Nigeria, September 21, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has condoled with the Itsekiri nation and the entire people of Delta state over the demise of His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II whose death was announced.
He also hailed the emergence of Prince Godfrey Ikenwole Emiko for emerging as the Olu of Warri designate.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, Governor Okowa described the late traditional ruler as an icon of international status whose contribution to the development of humanity transcended beyond ethnic barriers.
Okowa who noted that his leadership as the chairman of the Delta State Traditional Council was legendary, said his passage marks the glorious closure of a chapter in tradition and culture of the Itsekiri people.
“The late Olu was a man of integrity whose death has a monumental gap in Nigeria’s traditional institution”. Okowa remarked.
He noted that the late olu will be missed not only by the people of the Itsekiri nation but the entire Deltans.
He prayed God to grant the departed eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Governor also congratulated Prince Godfrey Ikenwole Emiko for emerging as the Olu of Warri designate. He expressed satisfaction with the peaceful selection of a successor to Olu’s throne and commended the king makers and the people of Itsekiri for their maturity.
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Nigeria, September 21, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Late H.I.D. Awolowo
Delta State governorI, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has commiserated with the Awolowo family, government and the entire people of Ogun State over the passing on of their matriarch, Hannah Idowu Awolowo, wife of the late Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Governor Okowa in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu said that the late HID will obviously be missed by the people of Ogun state and the Yoruba nation in particular and the Nigerians in general.
“We take solace in her immense positive contributions to the society, most especially her role as a modest woman who was noted for her unflinching support to her husband’s political career in the first and second republic”, Okowa noted.
Governor Okowa described late Madam Awolowo as a woman who exhibited an uncommon ability to sustain not only the structure left behind by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but also added a motherly perspective which has seen prominent politicians in the country turn her place into a Mecca, of some sort.
While praying God to grant the late HID eternal rest, Governor Okowa enjoined the family and the government of Ogun state to take positive steps to immortalize her legacies.
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Nigeria, September 20, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
As Nigerians comisserate with the Awolowo family over the exit of their Matriarch, Madam Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has extended his condolences to the family, describing her death as a big loss.
In a statement signed by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Saturday, September19, 2015, the former Governor Of Delta State said that the death of Mama which came as a shock will definitely create a vacuum that will be had to fill filially, socially and politically.
“Mama has been a rallying point for all. A void has been created by her demise and that source of unity for all, be it political, social or at the family level has gone”, he stated.
We cannot help but recall her ability to keep together and sustain the family and business of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. She was a rare courage and mother”, he added.
Uduaghan prayed God Almighty to grant the family and Nigerians in general the fortitude to bear the loss.
In the same vein, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State in the April election has commiserated with the Awolowo family on the exit of their Matriarch, Madam Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.
Peterside who described Awolowo as a great woman of substance said Nigeria will miss her interventions and wise counsel.
A press statement signed by Sylvester Asoya Special Assistant on Media to Dr.Dakuku Peterside and made available to Blank NEWS Online noted that, “Among the wives of First Republic politicians, HID was without any doubt, one of the most visible and outstanding women of that glorious era. The sage himself captured her real essence when he fondly described her as “My Jewel of Inestimable value.”
According Hon. Dakuku, that apt description, over the years, gave a hint on her real meaning, not just to the Awolowo family, friends and admirers, but to the entire nation.
“A great Iroko has indeed fallen but like every mortal, she must travel this path. She will be remembered for her resourcefulness and carriage, and for being the pillar behind the great Awo.
“Without HID, it is very doubtful if Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have become that enigmatic and successful politician who bestrode our nation’s political space for many decades.
“HID, like Chief Awolowo, will never die. Surely, she will live forever, particularly in the minds of those who benefitted from her husband’s vision in human capital development.
“She will be greatly missed. And for the living, particularly those in public office, we must all draw from her example of service, consistency and commitment to great ideals. May her soul rest in peace.”
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Chiedu Ebie
The Delta state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie has reiterated that the state government has no intention to reintroduce payment of school fees for the 2015/2016 academic session in both primary and secondary schools in the state.
The Commissioner, who made the clarification at media briefing on Friday, September 18, 2015 in Asaba, said the rumour making the rounds is untrue, totally false and baseless.
He insisted that as a responsive and responsible government that is determined to serve Deltans, the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has not discussed or contemplated the re-introduction of tuition, adding that the state Ministry of Education has modalities for checking and ensuring compliance to government’s tuition and levy-free education policy in Delta state public schools.
According to him, “One of the key areas of focus of this administration is education and in doing so, our sole mission, is the gradual and steady recovery of the standard of education within the state, which is in line with the SMART agenda of the government.
“Some of the policies of the previous administration such as the payment of WAEC fees are being continued”, he affirmed.
Ebie also stated that the Ministry of Education will ensure uniformity in the curriculum used in both public and private schools at the pre-primary, lower basic, middle basis and post basic levels across the state.
The education Commissioner however disclosed that plans are underway to convene an Education Summit of all stakeholders in the state to discuss pertinent issues, determine the way forward and arrive at a sustainable solution
He said that due to the steady decline in the revenue accruing to the state, to over 60 percent, government is poised to partner with the private sector and donor agencies for support in attaining set objectives through its public, private partnership (PPP) initiative.
Delta state currently has approximately 25, 000 teachers in both primary and secondary schools; 230, 000 pupils and 213, 000 students in 1, 293 primary schools and 432 secondary schools.
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Nigeria, September 17, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Henry Ebireri has reached out to top leaders of the state, urging them to support Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
“His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is forthright, honest and meek in attitude. He understands issues of both economics and socio-political weight and he is driving the state in the direction that we want it.”
In a statement issued in Asaba on Thursday, Ebireri expressed optimism that Governor Okowa would win at the Tribunal.
He praised the governor for the radical changes in the state.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is a role model and the best governor in Nigeria. He is a committed member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and also receptive to new ideas which are needed in sustaining the Delta beyond oil initiative of the past administration” he said.
He warned those working against Governor Okowa in the state, urging traditional rulers, politicians, women and youths to support the governor.
“Rt. Hon Ovwigho Igbuya has a cordial relationship with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has vision, moral fortitude, zeal, leadership, commitment and love for all. He enjoys the friendship of the leadership of the party and the confidence of the people and will definitely triumph at the tribunal” the statement said.
Ebireri who exuded confidence that Dr. Okowa would defeat his opponents at the tribunal lauded him for galvanizing the people to self-development, energizing the economy, raising the standard of living of the people through adequate inter-village communication, focusing on capacity-building institutions, increasing rural output and creating employment opportunities.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is showing the necessary leadership by matching words with action through evolving workable development approaches, proper co-ordination and funding.”
Continuing, the statement said “Delta State is witnessing consolidated and programmed development. Governor Okowa is running the affairs of the state successfully. In making appointments, Okowa is taking the entire geography of the state into consideration, paying adequate attention to interests that will assist in the overall development of the state and spreading social and infrastructural amenities.
Ebireri described Governor Okowa as a charismatic leader with a strong moral belief of how things should be; urging him not to be disturbed by the actions of some unscrupulous politicians.
“Please keep up the good work, particularly, urban and rural development, job creation and empowerment of the less privileged and the vulnerable in our society,” he said.
The statement also praised the honourable speaker for promoting the people’s welfare and taking the state to greater heights.
“Rt. Hon Igbuya is an embodiment of progress, peace and prosperity in Sapele. He is providing the right leadership for the betterment of the people of the state, particularly Sapele. He is a stickler for hard work and excellence”, the statement added.
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Nigeria, September 15, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie
Delta state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie has assured Deltans that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration is determined to ensure quality basic education across the state.
Ebie, who gave the assurance during a visit to select schools in Asaba, the state capital, said that the visit was to ascertain the level of readiness and preparedness of the schools for the 2015/2016 new school academic session that started in the State on Monday September 14, 2015.
He promised the teachers that government will ensure that there is periodic capacity building for teachers to improve their teaching ability, even as he stated that government is expecting so much from them in terms of preparing their lesson notes on time, giving their best to students, high moral standards and also by being good examples.
The Commissioner also assured the schools that government will look into the challenges of inadequate chairs and tables and also the provision of other infrastructures and amenities needed for conducive learning environment in the schools, but however, stressed that this were indeed trying times as the State is faced with dwindling resources following the continued fall in oil prices.
The Commissioner stated that the visit was a continuation of his visits to schools when he resumed office in July 2015, to ascertain the level of infrastructural development and challenges faced by schools in the State.
Ebie who visited West-End Mixed Secondary School, Asagba Secondary School and Uzoigwe Primary School, all in Asaba, appreciated the large turn-out of teachers in all the schools but decried the low turnout of pupils and students and urged teachers to monitor and encourage pupils and students to always resume school on time as class work must start in earnest.
The principal of West End Mixed Secondary School, Mrs. Azuka Nwaokolo appealed to the commissioner to help solve the problem of flooding, especially the entrance to the school premises which has been taken over by large pool of water.
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Nigeria, September 15, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Delta State governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has formally opened his defence in the petition filed at the Delta State governorship election petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the state capital.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, September 14, 2015 the second Respondent witness Festus Ovie Agas, under examination by Okowa’s counsel, Mr. Alex Izyon (SAN), told the Tribunal that from the election results from INEC records, that Okowa scored the highest votes cast during the election to emerge the winner of the polls in the state.
Agas said PDP victory in the governorship election did not come as a surprise because PDP has always won its elections in the state as the PDP has dorminated the political space in the state since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.
Agas informed the court that Okowa’s victory was a continuation of a pattern of PDP’s victory in Delta state politics, stating that the PDP won 23 seats out of the 29 seats of the state House of Assembly.
The witness told the Tribunal that he cast his vote as a good citizen during the elections at Oteri town, in Unit 1 of word 2/6 of Ughelli North local government area and that most of the political parties had their agents in the polling units where he followed the due process of INEC accreditation which culminated into his voting in the presence of all security agents deployed to man the election
He also told the Tribunal that although, the card reader did not fail while he was being accredited to vote but that there were few instances where the card reader failed and the INEC officials were instructed by their superiors to resort to the use of manual accreditations through the use of the voters register, adding that PDP also won overwhelmingly in the Presidential election in the state.
Also, under examination by the INEC , PDP and Okowa’s counsels; Dr. Demain Dodo (SAN), Timothy Kehinde (SAN) and Alex Izyon (SAN) respectively, the first respondent witness Mr. Ikechukwu Akuzor, a local government collation officer for PDP, told the Tribunal that he stood by all the depositions in his statement on oath.
He said from his observation during the governorship election in the state, election material and results he collected were not tempered with, adding that the result of the election is a true reflection of the wishes and aspiration of the Ndokwa people.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal had earlier quashed an objection brought by APC and Otega’s Counsel, Chief Thompson Okpoko challenging the moves by Counsel to Okowa, Mr. Izyion (SAN) to tender CTC of election results to the tribunal through the witnesses.
But the three man panel of Tribunal chaired by Justice Nasiru Gunmi held that the document sought to be tendred were relevant and will help to advance the course of justice in the matter. The Petitioners were therefore overruled and the documents were admitted and marked as exhibits before the Tribunal. Further hearing on the matter has been fixed for15th September, 2015.
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Nigeria, September 11, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Computer Crime
Scammers and fraudsters have allegedly beseiged oil wealthy Delta state, fleecing unsuspecting people, especially job seekers off their hard earned monies through undercover agents pretending to act on the behalf of the state ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of Delta state government.
Several Deltans, including job seekers from neighboring Eastern states have fallen victim of these Job scammers, after paying them huge sum of money ranging from between N500, 000 to One Million naira each to secure employments.
A similar fraud was recorded during the immediate past administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, where hundreds of persons seeking employment were allegedly defrauded by recruitment officers of the Delta state Civil Service Commission (CSC). The Chairman and Members of the CSC Board were also culpable in the gross mismanagement of the recruitment exercise, leading to its suspension till date.
In July, during the Youth Empowerment programme of incumbent Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, some unscrupulous individuals allegedly collected money from applicants for the ongoing youth empowerment scheme with fake promises and assurances of getting them slots in the programme.
Dependable sources and evidences at the disposal of Blank NEWS Onlinehave proved that staff of the state government agencies were privy to the scammers’ activities while some were directly involved.
“It is a known syndicate but the authorities pretend they do not know about it. It is a shame”, a government staff revealed under oath of anonymity.
Only recently, the Delta State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) Project and the State Ministry of Environment cried out scammers have begun to prowl its agencies.
Activities of Job scammers, according to them, include requesting unsuspecting members of the public to pay money into First Bank of Nigeria plc, account number 3029362065 for the purposes of securing employment at the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project.
Most of the fraudsters also act as commission agents for the state government agencies and collect money on behalf of SEEFOR from Job seekers, only to disappear into thin air after defrauding their victims.
Meanwhile, the Delta state government has in a statement made available to Blank NEWS Online on Wednesday, September 09, 2015 issued a stern warning to job seekers to be wary of these scammers who disguise as government agents or staff.
The statement signed by Mr. Paul Osahor, Director of Information reads in part:
“The attention of the Delta State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) Project and the State Ministry of Environment have been drawn to activities of Job scammers in the state, who go about requesting unsuspecting members of the public to pay money into First Bank of Nigeria plc, account number 3029362065 for the purposes of securing employment at the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the SEEFOR project neither collect money from Job seekers nor did it commission agents to collect money on its behalf from Job seekers.
“As an agency of government, the SEEFOR project will always advertise job positions where vacancies exist for the recruitment of qualified personnel for the information of the general public.
“Accordingly, anybody that has fallen victim of these Job scammers is by this announcement advised to report the matter to the Nigerian Police.”
In another development, earlier in July, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Delta State Governor, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, insisted that the collection and return of forms for the ongoing empowerment schemes initiated by state government is free and in line with government’s “Prosperity For All” agenda.
Aniagwu’s statement titled “Delta State Empowerment Programme Not For Sale” and made available to Blank NEWS Online on July 22, 2015 reads:
“It has come to the notice of the Delta State Government that some unscrupulous individuals are going about especially on the social media trying to collect money from applicants for the Youth Empowerment programme while giving them fake promises and assurances of getting them slots in the programme. This is not only sad but negates the objectives of the programme.
“The state government want also to reiterate that the programme is free and as such nobody should pay money to anybody for the empowerment programme and any request for money should be duly reported to security agencies for necessary action.
“We are working in concert with security agencies to nib in the bud this fraudulent attempt to rip innocent and vulnerable deltans and deny them of the benefits of the government empowerment programme. Be rest assured anyone caught in this fraudulent acts will be made to face the full wrath of the law no matter his or her position”.
It could also be recalled that erstwhile Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan suspended the Chairman and Members of the Civil Service Commission [CSC] over gross mismanagement of the recruitment exercise in to the state Civil Service and eventually set up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to review the exercise.
The then Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay in a statement issued on Thursday, May 21, 2015 said that the suspension became necessary as “the recruitment exercise which was to address some vacancies in the Service and respond to the employment needs of the state has however been abused and ridiculously mismanaged by the Civil Service Commission.”
“More embarrassing is the allegation of gross misconduct, abuse of office and fraud involving the sale of employment on account of which some members of the commission are presently undergoing interrogation by the security agencies”, Comrade Maucaulay stated.
Last Word:
If the current trend of abuse of office by employees in the state government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) remain unchecked and possible loopholes unblocked, unemployment rate in the state will remain on the high and growth of successive governments may be hindered while their policies remain unpopular.
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Nigeria, September 10, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
The Delta State House of Assembly has approved the request of the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to apply for the sum of N20.9 Billion bailout loan from the Federal Government through the Central Bank to defray outstanding salaries for public servants in the state and to fund capital projects.
The approval of the request for the bailout loan from the governor by the House of Assembly came after the Speaker, Hon. Monday Igbuya read the letter containing the request.
According to the governor’s request, the state was saddled with a backlog of outstanding salaries due to its employees and pension commitments arising from
both the new and old schemes totaling N50 Billion (fifty billion naira).
He said the loan request was as a result of the continuous decline in the state’s revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee occasioned by dwindling oil prices.
The Governor noted that states of the federation have been asked to submit data on outstanding debts profile to commercial banks and salaries obligation to public servants.
According to the governor’s request, the Central Bank had indicated its readiness to provide a loan of N10 Billion (ten billion naira) at a concessionary interest rate of nine percent per annum to all the state governments to aid their funding of capital projects, aside the loan to pay up backlog of salaries and pension commitments.
The Governor said it had become necessary to accept the kind offer of the Federal Government through the Central Bank in form of bailout loans totaling N20.9 Billion.
He stressed that 10.9 Billion was for the settlement of outstanding salaries and the other N10 Billion was for the funding of capital projects, stressing that the State Executive Council at its 15th meeting had approved the loan, while the approval by the House was a mandatory requirement to conclude the loan transaction.
The bailout loan request was approved by the state House of Assembly after debates by the majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere on the need for the House to approve the loan request.
In the same vein, the Delta state House of Assembly has also approved a N5 Billion loan request by the state government, on behalf of ULO Construction for the upgrade of the Asaba Airport and its run-way to allow bigger planes.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to amend the Appropriation Law 2015 has passed the first and second reading at the State House of Assembly.
The 2015 Appropriation Law Amendment Bill was sent to the House by Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa and was read at today plenary by the Speaker, Hon. Monday Igbuya.
The Governor noted that he addressed the House on Thursday 25th June 2015 to intimate them that the 2015 budget as passed in the last administration was no
longer realistic in the wake of current realities and canvassed the need for a careful review of the budget.
After the first and second reading of the Bill, the Speaker set up an adhoc committee to fast track the passage of the bill.
The adhoc committee is to be chaired by Hon. Eriathiake Ibori, while the members are Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Honourable Eric Oharisi, Hon. Godwin Abigor, Hon. Daniel Yingi and Hon. Azuka Azaka. The Secretaries of the Committee are Mr. Frank Onwumah, Mrs. Erijo Mariere, Mr. Vincent Atumah among others.
The adhoc committee has two weeks to submit their report.
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Nigeria, September 07, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
The Delta state Police Command has apprehended 156 persons suspected to be members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in ASABA, Delta state capital.
A statement issued by the Delta state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Celestina Kalu and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Monday, September 07, 2015 reads:
“Sequel to information received that the group will be holding a meeting at Oneh Primary school, Asaba on 6/9/15 at about 1400hrs. The command mobilized its patrol teams to the venue at about 1445hrs same sate. One hundred and fifty six (156) persons were arrested.
“Immediately after the arrest, a team of detectives headed by the AC CIID, conducted a screening exercise, eleven (11) of them suspected to be the ring leaders are still undergoing further investigation and possible prosecution, while the rest including women and children were warned and released.
“The command is committed to providing a peaceful atmosphere for the enhancement of democracy and therefore, warned that the provisions of the law will be enforced to the letters and no one , no matter how highly placed will be treated as sacred cow.
“The public are advised to be aware that fraternizing with the group of outlawed indigenous people of Biafra is unlawful; anyone arrested will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Acoording to the Police statement, Items recovered from them include:
i. Biafra freedom song CD plate
ii. Group photograph showing members of the group
iii. United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
iv. Document containing Biafra National Anthem
v. Documents containing World latest vote on Biafra
vi. One Sony camera
vii. A book titled Agueleri: The pivot of the Bani-Israil in Nigeria.
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Nigeria, September 07, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Mr. Pano Canivale, General Manager Agip Oil Company
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has urged multi national companies exploring oil in the state to employ people in their host communities to foster sustainable cooperation and conducive environment.
Okowa’s statement is coming on the heels of a plot by the management of AGIP Oil Company to renew the collaboration between the company and the state government.
Speaking when the management team of AGIP Oil Company Limited led by its General Manager Mr. Palio Carnivale paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, ASABA, Governor Okowa opined that oil companies could build peaceful coexistence and conducive working environment with host communities by creating employment opportunities for the youths.
His words ” I have to reiterate that there is a need for oil companies to ensure that they engage the youths in the immediate communities with employment first before they look elsewhere because the more people you actually employ from the immediate communities the more they acknowledge you as friends and the more they relate with you and that will also help to protect whatever investment that will be had on our pipelines”.
Although the Governor commended AGIP Oil Company for its past engagement of people in communities in the state, he insisted that a lot more could be done to better the lives of Deltans in host communities, warning that disagreement between host communities and oil prospecting companies occur when the company is seen to thrive and the community becomes impoverished.
While calling on Deltans, especially those in oil producing areas of the state to peacefully coexist with oil companies in order to achieve sustainable development, Governor Okowa assured of his administration’s continuous support to the oil company.
“We will continue to encourage all investment in the oil sector and therefore we will continue to partner with you to ensure that you will be able to get the best for your company, for the nation and the state”.
Earlier the General Manager, AGIP Oil Company Mr. Palio Carnivale stated that they had come for the purpose of renewing the collaboration between the company and the state government as well as solicit the continuous support of the state government.
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Nigeria, September 06, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Late Comrade Gomo Oyibokuku Oyiborhoro
The immediate past Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Chike C. Ogeah, Esq, has commiserated with the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the passage of Comrade Gomo Oyibokuku Oyiborhoro.
In a m aessage to Delta State NUJ, Ogeah recalled that he had the privilege of working with the late Oyibhororo who was then the secretary of the state council of the NUJ, noting that Gomo as he was popularly known always fought for the uplifting of the fortunes of practicing journalists. In a press release issued in Asaba by Mr. Pius Mordi, special assistant to the former Commissioner for Information, Ogeah said that Gomo was always constructive in his engagement with the authorities even as he never compromised his convictions on upholding the tenets of journalism.
“My prayers and thoughts are with his immediate family and I pray that God will comfort them in this difficult time,” Ogeah stated in his condolence message. The former commissioner urged journalists in Delta State not to be deterred by the painful loss, urging them to always avail themselves of medical facilities in the state.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Gomo who until his demise was a staff of the Delta Printing and Publishing Company, publishers of the Pointer newspapers.
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Nigeria, September 06, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Late Comrade Gomo Oyibokuku Oyiborhoro
Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed deep shock over the death of the immediate past Secretary of the Delta State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Comrade Gomo Oyibokuku Oyiborhoro.
Okowa, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu , said the gap created by Oyiborhoro’s demise would be difficult to fill.
He described his eternal exit as an irreparable loss to the journalism profession especially in Delta state and the country in general.
Recalling the professional career of Comrade Gomo Oyiborhoro, as the Assistant General Manager (Editorial), Delta Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Publisher of the Pointer Newspapers, Okowa said, “his achievement in the journalism profession would remain alive for ever.”
He prayed for the eternal peace of the soul of the deceased and conveyed his deep sympathy to his bereaved family members and members of NUJ, as they have lost an intelligent journalist.
“I have learnt with deep shock the untimely death of Comrade Gomo Oyiborhoro, who until his death on Friday, September 4, 2015 at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, was an Assistant General Manager (Editorial), Delta Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Publisher of the Pointer Newspapers.
“I therefore join all Deltans in expressing condolences to the bereaved family, NUJ, the management and staff of the Pointer Newspaper and the entire media fraternity for the loss of a journalist par excellence.
“He will be missed for his charm, his courage, his zeal, his skills and his willingness to share his ideas with all.
“May the Almighty Lord sustain the bereaved family during this difficult time, and may his soul rest in eternal peace.”
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Nigeria, September 05, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba on Friday, September 04, 2015 rejected attempt by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate in the governorship election, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, to tender election documents they brought to the tribunal through INEC official.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Counsel to APC and Olorogun Otega Emerhor had moved a motion to call an INEC witness to tender unit by unit election results of the 25 local government areas of the state. The results sought to be tendered in court are forms EC8E and EC8D.
As soon as the INEC witness mounted the box, in the bid to make the necessary introduction, counsel to INEC ,Mr. Anumoye Onyeye interjected, drawing the attention of the tribunal to the fact that the document sought to be tendered has been in the custody of APC for over twenty- four hours ago.
Anumoye told the tribunal that since the document has been in the custody of APC and O’tega’s counsels, INEC could not guaranty the authenticity of the document. He sought the leave of the court to disallow the INEC witness from tendering the said document and that the document should rather be tendered through APC witness.
After listening to the argument of other respondents counsel, namely Counsels to INEC, PDP and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa , Mr. Ken Mozie (SAN), Mr. Timothy Kehinde (SAN) and Animoye O, respectively , Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Nasiru Gunmi ordered the witness who was yet to give his name to step out from the witness box and leave the courtroom.
This prompted APC Counsel, Chief Thomson Okpoko to call a second witness, one Mr. Oreh Ohimor, a lawyer and the Director of Administration and Operations in Otega’s campaign organization.
Soon after the Ohimor entered the witness stand, Okopko, sought the leave of the court to tender a unite by unite election result sheets as contained in form EC8 A through him.
This move elicited another round of argument as the respondents counsels randomly objected to the plan.
Counsels to INEC, PDP and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr. Ken Mozie (SAN), Mr. Timothy Kehinde (SAN) and Animoye O, respectively raised the alarm that the petitioners Counsel Chief Thomson Okpokor(SAN), is trying to tender electoral documents through the back door, and applying non-legal methods in the prosecution of their case.
In a swift reaction, Ken Mozie (SAN), a lead counsel to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, vehemently opposed the moved arguing that the documents sought to be tendered was not pleaded nor listed in the witness statement on oath.
He posited that the documents listed in the witness statement on oath are form EC8D and EC8E and not form EC8A and that any attempt to tender form EC8A would amount to subverting due process and obtaining justice through the back door.
He said “we object to the admissibility of these documents, the fundamental foundational requirement where not met , in paragraph 14 of the witness statement, only form EC8D and form EC8E were pleaded, in their reply to our reply, it was not pleaded, no reference was made to the document sought to be tendered, listing the document will not cure it if it was not accommodated in their pleading. He urged the tribunal to reject t”.
In his submission, counsel to PDP, Timothy Kehinde (SAN) pointed out that it is an elementary principles of law to put the parties on notice and not by surprise, as the document sought to be tendered must be specifically pleaded.
He said an unleaded document cannot be admitted even when the document was mentioned in the witness statement, adding that in the instant cases, the document was not mentioned in the witness statement on oath neither was it pleaded.
INEC counsel, O. Anumonye while arguing in the same vein, pointed out that “the document sought to be tendered by APC and Otega were not refereed in the witness deposition”, adding that “having pleaded over voting by tendering forms EC8D and form EC8E, pleading form EC8A will constitute springing a surprise.
In two brief rulings, the chairman of the three-man panel of the tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gunmi rejected the move by APC to tendered local government result. But in another ruling, Justice Gunmi accepted the unit by unit election results tendered as exhibits.
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Nigeria, September 02, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of oil wealthy Delta state.
For some time, there have been overt attempts to rewrite the history of governance in Delta State, especially the eighth-year tenure of His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, immediate past Governor of the state, through outright falsehood and mischief.
However, the report in the Sunday Leadership of August 30, 2015, crossed the boundaries of mischief.
In the story on “Lives of former governors after office”, the segment on Dr. Uduaghan is a classic case of armchair journalism embellished with fictitious quotes with persons the author of the story never spoke with.
Having served the people of Delta State meritoriously, it is no rocket science to know that Dr. Uduaghan will take a well deserved rest having not had a vacation during his time as Governor. But the author stretched his imagination to a bizarre level by concocting events and developments.
First, at no time did anybody from Leadership newspapers call me on phone or speak to me directly as the then chief press secretary to the former governor.
Secondly, the mischievous allusion to a bid to sell the Master Care schools to the government of Delta State exists only in the mind of the author of the story.
There is absolutely no desire to sell the school now or in the future neither was any contact made with private individuals or officials of government on such a move. As there is no agreement anywhere for the sale of the school, the talk of “revoking” the “sale” is a product of the writer’s mischievous game plan. So why would Dr. Uduaghan’s wife go to court?
Let it be stated that at no time was the Mastercare International School, owned by a foundation being run by the wife of the Ex-Governor, sold to or negotiated with the Delta State Government. Therefore, the phantom running battle between Dr Uduaghan and his successor, Governor Okowa over an alleged “refusal to approve payment “, can not arise.
We recognise the fact that these are desperate times for political jobbers who will stop at nothing to create storms where none exist in order to achieve their inordinate objectives. In executing this, there should be some modicum of honour and responsibility.
Dr. Uduaghan is not in any “running battle” with his successor, His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. Of course, some people may have tried to create one using hirelings as the author of the story under reference, but as is always the case, any venture founded on satanic motives will collapse.
The author’s cheap resort to unfounded generalization in classifying Dr. Uduaghan’s achievements in office as “abysmal” only betrays the writer’s real intention of undertaking a hatchet job. However, Deltans are too sophisticated a people to be taken in by such jaundiced venture.
His legacies of achievements will continue to speak for him and continue to endear him to the people. As any other citizen, Dr. Uduaghan is entitled to embark on any legitimate venture after his vacation.
I implore my professional colleagues to exercise caution and be mindful of the fact that as journalists we owe readers the responsibility to uphold our honour.
*SUNNY OGEFERE Is Former Chief Press Secretary to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Ex- Governor of Delta State.
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Nigeria, September 02, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
The Delta State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta state has affirmed that LP and Ogboru’s star witness is hostile to the petitioners.
The petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded governorship election in Delta State, challenging the election victory of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at the polls suffered yet another major setback on Tuesday.
At the resumed hearing of the substantive suit, the three-man- panel of tribunal hearing the cases affirmed that LP and Ogboru’s star witness is hostile to the petitioners.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gunmi, held that the star witness of the Labour Party and Great Ogboru has not only suddenly abandoned them but that he has turned hostile.
Counsel to LP and Ogboru , Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo had informed the tribunal that certain portions in paragraphs 5,6, and 7 of their witness, Mr. Felix Enabor from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) statement on oath, contained depositions that are “animus and hostile” to their petitioners.
Expectedly, the motion elicited objections and counter objections from counsels to both parties to the dispute.
In his ruling, Justice Gunmi upheld the position of the petitioners, saying that , “we have carefully examined the deposition of PW2 and we are of the view that some of the paragraphs in the said deposition stands against the pleading of the petitioners, we therefore agree with the petitioners counsel that it was right to treat pw2 as hostile witness for the purpose of being cross examined by the petitioners counsel”.
Soon after the court declared Mr. Felix Enabor as a hostile witness, Justice Gunmi asked Ogboru’s counsel, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) to proceed with his cross examination, where Enabor responded to questions saying that the governorship election conducted by INEC in Delta state was done in compliance with the electoral acts .
Enabor, under examination by the counsels of Okowa, PDP and INEC, Mr. Ken Mozie (SAN), Timothy Kehinde (SAN) and Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) respectively also affirmed that he was not the maker of the documents that were tendred in court but that he came only to tender them.
He also said that he did not come to court with ill feelings as he was a civil servant, adding that paragraph 5 of the deposition he made in court over the stolen INEC document and the arrest of some persons in connect to the criminal act was based on police investigation and report, saying that he has no animosity against those arrested.
He said he stood by the averments made in the depositions in his statement to the tribunal on oath, adding that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is the duly elected candidate in the governorship election of Delta State having polled the highest votes .
Enabor also told the tribunal that, some of the data captured in the card reader were not captured in the field before the saver was shut dawn.
Attempt by Ogboru’s counsel to subject the witness to another round of cross examination after the court declared him hostile elicited another round of argument as respondent’s counsels vehemently opposed the move.
According to Adesina, the subpoenaed order on the witness has not been vacated by the tribunal, adding that there are some documents that the witness needed to tender before the tribunal.
Mozie strongly opposed it saying , “the argument is grossly mischievous, he has been cross examined , he has deposed to his statement , adding that the subpoena was issued on the application of the Petitioners.
I submit that no provision of the law for disjointed presentation of evidence, I submit that he can no longer give evidence and should be allowed to go.
Kehinde in his opposition submitted that “the witness cannot come back to give evidence in chief because there is no provision in our justice system that evidence should be done in bits as he did not apply to make the witness present or tender his document before declaring him hostile.
Kehinde argued further, that the petitioner can bring any document through other witness , saying they either sink or swim with the witness.
Ikpeazu, on his part aligned with the submission of the other respondent counsel , adding that the witness has told the tribunal that all the documents needed had been produced.
He informed the court that the prosecution made a very serious and dangerous choice to the effect that they would rather treat the witness as hostile witness which was an abandonment of a friendly witness, if they have to tender any document , it has to come through another witness, the petitioner had made wrong choice.
Ruling on the matter, justice Gunmi disallowed the moves by the petitioners to compel the witness to tender further document or keep him any longer as witness as they have declared him as a hostile witness .
He adjourned further hearing on the matter to next Monday, 7th September, 2015.
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Nigeria, September 01, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
CHAIRMAN, Delta State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Ifeanyi Obi has commended security operatives for their prompt response which ensured that the crises that rocked Ika South branches of the Union did not escalate.
Responding to what transpired at the local government last weekend between members of the drivers’ union, Chief Obi disclosed that those who caused the mayhem have been dismissed by the Union because of their violent tendencies in their units and branches.
“We want to thank security men for their actions, those people would have wrecked havoc which could have led to the loss of life,” he said, adding, “we are happy that the situation is normal and our people are working peacefully, Ika South is peaceful.”
He stated, “I have always told them, that we have a new government and that we should work and live in peace, we should allow our Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to settle down, our members are happy carrying out their functions without problem until that unfortunate incident.”
Chief Obi who said the union was ready to absorb anybody who is a commercial vehicle driver, emphasized, “the era of thuggery, era of violence is over, our actions are guided by the constitution, so, if you were dismissed by your unit and your branch, follow due process to rejoin the union if you are still interested, it cannot be done by force.”
“We are not lawless and we will follow due process in whatever we do,” Chief Obi said, emphasizing, “this is time to support our Governor, it is important that we do that because we are known for working with government in power and the situation cannot be different when we have Senator Okowa as our Governor.”
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The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged a gang-up against former Governor Chibuike Amaechi by some powerful forces in the State desperate to ensure that he does not get appointed into the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“These retrogressive forces are so afraid of the shadow of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi that they are willing to go to any length to ensure that he is not accommodated in President Buhari’s cabinet. They have for months mounted a relentless campaign of calumny against the person of Amaechi, thus biting the finger that once fed them. This is not only shameful but also a clear sabotaging of the greater interests of Rivers State,” the State APC Chapter said in a statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt and signed by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
The party alleged that incumbent Governor Nyesome Wike is celebrating the non-appointment of Amaechi as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by President Buhari and that he has set up a committee to bribe and influence the Senate to reject Amaechi in case President Buhari nominates him as a Minister.
“We wish to advise Wike, to desist and stop trying to play God. We are confident that he can never constitute a stumbling block to Amaechi if President Buhari wishes to nominate him to render service to his fatherland in any capacity,” Rivers APC said.
The party equally berated those who have been sponsoring stories claiming that Amaechi was so shocked by his non-appointment as SGF that he took off for London to get himself together. “Funny enough, Amaechi was in Port Harcourt to witness the formal commissioning ceremony of a church,” Rivers APC said.
The party described the efforts to rubbish and diminish Amaechi as an exercise in futility as nobody will deny the fact that he played a pivotal role in sacking the administration of former Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and installing the current government at the centre, thus making him a hero of Nigeria’s modern democracy.
The statement urged Amaechi to be steadfast in his support for the administration of President Buhari which he put his life at risk to make possible, while urging the party’s supporters and admirers of Amaechi “to exercise patience and allow President Buhari to conclude his appointments before we can pass any valid judgment.”
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Nigeria, September 01, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
In a dramatic twist, the Labour Party (LP) and its Governorship candidate in the April 11 governorship election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru has cried out in court that his star witness has suddenly turned hostile.
The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the State capital had subpoenaed the INEC Head of Department; General Administration and Procurement in Asaba head office, Mr. Felix Enabor, to give evidence in the petition filed by Ogboru and LP, over the conduct of the governorship election in the state.
Soon after Enabor mounted the witness box and his written statement and other documents admitted by the Tribunal as exhibit, rather than commence with the examination of the witness, Ogboru’s counsel, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, raised the alarm by way of a motion urging the Tribunal to label Enabor as a hostile witness.
He contended that some paragraphs in the witness deposition were “animus” and injurious to the petitioners.
But in a swift reaction, the counsels to Governor Okowa, PDP and INEC, Dr. Alex Izyion (SAN), Mr. Timothy Kehinde (SAN) and Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) respectively vehemently opposed the motion.
Izyon described the move as “very basal and unknown to law”, arguing that Section 230 of the Evidence Act has not been complied with.
He pointed out the request to label the witness as hostile and animus is not automatic as it cannot be invoked.
He said, “the Petitioner is the one providing the witness upon an application, it is his witness, where the procedure is by deposition, particularly if the witness is adverse to his cases particularly to election petition, they have taken a gamble, they ether swim or sink with the witness they have called”.
He said the Petitioners are the ones that called the witness, and he obeyed the subpoena, adding that there was no evidence of hostility with the witness as there was nothing to show such, as he has the mandate of the Petitioner to come and testify.
HH further explained that the issues of the LP Chairman facing criminal prosecution over stolen INEC materials should not be a hidden thing, adding that the issue of hostile witness was not new to jurisprudence, as there are no enough grounds to treat witness from INEC as hostile.
He also argued that Enabor has not made another statement that contradicts the one he deposed to in court that will amount to contradiction, hence there was no need to brand him a hostile witness.
The “Tribunal is guided by law and not by sentiment, we are bound by the rules of the procedure the witness has adopted, so they are bound by it”.
In his submission, Counsel to PDP, Mr. Timothy Kehinde (SAN), averred that “we shall be opposing this application to treat the witness as hostile. The condition precedent for the Tribunal to excerise such decision has not been met.
According to him, “a party producing a witness is under obligation not to be allowed to impugn on the credibility of his witness by general conduct or behavior”, adding that “there is no doubt that the witness is at the command of the Tribunal, whose sole duty it is to help the Tribunal to arrive at a just decision and not under any obligation to give evidence that is favorable to the parties except to say the truth”.
Kehinde posited that the position of the Petitioner that they do not have impute in the evidence of the witness, according to him, is nothing but suggestive of the fact that they have no opportunity to course the witness to commit perjury.
He pointed out that the fact the witness is not giving the Petitioner a favorable evidence does not mean that he he is hostile, adding that, before the application can be granted, there must be evidence that a contrary statement has been made by the witness and he must be asked whether he has made such statement for the records.
Kehinde further pointed out that, all the deposition in the witness statement on oath are relevant in the case and explains everything the witness knows about the matter, nothing in the statement to declare him hostile, as that ends his duty to the party that called him, adding that the next move is for the Respondents to cross examine him.
Supporting his arguments with section 51(1) of the Evidence Act, Kehinde stated that there shall be no oral examination of the witness by the Petitioner but just to tender the document he has listed on oath.
He said granting the application would be tantamount to helping the petitioner to have an impute into the evidence of the witness and that will mean asking the judge to descend from his hallowed chambers as unbiased umpire in the case.
Arguing in the same vein, counsel to INEC Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), opposed the application saying it has no bases as provided under Section 230 of the evidence act , that the petitioner relied upon for the application, hence the tribunal has no facts before it upon which to grant the application.
After listening to the arguments of all the counsels, Justice Gunmi has reserved ruling for 1st September, 2015
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The Delta state Police Command has uncovered plot by some officials of the state chapter of the Labour Party to tender fake election results sheets in court.
A certified true copy of the police report addressed to the commissioner of police and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Hafiz M. Inuwa states that a premafacie case of forgery and falsification have been established.
The State Police Command says it has arrested and detained some officials of the Party for being in possession of sensitive electoral documents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in relation to the just concluded governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
The Police report revealed that those arrested are top members of LP who are alleged to have stolen INEC electoral materials for the 2015 general election.
Among those arrested and interrogated in connection with the incident are Chief Tony Ezegwu, who is the Delta State Labour Party Chairman and Onodawerho Esiri , the prime suspects in the report
According to the police report with reference number CR3000/DTS/SD3/VOL/3/230, and dated 25th June, 2015, the police acting on a tip-off swooped on a popular hotel located in the metropolis of Asaba, the Delta State capital and found the suspects in possession of INEC original copies of results relating to the just concluded governorship election in the state.
The report listed the items recovered to include; “47 completed copies of original result sheet, otherwise known as , form EC8A, for the governorship election held in parts of Warri South; 16 completed copies of original result sheets, otherwise known as form EC8A(1), for House of Assembly held in parts of Warri South; 7 completed copies of original result sheets , otherwise known as form EC8 for governorship election held in parts of Ugheli North”.
The report further stated that “the recovered and identified result sheets are sensitive materials that should not be found outside the custody of INEC or officials of INEC and that the person that stole the result sheet is the person that stands to gain advantage at the Electoral Petition Tribunal if INEC could not produce the result sheets when the tribunal demands for it”
Other items removed also include, “five completed copies of original result sheet, otherwise known as form EC8A(1), for House of Assembly election held in Ugheli North and one copy of original form EC8B(1) for summary of results from polling units in Warri South. Also recovered were 149 original copies of polling unit material receipt forms, otherwise known as form EC25B; 139 copies of forged forms EC25B among others”.
The report indicates that two staff of INEC staff allegedly conniving with the agents of the Labour Party were interrogated , adding that “following the discovery of the exhibits , INEC did a stock taking of its strong room and discovered that a total of 117 results sheets for governorship election and 20 house of Assembly election are missing from their strong room”.
The police have concluded plans to charge the suspects to court for conspiracy to steal, forgery and receiving of stolen INEC property.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate in the governorship election in Delta State, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, of stalling trial in the election petition they filed challenging the victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the april 2015 polls.
Today, at the resumed hearing of the trial of the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Counsel to APC and O’tega, Chief Thomson Okpoko (SAN) had moved a motion praying the court for adjournment to enable it get certified copies of his petition documents from INEC.
He had argued that most of the documentations were not properly certified as stipulated by the supreme court, adding that, the true and proper certification would be done by INEC administrative secretary.
But INEC counsel Chief Danien Dodo (SAN) raised an objection, saying that APC and O’tega’s in ability to secure a genuine certification was an act of negligence as they have all the opportunity to do so before approaching the Tribunal.
He prayed the court not to grant APC another adjournment as that would amount to stalling the trial noting that ample time have been lost since the tribunal commenced sitting.
He argued further that, the trial can go on, and that APC and Otega can submit whatever document in their position whether certified or not, as the tribunal would give them the opportunity of sending in their documents on or before the end of the trial.
He also averred that INEC can avail them the opportunity of using its documents to continue with the trial as both parties will be relying on the same paper to present to the Tribunal.
Arguing in the same vein, counsel to PDP, Timothy Kehinde (SAN) urged the Tribunal not to grant APC the adjournment saying that, as doing so will mean overreaching the petitioner and thus delay the proceedings.
He pointed out that “the documents were certified and giving to the petitioners in February 15, while we responded, we submit that , it will be an act of bad faith for the petitioners if they just discovered the imperfection in their certification, it is trite law, public documents that has not been certified can be put in after which it can be certified.
He lamented the incessant request for adjournment from the petitioners adding that , the tribunal had already granted such request on 25, 26, 27, and 28 of August 2015, adding that any further request for adjournment for the purpose of certification of documents would amount to injustice on the part of the respondents and the general public.
Dr. Alex Izyion, (SAN), Counsel to governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in his submission prayed the court to dismissed the motion saying that the petitions is sue jeneris as the tribunal has little or no time left, adding that section 46 of the Electoral Act limits the request being sought.
Chairman of the three-man panel Tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gunmi in his ruling said it has become necessary to grant the petitioners time to regularizes their document as that will ensure that the parties are giving fair hearing, he therefore adjourned the matter to 4th September, 2015 for continuation of trial.
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Nigeria, August 28, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Considering the critical nature of the new composition of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission [DESOPADEC] as well as the unsavoury postulations of some Deltans on the newly amended law establishing the Commission, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has vowed that his administration will not hesitate to sanction any erring Board member in accordance with the provisions of the new law.
Okowa, who charged them to ensure prudent management of resources for the benefits of the pewhoe, issued the warning while inaugurating the 14-man Governing Board of DESOPADEC today (28/08/15) at the Government House, Asaba.
“I encourage you to use the bottom-up approach; the communities should determine the projects they want in their areas so that peace will reign and development will be enhanthe. This administration will not hesitate to sanction any erring Board member in accordance with the provisions of the new law”, Okowa warned.
While stating that the new DESOPADEC has no room for incompetence, selfishness and greed, the Governor emphasised that “the setting up of this Board is coming at a critical period in our nation’s history – revenue from oil has dropped drastically and the plight of our oil producing communities has come into sharp focus and as such, the situation calls for discipline, sacrifice and prudent management of our resources for maximum benefits to our people and this is the challenge that you face in your new assignment.”
Okowa who told members of the Board to imbibe the principles of fairness, equity and justice that are watchword of his administration, urged them to always involve host communities in their decision-making process to foster peace and development in those communities.
According to him, “the new DESOPADEC structure provides for sound corporate governance in line with international best practices which is expected to put the Commission on a stronger footing to better meet the developmental needs of ethnic nationalities in the oil producing areas.”
“Under the new structure, there is a Governing Board comprising a Chairman, Managing Director, four Executive Directors, and nine representatives of Oil Producing Areas in the state with at least two from each Senatorial District,” he said, adding, “also listed in the Board are one representative each from the state Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning.”
He appealed “to all stakeholders, especially youths, indigenes and communities to cooperate with the new Board and give it a chance to succeed because everything must be done to bring development to our people.”
Hon. Ebosa on behalf of members of the Board, thanked Governor Okowa for recognising their potentials, stating, “we see our appointment as a call to serve our dear state, and we will do our utmost best to make life better for our people by providing quality infrastructure, enhancing social services and ensuring the implementation of people-oriented value added initiatives, within the limits of available resources.”
The constituted Board has Hon. Godwin Ebosa as Chairman, Chief William Makinde as Managing Director; Chief Askia Ogieh (Executive Director), Hon. Chris Ochor Ochor (Executive Director); Mr Philip Gbasin (Executive Director); Engr. Oristetimeyin Wood (Executive Director) while the representatives of the oil producing areas are Chief Amos Itiwhe, Chief Pius Ovbije, Mr Jonathan Amitaye, Hon. Ovie Oghoore, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Mr Nnamdi Ezechi, Hon. Fidelis Oputa and Chief Favour Izoukumor.
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Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa has forwarded the names of eight more nominees as Commissioners in the State Executive Council, to the Delta State House of Assembly for approval.
This new list, which was sent to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya, asked the House to screen and confirm the nominees.
The nominees are said to include: Mr. David Edebvie from Ughelli North, (a former governorship aspirant and Commissioner for Finance under Chief James Ibori’s administration); Mr. Mofe Pirah from Warri South West, (a former Commissioner for Oil and Gas in Governor Uduagha’s administration); Mr. Jude Sinebe from Patani LGA, a former Commissioner for Special Duties, Project Monitoring, in Uduaghan’s administration and son of former State Chairman of the PDP, Captain Pius Sinebe); and Chief. Dan Okenyi from Aniocha North, (a former Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly).
Others are, Chief Asupah Forteta, from Burutu LGA, (a former Chairman of Burutu LGA.); Mr. Chika Osai from Ndokwa East, Mr. Henry Sakpara from Udu Local Government Area (a former Council Chairman of Udu LGA) and Mr. Patrick Ukah, from Okpanam, Oshimili North LGA (Ex-hockey international and immediate past President of Nigeria Hockey Federation, NHF, as well as MD/CEO at Ventolite Marketing Int’l Ltd).
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DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated for the removal of primary education from Local Government Councils so as to end the perennial non- payment of salaries and ensure effective service delivery in the sector.Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Comrade Michael Alogba Olukoya, National President Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), during a courtesy call on the Governor by Nigeria Union of Teachers.
Speaking on Tuesday , August 25, 2015 when the National President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Micheal Olukoya led members of NUT Standing Committee to pay a courtesy visit, Senator Okowa said that “Primary Education is the bed rock of the child and there is the need to strengthen it and get it right, if we lose it at the primary school stage we have lost it completely.”
According to him “We know nationally that the primary school teachers are actually paid by the local government councils, I believe that if we are committed to free basic education it will be necessary for the payment of the salaries of teachers at the primary school level to be taken away from the local government councils. He emphasised that, “it will be necessary to revisit the revenue allocation formula appropriately because I know that in the time past even when the councils were not receiving up to what they receive in percentage today that payment of primary school teachers were not made by local government councils”, he added that “to cede the payment of primary school teachers to the local government councils was a wrong decision and will continue to be wrong, until we address it, we may not be able to address all the issues as it concerns primary school teachers.
Continuing, the Governor said “it is something that I expect that the labour union will need to raise before the national assembly, before the presidency, before all the governors so that collectively we can fight this and ensure that we restore order”.
Governor Okowa who decried the lack of discipline, care and dedication at the primary education level emphasized that urgent measures were needed to rescue not just the primary education system but also other levels of education and society as the decaying primary education foundation has permeated other levels of education.
He urged NUT to continue to be patient and partner with the state government on issues affecting workers so as to move the state and nation forward, disclosing that there would soon be a Teachers Development Centre in the state where teachers can be trained and re-trained.
While stating that his administration would continue with the state free education programme at both the primary and secondary levels and the various assistance to students at the tertiary level, Governor Okowa said that the state was not indebted to its workforce disclosing that he has directed Local Government Councils to ensure prompt payment of Primary School Teachers salaries.
Earlier, the National President NUT, Comrade Michel Olakoya said that they were in the state to check on workers welfare and chat a way forward for the educational development of the state.
He commended Governor Okowa for the cordial relationship between government and teachers in the state and the giant strides he has made in the educational sector.
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Nigeria, August 22, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – By Nwaorgu Faustinus
The news about the directive or rather order by the senate on the 11th of this month to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the fixed charge of N702.00, which it has been collecting from electricity consumers across the federation following unending complaints against the policy by Nigerians has been greatly applauded as the right step in the right direction, given its anti-people oriented and exploitative coloration.
When this good news filtered into the public domain, many a consumer of power supply heaved a profound sigh of relief having been subjected to the fixed charge without proportionate benefit to show for the money they pay, especially for those who do not make use of pre-paid meters. Again, the Senate in a landmark resolution from a motion entitled: Unfair Trade Practices of Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria, which was sponsored by the duo of Senator Sam Egwu and Senator David Umaru, directed the NERC to urge Discos to discontinue the practice of compulsory bulk metering of villages and communities in the rural areas.
As commendable as these directives are, it is only when the various private power/electricity distribution companies that cut across the geo-political zones of the federation are forced to implement and comply with the order will fairness be restored to the power sector as regards the outrageous, extortionate, slavish and exploitative electricity bills paid by consumers of electricity.
Apart from the issues of bulk metering and fixed charge of N702.00, another issue that is giving the public a great source of concern, anger, and sadness is the continuation of the charge of electricity bills on services not rendered for. For example, there are places and residential homes that have been disconnected for months and the wires used for the connection taken away by the various private power/electricity distribution companies’ electricians for one reason or the other but the end users (electricity consumers) have continued to receive electricity bills for services that have not been offered. This is a clear case of daily light robbery, thievery, consciencelessness, and man’s insensitivity to man by these exploitative companies and its allies. Had it not been that majority of Nigerians who consume electricity are docile even when pushed to the wall especially on this issue of having one’s source of electricity disconnected and wires taken away by these power supply companies’ electricians or taskforce on disconnection, we would have been inundated with news of untoward actions meted out to those who deliver these undeserving electricity bills to those who do not supposed to pay for the bills.
Similarly, there are homes and places that are connected to power supply but have not had electricity for months but these electricity companies still bill them for services not rendered. I believe the practice of making consumers pay for meters, poles and transformers, which by law, are properties of the electricity companies should not be paid for. No wonder the senate directed NERC to make a regulation to mandate the Discos to discontinue the practice of making consumers pay for meters, poles and transformers, which by law, are properties of the Discos, adding however that where consumers purchase those items, they should give notice of the purchase to the Discos, and should be entitled to recover their expenses from subsequent consumption of electricity.
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Nigeria, August 22, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – By Daramola BabalolaBabatunde Fowler
The Nigerian tax system has faced several challenges in recent times. Under current Nigerian law, taxation is enforced by the 3 tiers of government, i.e. federal, state, and local governments, with each having its sphere clearly spelt out in the Taxes and Levies (approved list for Collection) Decree, 1998.
Several contentious issues have plagued taxation in Nigeria in recent years, among them is the issue of the appropriate tax authority to administer several taxes, also there is the issue of multiple taxes administered by all the three tiers of government which sometimes imposes welfare cost.
Furthermore, the issue of the paucity of a data base, which contributes to tax avoidance in the country. The issue of corruption is still a perennial issue in the country; this reduces the confidence and trust of the taxpayers in discharging their civic duty. The issue of infrastructural development is also a crucial issue, in Nigeria, the level of infrastructural facilities is in a deplorable state, most of the facilities are often privately sourced, thus a number of people wonder what the taxes collected are used for, hence the tendency to evade tax payment. Furthermore, the problem of the tax language that is legally codified makes it difficult for an average Nigerian to understand.
The tax collector
A tax collector is a person who collects unpaid taxes from other people or corporations. Tax collectors are often portrayed in fiction as being fierce and cruel people who collect taxes by all means, but in the real sense, most people do not like to pay taxes, others need a fierce and cruel tax collector who will compel them to do their civic responsibility.
For many people living in Lagos, the name Tunde Fowler sends jitters through the spines of individuals and corporate concerns in the State.
But a closer look reveals that Mr Fowler is disarmingly harmless, unassuming and charming. A sharp contrast to the fiercesome look, usually the trademark of tax collectors by the way.
However, you will let down your guard at your own peril if you underrate him.
Mr. William Babatunde Fowler who was the Tax Collector- in- Chief for Lagos State Government was on on Thursday, August 20, 2015, appointed by President Buhari as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Mr. Fowler was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.
Fowler is taking over as chairman with an enviable Resume. Under his leadership, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue reportedly achieved a sharp increase in internally generated revenue from an average of N3.6. billion per month in January 2006, to an average of about N20.5 billion per month in 2013.
How Fowler changed the game
An average Nigerians does not believe in taxation, he/she thinks the government will not put their money to good use, so they find it difficult to part with their money in the name of taxes.
But with the Lagos example, Fowler changed the game, Lagosians have since seen what their taxes have delivered in terms of development and are more encouraged to pay taxes.
Lagos State have also gotten to the point whereby even the pepper seller or bus conductor paying taxes understand and see what the taxes are doing for them, through the several infrastructural developments under the Fashola administration.
Lagos State currently receives an average of N8billion from the Federation Account on a monthly basis. Out of this, N6billion is spent on the payment of salaries, After salaries are paid, Lagos State will be left with only N2billion, but through Fowler Lagos state was able to generate an average of N20.5 billion per month, just imagine what Lagos will be without these taxes.
Imagine the recent Ebola outbreak in Lagos and the way the Lagos State Government sucessfully dealt with it. Imagine a Lagos State without the financial might to curtail the virus?
Imagine a Lagos state being listed among the states that owed salaries of workers?
Imagine the effect it will have on the socio-economic development of Lagos.
Lagos State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N384.25 billion in 2013 exceeded the total sum generated by 19 states put together, analysis of data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown.
A recent updated data released by the NBS on IGR at State level showed that a total of 20 states generated about N671.32 billion in 2013 out of which Lagos State had the lion’s share.
The analysis showed that the total IGRs of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states was N287.07 billion. Lagos is about N97.18 billion ahead of the total IGRs of the19 States combined, followed at a distance by Rivers States with a total of N87.91 billion.
Further analysis showed that Lagos generated a total of N722.62 billion from 2008 to 2011. Comparatively, Kano generated a total of N23.11 billion over the same period.
So, every government needs funds through taxes, the fall of oil prices is affecting the economy of Nigeria, so, the only way to sustain development is to depend on taxation, which the government can plan with.
Fowler was able to serve Lagos state by generating revenue for the state and empowering the government as the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.
Considering the fact that many people don’t want to pay taxes, Fowler developed a tough skin and no friends and tormented the ‘Big Men’ in Lagos by making sure they paid their taxes.
He was despised by many, just like many tax collectors, but it was indeed very rare to see a tax man being liked by so many people.
Infact, if a tax man is well liked then it means there is something wrong somewhere.
Today, Lagos is held up as a model in tax administration, Fowler indeed changed the game.
What should we expect from Fowler?
In these trying times for Nigeria, when the fall in world oil prices has reduced Nigeria to a broke nation, we therefore need to look inwards and generate revenue.
With the success from The Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler is no doubt the most experienced man for the job.
Fowler will also ensure mutual cooperation among different government agencies and parastatals, this collaboration should enhance exchange of information, and reduce the incidence of tax evasion as well as fraudulent tax practices.
To elicit voluntary compliance, the government should be more responsive to the welfare needs of the citizens. The Nigerian tax system can effectively generate more revenue when the citizens have trust and confidence in the authority. Lagos state under Fowler generated huge revenue due to the fact that many corporate bodies and individuals feel that they can visibly feel the development impact of their contributions.
In most developed countries, tax payment is considered a moral and civic responsibility, thus tax avoidance is frowned upon. This implies that once the new government starts to give citizens dividends of democracy, they will in-turn demonstrate patriotism through timely payment of their taxes and discharging other civic duties.
In Nigeria, most of the citizens are religious and faithful people. Thus, with religious provisions that explicitly support fulfilling religious obligations, tax payment could be enhanced. For instance, the Biblical saying of “Give unto Caesar, what is for Caesar and to God what is for God” is apt and relevant to the Christians while the Qur’an calls on the Muslims thus: “O you who believe, fulfil all obligations” (Q5:1).
Not many people know that there is much more to the new Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler‘s life or daily activities beyond tax or revenue collection.
Fowler divulges the secret that stands him out amongst others as a unique being in a recent interview to a Christian-based magazine, Harp Applause.
Fowler spent 21 years in the banking profession, holding various managerial post before leaving the banking hall as a general manager to take up the challenge being thrust at his feet by former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to drive the tax revenue of the state, having being a specialist in revenue generation.
The silent philanthropist does not embark on any mission or accept any challenges without consulting and hearing from God. It is his believe according to his words “The truth is that when God changes your direction, he changes it for a purpose. I have found myself in the position where I could directly impact positively into the lives of people, because when you collect revenue for government, you are empowering the government to do more for the people. Today, I can tell you that I am fulfilled in what I am doing. I can feel and see the impact of what I am doing in the lives of the people than when I was a banker.
The once upon a time wannabe teenage chorister, who later became an usher at the Redeemed Christian Church of God before being ordained pastor, traced the secret of his success to a special request he made for the wisdom of Solomon. Not only did God grant his request while still a boy in the secondary school, he has remained his Consultant.
He did it for Lagos, he can do it again…
*Daramola Babalola writes from Lagos, Nigeria
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Nigeria, August 22, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Palpable tension seems to have overwhelmed the incumbent Governor of oil and gas rich Delta state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed applications filed by the trio to frustrate attempts by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor to bring key witnesses from INEC to tender relevant documents relating to the results of the April 11 governorship election held in the state.
Chairman of the three-man panel of tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gunmi over ruled the respondents application asking the Tribunal to stop APC from the subpoena, saying that, “a court must not take steps which should bring unjustified penalties to a party at the detriment of the other party”.
He further ruled that, “we are of the opinion that the fact that the documents were not pleaded and listed as documents to be relied on at the trial can only be properly discussed when the documents are presented and they are to be admitted by the witness subpoenaed.”
He said election petitions are sue-generis and they must be treated as such, as much as possible they should be heard on merits rather than rely on mere technicalities to deflect the course of justice.
“We have not seen any sufficient reason why the subpoena should be set aside”, Justice Gunmi insisted and subsequently dismissed the respondents’ applications.
According to him, “the subpoena was issued within the confines of the law, the tribunal has the right to issue a subpoena in the course of its judicial functions. It’s equally a truism that the Tribunal can set aside the subpoena if good course of this was made out, because the court has the powers to set aside its orders on well known conditions.”
Justice Gunmi noted that there is no basics for the setting aside of the subpoena by the Tribunal, adding that “the petitioners from the onset said they will issue subpoena in the INEC ICT department, as it was stated in the petition, during the pre-hearing section, that he will call seven witness and issue subpoena on two. The petitioners have all along stated that they would call witnesses through the issuing of subpoena”.
However, the APC and its gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Emerhor also received knocks from the Tribunal for avoiding the financial burden entailed in the provision of security and documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ICT office as well as the subpoena.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Gunmi, relying on section 104/105 of the Evidence Act 2011, said, “a public document of this nature in focus, and to be admissible must be certified and it is incumbent on the applicant for such certification to pay the legal fees for certification”.
He also stated that by the provision of section 21 of Electoral Act 2010, any petitioner is required to give security which may become payable, on witness summons, there is no indication that security for the witness was deposited by the petitioner.
Justice Gunmi adjourned further hearing on the matter to Tuesday, 25th August 2015 for commencement of the substantive trial.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal delivers its ruling on Saturday, August 22 in a similar motion (not to allow more witnesses), brought against the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru by Counsels to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP and INEC.
Subpoena:(Meaning)
etymology
First attested with this spelling in 1623 , from Latin: sub and poena.
noun (plural subpoenas)
(legal) A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.
translations (writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony)
French: citation
German: Zwangsvorladung, Vorladung
Italian: convocazione, citazione
Portuguese: intimação, citação
Russian: повестка
Spanish: citación
verb (subpoenas, subpoenaing; past and past participle subpoenaed)
To summon with a subpoena.
translations (to summon with a subpoena) ▼ show
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DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated the establishment of mini refineries to decrease the level of pipeline vandalism in the country. Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akin Ibhadode, during a courtesy call on the Governor by the V.C. Federal University of Petroleum Resource.
According to Governor Okowa, establishing mini refineries in different areas of the Niger Delta area would ensure that the 450, 000 barrels of crude oil meant for local consumption are refined locally.
The Governor who was speaking when the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Prof. Akii Ibhadode paid him a courtesy call on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at Asaba, emphasised that all avenues to reduce illegal refining of petroleum products and pipeline vandalism must be harnessed.
He said, “we look forward to having effective and efficient mini refineries so that our people will be better encouraged to follow due process in refining petroleum products, rather than vandalizing our pipelines and seek to get crude from the local provisions that NNPC provides on a daily basis for refining”.
Senator Okowa added “am aware that at the moment about 450,000 barrels are supposed to be left locally for the purpose of refining, but because we have not been able to attain an efficient process of refining our products, they will not be able to approach NNPC in any manner to be part of the companies that utilize the 450,000 barrels”.
The Governor who commended FUPRE for its efforts towards producing mini refineries, asserted, “it is good to hear that the University of Petroleum Resources is doing something towards having micro and mini refineries, unfortunately, our people approached the whole process of crude refining in a crude manner and rather than getting the crude oil from appropriate sources, they have undertaken to vandalising our pipelines and that has not helped us as a state, it has not helped us as a nation and we pray every day that our people will be a little bit more understanding and realise that even if they want to go through the act of downstream development sector, it should be through legal means.”
Governor Okowa used the occasion to challenge institutions of higher learning in the country to ensure that their products are technically equipped to be self-reliant, decrying situations where students are after “paper certificate rather than acquiring technical skills.”
He assured management of FUPRE of government assistance to enable them to function effectively, observing that the country was facing economic challenges as a result of the dwindling revenue from oil and gas sector.
Earlier, Prof. Ibhadode commended Governor Okowa for the giant strides recorded by his administration within the few months of his being in office saying that the visit to his office was to intimate him of the activities of FUPRE which include the development of micro refineries that are effective and can be used in different locations of the country
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Nigeria, August 19, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – Gesila Khan
Since after the 2015 General Elections, the orthodox and social media have been awash with malignant publications on Dame Gesila Khan, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State.
Ordinarily as one of the few women Resident Electoral Commissioners in the country it is expected that Dame Gesila Khan should be eulogized for attempting and succeeding in the coordination of elections in places regarded as hot political beds in the nation.
The Bayelsa born woman who holds a degree in Philosophy and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Lagos had before her deployment to Rivers State worked as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Delta State.
In Delta State she successfully conducted the Senatorial bye-elections in Delta Central Senatorial District in an area widely described as a difficult and volatile terrain.
The question that should be agitating the minds of Nigerians is why should a hard working and committed woman be singled out to be vilified by persons who felt she was an obstacle to actualizing their self serving motives at the just concluded general elections in Rivers State.
It is on record that despite various investigations into her activities during and after the just concluded General Elections in Rivers State nothing incriminating has been recorded against her.
Even when three National Electoral Commissioners were sent to verify the results of the Presidential Elections in Rivers State before it was announced nothing dubious was pinned on her.
All that had led the former INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega to publicly announce the results before Nigerians and the international community.
To clear doubts and suspicions Professor Jega also sent another set of commissioners to conduct the Governorship Elections in that state. The team returned to Abuja without indicting the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan.
Not withstanding, she has continued to be pilloried and insulted on the pages of Newspapers and the social media.
The role of the INEC Resident Commissioner is essentially supervisory. A Resident Electoral Commissioner to the best of public knowledge does not collate results neither does he supervise or oversee a local government area to generate results.
Furthermore, it is also interesting to note that the Resident Electoral Commissioner does not appoint a returning officer for any elections at any level.
At best what Resident Electoral Commissioners do is to ensure that election materials are effectively and evenly distributed through the appropriate officers to the polling units. That puts to question all the name calling, insults and allegations and counter-allegation that have trailed Mrs Khan.
It is only natural that where there is a contest only one emerges as winner and that is why it is unacceptable for some group of persons to apportion blame where it should not exist.
No matter the insinuations that people would make for failure to achieve their selfish motives, Gesila Khan has stood out as one of those few women that should be accorded national respect
It is not new that most politicians would go any length to portray election umpires in bad light in order mislead simple minded Nigerians.
It is imperative that Nigerians must be careful in swallowing what is thrown at them via the media by desperate politicians
It is on record that Dame Khan on arrival prepared the ground for a free and fair election by embarking on meetings with different stakeholders including the Rivers State Government, religious leaders, political party leaders, youth leaders, traditional rulers, women groups, the NUJ, market women, inter-agency committee on voters’ education and publicity as well as persons with disabilities.
She transversed the local government areas in Rivers State to educate people on the need to participate effectively and actively in the election.
A person who had not the motive to conduct a credible election would not take such pains. That is why the castigation and peddling of false allegations against Dame Gesila Khan should stop.
Persons who feel aggrieved by the outcome of 2015elections in Rivers State should seek redress through tribunals and spare Dame Khan from mudslinging.
Nigerians have watched with keen interest how the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and the Rivers State APC Chairman as well as some disgruntled individuals have employed every means to discredit Dame Gesila Khan.
That does not augur well for the nations politics and overall democratic growth.
Using the security agencies to intimidate and harass INEC staff in Rivers State is uncalled for and if not checked could snowball into unhealthy crisis.
Indeed if Dame Gesila Khan had performed so poorly, why did Professor Jega who is acclaimed to have conducted a free and fair 2015 elections not redeploy her.
Why did the former INEC National Chairman allow the Rivers State REC to conduct the 2015 General Elections despite protests from some quarters calling for her sack or redeployment?
That she remained in her post till now in the midst of the controversies is a proof that the allegations were baseless and lacked merit.
Politicians should learn to be magnanimous in defeat and patiently re-strategize to actualize their aspirations in the future.
Journalists on their part should avoid being used as tools by politicians to sway public opinion and deceive many to believe unfounded allegations.
The time has come for all to concert effort to grow the Nations democracy to be an international example.
Name calling, mudslinging as presently done with Dame Gesila Khan will do no good to national political growth.
*Contributed by a Media Consultant
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The State Government wishes to inform the general public that it has not abolished its free education and free health care schemes in the state.
This clarification has become necessary on account rumours making the round especially in the social media that the programmes have been suspended.
We wish to state categorically and in line with the administration’s S.M.A.R.T agenda that the free education scheme in primary and secondary schools and the free health care schemes in our hospitals in the state are still operational and nobody should pay any form of fees for them.
For the avoidance of doubt, any official who collect any levy in our schools and hospitals should be reported to the relevant authority and the full weight of the law will be visited on that person.
Please be guided accordingly.
Signed: Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu
(Chief Press Secretary to the Governor)
August 19, 2015
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DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has signed the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) amendment bill into law.Governor of oil wealthy Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya, during the signing of the DESOPADEC Bill into law
The assent of the Governor to the DESOPADEC amendment bill 2015 will improve on the original law of 2006 establishing the Commission.
Governor Okowa said the amendment Bill which went through rigorous process before its passage by the legislature and eventual assent by the executive, would tackle the challenges of oil producing communities of the state, adding that the Commission has been structured to impact positively on the lives of the people in terms of infrastructural development, social services and economic services.
“There was s a lot of interest when this bill was presented to the House of Assembly and as is customary of Deltans who are very bright and vibrant, a lot of people showed interest and they had the opportunity to contribute their quota towards a robust Commission.”
While commending the state legislators for their proactive approach to law making and sending the bill to public hearing for Deltans to make their contributions to enrich the bill, Okowa disclosed that “there was a lot of engagement and misconception that arose from the fact that some people did not even know what was in the original law and did not know what was contained in the amendment bill that was sent to the House.”
Speaker Igbuya said, the bill was properly looked into by members of the House inspite of all the controversies surrounding the presentation of the bill which made members of the public to understand that the bill has no harm.
Recall that as a result of certain controversies surrounding the Bill’s amendments, the Delta State House of Assembly took the bill to public hearing before its passage.
The Bill, signed on Tuesday, August18, 2015 by the Governor was witnessed Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Monday Igbuya, Deputy Speaker, Friday Osanebi, principal officers of the House as well as the secretary to the state government, Festus Ovie Agas.
Meanwhile, Delta State Government has appealed to Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) as well as its president generals and Community leaders to reconsider its decision and re-open the shut down oil facilities of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) for operation.
The appeal was made by the state Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, at the instance of the state government at the Delta State Governor’s Annex, Ejeba, Warri, while speaking on the lingering issues between NPDC and HOSTCOM.
The state deputy governor urged the President Generals and community leaders to appreciate and identify with the efforts of government by coming together to seek ways and resolve the issues that is causing the anger and shut down of oil facilities.
Dr Edegware David, President General of Igbide community, who spoke on behalf of the forum, noted that the communities decided to honour the state government and re-opened the oil facilities, despite failure of NPDC to fulfil its part of the MoU aagreement.
Recall that the shut down oil facilities were sold to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
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E.I.C: Albert Eruorhe Ograka*News *Literati* Adverts
APC Diaspora International Secretariat has been following with keen interest the developments in the National Assembly, notably, we are concerned about the possible ramification on the psyche of our patent Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria. We have worked too hard to become the majority political party of the nation. Let’s not squander this hard earned privilege, unanimously granted to us by the Nigerian people. Most importantly to bring back our country’s past glory and make Nigeria once more a force to be reckoned with in the international scene. We hereby offer mediation to bring about a peaceful resolution of the discord resulting from the senate leadership struggle. We are prepared to meet with members of the National Assembly. Our team consists of negotiators with expertise in conflict resolution, mediation and lobbying. We hereby assure: party faithful’s, executives, National Assembly, Nigerians, and international communities that our primary goal is to guide the party, and indeed the National Assembly, to a path of a mutual and smooth working relationship, through moving the country speedily forward. Beside, we cannot accept 16 years of insalubrious government, our mantra of change must be real and not just be a mere slogan.
The 8th National Assembly started off on the wrong foot. The leadership struggle at the upper chamber of the National Assembly is slowing down legislative process and hence the federal government, since it is an important arm of the government. How did they get it inside out – upside down – wrong? Can someone publish the National Assembly rules regarding the selection of leaders in the two chambers? We believe some years ago, members of the National Assembly travelled to United State to learn legislative process? What happened to the information they gathered on that mission which undoubtedly was fully financed by our national treasury. Please, people get it together! Do not let this crisis escalate to level that it will lead to national disgrace.
In the United States, the country which Nigeria supposedly patterned its legislative process after, afterward, the elections the majority party will assume control of both chambers of congress. The house will come together to select a speaker but the vote is a formality because the minority party has very little chance of winning the top leadership position and the same thing applies to senate, which is the upper chamber. In the case of the senate, the vice president is automatically the senate president. The senate president is ceremonial position at best, and has no significance in the spectrum of leadership. The senate president will only cast a vote to break a dead log. The senate will select a majority leader which is actually the top position in the senate. They will then select a minority leader from the minority party, whose responsibility is organizing opposition to the majority party’s program and present his party’s alternative views. There is by no a fool-proof system even with hundreds of years in the democracy experiment. But internal discord is inherent in human institutions and it occurs the damage can be mitigated whereas, established rules are adhered to; and if members subordinate their interests in favor party unity as to the will of the people.
We are not advocating that Nigeria’s National Assembly be a carbon copy of the American congress, but Nigeria is on record emulating the American model.
APC International Secretariat calls for calm and reason to prevail. Let the National assembly follow established rules that govern their activities. We do not need any distraction; and certainly do not want to give in to detractors of the Buhari Administration an opportunity to derail its program.
APC Diaspora International Secretariat requests the opportunity for a mediatory session with the National Assembly. Again, we have a team of experienced negotiators with the proven record of success in conflict resolution. Please provide us with the earliest possible date to meet with the APC power brokers to begin the process. Our experts are derived from all over the world, so we need reasonable to make their travel arrangement. We committed to providing this service because we believe this is the way forward for our great party.
The Senate President, Bukola Sarki, has the opportunity now to showcase his leadership skill. This is a good test of his leadership prowess and we believe senator Sarki will answer the call.
The reformulated APC shouldn’t buy into the hypes surrounding the senate leadership selection process debacle. Senator Sarki must reach out to his fellow APC senators, but first he must accept responsibility for the confusion and assure them he will implement a reform of the selection process, in order to prevent reoccurrence; then collectively they can bring senators from other parties along. The whole nation is watching to see what APC will do with the unprecedented event of unseating an incumbent party and the opportunity to manage the country’s affairs. As a party which was swept into power under the mantra of change, that corruption, insecurity and theft are culpable in the decay of our national wealth, must deliver. We are not immune to what happened to PDP. We have come to a point in our federation history that the people will no longer sit and accept excuses from those we entrusted with the responsibility to lead us. The 2015 election was never a fluke. The voices of the people were heard loud and clear: that the era of apathy is gone and enters the era of self-governance and accountability.
To buttress our concern, please find herewith two publications, signifying our concerns with respect to this matter.
Once again, accept our unhappiness at this situation, whilst we are optimistic this issue is resolvable and amicably.
*Written by Francis John, International Coordinator, APC USA International Secretariat
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E.I.C: Albert Eruorhe Ograka*News *Literati* Adverts
Trial at the Delta State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, may have suffered setbacks due to the inability of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, to provide details of the witnesses it intends to call.
Chairman of the three-man panel of tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gunmi had slated Monday, August 17, 2015 for commencement of substantive trial in the petition filed by APC and Labour Party challenging the victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the polls.
The tribunal had subpoenaed seven witnesses to be called by APC and Otega counsels to support their claims in the petition at the tribunal.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, Counsel to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP and INEC, Dr. Alex Iziyion (SAN) and A.T Keyinde (SAN) respectively , raised a preliminary objection through motion -on- notice, challenging the locus standi of APC and Otega to call seven witnesses without availing them the opportunity of knowing the details of the witnesses.
Iziyion argued that, “we were ready to start the trial for this week, in respect of the seven witnesses they listed, suddenly we were confronted with subpoena for four witnesses for Thursday, before then they had applied for leave to call additional witnesses which the tribunal refused, we have raised objection to the four new witnesses they are proposing to call.
“Even the witness statements have not been served on us, so the issue is whether the witness summons was appropriate in the circumstance that is what we have raised for consideration”.
Izyion expressed readiness to move the motion immediately seeking details of the witnesses adding that “ we are ready to go on with the substantive trial once the information we are seeking about witness summons are made ready to us, let us open the box and see what is in it”.
It was at this point that Mr. Okpokor (SAN) sought leave of the tribunal for extension of time to enable him respond to the motions as filed by INEC and PDP counsels.
After listinning to the arguments of all the counsels, Justice Gunmi adjourned to 20 August 2015 for the hearing of the motion from the respondents.
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The Assistant Secretary of the Delta State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Comrade Tony Igwebuike has called on dismissed members of the union to desist from engaging in actions capable of causing crisis in the state.
In a press release made available to Journalists in Asaba, Comrade Igwebuike said, “it has come to our knowledge plans by some dismissed members of our union to cause trouble in the state.”
“This is Delta, our state, what the state leadership of our union desires is peaceful and progressive union that is supportive of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, there are some people dropping names and casting aspersions on prominent Deltans using the name of our Union, we are against it, we are not politicians, we don’t play politics, our state Chairman, Chief Ifeanyi Obi has made it clear that we must be peaceful and support our Governor,” he said.
He added, “there are some of our members who have been dismissed in their units and branches because of anti-union activities, they should go and reconcile with their units and branches if they are still interested in union activities, they should also know that we believe in dialogues and obedience to our constitution, they should know that insulting leaders, engaging in propaganda claiming backings of people will not help all of us.”
“This is not the time for elections campaign and if they are interested in elections, they should reconcile with their units and branches because, that is what will qualify them to contest for elective positions,” Comrade Igwebuike said, adding, “our Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is a father to all of us, he understands the roles we are playing, we will continue to support his government, we will continue to live in peace, promote peace in our union and our state because, we will not enjoy the benefit of good governance if we don’t live in peace.”
“We need peace to enjoy state government’s assistance which we know that our Governor, Dr Okowa will give us more vehicles, more buses, so that our members will not only be direct beneficiaries of the prosperity agenda but, will make transportation affordable to all Deltans to the glory of God,” he added, asserting, “those dismissed members should learn to employ dialogue rather than planning to cause crisis.”
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Nigeria, August 16, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Following a recent federal government’s warning about the impending flood that will be witnessed across Nigeria, especially in coastal line states due to the gradual release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, Delta and Edo states have respectively issued flood alerts to its residents to be wary of another gloomy experience.
Residents of coastal line in Delta state have been called upon to start making plans on how to relocate to safer places to avoid being enveloped by the impending flood to be occasioned by the gradual release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Delta state Deputy Governor Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro made the call while reacting to the warning raised by the federal government about the impending flood that will be witnessed across the country especially in coastal line states like Delta.
The Deputy Governor who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on media, Mrs Doris Warri-Aboh, said relocation was apt to avoid recording high level of casualty when the flood sets in emphasizing that the state was able to evacuate people to internally displaced camps in 2012 because they yielded to the timely warning by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency NIMET.
He said Delta State Government was not ready to lose a single soul to the flood hence the need for people to be at alert especially residents of areas affected by the flood of 2012.
The deputy Governor expressed worry with the way some people erected structures on waterways and canals thereby blocking the water from flowing into its route pointing out that the outburst of flood may have severe consequences.
Barrister Otuaro advised owners of public and private buildings to embark on clearing of their surroundings and gutters as a deliberate effort to promote good health.
The deputy governor equally called on traditional rulers and opinion leaders to assist government in enlightening their people about the forthcoming flood and the need to keep their environment clean to avoid outbreak of diseases like malaria and cholera.
He said government was committed to the fight against environmental degradation and anything capable of exposing the state to environmental hazard.
The deputy Governor urged Deltans to work as a team in combating this year’s flood to avoid casualty in evacuation of people to camps for refuge.
In the same vein, Edo State Government has advised residents living in low lands, river banks and other flood-prone areas in the state to take proactive action and relocate to safer parts of the state to avoid being affected by flood which may arise following the opening of a dam in the Republic of Cameroon.
The Government in a statement signed by Austin Akhuamhenkhun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities on behalf of the Commissioner, said “the Federal Ministry of Environment has alerted on the opening of a dam in the Republic of Cameroon which may lead to flooding in parts of the country. This is in addition to the current heavy rainfall being recorded in the year.
“To this end, Edo State Government through the Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities has put in place an action plan to ensure a flood-free 2015 through elaborate and extensive de-siltation exercise of major towns in addition to the on-going Benin City Storm Water master plan.
“The good people of Edo State are therefore advised to collectively take the following precautions to forestall an incident of flooding and its consequence in the State.
“The people are advised to desist from indiscriminate waste dumping habits that end us blocking the drains which can result in the breeding of mosquitoes, flies and other disease carriers that may eventually result in a high prevalence of malaria, yellow fever, Lassa fever and cholera. Always use the provided waste bins.
“Ensure to de-silt the drains in front of our houses and cart away same.
“People living in low lands, river banks and other flood-prone areas such as Ilushi, Agenebode, Udaba and others are advised to re-locate to higher grounds.
“Because of the expected rainfall pattern in 2015, residents are advised to take a second look at the binding of their roofs to ensure that they are firm.
“The Government also calls on Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to immediately take another look at all their distribution facilities within the state to ensure that they are firm and strong enough to withstand any stormy weather in order to avoid electrocution-related but avoidable deaths.”
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Nigeria, August 04, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta as the new Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
Dr. Kachikwu who hails from Onicha-Ugbo in Delta State, was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon Mobil (Africa) and is to take over from Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha as the new NNPC Chief Executthe.
Kachikwu, a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School also has Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from the Harvard Law School.
He started his working career with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank before moving on to Texaco Nigeria Limited from where he joined Exxon-Mobil.
In the same vein, President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take over as the new NCC Chief Executive from Dr. Eugene Juwah whose tenure expired on July 29, 2015.
Prof. Danbatta, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Electronic Engineering also has a Bachelors Degree in Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications as well as a Masters Degree in the same field.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and has had a meritorious career in which he rose to become Professor of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Bayero University, Kano, specializing in Telecommunications Engineering and Information and Communications Technology.
Before his new appointment, Prof. Danbatta held top management and leadership positions at different times including Head of Department, Dean Of Faculty, Director, Centre for Information Technology, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Kano Branch), Deputy Vice Chancellor and Acting Vice Chancellor.
A statement made available to Blank NEWS Online by Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated that his appointment as Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC is for five years in the first instance.
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E.I.C: Albert Eruorhe Ograka*News *Literati* Adverts
CHAIRMAN of Delta State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Ifeanyi Obi has advised members of the union to desist from actions capable of causing breach of the peace.
Chief Obi who was reacting to recent crisis involving some members of the union at Uvwie local government area of the state said it was sad that some security operatives got involved in internal activities of the union which led to the crisis.
He emphasized, “we were surprised when we heard that some people tried to cause trouble in Uvwie using some security men, the situation is now normal and our members are working peacefully, we know the essence of having a peaceful state and we cannot be involved in any action which can lead to a breach of peace.”
“Every member of NURTW understands our constitution and we want to use this medium to thank Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, our Governor for his maturity in handling the affairs of Delta State, we support him and we cannot be involved in anything that is against the law,” he said.
Chief Obi stated that NURTW will continue to support Governor Okowa and commended the Governor for appointing Hon. Vincent Uduaghan as the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Transport.
According to him, “we are a peaceful people, anybody who does not obey our constitution will be disciplined in line with constitutional provisions, we are happy with our Governor, Dr Okowa because he understands the way we work and he will work for Deltans, we are happy that he has also appointed a trusted person as the Commissioner for Transport.
“In less than a month of his becoming the Governor, Dr Okowa tackled the erosion menace that almost cut the Ughelli/Asaba road near Ogwashi-Uku, our members and passengers would have suffered if he did not only check the erosion but, reconstructed the road to make it better,” Chief Obi said.
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Libreville, August 04, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – From Sunday Ikuesan, Gabon Correspondent LateJames Oguntoye ALA
A Nigerian diplomat attached to the Embassy of Nigeria in Gabon is dead. The Delta State born James Oguntoye ALA was until his death the accountant of Nigerian Embassy in Gabon. He died on Tuesday 28th of July after a brief illness. His death was a great shock to his colleagues and other staff of the embassy and Nigerian residents in Gabon because nobody noticed any health challenge on him. According to one of the embassy’s staff who spoke in anonymous to our reporters “Mr James Oguntoye ALA was in office on Monday 27th of July and he looked very healthy until the close hour”. He has no signs of illness.
It was authentically gathered that his illness began at about 4 o’clock in the morning of Tuesday, and his wife immediately called on one private clinic in Libreville, ‘Clinique Medex’ for medical assistance. One of the clinic personnel who affirm to our reporter said: “Mrs ALA called us at 4 a.m. to announce the health complication of her husband, we responded immediately and took him to our clinic for observation but we realized that his blood pressure was too high, and his breathing was also abnormal so we rushed him to El-Rapha hospital for intensive treatment but unfortunately he died at 5 a.m.” Mr James Oguntoye ALA is said to have died of heart failure.
The death of Mr James Oguntoye ALA left the Nigerian diplomatic community in Gabon in a pathetic situation. Everybody was confused, and no one can really say anything concerning the incidence. The sad feeling was shared among all. The Ambassador of Nigeria in Gabon, Ambassador Bassey ARCHIBONG who was on his way to U.S. for his annual leave has to make a U-turn back to Gabon when the news was broken to him, it gathered. He told our reporters that he was already in South Africa on the day of the incidence.
Condolence register is already opened and being signed by friends and loved ones pending the repatriation of the remains of Mr James Oguntoye ALA. The ambassador affirms “every necessary arrangement is on ground to send the body home”. His wife is also being assisted by the embassy staff daily.
*Sunday Ikuesan is Blank NEWS Online Gabon correspondent.
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Nigeria, August 03, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
A three-man panel of the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, chaired by Justice Nasiru Gunmi, at its resumed sitting on Monday, August 03, 2015, in Asaba, threw out another set of five motions brought by All Progressive Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Olorungun O’tega Emerhor.
Emerhor and the APC had sought the leave of the tribunal for enlargement of time to include additional information to their petition.
The motion also sought the tribunal’s permission to compel PDP and INEC by way of response, to furnish the tribunal with more facts about the petition.
Dr. Aliex Iziyon (SAN) counsel to Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State governor, vehemently opposed the application after adopting his written address ,and submitted that section 45(1) of the electoral act is not a magic umbrella, adding that the electoral act forbids the tribunal the powers to grant the application. He further argued that rules advanced by the petitioner are not tenable.
Counsels to PDP and INEC, A.T Kehinde and Damian D. Dodo (SAN) respectively, also opposed the application, relying on section 285(1) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and section 134 of the Electorial Act. They informed the tribunal that the combined effect of the two sections curtail the powers of the tribunal to grant the extension of time.
Chairmen of the Tribunal Justice Nasiru Gunmi, in his ruling on the motion said the application lacked merits because it violated section 17(1)(2) of the Electoral Act , as Emerhor and APC failed to keep within the time limit of ten days within which to file their motion.
Justice Gunmi averred that “If a party in an election petition, wishes to have further particulars or other directions about the tribunal, such party may do so at any time but not more than ten days after the filing of the reply from the respondents”, adding “that if the party does not apply as provided for in the electoral act, it is taken that they do not require any further particulars or direction” , and the prayers shall be be granted.
He further postulated that “The applicants application is in breach of section 17(1) of the first schedule of the electoral act , which requires the applicant to file their application within ten days, as time allowed has expired, and the question now is whether this tribunal can extend time. In a situation like this, the tribunal is bound to exercise it powers as contained in section 17 (1) of the electoral act. Equally section 17(2) prohibits this tribunal from extending time, it restricts the tribunal from exercising such power for time extension”.
He ruled that “If the tribunal lacks powers to grant a particular relief, it is duty abound to refuse such application , in the end we agree with the submission of the respondents counsel (PDP, INEC), in the end we refuse this application and it accordingly dismissed”.
Counsel to Emerjor, Thompson Okpoko earlier argued that, section 17(1) (2), of the electoral act permits what his clent was asking. He argued that if a party to an election petition wishing to have better and further particulars. He can apply to the tribunal, adding that by reason of that provision that has prompted them to file the motion for time enlargement the application was brought because they were unable to meet the stipulated time as contained in the electoral act.
In a similar motion brought by APC and Otega, through its counsel, Mr. Okpoko, the petitioners sought the leave of the tribunal to call for seven additional withness on oath in their petition .
The respondents counsels lead by Dr. Alex Iziyon equally opposed the application, saying the petitioners failed to carry out the mandatory front loading in their previous petitions and motions and urged the court to also dismiss the application.
Justice Gunmi has reservedAugust 5, 2015 for ruling on the matter, whether to allow the APC and O’tega to call for seven additional witness in the petition.
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Nigeria, August 02, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – -By Albert OGRAKA
After 96 cases and six fatalities were established in a sudden outbreak of a disease, touted to be cholera in Aladja community, Udu local government area of the Delta state, the state government has yet to unravel the mystery surrounding the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Delta state government has quickly debunked claims of cholera outbreak in Aladja, a community in Udu local government area of the state.
If a statement credited to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunday Otobo in Asaba, saying there was no confirmed outbreak of cholera in Delta State, but that there were incidents of stooling and vomiting recorded in Aladja, Udu Local Government Area of the state, is anything to go by, then the state government has failed to rise up to the occasion.
Although he claimed that various samples have been taken to Lagos for testing , he insisted that “none has been confirmed to be suffering from cholera” while the results of the test are yet to be received from Lagos after analysis.
For Dr. W. Henry, a medical officer in Udu local government, who has been attending to patients admitted in the Primary Health Centre, “having conducted several tests and analysis, there was no confirmed case of cholera but an explosive case of gastroenteritis.”
He revealed that so far 96 cases and six fatalities have been established in the area since the outbreak of the disease.
However, the state Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s directive to Health officers in the 25 local government areas of the state to be proactive in detecting and tackling any outbreak of diseases in all communities is a welcome development that would help stave-off disease spread and casualties.
While community leaders in Aladja have expressed sadness over the disease outbreak, they had also appealed to the state government to reactivate the long abandoned community water scheme to provide potable drinking water.
Before the outbreak of the disease, Aladja community’s source of drinking water has been the river, dug-in-well and satchet water but the Chairman of Udu local government council, Chief Solomon Kpomah has initiated measures to ensure that henceforth all satchet and well water are examined by the NAFDAC officials in the local government area.
Last Word:
Governments at all levels possesses near total responsibilities in providing cheap potable drinking water for the citizenry, even when the reverse has been the case with past administrations, the present adminstration should make its relevant ministries, departments and agencies become proactive instead of waiting for outbreaks and fatalities before taking actions.
Cholera:
Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.
Cholera was prevalent in the U.S. in the 1800s, before modern water and sewage treatment systems eliminated its spread by contaminated water. Only about 10 cases of cholera are reported each year in the U.S. and half of these are acquired abroad. Rarely, contaminated seafood has caused cholera outbreaks in the U.S. However, cholera outbreaks are still a serious problem in other parts of the world. At least 150,000 cases are reported to the World Health Organization each year.
The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Common locations include parts of Africa, south Asia, and Latin America. If you are traveling to one of those areas, knowing the following cholera facts can help protect you and your family.
Cholera Causes:
Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by feces from a person with the infection.
Common sources include:
Municipal water supplies
Ice made from municipal water
Foods and drinks sold by street vendors
Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes
Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage
When a person consumes the contaminated food or water, the bacteria release a toxin in the intestines that produces severe diarrhea. It is not likely you will catch cholera just from casual contact with an infected person.
Cholera Symptoms
Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious. About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
Rapid heart rate
Loss of skin elasticity (the ability to return to original position quickly if pinched)
Dry mucous membranes, including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids
Low blood pressure
Thirst
Muscle cramps
If not treated, dehydration can lead to shock and death in a matter of hours.
Gastroenteritis:
Gastroenteritis or infectious diarrhea is a medical condition from inflammation (“-itis”) of the gastrointestinal tract that involves both the stomach (“gastro”-) and the small intestine (“entero”-). It causes some combination of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain and cramping.[1] Dehydration may occur as a result. Gastroenteritis has been referred to as gastro, stomach bug, and stomach virus. Although unrelated to influenza, it has also been called stomach flu and gastric flu.
Globally, most cases in children are caused by rotavirus.[2] In adults, norovirus[3] and Campylobacter[4] are more common. Less common causes include other bacteria (or their toxins) and parasites. Transmission may occur due to consumption of improperly prepared foods or contaminated water or via close contact with individuals who are infectious. Prevention includes drinking clean water, hand washing with soap, and breast feeding babies instead of using formula. This applies particularly where sanitation and hygiene are lacking. The rotavirus vaccine is recommended for all children.
The key treatment is enough fluids. For mild or moderate cases, this can typically be achieved via oral rehydration solution (a combination of water, salts, and sugar). In those who are breast fed, continued breast feeding is recommended. For more severe cases, intravenous fluids from a healthcare centre may be needed. Antibiotics are generally not recommended. Gastroenteritis primarily affects children and those in the developing world. It results in about three to five billion cases and causes 1.4 million deaths a year.
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