COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AFTER A MEETING OF STAKEHOLDERS OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY ON THE 20TH FEBRUARY 2017

WHEREAS:

A.​ Following the repugnant attempt by Sen. Ali Modu Sherrif and other undemocratic forces to undermine and take over the Peoples Democratic Party, the National Convention of the party held at Port Harcourt on the 21st day of May 2016 dissolved the then National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee and replaced the National Working Committee with a 7-member National Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi as Chairman and Sen. Ben Obi as Secretary with a mandate to run the party and organize an elective National Convention as soon as practicable;

B.​ The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in FHC/PH/CS/524/2016 PDP & ORS. Vs. SHERRIF & ORS in its judgment endorsed the decisions of the 21st May 2016 National Convention, holding that the Convention did not violate any extant Order of the Courts or any provisions of the Party’s or Country’s Constitution.

Ali Modu Sheriff Sets to Restructure PDP, Promises to Send Wike, Fayose and Other Godless Politicians Away

Following his factional victory at the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt today, the aclaimed authentic PDP Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff in reacting to the favourable judgement said he will engineer a restructuring of the PDP such that characters like Wike and Fayose cannot find a way through to attain any position of prominence in the party in the future.

The Former Governor of Borno state said the likes of Governor Wike of Rivers state and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State have brought shame and agony through the application of their crude and godless politics which is at variance with the principles upon which our founding fathers built our great party.

APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT: Victory For Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of PDP is a victory for Buhari, APC - Fani Kayode

Femi Fani Kayode

"The decision by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt to recognise Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the PDP is a victory for the ruling APC and President Muhammadu Buhari." Says Femi Fani Kayode

The former Minister of Aviation and Minister of Culture and Tourism of Nigeria who was also appointed the Director of Media And Publicity at Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation in the last presidential election said: "The decision is as shameful as it is absurd. It is time for us to gut the PDP, leave its carcass for the treacherous and destructive mole called Ali Modu Sheriff and form a new megaparty."

The C of A decision is absurd.Its time for us to gut the PDP,leave its carcass for the treacherous mole called Sheriff and form a new party.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) February 17, 2017

FG DECLARES AIR POLLUTION IN PORT HARCOURT AN "EMERGENCY SITUATION

In a bid to urgently address the air pollution problem in Port Harcourt and its environs, the Federal Ministry of Environment has declared the air pollution in Port Harcourt an "Emergency Situation" and has subsequently issued a notice to temporarily shut down an asphalt processing plant in Port Harcourt belching out thick smoke from its operation to bring the situation under control, while investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the air pollution.

The air pollution which usually manifest in the form of soot has been on for more than eight weeks and has greatly impacted negatively on the air quality in Port Harcourt and its surroundings.

NIGERIAN NAVY HANDS OVER 12 SUSPECTED OIL THIEVES & 4 VESSELS TO EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently received twelve suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an un-named barge and two wooden boats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for further investigation and prosecution. 

While handing over the suspects to the EFCC, Commodore W. O Kayoda, Commander of NHS PATHFINDER said that, the suspected oil thieves were arrested on 6 February, 2017 by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team deployed for Anti-Crude Oil Theft/ Illegal Oil Bunkering operations around Taraba Jetty, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were arrested with one vessel: MV OMISAN 1 and one wooden boat. The suspects, who were crew members of MV OMISAN 1 and the wooden boat were arrested in the process of transshipping an estimated 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil, AGO, from the wooden boat to MV OMISAN 1. 

PRESS RELEASE: Petroleum Products Loading Resumes at NNPC Depots Nationwide

Loading Activities have resumed in depots of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, nationwide. The resumption of activities at the depots across the nation followed the suspension of a strike action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG.

The Corporation’s current petroleum products stock holding is robust at over 37 days PMS (petrol) sufficiency.

The Corporation noted that with the resumption in production of diesel and kerosene by the nation’s three refineries located in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri, Nigerians can be rest assured that the seamless flow of petroleum products during the yuletide season would be sustained.

PRESS RELEASE: 50 Companies bid for NNPC’s Boat Supply Term Contract

A total of 50 companies recently submitted bids to partake in the provision of sea worthy Tug boats on charter time basis for the maritime operational requirements of the NNPC in Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt.

The public bid opening event which was held at the Abuja Corporate Headquarters of the Corporation had in attendance representatives of the bidding companies with officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and some members of the civil society as observers.

Successful companies would be engaged on a two year term contract in the first instance with an option of renewal for a further one year.

Commissioning of Nigerian Naval Ships: President Buhari's Full Speech

SPEECH BY H.E. MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF NIGERIAN NAVAL SHIPS; UNITY, KARADUWA AND TUGBOAT COMMANDER EDWIN UGWU AT THE NAVAL DOCKYARD VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS

PROTOCOLS:

I am delighted to be in your midst today to witness the commissioning ceremony of Nigerian Navy Ships UNITY and KARADUWA as well as the Nigerian Navy Tugboat COMMANDER EDWIN UGWU, which are about to be added to the Nigerian Navy fleet. The event of today is significant for a number of reasons.

PRESS RELEASE: RIVERS APC ENDORSES NIGER DELTA PEACE INITIATIVE

*Congratulates Amaechi, other stakeholders

*Urges those sponsoring bombings in the region to have a rethink

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed the Niger Delta Peace Initiative recently launched by South-South leaders under the leadership of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The party in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Ibiamu Ikanya, praised Amaechi for assembling South-South stakeholders under the umbrella of the Initiative for Peace, Governance and Development of the South-South to proffer solutions to the current destruction of the oil pipelines and ecosystem of the region.

Nigerian Eagles cage Mali in France

Hours after former captain Joseph Yobo called on the new generation of Super Eagles to “rise to the occasion and lift the Super Eagles to new levels,” a relatively young Nigerian team gifted with a sense of urgency, purpose and craftsmanship pipped Les Aigles of Mali 1-0 in an exciting international friendly in Rouen on Friday.

Without skipper John Mikel Obi and his assistant, Ahmed Musa who were released to be part of Yobo’s testimonial match in Port Harcourt, the Eagles were expected to struggle at the Stade Robert Diochon. But the young team fought well and in a pragmatic manner and could have won by a wider margin.

#FuelSubsidy Response: 5 Glaring Lies In The Vice President

#1 Are Our Refineries Working Or Twerking

VP: “What happened is as follows: our local consumption of fuel is almost entirely imported.”

So what happened to the 3 functioning refineries? Or was it a lie? Reminder:

January 2016: NNPC spokesman Ohi Alegbe said the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries were producing a total of 6.76 million litres of gasoline per day, adding that this was projected to rise to more than 10 million litres per day by the end of January. Source: Reuters Africa

NIGERIA RULING CLASS: FANTASTICALLY CORRUPT, FANTASTICALLY BINEPT, FANTASTICALLY INCOMPETENT, AND FANTASTICALLY INSENSITIVE - JAYE GASKIA

President Buhari and British PM Cameron

I know that the most topical issue in Nigeria for a while now and particularly today, at least for the ordinary citizen is the lingering phenomenon of unavailability, scarcity and significant spike in the price of petrol. And for very obvious reasons, not the least today’s astronomical hike in the pump price of the product, this issue will continue to dominate public discourse and shape public action for some time to come.

So knowing and understanding this why do I appear to be focused on corruption and the congenital and historically intrinsic incompetence and ineptitude and insensitivity of the Nigeria ruling class? The reason is simple. The substrate of corruption powered by impunity has contributing significantly to the nurturing of the incompetence, ineptitude and insensitivity of Nigeria’s ruling elites is what has brought us to this penkelemesi, that is this state of peculiar mess to borrow from the immortal expression of one of Nigeria’s first republic leaders, the late Adelabu of Ibadan.

Reuters - Nigeria needs until June to repair Forcados pipeline - Kachikwu

Repair work on a Nigerian pipeline feeding the key Forcados export terminal will last until June, the country's oil minister said on Wednesday, confirming a Reuters report from last week. "The line won't be ready until June," Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu told reporters.

Unknown gunmen attacked the pipeline run by Royal Dutch Shell in February, reducing Nigeria's oil output by some 250,000 barrels a day.

Kachikwu also said Africa's top crude producer hoped to sign by July agreements with foreign partners to overhaul its three outdated refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

U-23 Championship Qualifiers: Congo must fall says Samson Siaisa

Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has expressed confidence that his team will overcome their Congolese counterparts in Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.


Siasia, who led the Under-23 team to runner-up position at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, said this in a chat with the media at the Hotel Presidential abode of the team. “I am very confident that Nigerians who will troop out en masse to see our match on Sunday will see one of the best displays ever by the Dream Team.

Tinubu’s FirstNation aircraft collide at Lagos Airport; 250 passengers escape death

Two of the aircraft belonging to FirstNation Airways yesterday collided at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. 

FirstNation is owned by former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, currently the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that yesterday’s incident happened at about mid-day and involved two Airbus 330 conveying not fewer than 250 passengers.

The two aircraft had their bodies partially damaged as a result of the collision.

A source at the airport told NAN that one of the aircraft was taxiing from the runway to MMA2, to disengage passengers while the other aircraft was preparing to take off to Port Harcourt Airport from the same terminal.

Soldiers hostage of Governor Amaechi's convoy near Ikere- Ekiti

When would the drama playing out between President GEJ and Gov. Ameachi of Rivers State come to an end? It's a global shame and must be rebuked by us all..

The Rivers State Government is concerned about the safety of Governor Amaechi who is right now being held hostage in a commando style by soldiers and federal government security agents in Odudu, Ondo state. Governor Amaechi as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ forum and as an APC governor and chieftain had left Port Harcourt this morning for Ekiti state where he was to join his brother governor in his last mega rally before the elections.

Governor Amaechi was ambushed and refused entry into Ekiti by military personnel acting on orders from above. He made to turn back and return to Akure where his chattered aircraft was parked but was chased and rounded by armed soldiers and security personnel in Odudu, Ondo state. According to the captain who led the operation, he had orders not to allow the governor
entry or exit.

Winner Chapel Worshippers escape death in Owerri as police uncover deadly explosives in Church

The Police in Imo state have arrested six suspects over the discovery of two Improvised Explosive Devices in a church in Owerri, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police, Abdumajid Ali, and spokesperson for the command, Andrew Enwerem, have said.

Mr. Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, told PREMIUM TIMES the police was alerted to strange objects at the entrance of the Port Harcourt Road branch of Winners Chapel around midnight on Saturday. He said bomb experts were promptly drafted to the church to sweep the area.

“During their check, it was discovered that Improvised Explosive Devices in forms of refrigerator compressor concealed in sack bags were discovered,” Mr. Enwerem said. “One was promptly detonated at the scene because it was on a timer. The other one was dis-alarmed and then taken away for detonation.”

#BringBackOurGirls: Kick Out Terrorism Protest Rally Ongoing PortHarcourt (Photo)

#BringBackOurGirls: We Are Going After Boko Haram - Asari Dokubo

The Leader of the  Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo has warned that no amount of threat would stop President Goodluck Jonathan from running for a second term.  Speaking at a programm organised by the NDDC in Port Harcourt, that Boko Haram’s killings were part of sponsored scheme to stop President from going for a second term

 Ex militant Field Mashall said the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC had come to stay, adding that no government can scrap it. “They have started oo! The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau said in a video that we should not play with them. He said, Goodluck, I am coming for you. Niger Delta, we are coming for you.

Are we going to allow them to shoot the guns and throw the bombs? That is when we will dance?”

Jonathan's Offer Of Automatic Employment For Injured Immigration Job Seekers; Applicants Besiege National Hospital, Saying, ‘We Were Injured Too!

Job seekers who are desperate to secure a job in Nigeria are moving to take advantage of the offer of automatic employment to job seekers who got injured in the recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service last Saturday.

President Goodluck Jonathan offered automatic employment tickets to injured applicants during the recent recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Less than 24 hours after the announcement, about 200 applicants have approached the National Hospital, Abuja, seeking to be registered as beneficiaries in the presidential largesse. A source close to the hospital said that the applicants had been coming in trickles, claiming that they had treated themselves at certain private hospitals after the stampede.