12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013
Faction declares Edo IPMAN election illegal BY SIMON EBEG-
BULEM ENIN CITY—THE crisis rocking the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN in Edo State deepened, yesterday, as some members loyal to the Chairman of Midwestern zone of the association, Chief Solomon Ogbewe, have described as illegal, a purported election organised by a group known as Elders Forum. The group under the aegis of the Concerned Members of the Edo State chapter of IPMAN, in a statement by Douglas Iyike and Adesuwa Emuze, argued that the constitution has no provision for Elder’s Forum, therefore, it would amount to illegality for such body to conduct election into the state chapter of IPMAN. It will be recalled that a group within the IPMAN, under the aegis of Elder’s Forum had last Wednesday organised an election into the state chapter of the association, allegedly in disregard to the directive of the national body that appointed Chief Ogbewe as the IPMAN Midwestern zone chairman. Urging their members to disregard the purported election, the statement noted that only the chairman and other members of the executive have the constitutional right to call a meeting or conduct election in the state chapter of IPMAN.
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Uduaghan sacks Finance commissioner, Okumagba zAssures youth corps members of safety BY AUSTIN OGWUDA
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SABA—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday effected a minor reshuffle in his cabinet. In a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ovuozorie Macaulay, Mr Bernard Okumagba, hitherto Finance Commissioner was replaced by Mr Ken Okpara, who was Commissioner for Economic Planning. Macaulay’s statement reads: “It is hereby, announced for the information of the general public, particularly Deltans, that the governor has effected a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council. “Accordingly, Mr. Ken Okpara, Commissioner for Economic Planning, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Finance to replace Mr. Bernard Okumagba, who has been dropped from the State Executive Council. “Also, the Commissioner for Special Duties in charge of the State Liaison Office, Abuja, Gloria Okolugbo, has been directed to return to Asaba for reassignment while the State Head of Service is to post a Director to head the office forthwith.” Meanwhile, Dr Uduaghan pledged his administration’s
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BUJA—OIL communities in Rivers state have added their voices to the clamour for 13 per cent from oil exploration by writing a letter to Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAF, asking for the setting up of a National Derivation Committee. In a statement issued by the 14 leaders of the communities, they also proposed the setting up of state management committee for the funds, so that the fund is received by the National Derivation Committee and disbursed to the states. They said: "The National Deri-
served that it was regrettable that security and religious challenges, had in the recent past affected the posting of youth corps members to some parts of the country. Continuing on the safety of corpers in the state, the governor said: “Delta State is a safe place for corps members and the Police Commissioner
has taken special measures to ensure their safety. The corps members too, should be security conscious and avoid criminal flash points. Delta State is very safe for members of NYSC as security operatives are on the alert in areas where we have corpers lodge.”
PRESENTATION: From left: Manager, Mass Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Nnamdi Ezeani; winner of (N500,000), in the ongoing Etisalat FC Barcelona Promo, Obinwaanne Ikedinnu and Manager, Etisalat Experience Centre, Ikeja City Mall, Firdausi Okezie, at the Etisalat FC Barcelona Promo first prize presentation in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.
Flooding: Bayelsa ACN asks Dickson not to go on leave BY SAMUELOYADONGHA
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ENAGOA—THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Bayelsa State chapter, yesterday, urged Governor Seriake Dickson to reconsider his request to the state House of Assembly for permission to go
Rivers oil communities want National Derivation C’ttee BY EMMANUELELEBEKE
commitment to ensure the safety of lives of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members posted to the state. The governor who stated this, yesterday, while playing host to the Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo, on a courtesy visit to Government House, Asaba, however, ob-
vation Committee will not award contracts but will supervise and monitor the use of the 13 per cent derivation fund on constant basis in all the state management committees. The state management committees will execute the projects and services for the oil and gas producing committees. "The chairman and members of the National Derivation Committee shall be appointed by Mr. President on the advise of the leaders of the oil and gas producing immunities, including a member of RMAFC. While each state will select the chairman and members of the state management committee."
on annual leave. It insisted that if such permission was granted, it would make mockery of the seriousness of the state’s preparation to tackle the predicted flood in the state. Meanwhile, Governor Dickson has signed into law, four out of the five bills presented to him by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson. The bills are, the Bayelsa State Sports Academy, Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority Amendment, Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency and the Bayelsa State Welfare and Social Security Scheme Laws all of 2013. Assenting to the bills, at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson explained that Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme Bill would be signed into law at a later date when the appointment of members of the board for the scheme is made to enable it become fully operational. Describing the laws as significant, he said that they would help to usher in a new dawn in the an-
nals of the history of the state. He called on the people of the state to support the government to enable it succeed in the task of
transforming Bayelsa in line with the dreams of its founding fathers.
Solomon, Edojah mourn Ewherido BY EMMANUELAZIKEN
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BUJA—SENATE Minority Whip and Senator representing Lagos West senatorial district, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, has described the death of Senator Pius Ewherido as a personal loss for him given that he witnessed the onset of the crisis that claimed the life of the deceased lawmaker. Senator Solomon spoke as erstwhile member of the House of Representatives and coordinator of the G25 in Delta State, Chief Solomon Edojah mourned the late Ewherido as a political phenomenon, who died just when he was about to be crowned as the new champion of the Delta people. Senator Solomon, who said that he was still in shock, noted that he was with Ewherido at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he had his first operation before the plan to fly him abroad but he eventually gave up the ghost.
He said: “He gave no inkling he would not survive it. It didn’t seem to me that it was the end; that I possibly won’t see him again. I am, however, struggling to come to terms with my religious doctrine, that God only gives and takes and I pray the Almighty God grants him eternal rest.” Edojah on his part, said that the people of Delta State had lost a champion, who many from far and near had been looking up to in the nearest future to give political guide to the citizenry. Public Notice
SMAGOGA (GRORETTI OLD GIRLS) CALLING ON ALL OLD GIRLS OF ST. MARIA GORETTI SCHOOL, BENIN-CITY TO OUR NATIONAL A N N U A L G E N E R A L MEETING/LUNCHEON PARTY ON SATURDAY, 6TH OF JULY 2013, AT 12 NOON (FREE MEDICAL E X A M I N A T I O N ) . VENUE : LAGOS RESOURCE CENTRE,9,ANIFOWOSHE STREET,OFF ADEOLA ODEKU AND KOFO ABAYOMI STREETS, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS. DEAR OLD GIRLS, DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS ACTION PACKED EVENT.