The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger delta

  • COVID-19: ExxonMobil yet to support Akwa-Ibom

    COVID-19: ExxonMobil yet to support Akwa-Ibom

    By Etim Umo

    When crude oil was discovered in Akwa Ibom state in commercial quantity, and ExxonMobil arrived our shores not many would have thought there will come a day when we will be scratching our heads and asking what manner of corporate citizen is the oil company is?

    Alas the day is here! No thanks to the COVID19 pandemic which caught everyone unprepared! While major corporates are scampering to bring succor to their host communities, the story of Exxonmobil is different!

    Despite having its main operations base in Akwa Ibom state, the multinational American oil company has not deemed it fit offer any form of support to its host state – Akwa Ibom.

    It’s with sadness that one recounts the numerous rough deal that The oil company has put the state through. Not too long ago, their operational base in Ibeno was seal by the Akwa Ibom State Board of Internal Revenue for non-remittances of revenue. It is also instructive to note the corporate social responsibility projects the company promised the state are in comatose.

    It’s not surprising that the Rivers State Government gave them a raw deal recently by arrest and detaining some of their staff.

    One can only hope that the oil giant, the largest multinational oil company in the state, would rise up and be counted in the fight against COVID-19 in Akwa Ibom State especially against the backdrop of the projects promised by ExxonMobil, as part of it’s corporate social responsibilities to the state being in comatose.

    All over the world, well-meaning indigenes, residents, groups, and corporate citizens are continuously stepping forward and lending support to the government in the bid to curtail the Coronavirus pandemic and lessen the hardship it has brought on the people. Let’s hope that Exxonmobil will redeem itself sooner than later!

    Imo writes from Esit Eket

  • NASS urged to probe NDDC’s COVID-19 contracts

    NASS urged to probe NDDC’s COVID-19 contracts

    By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

     

    The National Assembly and other relevant agencies have been urged to probe the multi-billion naira contracts allegedly awarded by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as part of its COVID-19 intervention.

    The request was made by a group, Act for Positive Transformation Initiative, which claimed to have information that the alleged contracts were a scheme to divert public funds.

    The group, in a statement by its Head, Directorate of Research and Programmes, Kolawole Johnson, faulted claim by NDDC’s IMC’s Director of Project, Dr Cairo Ojugboh that no such contracts were awarded.

    It stated that a firm that had featured prominently in past controversial contracts by the NDDC, that ought to be under the searchlight of the ongoing forensic audit of the commission, got “the largest share of the self-serving COVID-19 intervention contract amounting to N4,861,354,250.00 and received mobilisation.

    “In characteristic style of the present IMC, supply details and specifications are always not indicated in the award letter in order to frustrate performance audit process.

    “The letter of award claimed the medical equipment was meant for testing, treatment and care of COVID-19 cases.

    “For verification, the details of transaction from the TSA account are as follow: Batch no: 13593, Vat no: 13595 and Withholding Tax no: 13594. This can be verified by anyone.

    “We hope the anti-corruption agencies will commence action immediately; we have made the job much easier by providing far reaching details.

    “For every payment made, we have it on good authority that a topmost kingpin collects kickbacks ranging from 30 to 45 percent, depending on the status of contract.

    Read Also: COVID-19: Yobe begins fumigation of public offices

     

    “For the past six months, it has been widely alleged that the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godwill Akpabio, has been using the forensic audit as smokescreen to mop up the account of the agency.

    “Nigerians should also note, the commission has squandered over $49B in illegal payments in the last two months, most of which are in defiance to Public Procurement Act, yet Dr Cairo claimed the present Interim Management Committee is yet to award any contract.

    “Today, dead fishes litter the Niger Delta coastline due to toxic releases of oil processing companies.

    “The avenue for subsisting income for the indigent has been wiped off, which may lead to severe widespread hunger in the land. Shall we close our eyes to this mad fleece while people die in suffering?

    “While the public space is awash with several allegations of corruption against the management, the All Progressive Congress, through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, rose in cover for the commission.

    “Whereas it irresponsibly shows the party is not on the same page with Mr President on his anti-corruption war, it will, nonetheless, be criminal to find it as an active group player in the ongoing looting of the NDDC.

    “We call on the anti-corruption agencies to rise to the occasion to save whatever is left in the account of the commission.

    “This serves as a SOS call to the National Assembly to act in the interest of the people. The time is now. The commission, as presently constituted, is like a rotten mackerel by moonlight, it shines and stinks.
    “We call on the Ministry of Finance, the CBN and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to make public all NDDC transactions from the TSA account in the last two months.”

  • Ex-Delta commissioner raises the alarm over proposed conversion of development centre to Appeal Court

    A former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Delta State, Queen Betty Efekodha, has raised the alarm over plans to convert the Mariam Babaginda Women Development Centre built during the administration of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to Appeal Court premises.

    According to Efekodha, the building has been roofed and painted only awaiting furnishing before the proposed conversion.

    “I have been looking forward to the day it will be commissioned by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    “This would have gone a long way in improving the lot of women all round as the edifice housed a very big hall plus smaller adjoining halls and different offices for meetings, trainings, seminars, hall of fame and skills acquisitions,” she said.

    The former commissioner, in a statement, explained the centre also plays host to national and international women programs and events.

    She added that the importance of the women centre could not be over-emphasised.

    READ ALSO: FG reverses suspension of DG National Women Development Centre

    “More so, it was named after an illustrious daughter of Delta State, who made women to be seen and also heard through her Better Life Programme.

    “It is definitely a big plus to women development. I have deliberately brought it to this platform so that we women of Delta State can appeal to the governor to let our centre be.

    “In as much as the Court of Appeal is necessary and I appreciate the Governor for it, robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the best.

    “I therefore appeal to my National President and State Chairman to please look into it. If possible, a delegation can see our Governor,” she said.

  • A vote for NNDC Interim Management Committee

    By Ejiro Jomafuvwe

    Henry Kissinger, a renowned former US Diplomat, said that the success of any government is its ability to bring about new realities.

    When President Buhari, in his quest for a new beginning, ordered a forensic audit into the activities of NDDC from inception to date, little did political influencers in the region imagine it would come to fruition.

    When he took a further step by directing the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to inaugurate an Interim Management Committee to create the enabling environment for the audit, they broke the secure locks of hades and unleashed ancient demons to invade television houses and game newspaper columnists with vile propaganda.

    There is nothing as powerful as self-interest of political god fathers in the Niger Delta Region. The insularity of high positions has shielded them from the problems of the common man which are basically existential.

    They have betrayed the people, shared their common patrimony generally and particularly in NDDC being an interventionist agency. The time to give account has suddenly arrived like an unforeseen hurricane and they are unprepared.

    As it has dawned on them that we now live in a world where our digital foot and fingerprints follow money trails in a very exponential manner, they have gone into panic mode and are openly engaging in reverse logic under many aliases to the consternation of the Nigerian public.

    Even their interpretation of events leading to the setting up of the Interim Management Committee has been somewhere on the spectrum from “incomplete” to “inaccurate”.

    It is a shame that these people who fawn in the presence of the President have gone to great lengths to recruit front men who are dim and impermeable to reason to wantonly disparage what is clearly a simple executive action meant to improve an embarrassingly ineffective agency. It is a pity that they do not have sufficient sense and taste not to mistrust the President.

    For the people of Niger Delta Region, our trust in his judgment is marrow deep because he has demonstrated that he is on the side of the people not special interest. Nothing can kill our enthusiasm for the new direction the President has envisioned for NDDC.

    These oppressors of the masses of Niger Delta who are opposed to the audit have been speaking through their puppets with manufactured warmth and smile of concealed avarice trying to cajole us to reason with their unreason.

    Of all Satan’s forms of trickery and deceit, the very greatest is persuading man that he did not exist. There is no need reiterating that NDDC under the underhand control of the buccaneer political god fathers was synonymous with heist.

    A hawk with a song is a hawk no matter how it pretends to be a songbird. They are just afraid of the consequences of their illegal and ruinous takeover of the Commission not that they are remorseful nor have they learnt anything.

    They are incapable of any good and cannot change any more than a zebra can change its stripes. They are answerable only to the mammon gods of their pockets and must be resisted at all costs. The Committee must be allowed to work and the audit must proceed as ordered.

    Our Governors requested the audit and are happy that a Committee has been inaugurated to manage the affairs of NDDC in the interim. Our people have been asking for the audit and now that it is about to begin, we support it.

    The vast majority of Niger Delta people also support that the Committee prepares the ground for the audit, work with the auditors until they finish their work, liaise with the auditors to lay down proper and clear ground rules for the conduct of affairs of the Commission before handing over to a new board that would start its work on a clean slate.

    This is the minimum we expect from our loving President. Those who are opposed to this do not represent us. They cannot pretend to serve us without us. As the South Africans say: nothing about us without us.

    The immediate take-over of the Commission by the new board they are proposing does not represent the wishes of the people. It is a “sugar coated Satan Sandwich” If you lift the bun you will not like what you see. Their parochial agenda has long been exposed.

    It is very satisfying that the Committee under the leadership of Dr Joi. Gbene Nunieh is already inspiring confidence and hope. It is a settled fact that her competence, confidence, fearlessness and excellence which naturally recommended her for the job is glaring.

    A leader of quiet determination with skills and capacity to build a team, she has remained calm, talking less and taking tough decisions. As a result of the Committee’s work, Nigerians now know that a serving Senator is managing about 300 contracts out of which 120 have been fully paid for and 87 of them are awaiting payments. The Committee has stopped the monthly payment of N1bn (One Billion Naira Only) Consultancy Fees for a job the Commission is duly equipped to do.

    Under her watch, high sense of duty and values are returning to the Commission. She has confirmed that more than 55 contractors have gone back to site in just one week. An even larger number of contractors have indicated their willingness in wrting to return to work once the rain subsides towards the end of November because of the peculiar and  challenging terrain of the region.

    The potential for job creation when most of the abandoned projects are reactivated is best imagined. She asked all the young men that hang around the Commission to go back to their communities where they would be properly engaged and they complied because they trust her.

    She has stated that resources saved from reckless and wasteful expenditures would be diverted to providing mono pumps to give people in the rural areas drinking water which they severely lack.

    The Committee to our delight is liaising with member State Governments to ensure that our children study in proper classrooms, taught by teachers who have been properly taught themselves. The members being high achieving individuals understand that our children must be prepared to compete and succeed in the new world economy. They are critically analyzing the health and infrastructural policies of the Commission to ensure that no oil producing community is left out or behind.

    The region is blessed with abundant human and material resources but its potentials have largely remained what they are, just potentials. In the midst of abundance, the region has remained stagnated with majority of its people living in pitiable conditions and abject deprivation.

    The lands of the geese that lay the golden eggs are now viewed as wastelands because an agency such as NDDC which was established to support State Governments drive developments in the region has been strangulated by the activities of confused and extremely corrupt elites with limited sense of purpose.

    The elites lacking strong and viable base in production, turned it into its primary instrument for primitive accumulation of wealth and would stop at nothing to let the status quo remain.

    It is refreshing that the Commission through the Acting Managing Director is insisting that it begins to give hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, job to the unemployed, good health to the sick, upliftment to the downtrodden, education to the illiterate, sustainable living to the poor, access roads and waterways to the forgotten people of the hinterlands and pride to the region.

    She is urging the leaders in the region to let the power of love for our people overpower/overcome our love for power over our people. This is absolutely amazing.

    This agency which suffered from the syndrome of fatal procrastination that sealed its fate and put it on the path of perfidy is experiencing fresh air of good deeds.

    We worry that the antics of moochers and men with insatiable greed who drove it to near collapse if left unchecked and unrebuked may slow down this onward march to a new dawn of limitless opportunities.

    The President should not let it happen. It’s a thing of joy for us as Niger Delta people that the Commission in under the supervision of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs headed by our son who is known for his unmatched culture of excellence and delivery of what he proposes.

    We challenge the Minister and members of the Committee not to be undaunted, not to give up or give in because the destiny of millions of our people are in their hands as agents of change.

    We cannot afford to make our future look like our past. They must blaze a path that would ultimately illuminate new pathways and they would forever remain in the favour of a grateful region.

    Ejiro Jomafuvwe, a public affairs commentator writes from Sapele, Delta State on behalf of NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

  • Death, destruction trail violence in Ogoni

    The once-peaceful Ogoni land is now taken over by killers and arsonists, writes Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI.

    Ogoni is one of the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. It is rich in crude oil and gas, but without commensurate development.

    Ogoni consists of four local government areas in Rivers State namely Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), then known as Shell D’Arcy, started crude oil exploitation in Ogoni in February, 1958, when crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity at Bomu (Kegbara-Dere) in Gokana Local Government Area. Since then, the area has been experiencing pollution from oil spills and oil well fires.

    On August 26, 1990, Ogoni people decided to adopt the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR), which demanded the right to control and use of a fair proportion of Ogoni economic resources for Ogoni development, among others.

    Later in the same year, Ogoni people formed the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) to carry out the objectives of OBR. In 1993, Ogoni people stopped SPDC from operating in the area.

    The renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists were hanged at the Port Harcourt Prisons on Friday, November 10, 1995, during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

    In order to put an end to the many years of neglect and environmental degradation in Ogoni and to adequately empower the people, former President Olusegun Obasanjo initiated the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) environmental assessment of Ogoni land in October, 2006, the initiative continued in the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    On August 4, 2011, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan received the 262-page UNEP main report in Abuja. On July 20, 2012, less than a month to the first anniversary of the submission of the UNEP Report, the then President Jonathan put in place the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), with the mandate to clean all oil-polluted sites in Nigeria, which Ogoni leaders kicked against, while insisting that it was contrary to one of the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

    The far-reaching recommendations of the UNEP Report were not implemented by the then President Jonathan, until May 29, 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari took over and he commenced the implementation, with peace gradually returning to Ogoni land.

    The UNEP’s team of environmentalists made 76 recommendations. Fifty of the recommendations are for the government, 22 for SPDC and four for Ogoni communities.

    UNEP Report stated that the water at Nsisioken-Ogale-Eleme in Eleme Local GGovernment Area contained cancer-causing Benzene (carcinogen), which was 900 times the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) standards for water contamination, thereby requiring urgent attention.

    It also noted that the sustainable environmental restoration of Ogoni land would take up to 20 years to achieve, while recommending the establishment of Ogoni land Environmental Restoration Authority by the Federal Government.

    The UNEP Report indicated that the full environmental restoration of Ogoni land would be a project which would take 30 years to complete, after the pollution had been brought to an end, thereby recommending the establishment of an Ogoni land Environmental Restoration Fund, with an initial fund of $1 billion for capacity building, skill transfer and conflict resolution.

    President Buhari, on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, after 68 days in office, approved many actions to fast-track the implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoni land, including the amendment of the official gazette establishing HYPREP (which was changed to Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project), to reflect a new governance framework, comprising a Governing Council, Board of Trustees (BoT) and Project Management.

    President Buhari, who was represented by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), on Thursday, June 2, 2016, kicked off the Ogoni clean-up at Patrick’s Waterside, Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area, in fulfilment of his January 8, 2015 promise, when he visited Ogoni land during his presidential campaigns.

    On Friday, April 27, last year, the Ogoni Trust Fund’s escrow account was signed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, involving the Federal Government, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and representatives of Ogoni people, at a meeting presided over by Prof. Osinbajo.

    Project Coordinator of the reformed HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil, an Ogoni, is showing total commitment to the clean-up of the polluted Ogoni environment and empowerment of the hitherto marginalised people, but the current killings and arson in Ogoni land will definitely hamper the development efforts.

    On August 13, this year, fresh violence erupted in Ogoni land, despite the recent launch of a new security outfit, Operation Sting, by the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.

    In the fresh violence that erupted in Khana Local Government Area, nine innocent people were allegedly killed on August 13 and 14, while the palace of the paramount ruler of Taaba-Ogoni, King Nule Junior, was allegedly razed.

    The house of the President of MOSOP, Chief Legborsi Pyagbara, at Nyokuru-Ogoni in Khana Local Government Area, was also said to be burnt in the invasion.

    MOSOP, through its Publicity Secretary, Sunny Zorvah, condemned the violence, saying: “MOSOP received with sadness, the reports from some Ogoni communities of the sudden outbreak of violence and killings carried out by members of some cult groups in the area.

    “The renewed violence, which took place in Okwale on August 13, spilled over on August 14 to Taabaa and Nyokuru, all in Nyokhana District in Khana Local Government Area.

    “MOSOP is pained over these unjustified attacks, which led to the burning down of the house of MOSOP President in Nyokuru. We are also saddened by the killing of many people and attack on the residence of Chief Monday Abueh and other people in Okwale by alleged cult gangs.”

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people also declared that the ugly situation in Ogoni land called for urgent and thorough actions by security agencies and every necessary step required of the Rivers State government.

    MOSOP called on the police and the special military joint task force to ensure return of peace to the troubled Ogoni communities by going after perpetrators of the barbaric and retrogressive onslaught on the communities, but without hurt on innocent people.

    The Ogoni umbrella organisation also pleaded with the traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other influential stakeholders in Ogoni land to put their differences aside and work for the peace and security of the area.

    Again, on August 18, eight people (six in Opouko and two in Luumene) were allegedly killed in Khana Local Government Area, thereby heightening tension in the area.

    The President of MOSOP described the killings and arson in most Ogoni communities as a deliberate and direct attack on the peace initiative and process by well-meaning groups and leaders of Ogoni land.

    He stated this while inspecting the extent of destruction in Ogoni land, while commiserating with the bereaved families and people who lost valuable properties.

    Pyagbara condemned the deadly attacks by alleged cult groups on Opouko and Luumene communities in Nyokhana District of Khana Local Government Area on August 18, which resulted in the death of eight people, while the residence of the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Lateh Loolooh, and the palace of Gbenemene Banghan, King Suanu Baridam were also said to be burnt.

    MOSOP President also expressed displeasure over the senseless killings and destruction of properties by people whom he alleged did not want peace in Ogoni land, and were making efforts to put the crude oil and gas-rich area under siege.

    He said: “It seems to me that there are internal factors and interests in trying to put Ogoni land in perpetual fear and siege.

    “Do not forget, people that want to destroy you will always use someone in your house. There is a possibility of some interests that we have not been able to uncover, in this matter.”

    Pyagbara, who earlier visited Nyokuru, Taabaa and Okwale communities in Khana Local Government Area to ascertain the level of destruction and to sympathise with victims’ families and people of the communities, lamented the razing of houses in his compound in Nyokuru and the houses of Chief Nule of Taabaa and those of other people in Okwale.

    He said: “Time has come for Ogoni people to look inward and say enough is enough. Every right-thinking Ogoni man and woman must rise up against this madness and tell those involved that they cannot put Ogoni under siege.

    “The peace initiative that MOSOP and other groups began and which youth groups and key stakeholders are parts of is still on course. I am surprised that some people are not committed to the peace agreement at the Saakpenwa meeting.

    “That people have turned around to do what they are doing is a big surprise and a shame. I thought that we had a moratorium, and that our brothers and fathers promised they were going into deepening the peace process that we kick-started at Saakpenwa. Ogoni does not need this carnage; after all we have laboured for.”

    While also speaking on the Bomu/Lewe renewed clash, the MOSOP President stated that he was surprised with the resurgence of crisis between the two Ogoni communities in Gokana Local Government Area.

    He reiterated that at a point, the matter was resolved, with some Ogoni elders moving into the two communities for peace.

    Pyagbara stressed the need for governments at all levels to redouble efforts and take the insecurity in Ogoni with much concern.

    MOSOP President assured that the umbrella organisation of Ogoni people, in collaboration with other groups, would ensure that there are no lapses in the drive for the return of peace to the affected Ogoni communities, to pave way for development in the area. He pleaded with the people involved in the renewed crisis to stop forthwith and embrace peace.

    Spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), assured that policemen were on the trail of the killers and arsonists, in order to make them face the consequences of their actions, thereby serving as a deterrent to other criminally-minded people.

    The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) during the March 9 Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State, Victor Fingesi, called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly intervene and bring the killings and arson in Ogoni land to an end, to ensure peace.

    He stated in Port Harcourt that he was disturbed by the sad information he received about Ogoni land, with innocent people killed and valuable properties also destroyed.

    Fingesi described Ogoni land as the once-beautiful agricultural field in Rivers State, but now turned into a killing field. He accused the Nyesom Wike administration of being helpless.

    He said: “I urge Governor Wike for once, to take security of lives and property in Rivers State, especially in Ogoni land, seriously by directing law enforcement agencies to take specific actions that will guarantee safety of the people.

    “It is not enough to launch a security outfit (Operation Sting) and spend money, without directing actions such as curfew where necessary, setting up panel of inquiry, meetings with the chiefs and people, and visit to the affected areas. These actions, when considered, will show that the Rivers State government is taking the matter lightly.

    “Only the convocation of a security summit in Rivers State will be the panacea to the current insecurity situation. The summit should comprise prominent Rivers people, leaders of cult groups and other groups that are involved in the breach of peace in the state.”

    The ADP’s standard bearer also sympathised with the victims of Ogoni invasion and their families, particularly MOSOP President, whose house in Khana was razed by the arsonists.

    Ogoni people, particularly the killers, arsonists and cultists must give peace a chance to pave way for the much-desired development.

  • Harvest of talents in Akwa Ibom

    Countless youths in the country are yet to maximise their God-given talents due to lack of conscious efforts on their part and that of relevant stakeholders to cultivate and harness them for personal and national growth and development.

    Sports are, arguably, one of the areas of human endeavours where raw talents are discovered and groomed. Again, it is believed that sports men and women earn higher than some people in several other much-admired professions and vocations.

    Besides fame and glamour associated and enjoyed by successful sports men and women, mention must also be made of the enormous health benefits which accrue from engagement in sports activities.

    It is with these in mind that the first edition of the Jacob Esuene Squash Club Tournament was initiated. It was organised in the oil city of Eket in Akwa Ibom State.

    The competition, which took place in the squash court at the Villa Marina Hotel  Eket witnessed two  squash players in two categories of under 10 and under 15 drawn from the Southsouth geo-political zone.

    The 10 clubs from the Southsouth which participated in the tournament included the: Canaan Club of Calabar, Port Harcourt Club, Uyo Club, Benin Club, Police Officers’ Club Mess, Yenogoa Sports Club, Nak Club Calabar, NNPC Squash Club of Warri and Government House Squash Club Asaba.

    In a chat with reporters during the event, the Director of the Squash Club, Jacob Esuene, an Engineer revealed that Squash as a sport has a great advantage to health.

    According to him, with squash, the issue of high blood pressure normalises naturally without any medication.

    Esuene said the Squash Club would help the young people to develop their talent and help them to be future champions in the game of squash.

    He said the tournament will not end only in Southsouth region, adding that with time, it will go national and international with the aim of unfolding the talents of citizens.

    He said: “I used to hear about how our players are so good in a national platform; I reasoned that it was almost dead.

    “Some of the older players stopped playing for five years because there was nothing to encourage them. So, my coach encouraged me and said let us have a private court of our own before I built this court,” he said.

    Also speaking, the General Manager of ExxonMobil Mr. Gus Yupis expressed optimism towards the level of the competition and the players, saying that there were so professional.

    He said: “I like the discipline of the kids. The talent, the enthusiast and the coaching were absolutely amazing.”

    The highpoint of the competition was the announcement of results and awards to winners in various categories.

    Winners in the under 10 category for girls were Godsfinger Alison (Eket), Kelechi Onyekaze (runner up) while Favour Daniel (Eket) emerged third position.

    Winners in the under 10 category for boys were Emmanuel Ogbemi from Edo State who won the first position, Bright David of Eket Club clinched the second position while Michael Ibanga also of Eket Club took third position.

    For girls under 15 years, Delight Temple won the first position, Osas Ogbemi from Edo State emerged second, Emediong Usoro of Eket and Victory Lucky tied in third position.

    Winners for under 15 boys were Anthony Monday (Delta), second position went to Harold Whyte from Bayelsa State while Treasure Temple (Eket) and Timothy Albert (Edo) tied for third position.

  • Family of woman killed by kidnappers seeks justice

    The family of Mrs. Anna Ejiofor shot and killed by suspected kidnappers in Ikwerre area of Port

    Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has urged the security agencies to fish out her killers and make them face the consequences of their action.

    Family sources said Mrs. Ejiofor’s son Tobechukwu Andrew Ejiofor, Managing Director of Homes of Success Agro Farms Nigeria Limited, was kidnapped in 2017 then rescued by police.

    On July 4, this year, some gunmen presumed to be the ones who earlier kidnapped Tobechukwu, returned to the home of the Ejiofors at No 27, Pius Street Omademe in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state demanding to see Tobechukwu and his wife Latai.

    Rummaging through virtually everything in the house and failing to find the couple, the gunmen reportedly shot 78-year-old Mrs. Anna Ejiofor in the head. She died immediately. The Ejiofor’s home was also set on fire.

    It was gathered that other occupants of the house and neighbours took to their heels on hearing the assailants’ gunfire.

    The anti-kidnapping unit of the police who are still investigating the incident are yet to apprehend the kidnappers, said the family members.

    The Ejiofors have sustained their prayers for God to bring the perpetrators of this evil to book within a short time.

    They have also asked the relevant authorities to apprehend the killers of their matriarch

  • Two inmates regain freedom in Akwa Ibom

    De Norsemen Kclub Incorporated (DNKI), Akwa Ibom chapter has secured the release of two inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ikot Abasi, by paying the stipulated fines attached to their sentences. The gesture was part of the organisation’s events to mark this year’s World Humanitarian Day on Monday.

    While receiving the freed inmates, the Governor, DNKI; Akwa Ibom State chapter, Dr. David Umoh advised them not to go back to crime or risk facing another period of incarceration or worse.

    He also advised other inmates of the facility to put their faith in God and remain hopeful for a better future, adding that their time behind bars should serve as a lesson for their past mistakes.

    In his remarks, the International President DNKI, Mr. Adeshola Giwa, who was represented by the Director Project K9, Saint Kingsley said the gesture by the Akwa Ibom chapter of the organisation was in line with its project K9 which he said was aimed at de-congesting prisons and enhance reintegration of former convicts to their relations and the society.

    Furthermore, the Deputy Legal Adviser of DNKI and Coordinator of Project K9 in Akwa Ibom State Alfred Effiong, a lawyer, stated that apart from their effort at de-congesting prisons, they would also work towards offering pro bono services to inmates who do not have or cannot afford legal representatives and ensure justice is not denied them.

    One of the inmates who spoke on behalf of others expressed gratitude to DNKI for volunteering to pay the fine option for two of them, as well as the food items and toiletries they brought. He revealed that the gesture was a confirmation that there is hope for those in correctional facilities.

    Assistant Controller of Prison (ACP) Effanga Effanga, the officer in charge of Ikot Abasi Correctional Centre praised the group for the gesture, even as he called for similar support and collaboration from other groups and well-meaning Nigerians.

    High point of the event was the formal walk out to freedom by Inyeneobong Joshua and Lucky Amos (m) whose fine options of N120, 000 and N130, 000 were respectively paid and a release warrant secured by the Norsemen Kclub as well as a financial start-up package that would fast-track their reintegration into the society.

    Both of them expressed profound gratitude to the organisation for their kindness and pledged to stay away from crime.

  • How Edo celebrated Oyegun

    The Edo State Government has celebrated the 80th birthday of the state’s first Executive Governor, Chief John Odigie Oyegun with pomp and ceremony. The elaborate ceremony held in Benin-City.

    The streets of Bénin-City and the city centre, the Oba Ovoranmen Square were adorned with birthday poster of Chief Oyegun, who is the oldest serving former governor in the state. His administration was truncated by General Sani Abacha and he fled into exile to join the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) movement.

    As part of activities to celebrate the birthday, a golf tournament was organised and the tee-off was attended by prominent citizens such as the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Minister designate, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Senator Domingo Obende, among others.

    Prizes were given to winners at a colourful ceremony held at the Bénin Golf Club.

    Addressing reporters in Benin-City, Chief Oyegun thanked God for his life, expressing delight that God has kept him alive to celebrate 80 years of age.

    He described the golf tournament as a great honour to him and one he will remember for long. He said: “Most of my friends are golfers and they chose to celebrate with me this way. I thank them all; Benin Club and the Edo State Government for backing and funding this competition. This is a great honour to me at 80 years.”

    Shaibu explained that the golf tournament for the state’s first civilian governor was to honour his contributions to national development.

    “We chose to celebrate Oyegun with this golf tournament because golf is a game of life and friendship. We thank God for his life. As a government, we will continue to tap from his experience,” he said.

    On Monday, the Saint Paul Catholic Church was filled to its capacity as traditional rulers, politicians from different political parties, ordinary citizens and professionals from various walks of life converged to celebrate Chief Oyegun. It was an event that was beamed live to the world.

    Traffic officers had a hectic time controlling cars that were arriving at the venue.

    In his homily, Bishop of the Benin Diocese of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Obiora Akubeze, said Oyegun was a rare bred politician that joins politics not to confuse the people but to convince the electorates.

    Bishop Akubeze described Oyegun as the best politician Nigeria has produced and man that is living out his faith.

    He said: “I salute the courage, audacity and goodwill of Chief Oyegun. He is one of the few former governors I know that are living out their faith. He is a member of St Vincent Society of St Paul Parish. He sits with members to screen people who have come to ask for assistance. His position has never made him inaccessible to anyone. He is one of the most easily accessed highly placed politicians. He does not ignore a person. He respects both the poor and the rich.

    “Oyegun has shown that we must thank God always. We must learn to thank God for His benevolence towards us. Whenever we received what we want, we never go back to thank God.

    “Peace comes from justice. Our political leaders must know that anyone who wants peace must work for justice. Our political leaders must work for justice for every Nigerians irrespective of political parties, ethnicity and religious backgrounds.

    Justice brings peace. Nations only develop when there is peace. If we want Nigeria to develop, we must work for justice so that we can have peace.”

    Governor Godwin Obaseki said the state government sponsored the birthday celebration in line with the spirit of Nigeria’s national anthem that “the labour of past heroes shall never be in vain.

    ”At present, we are here to celebrate our own Chief Odigie-Oyegun. On behalf of the people and Government of Edo State, I want to congratulate you on your 80th birthday.

    “For your contributions and what you have done for our dear state, I have decided to name the public service academy, which is under construction, after you. We know your passion for public service; we know and acknowledge the contributions you made to public service in Nigeria. “Therefore, we have decided to name the edifice which will be completed within the next 60 days, by the grace of God, after you. President Muhammadu Buhari will come to inaugurate the academy, with you standing beside him. It will be known as the John Odigie-Oyegun Institute for Public Administration.”

    The institute, according to the governor, is on “three floors and is made up of large training rooms that will host 220 people. Two halls hold 118 people each. There are seven training halls that will host 58 people each.  There is a library, a sick bay, a cafeteria and 12 offices. This facility at any point in time can hold and train a minimum of 900 people. It will be the largest facility for training public servants in Nigeria.”

    National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Uche Secondus, described Oyegun as a national leader that must be celebrated.

    Secondus said the birthday was attended by leaders of various political parties because of what Oyegun represented and believed in.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose speech was read by Gideon Ikhine, an Engineer, said Chief Oyegun earned his confidence as military President between 1976 and 1979 through dint of hard work and resourcefulness.

    Chief Obasanjo said Oyegun demonstrated rare qualities of commitment and courage by always upholding the cherished tradition of the public service and his performance as Permanent Secretary on Economic Matters was outstanding.

    He said Oyegun deployed sound knowledge and wealth of experience in economic development matters such that the administration’s policies were appreciated and understood by the populace.

    Former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said Oyegun distinguished himself as a career civil servant and the celebration was to give honour to who honour is due.

    Other dignitaries that attended the event were wife of Edo State Governor Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his wife, Betty Akeredolu; Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Okiye; the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, Minister Designate, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus; representatives of Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II; former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Esama of Benin Kingdom, Commissioners and members of Edo State House of Assembly, among others.

  • Ten-year-old invents coding game that solves complex problems

    Arguably, Nigeria is a country of more than 190 million people. It is not strange that Nigeria occupies a  pride of place when countries with people who created or discovered cutting edge technologies or inventions are mentioned.

    More striking about Nigerians’ ability to invent or discover cutting-edge technologies is the fact that the ability to invent is not preserved for the adults. Nigerian teenagers have been making waves as a result of some of the seemingly outlandish feats they have  achieved in the area of inventions.

    In the circumstances, therefore, the feat of a 10-year-old graduating primary school student David Ngeregbara of Vine International School at Tombia Extension, Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was not surprising to many.

    At the school’s graduation ceremony, the 10-year-old Ngeregbara displayed the coding game that he invented to help the society to trace and solve life’s complex problems.

    The inventor, an indigene of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, is the son of Justus Ngeregbara, an engineer.

    David revealed that he was inspired to invent the new technology on coding games, which would not only help to solve societal problems, but would help to create job opportunities for young people, and according to him, in his determination to meaningfully contribute to societal development, not minding his young age.

    The inventor, who spoke after a presentation of the computer game coding, described the game as an adventure, which he said would help to detect challenges of life and possible ways of solving them for a better society.

    David also implored other students not to be discouraged by the challenges of life, but to be determined to contribute to the development of the society.

    He said: “The game is like an adventure game. What made me to invent the game was to face life’s complex problems. The adventure game is like problems that you need to trace, face and see how you can solve them by killing them, the same way you punch at some of the characters and they die, for you to succeed in the moving object.

    “The coding game can develop the society. When there is massive production of the game, people can pay for them. I wish to encourage other students to try as much as they can to make their parents proud by introducing new positive things in the society.”

    The Director of Vine International School, Mrs. Mina Jegede, urged governments at all levels to go beyond the traditional subjects, but to enhance technology in the schools for the development of humankind and the society.

    Jegede noted that government got it wrong for depending on traditional subjects, stressing that English language and Mathematics were good, but to key into the new technology, schools must be ready to introduce platforms for the children to advance technologically.

    The director advised parents and guardians not to interfere in the career choice of their children and wards, but to support them in their endeavours.

    In his remarks, David’s father, Mr. Ngeregbara described his son as motivator to younger generation and the world.

    He said: “I am glad that my son of 10 years is already inventing a technology that can save the world.

    “In my time, we were not exposed to this kind of technology, but today, the story has changed. I am so happy.”

    The senior Ngeregbara also stated that the private schools were becoming more proactive than public schools, which he attributed to the equipment being made available in the private schools.

    It is essential to always encourage the talented students to continue to be innovative and creative in order to support societal development.