29042019 - Economy bleeds as power system collapses

12—VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019
Delta monarch denies warning
Agip, others against dealing
with community's leaders
THE Okpala-Ukwu of
Umusadege –Ogbe, in
Ndokwa West Local
Government Area of Delta
State, His Highness,
Andrew Chibogu, has
denied media report that the
community handed a
warning to oil companies
operating in the community,
particularly Nigerian Agip
Oil Company Limited,
NAOC, to desist from
dealing with the leadership
of the community.
Chibogu in a statement,
weekend, said: “To put the
records straight on the
allegations, we decided to
respond to stop them from
exhibiting their primitive
education in the public, as
well as to advise them to
desist from giving false
information to the public and
threatening oil companies
operating in our peaceful
community.
“The leadership of
Umusadege-Ogbe
community expired on June
1, 2018, and was
reconstituted on July 21,
2018, at the Okpala-Uku's
Palace after a peaceful
transition and letters of
introduction of community
accredited contact men
committee and community
development committee
(CDC) chairman was written
and signed by the Chief,
community secretary general
and the seven family heads
to various oil companies on
July 30, 2018, including the
impostors.
“It is noteworthy that after
the introduction of CACCs,
one chief conspired with
some chiefs, met at Lococcon
Hotels and formed a parallel
government without the
knowledge of the community
and has no blessings of the
Otu-Olile age grade."
Black weekend in Borno as Boko
Haram attacks military, police formations,
clinic in Borno villages
By Ndahi Marama,
Maiduguri
SUSPECTED members
of Boko Haram terrorists
weekend wreaked havoc
by attacking a military
formation in Kimba village
of Big Local Government
Area of Borno State.
Sources said the armed
insurgents invaded the
Kimba community which is
about 35km away from Biu
and confronted the soldiers
at their duty post, leading
to the the dislocation of the
troops on Friday.
Unconfirmed report indicated
that the insurgents
overwhelmed the soldiers at
their duty post and chased
them away from the community
which shares border
with Sambisa Forest.
A resident, Aliyu Isa, told
our correspondent that after
the attack on Kimba village
on Friday, another
group of insurgents
stormed Sabin Gari village
of Damboa Local Government
Area which is about
5km away to Kimba and
razed down a Police station,
clinic and dislodged
one of the military formations
in the area.
Isa said, Sabon Gari village
had been with no military
presence for almost
two years when the military
formation in the area
was attacked, causing the
authorities to withdraw
troops until recently when
they were redeployed.
Rivers gov: Fingesi drags INEC, Wike to tribunal
By Egufe
Yafugborhi
PORT HARCOURT -
CANDIDATE of Action
Democratic Party, ADP, in
2019 governorship election
in Rivers State, Victor
Fingesi has dragged the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, Governor Nyesom
Wike, winner of the
election, and the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
before the election tribunal,
seeking the conduct of a
fresh governorship election
in the state.
Fingesi weekend in Port
Harcourt, said he was
challenging INEC’s return
of incumbent Wike as
governor-elect in the
election despite
“Substantial
noncompliance with the
electoral Act,” by the
electoral body.
He said: “We are asking
the tribunal to nullify the
election of Wike and order
fresh election because
anybody who is the
governor in a democratic
dispensation carries the
sacred mandate of the
people. No matter the
expediency, he must have
majority of lawful votes and
the process and procedure
must comply with the laws
of the land.
“No attempt should be
made in any guise to turn
election exercise to mere
filling of a vacuum and
impose anybody on Rivers
people as governor.
“Our stand on this matter
is even corroborated by a
statement from INEC that
the election was marred by
wide spread irregularities
and we wonder why INEC
would consequently volteface
and return Wike as the
governor in such an
election.”
Dickson, Okowa praise N’Delta monarchs for
relative peace •As Ibori, others extol HM Ayemi-Botu
By Emma Amaize
& Festus Ahon
O GOVERNORS
KPOKUNU—
Seriake Dickson and Ifeanyi
Okowa of Bayelsa and Delta
States respectively, weekend,
commended traditional rulers
for the relative peace in the
Niger Delta region and
promised to collaborate more
with them.
The governors made the
commendation in their
separate remarks at the silver
jubilee anniversary and lunch
of the biography of the
paramount ruler of the
Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu
Local Government Area,
Delta State, His Majesty,
King Charles Ayemi-Botu,
aka Lion of the Niger.
Former governor of Delta
State, Chief James Ibori, who
presided over the ceremony
and the Chairman, Delta
State Traditional Rulers
Council, Obi of Owa
Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel
Efeizomor, led other
dignitaries to Okpokunu
town, the country home of
HM Ayemi-Butu for the
anniversary.
Dickson praised the
monarch for his dogged
efforts towards the liberation
of the Ijaw nation even at the
risk of his life and comfort of
his family, saying, “You are a
leading light in Ijaw nation.
You have remained very
outspoken on issues of great
concern to our people. You are
a king that is not only to serve,
but also to speak up for the
oppressed.
“You do not fear to speak out
on matters of interest to the
Niger Delta region even in the
face of troubles. I commend
you for being a strong voice
in the struggle for true
emancipation of our people.”
Also speaking, Okowa,
represented by the Speaker of
the Delta State House of
Assembly, Chief Sheriff
Oborevwori, explained that
the traditional institutions have
been an integral part of the
success stories of his
administration and solicited for
continued support of the royal
fathers.
Congratulating King
Ayemi-Botu for his 25 years
coronation anniversary,
Okowa enjoined communities
across the state to remain at
peace with one another for
more development to thrive in
the state. Former governor,
Chief Ibori, in his address,
recalled the contributions of
King Ayemi-Botu in the trying
times of his administration,
especially during the struggle
for resource control and
commended the Seimbiri
monarch for what he
described as ‘royal
leadership’ in resolving crisis.
King Ayemi-Botu while
thanking God for mercies
upon his life and the lives of
his subjects, appealed to
federal and state
governments, companies
operating in the locality and
other development partners to
attract people oriented projects
to the area as well as
establishment of tertiary
institutions in his kingdom.
The Seimbiri monarch, who
promised to remain committed
to the struggle for the
development of the Niger
Delta region, said the region
should be adequately catered
for because it contributes
largely to nation’s economy.
SERAP writes Dickson, asks him to reject
life pension for Bayelsa lawmakers
S
O
C I O -
ECONOMIC
Rights and Accountability
Project, SERAP, has sent an
open letter to Governor
Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa
State, urging him to use his
“good offices as trustee of the
state’s resources, and be
Babs Alasa sues DAAR Communication
MEDIA consultant,
Chief Babs Alasa,
has dragged DAAR Communication
Plc, AIT and two of its
senior officials before a Lagos
State High Court sitting in Ikeja
over the alleged embarrassment
caused him by the withdrawal
of the Governor of the
Year Award bestowed on his
client, the Akwa Ibom State
governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel
by the media organisation.
Alasa in the suit, is asking for
unreserved public apology to
him to be published in three
major newspapers for the unwarranted
embarrassment
caused him and the governor
of Akwa Ibom State.
consistent with your
constitutional oath of office, to
reject the proposed life
pension bill by the leader of
the House of Assembly, Peter
Akpe, and to prevail upon the
House to immediately
withdraw the self-serving bill.”
The House had last week
passed a bill that would grant
life pensions to speakers,
deputy speakers and other
members. Under the bill,
speakers will go home with
N500,000 monthly, while
deputy speakers will receive
N200,000. The 24 other
members will each get
N100,000. The House is
seeking life pensions for
members similar to those
From left—Mr ken
Nwogbo, Founder,
N i g e r i a
Communications
Week; Mr John
Obaro,
MD,
SystemSpecs Ltd
receiving
the
"Índigeneous
Software Provider of
the Decade" award
from
Gbenga
Adebayo, Chairman of
the Occassion at the
2019 Beacon of
Information and
Communication
Technology, Award
ceremony in Lagos on
Saturday. Photo
Lamidi Bamidele
“applicable to former presidents,
vice-presidents, governors
and deputy governors
across the country.”
In the letter dated April 26,
2019 and signed by SERAP’s
Deputy Director, Kolawole
Oluwadare, the organisation
said: “Public officials have a
legal commitment to
discharge a public duty
truthfully and faithfully.
Should you assent to the bill
as proposed, SERAP will
institute legal proceedings to
challenge the legality of the
legislation and ensure full
compliance with constitutional
provisions and Nigeria’s
international anti-corruption
obligations."