POLITICS
APC Parliamentarians Directorate Seeks Impeachment of South-South Govs over N950bn Fraud
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Parliamentarians Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in South-South Geo political zone yesterday raised an alarm that the six governors in the region are cornering outstanding N950billion excess crude oil monies and 13% derivations due to the states through low rate discounting at various banks.
It consequently called on respective House of Assembly of the South-South states to carry out thorough investigation on the ridiculous discounting by the Governors with attendant impeachment proceedings against them.
Leveling the allegations against the governors during the inauguration of the Parliamentary forum in support of APC candidates in the 2023 general elections in Abuja yesterday, the Director of the Parliamentarians, Senator Ita Enang said governors of the respective states have not only squandered substantial portion of oil monies given them by President Buhari but already discounting the yet to be collected N950 billion.
The monies, he explained are refund to the oil producing states as arrears between 2004 and 2019 as well as derivation arrears from deductions made by NNPC from 1999 to December 2021 aside refund of 13% derivation exchange rate differential of the dollar on withdrawal from excess crude account .
On state by state basis, Ita Enang said while Akwa Ibom State has collected total sum of N133.5 billion, it has outstanding of N277billion to collect but already discounting at low rate in banks for ridiculous loans.
Rivers State government under Governor Wike as stated in the written document circulated at the press briefing, has collected N116billion from the oil monies arrears and N229billion as outstanding also allegedly being mortgaged through low discounting in banks for ridiculous loans.
For Delta State, Ita Enang alleged that a total of N125billion has been collected while outstanding balance of N253billion is being mortgaged.
He added that while Bayelsa State has also collected N104billion of such monies, the outstanding balance of N209billion is also being discounted by the State Governor for ridiculous loans.
Edo State according to him, is also in the business of squandering oil monies accrued to the State with little or nothing to show for the N13billion collected so far and discounting action already being taken on N37billion outstanding payment due to the state .
He however said that Cross River State government is not in the fleecing game due to insignificant accruals the state has been getting.
“Total money collected by Cross River State from oil money arrears is N1.4billion while outstanding payment is N1.2billion.
“Exposures being made here today on how the Governors of the South South States , have been squandering oil earnings , are to get the people of the respective states informed ahead of the 2023 general election that they should reject their party , the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the 2023 general election.
“We want impeachment proceedings to be carried out against them by their respective State Houses of Assembly if their members truly loyal to the people
“We however thank the Governors for their kleptomania which will surely make candidates of their party to lose elections next year,” he said
He challenged any of the governors to counter statements of facts leveled against them.
From Marcel Duru, Owerri
The Labour Party Candidate in the 2023 general elections for Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Uche Ogbuagu, has appreciated the party faithful in the area for their massive support for him, in last year’s general elections.Speaking during a special well attended Thank You Parley at his Akabo Ikeduru Country Home, the political Leader poured out his heartfelt appreciation to his supporters, who fought tooth and nail to ensure his electoral victory at the polls.
He explained that he did not abandon the mandate which the people freely gave to him but blamed the outcome on a few bad compromised elements who were bent on subverting the will of God and the people, maintaining that he has left Vengeance to the Almighty.According to Ogbuagu Uche Ogbuagu, he followed the right path as enshrined in the relevant laws of the land as he approached the court, the arbitrator and last Hope of the citizenry *from the tribunal to the Appellate Court.He assured his numerous supporters to keep faith alive as God still rules in the affairs of men and his faith in Christ Jesus remains unfazed.In the same vein he thanked God Almighty and the people of Mbaike, including the women and many others who accompanied him while he campaigned across the length and breadth of Mbaike.Many leaders of the party from the State, and across Mbaike which included His campaign Council Director General, Hon. Chris Egesimba, State Deputy woman leader, Chief Innocent Anukam the Chairman in Ikeduru, Chief Ifeanyi Aguocha, the Party Chairman in Mbaitoli, the Labour Party Candidate for Ikeduru State Constituency Hon. Engr Chuks Anaele and many other leaders,party executives from State,LGA and Wards,other stakeholders from all spheres attended the special event.Highlights of the events include the Observation of one minute silence in honour of departed LP Heroes in Mbaike and Exceptional Word Of Exhortation by Apostle Chiemela Rowland, which he titled ” Allow God to Avenge.”
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
The Board of Trustee (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the solutions to the leadership problems confronting the PDP are contained in its Constitution but are being stalled by deliberate litigations.Sen. Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the BoT, who stated this at the board’s 77th meeting yesterday, however, said the PDP needs to resolve the challenges in the best interest of the party and its members.
”It is incumbent upon us to resolve this matter with utmost urgency, guided by transparency, fairness, and the best interests of our party and its members,” Wabara said. He added, “Recalling the events that led to the ousting of the former Chairman of the Party in person of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the current Acting Chairman has spent over a year in office whereas as the usual practice of the party, the region from whence the national officer hails from should have produced a viable candidate to complete the tenure of the former national officer.”Furthermore, the contentious issue surrounding the office of the National Secretary has regrettably sown seeds of discord within our party. The ambiguity surrounding this position has led to confusion and internal strife, hindering our collective efforts to pursue our noble objectives.”The solutions to these two challenges are clearly imbibed in our party’s constitution but deliberate litigations have made the application of these constitutional solutions impossible.”He said the BoT as leaders feel the pulse of Nigerians and particularly members of the party in their demand and quest for direction at this critical time in the life of the PDP and the nation.”Nigerians are currently passing through a perilous time and their earnest expectation is for us as a party to put our house in order and effectively lead the charge to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All-Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.He, therefore, said that the impending expiration of the Ward and Local Government Area executive structures of the PDP presented the party with the opportunity to reinvigorate and reposition for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”The forthcoming congresses at various levels serve as a beacon of hope, offering us a platform to reaffirm our commitment to democratic ideals, grassroots participation, and inclusive governance. Let us seize this moment to embrace change, foster unity, and chart a course towards a brighter and more prosperous future for our party and our nation,” he said.In his remarks during the meeting, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Iliya Damagum, said that in spite of the challenges confronting the party, it has been going about its activities, adding that consultations were ongoing to resolve them.Among members of the BoT in attendance at the meeting are Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi and Secretary of the BoT, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abbah Moro.Others former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sen. Ben Obi, former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, Josephine Anenih, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, Sen. Osita Ngwu and former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives said it is working on plans to ensure financial autonomy for managers of nuclear energy centres in the country.Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene called on personnel and nuclear scientists managing Nigeria’s nuclear research centres to make efforts to avoid any act of sabotage that could lead to adverse incidents that would jeopardize the security of the nation.
He assured them that the parliament is working towards ensuring that the Budget Office of the Federation “grant the two Centres of Excellence Financial Autonomy, by providing them with separate budget lines for Effective and Efficient discharge of their mandate. ”Ogene made this appeal on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Abuja, when representatives of the two Centres met with the Committee on Renewable Energy, at the National Assembly, in continuation of the investigation into why the hazard and high-risk allowances, which was approved for the scientists in the two centres were withheld by the Budget Office, but ironically, allegedly, paid to civil servants in the employ of Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Abuja.The two Centres in question are the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife.While the Centre in Zaria, Kaduna state, hosts the nation’s only nuclear reactor, the Centre in Ile-Ife hosts nuclear Tandem Accelerator in addition to nuclear waste and other dreaded sources of radiation that must be handled with care.The management of the two high-risk centres had raised concerns over the impact of the non-payment of the deserved allowances to the morale of scientists at the two centres, who faced daily risks in managing the nation’s nuclear facilities, through a complaint letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abass Tajudeen, in January, 2024.They also raised concerns over the danger of a possible sabotage or avoidable nuclear accident as a result of the disillusionment of staff at the two centres over poor working conditions and lack of institutional support for their programmes.The Speaker subsequently directed the Committee on Renewable Energy to look into the challenges raised by the Centres.The representative of the Centres, Prof. Ganiyu I. Balogun, Prof. J.F.K Akinbami, Dr. Bashir M. Umar and Dr. M.B Katif, who spoke in turns, explained the challenges of the centres and how they have been trying to manage the situation in order to avert ugly nuclear incidents that could lead to serious international embarrassment.But Hon. Ogene, while appealing to them for calm, informed them about the efforts of the House to bring a lasting resolution to the identified challenges.Speaking further, he told them that the Committee found merit in their petition and have therefore made some recommendations, which include:”That the Rt. Honourable Speaker, do direct the Budget Office of the Federation, as well as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to restore the Allowances under review.”Also, direct the Budget Office of the Federation to grant the two Centres of Excellence Financial Autonomy, by providing them with separate budget lines for Effective and Efficient discharge of their mandate.”Also that the various appeals by the Chairman/CEO, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, made on behalf of his staff, should be approved by virtue of the sensitive nature of the jobs they undertake.”That the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission be queried because of its negative role in the matter.”
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