NUT Celebrates With APC, Restates 100% Support To Obaseki

The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says it is happy with the All Progressives Congress for Godwin Obaseki’s victory at the Wednesday governorship election.
The Chairman of the union, Mr Mike Uhumwangho, said this in an interview with newsmen in Benin City, Thursday.
Uhumwangho said the election was free and fair “and I believe that the better candidate won”.
“We are 100 per cent happy that the candidate who the Edo NUT endorsed won the governorship race.
“I believe that he will continue the good work that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has started and will do better,” he said.
He, however, called on the governor- elect not to renege on his electoral promises to revamp the education sector in the state.
INEC had declared Mr Godwin Obaseki of the APC as winner of the election, after he had garnered 319,483 votes to defeat Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who scored 253,173 votes.

'Agent's Refusal To Sign Result Sheet Doesn't Invalidate Poll'

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the refusal of some political party agents to sign the Edo State governorship election result sheet did not invalidate the poll.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Publicity, Prince Solomon Soyebi, stated this in an interview with newsmen, Thursday, in Benin City, the state capital.
Soyebi said that the validity of an election was stipulated in the Electoral Act and Election Guidelines.
He said that the concluded Edo election was in line with the Electoral Act.
“The refusal of any party agents to sign the result sheet does not in any way invalidate the declared result of the election,” Soyebi said.
The agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Young Democratic Party had refused to sign the result sheet of the Edo governorship election.
He commended the people of Edo for their peaceful conduct that allowed the election to be peaceful and concluded in one ballot.
“This is one of the few elections that we have conducted with minimum violence,” he said.
Soyebi said that the people of Edo had set the pace for peaceful election and mass turnout of voters in the country.
He expressed hope that such standard would be sustained as well as impact on future elections.
The INEC commissioner said high number of counselled votes and the inability to use the card readers remained one of the major changes in the election.
He, however, said that INEC would build on the success recorded in Edo as well as invest more in voter education to ensure the success of Ondo election scheduled for November 28.
INEC had declared Mr Godwin Obaseki of the APC as winner of the election, having polled 319,483 votes to defeat Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who scored 253,173 votes.

Edo APC Links Victory To Electorate's Goodwill

The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, Mr Anselm Ojezua, Thursday, attributed the party’s victory in the Edo governorship election on Wednesday, on the goodwill of the people.
Ojezua, who was reacting to the APC victory in Benin City, said Governor Adams Oshiomhole, had served the state well and the people rewarded him by voting the party in again.
He told newsmen that the victory did not come to him as a surprise because it was earned through hard work.
The chairman said that the party would continue to build on the goodwill, adding “to God be the glory; this victory brings to the fore the need for hard work.”
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the party in Edo South Senatorial District, Mr Gentleman Amegor, said the party won because it had worked hard since it assumed office.
“In life, the key to success is hard work. When you work hard, success will never be far from you. That is exactly what has happened.
“Oshiomhole has laid the foundation and we pray and are hopeful that Godwin Obaseki will do better”.
Similarly, the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Henry Idahagbon, described the victory as ordained by God.
“The victory is sweet but the battle was tough. It is a victory for development. Edo people should get ready for a high level development now,” he said.
It would be recalled that the APC candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, won the election by polling 319, 483 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who garnered 253, 173 votes.
Oshiomhole’s second term in office ends on November 12.

RSG Plays Defensive Over Unpaid Six Months' Pension Arrears

Governor Nyesom Wike

The Rivers State Government has appealed to pensioners in the state to exercise patience while efforts are on to pay them their allowances.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Fred Kpakol, told newsmen in an interview in Port Harcourt, last Friday, that the delay in paying pensioners was as a result of ongoing biometrics exercise.
Kpakol explained that the ICT department in charge of the biometrics exercise was still attending to pensioners who were not captured before the end of the exercise on September 16th.
The state finance commissioner explained that Governor Nyesom Wike holds pensioners in Rivers State in high esteem as senior citizens, and will not want to deny them their allowances.
Kpakol was reacting to complaints by the pensioners in Rivers State, who had alleged the non-payment of their six months’ pension allowances by the state government.
The state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Festus Abibo, in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, had alleged that pensioners were yet to be paid their pension allowances even after completing their biometric exercise.
Abibo said that Governor Nyesom Wike, during a recent meeting with the pensioners, had promised to pay allowances of the pensioners after the biometric exercise.
He also claimed that pensioners in the state were dying from medical and hunger-related problems as a result of non-payment of their six months’ pension allowances.

Ex-Rivers Lawmaker Seeks Security Protection, Says Family, Life In Danger

Hon Chidi Lloyd

The former majority leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Dr Chidi Lloyd, has called on security agencies for help to protect him and family members.
He said they are all in grave danger following several threats to his life and that of his family members.
It would be recalled that the Rivers Police Command had confirmed arsonists’ attack on Lloyd’s  house in his Akpabu village, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
Lloyd told newsmen in Port Harcourt, Sunday, that they were endangered because of his political beliefs and association.
He said that the unprovoked attack on his residence had consumed his personal belonging such as library and other valuables.
“I have tried to imagine what might have been the cause of this unwarranted attack but cannot readily think of any.
“The only thing is, since the 2013 crises that engulfed the Assembly, in which I participated, I have been living in great fear,” he said.
Lloyd said that he was arrested, detained and charged to court for attempted murder but the trial was discontinued by the then Attorney General (AG) of Rivers State, Worgu Boms.
“When the former attorney general, in exercise of his constitutional powers, took over the prosecution, he discontinued the trial because the police authorities then made it impracticable for trial to continue.
“This was because the complainant approached the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, seeking for an order to stop the police from releasing the case file,” he alleged.
According to Lloyd, the current Rivers State Attorney General, Mr Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, in May, 2016, filed a criminal information in the Rivers State High Court, before Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, seeking to review the nolle prosequi entered by his predecessor.
“The trial is currently going on with an interlocutory order to the police to produce me to take plea even when no process was served on me.
“Despite the pendency of the matter at the Court of Appeal, Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra, has refused to stay proceedings in the matter,” he alleged.
Lloyd alleged that on September 21, at about 10am, Aguma was boasting in open court that they would produce me in court without the police.
“Since the police, a non-party in the matter had refused to produce me, they, the prosecution will ensure my appearance in court to take plea their own way.
“Just six hours later, my house was razed down. I have painstakingly drawn this analogy so it will be clear to the world who my tormentors are,” he alleged.
Lloyd said that despite the efforts to frustrate him from exercising his constitutional right, he had appealed the order for police to produce him in court, and also written a petition to the chief justice of the federation.

Edo Declares Two-Day Public Holidays Over Guber Poll

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

The Edo State Government, at the weekend, declared Tuesday, September 27, and Wednesday, September 28, as public holidays to enable electorate participate in the September 28 governorship election.
The state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole announced the holiday at a grand reception organised by the organised labour union for him.
He said the holidays would enable workers travel to their places of registration and participate in the voting exercise on Wednesday.
On the support given to him by labour, the governor expressed delight in the constructive criticisms offered by the union in the last eight years, adding that they helped in shaping his policies.
“In spite of their contestation sometimes, both parties have always found a meeting point to bridge their differences,’’ he said.
He urged members of the union to extend same support to the APC Governorship Candidate by voting enmasse for him on September 28.
According to him, the APC governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has undergone tutelage in governance under the outgoing administration, and therefore, fit to rule.
He said there was the need to reciprocate the union gesture, adding that to do this, the union should ensure that Obaseki was returned as governor.
He also said the state civil service had been upgraded, adding that the migration to pension services was now smooth.
“Retirees can now begin to access their pensions immediately they retired and there is no need for tranches again,’’ he said.
The governor, however, advised the APC governorship candidate not to abandon the workers if elected.

Clark Condemns Avengers' Attack On Bonny Crude Oil Export Pipeline

Chief Edwin Clark

The leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum (PNDCSSCF) and former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, has condemned, in very strong terms, the bombing of the Bonny Export 48-inch pipeline last Friday by members of the Niger Delta Avengers.
In a statement he signed and made available to newsmen, Clark, who noted that there was no justification for the renewed bombing against the backdrop that the 60-day cessation of hostilities as articulated by Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, had not elapsed.
Clark said, ”It has come to the attention of the Niger Delta royal fathers, elders and leaders of thought that the Niger Delta Avengers have claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Bonny Export 48-inch pipeline on Friday, 23rd September, 2016.
”We condemn in totality this ill-motivated and Ill-advised rampaging in the bombing by the Niger Delta Avengers. Even though the Federal Government has not constituted its negotiating team as articulated by the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, the 60-day cessation of hostilities has not elapsed. Therefore, there was no justification for further bombing, such as the one that took place last Friday.
“We repeat our appeal which was contained in our collective response to the summit on the Niger Delta convened by the office of the Vice President published at page 8 of Leadership Newspaper of Saturday, September 24, 2016, and at page 9 of Saturday Vanguard of September 24, 2016, that, ‘all the armed agitators to continue with the cessation of hostilities and remain calm and peaceful, even in the face of obvious provocation’. We shall maintain this position.”

$31.4m: 'Patience Jonathan Not Above The Law'

The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has asked Nigeria’s former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to go clear her name before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) rather than resorting to under-hand tactics to arm-twist the anti-graft agency into doing her bidding.
Frank, in a statement issued, yesterday in Abuja, said the immediate-past first lady was not above the law, describing as shameful, threats by a Niger Delta militant group and the protest at the Port Harcourt zonal office of the EFCC in support of Mrs Jonathan, over the freezing of her dollar account containing about $31.4 million.
“My candid advice to Mrs Patience Jonathan is to apologize to Nigerians for the current economic hardship which Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s regime could have easily averted, instead of sponsoring shameless protests against the government; anyway, Nigerians are still waiting for the apology”, he said.
The statement warned the youth to desist from such shameless act of defending politicians for a pot of porridge, adding that the present APC administration was fighting corruption so as to secure the future for them.
Frank, a native of Bayelsa State, said it was surprising that Mrs Jonathan had such an amount of money in her custody while people from her region were dying from water-borne diseases, saying, it took President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for example, to recently commission a water project even in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, the hometown of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The show of shame called protest at the Port Harcourt office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to demand the unfreezing of Mrs Jonathan’s dollar accounts was uncalled for, and there is nothing wrong if the former first lady explains the source of $31.4 million to the anti-corruption agency.
“The country is at present going through recession as a result of the mismanagement of the economy left behind by Patience Jonathan’s husband-led administration which APC is working hard to correct as soon as possible.
“It should be made clear that there is nothing wrong for EFCC to invite Mrs Patience Jonathan for questioning, if the organization suspects a foul play in accumulation of such big amount of money.
“Again, the era of being above the law is over. This is a change government of accountability where the rule of law is paramount. The number four citizen of this country today, Senate President Bukola Saraki, whose office is prominently recognized by the Constitution, is facing trial not to talk of one former first lady which the Nigerian Constitution does not recognize.
“Again, we should also remind those who have forgotten that a national leader of APC, who was once the vice president of this nation, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was once investigated. So, why must Mrs Jonathan’s case be different?
“We call on the leadership of the EFCC not to feel threatened in carrying out its official duty, and ensure that whoever is caught in the web is properly brought to book”, he concluded.

$15m Accounts: SERAP Urges FG To Prosecute Ex-First Lady

Ex-First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government to the Federal High Court in Lagos asking the court for “leave to apply for Judicial Relief and to seek an order of Mandamus directing and or compelling the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, over $15million unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts.”
The organization is also asking the court “for such order or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”
The suit with number FHC/L/CS/1318/2016 dated 23th September, 2016, was filed on behalf of SERAP by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.
SERAP’s suit is coming against the background of the request last week by Mrs Jonathan for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defreeze her accounts and offer her a public apology within 14-days.
SERAP’s suit brought under Order 34, Rules 1 (1) (a); 2, Rule 3 (1) and (2) (a), (b) and (c) of the Federal High Court Rules, 2009 and Inherent Jurisdiction of the Court reads in part: “The Attorney General of the Federation has a duty to prosecute intentional illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income.
“By virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the Attorney General of the Federation is constitutionally empowered to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person in Nigeria in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National assembly in superior courts in Nigeria.
“The Attorney General of the Federation has failed, neglected and or refused to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15million unexplained wealth frozen in her accounts.
“Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law.
“In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules made to regulate matters.
“Mrs. Jonathan is a politically exposed person under anti-corruption standards. She is also covered under the definition of ‘public officials’ contained in the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Under article 2 of the convention, public officials include Mrs. Jonathan or any other family members of the former President Goodluck Jonathan who exercised official duties while he was president.
“This matter is presently generating a lot of public concern and discourse and is presently in the front burner of national discourse thus germane to Nigerians and that the alleged crime is in our society at the moment regarded so serious as to be a bother on daily life. By the nature of the case, it ought to be heard urgently. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”
SERAP is asking for: A Declaration that the failure of the Respondent to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15million unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts is unconstitutional and unlawful as it contradicts and in conflict with the duties and obligations of the Respondent under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 An Order Of Mandamus compelling the Respondent to urgently institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15million unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts.
“Nigerian laws allow for criminal penalties and forfeiture if in the course of an investigation there are reasonable grounds to believe that a corruption offence has been committed, that is, the failure to explain the origin of the $15million given present or past emoluments, and other relevant circumstances.
“By a letter dated 13 September, 2016, requested the Attorney General of the Federation to urgently institute and undertake criminal proceedings against one Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15million unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts. But since the receipt of the letter, and up till the filing of this suit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has so far failed, refused and/ or neglected to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan.
“Mrs. Jonathan has admitted that the four accounts belong to her and that she is the sole signatory to these accounts. The four companies and their directors have since pleaded guilty to the commission of the offence. The fact that the $15million found in the four accounts belong to Mrs. Jonathan raises serious suspicion or at the very least, a prima-facie case of unexplained wealth/illicit enrichment, and imposes a duty on Mrs. Jonathan to explain and justify the source(s) of the $15million.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Tompolo Father's Burial: Four Drown In Boat Mishap In Warri

Four people were feared dead in Warri River, Friday, in a boat mishap involving the funeral party to the burial of late Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).
A community leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, who craved anonymity, told newsmen, Saturday in Warri, that the victims included a man and three women.
He said that two of the female victims were from Kurutie and Ogulaha communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
It was learnt that the victims boarded the ill-fated speed boat at the Miller Waterside in Warri to attend the weeklong funeral, which commenced, Friday.
“We were already at the funeral celebrating Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo when we got news of the accident.
“Initially, we were told only two persons died, later we heard that the victims were four.
”The male victim, who was apparently from the northern part of the country, was on a mission to sell some wares at the funeral ground,” he said.
It would be recalled that the late Ekpemupolo died on September 7 at Lily Clinic, Warri.
The Delta State Police spokesperson, SP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said the number of casualties were yet to be ascertained.
”I was regretfully informed that AW-19 boat mounted with 115-horsepower Yamaha engine capsized at Warri river.
”My patrol team rescued 11 persons; searching and investigation is ongoing.
”For your information, there is no manifest to show the number of passengers in the boat.
”So, the number of deaths is not certain yet, the bodies will float by tomorrow (Saturday),” said the Delta police spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Ekpemupolo family of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, began the burial ceremony of late High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo, High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo’s father, Friday, September 23, in Warri.
The late High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo will be buried at Kurutie community, the paternal home of the deceased.
According to reports, the burial began with the gates of Veenell Hospital shut as movement of persons were restricted into the premises due to the suspicion that the death of late High Chief Ekpemupolo may trigger tension within the area.
The bearing of the corpse of late High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo caused serious vehicular traffic in the town as some Itsekiri traditional dance groups entertained guests with songs and dance along the busy Okumagba Avenue Road in Warri.
High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo as at the time of filing this report was absent at the scene, but his younger brother, George Ekpemupolo, who is the chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Council was on ground.
Chief Alfred Bubor, the immediate past Regent of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, High Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Jonathan Deregbanran, Elder Samson Teide, and others were on ground.
The corpse would be conveyed to Kurutie community, the paternal home of the deceased for burial.
The burial ceremony will continue at Oporoza community from Saturday, September 24, through Sunday, Sunday 25.
It would be recalled that there were claims that the 84-year-old who passed on Wednesday, September 7, died as a result of wounds he sustained during the military invasion of Kurutie and other Gbaramatu Communities by the military.
Until his death, late Ekpemupolo was survived by four widows, 31 children, 45 grand children, 11 great grand children.
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'Irresponsible Journalism, Escalating N'Delta Crisis'

The Niger Delta rights activist, Ann Kio Briggs, has criticised journalists for misleading and misinforming Nigerians and the world on the real issues agitating the minds of Niger Deltans in the Nigerian project.
Briggs said that rather than discuss the issues of injustice, and crude theft of the wealth of the nation by the Federal Government through lop-sided distribution of resources, especially revenue generated from the region, the media was busy calling the people of the region, who dared to speak up, names, and aligning them to militants.
She said that rather than seriously ventilating the issues raised in her recent presentation at an event, journalists have buried the issues, were only promoting the desire of government to locate the agitators in the region, and linking her as one of those who know where the militants are.
According to the Kalabari jewel, “While l respect the great profession of journalism, the headline, “ANNKIO BRIGGS KNOWS WHERE AVENGERS ARE” is cheap, infantile, tasteless, and a disgrace to the noble profession of journalism.
“I am calling on the real journalists in Nigeria, to please, clean their house and restore the dignity and respect due their profession, and not allow a few unprofessional ones amongst them to pull down the profession and drag it through the mud.”
Briggs explained that, “I said in my presentation at the programme, the injustice we have endured in the Niger Delta in over 50 years, the injustice of Kano State taking 44 LGA allocation of what Bayelsa State produces, while Bayelsa State, which produces the wealth takes only 8 LGA allocation is an injustice that will continue to produce people who yesterday called themselves MEND, today NDA, and many more.”
She said that she had suggested that, “Instead of looking for Avengers, end the injustice in the Niger Delta, as long as there is injustice, there you will find Avengers.”
Briggs further argued that, “If Lagos State ends up with 13 per cent derivation, and their land and livelihoods are destroyed like in the Niger Delta; Lagos State, their own Avengers will arise.”

Edo Poll: INEC REC Threatens To Resign

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, Mr. Sam Olumekun, has threatened to resign if there was any proof that he compromised Wednesday’s governorship election.
Olumekun insisted that the electoral body postponed the election because there was no security cover for electoral officials.
He spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Saturday.
The Edo REC denied allegations that the electoral body was out to do the bidding of a particular party, and urged political parties to go out and convince people to vote for them.
He opined that the election should not made politicians turned the state into a war zone.
Olumekun informed the political parties that the commission would on Monday, September 26, begin distribution of sensitive materials for the conduct of the Edo election.
He urged political parties to send their agents to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Benin City to monitor the distribution of the materials.
Olumekun noted that the presence of party agents at the distribution venue was to make sure that the ballot papers were not tampered with.
The Edo REC warned that those authorized to be at CBN were security operatives, party agents and collation officers.
His words, “For those politicians saying we postpone election, will you allow me to send your children to conduct election without security?
“Go and convince the people to vote for your party. INEC will not do anybody’s bidding. We are interested on who Edo people will choose as their leader.”
The new Police Commissioner in Edo State, Haliru Abubakar Gwandu, debunked PDP allegations that he was in the state to do the biddings of a political party.
Gwandu promised to provide a level playing field for all political parties, and appealed to political parties to eschew violence and intimidation of electoral officials and ad-hoc staff.

'Past Leaders Are To Blame For Militancy, Economic Lull'

C'River Demands Special Place In NDDC Projects

The Cross River State Government has demanded for a special consideration in the allocation and execution of projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, made the demand in Calabar, Cross River State, when the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta and the NDDC directors led by the Acting Managing Director, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, paid him a courtesy visit.
He appealed to the NDDC to faithfully execute all the projects it allocated to the state in the 2016 budget.
Ayade, who was represented by his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, explained that the state deserved sympathy because it was disadvantaged among the Niger Delta states.
According to him, “Cross River State is the most disadvantaged state in the Niger Delta because we do not receive a kobo from 13 per cent oil derivation. We, therefore, expect a lot of sympathy from your committee. When you are considering the budget, please, ensure that those projects that have been provided for in the budget are executed to the letter because that is the only way we are going to benefit.
“You know that our projects will be so few because the projects are distributed based on the quantity of oil produced by the states. So, for the few projects that have been allocated to us, we expect that they should be properly done and not abandoned.”
Ayade stated that the state was counting on the continued goodwill of the NDDC which flourished during the leadership of Mrs. Semenitari.
“We wish the NDDC’s acting MD, who we have adopted as our daughter, will be the one to oversee these projects she started because we have implicit confidence in her ability. The last time she came here, we all gave her a standing ovation for all she has achieved within a short period of time.”
The governor told the Senate committee that ex-militants in Cross River State were not integrated in the rehabilitation scheme of the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.
He regretted that the situation had resulted in the continued agitation of a militant group known as the Bakassi Strike Force.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, said that they were in the state for a holistic investigation of NDDC projects.
“We are here to assess the performance of NDDC. The Senate directed we should find out the impact of the NDDC on the lives of the people of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Nwaoboshi explained that his committee oversights NDDC, the Amnesty Programme and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and noted that the visit to Cross River State to inspect NDDC projects was part of its oversight function.
He stated: “We have a record of abandoned projects in this state. We also have a record of those that have been completed and those that are on-going. We may not be able to visit all the projects, but we have randomly selected some and we are going to visit about ten. By the time we are through with the inspections, we will be in a good position to brief the Senate.
“We recognise the fact that the NDDC is an interventionist agency and because of that, we take its activities very seriously, especially as they relate to the development of the Niger Delta. We have just passed a budget of N241 billion for the commission this year. I am aware that there are some projects for Cross River State and we still intend to capture more.”
Nwaoboshi charged the Cross River State Government to join in the important task of monitoring and supervising NDDC projects in the state.
“I am aware that the acting MD of the commission has been liaising with the state government to capture the interest of the state in the budget.”
On the amnesty programme, Nwaoboshi, assured that his committee would investigate the affairs of the Amnesty Programme.
He added: “We are going to have a public hearing on the 6th and 7th of October, and we have called for memoranda from all interested parties. A lot of funds have been invested in the amnesty programme, and it is only appropriate that we investigate how these funds have been applied,” he added.

IPOB Protest Shuts Down Markets In Rivers

In compliance with the call for a world-wide ‘Sit-at-home’ protest organised by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), several markets and businesses were shut down on Friday for hours.
Investigations reveal that all markets in Oyigbo, including Timber, Okro, Main Market, among others were completely shut down.
Some oil tools dealers at Mile 3 Market were also nowhere to be found.
Motor parts dealers and businessmen at Ikoku Market, were nowhere near their places of business forcing the market to be completely shut down.
Also shut down were Okija Electrical Parts Market, Ojoto Belgium Electrical/Electronic Market as well as Illoabuchi Electrical/Electronic Market in Diobu, were all locked down.
Similarly, the Steel Village, a market for ironware at Eleme, Rivers State, was reported deserted, while hundreds of shops at Mile 1 and Mile 3 markets in Port Harcourt, were locked up.
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CLO Dismisses Anti-EFCC Protest In Rivers, Says It's Members Not Involved

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has debunked claims that its members took part in a protest march in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Friday, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation of wife of former president, Dame Patience Jonathan for allegedly starching millions of dollars in several proxy bank accounts in Nigeria.
The denial was contained in a statement signed by the President, CLO, Uche Wisdom Durueke.
According to Durueke, “The attention of the leadership of the CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION (CLO) has been drawn to a recent protest where certain individuals, in order to cause mischief, carried placards bearing CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATIONS. I hereby state that those individuals are not members of the CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION.
“I hereby assure the bona-fide members of the organization and the public that CLO will not condescend so low to embark on such an infantile protest.
“The CLO hereby disassociates itself from the protest. However, the organization will take steps to unravel those behind the embarrassment and impersonation,” Durueke added.
Similarly, the CLO in the South-South zone also denied that its members were part of the protest.
A press release signed the Zonal Chairman, Karl Chinedu Uchegbu, and the Zonal Director, Steven Obodoekwe, reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to a protest march organised in Port Harcourt, Friday, September 23, against EFCC over the hunting of Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan by the EFCC. The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), was not only enlisted as part of the CSOs involved in the protest, but a protest banner bearing CLO was said to have been used for the said protest. On the protest banner is boldly written, ‘EFCC, Leave Mrs Patience Jonathan Alone’.”
The statement noted that, “It has always been the position of the South-South zone of the CLO that EFCC has been reduced to an attack dog and weapon of vengeance by the Federal Government headed by General Muhammadu Buhari. It has always been our position that EFCC has been too selective in carrying out its duties, and this selectivity has continued to impose a big question mark on the sincerity and genuineness of the EFCC in its so-called war on corruption.
“Concentrating on perceived enemies of the Federal Government and its party has given out the commission as a tool of witch-hunting. It has also been our position that EFCC should stop shielding corrupt elements in Buhari’s cabinet, and until this is done, we can never be deceived by the antics of the commission and those using it to hunt their enemies.
“It has also always been our position that fighting corruption or criminality with illegality is not only a bigger form of corruption, but an injustice. It is unacceptable. Ignoring court orders, confiscating peoples’ assets without due process, finding victims guilty through media trials, and so on, as always adopted by the EFCC, are condemnable.
“We condemn the ordeals of Dame Patience Jonathan, more so, as we consider it as part of the diversionary tactics of the Presidency to divert peoples’ attention from their gross incompetence, ineptitude and their plots to share Nigeria’s assets like NLNG and NNPC,” it stated.
The statement added that, “We wish to state that the South-South CLO as well as the Rivers State branch are surprised over the use of the name of the organisation for this kind of protest.
“We think the protest is not necessary, more so, as Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan has already gone to court to recover her wealth arbitrarily hijacked by Buhari using EFCC as an attack dog. CLO was not consulted nor its consent obtained before using the name of CLO for the protest.
“We hereby dissociated Civil Liberties Organisation, from the said protest,” the group submitted.
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Tai Result: INEC Stance Emboldens APC, As Party Seeks Electorate's Support In Rerun Polls

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to the electorate in the state to emulate the people of Tai constituency by overwhelmingly casting their votes for all the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates during the forthcoming rerun elections in the state.
A statement, Friday, in Port Harcourt by the state Chairman, APC, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said that, “By so doing, the Rivers electorate would have taken one more step towards saving our dear state from the grip of the callous and bloodthirsty Peoples Democratic Party.”
The party was reacting to the declaration, earlier this week by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the result of Tai in the March 19, 2016, rerun legislative election remains valid, thus effectively terminating PDP’s attempts to truncate the people’s mandate freely given to APC.
“We remain resolute that the good people of Tai have set in motion the chain of events to end the reign of terror, maladministration and savagery associated with the PDP in Rivers State,” the statement added.
“This call for the entire Rivers State people to emulate the Tai people in this regard becomes imperative following remarks credited to the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, that, ‘The ongoing killings in Rivers State is a normal thing…’ For a government that is supposed to save lives and properties to state that killing of our people is normal simply demonstrates the height of insensitivity,” Ikanya explained.
The Rivers APC commended INEC “for this boldness in the face of threat, intimidation and harassment by the PDP and Rivers State Government under the watch of Chief Nyesom Wike.”
The party also condemned “the unprovoked attack and burning of the home of former leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd in Akpabu community of Emohua Local Government Area by the PDP agents. This act of lawlessness by the PDP Government in Rivers State is no longer acceptable to us and should be condemned by all and sundry. It is sad that Chidi Lloyd, whose only crime, like others so far killed by the PDP agents, is that they belong to APC, should suffer this.
“We wish to urge and plead with the entire people of Rivers State to remain calm, peaceful and resolute in their determination to drive away the remnants of PDP from our dear state during the forthcoming rerun elections by voting only for APC candidates.
“In this light, we wish to admonish the leadership and members of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), to stop further threat to the peace of Rivers State as evident in their recent press statement in which they threatened to unleash terror and mayhem if INEC goes ahead with the rerun election in the state. We wish to remind the group that it is no longer business as usual as the present leadership of the country’s security agencies is very capable of checking their excesses.”
The APC further condoled with the Nigerian Police over the recent brutal killing of two of its personnel at Omoku, and urged the police “not to relent until criminals and vandals are fished out and chased away from our dear state.”

Fear Grips Rivers Deputy Governor Over Rerun Polls

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has expressed fears over the rescheduled rerun elections scheduled for October, 2016.
The deputy governor’s fears were expressed in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Thursday.
In the statement, Banigo sought for the intervention of the National Assembly in the rescheduled legislative rerun elections in the state.
The deputy governor called on the lawmakers to prevail on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come out with a definite date and blue print for the conduct of free and fair rerun elections in Rivers State tentatively slated for October by INEC to save the state from seemingly orchestrated political victimization.
She described as sad, provocative and a constitutional breech for INEC to relish in lackadaisical disposition and statements that portray it as being unserious, inept and overwhelmed in conducting election in Rivers State.
The deputy governor wondered why it is only one opposition party out of 30 registered political parties in the state that is not complaining about the endless and teleguided postponement, describing the inaction of INEC as a demonstration of incompetence and a dangerous trend to the sustenance of the democratic process.
She regretted that under the current leadership of INEC, the country now has infamous legacies of inconclusive and needless postponement of elections since the exit of Professor Attahiru Jega.
Banigo urged the National Assembly to invite INEC for interrogation over its inability to conclude the conduct of rerun elections in Rivers State.

Felicitations Pour In As Bayelsa Gov's Wife Is Delivered Of Quadruplets In USA

Felicitations have continued to pour in as the wife of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Dr Rachael Dickson, Friday, gave birth to quadruplets in the United States of America after more than 15 years of marriage.
The governor’s wife who stepped into Bayelsa Government House in February, 2012, during her husband’s first tenure, recently travelled to have her first baby in the United States of America.
Dickson has married several wives with numerous children but keeps Rachael as his official wife with him at Bayelsa Government House.
She was delivered of a quadruplet; a baby boy and three baby girls, Friday.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Dickson, Frank Agbo, Friday, made the following post on Facebook: “Good News. Another cause for Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and family to celebrate is here. After many years of praying and waiting upon the Lord, his wife and First Lady of Bayelsa State, Dr. Rachael Dickson, was just delivered of a quadruplet: a bouncing baby boy and three beautiful baby girls. Mother and children are doing very well.
“Governor Dickson’s joy knows no bound. This bundle of joy is coming when his re-election was overwhelmingly upheld by the Appeal Court in Abuja, Thursday. The governor thanks his friends, well wishers and family members for their prayers and support over the years.”
Also, a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, which further confirmed the news, said that Rachael Dickson, and the babies are doing well.
The statement quoted Dickson as thanking friends, family members and Bayelsa people for their outpouring of prayers and support, and enjoined them to continue to pray for the family.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has joined the millions of people to felicitated with the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson and his wife, Dr Rachael Dickson, on the successful delivery of a quadruplet: a bouncing baby boy and three beautiful baby girls in a hospital in the United States of America.
A statement through the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Paul Damgbor, Saturday, Banigo, described the development as miraculously significant and a testimony that the emergence of Dickson as governor of Bayelsa State was divinely ordained, especially as the arrival of the lovely babies coincided with the validation of the result of the Bayelsa State Governorship re-election by the Appeal Court in Abuja, a day earlier.
Banigo said, “the Government and Rivers people share in this momentous joy of the number One Citizens of the Glory of all Lands, in view of the age-long relationship existing between the two ‘brotherly’ states,” stressing that children are the heritage of the Lord.
The deputy governor prayed God to continue to guide, strengthen and grant Governor Dickson and his dear wife the wisdom and grace to pilot the affairs of their family in particular and the state as a whole.

N'Delta Summit Fails, As Clark, Others Warn Buhari Of More Attacks

Chief Edwin Clark

The rejection of the Federal Government–sponsored two–day Niger Delta Summit, initially planned to hold Monday and Tuesday by the Pan–Niger Delta Coastal States Consultative Forum, led by former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, and pointed disagreement over the one-sided concept, has forced the government to suddenly postpone the talks.
This came as Chief Edwin Clark warned President Muhammadu Buhari not listen to the Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, saying that “Amaechi is one of the problems of the Niger Delta, he is seeing himself as next to the President”.
Clark argued that the people of Niger Delta were ready to work with President Muhammadu Buhari, but insisted that he should not listen to people like Amaechi and others that were allegedly confusing him and telling him untruths about the region.
The Secretary of the Planning Committee of the summit, Mr. Donald Wokoma, in a statement, Friday night, announcing the postponement, gave no reason for the suspension.
It was, however, learnt that the government got intelligence that the militants were resuming hostilities while the summit would be largely boycotted by the team of Niger Delta leaders and ex-agitators led by Clark. The Niger Delta Avengers favour the Clark team in any dialogue with the Federal Government. And Clark had warned that the militants were returning to attacks on oil facilities.
Amid the confusion over the suspension of the summit, Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi , it was learnt, had invited some persons to a separate conference on initiative for peace and governance in Niger Delta, Saturday.
Before government deferred the summit, information had leaked that Clark, former Senate chief whip, Senator Roland Owie, Barrister Ledum Mitee, former minister of police affairs, Alaowei Brodrick Bozimo, Air Commodore Idongisit Nkanga (rtd), Chief Isaac Jemide, Dr Monday Okonny, Chief Timi Alaibe, and Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw would not be part of the summit.
It was further gathered that the leaders, including the former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Idada Ikpomwen (rtd) Col Paul Ogbebor(rtd), Chief Francis Doukpoulagha, Prof Lucky Akaruese, Mr. O’Mac Emakpore, High Chief Johnson Opone, Prof G. G. Darah, Chief T. K. O. Okorotie, Dr. Efiong Edunam, P. Z. Aginighan, and Prince Maikpobi Okareme, had prepared a position paper for the summit.
Other leaders against the summit are Chief Douglas Naingba, Chief Simeon Efenudu, Dr Emmanuel Akpanobong, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, Mr. Tony Uranta, Nella Ewa, SAN and Chief Ogar.
They said: “We reaffirm our collective resolve to only engage the Federal Government through a credible dialogue process with accredited representatives of the Niger Delta region to proffer long lasting solutions to the protracted Niger Delta insurgency, and not a summit of this type.”
They said that the summit was being organized to down-play the factor of serious dialogue between the critical stakeholders, who have the mandate and authority to negotiate with the Federal Government.
They argued, “That due to the cessation of hostilities on our national assets by the armed agitators of the Niger Delta, oil production has increased to 1.7mbpd, and if the peace process is further deepened, with proper negotiation, the possibility of reaching national oil production targets, is very realistic.
“Therefore, this should serve as an impetus to commence the negotiation process, rather than engaging in frivolities and trivialities. We are of the opinion that the Federal Government should not unnecessarily take steps that could lead to a relapse to insurgency by its inaction,” they added.
Their words: “The same Federal Government that feigns ignorance of whom to interface with is seen actively orchestrating false flag operations and sponsoring diverse bodies with the intent of dividing the region’s already unified fronts and justifying a continuation of the balkanization of the region to facilitate uncontrolled access to its resources.”
The leaders stated that: “The indigenes of the Niger Delta who are invited to the said summit are free to exercise their democratic rights to association. However, such attendees, do not represent the Pan-Niger Delta States Stakeholders’ Forum and are not authorized or mandated to speak or represent same.”
They also asserted: “The Niger Delta calls on the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the United States President, Barrack Obama, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and all African countries, to get Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to see himself as president of all Nigeria, to give peace a sincere chance in order to expedite the escape of all Nigerians from the obvious economic hardship that has befallen Nigeria since the resurgence of armed agitations within the Niger Delta.
“We also appeal to all the armed agitators to continue with the cessation of hostilities and to remain calm and peaceful, even in the face of obvious provocation.
 “As a people, we are still committed to the vision of a peaceful, prosperous, united and restructured Nigeria where no one is oppressed,” they said.
According to them: “The attention of the leadership of the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum has been drawn to the circulation of invitation letters to some Niger Delta indigenes to a Niger Delta stakeholders’ summit slated for the 26th – 27th September, 2016, at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
“Whilst we do not begrudge the right of any authority or persons to convene any talk shop, we feel concerned that serious issues of the Niger Delta should not be trivialized into some academic exercise. We also hold the view that the holding of such summit at this time is clearly contrary to the expectations of all right-thinking persons worldwide.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Government, for over six weeks, since cessation of hostilities as a result of the intervention by the traditional rulers, elders and leaders of the Niger Delta, have not deemed it fit to respond to the demands of the peoples of the Niger Delta for a credible and proper dialogue process,” they said.
They asserted: “We note with happiness that the region has been relatively quiet and stable following the cease fire brokered by the leaders of the region with the expectation that the Federal Government will urgently interface and commence negotiation with accredited representatives of the Niger Delta region.
“Rather than doing the needful, the region has, however, been over militarized of its creeks and other spaces, which have resulted in claims of rapes, brutalization, incidental deaths and undue harassments suffered by our innocent sons and daughters during this period of the ceasefire. However, a significant achievement of the ceasefire is the increase in the quantum of oil production of 1.7 mbpd, according to the Hon. Minister of States, Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.
“We wish to state that almost a month has elapsed since militant groups in the region agreed to a 60-day cessation of hostilities without the Federal Government constituting a negotiation team.
“Rather, the Office of the Vice President is organizing a summit of stakeholders purportedly for the Niger Delta. It is our considered opinion that for the Federal Government to contemplate a summit of this nature, rather than proper dialogue and negotiations with the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum is to trivialize the gravity of the issues and opt for a cosmetic approach,” the leaders said.
They added: “Any reasonable person looking at the title and composition of attendees, officials, subjects and speeches at this so-called summit, will discern that it is possible to replace the term Niger Delta with any other area of the country, and it will not look odd. There is no Niger-Deltan of any level of representation there.
“Worse still, the speakers at the summit are mainly government officials, who should at best of times be listening to the people, instead of talking down to the people. In such a gathering, there are definitely no spaces for any meaningful discussions.
“The point to note is that the Niger Delta crisis predates the present administration. In all the previous administrations, we never engaged in futile and cosmetic academic exercise as this summit, to proffer solutions to the Niger Delta agitations. It would be recalled that in 2008, a conference of this nature was proposed, and which was to be chaired by Prof Ibrahim Gambari of the United Nations.
“Leaders and stakeholders of the region rejected the conference due to the fact that there had been series of reports of such conferences, summits and technical committees on the Niger Delta not implemented by the Federal Government.
“This was what led to the setting up of a 45-man Technical Committee, under the chairmanship of Barrister Ledum Mitee to collate and align all the various reports on the Niger Delta. But after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, that exercise never saw the light of day,” they said.
The leaders declared: “We wish to state in unambiguous terms that the issues confronting the Niger Delta do not require an academic exercise of this nature, masquerading as a summit to proffer solutions to the Niger Delta issues. Rather, a credible dialogue process between the Federal Government, the oil companies and the accredited and authorized representatives of the region.”
Speaking to newsmen on the meeting convened by the Minister of Transportation, Clark said: “Hon Amaechi sent an invitation to me to attend the meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Saturday, but I want to say that it is an insult for Amaechi to invite me to such a meeting.
“Amaechi is one of the problems of the Niger Delta, he is seeing himself as next to the President, why is he calling a meeting now, he knows our position as leaders, and he has not shown any concern to the plight of the people since.
“Where was he when the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, and others, went around trying to solve the problem? Is he the Minister of Niger Delta? On what platform is he calling his fathers to a meeting? In fact, no reasonable Niger Deltan will attend such a meeting with Amaechi.
”The youth have ceased fire and waiting for us to discuss on their behalf, is it now that he will call for dialogue? He is not the type to call for peace. He should re-examine himself. He is found guilty of corruption by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry by his state government. Now, other persons are being harassed and prosecuted for corruption, and he is not. Is it not strange and is that right,” he said.
Clark said that the people of Niger Delta were ready to work with President Muhammadu Buhari, but he should not listen to people like Amaechi and others that were allegedly confusing him and telling him untruths about the region.
His words: “President Buhari is straightforward, we will work with him. But he should not listen to Amaechi.
“Ameachi should not arrogate to himself the authority to moderate dialogue. When Kachikwu came to the Niger Delta to see things for himself, is it not Amaechi, who lied about the Nigerian Maritime University without coming to the area?” Clark asked.

Avengers Hit Shell's Bonny Crude Oil Export Pipeline In Rivers

The Niger Delta Avengers, which had in August, declared a unilateral ceasefire, said 

on Saturday it had carried out its first attack since it halted hostilities to pursue dialogue with the Federal Government.

The militants, who said they attacked the Bonny crude export line operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in Rivers State on Friday night, have in previous months launched assaults which have cut crude production, which was 2.1 million barrels per day at the start of the year, by around a third.
In a statement on its website the group said it “brought down oil production activities at the Bonny 48 inches crude oil export line” through its “strike team”.
According to a statement issued on its website, the militants said that its strike team took out the export line at about 8:40pm on Friday, September 23.
Avengers said the action is a signature to “the over dramatization of the so-called dialogue and negotiation process on the side of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.”
In the statement signed by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the militants said, “since, the cessation of hostilities and the commitment of the Pan-Niger Delta Elders and Stakeholders team, the Nigerian government and her agents are turning the expectations of the Niger Delta to shameful scenes obtainable in Nollywood acts, with intimidations, blackmails and continuous profiling of Niger Delta sons and daughters. This is only a wake-up call; we may not have other way to say it better.”
The Avengers said they were still in favour of the dialogue and negotiations process, but quickly added that, “we are warning against undermining the peace of our time! We want the peace with honour.
“We will resist all actions undermining the ceasefire from the side of the government and its security agents/agencies. The world is watching, time is running against the Nigerian state; while we were promised that the concerns of Niger Delta will be addressed once a truce is declared, the activities of the government and her agents are not assuring enough, there has been no progress and no breakthrough,” the militants noted.
Avengers said they cannot be continuously fooled, adding that the government cannot justify the indiscriminate targeting of Niger Delta youth while glorifying on these victimization of law abiding citizens of the region.
The Avengers, who want a greater share of the OPEC member’s wealth to go to the Niger Delta where most crude is produced, said the attack was a “wake up call” for the government, which it accused of intimidating youth in the region since the ceasefire began.
Earlier this month, the Avengers said there had been no contact with the government since the group agreed to cease hostilities.
But in New York last week, President Muhammadu Buhari accused the nation’s treasury looters for masterminding the rebellion in the Niger Delta region.
It would be recalled that the Niger Delta Avengers, had on Saturday, August 3, announced a ceasefire, saying that they were ready for peace talks with the Federal Government.
In a statement in its website in August, the Avengers’ spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, said they were ready for talks, but added that the talks must include the acknowledged Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
The ceasefire appeared to have followed the appeals by Ijaw leaders who finally met to prevail on the militants to ward off the escalation of military action.
He said that, “In the interim, attacks on oil and gas installations will stop.
“We are going to continue the observation of our unannounced cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta against all interest of the multinational oil corporations.
“But we will continuously adopt our asymmetric warfare during this period if, the Nigerian government and the ruling political All Progressives Congress (APC), continues to use security agencies, formations and politicians to arrest, intimidate, invade and harass innocent citizens, suspected NDA members and invade, especially Ijaw communities.”
According to their spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, the Avengers’ decision was in support of any collective negotiation involving their elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
The militants support a negotiation with the government to be led by Clark and with representatives from the home countries of all multinational oil corporations and neutral international mediators.
They insisted that the talks should be focused on achieving the short, medium and long term frameworks and objectives to de-escalating conflicts in the Niger Delta.
Agbinibo said that, “Most of the frameworks and objectives are clearly stated in various reports, declarations and recommendations of the likes of the Sir. Henry Willinks minority rights reports of pre-independence Nigeria (1957-8).
“Others are the Kaiama Declaration document, the General Alexander Ogomudia report, the Ledum Mitee-headed Niger Delta Technical Committee report, and restructuring to fiscal federalism.”
The Avengers said that the struggle has always been a Pan-Niger Delta one, but that the anti-Niger Delta elements were using some disorganized characters from the region to “scuttle all effort to restore the essence of our humanity; resource control and self-determination”.
In the statement on the website, the Avengers said: “We have resolved to reject any idea of the peace of our times; we want the peace with honour this time around.
”Our advice to our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders is that, whenever this inhuman project called Nigeria and her government is ready for dialogue/negotiations with them, this mandate should be treated with that care as driving a vehicle like that of a truck-laden with fire.”
Here is the full statement issued by Mudoch Agbinibo and titled, The Pan-Niger Delta Struggle:
“The struggle has always being a Pan-Niger Delta one, we only know the anti Niger Delta elements are using some disorganized characters from the region to scuttle all effort to restore the essence of our humanity; resources control and self-determination.
“We are going to support any collective/negotiation team emerging from the Chief (Dr) Papa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark’s Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders conference to engage with the Federal Government of Nigeria, representatives from the home countries of all multinational oil corporations and neutral international mediators that will be focused on achieving the short, medium and long term frameworks and objectives to de-escalating conflicts in the Niger Delta.
“Most of the frameworks and objectives are clearly stated in various reports, declarations and recommendations of the likes of the Sir Henry Willinks minority rights reports of pre-independence Nigeria (1957-8), the Kaiama Declaration document, the General Alexander Ogomudia report, the Ledum Mitee-headed Niger Delta Technical Committee report, and restructuring to fiscal federalism.
“We have resolved to reject any idea of the peace of our times; we want the peace with honour this time around! Our advice to our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders is that, whenever this inhuman project called Nigeria and her government is ready for dialogue/negotiations with them, this mandate should be treated with that care as driving a vehicle like that of a truck laden with fire.
“We are going to continue the observation of our unannounced cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta against all interest of the multinational oil corporations, but we will continuously adopt our asymmetric warfare during this period if, the Nigerian government and the ruling political APC continues to use security agencies/agents, formations and politicians to arrest, intimidate, invade and harass innocent citizens, suspected NDA members and invade, especially Ijaw communities.
“We promise to fight more for the Niger Delta, if this opportunity fails. Therefore, we will give our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders that tacit support to the dialogue table with the government and the multinational oil corporations whenever the enabling environment prevails.
“We also use this medium to warn those using rogue platforms like the defunct so-called MEND, RNDA- Cynthia Whyte, especially Charles Okah, who is franchising these internet-based banditry from his prison cell, through Victor Ebikabowei Ben (Boyloaf), Timipre Silva, Selekaye Ebikabowei, Ayirimi Emani, Michael Johnny, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to please inform those their paymasters that the days of doom are here. That those who sold and bought up interests from around the corridors of power cannot arm-twist the NDA with bandits, drug addicts, illegal bunkerers, bank robbers and disorganized characters to derail the Niger Delta struggle.”
The Avengers announced their emergence in May, 2016, with the bombing of oil installations belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other multinational corporations, particularly Chevron facilities in Delta State.
The militants’ assaults had cut crude production, which was 2.1 million barrels per day at the start of the year, by around a third.
The main agenda of the group was to cripple the nation’s economy to force President Muhammadu Buhari to agree for the secession of Niger Delta people or for comprehensive restructure of the country.
A splinter group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), emerged late in July, asking the Avengers to stop destroying the region.
Later, another splinter group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) emerged, rejecting any ceasefire, lampooning the Avengers and also warning the Federal Government not to negotiate with any team led by Clark, accusing the former federal information commissioner of leading only a section of Niger Delta region.

Ondo Guber Poll: PDP Submits Two Names To INEC, As APC Rift Deepens

INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu

Despite reports of reconciliation in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party has submitted two names for the Ondo governorship election taking place on November 26, this year, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened what seems to be a festering impasse over who their right nominee is from the party primary held recently.
As for the PDP nominees, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang, disclosed the submission of candidates in an interview, Saturday.
Dazang said that the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction submitted names of candidates for the election.
He said that the commission was yet to decide on which of the two candidates, Mr Eyitayo Jegede or Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, that was acceptable to it.
Jegede emerged from the primary election organized by the National Caretaker Committee, while Ibrahim is the candidate of the Sheriff-led faction.
Overall, 30 political parties submitted names of their candidates for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
Dazang said that all the parties met the last Thursday deadline for the submission of names of the candidate as specified by the Electoral Act.
He said that the names of the candidates could not be announced until the date specified by the Electoral Act, as they were still subject to change.
“As at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 30 political parties have submitted the list of their candidates for the Ondo governorship election.
“The parties can also substitute these names between now and October 27, that is one month to the election when we will publish the final list.
“At that point when we published the list, they cannot withdraw or substitute any longer,’’ he explained.
On the APC side, the emerging crisis appears to be deepening over alleged rigged primary election held on September 3, with palpable signs of serious cracks in the party in the state.
The primary had produced Rotimi Akeredolu as candidate of the APC for the governorship election, against expectations of some party leaders.
Now, the national executive of the party, expected to mediate in resolving the issues, has been caught in its own self-contradiction with party Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, reported to have overruled the rejection of the decision of the party’s National Working Committee on an appeal committee set up by the party. The party initially denied the report, but later withdrew the denial.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) rejected the 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee Report on Tuesday, September 20, 2016.
As things stand, it is no longer clear whether the rejection will hold, following a threatening press conference in Akure by three aggrieved governorship aspirants– Chief Olusola Oke, Chief Segun Abraham and Senator Ajayi Borofice – held at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure on Friday.
Here is their statement: “You will recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State chapter, held its Gubernatorial Primary Election on Saturday, September 3, 2016. Recall also that three major aspirants here present lodged serious and substantiated complaints against the process of the election.
“Gentlemen of the press, since election is a process, this media chat is to, once again, bring into the public domain the grim dirtiness that characterised the process, which was not captured and shown to the people of Ondo State in the cinema beamed live on September 3, 2016.
“Since we have discovered the dirtiness in the process of the last primary election, it is necessary, as change agents, we speak against the corruption in the process. As you are aware, we approached the Primary Election Appeal Committee provided for by the APC Primary Election Guidelines.
“As enumerated in our petitions, which we submitted to the Appeal Committee that was duly constituted by the National Executive Council (NEC) with the approval of the National Working Committee of APC and as contained in the Primary Election Guidelines of APC, the following are the planks upon which our appeals are based: ‘Fraudulent injection of 383 names into the delegates list that was used to conduct the primary election’, and, ‘Issuance of delegate tags to non-delegates and allowing the non-delegates to vote in the primary election’.
“On investigation, 300 delegate tags were indiscriminately issued to non-delegates, two designated buses were provided to convey known non-delegates to the voting centre, and they voted to give undue advantage to one of the aspirants. These, among others, were discovered after the charade called credible election.
“It is important to bring into the public domain that on Friday, September 2nd, 2016, a new copy of compromised delegates’ list was made available to all the aspirants by the Election Committee of APC around 10:30pm.
“On the receipt of the purported new delegates’ list, we all made a written protest letter, including Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, transmitted our letters to the Primary Election Committee chairman informing him of our rejection of the substituted delegates’ list.
“As democrats, having discovered the fraud in the process, we submitted ourselves to the process of redress as stipulated in the Primary Election Guidelines of APC, believing that we are safe in the hands of supposed democrats. The Appeal Committee, within the mandate of their authority, having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted.
“In line with the Electoral Guidelines of APC, the report of the Appeal Committee was submitted to the National Working Committee for final ratification.
“Gentlemen of the press, considering our strength in the APC and with total votes of 1,617 in the primary election, as the apex authority in the administration of APC in Nigeria, we have always assumed sanity and reasonableness on the part of the members of the National Working Committee. We hope the members of the working committee will uphold justice and exorcised corruption from the process.
“Yesterday, September 22nd, 2016, the National Working Committee considered the report of the Appeal Committee, and puts its decision on the recommendations of the Appeal Committee to vote. The majority of the members of the National Working Committee voted that the recommendations of the Appeal Committee be upheld. To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the national chairman overruled the majority of the National Working Committee. He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that its process was characterized with corruption.
“Let it be known that we are not deterred by the action of the National Working Committee and the undemocratic behaviour of the national chairman, we are encouraged by the genuine desire of the people of Ondo State for a change that will free them from the economic captivity of the present administration in Ondo State.
“We are determined to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership will be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal.
“We have a mission, mission to liberate our people, mission to bring about sustainable change, a mission to give government back to the people of Ondo State.
“Therefore, we hereby condemn in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the National Working Committee. Since the party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of Ondo State a sacred duty of liberation. This we are committed to and this we shall do.
“In the days ahead, we shall consult widely and make public the next line of action that will liberate our people from the present state of hopelessness and despair,” their statement added.