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But in a speech marking 40 years of reform, President Xi also said China would not be dictated to.

Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), a pressure group in Isoko, Delta State, has expressed displeasure over the "continuous stay of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly without any respect for the power rotation deal among other ethnic nationalities in the district”.

According to the group, the Isoko people have taken the decision to support the Itsekiri in displacing Senator James Manager, an Ijaw man who has turned to "Mugabe in the seat as if it is his father's property”.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the weekend, Sebastine Agbefe, the IMG President, lamented that the Ijaw, “without recourse to the power rotation accord, have been holding onto the Senate position meant for three ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district”.

Speaking on the decision to work against Manager, who has been senator since 20003, Agbefe said: "Enough is enough. This time around, the Isoko nation is fully ready to join forces with the Itsekiri to make sure Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, is voted out massively, because as a people, we will not continue to fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. The Ijaw man occupying the position now, in the person of James Manager, has turned Mugabe to the detriment of other ethnic nations in the district. It is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the seat, and the Isoko are solidly behind the Itsekiri come 2019.

"Now let me take the Ijaw on an important memory lane. You see, power rotation runs in the veins of the average Deltan, especially, those from the minority ethnic groups. It is a concept that has brought peace, harmony, equity, fairness and political inclusiveness amongst Deltans. It is like a norm indoctrinated in every child at birth. This is not to suggest that we do not have those who for personal and selfish gains try to disrupt the arrangement. 

"Paying attention to my Delta South senatorial zone, what we are fighting to sustain is not different from what is practised in the entire state. For instance, in the 2015 governorship election, the people voted Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a minority Ika man from Delta North, because his major contenders, Chief Great Ogboru of the labor party and Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress were from Delta Central senatorial zone that had already produced Chief James Ibori as governor between 1999 and 2007. 

"Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, a minority Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district, also enjoyed the support of majority of Deltans based on the power rotation or zoning arrangement. The reality on ground today in Delta State is that political parties that have field governorship candidates from zones other than Delta North are considered to have blessed parties who field candidates from Delta North with victory, even before the polls.

"A lot of politicians will argue that the rotation is not practised or recognised in their parties because they have never been in power, but it does not sway the electorate because the issues are just beyond political parties. The electorate are very conscious of power rotation. No zone wants to be cheated. This arrangement also reflects in the presidency, where it is rotated between North and South.

"It is against this backdrop that we are canvassing to protect the power rotation or zoning arrangement in Delta South senatorial district. It consists of four ethnic groups: Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobos of Patani and Warri federal constituency. We believe that if every ethnic group is allowed to represent the zone at intervals, there will be peace and harmony. But in a situation where one ethnic group tries to hold onto it for too long, it will breed discord and enmity.”

Agbefe accused the Ijaw of holding onto the senatorial position for too long, and restated their determination to “fight for it”.

He continued: "Regrettably, the Ijaw who are the current occupants have refused to see things from our angle. They have been holding onto the Senate position meant for all of us. But as a people, we will not fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. We believe that the Isoko people have put in place a very solid foundation for rotation of the Senate position. Recall that in 1999, Senator Stella Omu, an Isoko woman, was the Senator representing the district but was replaced in 2003.

"The Isoko people did not see the position as a private property. Otherwise, James Manager will not have become the senator representing the district. At this point, every right thinking man and woman from the zone already knows that it is the turn of the Itsekiri. The work here will not be left for the Itsekiri alone, because if they fail to go to the Senate, it will never get to the turn of the Isoko again. Therefore, all Isoko sons and daughters, irrespective of political party affiliation, should fight this with eyes closed.

"The Isoko and Itsekiri should behave like the northerners did when President Jonathan wanted to return as president, at a time that they [northerners] considered to be their turn. Certainly, what will further strengthen the coalition of the Isoko and Itsekiri is the fact that James Manager's kinsmen are boasting in the media that ‘the Ijaw cannot relinquish the senatorial seat to the Itsekiri because they consider the Itsekiri as minority’. 

"It reminds me of a quote in ‘Arrow of God’: ‘But let the slave who sees another cast into a shallow grave, know that he shall be buried in the same way when his day comes’. We the Isoko people are also minority group in the district. A coalition of both ethnic groups automatically changes our status from minority to majority. This is the only way our pride and dignity can be protected.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), a pressure group in Isoko, Delta State, has expressed displeasure over the "continuous stay of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly without any respect for the power rotation deal among other ethnic nationalities in the district”.

According to the group, the Isoko people have taken the decision to support the Itsekiri in displacing Senator James Manager, an Ijaw man who has turned to "Mugabe in the seat as if it is his father's property”.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the weekend, Sebastine Agbefe, the IMG President, lamented that the Ijaw, “without recourse to the power rotation accord, have been holding onto the Senate position meant for three ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district”.

Speaking on the decision to work against Manager, who has been senator since 20003, Agbefe said: "Enough is enough. This time around, the Isoko nation is fully ready to join forces with the Itsekiri to make sure Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, is voted out massively, because as a people, we will not continue to fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. The Ijaw man occupying the position now, in the person of James Manager, has turned Mugabe to the detriment of other ethnic nations in the district. It is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the seat, and the Isoko are solidly behind the Itsekiri come 2019.

"Now let me take the Ijaw on an important memory lane. You see, power rotation runs in the veins of the average Deltan, especially, those from the minority ethnic groups. It is a concept that has brought peace, harmony, equity, fairness and political inclusiveness amongst Deltans. It is like a norm indoctrinated in every child at birth. This is not to suggest that we do not have those who for personal and selfish gains try to disrupt the arrangement. 

"Paying attention to my Delta South senatorial zone, what we are fighting to sustain is not different from what is practised in the entire state. For instance, in the 2015 governorship election, the people voted Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a minority Ika man from Delta North, because his major contenders, Chief Great Ogboru of the labor party and Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress were from Delta Central senatorial zone that had already produced Chief James Ibori as governor between 1999 and 2007. 

"Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, a minority Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district, also enjoyed the support of majority of Deltans based on the power rotation or zoning arrangement. The reality on ground today in Delta State is that political parties that have field governorship candidates from zones other than Delta North are considered to have blessed parties who field candidates from Delta North with victory, even before the polls.

"A lot of politicians will argue that the rotation is not practised or recognised in their parties because they have never been in power, but it does not sway the electorate because the issues are just beyond political parties. The electorate are very conscious of power rotation. No zone wants to be cheated. This arrangement also reflects in the presidency, where it is rotated between North and South.

"It is against this backdrop that we are canvassing to protect the power rotation or zoning arrangement in Delta South senatorial district. It consists of four ethnic groups: Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobos of Patani and Warri federal constituency. We believe that if every ethnic group is allowed to represent the zone at intervals, there will be peace and harmony. But in a situation where one ethnic group tries to hold onto it for too long, it will breed discord and enmity.”

Agbefe accused the Ijaw of holding onto the senatorial position for too long, and restated their determination to “fight for it”.

He continued: "Regrettably, the Ijaw who are the current occupants have refused to see things from our angle. They have been holding onto the Senate position meant for all of us. But as a people, we will not fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. We believe that the Isoko people have put in place a very solid foundation for rotation of the Senate position. Recall that in 1999, Senator Stella Omu, an Isoko woman, was the Senator representing the district but was replaced in 2003.

"The Isoko people did not see the position as a private property. Otherwise, James Manager will not have become the senator representing the district. At this point, every right thinking man and woman from the zone already knows that it is the turn of the Itsekiri. The work here will not be left for the Itsekiri alone, because if they fail to go to the Senate, it will never get to the turn of the Isoko again. Therefore, all Isoko sons and daughters, irrespective of political party affiliation, should fight this with eyes closed.

"The Isoko and Itsekiri should behave like the northerners did when President Jonathan wanted to return as president, at a time that they [northerners] considered to be their turn. Certainly, what will further strengthen the coalition of the Isoko and Itsekiri is the fact that James Manager's kinsmen are boasting in the media that ‘the Ijaw cannot relinquish the senatorial seat to the Itsekiri because they consider the Itsekiri as minority’. 

"It reminds me of a quote in ‘Arrow of God’: ‘But let the slave who sees another cast into a shallow grave, know that he shall be buried in the same way when his day comes’. We the Isoko people are also minority group in the district. A coalition of both ethnic groups automatically changes our status from minority to majority. This is the only way our pride and dignity can be protected.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2CDD98s

Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), a pressure group in Isoko, Delta State, has expressed displeasure over the "continuous stay of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly without any respect for the power rotation deal among other ethnic nationalities in the district”.

According to the group, the Isoko people have taken the decision to support the Itsekiri in displacing Senator James Manager, an Ijaw man who has turned to "Mugabe in the seat as if it is his father's property”.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the weekend, Sebastine Agbefe, the IMG President, lamented that the Ijaw, “without recourse to the power rotation accord, have been holding onto the Senate position meant for three ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district”.

Speaking on the decision to work against Manager, who has been senator since 20003, Agbefe said: "Enough is enough. This time around, the Isoko nation is fully ready to join forces with the Itsekiri to make sure Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, is voted out massively, because as a people, we will not continue to fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. The Ijaw man occupying the position now, in the person of James Manager, has turned Mugabe to the detriment of other ethnic nations in the district. It is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the seat, and the Isoko are solidly behind the Itsekiri come 2019.

"Now let me take the Ijaw on an important memory lane. You see, power rotation runs in the veins of the average Deltan, especially, those from the minority ethnic groups. It is a concept that has brought peace, harmony, equity, fairness and political inclusiveness amongst Deltans. It is like a norm indoctrinated in every child at birth. This is not to suggest that we do not have those who for personal and selfish gains try to disrupt the arrangement. 

"Paying attention to my Delta South senatorial zone, what we are fighting to sustain is not different from what is practised in the entire state. For instance, in the 2015 governorship election, the people voted Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a minority Ika man from Delta North, because his major contenders, Chief Great Ogboru of the labor party and Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress were from Delta Central senatorial zone that had already produced Chief James Ibori as governor between 1999 and 2007. 

"Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, a minority Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district, also enjoyed the support of majority of Deltans based on the power rotation or zoning arrangement. The reality on ground today in Delta State is that political parties that have field governorship candidates from zones other than Delta North are considered to have blessed parties who field candidates from Delta North with victory, even before the polls.

"A lot of politicians will argue that the rotation is not practised or recognised in their parties because they have never been in power, but it does not sway the electorate because the issues are just beyond political parties. The electorate are very conscious of power rotation. No zone wants to be cheated. This arrangement also reflects in the presidency, where it is rotated between North and South.

"It is against this backdrop that we are canvassing to protect the power rotation or zoning arrangement in Delta South senatorial district. It consists of four ethnic groups: Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobos of Patani and Warri federal constituency. We believe that if every ethnic group is allowed to represent the zone at intervals, there will be peace and harmony. But in a situation where one ethnic group tries to hold onto it for too long, it will breed discord and enmity.”

Agbefe accused the Ijaw of holding onto the senatorial position for too long, and restated their determination to “fight for it”.

He continued: "Regrettably, the Ijaw who are the current occupants have refused to see things from our angle. They have been holding onto the Senate position meant for all of us. But as a people, we will not fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. We believe that the Isoko people have put in place a very solid foundation for rotation of the Senate position. Recall that in 1999, Senator Stella Omu, an Isoko woman, was the Senator representing the district but was replaced in 2003.

"The Isoko people did not see the position as a private property. Otherwise, James Manager will not have become the senator representing the district. At this point, every right thinking man and woman from the zone already knows that it is the turn of the Itsekiri. The work here will not be left for the Itsekiri alone, because if they fail to go to the Senate, it will never get to the turn of the Isoko again. Therefore, all Isoko sons and daughters, irrespective of political party affiliation, should fight this with eyes closed.

"The Isoko and Itsekiri should behave like the northerners did when President Jonathan wanted to return as president, at a time that they [northerners] considered to be their turn. Certainly, what will further strengthen the coalition of the Isoko and Itsekiri is the fact that James Manager's kinsmen are boasting in the media that ‘the Ijaw cannot relinquish the senatorial seat to the Itsekiri because they consider the Itsekiri as minority’. 

"It reminds me of a quote in ‘Arrow of God’: ‘But let the slave who sees another cast into a shallow grave, know that he shall be buried in the same way when his day comes’. We the Isoko people are also minority group in the district. A coalition of both ethnic groups automatically changes our status from minority to majority. This is the only way our pride and dignity can be protected.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region have written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the Zabazaba Deepwater project urging him to sign the Final Investment Decision(FID) for the project before the 2019 general elections.

The Zabazaba Deepwater project being developed by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company has a proven reserve of 560 million barrels of oil as a stand-alone development in the eastern portion of the Niger Delta in water depths ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 metres.

In a letter addressed to the president, General Premobowei Julius and Godswill Enato, on behalf of concerned agitators from the Niger Delta region, said the region and Nigeria, in general, would benefit from the signing of the FID for the project. 

While commending the president for the projects and programmes executed by his administration in the Niger Delta region, they said the Zabazaba project would be a catalyst for development with the active participation of local companies in line with the local content policy of the present administration.

The letter read in part: “Mr President, the immediate benefit of the signing of the FID includes the construction of the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units and subsea installations and drilling rigs. This will set an enviable record in local content with local companies set to fabricate 50% of the FSPO in the country, which will be a major boost to the country’s economy and the local content initiative being promoted and prioritised by the present government.

"The Zabazaba Deepwater project is capable of generating millions of jobs, and by 2020, when Agip intends to produce the first oil, it would generate $8billion for Nigeria. Overall, the effect of the Zabazaba Deepwater project on the Nigerian economy would be unprecedented and the multiplier effect on the local economies of the catchment areas in the Niger Delta will be huge.

"Mr President, with the amazing package the Zabazaba Deepwater project has for the people of the Niger Delta region and the Nigerian economy, signing the FID would put your administration and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in pole position as the campaigns for the 2019 enters top gear, with the Zabazaba Deepwater project counted as one of the major projects you have in the Niger Delta region.

"It would also demonstrate that your administration and your party take job creation as top priority."

Niger Delta Oil News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region have written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the Zabazaba Deepwater project urging him to sign the Final Investment Decision(FID) for the project before the 2019 general elections.

The Zabazaba Deepwater project being developed by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company has a proven reserve of 560 million barrels of oil as a stand-alone development in the eastern portion of the Niger Delta in water depths ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 metres.

In a letter addressed to the president, General Premobowei Julius and Godswill Enato, on behalf of concerned agitators from the Niger Delta region, said the region and Nigeria, in general, would benefit from the signing of the FID for the project. 

While commending the president for the projects and programmes executed by his administration in the Niger Delta region, they said the Zabazaba project would be a catalyst for development with the active participation of local companies in line with the local content policy of the present administration.

The letter read in part: “Mr President, the immediate benefit of the signing of the FID includes the construction of the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units and subsea installations and drilling rigs. This will set an enviable record in local content with local companies set to fabricate 50% of the FSPO in the country, which will be a major boost to the country’s economy and the local content initiative being promoted and prioritised by the present government.

"The Zabazaba Deepwater project is capable of generating millions of jobs, and by 2020, when Agip intends to produce the first oil, it would generate $8billion for Nigeria. Overall, the effect of the Zabazaba Deepwater project on the Nigerian economy would be unprecedented and the multiplier effect on the local economies of the catchment areas in the Niger Delta will be huge.

"Mr President, with the amazing package the Zabazaba Deepwater project has for the people of the Niger Delta region and the Nigerian economy, signing the FID would put your administration and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in pole position as the campaigns for the 2019 enters top gear, with the Zabazaba Deepwater project counted as one of the major projects you have in the Niger Delta region.

"It would also demonstrate that your administration and your party take job creation as top priority."

Niger Delta Oil News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QC9jtk

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Imelda Cortez, 20, faced an attempted murder charge after she gave birth in a latrine last April.

Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo withdrew his support for President Muhammadu Buhari in the early days of his administration.

Oyinlola, a close ally of Obasanjo, told Sunday Sun in Abuja that what necessitated Obasanjo’s withdrawal of support for Buhari was the realization that President Buhari was trying to ‘northernise’ his government.

Oyinlola also said it was as a result of President Buhari’s approach to governance issues that made Obasanjo to write President Buhari his classic letter after several unsuccessful attempts to address him on the best approach to issues and governance generally.

Asked at what point Obasanjo and Buhari parted ways, the former military administrator of Lagos State and former two-term Osun State governor said: “At the point where at the initial stage, it was found out that he was trying to northernise the government. And if you see the appointments, you will agree with me that there is not a bit; a clear demonstration of nepotism in his appointment.”

Oyinlola also disclosed why the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) was not registered as a political party, even as he expressed confidence that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will defeat President Buhari in the February 2019 presidential election.

What led to the disappearance of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, which many believe was to usher in a new movement, the Third Force, canvassed by former President Obasanjo in his epic letter to President Buhari?

Let me start by correcting one issue from your question: what Obasanjo was canvassing for was not a Third Force. It was people that christened it Third Force. Some other groups, I think under the leadership of Olisah Agbakoba, were the ones promoting something in line with Third Force. What Obasanjo said was that what we are getting from this government wasn’t what we bargained for in 2015, and if we allow things to go unchecked, then we may have ourselves to blame at the end of the day by the time the whole country collapses. And that was why he suggested that there must be some kind of movement and I know too well that that came about after several unsuccessful attempts to address Mr President on the best approach to issues and governance generally. So, it was to galvanise patriotic Nigerians and with special reference to youths and women. If you recall, he said in his letter, ‘if and when that Coalition for Nigeria Movement transmutes into a political party, then he will hands off.’ CNM is a movement and if you are going to have a direct influence on the political scenario of Nigeria, you can only do that through the platform of a political party. That was the reason CNM had discussion with several political parties and we believe the objectives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) met the policy direction of CNM and that of our dream for a future Nigeria.

Why didn’t you register CNM as a political party? Where you afraid that the president may derail your plan?

We are almost certain that the president being a retired military man will not sit down and see and watch a canon coming after him and will not do anything. It will be unthinkable for him to allow a suggested movement like that of Obasanjo to be registered as a political party. We believe if he was thinking rightly that he wouldn’t do such a thing and that is why we looked for an existing political party and that is why we ported into ADC.

What is the strength of ADC nationwide?

Today, if you pick APC, you pick PDP, ADC is the next party in order of ranking.

Are you fielding candidates in the various positions across the country?

Yes. The only position that we can no longer contest for is just the presidency. For other political posts like Senate seats, House of Reps, House of Assembly, yes, we are contesting. But let me say one thing: at the presentation of our decision to have Atiku as our consensus candidate, I reiterated the experience of Osun and suggested that the spirit and letters of the MoU of CUPP should be carried down to the state level. If that is done, then we will be working together to pick the best of candidates from within the ranks of parties forming the CUPP to pick a common candidate for all the posts.

You sound as if you are very confident that the CUPP can remove President Buhari from office?

By the special grace of God, it will. I am confident because I was the secretary of the new-PDP that brought into the merger that made up APC, five sitting governors, many senators, and many members of the House of Reps. If you go back to do a kind of study over the 2015 election, take the votes cast for Buhari in these five states and add that of Niger and Jigawa, the two governors were with us in our movement till the last minute. I think the harassment from the government made them to beat a retreat. But by the time that retreat was beaten, the people had been carried along. So, you can now calculate the votes from those seven states. Remove it from what Buhari had in 2015, he lost.

Considering what the merger later turned out to be, do you have any regret over the role played?

I was not happy with the fact that the spirit of the merger was not attended to. The execution of the agreement was one sided. I say so because, yes, if there are four major parties that made up the coalition – CPC, ANPP, ACN and new-PDP, the position of presidency went to CPC, chairman of the party went to the ANPP, then the Speaker at the initial stage went to ACN. That was the plan. Now, the remaining one, Senate President that was supposed to come to us, some people were foot-dragging and in their equation, of all the sharing formula, we were quietly left out, such that in important decisions and meetings, we were almost forcing them to remember that the new-PDP was part of the merger.

So, it was a selfish union?

That is it! But the Almighty God will never allow iniquity anywhere. And that is why the position of Senate President and that of the Speaker that came to new-PDP, came by the grace of God and out of the greediness of those people. If not, if they had agreed that okay, everybody has taken its own, let new-PDP have the Senate seat as part of the merger troop, there wouldn’t have been any confusion. But things went haywire, opposition even decided to vote for Bukola and Dogara. And that is why it was God that gave the National Assembly to the new-PDP.

Don’t you think the same greed that characterised the merger will play out in the CUPP if it eventually wins the 2019 presidential election?

How can it come up?

Some believe that your decision to quit the APC was a wrong step. Is that correct?

I am the one that have the step to take and there is nobody to assess my movement whether it was wrong or right. If you pick the allegations made against the president and his government by Obasanjo in his letter, nobody could fault it. Obasanjo stuck out his neck for him to my knowledge. I was part of every movement, every support, within and without in the belief that we are having somebody better than Jonathan. But what we have found out now is just that the man has been under exposed and we have been able to carry out a wrong assessment of who he truly is. But he has been in government now and we have been able to see the level of his capacity.

As someone who is very close to former President Obasanjo, at what point did Obasanjo and President Buhari have a point of departure?

At the point where at the initial stage, it was found out that he was trying to northernise the government. And if you see the appointments, you will agree with me that there is not a bit; a clear demonstration of nepotism in his appointment. But he could not say anything because he was at the forefront in the campaign to install Buhari. And when it became difficult for somebody to reach out to the president to chip in one or two words of advice to assist him in governing well, then, what is one waiting for there? It is just a shame that in this country, we seem to gloss over serious issue. The wife said the man is not in charge, that there are only two or three people running the government. She said it that millions of people voted for this man, but only two or three; what else does anybody want to say? This is the wife, that is, his better half.

If the outcome of the forthcoming presidential election does not favour your candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, what will be your reaction?

I know only the Almighty appoints. But I want to believe that with what we have put in place, with the kind of hunger ravaging the entire nation, with the insecurity pervading the nation and so many mis-governance being witnessed, I don’t see Nigerians voting Buhari back into power. That is it! Because if you ask anybody, are you better today than you were four years ago, go and take out a census and see what the response is going to be.

There were earlier calculations zeroing in Atiku’s vice presidential choice on the Southwest and you as his deputy. What later happened? What changed that plan?

Anybody who knows the man we are going to take on for at the next election, will know that there is need for a strategic plan, a very strong strategic plan to be able to take him out. And that is why I am happy with the way it went. If we are talking of equity, then the highest position in the country should not be an exclusive preserve of some zones alone. Today, everybody has been shouting, Southeast, Southeast, why wouldn’t they have the opportunity to serve at the highest position? And I think the first step is by picking a vice president from there.

Does that mean you agree that in 2023, the presidency should go to the Southeast rather than the Southwest?

Totally, totally! That is my personal view.

Are you sure the PDP will agree to that?

You are asking me about my personal opinion. Whatever the party wants to do, that is different. But if equity is anything to go by, it should go there because of all the zones, that is the only one that has never had a shot in this current political dispensation that started in 1999.

Why did you call APC’s the Next Level as the Next Evil scheme the day you announced the adoption of Atiku as your presidential candidate?

What scheme have they played out that is pleasant to the people of the country? Is it the infrastructure that are good, is it the health sector that you can be proud of? There is medical tourism outside the country day in, day out. All our medical personnel are all going out for greener pasture. My personal doctor that I patronise in the UK is a Nigerian. Yes! And I have been with him for 30, 40 years. So, if the equipment are there, when you go out, you find out that it is our own boys that are treating us. But they have the equipment; they have all that they need to carry out their work. With all these, any level they are taking us to is the evil scheme level.

Are you not scared that if President Buhari wins in 2019, he will go after you and other like-minded people?

Yes, he can go after us, but they will have to build more prisons. But you know the NADECO route is still there, very open.

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the burial of soldiers killed by Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State as ‘totally unacceptable’.

In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Atiku said it was even more painful, when the federal government refused to send a delegation to represent it at the funeral.

He called on Buhari to learn from the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who on March 28, took a whole day off to attend the funeral of Lt. Col Arnaud Beltrame, who was killed by a terrorist after a March 24, 2018 terror attack on the South of France.

The statement read: “Today, I saw the pictures of the funeral of the officers and men of the 157 Task Force battalion of the Nigerian Army based in Metele and who were killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and my heart went out to the men, their families and to our entire armed forces. May their souls rest in peace and may God grant their families fortitude at such a trying time.

“I am further pained that neither the president nor his deputy were in attendance at the funeral and that the federal government did not send a high-powered delegation to represent the government at the funeral.

“This is sad and totally unacceptable. This is beyond politics. This touches our shared humanity. What would it cost for the president to take a day and fulfill his role as head of state by attending the funeral of such men of honour and valour?

“The sad part of it is that a day before their funeral, President Muhammadu Buhari took time out of his busy schedule to host Nollywood stars at the Presidential Villa.

“I appreciate Nollywood and I have personally done a lot, both in my private capacity and when I was vice-president to promote that vitally important industry. However, it does not send a right message to the men and women, who are fighting for Nigeria if you can attend a get together of entertainers but, you cannot find the time to honour those who make the peace we are benefitting from possible.”

But a presidency source, who claimed he did not have the approval to respond to Atiku, accused the PDP candidate of hypocrisy for criticising Buhari’s failure to attend the burial of the soldiers.

The source dismissed the claim of insensitivity by Atiku, saying the accusation was misplaced, because the president had already reacted to the tragedy and equally visited surviving troops in Maiduguri to boost their morale.

He recalled a similar development in 2001, when 19 soldiers were killed at the time Atiku was the vice-president, saying neither Atiku nor his boss visited the troops to commiserate with them.

He alleged that instead, their government ordered reprisals, which he said claimed many lives of civilians.

“We have read the hypocritical press release signed by Mr. Atiku Abubakar, accusing the government of Muhammadu Buhari of insensitivity by the failure of the President or the Vice President to attend the burial of the 19 military victims of Boko Haram.

“The loss of the gallant soldiers, as President Buhari has said, is a national loss, on account of which he went to Maiduguri, where he condoled the government and people of Borno State, addressed the troops at Maimalari Barracks as well as visited convalescing gallant soldiers.

“This was a clear case of sensitive and responsible leadership. On the other hand however, when a similar number of troops (19 soldiers) were abducted and killed in October, 2001, neither he (Atiku Abubakar) nor his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo paid any tributes, not to talk of visiting the grieving family members of the martyred soldiers. Instead, they sent additional troops, who rounded up the people of the town, and authorised an indiscriminate shooting as reprisals,” the source said.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has implored Nigerians to give him more time to execute his plans for the country.

The President said this on Monday after a special parade of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian army organised to commemorate his 76th birthday.

“Nigerians should continue to pray for me and understand my intentions and give me time,” he said, adding that his administration would continue to remind Nigerians about its achievements in the last three and half years.

“We will keep reminding Nigerians about what we have done, how we met the country, what we were able to do from the time we came in to now with the resources available to us.”

Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, presented a birthday card on behalf of the Armed Forces, while Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), presented another on behalf of members of cabinet. Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the President, also presented a card on behalf of presidential aides

The high point of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake by the President, who was flanked by governors, ministers and some aides, notably Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Ogun State, and Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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President Muhammadu Buhari has implored Nigerians to give him more time to execute his plans for the country.

The President said this on Monday after a special parade of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian army organised to commemorate his 76th birthday.

“Nigerians should continue to pray for me and understand my intentions and give me time,” he said, adding that his administration would continue to remind Nigerians about its achievements in the last three and half years.

“We will keep reminding Nigerians about what we have done, how we met the country, what we were able to do from the time we came in to now with the resources available to us.”

Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, presented a birthday card on behalf of the Armed Forces, while Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), presented another on behalf of members of cabinet. Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the President, also presented a card on behalf of presidential aides

The high point of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake by the President, who was flanked by governors, ministers and some aides, notably Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Ogun State, and Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QD5Uub

President Muhammadu Buhari has implored Nigerians to give him more time to execute his plans for the country.

The President said this on Monday after a special parade of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian army organised to commemorate his 76th birthday.

“Nigerians should continue to pray for me and understand my intentions and give me time,” he said, adding that his administration would continue to remind Nigerians about its achievements in the last three and half years.

“We will keep reminding Nigerians about what we have done, how we met the country, what we were able to do from the time we came in to now with the resources available to us.”

Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, presented a birthday card on behalf of the Armed Forces, while Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), presented another on behalf of members of cabinet. Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the President, also presented a card on behalf of presidential aides

The high point of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake by the President, who was flanked by governors, ministers and some aides, notably Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Ogun State, and Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QD5Uub

Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), a pressure group in Isoko, Delta State, has expressed displeasure over the "continuous stay of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly without any respect for the power rotation deal among other ethnic nationalities in the district”.

According to the group, the Isoko people have taken the decision to support the Itsekiri in displacing Senator James Manager, an Ijaw man who has turned to "Mugabe in the seat as if it is his father's property”.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the weekend, Sebastine Agbefe, the IMG President, lamented that the Ijaw, “without recourse to the power rotation accord, have been holding onto the Senate position meant for three ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district”.

Speaking on the decision to work against Manager, who has been senator since 20003, Agbefe said: "Enough is enough. This time around, the Isoko nation is fully ready to join forces with the Itsekiri to make sure Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, is voted out massively, because as a people, we will not continue to fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. The Ijaw man occupying the position now, in the person of James Manager, has turned Mugabe to the detriment of other ethnic nations in the district. It is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the seat, and the Isoko are solidly behind the Itsekiri come 2019.

"Now let me take the Ijaw on an important memory lane. You see, power rotation runs in the veins of the average Deltan, especially, those from the minority ethnic groups. It is a concept that has brought peace, harmony, equity, fairness and political inclusiveness amongst Deltans. It is like a norm indoctrinated in every child at birth. This is not to suggest that we do not have those who for personal and selfish gains try to disrupt the arrangement. 

"Paying attention to my Delta South senatorial zone, what we are fighting to sustain is not different from what is practised in the entire state. For instance, in the 2015 governorship election, the people voted Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a minority Ika man from Delta North, because his major contenders, Chief Great Ogboru of the labor party and Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress were from Delta Central senatorial zone that had already produced Chief James Ibori as governor between 1999 and 2007. 

"Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, a minority Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district, also enjoyed the support of majority of Deltans based on the power rotation or zoning arrangement. The reality on ground today in Delta State is that political parties that have field governorship candidates from zones other than Delta North are considered to have blessed parties who field candidates from Delta North with victory, even before the polls.

"A lot of politicians will argue that the rotation is not practised or recognised in their parties because they have never been in power, but it does not sway the electorate because the issues are just beyond political parties. The electorate are very conscious of power rotation. No zone wants to be cheated. This arrangement also reflects in the presidency, where it is rotated between North and South.

"It is against this backdrop that we are canvassing to protect the power rotation or zoning arrangement in Delta South senatorial district. It consists of four ethnic groups: Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobos of Patani and Warri federal constituency. We believe that if every ethnic group is allowed to represent the zone at intervals, there will be peace and harmony. But in a situation where one ethnic group tries to hold onto it for too long, it will breed discord and enmity.”

Agbefe accused the Ijaw of holding onto the senatorial position for too long, and restated their determination to “fight for it”.

He continued: "Regrettably, the Ijaw who are the current occupants have refused to see things from our angle. They have been holding onto the Senate position meant for all of us. But as a people, we will not fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. We believe that the Isoko people have put in place a very solid foundation for rotation of the Senate position. Recall that in 1999, Senator Stella Omu, an Isoko woman, was the Senator representing the district but was replaced in 2003.

"The Isoko people did not see the position as a private property. Otherwise, James Manager will not have become the senator representing the district. At this point, every right thinking man and woman from the zone already knows that it is the turn of the Itsekiri. The work here will not be left for the Itsekiri alone, because if they fail to go to the Senate, it will never get to the turn of the Isoko again. Therefore, all Isoko sons and daughters, irrespective of political party affiliation, should fight this with eyes closed.

"The Isoko and Itsekiri should behave like the northerners did when President Jonathan wanted to return as president, at a time that they [northerners] considered to be their turn. Certainly, what will further strengthen the coalition of the Isoko and Itsekiri is the fact that James Manager's kinsmen are boasting in the media that ‘the Ijaw cannot relinquish the senatorial seat to the Itsekiri because they consider the Itsekiri as minority’. 

"It reminds me of a quote in ‘Arrow of God’: ‘But let the slave who sees another cast into a shallow grave, know that he shall be buried in the same way when his day comes’. We the Isoko people are also minority group in the district. A coalition of both ethnic groups automatically changes our status from minority to majority. This is the only way our pride and dignity can be protected.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2CDD98s

Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), a pressure group in Isoko, Delta State, has expressed displeasure over the "continuous stay of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly without any respect for the power rotation deal among other ethnic nationalities in the district”.

According to the group, the Isoko people have taken the decision to support the Itsekiri in displacing Senator James Manager, an Ijaw man who has turned to "Mugabe in the seat as if it is his father's property”.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the weekend, Sebastine Agbefe, the IMG President, lamented that the Ijaw, “without recourse to the power rotation accord, have been holding onto the Senate position meant for three ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district”.

Speaking on the decision to work against Manager, who has been senator since 20003, Agbefe said: "Enough is enough. This time around, the Isoko nation is fully ready to join forces with the Itsekiri to make sure Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, is voted out massively, because as a people, we will not continue to fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. The Ijaw man occupying the position now, in the person of James Manager, has turned Mugabe to the detriment of other ethnic nations in the district. It is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the seat, and the Isoko are solidly behind the Itsekiri come 2019.

"Now let me take the Ijaw on an important memory lane. You see, power rotation runs in the veins of the average Deltan, especially, those from the minority ethnic groups. It is a concept that has brought peace, harmony, equity, fairness and political inclusiveness amongst Deltans. It is like a norm indoctrinated in every child at birth. This is not to suggest that we do not have those who for personal and selfish gains try to disrupt the arrangement. 

"Paying attention to my Delta South senatorial zone, what we are fighting to sustain is not different from what is practised in the entire state. For instance, in the 2015 governorship election, the people voted Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a minority Ika man from Delta North, because his major contenders, Chief Great Ogboru of the labor party and Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress were from Delta Central senatorial zone that had already produced Chief James Ibori as governor between 1999 and 2007. 

"Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, a minority Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district, also enjoyed the support of majority of Deltans based on the power rotation or zoning arrangement. The reality on ground today in Delta State is that political parties that have field governorship candidates from zones other than Delta North are considered to have blessed parties who field candidates from Delta North with victory, even before the polls.

"A lot of politicians will argue that the rotation is not practised or recognised in their parties because they have never been in power, but it does not sway the electorate because the issues are just beyond political parties. The electorate are very conscious of power rotation. No zone wants to be cheated. This arrangement also reflects in the presidency, where it is rotated between North and South.

"It is against this backdrop that we are canvassing to protect the power rotation or zoning arrangement in Delta South senatorial district. It consists of four ethnic groups: Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobos of Patani and Warri federal constituency. We believe that if every ethnic group is allowed to represent the zone at intervals, there will be peace and harmony. But in a situation where one ethnic group tries to hold onto it for too long, it will breed discord and enmity.”

Agbefe accused the Ijaw of holding onto the senatorial position for too long, and restated their determination to “fight for it”.

He continued: "Regrettably, the Ijaw who are the current occupants have refused to see things from our angle. They have been holding onto the Senate position meant for all of us. But as a people, we will not fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. We believe that the Isoko people have put in place a very solid foundation for rotation of the Senate position. Recall that in 1999, Senator Stella Omu, an Isoko woman, was the Senator representing the district but was replaced in 2003.

"The Isoko people did not see the position as a private property. Otherwise, James Manager will not have become the senator representing the district. At this point, every right thinking man and woman from the zone already knows that it is the turn of the Itsekiri. The work here will not be left for the Itsekiri alone, because if they fail to go to the Senate, it will never get to the turn of the Isoko again. Therefore, all Isoko sons and daughters, irrespective of political party affiliation, should fight this with eyes closed.

"The Isoko and Itsekiri should behave like the northerners did when President Jonathan wanted to return as president, at a time that they [northerners] considered to be their turn. Certainly, what will further strengthen the coalition of the Isoko and Itsekiri is the fact that James Manager's kinsmen are boasting in the media that ‘the Ijaw cannot relinquish the senatorial seat to the Itsekiri because they consider the Itsekiri as minority’. 

"It reminds me of a quote in ‘Arrow of God’: ‘But let the slave who sees another cast into a shallow grave, know that he shall be buried in the same way when his day comes’. We the Isoko people are also minority group in the district. A coalition of both ethnic groups automatically changes our status from minority to majority. This is the only way our pride and dignity can be protected.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2CDD98s

Isoko Monitoring Group (IMG), a pressure group in Isoko, Delta State, has expressed displeasure over the "continuous stay of Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, representing the Delta South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly without any respect for the power rotation deal among other ethnic nationalities in the district”.

According to the group, the Isoko people have taken the decision to support the Itsekiri in displacing Senator James Manager, an Ijaw man who has turned to "Mugabe in the seat as if it is his father's property”.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba during the weekend, Sebastine Agbefe, the IMG President, lamented that the Ijaw, “without recourse to the power rotation accord, have been holding onto the Senate position meant for three ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district”.

Speaking on the decision to work against Manager, who has been senator since 20003, Agbefe said: "Enough is enough. This time around, the Isoko nation is fully ready to join forces with the Itsekiri to make sure Senator James Manager, an Ijaw, is voted out massively, because as a people, we will not continue to fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. The Ijaw man occupying the position now, in the person of James Manager, has turned Mugabe to the detriment of other ethnic nations in the district. It is the turn of the Itsekiri to occupy the seat, and the Isoko are solidly behind the Itsekiri come 2019.

"Now let me take the Ijaw on an important memory lane. You see, power rotation runs in the veins of the average Deltan, especially, those from the minority ethnic groups. It is a concept that has brought peace, harmony, equity, fairness and political inclusiveness amongst Deltans. It is like a norm indoctrinated in every child at birth. This is not to suggest that we do not have those who for personal and selfish gains try to disrupt the arrangement. 

"Paying attention to my Delta South senatorial zone, what we are fighting to sustain is not different from what is practised in the entire state. For instance, in the 2015 governorship election, the people voted Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a minority Ika man from Delta North, because his major contenders, Chief Great Ogboru of the labor party and Olorogun Otega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress were from Delta Central senatorial zone that had already produced Chief James Ibori as governor between 1999 and 2007. 

"Similarly, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, a minority Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district, also enjoyed the support of majority of Deltans based on the power rotation or zoning arrangement. The reality on ground today in Delta State is that political parties that have field governorship candidates from zones other than Delta North are considered to have blessed parties who field candidates from Delta North with victory, even before the polls.

"A lot of politicians will argue that the rotation is not practised or recognised in their parties because they have never been in power, but it does not sway the electorate because the issues are just beyond political parties. The electorate are very conscious of power rotation. No zone wants to be cheated. This arrangement also reflects in the presidency, where it is rotated between North and South.

"It is against this backdrop that we are canvassing to protect the power rotation or zoning arrangement in Delta South senatorial district. It consists of four ethnic groups: Isoko, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobos of Patani and Warri federal constituency. We believe that if every ethnic group is allowed to represent the zone at intervals, there will be peace and harmony. But in a situation where one ethnic group tries to hold onto it for too long, it will breed discord and enmity.”

Agbefe accused the Ijaw of holding onto the senatorial position for too long, and restated their determination to “fight for it”.

He continued: "Regrettably, the Ijaw who are the current occupants have refused to see things from our angle. They have been holding onto the Senate position meant for all of us. But as a people, we will not fold our hands; we will have to fight for it. We believe that the Isoko people have put in place a very solid foundation for rotation of the Senate position. Recall that in 1999, Senator Stella Omu, an Isoko woman, was the Senator representing the district but was replaced in 2003.

"The Isoko people did not see the position as a private property. Otherwise, James Manager will not have become the senator representing the district. At this point, every right thinking man and woman from the zone already knows that it is the turn of the Itsekiri. The work here will not be left for the Itsekiri alone, because if they fail to go to the Senate, it will never get to the turn of the Isoko again. Therefore, all Isoko sons and daughters, irrespective of political party affiliation, should fight this with eyes closed.

"The Isoko and Itsekiri should behave like the northerners did when President Jonathan wanted to return as president, at a time that they [northerners] considered to be their turn. Certainly, what will further strengthen the coalition of the Isoko and Itsekiri is the fact that James Manager's kinsmen are boasting in the media that ‘the Ijaw cannot relinquish the senatorial seat to the Itsekiri because they consider the Itsekiri as minority’. 

"It reminds me of a quote in ‘Arrow of God’: ‘But let the slave who sees another cast into a shallow grave, know that he shall be buried in the same way when his day comes’. We the Isoko people are also minority group in the district. A coalition of both ethnic groups automatically changes our status from minority to majority. This is the only way our pride and dignity can be protected.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2CDD98s

Ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region have written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the Zabazaba Deepwater project urging him to sign the Final Investment Decision(FID) for the project before the 2019 general elections.

The Zabazaba Deepwater project being developed by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company has a proven reserve of 560 million barrels of oil as a stand-alone development in the eastern portion of the Niger Delta in water depths ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 metres.

In a letter addressed to the president, General Premobowei Julius and Godswill Enato, on behalf of concerned agitators from the Niger Delta region, said the region and Nigeria, in general, would benefit from the signing of the FID for the project. 

While commending the president for the projects and programmes executed by his administration in the Niger Delta region, they said the Zabazaba project would be a catalyst for development with the active participation of local companies in line with the local content policy of the present administration.

The letter read in part: “Mr President, the immediate benefit of the signing of the FID includes the construction of the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units and subsea installations and drilling rigs. This will set an enviable record in local content with local companies set to fabricate 50% of the FSPO in the country, which will be a major boost to the country’s economy and the local content initiative being promoted and prioritised by the present government.

"The Zabazaba Deepwater project is capable of generating millions of jobs, and by 2020, when Agip intends to produce the first oil, it would generate $8billion for Nigeria. Overall, the effect of the Zabazaba Deepwater project on the Nigerian economy would be unprecedented and the multiplier effect on the local economies of the catchment areas in the Niger Delta will be huge.

"Mr President, with the amazing package the Zabazaba Deepwater project has for the people of the Niger Delta region and the Nigerian economy, signing the FID would put your administration and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in pole position as the campaigns for the 2019 enters top gear, with the Zabazaba Deepwater project counted as one of the major projects you have in the Niger Delta region.

"It would also demonstrate that your administration and your party take job creation as top priority."

Niger Delta Oil News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QC9jtk

Ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region have written to President Muhammadu Buhari on the Zabazaba Deepwater project urging him to sign the Final Investment Decision(FID) for the project before the 2019 general elections.

The Zabazaba Deepwater project being developed by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company has a proven reserve of 560 million barrels of oil as a stand-alone development in the eastern portion of the Niger Delta in water depths ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 metres.

In a letter addressed to the president, General Premobowei Julius and Godswill Enato, on behalf of concerned agitators from the Niger Delta region, said the region and Nigeria, in general, would benefit from the signing of the FID for the project. 

While commending the president for the projects and programmes executed by his administration in the Niger Delta region, they said the Zabazaba project would be a catalyst for development with the active participation of local companies in line with the local content policy of the present administration.

The letter read in part: “Mr President, the immediate benefit of the signing of the FID includes the construction of the Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units and subsea installations and drilling rigs. This will set an enviable record in local content with local companies set to fabricate 50% of the FSPO in the country, which will be a major boost to the country’s economy and the local content initiative being promoted and prioritised by the present government.

"The Zabazaba Deepwater project is capable of generating millions of jobs, and by 2020, when Agip intends to produce the first oil, it would generate $8billion for Nigeria. Overall, the effect of the Zabazaba Deepwater project on the Nigerian economy would be unprecedented and the multiplier effect on the local economies of the catchment areas in the Niger Delta will be huge.

"Mr President, with the amazing package the Zabazaba Deepwater project has for the people of the Niger Delta region and the Nigerian economy, signing the FID would put your administration and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in pole position as the campaigns for the 2019 enters top gear, with the Zabazaba Deepwater project counted as one of the major projects you have in the Niger Delta region.

"It would also demonstrate that your administration and your party take job creation as top priority."

Niger Delta Oil News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QC9jtk

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President Muhammadu Buhari has once again promised a level playing field for those contesting the 2019 presidential election.

According to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari said this at the State House in Abuja on Monday while receiving a delegation from the International Republican and National Democratic Institute, United States.

"I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries,” the President was quoted as saying.

"Having run for President three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls. What they used to do was just to award votes, and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won't do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past."

Buhari assured the visitors that he had told the heads of the security agencies not to be partisan, but to do their work professionally, and allow the will of the people to prevail.

Stressing that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) would keep faith with its priorities of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, the President expressed happiness that the opposition had not been able to successfully fault the focal areas of the government.

"We have done fairly well in the areas we focused on. We know how many local government areas in the north-east were under Boko Haram occupation before we came.

“That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers. Other areas of security challenge like farmers-herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and would be sorted out as much as possible."

On the Electoral Bill that was not assented to, the President said: "Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically. Even the Russians were accused of tampering with American election, so we will remain conventional, and use electronic transmission in subsequent elections."

Leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield, said they had met with the media, civil society, and political parties, and concerns expressed include fears of security agencies being partisan in the forthcoming elections, suspected non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders, delayed budget for the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the non-signing of the new Electoral Bill.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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President Muhammadu Buhari has once again promised a level playing field for those contesting the 2019 presidential election.

According to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari said this at the State House in Abuja on Monday while receiving a delegation from the International Republican and National Democratic Institute, United States.

"I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries,” the President was quoted as saying.

"Having run for President three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls. What they used to do was just to award votes, and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won't do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past."

Buhari assured the visitors that he had told the heads of the security agencies not to be partisan, but to do their work professionally, and allow the will of the people to prevail.

Stressing that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) would keep faith with its priorities of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, the President expressed happiness that the opposition had not been able to successfully fault the focal areas of the government.

"We have done fairly well in the areas we focused on. We know how many local government areas in the north-east were under Boko Haram occupation before we came.

“That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers. Other areas of security challenge like farmers-herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and would be sorted out as much as possible."

On the Electoral Bill that was not assented to, the President said: "Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically. Even the Russians were accused of tampering with American election, so we will remain conventional, and use electronic transmission in subsequent elections."

Leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield, said they had met with the media, civil society, and political parties, and concerns expressed include fears of security agencies being partisan in the forthcoming elections, suspected non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders, delayed budget for the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the non-signing of the new Electoral Bill.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has once again promised a level playing field for those contesting the 2019 presidential election.

According to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari said this at the State House in Abuja on Monday while receiving a delegation from the International Republican and National Democratic Institute, United States.

"I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries,” the President was quoted as saying.

"Having run for President three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls. What they used to do was just to award votes, and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won't do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past."

Buhari assured the visitors that he had told the heads of the security agencies not to be partisan, but to do their work professionally, and allow the will of the people to prevail.

Stressing that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) would keep faith with its priorities of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, the President expressed happiness that the opposition had not been able to successfully fault the focal areas of the government.

"We have done fairly well in the areas we focused on. We know how many local government areas in the north-east were under Boko Haram occupation before we came.

“That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers. Other areas of security challenge like farmers-herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and would be sorted out as much as possible."

On the Electoral Bill that was not assented to, the President said: "Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically. Even the Russians were accused of tampering with American election, so we will remain conventional, and use electronic transmission in subsequent elections."

Leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield, said they had met with the media, civil society, and political parties, and concerns expressed include fears of security agencies being partisan in the forthcoming elections, suspected non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders, delayed budget for the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the non-signing of the new Electoral Bill.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2QXHI54