24092020 - BLACK WEDNESDAY: 30 killed in Kogi petrol tanker explosion

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8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 Judges appointment: You acted unconstitutionally, Court tells Buhari By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday held that President Muhammadu Buhari contravened section 256(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, by sending names of newly appointed Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to the Senate for screening and confirmation. The Court in a judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, stressed that President Buhari was not empowered by the constitution to forward to the Senate list of 11 lawyers recommended to him by the National Judicial Council, NJC, for elevation to the FCT High Court bench. The judgement followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/733/2020, which was brought before the court by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Oladimeji Ekengba. Ekengba had among other things, contended that it was wrong for President Buhari to pick 11 out of 33 names the NJC recommended for appointment as FCT High Court Judges. He prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction to Dangote Cement pays over N1trn dividends in seven years By Peter Egwuatu DANGOTE Cement has grown the wealth of its shareholders, paying over N 1 trillion as dividends in the past seven years. According to the cement company’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Guillaume Moyen, Dangote Cement is focused on growing the Nigerian economy. A breakdown of the seven-year dividend history gleaned from the company’s financial statements indicated that N51.1 billion was paid in 2013, N119.3 billion in 2014, N102.2 billion in 2015, N136.3 billion in 2016, N144.8 billion in 2017, N178.9 billion in 2018 and N272.6 billion in 2019. Moyen, who disclosed this during the virtual Facts Behind the figures and Facts Behind Sustainability Report by the company to capital market stakeholders at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said Dangote Cement has a sustained focus on helping the Nigerian economy and doing what it can to benefit the economy. He said :“Arguably our biggest achievement to date is taking Nigeria from being a big importer of cement to being self-sufficient, and now an exporter. We are developing road infrastructure and durable concrete roads, which are a major economic catalyst and hugely beneficial for the country’s transport sector. ''We began our operations in Nigeria and have been expanding into other countries over the years. Since 2011, we have been enjoying robust volume growth; to be more specific, we have been growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.4%.'' The company has an outstanding financial profile and has achieved excellent financial performance during this period. :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 restrain the Senate from screening and confirming the candidates in the list that was forwarded to it by the President, as doing so would amount to gross violation of the Constitution. The plaintiff specifically asked the court to abort the screening of Abubakar Musa, Edward Okpe, B. Abubakar, M. Francis, Jude Nwabueze, Josephine Enobi, Christopher Opeyemi, Mohammed Idris, Hassan Maryam Aliyu, Fashola Akeem Adebowale and Hamas Muazu. Cited as dfendants in the matter were President Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Senate, the Senate President, Clerk of Senate, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the NJC. Meanwhile, the CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad had since sworn in the 11 new Judges after the Senate declined to act on the President’s list on the premise that it was not constitutional vested with such authority. Consequently, in his judgement, though Justice Ekwo declared President Buhari’s action as unconstitutional, he however refused to void the swearing-in of the 11 judges. “It does not affect the swearing of the appointees”, the court held. If we look at the last 7 years, you will see that our EBITDA has increased by a CAGR of 9%. We have paid over N1 trillion in dividends to shareholders in the last seven years. As Africa’s largest cement manufacturer, we will continue to prioritize giving value to investors and other stakeholders,” he added. In his presentation, Group Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, said amidst the COVID-19 challenges, the company placed an emphasis on the health and safety of team members, customers, suppliers, and communities at large as a core value. “We have implemented several rigorous protocols in all our operations across the continent to support public health policies and ensure the highest level of protection of our stakeholders. In addition, we are closely monitoring all markets according to the guidance provided by the authorities in each country to prevent and mitigate adverse effects of the pandemic,” he said. By Johnbosco Agbakwuru A BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday his administration has commenced the distribution of palliatives worth N10.9 billion to households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME. Buhari, who disclosed this in a speech delivered via a videomessage, on the first day of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly Debate, said the disbursement of the sum was part of efforts to reduce the suffering of Nigerians imposed by the COVID-19. “In order to mitigate its impact BLACK WEDNESDAY: 30 killed in Kogi petrol tanker explosion •Family of 5, school children, Poly students roast to death •Buhari mourns •Cars burnt, properties razed •Gov Bello expresses sadness By Johnbosco Agbakwuru Boluwaji Obahopo LOKOJA—ABOUt 30 persons, including school children, died yesterday in a petrol tanker explosion that also razed several cars and other properties around Felele area of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Among the casualties were five students of Kogi State Polytechnic, three primary school children who were being taken to school by their father and a woman with her two kids. Although eyewitness accounts put the casualty figure at 30, the Federal Road Road Safety Commission, FRSC, said 23 persons died in the explosion. Several persons who also sustained injuries in the explosion are receiving treatment in different hospitals in the city. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the death of 23 people confirmed by the FRSC represented another disturbing and saddening incident in the litany of tragedies that have befallen our country.” Reacting to the explosion, President Buhari said “I am seriously worried about the frequency of these unfortunate on Nigerians, our administration has commenced the disbursement of the sum of N10.9 billion to households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as palliatives,” he said. Restating Nigeria’s commitment to work with other member states to promote the well-being of citizens, Buhari said: “I should also state that Nigeria is committed to working with other member states in the spirit of global cooperation and solidarity to promote human health and general well-being. “Nigeria will continue to partner with WHO and some countries to ensure accelerated development and manufacturing, and large scale tragedies in the country which cause needless deaths.” The President in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said, “these frequent incidents that result in loss of lives and property are a national scandal caused by our indifference to safety standards.” He said: “Many accidents are preventable if proper proactive and precautionary measures are put in place or properly observed as routine policies.” Vanguard gathered that the tanker fully loaded with premium motor spirit, PMS, which belongs to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, suffered brake failure around 8:30am and rammed into five cars, two motorbikes and three tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, killing all the occupants. Also killed in the inferno was a businessman, identified as Pastor Samson, his wife and three children, who until his death was a member of Baptist Church, Felele. Samson, a dealer in sewing machines was said to be on his way to drop his children off at school when the explosion occurred. as well as uninhibited supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines to all.’’ He noted that government has established a N500 billion fiscal stimulus package and sustained delivery of humanitarian and social interventions to poor and vulnerable households, adding that the Central Bank has launched a N3.5 trillion-stimulus package to boost manufacturing and facilitate import substitution. The President described the theme of the General Assembly as most appropriate and timely, noting that it captured the common desire for a renewed and revitalised organisation in need of multilateral approaches to the An eyewitness said: “I was about crossing the road when I noticed the tanker driver signalling to motorists to steer clear, but before I could say Jack Robinson, the tanker was on its side falling on all vehicles beside it. Immediately the tanker fell, fire started and incinerated all vehicles along its way.’’ Men of the FRSC who arrived the scene around 10am came with an ambulance from rescue/ rehabilitation team to evacuate the corpses burnt beyond recognition, while locals made frantic efforts to identify them. Piqued by the sad development, some students of the state polytechnic, Lokoja, whose colleagues were involved in the accident, almost mobbed the FRSC rescuing team. However, the sector commander of FRSC, Idris Fika Ali, said 23 persons were killed in the explosion, while one child escaped with injuries. President Buhari regretted that “ours is a country where we move on whenever tragedies occur instead of taking preventive safety measures to forestall future calamities.” He called on the county’s transport authorities, traffic and road management agencies as well as law enforcement officials to sit up and enforce safety challenges facing the world. ‘’As we reflect on the future we want and the United Nations we need, we must realise that the people of the world not only look up to us: they count on us. “The future we want must guarantee human rights, human dignity, and prosperity. The principles of ‘Leaving no one behind and Doing no harm’ must be expressed through accountability, strategic growth initiatives and elimination of threats of all kinds,’’ he said. He noted that in the quest to provide a future of hope and prosperity for all Nigerians, his administration had embarked on measures to ensure national T R A G E D Y : Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja (middle) and some security chiefs at the scene of the petrol tanker fire explosion. standards with more seriousness, adding that “refusal to do the right thing can cause potential tragic problems that harm innocent people.” According to him, “Nigeria is not having a shortage of laws and regulations, but our problem is lack of zeal to enforce those laws and regulations for the sake of public safety.” He condoled with Kogi State government and the families of the victims of the tragedy. Reacting yesterday, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, expressed shock and sadness over the fatal tanker explosion. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onogwu Mohammed, read: “Governor Bello is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire, while expressing his deepest condolences to the family of those affected by the ugly occurrence. “This unfortunate accident is a sad development and I share the feeling of those who lost their loved ones in this incident.” The governor also urged the students of the state polytechnic to remain calm and peaceful, stating that he equally shared in their grieving moment over the death of some of their colleagues in the disaster. COVID-19: We’ve commenced distribution of palliatives worth N10.9bn — BUHARI resilience. ‘’We intend to achieve this through the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan and the Medium Term National Development for the period 2020-2025 and 2026-2030. ‘’We expect that these ambitious initiatives will deliver sustainable economic growth and development to Nigeria,’’ he said. On confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari said: ‘’In the aftermath of the outbreak in Nigeria, we prioritised vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and the unemployed, in our efforts to provide medical and social assistance to cushion the socioeconomic effects of the disease.''
C M Y K Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 — 9 Don’t allow lions, tigers torment Edo again, Okowa tells Obaseki *Exercise peaceful, credible – US govt *Urges further improvement in Ondo poll *Clark, factional Edo APC greet Obaseki *Obaseki visits, Wike, Okowa, Diri, others on thank you tour *Buni, Bello meet Ize-Iyamu on way forward By Clifford Ndujihe, Samuel Oyadongha, Henry Umoru, Festus Ahon, Omeiza Ajayi, Ozioruva Aliu & Perez Brisibe GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has urged his re-elected Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki not to allow lions and tigers to hold Edo State to ransom again. Okowa, who is still celebrating the victory of Obaseki, who contested the September 19 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gave the advice when Obaseki paid him a 'thank you' visit in Asaba. Urging Obaseki not to allow ''lions and the tigers'' to torment the people of Edo state again,'' and to show lots of magnanimity and grace, Okowa said he was inspired to support Governor Obaseki because of his humility and the fact that he was being oppressed. Okowa spoke as the Chairman of Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State on Wednesday met with the party's governorship candidate in last Saturday's election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The meeting which was held behind closed doors at the Abuja residence of Governor Buni also had Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in attendance. Although details of the meeting were still kept under wraps as of the time of filing this report, Vanguard gathered that "it was essentially to discuss the way forward" and ''prevail on Ize-Iyamu to accept the outcome of the poll he lost to Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. At the end of the election on Sunday, Ize-Iyamu described the exercise as flawed and said he was still studying the situation and would meet with APC leaders on the way forward. Same Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Obaseki on his victory. The APC hierarchy toed the same path on Monday describing the re-election of Governor Obaseki as a victory for democracy, adding that the era of seeing election as warfare should be brought to an end. APC leaders' meeting with Ize-Iyamu held on a day that the United States Government described the poll as credible and peaceful in spite of recorded cases of vote buying and intimidation of voters and observers during the election. Meanwhile, a faction of the APC in Edo led by Mr. Anslem Ojezua, and Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, congratulated Obaseki on his victory This was as Obaseki visited Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Douye Diri of Bayelsa, to thank them, PDP governors, leaders and others for their roles in his re-election. Indeed, Governors Diri and Okowa said Obaseki's re-election has immense implication for Edo, the South-South geo-political zone and the country at large. Don't allow the lions, tigers torment Edolites again Okowa said: "I want to congratulate you (Obaseki) once again and I feel very excited that you won the election because somebody wanted to play the role of God and it ought not to be so. "I believe God did this in your life because you have proven to be a very humble man and people who boast too much don't usually end well. I thank all our party members and the Edo people for their resilience in ensuring your re-elec- *Gov. Obaseki tion. ''Now that we are all in the same political party, it makes it easier for us to relate with ourselves in this region." He also commended the Edo Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, for his loyalty and dedication. Earlier in his remarks, Governor Obaseki said his re-election on the platform of the PDP would pave the way for regional cooperation and development with all the Governors in the South- South belonging to one political party, adding that the support of Governor Okowa and Deltans had rekindled the spirit of the old Bendel. Exercise peaceful, credible – US The US government in a statement by the United States Mission in Nigeria, also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Nigerian security services on the positive role they played in the election. It however said it is concerned over recorded cases of vote buying and intimidation of voters and observers during the poll. The statement posted on its verified twitter handle, @USinNigeria, said the US government also recognized the critical role that Governor Obaseki of the PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC played during the exercise. The statement reads: “Congratulations to the people of Edo State on a credible and peaceful governorship election. We thank the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigerian security services on the positive role they played in the election and commend their work in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. “We recognize the critical role that Governor Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu played in promoting peace. We also thank our civil society partners for their invaluable work in upholding democracy and accountability in this election. “The United States remains concerned with reports of some violence that did emerge during the election and by reports of vote-buying and intimidation of both voters and civil society domestic observers. ''We will continue to encourage all stakeholders, including INEC, political parties, and the security services, to improve the electoral process in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election. As a democratic partner of Nigeria, the United States remains committed to working together to achieve our mutual goals of peace and prosperity for the citizens of both our countries.” Obaseki Commends Diri Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki has expressed gratitude to his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, and the people of the state for their support which made his re-election possible. Governor Obaseki, who said he remains grateful to the Bayelsa governor, described his victory in the election as a unifying factor for the South- South region of Nigeria. Speaking in Yenagoa Tuesday night at a state dinner in his honour, Obaseki said the victory, which has brought all the states in the South-South under one party, will foster rapid socio-economic development in the region. Governor Diri's Acting Chief Press Secretary, in a statement, quoted Obaseki as commending President Buhari for ensuring a level playing field in the poll and expressed the optimism that the outcome will rub off positively on future elections in the country and allow the will of the people to prevail at all times. Earlier, Governor Diri described Obaseki's re-election as triumph for democracy, saying it was a litmus test that the country passed creditably. He noted that the Edo governor's victory was significant to people of the state as it proved that power comes only from God and not man. "My brother governor was disqualified by his former party, which claimed he did not have a certificate. The irony was so strong that those of us watching from the sides were asking if the party was serious that a sitting governor does not have the qualification to contest an election or that it was going to go like what happened in Lagos. "This (your victory) would not have been possible if you had chickened out of that race. You took the bull by the horns. You had the support of your people and you had the support of your party that gave you the umbrella when it was raining. "May I use this opportunity to congratulate all the people of Edo State and members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo. This victory is not for Edo people alone. This is a victory for Nigeria." In a welcome address, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the victory was a precious gift to the PDP family and urged the party to sustain the momentum as they go into the Ondo election on October 10. Obaseki was accompanied by his wife, his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, his wife, PDP National Vice Chairman (South- South), Chief Dan Orbih, Senators and Rep members from the state, top government functionaries and party chieftains among others. Obaseki thanks Wike In like manner, Obaseki praised Edo people, Governor Wike and other PDP governors for their role in his re-election during his thank you visit to Wike at Government House in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday. Obaseki was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and his wife, Mrs. Maryann Shaibu, with members of the Edo PDP Campaign Council led by Chief Dan Orbih. Obaseki expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of PDP National Campaign Council for Edo gubernatorial election, for his immense contribution to his victory at the poll, adding that Edo people recognise his strategic role. He assured that Edo will be better with his re-election as his administration will concentrate on delivering development to Edo people. On his part, Wike commended Governor Obaseki and his deputy, for standing firmly, adding that it was a motivating factor for them to join hands in solidarity. The Rivers State Governor said he is excited that all the states in the South- South geopolitical zone now belong to one political party and can now speak with one voice. He urged Obaseki to forgive those who stood against him in the buildup to the election. Edo APC congratulates Obaseki, urges Ize-Iyamu, others to sheathe swords Meantime, the Edo State Chapter of the APC has congratulated Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on their victory in the September 19 election in the state. State Chairman of the APC in Edo State, Anselm Ojezua , who signed the congratulatory message issued in Benin City, said: “We join President Buhari and the National Caretaker Committee of our great party to congratulate Governor Obaseki and his Deputy Philip Shaibu on their victory at the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State.““The election has been generally acclaimed to be peaceful, orderly and transparent. The people of Edo State have made their choice in a very clear and unambiguous manner.” The APC State chairman, however, explained “our loss at the poll stems from the needless and avoidable crisis foisted on the party by a selfish, insensitive, arrogant and irresponsible leadership.” “While we begin to take steps to try and salvage the well-being of our party in the state, we call on the Governor to be magnanimous in victory while we urge all the contestants to sheathe their swords and put the elections behind them.'' Clark hails Buhari, INEC, Obaseki, Shuaibu, PDP, Edo people Also, former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has commended President Buhari for his role and the admonitions he gave to politicians, INEC and security agencies prior to the poll that led to free, fair and credible election in Edo. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Clark who also hailed INEC, security agencies who conducted themselves professionally, before, during and after the election, the people of Edo State for living up to expectations, also congratulated Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, on their reelection for second term. The Elder statesman who also congratulated the PDP for the victory, said that the election which was a complete departure from what obtained in 2018 and last year during the conduct of Osun and Kogi states elections respectively. Clark, who appealed to the leadership of APC in Edo State and all stakeholders to accept the outcome of the election as the decision of the people of Edo State, urged them to join hands with the governor, in the overall interest of the state. The Elder statesman called on Governor Obaseki to let bygones be bygone, to extend an olive branch to all. "We hope that Mr. President will issue similar directives to the security agencies, to INEC, and to everybody, on the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, and the senatorial by-elections coming up on the 31st of October, 2020," he said. We’ve replaced burnt card readers meant for Ondo — INEC Chairman By Dayo Johnson NATIONAL Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the commission has replaced the over 5141 card readers burnt in a recent fire incident that engulfed the the Ondo State headquarters of the commission. Speaking during a three-day working visit to Ondo ahead of the election, the INEC Chairman disclosed that the commission had replace the destroyed card readers and is ready for the conduct of the poll. “We have already recovered some smart card readers. We unfortunately lost over 5000 smart card readers to the fire incident. We have however recovered by getting requisite number of smart card readers from neighbouring Oyo State and delivered to Ondo State for the election on October 10,” he said Two containers where the 5141 card readers were stored went up in flames at about 8.30pm exactly a month to the poll. Police finding attributed the cause of the fire incident to electrical fault and ruled out sabotage as speculated by political parties in the state. The INEC boss is expected to meet with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju and other head of departments ahead of the election.
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24092020 - BLACK WEDNESDAY: 30 killed in Kogi petrol tanker explosion

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