Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has revealed the illegal plot by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Amina Zakari to swap authentic results from polling units with fake results on March 19, 2016.

Also, Governor Wike declared that any attempt by the Former Governor to move around polling booths on election will be vehemently resisted by the people who will publicly disgrace Amaechi for violating the electoral guidelines.

Speaking during the grand finale of the Rivers East Senatorial District Campaign Rally of PDP at Elele in Ikwerre LGA, Governor Wike said: “All those who plan to swap result sheets, may their souls rest in peace. Nobody will rig in Rivers State.

“Anybody who thinks Amaechi will give them result sheets to swap, should be ready to swap their dead bodies. I have told the REC, you were here before, you can’t play games with me “.

The governor said it is his responsibility to take steps to stop politicians plotting to rig elections in the state with the connivance of INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Amina Zakari.

He informed that the University of Port Harcourt Vice Chancellor was compelled by Amaechi and APC leadership drew up a list of INEC Adhoc staff dominated by former APC caretaker committee chairmen and confirmed APC members to organise the rerun elections. He announced the names of the APC leaders on the list of Adhoc staff.

He noted that he had written a formal letter with proofs and details to INEC National Chairman, complaining of the issue.

The governor said that President Buhari should not allow Amaechi cause crisis in the state because of his personal interest.

In his remarks, National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff stated that the Rivers State is a PDP state where the people are satisfied with the performance of the Governor.

Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus described Amaechi as a confirmed thief who stole Rivers monies which he used to finance APC National campaigns.

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah alleged that Former Governor , Rotimi Amaechi is the Chief sponsor of cultism in the state.

Simeon Nwakaudu,

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,

Electronic Media.

15th March, 2016.

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged Fulani herdsmen who have lived in the state for many years to cooperate with the Government in preventing others from distant lands from invading the state.

Governor Ortom made the call today when he received the Idoma Community in Makurdi which staged a peaceful protest to the Benue Peoples House.

He said Fulani herders had co-existed with Idomas, Tivs, Igedes and other ethnic groups in the state for many decades but no clashes were recorded until the invasion of herdsmen from other lands.

Governor Ortom who sympathised with victims of the recent crisis in Agatu and other parts of the state, reassured the people of the affected areas that the State Government will not relent in its efforts to ensure that lasting peace returns to the area.

“Let me assure you once again that my meetings with Mr President and the Governor of Nasarawa State are already yielding results and I believe that we will no longer witness bloodshed on our land. I urge our people not to take the law into their hands as Government is working tirelessly to end the crisis,” he said.

Governor Ortom disclosed that the State Government had sent more relief materials to the camps accommodating the people who have been displaced by the crisis.

Speaking earlier, leader of the delegation and a former commissioner in the state, Barrister Peter Sani Ochinjele, thanked Governor Ortom for the efforts the State Government had made to cushion the effect of the crisis among the people.

He appealed to the Federal Government through the state, to expedite action on reinforcement of security in Agatu and other parts hit by clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

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By Terver Akase

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the fight against malaria and other killer diseases.

Governor Ortom made known the resolve of the State Government today when he received a delegation of United States Agency for International Development, USAID, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

He said the decision of his administration to make health one of the pillars of its blueprint was a conscious move to make the wellbeing of the people a priority.

“Our administration believes in the saying that health is wealth. This is why since we assumed office, we have given great attention to the training of the needed medical personnel while we provide morden health facilities,” he stated.

Governor Ortom thanked the United States Government for the huge investment it had made in Benue State through its Malaria Action Program for States (MAPS), since 2011 with the supply of anti -malaria drugs to the people.

He assured the delegation of the State Government’s readiness to support efforts aimed at improving the lives of the people as it has demonstrated through the payment of counterpart funds.

Earlier, the Country Director of USAID in Nigeria, Iyeme Efeme, pledged the continued collaboration of the agency with the Benue State Government to successfully combat malaria.

He disclosed that distribution of 3.4 million long lasting insecticidal nets will commence in the state later this month, in addition to the ongoing supply of malaria commonalities over 247 health facilities in the 23 local government areas of the state.

Others who spoke during the visit were the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cecelia Ojabo and Mr. Oluwole Adeusi of USAID, who stressed the importance of greater partnership between Benue and the U.S agency, for benefit of the people.

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….As PDP Rejects INEC List of Election Officers From UNIPORT

…Says They Are All APC Members

… Calls On The Int’l Community To Take Action Against Election Rigging

It’s no longer secret that the All Progressives Congress, APC is poised to print ballot papers and result sheets to rig Saturday, March 19, re-run elections in Rivers State, the People Democratic Party, PDP, has alerted.

The PDP also said it has uncovered a list of election officers, returning officers, and other adhoc-staff of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, completely made up of APC card-carrying and active members.

The PDP is therefore calling on INEC not to use the list for the re-run election as it will compromise the standard of the election.

According to the PDP, the APC has brought into Rivers State from Lagos a printing press called ‘Sam Printing Press’ which will be used in printing all printable sensitive and non sensitive electoral materials for the re-run elections in the State, and which some APC members have been assigned and to be lodged in a hotel in Port Harcourt and Owerri, the Imo State capital, to fill the result sheets with already decided scores that could be announced by a compromised INEC official at the stipulated time.

The PDP believes that the apparent relaxed mode of the APC leaders and candidates not to carry out any serious campaigns in the State is a confirmation of their plot to rig the elections with the aid of the military, armed youths in camouflage military uniforms and fake results.

The Party also noted that the coming of the APC Acting National Chairman, Chief Segun Oni, to Rivers State was part of the grand plot to rig the elections, ignite crisis in the State and that the APC has resolved not to spare anything to chance but to use the federal might and illegal means to secure all the elective seats in the elections.

The PDP warned all APC leaders and members to have a re-think on their plan to rig or manipulate the elections as all of such efforts will be in futility.

The Party reiterated its disposition for a free and fair election, warning that any efforts aimed at rigging the March 19 re-run elections in the State will be resisted by the masses.

It further called on the security agencies, particularly the Police to be on alert and to checkmate the activities of the APC in the State.

The PDP also wants the international community to prevail on the leadership of the APC and the federal government not to militarize the State during or after the election, and that INEC staff should be neutral in carrying out their election duties.

Signed:

Jerry Needam

Special Adviser, on Media and Publicity to

State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah

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– Buhari has only one million naira in his account.

– Buhari is the only ex president that collects 3million naira instead of the 27 million naira others collect. I don’t know where they got the figures from.

– Buhari only collects one car from the federal government after four years.

– they even said that the only house he has is in Kaduna while the one in Daura was inherited from his father

After the elections, we saw

– A listing of personal belongings (though shameful that he hasn’t publicly declared his assets as he claimed he will) .

– they said he had 30 million raw cash.

– they said he has a mansion in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and two houses in Daura.

– Dasuki said he gave him 4 SUVs which he actually acknowledged to have collected.

– they said he has a land in portharcout which he has forgotten the location.

If you ask me whether Buhari, APC and her supporters are liars, na who I go ask?

#LieingLiars

#LaiMoh’d

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The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja at the weekend dismissed objections by counsels to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and ordered the defendants to proceed with their defense after counsel to the complainant, Idris Wada tendered a report by forensic experts which established irregularities in the Kogi gubernatorial poll.

According to the report tendered by Idris Wada through his counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, four major areas of irregularities provide sufficient grounds to invalidate some of the results of the gubernatorial poll, which saw INEC declaring the APC candidate the winner of the election.

The issues, based on information exclusively obtained by journalists, include ballots papers that were not stamped and dated but still counted for political parties, ballots papers supplied in excess of registered voters that were not returned but entered as valid results, cases of over-voting as well as number of registered voters less than total votes cast.

Based on investigations conducted by a team of electoral forensic experts, Wada submitted that a total of 172,426 votes were invalidated by the said irregularities. 119,062 of the invalidated votes were recorded in favour of APC while 53,364 of such votes were recorded in favour of the PDP.

The invalid 119,062 votes, when subtracted from the total figure of 247,752 polled by the APC in the gubernatorial elections leaves the APC with 128,690 votes. On its part, when the invalid 53,364 votes recorded for PDP is subtracted from its total figure of 204, 877, the PDP would be left with 151,513 votes making Wada the rightful winner.

It was based on the foregoing that Wada went before the tribunal to protest what he termed, “gross irregularities” during the polls.

Counsels to APC, INEC and Yahaya Bello objected to the submission of the forensic report but the Tribunal Judge Justice Halima Mohammed overruled and set aside the objections, ordering the defendants to prepare their defence as hearing commences proper at the Tribunal’s next sitting.

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President Muhammadu Buhari late Monday in Malabo received Equatorial Guinea’s highest national honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of the Independence, and dedicated it to the people of Nigeria, who, he said, have worked tirelessly for peace in the country and Africa.

” I will like to express profound gratitude for the honour given to me and my people.

“There has never been a time for greater neighbourliness on our continent in the interest of peace, security and economic stability than now,” President Buhari said at the investiture ceremony.

The President said that as African countries faced common challenges, they must strive to cooperate more to find workable solutions that will facilitate rapid socio-economic development on the continent.

President Buhari pledged that under his leadership, Nigeria will continue to make significant contributions to peace, political stability and progress in Africa.

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea said that the honour was conferred on President Buhari for his “personal integrity, exemplary leadership style and courage to fight terrorism in order to ensure peace and safety in Africa”.

“We deemed it fit and appropriate to honour this son of Africa for the great work he is doing, which includes tackling Boko Haram, a great menace to the continent,” President Mbasogo said.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 15, 2016

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*Buhari, APC National Secretariat quiet on Ogoni killings by soldiers, while Amaechi said Ogonis were killed because they are militants

APC is a party of liars and non-performers. In Rivers State, Amaechi and his gang of political armed robbers are only interested in stealing votes through military intimidation and killings.

In Yeghe and Bori communities, APC leaders instigated the military of kill 28 Ogonis and Igbos. Rather than apologise for killing Nigerians in cold blood, Amaechi and Abe are justifying the killings claiming that those killed by the soldiers they invited in Ogoni land were militants.

Its unfortunate that President Buhari has kept quiet about the gruesome murder of innocent Ogonis. Even the investigation by the House of Representatives in the gruesome Ogoni killings has been suspended because the army said they will no longer appear, until the rerun elections are held.

So Amaechi and Abe invited soldiers to kill Ogonis. This is sad. The National Secretariat of the APC has said nothing about the killings of Ogonis because it was approved the murder of innocent Ogonis because of the desperation of the party to steal the mandate of Rivers people.

Pictures of the APC instigated killings in Ogoni land

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**SCAN-NEWS

Embattled President Muhammadu Buhari, who has lost the control of the economy, according to his Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, threatened to attack Rivers State with troops. He gave this threat in far away Equatorial Guinea less than 4 days to the Rivers State Re-run elections.

This is unfortunate and falls below Presidential Standards.

Buhari’s threat is part of the APC Plot To Rig the Rivers Rerun elections. He directed Security agencies to act against the sponsors of the ‘political violence ‘ in Rivers State. Buhari linked his statement to the rerun elections.

It is on record that Rotimi Amaechi sponsored Buhari’s Presidential Campaign to the tune of over N220billion and also expended Rivers money , funding other APC candidates across Nigeria. Is that good enough reason for Buhari to politicise the security of over 6 million residents of the state?

Everyone knows that APC is eager to steal Rivers State through the back door. APC National Chairman , Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said that no matter the oil price, Rivers State is a goldmine. Is that why Buhari has sanctioned the invasion of Rivers communities and killings by soldiers?

If Buhari was interested in acting as a President and not a beneficiary of Rivers funds through campaign spending, he would have ordered an independent investigation and not a political declaration.

Just because of Rivers resources, Buhari detailed his in-law Amina Zakari, INEC National Commissioner, to Rivers State for fishy deals.

Over 500 Agatu people were murdered in Benue State, Buhari never linked it to politics, because Agatu people voted PDP during the recent Benue South rerun. Also, Benue has no oil money.

What of Mile 12 in Lagos State where over 20 persons lost their lives in the Hausa/Yoruba violence. Which political party was involved?

Two days ago at the Abia State University, two students were beheaded. What name is their political party?

Kogi and Enugu Traditional Rulers have in the last one week written to the Presidency on several killings by Fulani herdsmen in their communities. What is the political colour? Buhari is yet to reply.

Kogi, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Cross River, Yobe , Borno and Kaduna have varying degrees of killings and insecurity reported daily in the media. Not a word has been heard from Buhari.

Are we to conclude that Buhari’s interest in Rivers State is just because he wants to patronise his Chief campaign sponsor, Amaechi. After all, Amaechi has been boasting that he is now the Commander in Chief. With Buhari’s statement in far away Equatorial Guinea, the picture is clearer.

We commend the Rivers State Government for already alerting the International Community of the fraudulent deployment of the military for the purpose of manipulating the election.

Buhari has lost the economy, he is losing the security equation by his partisan posture. How did Nigeria get here? BUHARI MUST KNOW THAT MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING. INTEGRITY COUNTS.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has queried the postponement of the

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Area Council elections at the

instance of a particular political party, saying that there is no valid

reason for the shift, except that the PDP and its candidates are more

popular and set to sweep the elections in the areas.

The PDP in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa

Metuh on Wednesday said it is aware that the postponement is part of the

moves to deny the PDP of its imminent victory at the polls.

“Intelligence reports available to us indicate that the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) was instigated to shift the

election merely because that particular political party realized that

our candidates were going to sweep the polls.

“It is indeed incontrovertible that most Nigerians from all walks of

life residing in Abuja are in support of the PDP and are ready to

express this support overwhelmingly at the FCT elections. The shift, we

know is a fallout of the panic and conspiracy against the PDP.

“We ask, is the postponement to allow a particular set of electoral and

security officers being used in the Rivers state National and State

Assembly rerun elections enough time to conclude that assignment and

return to conduct the one in Abuja in two weeks time?

“Is the development a confirmation that these particular electoral and

security officials are on special assignment against the PDP?

“Our take is that in spite of the conspiracies, the will of the people

will prevail. All our members and supporters are fully mobilized and

ready for the elections. It is obvious that we are winning; the people

are with us and will not accept anything short of free, fair and

credible elections which will be adequately represented in the results

therein.

Signed:

Chief Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary

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The Rivers State Government has called on security operatives to adhere strictly to President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives without bias.

This means that even the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, should be arrested and prosecuted if he poses any security threat and violates the electoral laws, before, during and after the Rivers State re-run polls.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George who made this declaration in a press statement, said Amaechi’s hotel room and vehicles should be searched to ensure that he was not in possession of sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), before, during and after the election.

The Commissioner said, Amaechi’s plot to truncate the electoral process in Rivers State through the instigation of violence had been perfected two weeks ago.

He called on the security forces to quickly investigate disturbing security intelligence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had sown fake military uniforms and distributed to its members to cause mayhem during the elections, so as to plunge the State into anarchy.

The Commissioner also requested an urgent investigation into credible information that the INEC ad hoc staff list is already populated with fanatical APC supporters, who have been mandated to rig the elections without scruples.

Dr. Tam-George further posited that “the electoral law is no respecter of any person no matter how highly placed”, and urged INEC to be responsive to its duties and resist being pliable in the hands of Mr Amaechi.

The Commissioner emphasized that INEC should recognize that it would be held to the highest operational and ethical standards throughout the electoral process.

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Following an alleged malicious publication, the spokesperson of Afenifere renewal Group, Yinka Odumakin, has instituted a N1.16 billion libel suit against the Lagos State publicity secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe and three others before a Lagos High court sitting in Ikeja.

Aside Igbokwe, who is the media consultant and Lagos APC publicity secretary, other defendants include a media consultant who resides at Schaffhaauserstrasse, Switzerland, Mallami Adekunle Kayode, Today Digital News and Media Limited and All Progressive Congress (APC).

The claimant in a motion exparte alleged that defendant published sometimes in October 2015, a statement entitled “Biafra Truth To Be Told.”

Odumakin claimed that the said publication is defamatory as it is directed on his person and that it was intended to damage his reputation and integrity.

He is therefore seeking from the court an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies from further publishing.

Odumakin is also praying the court for an order of court to direct the defendant to pay him N1 billion for special, exemplary and aggravated damages.

The claimant is also asking for a sum of N15 million against the defendants for being solicitor’s fee incurred by the claimant and the sum of N1 million against each defendant as cost of action.

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Quick Facts

• Monthly allocations gotten from Buhari’s FG have gone down from N4.5Billion during Jonathan era to N1.2Billion.

• Ekiti is not Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Lagos or even Ondo that would have made us say Ekiti is rich.

• EKSG expends N2.6Billion on payment of workers salary monthly. This can not be achieved with the N1.something billion we now get from FG

• In Lagos State, a state that has been in the hand of APC since 1999, payment of taxes has become part of their lives. We all want Ekiti to wear the looks of Lagos state, yet we find it difficult to sacrificed what that’d sacrificed and still scarifying.

• Schools owners live on the government, so there shouldn’t be problem giving unto Ceazer what rightfully belongs unto Ceazer. Even Jesus paid his own tax.

• Ekiti APC are the ones crying aloud here. They are the ones taking VIAGRA for someone else’s weak erection. They are the ones crying more than the bereaved.

• Fayose said there is no money, they said he should look inward. Now that he’s looking inward they are saying he should look elsewhere. Where do they want him to get fund? Do they want him to use his wife or children for money ritual because of Ekiti?

• Rather than blaming Fayose, let us all shift our blame to the backyard of the Nomadic president who in just 10months has turned Nigeria situation to what it is today.

• Gov Fayose has no choice, he must use what he has to improve the economy of the state. Ekiti needs money. We must internally generate funds, and the funds generated must also be used to better lives.

Courtesy: Debola Akingbade.

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Kano State House of Assembly members yesterday paid a solidarity visit to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to express loyalty.

The visit, led by the Speaker, Kabiru Rurum, surprised Ganduje.

The lawmakers wore different attires and caps, a departure from the dominant red cap, an identity of the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Our reporter, who was at the Government House when they visited, observed that they dumped the red cap in solidarity with the Gandujiyya Akida belief.

Also, the 44 local government chairmen dumped the red cap in support of the Gandujiyya Akida.

Most of the Kwankwasiyya group members in solidarity dumped the red cap to identify with Gandujiyya Akida.

A lawmaker, who preferred anonymity, said: “As you can see, the Speaker and members came here for a solidarity visit and to reassure the governor that we are behind him.

“We have dumped the red cap and joined the Gandujiyya Akida Movement. We promise to ensure its success.”

Governor Ganduje had accused Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of encouraging and promoting political thuggery.

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Former Super Eagles player, John Ene Okon, is dead. Okon, who died in a hospital in Calabar, Cross River State on Tuesday, had been suffering from liver problem.

He would have clocked 47 the same day he died.

While speaking with Tribunesport, technical adviser of Rangers FC of Enugu, Imama Amapakabo said Okon’s death was a sad development. “I felt sad after hearing about the death of Okon,” Amapakabo, a member of the Golden Eaglets set of 1985 told Tribunesport by phone.

“John Okon passed on in the early hours of this morning [Tuesday], he was ill; he had been diagnosed with a liver problem and he had been in hospital for sometime now until he passed away at a Calabar hospital around 2.00am and ironically, today happens to be his birthday.

“Okon will be greatly missed, he was my very good friend and one of the best midfielders I know. He will be missed in football circles,” Amapakabo added.

John Ene Okon was a member of the Nigerian U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in 1987. He was also a member of the Super Eagles team that claimed the bronze in the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Senegal.

After he retired as a footballer, Okon, known as ‘Oworowo’ among his colleagues, went into coaching and he handled teams like Calabar Rovers, BCC Lions, Sharks and Julius Berger FC of Lagos

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Fifteen persons have been killed by landmines left by suspected terrorists in Nussa village of Askira Uba in northeast Nigeria’s Borno State.

It is not clear if they were civilians or military personnel.

Another three identified as Civilian Joint Task Force members were also killed in neighbouring Chul village in the same local government.

Sources say both incidents happened on Monday night.

Emerging reports also indicate that Boko Haram terrorists over the weekend set ablaze two trucks conveying relief items to returning internally displaced persons in Gamboru Ngala.

The trucks belonging to the International Red Cross were abandoned around Logumane Musini axis, barely 15 kilometers to Gamboru after offloading their contents following a breakdown.

Desperate insurgents hoping to loot items abandoned reportedly set the empty trucks on fire and retreated to their hideouts, sources say

Story 30

EFFORTS TO COMPROMISE CORPERS WILL FAIL. WE WILL HAVE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION BY FIRE BY FORCE

Why is the APC camping Youth Corpers at Opobo crescent? Why is the APC taking the account details of Youth Corpers? Why is the APC bent on truncating our democracy???

I’m not even bothered that they are the first beneficiaries of the 100k largesse. The problem is why should Corpers be compelled to submit original result sheets for fake result sheets?

Somebody should call Amaechi to order. He is putting the lives of Corpers at risk. Nobody will circumvent the will of our people. Everyone must take a photograph of all Corpers involved in the election at every polling unit. Let us know the faces of those who say they their calling is to enslave Rivers people.

Corpers are invited to participate in the election and do the right things. They must resist the pressure to circumvent the electoral process. It is okay to eat the money. But do the right thing.

OS Franklyn

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Wednesday said that the audit report recently submitted to the National Assembly by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) in which it was indicted of not remitting about N3.235 trillion into the government’s coffers are erroneous.

The corporation also said that the report with its alleged errors had the capacity to undermine its current and future business operations. It explained that it was based on this that it decided to put the records straight.

It made the clarification in a statement which was signed by its Group Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq in Abuja.

It noted that even though the claims by the AuGF report were broadly within the 2014 financial year before the current management came on board, it still owed it a duty to safeguard the integrity of the corporation by correcting the office of the AuGF on its alleged accounting errors.

“The Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) declared to the National Assembly on the 14th of March 2016 that NNPC has failed to remit the sum of N3.235 trillion to the Federation Account for the period ended 31st December 2014.

“NNPC wishes to state in strong terms that the AuGF’s declaration is erroneous. It should also be noted that although this period is before the new NNPC management was appointed in August 2015, the management still deem it fit and important to correct any misinformation about the activities of the corporation as this will adversely affect its current and future financial and operational plans if not corrected,” said Abdulrazaq.

He further stated that since the new management was appointed, it has placed great emphasis on transparency, accountability and integrity and has sought to refocus and reposition the NNPC as demonstrated in the ’20 fixes’ initiatives which it had adopted.

Listing some of the 20 fixes which include: the publication of NNPC monthly financial and operations reports; focus on cost reduction across board an subsequent drop in monthly operational losses from N30 billion in August 2015 to N3 billion in January 2016; as well as, restructuring of NNPC to improve its performance and profitability, Abdulrazaq said that the corporation’s new management has made efforts to identify legacy claims and settle same.

He said that the NNPC in this regards has also undertaken a forensic audit of all the claims and that a report is expected from its appointed forensic auditors soon.

According to him: “Upon the appointment of the new NNPC management, it identified all legacy claims issues between NNPC and the federation and engaged with the Federal Ministry of Finance to resolve the issues by inviting the appointed forensic auditors to conclude the previous forensic audits on these claims and the final report on this is expected soon

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Mr. Konbowei Benson, the lawmaker who was recently sacked by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, was yesterday re-elected Speaker of the the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

Benson, a former speaker of the assembly emerged victorious in a rerun poll conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Southern Ijaw Constituency IV about two weeks ago.

THISDAY learnt that Benson was inaugurated as a member of the assembly and reelected by the lawmakers as their speaker, a week after receiving his Certificate of Return following his re-election.

Benson and Michael Ogbere, who won the rerun election in Ekeremor Constituency III were inaugurated during the sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Abraham Ingobere.

The Deputy Leader of the assembly, Mr. Tonye Isenah representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I, moved a motion to re-elect Benson as the Speaker, a move that was seconded by Mr. Monday Obolo, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency II.

With yesterday’s event, Benson has emerged as the highest ranking state lawmaker in the history of the state, having occupied the Southern Ijaw Constituency IV seat for four consecutive terms.

Speaking after his inauguration, the newly-elected Speaker expressed gratitude to the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson and members of the assembly for the confidence reposed in him.

Benson assured members of his readiness to work closely with them irrespective of party affiliations and urged the people of the state to support the assembly in making good laws and ensuring good governance in the state.

He said: “I will continue to serve my people and the state. I thank the governor and my colleagues for their confidence in me. I will not fail them. As a House, we will continue to make good laws to better the society.”

Mr. Alfred Belemote Watson, Brass Constituency II (APGA), Mr. Michael Ogbara, Ogbia III (ADC) and Mr. Munalayefa Gibson, Ogbia II (Labour Party), who were also declared winners of their respective elections by the court are expected to be sworn-in soon by the Speaker.

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Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje may have commenced move towards compiling some alleged mismanagement of the state resources by his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso while in office.

Specifically, the governor is believed to have started opening the books on the activities of the administration in which he served as deputy governor, with a view to forwarding same to the anti-graft agencies.

Governor Ganduje had, during an inspection visit to the Dakata-Bela road project on Monday, hinted of his readiness to ‘expose’ his estranged godfather.

Addressing the crowd, the governor was quoted to have said: “The other time they (in apparent reference to Kwankwaso) came to Kano , they claimed to have worked for the people of Kano. We have agreed that they worked in some places, but at the same time, they have cheated the state in some other areas. We will show the people their true colour in the near future.”

Speaking exclusively to our reporter, a Government House source said the governor had started ‘walking the talk’ , and also consulting on the need to sack all Kwankwaso’s loyalists in his administration.

This, Blueprint gathered, “is because some of them are always briefing Senator Kwankwaso on the activities of Kano state government with some even sending audio records to him in Abuja.”

According to the source, “the state government will soon send a comprehensive report to the EFCC and ICPC on how former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso mismanaged the resources of Kano and left behind over N400 billion debt.”

“Enough is enough. It is worrisome that somebody I so much respected, could involve himself in this act of thuggery and disloyalty. He claims to have performed excellently in Kano. I will in clear terms, come out with details of what the former governor did or did not do when he was in power,” Ganduje was quoted as saying to members of his kitchen cabinet.

Meanwhile, the governor’s support base got swollen yesterday when 34 out of the 36 members of the State House of Assembly pledged their allegiance to him.

Leading the lawmakers on a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, the Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Alhassan Rurum said, they had every cause to express their sadness over the humiliation meted out to the governor.

According to him, Governor Ganduje should be pitied for the series of political tribulations he suffered over the years, adding that it was as a result of his perseverance and large heart that he was able to nip intractable crises in the bud.

He said: “As I speak to you now, we are happy to inform you that we are supporting you one hundred percent. We must forge a common front to throw our weight behind you looking at the manner you were savagely treated.

“This is a unanimous resolution we had adopted and agreed upon on the floor of the House, with our signatures appended. I am speaking the minds of my colleagues and none of us was forced to act against his will.”

He said with the turn of political events as a result of the prevailing ugly scenario in the state, there was the compelling need for the governor to start shedding the toga of red cap, assuring that all those supporting his cause would follow suit.

In his response, Governor Ganduje said since his foray into politics, he had traversed turbulent waters and crossed the Rubicon before succeeding to become what he is today.

He further added that it was not in his character to tarnish the image of anyone in the name of achieving a parochial political goal.

While thanking the legislators for their unalloyed resolve to back him at this critical period, the governor called on them to exercise patience and tread softly, stressing that with caution and perseverance, the obstacles could be surmounted.

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Rivers State Governor Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has enjoined Christians to seek the face of God in engendering peace ahead of the National and State Assembly re-run elections in the State.

The Governor stated this today while speaking at the Rivers State Prayer Summit, organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rivers State Chapter in Port Harcourt.

Represented by his Deputy Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike said his administration will continue to support the Christian community in the State and solicited their prayerful support to enable his administration deliver the dividends of democracy to Rivers people.

He used the occasion to encourage Rivers people not to be intimidated by the false propaganda of insecurity sponsored by detractors of his Government, assuring that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure their safety during and after the elections.

“The enemy only wants to instill fear in our people, but we should come out en-mass on Saturday and vote to re-elect our candidates without any fear, as our God has not given us the spirit of fear.” He said

Governor Wike called on Christians to re-double their effort by ensuring that the mandate given to the (PDP) candidates in the previous elections were restored.

Earlier, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rivers State Chapter, Most Rev. I.C.T Anyanasikike, stressed the importance of prayers in the life of a Christian, adding that the purpose of the prayer summit was to seek God’s Intervention in restoration of peace in Rivers State.

High points of the event were prayer for the State Governor and his cabinet as well as praise and worship.

Paul Damgbor

Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor

Thursdays, March 17th, 2016.

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