25112020 - Selfish Northerners opposing restructuring, says el-Rufai

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020
:Vanguard News
Steer clear of Osun, PDP warns
Aregbesola
By Shina Abubakar
OSOGBO—THE Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
yesterday, warned the Minister
of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to
steer clear of Osun State to
prevent a breakdown of law and
order, saying the state has
suffered too much violence in
recent times.
This came as the party also
disclosed that there is nothing
‘progressive’ to celebrate in the
state, as Aregbesola’s
administration has caused more
harm to the teeming populace,
adding that his coming to the
state was a ploy to cause another
round of mayhem.
In a statement by the Deputy
National Publicity Secretary of
the party, Prince Diran Odeyemi,
the PDP urged security
operatives in the state to pay
diligent attention to the planned
visit by Aregbesola to celebrate
the 10th anniversary of
progressive administration in the
state, on the same day his
successor would be celebrating
two years in office.
The statement read: “It is more
than mere coincidence that Rauf
Aregbesola decided to mark 10
Miners in Ogun accuse ministry
of extortion
By James
Ogunnaike
A BEOKUTA—
M I N E R S ’
Association of Nigeria,
MAN, in Ogun State,
has raised allegations of
extortion, harassment
and imposition of illegal
multiple taxations on
them by officials of the
Ministry of Trade,
Industry and
Investment, in
contravention of the
country’s Constitution.
The miners alleged that
officials of the Ogun State
Government in the
Ministry of Trade,
Industry and Investment,
are collecting outrageous
and illegal taxes from
them and forcing them to
register with the state
government despite
registering with the
Federal Government
Court fines Ondo govt over
Ororo Oil field
By Onozure Dania
LAGOS—A Federal High
Court in Lagos, yesterday,
fined the Ondo State
Government, following its failed
bid to join in a suit challenging
the Federal Government’s
revocation of the Ororo Marginal
Oil Field license.
The Ororo field, discovered in
1986, is located within OML 95
in shallow waters, offshore Ondo
State. It is owned by Owena Oil
and Gas Limited, with Ondo
State being one of its
shareholders.
Following the revocation of the
license in April, Ondo State
brought an application seeking
to join suit FHC/L/CS/587/2020
filed by Owena.
The Minister of Petroleum
years of progressive administration
on the very day his successor,
Governor Gboyega
Oyetola, wants to celebrate his
second year in office. It is
obviously meant to test the
power and popularity with the
use of thugs and hooligans.
“What is he coming here to
celebrate? Where is MKO
International Cargo Airport
where over N3 billion was spent
by Aregbesola? What is good
about his administration, after he
left over N200 billion debt
according to the National Bureau
of Statistics as of November 2018
when he left government and
thugs tagged state boys?
“Where is our Opon Imo, now
known as a tabloid of fraud
awarded to his relative at the rate
of N7 billion? Where is Dagbolu
International Market that
Aregbesola promised Osun people
after spending a huge amount of
money?
“Aregbesola left N36 months
unpaid half salaries to Osun
workers and pensioners
amounting to N30 billion. Where
is Igi Iye project of Bola Ilori that
swallowed several billions of
naira? Where is Osunwon
omoluabi introduced by
Aregbesola’s government?
Where is Osun helicopter?
under the Federal Ministry
of Mines and Steel
Development as stipulated
by the 1999 Constitution
of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
The Chairman of the
Miners’ Association of
Nigeria in Ogun State, Mr.
Olusola Aikulola, who
briefed the press in
Abeokuta, Ogun State in
company of other members
of the association, argued
that after getting clearance
and permit from the Federal
Ministry of Mines and
Steel Development, which,
as stipulated by the
constitution, permits them
to pay a royalty to the
Federal Government every
month, “it is illegal for
Ogun State Government
through its Ministry of
Trade, Industry and
Investment to impose and
enforce the collection of
another regime of taxes
from miners in the state.”
Resources, Department of Petroleum
Resources, DPR and
Guarantee Petroleum Company
Limited are first to third
respondents in the suit.
When the application was heard
in October, Ororo Oil Field
counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN,
argued that the case challenging
the license revocation “is totally
different” from a shareholders’
case.
He urged the court to dismiss
the state’s application.
In his ruling, yesterday, Justice
Muslim Hassan upheld
Pinheiro’s argument and
dismissed the application.
While agreeing with their
contention, Justice Hassan
awarded N100,000 to each of
them against the Ondo State
Government.
The court adjourned further
proceedings till January 14.
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
CLASH—Security officials at the scene of the clash between the commercial motorcycle operators
(okada riders) and Prison officials, around Agodi Prisons, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.
Ondo Assembly impeaches deputy
speaker over gross misconduct
•My removal null, void, done clandestinely —Ogundeji
By Dayo Johnson
AKURE—THE botched
impeachment of the Deputy
Governor of Ondo State,
Agboola Ajayi, yesterday,
resulted in the
impeachment of Deputy
Speaker of the state's
House of Assembly, Iroju
Ogundeji.
Meanwhile, a panel has
been constituted to
investigate the allegation of
gross misconduct against
the former deputy speaker,
by the assembly.
The leadership of the
assembly said that 20 of the
26 members signed the
impeachment of the deputy
speaker.
But, in a swift reaction,
Ogundeji described his
impeachment as null and
void, insisting that the
leadership of the assembly
does not have the required
number of lawmakers to
impeach him.
He said: “It was done
clandestinely.”
The deputy speaker is the
arrowhead of the nine
lawmakers that refused to
sign the failed
impeachment notice served
on the deputy governor a
few months ago.
The deputy speaker and
other lawmakers, including
Messrs Favour Tomomewo,
Wale Williams and Tomiwa
Akinribido, were
suspended from the
assembly for their action
citing gross indiscipline
and misconduct but they
were later reinstated by an
Akure High court.
But announcing
Ogundeji’s impeachment
and removal of other
principal officers ordered to
be reinstated by the Court
of Appeal, the chairman
Ad-hoc Committee on
Information, Mr.
Olugbenga Omole said
Mr. Aderoboye Samuel
representing Odigbo
Constituency 2 has been
elected to succeed
Ogundeji as the deputy
speaker.
Omole, in a statement,
said: “The former Deputy
Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, in
a parliamentary resolution
presented by Mr. Tomide
Akinrogunde was accused
of gross misconduct, which
is inimical to the progress
of the House.
“The resolution, which
was signed by 20 members
of the House was in line
with the Standing Order of
the House, hence was
adopted by the House at
plenary.
“The Speaker,
Oleyelogun David,
therefore, called for
nomination and Mr.
Aderoboye Samuel was
elected through a majority
voice vote.
“Mr. Samuel was Deputy
Speaker of the House
during the fourth
Assembly.
“Mr. Oluwole
Ogunmolasuyi,
representing Owo
Constituency 1, has been
appointed as the new
Majority leader; Mr.
Akingbaso Festus,
representing Idanre State
Constituency, is the new
Minority Leader and Mr.
Taofeeq Mohammed is the new
Chief Whip of the House.”
6 persons injured as police, warders,
okada riders clash in Ibadan
By Ola Ajayi
IBADAN—SIX persons were
injured, yesterday, during a
bloody clash that erupted among
officers of the Nigerian
Correctional Centres, police and
commercial motorcyclists (okada)
at Agodi Gate area of Ibadan in
Oyo State.
Vanguard gathered that
the clash was triggered by the
insistence of the staff of the
correctional centre that all okada
riders should not park at the
entrance of the facility.
The riders usually ply Iwo-Road
and Bashorun-Akobo road.
During the heated argument,
security men fired gunshots
which injured some of the riders.
It was further gathered that
when the policeman that fired the
shot attempted to escape in an
armoured personnel carrier, the
vehicle hit a tricycle with four
Suspected toxic waste:
Customs, terminal
operator distance self
By Godfrey Bivbere
L AGOS—THREE
w e e k s
after Vanguard’s exclusive
report of the suspected toxic
waste container abandoned
in Lagos, the terminal
operator and the Customs
Command from where the
container was allegedly
cleared, yesterday, denied
that the contentious
container was not cleared
from their facilities.
A 20-foot container was
abandoned at Berger Suya bus
stop, along the Cocoanut-Mile 2
end (close to the pedestrian
bridge) of the Oshodi/Apapa
expressway, and was only
r e m o v e d
after Vanguard’s report.
This came as the National
Environmental Standards and
Regulations Enforcement
Agency, NESREA, had refused
to disclose the outcome of the test
it carried out three weeks after
collecting test samples.
When contacted, the Kirikiri
Lighter Terminal Command of the
Nigeria Customs Service, NCS,
and Joatlim Bonded Terminal that
operates under the command,
claimed that the controversial
container was not cleared from
that facility.
The Public Relations Officer of
the Customs Command, who
identified himself as Tunde, said
that the controversial container,
with number TLLU 2813171, was
not cleared from his command.
passengers on board.
Though the passengers did not
die, they reportedly sustained
injuries.
This stoked a fresh crisis as the
APC vehicle was reportedly set
on fire.
Police react
Speaking on the incident, the
State Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Gbenga Fadeyi
dismissed the claims that it was
the police that injured them.
Fadeyi said: “Contrary to the
currently trending news online
that policemen fired shots leading
to injury at Agodi gate area this
morning.
“The truth is that there was a
clash between officers of the
correctional service and bike men
stationed at agodi gate.
“Upon receipt of this
information, policemen, as well as
other security agencies, moved
to the scene to ensure there was
no breakdown of law and order
that could lead to a coordinated
attack on the prison facility.
Policemen fired no shot. Further
unfolding development will be
communicated later.
“The protesters were reportedly
heading towards Yemetu Police
station where they believed the
policemen came from.
“To prevent ugly occurrences
similar to the recently suspended
#EndSARS protests, policemen
kept vigilance on various police
stations in the city."