Senate rejects motion to declare Kogi oil producing State

The Senate, Wednesday stood down the motion seeking to recognize Kogi State as an oil producing State.

It also suspended further discussion on the motion for the Federal government to include the state among oil-producing states with all benefits and privileges.

This development followed an adopted motion sponsored by Senator Isaac Alfa representing Kogi East Senatorial district titled, “Need to recognize Kogi State as an Oil Producing State”.

Alfa in his lead debate explained that oil exploration commenced in Ibaji as far back as 1952 in the villages of Odeke, Echeno, Ihile, Anocha/Uchuchu, Omabo, Ikah, Iregwu and Ujeh, all in Ibaji community of the present day Ibaji Local Government Area of the state by Shell BP (now SPDC), Elf (now Total Fina Elf) and AGIP Energy.

Further, the lawmaker recalled that the three companies collectively drilled 25 exploration wells, 2 appraisal wells and 8- core drill wells in the entire Anambra Basin out of which majority of the wells fall within Kogi State.

Also, Alfa added that the exploration of oil activities in the state and part of Anambra basin was later abandoned until July 18, 2001 when former late Governor Prince Abubakar Audu wrote to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Abuja to remind him of earlier discovery of crude oil at Odeke, Echeno and Anocha communities in Ibaji local government of the State.

The Senate, Wednesday stood down the motion seeking to recognize Kogi State as an oil producing State.

It also suspended further discussion on the motion for the Federal government to include the state among oil-producing states with all benefits and privileges.

This development followed an adopted motion sponsored by Senator Isaac Alfa representing Kogi East Senatorial district titled, “Need to recognize Kogi State as an Oil Producing State”.

Alfa in his lead debate explained that oil exploration commenced in Ibaji as far back as 1952 in the villages of Odeke, Echeno, Ihile, Anocha/Uchuchu, Omabo, Ikah, Iregwu and Ujeh, all in Ibaji community of the present day Ibaji Local Government Area of the state by Shell BP (now SPDC), Elf (now Total Fina Elf) and AGIP Energy.

Further, the lawmaker recalled that the three companies collectively drilled 25 exploration wells, 2 appraisal wells and 8- core drill wells in the entire Anambra Basin out of which majority of the wells fall within Kogi State.

Also, Alfa added that the exploration of oil activities in the state and part of Anambra basin was later abandoned until July 18, 2001 when former late Governor Prince Abubakar Audu wrote to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Abuja to remind him of earlier discovery of crude oil at Odeke, Echeno and Anocha communities in Ibaji local government of the State.

But Senator Chukwuka Utazi representing Enugu North differed on the prayers of the motion.

He said, “We agreed that instead of dissipating energy and quarreling, the three states should combine and make a presentation on a common front. That the three states should be declared oil producing and the percentage worked out.

“We brought this issue here and after deliberation, this Senate directed the committees on Petroleum, Upstream to look into this issue with the boundary commission to solve the problem”.

Also, deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in his contribution corroborated Utazi’s contribution.

He said, “I will like to align myself with Senator Chukwuka Utazi. This matter has been visited, and I had expected him to either speak to senator Dino Melaye who is a more experienced Senator to give him proper guidance or even seek the guidance of the Rules and Business committee on what has happened on this matter.

“Our order paper today is very heavy with items; I think we should do ourselves a world of good to advise our friend and colleague to humbly withdraw the motion so that we can look at other issues on the course list (order paper).

“But the truth of the matter is that even if we had not discussed the matter before, we cannot by any stroke of imagination come up with a motion to declare any State oil producing, otherwise we can wake up one day and say that the whole of Nigeria is oil producing. So, I want to appeal to my colleague to withdraw the motion.

“Since the National Boundary Commission is already handling the Matter as he admitted in the body of his motion, we cannot take over the job of the boundary commission”.

It was on the above consideration that Senate President, Bukola Saraki hit the gavel in approval that the key prayer of the motion is suspended.

Read More

BREAKING: Shi’ites Break Into National Assembly, Chase Armed Policemen Away

Members of the movement were initially peaceful in their conduct although they were chanting anti-government songs from outside the gate. But the situation turned awry when some of them suddenly descended on the gate, shaking it vigorously until they succeeded in forcing it open, almost causing a stampede because of the crowd.

There is pandemonium currently at the main gate of National Assembly in Abuja as members of Islamic Movement Of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shi’ites have forced their way into the assembly complex and chased away armed policemen on duty. 

The protesters besieged the National Assembly in continuation of protests to commemorate the 68th birthday anniversary of their spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since 2015.

Members of the movement were initially peaceful in their conduct although they were chanting anti-government songs from outside the gate.

But the situation turned awry when some of them suddenly descended on the gate, shaking it vigorously until they succeeded in forcing it open, almost causing a stampede because of the crowd. 

Some of the policemen attached to the gate tactically took to their heels, as the protesters trooped in with chants of 'Allahu Akbar'.

 

It took the appeal of leaders of the movement to stop the crowd from advancing into chambers of the assembly proper.

Despite provocation by the protesters, the Police remained calm and peaceful and only pleaded with them not to go into the chamber.

Read More

Wole Soyinka Explodes In Deep Anger, Mentions Obasanjo, Jonathan, As He Moves Against Buhari’s Government

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has taken a swipe against former and present Nigerian leaders including Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nigerian poet, who was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, slammed President Muhammadu Buhari, for his “slow response” in dealing with the terror caused by the Fulani herdsmen, across many parts of Nigeria.

He said that Buhari has failed on the security threat posed by the herdsmen, adding that, he was repeating the mistakes of his Predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, in not dealing with the Boko Haram menace, in a timely and adequate fashion.

“The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny”, he said.

Soyinka appeared on the BBC’s Hardtalk programme, which was anchored by Zeinab Badawi and monitored by Post Nigeria.

Reacting to Badawi’s question that he backed Buhari in 2015, describing the ex-Army General as a “reformed Democrat”, Soyinka disclosed that Buhari “won by default” in 2015, because it was difficult to back Jonathan, and which meant supporting a continuation of the corruption associated with that regime.

“As it happened, yes, I did use that expression ‘born again democrat.’ When somebody competes in an election three, four times and persists, he must believe in democracy… the circumstances in Nigeria, the fact that Nigerians have shown the military what a huge failure they were makes it possible for one to identify the possibility of exceptions when they seem to behave like Democrats.

“But in any case, I kept emphasizing that Nigerians had a very difficult choice and as I said, it was between the devil and the deep blue sea,” he said.

Asked to comment about the 2019 presidential election, he said, “The 2019 election is one of the most depressing elections we’ve been through. Talking for myself, it wasn’t possible for me to make a choice for the simple reason that both candidates (President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar) had histories – one immediate, one past – which made one look for alternatives.”

On security, Soyinka criticized Jonathan’s ineffective response to Boko Haram but placed the blame for failing to nip the problem in the bud, at the feet of Olusegun Obasanjo, who was President, from 1999 to 2007.

He said: “Obasanjo contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram, by not preventing the first Governor in one of the Northern States, from establishing a “theocratic State”.

Soyinka maintained that the President failed to act because he was “compromised” by his ambition to continue in Office beyond the second term limit.

He was, however, silent about why Buhari’s response to the killings of the herdsmen was so inadequate and said little about how the problem could be tackled effectively.

The Playwright also stated that his generation has failed Nigerians as the dreams people of his generation had about the country had not materialized.

Soyinka gave the above response when he was asked: “Has your generation of older Nigerians failed the people?” The Nobel laureate said;

“Yes, I believe so. I compare today with the dreams and aspirations we had when we all rushed home after studies abroad. We considered ourselves the renaissance people that were going to lift the continent to world standards, competitors anywhere. It hasn’t happened.” 

Read More

Okorocha Lead Rescue Mission Family Abandons Chike Okafor, Support Tinubu's Choice

It surprising and shocking, to note that members of the Rescue Mission Family ably led by His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha instead of showing solidarity to one of their own, Hon Chike Okafor who is contesting for the speakership seat of the Federal House of Representatives, had rather thrown their support to the Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu endorsed South West candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Femi Gbajabiamila.

While it was reported in the media yesterday that Okorocha’s Son-in-law, UCHE NWOSU had urged members of the rescue mission government elected to the House of Representatives to support APC and President Buhari's choice candidate, stating that if the President has endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila, they should queue behind him, which is to him the best thing to do.

Today again, an Owerri based newspaper reported that the three elected members of the House of Representatives under the APC/AA alliance, namely Kingsley Chima Uju, Paschal Obi, Ugonna Ozuruigbo have endorsed the Femi Gbajabiamila project as against the South East agitation for the speakership of the House of Representatives, more so when of one them and a very important member of the rescue mission family, Hon Chike Okafor is seriously contesting for the same position.

To collaborate this dangerous political betrayal of the century, the Deputy Speaker Imo State House of Assembly and Member of the House of Representatives-elect, for Nwangele/Njaba /Isu /Nkwerre federal constituency, Hon Ugonna Ozurigbo had this afternoon openly canvassed support for Femi Gbajabiamila and even coordinating for him in the South Eastern States.

OZB stated  "As the Southeast Coordinator of the Femi Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign, I want to categorically state that the Southeast Caucus are unflinchingly in support of the party and Mr. President, who has urged us all to fall behind the candidacy of this fine legislator.

My support for Hon. Gbajabiamila is not built on personal interest but due to the collective will of the mass of members of the House of Representatives who see him as the right candidate to steer the House appropriately.

With Gbajabiamila We Stand."

The development had raised dust in Imo Polity, members of the rescue mission government had come to defend the decision of their members supporting Femi Gbajabiamila on what they alleged, Hon Chike Okafor betrayal of trust by the loss of an important vote in his Obowo LGA for the Ugwumba Uche Nwosu gubernatorial election.

Read More

Imo State Governor Elect His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, was at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council UK

Today, the Imo State Governor Elect His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, was at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council UK, the investment arm of the Commonwealth Nations, to discuss on areas of cooperation and assistance to Imo State by the member states, when He assumes office.

His Excellency was received by the Director of operations of CEIC, Sean Leno. The CEIC directors at the High Level Strategic Business meeting were, The Chief Executive, Allan Gemmell OBE, Director of Business Development AQ Hamza and Sean Leno, the Director of Operations.

The CEIC representatives Congratulated His Excellency on his well deserved victory at the polls and committed to assisting Imo State in the following areas: Support to the SME's, Investment promotion, Agricultural potentials, encouraging commonwealth investors to the state, and making Imo an Investment hub, amongst other things.

The Governor Elect had in his entourage the Owerri Zone Senator Elect Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Hon Bede Eke, Hon Member elect Uche Ogbuagu, Barr. Chima Nwanna (TTC Secretariat) and Barr Anselem Okorie Secretary TTC Diaspora Initiative Sub-committee.

Read More

Imo Assembly recalls suspended lawmakers six months after

The recalled lawmakers were Chiji Collins (Isiala Mbano), Uche Oguwuike (Ikeduru), Ifeanyi Nnataraonye (Mbaitoli), Donatus Onuigwe (Oru West), and Kenna Nzeruo (Oru West).

The Speaker, who announced the development, said that the recalled lawmakers were invited for an interaction during an executive session.

The lawmakers were, in October 2018, suspended by their colleagues in what was described as “unparliamentary” conduct.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Speaker had, on April 11, invited the suspended members to an interface at the executive session of April 16 to discuss their possible readmission

He issued the invitation following a motion by Mr. Chika Madumere (AGAP-Nkwerre) at plenary.

A state High Court had, on November 5, 2018, quashed the suspension of four of the five members, describing it as unconstitutional.

The court also jointly awarded the applicants — Dr. Uche Oguwuike (Ikeduru-APC); Mr. Chiji Collins (Isiala Mbano-APGA); Mr. Israel Nnataraonye (Mbaitoli-APC); and Mr. Nkenna Nzeruo (Oru East-APC) N8m in damages and N100,000 in legal fees.

The judge, Justice Goddy Anunihu, in his ruling, also directed the Speaker and the House who were the first and second respondents to pay the applicants their salaries, allowances and emoluments for the period they were suspended.

However, the judgment was ignored by the House leadership which appealed against it.

Read More

ICPC arrests Three Rectors, Man over alleged N10.2m Bribe Money

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the Chairman and three top management members of the Committee of Federal Polytechnic Rectors (COFER) for allegedly being in possession of N10.2 million bribe money.

The suspects who are polytechnic rectors include: Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Yahaya, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, who also doubles as the Chairman of COFER; John Taiwo Adekolawole, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State; and Arch. Waziri Sanusi Gumau of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State. 

They were arrested at the premises of the National Board for Technical Education (NABTE) Abuja, through a sting operation by the Commission.

Arrested alongside the rectors was the Secretary of COFER, Ayegba Benjamin Godwin, with the sum of N10, 250, 0000 cash after a whistle-blower informed ICPC that the four suspects and others at large were perfecting plans to violate the provisions of Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The suspects who have been granted administrative bail by ICPC will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Read More