Top chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday joined Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in a special thanksgiving to usher in his second term.

Among the PDP chieftains in attendance at the Thanksgiving mass held at the St Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City were former Governor of the State and aspirant in the last election, Prof Osariemen Osunbor and another aspirant in the July 14 election and former NDDC Commissioner representing Edo State, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Benin City, His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze assured the Governor and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu of the continued support of the Christian community, saying his victory at the July 14 governorship election is a vote of confidence on him by the people of Edo State.

In his homily at the Special Thanksgiving Mass, the Archbishop said Oshiomhole’s re-election is a unanimous decision of the people for good governance.

“Edo people have reposed so much confidence in you and they have demonstrated this through their votes that you will bring respite to them. However, let me remind you that to whom much is given, much is expected. Do not give the people any reason to wish otherwise,” the cleric noted.

“We promise to continue to support you always with the generosity of our prayers,” he added.

In his remarks, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole thanked the Christian community for their support, noting that, “as you have prayed for us I want you to continue to pray for us that God would help us to govern Edo state. Unless the Lord governs Edo state, Pius and I would govern in vain.

“We ask God to give us the clean heart to do good even to those who were opposed to us. To give us the spirit of forgiveness and to remind us that as governor, we are governor of all”, Comrade Oshiomhole said.

According to him, “the resources that we control are meant for the good of the people, that God would give us wisdom to do that which would deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people.”

The Governor urged the people to continue to remember the government in prayers adding that, “with God we would take Edo State to the next level.”

The highpoint of the special thanksgiving mass was the thanks giving offering by the Governor and his Deputy, Rt.Hon Pius Odubu.

Amongst the dignitaries who graced the thanksgiving mass was former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, two Former Governors of Edo state, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and Prof. Osariemen Osunbor, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Action Congress of Nigeria Chieftains, members of the National Assembly, Edo State House of Assembly members,  Judges of Edo Staste judiciary, led by Hon Justice Cromwelll Idahosa, traditional rulers, among others.

In appreciation of his support for the growth and development of Local Government Administration in Nigeria, the Africa Municipal and Local Government Unions Network (AMALGUN) has decorated Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State with the Grand Patron of their continental body

Governor Uduaghan was the only Governor so honoured by the body which is made up of Local Government Workers Unions in English and French speaking African Countries, at the launch of the Nigeria branch of the organization in Abuja at the weekend.

The ceremony attended by Local Government Workers Unions delegation from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Seirra-leon and Azania, was witnessed by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar among other dignitaries.

The Africa Municipal and Local Government Unions Grand Patron award was presented to Governor Uduaghan by the body’s Chairman who is also the General Secretary of the South Africa Municipal Workers Union, Comrade Walter Theledi.

Speaking at the event, the National President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel explained that Governor Uduaghan was honoured for supporting good governance at the Local Government level by not tampering with their allocation as well as for the provision of six hundred million naira monthly bail out to Local Government Councils to pay Primary Schools Teachers salaries.

He appealed to other Governors to emulate Governor Uduaghan while pledging the co-operation of Local Government Workers to the State Government.

Comrade Khaleel appealed to the National Assembly to intervene in the crises between Local Government Workers in Ekiti and Plateau States with their states Government which have not paid their council workers for over six months.

In his remarks, Governor Uduaghan thanked the Africa Municipal and Local Government Unions Network for the gesture.

He appealed to the Federal Government to increase the monthly revenue allocated to Local Governments from the federation Account or remove the responsibility of paying Primary Schools Teachers salaries from the councils.

He said that Primary Schools Teachers salaries took up to seventy-five percent of Local Government Council’s revenue allocation, leaving the Councils with little or no money to meet other development challenges adding that the development has forced the State Government to provide six hundred million naira monthly bail-out fund for the payment of their salaries.

Governor Uduaghan advised critics of Local Government Councils to first understand that inadequate funds had hampered fast development in the Councils.
He dedicated the Honour to Local Government Workers in the State and pledged support for their welfare and the growth of Local Government Unions.

While launching the Africa Municipal and Local Government Unions Network, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal pledged the National Assembly’s support for Local Government’s financial independence from State Governments adding that a bill to that effect would soon be passed.

He said the National Assembly would put a clause in the law to deny revenue allocation to Local Governments councils whose officials were not elected.

Honourable Tambuwal commended Governor Uduaghan for his efforts in developing Local Governments in the State, while congratulating him on the honour.

In his goodwill message, Nigeria Labour Congress, President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar described the Grand Patron of the Council Workers gesture on Governor Uduaghan as well deserved.

Comrade Omar called on the Federal Government not to tie Local Government revenue allocation to that of State Governments to expedite development.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, on Sunday a week before US Pres. Barack Obama is due to visit.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, on Sunday. At least 12 are dead and a gold mine collapsed, just one week before the scheduled first-time visit of an American president to the southeast Asian nation – U.S. President Barack Obama.

The earthquake was felt as far away as the capital, Naypyitaw, 225 miles (365 kilometers) south of the epicenter. Several windows were shattered in the parliament building there.

The temblor was also felt in the capital Bangkok, in southeast neighboring Thailand. The country is bordered to the west by India, and to its northeast by China.

The epicenter of the temblor, which struck at 7:42 a.m. local time near the Irrawaddy River, was in an underdeveloped area.

The region, known as a mining center for gemstones and minerals, is sparsely inhabited, and local media are reporting casualty figures as they come in.

According to a local official, at least six were killed in Sintku township, with another 11 injured. Many were miners. In addition, two monasteries, several large sculptures, a number of temples and a bridge also collapsed.

Other damage was reported in Mogok, an area containing abandoned ruby mines, east of the epicenter, where centuries-old temples were damaged but no one was injured.

Myanmar is known also as a source country for human trafficking, according to the CIA website, and is the world’s third largest producer of illicit opium, with an estimated production of 2009 of 250 metric tons.

The majority of its population is Buddhist (89%), followed by Christians (4%) and Muslims (4%).

KOGI ASSEMBLY CRISES TAKES A NEW DIMENSION :

Online Journalist, Odaudu Joel Minister , wife Arrested!

Governor Wada is Deploying an outdated Gestapo Tactics!-Phrank SHAIBU

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Citizens have reacted to the over-12hr arrest and detention of Odaudu Joel Minister and his wife, a journalist and citizen reporter who was arrested by the police on the orders of the Kogi State governor, Capt. Idris Wada , at 12.30am this morning for what a Police source said, was connected to a comment he posted on Facebook about the Governor on the crises rocking the state House of Assembly.

The said post was said to have exposed a secret meeting held at the Kogi State Governors Lodge Asokoro between Governor Wada and Hon. Yakubu Yunusa, the Majority Leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly representing Ofu constituency and a strong member of the 13-anti impeachment lawmakers on 5th November, where the State Governor was alleged to have begged the said Hon. Yakubu profusely to work on his colleagues from Kogi East who are members of the 13-anti impeachment group to dump the group and was also said to have offered each of the Igala born legislators 25million each.

The said meeting came after it was reported that,efforts by the Kogi State Government to win-over another set of four members of the House in support of Bello from Kogi West also met a brick wall.

Investigation revealed that a meeting to allegedly coax the four members to support the state government’s anointed Speaker was held at about 10.30pm on Wednesday last week at Chief Jide Omokore’s House in Maitama Abuja.

According to our source, those at the meeting were the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Arch Yomi Awoniyi , Chief Omokore and Prince Olusola Akanmode among other political leaders from Kogi West Senatorial District.

The pro-Bello’s members present at the said meeting, were Hon Henry Ojuola (Yagba East State Constituency), Hon Foluso Daniel (Mopa Muro), Hon Yori Solomon Afolabi (Ijumu) and Hon Abidemi Adeyemi (Yagba West).

Another top source at the meeting disclosed that the Arch. Awoniyi-led group requested the four legislators to withdraw their support for Hon Bello in order to confer legitimacy on the Speaker elected by 12 members of the House.

The source said: “The four lawmakers reply to the plea was that they were men of integrity and that they will not sell their integrity over a pot of porridge. They said they would rather maintain their integrity than capitulate

Mr. Odaudu Joel Minister , an online journalist and former moderator of a facebook group; The KOGI POLITICAL PLATFORM was alleged to have been beaten like a notorious criminal by some men of the Nigerian Police from The Kogi State Police Command, Anyigba division on the orders of one Hajia Habiba Wada, a younger sister to the Governor. This came as a follow up to an earlier calls to Mr Odaudu Joel Minister from one Fatima Abdullahi née-Wada,threatening the online journalist to either stop reporting stories on her father or risk arrest,detention and total annihilation. Our source has it that the social critic was arrested in his residence in Anyigba in Dekina Local Government area at or about 12.30 am today. “All i can say for now is that no arm was found in the possession of Mr. Odaudu Joel Minister when he was arrested.” A source was quoted as saying.

“Let me place on record that,what happened to this man is indefensible,” said a Lokoja-based lawyer,Idris Kabir on telephone, adding, “Curiously, the penal code doesn’t know Internet defamation as an offense.” The lawyer accused Governor Wada and the police commissioner of abuse” of power as well as “stretching a law to cover a ground that it does not cover.” “This man called a Governor should take a cue from President Goodluck Jonathan. If there were a law like that,Mr President would have arrested over Ten Million Nigerians because he is the most abused president on the social media”

When contacted, a Kogi born Media Consultant,Phrank SHAIBU had this to say “I want to say with all sense of modesty and responsibility that the way Mr. Odaudu Joel Minister was treated by the Police today is unlawful, barbaric, cruel, brutal, evil, vicious, wicked, vindictive and reckless! Why would Mr. Odaudu Joel Minister and his wife be that bashed when no arm was caught in his possession? What did he do to warrant that inhumane and sadistic treatment by people who are supposed to be friends of the masses? Where is the Freedom of Information and Right to Speech and Expression conferred on Mr. Odaudu Joel Minister by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended)? Whosoever instigated this shameless act must be apprehended, rebuked and condemned by all lovers of democracy.”

One Ahmed Idakwo who wrote on the Facebook page of The Kogi Political Platform said: “Mr. Odaudu Joel Minister and myself were neither friends nor enemies. We do not share identical political ideology and I don’t know him in person. We have even trade-tackled issues with each other on social media to the extent that he was compelled to block me; but our sprained relationship would not stop me from kicking against the illegality and injustice waged against my fellow human being by enemies of democracy.This is rather unfortunate! Injustice to one is injustice to all!”

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From Vincent Odogu in Benin

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The National Executive of the Niger Delta Development ex militants which is the umbrella body of the recently approved 3642 ex agitators have warned all impostors and fraudsters to desist from parading themselves as leaders of the third phase amnesty or be ready to face the music.

The National chairman of the Niger Delta Development ex militants Julius Joseph told newsmen in Benin that he will not condone any form of reckless and mischievous behavior by any group of people who parade themselves as leaders of the Niger Delta Development ex militants.

He said these faceless people who now want to sow where they did not reap were not around when the real ex agitators went with others to block the East/West road, the Lokoja/Abuja expressway and the series of dialogue and painstaking meetings held with the presidency through the office of the former National Security Adviser and the Special Assistant to the president on Niger Delta affairs Hon Kinsley Kuku for the inclusion and presidential pardon of all truly disarmed ex agitators which Mr President as a passionate and merciful father obliged on the 5^th of October 2012

This development he said is to counter a publication by one Johnson Ajua and another Ramson Umukoro both claiming to be the newly elected National chairman.

The National Secretary of the Niger Delta Development ex militant Ted Odogwu when interviewed on the records of those disarmed said nobody from Ondo state has been identified as a disarmed ex agitators during the struggle for inclusion. He said Delta and Bayelsa states have the highest number of disarmed leaders.

The National Secretary urged all disarmed leaders to disassociate themselves from any from those people and await the federal government amnesty office to go with the documentation and implementation process which is expected to commence soon.

The National Secretary also advised all disarmed leaders to always see themselves as peace ambassadors and should desist from every form of rally or violent action capable of disrupting the current peace in the region.

From Ebere Uzoukwa, Owerri Imo State
The Managing Director of Imo Transport Company (ITC) Emeka Duru has disclosed that strategic safety measures have been put in place by the management to ensure passengers safety during and after Yuletide.
In an interview with newsmen, Duru disclosed that his team has articulated effective measures and strategies that will guide the company in its operations to ensure accident-free season.
He said ” My team is really prepared for the season and we have put several measures on ground to ensure total safety of our customers. Let me state it clearly thar safety remains our priority especially during the Yuletide period and we are indeed committed to achieving that in line with our safety guidelines. We are conscious of the fact that it is a period fortune for establishments like ours if well planned and a time of failure for those that have refuse to plan well. Our drivers and other staff have been sensitized accordingly to implement the measures as stipulated by the management”.
Duru further disclosed that under the concession agreement with Imo state government that transferred the management of ITC to Global Ginika Services Ltd, a whopping 2.2billion has been injected into the company leading to the procurement 290 brand new buses with 64 additional loading bays opened across the country and Ghana within 8 months, adding that over 1000 jobs have been already created for Imolites by the new management of the company.
He disclosed that an operational frame-work has been designed by his team to attract direct investment of 5 Billion Naira that will create additional 3000 employment opportunities in line with the job creation policy of Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha Rescue Mission Agenda within 24 months.
The ITC boss described the recent protest by some staff of the company as unwarranted and uncalled for considering the new welfare package introduced by the management which he said include payment of N20,000 minimum wage.
He however attributed it to the handiwork of infiltrators and some disgruntled elements that have vowed to frustrate Gov. Okorocha’s effort towards strengthening all facets of the economy including government ailing establishments including ITC.
“The protest so far as I know was uncalled for considering our commitment to carry everyone along. As I am speaking now, the October salary is being paid and of course we are paying N20,000 minimum wage. Apart from that, we have put several measures on ground to boost staff welfare and to impact positively on our neighborhood through our well-articulated Corporate Social Responsibility. That is why we have a free water scheme for people living within the vicinity and our staff.
The ITC boss described as unfounded the allegation that the present management participated in the auction of some unserviceable buses in the company adding that such exercise in government establishments is always always carried out out by relevant government agencies and ministry.
He lamented over the actives of the franchise owners whom he said have continued to oppose measures put in place by Gov. Okorocha to sanitize and reposition the company as the best organized road transport company in Nigeria.

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Information reaching 247ureports.com indicates that the Ex-Gov of Oyo State,  Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina has died. He was 73 years old.

The former governor had a weakened health in the recent months. On September 19, 2012 the former governor was rushed to the University College Hospital (uch) around 9pm due for an undisclosed ailment. Hospital sources informed that he was being given close monitoring – but did not disclose his ailment. The stakeholders in Oyo State had remain silent over the illness but the chairman of the ACN, Chief Akin Oke confirmed that he was aware that the former governor had been slightly indisposed. In his words, “He has been slightly indisposed. That I know of”.

Born on the 20th day of January, 1939, he attended Loyola College in Ibadan and studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1961 -1963 and later attended University of Ibadan in 1971. He worked in private educational institutions before venturing into politics.He was governor of the state between 1999 and 2003.

He is to be buried immediately at his Felele residence, according to Islamic rites. He died this morning.

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