10—Vanguard, MONDAY MONDAY,, DECEMBER 31, 2012
Water hyacinth takes over Delta community BY EMMAAMAIZE
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ARRI—THE peo ple of Bolou Ndoro, a riverside community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, have called on the federal and state governments to come to their aid by removing the water hyacinth that has taken over the waterways to the town. Chairman of the community, Mr. Afesuku Waidirimo, Edeinmene Arede, Boke Aforobeni, Chief Fekumo Monibeke and other community leaders, who spoke on the development, said fishing, the main occupation of the people, had been affected because of the “invasion” by water hyacinth. Human rights activist, Felix Okpe, told Vanguard: “The people are really suffering and need urgent assistance from government. The entire community waterways, creeks, canals and over 3,000 persons have been trapped in the blockade.”
Binis lack political leadership —Edebiri BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
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ENIN—FORMER governorship candidate in Edo Sate, Mr. Solomon Edebiri, weekend, identified what he described as lack of political leadership, as a major problem militating against the Bini nation. Edebiri, who declared this at the 7th edition of Benin National Merit Award, organized by Benin National Congress, BNC, a socio-cultural organization in Edo State, lamented that “our so-called political leaders have turned themselves to political prostitutes who will always settle for the highest bidder in political trading.” Recipients of the 2012 Benin Merit Award include former Edo State representative on the Board of NDDC, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen,
Amaechi renames road after Azazi BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
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ORT HARCOURT— NKPOGU Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been renamed Owoye Andrew Azazi Road. Governor Chibuike Amaechi announced this, weekend, at the funeral of late General Andrew Azazi, inYenagoa, Bayelsa State, who died in a helicopter crash on Saturday, December 15, 2012. The governor described the late Army general and former National Security Adviser, as one who believed in a united and stronger Nigeria. He said the state government had to rename the road after Azazi as a mark of appreciation of his service to nation building. Amaechi said he had a very warm relationship with the late general, adding that most times he had meals in Azazi’s house whenever he was in Lagos or Abuja. Lamenting the death, the governor said he would greatly miss the late Azazi who often called him his younger brother. Amaechi further assured the family of the late general that he would stand by them any time they wanted his as-
sistance. He said: “Looking at the numerous contributions and sterling qualities of late General Azazi to this nation, and his love towards me, who he usually called his younger brother, I am left with no option than to name Nkpogu Road after him by Monday (today). “Most times, when I got to Lagos and Abuja, I ate in late
General Azazi’s house. We have a close relationship. But now he is gone, who will call me a younger brother? Where will I eat when I visit Lagos or Abuja? “He was a detribalised Nigerian. It was my wife, Judith, who first called my attention on phone that, shortly after she had left Bayelsa State, information reaching her indicated that there had been an helicopter
GBAGI BAGS CHIEFTAINCY TITLE: HRM Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III, Obi of UbuluUku (right), confering the title of Ugo Eze Amaka of Ubulu-Uku on Chief Kenneth Gbagi, at his palace in Ubulu-Uku. Photo: Nath Onojake.
Delta judge escapes kidnap attempt ....N1bn suit against DESOPADEC adjourned BY EMMA AMAIZE
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ARRI—THE suit by Itsekiri host communities against Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, over alleged diversion of N1 billion meant for development of oil-bearing areas has been adjourned, following an attempt by suspected kidnappers to kidnap the judge handling the case, Justice Marshall Umukoro The judge was on his way to Warri from Ughelli to preside over the matter and other cases when gun-totting bandits
attacked him. He escaped death by the whiskers, while his SUV was riddled with bullets. Consequently, the case was adjourned to January 17, 2013. The plaintiffs, Prince Ikenwoli Emiko and Godwin Omamogho, had, for themselves and on behalf of Itsekiri host communities (oil and gas), dragged the commission to court for allegedly diverting funds meant to develop the oil-bearing communities to execution of private and Federal Government projects in Warri.
Specifically, the oil communities said they were aggrieved that the defendant “recklessly” diverted the funds allocated to Itsekiri ethnic group, which was wallowing in abject poverty as a result of oil exploitation, to build and renovate Warri Club, a privately-owned recreation club, and Nigeria Police Barracks in Warri. Chairman of Itsekiri host communities, Prince Ikenwole Emiko, said the commission, by its action, had taken back the little gains of oppressed oil communities, which are plagued by coastal erosion, oil pollution, spillages and other ecological/ environmental challenges.
Save us from death on East-West Road, cleric begs Jonathan BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA
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E N A G O A — THE deplorable state of the East-West Road resonated yet again, weekend, at the funeral ceremony for the former National Security Adviser, late Gen. Andrew Azazi, with the Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo, calling on President
crash. She said it could be the helicopter carrying late General Azazi. I called his (Azazi) line 20 times to confirm the unfortunate incident, but no one answered.” Turning to the bereaved family, Amaechi said: “If there is anything that you want me to do for you in the form of support or assistance, please, kindly call my attention.”
Goodluck Jonathan to fix the ailing road to curb rising spate of accidents and loss of human lives. Already, a section of the road, which straddles states of the oil-rich Niger Delta, is on the verge of being washed away around Okosi Bridge in Bayelsa State by river erosion. Bishop Egbebo, who spoke in Yenagoa in his homily during the funeral, also
blamed most of the air mishaps in the country on corruption. The cleric recalled how he was almost killed on the East-West Road during one of his many trips on the route due to its deplorable state and pleaded with the President to intervene and help reduce the carnage on the road by ensuring timely completion of the rehabilitation and dualisation of the road. He said: “Mr. President, save our lives, construct our roads. People are dying on the EastWest road everyday.”
Lori-Ogbebor rejects Uduaghan’s Christmas gifts BY LAJUARENYEKA
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HIEF Rita Lori-Ogbe bor, the Igba of Warri, has rejected the Christmas gifts sent to her by Delta State Government. In an open letter addressed to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Lori-Ogbebor stated that she returned the cow, rice and other gifts due to her disappointment in Uduaghan’s administration. She said: “By now, you already know my stand on the way you run the administration of Delta State. I feel unhappy and depressed to see the state and Itsekiriland declining from the time you assumed office. “I have spoken to you as a mother to a son. Itsekiri riverine areas are declining educationally and economically. The way our land is today shows no planning or foresight. There is no creation of jobs, neither is there adequate security of lives and property. For many years, there has been fighting and bloodletting in Escravos. In fact, things have got worse since you became governor.”