- As SGF Says Buhari, three ministers sick
The Niger Delta Avengers in the early hours of yesterday blew up another major crude oil pipeline, belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), and immediately tweeted: “This is to inform the general public that we are not negotiating with any Committee. If Federal Government is discussing with any group they’re doing that on their own”.
The Avengers further indicated in its Twitter handle: “At 1:00am today, the @NDAvengers blow up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron located 20 meters away from Dibi flow Station in Warri North local government area”, hinting that it was neither cowed by the quantum of war armament the Government had moved to the area, nor bothered by the cost implications of the wanton destruction it was wrecking on the nation’s economy.
“These boys are seemingly taunting the Government. Its like they are not bothered by any possible Government intimidation or coercion”, a source pleading anonymity told the Maritime First, doubting if Nigeria would still be able to export up to 400,000 bpd in the next two weeks.
Well meaning Nigerians had joined the UK and the US to impress it on Government to pursue a political rather than a military option in finding solution to the imbroglio subsequent upon which the Federal Government had declared a two-week ceasefire 48 hours earlier, so as open up rooms for negotiations with the boys.
A source confirmed to the Vanguard that the pipeline which had earlier been blown up by dynamite was again attacked by the boys, via same method at about 3am.
It would be recalled that only last Tuesday the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and Governors of the oil producing States, alongside the nation’s Service Chiefs had met in Abuja and deliberated seriously towards finding solution to the unwarranted bleeding of the country’s economy. They finally agreed that in deference to wiser counsel, military option should be down-played.
Present also at the meeting were the Minister of Defence, Dan Ali; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul Boron. When the Governors included the Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson; Edo, Adams Oshiomhole ; Rivers, Nyesom Wike; Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); and Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In the meantime, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, on Wednesday, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari and three of his ministers were currently sick.
Lawal disclosed this while saying the opening prayer at the beginning of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari is currently in London on a 10-day leave during which he is scheduled to see Ear, Nose and Throat doctors in connection with what the Presidency described as his persistent ear infection.
On his arrival at the venue of the meeting, Osinbajo had asked the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to offer Islamic prayer while he asked Lawal to say the Christian prayer.
Mohammed simply asked God to grant the cabinet members wisdom as they made national decisions at the meeting.
When it was the SGF’s turn to offer prayer, he asked God to be with the President, who he said was on “medical vacation.”
He then proceeded to name ministers, who he said, were indisposed and asked God to heal them.
Lawal started with the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Aisha Alhassan, who he said “is recuperating in US after a surgery.”
He also prayed for the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who he said “is down with back pain.”
Shortly after he concluded his prayer, the SGF was reminded that he did not mention the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril.
Lawal quickly added Jibril’s name to his list of sick cabinet members, but did not disclose the nature of Jibril’s sickness.
Buhari had left Abuja for London on Monday after the Presidency confirmed that he had been battling with a persistent ear infection.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had issued a statement saying, “President Buhari will take 10 days off and travel to London from Monday, June 6, to rest.
“During the holiday, the President will see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist for a persistent ear infection.
“The President was examined by his Personal Physician and an E.N.T specialist in Abuja and was treated.
“Both Nigerian doctors recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution.”
Additional report from Punch
