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NABDA, AFAN, others oppose amendment on Bio-Safety Law

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Stakeholders have kicked against the proposed amendment to National Bio-Safety Management Agency Act

At a public hearing on the bill sponsored to that effect by the former Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP Kebbi North),.sponsor of the Bill declined to attend

The public hearing, was organised by the Senate Committee on Environment at the National Assembly,

The sponsor had in the bill sought for strict regulation on foods that are genetically modified in preventing inherent health hazards.

He specifically sought for labelling of genetically modified foods in the country for consumers to know difference between them and natural ones and recommended sanctions against violation of the proposed law.

But almost all the stakeholders in the bio-safety sector rejected the proposed legislation in separate submissions made.

First to kick against it was the Director General of National Bio-Technology Development Agency, NABDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha who said the proposed amendment was unnecessary.

According to him, NABDA in particular and other relevant agencies have been carrying out the regulation being sought for in preventing consumption of toxic chemicals by Nigerians.

“There is no reason, there is no justification for the proposed legislation as NABDA has made significant achievements on agriculture and vaccines production towards checkmating consumption of toxic chemicals from modified foods and addressing the problem of insecurity.

“It is on this achievement that President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the bill now Act, making NABDA to embark on wide range of research work and accessing international grants for its scientifically and technologically driven bio – technology development,” he said.

The President of All Farmers Association in Nigeria, AFAN, Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim also kicked against the bill by saying that Nigerian farmers are up to the task of providing food sufficiency in the country.

Pummeling the proposed legislation from legal angle , the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, Barrister Frank Tiete, said accepting the proposal will be tantamount to violation of treaty entered into by Nigeria through the existing Act with 172 other countries across the globe.

“No need for amendment of the extant law since Nigeria it is also domesticated in 172 other countries in the world.

“The proposed legislation is a very bad one that must be thrown into the trash can,” he said.

Similarly, all members of the committee, including the Vice Chairman, Senator Hassan Hadejia (APC Jigawa North East) who represented the chairman, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Nnachi Michael (PDP Ebonyi South) etc , kicked against the bill.
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ANTI PARTY ACTIVITIES: Esan Central APC, Suspends Nine Leaders, Appoints Bello

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Nine Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esan Central LGA have been suspended at an extraordinary meeting held this evening at Irrua, the LGA capital.

The suspended leaders include APC State Vice Chairman, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, Esan Central foremost Party Leader, Prince Willy Shaka Momodu, Ward Leader, Hon Abudu Ugbesia, among six others.

The suspended nine APC leaders are alleged to have held a clandestine meeting at a hotel in Eidenu, Irrua on the eve of the House of Assembly election and resolved to work against their party candidate for the House of Assembly election, Hon Victor Edoror. It is alleged that they were induced by the ruling party and their grand conspiracy to disallow Hon Edoror to get into the House and become the Speaker which might scuttle their agenda for Esan governor candidate from Esan Central LGA.

The meeting which was attended enmass by angry members and party executives of the party across the LGA appointed former LGA Councillior, and House of Assembly election aspirant, Hon. Bello Oyaziwolo, as the acting Leader, to oversee the affairs of the party pending the determination of the investigation into the degree of involvement of each of the suspended leader.

Interestingly, the Deputy Leader of the Party in Esan Central LGA and former Vice Chairman of the LGA, Hon Francis Ubene, was exempted from suspension because preliminary investigation revealed that he was in the meeting allegedly called by Chief Inegbeniki, but he refused to agree with their alleged plan to sabotage the election for Hon Edoror because according to him “I have forgiven him and if I have forgiven him, I cannot work against him or the party”.

Speaking with Hon Bello, after the appointment, the new LGA Leader said he was not interested in Leading the party for selfish reasons but would commit himself to helping the party rid itself of betrayals and inept leaders in the LGA and hopefully allow a free process to produce the next LGA Leader.

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Delta: Oborevwori’s Victory, A Turning Point, Says Ebireri

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Media Consultant, Henry Ebireri, has urged Delta State governor-elect, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to embark only on programmes that are genuine, attainable, purposeful, durable and people-oriented.

He also urged him to make a significant impact at improving the lot of the masses.

In a statement in Sapele, the media consultant described the March 18 governorship election in Delta State as ‘’’a turning point, a landmark in the history of the oil rich state’’.

He appealed to Oborevwori to steer Delta State in the needed direction.

‘’There is a very high expectation from the governor-elect by the people. He must direct his energy towards inculcating the spirit of self-reliance among the citizenry through economic and empowerment programmes’’

The media professional listed security, youth and women empowerment, agriculture, health, education, infrastructural development, industrial revolution, cultural and tourism rebirth,  communication and sports development as key areas to be addressed by the governor-elect.

The statement underscored the future of Delta youths infrastructure and security challenges.

He urged Oborevwori to be fair to all.

He also urged him to recruit only qualified, competent and meritorious hands to help him develop the oil-rich state.

 ‘’They should be people of integrity, honesty and trust. The team should comprise only tested, dedicated, loyal, courageous, selfless, focused and visionary men and women’’

Ebireri further commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his immense contribution to the political development of Delta State.

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Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Rejects INEC’s Declaration of Oborevwori As Winner of Delta Poll

A while ago, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta State announced Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, gubernatorial flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor-elect following the March 18 governorship election.

The declaration was made despite the myriad of infractions and acts of impunity on the part of the PDP in the course of the election. These were brought to the attention of INEC with incontrovertible proof.

The March 18 election was characterized by massive fraud, unprecedented vote buying and voter suppression perpetrated by the PDP in the course of the election.

The fraudulent nature of PDP’s so-called victory are just too damning and daring for it to be acceptable in any decent society. Most of those infractions are on the public domain and known to INEC officials and the security agencies involved in superintending the election.

In the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the results pointed to an unequivocal rejection of the PDP. Of the three senatorial zones in the state, APC won two while PDP controversially edged out the Labour Party in the Delta North Senate race.

It was an unadulterated verdict of Deltans on how they have fared under 24 years of governance of their state by PDP.

On the basis of the factors listed and more that will come later, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, governorship candidate of the APC in Delta State as well as the leadership of the party, unequivocally reject the declaration by INEC of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP as winner of the March 18 governorship election.

We will challenge this fraudulent result using all legal means.

As a democrat and Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege will explore all lawful avenues to reclaim the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Delta State.

To the numerous supporters of APC and the entire public that share in Omo-Agege’s vision of building a new Delta State, we urge you all to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding.

I can assure all our teeming supporters and all Deltans that the PDP pyrrhic celebration of a stolen mandate will be short-lived.

By the grace of God and the clearly expressed wish of the people, this electoral heist will be reversed and Senator Omo-Agege will be sworn in on May 29, 2023 as the lawfully elected Governor of Delta State.

Signed
Sunny Areh
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy President of the Senate and Governorship Candidate of APC, Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

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