Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—37
Gas leak in Bonny: Health hazard reported in community BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI
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ORT HARCOURT—RESIDENTS of Oloma community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, have alleged health complications and injuries sustained from panic, following leaks in the community, from a gas pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company. Though Shell claimed it had brought the leakage under control, Richard Abbey, Chairman, Organisation of Fishermen, Sea Food Dealers and Farmers in Niger Delta, OFSDF/ND, said that the company also needs to ease the impact of the gas leak on local fishermen and community members, who need to be catered for. Abbey narrated that the Shell’s gas pipeline from Well 29 located in Oloma community got ruptured on August 7, venting gas, which flows into the environment and endangering the health of the people, said “The situation created panic, resulting in injuries among the people from fear that a slight spark could
Cour t settles community chairmanship tussle
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HE Court of Appeal in Benin City, Edo State, has declared Mr. Christopher Jemijaye as the rightful elected chairman of Ugborhen Community of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State. The appellate court upheld the decision of a Delta State High Court, which had declared Sunday as chairman of the community. Lower court judge, Justice E.N Emudainohwo, in her ruling, had said that the court having heard the arguments of G. Kerewi, the lawyer for the claimant and E. Owe for the defendants held as follows “By order 25 rule 6 (b), the rules clearly states that the consequences of the defendants failure to participate in a pre-trial conference and that is, for final judgment to be entered against him and not for the matter to be adjourned to enable him comply with the rules. The court hereby, orders pursuant to order 25 rule 6 (b) of the entered against the defendants as claimed by in the claimants amended statement of claim dated June 30, 2010.”
set off a explosion and fire outbreak. A Joint Inspection Investigation, JIV, carried out by the company and the communities indicated equipment failure. “As I speak to you, some persons are complaining of pains
on their chest and mid ribs, some, especially children sustained serious injuries in the attempt to evacuate human and materials out of the area against looming explosion,” he added. An Oloma community lead-
er, Asinyetogha Hart alleged that Shell’s continuous refusal to upgrade its pipeline facilities in Oloma community and Okoloma Lodge, had continued to pose environmental and health hazards to the inhabitants.
LAUNCH—Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Mokel (right); Chairman, Info Tech Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) Governing Board, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman; winner of iDEA Hackathon Competition, Le-Media Team Two; President-General, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Uwaje (left) at the launch of iDEA second incubation centre in Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar.
Cleric slams Boko Haram over war against Western education BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
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ENIN CITY—RETIRED Archbishop of the Benin Catholic Archdiocese, Edo State, Archbishop Patrick Ekpu, weekend, said that members of the Boko Haram sect were not being sincere to Nigerians, noting that their excuse of killing their fellow Nigerians because they were against Western education was nonsensical. He also urged the Federal Government to be sincere in
its dialogue with members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, current on strike, warning that the strike was killing the country ’s education sector. Archbishop Ekpu, who addressed newsmen in Benin City, noted that the bloodshed being perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect in some parts of the North was wicked and inexcusable and urged them to change their evil ways. “Even if you remove Christianity, does the African culture promote the killing of your
neighbour just because you disagree? What are they using to kill these Christians? Is it their manufactured ammunition or those manufactured by the very Europeans they claim they don’t want their culture? The dress they wear, where are they from? The food they eat, what are they served on, are they not things gotten from western civilisation? They are not sincere and they have no love for fellow Nigerians. And their actions being politically motivated cannot be justified for any reason.
Akpabio urges media to focus on positive devt
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KWA IBOM State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Nigerian media to focus on things that unite the country rather than concentrate on attacks of persons. Chief Akpabio while fielding questions from newsmen in Uyo said: “There is no tin god in Akwa Ibom State. I believe a national newspaper should not personalise issues by calling people names, which does not reflect the person. It was quite an unfortunate and I hope they have learnt their lessons and focus on things that will unite the country and not use their
paper for personal attack. “I am happy that the state government had responded to the editorial, which was not a true reflection of who I am. People were even commenting on the change of the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, who has made history as the longest serving officer in this part of the world right from 1979 till date and had served the state meritoriously. “So, making a change in that office is for the state to move forward. The former SSG made his intention known for his
political ambition which the law states that any public officer aspiring for any political post has a right to resign to achieve that ambition. “The state government making such changes should not attract editorial comment unless people are unduly interested in the affairs of others. Let people remove the log from their eyes before they remove the one in others’ eyes.” He said: “This was never an issue except they had nothing more to write. I think they should rather write and commend nationally on global challenges”.
Delta community leader restates commitment to devt BY FESTUS AHON
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G H E L L I — P R E S I D E N TGENERAL of UnukpoOrogun quarters, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Josiah Ntekume, has promised to work in harmony with government and oil companies operating in the area in the interest of the sustainable development of the community. Speaking at the OtorhoOrogun Town Hall, after his election, which he won with 35 votes, Ntekume said that the area was yearning for development and expressed the determination of his executive to partner government and development agencies to move the community forward. He said, “my people need street lights, pipe borne water, modern town hall and other basic amenities and I want to assure them that I will not disappoint because of the confidence they have reposed on me and my team.”
Students’ union leader condemns Delta House over US tour
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ELTA State Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students, Prince Koyoyo Uhrorho, has condemned the leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly for wasting N1.2 billion on capacity building in the United States of America. Prince Uhrorho, who condemned the amount of money spent on the exercise, said it would have been better if the money was utilised to solve the problems facing Deltans and the state’s infrastructure. He also called on the striking university lecturers and Federal Government to urgently resolve the impasse between them in the interest of the Nigerian students.