4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 PDF Compressor Free Versi<strong>on</strong>
Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021—5 POCKET CARTOON By Kingsley Om<strong>on</strong>obi, Henry Umoru, Peter Duru, Dirisu Yakubu & Marie-Therese Nanl<strong>on</strong>g ABUJA —The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, said yesterday that any attempt to make Benue State ungovernable will fail woefully. The NGF was reacting to Saturday’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen <strong>on</strong> the governor’s c<strong>on</strong>voy while <strong>on</strong> a visit to his farm at Tyo Mu al<strong>on</strong>g Makurdi- Gboko road. <strong>Ortom</strong> had said that 15 armed men trailed his c<strong>on</strong>voy to the river bank where he was <strong>on</strong> foot with his security details and opened fire <strong>on</strong> them. The governors’ reacti<strong>on</strong> came as the Inspector- PDF Compressor Free Versi<strong>on</strong> COMMISSIONING OF DLA ROAD —From left: Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro and the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, during the commissi<strong>on</strong>ing of DLA Road, Asaba, weekend. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Govs</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>APC</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>PDP</str<strong>on</strong>g>, others rail <str<strong>on</strong>g>against</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Ortom</strong> General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, yesterday, ordered fullscale investigati<strong>on</strong>s into the circumstances surrounding the <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> and reported assassinati<strong>on</strong> attempt <strong>on</strong> the life of Governor <strong>Ortom</strong>. Reacting to the <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> yesterday in a statement, Chairman of the NGF and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, did not <strong>on</strong>ly describe the broad daylight <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Ortom</strong> as “shocking and a rude awakening” but also noted that any attempt to make Benue State ungovernable, by virtue of that <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g>, would fail. Recalling that the brother of a former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, was recently killed by gunmen, the governors said the plan of the gunmen was to make Benue ungovernable and vowed to bring the violence in the state to an end. NGF c<strong>on</strong>demns <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> The statement read: “The news of the broad daylight attempt to cut short the life of the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel <strong>Ortom</strong>, is shocking and a rude awakening. “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, empathizes with the governor and the people of Benue State <strong>on</strong> this sad, cowardly, and wicked plan and vehemently c<strong>on</strong>demns the act in its entirety. “All hands must be <strong>on</strong> deck to uncover the identities of those involved in this heinous crime. The NGF wishes to state categorically that the attempt to make Benue State ungovernable is unacceptable and will fail woefully. “Only recently the brother of <strong>on</strong>e of the former governors of the state was mowed down in cold blood. This dish<strong>on</strong>ourable and shameful act of resorting to violence, for whatever reas<strong>on</strong>, to eliminate citizens of Benue State by brutal means must not c<strong>on</strong>tinue. “The NGF as a platform for all the 36 Governors will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to encourage its members to stand firm in the service of their people regardless of the evil machinati<strong>on</strong>s of those who do not wish Nigeria well. “Evil will not be allowed to triumph over good, not in Benue and not anywhere in this country. While all governors will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to pray for Governor <strong>Ortom</strong>, the NGF wishes to draw the attenti<strong>on</strong> of all evil-doers that not <strong>on</strong>ly will they c<strong>on</strong>tinue to fail in their wicked acts, but they will also definitely be traced and punished for their crimes, no matter how l<strong>on</strong>g it takes. “Once again, the NGF prays for Governor <strong>Ortom</strong> and wishes him l<strong>on</strong>g life as his safety and that of all the people of Benue State c<strong>on</strong>tinue to be paramount to the NGF.” Fish out sp<strong>on</strong>sors — Northern govs Similarly, Northern governors c<strong>on</strong>demned the <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the str<strong>on</strong>gest terms, describing it as a disturbing development which must be investigated thoroughly. Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Plateau State, Sim<strong>on</strong> Lal<strong>on</strong>g, in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham, said the <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Governor <strong>Ortom</strong> was “yet another daring attempt by criminals to cause mayhem not <strong>on</strong>ly in Benue State but also in the nati<strong>on</strong> as a whole.” While praising the security details of the governor for repelling the <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> and securing the governor and members of his entourage, Lal<strong>on</strong>g said: “Relevant security agencies must carry out detailed investigati<strong>on</strong> to fish out those behind the <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> and their sp<strong>on</strong>sors. “All hands must be <strong>on</strong> deck to tame this degenerati<strong>on</strong> of security in the country that threatens the corporate existence of the nati<strong>on</strong>. “Northern governors stand in solidarity with our colleague and the entire people of Benue State. We will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to engage and support security agencies in their duty of securing the regi<strong>on</strong> and nati<strong>on</strong> at large.” Attack <strong>on</strong> <strong>Ortom</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> us all — <str<strong>on</strong>g>PDP</str<strong>on</strong>g> govs Also yesterday, governors elected <strong>on</strong> the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, <str<strong>on</strong>g>PDP</str<strong>on</strong>g>, c<strong>on</strong>demned in str<strong>on</strong>g terms the reported <str<strong>on</strong>g>attack</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Ortom</strong> by yet-to-beidentified gunmen. Chairman of the forum and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, in a statement he pers<strong>on</strong>ally signed <strong>on</strong> behalf of his colleagues, warned that “any attempt to harm any Nigerian will be viewed by the forum as an attempt <strong>on</strong> all of us.” The statement read: “We believe str<strong>on</strong>gly that any dispute or perceived dispute should be and must be resolved amicably without resort to violence. Nigeria is not a Babana Republic, even though certain retrogressive elements and centrifugal forces are trying to c<strong>on</strong>sign Nigeria into a failed state. “It remains the primary resp<strong>on</strong>sibility of government, especially the federal government, who have m<strong>on</strong>opoly of the coercive forces of state, to secure the lives and livelihoods of our people, however low or high. “Every Nigerian deserves equal protecti<strong>on</strong> of the laws. Every citizen is entitled to freedom of speech and free exercise of all rights guaranteed in the C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, subject C<strong>on</strong>tinues <strong>on</strong> Page 41 By Cynthia Alo On FG's approval of $1.5bn for rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> of PH refinery (2) It’s a good idea if the FG can do it. It will reduce cost of refining crude due to nearness of raw material to refinery. Fuel price would go down; however, politics may set in. Many Nigerians no l<strong>on</strong>ger take such statements seriously because they end up being unfulfilled. Again, such amount of m<strong>on</strong>ey could be embezzled. —Chimezie Onyeneke, Hospitality c<strong>on</strong>sultant Towards the end of 2019, Mele Kyari, NNPC’s GMD, said during a facility tour of the PH refinery that rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> will commence but nothing happened. My point is; promising to rehabilitate refineries has been a recurring decimal; they are pointers that electi<strong>on</strong>s are around the corner. A lot of promises are made but not fulfilled. Let’s just watch and see. —Momoh Moses, Media Assistant In my opini<strong>on</strong>, running a refinery requires very prudent and straight forward structure devoid of govt. bureaucracy. Reviving an obsolete refinery is tantamount to going backwards and it’s another avenue to siph<strong>on</strong> m<strong>on</strong>ey. The FG should sell or lease it or go into joint venture with private companies. That’s the way forward. Oseni Mariam, Businesswoman That is outrageous; it’s wasting of public funds. I think this is another way to channel our m<strong>on</strong>ey where we can’t questi<strong>on</strong> them. How can I trust a govt. that has spent so much <strong>on</strong> security and agriculture, yet things are worsening? Our refineries d<strong>on</strong>’t have the capacity to refine huge amount of oil, hence the reas<strong>on</strong> I’m forced to think they’re trying to cheat us as usual. —Oguche Oj<strong>on</strong>ugwa, First, how much will it cost to build a new refinery from the scratch? Maybe we should ask Dangote so that we can weigh the opti<strong>on</strong>s of rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> or completely build from scratch or better still, c<strong>on</strong>cessi<strong>on</strong> the project to a private firm or individual for a period of time. Tunde Timothy Soc. media/PR manager Approvals have been given to carry out several projects here but majority never materialised. Approving $1.5bn at a go for rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> is unwise. Dangote is already building the biggest refinery in Africa here in Nigeria. If the FG wants to spend $1.5 bn for rehabilitating a refinery that has been unproductive for years, your guess is as good as mine. —Ifeanacho Jennifer, Undergraduate
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