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Fresh war appears eminent for non- inclusion of real Combatants Ex militants belonging to second phase. The group of ex-militants has called the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme, Hon Kingsley Kuku w to pay their allowance as due to them – for the interest of peace and their lives.
The group in a statement signed by Commander Darikoro Suokoro, its spokesman warned amnesty office agitating not to include them for their payment from the amnesty programme should prepare for another oil war in the area as they will no longer wait in empty promises any
more.
According to the spokesman, they were called to Obubra Camp in Cross River State for their training. And at the conclusion of the training, they returned home. While at the training, they received their allowance for three months – but after three months of receiving their allowances the amnesty office stopped further payment to them.

The group said they will not embark on any street protest to stop other road users but that they will return to the creek to continue their life since Kingsley Kuku deliberately refuses to continue their payment of allowances.
“We went for the training at Obubra and came out successfully, we were asked to open an account in the Bank were allowances were paid to us over three months and since then the payment stopped, the office could not explain to us till now. This is no threat. We will go back to the creeks to earn our previous living as payment of our allowances is no longer guarantees of what we have learned,” Commander Darikoro lamented.
The group of aggrieved militants warned that the Federal government should bear any consequence as a result of their going back to the creeks, stressing that, they are ready to face whatever that may happen since they have sacrificed their life to that and will not be afraid of anything.
When 247ureports.com contacted one of the involved official responsible for the disbursement of the allowance, General John Esuku of Egane Camp under Ekeremor Local Government area of Bayelsa State, he confirmed that the majority of the aggrieved ex-militants were approved by the Amnesty Office – and were sent for the Obubra training camp – where they also received their allowances through their Bank accounts. General Esuku added however that there appears a mix up. He stated that the officials from the amnesty office registered ex-military above the
specified number that was approved by the Federal government, that is, six thousand one hundred and sixty six (6,166). Also, some military officers – especially the Army and the villagers – engaged in sharp practices by bring-in their persons to be registered as an ex-militant at the camp.
Names were sent to the amnesty office by those actually accredited by various camps by their general, names were called at the Obubra camp and if the actual person that was called in for the training is not present, the military in connivance with officials from the amnesty office will change the names [which was earlier submitted by the generals] – to the name of one of their wards.

Due to transportation and vehicles problem, some of the ex-militants arrived late. But when subsequently arrive, they organizers were said to vehemently refuse to accept the person. The organizers – in refusing the ex-militant – will tell the ex-militant that his name has been substituted with another. And when asked why, the organizers responded, “when we have changed it is changed, don’t ask unnecessary questions here, go and leave this place now for your own interest, the officials warned.”
Talking for the sake of solution, General Esuku said the only solution to this problem will be to call them (boys) to order and send them for their training since they are all from the Niger delta region. Since the documentation was higher than what was specified by the government, that is, the nine thousand four hundred and fifty (9,450) persons, the actual six thousand one hundred
and sixty six persons by my appeal to the federal government, release fund to the amnesty office to enable Kingsley kuku to pay the remaining Transition Allowances to the actual freedom fighters.

Also, Hon. Kingsley Kuku should be aware of those that are working with him of their unscrupulous character that have bedeviled the amnesty office of fictitious names that they have used in manipulating the payment vouchers.

…Appeals To Nigerians To Help Secure Pipelines

The Presidency has raised the alarm that petroleum supply crises looms in the country as Federal Government is losing an average revenue of over N105 billion worth of products and crude to pipeline vandals annually across 5,120 kilometres of pipelines in Nigeria.

The revelation is coming on the heels of discoveries that the emerging queues in petrol stations is due to reluctance by Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) and stakeholders in the chain of distribution of petroleum products in the country to continue the importation of PMS and other products, as a result of the non-payment of subsidy money due to them by the Ministry of Finance.

A top Presidency source who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Sunday said “the current fuel supply and distribution situation being experienced by Nigerians is traceable to recent vandalisation of our products pipeline at Arepo; where Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC) engineers who went for repairs were shot and three of them killed. As a result of security challenges, PPMC is yet to gain access to the vandalised points to effect repairs”.

The said point, according to the source,” is along the Atlas Cove-Mosimi line that feeds five (5) Depots and accounts for products supply to the whole of the Southwest region and also contributes to about 60 per cent of total bridging to the North”.

The Presidency source who spoke on condition of anonymity argued that there was no way Nigeria with a total land mass of about 910,770 sq KM and with a population of about 167 million can effectively manage the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country using trucks.

The source added that with adequate security of the pipelines “a robust pipeline network of about 5,120 KM across the nation, 21 loading depots and 19 pumping stations,” the nation will be guaranteed stable and steady supply and distribution of petroleum products.

The source however noted that the over $9 billion assets have been unused due to the incessant pipeline vandalisation but “the present management of PPMC since it took over about 20 months ago is doing all it can to resuscitate some of these abandoned pipelines. Without the support of security agencies, we cannot achieve much”.

Once the pipelines are available, the source said “PPMC is ready to pump all products to the Depots located in all regions of the country. It is only when the pipelines are not available that they are compelled to use other methods to make the products available. In the absence of security, the vandals have a field day and prevent the pipelines from functioning effectively”.

The Presidency source added that despite the challenges “PPMC have re-commissioned Kaduna-Suleja line, Kaduna-Kano line, Suleja-Minna line, Kaduna-Gusau line, Kaduna-Jos line and Port Harcourt-Aba line and Warri-Benin line. With these lines functioning, NNPC have been able to distribute products to Suleja, Kano, Minna, Jos, Gusau and Aba Depots. Some of these Depots have not worked for over 15 years. It is noteworthy that in spite of the numerous challenges facing the NNPC in maintaining pipelines, products like AGO and DPK that have not been pumped to these Depots has been achieved”.

“The successes achieved with the re-activation and rehabilitation of the above mentioned lines is rooted in the strong belief that the pipelines are by far the safest, most efficient, quickest, cost effective means to distribute products especially for a country as large as ours,” the source stated.

Our investigation revealed that to distribute the current contribution of about 35 million litres of PMS daily by NNPC to the national demand for example, about 1,061 trucks need to ply the roads daily.

“With our bad roads, robbers and environmental considerations in having the trucks travel length and breadth of this large country, what effects can that achieve?,” the source queried.

Meanwhile, the Presidency however appealed to Nigerians to help government secure the pipelines saying that the assets belong to them.

“Nigerians must not forget that energy worldwide is regarded as National Asset. A threat to energy supply is often viewed as a threat to national security. The nation cannot allow persons or group of persons threaten what is collectively ours. It should be considered as security risk and economic sabotage” the source said.

The government called for a redoubled effort from the side of security operatives to help in the protection of the pipelines.

An industry source who also prefers anonymity lamented that with increase in cases of pipeline vandalism in the last two decades ago, “how many culprits have been apprehended and successfully prosecuted; except for the small time jerry can boys while the main players who use valves to siphon products with barges and with trucks are left to enjoy their loot. These are pertinent questions we should ask ourselves as a nation rather than blame the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or an individual. The problems are rather systemic!”

The source urged the present crop of PPMC management that took over in February, 2011 to continue to improve on their distribution chain; saying that “no major fuel supply and distribution issues have been encountered in the last 20 months except pocket of queues caused by the non-payment of subsidy money to marketers”.

The source said “since the heated issue of subsidy began in early 2012, NNPC/PPMC has solely sustained Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply to the Nigerian market as Marketers have refused to bring in products. Despite that singular effort by PPMC, supplies have been robust and hitch free with PMS available across the nation at a uniform price”.

“Nigerians should cast their minds back to our immediate past, to the horrible period of 2009-2010 when Nigerians were sleeping in fuel stations looking for fuel to buy. All that has now become a thing of the past; thanks to this administration and the current Management of PPMC” the source noted.

Kogi PDP Elders paid a courtesy call on the party’s National Chairman Bamanga Tukur on Thursday in Abuja to formally complain about the illegalities and undemocratic practices of the Idris Wada administration.
“We want the national leadership of our great party to intervene decisively to save the PDP in Kogi State from an untimely death”, said Senator Alex Kadiri who led the three-man group that also included Senator Mohammed Ohiare and Dr Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba.
“All is not well in Kogi State. Our party has been hijacked by strangers. There is no governance in the state. State funds are being used to settle judges and anti-corruption agencies. Not even a culvert has been constructed by the nearly one year old Wada administration”.

The elders listed the crisis in the State House of Assembly, the appointment of Liaison Officers for local councils, the continued looting of state treasury by the duo of former Gov. Ibrahim Idris and current Gov Wada, and the undemocratic conduct of state congress last weekend as some of the issues they are unhappy about.
They accused Wada of cluelessness, profligacy and looting. They cited the appointment of 20 commissioners, 57 advisers, 74 senior special assistants and scores of other assorted aides as proof that Wada is ill-prepared to govern the state. The recent discovery of 800 ghost schools and thousands of ghost teachers, the elders added, represents only a tip of the iceberg of the rot that is Kogi State.
Responding, Tukur promised to look into their complaints and commended the elders for their civilized and mature approach. He said the PDP under his watch will be democratic, inclusive and transparent in all its dealings. He promised to treat the petition seriously adding that the calibre of the petitioners demands nothing less.
The elders (including Former Speaker and Acting Gov Clarence Olafemi, Retired AVM Salihu Atawodi, and former State Chairman of the party John Odawun) had earlier submitted copies of their petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Signed

Kogi Elders Forum
Abuja
November 25, 2012

· To feature 214 Athletes in different games

· Commissioner, hopeful on medals

Few days to the 2012 edition of National Sports Festival Scheduled to hold in Lagos from 27^th November 2012 – 9^th December 2012 the Anambra State contingent to the festival is ready to storm Lagos latest on 25^th November 2012 with a total of 415 people made up of 214 Athletes, 35 disabled Athletes including coaches, technical advisers and government officials.

Speaking to Ukpaka Reports on the preparation of the state contingent to the festival known as Eko 2012 the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Dr. Edozie Aroh informed that Anambra will feature a total of 214 Athletes in various games as track and field, judo, tackwondo, kick boxing, swimming, cricket, gynasism and others noting that Anambra is going to participate in swimming for the first time in Eko 2012.

Hon. Aroh also informed that Anambar will also field a total of 35 disabled Athletes during the disabled games at the festival adding that notable ex-sports men and women in Anambra as Mary Onyeali, Ernest Ufele, Uchenna Emedolu and others are on hand at the festival to aid the Athleses from the light of the nation state to success with their experiences.

He said that the sports living state Governor His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi ensured that the state contingent were well prepared, noting that the Athletes have been in camps where they were engaged in intensive training by experienced coaches for some weeks now.

His words, “The State Governor, ensured that anybody who will put on the colour of Anambra State is well prepared by providing all we need, the camps, allowances jersey and everything. As I speak some of our players are in Enugu and Nsukka where we camped them, and the Governor will also reward medalists with certain amount of money apart from the prices my ministry will provide for medalists”.

The Commissioner added that based on the conducive atmosphere of preparation, the coaches and technical advisers were able to select players capable to make Anambra proud in Lagos, hoping that the state representatives will massively haul medals at the festival.

While thanking His Excellency for his love for sports development, he charged all the Athletes that will feature in all the games to strive hard to win medals to justify the effort of His Excellency in moving sports to the next level in the state.

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, on Thursday failed to stop a Federal High Court siting in Abuja from varying an interlocutory injunction it earlier granted restraining Capital Oil and Gas Industries limited and it’s managing director, Mr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, from interfering in the company’s assets and funds in 21 banks listed in the order, including Citi Bank Plc.

The court had granted the order upon a motion exparte brought before it by AMCON for the purpose of securing the properties of Mr. Ubah who is owing the corporation a huge amount in debts.

At the resumed hearing into the matter Mr. Uba’s lawyers led by Mr. Lawal Rabana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, told the court that they have an application before the court seeking to set aside or discharge the order made against Ubah and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited which was calculated to prevent Amcon from disposing or selling off any or part of Uba’s properties or acting in any manner whatsoever that is contrary to the proprietary rights of his client.

This application however could not be taken as the counsel representing, Mr. Kemi Balogun, opposed the hearing of the application on the ground that he has not been served the application to enable him formally respond.

Mr. Rabana countered Mr. Balogun’s submission by showing the court a proof of service showing that Mr. Balogun’s client, Amcon, had since been served with the application. This forced Balogun to abandon his earlier position and pleaded with the court to allow him time to respond to the application.

Upon this request for time, Mr. Rabana applied to the court to in the meantime, vary some aspect of the order to enable his client, Mr. Uba, to have access to some of his personal and company’s accounts at the United Bank for Africa, UBA, to enable him pay the salaries of his over 5,000 employes who have dependents as well as to enable him fulfil his other obligations and family’s needs.

According to the senior advocate, “looking at the order made by this court, there is an element of it that has a devastating effect on my client. If he can’t access his funds in the banks, he cannot feed his family or pay his employees who also have dependents. Even if my client committed murder, he is still entitled to eat. I urge you to vary your earlier order to enable my client access his accounts at UBA where there is enough fund to cater for the immediate needs of my client to pay his employees and feed his own family, even if it is to access 50% of the funds there”

Amcon’s lawyer, Mr. Balogun, vehemently opposed this application. He contended that granting the variation demanded by Mr. Ubah amounts to endangering the interest of the corporation which is part of Nigerian government with stakeholders whose interests also need to be protected by the court.

He also told the court that the amount claimed by UBA and Ubah as balances in 16 accounts he maintains at the bank were incorrect claiming that his client, Amcon, knows as a matter of fact that the accounts contain amounts in excess of N400 million and that allowing Ubah access to such funds will hurt his client’s interest.

In reaching a decision on the issuean the court presided by Justice Abdu-Kafarati noted that the court is minded to make it possible for Ubah and his company to be able to pay their staff salaries as well as be able to live. He thereafter varied the initial order to allow Ubah and his company have access to 25% of their funds at accounts they maintain at UBA.

Hearing of the Ubah’s application to set aside the entire order was subsequently scheduled for hearing on 30th November to allow Amcon and its lawyers to file in their response.

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Source: PM News