Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012 —11
Ovie-Whiskey's death shocks Gbagi
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Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike (right) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio during the Minister' visit to Akwa Ibom for the flag off of the distribution of instructional materials for Basic Education Institutions in Nigeria for South-South zone at Government House, Uyo.
ARRI—Former Min ister of Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has expressed shock over the death of Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, former chairman of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO. Gbagi in a statement, weekend, said: “I received with shock the passage of Justice Ovie-Whiskey as announced by the family. He was a great Nigerian and a self-less human being, one that exemplified himself as the best we ever had in the conduct of our elections in the history of Nigeria. “It is regrettable that this
Ijaw youth leaders tackle Boyloaf zSay Tompolo is defunct MEND leader BY EMMAAMAIZE
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A R R I —C OA L I TION of Ijaw Youth Leaders, COIL, has disagreed with the claim by former commander of defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the NigerDelta, MEND, Victor Ebikabowei Victor, alias Boyloaf, that Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was not the leader of the group. COIL in a statement, by its chairman, Dr. Clarkson Aghagha and Coordinator, Mr Fredrick Afoegba, said: “We agree with Boyloaf that what we are experiencing in the Niger Delta is negative peace, but we disagree with him that ex-General Tompolo is not the leader of the defunct MEND.” Meantime, a Niger-Delta activist and National President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Mr Austin Ozobo, has said the controversy over the leadership of MEND was uncalled for; noting that what should concern the ex-militants was whether the
Federal Government was keeping its side of the bargain that led to the amnesty programme. COIL said: “Ex-General Tompolo is a leader and this had been affirmed by Ogbo leadersapex body of Izon Youth Worldwide, IYC. Serving and retired generals from the three zones of the Izon nation all jointly conferred on ex-General Tompolo, the title of General Officer Com-
manding, GOC and that same body conferred on him a second title, ‘The Torchbearer of the Struggle.' “Boyloaf'scommentwasmade because he is jealous and envious. Boyloaf should join forces with Tompolo to achieve the aspirations of the struggle, rather than waste energy on frivolous claim.” On Boyloaf’s position that
Bakassi indigenes threaten to reclaim ceded Peninsula to Cameroon BY JOHNBOSCO
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AGBAKWURU
ALABAR—DIS PLACED Bakassi indigenes, have threatened to return to the oilrich Peninsula ceded by International Court of Justice to the Republic of Cameroon, claiming that United Nations and Federal Government deceived and abandoned them. The people alleged that they were being harassed, molested and killed by the Cameroon gendarmes and
that fishermen from Cross River State were not allowed access to the peninsula for fishing contrary to the Green Tree Agreement. Briefing newsmen, weekend, spokesman of the displaced people and paramount ruler of Bakassi Local Government Area, Etinyin Etim Edet, said that they had exhausted their patience waiting for the international community and Federal Government to fulfill the promises made to them as well as settle them in their
Oshiomhole's victory, end to ethnic, money Democratic Party, PDP, politics —Odubu couldn’t even get one quarBY SIMON EBEG-
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ENIN CITY— DEPUTY Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, weekend, said that the recent victory of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the just concluded governorship election in the state had ended the politics of ethnicity and money in the state. He spoke at Government House, Benin City, when the Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists led by its interim chairman, Mr. Cajetan
Tompolo was not in a position to takethestruggleforward,assuch matter was within the purview of Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, COIL said Boyloaf was being economical with the truth. “The role Tompolo is playing by summoning all stakeholders to proffer solution to the programmedoesnotcontravenethe work of the chairman of the Post Amnesty Programme, as he is working in consonance with the specialadviser.”
Mmuta presented to him a victory card. He said the election reflected the wishes of the people, who according to him rewarded O s h i o m h o l e ’ s infrastructural development in the three senatorial districts by giving him victory in the 18 local government areas of the state. He said: “Our victory was sweet because that was what the people wanted, a man that will perform, not a man who want to be the richest man in the world. It was a wonderful experience, you know Peoples
ter in any of the seven local government areas in Edo South and we won the 77 wards in Edo South, we thank God. “Oshiomhole had demonstrated that money can never make the difference again in Edo politics, people don’t fight over how much you bring anymore but they are now fighting for projects that had not been done in their areas. Before now, it was about collecting money and you will get the votes you want but before the election, there was no place we visited that they asked for money."
new place all to no avail. Etinyin Edet, who is also chairman of the state Council of Chiefs, said that having waited for almost 10 years for the Federal Government to act and show good faith without any hope in sight, the Bakassi people had decided to demand for the return of their homeland, which he said was given out without a referendum. The monarch said: “This is to inform all Nigerians, that the youths of the area are already restive and I as the paramount ruler cannot stop them from resisting now what they consider an unfair treatment by ICJ, UN and Nigeria, which ignored the human cost of their action."
incorruptible Nigerian was forgotten by Nigerians and the Government of Nigeria. The principles and discipline of this great Nigerian can be likened to those of Nelson Mandela of South Africa and all such exemplary leaders in the world that believe in equity, fair play and honesty. “Justice Whiskey was a younger and very close friend of my late father– Robinson Gbagi. I recall my personal encounter when I paid him a visit as the then Chairman of FEDECO, the aftermath of our discussion
Delta NULGE boss lauds Uduaghan on HPMs NULGE Branch Chairmen BY AUSTIN OGWUDA
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SABA—PRESI DENT of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Delta State chapter, Mr David Ofoeyeno, has said that local government workers in the state were determined to ensure the success of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration, noting that the opportunity extended to the Heads of Personnel Management, HPMs to run the affairs of the councils was a welcome development. He spoke in Asaba, during the swearing in of
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ENAGOA—NO fewer than 106 students from Bayelsa East senatorial district in various tertiary institutions in the country, weekend, benefited from the Clever Ikisikpo Educational Foundation scholarship. The students drawn from Ogbia, Nembe and Brass Local Governmentareas,thatmakeup Bayelsa East senatorial district were each awarded N50,000
for the various local government areas, empowerment of widows and their wards in the unified Local Government Service by the union in collaboration with David Ofoeyeno Foundation. Awards and gift items were also presented to members, who had served meritoriously and attained retirement age. He said: “We appreciate the state government under the able and dynamic leadership of Dr Uduaghan, the grand patron of NULGE for his support to the cause of local government areas in Delta State."
Firm donates boreholes, transformers to Delta, Edo communities BY FESTUS AHON &
GODWIN OGHRE
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GHELLI—AS part of its social responsibility to its host, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, based in Sapele, Delta State, has commissioned several motorized water borehole projects across oil producing communities of the state and Edo State. The projects commissioned included; two 500kva stepdown transformers and street lights in Okeregbagha and
Scholarship for 106 Bayelsa students scholarship grant to assist them BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI
left me with a lasting impression and no option than to confront life the way I have gone about it. “His exit is a great loss to the Urhobo nation, the people of Delta State and Nigeria as a whole. The only legacy therefore which Nigeria must immediately provide for this man with honour and integrity is to archive his documents, conduct as a lawyer and most importantly his tour of duty as the then Chairman of FEDECO for Nigerians and more particularly upcoming Nigerians to learn from.”
in their academic pursuits. Presentingchequestothelucky students, Chairman of the foundation, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, thanked the management of the foundation for exhibiting high level transparency in the selection of the beneficiaries. Lamentingthefallingstandard of education in the country, he said it was the desire of the foundation to restore reading culture and healthy competition among students in Bayelsa East senatorial district.
Okunumerhe quarters of Amukpe community; two water projects at OgbeOgume, Ogbagu-Ogume, Elume, Ogiedi-Elume, Ituru-Elume in Delta State and two water projects at Iguelaba and Oben, and renovated block of classrooms at Oben primary school. At Iguelaba community in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, Edo State, where a water project was commissioned, chairman of the community, Mr. John Odia, noted that the water project was supervised by the company and same was completed to specification. At Amukpe community in Sapele Local Government Area, the company installed an 11MVA step down transformer and another 500KVA substation transformer to boost power generation in the area. At Oben community, also in Orhiomwon council, the company commissioned three water projects and renovated a community primary school.