The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger delta

  • Bayelsa youths demand resource control

    Bayelsa youths demand resource control

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    YOUTHS in Bayelsa State on Wednesday took to the streets of Yenagoa, the capital, to protest alleged unfair treatment meted out to the people of the state and the Niger Delta by the Federal Government.

    They marched from the popular Tombia roundabout and converged on the Ekeki Park, calling on the people of the region to join the protest to demand resource control and a restructured Nigeria.

    While the protest, which took some hours lasted, there was a gridlock on the popular Yenagoa-Mbiama road, forcing commercial drivers and motorists to make detour through the Isaac Boro expressway to have some respite.

    With the hashtag #resourcecontrolnow, the youth also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency convene a national dialogue among traditional rulers, stakeholders and youth leaders, among others, from the various ethnic groups to curtail the rising tension in the region.

    Read Also: Bayelsa community reports oil leak at Agip’s oilfield

    Spokesman for the protesting youths and a disciple of the Egbesu National Ijaw God, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, said though Nigeria’s problems were multifaceted, the Niger Delta people were suffering underdevelopment and neglect.

    He blamed the colonial masters for Nigeria’s woes, saying that they were wicked in their decision to merge the country with the unpleasant consequences being witnessed currently in Nigeria.

    Adding that the amalgamation experiment had obviously failed its test, Kemapadei said: “The myriad of problems facing this country calls for total restructuring. We call on all Niger Deltans to join this protest. Nigeria can only get better when all regions are allowed to have control of their wealth. If Zamfara State can be allowed to sell its gold, why can’t we? We want oil companies to relocate to their host communities.

    “President Buhari, like every other Nigerian, is a victim of an erroneous amalgamation. This is why even after 60 years of independence, the country is yet to attain any feat. We have been on the path of civil war, political and ethnic crises. Even with enormous wealth deposits found in different parts of the nation, we are still divided along ethnic, religious and regional lines. These are clear indications that people were forced to be part of this entity now called Nigeria. Billions of naira have been wasted on agriculture, refineries, education, infrastructure, with little or nothing to be proud of.”

     

     

     

  • Edo tribunal holds inaugural sitting tomorrow

    Edo tribunal holds inaugural sitting tomorrow

     Bisi Olaniyi, Benin  

     

    THE Election Petitions Tribunal in Edo State will tomorrow hold its inaugural sitting at the state’s High Court complex on Sapele Road, Benin.

    Secretary to the tribunal Sunday Martins, a lawyer, on Wednesday in a statement in Benin, said the sitting would begin at 9am.

    He said: “Please note that wearing of face masks and other COVID-19 safety measures are compulsory, as failure to comply shall lead to denial of entry into the court hall.”

    Five petitions were filed at the tribunal at the expiration of the deadline on the night of October 10 seeking the nullification of the September 19 re-election of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Edo extends ultimatum to fleeing inmates

    The petitioners also called for fresh election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but to exclude PDP, Obaseki and his running mate (Shaibu), in view of their likely disqualification over alleged forgery of their certificates.

    The petitions were filed by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party (APP), without joining its governorship candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Ukonga Onaivi. Allied Peoples Movement (APM) filed a petition with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/04/2020, excluding its governorship candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede, with INEC, PDP, Obaseki and Shaibu as respondents, while alleging irregularities during the September 19 governorship election and that Obaseki and Shaibu were not qualified to contest the poll.

    The fifth petition, with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/05/2020, came from Tracy Agol, who hails from Okpella in Etsako East Local  Government Area of Edo State, without joining her political party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), with INEC, PDP and Obaseki as respondents, while insisting that the Edo governor was not qualified to contest the September 19 election.

     

     

     

     

  • Tompolo makes first public appearance after six years

    Tompolo makes first public appearance after six years

    By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Former militant leader Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo has made his first public appearance after hiding from security agencies for six years.

    Tompolo, who led the disbanded Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), went underground immediately President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in in 2015, as the Federal Government deployed troops to fish him out.

    The government also declared him wanted through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for ignoring two bench warrants issued against him by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, following alleged N45.5billion fraud case.

    But the court on July 15, 2019 dismissed the charges against Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, a company linked to the former Niger Delta militant leader.

    Read Also: Clark, Dickson to FG: release Tompolo’s seized property

    Despite the judgment, Tompolo failed to appear in public until October 19, 2020, when sources said he made a sudden appearance at the Egbesu shrine in his Oporoza country home in Gbaramatu, Delta State.

    A picture of his appearance showed the former warlord and his friends dancing, worshipping and offering thanksgiving to Egbesu, the Ijaw god.

    An Egbesu disciple, Bodmas Kemepadei, who confirmed the development, said the appearance of Tompolo, who is the Egbesu priest, would help to facilitate resolutions of knotty issues in the Niger Delta.

  • Ugwuanyi most youth-friendly governor, says NANS

    Ugwuanyi most youth-friendly governor, says NANS

    Our Reporter

     

    STUDENTS from the 36 states of the federation have described Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the most youth-friendly governor in Nigeria.

    They said: “There is no governor that is as student-friendly as your esteemed person.”

    The students spoke when the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) visited Governor Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, to formally present to him their National President, Comrade Chidi Ilogebe.

    Read Also: Pupils hail Ugwuanyi for promoting girl-child’s wellbeing

    Ilogebe is the first indigene of Enugu State to occupy the exalted office of the students’ leadership in the country.

    Presenting the national president, the Senate President of NANS, Comrade Abukakar Gambo Mohammed from IBB University, Lapai, described the governor as a hardworking, visionary, peaceful, humble and accommodating leader.

     

  • Community apologises to AIG over impersonation 

    Community apologises to AIG over impersonation 

    Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

     

    THE people of Ukpo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have apologised to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 13, Mohammed Danmallam, over impersonation by a member of the community’s cabinet.

    The member of Ukpo royal cabinet had allegedly defrauded other prominent members of the public in Anambra State, including an Anglican Bishop, of millions of Naira, using the AIG’s name.

    Read Also: 12 NYSC members marry in Anambra

    Chief Okwuchukwu Ezeaku, a member of the cabinet of the monarch of Ukpo Kingdom, Igwe Robert Eze, who led a delegation of other members of the cabinet to the AIG, said the community had removed the suspect as a member of the royal council, after investigation.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect was still standing trial after being arrested and paraded by the police in September.

  • Emmanuel presents N435.652b budget to Assembly

    Emmanuel presents N435.652b budget to Assembly

    Our Reporter

     

    AKWA Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has presented a budget estimate of N435.652 billion for the state’s 2021 fiscal year.

    The budget estimate called ‘Budget of Economic Reconstruction’, was derived from the summation of a recurrent expenditure of N158.403 billion, capital expenditure of N226.964 billion and consolidated revenue fund of N50.285 billion.

    Making the presentation on the floor of the Assembly, Governor Emmanuel said the 2021 budget is predicated on an oil benchmark of $40 per barrel at a production rate of 1.86 million barrels per day, with an estimated exchange rate of N379 per US dollar, in line with the national budget benchmark projections.

    Read Also: Emmanuel inaugurates 168 housing units for soldiers

    Expounding further, the governor said the economic sector takes the highest chunk of N267.557billion, which represents 61.4% of the total estimate, N100.018 billion, 23.0% for administration, and N57.423billion, being 13.2% for the social sector.

    Others include law and justice, N9.419billion and regional, N1.235billion.

    According to Emmanuel, the total Capital Receipts and Expenditure for the year 2021 is estimated at N226.964billion, out of which N46.315 billion will be transferred from the consolidated revenue fund, while the balance of N 180.649 billion is to be realised through opening balance from 2020 account, internal bank, grants, ecological fund, investment income, stabilisation account, re-imbursement from the Federal Government on road and other infrastructure and other exceptional income

     

  • Court reinstates 460 sacked Abia workers

    Court reinstates 460 sacked Abia workers

     Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

     

    THE National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State has reinstated 460 out of over 4,000 non-indigene workers disengaged by the Abia State Government in August 2011.

    The government had in a circular of August 25, 2011 titled: “Back-loading on transfer of non-indigenes in the Abia State civil service to their states of origin”, disengaged over 4,000 workers.

    However, in suit No. NICN/OW/45/2018, 460 of the workers represented by Njoku Fidelia Ada, Unogu Jude Ugochukwu, Ekwegh Catherine Obehie and Okolie Georgiana took the Abia State Government to the Industrial Court.

    In support of the originating summons, in an affidavit of 28 paragraphs deposed to by Unogu Jude Ugochukwu (the second claimant) and six accompanying exhibits lettered A to F, they sought nine reliefs among which were for them to be reinstated and paid in full all their salaries and emoluments, having been wrongfully disengaged.

    Read Also: Court remands three friends for robbery

    After listening to the submissions of the claimants’ counsel, C. C. Okere, M. O. Uzoma and P. U. Ogbunka for the defendants, the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Suleiman Galadima, held that by disengaging the workers the way it did, Abia State Government infringed on their rights.

    “There is no denying that these surviving claimants are all citizens of this country bound by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some of them may have been born in Abia State, married to a spouse from that state, lived all their lives there and thus gained sufficient reasons to be deemed indigenes of the state or simply relocated from another state in order to achieve their dreams of a better life.

  • Ebonyi PDP gives national leadership ultimatum to zone president to East

    Ebonyi PDP gives national leadership ultimatum to zone president to East

    Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

     

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday gave the national leadership of the party one week ultimatum to zone the 2023 presidential ticket of the party to the Southeast.

    It said in a statement in Abakaliki by the state Chairman, Onyekachi Nwebonyi that this has become imperative since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the date for the 2023 general election.

    The party also made case for the re-election of Prince Uche Secondus as the national chairman.

    “We therefore enjoin the party, in whatever arrangement, not to tamper with the seat of the national chairman. Having performed well, leading the party to victories, Secondus deserves a second term. This is not negotiable,” Nwebonyi said.

    Read Also: Nasarawa PDP crisis deepens

    He said the party should, in the interest of justice, equity and fairness, zone the presidential ticket to the Southeast.

    The chairman said the geopolitical region had personalities who had performed well in public service.

    “We have the likes of Senator Pius Anyim, Mr. Peter Obi, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Senator Theodore Orji and Senator Ike Ekweremadu who have records that speak volumes,” he said.

  • Listen to #ENDSARS protesters, Idahosa tells Buhari

    Listen to #ENDSARS protesters, Idahosa tells Buhari

    By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

    The Archbishop of the Church of God Mission International (CGMI), Margaret Idahosa, has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to accede to the demands of #ENDSARS protests.

    She said this will assuage the protesters and preserve the nation from the already-tensed polity.

    The cleric said the #ENDSARS were simply expressing disgust over years of neglect and bad governance, calling on the President to shift demands and meet their demands.

    Idahosa, in a statement by the church’s Director of Administration, Odemwingie Okundaye, said: “We have watched with keen interest, the events in our nation and it behoves on us as a church to speak for the oppressed, to stand for good governance, equity and the sanctity of life.

    “This is so, because the church is a microcosm of the society and a conglomerate of diverse backgrounds.

    “CGMI cannot keep silent and watch the lives of our youths wasted by those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting them.

    “We will like to commiserate with the families of the people who lost their lives before and during the protests. Jesus Christ died for humanity and He will love to see all men saved and not perish.

    READ ALSO: JUST IN: #ENDSARS protesters burn police station in Aba

    “Every great nation can point at sometimes in their history when through a struggle, they transitioned into greatness. We believe that the present agitations go beyond just reforming the police, which is just a symptom of the deplorable state of our polity.

    “The agitations are as a result of the long years of neglect and insensitivity of leadership, arising from bad governance, impunity, abject poverty, and extra-judicial killings, among others, in our nation.

    “It is our sincere desire to see positive measures in the approaches of government at addressing the critical issues.”

    The cleric assured the church would continue to uphold the nation and leaders in prayers, stressing Nigerians would triumph over the present challenges.

  • Diri hails Buhari for debt repayment to states

    Diri hails Buhari for debt repayment to states

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to reimburse some state governments for funds used in executing federal projects in their states.

    He spoke when he received members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at the Government House in Yenagoa.

    The governor, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, noted that the gesture would enable state governments to redouble their collaborative efforts in addressing the infrastructural deficits in the country.

    A statement yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, said most state governments were discouraged from deploying their scarce resources to fix dilapidated federal projects located in their areas due to Federal Government’s reluctance towards repayment.

    Speaking to reporters shortly after conducting members of the National Assembly round some federal projects, including the Ekoli Bridge along the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, he expressed optimism that the inspection visit would facilitate the release of funds owed the state.

    While thanking the joint committee for the visit, he urged the executive and judicial arms of the government to accord the legislature its pride of place in the scheme of democratic governance.

    Read Also: Appeal Court reverses Diri’s sack as Bayelsa governor

    According to the governor, democracy cannot survive without the legislative arm performing its core functions of lawmaking, oversight and representation in society.

    Diri said: “The National Assembly is a very important institution which has not been given due attention and respect in this country because they see them as new entrants into the Nigerian hemisphere of governance.

    “But they should not forget that if there is no lawmaking, no oversight and no representation, then there will be no democracy. It is on these three pillars that democracy actually stands.

    “I believe that the National Assembly is the highest institution that must be respected by all. Having been part of that institution, we will continue to give it respect.