44—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013
2015: Nobody can stop our campaign for Jonathan, says Kuku
EDO 2016: ACN group advocates incorruptible leadership
BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North
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PECIAL Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has warned that no amount of threat will deter the natives of the region from urging the President to contest the 2015 election. Kuku spoke at an event in Abuja to mark the fourth anniversary of the proclamation of amnesty and three years of the implementation of the programme. He said that it was the right of the Niger Delta people to campaign for Jonathan even though he was yet to declare his interest in the next election. He said: “It is our right to continue to urge the President to consider running for a second term in office although he has not told us to do so and has not declared his interest to run.” The adviser pointed out that having performed more than any other Nigerian President, Jonathan must be convinced to return in 2015 to consolidate the good work he had started. Reflecting on the amnesty programme, Kuku noted that despite the lavish training of 30,000 youths from the Niger Delta by the Federal Government, the region still needed more government attention.
BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
B
ENIN—AHEAD the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, a socio-political organisation, Edo Solidarity Movement, ESM, made up of prominent leaders of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has advocated the installation of functional and incorruptible leadership at the party level. The group said such a move would ensure that quality persons, who would be accountable to the people, were elected into political offices. The group, led by the Political Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Chief Charles Idahosa, hailed the developmental strides of the governor. Some of the leaders from the three senatorial districts at the meeting, include Alhaji Usman Shagadi, Harrison Omagbon, Gentleman Amegor, Modino Emovon, Mr. Oyibo, Crosby Eribo, Mrs Adams, Rev. Egha-revba, among others.
According to Kuku, the Federal Government was yet to clean up the region, provide opportunities for the natives in the oil and gas industry, complete the East-West Road and construct the Niger Delta Coastal Road that would
traverse the entire region from Calabar to Lagos. Giving a breakdown of the success so far recorded by the amnesty programme, Kuku announced that 14,000 out of the 30,000 Niger Delta youths, who embraced the
Lawmaker faults EFCC's prosecution of Fani-Kayode D
EPUTY Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, yesterday, faulted the money laundering charge preferred against former Aviation Minister, Femi FaniKayode by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Fani-Kayode is being prosecuted before Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia of the Federal High
Court in Lagos over alleged N230 million scam. Makinde, who spoke on the ruling of Justice OfiliAjumogobia, disqualifying the prosecutor from the case, noted that the case was nothing but political persecution of the most vicious and cruel kind. He said: “At a time, EFCC accused him (Fani-Kayode) of involvement in the misappropriation of N19 billion Aviation
IGER Delta youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Transformation Agenda, have thrown their weight behind the Managing Director of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Engr. Paul Ebele for improving the service delivery system of the re-
finery. The youths also lauded the efforts of the Depot Manager, PPMC, Warri, Mr. Ali Abdulil for enhancing the effective distribution of petroleum products and building a mutual relationship between the company and her host communities in line with best global
BY FESTUS AHON
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GHELLI—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, a political group, Urhobo Political Movement, UPM, has insisted that the Urhobo people were still interested in the
gubernatorial position of Delta State. National Chairman of UPM, Chief Ominimini Obiuwebvi, briefed newsmen on the position of UPM shortly after a meeting of the group in Otu-Jeremi,
practices. National Coordinator of the group and ex-militant leader, Fiawei Pathfinder, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said that the duo were working in line the transformation agenda of the Federal Government in the upstream and downstream sectors.
He said that Ebele had ensured the constant supply of crude oil and steady gas supply to the national grid and that the group was proud of him as a Niger Delta son. Pathfinder said that the two companies were been managed by experienced and capable hands.
Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state. Obiuwebvi declared that no ethnic group had more stakes in the governance of Delta State than the Urhobo nation. According to him, there was no time stakeholders in the state met and decided that the governorship should be zoned. He added that the Urhobo people were in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency to solve the security challenges in some Northern states of the country. He maintained that there were no cracks in the Urhobo umbrella body, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, as being insinuated in some quarters.
By Bartholomew Madukwe
PEOPLE SPEAK
08102479985
Intervention Fund. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. “The current charges largely concern cash lodgement made into his private bank account between August 2006 and March 2007. “The judge was correct to have disqualified the prosecutor, who was said to lack the authority of the Attorney-General of the Federation to prosecute the case."
Urhobo still interested in Delta guber slot
N/Delta youths laud Warri refinery boss on service delivery
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programme had been deployed to study in various universities and schools in Nigeria and abroad. Similarly, 2,299 others, he said were undergoing various forms of skills acquisition in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
(nwamad@yahoo.com)
On Jonathan's mid-term report
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VERYDAY you keep hearing words such as GDP, inflation, external reserves, interest rates— how have these made positive impact on the average Nigerian, who constitute the larger population?— Miss Adebola Adeshida, Student.
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F stability provides the platform on which we can solve other problems in this country, why then is PHCN not working? Why are our roads not working yet? Why are polytechnic students at home?— Mr. Emmanuel Ijanna, Student.
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was watching one of the ministers give his mid-term report. He said that government had put an end to nearly four decades of corruption in the seed and fertilizer sectors, all within 90 days. If true, I give Jona-than 90%.— Miss Sandra Anyian, Businessperson.
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IKE the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said, there are problems with jobs. So I will rather score the administration average.— Mr. Jerome Samson, Businessperson.
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always tell people that we do not have a government that put the interest of the people first. It is not just about this administration, it is a general thing in Nigeria. If I have to score him, 5% is okay.— Mr. Kazeem Aremu, Businessperson.
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OR me, I will rather score the current administration 50%, looking at the security challenges it has faced in the last two years. Probably, by the end of the remaining two years, the score will appreciate.— Miss Okoye Precious, Student.