Former minister told Vice President of Nigeria that he was wrong to have said Niger Delta oil will dry up in about 30 years

Former minister told Vice President of Nigeria that he was wrong to have said Niger Delta oil will dry up in about 30 years

South Unknown   10:18

Vice President Osibanjo’s visit to the Niger Delta hit the brick as various stakeholders from the region expresses disagreement with him in various ways.

Following the vice president’s comment which states that oil in Nigeria in the region would dry in about 20 to 30 years’ time, one time Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has told the VP that oil well in the Niger Delta won't become scarce in the following 100 years.

In his response, the ex-Minister depicted Osinbajo's remark as political with no foundation, as he stressed that those in government must look for data where they don't have such.

Also while addressing journalists in Abuja, Gbagi likewise scowled at Osinbajo's visit to Olu of Warrior, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli and not going to Urhobo land.

Claiming that the federal government underestimated the general population of Urhobo for not going to the zone which was the hob of gas generation in the country.

Gbagi charged that the refusal of the Vice President to visit Ughelli in Urhobo land, was a replay of what occurred in 1971 when the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon booked a visit to the land however the secretary, an Itsekiri did not permit the visit to emerge.

As indicated by Gbagi, “While we are looking for peace, the sensibility of Urhobo people should not be taken for granted, the Urhobo people have been taken for granted for too long in the scheme of things.

“A similar situation happened in 1971 when Gowon was to visit Midwest which is now Delta, the Secretary then was an Iteskiri man and they crafted a similar visit to exclude the Urhobo nation, it is on record that Urhobos hold the bedrock of gas company, that is the major source of electricity in Nigeria today, not to talk of all the oil wells, pipelines across the entire Urhobo nation. Urhobos being the 4th largest nationality in Nigeria have been for sometimes now neglected and relegated to the background because of their peaceful nature.

“While it appears that trouble makers get greater reward in Nigeria, the school of violence, agitations does not belong to any ethnic group. I see the visit of the Vice President as irresponsibly put together as it is not in the interest of the much desired peace; I congratulate the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and all those who walked out from that gathering of shame.

“I was reliably informed that the Programme which originally was to see the Vice President’s visit to Gbaramatu, the Olu of Warri and the visit to Ughelli where the oldest traditional ruler, the Owhorode of Olomu who is 100 years resides, to host all the traditional rulers in conjunction with a meeting with the Vice President, was truncated by the governor of the State and the deputy.

“We should root for genuine peace to support the good initiative of Mr. president and stop playing lip service or waste the economic base of Nigeria.

“Quoting the Vice President, at least 97% of the economy today is rested on oil and gasj his claim that oil will soon finish or dry up is a political statement without foundation, the gas situated on Otolobo at least will last for another 100 years, tax payers’ money earners like the Vice President and persons in government must seek information where they don’t have them and stop heating the polity.

“I will grant a statement on the second year of the administration in Delta as I have done in all previous governments. Urhobos will make our position known to the government at the Centre.

“The visit of the Vice President is meaningless, made no statement; it is akin to a personal visit to the Olu of Warri as there is no policy statement from the government addressing the issues at hand.”

Bring Back Our Girls (BBOGs) headed by Oby Ezekwesili suspects the government invitation to tour Sambisa Forest

Bring Back Our Girls (BBOGs) headed by Oby Ezekwesili suspects the government invitation to tour Sambisa Forest

Regional News Unknown   10:04

The support group known as Bring Back Our Girls, (BBOGs), headed by Mrs Oby Ezekwesili has communicated its doubt at the invitation reached out to the gathering by the Federal Government on an excursion to Sambisa Forest looking for the supposed missing Chibok school girls.

The Federal Government had composed a letter of welcome asking for agents of the gathering to be a part of a military operational flight to Sambisa Forest looking for the missing Chibok school girls.

The welcome letter was dated January 11, and marked by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and tended to the convener of the gathering, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili.

The letter, which was made accessible to media houses, yesterday requested that the BBOG assign three individuals from the gathering to be a part of a guided outing planned for January 16, in acknowledgment of what it depicted as the steadfast duty of the gathering to the arrival of the hijacked Chibok young ladies.

As indicated by the letter,“The trip being planned by the military will see the Ministers of Defence and Information, the Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Army Staff joining the invited BBOG members and a select group of journalists.

“They will first go to the Nigerian Air Force Command Centre in Yola to witness firsthand the efforts being made to search for the girls by NAF and then join the day and night sorties with the NAF to the Sambisa Forest.

“Please note that due to limited seats on the search plane, only two of the invited BBOG members will join the NAF sorties. After the sorties, the team will return to Yola for bidding by the NAF on their daily search for the girls as well as all those who have been abducted by Boko Haram.

“Departure is scheduled for 8:30a.m. at the Air Force wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Monday the January 17, 2017, ” the letter reads in part.

The government expressed that the trek would benefit the BBOG the chance to witness and better comprehend the endeavours being made to secure the freedom of the young ladies and different casualties of Boko Haram terrorists.

Be that as it may, the gathering in its answer dated January 13, raised doubt on the desperation of the outing at short notice and the way that the Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, had just few days prior blamed the gathering for taking part in "social advocacy terrorism".

The gathering's letter marked by Oby Ezewkesili, stated that the government owned News Agency of Nigeria broadly detailed through the mass media that amid a visit to the armed force headquarters by a specific group which was attended to by the Chief of Army Staff, our organisation was assaulted for taking part in social advocacy terrorism. It is astounding that the said visit happened under forty eight hours before our group got your letter requesting that we go in the company of the same Chief of Army Staff to Sambisa Forest.

The gathering said “we demand therefore that ahead of the pre-tour meeting, the Chief of Army Staff retracts and apologizes for endorsing such slanderous attacks against our movement.”

President Buhari is not sincere with the Niger Delta issues - MEND

President Buhari is not sincere with the Niger Delta issues - MEND

South Unknown   12:28

It appears that the reality of the degree of the insensitivity of the Buhari led federal government is beginning to hit the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) as their expectations are being cut-off each day.

Scarcely a year after the MEND gave its outright support for the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari, the movement on Sunday pulled back their support for the administration.

The representative of the obsolete activist group, Jomo Gbomo, expressed this in an electronic proclamation issued on Sunday where it passed a vote of no confidence on the central government, blaming her for playing politics with the issue of dialogue and the region’s development.

According to MEND since the time President Buhari met with the initiative of the Pan Niger Delta Forum under the headship of Chief Edwin Clark on November 1, 2016, some top government functionaries in Buhari's goverment had been "arrogantly" making disputable, biased, clashing and opposing proclamations about the issue of discovering enduring peace in the district.

As indicated by the release, “Without prejudice to the pre-2015 Presidential election endorsement freely and voluntarily given to President Muhammadu Buhari on January 6, 2015, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) hereby categorically and unequivocally pass a ‘vote of no confidence’ on the government of President Buhari.

“That prior to and after his reluctant meeting with the traditional rulers, opinion leaders and stakeholders of the Niger Delta region, under the auspices of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on November 1, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari has been carrying on arrogantly and making controversial, prejudicial, conflicting and contradictory statements about the politics and economy of the oil-rich region.”

The announcement deplored that President Buhari has dependably, for reasons best known to him, held the Niger Delta district in hatred “while accusing and/or blackmailing the leadership of the region of not being ready for dialogue whereas it is the Federal Government who are not ready or willing to name a team to dialogue with the people.”

It affirmed that the administration had neglected to respect concessions came to before it consented to report a truce with activists in the locale including the arrival of the Okah siblings and a few other political prisoners and detainees of inner voice under a fabulous misdirection by the present government.

SHOCK: as Assistant Police Commissioner commits suicide in Edo State

SHOCK: as Assistant Police Commissioner commits suicide in Edo State

South Unknown   11:43

To the family of Christopher Osakue, all may not be well as 2016 ended in a very sad note, following the demise of their son Osakue.

Osakue who was an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) was said to have committed suicide in Benin, the capital of Edo State.

According to the Punch, the late officer, was in charge of training and development at the Edo State Police Command, after he was posted from Ondo State, apparently shot himself on the head on Wednesday with his official pistol while in his residence situated at Upper Sokponba.

In the past, Osakue had suffered from a partial stroke few some years back, was recuperating gradually from it before the sad incident.

Report has it that, late Osakue sent a woman and a little boy living with him a message prior to him shooting himself to death.

According to source, a neighbour heard a gunshot inside his house at about 17:00 hours on the fateful day which was followed by a scary silence that overwhelmed the entire building.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu in his explanation confirmed that the pistol in question was apparently signed for at the Ondo State Police command prior to his posting to Edo State. And also described the senior officer’s sad demise as a case of suicide.

Court sentences son of a former district head to death by hanging

Court sentences son of a former district head to death by hanging

Regional News Unknown   16:28

One Mu’ammar Tukur who happened to be the son of ex-District Head of Bakori has been given a death sentence by hanging by a Katsina State High Court after being convicted of committing murder when he stabbed one Shafir Muktar to death.

Justice Abbas Bawale in judgment stated that the prosecution which is being headed by Mr Aminu Garba successfully established the case of the alleged murder beyond reasonable doubt. This is because five witnesses along with other relevant exhibits were presented to prove their point, as being needed by law including the victim’s death, cause of the death and intention behind the act.

The incident happened April 21 2008 when a fight broke out between the convict and some of the witnesses presented by the prosecution at a viewing centre.

It was stated by the judge that attempt made by the defence counsel to dispute the evidence of the prosecution were all fruitless, when he argued that the metallic material used to commit the crime was not displayed before the court.

According to the judge, the convict ran away between 2008 and 2013, but was apprehended during his mother’s burial at the grave yard.

Speaking further, the judge held that the plea for leniency could not be heard due to some legal constraints as enshrined by law, and suggested for such plea to be forwarded to the state governor. And said an appeal could be made within the space of 90 days.

The judge also said the plea for leniency could not be entertained because the court’s discretion was blocked by law and directed that the plea should be sent to the state governor.

He advised the defence to file its appeal within 90 days.

Amazing how N100 sent two to early grave in Enugu State

Amazing how N100 sent two to early grave in Enugu State

South Unknown   11:13

Bloodbath in Enugu State as Igbos and Fulanis clash in serious battle at the famous Gariki market on Wednesday night, resulting to the untimely death of two persons, are identified as Ali, a Fulani and Ifeanyi an Igbo.

According to eyewitnesses, the fight started as a result of a quarrel over the sum of N100, when late Ali, came to the abattoir situated in the Gariki market to slaughter a cow.

The witnesses stated that the proper place for Ali to slaughter his cow is the New Artisan market abattoir, but decided to choose Gariki market abattoir due to the closure of the New Artisan market by the state government, after a policeman was murdered by a crowd of keke riders.

Though late Ali pad the sum of N400 against the required N500, which angered Ifeanyi, which brought about the quarrel, which turned violent, in the process, Ali brought out a penknife and stabbed late Ifeanyi multiple times in his belly, showing his intestines, thus killing Ifeanyi on the spot.

In a swift retaliation, Ali also met his death when some Igbo traders around got angry at his barbaric act, caught him while running away and executed jungle justice on him.

Furthermore, the angry Igbo traders burnt a mosque situated inside the market, the Hausa/Fulanis go to worship.

But with the quick intervention of the State Police Command, more shops and lives would have been destroyed.