24032021 - Insecurity threatens 2023 elections, Ortom tells Buhari

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12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 EMPOWERMENT: From left—Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, Director, External Affairs and Communications, Seplat; Prof. Pat Utomi, Moderator of Seplat Education Roundtable and Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, Keynote Speaker, during the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme, STEP, Awards ceremony 2021, at the STEP Certificate Award Ceremony/Seplat Education Roundtable in Benin City. :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 Oil spill: Reps ask FG to sanction Shell, AGIP for violating environmental laws •Delta communities cry out By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South & Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to sanction Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC and the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, for gross violation of the country's environmental laws. The House also asked the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the SPDC and NAOC to comply strictly with the act establishing the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA. The call to apply punitive measures followed the incessant incidences of oil spills in the Niger Delta by the oil companies. Meanwhile, one week after another oil spillage that killed a villager and left many others hospitalized at Polobubo (Tsekelewu), Opuama and other riverside communities in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, the communities cried out, yesterday, that both government and affected oil company had abandoned them to their fate. Considering a motion, sponsored by Henry Nwawuba and 14 others at yesterday's plenary, the House noted the high level of environmental pollution caused by oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Niger Delta region as well as environmental degradation due to poor production practices, and inadequate maintenance of pipelines and oil infrastructure. It noted two separate oil spills from Okordia Rumuekpe pipeline and the flow station at John Krana 4 known as Adibawa flow station in Eharama community of Bayelsa State owing to long usage of oil pipeline since 1969, operated by Shell (SPDC), and the Ogada-Brass pipeline operated by Agip (NAOC) both of which occurred in 2020. The lawmakers said that there was tension in the region due to lack of employment, scarcity of natural resources, pollution of land, rivers and forests as well as poverty caused by the activities of SPDC, in B-Dere, Ogada- Brass, Okordia Rumuekpe and other communities in Ogoni land of Rivers and Bayelsa states. It expressed concern that both "SPDC and Agip have failed to clean up affected areas and compensate the affected families, and neither have they repaired damages caused by fire outbreaks arising from the spills dispersed by flood which destroyed other sources of livelihood in the region." Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Host Communities and Environment to liaise with NOSDRA, DPR, SPDC and Agip and carry out effective inspection and Comprehensive assessment at Muuabooh, Kinaben, Vuruvulu and Ke-eegio creeks in B-Dere and other impacted areas in Gokana Local Government Area of Ogoni land, including other host communities in the Niger Delta region with a view to ensuring strict compliance with NOSDRA Act as well as the environmental guidelines and standards for the petroleum industry in Nigeria. 1 week after oil spill, Delta communities By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA—HOUSE of Rep resentatives Commitee on Public Accounts, yesterday, said that the Presidential Amnesty has been grossly mismanaged. The committee made the allegation following the inability of the new interim administration led by Col. M . Dixon Dikio (rtd) to account for monies paid to ex-agitators and contractors. In a session with the officials of the programme, yesterday, arising from the Audit query from the Auditor General of the Federation, the chairman of the committee, Wole Oke expressed disclosure that the office could not account for the monies expended. Taking three out of the 21 audit queries, Oke said that over N3.9 billion was reportedly expended by the Agency with proper documents to back cry out President of Polobubo bloc of communities, Mr Paul Toruwei, who addressed newsmen, said: "Some persons are still sick while the majority of the people are without a source of livelihood. "One week after the spillage, there is no relief in any form, be it food, drugs and clean-up of the environment or whatsoever. Thousands of fishermen whose means of livelihood had been destroyed are lamenting their woes with no help in sight. "The people are left to their fate as the oil company and government do not care about them and are only interested in how they would start oil exploration from the facility without concern for the immediate needs of the community." Toruwei, who decried the alleged nonchalant attitude of the management of the NPDC/ELCREST, owners of the OML 40 facility where the spillage occurred, Delta and Federal governments, added: "Already, the NPDC/ ELCREST has been sending their officials to the site of the spillage like divers to work without consulting or approval of the affected communities. "Even the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) that was done was controversial as parties are yet to agree on the cause of the spillage. "We call on NPDC/ ELCREST joint venture to consider the plight of the people of their host communities, who are facing the adverse effect of the spillage from their facility rather than the desperation to start operations "We further call on President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> and the Minister of Petroleum, State, Chief Timipre Slyva, to prevail on NPDC to do the needful by providing relief materials to the affected communities to reduce the adverse effects of the spillage," he added Ṁeanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, last week, sent a high-powered delegation led by his Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Chief Emmanuel Agbadugba to some of the affected communities for an on the spot assessment. In the team, which visited Opuama community were the member representing Warri North constituency Delta State House Assembly, Fred Martins, newly elected Warri North council chairman, Smart Asekutu and his deputy, Solomon Mikie. Presidential Amnesty grossly mismanaged —Reps •Quiz Interim Administrator, Dikio over N3.7bn paid to ex-agitators up the expenditures. The committee said that the programme paid over N3.7bn to ex-agitators and that the payments violated e-payment policy of the Federal Government as they were made into a single account instead of the individual beneficiaries accounts. The Audit query had also accused the office of paying N136 million to two different contractors without proper rendition of accounts of the beneficiaries. The committee further accused the programme of approving the sum of N79m for 11 individuals as cash advancement without retirement of the same. In his response, Dikio pleaded for more time to organize himself for the answers, saying he was new in the office. But the Commitee frowned at the response, saying that government was a continuum, urging him to take responsibility. The table later turned to the Director, Finance and Accounts, DFA, Mr Ityohume Isaac who said that the N3.7 billion was paid to Camp Leaders of the former agitators who in turn paid to those under them. He added that not all the former agitators were on the Bank Verification Number, BVN of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. However, the Committee Chairman ruled that the Agency should provide the Committee with relevant documents on the expenditures detailing the number of the beneficiaries, amount involved, their addresses and the names of the hotels used which they claimed issued them receipts The Committee also ruled that the details of the beneficiaries of the programme should be published in three different national dailies, adding that the relevant documents should also be subjected to forensic investigation. Belgium pledges to partner Rivers govt, NDDC on devt By Egufe Yafugborhi PORT HARCOURT— THE Government of Belgium has pledged to offer strategic partnership for mutual development with the Rivers State Government and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in diverse sectors in the state and Niger Delta region. In separate meetings in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Daniel Bertrand acknowledged NDDC's request for Belgium's support in the development of critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta and presented the Rivers State government's intent to expand Belgian investments in various sectors of the state. Following a closed-door meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt, the diplomat, said, "I am here to visit the state and visit Belgium companies existing in this area. "There are already some Belgium companies in Nigeria with facilities in Rivers SSG warns Wike to steer clear of C-River's politics By Jimoh Babatunde A POLITICAL organisa tion in Cross River State, Southern Senatorial Group, SSG, has come hard on Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State, warning him to steer clear of Cross River State affairs as his meddlesomeness was a distraction that is not welcomed by the people of the state. This followed the recent statement by Wike casting aspersion on Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade. In a statement by its Coordinator, Chief Okon Edet, the group said "For us here in Cross River, Wike didn't insult Ayade but our dear state. Ayade symbolises Cross River and so any dart thrown at him is invariably thrown at Cross River. "Wike's infantile comparison of his state with Cross River in terms of availability of funds smacks of shallow thinking. "Under Wike, how exactly State. We have some opportunities to have our facilities in gas and agriculture." On the visit to NDDC headoffice in the Rivers capital city, Sole Administrator of the commission, Efiong Akwa, had told Bertrand, "We want collaboration in health, environment, training, agriculture and developing a new master plan. "Health is a major challenge in the Niger Delta and Belgium has what it takes to assist us, considering the way it was able to successfully tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our environment has been put in jeopardy because of oil and gas exploration and exploitation by multinational companies in the region. Our people are predominantly fishermen and farmers and agriculture is the strength of the region." The Belgian envoy responded "I am looking forward to working with the NDDC to deepen our excellent relationship. I wanted to see what you are doing, your priorities and see what we can do together." has River's financial wealth directly impacted on the common people? Under Wike, Rivers was recently listed by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, as one of the states with the highest unemployment rate. "Building flyovers all over Port Harcourt and commissioning two kilometre roads amid TV cameras create no jobs for Rivers youths, while Julius Berger carts offshore the collective wealth of Rivers for the contract awarded. "Wike perhaps needs urgent tutorials from Ayade on how to utilise limited resource for the establishment of projects that impact directly on the people. With Cross River's meagre income, Ayade has built a plethora of industries that create jobs and wealth for the people. "Wike absolutely has no right to impose a governor on Cross River in <strong>2023</strong>. Essentially, the whole gamut of reason for his insult on Ayade, nay Cross River, is our governor's rock-solid determination to resist his sinister design for Cross River.‘‘ Rivers lawyers condemn attempt to impose junior judge as CJ PORT HARCOURT— SOME lawyer groups in Rivers State have condemned the move by Governor Nyesom Wike to impose a new Chief Judge on the state while overlooking the proper candidate in the process. The groups, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, represented by Pastor Ngozi Ighosevebe and the Concerned Lawyers in Rivers State led by John Owubokiri and 11 others in different statements in Port Harcourt, yesterday, expressed displeasure at the move by the governor to approve the recommendation and appointment of Justice Simeon Amadi, as Chief Judge purely on clannish considerations. The groups noted that the incumbent Chief Judge, Justice Adama Laminkanra, an indigene of Edo State, who would retire in May 2021, was so appointed by the same Wike based on seniority and hierarchy. It would be recalled that Wike had sworn at the time of Justice Laminkanra's appointment, that he would sustain the policy of seniority and precedence in judicial appointments. The groups said Wike had shifted grounds unethically on ethnic considerations. They said, "We are at a loss on why Governor Wike would abandon seniority and precedence so soon after it had suited him to overlook Justice Joy Akpughunum in the list sent by his Judicial Service Commission to the National Judicial Council, NJC, for consideration for appointment into the office of Chief Judge even when she is erudite, calm, learned and filled with probity. "Justice Akpughunum is the most senior judge in a list in which Justice Simeon Amadi comes a distant second with Justice E Teetito coming third.‘‘
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 — 13 By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA—FOLLOWING a petition the national leadership of the All Progressives Party, APC, lodged against three Justices, the Supreme Court, yesterday, suspended hearing on the legal dispute surrounding the Senatorial bye-election that held in Imo North on December 5, 2020. It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had at the end of the Senatorial bye-election, returned the APC as the winner. The electoral body based its decision not to return any candidate for the party on the fact that there were many conflicting court decisions, for and against the two main contenders from the APC ticket-Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Mr. Chukwuemeka Francis Ibezim. Both Ararume and Ibezim have been laying claim and counter claim to the candidacy of APC in Imo North Senatorial district. However, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgement by Justice Taiwo Taiwo delivered on March 18, ordered INEC to issue Certificate of Return to Ararume. The order came on a day another High Court sitting at Owerri, gave a counter order that barred the electoral body from issuing Certificate of Return to Ararume. The Supreme Court had earlier adjourned to hear an appeal Ibezim lodged against the concurrent verdicts of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which nullified his candidacy on the ground that he made false declaration in documents he submitted to INEC. However, at the resumed proceedings in the matter yesterday, the apex court, suspended further hearing on the appeal, sine-die (indefinitely), owing to the petition by the APC. The party, in the petition that was signed by its Acting National Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, alleged that three Justices of the Supreme Court, held nocturnal meetings with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, so as to scheme it out from the Senate seat. In the petition, the APC, specifically fingered Justices Mohammed Musa Dattijo, Abdu Aboki and Helen Ogun- :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 INSPECTION: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle); Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Greg Nnaji (left) and the Project Manager, IDC Construction Ltd, Mr. Youssef Zghaib, when the governor inspected progress of work at the ongoing construction of flyover bridge at T-Junction, Abakpa Nike, Enugu, yesterday. Ibezim vs Ararume: S'Court suspends hearing over APC's petition against 3 Justices wumiju, as those that participated in the said meeting. Acting National Chairman of the APC, Buni, claimed that information at the disposal of the party, indicated that the three apex Justices, held meeting with PDP leadership and allegedly perfected the means of giving the senatorial seat to the PDP candidate in the bye election. Consequently, when the matter came up yesterday, Justice Dattijo who led a fiveman panel of Justices of the apex court that are presiding over the appeal, announced the suspension of further proceedings in the matter, pending the resolution of the damaging petition. Justice Dattijo bemoaned that the APC had by the petition, called the integrity, reputation and honour of the three Justices to question, stressing that the issue must be resolved first. He said: "Let me confirm to all counsel in this matter that the Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had written a petition against me and two other Justices of this court, namely Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki accusing us of having a meeting with By Victor Ahiuma- Young OWERRI—THE Federal Government yesterday in Imo State, pleaded with organized labour not to disrupt the nation's industrial peace because of the bill before the National Assembly that seeks to remove the minimum wage from exclusive legislative list to concurrent list, saying Nigeria is a signatory to International Labour organization, ILO, conventions on minimum wage and wage fixing. Speaking through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government which made the appeal at the meeting of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) in Owerri, Imo State, said the Nigerian government adopted and ratified the ILO Convention 28, the Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention of 1928 (No.26) and the Minimum Wage Fixing Conven- members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to subvert justice in the case". He said the APC alleged, that "my humble self had led my two brothers to attend a meeting with members of the PDP to strategize on how to subvert the outcome of this case. "I must say that this is most unfortunate and my heart bleeds for this country. "If people as highly placed as the interim Chairman of the APC would open his mouth and make this weighty statement against innocent Justices of this court, then I say my heart bleeds. "We are not interested in any matter and I challenge him and the party to substantiate his allegation that my humble self attended a meeting with members of the PDP with a view to subverting the interest of their party. "This is a reckless and irresponsible statement. That is how these useless statements were made in the past and that is why we are not taking it lightly. "If they have honour, let them substantiate their allegations and I will not leave a day longer in this court. "So, this matter is adjourned sine die, and parties should approach the Chief Justice of Nigeria " Responding, counsel to Senator Ararume, Ahmed Raji, SAN, distanced himself from the petition. Raji said he was shocked to hear about the allegations made against the Justices. He said: "This is very very shocking. I swear with my last day in this court that I, Ahmed Raji knows nothing about this issue and I condemn it with all the strength in me. “I sympathise with your lordships and whatever measure your lordship deems appropriate, we are fully in support", he added. On his part, counsel to the APC, Mr. Umeh Kalu, denied knowledge of the petition, saying he was only hearing about it for the first time. “I am taken aback by this. I have never in my life met with the interim chairman of the APC. "In matters of this nature, we normally deal with the legal adviser. "In the first place, PDP is not a party in this matter". Though all the parties distanced themselves from the petition, the panel went ahead and adjourned the appeal indefinitely. Don't go on strike because of minimum wage bill, FG begs labour •Says Nigeria, signatory to ILO conventions on wage fixing tion of 1970 (No131). According to him, from these conventions, the Minimum wage Act was signed in 1981. Delivering his inaugural address, Ngige said much as he supported the Organised Labour 100 percent on the bill pending before the National Assembly, organised labour should not embark on strike because of the issue, saying , "Although the council has been inactive, the Ministry in the spirit of Tripartism has ensured and maintained a sound tripartite relationship with Social Partners. "For example, during the negotiation for the national minimum wage from 2017 to 2018, we used the tripartite plus composition of government, employers, employees and other interests and for other interests. We made sure that it reflected the members of this council. "That was why we got the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) involved in that negotiation and we called it tripartite plus. The chairman of that minimum wage committee, Ama Pepple came from outside as an experienced technocrat who had been the Head of Service of the Federation, Minister and Clerk of the National Assembly. We invited her to give that plus the effective ingredient that is needed, so also the state governments. "Mr. President of NLC, you didn't need to thank me for what I said about the minimum wage bill because I was re-echoing what the Nigerian government stood for by adopting the ILO Convention 28, the Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention of 1928 (No.26) and the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention of 1970 (No131). From these conventions, the Minimum wage Act was signed in 1981. So, I am with you 100 percent but I don't want you to go on strike on that." I picked Abaribe from gutters —Kalu ABA—CHIEF Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has taken the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial zone, Enyinnaya Abaribe, to the cleaners. Abaribe was Kalu’s deputy during his first term as Abia governor. The deputy governor was later impeached.“ Kalu, on Monday, also said he was thankful to God to have been imprisoned for six months, declaring that God allowed the conspiracy of his enemies because “it is part of my life script. “The billionaire businessman and politician made the revelations in Aba North Ward 1 during his ward to ward campaign for All Pro- gressives Congress,APC, candidate, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, for the Aba North/South Federal Constituency byeelection scheduled to hold on Saturday. The former governor was responding to statements from Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and Abaribe, accusing him of unrecovery from Kuje Prison experience. Ikpeazu and Abaribe, in their reactions had stated that Kalu’s suggestion that road projects in Aba are funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Federal Government “is a clear pointer that something is wrong with him. ‘‘It is either he is yet to fully recover from the effects of his several months of incarceration at the Kuje prisons or he is just plain ignorant.” the governor’s statement read. Lawyers, judiciary workers in Imo suspend court sittings over alleged abduction of colleague OWERRI—Lawyers and judiciary workers in Imo suspended court sitting yesterday to protest against the kidnap of a lawyer Barr. Chima Awurum. Awurum was kidnapped by gunmen last Friday in Mbano/Etiti, Imo. Secretary of the Imo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chinedu Agu, said in a memorandum yesterday that there must be strict compliance with the directive to down tools. Agu said that the request to suspend court sitting was approved by the Acting Chief Judge on the state, Ijeoma Oguguo and signed by the Chief Registrar, C.N Okereke. The memorandum read: Obi congratulates Nwabueze at 90 Arewa youths laud Ugwuanyi on peace, economic prosperity THE NATIONAL Execu tive Council and members of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), both in the country and the Diaspora, have lauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his untiring efforts in ensuring peace, economic prosperity and a unified Nigeria. In a congratulatory message to Gov. Ugwuanyi on his 57th birthday, the National President of Arewa Youth Forum, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, on behalf of the forum, described the governor as “a worthy son of Nigeria, a humane, simple, humble, focused and accessible leader”. The Northern forum told "The Office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of Imo State, has declared that in solidarity with the Mbano/ Etiti Branch of the NBA, the High Courts and Magistrates Courts will not sit on Tuesday.’’ Meanwhile, some litigants were seen at court premises looking frustrated over the sudden development. A litigant, Mr Kingsley Anyawu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his case had lingered due to long adjournments and courts boycott. Anyawu condemned the kidnap of the lawyer and appealed to security agencies to find lasting solution to insecurity in the state. THE IMMEDIATE past Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi has joined other Nigerians of goodwill in congratulating Prof. Ben Nwabueze who turned 90 yesterday. In a message made available to the press by his Media Office signed by Mr. Valentine Obienyem, Obi said that people like Prof. Nwabueze deserved to be celebrated for their contributions to their communities, the country and humanity at large. “ He exemplifies the beauty of using one’s gift to serve humanity”, Obi said. The former governor recalls that Prof. Nwabueze has served the nation in various capacities, including being the Federal Minister of Education. He however said that what stood him out of the park was his contributions to scholarship as a lecturer and author of many books that have continued to address aspects of constitutionalism, politics, rule of law and jurisprudence. He however, notes that when “nonagenarians that were evidently committed to better Nigeria as Nwabueze reflect on the Nigerian condition, that the feeling will certainly be that of regret at what the country has turned into.” Obi therefore concludes: “beyond panegyrics, the debt the younger generations owe the older ones is to become the instrument for the actualisation of the country they dreamt of during independence. Gov. Ugwuanyi that “your untiring efforts aimed at ensuring a unified Nigeria is established, well appreciated and documented, given by your good virtues and all-inclusive leadership style”. According to them, “you (Ugwuanyi) have within the shortest period of your political career made yourself to be an astute and exemplary leader who has committed the greatest part of his cherished days on earth to Nigeria’s quest for economic prosperity, peace and national unity. “We at Arewa Youth Forum are happy to be associated with you in upholding this spirit of nationhood.‘‘
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