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Fifty Lawmakers Rally Support For Kyari, Farouk, Warns Investigative Committee Against Being Partial

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By Gloria Ikibah 
 
About Fifty members of the House of Representatives has thrown their weight behind the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, cautioning investigative committee not to be partial. 
 
 
The lawmakers faulted the calls for the removal of Kyari and Farouk and described the move as premature and done in and fate.
 
 
The lawmakers led by Rep. Billy Famous Osawaru ( Edo State) on Thursday in Abuja, stated that the call for the sack of Kyari when an investigation is currently being carried out was an action that is against parliamentary culture. 
 
 
Naijablitznews.com reports that the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Philip Agbese had requested that President Bola Tinubu immediately dismiss Kyari for allegdly stifling the economy’s growth due to the oil sector crisis.
 
 
Rep. Agbese also urged the President to sack the CEO of the NMDPRA, and other inherited appointees.
 
 
Responding to the Agbese’s call, Rep. Osawaru, during a press briefing on Thursday said it was against parliamentary culture to call for the sacking of an official of government when an investigation involving such person had not been concluded. 
 
 
He said it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in the investigation of the right for fair hearing and called on the committee handling the probe to be impartial. 
 
 
He said, “Nigerians will recall hike in fuel prices and associated challenges are fundamental concerns.  The House of Representatives vide its resolutions mandated the joint committee of the house on Midstream and Downstream Petroleum to investigate issues in the oil and gas sector. 
 
 
“We are aware  that investigation is ongoing and final decision has not been reached. However, our attention has been drawn to some media reports calling for the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL and the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA while the above investigation is subsisting.
 
 
“We wish to state that it is in the parliamentary culture to afford parties in an investigation that right to fair hearing. Therefore,  the cal for removal of anyone while investigation is pending is premature. 
 
 
“We Therefore call on all Nigerians to be patient and law abiding in expectation of a better Nigeria.”
 
 
The concerned lawmakers also expressed concern about the ongoing protests in the country, saying they converged to furtherappraise the situation as it affects the well-being of Nigerians.
 
 
They appealed for calm and begged all Nigerians to bring the protests to an end.
 
 
He added, “Today, the 1st of August, 2024, no less than 50 members of the House of Representatives who are deeply concerned about the ongoing protests have converged to further appraise the situation as it affects the well-being of Nigerians.
 
 
“First, we wish to commend the efforts of the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Right Honorable Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, for convening the youth dialogue to douse the tensions surrounding the scheduled protests.
 
” Having observed the nationwide protests, we commend the youths and Nigerians in general for the manner they have conducted themselves. We appeal for calm while imploring all Nigerians to bring the protests to an end.”
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Shettima becomes 1st VP to lead Nigeria’s delegation to UN Assembly in 25 yrs

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided not to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year.

The president has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.

President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.

“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.”

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“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” the statement added.

Since return to democratic governance in 199, Shettima will be the first Vice President to Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA.

Only Goodluck Jonathan represented Nigeria as Acting president in September 2010 at the 65th UNGA, while late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was away in Saudi Arabia due to his ill health.

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Plateau Assembly approves N5.8bn for LG election

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The Plateau State House of Assembly, on Thursday, approved N5.8bn for the conduct of the local government election in the state slated for October 9, 2024.

The approval by the House followed a communication from Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which was read at plenary by the Assembly Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.

The Speaker stated that the request was necessary as there was no budgetary allocation for the LG elections in the 2024 budget.

A member of the State Assembly, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the Assembly, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday.

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The lawmaker said, “Governor Mutfwang, at Tuesday’s plenary, sought the House’s approval for N5.7bn as the 2024 supplementary, which was increased after upward review by the legislators.”

He continued, “The House leader, Joseph Bukar, presented the bill during our plenary. While soliciting the support of members for speedy passage, he said PLASIEC was running out of time in preparation for the election.”

“In their individual contributions, Hon. Kalamu Dal suggested a downward review of the budget size, while Hon. Daniel Nanbol urged for a critical review and deliberations. Afterwards, members approved a revised sum of N5.8bn, as opposed to the N5.7bn requested.”

The increase, as explained by Bukar, was due to an increase in security allocation for the election, from N2.7m to N4.2m. “So, that is what happened, and that is where we are at the moment regarding the forthcoming LG election,” the lawmaker concluded.

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Enugu, Kwara tighten security ahead of LG polls

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Security measures have been intensified in Enugu and Kwara states ahead of their Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

In Enugu State, the Police Command has pledged to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the elections.

However, the peace accord signing for the elections was marred by the absence of major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, and Labour Party.

Only representatives from the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Accord attended but chose not to sign the accord, citing the lack of participation from the leading parties.

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Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said all wards and flashpoints had been identified, and security personnel would be on high alert to prevent any disruptions.

The Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Chris Ngwu, said the commission was fully prepared for the elections with the support of the state government in procuring necessary materials.

In Kwara State, security agencies have been actively coordinating to ensure a smooth electoral process.

Over 3,000 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been deployed across the state.

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The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission has completed arrangements for a trouble-free election.

Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, reported that a strategic meeting with heads of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and others, had been held to ensure coordinated efforts for maintaining law and order.

The Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, guaranteed maximum security for the election period.

The NSCDC Commandant, Dr. Umar Mohammed, announced the deployment of 3,000 personnel to various polling units and emphasised their role in preventing violence, ballot snatching, and other disruptions.

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Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Telumun Tombowua, announced on Thursday that eight political parties will participate in the upcoming LG elections in the state, scheduled for October 5, 2024.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi, Tombowua said the election would be conducted fairly and transparently.

He emphasised that the law establishing the BSIEC does not permit the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation Machines for this election.

Regarding the APC, Tombowua confirmed that the National Working Committee of the party had requested the commission to work with the seven-man caretaker committee appointed to oversee party affairs in the state.

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He noted that while 14 parties had initially shown interest, only eight completed the necessary processes and submitted their candidates.

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