News
What new Asagba of Asaba told residents after his coronation ceremony
The new Asagba of Asaba, Obi Epiphany Azinge, has declared that his reign would give zero tolerance to gossip, especially in the palace.
Azinge made the declaration shortly after taking the oath of office as the 14th Asagba of Asaba on Saturday at the palace.
He said, “I want to thank the 13th Asagba of Asaba who joined our ancestors. His vision is matchless, it’s as if he will live forever. He encouraged us to start from where he stopped.
“I also want to commend the Ochenfo (Regent) of Asaba since the demise of the 13th Asagba, your father, especially for the transparent manner in which you handled the transition of Asagba of Asaba.
“On August 18, 2024, in this palace, Asaba indeed elected me to step into the shoes of my predecessor.
“The quality you saw in me is that I have dedicated myself to carrying out this function for the benefit of my people. I will never betray your trust.
“I will operate an open-door policy. My palace is open for advice, but I will give zero tolerance to palace gossip in my palace, and I will welcome constructive criticism.”
The 14th Asagba promised to use his connection to bring more development and give Asaba its rightful place as one of the oldest cities in the country.
He called on some aggrieved Asaba indigenes who contested to join hands with him to move Asaba forward.
“There is no contest without hitches. Some have congratulated me and thereby enjoined other contestants to join me in moving Asaba to the bext level. There is enough work to be done, and I cannot do it alone,” he appealed.
The dignifying and colourful ceremony was well attended by sons and daughters of Asaba Kingdom and other high-profile dignitaries, including former governor James Ibori.
Credit: Punch News
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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