Amb. Mulade Salutes Delta Assembly Members On Vote Of Confidence Passed On Oborevwori, House Leadership, Charges Them On Speedy Passage Of CADA Bill Into Law

Amb. Mulade Salutes Delta Assembly Members On Vote Of Confidence Passed On Oborevwori, House Leadership, Charges Them On Speedy Passage Of CADA Bill Into Law

Francis Tayor

The National Coordinator and CEO of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has hailed the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on the Vote of Confidence passed on him and leadership of the House by lawmakers for his leadership role in the 7th Assembly on Tuesday 17th March, 2020.

Commending the Speaker for his outstanding leadership role in the State House of Assembly, Comrade Sheriff said “Hon. Oborevwori posseses good leadership qualities that has enabled him managed the entire lawmakers irrespective of their Parties. He does not discriminate or look down on anyone, he gives equal right and opportunity to everyone".
He added that "his simplicity, humility and understanding are unmatched due to his dealings and warm relationship with other lawmakers and it takes only an understanding and humble speaker with extraordinary qualities to attract such massive number of lawmakers to pass vote of confidence on the leadership of the House. This is a clear indication that his leadership is welcomed by all Lawmakers and Deltans in general.”

He also said that Rt Hon. Oborevwori is a man of the people whose basic interest is to improve and develop the lives of the youths, women and children of the grassroots, and encourages all Deltans to emulate his good sense of humour and leadership qualities.

On the importance of synergy between the State Governor and House of Assembly, Comrade Mulade stated that for Governors to achieve their campaign goals and visions, there must be good synergy or working relationship between the Governor and lawmakers especially the speaker.

" I must commend the cordial relationship between the Legislature and the Executive in Delta State and this is why the best has been achieved for the State in terms of infrastructural, human and capital development. The Speaker of the Delta State House has achieved a lot since he came on board. The Assembly Complex has been transformed and welfare of the staff given priority and I was not surprised when a vote of confidence was passed on the Speaker and leadership of the House by lawmakers in the state", he said.

Comrade Mulade implored the Speaker not to relent in his good works and leadership of the House.

While thanking the lawmakers for finding it worthy to have observed the excellent role of the speaker and passing a vote of confidence on him and leadership of the House, he charged the Speaker and the entire State legislators to consider the passage of the Coastal Areas Development Agency, (CADA) bill that is before the House of Assembly as a matter of urgent public importance, saying that the establishment of CADA will bring succour, real development and compliment government developmental plans to those dwelling in the coastal region of the State that are neglected.

Comrade Mulade also said that Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, a leading NGO in Delta State is ready to collaborate with the Speaker and State House of Assembly on all areas of State development, enacting and implementation of laws that will improve the well-being of the people.

Environment Degradation: Show More Concern About The Niger Delta Environment And Not The Crude Oil, Amb. Mulade Tells Federal Govt, IOCs

Environment Degradation:
Show More Concern About The Niger Delta Environment And Not The Crude Oil, Amb. Mulade Tells Federal Govt, IOCs

Francis Tayor

Warri_____ A Niger Delta Environmentalist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade has expressed worry about the environment in the oil-rich Niger Delta Region and said urgent steps must be taken to address it now.

In a chat with newsmen at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, the human rights activist who described the environment as the future and heritage of the people, alleged that activities of Multinational oil companies operating in the region have destroyed the ecosystem.

He said that; "The environment is our future, is our pride and heritage. Am deeply concerned about the way and manner our environment has been destroyed by the Multinational oil companies. Our traditional fishing and farming have been destroyed and unfortunately, government at all levels are paying lips service to the environment inspite of the calls by the people of the region for something drastic to be done about the polluted environment".

"The Federal Government has shown to the people of the oil-rich Niger Delta that they are not concerned about the region, but only interested in the oil wealth coming from the region. It is the responsibility of the government to protect the environment. The Multinational oil companies are dictating to the government about the region", he said.

The Environmentalist appealed to the Federal Government to be more concerned about the environment rather than the crude oil so as to save the environment in the region, the statement.

Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri Visits President Buhari At Abuja, Promises To Work With Him On Security And Peace In Nigeria

Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri Visits President Buhari At Abuja, Promises To Work With Him On Security And Peace In Nigeria

Francis Tayor

Abuja_____ The President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Diri Douye, have just held a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The brief meeting ended about 1.39pm today Tuesday Wednesday 17th March, 2020.

Douye, who said Buhari received him as “one of his sons”, explained that he went to Aso Rock to greet the President and formally present himself to him as the father of the nation.

He told State House Correspondents after the meeting that the visit was the first time he did so formally since his inauguration on February 14th as the governor of Bayelsa state.

The governor spoke further, “Since my inauguration, this is the first time I have come to see Mr President and to promise to work with the Federal Government for the security and peace of the nation.

“He received me as one of his sons. He went ahead to advise me and to say that he is happy that I came and that he is happy with the way I started.

“He said he read about all the statements I have made on security. Bayelsa is critical to peace in the country. If there is security there, then the whole country is at peace.”

Recalled that Douye became the governor of the state following the February 13th judgment of the Supreme Court, which sacked the All Progressives Congress Governor-elect, Mr David Lyon, just 24 hours to his inauguration at the popular Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.

Niger Delta Youth Leader, Kagbala Charges President Buhari To Consult Among Civil Society leaders in Delta To Appoint Next Amnesty Programme Coordinator

Niger Delta Youth Leader, Kagbala Charges President Buhari To Consult Among Civil Society leaders in Delta To Appoint Next Amnesty Programme Coordinator

Francis Tayor

Recently, there have been so much imbroglio and immodest lobbying by desperate power seekers and brokers, showing uncontrolled covetousness for the position of the Presidential Amnesty Programme coordinator.

Some ill intentioned government appointees, ministers, senators and even traditional rulers are projecting and recommending their favourite candidate thereby posing a monumental threat to the sustainability of the amnesty programme.

The Presidency should get it right before selfish interest plunges the already precarious and delicate nature of the Niger Delta region into another circumspectrum of crises. Building a sustainable peace presupposes a need for continuous education, orientation and awareness for repentant militants.

As regards appointing a new Amnesty Programme Coordinator, President Muhammadu Buhari must get it right by consulting among civil society groups who advocated for a peaceful Niger Delta during the rise of arms agitation  and militancy in the Delta creeks.

The Niger Delta region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was embroiled in a protracted crisis that was hinged on infrastructural deprivation of the people  by the Federal Government.

The civil society groups x-rayed the dynamics and effects of their engagement in such struggles after giving consideration to substantive ethnic, regional and communal demands. The civil society groups advocated for peace in the region and originated the idea that has become the Amnesty programme.

Under the peace-building programme, the Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) implemented projects that promotes information sharing, collaboration, and synergy among peace-building actors in the region.

Another civil society group, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) initiated programmes that resulted to peace-building programmes and also provided support to the  economic development of the Niger Delta. They identified the root causes of conflicts in the region and tailored their advocacy towards the direction of continuous orientation.

Sadly, those who condemned violence and militancy in the creek were persecuted; some were kidnapped and killed by those who benefited from the violence that once bedeviled the region. Posterity will not let the hard works of these noble minded leaders to be in vain.

After decade of the creation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, comes numerous petitions and allegations of corruption which have been a systemic problem with the programme. The Federal Government's resolve to address the root causes of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta that led to the arm agitations which necessitated the amnesty programme seem not to have attained its objectives.

Leaders and originators of non-violence education that gave rise to the Amnesty were neglected from inception of the  presidential Amnesty Programme introduced by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009.

The Federal Government made a terrible error of monetising the armnesty programme and reaped the sad consequences of ignoring the civil society leaders. Sadly, the programme became increasingly difficult for the Nigerian Government to fund. For instance, in May 2015, the allowance payments for the enrolled ex-militants had to be suspended. This made matters worse and reignited tensions as a large number of ex-militants are unemployed and highly dependent on the monthly allowances.

This progression in error must not continue. President Buhari should consult among the civil society groups and peace advocates from Delta state where the purpose of the amnesty programme emanated from and possibly appoint a coordinator for the amnesty programme from a civil society group.

Though the civil society groups are few, they have the sagacity to initiate programmes that will tackle wide socioeconomic grievances bordering on  developmental deficit in local oil communities, environmental pollution and the exclusion of local communities from the governance of oil production in the Niger Delta region.

Security: Ezekiel Salutes Gov. Okowa On The Successful Establishment Of 63 Brigade Asaba, Commends The Head Of Command, Brig Gen.l.M. Jallo For A Job Well done

Security: Ezekiel Salutes Gov. Okowa On The Successful Establishment Of 63 Brigade Asaba, Commends The Head Of Command, Brig Gen.l.M. Jallo For A Job Well done

Francis Tayor

Asaba_____ The Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Delta State on Security Matters, Comrade Ezekiel Daniel has felicitated with Brigadier General I.M. JALLO on the occasion of the successful setting up of 63 Brigade Command in Asaba, Delta State Capital.

According to Ezekiel, said;  "l strongly believe that with the establishment of 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army will help in curbing some security challenges facing our dear state. I must equally use this opportunity to say a big thank you to my boss and our amiable Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for given both financial and moral support for this command to see the light of the day. My reason for visitation today is to seek for a synergy between your command and my office for the stronger Delta Agenda of His Excellency to be more impactful in the lives of Deltans .

Comr. Daniel Ezekiel  equally urged 63 Command Asaba Delta state to be more drastic and proactive in tackling killer herdsmen who goes about slaughtering innocent people in their homes and farm land in the state".

In his reaction, the  Brigadier General I.M. JALLO thank comrade Ezekiel Daniel for deeming it fit to visit the command and promised to work with him for the well being of the state. He equally made it known that criminal elements hiding under herdsmen to commit all manners of atrocities shall meet their waterloo soon. He therefore, wished the pragmatic SSA a safe journey back to his base, the statement adds.