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Tag: Thomas Ereyitomi

  • Warri Federal Seat: Ereyitomi promises to tackle poverty, others

    Winner of the Warri federal constituency seat in the just concluded National Assembly elections, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi says he is out to tackle poverty and communal conflicts across the area.

    The director-general of Chief Thomas Ereyitomi Constituency Office, Chief Robinson Ariyo, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, in Warri.

    Unveiling its cardinal plans for the next four years, which include economic development, capacity building, peace building and research and advocacy, the DG pointed out they are in tandem with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) master plan.

    He explained the high poverty rate, conflicts in communities among others, informed the four themes.

    Noting that the office may not be able to succeed in everything it hopes to deliver, the Ariyo stated that each intervention that is embarked on will be done in a way that it will be sustainable.

    Lamenting that economy of Warri has suffered for too long, he said: “It is one thing to promise, it is another thing to deliver on the promise.

    “Our people have been left behind for far too long. We need to take our proper place in the committee of oil producing communities.

    “If the society, Warri Federal Constituency is better today, it will be better for all of us. It is on record that Nigeria is at the top of poverty rating in the world.

    “In the area of peace building, most of our communities are polarized. But there is no conflict that is unresolvable. We want to make a deliberate effort to ensure that our communities live in peace.”

    Expressing gratitude to the people for their support throughout the elections, Chief Ariyo urged aggrieved individuals “to sheathe” swords and pursue development of the land.

  • Eyengho demands cancellation of Warri Fed. Constituency poll

    The All Progressives’ Congress (APC) candidate for Warri Federal constituency Alex Eyengho has called for the “outright cancellation” of the elections in the entire area.

    Demanding that he be declared winner, he alleged the votes awarded to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Thomas Ereyitomi were fraudulent.

    Speaking during a press conference in Warri on Wednesday, Eyengho described the electioneering process as “rogued and crooked” as well as trailed with all manner of electoral malpractices, including ballot box stuffing, vote buying among others.

    “In the riverine areas, particularly in Warri North and Warri South West, there were life-threatening intimidation and violence.

    “Before the election started, some group of youths from the bush invaded the community, Ijaghala in Ugborodo, and attacked people. The INEC officials out of fear scampered for safety.

    “It was after my calls to the Army headquarters that they (INEC officials) returned hours later.

    Read Also: Three killed, 20 injured in Warri

    “In other places it was worse. Most of the votes counted were not recorded by the card readers. It is only accredited votes that should be counted,” he recounted.

    Eyengho also fingered INEC’s staff, ad-hoc staff and security agencies as the marred exercise.

    Congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari for his victory in the presidential polls, he stated it shows the President “is a man of the people and not a tiny cabal”.

    Assuring constituents he will employ all legal and peaceful means to regain his stolen mandate, he thanked them for their support throughout the exercise.

    Responding to reports that his defeat is as a result of his failure to campaign in the area, the APC candidate recalled “vicious lies, propaganda and de-marketing” his campaign suffered in the build up to the elections.

    He stated that he campaigned in all three council areas of the federal constituency, including visiting the traditional rulers.

    “It is preposterous and laughable. It is there for the electorates to see. They demonstrated that right by giving me the physical votes,” the APC candidate added.

    The PDP candidate was declared winner, Tuesday, having a total of 152, 874 votes, against Eyengho’s 18, 443.

     

     

  • Gas project: Community sacks factions

    The leadership crisis rocking Ugborodo Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State over the $16billion (N2.64trillion) Export Processing Zone and gas project has assumed a fresh twist as the community unanimously sacked the two contending groups.

    The David Tonwe and Thomas Ereyitomi factions have since 2011 been contending over the leadership of the highly influential Ugborodo Governing Board, an arm of the Ugborodo Trust.

    The crises culminated in a bloody invasion of the community and the death of scores of residents last month.

    However, rising from a meeting attended by various groups from all over the world, the community resolved that “on no account should any individual, group and institution(s) for now, and in the future issue, or make any statement in any form of representative capacity for and on behalf of the entire community.”

    The Olaja-Orori, Benson Omadeli, said: “Henceforth, the traditional authority of Ugborodo has taken over the leadership of the community.

    “Therefore, only the Eghare-Aja, Olaja-Orori (myself) and Pa Eworitsemogha Tsebi, the surviving registered trustee of Ugborodo Community, have authority to sign any document or agreement involving Ugborodo land with anybody, group of persons or government.”

    Omadeli said the EPZ and other projects in the area were too important to the community for it to allow squabble by individuals and factions jeopardise the good intention of the Federal Government.

     

    “We also agreed and resolved that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Olu of Warri do not have the power to impose people on us. We have traditional ways of governing our people and resolving dispute over the centuries and these three persons are the only authority that can speak for Ugborodo.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Presidency intervenes in Ugborodo crisis

    Presidency intervenes in Ugborodo crisis

    President Goodluck Jonathan has waded into the crisis in the oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The peace effort came against the backdrop of a visit by a team from the Department of Military Intelligence (DMI) to Warri yesterday.

    President Jonathan invited key players in the crisis to Abuja for a meeting aimed at finding a solution to the crisis, which has claimed three lives in the last four days.

    A source told The Nation: “The invitation was conveyed by a top aide to President Jonathan on Sunday night.

    “The President directed both groups to attend the meeting with five delegates.

    “The two factional chairmen – Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and David Tonwe – are expected to attend the meeting, which will take place at 10am tomorrow at the Villa.”

    The Nation gathered that DMI officials stormed Warri from Lagos yesterday and quizzed some of the key players and stakeholders in the crisis.

    It was learnt that the security operatives would query top naval officials over their alleged complicity.

    A section in the conflict alleged that naval personnel aided their opponents in the Saturday clash.

    A source said a top official at the Forward Operation Base in Escravos was summoned to the DMI over the matter.

    The Navy has denied reports that its personnel were involved in the shooting, during which three locals at Arunto, Ugborodo allegedly died on Saturday.

    An indigene, Mr. Femi Uwawa, accused the Navy of complicity in the death of three persons on Saturday.

    But the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman, who briefed reporters at the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS), Warri, yesterday said: “No naval gunboat was involved in any operation, which led to the shootout or the alleged loss of lives, as reported.

    “It is equally important to say that the fracas was between Arotun and Madagho communities. The task force remained neutral in the crisis.”

  • Presidency wades into Ugborodo crisis

    Presidency wades into Ugborodo crisis

    •Invites stakeholders to Abuja

    •DMI team storms Warri, quizzes actors

    President Goodluck Jonathan has waded into the crisis in the oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The peace effort came against the backdrop of a visit by a team from the Department of Military Intelligence (DMI) to Warri yesterday.

    President Jonathan invited key players in the crisis to Abuja for a meeting aimed at finding a solution to the crisis, which has claimed three lives in the past four days.

    A source close to the main players told The Nation: “The invitation was conveyed by a top aide to President Jonathan on Sunday night.

    “The President directed each side in the conflict over the control of Ugborodo Community Trust Fund to attend the meeting with five delegates.

    “The two factional chairmen – Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and David Tonwe – are expected to attend the meeting, which will take place at 10am tomorrow at the Villa.”

    It was learnt that attendees are expected to be in Abuja today for the meeting.

    The Nation gathered that DMI officials stormed Warri from Lagos yesterday and quizzed some of the key players and stakeholders in the crisis.

    It was learnt that the security operatives would also query top naval officials over their alleged complicity in the conflict.

    A section in the conflict alleged that naval personnel aided their opponents in the Saturday clash.

    A source said a top official at the Forward Operation Base in Escravos was summoned to the DMI over the matter.

    The Navy has denied reports that its personnel were involved in the shooting, during which three locals at Arunto, Ugborodo allegedly died on Saturday.

    An indigene, Mr. Femi Uwawa, accused the Navy of complicity in the death of three persons on Saturday.

    But the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman, who briefed reporters at the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS), Warri, yesterday said: “No naval gunboat was involved in any operation, which led to the shootout or the alleged loss of lives, as reported.

    “It is equally important to say that the fracas was between Arotun and Madagho communities. The task force remained neutral in the crisis.”