Politics

Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State has congratulated the Christian community on the successful completion of the Lenten period that culminated in the Easter celebration.

``The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the reason for the celebration, is one of the greatest events in the history of Christendom and humanity,’’ Al-makura said in a statement.

The statement was signed by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Danjuma Joseph and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

The governor, in the statement, therefore, urged Christian faithful to use the opportunity of the ``wonderful'' season to reflect on the lessons of the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He also admonished Christians to use this memorable event, which he described as the basis of the Christian faith, to preach and promote peace, as a prerequisite for the development of Nasarawa State and the country at large.

he described the significance of the celebration to mankind was multi-dimensional and urged Christians to reflect on it in their relationship with one another and people of other faiths, to ensure peace and stability in the state.

He also used the occasion to call on thepeople of Nasarawa State to be their brothers’ keeper, noting that that was the only sure way of promoting peace and development in the state.

Members of the various PDP factions in Ogun on Monday, held a closed-door reconciliatory meeting at the hilltop residence of former Olusegun Obasanjo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Obasanjo was also the immediate past Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BOT).

NAN reports that those who attended the four-hour meeting were Chief Segun Oni, a former PDP National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Sen Jubril Martins Kuye, a former Minister of State for Finance and Chief Sarafa Ishola, a former Minister for Mines and Steel Development.

Some of the party chieftains who addressed newsmen described the meeting as fruitful.

Kuye told newsmen that the development was part of the moves to reposition the party ahead of the 2015 General Elections.

He said that the intra-party crises had caused a lot of setbacks to the party in the state, adding that it was necessary for elders of the party to come together and "mend broken fences", to move the party forward.

He hinged the choice of Obasanjo's residence on the fact that ``the former president is an embodiment of peace and a rallying point of the party both in the South-West and at the national level.''

Kuye said that series of such meetings would be held at regular intervals to ensure that the party was united and focused ahead of the 2015 General Elections.

Also speaking, Ishola expressed optimism that the initiative would bring to an end the crisis which had polarised the party and denied it of victory at the 2011 gubernatorial elections in the state.

He called on other aggrieved members of the party to return saying: "There is no end to reconciliation. All channels of communications would be kept open."

The former minister gave the assurance that the party remained a formidable family and members were ready to sacrifice personal interests for the overall good of the party.

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An Italian oil firm, Eni,  on Monday shut down its activities in the swampy oil fields located in Bayelsa over theft.

The firm, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Monday, attributed the frequent spills to oil theft by vandals and said that it had decided to shut down operations to prevent further damages to the environment.

Eni, which operates in Nigeria as Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), said it authorised the suspension of operations on March 22 and subsequently declared ‘Force Majeure’ on its oil output from the facility on March 23.

`Force Majeure' is a legal notice that absolves an oil firm of liabilities for failure to meet supply obligations to crude buyers due to circumstances beyond the firm’s control

“Eni confirms that during the night between 21 and 22 March, the company has declared force majeure and ordered the closure of its onshore activities in the Swamp Area, located in Bayelsa State in Nigeria.

“The decision was made due to the intensified bunkering, consisting in the sabotage of pipelines and the theft of crude oil, which has recently reached unsustainable levels regarding both personal safety and damage to the environment.

“Sustainability is for Eni a priority in Nigeria, as in all the countries in which it operates, the statement said.

According to the statement, the firm produced about 40,000 barrels of crude oil equivalent daily from the shut facilities.

 It espressed regret about 7,000 barrels of its daily crude production  was lost to oil thieves in Bayelsa, a development the firm described as unsustainable and compelled it to shut down.

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The PDP has commended the intervention and efforts of Chief Tony Anenih, the Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BoT) in reconciling the aggrieved party members.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that Anenih`s effort was complementary to the realisation of the goals of the current National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP NWC on March 15, commenced a tour of the six geopolitical zones of the federation to reconcile aggrieved party members.

The tour, which was rounded up on March 24 with a grand finale in Abuja, marked the one year anniversary of the Tukur led NWC of the PDP, which came into existence on March 24, 2012.

Metuh said that Anenih had lived up to his reputation as a consensus builder and a strong believer in the supremacy of the party since his election as BoT chairman.

He said that he had always been promoting the advancement of collective interests over and above narrow interests.

``His intervention at a time the NWC has embarked upon a tour to achieve total reconciliation and engender internal cohesion is worthy of commendation," the PDP spokesman said.

He expressed confidence in the BoT chairman's ability to use his experience, wide contacts and wisdom to bring all PDP members together for the common goal of providing qualitative service to the people.

Metuh said that the PDP national chairman was particularly delighted with the synergy between the BoT under Anenih, the NWC, and the PDP Governors forum.

``Anenih is knitting the party together in the midst of unfounded speculations of disunity,’’ Metuh said.

He said that the PDP remained the most united and formidable political movement and the best platform for political expression in Nigeria, a credential which could not be pocessed by other parties.

Metuh commended PDP Governors Forum under the chairmanship of Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, for standing firm and remaining undaunted in spite of efforts by opposition to discredit the forum.

"Our governors are the pillars of our party, they are the vital channels for the translation of our manifesto to practical reality.

``It is, therefore, of utmost necessity that they remain united and focused for the sake of our people," Metuh said.

He gave the assurance that the PDP NWC would ensure that all individuals and tendencies within the party were totally reconciled in fulfilment of the party's national chairman's political development agenda.

House of Representatives' Speaker  Aminu Tambuwal on Tuesday in Abuja said the House would always follow due process in resolving crisis stemming from disputed seat.

The Speaker gave the assurance to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who had earlier protested the delay in  swearing-in of Nwoye as the new representatives of Anambra East/West Federal Constituency.

Tambuwal explained  that he was not in any way against the swearing in of Nwoye, adding however, that he would have to follow due process. 

According to him, the case between Tony Nwoye and Chriscato  Ameke is still in court, and  the House will ensure that none of the parties in dispute  suffers injustice.

"We will take up this matter to do the right thing, this matter will receive due attention," the Speaker assured.

Tambuwal stressed the need for the students protest of solidarity to be extended to other Nigerians aside from a former member of NANS.

Earlier, the  NANS President, Mr Yinka Gbadebo, presented a letter to the House leadership, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum within which Nwoye would be sworn in as Member of the House.

He later extended the ultimatum to April 16 when the House is scheduled to resume from recess.

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwoye, on July 13, 2012, secured a court order mandating INEC to recognise him as the candidate of the PDP for the Anambra East/West  Federal Constituency.

The Supreme Court had earlier ruled  that Mr Chriscato Ameke, occupying the disputed seat, never participated in the said election in Anambra State.

INEC on July 16, 2012, issued Nwoye with a certificate of return and withdrew the initial one issued to Hon. Ameke in obedience to the judgement.

However, Nwoye did not  take oath of office on August 17, 2012 as anticipated because  the Office of the Clerk to  the National Assembly failed to do the necessary documentation in order for him to be sworn in .     

The students also recalled a letter dated March 14, 2013, and written by the Director of Legal Services at  the National Assembly,  advising  the Speaker and Clerk of the House to swear in Nwoye .

This followed the judgement of the  Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal of Feb. 27, 2013 striking out the  Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution filed by Hon. Ameke.

They further noted that Nwoye was still not sworn in despite the fact that a four-man panel headed by Rep. Ishaka Bawa had recommended that he should be sworn in.         

Nwoye is contesting the Anambra East/West  Federal Constituency seat with Ameke currently occupying the seat.

The bone of contention  is about the rightful candidate of PDP in the  party's primaries in 2011 between Nwoye and Ameke as the PDP eventually won the seat.