Osinbajo And PANDEF Meet On Niger Delta...

Forty-eight hours after the Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) gave the federal government an ultimatum to implement its 16-point demand for the region or lose its co-operation, acting President Yemi Osinbajo last night met with the group behind closed-door in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and resolved to henceforth, work together.

The meeting which started at about 7p.m. was attended by notable Niger Delta leaders and traditional rulers including Chief Edwin Clark, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, former Minister of Transport, Alabo Graham-Douglas, His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, former Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, his successor, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Timi Alaibe and Chief Tony Uranta, among others.

Answering questions from journalists after the meeting, Clark said the group was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. He praised the acting president, describing him as forthright, truthful and sincere adding that they had all resolved to work together including the militants who had earlier threatened to resume unrest on September 30.
He withdrew the ultimatum the group issued the federal government on some of the contentious issues.

“The meeting was excellent. We met with Mr. Acting President. He was very forthright, truthful. We were very satisfied. There is no ultimatum. We agreed on many things and we came in with our own address, presented it; the ministers presented their cases.

Mr. Acting President rounded it off and we saw in him the genuineness, truthfulness and forthrightness. He’s a gentleman and we support him. We are satisfied. We did not use the word ultimatum. We only.said we would withdraw. But we have agreed to work together.

“The message is that we had the opportunity to meet the acting president and we discussed various things – our 16-point agenda and the government’s 20-point agenda and we are all satisfied. The message is that everybody should maintain peace.

“We have agreed to work together. MEND is here. MEND was in the meeting. Jomo Gbomo does not exist as a human being. That’s a ghost name. MEND was here. Other organisations were here. I’m the leader of Niger Delta and every leader you can think of from Cross River to Edo State were here,” Clark said.

Also speaking on behalf of the government, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, described the meeting as a collaborative efforts towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis plaguing the Niger Delta region.
He said the meeting explored issues bordering on the development of the Niger Delta, pointing out that the atmosphere was peaceful and friendly.

“The meeting was a collaborative effort to find solution to Niger Delta issues. The acting president was visited by PANDEF led by Clark. The meeting explored how far we had gone with the fulfilment of our undertakings on the 16-point agenda.

“Several issues were discussed – issues relating to the development of Niger Delta generally, issues relating to amnesty programme and how well it is working. Issues relating to NDDC operations generally. It was exhaustive. We looked at the 16-point agenda…Today was an environment of peace, calmness, friendliness and mutual dialoguing on issues, to understand where we are coming from,” the minister said.

The meeting was meant to strike a deal between the federal government and the agitating people of Niger Delta over the region’s development.

The height of its success was conveyed in tweet last night by the media aide to the acting president, Mr. Laolu Akande, that PANDEF had joined the inter-ministerial group of the federal government with a view to actively working with the government on Niger Delta development.

PANDEF’s ultimatum on Monday was followed by that of Niger Delta militants who had threatened to resume the destruction of oil installations from September 30, following the perceived failure of the government to fulfill its promise to implement a developmental agenda in the region.

PANDEF had on its path, threatened to pull out of further co-operation with the federal government if it failed to reach a consensus with it on the 16-point demand it submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari in November, last year.
Ahead of the meeting, there had also been rumblings in the Niger Delta as militants withdrew their collaboration with PANDEF led by Clarke.

The militants had in a statement by their spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said PANDEF lacked the moral right to issue an ultimatum to the government.

While discrediting PANDEF, Gbomo, the spokesman for Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), said: “In view of our irreconcilable differences, MEND hereby recalls its representatives in PANDEF for consultation with immediate effect.

“PANDEF, led by elder statesmen, Clark and King Diette -Spiff, lacks the moral justification in giving an ultimatum to the federal government and making demands they never made from Goodluck Jonathan when he was at the helm for six wasted years.

“Instead of listening to the so-called Niger Delta activists and the compromised Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who have miraculously regained the voices they lost when Jonathan was President, and instead of issuing threats through fake internet-based militant groups, PANDEF ought to have used the forum and opportunity to commend the federal government for exposing the monumental looting of our commonwealth by some sons and daughters of the soil, starting from the former President, his wife Patience, cousins, relatives and cronies and so many other traitors; down to the mind boggling theft by Diezani Allison-Madueke, who empowered others while her people lived in squalor and abject poverty.
“PANDEF is also pretending not to notice that the Amnesty Programme is still operating on the corrupt template that still pays ghost militants after it hoodwinked the government into believing in the fraud. A program that has neglected the children of the dead freedom fighters and those in prison, for those that never made any sacrifice is curse,” MEND said.

Another group, Reformed Egbesu Fraternity (REF), also castigated both PANDEF and federal government, saying it had withdrawn from its peace pact with the government.

“At age 90, Papa Clark should step aside for younger people if at all, there is the likelihood of further engagement with the federal government, but we equally dissociate ourselves from the antics of the federal government in the peace process and call for outright destruction of the oil economy in our territories and communities to teach the Federal Government a hard lesson.

“By this resolution, we have withdrawn from the peace process and warn that the Niger Delta ethnic nationalities were never conquered and that we would match fire for fire with the Hausa-Fulani military. We have always spared their lives even when their excesses were glaring but in the next ground of confrontation they would learn in a bitter way,” the group threatened.

However, as the meeting continued late into the night, the presidency released a list of moves it had made since the visit of Osinbajo to Niger Delta earlier in the year.

According to a release by the acting president’s spokesman, Akande, the government had commenced the process of replacing illegal refineries with modular refineries.

He also said the government had put the machinery in place towards the opening of Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

Akande also said the federal government had released N35 billion to sustain the amnesty programme in the region adding that another N70 billion had been allocated to fund amnesty programme in 2017 budget, among others.

“The Federal Government has started the process of replacing illegal refineries in the region with modular ones, including options on how to involve the communities as shareholders in the proposed Modular Refineries. Ground-breaking of the first set of such refineries are expected in the fourth quarter of the year.

In its operations, FG will supply crude to the local refineries at reasonably considered price, as an incentive to stop the current practice whereby illegal refiners vandalise and steal the crude. Each Niger Delta is expected to host 2 modular refineries each.

“Similarly, FG has commenced the process for the opening of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state. Already, a 5-man inter-agency committee headed by the Minister of Education is in the final stages for the official opening of the university in the 2017/2018 academic session.

“FG has released additional N35 billion to step up the Amnesty Programme in the Delta region, which is a specific and significant raise to the 2016 budgetary allocation to the office. This significant increase is already reflected in the 2017 budget with N70billion allocation,” Akande said.

Source: - This Day | August 05, 2017.

CUNCNews: Usain Bolt Made To Work, Gatlin Jeered

CUNCNews: Usain Bolt Made To Work, Gatlin Jeered: Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt overcame a “very bad” start to successfully kick off the defence of his world 100m title on Friday, but ...

Usain Bolt Made To Work, Gatlin Jeered

Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt overcame a “very bad” start to successfully kick off the defence of his world 100m title on Friday, but American arch-rival Justin Gatlin was jeered by the British public.

Bolt, seeking a 12th world title in his swansong season, found himself fifth halfway into the blue riband event before putting on the afterburners to win his heat in 10.07 seconds.

“That was very bad,” Bolt said. “I stumbled coming out of blocks, I’m not fond of these blocks.

“I think they’re the worst ones I’ve ever experienced.

“I have to get this start together because I can’t keep doing this. It’s shaky. When I did my warm up it (the blocks) pushed back. It’s not what I am used to.”

Bolt v Gatlin at the 2012 Olympics at the same London stadium had been billed as ‘good against evil’, given the American’s doping-tainted past, and so it again proved.

Gatlin, the last man to beat Bolt over 100m — by a hundredth of a second in Rome in 2013 — was met with loud booing and jeering when shown on the big screen before his heat and after he streaked through in a winning time of 10.05sec in his heat.

“It’s not the panto season,” the stadium announcer pleaded to the packed-out 60,000 seater London Stadium as a bemused-looking Gatlin made a sharp exit from the track.

“I’m not worried about the crowds. I just focus on my start and my race,” said Gatlin.

“I am just here, seeing my teammates, seeing my countrymen and just having a good time.”

Crowd ‘always wonderful’

Bolt had no complaints about his welcome, however, describing the crowd as “always wonderful”.

“They always show me so much love and I always appreciate being here,” he said.

“I’m excited about getting through to that final and doing my job to my best.”

Bolt will be joined by Jamaican teammates Julian Forte, the sole sprinter to go under 10sec with 9.99, and Yohan Blake, who capitalised on Bolt’s sole hiccup at global events since winning at the Beijing Olympics — a false start — to be crowned 2011 world champion in Daegu.

The 35-year-old Gatlin, who served a four-year ban reduced from eight for doping from 2006-10, will be joined in Saturday’s semi-finals by compatriots Christian Coleman, who has this season’s fastest time of 9.82sec, and Christopher Belcher.

Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown clocked 10.05sec to win his heat ahead of Blake, while China’s Bingtian Su also won to ensure a healthy Asian presence in Saturday’s races.

But South African Thando Roto, with an impressive best of 9.95sec this season, was disqualified for a false start, fancied teammate Akani Simbine also having to sneak in as one of the fastest qualifiers.

Source: -  The Guardian | August 05, 2017.

CUNCNews: Igbo Residents Disown Kanu And Broker For Peace Wi...

CUNCNews: Igbo Residents Disown Kanu And Broker For Peace Wi...: The tensed atmosphere created by the quit notice handed to Igbos living in the North may soon be doused following the outcome of the Fri...

Igbo Residents Disown Kanu And Broker For Peace With Arewa Youth

The tensed atmosphere created by the quit notice handed to Igbos living in the North may soon be doused following the outcome of the Friday meeting between Arewa youths and Igbo leaders in the North.

The Arewa youths in their meeting held in Kano with Igbo leaders of thought from the 19 northern states, resolved and raised a 10 man-Reconciliation Committee saddled with the mandate to finding a lasting solution to the issues surrounding the October 1 ultimatum.

Sequel to the renewed call for Igbos to leave the North by October 1, by the northern youths, the former vice president, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Isah Tijjani, had convened the meeting.

Tijjani handed down 72 hours to the 10-man reconciliation committee to submit their report on the issues.
Members of the Committee were drawn equally from the both groups.

The five of them representating the Arewa Youths Coalition are, Barrister Abdullahi Toro, Dr Abba Bukar Kagu, Dr Yima Sen, Dauda S. Shamakeri and Alhaji Ado Mohammed.

Those from Igbo leaders are, Chief Chi Nwogu, Eze Ngozi Nwaine Oso, Chief Chris Nnoli, Igwe Ibekwe and Magnus Ihejirika.

While Shettima Yarima led the northern youths to the conference, Igwe Boniface Igbekwe, Eze Ndigbo Kano, led Igbo leaders.

Tijjani asked the Committee to try and reach a position of agreement for the peaceful coexistence and development of the country at large.

Yerima had in his speech earlier, blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s agitation for Biafra as the reason for the quit notice order to Ndigbo.

He said, “Though we had a meeting with the Ohaneze Youth Council in Kaduna, who dissociated themselves from Nnamdi Kanu, and we got all sorts of condemnation from the South East. So we couldn’t understand what was really happening.”

In his own speech, Chief Ibekwe said, “When you issued a quit notice, where do you want us to go? For your information none of us is a member of IPOB. Since the issuance of quit notice, you will notice that many things go differently. If you are a businessman you will understand what I am saying more clearly.”

He then assured that Igbos in the North believe in peace and peaceful coexistence of the country.

Observers will be keen to see where this latest effort leads, in this quit notice saga that has so far resisted different efforts at resolution.

Source: -  Chidi Chinedu | Ripples | August 05, 2017.

CUNCNews: Fire Rips Through Dubai Skyscraper ‘The Torch’

CUNCNews: Fire Rips Through Dubai Skyscraper ‘The Torch’: Panicked residents fled one of the tallest towers in Dubai early Friday after a fire ripped through it, the second blaze to hit the skys...

Fire Rips Through Dubai Skyscraper ‘The Torch’

Panicked residents fled one of the tallest towers in Dubai early Friday after a fire ripped through it, the second blaze to hit the skyscraper in as many years.

Authorities said no casualties were reported from the blaze which erupted in the middle to upper floors of The Torch, once the tallest residential development in the world.

The tower was the scene of a 2015 inferno that caused extensive damage to its luxury flats and triggered an evacuation of nearby blocks in the Marina neighbourhood.

Dubai authorities later said the fire had been put out. There was no immediate indication of what caused the blaze.

Images published by Dubai Civil Defence showed The Torch after the flames were brought under control: lights were still on in some lower floors, but the middle to upper section appeared to be completely burned out.

In January Dubai announced tougher rules to minimise fire risks after a series of tower blazes in the modern emirate mostly due to flammable material used in cladding, a covering or coating used on the side of the buildings.

On New Year’s Eve 2015 a fire broke out in a luxury hotel, injuring 16 people hours before a fireworks display nearby.

In November 2015, fire engulfed three residential blocks in central Dubai and led to services on a metro line being suspended, although no one was hurt.

Source: - The Guardian | August 04, 2017.