GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has observed that the activities of Boko Haram and the industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have impacted on Jonathan’s presidency.

According to him, the activities of Boko Haram and the industrial action by members of ASUU were posing serious challenge to governance in the country, but the Governor noted that the Federal Government has met the demands of ASUU except “there is something else behind it”.

He therefore called on Nigerians to give President Goodluck Jonathan the kind of support that secured the President victory at the 2011 polls, stressing that the President has good intentions for Nigerians.

Uduaghan, who spoke at a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders meeting, weekend in Asaba, Delta State, said that although the Federal Government was tackling the issues of Boko Haram, Nigerians needed to urgently rally round the President to forestall unforeseen incidents.

“I want to appeal to every zone in our country to give President Jonathan the support we gave him during his elections in 2011”, Dr Uduaghan said, asserting, “let me assure everyone that Delta State is fully a PDP state, we are solidly and firmly behind President Goodluck Jonathan.” explaining that with his leadership there was a lot of hope for the country’s development

“Let me assure everyone that Delta State is fully a PDP state, the strongest supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration. We are strongly and firmly behind his administration and we will continue to support his policies and vision”, DR. Uduaghan said.

He emphasized that President Jonathan meant well for Nigeria and has engaged in programs that will make the country better, reiterating: “We should continue to back him strongly.”

Dr Uduaghan used the occasion to thank those who have indicated interest to become the next Governor of Delta State for not heating up the polity with their interests and informed them that he does not have the power to install his successor.

“I cannot put somebody as the next Governor, I have only one vote,” he said, adding that as a political party, the PDP was becoming stronger in the state and at the national levels.

He stated that what was happening in the party at the national level where some of its members were threatening to join other political parties was being sorted out with President Jonathan intervening, assuring: “What is happening in the PDP at the national level is being sorted out and our party will emerge stronger.”

The Governor also disclosed that 10 more members would be appointed to the Youth Development Committee and Women Development Committee respectively as an effort to increase empowerment at the local government level, explaining “that the names are being processed and in the next few days they will be approved”.

Dr. Uduaghan charged the party at the local government level to ensure that the members of the committees were not ghost workers.

He disclosed that a local government tour would soon be embarked on to further unify the People’s Democratic Party in the state.

Gov. Uduaghan charged Deltans to continue to support the Peoples Democratic Party in upcoming elections rather than pledging their allegiance to another party explaining that it was not in the state’s best interest to support another party.

He urged local government and ward chairmen to show exceptional leadership qualities by working together in peace and unity as well as practice the act of give and take to ensure the success and growth of the party at the grassroots level.

The Chairman of the PDP in South South Zone, Dr Steve Oru thanked Governor Uduaghan for his support and urged members of the PDP not to waver in their faith in Governor Uduaghan and the PDP.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the PDP in Delta State, Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi said the meeting was “to discuss and give account of our stewardship within this period.”

He thanked Governor Uduaghan for his support for the Party and stated that Secretariat building of the party has been completed saying: “We have the best Secretariat building in the whole of Africa, it has been completed.”

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, on Wednesday, December 04, 2013, Governor Uduaghan signed into law three bills with an assurance that nothing would be spared to restore public order, sanity and clean environment in the state.

The Bills signed into law include Establishment of Traffic Management Authority and the Regulation of Traffic Control; Regulation of Outdoor Structure for the Display of Signages and Advertisement in the State and the bill on the Regulation of Inn-Keepers and Hotel Proprietors.

Uduaghan decried situation where people knowingly do the wrong things asserting that the laws would be enforced as they were designed to ensure that the right things were done in the state.

While observing that while traffic behaviour has become serious situation in the state as a result of drivers and vehicle owners not obeying traffic rules, the Governor emphasised that those who violates the laws would be adequately prosecuted and punished.

On the signage and outdoor advertising law, the Governor who was presented with the bills by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, accompanied by principal officers of the Legislature, stated that politicians should be ready to do the right things always.

He advised that Deltans especially politicians should obey the laws guiding signages and advertisements while pasting posters and billboards, noting that such should be done orderly with necessary approvals.

The Governor who expressed sadness on the indiscriminate pasting of posters on the recently constructed bus stops in the state, stated that things should be properly done in the interest of the environment.

On the law regulating inn-keepers and hotel proprietors, the Governor observed that security reports have shown that most criminals make use of the hotels, adding that with the law coming into force, all inn-keepers and hotel proprietors must have detailed information about their customers at all times and make such available to security operatives in the state.

Governor of oil and gas wealthy Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has admonished communities in the state, especially those that play host to major infrastructure projects, to shun acts that are inimical to sustainable development.

Uduaghan, who said this today, December 03, 2013 during the ground breaking ceremony and unveiling of the master plan of the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, lbusa, Oshimilii North local government area, enjoined the people of Ibusa to resolve their traditional rift to avoid hindering growth and in order to support the infrastructural development attracted to the town

“l am appealing to Ibusa indigenes to settle the traditional differences among them amicable because no meaningful development can take place where there is no peace. This town have prominent sons and daughters, l plead that you step into this issue for peace to reign in this town.”

Speaking further, the Governor assured the Nigerian Navy that his administration would co-operate and support them in promoting infrastructural development in the state as it is paramount to the growth of the state.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for the various infrastructural projects it has in the state especially the Naval Hospital, Warri, the Air Station Effurun and the Naval Secondary School in Ibusa, stressing that “the projects will be beneficial to not only the naval personnel but also to the neighbouring communities”.

He noted that the infrastructural development of the Navy in the state was in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration explaining that the Navy was contributing to the development of the education sector.

While expressing satisfaction at the construction of the Nigerian Naval Secondary School in Delta State, Dr. Uduaghan assured the Chief of Naval Staff of the state government’s support for the school project stating that “education is key to the development of any society and this school project will impact heavily on educational development of the benefitting communities”.

The governor also charged the contracting firm, China Geo-Cooperation Limited to work assiduously to deliver the project on time and according to specifications.

In a welcome address, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba commended Delta State Government for the warm reception given to the Navy in the state and promised that they would continue to contribute their quota to transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

He explained that the construction of the Naval Secondary School in Delta State was part of their social responsibility to Nigerians and stated that it would help promote development in the area.

He explained that the Naval Secondary School when completed would be equipped to meet global best standard and become a composite model for all new naval schools in the country, adding: “It will provide qualitative educational opportunity to all Nigerians including children in the immediate communities”.

The Chief of Naval Staff also said the project spans across 30 hectres of land and have a completion time frame time of 12 to 16 months .

High-points of the ceremony were the ground breaking and unveiling of the master plan of the secondary school by the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

The importance of electricity for the betterment of human life and comfort of citizens and social well being of a people will remain perpetually significant. And the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan administration in Delta state would seem to have clearly understood the crucial importance of this “fundamental form of kinetic or potential energy created by the free or controlled movement of charged particles such as electrons, positrons and ions” in the promotion of economic activities of people. The Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Charles Emetulu lucidly underscored this point while taking his turn in October 2013 to brief the media about his Ministry’s Mid-Term Report.

Making a submission on project activities and energy sector policy objectives of the Delta state Government, he declared: “The provision of energy (electricity power supply) is basic to economic and social well being as well as creation of employment and consequently wealth for the citizenry. These multiplier effects of provision of energy are critical to fostering peace, security and social harmony.

“Furthermore, the provision of street lights has direct positive impact on the security situation of major cities in the State. This has enhanced night life by boosting commercial activities thereby promoting peace and security in the State.”

He continued: “In this age of globalization, the provision of energy is fundamental to the training and retraining of Deltans in all spheres of human endeavour. At the informal level, most skills acquisition processes by artisans are not possible without energy (electricity) to operate tools, equipment and machinery.”

It can be seen from the foregoing that power energy is indeed key to development. And the good thing about it is that the State Government is not oblivious of this. And this was why it intervened in the Energy sector with the creation of the Ministry of Energy so as to contribute to the development of infrastructure for generation, transmission and distribution of adequate and reliable electricity power to Deltans. Besides, the Ministry is also saddled with the responsibility of exploring, avenues to utilize renewable energy resources in the State for energy services as well as telecommunication. It also assigned the responsibilities of urban and rural electrification, electricity power supply to the state and electrical engineering services.

It is incontestable that the State government has remained committed to fulfilling its policy thrust on power, and through the Ministry of Energy it has engaged vigorously in extending electricity power supply to communities; upgrading and reinforcement of power supply network in towns, cities and urban centres; development of Independent Power plant project for bulk provision of power; installation and operation of generator/solar powered streetlights in urban cities and other communities; and installation and operation of generators in government offices and residential quarters.

Analysing the current electricity power supply situation in the State, Emetulu revealed that at present Delta State requires about 1,008 maga watts (MW) of electricity, but that only 100 mw or 10 per cent of that requirement is available to the State from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) before the company was privatized. According to him, the State is served from five different 132/33kv transmission substations, with two of the substations located at Sapele and Ughelli in Delta State, while the other three are located outside the State. And of the five power plants in the State that deliver power into the national grid, only the one at Okpai that operates at full capacity.

It was cheering news to hear from the commissioner that recently, the National Integrated Power project (NIPP) commenced the installation of a 330/132/33 kv substation with 1X150mva and 2X60 MVA power transformers to be connected to the existing 330kv Benin-Onitsha transmission line. “This project when completed will boost power supply to Asaba and environs,” Emetulu said, pointing out that the Asaba step down is the answer to the low incidents of electric power supply to the State capital, adding that work is going on seriously on it.

On the Ministry’s activities on the above power supply situation, announced that in response to the situation, the Uduaghan administration has implemented a total of 391 power supply projects from inception in 2007 till date at a total cost of N48,415,002,663.31. Out of this, the Ministry has a portfolio of 95 projects valued at N29,707,519,570.92 for the period May 2011 to date. They include on-going projects that commenced before the Uduaghan administration, such as the delta State Independent Power Project (IPP), which phase one (acquisition and installation of the power plant) was awarded in June 2009 at a contract sum of N23,207,826,566 that is now at advanced stage.

Emetulu said: “progress made thus far on the project includes:
Engineering and procurement of the 2 Nos Rolls Royce Trent 64MW, product Nos. 80A58001 and 80A58002 with S/N: A7788 and A7163 Gas turbines and 2 Nos 64 MWvBrush generators with machine S/N: 921028010 and 921027010. The equipment have been manufactured and delivered to ware house in Oghareki.
The initial constraint of bad road and narrow old bridge leading to the project site which made us keep the turbines and generators in a ware house in Oghareki has now been tackled, the road and bridge has been constructed.
Civil works including administrative building, fencing and pile foundations for the turbines are in progress.
The sum of N5,874,695,939.60 has been expended so far from inception of the IPP by Delta State Government.”

Of those who were doubting that the IPP was indeed a project, Emetulu said: “My joy is always when journalists go there on their own they come back to show me pictures. I will be the one laughing at them when they show me pictures of work on that site”. He announced that when completed government is likely to look towards the private sector for effective management. “This has to be so because some of our neighbouring states have power plants, and the plants are not working. The information we got is that they are not working because government is deeply involved in managing them. Like you all know, government is a poor manager of business. So we intend to build the plant and then look towards the private sector for effective management. If it requires outright sale we will sell to them. And if it requires us to partner with them, we will partner with them and ensure we get the utmost from it.”

In the drive to ensure adequate power supply in the State and support the development of power supply infrastructure in the country, the Delta State Government has contributed N15.7billion towards the implementation of the Federal Government’s Emergency Power Project. Besides, the State government is also partnering with the Benin Zone of the new power providers that took over from PHCN.

Of course, the Ministry of Energy is also charged with bringing up policies that will ensure that the average Deltan has enough energy. He explains: “By energy I mean cooking gas, cooking oil and those similar things.” Although most of these functions have been ceded to the Directorate of oil and gas, the Ministry is still very strong in the area of providing renewable energy. In this wise, the State Government has signed an MOU with the Energy commission of Nigeria (ECN) where new developments in the Alternative Renewable Energy sector, will make Delta State among the first to know. “We are also partnering with Philips Electronics and electrical presently because of energy efficiency, and we’ve contracted the International Energy Agency in Paris to do for us an energy mix study of Delta State, such that we would know our capabilities in terms of natural endowment in the areas of renewable energy,” Emetulu disclosed.

He continued: “We’ve done the wind mapping of the State, and solar mapping of the State. The next phase will be where funding will come from. We are also discussing with a few people from abroad, and when our discussion becomes useful we will let you know. But just be assured that we are not resting. We have to do renewable energy very seriously because the governor of Delta State has this passion about what is happening to the environment. And we know that the issue of climate and other allied issues can be tackled from our end if we do the renewable.” He recalled speaking at a power expo gathering in October in Abuja and telling the audience that since ethanol is now known to power cars, and power engines, that he believes that the ECN and those propagating it should discuss less of jathropha and talk more of sugar cane and corn because ethanol from sugar and corn and used to power cars and engines is tested and proven. And that if within three-four years the users of ethanol increase by over 300 percent, it would therefore mean that it is an energy source that is working very well. “So, in trying to work with ECN we intend to pursue that angle,” Emetulu said, pointing out that he believes that every village in Delta State has sugar cane, and virtually every village has corn. “We believe that can be done.”

According to Emetulu, there are other areas like that of waste to energy. “What we are told is that some states will produce more than enough wastes while others may not produce the required waste. But for me, commonsensical that you see a heap of refuse is somewhere and you want to bring in the technology to tap it into energy, well it is welcome, but take note that that heap of refuse would have taken like three to four decades to build. And when you start your factory, you are likely to consume what took 40 years to build in less than one year. In other words, we cannot guarantee that we can generate that heap of waste on a yearly basis. Sometimes, when some of these proposals come to us we try to be very practical with the authors. All that glitters is no gold. We are also mindful of the fact that most of the developments in the renewable alternative energy sector are still in the research stages, and so we don’t want to rush most of them, except the proven ones. And that is why we are discussing now with Philips, an established electronics and electrical concern.”

For Emetulu it is a concern that Delta state still virtually relies on public power supply, attributing the situation to the fact that even though the state has three major power plants located in it at Sapele, Ughelli and okapi, it is only the Okpai Power plant that is operating at installed capacity. Also, he disclosed that the Asaba for instance has 10 feeders, but only one of them is on. That means that Asaba is enjoying only 10 percent of available power. Emetulu explained that it is the bid to overcome the situation makes residents in Okpanam Road to rush to the Ministry requesting for transformers. They believed that getting transformers will solve the problem. “It cannot solve the problem because the transformers can only distribute what comes into them,” he said. He explained that people believe erroneously that when a transformer is installed somewhere that those around it enjoy uninterrupted power supply. They then want to benefit by connecting to the line of that transformer. In the rush to join the line of the new transformer the facility gets overloaded and the cycle continues. He said it is because of this that there are so many transformers today between Asaba and Okpanam that the number of installed transformers can cover two other cities. “But for now, we have stopped injecting transformers, because putting transformers does not solve the problem. What will solve the problem is the step down that is being built. When completed you will find that we will no longer need those transformers as much as you think,” Emetulu said.

According to him, the Ministry of energy is considering to remove some of the transformers. “The one we will remove from an area we will relocate in to areas that actually need them.”

On street light problems, he lamented the attitude of unscrupulous members of society who take delight in vandalizing the street lights and generators that power the lights. He moaned: “The solar and generator powered street lights have been bedeviled by Deltans. For the solar, people just go there and remove the batteries. For the generator powered ones, you go towards Onitsha and from around the “B” Division to the bridge is in complete darkness. That place needs to be completely redone. What they do is this: They come with may be a Hilux or vehicle, remove one end of the cable and tie it to the vehicle, and they just drive off. That particular segment has been vandalized repeatedly. Only some days ago, we discussed with those who maintain them that they should go back and relay them, and let us see how we can provide added security on them.

“Apart from that there is the activity of civil engineering contractors across the State. Go to Effurun right now, the median from NPA down to DSC is being worked on. That is affecting the street lights because they are right there in the median. And when these people want to do their work they don’t contact us. If they had come to ask may be we would say, ok, let us remove our cables, when they finish, we will restore them. Most of the street light cables have been destroyed by road work excavators. This is besides the point that people go to steal parts from the generators even up till now. They remove the kick starters, remove batteries, remove brain boxes; they go as far as using pipes to siphon diesels from generators, sucking out the entire diesel. May be you saw the light by 9p.m. and by 11 p.m it has gone off, and you think that someone has switched it off. Nobody switched it off. The diesel ran its course and gave up.”

As a way of getting round the problem, Emetulu said the Ministry is embarking on campaign on television and radio, appealing that people should help protect these investments. “It is sad to discover that the same human beings for whom you installed these facilities are the same people that are vandalizing them. Also, people still tap light from the street lights into their homes as energy source to power their fans and other home electrical appliances,” he grieved.

He confirmed that there are two major contractors handling the street light projects, but he is appalled and discouraged to do new things because of the experience of the way the current installations are vandalized. He cried out saying: “It behooves on all of us to help this Ministry and this government to protect these investments. The other time people came to vandalise they almost butchered the malam who was put there as maigardi. They matcheted head. Another time, they came with Hiace bus. When they got their, the thing was in an enclosure; they told the security man to open the enclosure, the security man said well, that is how it is. The owners go their in the morning and met their security men, two of them, tied. We have a lot of such incidences. May be it is the value of the armoured cable that is attractive to them. Because, apart from the street lights, they also vandalize transformers.”

*Contributed by CHUKWUDI ABIANDU, a veteran journalist.

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has said it was important to streamline revenue collections from outdoor advertising in a bid to enhance the revenue base of the state and sustain its taxation policy.

The governor also emphasised on the need to domicile the outdoor advertising plan with responsible agencies for effective regulation and added value with greater consideration on the environment.

While frowning at the earlier jinxed method adopted by the local government councils in the collection of revenues accruing from outdoor advertising, which gave rise to the appointment of a credible agency backed by law, the governor suggested the need to step up efforts to drive the programme as needful item on the revenue base of Delta state.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Kingsley Emu at a meeting with primary stakeholders in outdoor advertising and branding in Delta State on Thursday, November 28, 2013 said it was important for revenues to be properly collected and remitted to the relevant agencies to avoid unhealthy complicity.

The interactive session was organised by Tas and Associates, a firm of consultants in public and corporate governance, public policy and institutions that has the franchise of outdoor advertising in Delta State.

A former Minister of Information and Chairman of Tas and Associates, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire said Delta State government granted the company “the franchise of outdoor advertising in August 2009 and appointed our firm as its consultant and this relationship was strengthened by a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2010.”

“The two documents of our relationship with the state government have dual objectives of primarily to provide orderliness and beautification in outdoor advertising in the state, and generate statutory revenue to the state government,” Prof. Oyovbaire said, adding “in carrying out its mandate, TAS has been mindful of the need for cooperation and indeed collaboration with primary stakeholders and statutory actors in the industry such as, among others, the local government and the Outdoor Advertising Agency of Nigeria (OAAN).

Prof. Oyovbaire emphasized that, “government policy is to add more value to the business and industry by enthroning a regime of orderliness that will not only improve the revenue stream of government but also increase the level of confidence of all practitioners.”

Prof. Oyovbaire, during an interactive session with media representatives had said that the outdoor advertising initiative which would also help increase the revenue base of the state does not in anyway infringe on the activities of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR).

He also emphasised that new standardized rates would henceforth be applied for bill-board advertising, including political campaign posters, ahead of the 2015 general elections and to guide against defacing of the environment.

“We will not allow unregistered and illegal billboards anymore. Anybody that wants to campaign would have to go for the available and suitable billboards that are duly registered.”

The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 in Cotonou, Benin Republic has been released.

Although the reason for his detention by the Beninoise gendarmes is yet undisclosed, dependable sources revealed to Blank NEWS Online that Dokubo’s release was as a result of urgent diplomatic interventions and personal involvements of Nigeria‘s President Goodluck Jonathan and the Beninoise President Yayi Boni.

Dokubo’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo is said to have confirmed his release on Wednesday but could not give further details.

Dokubo, who spent 36 hours with the Beninoise gendarmes before his release at about 1:00 am Nigerian time on Thursday, November 28, 2013 was said to have been flown to Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory in a jet allegedly deployed by the Presidency, although the Presidency had denied the claim which it described as “cheap blackmail and mischief”.

Recall that security officials in Benin Republic arrested Asari Dokubo, a private investor in the country, on Tuesday evening.

A statement issued by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo on Tuesday said, “He was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, around the hours of 1:00pm and 2:00pmby the country’s gendarmes (Police Force) and taken to an unknown destination.

“We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries on legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin Republic for many years now”

“In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country. All these places have been searched as at this evening and nothing incriminating was found.

“We call on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that no harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria.”

Also recall that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had also sought for the immediate release of Mr. Asari Dokubo.

Their statement read:

“Even though Mr. Asari Dokubo, along with some Niger Delta myopic and corrupt Tribal Assemblies like the Ijaw National Congress, Ijaw Youth Congress, Ijaw Monitoring Group, South-South Peoples Assembly and Elder Edwin K Clark gloated or kept silent over Henry Okah‘s setup, arrest and conviction, we will remember the role Mr. Asari Dokubo had played in the unfinished struggle before he was bought off along with several others.

“If diplomacy fails to prevail, we will not rule out any form of attacks on the Republic of Benin’s interests.”

The much expected but surprise and hasty merger of the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (new PDP) with Nigeria’s newly registered main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), may have caused sharp disagreements among the seven founding governors of the nPDP.

The G7 Governors include Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

Blank NEWS Online can reveal that among the G7 Governors of New PDP, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), have bluntly dissociated themselves from the merger, swearing that they remain PDP members and that the merger plot is still on-going.

The two governors, according to Blank NEWS Online findings, have hinged their grievance with the nPDP’s hasty merger with APC on failure to heed the advice of former Military Head of State and Civilian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to move over to the APC only in January 2014.

Obasanjo, a former Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, despite their different political leaning, are said to have given the seven governors their tacit support to move over to the APC and pledged to support their political aspiration in the new party.

Governor Babangida Aliyu of NigerState, had while speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Danladi Ndayebo said :
“Media reports purporting that Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu has moved to the All Progressives Congress is not true. It is false, it is unfounded.”

“We are aware that talks are ongoing with the president and until the talks are exhausted, Governor Babangida Aliyu remains a member of the PDP.”

“Let me also add that we are shocked at the announcement of the merger even before a final decision is taken on the matter.”

Also Governor Lamido, one of the original nine founders of the PDP has dissociated himself from the merger.

Governor Lamido speaking through the Director of Press, Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Kyari said:
“We remain in PDP, Governor Lamido is going nowhere, he is not leaving a house that he built. He was among the first nine persons that conceived the PDP, that is the G9, which transformed to G18 and then to G34. So, he cannot leave the house that he founded and will make sure that justice is done in PDP.”

But in a swift reaction to the development, the nPDP chairman, Abubakar Baraje denied any split in the ranks of the G-7, insisting that the Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida and his Kwara counterpart, Ahmed Abdulfatah, who went out before the end of the meeting, took permission to travel and were duly permitted to leave.

“You have observed that some of our members took permission to go out of the meeting; they did not walk out. You have seen the governor of Kwara, you have seen the governor of Niger; they all took permission to travel”, he has said.

Announcing the merger, Tuesday, the nPDP leader, Abubakar Baraje, said the two parties agreed “to work together in order to rescue the fledgling democracy of the nation, adding that the formal signing of the merger Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will take place next Tuesday.

The “unholy” merger is reported to have witnessed the admission of the nPDP governors into the APC under the watchful eyes of the Interim APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and General Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, a statement issued to Blank NEWS Online by the nPDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, has urged Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan to prepare his hand-over notes following the defection of the PDP governors to APC.

The statement reads:

Late this morning, at about 11:46, the National Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, formally announced the merger of the party with the All Progressives Congress (APC). The merger was contained in a communiqué which Alhaji Baraje read to journalists at the end of a meeting between the leadership of New PDP and that of the APC held at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. The communiqué signed by Bisi Akande the APC National Chairman and Kawu Abubakar Baraje the National Chairman of NPDP reads, “A meeting of the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, and the new PDP met this morning at the residence of the Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Abuja and after exhaustive deliberations the two parties agreed to merge in order to rescue our fledgling democracy and the nation”

With this development, the G7 Governors of New PDP, namely, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), are now members of the APC.

The merger thus shoots up the number of APC State Governors to 18 while PDP’s shrinks to 16, with All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party having one governor each. A similar permutation exists in the National Assembly where we now have the majority with PDP and its allies in minority.

The simple meaning of this is that APC is now the majority party in the country while PDP has become a minority party. In the circumstances, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan must now start writing his handover notes because his ambition to maouevre the party structures so as to get a third term in office in 2015 has suddenly collapsed.

What a sudden change of fortune! What a sad day for the PDP, a party which we laboured to build, which was viciously taken away from us but which, out of our great love for it, we did everything humanly possible to save but were frustrated by the unpatriotic elements that have usurped the leadership of the party.

Nigerians could recall that several meetings had been held between the APC leaders and the leaders of the New PDP. The APC had visited each of our seven New PDP governors in their states to convince them to join its fold but all these notwithstanding while the PDP Leadership on their own side were plotting on daily basis on how to frustrate us out of the party we suffered to nurture.

The fact remains that we did all within our powers to reconcile with PDP to no avail and sadly our dear President allowed the hawks within the Presidency and PDP Leadership to convince him to abort our last Sunday’s meeting that would have brought a last peace to our party which the PDP leadership under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur frustrated, so we have no other option than to formally announce the death and burial of PDP. Day and night we cried out, begging whoever loved PDP to join us to rescue the party from imminent doom but we were conveniently ignored and abused. Just last night, we issued the last in a series of passionate appeals to PDP Elders to take urgent steps to save the troubled party in the face of their unbelievable silence in the face of the chain of developments instigated by factional National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, which has put the party at the edge of the precipice.

Now, we have reached the stage that we can only say: “PDP, your sinking ship has been abandoned to you! You brought this misfortune upon yourself, now you must bear it alone!”

As for us, we are happy to belong to the APC, where our value is appreciated, where we are made to feel truly wanted, and where we can now join forces with like minds in our struggle to liberate Nigeria from PDP’s misrule, which is soon to end.

Among those at the Tuesday’s historical merger meeting were APC leader and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande; Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso: former Kwara governor and serving senator, Bukola Saraki; former Nasarawa governor and serving senator, Abdullahi Adamu; former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva; and Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako.

Others were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari; Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; National Secretary of the PDP, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Abia governor, Ogbonnaya Onu; former PDP vice chairman, Sam Jaja; Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu.

Long live NPDP!
Long live Nigeria!!!

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

National Publicity Secretary, NPDP

Leaders from the Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State have pledged to engage their counterparts from other zones towards making the emergence of the governor of the state in 2015 from the zone a negotiated exercise as they identified agriculture and a strong industrial base as critical factors for sustainable development of the state.

In a well attended strategic conference in Lagos at the weekend, stakeholders from the academia, political class and royal fathers outlined the road map to the the election of a governor of Delta North extraction in 2015, noting that a large array of competent, educated and experienced leaders are available to take the state to greater heights.

And even though equity dictates that governorship of the state should shift to the zone, concerted efforts, they said, must be made to negotiate a consensual emergence of an Anioma candidate as governor of the state.

At the conference organized by ASDEV 81 Club at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studie, University of Lagos, the leaders also agreed that the process of the emergence of a governor from Delta North must not be acrimonious.

In effect, they endorsed a proposition that whoever emerges as the candidate from the zone should be backed unconditionally by all persons in the running for governorship.

Recalling the virtues of late Dennis Osadebey, pioneer Premier of then Midwest Region, who laid the foundation for the modern Edo and Delta states, the Anioma leaders vowed to give Delta State a leadership that will be fair, progressive and unwavering in weaning the state from dependence on oil revenue under the Delta Beyond Oil initiative of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of the State.

Gov. Uduaghan, who was represented at the occasion by Chike C. Ogeah, Commissioner for Information, had called for support for the national conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that the present constitution has stifled competitiveness among the states and stunted the country’s growth.

Speaking at the conference, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly; Dr. Festus Okubor, Chief of Staff to Uduaghan; Chief Clement Ofuani, former Commissioner for Economic Planning in the state and Professor, Victor Izegbu, a professor of urological surgery, said reviving the agricultural sector, building a reliable infrastructural base and a paradigm shift to energizing and empowering the real sector are key to creating employment as well as sustainable development in Delta State.

They also endorsed the proposed national conference as the present federal arrangement has “concentrated too much power at the centre” and denied the country the right ambience for growth.

Professor Epiphany Azinge, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who chaired the conference, called on all politicians from Delta North seeking to lead the state in 2015 to be ready to subject their personal ambition to the greater interest of the zone.

Other leaders at the conference are Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Mrs. Ngozi Ologede who were represented as well as Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, Asagba of Asaba.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of oil and gas rich Delta State, has urged the International community aid Nigeria to grow its economy in the on-going campaign against crude oil theft.

Uduaghan, who is also chairman of the National Economic Council on Crude Oil Theft, said foreign support is needed in the areas of sophisticated surveillance equipment, tagging, identifying final destination of the stolen crude and proceeds.

The governor, while speaking shortly after his address at the Nigeria’s Honorary International Investor’s Council meeting in London, weekend, urged the international community to intensify efforts in the blockade of inflow of small arms into the country.

Uduaghan revealed that the committee approved by President Goodluck Jonathan which comprises of six state governors, members of the state security agencies, the Petroleum Minister, National Planning, Justice, NNPC officials NIMASA and all the IOC’s have been working tirelessly to reduce the crude theft which stands at about 40, 000 barrels per day.

He said the Committee is laying a lot of emphasis on prosecution, assuring that all cases are being streamlined by the legal task force headed by the Minister for Justice and that some cases will be starting soon.

He also appealed to the IOCs to be alive to their social responsibilities and commended Chevron for the initiative of regional development councils which is giving its host communities a sense of ownership

He further enjoined the oil exploration companies to assist in curbing the excessive stealing of crude oil in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria, since the technology involved in the thievery is very sophisticated and requires the knowledge of those in the industry to succeed.

Uduaghan assured Nigerians and the international community that the Jonathan’s administration has the political will to stop the crime as it is causing a huge loss of revenue and causing serious environmental damage.

Recall that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) recently expressed concern about crude oil thieves and illegal refineries operators in the Niger-Delta region which loss to the country accounts $1.6billion annually.

The company which cites its forced shut down of the Nembe Creek trunk lines in Bayelsa state, a facility which produces about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day and its declaration of force majeure on Bonny light export said the closures were to enable Shell remove crude oil theft connections, investigate suspected oil theft leaks and carry out repairs.

While claiming that over 90 per cent of its pipelines in the Niger Delta region have been ruptured by suspected oil thieves, Shell noted that such shutdown of production could also impact negatively on the affected states’ share of oil derivatives from the federation account.

President Goodluck Jonathan will return to Nigeria today, Sunday, November 24, 2013, after attending the International Investors Council Meeting at the Hilton Park Lane in London, a Presidency source has revealed.

Although he missed the opening session of the meeting due to ill-health, President Jonathan, after being certified fit by medical doctors, addressed the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council in London having recovered from the indisposition he experienced Thursday.

Jonathan had said his administration has attained significant momentum on the drive to attract new investors into Nigeria and would continue to encourage existing investors within the country to expand.

A statement made available to Blank NEWS Online by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed that the president will return on the advice of his doctors.

“Doctors who examined and treated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the sudden onset of severe abdominal pains in London have certified him fully fit to return home and continue his official duties.

“After a thorough evaluation of the president’s symptoms, medically referred to as acute abdomen, the doctors concluded that no surgical intervention was required. President Jonathan will therefore return to Abuja tomorrow evening and will be at work in the Presidential Villa as usual on Monday.

“The president is scheduled to depart from London at about 1400 hours GMT and arrive at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 2000 hours.

“He seizes this opportunity to thank all Nigerians once again for their sympathy, support and prayers for his quick recovery following the announcement of his indisposition”.

“The Presidency also commends the generality of the mainstream media whose coverage of the President’s slight health challenge in London was mostly factual, objective, fair-minded and supportive”, the statement said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been cautioned “to tread slowly in order not to render superior courts of records toothless’’ in its current attempts to enforce disciplinary actions against the National Secretary of the Party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja and Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, who have all been accused of violating some provisions of the PDP constitution.

The four officials of the party have been arraigned before the Umaru Dikko led disciplinary committee of the Party.

In a correspondence dated November 21, 2013, addressed and forwarded to the National Chairman of the PDP and signed by Mr. Awa Kalu, SAN, representing Oyinlola and others; the counsel informed the National Chairman and the PDP that he had instructions of the four officials invited to appear before the disciplinary panel next Wednesday to act on their behalf in the matter under reference.

“Our instruction is that notwithstanding pending litigations, the distinguished party of which you are the national chairman, intends to put machinery in motion aimed at making mockery of the Judicial process and thus the Rule of Law’’. May we respectfully inform you that Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/774/13, (Prince Oyinlola and 3 Others vs PDP and Another) is presently pending in Court No 6 of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division’’. In addition, there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court arising from the Court of Appeal Suit No CA/A/84/2013 (Chief Adebayo Dayo & Another vs Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola & 2 Others) in which the Court of Appeal in which the Court of Appeal dealt with the subject matter of your intended disciplinary proceedings’’.

“It is on the basis of the above that we urge you to tread slowly in order not to render superior courts toothless.’’

Recall that nPDP has also berated the alleged summoning of the PDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, New PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, National Deputy Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, and the National Vice-Chairman, North West, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure to the PDP Disciplinary Committee headed by Second Republic Minister, Alhaji Umaru Dikko.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of nPDP, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Thursday, November 21, 2013 and reads:

“Our initial reaction was to ignore these reports since the PDP Constitution does not recognize the existence of the so-called Dikko Committee as due process was not followed in its establishment. Besides, the fact that the committee – if at all it exists – did not have the courtesy to directly invite the accused to appear before it strips it of any atom of seriousness.

“Even so, we have decided to react to the reports dust to enquiries by the media. For the avoidance of doubt, the New PDP wishes to state unequivocally that neither the aforesaid leaders nor any other nPDP member for that matter will appear before the Dikko Committee either next week Wednesday, November 27, or at any other date for that matter. The committee is an illegality and alien to PDP and its members. It is not our intention to confer legitimacy on such an illegal contraption by self-serving politicians intent on destroying a house the building of which they were not a part.

“As clearly spelt out in the PDP Constitution, the Disciplinary Committee can only be operational when the National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP sits and approves it. In the absence of any such approval by the PDP NEC, whatever function the committee is deemed to be performing is null and void. In other words, asking great personalities such as Alhaji Baraje, Prince Oyinlola, Dr. Jaja and Ambassador Kazaure to appear before the Dikko Committee is an insult and an attempt to past through the back door to confer undeserved creditability on this illegal contraption.

“It is unfortunate that factional PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has succeeded in reducing the party to such a lowly level where due process is now alien to the party’s operations. Otherwise, how could these great men whose contributions towards the growth of PDP cannot be questioned be invited through the pages of the newspapers?

“We have a lot of respect for Alhaji Umaru Dikko as a person. That notwithstanding, we must observe that it is sad that Dikko should accept such an unholy task just because Alhaji Bamanga Tukur feels like using the appointment to thank him for helping him secure the gubernatorial ticket of the defunct Gongola State during their days in the defunct NPN. As the National Chairman of United Democratic Party UDP, Dikko should have known that he cannot jump ship to chair an illegal body in PDP as if we lack credible people that can perform this task without creating problems for the party.

“We challenge the Dikko Committee to prove its seriousness by starting with the trial on Tukur and his cohorts for anti-party activities, specifically as displayed during last weekend’s gubernatorial election in Anambara State, instead of supporting the PDP, they aligned with the APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, thereby making mockery of the efforts of Comrade Tony Nwoye.

“To achieve its objective of ensuring that the APGA candidate wins the election, Tukur and his strategists employed divisive politics to ensure that PDP did not have a candidate until a few days to the election and went into the crucial poll heavily factionalised. To further strengthen the unholy plot, Tukur imposed Comrade Tony Nwoye as the party’s candidate over and above better qualified candidates and in defiance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which did not recognize Nwoye until the Supreme Court forced the Commission to put his name on the ballot.

“Tukur and his promoters of the Anambra election have demonstrated enough disdain and hatred for the progress of PDP as a party and this is very unfortunate and sad. According to facts, this was done in order for APGA to adopt President Jonathan as its presidential standard-bearer come 2015. The committee should investigate this show of shame and discipline Tukur and all those involved in this wicked act against a party which they are in a hurry to destroy even when they cannot tell the story of how it was formed.

“Sadly, the loss of Anambra adds to the woes of the PDP under Tukur’s watch. Before now, the party had also lost Edo and five out of the six South-West states as well as some states in the North.

“It does not require a soothsayer to see that PDP, which is bleeding to death under Tukur’s unpopular leadership, is doomed if it continues to antagonise the G7 Governors and their followers in the nPDP. This will inevitably climax with the loss of the 2015 presidential election, by which time it would be too late to remedy the damage which Tukur has already done to a party which before his imposition used to be the pride of African politics.

“We once more wish to appeal to the PDP National Leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, the Party Elders and other Leaders of the party to rise to the occasion and ease out Tukur and his National Working Committee so as to pave the way for the enthronement of a competent and focused leadership. This is the only way to rescue the PDP from imminent death. As the adage rightly says: A stitch in time saves nine!”

After commencing commercial flight operations on July 13, 2011, Asaba Airport has handled 6,331 flights and 192,651 passengers at the end of October 2013.

A statement issued by Mr. Pius Mordi, Special Assistant to the Delta state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq., and made available to Blank NEWS Online on November 17, 2013 revealed that the flight statistics is aside from the 18 flights and 63 passengers handled before commercial flights began, bringing total operational results to 6,349 flights and 192,714 passengers.

With an average of 260 flights and 6,880 passengers recorded monthly, Asaba Airport has become one of the busiest and viable airports in the country. The month of April 2011 when the Delta State capital hosted the Second South South Economic Summit recorded the highest flight of 401 while its 9,588 passengers was second to the 9,778 recorded in August 2013.

Unveiling the airport’s performance data in Asaba, Barr. Ogeah, Delta State Commissioner for Information, said the return is unprecedented for a new airport and is only the beginning of the stunning growth of the airport.

“Many people who did not see the vision of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan when he initiated the project in 2008 derided it as a ruse. Today, the status of the airport as ultra-modern with full navigational aids has been confirmed by the landing on Wednesday November 13 of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential jet at 11.30am on his way to Anambra State”, Ogeah stated.

He said Asaba Airport was conceived as a strategic economic platform to open up not just Delta State but the neighbouring states in the south east to the global business community, noting that with its designation as a cargo airport, it will become a hub for the export of agricultural and manufactured goods in the near future.

“In deciding to build the airport in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan envisioned it as part of a concerted plan that involved the dualisation of the Ughelli-Asaba Road to link the seaports in Warri and Koko to the major commercial outposts in Onitsha and other towns in Anambra State,” Ogeah said, adding that “today Asaba Airport has become the preferred destination for air travelers in Anambra and Imo states”.

Asaba Airport is currently serviced by Arik Air which operates Boeing 737 planes and Overland Airways who pioneered scheduled commercial flights from the airport where daily flights linking Lagos and Abuja are operated by the two airlines.

Dependable sources have informed Blank NEWS Online that other airlines are gearing up to open more routes from the airport which runway length is 3.4 kilometres and can accommodate the Boeing 747 plane and other long range aircraft.

The National Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, resigned his position as Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation Governing Board to give him room and time to manage the nPDP adequately and avoid any insinuation or plot to use the appointment of his NRC Chairmanship to blackmail or embarrass him in future.

According to him the struggle to emancipate and enthrone proper democracy in our polity is a task that must be won.

The decision was conveyed through a “Letter Of Gratitude And Resignation Of Appointment As Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation Governing Board” addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The letter personally signed by Alhaji Baraje said: “I hasten to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, through your good office for the confidence he placed in my ability to have appointed me to such an exalted position as Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation.

“His Excellency, Mr. President, will recall that this appointment came from his discretion in allotting some positions to our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, it is no longer news that there is an ongoing disagreement in principle between some top stakeholders of our party of which I am among on the one hand and the current leadership of the party on the other. This quagmire has upturned my belief in the present leadership of our great party and has consequently made my continued stay as the Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation Governing Board uncomfortable.

“Realizing that the position of the Nigeria Railway Corporation Chairmanship was allocated to the party and of which I am supposed to symbolize, I would appreciate if your good office could please convey to His Excellency, Mr. President, of my intention to relinquish this position with immediate effect because I can no longer represent the interest of the party whose leadership I no longer believe in”.

The New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) says it received with joy the news of the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the suit instituted by Sir Celestine Omehia, seeking the ouster of Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the faction, “Omehia has been in court since the Supreme Court removed him shortly after he erroneously assumed office as Rivers State governor in 2007, declaring Amaechi to be the rightful occupant of the Brick House Government House. Strangely, Omehia has refused to end the litigation process despite Amaechi having finished that tenure and winning a re-election thereafter”.

Continuing, the splinter PDP in a release by its National Spokesperson Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said, “We are, however, not surprised by his attitude, for apart from being desperate for power, Omehia has allowed himself to become a tool in the hands of the acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who has devoted enormous resources towards the destabilization of the Amaechi administration just to please his paymasters in Abuja”.

While congratulating Gov. Amaechi on his latest victory, the group appealed to Omehia, Wike and others to allow peace reign.

“While we congratulate Governor Amaechi on this latest victory, we at the same time wish to appeal to Omehia, Wike and their co-travelers in this futile and macabre dance to correctly read the handwriting on the wall and give peace a chance as there is a limit to every plot. If they truly love Rivers State as they claim, they should call the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which they have been using to cause confusion in Rivers State, to order and allow peace to reign once again in the state to enable Governor Amaechi work with less distractions and concentrate on delivery the democracy dividends for which his administration is well known”.

“Since the resolve of Chief Wike to fight the structure he assisted to build and instead gave birth to GDI which has done him and those he assume to be fronting for much harm than good and has put Rivers State under tension since then, appeal to allow calm to once again prevail in Rivers State becomes imperative at this juncture.

“That Gov Amaechi has done more than any other Governor that have governed Rivers State in terms of providing quality education, quality health services, road and Institutional infrastructure etc is not in doubt and distracting him the way Wike and his people are doing when he is eager to provide more dividends of democracy is not the best way to assist in the growth and development of Rivers State. His tenure ends by 2015 and God has in several ways points to us that this man is His and no amount of blackmail and evil machinations against him will prevail so let him be for once for the peace and growth of our State.

“We salute Gov Amaechi not minding all these distractions. He has continued to prove his mettle as a good leader of our people, and has attracted all manner of awards and recognition to him and Rivers State as a whole in the face of unwarranted persecution and political victimization” Eze enthused.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) at its monthly meeting on November 09, 2013 in Abuja, has in a bid to review developments and chart the way forward for the party, constituted a six-man committee to receive five new governors into their fold.

In an eight-point statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze and made available to Blank NEWS Online, the factional party lauded recent moves to broker peace between it’s members and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The break-away party also congratulated Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets for the victory at the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup Championship.

The statement reads:

1. The meeting presided over by our National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, set up a six-man Reception Organising Committee to set in motion the reception in honour of the five new Governors of the PDP who have decided to join our faction of the party. The Committee is headed by Hon. Dr. Sam Jaja, the National Vice Chairman of nPDP, with Hon. Nasir Isa Abubakar, the National Organising Secretary, as the Secretary of the Committee. Other members of the Committee include Engr. Abubakar G. Umar, the National Treasurer; Hon. Binta Masi Garba, the Women Leader; Mr. Timi Frank, the Youth Leader; and Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the National Public Secretary. The Committee was directed to submit for immediate consideration by the G7 Governors, the venue, logistics and modalities for receiving the five Governors, ex-Governors, Nationalists and key members of the National Assembly who have indicated interest to join us.

2. The NWC received with utmost happiness the ruling of the Appeal Court returning His Excellency, Prince (Barr) Olagunsoye Oyinlola back to his seat as the National Secretary of PDP. It pleaded with him to ensure that the impunity in PDP becomes something of the past as we await other court rulings that will restore the Baraje-led NWC as the authentic NWC of the party to enable us join him in rebuilding the party. The party after considering the expert opinion of the Legal Adviser, Barr. Eric Opia, decided that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola does not need any other oath of office to return to work as PDP National Secretary as he subscribed to PDP’s oath of office alongside other members of the NWC that were sworn-in at the Eagle Square on March 24, 2012. According to the legal expert, the import of the verdict by the appellate court, which did not attach any condition to its ruling, is that Oyinlola is the validly elected PDP National Secretary. That has also been the position of INEC which monitored the National Convention of PDP held on March 24, 2012. As things stand, Oyinlola remains the National Secretary of PDP and only the Supreme Court can reverse that decision. The nPDP NWC is therefore of the view that Prince Oyinlola should resume office immediately without waiting for any directive from any quarters. Any other person who parades himself as the National Secretary of PDP should be committed to prison for contempt of court.

3. The nPDP National Organising Secretary, Hon. Nasir Isa Abubakar, was appointed to replace Oyinlola in acting capacity pending further directives from the G7 Governors and the nPDP Caucus.

4. the NWC commended and congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan by once again improving on his democratic credentials by directing for the immediate reinstatement of Prince Oyinlola as the duly elected National Secretary of PDP not minding the plots by some undemocratic within the system who want to portray our party in bad light by embarking upon on an exercise in futility by trying to lure the South-West PDP to write a petition against Prince Oyinlola and use it to invite him to the Alh Dikko’s Disciplinary Committee and after suspends him. To us this plot apart from being childish exposes Tukur and his cohorts as true enemies of PDP and the force behind the continuous crisis in the party which they don’t want its end because of their myopic and selfish goals but thank God for the intervention of President Jonathan to end this undesirable macabre dance.

5. NWC congratulated the G7 Governors comprising Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara State, for their wise decision to embark on a nationwide tour to brief Elders and former Heads of State of our nation on the state of our party and the efforts by some people to ensure that peace continues to elude PDP. This action by the G7 Governors should proof to the entire world our unflinching desire to restore peace to the party. NWC decided to wait for the briefing and recommendation of the G7 Governors before deciding our next move, even as we continue to wait for the invitation of President Goodluck Jonathan to conclude our meeting on the fate of PDP.

6. The NWC welcomed the initiative of the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki, to further broker peace amongst the G7 Governors, PDP and the Presidency knowing the implication of the continued crisis on governance and the security of the nation. The NSA has once again by this act demonstrated that he is a statesman unlike some of the hawks in the Presidency who prefer that the crisis in the party continues. These hawks are deceiving Mr. President into thinking that they love him more than those in the nPDP while they are actually engineering his political misfortune.

7. NWC commended the nPDP leadership, including both the Caucus and NWC members, for turning the party into the beautiful bride of Nigerian politics in view of the fact that we hold the key to decide the next President of Nigeria come 2015. The NWC considered other options in case our talks with President Jonathan fail to produce the desired result and concluded that our door should be opened to the APC option, while not ruling out other options that would give us the leverage in reshaping the polity come 2015.

8. NWC congratulated the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria for doing the country proud last Friday by winning the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the fourth time in grand style, stating that the boys have demonstrated our common resolve and belief that Nigeria is a great country and can achieve the seemingly impossible if only our leaders can put their acts together. The NWC advised the Super Eagles to sustain this victory by walloping the Ethiopian team by next Saturday in their World Cup qualifier, even as the NWC prepares to storm Calabar to cheer them to victory.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has advised newly married couples to consecrate their marriage in God so as to lay a solid foundation for their union.

The Governor who spoke in Lagos at the weekend after attending the solemnization of holy matrimony between Mr. Eyituoyo Amuka-Pemu, son of Mr. Sam. Amuka-Pemu, Publisher of the Vanguard newspaper and Miss. Oladepe Funmi Adeshina at Yaba Baptist Church said “any marriage built on the love of God will bring manifold blessing to the couples including children who will grow up to become responsible citizens”.

While congratulating the couple, Governor Uduaghan charged them to put God first in every thing they do so as to have a lasting union.

On her part, the wife of the Governor, Deaconess Nere Roli Uduaghan advised the couple, Mr. And Mrs. Eyituoyo Amuka-Pemu to listen to each other and pray together to attract God’s blessings.`

Associates of the groom’s father including the Delta State Information Commisioner, Barr. Chike Ogeah and Chief Ominimini Obiuwevwi charged the couple to seek advice from each othert and aviod taking their complaints to a third party.

Mr. Eyituoyo Pemu and his wife Oladepe were joined as husband and wife bhy Rev. Gabriel Adebayo after they had exchanged marital vows.

The ceremony was also attended by the Governors of Edo, Rivers, and Ogun States. Adam Oshiomole; Rotimi Amaechi and Ibikunle Amosun respectively as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.

Thursday November 14, 2013 has been set aside for the Unveiling/Formal Presentation Of The Drama Books “King Ozomo’s Quest” and “Sacrifice To The Dumb God”.

The books, a must read, which has gained prominence in the literary industry, according literary critics, writers and playwrights, is an uncommon work of a brilliant playwright that would attain global readership and acceptance.

The playwright, Joseph Nwamana disclosed to Blank POETRY that the ooks would be formally presented to the yearning reading public on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, adding that the launching which will commence at 10:00 am is under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof. B. I. C. Ijomah (Aidigba of Aboh).

The Special Guest of Honour is Prof. Hope Eghagha (Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education); the Chief Launcher is Hon. Daniel Mayuku (Chairman of the Delta state House of Assembly Committee on Budget and Appropriation/ Captain, Ibori Golf Course and Country Club) while the Co-Launcher is Hon. Charles Emetulu (Delta state Commissioner for Energy).

The Guests of Honour include Omordi George Ugbomah (Delta North Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan); Mr. Paul Odili (Manager Communications, Government House, Asaba); Rev. Collins Eke (DESOPADEC Commissioner representing Ndokwa Nation); Hon. Alex Aniche (Chairman, Transition Committee, Ndokwa East LGA) and Prince Mike Oputa (Commissioner, Delta state House of Assembly Service Commission).

The Playwright, Joseph Nwamana hails from Aboh, Ndokwa East local government area in Delta state, Nigeria where he had his early education before proceeding to the Federal School of Arts and Sciences, Lagos.
It was there his creative works, woven from historical recreation, began to manifest.

He later studied English and Literature at the University of Benin, essentially buoyed by his quest for the acquisition of requisite skills in his foreseeable art in creativity.

Nwamana’s talent is also evident in poetry, films and drama. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and married with children.

The factional PDP led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje has hailed the Court of Appeal’s reversion of what it described as “unjust sacking” of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the judgement is a proof that the Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee (NWC) is operating in illegality. In a statement made available to Blank NEWS Online by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said they received the judgment rendered by the Appeal Court, Abuja, with great joy and gratitude. “This judgment has once again reinforced our belief in the judiciary as the bastion of our democracy and the last hope of the common man. We once again commend and congratulate the judiciary for taking a firm stand for the truth in the face of the plot by some unpatriotic elements to cause confusion in the PDP with a view to destroying this great institution which some of us have laboured for many years to build”. Parts of the release read: “This is just one of the anomalies we have been complaining of that came about due to lack of internal democracy in our party occasioned by the undemocratic elements that hijacked the structure of our party and we are relying so much on the Judiciary to help us in addressing other anomalies that gave rise to our present struggle and restore hope back to our party. “With this judgment, we hope that very soon our other court cases asking for the dissolution of the Tukur-led NWC would be given the same serious attention to enable us formally take over the reins of our party and restore it to the path of honour, justice and democratic norms which Tukur and his cohorts have bastardised. “We wish to assure PDP faithful and all lovers of democracy that the cat with nine lives, Prince (Barr.) Olagunsoye Oyinlola is ready and determined to do the great work of rebuilding our great party. The sacking of the entire illegal NWC is, however, necessary so as to create room for the replacement of the current membership with patriotic party leaders who would join Prince Oyinlola in rebuilding the party, which has suffered so much in the hands of Tukur and his co-travellers. “We sincerely sympathise with the erstwhile National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, who has achieved an unenviable record as the shortest reigning PDP National Secretary since the formation of the party. He should find something better to do and leave politics to politicians and return to the academic world to do what he knows best. “The PDP National Legal Adviser Mr. Victor Kwom should stop further study of a judgement which was very clear even to a layman and set in motion the machinery for the immediate swearing in of Prince Oyinlola by next week Monday, 11th November, 2013, as he is in a hurry to start the rebuilding of the party. The National Legal Adviser who saw to Prof Wale Oladipo swearing in within 24 hours after his own court victory should apply the same treatment to the authentic National Secretary of PDP and stop portraying our party as a lawless party by attempting to delay his swearing in ceremony in obedience to a court ruling aimed at repositioning our party. “We thank some of Tukur’s NWC members and most of the staff of PDP in the Wadata Plaza who have called to congratulate Prince Oyinlola and want him to be sworn-in today. However, as we have already told them privately, that would not be possible as Prince Oyinlola is presently not in Abuja. Monday, 11th November, 2013 is okay as the swearing-in date and we are preparing to storm the PDP National Secretariat to claim what rightfully belongs to us. “As we commend and congratulate Prince Oyinlola for this feat, we urge him not to be corrupted by the undemocratic toxic that may have been dropped in his office by Prof. Oladipo as many Nigerians look up to him to not only to restore hope to the PDP, but to also use his magic wand to unify the party. We are happy of sending him back to the Wadata Plaza in advance as our present day John the Baptist to prepare and to announce to the world of our arrival as the authentic NWC of our great party within the next few weeks”.

Chief Nkem Okwuofu, a staunch Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state, has strongly condemned attempts to link her to the recent alleged assassination plot on the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Onyekachi Ochei, during a consultation meeting with party faithful in Obomkpa town, on Friday Nov 1, 2013, insisting that “He (Ochei) remains my son yesterday, today and forever”.

Chief Okwuofu, who made this declaration, while addressing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Asaba on Wednesday November 6, 2013, said that it had become imperative for her to clear the air on the matter, especially against the backdrop of her recent interrogation by the Delta State Police Command in connection with the incident and the widespread speculations that she may have been fingered in the plot to assassinate the Speaker.

Okwuofu, who is also the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, also dismissed allegations that she was not in good terms with Speaker Ochei, adding that she had no reason to disagree with the Speaker because “He is my son”.

“The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Onyekachi Ochei is my political son and I have supported him since he ventured into politics. I have no reason to harm him. Onicha-Olona where he is from is next door to Obomkpa and he is always at home when he is in Obomkpa so why should I want to harm him?” She asked.

She equally exonerated the ‘good and peace loving people of Obomkpa’ from the alleged assassination plot and called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that they unravel the facts surrounding the incident.

The political chieftain said that although she had disagreements with Hon. Ochei over certain political decisions in the past in Aniocha North, she had since confronted Ochei personally and eventually accepted the reasons given by him for the decisions.

A political source told Blank NEWS Online that the Ochei had infringed on Okwuofu’s political leadership in Obomkpa Ward 3, where she was the erstwhile political leader before Rt. Hon Ochei allegedly dissolved her executive council without informing her, but rather than quarrelling about the undermining of her authority in her own domain, she had instead sought clarification on the matter from Ochei himself and had subsequently accepted the reasons given by Ochei for the decision.

She disclosed that Speaker Ochei had not informed her of the November 1 meeting which had been scheduled in Obomkpa and when her people had consulted her on what line of action to take, she had advised them to boycott the meeting.

“I told them that on that day, they should go to their farms and markets or stay at home if they had nowhere else to go. They should not attend the event. Even I did not attend the event so I wonder how I could be associated with what happened on that day. I even called Speaker Ochei and told him not to proceed with the event”.

Responding to the allegations that the main suspect arrested by the police in connection with the incident was her relative, Chief Okwuofu confirmed that she met the suspect whom she referred to simply as ‘Oyibo’ for the first time over ten years ago when was the Delta state Commissioner for Culture and tourism and he had been introduced to her as a kinsman who needed employment.

She had then employed him, but had subsequently discovered that he was a miscreant and never-do-well who was giving her and her Ministry a bad name, so she had promptly dismissed him after a while and that was the last she had seen or heard from him, adding that she did not know what became of him afterwards and had never intervened on anybody’s behalf who was involved in any case of kidnapping.

Chief Okwuofu also dismissed the notion that what had exploded during the Obomkpa meeting was a bomb, saying that it has now been proven beyond doubt that the explosion was caused by a traditional cannon.

“Events have already overtaken the question whether what exploded in Obomkpa was a bomb or cannon and even news and other reports have confirmed that the explosion was caused by traditional cannon. It is a well known tradition amongst our people to fire the traditional cannon as a mark of respect whenever a big ceremony or a big personality visits a community. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei is a big personality so it is only customary that the cannon should be fired to honnour him and recognize his presence. It is sad that the cannon had accidentally exploded and caused causalities.”

Okwuofu equally debunked allegations that the re-awarding of a major road contract in Obomkpa was at the reason for her present frosty relationship with Speaker Ochei noted that she had been instrumental in putting the construction of the road into the budget, but the delay in the completion of the road for over a very long time now, especially the Obomkpa stretch, has caused her great personal and political embarrassment and led to accusations that she had misappropriated and diverted the funds meant for the job to her own personal use.

“I was instrumental in putting that road in the budget and it will be the crowning glory of my political career to see the road completed when I am still alive. That road is the major reason why I am in politics and why I am a political leader of my people. I have been insulted and embarrassed by my own people who feel that I have collected and eaten the money meant for the road. Even when my car is stuck in the mud on that road, people will boo me and refuse to come and help me because they think I have collected and eaten the money and am the one responsible for why the road is yet to be completed. So tell me why I should not be happy if the contract has now been re-awarded and the road is completed as soon as possible?

“I have not allowed the Commissioner for Works, Solomon Funkekeme to rest with telephone calls day and night on the matter of that road, to the extent that anytime I call him now he will immediately tell me that he knows it is because of the road even before I say anything. So why should I quarrel with anyone because the road was re-awarded and will now be completed? That road is my legacy project and I will do everything to make sure it is completed now that I am still in politically active”.

While dismissing claims that she is supporting a particular Anioma candidate, a Senator, for the 2015 governorship election in Delta State, Chief Nkem Okwuofu was quick to point that it was still premature for to declare her support for anybody at this time and those accusing her of supporting any particular individual were only being mischievous.

“There are so far about nine (9) aspirants from Delta North, who are said to be nursing the intention to contest the 2015 governorship and all of them from across the whole of Anioma are my sons. Ochei is also my son just like all the other aspirants mentioned. I have nurtured all of them politically, even those from outside Delta North and it is not for nothing that I am called MOG (Mother of governors).

“So it is too early to start saying that I am supporting this person or that person. And by the way, have you seen me campaigning for any aspirant, whether in the newspapers or television? It is too early to start supporting any aspirant for 2015 now”.

Okwuofu was interrogated on Wednesday, September 06, 2013 by the police over the recent cannon blast which allegedly targeted the Speaker Ochei.

The Delta State Police Command through its spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Lucky Uyabeme confirmed the development.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged politicians in Delta State to guard against heating up the polity by their actions and utterances.

Speaking against the backdrop of last Friday’s explosion at Obomkpa in Aniocha South local government area of the State with the attendant allegations and counter-allegations, the Governor stressed the need for everyone to remain calm.

Fielding questions from journalists, Monday evening, shortly after visiting the victim of the explosion, Perpetual Damasus, who is receiving treatment at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, the Governor urged politicians and Deltans in general not to speculate on the incident as the police was still investigating it.

“I want to urge politicians and all Deltans to be calm and patient with the police presently investigating the matter to come up with their findings. We should also conduct ourselves in a manner that will not heat up the polity especially now that political activities are on the increase,” he stated.

Dr. Uduaghan assured residents in the State of safety of lives and property re-iterating that the State Government was on top of the security situation.

The Governor, who took time to study the x-ray and scan results of the victim, urged her to be hopeful as the Teaching Hospital has the facilities and personnel to address her challenges.

The Orthopedic surgeon of the hospital, Prof. Godwin Iweagbu, said the left ankle of the lady was damaged by the explosive but assured that the threat of amputation had greatly reduced.

The victim, Perpetual Damasus, narrated how an explosive from the back of the canopy where she was sitting, hit her in the leg disrupting the arrival of the speaker of Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei to Obomkpa community for an event.

She disclosed that she has been given wonderful attention since she was relocated to Oghara from the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba.

The newly appointed Managing Director of Warri Wolves, Davidson Owumi has indicated his intention to meet with all stakeholders in Warri to discuss the way forward for the Club.

According to the Media Officer of the Club, Etu Moses, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Professional League in a bid to get more information will on a day yet to be fixed next week meet with all stakeholders comprising Ex- Footballers living in Warri.

Those to attend the summit where he is expected to seek their view on the Club which played in the final of the FA Cup and finished 6th on the table of Glo Premier League include the Delta Chapter of the Coaches Association.

Also to attend is the referees Association and Sports Writers who are based in the State in what is going to be his first official duty since he was appointed.

‘“Our Managing Director will hold a serious meeting with all stakeholders next week and the day will be made known before the weekend. The aim of the summit is to find out one or two things which will guide him as he embarks on a mission to take the Club to the next level. As I am talking to you, invitation letters have been sent to the Coaches Association, the Press, the Referees and Ex- Footballers. He wants to achieve something for the Club and to get to the root of what has been happening before his appointment, it is pertinent for him to meet all stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, Mr Owumi who is known as Okada in his playing days with the Super Eagles has urged all those saddled with one responsibility or the other in the Club to queue with his vision or step aside.

Etu disclosed that Owumi will not want to dent his image hence; he has asked all the staff to sit up and work with him to transform the Club.

“He has a vision for the Club and he feels that everybody involved in the running of the Club should follow his footsteps or quit on his own. He has a dream for the Club and hopefully, he will achieve it.”

Former Acting Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Joyce Nkemakolam has revealed that the N240 million approved budget for operational vehicles was deliberately inflated to N643 million by the Ministry of Aviation.

This revelation came on the heels of series of investigation and hearing on Thursday, October 24, 2013 by the House Committee on Aviation on the controversial purchase of N255.15 million worth BMW bullet proof cars for embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

Blank NEWS Online findings proved that despite the National Assembly’s rejection of an initial request by the NCAA to procure bullet-proof cars during the 2013 ministerial budget defense, the agency went ahead to spend a whooping N643 million against an approved budget of N240 million meant for security and vehicles.

The vehicles purchased, according to Blank NEWS Online sources, were jerked up from 25 to 54 vehicles without following due process and authorization of the National Assembly which earlier approved the limit budget.

The former acting DG of NCAA had on Thursday revealed to the House Committee on Aviation that, “The utility vehicles are purchased annually to service the 22 airports in the country and due to old age there is need to acquire new ones while the bullet-proof cars were bought so that we can use them when the country hosts dignitaries from IATA, ICAO and other international bodies and it was through lease financing.

“We sent a letter to the Ministry on April 5 and got approval on April 15 to go ahead with the lease financing in line with best procurement practices. First Bank, Stanbic and Union banks emerged as potential lessors for the 54 cars at N643,88,250.00million.

“First Bank eventually won and we were expected to complete the payment in 36 months before we finally own the vehicles. In conclusion, I wish to point out here that we are expected to pay N23,249,181.00 million monthly, so ownership of the vehicles is still with First Bank.”

Facts In The Purchase Document:

2013 budget approval — Five Toyota Hilux Pickup vans, 10 Toyota Corolla cars, five Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, three Toyota Hiace buses, at a cost of N240 million.

Findings:

NCAA therefore, in its own volition, bought 54 vehicles through a bank lease for the sum of N643 million, also financed by the bank.

NCAA to repay the purchasing sum with an interest of less N500 million to be paid on the N643 million within 36 months, while two months instalments on the repayment have already been made to the financing bank.

Oduah’s Self Defence:

The embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has however written to President Goodluck Jonathan to explain her role in the deal, following the President’s query issued to her on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. It reads thus:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NCAA OPERATIONAL VEHICLES
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is the statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Industry.

Consequently, the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.

2. Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment.

3.In the 2013 budgetary appropriation, provision was made for the procurement of specialised equipment (including operational vehicles) to complement and in some cases replace obsolete ones.

Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO, ACI and a host of others makes it necessary to have specialised operational vehicles.

4.With regard to the procurement of additional operational vehicles (including BMW Security Vehicles), the following due process was observed:

(I) By letter dated April 15, 2013, NCAA officially requested authorisation from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to procure 56 operational vehicles through lease financing. This option was proposed to the ministry to enable the NCAA make 36 monthly payments based on receipts from Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.

Approval

The Ministry therefore granted due approval.

(ii)Based on the ministry approval, the NCAA invited Expressions of Interest from all Banks in Nigeria for the financing of the said vehicles. EOI was adopted because the procurement is two sided. First, the financier would have to be selected before the supplier is determined. This is in line with procurement best practices.

(iii) On May 24, 2013, the response received from the various banks to the Expression of Interest, EOI, request was opened publicly and minutes of the opening exercise was duly documented. During the EOI opening exercise, NCAA got commendation from one of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, approved by BPP who were invited for the opening exercise.

(iv) The evaluation of the expression of interests was held on May 31, 2013 during which First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC emerged most responsive. On the June 10, 2013 the above three banks were invited to submit Financial Proposals. Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.

(v)Between June 20 and 25, 2013, invoices were received from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW Security Vehicles.

Tenders Board

(vi) On June 28, 2013, NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved the selection of First Bank Ltd for the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. All necessary approvals were duly sought and obtained accordingly.

(vii) Between July 8, 2013 to August, 12, 2013 various meetings were held with First Bank Ltd, contract agreement was signed and necessary documentation executed.

Your Excellency is respectfully invited to note:

(i) The crucial statutory role of the NCAA in regulating civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

(ii) The need for NCAA to be fully equipped with highly specialized tools and facilities (including operational vehicles) to enable the effective implementation of its statutory functions.

(iii) The procurement of specialized operational vehicles is duly provided for in the NCAA 2p 13 (IGR) Budget and the need for adopting instalmental lease payments over36rionths.

(iii) That Due Process was followed in the procurement of the said operational vehicles.

Please your Excellency my continued loyally and esteemed regards.

Signed: Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, OON, Honourable Minister.

Mixed-Reactions:

Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) through its National Chairman, Elliot Uko called for due process in handling the issue but alleged that Oduah’s present travails is occasioned by “attempts by political enemies of the Aviation Minister led by disgruntled businessmen, who felt dislodged by her far-reaching reforms in the aviation industry, to bring her down at all costs.

“The minister has carried out upgrading that no minister had the courage to do in our nation’s history. Attacking her over vehicle purchase is petty, and opportunistic; they should point to what she ought to do and failed to do.”

Prof. Itse Sagay said, “I don’t see any reason why some people should read tribal or ethnic meanings into this issue. It is a straightforward case of a public officer recklessly and irresponsibly dipping her hands into public funds and spending it without care. The issue of taking sides is becoming a recurring problem in our society”.

Meanwhile, the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) in a statement by Segun Sango, its Protem National Chairperson, said what the scandal had shown “is that the problem in the aviation sector is not primarily that of lack of funds but gross mismanagement of resources. This is why we of the SPN have consistently matched the demand for adequate funding of any public sector with a call for open democratic control by elected representatives of workers, consumers and relevant professionals.”

Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in statement issued in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, ‘’We in the APC have not joined the fray over the Oduahgate scandal since it broke out because we thought this was a straightforward case of corruption and abuse of office that should be summarily dealt with. But President Jonathan has again failed to live up to expectation, thus allowing all manners of clowns to seek to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians in the name of defending the indefensible.”