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Tag: Usani Uguru Usani

  • My suspension ‘ll fuel the crisis in Cross River APC – Uguru Usani

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, contested the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state. But his contest generated several issues as the party in Cross River state became factionalised. One of the faction is accusing the Minister of working against the party and causing its massive defeat during the 2019 general elections. In this interview with Tony Akowe, Usani states his own side of the story, dismissing the allegations against him as well as his suspension from the party.

    STAKEHOLDERS of the APC in Cross River state led by the National Vice Chairman, South South, have accused you of working against the interest of the party during the recently concluded elections. How would you react to this?

    These allegations are not strange to me. You can cross check everything I am going to say because they are verifiable. From 1999 to 2015, I have had  reason to dine with the PDP. It was a political fallow season. You will probably be surprised to hear that when I contested for governorship in the opposition in 2003, there was an attempt in broad day light to assassinate me and I ran out of the country to return after two years. At that time I was asked to join the PDP and contest for the senate but I declined.

    In 2012, when I contested against the PDP candidate, offers were made to me and I declined. If you talk to Cross Riverians, they know us by character. So, when I had a political fallow season, I did not accept overture from them, what will now attract me now as Minister? If for 16 years, I declined everything that tended to be offered to me, now that I am minister, what do I intend to gain? Is it that if I support them, I will become President? This is crafted blackmail intended to decimate my reputation. Thank God as journalists, you have the capacity to verify what you get or the information you receive.

    The first person to suggest  that if APC is to win election, Usani Usani has to contest is Senator John Owa-Enoh. The person he said that to did not tell me until we were together with him and he said, “Senator, I want to deliver that message you gave me before.” That person is Godwin Asam Efa who was Vice Chairman of Ikom local government council. Please, you can verify these details I am giving you. But something happened. When a former governor of Cross River state felt that it was too risky for them to allow Usani come in, he told Owa-Enoh to go and fight for the ticket so that whether it goes the way of PDP or APC, he will be in charge.

    Meanwhile, that former governor was zonal coordinator for PDP presidential campaign. Suddenly, he started recruiting different interest. When the National Chairman came into office, they caused him to believe that I was supporting the former Chairman, Oyegun and I wonder what type of sense that made because Oyegun did not contest any election. So, even if somebody was supporting him, of what value would that support be?

    What would you say is responsible for this?

    Secondly, the National Vice Chairman, South South who is spreading these falsehood did same thing against me during Oyegun’s chairmanship and I wrote many letters to Oyegun, telling him about his character, but Oyegun decided to believe him. For more than two years, they peddled these falsehood against me before Oyegun and others realized, though too late, that these fellows were not the characters they thought they were. He continued the same thing with Oshiomhole. My silence for a while is because somebody worth occupying a public office should be able to recognise where rule and order should prevail.

    I have always been quiet on this issue because the constitution of the party says we should not go to the press. But when the managers of a system violate their own rules, then it means anarchy will not allow the institution to run. Then, you can see what the APC is today. The President’s image is what keeps APC standing as a party today. Otherwise, by conduct, we have lost every s in the initial concept that brought honour to our party. Now, I have decided to speak out because further silence in the face of falsehood will suggest that I am guilty.

    But why do you think they are accusing you of working for the PDP?

    To suggest that I worked for the PDP can only be authenticated by the indices we lay across. Find out if the National Vice Chairman South south won one polling unit in his own ward for the President. There are two wards in my community and the PDP did not win any unit. I accumulated over 4000 votes while the PDP got about 1000. Assuming I was working for the PDP, will I produce results against them? Who is more believable? They have held several meeting and I will tell you that they are trying to do everything to make me politically irrelevant. They know that my continuous prevalence in the system will expose them.

    These are people who mismanaged public funds and they have been scared abinitio that if the President comes back for a second term, and the anti corruption crusade goes on, they will be in the web. For them, instead of allowing sleeping dogs lie, they wants to shake the hornet’s nest. I can tell of contracts in my state they got and failed to accomplished. I can tell you company names they have forwarded even at the beehive of the dissolution of the NDDC board which they are still forwarding for payment. For them, the dissolution of the NDDC board is the foundation of their revengeful attitude towards me. You know how the place functioned for a while which is in public domain.

    We don’t have factional leadership in APC. Before the current chairman came, congresses had been concluded. He decided that they will dissolve the state executive whereas as soon as that was concluded, we were given certified true copies of the results of the congresses supervised by INEC as provided by law. One day, they just came and said they’ve dissolved it. We sought redress in court and up till now, the subsisting judgement  in that regard showed that Hon. Godwin Etim John is the chairman of the party. So, impostors are just buying their ways as a result  of favours that does not accrue from any due process.

    So, there are no factions in the party. Every action being taken in response to this situation by them is contemptuous. They have also gone ahead to write a petition to he President alleging these same things. Incidentally, I have given a response to that petition. These people have no interest in this party. They came to destroy the party and run back to PDP. Between a man who has stayed for 16 years without changing focus and those who today belong to one place and tomorrow, they are somewhere else, who is more likely to prevaricate in circumstances of pecuniary inducement?

    For the south south zonal chairman, he was the national coordinator for the current PDP presidential candidate during the APC national convention in Lagos to choose our presidential candidate. In spite of all the hard currency given to him to win votes for the man then, he failed woefully and took those who were not delegates to Lagos to collect the money and when the man discovered, they fell out and he felt that I was probably responsible for that and so, his antagonism started. I put it on record that in 2012, I sponsored him to be ACN chairman in the state.

    In 2014 when we were discussing  the zoning of positions in the south South, I proposed his name against the wishes of Cross River indigenes and they told me he will disappoint us. But I stood by him. I honour principles and preserve accords and so, I put his name. For some people who do not have secondary vocations, if politics falls out of place, they will be stranded. So, they pursue political ambitions with absolute temerity of desperation and so, we will not be surprised because we know them. But for me, if anybody says I worked for PDP, go and tell Cross Riverians and see if they will believe you.

    Go and ask Lyel Imoke about those he was paying in the opposition when he was governor. Go and ask Donald Duke those who go behind to collect money. Go and ask Ben Ayade  those he gives money in the secret rooms. If you were from Cross River, you will know exactly how we stand. For some of us, hunger and abundance makes little difference but honour is greater than every consideration.

    I don’t know if you are aware that in the last week of campaign, they sent thugs to disrupt the rallies I was holding for Mr. President and one of them was caught with arms and handed over to the police. Then they claimed in their petition that I was arresting APC supporters. These people have been moving from one party to the other. They are green pasture politicians and I am not. I stand on the conscience of honesty. If they tell you Usani is this or that, let us put forward our political credentials and let us know where we stand in terms of tenacity of character and conscience.

    You are yet to say anything about your suspension by the national leadership of the party. Do you think they have the power to do that?

    I started administration at a high level in 1992 and I know what administration entails. I know that administration is not done in the open market or village square, especially when you have rules guiding a particular system. If, for any reason, I am accused of committing an offense, the constitution provides how the procedure should go. I did not receive any invitation to answer to any query, neither did I receive ay correspondence suggesting that I am under punitive measure. So, I just presume that it is one of those media rumour and so, I didn’t need to apply myself to it.

    I saw a letter from my ward chairman saying I remain a bonafide member of the APC in the ward he controls and that I have not committed any offense to warrant a disciplinary measure. So, I remain a member in my ward and that is where I stand. The question is, why would anybody want to suspend me? All methods, legitimate and legal has failed them in a bid to stop me from my governorship ambition and so, they adopted a cowboy method thinking that pronouncing suspension on air will make meaning. It does not make any meaning.

    I was the first party chairman in the state, not because I vied for it but because they said that they needed a character that will not sell the party. So, when they say I have been suspended, I have not receive any correspondence to that effect and I don’t know what offense I have committed. Suspending me is very dangerous because we are very few in Cross River that can hold the party together. Let them show their results in the just concluded elections. It is not about noise. But unfortunately, in Nigeria, noise means strength. But for me success means strategy. I don’t need to talk, but to prove and I have proven.

    You said the image of President Buhari is what is keeping the party together. In view of that, what faith or future do you think the party has after Buhari|?

    The future of the party will not be determined by the projections of today because tomorrow may turn a new leaf. The determination of the strength of a party does not also lies in the internal melee, but the actions and reaction of contending forces. That can always change the fortunes of the party. At the end of the President’s second term, if Christ tarries, God will give us what befits us because my bible tells me that a leader emerges from the system and the nature of the people. So, whatever happens, it may be a stronger or weaker party, but there will still be a party. But I note again that Abuja residents who have the privilege of entering offices are not the owners of the party. The owners of the party are resident in the states. So, it is not for us to gather ourselves, come to Abuja and claim to be key stakeholders. Those who hold the ground for us to rest on are right there in the states.

    If you were choosen as the party candidate for the governorship election, do you think you would have made any impact.

    I want to tell you that it is true that the PDP rigged elections and it is not in any way a hidden secret that they rigged election in Cross River. The truth is that the University of Calabar where the returning officers were drawn from is managed by the Vice Chancellor who is from the local government of the governor and majority of the returning officers were drawn from that local government. There were instances where people who retired from the military became returning officers. In my ward, the presiding officers were speaking my language and no youth corp member serves in his local government. These are proofs that PDP rigged the election.

    Assuming I was a candidate, I wont assume I will be declared because the reasons for declarations are beyond the ordinary. Legitimate and legal processes shows that we are the real candidates of the party. You can verify that and will find out that the only record in INEC suggestive of a congress or primary puts me as candidate of the party. So, whatever makes INEC to keep publishing what we don’t understand is what we cannot unravel. As at today, even though there are cases at the appeal level, the subsisting judgement remain valid until an appellate decision is taken. The only valid judgement so far is in our favour.

    In the first instance, they felt too arrogant to sit in a discussion. For me, what matters in life is not money or position. When the bible said Herod exalted himself above the knowledge of God, it is this type of attitude. Who is who to determine the fate of another man? So, when they behave like that, I don’t care. God gives positions and I don’t need to depend on anybody to get positions. I got this one without lobby. God must have used people to promote me to this point. Go and find out when I served military administrators as commissioner. There were times when I said instead of this, I will resign.

    You heard what I said on the floor of the senate during my screening when it was insinuated that I had a parley with the PDP. If you cannot serve the devil, don’t eat his food. That is my philosophy. I wont put my hand behind and collect and then pretend. They were too arrogant to sit in discussion even though I know that I have greater political fortunes in the state than they have put together. My fortunes in politics is from the life I have lived with my people and they know me. It is not a matter of being ambitious, but recognising that we all can form a whole.

    Every leader has what it takes to resolve crisis in his domain. So, I have no doubt that the national chairman can resolve the crisis. As the national chairman, he should be able to. For me, I exercise the right and privileged of my membership within the limits of the provisions of the rules of the party. As a member of the cabinet of the President, you don’t expect me to be a dissident and if anybody does not regard his position as a pedestal of honor, you don’t expect me to follow him. If you think suspending me is managing the crisis, you are wrong because it is provoking more crisis. I know that I am not serving any suspension. Did I register in Abuja? We are all members of our ward.

  • My accusers are real enemies of APC, says Usani

    Minister for Niger Delta Affairs Pastor Usani Uguru Usani has described those accusing him of engaging in anti-party activities as the real enemies of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Usani, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, said  having rejected PDP overtures for 16 years, when he was just a party man, he has no reason now to work for the same PDP.

    The National Vice Chairman in charge of the Southsouth, Ntufam Hillard Eta, and other party stakeholders in Cross River, accused Usani of working with the PDP government against the APC in the general elections.

    Usani said: “For 16 years, I rejected offers from the PDP. If I could refuse offers when I was vulnerable, what do I stand to gain by supporting them now that I am a Minister? To be the President?”

    The minister also dismissed his suspension by the party’s national leadership, saying he was never informed of allegations against him or called to defend himself.

    According to him, the process of discipline outlined by the party has not been exhausted and therefore his suspension cannot stand.

    “I am not aware that the party has ever invited me to any meeting by any means. That I urged people not to vote for APC at any election is not true. My evidence is in the result which I produced. In each of the elections of the President, Senate and House of Representatives, I delivered the two council wards of my community with more than 4,000 votes against PDP which scored less than 1,000 votes.

    “Even in 2015, I delivered similar results. The claim in this petition is a defence mechanism to placate them and divert attention from their untoward activities. Hilliard Eta, the party’s Vice Chairman for Southsouth, won no unit in his Ward 5 in Calabar Municipality.

    “Some of these signatories subscribed to supporting the PDP presidential candidate and their personal ambitions, which created confusion. The selection of Abuja residents, who pose as owners of the party by gaining patronage of the National Chairman, has some shameful undercurrents that I cannot pronounce in this document.

    “That I am working for PDP’s Ben Ayade is laughable. Cross River State indigenes know us by character. When I was politically fallow, I shunned every overture from PDP. It sounds ridiculous that anyone would allege that I am a PDP ally. Some of these signatories have gained from Ayade by proxy in contractual engagements,” he added.

  • C/River guber: Court rejects Usani’s claim to APC ticket

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja has rejected the claim by Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani to being the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, a judgment on Monday, dismissed a suit filed by Usani, in which he had, among others, sought to be declared the actual winner of the party’s governorship primary held late last year.

    Justice Adeniyi, who resolved all the issues raised by Usani for determination against him, noted that documentary evidence tendered by the claimant and facts in his supporting affidavits showed vital legal flaws, which the court could not overlook.

    The judge noted, for instance, that while Usani claimed to have won the primary conducted on September 30, 2018, a report of the primary, issued by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INRC) in Cross River, tendered by the claimant, showed that the primary was held between September 30 and October 1, 2018.

    Read Also: Buratai condoles with Shagari family

    Justice Adeniyi also noted that by the documentary evidence tendered by Usani, it was clear that the primary he claimed to have won was an illegal one, because it was conducted solely by the Cross River State’s APC Executive which has no power, under the law to conduct state governorship primary.

    Usani had, in the suit, prayed the court to compel the APC to send his name to INEC, in the place of Senator John Owan Enoh, as its governorship candidate for Cross River State.

    Details later.

  • Ribadu, Abe, others lose out as APC Appeals Panel submits report

    …party beat deadline for submission of list

     

    Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Senator Representing Rivers East in the upper legislative chamber and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani may have emerged as some of the biggest losers in the nomination process for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The outcome of the Appeals Committee which considered complain from the aspirants for the various offices did not favour them as their Appeals were rejected by the panel while upholding the results of the primaries in the various states.

    Read Also:APC Primary: Appeal Panel upholds Nwosu’s election

    Those who also lost out in the governorship race in accordance with the committee report include brother to the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, Alhaji Mahmoud Halilu popularly known as Modi, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Bala Bobboi Kaigama and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun who lost the opportunity to have his choice candidate returned as the party flag bearer.

    However, there was palpable tension within and around the National headquarters of the party as aspirants for the Senate and House of Representatives battle to have knowledge of the outcome of the screening and probably the list of candidates sent to INEC by the party.

    The party’s Director of Organisation, Alhaji Abubakar Kari who led some officials of the party in a branded APC bus to submit the list to INEC was seen at about 2.00pm cuddling the list of candidates which has been kept secret.

    It was however gathered that many members of the party across the country who were not sure of whether the decision of the appeal panel were in their favour have been making frantic calls to the secretariat to know their fate.

    The Nation learnt that several of the petitions submitted to the Appeals Panel were either not entertained or dismissed for lacking in substance and this has not gone down well with many of those whose petitions were not entertained.

    The two petitions against the governorship primaries in Rivers by Senator Magnus Abe and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs were not upheld, while the only petition from Delta written by Prof. Pat Utomi was dismissed and tagged “overtaken by event”.

    From Borno, there were four petitions against the conduct of the governorship primary, with the committee recommending that a consensus option b explored to be driven by the National Chairman in consultation with the President.

    It was also gathered that majority of the petitions against the conduct of the Senate and House of Representatives primaries were not upheld for various reasons ranging from lack of merit, lack of proof to lack of time for fresh primaries while no reasons were adduced for not upholding some others.

    Similarly, some petitions were upheld and some of the petitioners declared as candidates of the party either because they actually won the primaries and were substituted or for other reasons ranging from lack of clearance and others that were not adduced by the committee.

    For example, the Athanasisus Okon who runs the Buhari Friends Organisation Network who was excluded from the primary for Itu/Udom/Oboh-Akara federal constituency was upheld and declared candidate of the party by the committee for reason that he has a strong pedigree and has been a strong supporter of the President and the party.

    A summary of the report indicate that all petitions against the Senate and House of Representatives primaries were rejected by the panel, the same position with Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross Rivers state.

    In Delta, eight petitions were upheld for winning the primaries and having their names substituted, while seven were rejected, while the three petitions against the conduct of the governorship primary in Akwa Ibom state was rejected alongside eight House of Representatives seat, while five were upheld.

    From Kaduna, six petitions were treated for the Senatorial primaries with five of them rejected while one (Shehu Sani) was upheld, while nine of the ten petitions received for the House of Representatives were rejected.

    Two petitions each were received against the governorship primaries in Sokoto and Jigawa and rejected, while three House of Representatives and three Senatorial petitions were rejected from the two states.

    Petitions from Kebbi and Katsina states were also rejected while the two against the conduct of the governorship primary were referred to the National Working Committee for decision, while the petitions from Kano were either upheld or referred to the party national secretariat for action.

    From Taraba state, The Nation gathered that ten petitions were r covered against the conduct of the governorship primary, four against the Senate primary and nine against the House of Representatives primaries, with all petitions rejected, a similar situation with Adamawa and Bauchi states, with only one Senatorial and one House of Representatives seat in Bauchi upheld.
    The situation is not different from the south west zone with six petitions treated from Ekiti against the conduct of the National Assembly primaries and rejected, three House of Representatives petition from Osun were also rejected.

    From Ondo State, the panel upheld three petitions for senate, refers one to the NWC, rejects two and upheld the five petitions for House of Representatives, saying that they won the primary and were substituted.

    Of the two petitions received from Lagos, one was rejected for the senate, while the one for the House of Representatives was upheld.

    The panel also rejected two Senatorial petitions from Ogun and recommended that the third petitioner be adopted as the candidate saying stakeholder of the party in the areas agreed to adopt him as a sole candidate.

    However, aspirants whose petitions were not treated are protesting against the report of the Appeals Panel saying grave injustice has been done to them both in the conduct of the primaries and the outcome of the Appeals Panel.

    One of the aspirants Mr. Adaze Wilson Imafidon, who was seeking the party’s ticket to contest the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde House of Representatives Federal Constituency seat, submitted a petition to the appeals committee through his lawyers, describing the purported primary election held in the constituency as a sham.

    According to his legal representatives, Imafidon and Imafidon of Eghosa Chambers, their client resorted to writing the petition to the committee because of the injustice that was done to him and his supporters who are bonafide members of the party.

    The aspirant alleged that none of the accredited members of the APC committee sent to the area was present during the purported election in the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency except in Urhonigbe South where only the INEC went to observe.

    “Consequently, it is now beyond contention that the proposed primary election into the Federal House of Representatives in Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency, which was slated for Saturday 6th October 2018, and indeed all other APC primary elections throughout Edo State did not hold to the dismay of our client and his mammoth supporters.” The petition disclosed.
    They said any attempt to present any of the aspirants to INEC as the winner of the botched APC primary election of 6th October 2018 would be illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

    “We, therefore, call on the National Working Committee (NWC) to appreciate the concerns raised above and to do justice as appropriate in the overall interest of the Party.”

    Another aspirant, Christopher Ariri, who is an aspirant for the Orhionmwon East State Constituency of Edo State,  said, “Some of the accredited members of the appropriate committee mandated by the party to supervise and conduct the primary election into the Edo state House of Assembly’s Orhionmwon East Constituency, totally hijacked the process when they noticed our huge support by deliberately declining to count votes cast for us so as to foist on us a situation of complete helplessness”.

    Meanwhile a group, on the platform of Benue South APC Justice and Equality Movement has taken a peaceful protest to the headquarters of the party, asking the NWC to call the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh to order for allegedly substituting the names of elected candidates with those who did not participate at the primary.

    The coordinator of the group, Mr. Akor Ikwuocha, told newsmen that they were surprised that after winners have emerged and names were submitted to the approximate authority by the electoral committee, “the Minister allegedly from overseas, called a meeting of few persons and announced to them that he is substituting names of most of the candidates because they were not his choice.

    “Today, there is no single campaign bill board of President Muhammadu Buhari in the whole of Benue South Senatorial district despite the fact that the Benue South has a cabinet member in person of Chief Audu Ogbe.”

    The protesters said the attempt to change the names of elected candidates across Benue South may further engender disenchantment among the APC members.

    They, however, appealed to the NWC to call the Minister to order and ensure that all those candidates that won the primary elections are allowed to go for the general election as party’s candidates.

     

     

     

     

  • 730 Niger Delta youths to be trained in 2018, says minister

    No fewer than 730 youths from the Niger Delta region would be trained in various skill acquisition programme of the Federal Government in 2018.

    The effort is said to be in the government bid to increase the human capital development in the country as well as check agitations and unrest in the country.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani made the disclosure in Ibadan at the weekend during the graduation of 25 youths from Niger Delta under the empowerment training of the ministry by Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited, held at the Chief M.A Adesiyan conference hall, Alumni Centre, University of Ibadan.

    The 25 youths were trained on fish production, information communication technology, business development and entrepreneurial skill within few weeks in Ibadan.

    Represented by the Director of Economic Empowerment, Ministry of Niger Delta, Alhaji Ibrahim Akanya, the minister said the empowerment is not only a means to fast track development but also to actualise the Presidents human capital development programmes.

    His words, “This empowerment programme is not only means of fast tracking development of the entire region, but one of the ways to actualise Mr President’s human capital development programme.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari believes that in addition to infrastructure, human capital development is quite vital and essential for a nation. Most of the crises we have in Nigeria today is as a result of neglect of human capital development.

    “This, President Buhari said cannot continue. So, he has directed all the ministries as a matter of urgency to put in their annual capital budget the issue of human capital development and that is why we came up with this programme of economic empowerment at the Ministry of Niger Delta programme.

    “We have it before the present administration but it was energised when President Buhari came in. He put a lot of impetus-fund into it, actually organise it. As I am telling you this year alone, the Ministry of Niger Delta alone will be training about 730 youths under the 2017 budget, not to talk of 2018 budget that is yet to be passed.

    “About 180 are graduating today in Calabar; by next Wednesday another 90 youths will be graduating from Calabar axis again, then by Monday about 205 women and youths will be commencing another training here in Ibadan, Oyo state, specifically at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. In Imo, about 105 graduated from the same programme last week. That is to tell you how the present administration is committed to human capital development.

    “The essence of the programme is that the restiveness we have in the Niger Delta and recently, in the North East is nothing other than neglect of human capital. If we have to arrest this situation, we have to develop human being along that line,” Uguru stated.

    In his short remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture, Mr Toye Arulogun urged the participants to make judicious use of the knowledge and opportunity availed them by the programme.

    Arulogun commended the Federal Government for the initiative, noting that it shows that the government is concerned about the future of the youths of the state, the country.

    Earlier, the Chief Consultant, Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited, Dr Tunde Kelani, who lauded the initiative of the Federal Government charged the graduating youths to replicate whatever they might have benefited in their communities and promote the scheme.

  • Audio: FG orders audit of Dana airline 

    Audio: FG orders audit of Dana airline 

    The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered complete audit of Dana airline.

    The airline had recently been involved in non-fatal accidents in the country, with one of its plane over shooting the runway in Port Harcourt and another one had its door failing off while taxiing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said the audit will cover the personnel and assets of Dana airline.

    He was with the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani.

    Garba Shehu said “A lot of quality time was spent discussing air safety. The government of Nigeria is very much concerned about safety and the life of Nigerians; this is following the recent air incidents.

    “Minor as they were because there were no fatalities, the government did feel concern and the Minister did the report to the Council on steps that were taken following the last incident in Port Harcourt, Dana aircraft overshooting the runaway. As soon as that happened, a few seconds, a rescue team was there on the ground and few moments thereafter every passenger on board was evacuated. There was no harm to persons and this is something that should be celebrated.

    “Within 24 hours an official investigation had commenced because investigators arrived in Port Harcourt and began work. One week after that a preliminary report was prepared and it was about this that the Council was briefed.

    “Consequently as announced by the aviation authorities, the engineer and pilot of that particular aircraft got their licences suspended and beyond that the government has ordered a complete audit of Dana airlines in terms of personnel, operations, and technical capacity,” he said.

    He also disclosed that the Council has approved the augmentation of the contract sum for the rehabilitation of Burnt Marina Bridge and the Maintenance of Eko (Apobgbon) and Iddo bridges in Lagos State, in Favour of Messrs. Buildwell Plant and Equipment Industries Limited, in the sum of N114, 424,225.05.

    The amount, he said, represented 12 percent of the original contract sum.

    https://soundcloud.com/thenationnewspaper/fg-orders-comprehensive-audit-of-dana-airline

    He said that the contract sum was reviewed from N957, 053,316.45 to N1, 071, 29,541.40 with additional completion period of six months.

    The Council, he said, also approved augmentation for Mangu Dam, in Plateau State to N7.66 billion from original cost of N5.66 billion increasing the total contract sum to N13.2 billion.

    Dan-Ali said that his Ministry presented to the Council the status of the implementation of approved capital projects and achievements of the Ministry of Defence from 2015 to 2017.

    The presentation, he said, covered the strategic policies of the Ministry, including to build and maintain flexible, compact and highly trained Armed forces capable of defending the territorial integrity of the nation.

    He said “The brief also covers the serviceability of the military platforms, operational readiness, future projections and the way forward. During the period under review the Ministry received a timely consideration and approval of its capital projects and the Armed Forces in general.

    “This no doubt resulted to the successes recorded so far in the fight against terrorists and other security challenges in the country. It is pertinent to state that prior to assumption of office by President Muhammadu Buhari, most of the military platforms and hardware were old, worn out, non-functional and obsolete.

    “However, it is gratifying to mention that this administration have made tremendous efforts in the provision of funds for the acquisition of modern military hardware to meet up with security challenges. High priority was also placed on renovation of existing barracks facilities to cater for the welfare of the members of the Armed Forces.

    “Some of the facilities renovated were neglected for over forty years. Between 2015-2017 a total of 18 rehabilitation works have been carried out in various barracks across the six geo political zones by the Ministry. Similarly Defence Headquarters also approved 36 capital projects within the period.

    “The Nigerian Army embarked on 68 approved projects. Nigerian Navy implemented 31 projects while a total number of 64 projects were also implemented by the Nigerian Air force,” he said.

    According to him, he also gave breakdown of capital projects implementation stage by other agencies of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

    “The Armed Forces Command and Staff College implemented 23 capital projects Similarly, the National Defence College got approval for 69 projects some of which were already completed while others are on-going. The Defence space Administration has so far implemented 32 capital projects from 2015-2017. Defence Intelligence Agency has 11 projects approved and most of them are already completed or at various stage of completion The Defence Industries Corporation in Kaduna got approval for 38 projects, some already completed while paucity of funds is affecting the completion of others The Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, oshodi had 38 capital projects approved, most of the projects are already completed It is worthy to mention that since independence no projects of such magnitude and number were achieved in less than 3 years,” he said.

    He also said that the presentation also proposed a way forward for the implementation of a comprehensive reform of the entire defence management system with a view of promoting effectiveness, transparency, accountability and self-reliance.

    According to him, the role of the Presidency/Armed Forces Council and the National Assembly were identified as paramount in the implementation of the defence sector reforms.

    He said that the Defence Headquarters will also improve on training of personnel, improvement on the serviceability rate of equipment by conducting regular audits of existing assets.

    Udoma said that he briefed the Council on the NBS recent report.

    He said “I presented a briefing to the Federal Executive Council today on the most recent Gross Domestic Product and other related economic performance numbers as released last week by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    “You will recall that it indicated that in the last quarter of 2017 the economy had continued its positive growth trajectory by growing by 1.92%. This is higher than the previous quarter when it grew by 1.40%. And higher still from the 2nd Quarter, when it grew by 0.72%.

    “The numbers clearly show that the economy has fully exited recession. Council members were particularly pleased to note that this growth is very broad based with Agriculture growing at 4.23% up from 3.06% in the 3rd Quarter. Other sectors such as Transportation and storage, Electricity and gas production, Metal Ores, and Industry all grew, particularly noteworthy were the growth recorded in Trade (2.07% and Services (o.10%) after six quarters of negative growth.

    “Council members were also happy to note that overall the non-oil sector grew by 1.45%, it’s strongest since 2015. Inflation is also trending downwards moving down from 18.72% in January 2017 to 15.13% in January 2018. Council members were also happy to see the increasing private sector confidence in the ERGP, and other policies and programmes of the Buhari administration, as evidenced by the increasing capital inflows.

    “Capital inflows in 2017 were US$12,228 million, a growth of 138.6% over the total inflow in 2016 of US$5,124 million. This has been a factor in the build-up of our foreign reserves which have grown from US$23.81 billion in September 2016 to almost US$42 billion.

    “Council members however agreed that whilst these positive results are most encouraging, particularly in the light of where we were in the last few years, the current growth rate is still rather modest and we have to continue to work even harder to achieve the goals of the ERGP of diversifying the economy and achieving our growth targets of 3.5% this year, and 7% by 2020.

    “And, of course one of the ways we are intensifying implementation of the ERGP are the ERGP focus labs which will be launched next week Tuesday, 13th March, by Mr President,” he stated.

    Usani Uguru, said the Council approved the design of section five of East – West Road meant to link Oron in Akwa Ibom to Calabar in Cross River State.

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  • Updated: 30 contractors to face EFCC over East- West Road project

    Updated: 30 contractors to face EFCC over East- West Road project

    … FEC approves N16bn for NDDC building

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, said on Wednesday that over 30 contractors would soon face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) over the East -West Road project and other contracts in the country.

    He also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N16 billion for the completion of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) building.

    The minister disclosed these in a chat with State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said the present administration is doing everything possible to put the East- West Road project on track.

    Usani said: “The East- West Road is a project that has been messed up from inception. It was naturally designed to fail by all the agreements and designed concepts that we have seen. And here we are making sure that we put things in order so that we can see the terminal point of that project.

    “The project started more than a decade ago and in 24 months we have made the progress we have made on that project, correcting even the construction deficits in the area, then I think you should be able to appreciate what we are doing.”

    On the NDDC building, the minister said it would be wise to complete the building instead of spending N2 billion rent yearly.

     

     

  • East West Road designed to fail – Minister

    East West Road designed to fail – Minister

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, said on Wednesday, the East West Road was designed to fail by the previous administrations.

    He was responding to the question on why N16 billion was approved for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters building when the fund will go a long way in completing the East West Road project.

    According to him, the present administration is doing everything possible to put the project on track.

  • Minister updates Buhari on NDDC, ongoing projects, others

    Minister updates Buhari on NDDC, ongoing projects, others

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani on Monday in Abuja updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities at the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ).

    He made this known while speaking to State House correspondents.

    “For a while, he has not been round and their things he needed to know from me.

    “So, I had to brief him on issues pertaining to the ministry, the projects that are going and other anthropogenic issues that have to do with the general matters concerning the Niger Delta region especially, at the throw up of some of the concerns bothering on who is right to speak for, who not right to speak for, and then the issues of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    “All these occupied our discussion with the President today.’’

    On the recent threat by Niger Delta Avengers to resume attacks on oil installations, the minister stated that the issue was not discussed during his meeting with the president.

    He, however, maintained that the Federal Government would continue to dialogue with all aggrieved groups in the Niger Delta region with a view to ensuring peace and stability in the country.

    “Well, we haven’t discussed the Avengers per se. But, the President has always shown indication that whatever we need to and can do to sustain peace in the region, we would continue to do it.

    “And of course, the benefit of that, you are aware that the Vice President has been chairing the committee that handles the issues they are raising.

    “And so, while that goes on operationally, the President just needs to be briefed on our efforts though we know that the Vice President is briefing him from time to time but per se, the Avengers issues was not discussed.

    “On a general note, it is understood that we have to be engaged to be able to sustain the peace that prevailed for a while,’’ he added.

    The minister described the slow pace of work on the East West road project as unfortunate.

    He said: “But we all have to appreciate one thing. Such physical infrastructure don’t decay over night and so the neglect has continually put continues liability on us.

    “Yes, it’s true that I met with the contractors, appealed to them to go back to site, we have also been very conscientious in releasing funds.’’

    NAN

  • Forum condemn attacks on Niger Delta Minister

    Forum condemn attacks on Niger Delta Minister

    The Cross River All Progressives Congress Stakeholders Forum (CRSAPC) has condemned attacks on the person of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, saying they calculated attempts by some detractors to smear his character and destroy his hard earned reputation.

    The Forum said they decided to “stand-up against the unwarranted attacks against the minister orchestrated by of some persons masquerading as members of the APC, that have continued to write frivolous petitions to President Muhammdu Buhari, heaping every manner of unsubstantiated allegation against Usani, all in the pursuit of their illicit desire to pull him down.”

    Addressing reporters in Cabar Friday, Coordinator of the group, Mr. Cletus Ogban, said the minister was innocent of the allegations leveled against him, especially those bothering on murder and the defeat suffered recently by the APC in his constituency.

    Ogban said they decided to come out openly to defend the minister because the falsehood being spread, if allowed to continue, was capable of misrepresenting the character and personality of Usani, whom they described as a very humble and patient person.

    He said, “The Minister’s  detractors believe in the pull him down syndrome like the force of gravity and therefore write frivolous petitions and publications castigating  an innocent character in the person of the Minister of the Niger Delta to give the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so as to create an erroneous impression in the President about Usani.

    “The detractors, mischief makers, and reprobates who perpetrate these actions are not even committed members of the party. These people are making these mischievous publications merely for gratification and merely to satisfy the desire of their sponsors.

    “The contending issue at hand (murder case) took place about 20 years ago, which he was exonerated by the State Security Agencies and was also cleared by the Oputa Panel, and now because he has been given an appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they are using it as a cheap blackmail to smear his character.”

    The group defended the Minister against the defeat suffered by the APC at the Yakurr 2 State Constituency rerun election, where he comes from saying, saying the party lost the elections because it was sabotaged by some of its new entrants from the Labour Party (LP), who rather than support the APC candidate, opted to work against him at the polls when it mattered most.

    “ Our concern now is how to contribute our own quota by supporting those Mr. President has chosen or appointed to represent us at the centre and not to scatter or destroy his plans for Cross River State,” he said.