Bayelsa State govt demolishes Dickson’s private home

Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday demolished a one-storey private building owned by Governor Seriake Dickson because it obstructed the Right-of-Way as well as intruding on the state Capital City Master Plan.             .

The demolished building, which had been marked by the Capital City Development Authority on June 28, 2012, was situated along the Opolo/AIT Road, Yenagoa, the state capital.

The demolition, which began about 12.48 pm, was supervised by the Deputy Governor John Jonah; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ehwrudjakpor; Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Markson Fefegha; Commissioner for State Capital City Development; and Mr. Konugha Zuwa.

Other structures affected by the demolition exercise included that of the Director General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS,  Dr. Temple Iluma.

Jonah told journalists that the location of the Governor’s house obstructed the Right-of-Way, hence there would be no compensation for him.

He said, “In line with the development control of the CCDA and urban renewal of the state, the government awarded contract for the dualisation of the road. Anyone who has built structures on the Right-of-Way should expect such buildings to be demolished.

“We have been talking about the master plan as well as some areas where we have to carry out urban renewal. For the master plan, we expect every builder to go and get clearance before he or she starts to build to see the extent that he can go outside the road.

“One of the houses we have found to have interfered with the plan of Yenagoa is this one-storey structure belonging to the Governor. On the advice of the CCDA that is concerned with development control of the state, the house was marked since last year for demolition. And you know we have awarded contract for the dualisation of the Opolo Road.”

However, some Yenagoa residents on Wednesday said the exercise was politically-motivated, notwithstanding that the governor’s house was affected.

The residents, who claimed that only a section of Dickson’s building was demolished, said the exercise was a strategy to enable the government to demolish buildings of perceived opponents without causing public outrage.

None of the complaining residents however agreed to be quoted.

In his comment, Ehwrudjakpor said the demolition had been on for some time and listed the affected areas to include Ovom, Igbogene, Imgbi, Diete_Spiff and Eradiri road expansion.

Culled from punchng.com

Pro-Oduah Group Protests Aviation Minister Stella Oduah’s Bribery Scandal Stella Oduah’s Paid Supporters Protest Corruption Scandal In Abuja

A group of women held a protest in favour of Aviation Minister, Stella Odua on Thursday morning in Abuja.

The group consisting of middle-age to elderly women gathered together to show their support for the Aviation minister currently battling a multi-million naira corruption scandal.

The protesters carried placards with the saying “a fight against Stella Oduah is a fight against women”

Contrary to their claims, the small group of women only represented themselves and not all Nigerian women.

Sources claim most of these women are uneducated people paid to carry the placards.

Check out more photos from the protests below

Related P

Amb. Ade Adefuye's open letter to Senator Ted CRUZ

 Prof. Ade Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the US

Here is official letter from H.E. Amb. Ade Adefuye : Nigerian Ambassador to United States to Senator Ted CRUZ

Attention: Michael Flusche
North Texas Regional Director
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz
3626 N. Hall, Suite 410
Dallas, TX 75219

Dear Senator,

RE: NIGERIAN EMAIL SCAMMERS AND OBAMACARE

You are no doubt aware of the reaction of Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to a statement credited to your good self on the above.

Our immediate reaction at the Embassy is to assume that you were wrongly quoted and that the statement would be denied. We are however surprised that this has not happened. We have no choice than to assume that the statement was deliberately made by you.

For a start we are shocked that a high profile Senator of a country which is at the forefront in building a peaceful and stable world in which nations and peoples treat each other with mutual respect could be engaged in an act which offends the sensitivities of an important component of his constituency.

Distinguished Senator I am sure you are sufficiently familiar with the constructive contributions which Nigerians have made to economic, social and political lives of Texas especially in the Houston area. Every country has its own share of law breakers. To use the activities of few as an opportunity to cast aspersions on the integrity of a country and its people is not only unfair but also excessively offensive. You yourself made the point that the so-called email scammers have disappeared from the scene. But it is not because they were recruited to work on Obamacare. It is because of the successful efforts of our government working through the Embassy and the international law enforcing agents to curb the activities of these few law breakers.

It is not the practice of any Nigerian diplomatic mission to interfere in the domestic affairs of our host countries. But we will not sit back, fold our arms while a politician assaults the integrity of our country and people in the process of appeasing the base instincts of a few misguided elements in his constituency. Distinguished Senator the least we can say is that Nigerians feel offended by you. They demand an apology.

Professor Ade Adefuye
Ambassador, Head of Mission
Embassy of Nigeria
Washington DC

Ted Cruz

Nigeria Elected Into UN Council

Nigeria was on Thursday elected into the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council, scoring a total of 186 out of a possible 193 votes.

This is the fourth time Nigeria would be elected into the seat since it became independent in 1960. It is also the second time the country would secure a seat in the Council under President Goodluck Jonathan.

The first time was in 2010-2011. Meanwhile, President Jonathan has welcomed Nigeria’s election into the Council, thanking all member- countries that supported the country’s bid.

A statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said, “On behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan wishes to convey his sincere appreciation for the support of all member-countries of the United Nations who voted for Nigeria’s election to the Security Council.

“The President believes that today’s endorsement of Nigeria’s candidature for the Security Council seat by the vast majority of member-countries is a glowing expression of support and encouragement for Nigeria’s active participation in the promotion of peace, security and political stability in Africa and other parts of the world.

“This is the fourth time since it became independent in 1960 that Nigeria is being elected to the UN Security Council. It is also the second time (2010-2011 and 2014-2015) that Nigeria will be elected to the Council under the Jonathan Presidency.

“The President is particularly delighted by this historic victory and assures the global community that Nigeria, under his leadership, will continue to make very significant contributions towards the achievement and sustenance of global peace and security.”
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/49933.html

SCANDAL: Dino Melaye Exposes Fraud Involving Minister Of Aviation Stella Odu

There is currently a scandal surrounding Aviation minister, Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, over allegations that she spent N255m on the purchase of cars.

Nigeria's leading anti-corruption crusader, Hon. Dino Melaye reportedly confirmed the claim that she spent the millions on two exotic cars although, he did reveal that he contacted companies in America and Germany and they told him that the "REAL" cost of those cars is N96million.

His Tweets Below:

Nigerians react to the issue below;

What do you think? Share your views in the comments section.