30012018 - 2019: No alternative to Buhari, says el-Rufai

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2018—33
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
Edo Assembly lifts suspension on Ex-Deputy Speaker
Ijaw group to militants: Stop damaging oil
facilities, engage govt
By Emma Amaize
W
A R R I —
CHAIRMAN,
Warri-Ijaw Peace
Monitoring Group,
WIPMG, Delta State, Chief
Patrick Bigha, has called on
agitating groups in the
Niger Delta region to
explore non-violent means
to engage government at
all levels and International
Oil Companies, IOCs,
rather than resorting to
destruction of oil facilities.
Bigha, who gave the
advice in a statement,
yesterday, said: “Peaceful
engagement will help
avoid military action in our
communities and
harassment of perceived
enemies of the present
Federal Government.
“This call has become
imperative as we have
observed that the Nigerian
military is very swift at
harassing innocent
villagers in the region,
particularly communities
along the oil-rich Warri-
Escravos area. We have
noticed that the military
and other security agencies
have started plans to go
By Simon Ebegbulem &
Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—EDO State
House of Assembly
has lifted the suspension
order on the former Deputy
Speaker of the House, Mrs
Elizabeth Ativie, the
member representing APC
Uhumwode constituency.
The lifting of the
suspension of Mrs. Ativie,
who was also a former
Speaker of the House, was
sequel to the
recommendation of an Adhoc
committee, headed by
the Deputy Speaker, Mr.
Victor Edoro, the member
representing APC Esan
Central constituency.
At the sitting of the
House, yesterday, the
Deputy Speaker, Edoro,
moved a motion for the
House to dissolve into a
committee of the whole to
consider the committee’s
report.
At the committee of the
whole, Edoro explained
that the former deputy
after some persons, who
they perceive as enemies of
the President Muhammadu
Buhari administration.
“It is worthy of note that
this method of the military
has never helped the
people in the region as it
has further worsened the
precarious socio-economic
situation of the people.
“It is our belief that a
peaceful resolution of the
problems in the Niger Delta
region, which successive
governments, including
the current one have
acknowledged, will lead to
Navy'll continue to crush oil thieves in
N-Delta —FOC
W
A
By Jimitota
Onoyume
R R I —
NIGERIAN
Navy has said it will
continue to crush oil thieves
and related criminals in the
nation’s maritime space
until they give up on their
unlawful activities.
Rear Admiral Peter Onaji
gave the assurance while
handing over as Flag
speaker, Elizabeth Ativie
had appeared before the
committee, adding that she
had also returned the four
vehicles in her possession
and cooperated with the
committee on all issues
raised.
He listed the vehicles
returned to include, one
Lexus SUV, one Prado SUV
and two Hilxus vans.
The committee thereafter,
recommended that the
suspension order placed on
Ativie be lifted and its
massive development of
the region.
“The truth of the matter is
that so much money had
been expended on military
actions in the region
without achieving the
desired peace. It has
become a stock-in-trade of
the Nigerian military to
employ violence in dealing
with the Niger Delta
situation because they are
gaining so much from such
crude methods of resolving
crises in the region over the
years.
“We are aware of many
Officer Commanding
Naval Logistics
Headquarters in Oghara,
Ethiope West Local
Government Area, Delta
State.
He appealed for timely
information from the civil
populace to enable the
Navy achieve greater
results in its maritime
security operations.
Rear Admiral Onaji said
civilians should know they
recommendations were
adopted by the House.
The Speaker, Mr. Kabiru
Adjoto thereafter, ruled that
’’following the adoption of
the recommendation of the
committee by the House,
the suspension order
placed on Ativie is hereby
lifted.’’
It will be recalled that
Mrs Ativie was suspended
following her refusal to
return all official vehicles
attached to her as a former
deputy speaker of the
House upon her removal
from the position.
NEW YEAR PARTY: From left: Mr Tajudeen Akande, President Lagos Country Club; Governor
Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), during the Lagos Country Club 2018
New Year party, in Lagos.
military men that have
made so much money from
the problems in the region
without addressing the
main issues that brought
about the problems in the
first place.
“On a final note, we, of
WIPMG are happy with the
prevailing peace in the
Warri-Escravos route and
therefore, want to sincerely
appeal to agitating groups
in the region to embrace
peaceful means to press on
their demands for the
development of the region."
have a role in the task of
defending the nation,
assuring that the Navy will
continue to make positive
impact in the fight against
crude oil theft, sea piracy
and other related crimes on
the nation’s waterways.
“The task of defending
Nigeria is collective. Let’s
all work together for the
national security of our
country," he said.
Jonathan greets Dickson at 52
F
O R M E R
President
Goodluck Jonathan
has felicitated with
Governor Seriake
Dickson of Bayelsa
State who turned 52 on
Sunday.
In a goodwill
message, the expresident
described
Governor Dickson as a
crusader for equity and
people’s rights.
A statement by Dr.
Jonathan’s media
adviser, Mr.
Ikechukwu Eze, also
prayed for God to
guide and bless the
governor’s efforts as he
continues to work for
the transformation of
Bayelsa State.
He said: “I wish to,
most sincerely,
No inch of Urhoboland’ll be
ceded for cattle colony —Taiga
By Dapo Akinrefon
P RESIDENT-
GENERAL,
Urhobo Progress Union,
UPU, Olorogun Moses
Taiga, has told the
Federal Government to
jettison the establishment
of cattle colonies for
Fulani herdsmen, saying
no inch of land in Urhobo
nation will be ceded for
the purpose.
While he raised the
alarm of Fulani
herdsmen invading parts
of Urhoboland, he called
on President
Muhammadu Buhari
and Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa of Delta State to
wade into the matter
before it gets out of hand.
Addressing newsmen
in Lagos, yesterday,
Don't use unqualified
engineers for Gelegele port
rehabilitation —CIS
By Godwin Oritse
THE
Chartered
Institute of
Shipbrokers in Nigeria,
CIS, has warned the
Edo State Government
against using
unqualified and
inexperienced
engineering firms for
the rehabilitation of the
Gelegele port.
It will be recalled that
Edo State Government
recently signed an
agreement with a
Chinese Construction
firm to handle the reconstruction
of the port.
Speaking with
Vanguard, Director of
Publicity of the
congratulate you on the
occasion of your 52nd
birthday. You are a
patriot and crusader for
equity who has
continued to champion
the cause of our people,
for which God has
blessed you with his
grace.
“As you mark this
special day, I join your
family and other well
wishers to rejoice with
you and offer prayers for
more glorious
celebrations. Your
Excellency, I also pray
for God’s guidance and
protection as you
continue to lend your
skills and support to the
efforts towards
transforming our state
and improving the
fortunes of our nation.”
Taiga faulted the Federal
Government on the
proposed cattle colony,
saying: “Cattle rearing is
a private matter and
individuals should make
their private arrangements,
just as crop farmers do in
that regard.”
On the proposed cattle
colony, the UPU president
said: “I want to use this
opportunity to inform the
Federal Government that
the Urhobo nation is
against the proposed cattle
colony and the Urhobo will
not cede an inch of their
land for the purpose of
establishing a cattle colony.
Has government
established cassava, yam,
cocoa or plantain colonies?
These squatters and
trespassers have to stop."
institute, Mr. Chris
Ebare, said that what
should be of concern is
the quality of the
construction that will be
delivered at the end of
the day.
Ebare said that the
government must ensure
that core engineering
professionals are brought
in to ensure quality
delivery of the project,
adding that anything
short of that will not be
acceptable to the state.
“The government of
Edo State must ensure
that a proper monitoring
mechanism comprising of
professional engineers is
put in place to ensure
quality delivery," he said.