubt as to the paternity of a child born after the divorce or death of the prior husband.
The judge, thereafter, said “anyone that is not satisfied with the judgment can appeal within 30 days.”
Flood: Over 200 inmates escape from Borno Correctional Centre
After stabbing wife to death, Pastor told in-laws she fell from 4-storey building
Woman seeking divorce returns N100,000 dowry
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