I Did Not Order Shooting To Evade Arrest- Timi Alaibe

A frontline politician in Bayelsa state and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission Mr. Timi Alaibe has denied ordering his security men to shoot in order to evade arrest in Bayelsa state.

Mr. Alaibe was alleged to have ordered his security men to shoot in order to avoid being arrested on sanitation day in Bayelsa but in a telephone conversation with our reporter from Abonnema in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress APC stalwart in the state said the allegation was born out of mischief by political enemies. Mr. Alaibe while speaking as at 5:29 pm on telephone said it will be irresponsible and mischievous of anybody to link him with an incident he did not participate or know anything about. “I can tell you truthfully that since the day I declared for APC in Bayelsa state I have not gone back there for any function either personal or public. Today I am speaking to you from Abonnema in Rivers state where I came to attend a burial. I was never in Bayelsa state neither was I involved in any such incident as alleged by rumour mongers. Somebody wants to score a cheap political point by linking or including me to his mischievous imaginations” Mr. Alaibe said.

Mr. Alaibe attributed the allegation to dirty politics of the opposition who are afraid his profile. “You know that since my decision to jettison the underperforming PDP in the state, there have been allegations upon allegations against my person. This crude politics will not work at all.” He stressed.

It should be noted that since Mr. Timi Alaibe led over a thousand followers to the All Progressives Congress APC, there have been allegations against his person with one group alleging that he is broke and has been name dropping President Buhari’s name and that of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo to raise money for his aspiration something he vehemently refuted ascribing such allegations as a figment of the mischievous imaginations of his political detractors.

Cancelled: Sahara, Aiteo, Duke Oil, Ocean Marine Contracts, Says NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wednesday confirmed the cancellation of the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPAs) between the corporation and Sahara Energy Resources (Nig.) Ltd. founded by the trio of Mr. Tope Sonubi, Mr. Tonye Cole and Mr. Ade Odunsi; Aiteo Energy Resources Limited founded by Mr. Benedict Peters; and Duke Oil Company Inc., a subsidiary of NNPC.

It also announced the cancellation of the contract for the delivery of crude oil to the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries awarded to Ocean Marine Tankers (OMT) Limited, a company founded by the Skye Bank Chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, Edo State business mogul, Capt. Hosa Okunbor, and others.

NNPC explained in a statement signed by its spokesman Ohi Alegbe that the decision to cancel the crude delivery contract with Ocean Marine to the refineries was aimed at reducing cost and strengthening operational efficiency across the corporation’s value chain.

The NNPC stated that after proper evaluation and in line with the terms of the contract for the delivery of crude oil to the nation’s refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, the corporation has cancelled the current contract due to its exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement.

The corporation noted that as a stop-gap measure, NIDAS Marine Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC has been engaged to provide crude delivery service on negotiated industry standard rate pending the establishment of a substantive contract.

“We have also commenced a rigorous and transparent process of securing capable and competitive contractors for the delivery of crude oil by marine vessels to Port Harcourt and Warri/Kaduna refineries, pending the restoration of the crude pipeline infrastructure,” the corporation stated. 

The NNPC explained that it resorted to the delivery of crude oil to the refineries by marine vessels following incessant attacks on the Bonny-Port Harcourt refinery pipeline and the Escravos crude pipelines by vandals and oil thieves resulting in the complete unavailability of the pipelines in 2013.

NNPC renewed its contract with OMT Limited last year for the delivery of crude to its refineries.

In addition to operating a very large crude carrier (VLCC) with the capacity to convey two million barrels of crude oil, the company owns two transshipment vessels – MT Abiola and MT Igbinosa – named after the wives of the founders, which transships the crude oil from the VLCC to the depots at the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries. Ironically, crude oil is then piped through the Escravos pipeline (System 2) to the Kaduna refinery.

Early this year, the contract was disrupted when NNPC engaged traders for the OPAs. The contract was restarted in July when the refineries resumed production.

However, concerns have been raised that conveying crude oil using marine vessels is a much costlier alternative to the movement of crude to the refineries through NNPC’s pipeline network.

Industry observers have advised that NNPC should repair its pipelines, involve the communities in securing the network and reinforce it with an automated system against vandalism as a cost-effective means of getting crude oil to the refineries.

The corporation also announced the termination of the OPAs entered into in January 2015 with Duke Oil, Aiteo Energy and Sahara Energy.

Under the agreement, NNPC allocated a total of 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day for refining at offshore locations in exchange for petroleum products at pre-agreed yield pattern.

“However after detailed appraisal of the operation and its terms of agreement, the NNPC is convinced that the current OPAs are skewed in favour of the companies such that the value of products delivered is significantly lower than the equivalent crude oil allocated for the programme,” NNPC said.

NNPC’s statement confirmed allegations that the value of the products delivered were not commensurate with the crude oil lifted by the traders.

The NNPC also observed that the structure of the agreement does not guarantee unimpeded supply of petroleum products, as delivery terms were not optimal.

To address these lapses, NNPC said that it had commenced the process of establishing alternative OPAs based on optimum yield pattern with tender processing fees.

“After due appraisal of performance trajectory, we have invited Messrs. Oando, Sahara Energy, Calson, MRS, Duke Oil, BP/Nigermed and Total Trading to bid for the new Offshore Processing Agreements while we have engaged Aiteo, Sahara Energy and Duke Oil to exit the current OPAs,” it stated.

On the status of the crude-for-product exchange agreements (oil swaps) reportedly entered into by NNPC and some oil traders, the corporation disclosed that the last swap arrangements lapsed in December, 2014 and were never renewed.

NNPC added that it had obtained the permission of President Muhammadu Buhari to kick-start the tendering process for the 2015/2016 crude oil term contracts for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.

The corporation noted that the process which would commence with the advertisement of the crude oil term contracts in both national and international print media for a period of one month has been carefully structured to weed out “briefcase companies” and rent seekers.

Credit: Thisday

“Don’t Destroy Bayelsa APC” Group Tells Aspirants

The Bayelsa Democratic Coalition has urged guber aspirants in the state  All Progressives Congress APC not to destroy the rising profile of the party in the state. The group in a press statement signed by its National Coordinator Eddie Tekenah and made available to newsmen in the state capital Yenagoa said from indications, governorship aspirants in the party are bent on allowing their political interests to becloud their sense of judgments and rationality as far as the race for Bayelsa government House is concerned.

The Coalition said what is needed is a synergy to kick out the underperforming governor Seriake Dickson from office and enthroning the positive change which the APC represents.

The group said the decision of major stakeholders in the state to jettison the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for the All Progressives Congress APC should be seen as a positive step towards ensuring that the APC gains the confidence of the people rather than leading to its decimation.

The group wondered why campaign of calumny has become the order of the day since the decampment of people like Timi Alaibe and co stressing that such campaign of calumny is giving the party a bad image in the state which is bad. It said politicians must understand the value of being united despite personal interests.

The group urged the leadership of the party at the national level to look beyond sentiments and call to order anybody who is seen to be working against the image of the party due to personal and selfish interests. “It is wrong for aspirants to at this point in time begin campaigning against each other in order to place themselves for the position at stake. They must realize that power comes from God and only Him can give it to whom He decides to give to. All these blackmails against perceived opponents must stop if the APC intends to take the Government House from the PDP” the statement added.

It should be noted that since the decision of some politicians to decamp from the PDP to the APC, there have been series of attacks against them especially from the ranks of some APC members who view their decision to enter the APC as a threat to their aspirations.

Meanwhile a chieftain of the APC who craved anonymity has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the APC to look beyond sentiments in backing the best candidate for the flagbearership of the party. The party chieftain said the party must ensure that the most popular candidate is given the ticket if it desires to wrest power from the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Katsina: As Masari Sends Jitters With Probe Panel

Recently, Katsina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, constituted four committees to investigate activities of four critical sectors under the administration of his predecessor, Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema. In this piece, MUAZU ELAZEH examines issues surrounding the probe.

Few days to the much talked about one hundred days in office, the  Katsina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari turned his  full search  light on the activities of four critical sectors of the state  during the immediate past administration of the state as he  inaugurated committees to undertake holistic investigation of the  activities of the sectors from 2011 to 2015.

The four key sectors whose activities will be scrutinised as per the  committee constituted are Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Katsina State Road Maintenance Agency (KASROMA),  MDGs/SURE-P, and, the Department of Girl Child Education and Child Development.

The task to investigate the activities of SUBEB lies in the hands of  eight persons comprising, Dr Kabi Matazu, the rector of Federal  Polytechnic Kazaure and a seasoned academic as chairman, Hamisu  Danmusa, Abdullahi Jika Ruma, Inusa Mohammed, Shehu Bello, Muhammad  Dan’Ali, Habibu Dara, Kamilu Sheik Malumfashi with Aminu Bello Bakori  as secretary.

Indeed, another sector for which a committee was set up to unravel the  activities of previous government is the department of Girl Child  education and child development. This committee has former  commissioner and frontline woman politician, Mariya Abdullahi as  chairperson while Zainab Kaita, Umar Gambarawa, Binta Abba, Abubakar  Masari, Tanimu Runka and Nurruden Mannir are to serve as members with  Awwal Ibrahim Kankara acting as the committee scribe.

To investigate the activities of the Katsina state Roads Maintenance Agency (KASROMA), eight persons including its chairman, Engr Abdul  Kanti, Amadu Bello Charanchi, Shehu Tingilin, Lawal Usman Bagiwa,  Bishir Babba Kaita and Abdulaziz Indala have been named.

While activities of the department of MDGs/SURE-P within the said  period will be investigated by the committee headed by Abdullahi  Imam with Muntari Abdulkadir, Farouk Jobe, Isa Ahmed, Almajir Salihu,  Lawal Bosa and Abu Rimi as members. One Mohammed Sani Katsina is to  serve as secretary of the committee.

Essentially, the committees had the same terms of reference which  included ascertaining the location and status of project executed  between 2011 and 2015, to determine whether or not funds earmarked for the  said projects have been judiciously allocated and economically used.

In the case of SUBEB, the committee is tasked with the additional responsibility to ascertain the actual Teacher-Pupil ratio and advise  on how critical primary education infrastructure could be improved.

Of course the committees’ term of reference included determining  whether or not financial and administrative operational guidelines  were adhered to in the conduct of the organisational activities.

The four committees were constituted on Monday the 17th of August and they have  three weeks within which to submit their reports.

While inaugurating the committee, Governor Masari tasked them to do  their job without any fear or favour, insisting that the essence was to reposition operations of government for greater efficiency and  effectiveness in service delivery.

He stressed that the setting up of the committee had nothing to do with  witch-hunt but was borne out of the desire to set records of  government activities straight and admonished the committee members to  resist the temptation of allowing their personal interest and  preference interfere with the job.

Although the committee was coming few days to the one hundred days in  office in the life of the Masari-led administration, analyst said it  was long coming because the governor at different fora, had cause to  lament the alleged waste and more aptly, mismanagement of resources in  some critical sectors of the state government under the previous  administration.

In one of his interactions with newsmen, the governor observed that  the head of one of the agencies being investigated surpassed his  statutory spending limits and acted without recourse to either the board  or the supervising ministry.

Perhaps it may not be mere coincidence that the four agencies being  investigated are among the sectors seen as being juicy.

For instance, SUBEB, the agency saddled with the responsibility of  coordinating primary education, has according to available records,  received huge amount of money within the period to be covered by the  investigation, as counterpart funding to strengthen primary education.

But then, although the immediate past government said it has achieved  remarkable success in repositioning primary education, a special  committee constituted by the governor to asses state of primary  schools in the state, declared that the situation of over 2000 primary  school were deplorable.

Specifically, the committee headed by its chairman, Dr Badamasi  Charanchi hinted that close to 14,000 primary school  children across the state currently learn on bare floor due  to dearth of chairs, seats and other infrastructure. Perhaps this  revelation by the committee may be one of the reasons that informed  the governor’s decision to engage on a whole scale investigation.

The KASROMA is one of the state government agencies that have  continued to enjoy over eighty per cent budgetary releases during the  period under review.

Although it was saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the  roads across the state and other critical road infrastructure like  street lights and the likes, the agency delved its hands, surprisingly  in economic empowerment activities where it claimed to have taught  some unemployed youths skills and provided computers to them. This is  even as there is an agency statutorily responsible for handling this.

As for the department of Girl Child education and child development,  its activities principal among which is the conditional cash transfer  (CCT) programme, had been subjected to harsh criticism by people who  levelled allegations of bias on the authority.

The investigative committee will no doubt investigate, among other  things, the way and manner in which this all important programme which  sought toprovide stipends to school pupils as part of initiatives to  encourage enrolment, retention and completion of girl child in primary  school, was handled.

Indeed, among the agencies and or department to be investigated is the  MDGs/SURE-P both of which had attracted wide publicity in the state  for different reasons, perhaps due to funding reportedly pumped to  both by the federal government.

Our correspondent reports that the news of the committee was received  with wild jubilation in some corners of the state with those  applauding it insisting that it is a signal that the incumbent  government will not plunder the state resources and will ensure value  for money.

“The Governor is sending a signal to all those who care to see because  he will be setting a benchmark within which he will be judged after  living office. An administration that begins with probe will no doubt  be mindful of its action knowing full well that probe awaits it at  expiration” Saifullahi Danlami, a retired Director in the state civil  service said.

As at the time of going to press, it was reliably gathered that all  the committees had commenced work with what sources said was thorough  scrutiny of the books of all the agencies being investigated.

Views are being expressed that the investigation, which according to  the committee members, promised to be thorough, is bound to unravel  some can of worms as far as the way and manner the state’s resources  were expended, was concerned.

Reaction Trails Probe Committees

But even before the constitution of the committees, the heads of some  these agencies had appeared before the anti-graft agency, Economic and  Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning.

As should be expected, the constitution of the committee has continued  to engender different reactions from different sections of the state  with people expressing diverse opinions as to the propriety or  otherwise.

While some respondents believed it was timely, necessary and the only  option left to recover the alleged looted funds, others see it as mere  distraction and deliberate attempt to witch hunt officials of the  immediate past administration.

The opposition PDP which appears to be at the receiving end of the  committee’s activities and indeed, most of the present government’s  actions and inactions, described the committee as a deliberate attempt  to witch hunt some persons and rubbish the good track records of  achievement left behind by the immediate past administration.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the Katsina state PDP chairman, Salisu Yusuf  Majigiri condemned the constitution of the committee insisting that  there was ulterior motive for it “since all these agencies are being  investigated by the EFCC”.

“We condemn the constitution of these committees in the strongest  terms. What is the essence of the EFCC that is investigating all these  agencies? For one, all the members of the committee are members of the  APC and how do you expect fairness?”  “The probe is political since the committee is made up mainly of card  carrying APC members” Majigiri added insisting that the whole exercise  smack of deliberate attempt to witch hunt officials of the immediate  past administration.

But an APC youth Leader and frontline member of the Masariyya Group-an  organisation propagating the political ideals of Governor Masari-,  Mallam Yusuf Hamisu Tirmigis said the constitution of the committee  was not only necessary, but timely considering the enormity of alleged  mismanagement of the state’s resources.

“Regardless of our political leaning, we must accept the fact that  some looted or mismanaged funds have to be recovered. The present  government is trying to ask questions on how the resource of the state  was handled so as to ascertain whether or not there was value for  money. Why are some people grumbling?” Tirmigis queried. Abdurrahman Dutsinma is a member of the Katsina state chapter of  Coalition of Civil Societies. He said employing the service of  consultants who are politically neutral was the best thing for the  government to do.

“For a committee of this nature, government ought to have hired  services of consultants who can do the job better. Because using  people who belong to your party and are against the previous  government, there is likely to be bias in their findings”.

“But then having said that, the setting up of the committee is the  best thing governor Masari could have done because there are a lot of  allegations of financial misappropriation levelled against the  previous government”.

Dutsinma who is the chairman of Katsina Budget Awareness Initiative  (KBAI) added that “It is good to investigate these sectors because it  reflects all the agencies where there are widespread views that so  many resources were.

Credit: Leadership

Don’t Shield Crooks, PMB Tells Lawyers

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday implored lawyers in the country not to sacrifice the integrity of the Nigeria’s legal system on the altar of their clients’ misdeeds, no matter how lucrative the briefs may be.

He said, as the vanguard of the defense of human rights, lawyers must also view corruption as a gross violation of human rights.

The president, who stated this when he declared the 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) open at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, called on Nigerian lawyers to support his administration’s war against corruption.

This, he said, they should do in order to help the country return to the path of rectitude by making Nigerian courts functional and effective again.

Buhari said: “I am convinced that law, lawmakers, lawyers, law courts and the law enforcement agencies all have pivotal responsibilities to discharge if the change we seek is ever to materialize.

“As you all know by now, this administration has taken on the challenge of improving security, fighting corruption and revamping the economy, among many others. The fight against corruption is in reality a struggle for the restoration of law and order.

“Corruption and impunity become widespread when disrespect for law is allowed to thrive in society. Disrespect for law also thrives when people get away with all sorts of shady deals and the court system is somehow unable to check them.

“The ability to manipulate and frustrate the legal system is the crowning glory of the corrupt and, as may be expected, this has left many legal practitioners and law courts tainted inNBA 55TH  NATIONAL CONFERENCE  4-1 an ugly way.”

The president noted that in gatherings such as the conference, there was no need to expatiate on the manner in which corruption and impunity had damaged the country’s economy, saying he would rather dwell on the role legal practitioners should play in returning the country to the path of rectitude.

He said, “First, we need to make our courts functional and effective again. This means that we must have lawyers who take the ethics of the profession very seriously, lawyers who will not frustrate the course of justice even though they defend their clients with all legitimate means and resources.

“Nigeria needs ethical lawyers who always keep the end of justice in mind and will never sacrifice the integrity of the legal system to cover the misdeeds of their clients, no matter how lucrative the brief may be,” President Buhari told the country’s lawyers.

Urging the lawyers to view corruption too as a gross violation of human rights, Buhari lamented that for Nigerian masses, especially the millions still wallowing in poverty and diseases, corruption is a major reason why they cannot go to school; why they cannot be gainfully employed; why there are few doctors, nurses and drugs in their hospitals and health centres; why pensioners are not paid and why potable water is scarce.

The president continued: “In effect, corruption diverts public resources meant for millions of people into the private pockets of a greedy few, thereby causing a lot of suffering, deprivation and death. In my view, there can be no greater violation of human rights.

“Viewed in this way, I think we can all fully appreciate the gravity of this oppressive and destructive evil. This should rouse us to fight it with the same zeal and doggedness as we deploy in the defence of fundamental rights.”

Buhari further urged Nigerian lawyers to work for a more efficient and effective legal system, saying it would assist in attracting more investments to the country and accelerating the pace of national economic development.

He said, “Increased engagement with the outside world is called for as we seek public private partnerships in our quest for enhanced capital and expertise. There is no doubt that all these depend on enforceable agreements and a reliable legal system.

“Contracts are only good to the extent that they are enforceable without undue delay. If, by the default of lawyers or the law courts, it is found that cases take ages to conclude or that the judicial system is somehow corruptible, we obviously cannot attract the kind of partnerships which we need or which our large vibrant economy would ordinarily have attracted.

“The world today has been correctly described as a global village. Capital and expertise are readily mobile. Comparisons will inevitably be drawn between our country and others when the choice of where to do business is being made.”

Buhari noted that Nigeria’s current position in terms of doing business is not good enough as the country’s process for obtaining licences and permits are too slow.

He said, “It takes too long a time to enforce contracts in our law courts and our regulatory and administrative processes are not noticeably predictable or efficient. In all these, lawyers have a key role to play, whether in the reform of our laws and regulations or in the integrity of our judicial systems.

“It is my fervent hope that this conference and other fora for lawyers and non-lawyers will closely and quickly work out ways of making our legal system much improved in terms of integrity, the human touch, efficiency and rigorous dedication to the cause of justice.”

Buhari assured the lawyers that his administration will give its full support to the implementation of

the required legal reforms if it is convinced that they are in the best interest of the country.

Credit: Leadership

Attack On Alaibe, Others: “Nigerians Will Not Buy Into Your Cheap Blackmail” Group Tells Seriake Dickson

The Bayelsa Democratic Coalition BDC has described as cheap blackmail, the statement credited to the executive governor of Bayelsa state Seriake Dickson on the defection of Timi Alaibe and others from the  Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. The governor had in an event in Abuja, told journalists that the defection was born out of selfishness and greed. The group through a press statement signed by its National Coordinator Eddie Tekenah said the governor was resorting to cheap blackmail which does not hold water considering the glaring reality on ground.

The group said the governor should tell Nigerians what he has done with the money that has accrued to the state since he came into office. The group described his statement as a slap on the sensibilities of Bayelsans who have embraced the All progressives Congress as a result of his ineptitude administration and disregard for the wellbeing of Bayelsans.

The group said it is regrettable that a state like Bayelsa with a large revenue profile and a small population compared to other states will be suffering  such level of underdevelopment.

 It said it is ridiculous that the governor has applied an escapist route of dodging the issue that necessitated the exodus the party has witnessed recently.  “It is sad that the governor will resort to attacking the character of Bayelsans who have made their mark. People like Ndutimi Alaibe who accomplished a lot at the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC and whose tenure as Special Adviser to late President Umar Yaradua precipitated the emergence of the amnesty deal and a two term senator like Heineken Lokpobiri cannot be described in such adjectives used by the governor if not for the fact that he is desperately acknowledging that he has lost the confidence of Bayelsa people and is resorting to such cheap blackmail.” The group posited.

The Bayelsa Democratic Coalition said with the way the All Progressives Congress is gaining the confidence of the people, more high profile defections will soon take place and Bayelsans with be better off for it.

Watch Apostle Chinyere Chibuzo speak on corrupt pastors among other issues

Apostle Chinyere Chibuzo is the General Overseer of the Omega Power Ministries a Port Harcourt based Christian Church.