The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has thrown its weight behind the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a consensus plot to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected in 2015.

Speaking at a rally held at the Ekwueme Square in Awka and organised to mobilise support for the President ahead of 2015 presidential polls, APGA Chairman, Victor Umeh announced that it was the consensus of all the National Executive Council members of the party to endorse Jonathan.

According to him, all the 21 local council chairmen and 318 councillors in the state are also in support of the call for Jonathan’s re-election

“He needs to be re-elected for another four years.

“We have seen his striking humility and calmness in dealing with the affairs of the country,” he said.

Also, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, said the party having adopted Jonathan would only field candidates for other elective positions.

While revealing that the National Chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh has an automatic ticket to run for the Anambra Central Senatorial District seat, Governor Obinao said other aspirants would have to go through the regular primaries.

On his part, the Director-General of Join Jonathan Journey, Ben Oranusi, said, “Jonathan is a good brand. The base for JJJ is the Igbo race.

“We do not claim to have the entire nation but will carry our campaigns to other states of the federation.”

Others who spoke at the rally were a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih, among others.

It could also be recalled that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state has insisted during the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) South South Rally In Port Harcourt, that the President Jonathan must be supported, having been endorsed to seek re-election, come 2015.

Rising to the wake up call by concerned Nigerians on the seemingly slurpy handling of terrorism situation in the North Eastern part of the country by the Federal Government and the International Community, the Nigerian military on Thursday, August 28, carried out airstrikes against the Boko Haram sect’s positions in Limankara and Gwoza in Borno State.

This is just as one of Boko Haram’s camps in Cameroon came under heavy bombardment by the Cameroonian army and killing many of the insurgents.

In Nigeria, hundreds of troops were also mobilised to the frontline in Gulak, Adamawa State against the insurgents.

A source disclosed that three military planes were sighted hovering and after a few minutes, they heard sounds of 15 explosions in the direction of Madagali, Limankara and Gwoza.

Other residents added that several armoured vehicles were deployed in Gulak between Wednesday and Thursday while military trucks conveyed soldiers to the town.

Recall that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, recently released a video claiming to have created an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza which was seized by the insurgents earlier this month.

The insurgents had allegedly captured Limankara and some areas under Madagali LGA of Adamawa State as well as Buni Yadi in Yobe State and the Police Mobile Training Camp in nearby Limankara village.

In a similar development, one of Boko Haram’s camps in Cameroon has been bombed by the Cameroonian army, killing many insurgents.

A security official disclosed that the camp was shelled on Wednesday, August 27, by tanks stationed on the frontier at Fotokol (on Cameroon’s side of the border).

“Seen from Fotokol, Gamboru looks empty and smells of death. Nobody knows how many Boko Haram members were killed, but it is obvious that many were. We think they still control the town, because there are many of them and they didn’t all gather in the same place,” the source said.

This is coming less than a week after Boko Haram seized control of Gamboru-Ngala, a key township on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Boko Haram fighters were reported to have crossed Nigeria’s border into Cameroon on Monday after attacking a military base and police station in Borno, North-eastern Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Federal Government has ordered the immediate, unonditional reinstatement of the 16,000 resident doctors sacked during the nationwide NMA strike.

The Nigerian Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, through his spokesperson, Dan Nwomeh, tweeted that the doctors had been reinstated saying this took effect from Thursday.

Nwomeh further said the Federal Government also lifted the suspension of the Residency Training Programme in all federal hospitals.

His statement directed all the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of training centres to re-issue letters of reinstatement to the resident doctors.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed deep concern and worry over the new cases of Ebola Virus outbreak in Rivers State with call on the citizens to be on the alert and take their personal hygiene and other preventive measures seriously.

Governor Uduaghan who has already set up an emergency committee on the deadly disease in the wake of the index case in the country, condemned the action of the diplomat that spread the virus to Port Harcourt and the doctor that attended to him in a hotel.

Dr. Uduaghan during a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, broadcast live from Asaba on Friday, as part of activities to mark the 23rd anniversary of the creation of Delta State also called for increased and sustained advocacy campaign by stakeholders to curtail further spread of the disease.

“I am not only concerned that the virus has entered Port Harcourt, I am worried and we need to step up advocacy programme for people to raise the level of awareness,” the Governor who is a medical doctor by profession said.

“I feel very sad, very bad as a professional that a colleague, a Medical Doctor went to a hotel to treat someone who was suspected to have Ebola Virus, this call for great concern and need for more awareness to be created.”

“It is ridiculous why a diplomat should leave Lagos for Port-Harcourt knowing that he has been in contact with the primary Ebola victim,” disclosing that Delta State government has set up isolation centres in different parts of the state to ensure proper management of the disease.

While expressing the hope that it would not be spread to Delta State, Dr Uduaghan called on the people to be vigilant since a lot of persons were still migrating to the state from different parts of the country.

Answering question about some persons protesting against the location of isolation centres in their locality, the Governor said such complaint has not been witnessed in Delta State and noted that there was no need for such protest as preventive measures would have been put in place to ensure the safety of those working in the centres and the people living in the area.

He also spoke of the strides recorded by the state since its creation 23 years ago, emphasizing, “at twenty three, Delta State has come a long way, this is time for celebration, time for reflection, time to look at the challenges we had and I can tell you that a lot has been done within the last twenty three years in terms of overall development.”

Dr Uduaghan expressed the confidence that the Delta beyond Oil economical development programme of his administration would free the state from overdependence on oil revenue from the Federation Account.

“The oil economy is not a sustainable economy not only in Delta State but in Nigeria. The United States of America is depending less on oil from Nigeria and again, the oil may not be there tomorrow,” the Governor said.

Governor Uduaghan identified inadequate funding as the bane of local government administration in the country and advocated for more funds for that tier of government to enable it meet its statutory obligation while also calling for a removal of the burden of payment of teachers’ salaries from councils.

“Funding is a challenge for local government councils, for instance, we (Delta State Government) have to augment local government funds with over six hundred million naira monthly for them to pay salaries of primary school teachers. There is the need to increase allocation to local governments to enable them pay primary school teachers or move their salaries to the states and increase allocations to the states,” he said.

The Catholic Church has been compelled to close down most of its churches in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states because of acts of terrorism, just as Christians and Christian institutions have become the major targets in the Boko Haram sect’s mayhem.

“Christian men are caught and beheaded; the women are forced to become Muslims and are taken as wives to the terrorists. The houses of Christians that have fled are now occupied by the insurgents.

“Their cars are used by the terrorists. Some Muslims around identify Christian homes to be occupied and the Christians in hiding were also identified and killed. Strict Sharia Law has been promulgated.”

These are part of the press statement issued by the Director, Catholic Social Communications in-charge of the Maiduguri Diocese, Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, following the recent occupation of Catholic churches in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the Islamist Boko Haram sect.

The press statement tagged “Boko Haram on Rampage: Declaring A Caliphate in Gwoza the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri” also lamented that while the occupation by the terrorists lasted, many church structures have been vandalised, burnt and dozens of people, especially Christians killed.

“Saint Timothy’s Bama have been under siege since last year. The Parish Priest, Reverend Father Timothy Cosmas has long been relocated to a different Parish. At the early part of this year St. Peter’s Pulka was badly attacked. Thanks to God the Pastor Fr. James John was luckily unavailable. The terrorists searched and wanted to kill the holy Priest of God.”

The statement added that on the 22th August 2014, the dreaded group boldly moved around in Gwoza and even declared caliphate while the assisting priest of Saint Denis Madagali, Reverend Father Aiden Ibrahim fled with some of the parishioners to the mountains and trekked to Michika local government area.

Recall that the dreaded sect had annexed Gwoza, a border town in Borno state from Nigeria’s Federal Government and declared it an Islamic Caliphate, even as the Emir of Gwoza, whose father was earlier killed by the sect members had fled his kingdom into exile.

Also recall that a purported spokesman for Boko Haram who called himself Abul Qaqa had told reporters in the northeastern city of Maiduguri in a phone conference last year that, “We launched these attacks to prove the Nigerian security wrong and to debunk their claim that we have been weakened by the military crackdown.

“The Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state.”

Italy’s International Cooperation Minister Andrea Riccardi had also condemned these attacks and called for international action to stop Boko Haram, saying that “Christian blood has again been spilt in Nigeria according to a now clear plan of ethnic and religious cleansing. The international community can no longer look on at this massacre of innocent people without intervening.”

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan broke his silence on his successor with a charge on all aspirants for the gubernatorial election in the state to embark on issues-based campaigns rather than blackmail.

He charged aspirants to sell their purposeful programmes and policies to the electorate and desist from scheming on how to disqualify fellow aspirants with good intents for the state.

Governor Uduaghan who has been evasive on his likely successor noted that neither he nor any level of scheming could determine the candidate that would take over from him in 2015 but that the final choice rested in the hands of God.

Uduaghan, who spoke at an Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter’s (Anglican Communion), Asaba to mark the 23th anniversary of the creation of Delta State on Wednesday, cautioned aspirants to “stop running around trying to disqualify anybody because who God wants to give power, that He will give, whether you disqualify somebody at the screening stage and God wants that person, the person will succeed.”

The Governor recalled that in the build up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in 2006, he was disqualified by a screening committee in Port Harcourt before an appeal panel cleared him to contest the polls.

“As an aspirant who wants to take over from me, tell the people what you want to do, let us have a clean electioneering campaign. Who God wants, He will put in office,” Dr Uduaghan said, stressing, “let the campaign not be about me, about whom I am supporting or who I am not supporting, let the campaign be about what you can do for the people.”

He added, “I want to thank everybody that have indicated interest to take over from me in 2015, it is not easy to make up one’s mind to contest but, know that there is only a space for one person at a time for four years.”

The Governor said the state has recorded successes and used the occasion to declare August 27 as Thanksgiving Day for Delta State.

Meanwhile, a frontline political pressure group, Delta United has adopted Mr. Anthony Chuks Obuh to succeed incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as the governorship election in the state draws near.

In a motion moved by Hon. Efe Ofoburuku, member representing Uvwie Constituency and seconded by Hon. Johnson Erijo (Isoko South II) at the Delta state House of Assembly respectively, the gathering of hundreds of personalities drawn from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) unanimously adopted Obu as their sole aspirant.

In their separate remarks, Chief Ayiri Emani, Chief Tony Nwaka, Chief (Mrs.) Faith Majemite, Hon. Johnson Erijo, Hon. Efe Ofoburuku, Hon. Olisa Imegwu, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Mr. Mike Sekeigba, Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje, Daniel Mayuku, among a retinue of others drawn from all 25 local government areas of the state poured opulence on Obuh and resolved to give him full support in the coming governorship election.

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has described anger as the greatest challenge facing Nigeria as a nation.

Speaking on the topic, ” Nigeria’s Biggest Problem: Corruption or Impunity?” Governor Uduaghan stated that while corruption and impunity were part of the problems of Nigeria, the greatest challenge facing the country was anger.

According to him, every Nigerian was angry to the extent that “five governors who were at a ceremony with the President walked out on the President and formed the Angry People’s Congress.”

The Governor who spoke Monday at the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at Owerri, Imo State, called for love for one another.

“One of the biggest problems we have in this country today is anger, we are angry with each other,” the Governor said, observing that the Angry People’s Congress has provided a platform for aggrieved members of the PDP to defect to.

“When you are angry with the President, you join the APC, when you are angry with the governor, you join APC,” he stated, adding, “there is too much anger in the land and we need to deal with it.”

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State urged leaders to be mindful of how their actions affect the common man.

Former President, Yakubu Gowon lauded the theme of NBA’s Conference which was, “Nigeria, A Hundred Years After,” and observed that “Nigeria is not yet 100 as an independent nation.”

Gen. Gowon challenged participants at the conference to discuss how to make Nigeria greater in the next 100 years.

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal called for credible elections as the solution to Nigeria’s problem.

Outgoing President of NBA, Okey Wali, (SAN) said “the NBA annual general conference continues to be the premier and veritable opportunity for lawyers from around the world to meet and hear firsthand about current trends and legal developments in various areas of practice.”

THE Onotu-Uku of Umusadege, Utagba-Uno, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Adoh Ugbomeh has decried the aof the community by successive governments in the country.

Chief Ugbomeh, while addressing members of Asaba Branch of Umusadege Family Union on Saturday, August 23, 2014, observed that there is no federal government project in the community.

According to him, “I am to report that we are serially neglected by successive governments at Federal, State and Local levels, in terms of development,” adding, “as I speak to you, there is no Federal Government project in Umusadege, our community is the headquarters of abandoned projects in Delta State and the water project is completely abandoned and our people still depend on Umu stream for water supply, the maternity centre is overgrown with weeds and comfortably inhabited by dangerous reptiles, the police station, which was designed to have barracks and other offices, is now functioning as a police post despite several efforts to upgrade it to a division.”

“The most painful aspect of all the government neglects is the Delta State Government transport buses that terminate their trip at Ekuku Agbor and we have a good garage and enough passengers,” the Onotu-Uku said, stating, “I appeal to government to extend the terminal point to Ndemili, about two kilometers apart and to give effect to this, I am hereby nominating your President, Mr. Ikechuku Otuya to head a three-man committee; which he should constitute, to liaise with government and ensure that the State government grants this request.”

The Onotu-Uku continued, “early this month, some officials came from Abuja from Ministry of Energy saying that they came to inspect a solar powered water scheme by the Federal Government located in Ndemili, we expressed surprise and told them that there was nothing like that and they left their details including telephone numbers and that of their boss at Abuja with the Secretary because, the case of Ndemili Electricity project, which was abandoned and the money allegedly collected is still fresh in our memory.”

He disclosed that the meeting was part of his tours of branches of Umusadege Family Union and urged them not to relent in their efforts towards developing the Umusadege community.

Chief Ugbomeh specifically commended the President of Asaba branch of the family meeting, Mr Ikechukwu Otuya stating, “let me publicly acknowledge the contributions of this great patriot who facilitated the establishment of Edike Oza Primary School in Ndemili.”

The Onotu-Uku disclosed that a lot of positive changes have been effected in the community since his assumption of office as the Onotu of Umusadege three years ago, reiterating that he is working with the blessings of the Okpala-Uku of Umusadege, HRM Ojugbeli Egboneowu, noting that efforts are on “for government to recognize the Okpala-Uku as our traditional ruler.”

Responding, the President of Asaba branch of Umusadege Family meeting, Mr Ikechukwu Otuya thanked the Onotu Uku and all the Onotus from Ndemili for their efforts towards developing their community, observing that the visit of branches by the Onotu-Uku will strengthen the unity among Umusadege people and also, let the people to be aware of what is going on in their community.

Mr Steve Uweh in an interview, said, “there is no doubt, our community, Umusadege is witnessing peace as a result of the transparent administration of the Onotu-Uku.”

A prominent socio-political group in Dwlta state, Defenders of Democracy Group (DDG) has described the entrant of Mr. Anthony Chuks Obuh into the state’s governorship race as a good omen in the polity of the state.

The group, through it’s Coordinators in Delta North, South and Central Senatorial Districts respectively, assured Deltans to queue up behind Obuh, whom they described as an enviable politician, technocrat and best option worthy of emulation for Deltans to sustain the inherent peace and development agenda of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The coordinators, in an exclusive interview with Blank NEWS Online, urged Deltans to undermine sectional opposition and work with Obuh in his quest to transform Delta state.

The Delta North Coordinator of the group, Comrade Uzor Nwabuoku, a former Delta state youth leader of PDP national grassroots forum, enjoined Deltans from the three senatorial districts to join hands in making sure that Obuh becomes governor, considering his detribalised nature.

Also, the Delta South coordinator of DDG, Comrade Ejoor Umukoro and his Delta Central counterpart, Comrade Peter Emwakpor disclosed that “Mr. Anthony Chuks Obuh is a noble man who has a clean track record of not being involved in any form of either financial crimes or bloodshed, like other politicians, describing him as a good omen to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a welcome development to Delta state.”

NATIONAL President of University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Dr Kemi Emina has challenged members of Alumni Associations to contribute positively to the development of their alma mater.

Dr Emina who was speaking after his election as the National President of UIAA said his emergence as an alumni president signals a new dawn for the University of Ibadan and urged all the members of the alumni association to contribute towards the growth of the University.

“We are proud to have passed through the University of Ibadan and I thank the alumni association for finding me worthy to pilot the affairs of this great association, this is a new dawn for the University of Ibadan and by the grace of God and the cooperation of lovers of education, the University of Ibadan will not only witness positive developments but the Nigerian education environment, especially, the University system will witness positive changes,” Dr Emina who is the Special Adviser to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly on Research and Documentations said.

The former lecturer of the Delta State University, Abraka who worked for years as a Journalist in The Pointer Newspaper’s stable polled 83 votes as against his opponent’s seventy three votes to emerge victorious during the 23rd National Election Congress of UIAA held at the University of Ibadan.

Dr Emina who was sponsored by the Asaba Chapter of the association and served as a national ex-officious member of the association, took over the mantle of leadership from Dr Nathaniel Merenu.

Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin, Dr Uche Uzokwe and Pastor Mike Ejikeme were elected as 1st, 2nd and 3rd National Vice Presidents respectively, while Mr Samuel Obinyan emerged as the national secretary of the association and Mr Okezie Agbugba (1st Assistant National Secretary), Mr Olumoyegun Temidire (2nd Assistant National Secretary), Dr Elsie Adewoye (National Treasurer), Mr Joseph Akaanam (National Financial Secretary) and Chief Solomon Egwuenu (National Publicity Secretary).Also, Mr M.A. Bello was elected as National Socials Secretary, Barr. R.A. Eyinade, National Legal Adviser, while Engr. Abiola Ogunjobi and Chief (Sir) Francis Odion as National Ex-Officio members.

The Chairman of the Delta State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has described the 43rd conference of International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) held at Sofia, Bulgaria as a good opportunity to deliberate on issues affecting the transport sector in the world.

Chief Obi who attended the conference, disclosed that it was a well organized event for the transport workers, stating that the theme of the conference: “From Global Crisis to Global Justice: Transport Workers Fighting Back!” was very important especially for Nigerian delegates because of the activities of insurgents and criminals.

The Delta State NURTW Boss who spoke in Asaba thanked the National President of the drivers’ union, Alhaji Najeem Usman for ensuring the full participation of Nigeria’s delegates at the conference.

According to him, “our national President mobilized Nigerians for the conference and any where we went, we were well respected as Nigerians,”
Chief Obi said, adding, “the conference was an eye opener and good exposure for those of us who attended the conference and I thank our Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for making our state peaceful which made it possible for me to travel to Bulgaria.

“Peace and security is very important and if the state is not peaceful, our union will not be in peace and I would not have travelled,” Chief Obi said, reiterating, “our union in Delta State is peaceful, our people are cooperating and we will implement what we learnt in Bulgaria.”

An interactive dialogue with the private sector in Delta State on running businesses in Nigeria holds in Asaba on Monday, August 25, 2014.

A statement issued by Mr. Pius Mordi, Special Assistant to Delta Commissioner for Information, Barr. Chike Ogeah and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Friday, August 22, 2014 reads:

“The dialogue is part of an intensive national Business Registration (BR) Promotion Campaign to encourage businesses organisations to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The campaign which is part of the strategy to reduce the cost of doing business and improve competitiveness is aimed at:
• Promoting the benefits of formalization to increase business registrations in Nigeria.
• Creating awareness of regulatory reforms that make it easier, faster and cheaper to register a business in Nigeria.

“The interactive Public Private Dialogue (PPD) holding in Asaba at Benizia Hotel is a collaboration between the Delta State Ministry of Commerce and Industry with CAC and Growth and Employment in States (GEMS3).

“Representatives of associations, unions and the private sector will have the opportunity to start the registration process as CAC staff will be present to carry out name searches and start business name or company name registration process.

“The PPD will be followed by five days of intensive campaigning in various micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) locations in Asaba, Agbor, Warri, Ughelli and Sapele.

“The Growth & Employment in States (GEMS3) programme in Nigeria is a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the Department of International Development (DFID) and the World Bank. GEMS3 aims to improve the business environment and reduce poverty in Africa’s most populous country by increasing growth, incomes and jobs across the Nigeria.

“The First phase of the campaign took place in Kaduna, Kano, Calabar and Lagos states. The second phase took place in Enugu, followed by Ebonyi and Imo States. The third phase of the campaign is ongoing in Abia, Delta and Anambra states respectively during which various activities and workshops targeted at MSMEs in those states were introduced.

“GEMS3 is also supporting CAC on an online registration process intended to upgrade and streamline the business registration processes. This will make for further reduction in the time, cost and number of procedures required to register a business in Nigeria. CAC is committed to efficient service delivery to all customers in Delta state and Nigeria.”

A world class film village that would change the face of the film industry in Nigeria is to be established in Delta State with the State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan already set to provide land for the take off.

Dr Uduaghan explained that the construction of a film village in Delta State was in line with his administration’s human capital development and would also serve as encouragement to the Nigerian film industry which he described as mirroring the ills of the society and marketing the country to the world.

The Governor who spoke during a courtesy visit on him in Asaba on Thursday by a Delta-born veteran film producer, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, observed that Delta State was playing key roles in the entertainment industry as most of the Nigerian actors, actresses, comedians, musicians, including journalists were either Deltans or have links to the state.

He reiterated that his administration was investing in different areas, especially, in the area of tourism, noting that the Film Village was based on the fact that Delta State remained Nigeria’s entertainment hub and pre-eminent destination for film producers and actors.

Dr Uduaghan commended Chief Ugbomah for producing films on the gains and challenges of the oil industry, adding that such films were in line with his administration’s Delta Beyond Oil programme.

“Some of your films like the Oil Doom and the Black Gold are in tandem with our development model of Delta Beyond Oil,” Governor Uduaghan said, adding, “they expose the negative aspects of crude oil because an oil economy is not a sustainable economy, it has its challenges.”

He emphasized, “though, we are oil producing state, we are using the oil money to develop other areas of the economy, so, we associate with the ideals of your films.”

Dr. Uduaghan congratulated Chief Ugbomah on his 74th birthday and 50th anniversary as a film producer and assured him of his administration’s assistance in the establishment of a gallery in the state.

Earlier Chief Ugbomah, accompanied by his colleagues in the film industry, had informed the Governor that he was celebrating his 74th birthday and 50th anniversary as a film producer and appealed to the Governor for land to establish a film village in the state.

Irked by the sloppy attitude of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conducting a fresh registration exercise in Ika South local government of Delta state, the people have lambasted the Commission for possible plot of disenfranchisement.

INEC had earlier declared that the data-base of Ika South local government was infected with virus, after the 2011 voters’ registration exercise in the state and promised to conduct a fresh registration exercise in the area.

But appalled at the inefficiency displayed by INEC during the exercise, the people who turned out in their large numbers complained that they could not be re-registered due to the faulty computer laptops, scanners and other accessories provided for the exercise.

Although they appealed to INEC to facilitate the fresh registration exercise to enable them vote in the forthcoming elections, they urged INEC to provide the ad-hoc staff in the various units of the 18 Wards in Ika South with up to date computer equipment for efficient exercise.

However an INEC source in Delta state has confirmed to Blank NEWS Online that the computers and their accessories provided for the fresh registration exercise in Ika South were the same used during the 2011 voters’ registration exercise in the state, adding that they had been dumbed at the Commission’s headquarters in Asaba.

Speaking on behalf of the people, Hon. Martin Okonta, representing Ika South Constituency at the Delta state House of Assembly who lamented INEC’s failure to issue Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) to the people, solicited for an extension of time to enable them participate fully in the fresh registration exercise.

“We did all we could to mobilise the people who are predominately farmers for a fresh registration but unfortunately INEC equipment are obsolete and could not function effectively. The people are very pained about it. And as you can see this event ought to take the next one month considering the nature of the battered equipment they have. If the equipment were in order they would have been able to register about 10 persons in a day.

“We have been here since 08:00am till 01:00pm when the INEC ad-hoc officials arrived and at 04:00pm only one person has been registered. INEC should urgently provide efficient equipment for the exercise.

“We are appealing to INEC to take necessary steps to ensure that our people who came out for fresh registration are duly registered. It is the same problem in the 18 wards. They said they have virus in Ika South and could not deliver a single Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and this is the dilemma we are in now.”

On INEC’s insistence that no electorate would be allowed to vote without the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), Okonta said, “I don’t think INEC can stop a local government from participating in a national election. In state elections too, they need the voters’ card to vote. I don’t think they have the constitutional power to disenfranchise a local government from participation. It is illegal and not obtainable anywhere. So however they are going to do it the nation is watching.

“I do not suspect any sabotage. It is just that the equipment they brought were no longer functional because they were not serviced. Urgent steps should therefore be taken to service these machines.”

In some of the polling units visited by Blank NEWS Onlineon Wednesday, August 20, 2014, people were seen milling around the INEC officials who frequently battle with the registration equipment in vain.

One of the officials told Blank NEWS Online that they have started retrieving some of the faulty equipment to the Commission’s offices at Agbor and Asaba for repairs.

When contacted, the Delta state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan on Wednesday, August 20, 2014, said that appropriate measures have been put in place by the Commission to ensure that the people of Ika South are provided with new Temporary Voters’ Cards (TVC).

The REC said the people of Ika South would be allowed to use their Temporary Voters’ Cards, instead of the Permanent Voters’ Cards during elections considering the peculiarity of their case.

According to her, “We have met with the Dein of Agbor and his council of chiefs and we promised to send two machines each to the 129 polling units and we have done that.

“The intention is to declare the first set of the machines which would be replaced with the alternate ones while the other one is being taken care of and that is exactly what we are doing in Ika South.

We have two experts from our head office who are stationed in Agbor specifically to fix broken down machines.

“You should also expect that on the very first day of an exercise, there is anxiety, leading to impatience.

“I know that you understand the workings of INEC. You must be given a document at the point of registration. Local government elections are coming in October, certainly since the Permanent Voters’ Cards aren’t ready yet, they will vote with the Temporary Voters’ Cards.”

Nigeria has lost a senior doctor to the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, announced Tuesday evening.

The doctor, Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a senior female consultant physician at First Consultant Hospital, Lagos, participated in the management of the index EVD case, Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu made the pronouncement through his Media Assistant, Dan Nwomeh in a statement made available to Blank

NEWS Online.

The statement reads:

“The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu regrets to announce the death, this evening, of one of the primary contacts of the index Ebola Virus Disease case, the most senior doctor who participated in the management of the patient, a female consultant physician.

“With this unfortunate development the total number of Ebola Virus related deaths in Nigeria now stand at five.

“The other two patients currently under treatment in the isolation wards are stable and are being taken care of.”

According to a source, the late Dr Ameyo Adedavoh could not make it due to the serious contact she had with the late Sawyer.

“She tried to fight the disease. She fought a good fight. She saved Nigeria from imminent Ebola epidemic. She was the one that stopped late Sawyer when he became violent and was able to stop him. It is unfortunate we lost her. She is a heroine, even in death,” the source stated.

Dr. Adadevoh was an experienced consultant physician and endocrinologist was Lead Consultant with First Consultants Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos.

A holder of an MBBS from the University of Lagos, UNILAG, as well as a Diploma in Endocrinology from the University of London, the deceased practised in the United Kingdom and Nigeria for more than three decades.

She was a member of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, the British-Nigerian Association and a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja presented N500 million cheque to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and N260 million to his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio.

The fund is the states’ share of the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N220 billion funds for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

The fund’s disbursement was the highpoint of the CBN’s 8th Annual MSME Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Awards with the theme: “MSME Financing in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future.”

Uduaghan also won an award at the ceremony for the outstanding success Delta State has recorded under him in the MSME scheme.

The representatives of LAPO Micro-Finance Bank and Grassroots Micro-Finance received a cheque of N100 million and N9.9 million respectively from the President.

Speaking at the launch at the launch, Jonathan said that the Federal Government would establish a wholesale Development Finance Institution to provide long-term funds for industrial development.

The President said that the proposed institution was part of measures to enhance the contribution of MSMEs to the country’s economic growth and development.

According to him, the impending DFI would provide long-term finance spanning up to 15 years for relevant entrepreneurs and industrialists, especially people involved in tree crop production.

Jonathan also disclosed plans by the Federal Government to restructure existing DFIs for better performance and improved access to finance by MSMEs.

He said: “MSMEs are recognised all over the world as engine of growth in any development oriented economy.

“Besides their inherent labour intensive production processes, they also provide a viable platform for job creation globally.

“All over the developed world, the contributions of MSMEs to Gross Domestic Product average about 47 per cent.

“This shows clearly how important MSMEs are to us.

“As reported by SMEDAN (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria), there are about 17.3 million SMEs in Nigeria.

“However, this is quite small compared to countries like Indonesia that is slightly more than us in terms of population, but they have about 40 million.

“So, we must also get there and even go beyond.”

The President emphasised that a vibrant MSME sub-sector was indispensable for achieving sustainable transformation of the Nigerian economy.

He said as Africa’s largest economy with excellent prospects of becoming one of the world’s 20 largest economies by 2020, the challenges confronting MSMEs in the country must be addressed frontally.

Jonathan said: “The challenges called for more concrete and concerted measures to enhance and expand the activities of MSMEs in our country.

“The enormity of the task ahead demands immediate and dedicated action.

“That is why I am kick-starting today the disbursement of the N220 billion MSME Development Fund.

“The fund will be received by participating financial institutions and state governments for onward lending to MSMEs across the country.”

Jonathan described the conference as apt and appropriate in view of its focus on ways to resolve the problem of access to and cost of finance to MSMEs in Nigeria.

Besides limited access to finance, MSMEs in the country are also confronted by poor infrastructure, especially power, among other challenges.

Jonathan stated that the Federal Government was investing heavily on critical infrastructure such as electricity and road, among others to promote job creation and inclusive growth.

He said: “We are aware that inadequate infrastructure increases the cost of production by an estimated 30 per cent, making Nigerian goods quite under-competitive and we need to improve on that.

“The Federal Government believes that stable power supply is the bedrock of our industrial development and economic progress.

“It will not only reduce the cost of manufacturing and services significantly, it will also engender investments and create jobs.

“With these benefits in mind we are vigorously implementing the power sector reform programme.”

Jonathan noted that in spite of the initial challenges associated with the power reform programme, some of the successor companies to the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria were currently doing well.

He lauded the CBN for collaborating with the Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources as well as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to address the funding issues related to gas supply.

According to him, the collaboration is expected to boost gas supply that will increase the country’s power generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts within the next few months.

FORMER Deputy Chief of Staff to the Delta State Government, Chief Emma Ejiofor has said the level of political awareness in the country has contributed to the success of the collection of permanent voters card.

Chief Ejiofor who spoke on the outcome of the distribution of the permanent voters cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), observed that Nigerians came out to collect the cards without much publicity.

“I am happy that Nigerians are gradually coming to terms with democratic principles,” Ejiofor who is the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South local government area of Delta State said, adding, “you can see that Nigerians are conscious of the fact that without the voters card, they cannot vote or be voted for and at Isho Primary School, Ubulu-Uku, where I collected my card, it was a smooth process.”

He also commended the INEC for being thorough in the distribution of cards, observing that there was no mis up as it concerns the distribution of cards unlike what was witnessed in the past.

“There is a lot of improvement in Nigeria’s democracy, the awareness is high and INEC is correcting itself and this has reduced the level of complaints by the electorates,” Chief Ejiofor observed.

He thanked the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for declaring a public holiday to enable workers in the state to collect the voters’ card which will ensure that workers in the state actively participate in the 2015 general elections.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has harped on the need for effective collaboration of host communities with government to ensure maximum benefits of projects sited in their areas.

Speaking during an inspection of the 500 hectares cassava mechanised farming project at Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the State, the Governor said that project undertaken by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Delta State Government, would boost food security and create jobs for the people.

He said the project was an indication that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was on course, stressing that direct employment and the subsequent multiplier effect in empowering the people was unimaginable.

Accordingly, he enjoined the host community, Umiaghwa-Abraka, to remain peaceful and supportive of the cassava project in order to benefit maximally from it.

Governor Uduaghan who was conducted round the project by Dr. Martin Fregene, a Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, reiterated his commitment to the full development of the project particularly the timely construction of the processing plant and access road.

He said that the construction of the processing plant which was earlier delayed because of the initial challenges of the farm site, would be fast tracked to be ready to process the cassava in nine months time.

Dr. Fregene assisted by officials of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, Ilorin, Kwara State said one hundred and fifty hectares of land has been cultivated out of the five hundred hectares of the project’s first phase.

He said what has been cultivated would yield between twenty and twenty five metric tonnes of cassava daily per hectare adding that the project which was modeled after cassava projects in Southern Brazil would produce enough cassava flour to meet the federal government ten percent cassava flour requirement in bread.

Besides, Dr. Fregene disclosed that the plant would process cassava starch and ethanol for export thereby giving the nation foreign exchange noting that when fully completed the project would create a minimum of fifteen thousand direct jobs excluding the indirect jobs.

He thanked Governor Uduaghan for giving support to the project and assured Deltans that the project would revolutionize cassava production in Delta State and South-South at large.

Earlier at the palace of the traditional ruler of Umiaghwa-Abraka, Avwaeke I, Air Vice-Marshal Lucky Ararile (Rtd)

Governor Uduaghan informed the people that the project was put in place by President Goodluck Jonathan to expand the nation’s economic development base through agriculture adding that Delta State had keyed into the programme through the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ policy.

While thanking the Umiaghwa-Abraka monarch for his support, Governor Uduaghan assured the traditional ruler of the commitment of the federal and state government to complete the project because of its potentials.

He disclosed that a committee of the stakeholders comprising the federal and state governments and the Umiaghwa-Abraka community would be inaugurated soon to interface on the project culminating in a memorandum of understanding.

Governor Uduaghan paid tribute to the traditional ruler for his contribution to the success of the federal government amnesty programme as well as the prevailing peace in the Niger-Delta region.

The Ovie of Umiaghwa Abraka, commended President Jonathan and Governor Uduaghan for the project saying the project would guarantee increased food production and the creation of jobs.

He advised the federal government to put in place a memorandum of understanding for the project to guarantee a sense of belonging for the community.

The Traditional ruler appealed to the federal government to increase the capacity of the plant to its original 250 metric tonnes and twelve thousand hectare landmass from its present 500 hectares.

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq., has enjoined Public Relations Officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to be involved in the advocacy of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state.

Ogeah, who gave the charge in Asaba while meeting with the Public Relations Officers of the MDAs in the state, urged them to disseminate adequate and accurate information about the killer virus.

The Commissioner stated that the PROs must have knowledge and information about the Ebola Virus Disease to enable them inform members of the public through flyers and handbills.

He said the state government has taken proactive measures to tackle any reported outbreak headlong since no vaccine nor cure has been identified for the disease.

In her speech, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Monitoring, Dr. Rukevwe Ugwumba said the State Government is putting everything in place to ensure that there is no outbreak of the disease in the state, even as she advised people to maintain simple personal hygiene of hand washing and to wash fruits before eating them.

She revealed that no case of the disease has been reported in Delta state.

ELECTED and appointed office holders from Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State have been challenged to facilitate the tarring of Asaba/Okpanam/Issele-Azagba road through the Catholic Church, through the Amachai Community, Okpanam in Oshimili North local government area of the state.

Chairman, Amachai Community, Okpanam, Comrade Emeka Egwuogu made the call while speaking about the community’s efforts towards grading the road.

According to him, it is a short stretch of road but, very important as it links three local government areas and will also, make people to travel to Asaba without passing through the busy Benin/Asaba expressway.

“Okpanam as part of the state capital territory is witnessing an influx of people and this our road will make people to travel to Asaba without passing through the airport and it will ease congestion on that part of the road,” Comrade Egwuogu said, adding, “we are calling on our member in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; the members representing Oshimili South, Oshimili North and Aniocha North Constituencies in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Onwusanya, Pat Ajudua, Victor Ochei respectively and all the sons and daughters of Aniocha/Oshimili to take the road as a priority project.”

He added that the Asaba/Okpanam/Issele-Azagba road through Amachai community will also facilitate movement for people who are residing in Okpanam and go to work in Akwukwu-Igbo, Asaba, Onitsha and other places.

Contributing, Comrade Friday Okonkwo said, “this road will make the people of Okpanam to also, go to our local government headquarter, Akwukwu-Igbo, Ugbolu and other areas within Oshimili North and Aniocha North local government areas, farmers and our people in general will find it easier to visit Asaba through this road,” emphasizing, “Amachai community have been grading this road, but, we cannot grade it beyond our land which makes it difficult to pass through. We want the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) to grade this road and make it motorable to Issele-Azagba because many people prefer to pass through this road than to pass through the expressway.”

Comrade Okonkwo urged concerned governmental organizations to take the road as a priority project, observing that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State is doing a lot for Deltans, especially in the area of road construction.

World Health Organization says untested drugs can be used to treat patients infected with the Ebola virus, considering the scale of the outbreak and more than 1,000 recorded deaths in West Africa.

The WHO made the statement after its medical experts met in Switzerland on Monday to discuss the issue even as officials warned there were very limited supplies of potential treatments.

Dr Marie-Paule Kieny from the WHO said that there has been “unanimous agreement” among experts.

The WHO said where experimental treatments are used there must be informed consent and the results of the treatment collected and shared.

In a statement, it said: “In the particular circumstances of this outbreak, and provided certain conditions are met, the panel reached consensus that it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention.”

However, the drug has only been tested on monkeys and has not yet been evaluated for safety in humans.

Meanwhile Nigeria has recorded the third death as a result of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

The ECOWAS Commission Tuesday night announced the passing of a staff member of its Lagos Liaison Office, Mr. Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, aged 36 who had been under quarantine following the death of Patrick Sawyer.

A Protocol Assistant, Abdulqudir, was among those who assisted the Liberian delegate to a regional meeting Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who died from the Ebola Virus Disease at a Lagos hospital on 25th July 2014.

In a statement Tuesday night, the ECOWAS Commission said, “The Management of the Commission wishes to commiserate with Mr. Abdulqudir’s family and colleagues and prays for the repose of his soul.

“Before this sad event, the Commission working in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities, had disinfected all the facilities of the ECOWAS Lagos Liaison Office as part of precautionary measures to safeguard the health, safety and security of staff members, and will continue to monitor the situation.

“Management has also intensified awareness campaign among staff on the deadly virus and uses this opportunity to invoke the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance.

“The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community Institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety.

“Furthermore, Management enjoins all staff members and community citizens in general to intensify the observance of personal hygiene. They should also report any suspected case to health facilities and seek medical advice or attention for the effective containment and defeat of the Ebola disease.

“On the directive of regional leaders, ECOWAS has already set up a Solidarity Fund to fight the disease and has solicited the support contribution of Member States and development partners to the Fund to rid the region of the virus.

“The ECOWAS Commission wishes to reiterate its continued commitment to support Member States in confronting this deadly virus”.

Recall that few days after Sawyer died, one of the nurses that assisted him also died.

Also on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, confirmed that another nurse who assisted Sawyer has tested positive to the deadly virus.

Recently, former Aba North elected Chairman, Ikwechegh Alex, granted an interview titled ‘Orji has put Abia in national political grid!’. From all indications, Alex was merely trying to launder his image if he has any.

There is this Igbo analogy that goes this way. You pulled your gun at me, pulled the trigger and it did not shoot, because there was no bullet and I was not killed. Now you weep profusely, telling me that you are sorry. What if the gun exploded and blew the head off me? Crocodile ties!

The other scenario is that of a cowboy in a Western. Remember Westerns, sometime the most popular films of the forties fifties and all. This cowboy heard a gunshot. He fell off the horse and hid in-between two narrow walls, panting and shaky. He actually had a gun but didn’t return fire. When the heat was over, he cleaned his dusty jacket and emerged from his hiding, boasting how he returned fire. He thought that nobody saw him in his hiding place but somebody did and just touched the muzzle of his cold gun to prove his lies.

All the above fit Alex the smart Alec. Alex Ikwechegh got into council through the maneuver of his uncle and mentor, Orji Uzor Kalu. While Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, one of the richest Local Governments with high revenue profile, he was the greatest debtor. He refused upon all entreaties to pay Local Government workers. In Unconfirmed stories that loomed larger than life, he was known to elope to South Africa, spend his holidays in the company of Nolly Wood stars he drenched with money meant for sweating, LGA Staff while he drowned in Champagnes and the best of South African wines.

Families of malnourished workers under him in the council, went to bed hungry. Dependent relatives died in hospitals due to no care, children of some couldn’t go back to school because Alex did not pay, but in the interview, he employed the usual style of Nigerian politicians who think that they can always change history by mere telling new stories in glossy magazines, newspapers and badly written biographies. Alex is a beautiful piece of fakery.
He was the youngest of the chairmen and was expected to be closer to the people, especially the youths but he took to the ostrich strategy and was credited with the saying that ‘T.A. Orji shouldn’t bother him about salaries of workers but should mind his business. If he feels so aggrieved that he should use the state fund to pay. That after all, they derived their powers from one source.’

In the interview in Business Day newspaper of Friday, August, 1, 2014, Page 43, South-south /South-east news page, he reeled off so many funny and shameless niceties about the Governor and Abia State. Hear him, “The Governor is saving lives. Civil servants no longer embark on strike, as their salaries are paid and on time. I remember when the global economic recession hit us at Aba North, when we couldn’t even pay salaries. In fact, about 85 percent of local government areas could not pay salaries at that time. The governor used part of state funds to assist us. I don’t know how he did it, but he ended up clearing those salary arrears.

From such sweet talk and sensible nonsense, it is obvious that Alex is planning to come back to PDP. He claims to be a member of PDP, maybe in Abuja for I am sure that he is not in Igbere, his home place. Alex equally claims to have followers whom he will galvanize into action to work for PDP or campaign for T.A. Orji in the senatorial bid. Two questions are enough to unveil the feignings of Alex. Where has he been? How many years have passed since he lay low like the proverbial bedbug waiting for the heat to cool off? Hogwash! Lies and damn lies.

Alex has no followers except phantom objects and mannequins he bought in South Africa for his large wardrobe, aftermath of his reckless shoppings in his uncountable trips. He should first apologize to the workers, especially those who died waiting for Alex to pay.

We are waiting for Ikwechegh in Igbere. NULGE is watching with keen interest.

This is one insult we would repudiate as Abia labour would not be intimidated with his connections, or ignore his gargantuan misdeeds and his shameless displays of wealth that were squeezed from the Local Government workers he refused to pay.

There is no point asking if am angry. Yes I am not only angry, I am bitter and will show this any day I see Alex’s photos on posters. Alex should be told that the ballot box is back and votes count in Abia. No dirty rubber stamps and promotion of scoundrels into authority.

*Ikwuegbu wrote in Abia North LGA.

INVESTIGATING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL VIDEO ALLEGATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE BY NIGERIAN MILITARY

Gentlemen of the Press,

Welcome to this press briefing which was compelled by the urgent need to clarify some developments arising from our counter-terrorism operations in the country.

The Nigerian military welcomes the interest being shown by international bodies and civil society groups on the observance of Human Rights in all aspects of ongoing counter terrorism campaign in Nigeria. Despite the highly challenging and peculiar nature of the variables in the operations, the importance of accountability for all actions has remained paramount. The Armed Forces of Nigeria is conscious of the nation’s obligation to observe all rules, regulations and commitments in all activities, and wishes to reassure the international community, bodies and citizens that it will not encourage or condone any form of violation.

It is expedient to particularly address the recent allegation of gross Human Rights abuses leveled against the military by the Amnesty International and those circulating video footage purportedly showing Nigerian military carrying out extra-judicial killing of suspected terrorists.

For the records, we must unequivocally state that the Nigerian military takes the issue of Human Rights seriously and will never condone any proven case of abuse by its personnel. Military authorities are deeply concerned about the set of video footage being circulated and which unfortunately has also become reference data for Amnesty International in its report. Much as the scenes depicted in these videos are alien to our operations and doctrines, it has to be investigated to ensure that such practices have not crept, surreptitiously into the system all to the detriment of expectations, in line with best practices to which the nation’s military has committed itself.

The Defence Headquarters considers these allegations too grievous to be associated with Nigerian troops, considering the doctrinal and operational contents of the training imparted to personnel on a continuous basis; emphasizing the importance of respect for Human Rights and dignity of human person as well as observance of humanitarian laws. Rather, the scenes in that video clip clearly depict a pattern consistent with the atrocious operations of the terrorists.

Notwithstanding the cases of impersonations that have pervaded the counter terrorism operations in Nigeria and many other related issues which cast doubts on the claims made in the video, the Defence Headquarters views those grave allegations very seriously, more so as it borders on the integrity of the ongoing counter-terrorism operation, which must be sustained in the interest of our national survival.

Consequently, the Defence Headquarters in addition to the already existing Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has constituted a team of senior officers and legal cum forensic experts to study the video footage and the resultant allegations of infractions in order to ascertain the veracity of the claims with a view to identifying those behind such acts. This will further determine and stimulate necessary legal action against any personnel or anyone found culpable in accordance with the provisions of the law.

You will recall that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was earlier constituted based on previous allegations of human rights abuse. The JIT is still in place and have regularly conducted visits to detention facilities. It is currently on tour of some of such facilities across the country. The JIT has also regularly forwarded names of those suspects who are culpable to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution. An additional list is currently being compiled to facilitate the decongestion of detention facilities.

These attempts at protecting the rights of detained terror suspects categorically point to the fact that as a professional institution with thorough-bred officers and men, the Nigerian military cannot be party to such degree of savagery, as portrayed in the video footage available to Amnesty International. The Nigerian military has over the years demonstrated a pedigree devoid of such acts in several operational theatres in and out of the country. There is no reason why this should change at this stage of our national life.

Without mincing words, the Nigerian Armed Forces cannot condone any action or inaction that tramples on the right to life of any Nigerian. The ultimate objective of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operation is the complete cessation of the heinous and barbaric activities of the terrorists and to stamp out every vestige of terrorism in our country with the application of international best practices in such operations. It will, therefore, be absurd for the Nigerian Armed Forces as an institution to perpetrate such unprofessional acts in the manner and level depicted in that video as alleged by Amnesty International. Respect for the sanctity of life is always boldly emphasized in our doctrinal trainings. Indeed, that level of barbarism and impunity has no place in the Nigerian military. It must thus be reiterated that the Nigerian military is a very well organized professional body of troops whose conducts in war and peace times are guided comprehensively by law.

We assure Nigerians and indeed the international community that the Nigerian Armed Forces recognizes the concern of Amnesty International as well as other similar bodies and therefore remains committed to the observance of the rules of engagement and human rights in its counter-terrorism operations.

Major General CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Director Defence Information
5 August 2014

As the Delta state government and security agencies intensify efforts to curtail the raging crisis in Ndokwa West council area of the state, Ugiliamai Community has brazed up in the heat of the crisis to clarify some grey issues.

A statement made available to Blank NEWS Online on Tuesday, August 05, 2014 and signed by the traditional leadership and community heads of the community reads:

“OUR POSITION ON THE IBABU/ISELEGU WAR: UGILIAMAI SHARES BOUNDARY WITH ISELEGU NOT IBABU

INTRODUCTION:

“Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5

“War should belong to the tragic past, in history. It should find no place on humanity’s agenda for the future.” Pope John Paul II.

We thank all those who are interested in restoring peace to Iselegu and Ibabu communities. We are confident that your actions in the long-run will ensure a peaceful society, a society where neighbours will see themselves as one and work in the interest of one another.

Ugiliamai desires a clear boundary demarcation with Ibabu and not between Ibabu and Iselegu because, we believe that with clear boundary demarcation, good neighbourliness, love for one another will be entrenched between the two communities.

Origin of Ugiliamai/Ibabu

Ugiliamai and Ibabu are two communities in the present-day five villages (quarters) of Onicha-Ukwuani Clan in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Originally, Onicha-Ukwuani had four villages; Ike-Onicha, Eweshi, Ugiliamai and Amoji.

Our (Ugiliamai) ancestors descended in two processions from Amai in Ukwuani Local Government Area and Ashama in the present-day Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State and settled at Ugiliamai Uno (Obi Aka). As good farmers, we have common boundaries with Eweshi, Amoji, Ike-Onicha, Utagba-Uno, Ossissa, Obikwele, Iselegu and Afor clan.

The people of Ibabu migrated from Nsukwa in Aniocha South local government area and came to settle at Onicha-Ukwuani. The other three villages; Ike-Onicha, Eweshi and Amoji, despite the entreaties of Ibabu people to be given land, refused their entrance into Onicha Eno (Four quarters of Onicha-Ukwuani) then, and refused to give them accommodation.

But, Ugiliamai community went ahead to offer them accommodations with conditions that have long been flouted; that is,

(i) Going beyond the areas offered them by our forefathers,

(ii) Payment of royalty which they have stopped.

Ibabu people, as if they were angered by the fact they were accommodated, displayed uncanny aggression and encroached on land not earlier offered them. Our people did not find peace with them due to their incessant harassment, interception and assault on Ugiliamai people when returning from or going to their farms.

These provocative actions have continued to date which is one of the reasons we are seeking a clear demarcation of boundary between us.

Till date, Onicha-Ukwuani has one major market; Nkwo market, which has four entrances to it. The four roads to the market are from the four different communities that made up Onicha-Ukwuani then: Ike-Onicha, Eweshi, Ugiliamai and Amoji. Ibabu has no link road to this historical market where the people of Onicha-Ukwuani perform both cultural and social rites.

Also, because of the growth in population of the people which cannot be denied them because of procreation, they have continued to encroach on land belonging to Ugiliamai.

Ikilike, which is one of our Shrines, is situated by Ibabu Primary School and till date, Ugiliamai Community still perform the rituals as in the past. Also, Ebi Shrine which is situated at the outskirt of Ibabu is Ugiliamai’s revered god for the promotion of long life and annual rituals are still been performed there. Furthermore, in the practice of our age grade, the Okpala-Uku of Ogbe Owa installs the Onotu Uku (the head of the administrative council of Ugiliamai Community) every seven years in the presence of the god before other processes for age grading takes place. The practice still subsists to date.

IBABU/ISELEGU FEUD

It is a fact that Ibabu people are perpetual tenants to Ugiliamai community. They have no land of their own, as such, they cannot go to war with any community based on land issue, or lay sustainable ownership claim to any parcel of land.

When the issue of land dispute arose for the first time between Iselegu and Ibabu, our people intervened by inviting Ibabu people to state why they should be involved in land dispute with Iselegu. Precisely, this was on March 23, 1953. Ibabu Community was led to the meeting by late Ezhedi Jato. At the meeting, Ibabu people were advised never to have land dispute with Iselegu because if there were to be any land dispute, it has to be between Iselegu and Ugiliamai. This advice has been ignored by the people of Ibabu.

Ugbo-Ocha (Obi Ukpo) where Ibabu people are laying claim to which was the reason they are fighting with Iselegu belongs to Ugiliamai. In the early1950s, late Chief Patrick Ibobo Ozah, an indigene of Ugiliamai was the first person that resided in the village. At a time, some discharged lepers from Ossissa segregation camp joined Chief Ibobo Ozah in the hamlet. The land belongs to Ugiliamai and the boundary between Ugiliamai and Iselegu is well known and respected by the two communities (Ugiliamai and Iselegu).

Iselegu and Ugiliamai know their common boundary at Ugbo-Ocha (Obi Ukpo).

The need for clear demarcation of boundary between Ugiliamai and Ibabu

Today, Ibabu community is located in the middle of Ugiliamai. This is because, on one side of the village is Ugiliamai-Uno while on the other side is Ugiliamai town.

We are aware that their population has risen which has caused them to be desperately in need of more land. It is worthy to state here that gone is the era where might is law. Our patience should not be misconstrued to be cowardice. We have only been magnanimous and accommodating.

Since 1953 when our forefathers urged Ibabu people to stop engaging in actions against Iselegu people, they have turned against us; their landlord. On 12th February, 1957, their activities led to war between the two communities and, of recent, but, for maturity and restraint, war would have been going on between the two communities (Ugiliamai and Ibabu).

This is because on 17th March, 1989, Ibabu people killed an indigene of Ugiliamai, Chief Ossai Esume and in March 23rd, 1993 our sons were attacked by Ibabu people and they sustained different degrees of injuries. On 29th May, 2005 there was also, another attack which led to our children losing their valuables, while on 31st December, 2007, there was another attack on Ugiliamai people by indigenes of Ibabu. This almost resulted in war between the two communities as vehicles belonging to Ugiliamai people were destroyed. Also, on 14th January, 2008 there was another attack and motorbikes (Okada) belonging to indigenes of Ugiliamai were seized by Ibabu people. On October 11, 2009 there was also, another attack and apart from the valuable items been lost as a result of these attacks, our people have also, suffered bodily, psychological and emotional harm. All these are enough for retaliation from our children and such could have led to a shooting war.

It is wrong for them to believe that by their unreasoned aggression and virtual warfare, more land can be acquired by them. It is time for them to apply dialogue and peaceful moves.

Conclusion:

We have continued to see Ibabu as our tenants, who ironically, see us as landlords they can forcibly take their landed property from. This is wrong because, “war is the greatest plaque that can afflict humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it,” says Martin Luther King. With a body such as the Boundary Committee and the fact that might is no longer law, we see no reason why we should not explore dialogue to ensure that there will be mutual respect for one another, in full recognition of the true ownership of the land in question.

Since the people of Ibabu have gone beyond where was originally given to them by our ancestors, we pray that to ensure lasting peace between the two communities the people of Ibabu should not exceed the Ebi shrine towards Ugiliamai town.

As it concerns Iselegu and Ibabu, it must be clearly stated that Ibabu has no boundary with Iselegu, as such, it cannot have boundary dispute with Iselegu, only Ugiliamai can have such dispute because Ugiliamai has common boundary with Iselegu.

We however, urge any interested individual, group or government who is intervening for peace to reign in the area to take a day off and visit the communities. If this is done, we believe that you will be in a good position to give good advice on the way forward and forestall looming break down of law and order. No sacrifice is too small to pursue the course of lasting peace.”

Signed:

HRH FREDRICK OPIA EGILIGA -OKPALA-UKU OF UGILIAMAI

CHIEF JOHNSON IGWE -ONOTU-UKU OF UGILIAMAI

OKWA PAUL OKENNE

OKWU-ONU UGILIAMAI

Nigeria’s Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu has disclosed that a doctor in Lagos, among those who treated Late Liberian Ebola victim, Patrick Sawyer, had contracted the deadly Ebola virus.

Although the name of the infected doctors was not revealed, the Health Minister said the doctor has tested positive.

He said that in a bid to curtail the spread, measures have been heightened screen people who use the border as well as not allowing corpse of any victim of the Ebola disease into the country.

The World Health Organization record shows that the dreaded Ebola outbreak in West Africa has increased to 1,323 cases with over 729 deaths at the death rate of not less than 55%.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called on people of the State to take the forthcoming collection of permanent voters’ card exercise serious with a charge on top government officials and party leaders to be in the vanguard of the sensitisation campaign.

This is comming on the heels of a stern warning issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Asaba over double registration, insisting that it is an electoral offence if any voter, who had changed his/her residential address after the 2011 exercise applied for fresh registration.

Governor Uduaghan has already commended sensitisation meeting with relevant stakeholders on senatorial district basis to ensure that voters collect their permanent cards when the distribution exercise kicks off on August 15.

In a meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders from Delta Central in Warri on Monday, August 5, 2014, Governor Uduaghan stressed that the collection of permanent voters’ card was as important as the registration exercise.

“The collection of permanent voters’ card is a very serious exercise because your wining any election whether local government, state or federal depends on your voters card. So it is for us to mobilise our people, our community people, our families, our party members to go and collect their permanent voters card.

“I expect that the party at the senatorial level will also meet with the local chairman, council chairmen and map out strategies on how to ensure that people go and collect their voters card,” he said.

Dr. Uduaghan who explained that the meeting was also to rob minds on the forthcoming local government election in the state, commended the peaceful approach that the various aspirants and their supporters have adopted so far and urged them to continue to maintain the peace.

The Governor expressed the hope that the series of party activities being undertaken would produce credible candidates that would not only fly the PDP’s flag in the forthcoming polls but win both as chairmen and councillors.

He told the party leaders, aspirants and stakeholders that it was possible to have a consensus candidate where that was the opinion of the majority.

Dr. Uduaghan who observed that PDP was the only party currently mobilising for the forthcoming local government polls in the state reiterated that his party was working hard to ” win and we shall win freely and squarely.”

This his position, he explained was against the background of his being the leader of PDP in the state, adding “I do not owe any apology for saying PDP will win all the seats in the forthcoming election.”

He told the aspirants, “I want to advise that if you don’t get it (the ticket) there is no need trying to defect to another party because there is no other party that can carry you the way PDP is carrying you.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, August 5, 2014 warned that change of residence of voters who partook in the 2011 voter registration would not guarantee fresh registration in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The commission emphasised that it would amount to double registration and an electoral offence if any voter, who had changed his/her residential address after the 2011 exercise applied for fresh registration.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta State, Dame Gesila Khan made this known at an enlarged stakeholders’ forum on the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the Continuous Voter Registration across the state.

The REC noted that the electoral body was aware that a lot of voters had changed residences from one state to another after the 2011 registration exercise, adding that what such voters needed to do was to apply for transfer of their voter cards.

According to her, although the commission had already taken delivery of the PVCs meant for voters in the state, the PVCs for the entire voters in Ika South Local Government Area, RA2 in Warri South-West Local Government Area and RA1 in Aniocha North Local Government Area were still being awaited. She said INEC headquarters had been informed about the omitted areas.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has frowned at the action of the new management of the Delta Steel Company (DSC), Ovwian-Aladja for arbitrarily sacking the heads of the DSC Hospital and the DSC Technical High School.

Governor Uduaghan who described the action as “wicked, insensitive and inhuman” has threatened to petition the management to President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly, the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

Dr. Uduaghan receiving the Senate Committee on Privitization said that staff of the two institutions were doing good jobs despite several months of unpaid salaries.

According to him, the state government felt concerned about the plight of the workers and decided to assist them with stipends equivalent of their salaries for which the new management of DSC suspended the heads.

“Before Aladja was sold the workers there were not being paid especially in the area of education and in the area of health. We had workers who were working in the hospital for years they were not being paid. Teachers who were teaching in the school were not being paid. But the school was still doing very well, it was one of the best schools.

“When I visited I found out that these workers were not being paid but they were doing very well . I said as a state since most of the people they teach and treat are our children we felt that we could assist them with some stipends which is equivalent to their salaries until a new management takes over and they start to pay them salary.

“But as soon as this new management took over they suspended the heads of the two institutions both the hospital and the school that they should not have gone into that kind of arrangement with the state government,” he said.

Dr. Uduaghan noted, “I just think that that is wicked for somebody who has not received salaries for years, I think that that was wicked, insensitive and inhuman for anybody to do.

“I’m doing an official letter first to Mr. President, to the Senate, to AMCON. That they must take a second look at that decision,” he said.

Governor Uduaghan commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the various initiatives he has undertaken to boost power supply in the country.

He observed that the recent action of President Jonathan in coordinating the activities of relevant ministries and agencies towards improving gas supply to the nation’s power pants, including the expansion of Otorogu Gas Plant in Delta State would lead to improve power supply.

The governor explained that the decision of the State Government to invest in the power plants at Ughelli , Sapele and the Benin Distribution Company was to enable it monitor their activities and also use accruing funds to subsidise cost of power for the rural communities in the event of increase in tariff.

Governor Uduaghan scored the management of Ughelli Power Plant and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company high in performance but lamented that Sapele Power Plant on the other hand was yet to live up to its production capacity.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privitization , Olugbenga Obadara who informed the governor that they were in the state on oversight functions commended Dr. Uduaghan for the keen interest he has shown towards power institutions in the state.

“As a governor of the state you are really working for your people, you are defending their interests and you are really defending the common wealth of Delta State,” he said.