Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Commercial tricycle operators, popularly called Keke drivers, on Tuesday grounded activities in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, during a protest on the killing of a member of their association, Isaac Kosudi.

The protesters marched to the Tricycle Task Force office on Swali Road.

They said the task force officials arrested Kosudi and seized his tricycle for his alleged failure to buy a N100 ticket for the day’s operations.

It was learnt that the officials went to Tombia area of the state capital in search of those who did not buy the ticket regulated by the State Internal Revenue.

An executive member of the state’s branch of Tricycle Operators Association of Nigeria said when the task force got to the area, they apprehended Kosudi, impounded his tricycle and took him to their office.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said when the officials got to their office, they asked Kosudi, an indigene of Ogbia Local Government Area, to buy the ticket and pay a certain fine.

He said Kosudi allegedly pleaded with the officials that he did not have the money they were asking for.

It was learnt that his stance, which showed that he would not pay the fine and buy the ticket, angered the task force officials who started beating him up.

When they reportedly discovered that he was vomiting, they brought a substance suspected to be sniper and placed it beside him to make it seem the man took the poison.

Read Also: Rivers bans tricycles on 19 roads, streets

It was also learnt that Kosudi was conveyed to a hospital in Yenagoa, where he was confirmed dead.

The Keke operator’s death was said to have angered his colleague, who demand justice for their slain member.

The protesters said commercial tricycle drivers were always treated as slaves in the state.

Some hoodlums, who joined the protest, were said to have torched the office of the task force.

The protest, which began at 6.45 a.m, raged on till around 3 p.m, following the intervention of Transportation Commissioner Grace Ayakpo Ekiotenne and Police Commissioner Mike Okoli.

The protesters locked down the streets of Yenagoa as they moved from Tombia/Etegwe roundabout, Onopa (Government House), Azikoro town, Hospital Junction and finally to former Water Board junction.

Ekiotenne later met with some riders and leaders of the Tricycle Operators of Nigeria and advised everybody to remain calm.

The commissioner said the government would ensure justice in the matter.

As at 4 p.m, fire service officials and some policemen were at the task force office to maintain law and order.

The state police command said its operatives had arrested two suspects, Emomotimi Ogbe and Israel Monday, both members of the task force, over Kosudi’s death.

The command’s spokesman Asinim Butswat, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said preliminary findings revealed that the suspects, while on official duty for revenue collection on September 14, 2020, contravened a tricycle with MOT Number 0617 on Imiringi Road, Yenagoa, for failure to obtain a unified sticker.

He said the tricycle operator went to the task force office and thereafter started spitting out some substances, slumped and became unconscious.

The spokesman said Kosudi was taken to the hospital for treatment where he died.

Butswat said Okoli addressed the protesters and assured them of a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of their colleague.

Bassey Anthony, Uyo

Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON) has given ExxonMobil 21 days to pay compensation to communities affected by oil spills.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) insisted that the oil giant had spilled estimated 30,000 barrels of crude oil due to equipment failure in the state.

AKIPCON said the spills led to the deaths of many, disruption of means of livelihood and hospitalisation of many others who had no money to settle their bills.

The group, alongside over 1,000 affiliated bodies, gave the oil giant 21 days to pay compensation to the affected communities or face some sanctions.

Read Also: Landslide sinks homes in Akwa Ibom

A statement on Tuesday in Uyo, the state capital, by AKIPCON President General, Dr. Ufot Phenson, said the oil company was not taking necessary measures to prevent recurrence of incessant oil spills and oily waste discharges.

The statement reads: “AKIPCON has strongly kicked against ExxonMobil, which keeps on discharging treated effluent wastes, oil-spec products, oily waste, oily organic sludge, storm water, surface drainage, polluted water from tank farms (QIT) into Douglas Creek on daily basis.

“These are eventually washed and deposited into Qua Ibo River, Atlantic Ocean and other adjoining rivers, streams, swamps, among others, with attendant pollution of the environment and see foods, killing fishes and fingerlings as well as disruption of means of livelihood of the people being fishing and farming…”

Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

CHAIRMAN of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, has said election of the chairmen of the 17 local government areas of the state will hold on December 19, 2020.

Mkpa spoke at a meeting with leaders of registered political parties in the state at Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, the state capital.

He urged the parties to screen the certificates of their aspirants to ensure that they meet the minimum qualification of a Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) before submitting their names to the commission.

Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

 

PETROLEUM worker on Tuesday staged a protest at Port Harcourt refinery in the Rivers State capital.

They accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of poor management of the country’s four refineries.

The angry workers claimed that the refineries were deliberately abandoned to enrich a few privileged persons.

The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPM), a branch of National Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG), Uche Udunwo, gave the Federal Government two months to fix the refineries.

The union leader urged the government to open newly built refineries and 30 days to rehabilitate the abandoned ones.

He said: “We are here gathered to protest and march against the insensitivity of the managers of this place. We can’t understand why the four refineries in Nigeria cannot be put to active work when we have crude oil in the country. But they rely on going outside the country to bring petroleum products. If they do that, they siphon the products to private tank farms.

“We cannot accept it any longer. The public is dying. Why should the government allow these facilities to rot and private tank farms owners are living large?

Read Also: Loko, NIWA, Evans, NNPC

“Again, we are giving a 60-day ultimatum to the government to ensure that the new refinery be put into active work and 30 days ultimatum to revamp the already existing refineries, which we know are in good shape.

“We, the stakeholders, are worried about why Port Harcourt Refinery depot and other refinery depots have been abandoned and private depots are working. That is why we are protesting today.

“The Port Harcourt Refinery is in a good condition. We are saying that the refinery should be put to use. If the place becomes operational, products would be more available and a lot of workers would be working.

“The Port Harcourt Refinery depot, for the past two months, has been without products, but private depots have products and are working optimally. The NNPC is the sole importer of petroleum products in Nigeria; yet, the government-owned depots have no products.”

Our Reporter

 

THE Enugu State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has hailed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the respect he has continued to accord the Church as well as his untiring efforts at entrenching peace, good governance and security of lives and property.

The umbrella body of all Christians in Nigeria also praised Ugwuanyi for promoting love and unity “among adherents of different religious beliefs in Enugu State without discrimination”.

Speaking when the newly elected and appointed leaders of CAN in Enugu State visit the governor at the Government House, alongside the five bloc leaders and youth and women leaders, the new CAN Chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh, noted that Ugwuanyi’s resolve at demonstrating that Enugu State is in the hands of God has no limitation.  Edeh, who described Ugwuanyi as “a peace-loving governor,” maintained that “Enugu is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria today”.

Read Also: Ugwuanyi seeks prayers

He added: “We have come to assure you that CAN in Enugu State under the new leadership shall continue to work harmoniously with you.

“Enugu State CAN has been known for peaceful relationship with you and the state.”

Other new leaders of Enugu State CAN at the event included Bishop Ernest Obodo, Vice Chairman (CSN Bloc); Pastor Onuora Okeke, Secretary (OAIC Bloc); Venerable Jonathan Agbo, Assistant Secretary (CCN Bloc), and Pastor Peter Ibeh, Treasurer (CPFN/ECWA Bloc).

The newly appointed directors include Bishop Joseph Ajujungwa (CPFN/PFN Bloc); Ezinwa Ogugua (CSN Bloc); Elder S. B. N. Anigbo (TEKAN/ECWA Bloc); Special Senior Apostle Elijah Ogbe (OAIC Bloc), and Pastor John Ogbodo (CCN Bloc).

Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Government has urged the relevant stakeholders to join hands with the administration to curb the menace of violence against women, children and the vulnerable.

Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayiba Duba, made the call when he received members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State Branch, in his office, Yenagoa.

Duba stated that women, children and the vulnerable had become easy targets for people to prey on, noting that because of their vulnerable disposition, they are physically, sexually and mentally abused as well as exploited.

The commissioner emphasized it was the duty of the government and the larger society to protect such persons from predators.

Duba charged parents and guardians to adequately care for their children and wards by inculcating moral values in them to stem the increasing rate of vices among young persons.

Duba stressed that perpetrators of violence against women, children and the vulnerable should be held accountable for their crimes, to serve as a deterrent to others.

Speaking, chairperson of FIDA, BTariere Egbegi, noted that the mandate of the organisation was to promote, protect and preserve the rights and wellbeing of women and children through extant legislations in the state.

Egbegi requested for government collaboration to take the campaign against domestic violence and child abuse to the grassroots.

In a related development, the state government said there was no such plan by the government or any of its agencies to sell the gas turbines at Imiringi community in Ogbia Local Government Area.

The government said it rather wanted to rehabilitate it so that power could be restored in the area before the end of this year.

Following the protest, the Chief of Staff, Government House,  Chief Benson Agadaga, initiated a meeting involving all stakeholders including the management of Bayelsa Electricity Board,  Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, chiefs and youths of Imiringi to clear the air and dispel the rumour.

Director of the Bayelsa state Electricity Board, Olice Kemenanabo, at the meeting presided by Agadaga, said he had the approval of Governor Douye Diri to rehabilitate the turbines for optimal efficiency.

Read Also: Bayelsa West: APC members join PDP

Representatives of the Ogbia Brotherhood and that of His Royal Majesty, King Owaba and the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Wing, had raised concerns that they were not carried along.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment, Iselema Gbaranbiri, has reiterated government’s readiness to implement the Environment and Development Planning Authority Law in the view to frontally tackle the environmental degradation bedeviling the state’s environment.