Niger Delta: Senate rejects Nobel prize for Yar’Adua
By Emmanuel Aziken & Inalegwu Shaibu
Friday, October 30, 2009
Abuja—The Senate yesterday praised President Umaru Yar’Adua for his peace initiatives in the Niger Delta region but rejected attempts to nominate him for a Nobel Peace prize for the effort.







The Senate’s resolution followed a motion moved by 56 senators who commended the President’s initiatives in restoring peace to the hitherto restive Niger Delta region.

A prayer to recommend him for the Nobel Peace prize was, however, rejected on the argument that it was an international award.

Moving the motion yesterday, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange (PDP, Bayelsa East), noted that the region was for nine years under the siege of militant groups fighting for a share of its oil wealth.

He said the armed struggle was because of the neglect of the region which has suffered great environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration.

He noted that Yar’Adua was able to quell the agitations and disarm the militants without blood as against armed confrontations by previous governments.

The motion was supported by the senators.

Among them were Grace Bent (PDP, Adamawa South), Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River Central), Nkechi Nwaogu (PDP, Abia Central), Joseph Akargerger (PDP, Benue), Uche Chukwumerije (PPA, Abia North), Tanko Ayuba (PDP, Kebbi), Nicholas Ugbane (PDP, Kogi East)and Eme Ufot-Ekaette (PDP, Akwa Ibom South).

Supporting the motion, Chukwumerije said: “When you thank a person for a good job, he would do more. Yar’Adua’s regime has restored peace in the Niger Delta region. For the peace to be lasting, two steps must be taken including aggressive approach to development of the area.

Ekaette, who commended the President’s peace initiatives, however, expressed concern that the arms submitted by the converted militants was only a fraction of arms in the region.

Senator Ndoma-Egba called for urgent steps to develop the region, noting that the agitation was provoked by ill-feelings arising from perceptions that Abuja was developed at the expense of the oil-bearing region.

He called for a cocktail of goodwill, good fate and political will to sustain the peace in the region.

Ayuba said: “For nine years, the Niger Delta region has been a cause of concern to this country. There is no doubt that the main wealth of this country lies in the region. It is not only in the Niger Delta that we have proliferation of arms. This feat should be extended to other parts of the country where we have proliferation of arms

“I want the government to embark on massive housing programmes in the area which should be completed within nine months.

The prayer to nominate Yar’Adua for the Nobel Peace prize was amended to remove the nomination for a Nobel on the fact that the prize was an international award.


http://odili.net/news/source/2009/oct/30/302.html

It appears those senators are on a bid to be Yaradua's favorite. Nonsense.

Do we award Nobel prize in Nigeria now?. I am confused.

Among them were Grace Bent (PDP, Adamawa South), Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River Central), Nkechi Nwaogu (PDP, Abia Central), Joseph Akargerger (PDP, Benue), Uche Chukwumerije (PPA, Abia North), Tanko Ayuba (PDP, Kebbi), Nicholas Ugbane (PDP, Kogi East)and Eme Ufot-Ekaette (PDP, Akwa Ibom South).

Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange (PDP, Bayelsa East), noted that the region was for nine years under the siege of militant groups fighting for a share of its oil wealth.

he gave the senators and co.  esp from that region hush money in billions of naira now they want to kiss ass and still dont have 100% resource control. Some people can blame problems on other regions but the matter still remains the same, account for their own govt.

rubbish nobel prize ko, oscar award ni

Did they dub the idea from Obama's Nobel prize or what?. Is this not the same senate who suggested Nigeria should give Obama an award for getting democratic presidential nomination. Nigeria is a joke.

awon atoo le oshi. . .olori gbigbe bi eja dindin

Speak english. This is not vernacular board.

kilon so? Vernacular? Geesi(English) ni Vernacular mi? ti ko ba dun mo e ni nu lo gbe placard ko protest.

Have some respect for others who can neither read nor write your language plz. If everybody starts writing in vernacular, will you enjoy this tread?

must_a_far:

kilon so? Vernacular? Geesi(English) ni Vernacular mi? ti ko ba dun mo e ni nu lo gbe placard ko protest.

This is a public board for all; please share your views in a language understood by all. Thanks

These are some of the senators in permanaent exile in Abuja. Fear no dey let them go their constituency.

Nobel peace prize for Yar Adua?

Is the peace in Niger-Delta secured?

Na wa o! Naija no dey dissapoint in terms of comedy.

Yaradua only deserves to be nominated as the dullest president in the world and nothing else.

Utter rubbish!

why not give him an award for the most sick and  confused head of state? are these so-called senators permanently on some cheap drugs or is it too much time and money on their hands? may the Lord save our souls.

Ibime:

Is the peace in Niger-Delta secured?

According to our senators o. Very soon they will start handing out Grammy awards to Nigerian musicians.

Let us wait first.

Aloy~Emeka:

Have some respect for others who can neither read nor write your language plz. If everybody starts writing in vernacular, will you enjoy this tread?

Duduknight:

This is a public board for all; please share your views in a language understood by all. Thanks

wat i wrote sounds better and gets the message across more in the language its written in. this vernacular aka english wouldnt do wat i had to say any justice.

Do we have President in this country

What a nonsense razzmatazz by this syconphantic senate! By the way who told them the peace is a lasting one when development of the regoin is yet to start. They are all gearing up seeking for favours and aligning themselves to be renomination to the senate seat come 2011. See them, brainless. Waste a time for a good debate and passage of FOI bill and other better things to talk about in Naija wahala. They didnt even know in the first place Nobel Prize is an International Award? Well I dont blame u guys. It is your turn. I just hope my turns comes up fast to follow chop this Naija money in this dirty politics! (Hissing)!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen of NL ,pls join me in nominating the senate as participant for next years NIGHT OF A THOUSAND LAUGH !!! and when they re tru we will then nominate the presido for MOBO awards
I am sure opa williams will agree with me,but i dont know how he will pay them
Cos dis senators no dey spend naira again and if dem wan collect naira it has to be in ghana must go.
Nija i hail thee !

tunde300us:

Ladies and Gentlemen of NL ,pls join me in nominating the senate as participant for next years NIGHT OF A THOUSAND LAUGH !!! and when they re tru we will then nominate the presido for MOBO awards
I am sure opa williams will agree with me,but i dont know how he will pay them 
Cos dis senators no dey spend naira again and if dem wan collect naira it has to be in ghana must go.
Nija i hail thee !

LWKMD

Nobel peace prize for that sick bastard, milking this country dry. These Senators are jokers. God, i wish i could get 5 more guys like myself and just blow up the damn House of Senate with them suckers all up in there. I bet, it will restore some sanity to the country and keep off others who think they can continue to play the masses around like football.

God Bless Nigeria

nominate ke,  they should buy it as usual, 

Stupidity truly runs in Abuja's corridors of power

It looks like they want an award for doing their job.

Yes ohhhhh!!! Nobel Peace Prize, bunch of jokers(our leaders)

So na mumu person like umaru cum deserve nobel prize? Prof wole soyinka et others won it on merits&achievements.Tell me d thing this mumu don achieve in 2yrs.power we no get,for lagos now scarcity of fuel dey happen.he neva achieve 1/2 agenda out of 7points

Since the nobel peace prize is international, they should nominate him for DSTV or HITV award.

these people should get down to serious business and stop joking around.

@poster
This is a joke. I LAUGH in Hausa, oops! I mean ibo, sorry people I was going to say Yoruba. What the HELL, WAZOBIA.

this is second term agenda in disguise