Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey Ph D has stated that the Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu – led administration, through the Ministry will continue to revamp and revive the education sector in the State and ensure an enabling working environment for effective service delivery.
The Commissioner, stated this during an inaugural meeting with Heads of Boards, and Agencies under the Ministry as well as staff of the ministry.
Senator Odey who described the members of staff as great people, promised to give them the best leadership, he urged them to work in unity towards achieving the mandate of the Ministry adding that success is achieved through collective involvement.
The commissioner promised to meet with principals of schools inorder to address some irregularities in the School System.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Aniedi Ekpenyong, urged staff to give the commissioner their unalloyed co-operation and to eschew unwholesome and repugnant tendencies so, as to erode any negative impression or opinion.
In an unscheduled visit to the Exam Resource Centre, the Commissioner, ordered the immediate computation and printed copies of the primary six placement results to reach his Office within one week for possible release of the results and that the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and mock results should equally be computed. The commissioner strictly warned that henceforth, delays and illegalities in all MDA’s under the Ministry is over adding that, staff must live up to their responsibilities.
In an effort to ensuring that staff have a conducive working environment to put in their optimum best, Senator Odey, has mobilized a workforce to renovate the ministry’s headquarters, urging the workers handling the renovation of the office on timely delivery and according to specifications.
…As They Broker Peace Between Yache in Yala LGA and their Tiv Settlers of Benue State
Distinguished Senator Stephen Odey Ph D, on Wednesday played host to their Excellencies, Deputy Governors of Cross River State and Benue State, who visited Ijiegu-Yache community in Yala LGA to further broker peace between them and their Tivs settlers from Benue State.
This meeting was a follow up to the initial peace talk held on Saturday July 29, 2023 at Abuochiche, the headquarters of Bekwarra Local Government Area at the instance of Distinguished Senator Stephen Odey, where representatives of both parties sued for peace and signed a communique’ in the presence of the Commanding Officer, 130 Battalion Ogoja and the Area Commander Nigeria Police, Ogoja. Both parties noted that there are no options to peace and therefore resolved to prevail on their people to seize hostility, lay down their arms and embrace peace.
Unfortunately, the hostility continued unabated and this resulted in the capture of four young men from Ijiegu-Yache in addition to the first one who was murdered in cold blood. Similarly, several motorcycles belonging to Ijiegu people were carted away and their farms were plundered with crops covering several expanse of land destroyed and stolen.
This necessitated the convening of another peace talk, which was facilitated by Senator Odey. The meeting, which held in Ijiegu-Yache on Wednesday, 9th August, 2023 was attended by high powered delegation from both states and led by the Deputy Governors of Cross River and Benue States respectively.
The host, Senator Stephen Odey, expressed deep gratitude for the prompt intervention of the government of the two states in the crisis. He further expressed optimism over the success of the peace process and called on the government of Benue to reciprocate the effort made so far by their Cross River State counterpart by deploying security personnel to the border between the two states.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Rt Hon. Peter Odey, expressed sadness over the pains the people were made to go through because of the avoidable crisis. He assured Ijiegu-Yache of the State Government’s commitment for restoration of lasting peace to their community while encouraging them to remain peace abiding. He advised them to try as much as possible to avoid the conflict zone until lasting peace. Rt Hon. Odey further informed the gathering about the proposed follow-up meeting between the leaders of both communities and the government of the two states in his office in Calabar the following week.
Responding, the Deputy Governor of Benue State His Excellency Dr Sam Ode, called for peace, stating that the Government of Benue State will use the security apparatus to make sure that the mastermind of the crisis are brought to book for justice to prevail. He regretted the loss of lives and livelihood of the people occasioned by the conflict. While commending the proactive steps so far taken by Senator Odey and other stakeholders, he assured that Benue State government in collaboration with Cross River State government will do everything possible to ensure that peace is restored permanently.
The member representing Yala I State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Brian Odey and the Clan Head of Okuku clan (who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers) reiterated that peace is paramount for the good of all and that Benue state government should further ensure that there is security presence at the borders between the two state to guarantee speedy restoration of peace and security in the conflicting community.
The people of Ijiegu-Yache thanked organisers of the peace talk and commended their efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace to their community. They however demanded for the immediate release of four of their people under the captivity of the Tiv people, as well as, ensuring that justice is served for Ogbudu Obuogor, who was murdered in cold blood. They requested for the deployment of more security personnel by the government of both sides.
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