The government had in the past, perhaps in a bid to score cheap political points, created numerous autonomous communities and appointed traditional rulers, many of them known 419ers and people of questionable character, in fact charlatans. Some of these Ezes( traditional rulers) are today causing the society move harm than good.

“For example in the case of Mr. President and Vice President, the severance gratuity of 300% was canceled because they were entitled to pensions for life by virtue of section 84 sub-section 5 of the constitution, the hardship allowance was however reduced from 50% to 30%”, he added.

He also called on the President to implement the reports of the Niger-Delta Technical committee; headed by Mr. Ledum Mittee, saying, “Nobody should sit in Abuja and start accusing the elders of being the brains behind the militants”.

It was gathered that the Hassan Lawal, who has served as minister for five years, including three years under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as Labour minister, and two years in the present government, could not come up with any solution.

“The task force is, however, taking necessary measures to keep criminal elements out of the communities, ensure that only the genuine inhabitants return and that the people are protected from the activities of criminal opportunists who may want to take advantage of the situation”, he said.

He, however, said the institution had taken actions to redress this image with the setting up of an anti-corruption and transparency unit within its fold.

Meanwhile, some youths are making brisk business at the bus stops by ferrying people across the road on their backs through the flood for a fee. One of the lads told Vanguard that he gets enough to feed himself and help the family by directing vehicles away from the craters covered by the flood and ferrying people across the road on his back.

We have identified forty two drainage problem areas in Port Harcourt . We have asked for drainage design on ten because the forty two will take more years. They will start work on five first,” he said.

Consequently, the source said the panel would invite these prominent Nigerians to answer all they know about the payment and disbursement of the $190million Halliburton bribe money provided Mr. President gave the Okiro panel powers to do so considering their standing in the society.

The governor, who, however, regretted that the 18 local government councils in the state refused to support the state government in the YES programme, appealed to the state House of Assembly to prevail on the council chairmen to be involved in the programme, saying that “the goal of all of us must be how to execute projects that will be beneficial to the generality of our people”.

* MEND claims 23 soldiers killed *No soldier was killed – JTF By Emma Amaize WARRI – MILITANTS in the early hours of today bombed an off-shore platform of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) located at Forcados in Delta State and purportedly sunk a military gun boat carrying between 20-23 soldiers, a claim that […]

As at the time of filing this report, 13 persons were confirmed dead while 30 others were said to have been rescued from the rubble through the combined efforts of rescue workers which include officials of the Lagos State Traffic Authority (LASTMA), Red Cross and the police.

Fresh pressure is to be launched in the days ahead by the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, Henry Okah, for the Federal Government to “quickly do something” on his renal problems, his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has said.

SIX days after he was declared wanted by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta over the disappearance of at least 16 service personnel of the Nigeria Armed Forces amongst other offences, top militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo says that even if he is captured and made to pay the ultimate sacrifice by the security outfit, the Niger-Delta crisis will continue except the Federal Government tackles the root cause of the problem, which is underdevelopment of the region.

WARRI— BARELY 12 hours after President Umaru Yar’Adua proclaimed amnesty for militants in the Niger_Delta on Thursday, the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger_Delta (MEND) blew up a well head (jacket B) of the Shell Afremo off_shore oil field in Delta State, claiming its action was in response to the razing down of the homes of some perceived militants at Agbeti community in the state by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger_Delta, earlier that day.