16082018 - Uproar as EFCC seeks minutes of Benue's security meetings

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MASSOB drops threat to disrupt
conferment of chieftaincy title on Ganduje
By Peter Okutu
A BAKALIKI—
MOVEMENT for
the Actualisation of
Sovereign State of Biafra,
MASSOB, yesterday
promised not to disrupt the
coronation ceremony of the
chieftaincy award on
Governor Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje of Kano State in
Aba, Abia State.
Recall that the group had
in a statement condemned
the award of the proposed
traditional chieftaincy title
on the governor and
described the idea as a slap
on Ndigbo.
The group reversed itself
after the leadership of All
Nigeria Ethnic
Nationalities Youths
Organisations, ANENYO,
interfaced with them on the
matter.
In a statement issued in
Abakaliki, the deputy
national chairman of
ANENYO, Mazi
Okechukwu Isiguzoro
stated that issues revolving
around the coronation of
the Kano State governor
have been resolved,
adding that MASSOB
would no longer interfere
with the exercise.
The statement read: “The
leadership of Ethnic
Nationalities Youths
Organizations had met
with Biafra agitators who
said that Kano governor is
not worthy to get a
chieftaincy title because of
some sensitive issues
raised.
“MASSOB led by
Comrade Uchenna Madu
as a cool headed leader
with respect to Igbo culture
and traditions will not
disrupt the coronation of
chieftaincy title on
Governor Ganduje. After a
long deliberation, I can
assure our visitors of their
safety.
“After a long deliberation
with Biafra agitators, we
can assure our August
visitors, Governor Ganduje
and his entourage of a
peaceful atmosphere
during the coronation by
chairman of South East
traditional rulers, His
Imperial Majesty, Eze
Eberechi Dick.
“We will continue to unite
our people towards
achieving peace and
tranquility in Igbo land.”
Stop harassing Ekweremadu, Ohanaeze
youths warn FG
By Anayo Okoli
U MUAHIA—
OHANAEZE
Ndigbo Youths have vowed
to resist any attempt by the
Federal Government to
intimidate, harass or molest
the Deputy Senate
President, Dr.
Ekweremadu or any other
Igbo leader, warning that
enough is enough.
Ohanaeze youths said
they were not happy with
the way and manner
Ekweremadu has been
hounded by security
operatives simply because
he occupies a top political
post in the country.
In a statement signed by
their leaders, Ohanaeze
youths alleged that the
attack on Ekweremadu is
just to intimidate him
ahead of 2019 elections.
“We have keenly watched
the game being played by
the Federal Government, all
geared towards 2019
general elections. It was
preposterous for the
Federal Government to be
carrying out unwarranted
inquisition into
Ambode, Obaseki to speak on local
content devt at MARAN seminar
By Samson Echenim
GOVERNOR of Lagos
State, Akinwunmi
Ambode and his Edo State
counterpart, Godwin
Obaseki are among
stakeholders who have
been billed to speak at a
two-day sensitisation
seminar on local content
development in the oil and
gas and shipping industry,
a programme organised by
the Maritime Reporters
Association of Nigeria,
MARAN.
INSPECTION: From left—Chairman of Nigeria Society of Engineers,
NSE, Enugu State chapter, Engr. Ifeanyi Ofili; Commissioner for Works
and Infrastructure, Enugu State, Engr. Greg Nnaji; Chairman of
Performance Investigation Failure Analysis Committee, PIFAC, of the
association, Engr. Victor Chiwuzie; NSE’s Vice Chairman, Engr. Festus
Ozoemene; and others, during the assessment tour of the ongoing
erosion control work at the Milliken Hill road in Enugu, yesterday.
General Secretary of
MARAN, Mr. Dapo
Olawuni in a statement
said the seminar is targeted
at encouraging Nigerians
to be fully integrated in the
oil and gas logistics
operation particularly in the
upstream sector.
He noted that a special
focus is being placed on the
EGINA Floating
Production Storage and
Offloading, FPSO, platform
recently delivered by Total
Nigeria Limited.
The two days seminar
Ekweremadu’s life, the
highest ranking Igbo
political office holder in the
country.
“They have accused him
of embezzlement of public
funds without any prima
facie case being established
against him.
“The idea of asking the
senator to defend himself
instead of his accusers
showing how he
fraudulently enriched
himself, amounts to turning
the law upside down.
“Senator Ike
Ekweremadu is a revered
Igbo son and had attracted
tagged "Local Content
Development in Shipping,
Oil and Gas Logistics
Operations in Nigeria" is
billed to hold on 21st and
22nd of August 2018 at the
Rockview Hotel in Apapa
Lagos.
Already, he said that the
Lagos State Governor,
Akinwunmi Ambode has
indicated his interest to
participate in the
programme as the state has
recently joined the list of oil
producing states in
Nigeria.
a lot of developments to his
area without any previous
accusation of
embezzlement.
“So, any attempt by the
government of the day to
intimidate him because of
2019 election will never see
the light of the day.
“We take exception on a
system of investigation
where one was being tried
simply because he belongs
to a political party and
others who belong to other
parties are exonerated or
pampered.
“We would no longer fold
our arms while Igbo sons
are being systematically
singled out for harassment
and intimidation all
because they don’t belong
to the same camp or
political party.
“It was such selective
justice and marginalization
of Ndigbo that fuelled
agitations by our youths for
self-determination. Hence,
restructuring is a first step
toward assuaging the
situation. We would
continue to agitate for a
restructured Nigeria”,
Ohanaeze youths said in a
statement signed by Acting
National Leader, Dr.
Kingsley Dozie and the
National Secretary,
Uchenna Madubihe.
Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018—15
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APC aspirant, Ogbonna says
world uniting against Buhari
By Charles
Kumolu
Apresidential aspirant
on the platform of All
Progressives Congress,
APC, Dr. Sylvester
Ogbonna has dismissed
reports by the presidency
that the international
community is excited about
President Muhammadu
Buhari’s leadership.
Ogbonna, in a statement
yesterday said the
consensus among world
powers is that Buhari’s
second term ambition
lacked popular support.
His words: “My
campaign has been crisscrossing
the globe in the
past weeks, consulting with
fellow Nigerians as well as
influential leaders among
our major allies, including
Britain, the United States,
France, Germany, Russia,
China, and Canada among
others. I can state
unequivocally that the
emerging consensus
among these nations is that
President Buhari’s second
term ambition lacks
cogency. They point to
Buhari’s failing health, lack
of clear vision, lack of
intellectual capacity,
nepotism, wanton killings,
disregard to rule of law,
and a growing sense of
disunity and uncertainty in
the land, among many
failings.
‘’President Muhammadu
Buhari should consider our
great party and country
before self. The worst thing
that can happen to Nigeria
at this stage of national
development is to allow the
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, to wangle itself back
to power. Therefore, it is
incumbent upon patriots,
including Buhari’s
henchmen to join to appeal
to the president to
permanently suspend his
campaign, emulate
Mandela and retire with
dignity. The future of the
ruling APC and Nigeria
belongs to a younger
generation of leaders who
possess the competencies
to cope with the challenges
of the 21st century.”
Enugu commences repair
of potholes on urban roads
ENUGU
State
Government has
announced its plan to
commence the immediate
and comprehensive repairs
of emerging potholes on
urban carriageways in
Enugu and Nsukka,
including the intercity roads
“to ensure adequate
maintenance and
sustainability of our roads
for safe passage at all
times”.
A statement by the
Commissioner for Works
and Infrastructure, Engr.
(Sir) Greg Nnaji, stated that
“the State Ministry of
Works and Infrastructure
Operations Team has taken
inventory of potholes at the
IPMAN calls off solidarity strike
A WKA—ANAMBRA
State Government
says it has been resolved
that members of
Independent Petroleum
Marketers Association of
Nigeria, IPMAN, will call
off their one-day solidarity
strike today.
Commissioner for Public
Utilities and Domestic
Water Development, Obi
Nwankwo announced this
while briefing newsmen on
the outcome of their
meeting held at the
Department of State
Services, DSS,
Headquarters, Awka.
“Both (Government and
IPMAN) sides have
agreed that within three
weeks of this agreement,
various locations and made
adequate provisions for onthe-spot
remediation
works”.
The Commissioner added
that the repairs will be
carried out simultaneously
at the different clusters/
zones for effective impact
and an aggressive
maintenance campaign, in
keeping with the state
government’s urban
renewal agenda.
He therefore, appealed to
“the general public, the
good people of Enugu
State, road users including
those passing through the
state”, to exercise caution
during the maintenance
exercise.
they will form a joint
committee to discuss in
details the issue of
compensation and
relocation of the two filling
stations around which the
strike revolve.”
IPMAN went on one-day
solidarity strike in
sympathy with two of its
members whose filling
stations were removed over
poor location in Awka and
Onitsha without
compensation.
Mr Primus Odili, the
Chief of Staff to Gov. Willie
Obiano led the Anambra
Government Delegation to
the meeting hosted at the
DSS State Headquarters,
Awka.