14082018 - Saraki: Showdown on hold as NASS fails to reconvene

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2018—37
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Witchcraft logo affecting APC—Nyiam
COLONEL
Tony
Nyiam(retd), has
taken a swipe at the logo of
All Progressives Congress,
APC, blaming it for the
killings across Nigeria since
the inception of Buhari’s
regime.
In a statement, Nyiam
said: “The bad omen
involved in Nigeria being
ruled by a political party
NOILER BIRDS: From left— Group Managing Director, Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited,
Dr. Ayoola Oduntan; Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Abiola
Kufile-Okonji; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, and Ogun State Commissioner
for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebanjo, during the distribution of 35,000 Noiler Birds to 3,000
beneficiaries in Ogun State.
By Samuel
Oyadongha
& Emem Idio
Y ENAGOA—BAYELSA
State Civil Service
Commission says it has
received no fewer than
23,000 applications for the
1,000 available spaces in
the state civil service.
A Commissioner in the
commission, Chief Kune
Igoni-Claudius, who
disclosed this during the
launch of the commission’s
website yesterday in
Yenagoa, said of the 23,000
applications that were
issued, more than 12,000
applicants returned their
duly completed forms.
He commended
Governor Seriake Dickson
for actualising the dream of
the current administration
in reforming the civil
service in the state and the
employment of indigenes of
the state into various cadres
in the service.
In his remarks, the state
Deputy Governor, Rear
Admiral Gboribiogha John-
Jonah (retd), lauded the
commission for utilising
Information and
Communications
Technology, ICT, in
handling its recruitment
processes.
He tasked other
establishments, ministries,
whose logo is an
upstanding broomsticks
should not be taken
lightly, particularly with
the unprecedented
killings of innocent
Nigerians since Buhari
became President.
“Historical research into
records of European
witches trials from 15th
Century onwards show
that one of the chief
means of witches magical
flights is an upstanding
broomstick. Thus, I have
been suggesting a
change in APC logo.
“Nigerians need to learn
from the bad luck that
visited Germany when
ruled by a so-called
Progressive National
Socialist Party. The then
Hitler-led Nazi party’s
logo was a turned down
Swastika symbol.
“In a similar manner,
there is bad luck inherent
in APC leaders’
veneration of broomsticks
turned upward, contrary
to the downwardpointing
direction when
brooms are used for
sweeping.”
23,000 apply for 1,000 civil
service jobs in Bayelsa
departments and agencies,
MDAs, in the state to
borrow a leaf from the
commission.
John-Jonah said: “I am
glad with what you have
done and I know other
establishments and MDAs
will benefit from what you
have started. ICT is the new
By Chioma Onuegbu
UYO—AKWA Ibom
State Government has
dismissed claims that
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission,
EFCC, traced N1.4 billion
belonging to the state to 11
accounts operated by top
lawyers in the country,
describing the allegation as
a face-saving effort by the
anti-graft agency.
The state government
said it is worrisome that All
Progressives Congress,
APC-led Federal
Government had continued
to use the anti-graft agency
to ‘witch-hunt ‘suspected
enemies’ in its desperation
to return to power in 2019.
The state Commissioner
for Information and
Strategy, Mr. Charles
Udoh, spoke yesterday in
Uyo, while reacting to claim
trend and if you don’t
maximise it, you will be left
behind.”
Also, the state
Commissioner for
Information and
Orientation, Mr. Daniel
Iworiso-Markson, said the
unveiling of the website
would further engender
by EFCC that the amount
was traced to 11 accounts
paid to a lead legal officer
in the state whose name
was withheld.
Udoh explained that all
the accounts of the state
government had been
unfrozen by EFCC, noting
that the allegation by the
agency was a blatant lie to
cover up for its impunity
and illegality.
His words: “It is a major
concern, because if the rule
of law is not respected, if
impunity becomes the order
of the day, where the
welfare of the citizenry is
not taken into
consideration, it becomes
worrisome where we are
heading to as a country.
“We are concerned and
every well-meaning
Nigerian should be. Even
the international
community and investors
transparency in the state
government employment
process.
He assured that the
government would leave
no stone unturned in
ensuring that qualified
Bayelsans are engaged
based on merit and not
sentiments.
A-Ibom govt faults EFCC on
state’s N1.4bn in 11 accounts
doing business in Nigeria
should be concerned,
because it will definitely
have negative impact on the
economy of the country.”
The commissioner said
Governor Udom
Emmanuel, as a renowned
banker before coming into
politics, maintained a good
reputation, adding that the
state frowns at any attempt
to drag his integrity to the
mud, especially on financial
matters.
He added that every
government has brand
identity and that of
Governor Emmanuel was
integrity, transparency and
accountability.
“It was unconstitutional
for EFCC to not only freeze
the state’s account, but do
so without notice, prior
communication and
without following due
process.”
NPDC going against Local
Content Act on Gbetiokun
Oil Field—Abigborodo
By Gab Ejuwa
THE people of
Abigborodo
community in Warri
North Local Government
Area of Delta State have
said the refusal of
Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company,
NPDC, to recognise
them as host community
under the Gbetiokun Oil
Exploration Field was a
breach of the Local
Content Act.
In a statement by the
community’s Chairman,
Monday Agbeyi;
Secretary, Godfrey
Ogbemi and Legal
Adviser, Shedrack
Demaki, the people said
NPDC was fanning
embers of disunity and
crisis among the oilproducing
communities
in the area.
The community
lamented that despite the
continuous call on the
management of NPDC to
recognise them as host
community, the
company has continued
to trespassed, deforest and
exploit their land.
They explained that the
land in question, which is
hosting the Gbetiokun Oil
Exploration Field
operated and serviced by
NPDC through Elcrest
Exploration and
Production Nigeria
Limited, is called
Orokeland and belongs to
the people of Abigborodo
community.
According to them,
“court judgments between
Abigborodo and Ureju
community over the said
land at the High Court in
Sapele in 1973; Appeal
Court, Benin in 1988, and
Supreme Court in 1991
were delivered in favour of
Abigborodo community.
“It is, therefore,
disheartening that NPDC,
having been furnished
with all these information,
has refused to recognise
the Abigborodo as host
community in line with
the Local Content Act,
rather NPDC is
recognising Ureju as the
owners of the said land.”
Burutu elects Justice Tabia
king after 72-yr hiatus
By Perez Brisibe
B URUTU—THE
people of Tuomo
Kingdom in Burutu
Local Government Area
of Delta State have
elected retired Supreme
Court Judge, Justice
Francis Tabia as their
Pere (king) 72 years after
the last Pere passed on.
The Pere-elect polled a
total of 16 votes out of 21
votes by the kingmakers
spread across the 10
communities of the
kingdom to beat his only
rival, Joseph Boson, who
was said to have
withdrawn from the race.
The election, held at
Esuku Primary School,
By Festus Ahon
A
S A B A —
EXECUTIVE
Director, Projects, Niger
Delta Development
Commission, NDDC,
Engr. Samuel Adjogbe,
has bagged the Rotary
International Club award
for his contributions to
the development of
society.
The award was
presented to Engr.
Adjogbe by President of
Rotary International
Club, Airfield, Port-
Harcourt, Rivers' State,
Tuomo, was witnessed and
observed by the Burutu
council chairman,
Godknows Angele, and
other senior officials from
the council.
Publicity Secretary of the
kingmakers, Chief Mike
Loyibo, noted that owing
to Tabia's experience,
leaders of the kingdom
came together and
pressured him to lead
them.
In his acceptance
speech, the Pere-elect
said: “I have been elected
Pere not because of my
size but because my
people see me as a credible
person and so I promise
to deliver and leave up to
expectations.”
NDDC director bags Rotary award
at the fifth President’s
installation and community
service projects
unveiling ceremony.
President of the club,
Mr. Mudiaga Iyomi, noted
that Engr. Adjogbe has
over the years assisted the
less-privileged in the
society.
Receiving the award,
Ajogbe thanked the club,
dedicating it to President
Muhammadu Buhari,
who he said was doing
much in the Niger Delta
region through NDDC to
alleviate the sufferings of
the people of the region.