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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO SUE 16 STATE GOVERNORS OVER REFUSAL TO DISTRIBUTE EMPOWERMENT EQUIPMENTS.

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Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has threatened to take legal action against states that have refused to distribute empowerment sewing machines donated by the Federal Government to women nationwide.

She added that her ministry would retrieve such machines from the states since they were yet to put them to use.

The minister made the threat on Tuesday in Abuja, while addressing Commissioners for Women Affairs in the 36 states at the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop.

The workshop aimed to enhance leadership and management competencies to enable effective team leadership and strategic decision-making.

The workshop was organised by the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) in collaboration with UN Women and the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said that the machines were distributed by the Federal Government to promote entrepreneurship and socio-economic development of women in the country.

At a media conference in April, Kennedy-Ohanenye listed some of the equipment distributed, including industrial sewing machines and accessories, sets of rice milling machines, garri processing machines, and fish grilling equipment and their accessories.

Other items were industrial button hole holding machines, heavy industrial irons, tapping machines, Steam Pressing machines, sewing machines for stretches and stitches, Cloth cutting machines, fish smoking machines as well as fish rearing buckets.

“It is unfortunate that, to date, I have not received videos of these machines being used, which is the main reason they were given to Nigerians.

“We don’t want to maintain them and we don’t want them to work.

“I want to officially announce today that the following states have received empowerment sewing machines: Anambra, Kano, Rivers, Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue, Jigawa, and the FCT.

She warned that if the machines are not operational within a month, by September 13, she would take legal action against the states.

“I will retrieve the machines and take them to people who need them.

“It is unacceptable to leave equipment idle while people suffer. This has been holding women back, and we won’t set a bad example,” she said.

The minister noted that commissioners for women affairs in the listed states have yet to identify operational co-operative societies to receive the machines.

However, she commended Benue for promptly distributing the machines, citing video evidence of people using them within 48 hours of receipt.

Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasised that procuring equipment to empower women was a better use of the ministry’s funds than spending on ineffective programmes.

She urged them to immediately begin the use of the machines, assuring them that there were already markets for the items to be produced.

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Politics

Edo Decides: Live Updates, Results from governorship election

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49 mins ago

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September 21, 2024

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Edo State is set for a crucial decision today as voters go to the polls to elect a new governor.

With Governor Godwin Obaseki completing his tenure after two terms, the race is now wide open.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), which once held power in the state before Obaseki’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, is determined to regain its influence.

Among the top contenders vying for leadership are Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, Senator Monday Okpebholo representing the APC, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.

Seventeen candidates are vying for the governorship position, with sixteen men and one woman in the running.

They include:

Action Alliance, AA, – Tom Iseghohi

New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP – Azena Azemhe Friday

All Progressives Grand Alliance – Osifo Isiah

All Progressives Congress – Senator Monday Okpebholo

People’s Democratic Party – Asue Ighodalo

Labour Party – Olumide Akpata

All People Movement – Ugiagbe Sylvester

All Peoples Party – Areleogbe Osalumese

Action Democratic Party – Kingson Akhime Afere

African Action Congress – Udoh David

Zenith Labour Party – Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena

Boot Party – Osirame Edeipo

Accord Party – Bright Enabulele

African Democratic Congress – Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen

Peoples Redemption Party -Patience Key Ndidi

Young Progressive Party – Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan

Social Democratic Party – Aner Abdullahi Aliu

About nine of the above-mentioned political parties have unanimously endorsed and collapsed their structure into the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

EKWUTOSBLOG will provide situation reports from the state as events unfold.

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Politics

Abia Governor,Dr Alex Otti Sends Message Of Solidarity To Edo LP Guber Candidate Ahead Of Tomorrow’s Election

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5 hours ago

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September 21, 2024

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Barrister Olumide Akpata
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The Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has sent his message of Solidarity and wishes of victory to the Labour Party Governorship Candidate in tomorrow’s election in Edo State, Barrister Olumide Akpata.

In his message of solidarity, Governor Otti expressed confidence that the LP Governorship candidate would emerge victorious in the election, becauce the people of the state have confidence in him and in the Labour Party.

Governor Otti assured Barr. Akpata that millions of Labour Party supporters in Abia and beyond are very much with him in spirit and will be praying for his victory as it would mark a historic turning point in the lives of Edo People.

Finally, Governor Otti also called on INEC to ensure that it conducts a free, fair and transparent election come tomorrow and enjoined all stakeholders and voters to ensure that peace reigns, before, during and after the election. He also appealed to the security agencies to maintain their professional neutrality in the process.

Ferdinand Ekeoma
Special Adviser to the Governor
(Media and Publicity)
September 20, 2024.

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Politics

Mercy Johnson’s Spouse, Henry Okojie, Survives Assassination Attempt by Political Assailants

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11 hours ago

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September 20, 2024

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Security forces thwarted a reported assassination attempt on Henry Okojie, a federal representative for the Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State. The assailants were identified as armed individuals believed to be political operatives.

Michael Ihaza, Okojie’s media spokesperson, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Friday, September 20. He reported that Okojie, who is married to actress Mercy Johnson, was targeted at his home by gunmen in a Lexus GX 470 with Rivers State license plates – PHC 253 FF.

The statement emphasized that the planned attack “failed due to the prompt response of security personnel assigned to the lawmaker.”

Photo source: Instagram

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