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Thursday, June 15, 2017

Ogbe-Ijoh/Aladja Land Dispute: Communities Dare Okowa, Resume Hostility





Despite the nasty decision the Delta State governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa said the state government would take to restore peace to Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja Communities in Warri South West and Udu local government areas of the state, both communities have resumed hostilities.

It was gathered that in a renewed conflict, a mobile policeman and several others sustained various degrees of injuries when the communities clashed over the ownership of the disputed land.

The governor had earlier warned strictly that in the interim, both communities should stay clear of the disputed land as security agencies would remain in the disputed area pending when all issues are resolved as a way of preventing further break down of law and order.

Hear him, “Government will not shy away from taking decisions that may not be palatable if the need arise,” the governor said, emphasizing, “it is our duty to preach peace, we must be careful about the type of communities we leave for our children because, any father or mother who wants to leave a crisis-ridden community is not worthy to be one.” the governor stated.

“I have always said that in any dispute, there must be give and take for the best resolution to be achieved and I want to thank you (members of the committee) for the reports as presented, we will study them and take right decisions for a lasting solution to be proffered on the crisis”.

The governor urge both communities to maintain the existing peace, even as he decried the murder of some persons in the area as a result of the crisis and disclosed that the murder cases would continue in the courts of law and assured that the law would take its course in granting bails to arrested community leaders.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, has warned armed youths of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities to lay down their arms or security agents would have no other option than to unleash the full weight of the law against them.

The Police boss lamented why the people of the affected areas could not appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the State Government, the police and other security agents towards restoring lasting peace to the two communities.

While noting that security has been reinforced, leading to the restoration of peace, in the affected areas, the CP called on the belligerent youths to drop their arms forthwith and embrace the path of peace.

The Police boss warned that the Command would not condone any attack on security personnel and law abiding citizens of the areas henceforth, reiterating that enough is enough

Governor Okowa had on May 25, 2016 inaugurated the committee with Professor Abednego Ekoko as Chairman, Mr. F.O. Osiawa, Surveyor General, Mr. J.N Ogabu, Asst. Surveyor-General, as members and Mr. Ernest Edomwonyi, Legal Counsel served as Secretary, while Mr. Paulson Okobiebi and Elder Stephenson Lerhovwre were (Aladja Community Representatives) and Mr. Denbofa Oweikpodor, Mr. Franklyn Igangan were (Ogbe-Ijaw Community Representatives).

It was alleged before now that Okowa and his Deputy, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro who is an Ijaw man by tribe were already taking sides with the people of Ogbe-Ijoh against the Aladja people who are of the Urhobo extraction.

Professor Abednego Ekoko led Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis committee has since submitted its reports to Governor Okowa at government house Asaba.


WE'LL BUILD MORE SCHOOLS IN 2018




FIDELIS EGUGBO.

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said that government should not compromise on quality education for the youths.

Speaking yesterday in separate town hall meetings held with the people of Uvwie and Ughelli South Local Government Areas at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun and Unity Hall, Otu-Jeremi, respectively, Governor Okowa said that quality education, laced with proper skills, will prepare the youths to be self sufficient in the future.

The governor said that his administration has not compromised quality education, but has, instyead, started reviving of technical education to ensure that the youths are equipped for future challenges.

He disclosed that, despite the fact that the state boasts of more than 1, 000 primary schools and about 500 secondary schools built by government, most of the communities in the state are still yearning for more.

While assuring the people of Uvwie that the Urhobo College will be renovated, Governor Okowa added that from 2018, more schools would be built in the state.
“In every local government, there are roads being constructed because, we know the roads are important to the development of our people; we have taken on roads in the first two years, in the coming year, we will take on schools because, Deltans love education,” he said, adding, “we have fixed three technical colleges that are very functional and we have started to renovate the other three in the state because we know the importance of skill acquisition for the youths.”
He reiterated, “I want to urge parents to take their children to the technical schools because, apart from the skills they will acquire, the schools still offer the same subjects done by other schools; we should equip our children to face the challenges of the future.”

Governor Okowa disclosed that the town hall meetings which will make him transverse the 25 local government areas of the state, inspect ongoing projects and commission completed ones, will also provide opportunity to meet with the people, asserting, “in these town hall meetings, we should push away politics; it is a serious business. This is an opportunity for the people to know what we are doing, how we are managing their funds and an opportunity for our people to participate actively in government by telling us the truth, if we are doing well, the areas we need to improve on and what they need for us to build such into our programmes.”

The governor, who attended the town hall meetings accompanied by his deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, and other top political office holders, stressed that, apart from infrastructural development in all the local government areas of the state, his administration has empowered a lot of Deltans through skill acquisition programmes. He noted that beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programmes were trained, equipped and are being monitored and mentored to ensure that they become successful entrepreneurs.

Governor Okowa thanked Deltans for their peaceful disposition, adding that it should be sustained for the desired development to be achieved.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, former Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) were among dignitaries that attended the town hall meetings.




Militants draw battle-line with Governor Okowa




New Delta Avenger, NDA, a new coalition of ex-militants from the oil producing areas of Delta State, yesterday, called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to give account of the 13 per cent derivation he received from the Federation Account in the last two years and what went to the oil producing communicates, especially the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.

The group, which threatened, last week, to resume fresh hostilities in the state from June 30, had accused Governor Okowa of allegedly marginalising the oil producing areas of the state. Spokesperson of the militant group, self-styled Cpl Olleum Bellum, in a statement, said: “If you see the allocations for states that were released by Ministry of Finance today (yesterday), you will see that Delta State and Okowa were paid N4,747,930,884.16 billion for February and DESOPADEC is supposed to get half of that money, but we know that nothing was paid to DESOPADEC.

“We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo to pay 13 per cent money direct to oil communities. We want to control our resources in Delta because government has failed us. This may become another frontier in the war against operation in the Niger Delta,” the group said.

The militant group demanded the names and physical locations of the projects the State Government claimed to have spread in oil communities in Ija, Isoko, Ijaw, Isoko, Ndokwa and Urhobo communities. It said, “But we have to inform you today that the hour is near. We said before that we will commence our operation on the end of month, that we can move the date forward. New Delta Avenger command is now ready. We have sent all our boys and materials to the location we are target (sic) and we have also put the government on notice about our action. We are not cowards, we do not hide under the shadow to operate.”

“Let the governor wake up from his slumber and come to term with his vicious acts towards our communities. He cannot wash away the truth. He has not done anything to benefit the oil communities from Ndokwa to Koko to Forcados.

“We said he is robbing Peter to pay Paul and we stand by this. Let him release the fact on the fund that he had given to DESOPADEC. Why is he not publishing accounts of the state allocation, internally generated revenue, IGR and other revenues and what he has done with them like his colleagues in other states are doing.

“Even projects that were begun before the Okowa government by DESOPADEC have all halted because the money is being siphoned,” NDA said.

•Text courtesy of Vanguard.


Delta Assembly Passes Hotel, Stores Consumption Tax Bill






BY PATRICK OGBOGU

The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the State Hotel Occupancy, Restaurant and Departmental Stores Consumption Tax Bill at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

The bill was passed following the presentation of a report by its adhoc committee headed by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Oboroh Preyor.

The committee chairman while presenting the report of their committee said that the committee found it necessary to recommend the consumption tax bill in the state so as to provide other sources of revenue for the state government.

Preyor disclosed that their committee carried out a thorough work on the bill as it was promptly examined, scrutinized and analysed before they arrived at the recommendations.

He revealed that due to the strategic importance of the bill, their committee took a sturdy tour to the Lagos House of Assembly where the law had been enacted and in operation.

The committee chairman told the House that the state revenue profile was poor due to the current recession the country, pointing out that tax is the key to reviving the ailing economy.

Consequently, the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere who moved the House to receive the report for further consideration, moved for the suspension of orders 77, 78 and 79 of the House rules to enable the House pass the bill, seconded by Rt Hon Peter Onwusanya representing Oshimili South constituency.

Without much ado, the House unanimously passed the bill following a voice vote by the Speaker, Oborevwori who thanked the lawmakers, particularly the committee members for doing a thorough job on the bill as the consumption tax was important to the state economy.

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You Can Enjoy God’s Support By Lifting Others, Delta Speaker





 BY PATRICK OGBOGU

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has enjoined Nigerians to lift others to enjoy divine lifting.

Oborevwori while reading the lesson at the Delta State House of Assembly Chapel mid-year thanksgiving service held on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at the House of Assembly Complex, Asaba taking from Psalm 136; 1-26 ,” Oborevwori emphasized that divine lifting would not come to those who do not assist others.

According to him: “The only way to enjoy divine lifting is by helping others.

“Help your co-workers, neighbours, colleagues and friends. It is when you lift others up that God would lift you up,” he said.

The Speaker also urged Nigerians to appreciate God for keeping them alive.

He stated that the state legislature passed 18 bills out of the 34 bills it received in the second legislative year, stressing that 17 bills were at different committee levels, assuring that the state legislature will improve on its performance in the next legislative year

He promised that the House would continue to be part of the thanksgiving service of the Chapel every year.

The Chief Whip of the House, Hon.Barr Pat Ajudua, said the service was a way of showing appreciation to God for His mercies upon all in the Assembly.

A Guest Minister, Pastor Chijoke Arinze who is also the Senior Pastor of Grace and Truth Arena, Asaba who spoke on ‘the importance of thanksgiving.” said thanksgiving is to express gratitude to God for the manifold blessings received from God.

Pastor Arinze whose theme was taken from 1 Thessalonian 5; 18 stressed the need of Christians to always give thanks to God in order to receive more blessings from God, adding that King Herod was punished because of his ingratitude to God’s blessings.

He called on political leaders to be humble to attract blessings from God, stressing that Jesus never claimed equality with God, but humbled himself to redeem mankind from sins, spiritual and financial bondage and at the end God glorified him.

While urging Christians to show more obedience to God and persons in authority, the Clergyman equally advised those in authority to be humble and philanthropic in order to receive more favour from God.

The service was attended by the Clerk of the House, Barr Mrs Lynar Ocholor, members and a former commissioner Mrs Pat Onianwa and Assembly staff including Mr Aghogho Aduomayebe.

The service featured worship songs, thanksgiving and prayers for a successful tenure of the Speaker and other members of the Assembly by the Residence Pastor, Rev Joseph Ighodje.








Osinbajo's Speech During His Meeting With South East Leaders








    Written by Yemi Osinbajo       
    

Yemi Osinbajo this evening had a Consultation session with Leaders of Thought from South-East Nigeria which took place at the State House in Abuja.

Text Of Opening Remarks Made By The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, San, At The Meeting Of The Acting President With Leaders Of Thought From The Southeastern States Held At The Old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja On Wednesday June 14, 2017

Yesterday I kicked off a series of consultations and engagements with Leaders of Thought from Northern Nigeria. It was a useful meeting

Today’s meeting, the second in the series, is with you, Leaders of Thought from the Southeast.

After this, I will meet with Religious and Traditional Leaders from the North and from the Southeast, on Friday and Monday respectively. And then, in the final consultation, next week Thursday, all of us, from North and South, will come together in the same room, for further engagement and consultation.

I also plan at some time in between to meet with the Nigerian Governors Forum. These consultations are necessary, and important, because of recent events in the country.

You are all aware that there have been loud and sometimes hostile agitations by youth in the southeast, calling for secession of the region from Nigeria.

Then there was the recent ultimatum issued by a group of youth from the North, asking all south-easterners living in the North to leave by October 1 this year.

Both of these expressions and agitations from both sides have been attended with some controversial and hateful vituperations including patently illegal and violence-inducing remarks.

I firmly believe that we ought to address these agitations and proclamations urgently and decisively. Burying our heads in the sand and expecting the storm to blow over of their own accord is not an option.

But equally not reasonable is falling for the temptation for tit-for-tat. It has never worked or moved us closer to a solution or resolution.

And so it is in our bid, as government, to deal with these pressing issues and grievances, that we have convened this series of consultations, with various groups.

We will never shy away from the responsibility to ensure and uphold the peace and security of Nigeria.

It is in my view the role and responsibility of those privileged in society to be leaders to chart a progressive and lofty course for the ordinary people.

As leaders, we carry the burden to secure the peace, progress and prosperity of our people, and that is why our voices ought to be heard and heard loud and clear at moments like this in the defense and articulation of what is truly beneficial to the nation and the people, and what is right and patriotic.

Our dear nation has gone through some really difficult times. We have survived bloody coups, several rounds of ethno-religious violence, and emerged from a long and bloody Civil War.

All of us here have seen close-up what violence can do to a country, and I believe I speak for us all when I say that no one here is keen to see Nigeria embroiled in violence or bloodshed of any kind.

Especially not when we are only just emerging from a brutal insurgency that has consumed more than 20,000 of our brothers and sisters and children, as well as the better part of a decade.

One thing is clear – violence and war are terrible things. They are easy to start but near impossible to end.

Indeed you’re all aware of the Igbo proverb that says that “A man who rushes into battle does not realize that battle entails death.”

We are witnesses to the unspeakable devastation that war continues to inflict across the world. No one who has seen the horrors of war – even just on television – would wish it on their worst enemy.

It is also clear that wars sometimes start, not with bullets, but with words. Hateful, incendiary speech, opening floodgates of blood.

The tongue, like the pen, is often mightier than the sword – because it is what pushes the sword into action. When we throw words like stones in a marketplace we do not know who or what it will hit.

Knowing this, under no conditions whatsoever should we tolerate or excuse or justify hate speech or hateful conduct of any kind, especially where such is illegal.

Let me of course acknowledge that as part of living together in this space called Nigeria, misunderstandings and frustrations are inevitable.

Because resources are limited there will always be a striving to get what is perceived as the best seat at the table.

All of that is normal and to be expected, especially in a democracy, like ours. A healthy democracy ought to be a theatre of energetic striving by all parties and stakeholders.

But things should never descend to a level where mutual suspicions override the desire to live together in peace and harmony.

Yesterday I made it very clear that hate or divisive speech, or divisive behaviour, where it is illegal, will be met with the full force of the law.

I will say it again today: Let there be no doubt whatsoever of the resolve of government to ensure that no one will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause division or violence.

Completion

    We will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or to disrupt the peace of Nigeria. And we will not tolerate such.

    We are also resolute in our determination to protect every Nigerian, everywhere in the country.

    We will do everything within our power to defend and uphold the terms of our constitution, which declares that we are one nation under God.

    It also guarantees the free mobility of people, goods and services throughout the country, as well as full residence rights for every citizen in all and any parts of the land of their choice.

    It is also the aspiration of the Constitution to ensure a country in which, and I quote, “loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.”

    And it is the responsibility of the Government to create the conditions for the attainment of these ideals. There is something that President Buhari is fond of saying: that without peace and security there can be no development.

    We cannot develop a country that is not in the first place safe and secure for all its people. For this reason we take extremely seriously our constitutional responsibilities as your government.

    Those responsibilities also include listening to, consulting, and engaging with you; giving every citizen and every part of the Federation a sense of belonging and significance. And that is why we are here today.

    I expect that we will be frank and constructive in all our deliberation and discussion.

    This is an important moment for all of us, and I hope that at the end of it we will all be satisfied that we have accomplished something significant.

    By the grace of God we will leave to coming generations a peaceful, secure and prosperous nation; a nation in whom all citizens, regardless of age, gender, and ethnic/religious affiliations, will feel deep and enduring pride.

    I now would like to listen to your views and interact with you on these issues as we together consider the future of our great country.

    Thank you very much. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.