The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger delta

  • Why we killed our girlfriends, by suspects

    The trio of Alexander Ogbeije, Osarenwinde Iduwanyi and Junior Omo-Shaba now share a cell at the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command awaiting when they would be charged court to face murder trial.

    Their fate now lies on how well they can convince judges that they are innocent of the crimes they are accused. They are strangers now bounded by the similar crimes they committed at different locations in the month of July. All of them allegedly killed their lovers.

    Their stories are that of love turned sour, betrayal and perhaps killing by mistake. They all planned to marry their lovers they ended up killing.

    Osarenwinde Iduwanyi , 46, said his life is  in a mess because he refused to listen to his mother not to fall in love with a single mother of three, Gladys Okoh. He said late Gladys frustrated his life because he did everything she wanted him to do. The multiple stabbing he inflicted on his lover showed how bitter he was about how their love affairs turned out. Police said he stabbed his lover in several places, including her vagina.

    He told reporters that he was in Italy for 12 years after which he left for the United States before he finally settled in South Africa. Osarenwinde said he has a family in Italy.

    Narrating how his late lover frustrated his life, Osarenwinde said he loved her and wanted to marry her despite the warnings from his mother and relatives.

    According to him, “Look at me now. My life is finished. I wanted to marry her so I always try to make her happy. My mother told me to leave her but I did not listen.

    “She was always insulting my mother and I will be begging her and begging my mother. There was a day I saw condom in her bag but that was not the reason I stabbed her.

    “She said I should open business for her so I sold my SUV at a cheap price of N250,000 and gave her N150,000. I travelled to Lagos and when I came back I saw that she has bought clothes and other personal things with the money. I was annoyed and reported her to her brother about how she spent the business money I gave her.

    “I wanted to still buy a caravan for her but she was still quarrelsome. On the day the incident happened, I was calling her and she was not picking my calls. When I got to her house, she said she wanted to leave the relationship. I told why, after she has frustrated my life, she said it was my mother that frustrated my life.

    “She brought out a knife and wanted to stab me but we struggled and I took it from her. I don’t know why I didn’t go outside with the knife but I stabbed her and went home”.

    Alexander said he had worked hard on his farm for the past three years to raise the money that eventually caused the crisis that led to his killing the woman he wanted to marry.

    Police said he used cutlass to kill Mercy but he said he only slapped her and she fainted.

    According to Alexander, “My girlfriend slapped me two times and I slapped her back then she died. She is my wife. I want to marry her. We are from the same Abavo village in Delta State. I have a farm in Urhonigbe, Edo State. Since last year, we have been together. We were putting things together planning for the future. There was a time I told her that I have over N500,000. I told her that I will use part of the money to pay her bride price and use the rest to open business for her.

    “After three days, I returned from work and saw that the money was missing. I asked her about it and she said she will kill me if I ever talk about the money again. I left her. In the evening, this girl has arranged boys in the house. They started beating me and I do not know why they were beating me.  She reported me to the police and anti-cult unit. I have to run away from my town. When she came to meet me at the farm, I asked her why there was misunderstanding between us. She slapped me twice and I returned the slap which made her to faint. I ran away and later reported myself to the police.

    “I did not bury the body. I left it when I saw that she was no longer breathing. I worked hard alone to get that money.

    “All I am begging is that government should help me to beg the family to my back any expenses. It was a mistake for me to kill her.”

    Junior Omo-Shaba said it was a big mistake for him to kill his girlfriend. Aged 19, he opted to learn fashion after he finished secondary school. He rented an apartment and enrolled his late girlfriend to learn how to make hair.

    He said what led to the death of his girlfriend was an unserious argument on why he used to return home late.

    According to him, ”She was on her way to her house at about 10pm when I met her at the gate. We went back home. She brought out a knife from my room and started peeling orange. She was jokingly saying I was with other girls who made me to always return home late. She said she would use the knife to injure my face so that other girls will not follow me again.

    “I told her I will use the knife to injure her face. I held her behind her back and we were dragging. It was then the knife pierces her right breast. I ran out of the house in fear. My friend visited me and I told him what happened. He said we should take her to the hospital. It was while we were taking her to the hospital that some persons pointed torch at us and my friend ran away leaving me with my injured girlfriend. The knife was still in her breast.

    “I was sacred so I ran away too. I heard gun shot and it was later I saw that it hit my finger. I was called the next day that my girlfriend is lying on the street dead. I called my mother and she called my father. My father said I should report to the nearest police station but I said he should accompany me. It was my father that took me to the police station.

    “She was just 19. She is a young girl. I felt bad about what happened. My father married another wife so I decided to rent an apartment.”

  • NLNG’s battle against militancy in Niger Delta

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, for many years, had its corporate headquarters in Lagos, before it relocated to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi was governor of the Niger Delta state.

    NLNG’s befitting corporate headquarters building in the Garden City is nearing completion on Peter Odili Road, while the company’s operational base/liquefied natural gas plant is on Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    Accessing Bonny, for now, is either by air, using helicopter or by water, through the use of NLNG’s executive boats with heavy security to prevent attacks from sea pirates, illegal bunkerers/refiners, militants and cultists, but many people who are usually unable to join NLNG’s timed boats, which are safer and usually booked in advance, have no choice, but to opt for the regular speed boats.

    Travelling to Bonny from Port Harcourt with speed boat is regularly associated with tales of woes from attacks by fully-armed sea pirates, who will dispossess innocent passengers of their valuables, especially cash, phones, laptops and rape ladies right inside the boat, while engine of the boat, which costs about N500,000, can also be taken away, leaving the boat’s driver with just paddle to get to the shore, before help will come.

    To put an end to the risk of travelling to Bonny by water, the abandoned Bodo-Ogoni to Bonny Road was recently re-awarded by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a partnership between NLNG Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria, but the construction is yet to commence, owing to minor disagreements involving benefiting communities and Rivers state government.

    NLNG Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company on May 17, 1989 to harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and produce Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) for export, while the establishment of NLNG is backed by the NLNG Act.

    The company is owned by four shareholders: the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 per cent), Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (25.6 per cent), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France  (15 per cent ) and Eni (10.4 per cent).

    NLNG has wholly-owned subsidiaries, namely: Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) Limited and NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML).

    With six trains currently operational and train seven already approved for construction, the NLNG’s plant is capable of producing 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of LNG, and 5 MTPA of NGLs from 3.5 Billion (standard) cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas intake.

    NLNG’s expansion with train seven’s construction is to complement the existing six-train structure, which when in operation will up the company’s total production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

    As the arrowhead of Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate gas flaring, NLNG’s operations have helped to reduce Nigeria’s flaring profile from 65 per cent to below 25 per cent, while the company also supplies about 40 per cent of the annual domestic cooking gas consumption, while the company’s driving force remains its vision to help in building a better Nigeria.

    In NLNG Limited’s determination to discourage Nigerian youths, particularly the young men and women from the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, from getting involved in restiveness and militancy, it put in place the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).

    The 2018 YES graduation ceremony for 84 beneficiaries took place on August 3 at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, with many of the youths, mostly with First and Master’s degrees, showcasing their skills and talents.

    Eminent personalities at the graduation were so impressed with the eloquence, intellect, boldness and brilliance of one of the beneficiaries, Miss Candace John-Jumbo, an indigene of Bonny Island, when asked to respond on behalf of others, by declaring that: “We will surprise NLNG Limited and we will continue to meaningfully contribute our quota to Nigeria’s development.”

    John-Jumbo also lauded the liquefied natural gas company for the opportunities given to the youths to acquire various skills, the starter packs and take-off grant, while asking other companies to emulate NLNG.

    The paramount ruler of Ubeta Kingdom in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers state, King Chimezie Nathaniel, while also speaking on the occasion, stated that it would not be possible for everybody to go to school, particularly to acquire tertiary education, thereby making the youth empowerment scheme imperative and timely, in order to build capacity.

    The monarch, who was glad that NLNG organised the programme, reiterated that any youth who refused to go to school or learn a trade would be a problem/burden to the society.

    The Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, in his opening remarks, revealed that the 84 beneficiaries graduated after intensive training in their chosen vocations, while most of them knew nothing about their current vocations nine months ago, but eventually became full-time practitioners with not just national certifications, but also life skills.

    Mai-Bornu, who was represented by NLNG’s General Counsel/Company Secretary, Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, disclosed that in 2004, when the company launched the youth empowerment scheme, NLNG clearly demonstrated a commitment to sustainable human capital development and alleviation of high rate of poverty in its host communities and other parts of Nigeria.

    He noted that since 2004, NLNG had trained over 900 youths, of 18 to 35 years, across its 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers state in hairdressing and cosmetology, catering and events management, fashion designing, photography and video production, welding and fabrication, woodwork and furniture making.

    The deputy managing director stated that in 2014, the youth empowerment scheme was refocused towards equipping the youths with skills in relevant industries that would enable them to compete favourably for jobs anywhere in the world, revealing that for the 2017 scheme, NLNG signed a contract with five training centres to offer training opportunities to 267 youths in its host and pipeline communities, over a period of three years.

    He noted that refocusing the scheme made the company to be training the youths in automotive (mechanical and electrical), advanced welding, catering, video production/photography and farm management, with the beneficiaries now graduating with national certifications (NABTEB and Trade Test 11).

    He revealed that NLNG departed from the usual procurement and handover of starter packs to ensuring that the youths became self-reliant and employers of labour on graduation, with the training centres not only required to set the beneficiaries up, but would monitor and mentor them for three months post set-up, to ensure focused attention on the business, for success.

    The deputy managing director said: “They (84 youths) are now poised to forge ahead, to conquer poverty and wants, and build a new world of self-sustenance and self-sufficiency, to contribute to development of their communities, states and the nation.

    “We are glad that some of you (beneficiaries) have already taken up the gauntlet. Worthy of mention is Daniel Ebere, one of the graduates in Photography and Video Production, who has shown significant mastery of the field he formerly knew nothing about. He currently trains twelve students in Video Production and Photography at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. This is worthy of emulation and shows that we all can succeed in whatever vocation we choose.

    “Today, NLNG Limited is co-funding the world’s biggest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, the Bonny-Bodo Road, with a contribution of N60 billion. We have invested massively in the provision and upgrade of infrastructure in most of our host and pipeline communities. We are the highest tax-paying company in Nigeria, yet we invest heavily in our CSR programmes, because of our passion to make a difference and to touch lives.”

    The Permanent Secretary in Rivers Ministry of Employment Generation and Empowerment, Mr. Lawson Ikuru, in his remarks, stated that NLNG’s youth empowerment scheme was designed to rekindle the entrepreneurial spirit of the teeming youths and reduce poverty.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Damiete Herbert Miller,  thanked NLNG  for the  initiative.

  • How couple’s suit nullified Edo waste management law

    Since 2010 when the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law was signed into law, several persons that flouted the law have been jailed or made to pay heavy fines. Popularly known as the Waste Management Law, it allowed the Edo State Government to appoint Waste Managers to collect waste from people’s residence as well as charge criminal proceedings against defaulters.

    It also made it a criminal offence not to pay whatever bill slammed on residence by the waste managers. Thus, waste managers became a lot to be feared. It was a sad tale from Edo residence who cried out that the waste managers were not collecting the refuse they were demanding money for.

    Some waste managers turned court summons to racketeering as many people who do not want to appear before a Magistrate were asked to cough out money at the gate of the Magistrate court. This continued for many years until Thursday July 26, 2018 when the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, nullified the law and disbanded the Edo State Waste Management Board.

    It was a shocking judgment to the Edo State Government because huge revenue has been generated from fines and levies as well as registration of waste managers. The suit was filed by Barr. Dele Igbinedion on behalf of a couple, Mr. Johnson and Eunice Igbinedion.

    The couple filed the suit after one of their daughters, Joy Igwe, was charged and convicted on 20th August, 2014 because her father did not pay the waste manager, Mr. Kingsley Ayo Ebome, owner of Imose Cleaning Company. Presiding Magistrate, A.A Ihenyen ordered her to pay the N90, 000 Waste Bill and N6, 000 as fine. The daughter was charged her for non-payment of her father’s Waste Bill on the ground that she was the “occupier” of the premises as at the time they came for the arrest.

    It was learnt that the couple first had an encounter with the the Waste Manager in 2012 when they received a bill for waste collection for up to seven months even when they claimed that they have never seen the man came to collect their waste.

    An agreement was reached for the couple to pay N5,000 monthly despite the couple’s argument that they used all their household waste as combustible material in their bakery.

    According to their lawyer, “The Waste Manager agreed that no waste was generated, but the bill had to be paid anyhow. To avoid trouble, Mr. Johnson Igbinedion agred to pay the Waste Manager N5000 monthly. The arrangement worked for some time until the Waste Manager became greedy and wanted more money- for rendering no services. Mr. Johnson Igbinedion rebuffed his demand for more money. So, the Waste Manager decided to up the ante.”

    It was either the family paid the money or their daughter spends four months in prison custody. They paid the money and incensed by the waste manager’s action, they decided to file a suit seeking five reliefs such as a declaration that the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Managment Law No 5 of 2010 is contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (s amended), and thus unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

    They also sought an order of Court nullifying the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010 in its entirety and a Declaration that the establishment and composition of the Edo State Waste Management Board by the Edo State Government was unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The couple further asked for an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Edo State Government, by themselves, their servants, agents, assigns, privies, or anyone claiming to derive authority from them howsoever, from acting pursuant to, further implementation and/or performing or giving effect to the provision of the said Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No. 5 of 2010.

    Delivering ruling in the suit, Justice Ikponmen nullified the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010 saying it was contrary to item 17, part III of the Taxes and Levies (approved List for Collection) Act No 21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1988.

    Justice Ikponmwen ordered disbandment of the Waste Management Board and declared that its acts of licensing, registration, contracting of Waste Managers with powers to charge fees and instigate criminal prosecution was unconstitutional, illegal and of no legal effect.

    The Edo CJ declared that all suits pending at the Magistrate Courts as regards waste disposal were a nullity and granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Edo State Government of its agents from further implementation of the nullified Waste Management Law.

    She further held that the local government can make by laws for the enforcement of waste disposal and management in the state.

    According to her, “Each tier of the government is separate and independent of each other. The tiers of government compliment each other but not to the extent of usurping the powers of other tier of government.

    “It is the exclusive preserve of the local government and the state government cannot perform these functions. The fact that the state government continues to usurp the powers of local government does not make the state government actions constitutional.

    “The local government cannot donate their constitutional right to the state government. The court has a duty to check such infractions and end them.

    “The local government council when allowed to perform their constitutional functions would be self-sustaining and viable and bring needed development nearer the people.”

    Secretary to the Edo State Government Osarodion Ogie said the state government would respect and comply with the judgement

    Ogie stated that the state government intended to challenge the court ruling at the appropriate Appellate level.

    He  noted that the state government would exercise its primary duty of ensuring an orderly and decent society and to prevent a catastrophic collapse of public health and sanitation system.

    According to him, “It is the intention of Edo State Government to continue to enforce all other unrepealed statutes and provisions relating to public health, nuisances and sanitation as currently provided for in the following laws: the Public Health Law; the Criminal Code; the Bye-laws of the different Local Government Councils in Edo State; and the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law relating to nuisances.”

    Igbinedion added:“The judgment is a monumental one.  It is clear from our constitution that the state government does not have powers to dispose of refuse or waste. That is a function of the local government.

    “It is not up for the executive arm of government to say that they will comply with the judgment. They must comply with the order of court. It is compulsory that they complied. Any attempt not to comply will be tantamount to contempt of court and I will not hesitate to file contempt proceeding against any government officials who does not comply.

    “Those laws they say they want to rely on do not relate to refuse disposal or waste disposal. The law has nothing to do with waste disposal with the way they were doing it.

    “We will also challenge the use of those laws they are talking about They should not bother to appeal because there is nothing they are going to tell the Court of Appeal.”

     

     

  • Obaseki, DisCo row over power project

    In June 2017, a joyful Governor Godwin Obaseki announced to the world that in six month’s time, his administration would provide uninterrupted power supply to Bénin City and environs. According to his plans, government establishments on Sapele Road axis, including Government House, Secretariat, Court Complex, Central hospital, House of Assembly and also the Oba of Bénin Palace, will enjoy the 24 hours power supply.

    The gleefulness with which Obaseki spoke was because he was quite assured that he would deliver on his promise in record time.

    He gave the assurance after he entered a power purchase agreement with Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure to bulk purchase the five megawatts the firm planned to generate from its 50 megawatts plant at Ologbo in Orhionmwon local government area. The megawatts was expected to be transmitted on a new 35-kilometre double circuit 33Kva line to deliver 24/7 uninterrupted power.

    Speaking during the signing of the MOU, Obaseki said: “We are confident from the facts available to us, that the design and engineering has been completed and that this facility hopefully should be ready within the next five months. This transaction is the first phase of a 50-megawatt plant. This is the first 5 megawatt, which the state is committed to purchasing from the conversation and negotiations that have taken place over the last three months.”

    In April while inspecting some projects last week, Obaseki told Edo people that clearance had been secured from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the power purchase agreement with Ossiomo Power.

    He said: “We have secured most of the clearance from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). With this, we are optimistic that before the end of the year, when work on the buildings would have been completed, the PPA agreement with Ossiomo Power for 5MW of electricity will be activated to provide power to the Secretariat Complex.”

    What Obaseki did not know, according to a BEDC official, was the laws governing power distribution before signing the agreement. The BEDC had used the instrumentality of the law to stall execution of the project one year after the agreement was signed.

    It was gathered that the BEDC frustrated the project by creating several bottlenecks and logjam by insisting that the law permitted it to be the sole distributor of power in the region. A source said the BEDC told the Ossiomio Power to put its power lines in place if it wanted to distribute power to the Edo State government.

    Last week, Obaseki and his officials used the occasion of the 4th National Council on Power meeting in Benin City to vent their anger on the BEDC for frustrating the power purchase agreement and providing darkness to the people. They disclosed that the special technical committee constituted by Edo government to undertake a comprehensive audit of the power infrastructure in the state revealed the poor state of the BEDC infrastructure.

    Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources Yekini Idaiye, who declared the occasion open, lamented that the daily average supply of electricity put at eight hours, was less than 20 percent of the estimated consumer population of 1.2 million who have post and pre-paid meters.

    The commissioner said majority of the consumers are groaning under the estimated billing system with its attendant high corporate fraud on the part of BEDC, noting.

    According to him, “BEDC since inception has not added any value to the Infrastructure it inherited which explains the poor and deteriorated state of the power infrastructure in this part of the country.

    “The BEDC personnel on the field are unprofessional in their conduct and openly engage the services of military personnel to intimidate and brutalise customers. Nigerians want to have improved access to power supply and industries want to have electricity to scale up production.”

    Obaseki accused the BEDC of writing petitions against the deal sealed for the purchase of five megawatts of electricity to light up government offices in Benin City.

    The governor, who said the petitions have hindered the success of the purchase agreement, decried the poor supply of electricity to the state, the company’s resolve not to supply pre-paid meters to electricity consumers and its culture of over-billing its clients.

    According to the governor, “195 communities have never seen electricity as BEDC is not ready to extend electricity to these communities. 128 communities have issues of collapse of infrastructure which BEDC is not prepared to fix. 219 transformers purchased by the state government and the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as replacements for faulty transformers are yet to be installed by BEDC.

    “The people are over-billed with the estimated billing system of BEDC. We lost a student due to the negligence of BEDC, for refusing to fix a pole that was knocked down after receiving money to fix it. I have instructed the Attorney General of Edo State to file charges of criminal negligence against the senior management of BEDC,” Obaseki said.

    But the BEDC, in a statement s by its spokesman, Mr. Tayo Adekunle, said the Ossiomo case was before a competent court of law, adding that various third parties have been approaching the firm to supply independent power through its network under the embedded generation, eligible customers, micro grid regulations of NERC.

    Tayo added that MOUs have been signed with some of the parties willing to supply independent power through its network.

    He said power supply has increased from two hours in 2013 to six-10hours for locations with severe infrastructure limitations, eight hours to 12- 15 hours for locations with more improved infrastructure and increase from 18 -24hours for commercial and government customers on the nine newly constructed double circuit 11kv feeders with over 27 km route lengths of dedicated lines.

    The BEDC spokesman said 12 communities hitherto without power in 2013 have been connected to the grid.

    According to the statement, “To the extent permitted by applicable legal and regulatory framework, BEDC has been and continues to be willing to work with all such 3rd parties (including Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company) to increase power supply within the ambit of the law, without compromising the quality of power supply, affordability and more importantly safety and security of our customers.

    “Nigeria has had inadequate metering for over 50 years, hence it is not possible for all customers to be metered within a short time period.

    “The introduction of Meter Asset Providers (MAP) by NERC is expected to fully address the metering issue not only for BEDC but for all distribution companies (Discos) in the country.

    A top government officials who pleaded anonymity said Governor Obaseki planned to use the ‘Willing buyer-Willing seller agreement’ to overcome the hurdles placed by the BEDC.

    The source noted that if the BEDC is unable to supply power to run the state, the state government has to buy from a willing seller.

    According to him, “What they are doing is tantamount to monopoly which will stunt the development of any state. It is a known fact that distribution companies have been unable to meet the demand for power. So if a willing seller wants to sell and a buyer is ready then we go for it.”

    The last has certainly not been heard of this matter.

     

  • Excitement as Okowa inaugurates police special squad office in Delta

    Recently, the headquarters of the Delta State Police Command was agog with excitement as men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in their numbers witnessed the commissioning of the ultra- modern office of the Eagle-Net Special Squad and observatory post/transit camp within the premises of the Delta State Police Command by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    In addition to the harvest of infrastructural projects, 20 operational Siena mini vans with specially fabricated cell facilities for detention of suspects were also presented.

    It was a carnival atmosphere as scores of policemen and women in freshly starched uniforms beaming with smiles walked smartly, barely able to contain their excitement. It was joy unconfined.

    The buildings and operational vehicles were a jointly funded project by State oil interventionist agency, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and Delta State Security Trust Fund.

    Although the project was initiated by AIG Alkali Baba Usman during his tenure as the State Police Commissioner in 2016, it was brought to fruition by the newly appointed CP Muhammad Mustafa, who has renovated the facilities at the Delta State Police Command in record time.

    The inauguration of the edifices mark an end to the sordid and harsh living conditions many policemen were subjected to  in the course of duty;  no longer will policemen live in makeshift  cramp quarters , exposed to the elements, but  these long suffering policemen and women  will enjoy the   cozy well apportioned buildings with modern facilities.

    Okowa  appealed for the support of all stakeholders for the security agencies so as to ensure peace and security in the society.

    According to Okowa, the task of ensuring peace and security of our society should not be left for government alone, stressing that “we cannot continue to leave the affairs of security just to the government alone; individuals who are blessed, corporate organisations ought to and should continue to support police in their work so that they can have the best in delivering their duties because when they have the best working environment they are likely to be more civil in your duties.

    “As a country and as a people we must realise that we require the partnership of the police and we ought to be their partners if we want things to work, the private sector should support the security agencies to ensure peace and security in the country.”

    He commended the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and the Delta State Security Trust Fund for the building projects and operational vehicles stating: “I  must also thank the management of DESOPADEC and the management of the Delta state Security Trust Fund for their collaboration with the police, starting first with the Eagle Net Squad and the Transit camp for the women that was built, we need to partner with Police Force to provide conducive working environment for its officers and members, so  as to get the best out of them.”

    While congratulating Police Commissioner Muhammad Mustafa for his leadership qualities in bringing out the best in his subordinates, Okowa eulogised the initiator of the projects, DSP Usman Dimka, O/C Eagle-Net Special Squad, Asaba, for his initiative in building the office and transit camp and urged others to emulate him.

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the State Police Commissioner, CP Muhammad Mustafa appreciated Governor Okowa for his support to the state Police Command and DESOPADEC for the partnership and the projects.

    Mustafa said the building projects will boost the morale of his men who will undoubtedly redouble their efforts at crime fighting, adding that the Eagle Net Special Squad with its over 100 personnel will “complement the efforts of other existing operational outfits such as the Quick Response Squad (QRS), the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squads (SAKCCS), the State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), the Dragon and Safer Highways outfits”.

    He praised DSP Dimka for initiating and completing the projects for the benefit of the Nigeria Police.

    He said:“ You have best exemplified the message which has been my watchword since my assumption of office as Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command which is: “leave the Command or any place you find yourself, better than you met it”. By building this ultra-modern office, along with its accompanying Women Police Transit Camp/Public Toilet and Bathroom, you have bequeathed a worthwhile legacy to generations of policemen and women and even those yet unborn who one day will serve in this Command.”

    DSP Dimka said the projects were in fulfillment of his vision of what the future police station should look like and providing conducive working environment for his colleagues.

     

  • Reinforcing cultural ties

    His recent move to strengthen cultural ties and peaceful coexistence amongst the regions and ethnic groups is admirable. Apart from constantly preaching peace, unity, tolerance and understanding, HRH (Dr) Appolus Chu, Egbere Emere Okori of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, has visited various palaces, a gesture he advises other traditional rulers to emulate.

    Relieving that one of the yardsticks for national unity is the cross integration of culture and social affiliation amongst different kingdoms irrespective of traditional variance and divergence, HRH Appolus Chu is of the opinion that cultural integration is a catalyst for national unity. His presence at the just concluded 2018 Nzem Berom, a cultural festival of the Berom nation in Plateau State where hundreds of people thronged the Jos stadium, venue of the most consistent and promising festival in Nigeria. There, HRH Appolus Chu was received by His Royal Majesty, the Gbong Gwon, Jos, Da Jacob Buba.

    Describing Jos as a home for tourists, HRH Chu said, “I appreciate the Gbong Gwom Jos, of His Majesty, Dr Jacob Gyang Buba for guarding the culture and tradition of his people jealously. By promoting his culture in this manner, he is also affording his people the opportunity to come together in love and unity and this is a crystal for national unity.”

    The Major features of the festival included a royal procession and deployment of well kitted Berom traditional warriors, a colourful parade of traditional dance groups as well as the exhibition of the Berom cuisine artefacts, mineral resources and raw materials.

    In continuation of his peace campaign that traditional rulers should be their brother’s keeper, synergise and network so as promote cultural tolerance, integration and cohesion, HRH Chu also paid a visit to the Emir of Misua, Bauchi State, HRH Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman to commiserate with the people of the town and the Emir of Misua on the 22 students of Government Secondary School, Misau, in Bauchi State and their driver who died in an auto crash along Bauchi-Kano early this year while travelling to Kano for an excursion.

    Although very rare and uncommon in the Nigerian traditional institution, for kings to regularly visit one another, mostly, considering the distance, for example, the distance between the Northern Nigeria and South-South, it is always very difficult for kings from one end to regularly visit kings on the other end. But for a noble man of rare personality, distances know no barrier in HRH Appolus Chu’s philosophy of building synergy and oneness aimed at the developing the nation, Nigeria.

    Accosted by royal horsemen, all positioned with the reputable sense of royalty, clothed with respect, the people of Misau, joyfully welcomed, HRH (Dr.) Applous Chu to their emirate and to the palace of the Emir of Misua, Bauchi State.

    Addressing the people of Misua, HRH Chu said, “This visit is long overdue. When the incident where the Misua people lost their children happened, I was so devastated. You know what children stand for, they are our future and when one now loses them, there are apparently some setbacks in the family and community they came from.  I pray that as many that had lost their children during that very sad incident, God will fill the vacuums they have left in their lives and that of the communities.”

    In his response, HRH Ahmed Suleiman thanked Chu for his visit, adding that it is the tradition of the Misua people that when visitors come, they are given traditional gifts as a token of appreciation of their visit. To this end, HRH Chu was presented with some royal gifts which included a well decorated white horse on which HRH Appolus Chu took a ride.

    Nzem Berom was instituted in 1981 as a unifying cultural festival of the Berom people in plateau state, north central Nigeria and indeed, the Berom people are irresistible with unique cultural endowment and love for their tongue, which has sustained the survival of the festival. Under the watch of His Royal Majesty, the Gbong Gwon, Jos, Da Jacob Buba, the over 1.6 million people of Berom nation have kept faith with the ambitious project of sustaining their unity, growing their young population and showcasing the gift of nature through strategically showcasing the rich Berom geographical landmass as an agricultural tourism destination.

  • Obasanjo’s medical tourism in Bayelsa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in Bayelsa State recently. The Owu chief’s second coming this year to the Ijaw state was devoid of politics. He was in Bayelsa for his routine medical check-ups.

    The former President’s medical trip to Bayelsa surprised many a politician of his caliber. Usually Obasanjo would take his health matters to an undisclosed hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

    Politicians in Obasanjo’s class most times shun hospitals in Nigeria and take their medical inquiries to notable health facilities abroad.

    They lack confidence in health facilities located within the country. They can’t imagine subjecting their lives to homegrown medical practitioners. It is risky. But Obasanjo shunned his American hospital and raced down to Yenagoa to undergo his annual medical procedures.

    What did Obasanjo, whom most people consider hard to please see in Bayelsa? It could be recalled that sometimes in February this year, the former President was a guest of the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson. The governor invited him for a working visit in the state.

    Obasanjo was taken round legacy projects of Dickson in different parts of the state. He saw Dickson’s projects in various sectors of the economy especially in the areas of education, health and agriculture.

    The former President who inaugurated and toured some of the projects poured encomiums on the governor. He was particularly impressed by the state-of-the-art medical equipment at the Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre (BDC) and the Bayelsa Specialist Hospital.

    He appraised the vision and mission of Dickson in the health sector.

    The Owu chief then reflected on the medical equipment obtainable in his hospital abroad and the ones he saw in Bayelsa. There was no difference. He immediately promised that instead of going abroad he would come to Bayelsa for his medical tourism.

    Obasanjo made good his promise. He came on Monday this week. Though, the former President arrived the state very late in the night, he reported to the specialist hospital close to the Government House. His medical procedures commenced that night.

    The former President himself gave reasons why he abandoned the USA for Bayelsa. He said the move was to fulfill a promise he made earlier in February when he inspected medical facilities built by Dickson.

    At about 8am on Tuesday, Obasanjo was already at the VIP wing of the specialist hospital where he ran some tests in various health departments accompanied by senior medical staff of the specialist hospital.

    The former President was later driven to the Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre (BDC) where some medical experts took him through medical equipment at the centre. Obasanjo, who emerged from the centre after spending a few hours was full of smiles.

    Explaining the medical procedures he went through and why he chose Bayelsa, he said: “Last time l was here in February, l did say that l would want to come and patronise the facilities here because l was impressed with what l saw then.

    “Having made that promise, l had to fulfill it. I started last night with the gadgets l had to wear to sleep with to check my blood pressure while l am awake and while l am sleeping. This morning, l started with blood, urine tests.

    “I went through the whole process of heart test. They looked at other internal organs such as kidneys, liver, spleen and all the internal organs. Eventually, l had semi-sleep in the MRI where my brains were examined.

    “It may be of interest for you to know that the doctor said my head is correct.  I want to thank all the staff for their commitments. I went through the machines, the way l used to go through them where I normally have my medicals at Atlanta, Georgia.

    “We have trained Nigerians and the machine here. I got my results and it is the same thing l had in USA. The difference is that it is cheaper here than there”.

    The former President praised the efficiency of the health insurance scheme instituted by Dickson. He is a registered member of the scheme.

    And he immediately his receipt to show that he pays N14,000 monthly to remain an active member of the scheme.

    He said: “I am also a beneficiary of the health insurance in Bayelsa and l pay monthly. And again, it is good to know that health insurance is very good because when you are need of attention and you don’t have money but you have insurance to take care of you. I have done and paid for one year and half. My health insurance is N14,000″.

    The former president insisted that it is more cost-effective patronising good medical facilities at home like the ones in Bayelsa than traveling to other countries for the same purpose. He said he spent N350,000 for all the medical procedures he went through in Bayelsa.

    He noted that it was cheaper compared to the cost of similar procedures abroad. He said it would have cost him to get similar services and standard in the USA. So, instead of traveling abroad, he advised others to come to Bayelsa. He said that the results of his tests showed that he is as fit as a fiddle adding that the doctor only asked him to drink more water.

    “I got my results and l am as fit as a fiddle. The doctor said the only thing l need to do is to drink more water. The same thing you can get anywhere in the world, you can get it here. Why do you have to travel?”

    He insisted: “Wherever we get best practices, let’s spread it. When l was here last February, l saw the standard of the facilities here that could be used by all Nigerians. There is no need for a Nigerian to say he is going to Dubai, UK, America for medical checkups.

    “I came here last night, before 1 pm what l started at 8am came to an end. I went through all the medical checks, that l would normally have gone through anywhere. The eye, the mouth, the head and the doctor showed me what my brains looked like.

    “When l looked at he said my brain is clean and clear and l said, it means my head is correct. Not only that the cost I reasonable. The services were superb. So, what people were going to Dubai, India, America, UK, Saudi Arabia for is here in Bayelsa”.

     

    Obasanjo prays with Dickson

    On the eve of his medical check-ups, Obasanjo prayed with Dickson. He joined the governor to observe the state’s monthly thanksgiving service at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, the chief hailed Dickson.

    He said under the governor, God took control of the affairs of Bayelsa and its people. He remembered that prior to the administration of Dickson, the state was notorious for militancy and insecurity.

    He urged leaders especially Governors who desired to perform well in their states to come to Bayelsa and learn the secret of Dickson’s success. The elder statesman expressed appreciation to God for giving the governor the spirit of praise and thanksgiving. He said nothing is more important than man’s relationship with God.

    He said: I want to thank God for the life of Governor Seriake Dickson, for doing this to honour God. This is what happens when youput God first. All other things happen the way God has ordained them to happen.

    “The peace of God is here. Bayelsa used to be dreaded for militancy and insecurity and now people are asking what is happening in Bayelsa State. If you are a Governor and you want to do well, come to Bayelsa and learn the secret”.

    In his remarks, Dickson thanked Obasanjo for being an instrument in the hand of God. He said God remained the state’s source of strength.

    He recalled that despite the 2016 recession that hit the country, his administration continued to break the frontiers in the health, education, infrastructure sectors among others.

    Dickson stressed that Bayelsa is the only state with a Thanksgiving Law in the country. He explained that he emulated the former President by building an Ecumenical Centre for the worship of God in the state, appointing clergymen, holding morning devotion  and state memory verse.

    He said the state went ahead of others in terms of infrastructural and economic development. He called for continued prayers, understanding and support for the state, its leadership and the country at large.

     

  • Why we killed our girlfriends, suspects

    The trio of Alexander Ogbeije, Osarenwinde Iduwanyi and Junior Omo-Shaba now share a cell at the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command awaiting when they would be charged court to face murder trial.

    Their fate now lies on how well they can convince judges that they are innocent of the crimes they are accused. They are strangers now bounded by the similar crimes they committed at different locations in the month of July. All of them allegedly killed their lovers.

    Their stories are that of love turned sour, betrayal and perhaps killing by mistake. They all planned to marry their lovers they ended up killing.

    Osarenwinde Iduwanyi , 46, said his life is  in a mess because he refused to listen to his mother not to fall in love with a single mother of three, Gladys Okoh. He said late Gladys frustrated his life because he did everything she wanted him to do. The multiple stabbing he inflicted on his lover showed how bitter he was about how their love affairs turned out. Police said he stabbed his lover in several places, including her vagina.

    He told reporters that he was in Italy for 12 years after which he left for the United States before he finally settled in South Africa. Osarenwinde said he has a family in Italy.

    Narrating how his late lover frustrated his life, Osarenwinde said he loved her and wanted to marry her despite the warnings from his mother and relatives.

    According to him, “Look at me now. My life is finished. I wanted to marry her so I always try to make her happy. My mother told me to leave her but I did not listen.

    “She was always insulting my mother and I will be begging her and begging my mother. There was a day I saw condom in her bag but that was not the reason I stabbed her.

    “She said I should open business for her so I sold my SUV at a cheap price of N250,000 and gave her N150,000. I travelled to Lagos and when I came back I saw that she has bought clothes and other personal things with the money. I was annoyed and reported her to her brother about how she spent the business money I gave her.

    “I wanted to still buy a caravan for her but she was still quarrelsome. On the day the incident happened, I was calling her and she was not picking my calls. When I got to her house, she said she wanted to leave the relationship. I told why, after she has frustrated my life, she said it was my mother that frustrated my life.

    “She brought out a knife and wanted to stab me but we struggled and I took it from her. I don’t know why I didn’t go outside with the knife but I stabbed her and went home”.

    Alexander said he had worked hard on his farm for the past three years to raise the money that eventually caused the crisis that led to his killing the woman he wanted to marry.

    Police said he used cutlass to kill Mercy but he said he only slapped her and she fainted.

    According to Alexander, “My girlfriend slapped me two times and I slapped her back then she died. She is my wife. I want to marry her. We are from the same Abavo village in Delta State. I have a farm in Urhonigbe, Edo State. Since last year, we have been together. We were putting things together planning for the future. There was a time I told her that I have over N500,000. I told her that I will use part of the money to pay her bride price and use the rest to open business for her.

    “After three days, I returned from work and saw that the money was missing. I asked her about it and she said she will kill me if I ever talk about the money again. I left her. In the evening, this girl has arranged boys in the house. They started beating me and I do not know why they were beating me.  She reported me to the police and anti-cult unit. I have to run away from my town. When she came to meet me at the farm, I asked her why there was misunderstanding between us. She slapped me twice and I returned the slap which made her to faint. I ran away and later reported myself to the police.

    “I did not bury the body. I left it when I saw that she was no longer breathing. I worked hard alone to get that money.

    “All I am begging is that government should help me to beg the family to my back any expenses. It was a mistake for me to kill her.”

    Junior Omo-Shaba said it was a big mistake for him to kill his girlfriend. Aged 19, he opted to learn fashion after he finished secondary school. He rented an apartment and enrolled his late girlfriend to learn how to make hair.

    He said what led to the death of his girlfriend was an unserious argument on why he used to return home late.

    According to him, ”She was on her way to her house at about 10pm when I met her at the gate. We went back home. She brought out a knife from my room and started peeling orange. She was jokingly saying I was with other girls who made me to always return home late. She said she would use the knife to injure my face so that other girls will not follow me again.

    “I told her I will use the knife to injure her face. I held her behind her back and we were dragging. It was then the knife pierces her right breast. I ran out of the house in fear. My friend visited me and I told him what happened. He said we should take her to the hospital. It was while we were taking her to the hospital that some persons pointed torch at us and my friend ran away leaving me with my injured girlfriend. The knife was still in her breast.

    “I was sacred so I ran away too. I heard gun shot and it was later I saw that it hit my finger. I was called the next day that my girlfriend is lying on the street dead. I called my mother and she called my father. My father said I should report to the nearest police station but I said he should accompany me. It was my father that took me to the police station.

    “She was just 19. She is a young girl. I felt bad about what happened. My father married another wife so I decided to rent an apartment.”

  • Colonial road rehabilitated in Enugu

    It used to be the only link road from Enugu to the western and northern parts of the country before the construction of the Enugu-Onitsha express road during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Miliken Hill Road, with 25 serpentine curves stretching 3km, was abandoned by successive administrations ever since the completion and use of the Enugu-Onitsha Express Road. Lying several metres atop a narrow ledge overlooking a deep and scary valley, the road became a haven for criminal elements. There were no safety wedges to block vehicles from fallen into the scary valley said to be home to mighty pythons. There were no also street lights to illuminate the curves against the dangers and perils of night.

    At the receiving end of all this were the people of Ngwo who use it as the only access road to their community. They had made representations to successive governments for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the road, but all to no avail.

    But their sorrow and lamentation recently came to an end. Tears of joy flowed thanks to the intervention of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

    The Miliken Hill Road or Ngwo-Enugu Road, was constructed in 1909 during the colonial period by countless labourers drawn from neighbouring villages, using pick and axe to cut through the thick bush of the hill’s stony base.

    Miliken Hill is a famous tourist attraction in the beautiful city of Enugu. Indeed a visitor to Enugu who had not gone to Miliken Hill is said not to have visited Enugu. History has it that in 1908, a British expedition on its way to the Middle Belt from Awka sighted the hill at Enugu Ngwo, one of the ten villages that comprise Ngwo community, and reported back to Lagos.

    Interest in the mineral potential of the hill compelled the colonial government to send a team of mining engineers to the place in 1909 to prospect for silver, but the team struck coal instead. The Europeans decided to settle at Enugu Ngwo on the top of the hill now called Hilltop (Enugu), from where Enugu derived its name up till this day.

    The 3km-long meandering Miliken Hill Road was constructed because of coal discovery under the hill and was named after the head engineer who designed the road.

    Due to years of neglect, the narrow and undulating Miliken Hills Road gradually became a death trap before Ugwuanyi came to the rescue.

    There was wild jubilation among the residents of Enugu particularly the Ngwo people during the commissioning of the newly reconstructed and modernised road with street lights for the first time since it was constructed in 1909. It will now also provide an alternative route for travelers plying the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    Inaugurating the road amid excitement from residents of the state and road users, Governor Ugwuanyi stated that the project is a “great infrastructural asset and rich heritage of our coal city state”.

    Ugwuanyi also inaugurated other legacy projects in the rural areas such as the Ebonyi River Bridge in Ikem, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area and Obollo Eke – Agala – Okpaligbo road in Udenu LGA in keeping with his dministration’s grassroots development initiatives.

    Describing the road as “our natural roller coaster”, Ugwuanyi disclosed that “no road in our environment affords tourists and motorists the beautiful view of Enugu that this road offers.”

    He said, “I stand here today with joy in my heart, buoyed by the happy faces of Ndi Enugu, to inaugurate this reconstructed historic and legacy Miliken Hill road; a renowned tourist attraction hose history is consistent with coal discovery in our state in the early 20th century.

    “The great excitement that greeted the reconstruction of this legacy road is therefore consequential and our gratitude, most profound, goes to God Almighty for affording us the means and commitment to deliver this project”.

    Ugwuanyi urged motorists to drive safely and with care.

    While inaugurating the other projects, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that they were “in keeping with our policy to open up the rural areas and encourage the all-round economic growth of the state.

    “We were also motivated by our resolve to alleviate the sufferings of our people and give them a new lease of life wherever they may be in the state,” the governor added.

    A leader of Ngwo community and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for keeping faith with his promise to reconstruct and modernise the road with street lighting and other safety measures.

    Onyia stated that the road was symbolic and very significant to the people of Ngwo, Enugu State and the entire Igbos”, saying that the governor has wiped out their tears for good.

    He maintained that no government had reconstructed the road after it was built, appreciating the governor for his prompt intervention on the road. He equally reassured the governor of the people’s unflinching support for his re-election in 2019.

  • NDLEA raids illicit drug base in Aba

    The Abia State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) led by its commander, Bamidele Akingbade has raided a notorious base used by illegal drug peddlers and users in Aba at Orji Uzor Kalu Bridge near the popular Good Morning Market.

    Akingbade and his team also demolished shanties where the hoodlums engaged in their illicit indulgences.

    The NDLEA commander said that despite several efforts to raid the place, the hoodlums often escaped arrest, regrouped and continued their business.

    Though no arrest was made this time, the agency recovered hard drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and heroine in the process of destroying the shanties.

    The NDLEA boss appealed to members of the public to provide the command with credible information about activities of drug peddlers in their neighbourhoods, adding that the war against sale and consumption of illicit drugs in Aba and other parts of the state remains in force.

    He said, “With the demolition of the structures, drug traffickers and armed robbers will have no place to hide to commit any crime. We are equally going to establish an outpost there like we did at York Street to ensure that they didn’t come back.

    “I want to use this opportunity to thank the authorities of Nigerian Army and other sister agencies in the state for the assistance that they have been able to give us so far which resulted in the successes we have been able to record so far. We are equally appealing to the state government to help provide us with logistics to enable us function well and effectively. For us, the war against sale and consumption of illicit drugs in the state is total.”