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Militants Warn North Against Sabotage Of Osinbajo
A militant group, Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), has warned that it would resist, with the last drop of its members’ blood, further oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta, if the North executes its alleged agenda of sabotaging the acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
The group warned that if the North thwarts the demand for restructuring of the country and implementation of policies and laws to promote fiscal federalism, its members may be forced to return to their trenches.
In a statement by its spokesperson, WOI Izon-Ebi, the NDRC said: “For those with this sinister motive, because they feel President Muhammadu Buhari is debilitated, we advise them to keep the money to fund their junta government because NDRC will resist, with their last blood, the use of revenue from oil extracted from the Niger Delta to fund their greed and perfidy.”
Underscoring its readiness to stop the flow of oil from the region, the group said: “We call on all oil workers in the Niger Delta to vacate all oil facilities for their own safety. We also call on the operators of the Bonga Oil Field, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Port Harcourt Refinery and Warri Refinery to stop all forms of operation because our strike and defence team will be coming to hoist our flag of freedom as a people in all our critical infrastructure and assets of the Niger Deltans.
“We reiterate, in strong terms, the need for the restructuring of the country and enthronement of fiscal federalism before October 1, 2017.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be known that the NDRC and other agitators are aware of the plan by a section of the country to carry out a coup to truncate the leadership of Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, is currently in London for medical treatment. There will be no exploration or exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta, if a coup occurs before the October 1, 2017 date.
“NDRC and the amalgamation of all freedom fighters with the 21st century youth of the Niger Delta from the South-South region of the country stand in solidarity with the people of the South–East.
“We will no longer accept the born-to-rule mentality of an ethnic group, which exploits others for the benefit of a few, and reiterate that fiscal federalism with power devolved to the regions is the only panacea for peace in the country.
“The NDRC and the people of the Niger Delta can no longer tolerate vituperations of people like Ango Abdullahi and Junaid Mohammed, who are beating the drums of hatred and war.
“Our advice to the government and so-called owners of Nigeria is that there is no slave/master relationship in the Nigerian federation, and there is no recorded Nigerian history where Usman Dan Fodio conquered the people of the Niger Delta, and as such made the Niger Delta become inferior to the people of the caliphate.
“The NDRC states categorically that societies are built on justice and equity, and as such, come September 31, 2017, we will prove that this is the 21st century and that the renaissance of the Niger Delta has begun.
“If our fathers in their benevolence, love and sacrifice are seen as cowards, we, the Niger Delta youth of this 21st century are not cowards, and we can prove it,” the group warned.
The group called on all Ijaws and Niger Deltans scattered across Nigeria and West Africa “to immediately come back to their fatherland,” saying: “It has been made known openly by one Alhaji Usman Bagagi of the Northern Elders and Leaders Forum that the North owns the oil and the Niger Delta region because of their landmass and population.
“It is also known by all in Nigeria and the world that the northerners under the guise of Arewa youth had asked all Igbos living in the Northern part of the country to vacate the North in three months,” the group added, and advised the Federal Government to do the needful by taming all drummers of war and hate before it would be too late.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.