12022018 - Fuel crisis : PDP, APC in verbal war over President's role

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018
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We've laid foundation for
Bayelsa's greatness— Gov
By Samuel
Oyadongha
Y ENAGOA—
GOVERNOR
Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa
State, yesterday, declared
that the six years of his
administration has been
used to place the state on
the path of development,
prosperity and greatness.
Dickson stated this
during the thanksgiving
service at the Gloryland
Chapel, Government
House, Yenagoa, to mark
the sixth anniversary of his
administration.
He said though the
journey was rough with
distractions such as
economic challenges, his
administration remained
focused on delivery of
quality infrastructure in
education, health and
By Onozure Dania
C HAIRMAN,
Christian
Association of Nigeria,
CAN, South-South,
Archbishop God-Dowell
Avwomakpa, has called on
concerned Nigerians to
come to the aid of coastal
communities in the Niger
Delta region, as many are
in danger of extinction.
Archbishop Avwomakpa,
Presiding Archbishop of
Christ Missionaries
Crusaders International,
spoke shortly after hosting
Rev. Dr. Agoron Dike,
President of Africans/
Caribbean Faith Based
Conference, a Christian
group based in the United
States, after the church
service in Warri, Delta
State.
He noted that most of the
communities were losing
others.
The governor, who sang
praises to God alongside
with his wife, Rachael,
noted that despite the
challenges, temptations
and victories, his
administration in
partnership with the
people of the state, has
steered Bayelsa on the
path of development and
prosperity.
Meanwhile, former
President, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, is
expected to visit Yenagoa,
the Bayelsa State capital,
to commission projects as
part of activities marking
the anniversary.
Already, the state
government has renamed
Glory Drive Gateway to
Yenagoa from the East-
West Road as Olusegun
Obasanjo Drive.
Archbishop makes case
for coastal communities
their ancestral land to
River Niger.
Avwomakpa, who will, in
May, receive an award in
leadership in the United
States, noted that in his 56
years of service to God, he
has never been this
worried that many
communities are at risk of
going extinct in the next
two decades if nothing is
done.
He named Okwagbe,
Ezebri, Ofurukama, an
Urhobo village and a
trading town during the
colonial era, where John
Holt was established, as
having lost over 400 acres
of land to the river.
He said if Nigerians
were not ready to help, the
Diaspora should, adding
that there are cases where
people go to bed in their
houses and the wake up
next day in the river.
I tried to stop Abe, but God said no— Wike
By Egufe God that gives power. lawmakers for the victory. He urged the Senate
Yafugborhi & Davies When I wanted to become Abe carry go. Thank God President, Dr. Bukola
Iheamnachor governor, they worked despite all I did, you still Saraki, to prevail on the
P
hard to ensure that I did won.
Federal Government to
ORT HARCOURT— not win. That was why “I advise that you put carry out maintenance work
GOVERNOR Nyesom when I become governor, the state first. The interest on the Aba-Port Harcourt
Wike of Rivers State, I did everything possible of the state should be Expressway.
yesterday, confessed that to stop Abe from paramount. Let us leave Meanwhile, Abe, in his
he did everything to stop becoming a senator. politics and face speech, thanked the people
Senator Magnus Abe from “I showed Abe pepper. development. Let us stop of the state for their votes,
winning his senatorial But he succeeded; that is wrestling. When the time promising that the APC
election, noting that Abe’s how God wants it. I to wrestle comes we will lawmakers will give effective
victory was from God. congratulate all the APC wrestle.”
representation.
Governor Wike
congratulated All
Progressives Congress,
APC, in the state and the
lawmakers elected on the
party’s platform for their
victory in the re-run
elections.
Wike also charged Rivers
politicians to have the
interest of the state at heart
and stop playing politics, as
the people of the state
expect governance and
development.
Speaking in Port Harcourt
at the victory thanksgiving
of Senator Abe (Rivers
South-East) and other APC
lawmakers from the state,
the governor revealed that
just as the opposition
party in the state vowed
that he (Wike) would not
win the governorship
seat, he also worked hard
to ensure that Abe never SON: From left— Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria,
succeeded.
SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma; a guest and Dr. Joseph Odumodu, during the
His words: “It is only presentation of a plaque to Dr. Odumodu in Abuja as SON Ambassador.
Edo APC woman leader defects to PDP
•...says “they used and dumped me; I don’t have access to governor, deputy”
By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—A
former
governorship aspirant
of All Progressive
Congress, APC, and
Deputy Woman Leader of
the party in Edo State, Mrs
Tina Agbarha, has defected
to Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP.
Edo State Chairman of
PDP, Chief Dan Orbih,
while receiving the former
APC chieftain at Igueben,
headquarters of Igueben
Local Government Area of
the state, weekend,
expressed satisfaction that
the defection of the Woman
Leader was a clear
indication that PDP was
working to achieve success
in the forthcoming
elections.
Orbih, who described
Mrs. Agbarha as a
grassroots politician and
mobiliser, said APC in
Igueben Local Government
Area, and Edo State in
general, was in trouble
following her declaration for
PDP.
APC lacks internal
democracy—Agbarha
On her part, Agbarha
said APC lacks internal
democracy and has no
respect for dedicated
members, who worked
hard for the party.
She added that she lost
faith in the party having
been denied nomination
during the party primaries
to contest the local
government elections
scheduled for March 3.
She said APC has thrown
away all its hard-working
members and leaders,
By Simon
Ebegbulem
BENIN—MINISTER of
State for Petroleum, Dr.
Ibe Kachukwu, has tasked
the leadership of All
Progressives Congress,
APC, in Delta State, to work
with men of integrity and
intellect to ensure the
emergence of a credible
governorship candidate for
the party.
He stated this at the 62nd
birthday celebration of
Professor Pat Utomi, in
Ibusa, Delta State,
insisting that she was also
a victim of the party’s
intimidation and refusal to
accord members their
rightful positions, whether
as deserving members
and aspirants.
She lamented a situation
where APC party leaders
in the state described her
as not having the capacity
to become the Igueben
council chairman, adding
that she was used and
dumped, after helping the
weekend.
The minister, who
described Professor Utomi
as a great asset to APC,
said with people like him,
the party will capture Delta
in 2019.
According to him, “APC
in Delta State should work
with people of integrity
and intellect that are
capable of providing
leadership like is
obtainable in Edo State,
where Governor Godwin
Obaseki is providing
leadership that benefits the
people.”
party to garner votes during
the governorship election
that produced Governor
Godwin Obaseki.
Agbarha, who described
herself as an “able and
capable woman” leader,
said: “Even as a woman
leader, I cannot access the
governor’s office and home.
“I cannot also have access
to my Deputy Governor and
cannot have access to our
party leader’s home at
Iyamho.”
Utomi @ 62: Kachukwu tasks Delta APC
on credible governorship candidate
Also speaking at the event,
Governor Obaseki, urged
Edo and Delta citizens to
hold fast to the virtues and
legacies that made the old
Bendel State outstanding
among its peers, calling on
leaders of the two states to
sustain and build on the
heritage of the old region.
The governor urged the
elite of both states to re-direct
their focus to re-building
and returning the states to
a leading spot, wherein
things worked for the good
of everyone and not for few
persons.