PAP: Those Fighting Us Are Resisting Our Reforms – Ndiomu

 

By Our Correspondent

Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd), has disclosed that those peddling lies and sponsoring frivolous petitions against his administration, are resistant to the reforms and changes he has brought on board.

 

General Ndiomu stated this over the weekend during the PAP meeting with Niger Delta Traditional Rulers, held at the BON Hotel, Warri, Delta State, with the theme: ‘Peace and Security in the Region’.

 

The PAP boss told the monarchs who were led by HRM, King Joseph Timiyan, the Paramount Ruler of Ogulagha Kingdom, that if he had maintained status quo and allowed the “irregularities” discovered in capturing beneficiaries of the Programme to continue, he would have failed from the onset.

 

“It is difficult to bring about change when people are used to certain ways that brings them benefits, even if the ways does not conform with the purpose for which that Programme was set up in the first place”.

 

The PAP boss added that the decision to delist beneficiaries was geared towards sanitizing the system and ensure transparency going forward.

 

Speaking on the financial records of the PAP, Ndiomu informed that his administration has almost cleared inherited debts from past administrations.

 

He added that the PAP under his leadership has initiated talks with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other agencies to absolve graduates and non-graduates from the region. He said before the end of March this year, another set of ex-agitators will be employed into the Federal Civil Service.

 

The IA further told the monarchs that the PAP is leveraging on the Pipeline Surveillance Contract currently being handled by Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services, to absorb a critical number of ex-agitators.

 

In his brief remarks, King Timiyan who also doubles as the Chairman of Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, Delta State, regretted that past leaderships of the PAP dealt directly with ex-agitators without consulting them.

 

He thus commended Ndiomu for recognising the importance of royal fathers in the Amnesty process. “The current leadership of the Amnesty Programme is a bit different, and I think he (Ndiomu) is going to do better,” the monarch stated.

 

The traditional rulers jointly endorsed the capacity of Ndiomu, while they called for an open-door policy to allow for easy and “time-to-time” conversation. They also noted that his giant strides is the reason for “petitions flying up and down”.

 

Ndiomu’s latest meeting with traditional rulers in the region follows a series of strategic stakeholders engagement aimed at changing the negative narratives of the PAP.

 

 

 

 

Diri Dedicates The Sun Award To Bayelsa Flood Victims

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has saluted the resilience of people of the state while dedicating the 2022 Governor of the Year Award by The Sun Newspapers to victims of last year’s monster floods in the state.

Speaking in Lagos on Saturday night shortly after he received the award, Governor Diri expressed delight that people of the state were able to surmount the challenges presented by the disaster.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as also commending the people for supporting his administration and that the award will spur him to do more. 

Governor Diri particularly lauded the legislature and judiciary in the state for the synergy among the three arms of government, saying the cooperation has contributed greatly to the successes recorded by his administration. 

He noted that the prevailing peace and harmony in the state was one of the prized achievements of his administration and stressed the need for the people to sustain the tempo, saying it was the only way Bayelsa can make good progress. 

He said: "This is more about the people of Bayelsa State. Whatever award we receive today is on behalf of the people of the state that have been very supportive. 

“Also, the three arms of government working together, that synergy has helped us achieve whatever we are seeing today. We give the glory to God.

"I like to on behalf of the prosperity administration appreciate the good people of Baysa State, particularly the flood victims. We know what we went through and we thank God that we are alive to receive an award from The Sun.

"This to me is in recognition of the efforts of the people of Bayelsa State. It is in terms of the human and infrastructural development as well as the peace and harmony we are enjoying.”

Earlier, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, said the award, which was the 20th edition, is dedicated to recognizing those that  have contributed to the development of Nigeria. 

In his remarks, chairman of the occasion and former governor of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, expressed appreciation to the management and staff of the organisation for the organizing the awards, saying it is a good way of encouraging development in Nigeria.

While describing next month’s general elections as crucial to the survival of Nigeria, Osoba hailed the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and urged Nigerians to be fully involved in the process in accordance with the laws of the land.. 

The governor was accompanied to the event by Senator Moses Cleopas representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, some state legislators, chairman of the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Agwana, business moguls, Chief Gesi Asamowei and Chief Ken Etete, Waripamowei Dudafa, members of the state executive council as well as other government functionaries.

Central Bank Extends Deadline For Use Of Old Naira Notes By 10 Days

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced an extension on the date to end the use of old notes of the country’s official currency, Naira.

The deadline earlier fixed for January 31 is now to last till February 10.

The apex bank had last year redesigned the 1,000, 500 and 200 Naira notes to phase out the old ones.

The bank announced the extension in a statement on Sunday by the Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

2023: INEC Disenfranchising Hundreds Of Thousands Of Prospective Voters

 

 

...Several Duly Registered Prospective Voters Frustrated As Their PVCs Are Not Yet Printed

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission is on the verge of disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of prospective voters in Nigeria unless urgent steps are taken to remedy a dire situation.

 

A good number of people who visited the Commission’s office in Garki, Abuja early this month were turned back without their Permanent Voters Card.

 

The Network investigation revealed that many prospective voters who transferred their voting units are affected as their cards are not yet printed by the INEC.

 

While some people were lucky to have gotten their cards, INEC officials simply told their less fortunate prospective voters that the cards were not printed.

 

The Network correspondent who was also affected, presented a slip from INEC after the transfer of his voting unit from Wuse Zone 5 to Gwarimpa in the FCT without any convincing explanation for the non availability of his new PVC by INEC officials.

 

The INEC officials simply said those affected should wait while admitting that producing PVCs is beyond them.

 

Disturbed by the increasing prospect of disenfranchisement, the Network contacted the INEC Commissioner in charge of Information and Voters Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, on January 6, 2023. Okoye read the message on WhatsApp but ignored him.

 

Okoye responded to another message sent to him on WhatsApp on Friday January 20, promising to check and revert.

 

Curiously, seven days after, Okoye has not provided any explanation on the predicament of those who successfully transferred their voting units to new locations with their cards still not printed as at date.

 

As it stands, the inquiry to the Commissioner for information and voter education of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, did not yield any fruitful result.

 

Okoye simply said he would check and revert. Since then he has refused to respond to messages on the matter thereby signifying that INEC has no solution to the seeming deliberate disenfranchisement of eligible Nigerian citizens from voting in an election.

 

“Good morning Sir, I went to INEC to collect my PVC but was told it was not printed. I have done a successful transfer of the polling unit. Do I use my old voter card to vote in the new point or do I use it to vote in the former. I am confused now that the transfer has been made.

 

Please kindly advise at your own convenience what I should do in this situation where I am facing possible disenfranchisement.”

Thank you Sir.

 

Sadly, Okoye could not respond to the inquiry and has continually ignored all messages to him.

 

A similar message to the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, did not yield any result.

 

The INEC Chairman spokesman neither picked his calls nor did he respond to a message to his mobile telephone on WhatsApp.

 

Meanwhile, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu has insisted that no eligible voter in Nigeria will be allowed to cast vote in the forthcoming general elections without a Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

 

Thousands of people whose cards were scheduled for printing but were not are facing disenfranchisement.

 

With the transfer of their polling units, their old voter cards seem to be invalidated. Even the INEC Commissioner in charge of information and voter education does not seem to have an answer to this situation.

Adeboye, Source Of Encouragement - Diri

 

...As RCCG Overseer Dedicates Pavilion In Gov’s Community

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, remains a source of encouragement to his administration.

Senator Diri stated this yesterday during the dedication of the new pavilion built by his administration in his country home, Sampou, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area. 

In a Press statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Daniel Alabrah noted that the Governor expressed gratitude to the respected cleric for his love and concern for his Prosperity Government and people of the state, particularly during last year's floods, the governor recalled that the RCCG General Overseer did not only commiserate with him but also donated over 100 bags of rice to support victims.

He said that as part of Adeboye's  visit to the state to attend the 17th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), he would also visit victims and flood affected areas in the state to see things for himself.

While dedicating the pavilion, Pastor Adeboye described Senator Diri as an exceptional leader that has the fear of God.

Quoting from the scriptures, he said rain signifies blessings but whenever it was in excess, it causes flooding thereby endangering lives and property.

Adeboye, who noted that the flooding was a wake-up call for the people to draw closer to their creator, prayed God to prevent the natural disaster from wreaking another havoc in the state.

Atiku’s Visit To Ijaw House Historic - Diri

 

By Ebi Kesiena

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the visit of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to the Ijaw House as historic. 

The PDP candidate met with Ijaw nation stakeholders under the auspices of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) immediately after the party’s presidential campaign rally in Yenagoa on Monday. 

Governor Diri said Atiku was the first and only candidate contesting the 2023 presidential election to visit and interface with the Ijaws directly.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as describing the PDP candidate as unassuming and humble when he accepted to meet and share his ideas on issues bordering on the Ijaw struggle.

He said: “When we requested that the PDP presidential candidate visit the Ijaw House, he said, “why not? I am part of the Ijaw nation.”

“Presidential candidates have come here to campaign and gone. They never thought there is the Ijaw nation headquarters here in Yenagoa. 

“When we had the unprecedented flood of 2022, only three presidential candidates visited us, one of which was Atiku Abubakar. Not only did he visit, he also donated N50 million to the flood victims.”

Diri maintained that the PDP and its candidate were the only ones talking about restructuring and the issues that the Ijaw nation had enunciated over the years, including resource control.

“I believe that working with the PDP and Atiku, who already has restructuring, devolution of powers and resource control in his manifesto, is the way that will bring the Ijaw nation to realize the dreams of Isaac Adaka Boro and all our heroes past. 

“Let it be known that the Ijaw nation can no longer be used as a militancy point to satisfy the ego of some politicians from within or without.”

In his remarks, Alhaji Abubakar recalled that in 2004, he gave his first lecture on restructuring while serving as vice president, an act for which he was queried by President Obasanjo but that he still went further to publish a book on restructuring. 

The former vice president stressed that to prove his commitment on the burning issue, he has assembled a team of constitutional lawyers that have drafted an amendment to the country’s constitution.

He stressed that restructuring was not only the wish of the Ijaw nation but that of the Nigerian people.

“Call it restructuring, devolution of powers or resource control, they all mean the same thing. To show you how committed I am, as far as this aspect of our governance is concerned, I have already assembled a team of constitutional lawyers and they have drafted an amendment to our constitution.

“I have that amendment with me. It will be one of my first legislative laws to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration. It is a document in working and the only party determined to implement it is the PDP.” 

Speaking earlier, President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, emphasized that the Ijaws will only vote for the candidate that factors their hopes and aspirations into his agenda as president of the country.

Also, Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, said one of the demands of the Ijaw people includes the relocation of headquarters of the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to their region, noting that it should be a major consideration for the former vice president upon assumption of office.

We Have Not Canceled Presidential Amnesty Programme Scholarship Scheme-PAP

 

The Presidential Amnesty Office has dismissed speculations that it has cancelled its students’ scholarship scheme.

 

The Special Assistant, Media, to the Interim Administrator, Mr. Freston Akpor, said in a statement on Saturday that the PAP has not announced any outright cancellation of the scholarship scheme.

 

The PAP Spokesman restated an earlier statement of the office which announced a temporary suspension of the programme due to the huge debt profile of the scheme.

 

He stressed that the recent scholarship award carried out by previous leaderships of the agency were done without necessary budgetary consideration and planning with its attendant effects on the agency’s financial management.

 

Akpor noted that the leadership of PAP appreciates the place of education in the development of the Niger Delta and would do all to ensure the creation of opportunities for formal education for beneficiaries in the region.

 

“The attention of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has been drawn to contents trending on various social media platforms with a rumoured outright cancellation of the students’ scholarship scheme by the Programme.

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PAP had not at any time announced the cancellation of the scholarship scheme to eligible beneficiaries.

 

“According to an official statement issued by the PAP on 06/01/2023 which clearly emphasized that the Presidential Amnesty Programme scholarship scheme has temporarily been placed on hold due to financial constraints occasioned by the huge debt profile associated with the Formal Education component of the programme.

 

“Evidently, the recent award of scholarships (not by the present management) were done without recourse to budgetary considerations and efficient financial planning thus having an adverse effect on the organisation's balance sheet.

 

“It will therefore defy any logical reasoning on the part of the PAP office to commence award of fresh scholarships without adequately restructuring it's current debts and effectively planning it's available resources vis-a-vis intended new programs.

 

“The PAP under it's current leadership recognizes and acknowledges the importance of education to the growth and development of the Niger Delta and will therefore not relent in doing everything possible to ensure that formal education opportunities are made available to beneficiaries of the PAP,” he said