LP gives Mimiko 21 day ultimatum to resign

The National Working Committee (NWC) Wednesday advised Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko to respect Labour Party (LP) constitution and resign from office.

Mimiko who was elected into office as LP candidate dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

LP NWC took the decision after a meeting in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the LP National Publicity Secretary, Ikpe Etokudo: “The NWC came to the inevitable conclusion that the constitution of the republic and provision of relevant section of the electoral laws must be respected by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his new party – the PDP.

“The case of Dr. Boroffice who was elected as a Senator on the platform of our party but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was cited. The NWC reminded Dr. Mimiko that he was so incensed by Boroffice’s action that he advised the party to approached the court for justice.

“The NWC warned all those concerned to take the path of honour immediately or should expect to defend their deliberate raping of the constitution of the country within next 21 days in court as well as be ready to face the wrath of workers of Ondo State in particular and the nation in general.”

NATION

Africa gets first white leader in 20 years

Zambia’s Guy Scott became Africa’s first white head of state in 20 years on Wednesday after the president, “King Cobra” Michael Sata, died in a London hospital aged 77.

Scott, a Cambridge-educated economist born to Scottish parents, was Sata’s vice president.

He takes over as interim leader until an election in three months, making him the first white African leader since South Africa’s F.W. de Klerk lost to Nelson Mandela in the 1994 election that ended apartheid, Reuters says.

“Elections for the office of president will take place within 90 days. In the interim I am acting president,” Scott said in a brief televised address.

“The period of national mourning will start today. We will miss our beloved president and comrade.”

Scott, 70, will not be eligible to run for the presidency because of citizenship restrictions, analysts say.

Sata, an abrasive figure nicknamed “King Cobra” because of his venomous tongue, died on Tuesday in London, where he was receiving medical treatment, the government said earlier. He had been president of Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer since 2011.

The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but Sata had been ill for some time. He was being treated at London’s King Edward VII hospital when he died, the website Zambian Watchdog reported.

“As you are aware, the president was receiving medical attention in London,” cabinet secretary Roland Msiska announced on state television. “The head of state passed away on October 28. President Sata’s demise is deeply regretted.”

NATION

Tambuwal Defection: Jonathan Meets PDP Leadership

• Akande, Ogor, other legislators set to challenge speaker  

•Opposition lawmakers to tackle colleagues, insist House can’t be regulated from outside
Worried that the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) could have adverse effect on the political fortunes of the PDP, especially in the forthcoming elections, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday met with the leadership of the party, some governors and leaders of the House of Representatives.

The meeting is coming on the heels of plans by the Majority
Leader of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP, Oyo) and other principal members of the House who are members of the PDP to challenge Tambuwal over his defection.

The Speaker had on Tuesday defected from the ruling party to the opposition APC to contest the governorship election of his home state, Sokoto, in 2015.

His defection was greeted by calls on him to resign to allow another person from PDP take over the leadership of the House as Speaker.

But Tambuwal believes that he will remain the Speaker of the lower House, especially as the PDP will not be able to muster two-thirds majority required by the constitution to impeach him.

He had also adjourned the House till December 3, ostensibly to buy time and frustrate every move to remove him.

Although those in attendance kept sealed lips after the meeting with President Jonathan, there are indications that the officials led by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, strategised on the next step to tackle the Tambuwal upset.

Those who attended the meeting, apart from the party’s national chairman, included the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Governors of Bayelsa, Henry Seriake-Dickson, Benue, Gabriel Suswam,  Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo and their Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Speaker of the House,  Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Ndudi Elumelu amongst others.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) was also at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Akande-Adeola on Wednesday told journalists that as they await the party’s directives on what to do, they would ensure that the interest of the party is fully protected in the lower chamber.

She was the party’s anointed candidate and sought the same position as Tambuwal in 2011.

Her Deputy, Leo Okuwe Ogor (PDP, Delta), articulated the position of the group, saying: “We will face the party and give our explanations, but I can assure you that the party interest will be fully protected.

“He sits down there as the presiding officer, we run the affairs of the House; and as people who control the House, we must go the extra mile to protect the interest of our party.”

Another legislator who spoke on condition of anonymity told THISDAY that Tambuwal’s defection really shook the ruling party.

“Tambuwal was elected by all members of the House but I don’t think that that is in question whatsoever. After all, the PDP was not the only political party in the House when this happened. And, as we speak, it is not the only political party in the House,” he said.

Another PDP lawmaker who is also said to be close to Tambuwal is taking the position of the party to call for Tambuwal’s resignation as a matter of honour and integrity.

“The fact still remains that Tambuwal was nominated from the party that had the majority in the House to stand for the Speakership in the election. People seem to gloss over this and this is what people who understand the dynamics are saying.

“Tambuwal has left the PDP, it’s okay. But he should be honourable enough to vacate the Speaker’s seat and allow a fresh election for a new speaker. Again, nominations would be made from a party that holds the majority but if the House thinks it would nominate a candidate from the minority so be it.”

However, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from the North who also defected from the PDP recently argued that: “PDP did not make Tambuwal the Speaker.”

But in swift reaction, the House of Representatives had warned the PDP and its sympathisers within the House to steer clear of its internal affairs and allow the judiciary to do its job.

The Deputy Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra),  who gave the warning stated that many of these commentators, were  ignorant of the law and the House rules.

He kicked against what he described as a recourse to anarchy as a way of achieving what they imagine ought to be the ‘solution’ to the issue.

He said: “Following several inquiries especially by journalists and some members of the public, it is easy to narrow the concerns to two key issues. One, whether Speaker Tambuwal ought to vacate his seat as representative of Kebbe/ Tambuwal  Federal  Constituency, Sokoto State, by virtue of section 68 (1) (g), of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; and two, if he shouldn’t step down as Speaker, having defected from the majority party in the House to a minority platform”.

He stressed: “It is common knowledge that following the defection of 37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there has been  multiple  court cases on the matter, thus rendering it subjudice to discuss any likely outcome. Everyone is thus enjoined to await final judicial pronouncement on the issue of defection, which has afflicted virtually all political parties in the land.

“Concerning calls for Mr. Speaker to step down from the position which his colleagues freely elected him to on June 6, 2011, we wish to reaffirm – even with the pains of almost sounding monotonous – that the speakership of the House, or indeed, any other national elective position, belongs to the generality of Nigerians, and not the political platforms upon which such leaders emerge.

“The clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian constitution easily settles the worries regarding the  continued speakership of Tambuwal: “There shall be a
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”, the above quoted portion of the constitution stipulates. It would therefore amount to an affront on members’ privilege to question their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freely elect their leader.”

“It is in the light of the foregoing that the House wishes to appeal to those who seek to “regulate its procedure” from outside its hallowed chambers to have a rethink, as the nation’s constitution, the Standing Orders of the House and precedent – as in the Speakership of the late Hon. Edwin Ume-Ezeoke in the Second Republic on a minority platform – have all provided answers to what would have otherwise been a knotty political issue,” Ogene stressed

LAGOS: Agbaje, Others Pick PDP Governorship Nomination Forms

Ahead of Thursday’s conclusion of the sale of nomination forms for all elective positions, more governorship aspirants from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have paid to signify their intention to contest for governorship election.

One such aspirant is Mr. Jimi Agbaje from Lagos State who pledged to transform the state to a level befitting of an international state capital if voted into power as governor.

Briefing journalists after picking his nomination form at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Agbaje said: “Lagos State is the economic hub in our country and region and the dynamics of the politics of Lagos is very different generally from across the country;  what you find is that Lagosians have very high aspirations and  they are concerned about having a government that will make their aspiration come true.”

“They know what they are looking for; Lagos is about governance, good governance. Lagos is about making things better for the people.

He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had outlived its usefulness in the state.

“In terms of the ruling party in Lagos, they have been there for 16 years, therefore we believe that  they are now reaching a stage where it is the end of a cycle because they have  run out of ideas and put themselves in a position where they are no longer in a position to deliver to the people.

“If you go around Lagos today and talk to the major stakeholders, you will find out that their aspirations are not being met, talk to the youths, market women, civil servants and even the traders and professionals, everybody has a major grudge with the ruling party in Lagos.”

Agaje added: “Therefore we believe in the PDP that we have a lot of answers to this thing. So, for us, it is time for a change as far as governance in Lagos is concerned. We are looking at a Lagos  that is the city state of the future, Lagos can no longer be compared to what I call just everywhere,  we must begin to compete with those city capitals that we see across the globe.
That is the way forward for Lagos.

“We need to remove all these obstacles that prevent entrepreneurship. We keep talking about Job creation, the reality is that jobs are going to be created and not just by the big organisations but more by the smaller organisations.

“This means that we need to address the small and medium enterprises, you know we have hundreds of enterprises in Lagos. All we need to do is to remove all the obstacle in the way that each of those small enterprise,” he said.

From Taraba State, Musa John Jen, promised to utilise the Gembu Electricity Dam in the state to boost electricity generation in the state if he is elected  governor in 2015.

He made the promise in Abuja, while speaking with journalists, after picking the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the election.
Jen, who is the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, described as unfortunate the electricity situation in the country.

He held that the situation was hindering economic development in the country.

“We need electricity, you cannot do any meaningful investment in Nigeria without a stable source of power supply and Gembu and particularly Taraba State is the key,’’ he said.

The aspirant said he was already discussing with an Italian company to invest in the dam, adding that the company was eager to commence work on a Build Operate and Transfer (BoT) basis.

According to him, the dam has the capacity to generate electricity not only for Nigeria, but six other African countries.

He, however, described as a mere speculation the alleged endorsement of a particular governorship aspirant by Gen. T. Y Danjuma, a major political stakeholder in the state.

He added that he would not deterred even if the rumour was true, stressing that he posses what it takes to win the PDP ticket to contest the state governorship election in 2015.

Jen said his focus would be on boosting the state`s internally generated revenue with a view to developing the entire state if elected.

Also, Chief John Abdul, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Nasarawa, was at the PDP headquarters to pick the forms to contest the state`s governorship election in 2015.

He said he would ensure that the PDP reclaimed the state in 2015.

The aspirant promised to tackle issues of in security which he said was rampant in the state, if elected.

He promised to effectively utilise the state’s human and mineral resource to the benefit of its people as well as provide employment opportunity for youths in the state.

He further promised to use his experience as an economist to give value and direction to the state if elected as its next governor in 2015.

Mr. David Ker, a governorship aspirant from Benue State, was also at the PDP headquarters to pick the forms to contest the state’s governorship election in 2015.

Ker, a former Vice Chancellpr of Benue State University, said he already had a blueprint which would focus on the development of sustainable agriculture and education in the state.

Meanwhile, governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP from Adamawa State before the assumption of Governor Bala James Ngilari yesterday stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, insisting that the pre 2015 governorship arrangement that zoned the slot to Adamawa central should be respected.

The incumbent governor is from Adamawa north and has obtained his governorship nomination form to contest the 2015 election in the state. PDP is making an offer to the new governor to contest senatorial election.

The Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Umar Fintiri, with 13 other aspirant demanded that the national leadership of the party respect the earlier agreement reached that only aspirant from Adamawa central should contest in 2015.

Briefing journalists after a brief meeting with the party leadership, the former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan and spokesman of the aspirants, Ahmad Gulak, said they had resolved to work in total compliance with the zoning arrangement put together by the party in the state.

The aspirants comprising the Speaker of state assembly, former minister, Idi Hong, Gulak, Auwal Tukur, Abubakar Girei, James Bakus and some others, pledged their unalloyed support to the party’s decision which they said “reign supreme over anyone’s decision.”

Gulak said they were not aware that the present governor of the state, Ngilari, who hails from Adamawa North had joined the race for the governorship.

“We are not aware that the present governor has picked a form to contest the governorship election, all we know is we are loyal to the party and would abide by its decision of zoning the candidate to the Adamawa central.”

According to an agreement reached between the PDP leadership and the Adamawa governorship aspirants last month, the central senatorial zone should produce the governor in 2015.

In a statement signed by the party’s national secretary, Wale Oladipo, the PDP had announced that an agreement had been struck with all 14 aspirants.

THISDAY

Hon. Ebamua Empere and five others arrested.

Information reaching Sayelba Times from SAYELBA has it that a Bayelsa State Lawmaker and 5 Members of his family were arrested by men of the Bayelsa State Police Command on the 28th of October for domestic violence.

The Lawmaker who represents one of the 3 Constituencies in Sagbama Local Government was said to have thrown decorum to the wind and hired thugs to not only beat up his wife but also throw her belongings to the streets.

ST Investigation reveals that the source of the crisis in the Assembly man’s home is the decision of his wife to run for his seat in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

More Details later.

Several Groups Across Country Donate N98m for Jonathan’s Nomination Form

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat pick his re-election nomination form.

Already, it has emerged that governors on the platform of the party, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and other well-wishers have paid the sum of N98.66 million for Jonathan’s nomination and Expression of Interest forms.

The president’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, made the disclosures while briefing State House correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abati said the money was received by his boss as donations from Nigerians to assist him pay the required N22 million  presidential nomination fee and Expression of Interest form.

He noted that the president expressed gratitude to all the persons, groups and communities that donated as well as  those who made pledges to assist him in paying  the required fees.

He quoted the president as thanking all Nigerians, members of the PDP, friends, associates and all groups who, in sincere appreciation of the achievements of the administration in the last four years, have been urging him to seek a second term in office.

The president’s spokesman said Jonathan acknowledged and accepted with immense gratitude, the following donations and pledges that he had received from a broad section of Nigerians: Mr. Kennedy Ikenna Odoeme, N5,000; Mr. Ezemagu Sunday Nnamdi, N10,000; PDP governors, N22 million; TAN, N22 million; Ogbia Local Government Area stakeholders, Bayelsa State, N5 million; Otuoke community stakeholders, N2 million; Brass Local Government Area stakeholders, Bayelsa State, N50,000; Bayelsa State PDP stakeholders, N5 million; Northern Youths Forum, N2 million; Central Market Traders Union, Kaduna State, N1 million; PDP stakeholders, Zaria Local Government Area, N500,000; PDP stakeholders, Yobe State, N500,000.

Other donors were PDP stakeholders, Kaduna State, N2 million; Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, N5 million; the Goodluck Support Group, Gombe State, N1 million; Adamawa State PDP stakeholders, N3 million; Ebonyi State PDP stakeholders, N2 million; Kogi State PDP stakeholders, N5 million;

Still on the list of donors are: Rivers State PDP stakeholders, N5 million; the 2015 Project, N1 million; Team Goodluck, Ondo North senatorial district, N5 million; Middle Belt PDP Women Support  Group for GEJ 2015, N500,000; King David Generation Foundation, Jos, N200,000; Behwong Weneng Yere Duk, Jos, N200,000; Redemption 3 Youth Organisation, Plateau State, N500,000;
Others are Plateau State Indigenes Association, Abuja, N300,000; Gombe Youth United for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 2015, N500,000; Gombe Youth Vanguard for PDP, N500, 000;

Yamahu/Deba Goodluck Support Group, N200,000; Coalition of Gombe Support Groups for Goodluck Jonathan, N2 million; Hinna Youth Coalition for Goodluck, N500 000; Nigerian Women Pray for Jonathan, N1 million; National Association of Widows, N100,000; National Council of Women Societies, N500,000; female members of the PDP Board of Trustees, N500,000; Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, N100,000; National Association of Market Women, N500,000; and Community Awareness and Development Network, N1 million.

Abati said the president was greatly encouraged by the overwhelming outpour of goodwill and support as well as the confidence of the generality of Nigerians in his ability to continue to transform the country for the good of the people.

According to him, the president assured the donors that he would continue to do his utmost best at all times to fully justify the great confidence reposed in him.

Meanwhile, as the sales of forms end today, the ruling PDP has raked in more than N6 billion from the sales of governorship, National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), state Houses of Assembly and sales of ad hoc forms for the election of delegates.

According to a statement issued by the National Organising Secretary of party, Abubakar Mustapha, the sales of delegate forms are expected to end today by 12 midnight. Each delegate form is expected to cost N5,000.

“Also, all completed delegate forms of those who have returned their duly completed forms should be returned to the state headquarters of PDP.

“All completed delegate forms shall be displayed at the ward levels on November 1,” the National Organising Secretary of PDP said.

According to  a top member of the PDP National Working Commission (NWC) who spoke in confidence with THISDAY,  the president will pick his presidential nomination form on Thursday before noon.

“This is what the PDP guidelines says and this must be obeyed by all members of PDP seeking elective positions respectively,” the PDP NWC said.

The NWC official said there would be elections at the more than 8,000 wards across the country for the purpose of electing the three member delegates who are expected to elect the states and national delegates.

On the revenue generated by PDP through the sales of nomination and Expression of Interest forms, the source said: “So far, over N2.2 billion has been realised from the sales of the governorship forms. We have sold no less than 200 governorship nomination forms from the national secretariat.

“Each governorship form is sold at N10 million and the Expression of Interest form is sold at N1 million.
“We are not talking about the senatorial and House of Representatives forms, on that, we have more than a thousand aspirants who have purchased the senatorial forms. The senate form  is sold for N4 million while the House of Representatives form is sold for N2 million with N500,000 each for senate and House of Representatives aspirants Expression of Interest form.

“I have not included on the sale of nomination forms for the House of Assembly aspirant which sales at N100,000 with Expression of Interest form sold for N200,0000 per aspirant.   From the state assemblies, we have more than 2,000 aspirants from more that 700 seats.

“In some states like Oyo, aspirants are paying N3 million as development fee, in Delta State, all the state Houses of Assembly aspirants are made to pay a mandatory development fee of N500,000 each.”
“In the election of ad hoc delegates, which covers more than 24,000 aspirants as each ward is expected to elect three delegates at N5000 from which we garner over N150 million.

“If I say over N6 billion, I am just being conservative as in 2011, we had more than, N6.5 billion after cost have been reduced,” the NWC source said.

Meanwhile, the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-south, Cairo Ojuogboh, on Thursday berated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, saying he used the party to elevate himself and later dumped the platform.

“The PDP is a disciplined party, if you come and steal into the PDP and use it to elevate yourself and get into office, when the time comes, God will get you out, like the issue of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

“You can see how God have exposed them, and the PDP will do everything within the law to regain its seat and that is what we are going to do in both Edo and Rivers States,” he added.

He explained that the party would go to the South-south to regain its seat.

Commenting on the denial of sale of presidential nomination forms to son of former Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Jahlil Tafawa Balewa, and widow of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Professor Akasoba Duke-Abiola, Cairo said: “The issue is that the party has taken a decision on the issue of the presidency at the National Executive Committee (NEC) and if they have paid, the matter will be addressed, it is a disciplined party,” Ojuogboh said.
He was however not emphatic whether the party would refund the money back to Balewa and Duke-Abiola.

Balewa and Duke-Abiola before they were denied the presidential nomination forms, paid N22million and N2million respectively paid into Zenith and Diamond Banks respectively.

The PDP chieftain also expressed optimism that the alleged boast of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi at the 2015 polls does not intimidate the party.

“Come May 29, 2015, I can assure you that Amaechi will not be there to hand over, some people boasted in Adamawa State, where are they?

“He has a home in Ghana, I am sure he is preparing his home in Ghana,” he added

THISDAY

NNPC, Partners Take Over ConocoPhillips’ Shares in BrassLNG

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its partners, Total and Eni, have agreed to take over the shares that were left behind by American energy corporation, ConocoPhillips (COP), which recently left the multibillion dollar Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.

Chairman of Brass LNG, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki said on Wednesday in Abuja that NNPC, Total and Eni have now agreed to take up the 17 per cent shares that COP left behind at its exit from the project.

He however said that the shareholding restructuring process was being worked out and that it will take quite a while to conclude especially with considerations of standards in transfer and acquisition of shares.

It will be recalled that the shareholding structure of the Brass LNG shows that NNPC holds 49 per cent, Eni, 17 per cent and Total, 17 per cent. The remaining 17 per cent which is now being taken up by the trio was held by COP.

The development may have also put  paid to expectations that a new partner to take over from COP will be shopped for by the promoters.

Obaseki said at a courtesy visit to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dahwa that the decision of the shareholders to acquire COP’s 17 per cent equity in the project has saved the board from having to shop for a replacement.

He explained that with such commitment, the project was still on track to achieve its Final Investment Decision (FID), not minding COP’s exit.

Obaseki also noted that but for the resourcefulness of the remaining shareholders; the exit of COP from the project would have perhaps led to its wind-up.

“We went through a very tough time with the exit of ConocoPhillips because the provision of the shareholders’ agreement would have been that we would deadlock and have to wind up the company and I knew that it would have been a nightmare if we went that way.

“I had meetings with the honourable minister and she was just wonderful in this respect and just only took decisions that guaranteed the continued existence of BrassLNG. So rather than you (Dahwa) being an undertaker, we congratulate you for presiding over Brass that is alive,” Obaseki said.

He further stated: “One cannot help but also acknowledge the commitment of the remaining shareholders; NNPC, ENI and Total. It would have been impossible for us to hit the ground running if they didn’t do what they did because they were not ready for it but they just had to do it to keep us going and also for their tolerance while a few of us were doing the negotiations but the good story is that it all ended well.”

“The easiest way to talk about the commitment of the board to carry on with this is that winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win, that is just it, those who were left behind said that we wanted this because the reasons haven’t changed, the market is still there and our offtakers are only asking when we will come on.

The board demonstrated this commitment otherwise when COP left, you would have had to shop for a replacement but NNPC, Total and ENI said they will take up the shares, although they were not ready because shares acquisition is a long process in any organisation and that also encouraged a lot of us in the board,” he added.

On the impact of the Shale phenomenon on the project, Obaseki said that Shale which is majorly driving the United States’ drop of its appetite for foreign fuel was not a threat to the Brass LNG project. He posited that with or without Shale, BrassLNG was still a viable project with a proven market.

“Brass remains a viable and wonderful project. The reasons for conceiving that project are still very relevant today; the market is still there, that is one of the things, shale gas or no shale gas, the market is still there with a large appetite.

“I don’t speculate and I work with data which are fundamental. For you to build a plant, you must have an offtaker. COP has left but as we speak today there is no single buyer that has withdrawn, we have MoUs with all of them, and we have not signed a purchase agreement because we say that we will do that at FID,” he said.

“There are other reasons, Shale gas is different from Shale oil but even before this came out, we had diverted all our products from the US anyway and so that is where the confidence comes from.

“We have hit the ground running and as we go on, once we can see the end, we will inform all of you but the important thing is that you have to acknowledge the fact that the shareholders and board are committed,” Obaseki added.

The one-time GMD of NNPC said in congratulating Dahwa on his appointment that: “What all organisations do, international and national organisations is that they try to preserve their culture and that is really where your appointment becomes the gratifying one for us because you have been here and knows the culture, probably grew with us while we were growing here and so you cannot pretend not to know what our culture is and that is why we thank the minister and Mr. President for your appointment.

“I make bold to say that your group management is strong because I have interacted with them; you just have to make sure that the environment is conducive for every other person to aspire to grow.”

Dahwa in his remarks said that NNPC as the largest shareholder in BrassLNG will continue to work with stakeholders to see that it comes to fruition.

He said: “We at NNPC will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to make sure that the project that is so important to the government is seen through. We will not stop at that but go ahead to make sure that all the challenges that is pertaining to the development of the project are addressed just like the chairman said and as a major shareholder, we played a very big role in that regard and intend to do more.

THISDAY