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12 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022
:Vanguard
News
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
MEETING—From left: Govs Godwin Obaseki (Edo State); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), host; Douye
Diri (Bayelsa); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), and Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Sen.
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, during the meeting of the South-South governors, at the Government
House, Yenagoa, yesterday.
2023: S-South govs restate support
for Atiku/Okowa
GOVERNORS of the
South South geopolitical
zone have reaffirmed
their absolute
support for the presidential
candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP),
Atiku Abubakar, and his
running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi
Okowa.
Speaking to newsmen in
Government House, Yenagoa
shortly after a meeting of four
of the South-South
governors, which included
Okowa (Delta State), Udom
Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom),
Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and
Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa),
Okowa said the governors
Buhari nominates Lauretta Onochie as NDDC Chairman
•Sends 14 others names to Senate for confirmation •Transmits commission's
budget to Senate •Omo-Agege makes case for Delta representative on list
By Henry Umoru
AMuhammadu BUJA—PRESIDENT
Buhari
has written the Senate,
seeking for the confirmation
of his Special Assistant on
new Media, Lauretta
Onochie from Delta as
Chairman of the Niger Delta
Development Commission,
NDDC.
President Buhari, who
wrote the President of the
Senate, Senator Ahmad
Lawan, said that the
Correspondent was in
accordance with the
provisions of Section 2(2)A of
Rivers 2023: APC'll address hunger, poverty —Amaechi
By Egufe Yafugborhi
PORT HARCOURT—
Immediate past
Transportation Minister, Mr.
Rotimi Ameachi, has
expressed worry over
perceived hunger and
poverty prevailing in Rivers
State, hinting that raising
funds to address the twin
issues would be the first thing
All Progressives Congress,
APC, will do when they
reclaim Rivers State
government in 2023.
Ameachi spoke, yesterday,
at Ward 19, Elekahia, Port
Harcourt City Local
Government Area of the state
during ongoing Rivers APC
were determined to deliver
their party in next year’s
presidential election.
He said the issues involving
their party’s G-5 Governors
led by the Rivers State
Governor, Nyesom Wike,
were being addressed.
He assured that the PDP
presidential candidate and the
five other governors will meet
soon.
His words: "We believe that
we are one family. There are
still issues and they are being
attended to. Very soon there
will be a meeting between the
presidential candidate with
the G-5 Governors.
“They are part of the family
the NDDC Act, Cap N 86,
Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria 2004.
The letter was read by
Lawan on the floor of the
Senate during plenary.
Buhari's letter read, "Dear
distinguished Senate
President, confirmation of
appointments of Chairman
and members of the NDDC.
"In accordance with the
provisions of Section 2(2)A of
the NDDC Act, Cap N86, Laws
of the Federation of Nigeria
2004, I hereby, present the
underlisted 15 names of
nominees as Chairman and
members of the NDDC for
ward to ward sensitization
ahead of next year's polls.
Apparently throwing jabs at
his successor again, the former
Rivers governor, who recently
pictured Rivers under
Governor Nyesom Wike as
being in its worst state ever,
said he neither politicised
development nor insulted
traditional rulers during his
time as governor.
He told the Elekahia
gathering, "I built a primary
school that people were
coming to watch. I declared
health care free in Rivers
State, I did not politicise it. I
never insulted any chief or any
Rivers man. If you are a
Christian, one thing God hates
and we are not going to allow
them go. So, obviously,
everything is being put in
place to reconcile all
differences and move together
as a family."
Also speaking, Governor
Douye Diri described the
South-South as a stronghold
of the PDP, assuring that the
party will emerge victorious
at all levels in next year's
general election.
He expressed delight over
the unity and love among the
governors of the region and
expressed confidence that the
differences in the party, which
he described as family issues,
will be resolved amicably.
Governor Diri thanked his
colleagues for their support to
the state during the recent
confirmation by the Senate.
"Copies of their Curriculum
Vitae are attached herewith.
"While, I hope the request
will receive the usual
expeditious consideration,
and confirmation of the
Senate, please accept the
Senate President, the
assurances of my highest
consideration."
According to Buhari in the
letter, Chief Samuel Ibukun
will serve as the Managing
Director for a term of two
years to complete the term of
his predecessor in office.
Bayelsa State, South-South
has Major General Charles
is arrogance and pride.
"We are not here to campaign
but to access our wards. They
(political opponents) will try to
intimidate you. The young men
G OVERNMENT
College Ughelli Old
Boys Association, GCUOBA,
Benin City, Edo State branch,
is holding its annual dinner,
Merit Award Night and
Induction of Ancient
Mariner, on November 26,
2022.
According to the Publicity
Secretary, Mr. Erhuvwu
Okpalefe, the GCUOBA
floods, saying the people of
the state will always be
grateful to them.
He said: "I can only say on
behalf of the government and
the people of Bayelsa State,
we appreciate the South-
South governors.
“As my brother, the governor
of Edo has stated, we are one.
In the family there are always
dispute. Those disputes do not
separate us. We will resolve
them and we continue to push
on as one.
"South-South is a PDP region.
South South is a place where no
other party can contend except
PDP. I assure you that in all the
elections from the presidency to
the governorship, the national
assembly and the state assembly,
PDP will again triumph."
Airhiavbere (retd) to serve as
Executive Director, Finance
and Charles Ogunmola,
Executive Director Project,
Ondo, South-West.
Other members of the
proposed NDDC board as
forwarded to the Senate are
former Deputy Governor of
Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu as
State Representative, Edo
State, South -South; Dimgba
Erugba (State Representative,
Abia, South-East); Dr. Ene
Wills, State Representative,
Akwa Ibom, South -South;
Elder Dimaroe Bofa, State
Representative, Bayelsa State,
South -South; Orok Duke,
in your ward must not allow them
to intimidate you. When will win,
first thing will be to bring out
money to address hunger and
poverty."
GCUOBA holds annual dinner
Sat
Benin is expecting to host the
President-General World-
Wide, Mr. Charles Majoroh,
and friends of the College
from all works of life.
Hence, the executive
council and the entire
members of the branch
specially invite all
mariners, who are resident
in Edo State and in the
Diaspora, to grace the
occasion to keep the Ship
Sailing.
I've fulfilled my promises to
Judiciary —Wike
By Egufe Yafugborhi
PORT HARCOURT—
GOVERNOR Nyesom
Wike of Rivers State has
expressed fulfillment over his
administration's diligent
support at enhancing the
judiciary to discharge its
constitutional mandate.
Wike at the 2022/23 Legal
Year opening ceremony, held
in Port Harcourt, yesterday,
said all promises his
administration made
concerning the judiciary had
been fulfilled in impressive
achievements beyond the
imaginations of many.
The governor noted on
assumption of office in 2015,
"The state High Court had no
Chief Judge, leadership, or
direction for nearly two years.
The governor then attempted
to impose a Chief Judge on
the state outside the due
process. When this devious
attempt was resisted, he
instigated a phantom crisis
and closed down the state
courts until he left office.
“We knew that the ensuing
social and economic anarchy
would ruin Rivers State
without functional courts to
uphold and defend the rule of
Delta PDP ward-to-ward
campaign berths in riverine
communities
THE Delta state Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
ward to ward campaign has
moved to riverine
communities in the Warri
North and Warri South Local
Government Areas of Delta
State, with the aim of
interacting one on one with the
people.
The campaign train is led
State Representative, Cross
River, South-South; Engr.
Anthony Ekenne, State
Representative, Imo State,
South-East and Gbenga
Edema,
State
Representative, Ondo State,
South - West.
Others are Elekwachi
Dimkpa,
State
Representative, Rivers State,
South-South; Alhaji
Mohammed Abubakar, (
Zonal Representative,
Nasarawa State, North-
Central; Alhaji Sule Sami
(Zonal Representative, Kebbi
State, North-West; and Prof.
Tahir Mamman, SAN, (Zonal
Representative, Adamawa
State, North-East.
Soon after the list was read,
the Deputy President of the
Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-
Agege, APC, Delta Central
protested that the there was no
representation from Delta
State in line with the act
establishing the NDDC that
each state of the NDDC must
have a representative, just as
he pleaded with the Executive
to correct the anomaly.
Buhari transmits
commission's
budget to Senate
Meanwhile, President
Buhari has forwarded to the
Senate for consideration and
approval, the 2022 budget
proposals of the Niger Delta
Development Commission,
law. Beyond the crisis, we
also inherited a judiciary
neglected to the hilt,
dilapidated and inadequate
courthouses and unpaid
salary arrears.
“Our first task was to revive
the judiciary and ensure the
speedy administration of
justice. Without wasting time,
we appointed the first female
Chief Judge for the state,
reopened the courts and
restored judicial services from
our first day in office.”
He explained that his
administration began
rehabilitating the existing
courthouses and built new
ones for the state High Court
and within the first year in
office, provided a new Special
Utility Vehicle to judges as
official cars, which have since
been replaced since 2019.
Wike said prior to his
administration, judges in
the state were faced with
the challenge of lack of a
retirement home, his
government considered it
morally wrong for the state
to evict judges from their
official quarters and force
them to rented apartments
after they retired from
service.
by the PDP South Senatorial
Chairman, Dr. Julius
Takeme, with his Vice John
Okoroloko, the Warri North
Party Chairman, Dr. Isaac
Wiliki, and Missan
Ukubeyinje, the Director
General of the Campaign
Organisation, and Elders
and Leaders of the party,
Chief Otimeyin Adams,
Godwin Ebosa, Chief
Solomon Arenyeke,
Richard Omare,
Evangelist Micheal Diden,
and Coordinator of Benin
River Vanguard, Anthony
Okotie and host of other
Party stalwarts.
At Opuama Ward 7,
Takeme who expressed
gratitude to the huge
crowd of people present for
the campaign, assured the
community that they
would not be denied the
dividends of democracy
upon assumption of power.
13% refund:
Edo received
only N2.1bn
—Govt
By Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY—THE
Edo State government,
yesterday, reacted to the
controversy trailing the
alleged release of trillions of
naira out of the arrears owing
the state from the country’s 13
percent derivation formula,
saying it has only received
N2.1 billion out of the
N28billion due to the state.
Addressing newsmen in
Benin City, state
Commissioner for Finance,
Joseph Eboigbe flanked by his
Communication and
Orientation counterpart,
Chris Neikhare and the
Special Adviser on Media
Projects to Governor Godwin
Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, said
there was a repayment plan
of the arrears to be paid in five
years of four quarters in a year.