Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on Wednesday congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria for qualifying for the Semi finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the Semi finals of the 32nd edition of the tournament by beating the Bafana Bafana of South Africa by 2-1.

Governor Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu in Asaba on Wednesday commended the resilience of the Nigeria National side, adding that Deltans and Nigerians are fervently praying for the team to succeed in their quest to bring back the trophy home.

He commended the coaching crew and the NFF for ensuring that all necessary logistics were put in place to encourage the Eagles to defeat their South African counterparts.

The Governor urged the Eagles to remain focused and make the nation proud once again when they take on their next opponents in the semi final encounter.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State i congratulate you all for your success so far even as i urge you all to remain commited and focused as you approach your next opponent in the semi-final encounter.

“I have no doubt in mind that you will all remain committed as you prosecute the next match with same zeal and vigour as Nigerians are desirous to see you return home with the coveted trophy,” he added.

-From Blank NEWS Online Education Desk

Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has called on community vigilantes to partner with the state government in securing school facilities against vandals in public schools in the state.

The commissioner gave the charge when he inspected some public schools in Okpanam and Obomkpa towns on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Chief Ukah, who expressed his displeasure over the incessant rate of vandalisation in public schools, appealed for intensification of cooperation from the communities and their vigilante groups that will guarantee the security of educational facilities of schools in their respective communities.

He urged the communities to step up their game in protecting these school facilities in their areas as it has become a big challenge, which according to him, must be tackled with all seriousness as government had spent huge resources in providing the facilities.

The commissioner, who reiterated the state government’s commitment in developing the basic and secondary education sub sector in the state, stressed that the construction and renovation of public schools across the state is a demonstration of government interest in making the public schools in the state conducive for learning, while stating that the Okowa administration would continue to give priority attention to education as it played a very crucial role in the Stronger Delta agenda of the present administration.

The school heads of the various schools visited by the commissioner assured him they would continue to partner with the state government to ensure that the standard of education in the state is not compromised.

The schools visited by the commissioner during his inspection visit are Mgbala Primary school, Umebali Primary school, Oruchi Secondary school, Okpanam High School, all in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, and Obomkpa Mixed Secondary School, Obomkpa, Aniocha North Local Government Area.

FROM SUNNY A. DAVID / AWKA

South-East Governors have denied allocating any portion of land in the region for the Ruga Fulani herdsmen settlement, even as they promised to tolerate herdsmen who carry out peaceful trade.

In a statement signed by the Director General of the South East Governors’ Forum, Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, and was made available to our correspondent in Awka, said: “The attention of the South East Governors’ Forum has been drawn to the various attacks and campaign of calumny by our people alleging that governors of the South-East have secretly donated land for the Ruga programme being promoted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) as approved by the National Economic Council (NEC).

“The fact remains that no South -East Governor has donated any land or intends to donate any land for any of the two programmes due to lack of enough land in the entire South -East.

“Governors of the South -East appreciate the fact that we have good and law abiding herdsmen who have been living with us. Some of them were even born here.

“We have been living in peace with them until recently when we started witnessing the invasion of our land, kidnapping of our people, killing of defenseless natives and the destruction of their farmlands.

“These herdsmen that have been living peacefully with us together with the natives have insisted that these evil now experienced in our land are the handiwork of herdsmen moving from other states into the South-East and most of the time, these herdsmen are not even Nigerians.

The Governors resolved: “They will not chase away herdsmen who are peaceful and have been living peacefully with us in the South-East.”

“We agreed with herdsmen living peacefully with us and the natives that the movement of cows into the southeast should be by road transportation using trailers to their specific cow markets.

“No more allowing foreign herdsmen to move their cattle by foot as this is the point of conflict with the farmers and natives.

“We do not have any land to donate for Ruga or NLTP programmes but we are committed to selling grass and by-product of our farms to support NLTP for states that have keyed into the programme.

“We believe that our brothers and sisters who are herdsmen deserve a better life and we commend Mr. President and the vice president for their good intentions in this direction. However, it must be emphasized that what Federal Government and NEC approved was NLTP and it is not compulsory for all the states but for any willing state that wants to participate in NLTP.

“We advise our kinsmen, women and indeed all Nigerians to please be careful with comments not to heat up the already charged state of Nigeria in this regard,” they stated.

FROM MICHAEL EKOKORUWE:

Flood victims from Isoko South local government area at the weekend, received relief materials from the state government and were disbursed by SEMA AND NEMA Officials at the local government council secretariat Oleh.

Anonymous beneficiary that witness the disbursement said, about 200 knapsack sprayers, agricultural chemicals (insecticides and herbicides) were distributed to farmers affected by the 2018 flood from various communities of Isoko South local government area.

According to the eye witness, the SEMA, NEMA team and Mrs. Omoefe that was in charge of Isoko South local government were assisted by officials of internally displaced persons from Emede camp, staff of ministry of Agriculture  and executive members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) while disbursing the materials.

The source reveal that the distribution was orderly but trouble started when more preference was given to Iyede – Ame flood victims from Ndokwa East local government area even as about 65% of materials have been disbursed.

The flood victims that queued up for the materials became apprehensive when the list of farmers from Mrs. Omoefe became more favorable to persons from Iyede – Ame. Advice given to Mrs. Omoefe to write names of farmers present and compare to names in her list was turned down.

According to the eye witness, another list of farmers as compiled by AFAN chairman that had earlier received planting materials was made available for use but Mrs. Omoefe maintained that only flood victims from internally displaced persons camp are to benefit from the disbursement.

The farmers became more apprehensive as they burgled and destroyed the window of the store were the materials were kept and looted some of the items. The ministry of Agriculture staff immediately calls the security operatives to calm the situation.

The source noted that, Mrs. Omoefe handed over the remaining materials to Mr. Chindu, AFAN chairman to continue the disbursement and left in a hurry.

But sensing that the materials will not go round the farmers, hoodlums that mixed up with the farmers forced themselves into the store – house amidst fighting and carted away the remaining items even as police dispersed them with canister and many farmers and officials from ministry of Agriculture sustained various degrees of injuries.

When contacted, Mrs. Omoefe confirmed the disbursement and stated that she is not aware of materials stolen by hoodlums as she handed over to the AFAN chairman and left the scene. Omoefe noted that the disbursement was orderly and peaceful adding that her list was exhausted before she left.

By Charles Aniagwu 

“Greatness lies not in ruling a people, it lies in being the cause of happiness in their lives.” ― Abhijit Naskar

As Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa celebrates his Diamond jubilee, today (July 8, 2019), all attention is focused on a man who has given his all to create peace, happiness and progress for the people of Delta State and Nigerians in general. Gradually, the Governor is stepping into the elders club. As he ages, it is never a dull moment for a man who has spent the greater part of his life to render selfless service to humanity. Describing Okowa as a child of circumstances with a great destiny is like stating the obvious. It is often said that some were born great, while others achieved greatness. For Okowa, it is a combination of being born great and working hard to achieve greatness. 

To Okowa, the ideal celebration would not be to organize an elaborate feast, to bring friends and well-wishers together for a mother of all feasts. Doing so is not in his character. If there would be a get-together at all it would be with his immediate family as he has done in the last four years as the governor. Therefore, It’s only appropriate to seize the occasion of his birthday to examine his relentless work schedule that has benefited the state and provided prosperity for all Deltans in the last four years.

At 60, Dr. Okowa has garnered in that relatively old age, a record of achievements that is the envy of his peers. Born on July 8, 1959 to his Owa-Alero and Abavo parents in Ika North East and Ika South Local Government Areas of Delta State Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. His aged father Pa Arthur Okowa who was recently installed as the Okpara-Uku of Owa-Alero and his beloved mother Mrs Victoria Okowa of blessed memory wouldn’t have imagined the great heights their then little child was destined for. But as Lydia Sweatt puts it, “Successful people don’t become that way overnight, it is the result of hard work and hustle over time”.

Dr. Okowa worked his way to success when he enrolled into Iroro Primary School, Owa-Alero, and later attended Edo College Benin between (1970-1976) and then went on to the prestigious University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree where he graduated in 1981 at a record age of 22 years. After his National Youth Service Corps, Dr. Okowa started his working career with the Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a Medical Officer and later entered private practice as Director, Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke in 1986.

Dr. Okowa began his political career as Secretary to the Ika Local Government and then pioneer Chairman of Ika North-East Local Government Council (1991–1993). He was Delta North Coordinator of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). He joined the PDP in 1998, and assisted in Governor James Ibori’s campaign in 1998/1999. He served as a Commissioner in the Delta State government for Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999 – April 2001), Water Resources Development (April 2001 – May 2003) and Health (September 2003 – October 2006).

Okowa resigned to contest in the 2007 Delta State PDP governorship primaries, but did not win the governorship primaries. In June 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the Delta State Government. Against all odds, he was elected Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in 2011. As senator in the seventh National Assembly, he was ranked among the best senators for sponsoring 10 bills, including the National Health Bill, a feat many acknowledged as ingenious, legendary and laudable despite his short stint in the red chamber. 

In April 2015, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was elected Governor of Delta State and was inaugurated on May 29, 2019. His steady progress did not just start today, as those who know would not easily forget how he rode on the back of humility, through his professional and political career, to his present status as governor of Delta State.

As Governor, he met serious challenges but as Lydia Sweatt puts it again, “Sometimes we are tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths”, Governor Okowa showed his strength amid economic crunch occasioned by low crude oil prices, insecurity and destruction of oil installations and eventually economic recession. Despite all of these challenges, his administration through the Ministries of Works, Urban Renewal and the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, embarked on a total of 455 projects comprising 1,269.42 kilometres of roads and 517.34 kilometres of drainage channels. As at April 30 this year, 263 of these roads, covering 638.23 kilometres of roads and 295.71 kilometres of associated drains have been completed.

Beyond road construction, one of the major policy plank of the Okowa led administration is Wealth Creation. In the first term, the state government devoted substantial resources, time and energy to build a knowledge-based economy and a critical mass of skills for entrepreneurship and business competitiveness. Over 20,000 persons benefited from the flagship Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and similar programmes undertaken by the Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry, Women Affairs as well as the Delta State Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency.

The last four years was also a period of economic boom for artisans, petty traders and suppliers in the construction industry. With the completion of the Asaba Township Stadium (now Stephen Keshi Stadium), which has been hosting international football matches and other games, the hospitality industry in Asaba witnessed an increased level of patronage and prosperity.

As a health professional, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa brought his wealth of experience to bear in the State’s health sector with Delta State becoming the first state in the country to commence Universal Health Coverage with the establishment of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission in February 2016. The Commission commenced healthcare service access to enrolees on the 1st of January 2017. As at May 15, 2019, the total number of enrolees stood at 530,664. Providing services under the scheme are 110 primary healthcare facilities, 65 secondary healthcare facilities and 52 private healthcare facilities spread across the 25 Local Government Areas in Delta State. Healthcare service access has also been provided to employees of the State at the Abuja and Lagos Liaison offices.

Because of his superlative performances as Governor, he was honoured as ‘Man of the year 2017’ by the Independent newspaper at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. The award was presented by Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua. He also won other awards including the NUPENG’s Award for Peace in recognition of his contributions to peaceful oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta region. Silver bird Governor of the Year 2018, Independent Governor of the Year 2018, Vanguard Newspapers Governor of the Year 2018.

In 2017, he also bagged the highest award of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan-Nigeria as the Alumni of the year 2016, where he successfully delivered a lecture titled “Good Governance for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development: Experience and Lessons” at the 2017 edition of University of Ibadan Alumni lecture organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association. In October, 2017 he was also confered with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka highest award as the Dignity of Man Award at the 57th Founders’ Day celebration of the university.

A man of great faith, enviable impacts and of flawless reputation, Governor Okowa was described as a man of unquestionable integrity by Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar due to his roles in organising credible PDP National Conventions that saw the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as National Chairman of the party and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerging as Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP with other aspirants accepting the outcome of the conventions as most transparent and credible.

Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark in his goodwill message to mark the Governor’s 59th birthday anniversary, described him as a worthy ambassador of the upper legislative chamber. Senator Mark noted that Okowa’s silent revolution in terms of infrastructural development in Delta state is a testimony that he is effectively combining legislative and executive experiences to develop the oil rich state.

Looking back the past 60 years, his family and indeed his associates and admirers do have cause to be grateful to the Almighty God for having granted him a life of great accomplishments and abiding fulfilment.

Ekwueme (one who does what he says he will do) is his traditional title and for him, nobility of birth in a predominantly peasant milieu was more of a challenge than the comfort it provided. In fact, it was this outlook that has become the fulcrum on which his life and leadership style revolves. In Delta today, the citizens are rightly rich in expectations from the Okowa administration. This, in all honesty, is not unfounded because of his pedigree and passion for service.

Through consensus-building, thorny political issues have become free of tumult, acrimony and bad blood. This was made possible by Okowa’s calm persona on a very volatile system. By entrenching core values of selflessness and integrity, he has effectively earned the confidence and trust of his friends and foes alike. He has re-defined the concept of leadership and effective governance by effectively re-orientating the mindset of the political class to see politics as a call to service. 

As he clocks 60 years, his track-record in politics and in the leadership of Delta state sure sets him apart as a selfless and passionate leader who burns to put his state on the world developmental map. He detests waste because he is confronted daily by the lack that dots the socio-economic landscape of Delta State. That is why since he came into office, he requested that friends and well wishers should not place goodwill advertorials in the media. He rather urged them to convert such resources to assisting the needy. 

Okowa, a grandfather and a man of impeccable character and unassailable integrity is married to his beloved heartthrob and founder of the 05 Initiative, Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa. Their union is blessed with four children and three grand children. 

As this astute administrator celebrates his birthday today, I join other teeming Deltans and Nigerians to wish him a happy birthday and pray that God grant him more strength to lead a stronger Delta that will usher in better days for our people. 

Happy birthday sir! 

*Aniagwu is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa.

***PS Edafioghor Pledges Staff Support

The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, has charged the staff of the ministry to brace up for serious work in the second tenure of Governor Okowa administration.

Chief Augoye who resumed work in his office at exactly 8.50am on Friday, stated this when he was welcomed to the office by the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the ministry in Asaba.

According to Chief Augoye, “The Ministry of Works is the window through which the governor showcases his work to the people of the state, saying, “The vision of Governor Okowa is to make the state Stronger and he expects more from the ministry.”

The commissioner who thanked Governor Okowa for reappointing him as the Commissioner for Works said, “The governor wants the urban and rural areas connected and it is through the ministry of works that he does achieve the purpose.”

He called on the staff to be ready to work harder and support him in this second tenure, saying that they may be call up to work even at the weekend.

Chief Augoye stated that in this second tenure there is going to be more regular and close supervision of projects to ensure that contractors keep to specifications and time line, saying that the governor is going to be judge by what the ministry has done.

The commissioner who revealed that in the first tenure of Governor Okowa, the ministry set for itself a target of constructing 2000km of roads but was able to do 1174km, stated that there is going to be a serious work because this is transition tenure.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Edafioghor had pledged the support of the staff to the commissioner to enable him function better in his second tenure as commissioner for Works.

Mr Edafioghor revealed that since the commissioner handed over on the 24^th of May 2019, not much had happened but that the DBS/Government House Water Sewer has been connected to the river and the governor could now sleep with his eyes closed without bordering about flood in that end.

In their separated interview, the Director, Highways, Mr Joshua Ebube and the Director Urban and Rural Roads, North, Dr (Mrs) Juliet Eboloje stated that the commissioner should consolidate on what he had done before to achieve more in this second tenure and also to continue in the training and retraining programmes for engineers which he introduced in his first tenure to refresh engineers of fresh ideals in the engineering field.

***Wants PDP NWC To Rescind Decision

The newly elected Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ndudi Elumelu has expressed shock over his alleged suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The NWC under the leadership of Prince Uche Secondus had on Friday hinged its decision on the alleged refusal of Elumelu, and other PDP lawmakers to appear before the committee on Friday morning at the Wadata House. But the Minority Leader said he and his colleagues got the invitation to appear before the party late on Thursday by which time, he, the Deputy Minority Leader, the Minority Whip, the Deputy Minority Whip and all other lawmakers invited had travelled out of Abuja.

Even at that, Elumelu said out of the respect he has for the party, he instructed his Special Assistant to notify the party in writing, conveying their inability to honour the party’s invitation as directed. However, as obedient and loyal party members, the Minority Leader said they had asked the NWC for another date to appear before it only for the party to hastily suspend them, in flagrant contravention of the principles of fair hearing.

Hon Elumelu said he and his colleagues selected to lead the opposition parties in the House of Representatives didn’t contravene the laws regulating the selection of members into leadership positions and wondered why his party suspends them from the party they have strengthened over the years. 

The Minority Leader noted that their selection as leaders by their colleagues of the minority parties was in strict compliance with Order 7, Rule 8 of the House of Representatives. 

He said:    “As loyal party members, we had thought that the PDP NWC would have availed us the opportunity of fair hearing, robust and constructive engagements before taking such drastic action on elected representatives who have over years, strengthened and  protected the corporate interest of the party and Nigeria in general.

“We have become good ambassadors of the PDP and we don’t deserve this kind of treatment. Our alleged suspension negates the spirit and letter of fair hearing which is at the heart of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution and extant laws of the land. We love PDP and we are ready to meet with the party leadership as we have no other party to call our own than the PDP.

“We therefore call on the NWC to rescind its decision of suspending us, in the interest of the PDP, the National Assembly and Nigeria as a whole.”

From Mike Sogbola-:

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai-Mala Buni has approved payment of N56.7 million to families of 42 deceased local government staff as part of their terminal benefits.

The approval for the payment was given on Thursday as part of the governor’s total approval of N228.9 million to 198 local government retirees.

A press release by the Director-General for Press Affairs to the governor, Mallam Abdullahi Bego said: “His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the sum of N228, 914, 250.19 for the payment of the benefits of l98 local government retirees.”

The release issued on Thursday evening added that: “Of this number, 42 are deceased members of staff and their benefits, totalling N56, 682, 230.15, will be paid to their next of kin.”

“The balance of N172, 231, 020.04 will be paid to the remaining 156 beneficiaries,” according to the press release.

Bego said: “The governor’s approval follows the recommendations of the Committee on the Payment of Local Government Staff Pensions Arrears, Death Benefits and Gratuities headed by the Auditor-General for Local Governments.”

From Michael EKOKORUWE:

 Delta State polytechnic students from the three campuses located at Ozoro, Ogwashukwu and Oghara, have organized a sports fiesta, tagged ‘’Ibori sports fiesta 2019” to commemorate His Excellency Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former governor of Delta State for the establishment of the Delta state Polytechnic that has produced personalities in the state and entire nation.

The event which held at Ozoro polytechnic stadium, Isoko North local government area, featured track and field competition by selected students numbering over two thousand from the three campuses of the institution.

Speaking to newsmen, comrade Wiska Anthony, president student union government from Ozoro campus of Delta State polytechnic said, during the student week 2019, unanimous decision was reached by the executives of the student union government of the polytechnic, to organize sports fiesta in honor of Chief James Onanefe Ibori for his role in the establishment of the three campuses of the institution.

Wiska noted that the sports fiesta will be observed once in two years to honor governors with legacies on human capital development and infrastructural development of the state. He urged students of the institution to use the occasion to improve on sporting activities which according to him forms integral part of the nation’s economy.

The three campuses which had selected athletes for 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters finals also witnessed football final between Ozoro campus football team and Oghara campus football team during the event. At the end of the competition, Ozoro campus football team scored four goals to defeat Oghara campus football team that scored three goals.

Wiska commended professor Job Akpodiete, rector Delta State polytechnic Ozoro and management of the institution for support and cooperation at ensuring that the event was successful. He also commended the student union government executives that represent the entire students of the institution for successful sports fiesta.

Also speaking, comrade Itare Godspower, president student union government from Oghara campus and Miss Enebeli Choice, vice president student union government from Ogwashukwu campus, noted that the establishment of the institution has enhanced the graduation of students that could not get admission to the university.

Itare maintained that the sports fiesta organized in commemoration of the former governor, is intended to appreciate legacies of good governance even as students will always remember the good intention towards the establishment of the institution.

On his part, Akpobome precious, treasurer student union government from Ozoro campus posited that the three campuses of the institution has created employment in the state, adding that Ozoro polytechnic stadium and other infrastructures in the three campuses of the institution brought development to Delta State which according to him was instituted by Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

The track and field athletes were decorated with medals presented by comrade Wiska Anthony and other executive members of the student union government of the polytechnic. The climax of the event was celebration by the students for successful student week and Ibori sports fiesta 2019.

In attendance was Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, Chairman Isoko North local government area, represented by Hon. Apije Benson, supervisory councilor for works, manager and staff members of Fidelity Bank Abraka, Mr. Oyekachi, registrar Ozoro high court, Mr. Oladimeji Kasheem, polytechnic sports director among others.

** APPEAL FOR RELEASE OF 19 CREW MEMBERS BEING DETAINED BY NIGERIAN NAVY

The Owners of the Vessel, ‘MT APECUS’ have berated the Federal Government, the Nigerian Navy, the Police as well as the Indian Government over the recent release of five Indian Sailors and one Nigeria (The Captain) kidnapped in Bonny, claiming that they did nothing to secure their release.

While calling for the immediate release of Mr Charles Marccathy, a Ghanaian national, who was kidnapped by the hijackers while he was attempting to deliver the ransom, and 17 Crew members allegedly being detained by the Nigerian Navy, they frowned at the nonchalant attitude of the Federal government, the Indian Government and the security agencies during the period their staff were kidnapped.

Recalled that the seafarers from the Vessel, ‘MT APECUS’ were kidnapped and taken ashore from the Vessel in the outer anchorage in Nigeria on April 19 and regained their freedom after two months.

The Federal Government and the High Commission of India, Abuja had claimed that the sustained efforts of various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Shipping, the Directorate General of Shipping and the High Commission of India, Abuja, the kidnapped victims were successfully released and have reached the safe custody of the authorities on June 27.

But in a swift reaction, the owners of the Vessel, ‘MT APECUS’ said that the kidnapped seafarers regained their freedom after two months in captivity as a result of their sole efforts, saying little or nothing was done by those claiming responsibility for their release.

The Spokesman for the Vessel owners, Mr Koffi Fripong Bue said that; “The Nigerian Government, the Navy and the Indian Government did nothing towards securing their release from captivity or if they did anything at all, the impact was not felt because the Vessel Owners did everything possible to ensure that they were reunited with their families”.

He added that; “Furthermore, a recent news published by the Nigerian Navy alleging that “Navy Debunks alleged hijack of MT APECUS”, the owners found this as totally false and they wondering about the reason why the Navy is distributing wrong information without any supporting evidences, unless they are aware of any -internal- details for which the owners demand to know officially”.

“The Vessel Owners engaged the services of the locals and other stakeholders who worked round the clock in order for them to be released and eventually after spirited efforts, they were released after over two months in captivity. The demanded ransom was paid to the kidnappers. Those who are claiming that they secured their release did not help in any way, but we are glad that our efforts paid off as the kidnapped five Indian seafarers and the Nigerian Captain were successfully released and have reached the safe custody of Indian authorities on June 27. The India government should laud the efforts of the Vessel Owners for the great role they played in securing the release of their nationals” the Spokesman said.

He alleged that; “Instead of Nigerian Navy to go after the kidnapped victims, they went ahead to arrest the remaining crew on board of MT APECUS and their Sister Vessel, MT INVICTUS and confiscated the two Sister Vessels and also detained the remaining crew on board and up till now they are still in their custody, claiming they were on illegal business without any prove because the Vessels were empty and they were arrested inside Bonny anchorage and so we are passionately appealing to the Nigerian Navy and all the necessary authorities to release the detained Crew Members and the two Vessels to the owners”.

Meanwhile, the Vessel Owners have called for the immediate release of Mr Charles Marccathy, a Ghanaian national being held hostage by the kidnappers after releasing the seafarers.

According to the Spokesman to the owners of the Vessel, “Mr Charles MarcCathy was involved in the release of six crew members of the Vessel; MT APECUS in Bayelsa State. When Six crew members of the Vessel, MT APECUS were kidnapped, he helped in their release. In the course of trying to rescue the victims, the owners of the Vessel through Mr Charles Marccathy, a Ghanaian national arranged for the ransom and exchange which was effected about midnight of June 26th, 2019”.

He added that; “But the kidnappers after releasing the Six victims have now held Mr Charles Marccathy hostage. They are yet to open communication with the owners of the Vessel. We are therefore appealing to the Federal Government, the DSS and other relevant security agencies to do something urgent to secure his immediate release. His abductors should set him free unconditionally and without harm”.

The Midwest Movement has brazenly rejected the renewed plot by the Federal Government to forcefully annex lands belonging to various ethnic nationalities in States across Nigeria, in a bid to settle Fulani herders in colonies to be known as RUGA Settlements.

The group’s statement dated 26th June 2019, signed by Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki and made available to Blank NEWS Online reads:

REJECTION OF FULANI RUGA ETTLEMENTS IN MIDWEST TERRITORIES OF DELTA & EDO STATES

The attention of the MIDWEST MOVEMENT, the pan-Edo/Delta group of distinguished sons and daughters drawn from the Ethnic Nationalities of the old Midwestern Region, has been drawn to the renewed plot by the Federal Government to forcefully or tacitly annex swaths of lands belonging to various ethnic nationalities in States across Nigeria, in a bid to settle Fulani herders in colonies to be known as RUGA Settlements. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Umar reiterated this untoward plan, on Tuesday 25th June 2019 in Abuja. Reportedly, The Federal Government within the next five years, plans to establish these said Ruga settlements in states across the country.

The Midwest Movement totally and unequivocally rejects this brazen “21st century Colonization” in its entirety!

We call on the Federal Government to immediately rescind its planned veiled colonization of our peoples, while enjoining the Governments of our home-states of Edo and Delta reject same in clear and unequivocal terms. While not opposing the desire of the Federal Government to settle nomadic herdsmen (and any other such groups whatsoever), these should be done in areas and land that are native to such groups. The planned aggregation in whatever guise, of the lands of the 12 ethnic nationalities of the Midwest Region of Nigeria, without recourse to consultations with the traditional and bonafide owners, is akin to an invasion.

As peace-loving people, and firm believers in a One Nigeria where peace, justice and equity reigns, the Midwest/Bendel peoples of Delta and Edo States firmly advice the Federal Government against the perpetuation of any policy that may impact negatively on the seeming already strained unity of the Nigerian federation.

We call on Mr. President, the Governors of both Edo and Delta States, our national legislators, our leaders, the international community and all persons of goodwill to help keep Nigerians and its indigenous peoples safe.
God bless Nigeria.

Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki.

Convener

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A total of 10 startups from Africa and the UAE have been selected to participate in Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Global Business Forum (GBF) Mentorship Programme which aims to foster cross-border cooperation and help participants expand their global presence.

Five UAE startups, members of Dubai Startup Hub, were selected to take part in the three-month programme, each offering unique and innovative solutions and platforms designed to meet specific market demands.

From Africa, five other startups will join the programme, namely: FarmGate Africa, a Nigeria-based startup using advanced technologies to connect international buyers and farming clusters; quip.link, a UK online marketplace for renting and selling construction equipment based in Africa; Complete Farmer, a Ghana-based crowd-farming platform focused on building sustainable farms; Engineering Hub Ltd, a Rwanda-based provider of IT services and solutions for mobile and banking integration platforms; and RideSafe, a Uganda-based mobile application offering real-time health solutions.

The selection marks the start of the second phase of the programme which involves intensive training and mentorship sessions. Following the three-month period, selected startups will be given an opportunity to participate in a session at the 5th Global Business Forum on Africa on November 18th-19th 2019 in Dubai and exhibit during the high-level forum.

Prior to their selection, the 10 startups participated in the first-ever Chamberthon event which took place in Kigali, Rwanda earlier this year. During the Chamberthon, 20 UAE and African startups worked together to develop the structure and criteria of the GBF Mentorship Programme.

Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described the mentorship programme as a unique opportunity for African startups to explore collaboration and expansion opportunities with their UAE counterparts in key areas of mutual interest, such as artificial intelligence, agriculture and fintech, adding that the participants can leverage the GBF Africa 2019 platform to showcase their potential.

*Source: AETOSWire

The United States has levied new sanctions on Iran today in an effort to further squeeze the regime into compliance over the controversial nuclear deal and stave off additional hostilities from the Middle Eastern nation. Today’s sanctions target the Ayatollah Khamenei directly.

“Today’s action follows a series of aggressive behaviors by the Iranian regime in recent weeks, including shooting down of US drones,” US President Donald Trump told reporters in a video carried by Reuters, on Monday afternoon, adding that they have done “many other things,” referencing the oil tanker attacks off the coast of Oman.

“The Supreme Leader of Iran is one who ultimately is responsible for the hostile conduct of the regime,” the President explained, adding that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office “oversees the regime’s most brutal instruments, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp.”

Today’s new sanctions “will deny the Supreme Leader and the Supreme Leader’s office and those most closely affiliated with him and the office, access to key financial resources and support,” the President said, adding that America does not seek conflict with Iran, and that it looks forward to the day when the sanctions can finally be lifted and Iran could become a peaceful nation. President Trump said that this could be as early as tomorrow or could take years, but followed that comment up with this one: “We cannot ever let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”THE ULTIMATE RESOURCE FOR ENERGY PROFESSIONALSDo You Want An Inside Look At What’s Really Happening In Energy Markets?LEARN MORE

 After he signed today’s new sanctions, the President was asked whether it was his goal to sign a new deal with Iran.  “We would love to be able to negotiate a new deal if they want to. If they don’t want to, that’s fine too.”

The sanctions have reportedly brought Iran’s oil exports down to below 500,000 barrels per day from a high of 2.5 million barrels per day, although Iran today said that those reported export figures were incorrect, without offering new figures. Iran has maintained that its oil exports have been largely unaffected despite US pressure.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

From: Andrew Ohwobetehe -Sapele

As part of efforts to contribute to the economic development of Sapele and Delta State in general through the provision of skill acquisition and reduction of unemployment, Oleju Entrepreneurship Hub was at the weekend commissioned in Sapele local government area of Delta State.

Commissioning the skills acquisition hub, the Chief Medical Director of Jewu Clinic Sapele, Dr. Ududua Omokar expressed deep satisfaction towards the initiative, maintaining that, Oleju Entrepreneurship Hub will be of great benefits to all Deltans and Nigerians in whole.

Dr Ududua said that the organization would help to solve social, economic and developmental problems that has plagued the teaming youths and less privileged ones in the society.

Speaking shortly after the commissioning, the Executive Director and founder of Oleju, Mrs. Alero Ogholi thanked all who were present at the occasion. She explained that Oleju Entrepreneurship Hub is an initiative of Rural Development and Reformation Foundation (RUDERF) which is a non-profit humanitarian organization committed to the development of rural and semi-urban communities in Nigeria through investment in human capital to end extreme poverty and improve the lives of people.

Mrs Alero Ogholi revealed that the organization was out to create opportunities for women living in rural and semi – urban communities from disadvantaged groups and backgrounds towards ending extreme poverty especially women.

“The organization is designed to strategically solve social, economic and developmental problems prevalent in rural and urban communities leading to extreme poverty” she added, noting that through their direct and indirect beneficiaries, women from disadvantaged groups, especially under age single mothers/Teenage and young adult females are being giving a new means of livelihood.

The CEO maintained that OLEJU entrepreneural activities also includes the establishment of entrepreneurship hubs and fully equipped training centres in beneficiary communities and the training of local women to run the hubs aimed at empowering other community women and Building partnerships with local authorities to foster commitments and local ownership of solutions.

On their parts, Irene Onyeka, the Programs Office Manager, Irene ONYEKA, Jane Oyelade, Creative Director, Ataman Ehikioya, Project Coordinator, Marume Majemite, Communication Assistant, and Markson Ofogba said that the initiative is a welcome development and lauded the founder, for conceptualizing the idea.

Highlights of the commissioning ceremony was a tour to the various departments to showcase exhibition of artworks and other activities of the center.

From Mike Sogbola-Maiduguri:

Yobe State House of Assembly on Monday elected the Speaker and Deputy Speaker Speaker and for it’s Seventh Assembly.

Hon. Ahmed Lawan Mirwa, representing Nguru II constituency and Hon Auwalu Isa Bello of Mamudo constituency were both elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

The two were elected unopposed by 24 members of the chamber.

The Clerk of the House, Ishaku Mohammed, had conducted a roll call to ensure the presence of all the 24 members in the house chamber before the election began.

The Clerk ordered for the commencement of the process after the roll call, and being assured that the quorum had been formed.

Hon. Buba Kalallawa, representing Damaturu constituency moved the motion for the nomination of Hon. Ahmed Lawan Mirwa as Speaker, which was seconded by the member representing Fika, Hon Ishaku Audu.

The clerk, subsequently announced for further nomination which was not made and had to declared Mirwa as duly elected Speaker of the House.

The motion for the nomination of Auwal Isa Bello, was moved by Hon Bulama Bukar, representing Gujba constituency, and was seconded by Ahmed Musa Dumbulwa of Yunusari constituency.

As in the case of the Speaker, there was no further nomination for the Deputy, and Bello was declared elected.

Both the speaker and his deputy accepted the nomination and promised to work in the interest of the party and the good people of Yobe state.

The oath was subsequently administered on them and the Seventh Assembly was fully inaugurated.

From Sunny A. DAVID / AWKA:

A young man suspected be cable vandal was electrocuted on Sunday while attempting to vandalize armoured cable at Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The deceased whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, had gone to the transformers’ installation belonging to Enugu Electricity Distributions Company (EEDC) when the incident occurred.

Our correspondent gathered that the vandal was attempting to remove the armoured cable when the wire suddenly exploded and electrocuted him.

Confirming the incident, the Police spokesperson Mr. Haruna Mohammed (SP) said the suspect died on the spot.

He said, “At about 7:am today, there was a report at Aguata Police Station through the vigilante commander Ezinifite that a suspected cable vandal whose identity is yet to be ascertained wanted to vandalize one of their EEDC transformer installation at Ezinifite.

“But luck ran out of him as the armoured cable he was trying to steal exploded and electrocuted him instantly.

“Police patrol team led by the DPO Aguata division SP Ayeni Oluwadare visited the scene of the incident and rushed the victim to the General hospital Aguata were he was confirmed dead on arrival by the medical doctor.

“Meanwhile, the EEDC office was contacted, corpse photographed and deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.”

Mr. Mohammed added that investigation had commenced to ascertain the true identity of the deceased as well as circumstances surrounding the incident.

A stalemate of significant proportions over who should be picked as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, may have engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the jostle for leadership positions in the National Assembly unfold.

Two candidates, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, who represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta state and Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers sate, have emerged as contenders for the top job in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly and divided members of the national working committee and enlarged PDP Caucus over who should be given the nod for the plum position.

Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, who had been adopted by the Delta PDP Caucus in the House, ahead of Hon. Ossai Ossai, was presented by a majority of the PDP House caucus to the larger caucus of the Party as their preferred candidate to occupy the position of Minority Leader in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

His nomination and adoption, according to inside sources, was predicated on his ranking status and very robust legislative experience, garnered from two previous terms in the 6th and 7th Assemblies consecutively, where he headed the powerful House Committees on Health and Power, in successive terms and was well integrated as a key and trusted team player, whose contributions to the legislative agenda greatly helped to sustain and consolidate the independence and constitutional authority of the collective National Assembly.

The Delta Reps member, beloved by many colleagues for what they describe as his patriotic bipartisanship stance, especially in consideration of matters of national interest, is also said to enjoy the goodwill of both his PDP party members and those of the ruling opposition APC, who see him not only as a bridge builder across party lines, but also as a seasoned legislator who wealth of experience will impact positively on the House by guiding new members in House conducts and adding his considerable influence to those of the older members, in steering the affairs of the House and maintaining the balance between party and policy as the 9th National Assembly unfolds.

Elumelu’s nomination, which at first seemed unanimous, was however countered by the surprise challenge from Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers sate, in the House and whose nomination, according to reliable inside sources from within the PDP Assembly caucus, was orchestrated by the National chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.

The sources further claim that while members at the enlarged PDP caucus meeting had anticipated a consensus in favour of Elumelu for the House of Reps Minority leader position, the PDP national chairman had however arranged some members to nominate his kinsman, in what insiders claim was part of a clandestine plot to strengthen the strangle hold of Rivers state in the control of the PDP, as Hon. Chinda is also the member representing Governor Nyesom Wike’s home constituency of Obio/ Akpor, in the Lower Chamber.

Feelers from the enlarged PDP caucus meeting revealed that the nomination of Hon. Chinda threw the gathering into a stalemate as members of the House caucus notably Hon. Oluwole Oke, representing Obokon/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, Hon. Patrick Asadu, representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency in Enugu State and Hon Beni Lar, representing Langtang South/Langtang North Federal Constituency of Plateau State, called for an election since two candidates had now emerged.

They were however overruled by the National Chairman, who informed the meeting that the National Working Committee of the party would look into the matter, with a view to making what he described as the best choice for the party amongst the two; a suggestion which was decried as anti-parliamentarian and raised suspicions over what they see as an attempt by the PDP chairman Prince Secondus to influence the NWC as its head, over the nomination and imposition of his kinsman, Hon Kingsley Chinda as minority leader of the House of Reps.

Inside sources equally hint that the stalemate in the PDP over nominations for principal offices in the House may have taken a further dimension with most members kicking strongly against the nomination of members from both Nasarawa and Rivers states, with the argument that the PDP BOT chairman and Second Republic Senator Walid Jibrin, who has been on the seat since 2013, comes from Nasarawa, while National Chairman, Uche Secondus, who emerged after the PDP Port Harcourt convention in 2017, largely influenced and muscled with some strong arm tactics by Governor Wike, after he had served as acting chairman of the PDP National Working Committee committee from 2015 to 2016, comes from Rivers state too.

As it stands now, the PDP appears to be in a fix in selecting who should be their Minority leader in the Federal House of Representatives, as the battle for the position, which has been conventionally zoned to the South South, since that of the Senate has gone to the South East, is finely poised between Hon Ndudi Elumelu of Delta State, who has already been adopted by the Delta PDP Caucus and is said to enjoy the goodwill of majority of the House members across party lines, and Hon Kingsley Chinda, whose nomination as arranged by the PDP National Chairman, has not gone down well with many House members and indeed a section of the PDP governors forum, on the grounds that not only is it seen as an attempt to impose a candidate on the House and meddle with the independence of members to chose a candidate of their choice for the minority leader position, but also another covert ploy by the PDP national chairman, who many have accused of trying to foist the decisions of Rivers PDP on the party.

This high handed leadership style, according to insider claims, has been greeted with wide spread disenchantment by the majority of party members and may have been largely responsible for the glaring show of defiance and abysmal performance of PDP backed candidates, when PDP members in the national assembly clearly disobeyed party directives to support particular candidates and voted for alternate candidates in the recently concluded election for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

**MUTU REACTS TO ALLEGATIONS OF FORGERY, IMPERSONATION 

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in Delta State, has reacted to allegations of forgery and impersonation being levelled against him by the defeated candidate of the All Peoples Congress (APC) in the area in the February 2019 general election, Mr. Collins Eselemo.

Mutu, who contested and won on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the allegations as frivolous and ill-motivated,adding that they were aimed  at damaging his hard-earned reputation.

The conventional and social media have been awashed lately with allegations of certificate forgery and impersonation against Mutu, by his main opponent in the election.

However,  Mutu, in his reaction in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ebitimi Ogbomah, said all the allegations bordering on certificate  forgery and impersonation had been “rubbished  by the responses of the appropriate authorities, including all the schools he (Mutu) attended and the National Assembly, where he  had been a member, courtesy of the good people of Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, since 1999.”

On the allegation that Mutu’s West African Examinations Council ((WAEC) Ordinary Level School Certificate/General Certificate of Education (GCE), issued by the management of Rivers State School of Basic Studies, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, now, known as Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, was fake, Ogbomah said the letter written by the Registrar of the institute, Mr. Chris Woke, on the matter, had cleared Mutu of any wrongdoing.

In the letter, Woke confirmed that the school was not only recognised but was a centre for WAEC and GCE in 1986, when Mutu sat for the examination.

Woke, who attached the certified copies of the master list/computer print out of candidates, who sat for the examination in the centre in 1986, said Mutu, with number 21648/094, was among the candidates.

Woke in the letter, which was sequel to an enquiry made by Mutu’s solicitors, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, stated, “I write to confirm that the former Rivers State School of Basic Studies, Rumuola, Port Harcourt (now Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic), was a recognised school and centre for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Ordinary Level School Certificate/General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations as at May/June 1986.”

“The then Rivers State School of Basic Studies, Port Harcourt, functioned as a recognised school/centre for May/June WAEC/GCE Examinations from 1977 to June 1987 and continued with November/December General Certificate of Education(GCE) up to 1990, before it was discontinued following the introduction of the 6-3-3-4 education system in Nigeria.”

The Master List/Computer Print Out of the candidate, 21648/094, Mutu Nicholas Eboma, amongst other candidates that sat for the May/June Examinations in 1986 is certified, attached hereto and marked as Annexure 1″

“The former school of Basic Studies established in 1977 by the Rivers State Government was changed to Rivers State College of Arts and Science  in 1991 (vide Annexure 2), Port Harcourt Polytechnic in 2016 (vide Annexure 3) and now Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State,” Woke added.

Ogbomah also said the degree certificate awarded to Mutu by St. Clements University was authentic and genuine, adding that contrary to Eselemo’s claim , his boss was awarded a Bachelor of Arts and not Bachelor of Science degree in business oraganisation by the reputable institution.

“Instead of Collins Eselemo to visit the website of the school or write to the school to confirm the authenticity or genuineness of the certificate, he prefers to tow his characteristic dishonorable path of character assassination and smear the good image of Hon. Nicholas Mutu. For the records, St. Clements University Certificate is genuine and anybody can go to university’s website, write or visit the school to confirm that Hon. Mutu Nicholas indeed obtained his degree from the school, “‘he added. 

Similarly, Ogbomah clarified the issue of his boss’  usage of fake name in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, adding that the records were available in the National Assembly website for verification. 

He said, ” We expected the petitioner to visit the National Assembly Website or write the National Assembly, but he decided to rely on a faceless magazine report. But to put the record straight, it is Hon. Nicholas Mutu profile that has been in the National Assembly website from 1999 till date. It is also on record that Hon. Nicholas Mutu has won all his elections from 1999 till date and certificate of return has always been issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in his name, with which he does his documentation in the National Assembly at all times.”

“It is worthy of note that nobody can do his or her documentation in the National Assembly and be sworn-in without a certificate of return.”

Ogbomah stated further that “to demonstrate that Eselemo is on campaign of calumny to smear my boss, he also alleged that the Hon. Mutu played pranks in his age declaration. This is arrant nonsense. This is the true account. Hon Mutu’s father did his age declaration with his thumbprint. Coincidentally, his elder brother bears the same name as his father. While his father name was Agbede Mutu senior, his elder brother’s name is Agbede Mutu junior”

“Let Collins Eselemo also tell us the name of Hon. Mutu’s father since he now know him more better than his son. Let Collins Eselemo also tell us whether the thumbprint is that of Hon. Nicholas Mutu’s elder brother’s and whether his elder brother has the same thumbprint as his father. And we ask also, if it is possible for the elder brother to have the same thumbprint as his father? The answer is no.”

Consequently, Ogbomah urged the public to ignore the “rantings of Collins Eselemo on the personality of Hon. Nicholas Mutu, in the media”, adding that, “‘Eselemo is on the path of smear campaign against Hon. Mutu . A man that has not made any effort to prove his case in the tribunal but rather abandoned his petition and decided to go to the conventional press and social media to assassinate the character of Hon. Nicholas Mutu.”

“It is on record that Collins Eselemo was never a registered voter in Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency. He only transferred his PVC to Bomadi/Patani federal constituency few months to elections. He is very unpopular in the constituency and that largely accounted for his loss in the all the wards and almost in every polling units in the constituency.”

“Collins Eselemo should be advised to leave this trademark of blackmail, character assassination and smearing the good image of successful sons and daughters of Ijaw nation,” he added. 

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Thursday it had shot down a US “spy drone” which violated Iranian airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest incident to stoke tension in the strategic sea lane.

The US-manufactured Global Hawk surveillance drone was hit with a missile “after violating Iranian air space” over the waters of Hormozgan province, the Guard said in a statement.

The incident comes at a time of growing antagonism between Iran and the United States following two waves of still unexplained attacks on Gulf shipping, which Washington has blamed on Tehran.

Iran has denied any involvement and hinted that the US might have orchestrated them itself to provide a pretext for the use of force against the Islamic republic.

Shooting down the drone on Thursday was “a clear message” that Iran will defend its borders, the head of the Revolutionary Guard said.

Iran will “respond to all foreign aggression and our reaction is, and will be, categorical and absolute,” Hossein Salami said, quoted by Tasnim news agency.

“We declare that we are not looking for war but we are ready to respond to any declaration of war,” he added.

 ‘Maximum pressure’

Tensions have been running high between Iran and the United States ever since President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement in May last year.

The subsequent reimposition of crippling unilateral sanctions has dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s already flagging economy.

Washington has also bolstered its military presence in the Middle East in a campaign of “maximum pressure” against Tehran.

Its deployment to the Gulf of an aircraft carrier task force as well as B-52 bombers, an amphibious assault ship and a missile defence battery has sparked fears of fresh conflict in the region.

One of the two tankers attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week was damaged by a limpet mine, the US military said Wednesday.

Commander Sean Kido of US Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT, said the mine used in the attack “is distinguishable and it is also strikingly bearing a resemblance to Iranian mines that have already been publicly displayed in Iranian military parades”.

The Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous, loaded with highly flammable methanol, came under attack last Thursday as it passed through the Gulf of Oman along with the Norwegian-operated Front Altair.

 Fingerprints

It was the second attack in a month on ships in the strategic shipping lane.

On May 12, two Saudi oil tankers and two other vessels were damaged in mysterious “sabotage attacks” in the Gulf of Oman off the United Arab Emirates.

Kido told reporters in the UAE emirate of Fujairah that the US military had recovered “biometric information” of the assailants on the Kokuka Courageous including fingerprints.

This information “can be used to build a criminal case”, Kido said as the US Navy took journalists to the damaged ship currently anchored some 14 kilometres (nine miles) off Fujairah.

Defence Minister Amir Hatami flatly rejected allegations Iran was behind the twin attacks.

“Accusations levelled against Iran’s armed forces and the published film with regards to the incident (that) happened to the vessels… are unsubstantiated and we categorically reject these accusations,” the official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.

Washington has released images and a grainy black-and-white video it says shows Iranians on a patrol boat removing an unexploded limpet mine attached to the Kokuka Courageous.

The US commander Kido said there was an “ongoing joint and combined investigation with our regional partners into the attacks” on the two tankers.

AFP

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s state TV says the country’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi has collapsed during a court session and died.

The state TV says the 67-year-old Morsi was attending a session Monday in his trial on espionage charges when he blacked out and then died. His body was taken to a hospital, it said.

Morsi, who hailed from Egypt’s largest Islamist group, the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, was elected president in 2012 in the country’s first free elections following the ouster the year before of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.

The military ousted Morsi in 2013 after massive protests and crushed the Brotherhood in a major crackdown, arresting Morsi and many others of the group’s leaders.

From Mike Sogbola-Maiduguri:

The United Nation’s’ Children Fund (UNICEF) has condemned the use of children as human bombs and in any combat or non-combat roles in the ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s north-east.

UNICEF claimed that from 2018 till date 53 children were used as couriers of bombs (human bombs) in the Northeast conflict.

In 2018, alone, according to UNICEF, 38 girls were used as human bombs, and in 2019 four girls have been used already.

According to UNICEF, the 2018 figure was a reduction in the 2017 figure were 146 (45 boys, 101 girls) children were used.

A statement on Monday by UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins said:
“According to several reports, three children – two girls and a boy (ages unknown) – were used to detonate explosives that killed 30 people and injured 40 others at a community football viewing centre in Konduga, Borno today.

“UNICEF sends its condolences to all those who have been killed or injured in this horrific incident.

Hawkins said: “It is unacceptable that children should be used in this way.

Hawkins, in the statement, said: “UNICEF appeals to all those involved in this terrible conflict to protect children at all times and to keep them out of harm’s way.

“This incident brings the number of children who have been reported as having been used as human bombs to five, since January 2019. In 2018, 48 children – including 38 girls – were used in suicide attacks.

“We again call on all parties to the conflict in north-east Nigeria to immediately cease all attacks against civilians, to stop using children in this conflict, and to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

The statement further lamented that since 2012, non-state armed groups in north-east Nigeria have recruited and used children as combatants and non-combatants, raped and forced girls to marry, and committed other grave violations against children. Some of the girls become pregnant in captivity and give birth without any medical care or attention.

The statement recalled that in the ongoing armed conflict in north-east Nigeria, more than 3,500 children were recruited and used by non-state armed groups between 2013 and 2017.

It lamented that the use of children in suicide attacks by armed groups as person-borne explosive devices (PBIED) significantly increased from 2014 to 2017. In 2018, a total 48 children (38 girls) were used in suicide attacks whilst 146 (45 boys, 101 girls) children were used in the same way in 2017. In first quarter 2019, two girls were reported as having been used as PBIEDs.

The statement said UNICEF will continue to work closely with state authorities and partners to support the reintegration of children who have been associated with this conflict back into their communities and reunite them with their families.

From Mike Sogbola-Maiduguri:

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon has condemned the multiple suicide bombings that reportedly claimed the lives of at least 30 civilians and injured more than 40 others on the evening of Sunday 16 June 2019.

The attacks took place in the Mandarari community of Konduga Local Government Area, less than 40 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

It was reported that the series of attacks targeted civilians who were gathered in a sports viewing hall to watch a televised football match, as well as at a nearby cafe.

Among the deceased, it was reported was a community volunteer who was contributing to the humanitarian response in north-east Nigeria, and those seriously injured as a result of the bomb blasts were transported to Maiduguri for medical treatment.

Kallon, in a statement, said: “This is another terribly sad day for civilians in north-east Nigeria and for the humanitarians who are working to help them. The UN and its partners deplore these abhorrent acts of violence and call for those responsible for these attacks to be swiftly brought to justice. Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims in Konduga. We hope all those injured can access the urgent medical attention they require and wish them a full recovery.”

The statement noted that the humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria is one of the most severe in the world – and is first and foremost a protection crisis.

It recalled that: “Since the start of the conflict in 2009, more than 27,000 people have been killed. Women, men and children face grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law every day.”

It restated that: “Targeted attacks on civilians constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The UN and its partners in Nigeria consistently urge all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and comply fully with international human rights and international humanitarian law.”

The UN Secretary-General, in a statement on 17 June, also condemning the attacks against civilians in Konduga, reiterated the solidarity of the United Nations with the people and Government of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday renamed the National Stadium Abuja to Moshood Abiola National Stadium as mark of honour to the late winner of the June 12 1993, Presidential Election.

This was announced by the president while delivering his 2019 June 12 Democracy Day celebration speech at the Eagles Square Abuja.

He said, “Today, I propose the renaming of the Abuja National stadium henceforth, it will be called Moshood Abiola National stadium”.

Buhari also spoke about what must be done to atone for the wrongs done leading to the annulment of the June 12 election.

“As we all know, correcting injustice is a free requisite for peace and unity; as part of the processes of healing and reconciliation, I approved the recognition of June 12 as democracy day and invested the late Chief Abiola and Babagana Kingibe with national honours as I did with Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the purpose was to partially atone for the trivial damage done in annulling the presidential elections of that year,” Buhari said.

List of Senate Presidents from 1999 till date

1• Evan Enwerem PDP 1999-1999

2• Chuba Okadigbo PDP 1999-2000

3• Anyim Pius Anyim PDP 2000-2003

4• Adolphus Wabara PDP 2003-2005

5• Ken Nnamani PDP 2005-2007

6• David Mark PDP 2007-2011

7• David Mark PDP 2011-2015

8• Bukola Saraki APC/PDP 2015-2019

9• Ahmed Lawan APC 2019 till date

Deputy Senate Presidents from 1999 till date

1• Ibrahim Mantu PDP 1999-2003

2• Ibrahim Mantu PDP 2003-2007

3• Ike Ekweremadu PDP 2007-2011

4• Ike Ekweremadu PDP 2011-2015

5• Ike Ekweremadu PDP 2015-2019

6• Ovie Omo Agege APC 2019 till date

House of Representatives Speakers from 1999 till date

1• Salisu Buhari PDP 1999-2000

2• Ghali Umar Na’Abba PDP 2000-2003

3• Aminu Bello Masari PDP 2003-2007

4• Patricia Olubunmi Etteh PDP 2007-2007

5• Dimeji Bankole PDP 2007-2011

6• Aminu Tambuwal PDP 2011-2015

7• Yakubu Dogara APC/PDP 2015-2019

8• Femi Gbajabiamila APC till date

*Compiled by Blank NEWS Online

By Albert OGRAKA:

It is no longer news that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has on Tuesday issued the certificate of return to former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, who was hitherto denied issuance of the certificate, until the Commission got a court directive to do so.

Recall that INEC withheld Okorocha’s certificate of return and refused to recognise his victory, after he was controversially declared winner of the February 23 Imo West senatorial election to represent Imo West Senatorial zone.

The commission said it took the decision because the presiding officer, Innocent Ibeabuchi, said he made the declaration under duress.

Surprisingly, in a Tuesday night statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, the commission said it was compelled by an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to release the certificate and said it will appeal the judgment because of the “likely consequences of this judgment for our electoral system in particular and our democracy in general.”

Meanwhile, during the inauguration of the ninth assembly, Okorocha’s name was missing in the list of eligible senators-elect called by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and failed to participate in the the election of the leadership of the senate.

On Friday however, Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal High Court upturned the commission’s decision not to acknowledge Okorocha’s victory, describing INEC’s decision as “lawlessness and a complete nullity,” and ruled that Okorocha remains the winner of the election and his recognition by the commission, “cannot be delayed one minute longer.”

In the Tuesday statement however, INEC said it has “reservations” for the ruling but complied in obedience to the rule of law.

Read INEC statement:

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, 11th June 2019 and considered 14 memoranda involving judgments and orders in pre-election matters relating to the issuance of certificates and or withdrawal of certificates already issued in pre-election matters.

Amongst the memoranda considered is that concerning the judgment on the Imo west senate district by the federal high court Abuja. The commission decided to:

To comply with the court judgement by issuing a certificate of return to the plaintiff, Rochas Anayo Ethelbert Okorocha in compliance to orders of Hon. Justice O.E. Abang.

Appeal against the said judgment.

In arriving to this decision we also took into consideration the orders issued by two high courts in Owerri on May 23th and another issued on June 11th restraining the commission from issuing the certificate. It is noted that both are interim orders issued ex-parte and not final orders of the court.

In obeying the judgment, the commission is demonstrating its longstanding commitment of complying with all orders of the court, including those with which it may have reservation.

However, the commission must put on record its very profound concerns about the likely consequences of this judgment for our electoral system in particular and our democracy in general. Obviously, persons who seek elective offices could perceive in this judgment as an irrelevance of due process and acting within the law.

It is not farfetched that some of them could in future disregard laid down processes, including voting, arm themselves and mobilize thugs and compel returning officers to declare them elected, irrespective of the true outcomes of elections. Moreover, it may become increasingly difficult for the commission to convince its official that they are safe to carry out their legitimate functions without being harassed, held to ransom or visited with bodily harm.

The commission would like to seize this opportunity to restate its commitment to due process and obedience to rule of law in its dealings with all parties and candidates. We assure Nigerians that we will not waiver in our determination to enthrone a credible electoral process in Nigeria.

Signed:
Festus Okoye, Esq.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (INEC).

By Wole Soyinka:

This year’s recall of an uplifting day in the year 1993 comes up against a background of its most shameful disavowal: the 2019 elections – still under judicial contestation – an event that would be more accurately described as an exercise in body count rather than ballot count. The elections however merely reflected a pattern of savagery and abandonment of human sensibilities that have eaten away the sheerest sense of community in the nation. I have already described it as the final descent into the abyss of human degradation. The recent call – no matter how suspect the motivation – for what amounts to a national discourse on future directions was nothing new. The NIGERIA MOURNS movement, for instance, is only another expression of the same desperation. Input from someone who has exercised control over the nation’s affairs for a total of close to a dozen years,with shared responsibility for the very predicament in which the nation finds itself, reinforces the general anxieties that have become palpable in every corner of the nation – across class,political partisanship, religion and ethnicity. I wish to take the notion of a national ‘indaba’ even further, and urge a non-partisan, broad based government.  The now undeniable social crisis is beyond the capacity of any government built on accustomed partisan loyalties and regimented thought processes, with their debilitating baggage of sectarian interests. I am aware that such a call is unlikely to be heeded, but let it be made anyway, and let it stand to trouble those who discard any opportunity to turn a radical page in a nation’s history.  As if the crisis were not sufficient in itself, we are constantly distracted by crude attempts to distort the role of the past in a nation’s unraveling.

So, let us first address Democracy Day itself, since we know that those same nihilist voices, even before the annunciation, were already primed to degrade it, ridicule what should be a potent signpost for future generations. Such voices even make desperate efforts to annul its very history, no different from the original act of annulling an event that was universally acknowledged as the fairest, the most orderly and peaceful elections ever conducted in Nigerian history, a chastening contrast to this recent of 2019.  June 1993 recorded – just some quick reminders – an election in which the loser readily conceded defeat, having watched himself outclassed in his own state, his local government, his ward, and probably at his very polling booth. He was however prevailed upon to change his mind, thus smoothening the path for official military annulment, with dire consequences that continue to plague the nation even till today. Several of the players – directly, and supportive – in that inglorious history remain stubbornly in denial, but let no one attempt to shunt aside or obscure its potential for public re-orientation. It is now a near quarter of a century since that watershed, and a Restoration, albeit symbolic, has been promulgated–Welcome Democracy Day!  Is there any value left to it? And is its formal, official recognition doomed to be nothing more than an exercise in superfluity?

For all those who were actively involved, no matter how tangentially, in the events that flowed from the annulment of June 12, 1993 – largely of blood and lamentations – the restoration of that date to a slot among the milestones of nation building will evoke, side by side with a sense of elation, a mood of sobriety and reflection, especially when one recollects how many productive projects were derailed, how many lives destroyed, how many underwent torture and remain traumatized by that experience, how many paid the supreme price. Many have witnessed death at close quarters, survived, but remain severely damaged. I shall leave others to comment on how little appears to have been learnt from that monstrosity of democratic subversion. What is undeniable is that the wiles of opportunists, cynics, saboteurs and beneficiaries from the sacrifices of others, continue to haunt the nation. Hopefully also, it does haunt them spasmodically, those who thought to bury the message of that date and its faithful evocations.

Amnesia, the much craved refuge of the battle weary, the ravaged psyche, or simply weak-minded, is not always to be despised. Where deliberately cultivated, even propagated however, it amounts to further cruelty against the violated. Forgiveness is a different matter. In most theologies, and even for non-believers, it is ranked among the loftiest attributes of humanity. For those of us who confess our inadequacy in that respect, we can only implore those who violate, contribute to, or profit from the mutilation of the very humanity of others, not to aggravate our mortal weakness by continuation of their past perfidy in any form. The orphan cries are still with us, so are the scars and trauma of survivors. Many remain impaired – physically and psychologically – for life.

I shall not participate in this year’s June 12 celebrations – from choice. It is part of my training exercises for withdrawing from public space, a resolution that I first half seriously injected into encounters over five years ago. That absence applies, not to the official celebration alone – of which I have never been a part anyway – but to the annual ritual by civic groups, a ritual of both tribute and defiance that has been unflaggingly observed till now. However, regarding the earlier Abuja ceremony that signaled the state’s reversion to June 12 as the most truthful expression of a people’s democratic will, I did attend, even at the cost of breaking a journey on the way to Brazil. That event, for some of us, represented closure – at least substantially. It was a reunion of sorts, a cauterization of many internal, invisible, and yet suppurating wounds, and private thanksgiving – for some of us- that the only route that appeared left for the recovery of a people’s dignity was abruptly, and ‘providentially’ closed by the timely demise of a singular human perversion.The nation was saved the anguish of the unknown. That sense of relief, on its own, is worth celebrating. The anonymous ones who acted on behalf of ‘providence’ remain unacknowledged, but we still owe them our gratitude.

One unforgettable extract from those dark days was the ease with which a people, accustomed to freedom as a natural bequest of humanity, can be thrown into a twentieth century enslavement, forced to endure a regimen of unprecedented brutality in the exercise of power. A nation of over a hundred and a half million slid into a condition of – not merely apathy and indifference, but servility, unctuousness, sustained by rationalization of – there is no other word for it – evil! Sheer evil. Fear reigned supreme. Whispers substituted for voice, even in homes. It is liberation from that miasma of civic subjugation that underpins the symbolism of a Democracy Day, very different in quality from, for instance, the euphoria – where it exists – of a day of National Independence. Now why does one find it necessary to state what, in good faith, should be obvious? The answer is painful: that occasion also served as a trigger for raking up embers of divisive history, for tarnishing memories and belittling even the meagre harvest of a watershed in history.

Don’t we all know it? Everything in this nation is fodder for controversy, often of the most pointless, mindless, simply adversarial kind – such has been this formal restoration of June 12^th 1993 to its rightful place on the podium of Nigerian history. Let us address some brutal truths. One comment regarding this formalization especially rankles, since its accompanying train of remarks indicated that it was not a mere aberrant individual, but revelation of group sentiment. It was sent to me through the usual internet link and was, undisguisedly – a mock lament, a condescending swipe at the Yoruba race – yes, directly indicted – for being so naive as to have fallen for an obvious vote gathering ploy.The conveyed message reminded me of the movement initiated by Charley Boy – Your mummu done do! –who, together with his fellow protesters, was severely mauled in Abuja by an incited mob. At least Charley Boy refused to go down as nothing more than an internet slob, berating everyone around but swallowing the bile of daily discontent. He embarked on remedial action – one that was manifested in the true spirit of June 12^th.

There are several observations on that ‘social media’ posting, plus the predictable, bandwagon comments, often pre-arranged. It is necessary, indeed mandatory, to clean up this template of the past before proceeding. First, I was not aware that the Yoruba, acting as ethnic entity, ever made a statement that promised to reward the government with their votes in return for this alleged June 12^th bribe. The serious, problematic bribe – the Minimum Wage concession – of course receives the scantiest of attention – beyond solidarity calls and insistence on implementation. Never mind that, North to South, East to West, numerous tiers of government are scrambling to find ways and means of ‘settling’ an agreement directed from the centre, with no corresponding consultation with states. From latest reports, even the Centre is taking to the sale of state assets – at disadvantaged prices – to fulfill a voter catchment commitment. This is the kind of consequential ‘bribe’, one would have thought, that merits critical attention. No matter, let us return to the monumental, non-material bribe. What does it consist of?

A wrong had long festered, no matter how invisibly. Restoration was made. The faithful of June 12 embraced the gesture, pronounced their appreciation at the ceremony, several even with barbed qualifiers. After all, others before had had the opportunity, but chose toignore, even deride the very notion of recognition, even if through symbolic gestures. If a few in that Abuja assemblage got carried away  – and some did, both Yoruba and non-Yoruba alike – heaped fulsome praises on the government, far beyond its deserving in my view, I found it unconscionable to seize the occasion as an opportunity to jeer at, and vilify an entire people. I have asked myself over and over again: to what end? Who profits from this?

Next, I found it equally lamentable that anyone should attempt to reduce the June 12 struggle to that of an ethnic project. It is a depressing travesty of the realities, a denial of the existence of a nation’s collective sense of justice and its tenacity in pursuit of that objective. No one denies that the immediate family of a victim of robbery feels the pangs of dispossession more keenly than others. The truth however remains that the entirety of the compound itself was violated, arrogantly and contemptuously dispossessed. In this case, its very aspiration to a unified identity was simply ground underfoot, compelling a return to the starting block, and even severalmilestones behind!  Disenfranchisement is the ultimate stigma for any free people. Again, despite official hostility, corporate blackmail and even victimization of some adherents of that date, a number of state governments but, even more crucially, civil society – with members drawn from across the nation – did not await permission of any power or agency of the centre to gather and celebrate that date, and pay homage to the fallen. The June 12^th movement never went into recess, and the current government merely jumped on a bandwagon that was already propelled by the people.

However, there is even more matter for discouragement, so we should not be surprised at the ethnic caviling. After the annulment, I recall that, when we tried to mobilize opposition to that sadistic impostor, fanatic voices of ethnic irredentism informed us bluntly, verbally and in print, that the Yoruba should go and solve their problems themselves, since we had let them down in the lead-up to the Biafran War of Secession, and should seek no collaboration from that side of the Niger.  One recognizes, in today’s renewed voices of ethnic denigration, the same chant of a hate chorus, the fanning of divisive embers. It is gratifying therefore – and here we come to some cheering news! – that this tendency has become a source of concern to many of the leaders of that former secessionist state. It led to recent counter efforts under themes such as HANDS ACROSS THE NIGER, later followed by HANDS ACROSS THE NATION, encounters that have taken place both within the nation and outside her borders. It is crucial that those laudable initiatives continue in the same spirit of civic responsibility and nationally craved closure.

We must however sound warning: these high-minded efforts are increasingly vitiated by the fanatic and obnoxious voices of an irrepressible handful. No, we are not speaking here of organized protests and demonstrations to keep Biafra alive – for those of my school of thought, these are both legitimate expressions of the democratic will, and cannot be suppressed. We refer specifically however to abrasive, irrational, and irreverent diatribesof  purveyors of unrelenting discord. Their innate proclivities are readily facilitated by that grossly polluted space – the so-called social network. Some have gone beyond recall, like the proverbial mongrel which no longer heeds the call of the hunter. Theyhave become so blindsided that, almost under demonic possession, they heedlessly alienate sources of empathy and act against their own interests. This was prevalent in its most unfiltered density during, and after the 2019 elections.

Let the following be stated and re-stated as a personal, unwavering, socio-political conviction: The vision of a common homeland, rooted in commonality of ideas, values, culture, history and purpose, is as natural as breathing. However, the dream of such a state of collective desire is not realized by careers of deception and distortion of reality and history, any more than is the craving for a turn at the very pinnacle of governance within a polity which, for good or ill, still embraces all. On the contrary, both dreams fade, continue to recede, and may eventually remain unfulfilled in the lifetime of the purveyors of divisive filth. That would be poetic justice.

I am no believer in the juggling of score cards in order to earn the accolade of equitable dealing – find fault on ‘A’ by all means, but be sure to balance with faults from ‘B’, deserved or not.However, the following retrogressive slump in the democratic quest is fortunately, and blatantly, in the public domain and demands its place in the Index of repudiations.  First, it was a minister, soon followed by the deputy of the incumbent himself, then other voices at various times – all advocating support for the government on the basis of ensuring “our turn” at the next electoral roulette! That primitive appeal remains one of the most dispiriting of the twists and turns in numerous calculations of that same 2019 electoral exercise, a dismal complement of the self-positioning of the earlier mentioned secession fundamentalists. If anything, the latter now had even greater justification to jettison all other parameters of political choice in favour of their own even more uncompromising, ethnic positioning. I am Yoruba, and therefore felt sufficiently compromised as to intervene with some leaders demanding, ‘do you know what this portends?’ Is this wise? Progressive? It was gratifying to encounter other Yoruba voices – I especially recall one from Dr. Wale Adeniran – in forceful repudiation of such narrow chauvinism. And it resulted in personal disillusionment that sent me seeking solace from our man for all occasions, William Shakespeare in that cry of:A Plague on both your Houses!

There were other negative controlling manifestations, related to that very narrow social perspective, albeit sprung from a different malaise. The principal himself, formerly elected largely on the platform of corruption eradication, reinforced by the coy mantra of  “I belong to all and belong to none”, presided over a growing degradation of advertised intent, a serial dereliction of the obvious imperative of any reformist agenda which should read:  first, internal cleansing! One after another, scandals of escalating proportions from within the charmed circle of power, an apparent tolerance even in face of ‘in  flagrantedelecti’ captures on video! Clearly, this candidate had also done his arithmetic and could hardly afford to lose any treasure trove of numbers. The logo of the ruling party during those 2019 elections appeared to have been the three brass monkeys: Hear no evil, See no evil. Speak no evil.

Before any chortling of self- vindication is provoked among the ‘I told you so brigade’, let me quickly pause here, prodded by the strident opportunism of the corruption train and restate my position as follows: this does not invalidate the pass mark in this specific department that I conceded the government on a television programme– the anti-corruption fight. A pass mark is not the same as an A+, B or even C+, so that grudging grade stands, as shall be effortlessly demonstrated in ensuing parts of this primer. Some of us take a holistic, and comparative approach to the protean operations of corruption, not sensationalist ‘Rambo’ melodramas served up to titillate the public palate.We add, subtract, qualify, adjust, and only then –propose a grade. We shall venture later into that national bugbear, and in some detail, utilizing just one or two but representative voices of blanket dismissal that often read like commissioned pieces. We know what is at stake. Even as this is being written, guardian ‘sleepers’ of the Abacha and other hidden loot are being rumbled. They await moments of slackening in vigilance to pounce on temporarily ‘abandoned properties’ known only to them. Only this week, yet another sumptuous cache was unearthed in the Jersey islands. And there are many more awaiting exposure. No, we cannot afford to lower the nation’s guard, nor belittle the institutions that work towards eventual, across-the-board sanitation of society.

To sum up the contribution of the incumbent candidate and his handlers to the last electoral architecture, it was indeed numerology that triumphed over ethical rigour. We insist however that even political pragmatism has its own moral demands. Any other position leaves wide open the sluices of cynicism, pent-up frustrations, disillusionment, reducing democracy to the numerical count as the sole electoral victor. Will the projected June 11 Summit on Corruption compel the government itself to tackle its own record in this respect? I have received an invitation but will not be attending. I however recommend deep introspective attention to the second item on the suggested themes – NEXUS BETWEEN ELECTORAL SPENDING AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

And so, on looking back, our view encounters only the debris of awobbly scaffolding of the 2019 democratic exercise that predictably crashed, a rickety podium of cynical improvisations on four temporal legs roughly identified as: (i) payback time (ii) our turn next time (iii)laissez-fairetime, and (iv) the all-purpose ‘stomach infrastructure’ dinner bell.The unprecedented epidemic of the collapse of buildings all over the country has since struck me as a morbid analogy for the collapse of humane structures, burying so much hope of advance on 1993, a full quarter of a century later,in their rubble. One became quite fearful that the nation was trapped in the material actualization of an even more comprehensive advance on Shakespeare’s curse: A Plague on All your houses!

If only nothing more than the current political houses took a final tumble! Alas, the collapse is far more extensive than such mere contraption. We need only look around, or revert to those alarms that we echoed at the beginning. One may squirm at the verbal formulation but, truthfully, NIGERIA MOURNS!And so, towards the exorcising of that curse, the prescription of a government across partisan interests is not misplaced, and is not entirely starry-eyed. A day dedicated to democracy – as a compelling morality of social existence – is merely frivolous unless directed at the recognition of the telling, prevailing features of the last exercise, which throw in question the free, hopefully educated exertion of human choice. It brings us back to numerous considerations of what constitutes, as the democratic base of any human grouping, their rights and limitations, both of which are involved in the guarantee of a healthy societal survival. It must raise, pre-eminently, the very issue of the protocols of association –relation of the parts to one another, and the parts to the whole.Such protocols are of a fundamental, negotiable category for a basic reason – they deal with humanity, not abstractions or material resources. Above nations, we cannot help but place humanity, otherwise, we are mere idol worshippers – the idols of patriotic jingoism and pietistic abstractions (e.g. sovereign integrity and allied rhetoric).

Democracy Day deserves truthful confrontation with the socio-political conditions that we have brought into being to plague ourselves and thus, compels our acceptance of responsibility for whatever, and wherever roles are traceable to one and all in that process. It is not wrong to make political calculations – not for nothing is it claimed that politics is a game of numbers – one of those partial truths, but let it stand for now. However, when those calculations go wrong, it is cowardly to seek scapegoats and fabricate non-existent histories. D-Day should not pass shrouded under sentiment. At the same time, it should not be celebrated with groundless recriminations. It calls on hard-core values, yet remainsopen to mature and logical adjustments, deploying the rigorous blade of truth to cut through overgrown, self-proliferating brambles of deception, especially at the hands of past rulers. If the present demons of nation being are confronted, with brutal frankness where necessary, there is a chance that we may assist even this aspiring generation to sweep past the past, and target a far more salutary celebration in the coming year, that much touted magic number  20/20.

Says the ‘good book’ but, I am certain, echoed in numerous scriptures of Faith – Render unto Caesar what is Caesars’s etc. etc. We have rendered unto D-Day its dues, its pietisms and imperious mandates, and in as measured accents as can be mustered by any pained member of a polityunder a ‘state of siege’. All that is left is to tackle, through a few illustrative samples, the hooded mercenaries who remain committed to the triumph of every imaginable shade of the anti-democratic agenda. They operate like the chameleon, adaptable to colour and texture of their immediateand appropriated environments. Forget the parable of never serving more than one master – they serve several, all interchangeableas readily as their wearing apparel. To them we are the mummu, they the lordly predators of the political jungle. In the interest of historic truths and self-preservation, it becomes a duty to seize every opportunity – fortunately mostly of their own providing – to dissect their proclamations, subject them to public scrutiny and take the trouble to probe deeply into their hidden briefs.

A hopeful Democracy Day to the electorate of June 12, 1993, and their political descendants, on whom the burden of the future unavoidably – falls.

The full text of this contribution and its follow-up are scheduled for publication in mid-July in the INTERVENTIONS series by BookCraft, under the sub-series, THE REPUBLIC OF LIARS.

The Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, has tasked Nigerians to adopt attitudinal change to ensure production and consumption of quality products in the country.

Aboloma gave the charge on Monday at a One- Day- General Sensitisation on SON Laboratory Services organised by SON in collaboration with Kusarha Nigeria Limited for South-South Regional stakeholders in Asaba, Delta.

The DG represented by Mr Saleh Babaji, Regional Coordinator, SON, South -South, said that capacity building was one of its organisational mandate to keep all stakeholders informed of the basic standards required of them in the course of production.

He said that the people’s attitude to cheaper and substandard products was a major challenge which the industrialists have to resist in order to remain in business because any business that fall short of the SON standards would be prosecuted.

“The capacity building is not only for our staff but for our stakeholders to enable them understand our mandate that we are adding value to what they do and they also make our work easier.

“Particularly now that the 2015 Act has giving the Agency more power and our functions more elaborate, getting the stakeholders to understand us makes our work more easier.

“Why we are calling for attitudinal change is for them to reject substandard products and embrace standards to ensure quality products.

“We are also urging for collaboration of all stakeholders to check the porous borders through which the people smuggle in substandard products into the country.

“If the industrialists collaborate with us to check fake and substandard products, it makes our job easier and they too will secure their products and have more markets for their products, ” Aboloma said.

Mr Chamberlain Nwaeze, Lead Consultant, Kusarha Nigeria Limited, said that the workshop was apt to sensitise, educate and inform the people on best practices in line with SON standards.

“If we are not careful, we will allow all the fake products take over our markets and the implication is that this will affect the peoples health from their consumption.

“We appreciate SON for collaborating with us to ensure that we power this programme on Laboratory Services.

“When you sensitise people on the danger of producing and consuming fake and substandard products, they become conscious on what to produce and what to buy.

“This products before they come into the market must conform to standards having been tested in the laboratories satisfied by SON,” he said.

On his part, Mr Ojo Akogun, Edo State Coordinator, SON and the Resource Person, said the stakeholders have been exposed to all they need to know by SON for them to take home and implement.

He said that they have to produce their products according to the specification and laid down standards to ensure quality.

He warned that any industrialists who failed to comply to SON standards would be prosecuted and products confiscated with the company closed.

According to him, all industrialists must wake up and embrace the right attitude based on SON standards.

“SON has laid out the procedures for standardising every products which must be followed.

“We have laboratories across the country for testing nearly all products to ensure standards, so, the industrialist must embrace the standard of SON to remain in business.

“Seeking high profits for a substandard product could rock the producer because when caught and prosecuted, he will lose every profit from such illegality business”.

Some of the participants, Mr Godspower Pererokosa and Emeka Uwabuike thanked the SON for the exposition and pledges to ensure standards.

Pereokosa said that he enjoyed the topic on calibration which he said would help his organisation get the right results in line with SON standards.

He called for a wider publicity to enable more stakeholders in the SME’s participate in such workshops.

On his part, Uwabuike, said that SON has done a good work by sensitising the public but they should back it with action.

“The peoples attitude as in quest for cheap and substandard products is driving by the current economic factor.

“The peoples attitude may change if the various institutions and Governments begins to do what is expected, particularly when offenders are being prosecuted,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that certificates were given to all participants at the end of the workshop.

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has said that with the successes recorded with the storm drainage projects being executed by his administration, more projects will be executed in the state.

Governor Okowa gave the assurance today (11/06/19) during an inspection visit to storm drainage sites in Asaba and its environs.  The governor who was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie; Chief of Staff, Government House, Olorogun David Edevbie; the Senior Political Adviser,  Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon inspected the discharge points of the storm drainage projects at the Anwai River, Government House in Asaba and Corner Stone area of Okpanam.  The level of job done at the project sites were explained by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Fred Edafioghor.

According to the governor, “we have to manage our finances; we have to be wise in our spending because these projects cannot be abandoned and we also want to be sure that in our planning process that we are not taking more than we can chew, so that we do not get choked; in the first four years we have been able to keep up with payments and projections; obviously, there are lots of benefits derivable from the construction of these drainage projects and we will do more.”

“From what we saw during the inspection, we are working with specifications; this current project (at Jesus Saves Road) is within its limit and we are being told that the houses around this project is affecting some of the work being done, but, work is going on and it will connect to the sewage by the Lion House while the other sewage drain will connect to the Agric road sewage; these projects are all part of the drainage plans for Asaba,” he said, adding, “we have three major drainages that are being executed but on the whole we have a lot more drainages to construct if we are to control the flow of flood water in Asaba; we still need about five more drainage projects to effectively tackle flood issues in Asaba to the level we want but, we took the three most critical ones which we have been inspecting today.”

“I believe that the completion of these ongoing drainage projects will remarkably reduce the water overflow in Asaba, but there is still a lot more to be done,” the governor stated.

He continued, “we will continue to do our best bearing in mind that we cannot attend to all the projects at once because, we are mindful of the fact that we need to pay our contractors and it is due to the fact that we want to ensure that  our contractors are well paid that we decided to start with the three major drainages out of the eight that were planned for Asaba and as we conclude payment for the projects being carried out now, we will be able to look into the process of awarding new contracts.”

 The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done at the projects sites saying, “we monitor the projects; we have consultants who are on ground as well as staff of the Ministry of Works to supervise the jobs; the quality of the jobs are outstanding and we are impressed.”

He emphasized that his administration was working for a state where issues of flooding will be frontally tackled, and called on Deltans to desist from dumping refuse on drainages but, rather, patronize private waste disposal operators to properly dispose their refuse.

“We all know the benefits of clean environment; if we have proper drainage channels to tackle flooding of our cities and towns, good network of roads, it is also, very important for our people to imbibe the habit of having clean environment; they should ensure proper disposal of wastes – no dumping of refuse in the drainages which can cause blockage, no dumping of refuse on the road, streets because, such does not only litter the environment, it can also, lead to health challenges,” Governor Okowa said.

From Theophilus UZI

The Association Of Private School Owners Of Nigeria (APSON), Delta State Wing has commended the state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for approving the appointment of Barr. Chiedu Ebie, the former commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The commendation was made in a press release made available to newsmen by the Chairman Vayero Ejogbamu and Secretary General, Kono Emiaso.

The statement said, “We are pleased with the decision of the Governor, in his own wisdom to re-assign the workaholic erstwhile Commissioner and a personality with impeccable character to occupy the exalted position.”

The statement says “On behalf of the Association Of Private School Owners Of Nigeria (APSON)- Delta State, We congratulate you on your appointment as the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG).
“We are not surprised at your elevation to this enviable position because of your track record  of diligence, sagacity and visionary leadership in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education where you served as Hon. Commissioner.
“We thank God almighty that our prayers for you when you graciously considered our plea during the revalidation exercise has been answered!
“Your humility, integrity and loyalty to His Excellency, Senator DR. IFEANYI OKOWA, is worthy of emulation. 
“Our further prayer is that the Lord of Heaven and Earth will guide and protect you in the day to day discharge of your duties as the SSG.; success and joyful fulfillment will be yours, and Deltans will be positively impacted during your tenure.”

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 11 June 2019:

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber) has announced its plans to host the fifth edition of the Global Business Forum (GBF) on Africa on November 18th-19th 2019 in Dubai under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Organised under the theme “Scale Up Africa”, GBF Africa 2019 will bring together African and UAE government and business leaders to explore avenues of economic cooperation and facilitate bilateral trade and investment flows.

The high-level forum will place a key focus on forging the connections that will enable scale up, and explore how public and private sector players in Africa and the UAE can work together to sustainable partnerships. Among the key topics to be address by delegates at the forum are the role of public-private cooperation and startups in driving economic growth, key challenges and opportunities that are emerging across the continent.

“Over the years, the Global Business Forum on Africa has established itself as one of the world’s leading platforms that fosters cooperation between Africa and the UAE and positions Dubai as a global gateway for African companies. The forum offers an unrivalled opportunity for key decision makers to explore investment opportunities in Africa and forge new partnerships that pave the way for mutual benefits and economic growth,” said H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

GBF Africa supports Dubai Chamber’s international strategy and ongoing expansion efforts in Africa, where the organisation currently operates four representative offices in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Kenya, adding that the upcoming forum would offer valuable insights on business potential in promising African markets that has yet to be fully explored. Standard Bank and Invest Africa are supporting the upcoming forum as event partners.

Source- (AETOSWire)

…Okowa Seeks Executive, Legislative Co-operation For Stronger Delta
…Bashorun Congratulates Owefere, Ogba, Onwo, Others

By Albert OGRAKA:

Following the formal inauguration of the 7th Delta State House of Assembly on Monday, June 10, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and other notable Deltans have congratulated the member representing Okpe Constituency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and his Ukwuani Constituency counterpart, Hon. Ochor Christopher Ochor on their successful election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

Governor Okowa, who in a statement made available to Blank NEWS Online in Asaba on Monday lauded the legislators for choosing the duo to preside over the 7th Assembly, urged the legislature to use their extensive knowledge and understanding of law making to work for the overall interest Deltans and in building a stronger Delta state.

“As Governor of our dear state, I promise to give my total support to the House and anything that will be required to ensure that you discharge your responsibilities fully without any inconvieniences.

“Our people have entrusted us with this special mandate with a resounding victory in the last elections, the least we can do for them is to ensure that we make good laws for the good governance, security of lives and property and ensure service to the people for a Stronger Delta.

“We need to understand that as representatives of the people, we must always consult with our constituents who sent us to the House and as messengers that we are, it is expected that we return home often to brief them on our representation.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, i congratulate you all on your success at the polls and I wish you God’s help in yet another phase of your continuing service to the good people of Delta State,” the statement added.

Also in his statement, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state, Bashorun (Hon) Askia Ogieh FCNA, CrFA, assured that the duo of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and Hon. Ochor Christopher Ocho will impact a new lease of legislative prowess in the Delta state legislature.

Bashorun Askia, the immediate past Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) at DESOPADEC said, “I have worked very closely with the Speaker Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who was returned because of his good leadership qualities and the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Ochor Christopher Ochor, who was before now my colleage at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). They will surely bring their great wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of their duties.” He assured.

He extended his congratulatory message to the legislators from the Isoko Nation, which includes, Hon Tim Kome Owefere (Ksm) from Isoko North; Hon Kenneth Ogba, Isoko South Constituency I, and Hon Chief Ferguson Ajiroghene Onwo, Isoko South Constituency II respectively for their successful inauguration into the 7th Delta State House of Assembly.

Bashorun Askia, also led a delegation of some Isoko leaders and stakeholders, including Hope Alive members to the inauguration ceremony of legislators from the Isoko Nation, at the Delta State House of Assembly where they exchanged pleasantries.