NATIONAL VIBES

The Bayelsa State Oil Environmental Commission will    present an INTERIM REPORT to the Governor of Bayelsa State , Hon Henry Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa The interim report,  which will be presented by the Commission Chair, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Santemu outlines what the Commission has seen and heard over the last seven months and will be available to the public on Friday 1st November. The Commission will also brief the media, the general public, affected communities, and other stakeholders on their activities so far. The media briefing shall take place on; * ; Friday 1st November  Time : 3pm prompt  Venue ;  Onopa Lodge ,  Yenagoa The report documents the widespread Environmetal and human damage which occurs as a result of  oil exploration in the state. The Commission’s final report is expected to be published in January 2020. Signed Dr Kathryn Nwajiaku- Dahou Secretary . Bayelsa State Oil Environmental Commission

By Tony Okechukwu The nine governors of the oil producing states, yesterday rejected the list of members of the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari. President had yesterday, in his letter to the National Assembly, requested the Senate to consider and confirm the appointment of Dr Pius Odubu (Edo state) as Chairman and Mr Bernard O Okumagba (Delta) as Managing Director board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Other members of the board are Engr. Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom) Executive Director Projects, Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa) Executive Director Finance and Admin,Prophet Jones Erue ( Delta) Delta Rep, Chief Victor Ekhator( Edo), Edo Rep, Dr Joy Yimebe Nunieh ( Rivers) Rivers Rep, Nwogu N. Nwogu( Abia), Abia Rep, Victor Antai(Akwa Ibom) Akwa Ibom Rep. and Theodore A. Allison. Others include; Maurice Effiwatt (Cross Rivers) Cross Rivers Rep, Olugbenga Edema (Ondo) Ondo Rep, Hon Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo

- Dr Peter Obi to deliver keynote speech - Summit set to tackle newer IGR options in a recessed economy. Posted By Tony Okechukwu The PDP Governors Forum is set to host the 2019 Edition of its annual IGR Summit in Abuja. In a statement released Tuesday by the Summit Organizing Committee and signed by Earl Osaro Onaiwu, DG of the Forum; the Summit which was earlier programmed for Wednesday/Thursday, Oct. 30-31, 2019 at the BON Hotel Stratton, (formerly Protea Hotel), Asokoro, Abuja; has been rescheduled to hold on Wednesday/Thursday, November 27-28, 2019 at the same venues. The rescheduling according to the release is due to the fact that the organizers do not want any conflict of interest arising from the two major elections coming up in Kogi and Bayelsa States. Titled “The Imperatives of Developing Internally-Generated Revenue Options for State Governments in a Recessed Economy”, the summit which is facilitated by the PDP Governors Forum and managed by Messrs Red Sa

Posted By Tony Okechukwu Following testimonies and documents received from individuals and other concerned bodies, the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) has formally invited the management of all National, International oil companies and their Nigerian subsidiaries operating in Bayelsa State to a meeting with the Commission The Secretary of the commission Dr. Kathryn Nwajiaku -Dahou who confirmed the invitation, explained that the meeting which comes up on Friday,  November 1, 2019 at the Royal Tulip Castle Hotel, Yenagoa, by 10am is to ensure that the views of all stakeholders, including those of International and National oil companies operating in Bayelsa that are yet to meet with the BSOEC, are reflected in the final report. . The BSOEC chaired by the Archbishop of York, United Kingdom, Dr John Sentamu, was established by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in March 2019, pursuant to the Commissions of Inquiry Law of Bayelsa State 2006 to investigate the en

Posted by Tony Okechukwu Ekiti State Governor is adjudged best performing governor on domestication of Women Rights Instruments in Nigeria as Erelu Bisi Fayemi is also acknowledged for Social Gender balance in the state. Governor Kayode Fayemi, in just about one year in Office, has been awarded best performing Governor in the country in key areas of Women Rights and social development. The award was conferred by the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, OFR. In a letter signed by the Honourable Minister, the award is conferred on Governor Fayemi on the laudable milestone taken in the domestication of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 which confirms Ekiti State as the first to domesticate Women Rights Instruments in Nigeria. “For this outstanding milestone achievement, I salute Your Excellency’ visionary leadership in creating an enabling environment for Women and Girls to access fair justice.

By Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi My vision for our great State is that this is a place where people can thrive and live their lives in dignity, a place where workers do not labour in vain. A place where our young people do not roam the streets looking for jobs that are not there, a place where people are not so hungry they resort to pilfering food to survive, a place where the cycle of generational poverty can be broken, and in which our elderly can reap the fruits of their labours over their children, a place where people are safe, healthy and prosperous. With these words, read out in his inaugural address on October 16th 2018, the second term in office of H.E Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, (JKF) Governor of Ekiti State began. That was exactly one year ago. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by so quickly. As I sat at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion on October 16th last week observing the activities to mark the first anniversary, I smiled to myself when I thought of all the thin

By Tony Okechkwu Akwa Ibom State Government has vowed to bring to book the suspected Fulani herdsmen who recently killed a farmer in his farm at Nkek, Ukanfun LGA of the State. Governor Udom Emmanuel who made this promise while visiting the family of the slain farmer, Christopher Udoakpan, however appealed to the people of Ukanafun LGA to remain peaceful and law-abiding as sanctions were already in place to address the ugly incident linked to activities of herdsmen in the area. The Governor who rued the violence allegedly caused by herdsmen which culminated in the killing of a farmer, gave the assurance that security agents are already taking steps to bring the perpetrators to face justice. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who represented the Governor in the visit to the family of the bereaved, assured the people of Ukanafun LGA of government’s commitment to securing their lives and properties. “Governor Udom Emmanuel on being informed of t

By Tony Okechukwu Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has nominated Adamu Atiku, the eldest son of the Presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, and 22 others as commissioners. The list was read out at the Wednesday plenary of the Adamawa State House of Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Iya-Abbas. The PDP Secretary in the State, Alhaji Abdullahi Prambe, also made the list. Atiku loyalists, Ibrahim Mijinyawa and Umaru Daware who resigned their position as commissioners under former Gov. Muhammadu Bindow’s administration and defected to the PDP, were also nominated. Speaking on the list, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mr. Japhet Kefas, said that no date had been fixed for their screening. “The House will decide next week on a date for their screening”, Kefas said. The House, had on Tuesday, approved the list of 40 Special Advisers for the Governor.

By Tony Okechukwu ...Debunks Senator Enang's claims The State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the gully erosion that is at the verge of cutting off Calabar Itu Highway at Ntak Inyang community in Itu Local Government Area of the State. The Governor made the call on Wednesday while inspecting the gully erosion site which is rightly opposite the transmission station of the State-owned radio station; Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC). Represented by the State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Akparawa Inyang-Eyen, the Governor called on the Federal Government to release funds to Akwa Ibom to tackle ecological problems in the oil rich State. "I wish that the Federal Government would consider Akwa Ibom State as part of Nigeria and give us ecological funds to tackle situations like this", Inyang-Eyen lamented while addressing newsmen. He used the occasion to debunk an allegation levelled against

• State to have nine women cabinet members By Tony Oechukwu Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday, released an additional six-person commissioner-nominees’ list, with five more women added to what has now gone down in history as Nigeria’s most gender-friendly government cabinet. The latest list, which again reflects the State’s demography, means that Kwara now has nine women (56.25%) and seven men (43.75%) commissioner-nominees who included top bureaucrats, enterpreneurs, educators, professionals and grassroots politicians. Kwara has 16 Local Government Areas. The latest nominees are Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun); Ahmad Fatima Bisola (Ilorin West); Aremu Bose Deborah (Irepodun); Oyedun Juliana Funke (Isin); Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence (Oke Ero); and Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro). The full list came five months after the Governor apologised to and pledged to compensate for women’s loss at the general elections in which 100% of the electi

By Tony Okechukwu A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said that there is no compulsion in the membership of a party as members are free to cross carpet. The former Governor, who stated this Tuesday while addressing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Dutse, the State capital, said that the meeting was convened to fill the vacuums created in the party’s leadership as a result of defection or death at zonal, state and local government levels. He noted that those that left simply because the party lost out in the last general elections, would soon realize that only PDP was the political party worth dying for in the country. He added that many, including past leaders had left but despite that, the party has survived, arguing that it was a clear indication that the party was built on national interest and people based ideology. Lamido further explained that PDP was a political party formed to survive without the so-called powerful individuals, addin

By Tony Okechukwu Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has promised to collaborate with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) following the discovery of hydrocarbon in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the State. In a press statement signed by Governor Bala, made available by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Muktar Gidado, he said that his administration will spare no effort, turn every stone and break every ground until the oil flows through the wells and pipelines into our refineries. He said that for anyone who has followed the unwavering effort of the NNPC in the search for hydrocarbons in this part of the country, this discovery marks the victory of hope over pessimism, the triumph of courage over fear and the victory of sacrifice over adversity. Governor Bala who expressed his happiness said: “I consider it a blessing and a privilege that this epochal development is taking place during my tenure as Governor. I do not take it lightly in the least. It i

-        Advises blackmailers to create a life for themselves BY Pat PA Okon Senator Sam Anyanwu, representative of Imo East Senatorial District in the 8th Senate of the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reacted vehemently to certain insinuations in some quarters that he was already on his way out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a yet–to-be-disclosed party. In a Press Statement issued from his Media Office, Senator Anyanwu stated that he has no plans to leave the PDP and emphatically maintained that he is still a strong and vibrant member of the party. The statement in its unedited version is published below: SENATOR SAMDADDY HAS NO PLANS TO LEAVE PDP, REMAINS A STRONG MEMBER The attention of the office of Distinguished Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu has been drawn to the unguided and unintelligent blackmail been bandied on the social media that Sen. Samdaddy has made plans to leave his party (PDP).

-        Diplomats seek credible governorship poll By Tony Okechukwu Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has alerted the United States and the United Kingdom about plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to collude with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the November 16 governorship election in the state. Senator Diri also raised concerns over intelligence reports indicating that the main opposition party in the state was planning to intimidate voters and unleash violence during the election. Diri spoke yesterday in Yenagoa after separate meetings with officials of the US Embassy and the British High Commission. The US delegation was led by the Consul General, Claire Pierangelo while the Second Secretary (Political), Mr. Sarabjit Singh, led the British High Commission team. The Director, Media and Publicity Committee of the PDP Campaign Council, Dr. Jonathan Obuebite, in a p

Posted by Admin The second witness called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Tuesday trial of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, Dr. Abiodun Oshode, ended up contradicting himself by telling the court that he has never met a certain Taofeeq, whom he had earlier said did not fill deposit slip because he could not write. He also said that the bank reported the N1.219bn cash lodgment to the authorities as stipulated by the financial regulations and that “the transaction was not stopped because it was deemed appropriate.” Oshode, who is the Zenith Bank Zonal Head for South West in charge of Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara States had said under oath while giving evidence before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on November 19, 2018 that Taofeek, who was alleged to be involved in the movement of about N200 million cash from Afao Ekiti to the Zenith Bank branch in Ado Ekiti, did not personally fill the deposit slips for lodgement of the cash becaus

Posted by Admin The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consoles elder statesman and one of the leading lights of our nation, Chief Edwin Clark, over the death of his younger brother, Maj-Gen. Henry Clark (rtd). In a statement dated October 23, 2019 and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party describes Maj-Gen Clark’s death as shocking, heart-rending and a huge national loss. Other parts of the statement read: ‘’Maj-Gen. Clark was an exceptional military officer and outstanding patriot who dedicated his life for the service of our nation and made immeasurable sacrifices for the unity, stability and growth of our dear fatherland. ‘’Maj-Gen. Clark was an exemplary statesman who gave his best in the military and served as a source of inspiration to younger generations of officers. ‘’His performance as Military Secretary (Nigerian Army), Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as well as in other assignments in the mil

By Admin Senator Sam Anyanwu who represented Imo East Senatorial District in the 8th Senate of the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commiserated with the victims of the recent fuel tanker inferno in Onitsha. He described the incidence of loss of lives and property as unfortunate and deeply lamented the poor rescue service delivery due to lack of functional firefighting vehicles at the time of the accident. In a statement from the Media Unit of his office, the former senator while stating his position on the possible steps of saving lives in future, proposed a stronger collaboration between the State Government and other emergency management agencies, thus forming a synergy, to respond when needed and from the closest distance. He advised on the essence to identify the close and remote causes, assess the losses and condole with the identified victims. Proffering the essence of safety precautions in the conveyance o

Posted by Tony Okechukwu Tunisia’s elected president Kais Saied takes the oath of office at the Assembly of People’s Representatives in Tunis, Tunisia. Photo via Reuters. Kais Saied, a political outsider and retired law professor, was sworn in as Tunisian president on Wednesday after he won a landslide victory in this month’s election. Saied’s win delivered a heavy blow to a governing elite accused of failing to improve living standards or end corruption since the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy after years of authoritarian rule.   Even with a large mandate, the new president has less direct control of policy than the prime minister and both will quickly face a series of tough challenges including high unemployment rates and fighting corruption. “There will be no tolerance in wasting any millime (cent) of the money of our people,” Saied said in a speech. He vowed to protect freedoms, saying: “Those who have nostalgia to go back to the old years only pursu

Posted by Tony Okechukwu The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has arrived in Sochi, Russia for a three-day Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum. The Governor is on the entourage of President Mohammadu Buhari to the summit which will focus on peace, security and development, as well as exploring and expanding opportunities in trade and investment, science and technology and gas production. The forum will hold on Wednesday and Thursday and would be attended by 30 African heads of state and governments. The summit will look into issues of sustainable development in Africa, nuclear energy and trade and investment and the Governor is scheduled to participate in high level meetings with business and political leaders during the summit. Other governors on the trip include Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya and Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle. Four ministers are also on the trip. They are Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Industries, Trade and Investment, Otunb

By Tony Okechukwu Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has again told the Federal Government to rein in on foreign herdsmen, entering Nigeria illegally to attack Nigerians, especially farmers. Ortom appealed when he visited one Mrs. Wanhena Cheku, a victim of herders men attack now recuperating at the Federal Medical Centre at Apir in Makurdi. Cheku’s left hand was cut off in an attack on her farm at the Mbagwem community in the Guma Local Government Area of the State. Benue State in North Central Nigeria, described as Nigeria’s food basket, has seen repeated bloody attacks on villagers in recent years by herdsmen. Ortom said that it was wrong for foreign herders to gain free entry into the country and perpetrate atrocities at will. He said that the Federal Government needed to close the country’s borders to all foreign herders to mitigate growing cases of attacks on citizens. “It is wrong to allow herdsmen from Mali, Niger, Chad, etc, to find their way into Nigeria to comm

…as Members of EKHA, Stakeholders, sue for impactful policy for Ekiti State Posted By Tony Okechukwu Ekiti State Government, through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (MBEP) in conjunction with UNICEF Nigeria (Akure Office), organized a one-day sensitization workshop for members of Ekiti House of Assembly in a bid to dialogue on the drafted Social Protection Policy for the state. While speaking at the event, which was declared open by the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Olufemi Ajayi said Ekiti State has made significant milestones in the provision of Social Protection programmes across the sectors. Special Adviser on Social Investment, Barrister Victor Kolade said that the Social Protection Policy formulated to cater for the young, old and vulnerable, adding that Ekiti State is in a new era where issues concerning social welfare and protection of the people are p