The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Optimal productivity: Edo FRSC holds retreat for personnel

    Toward achieving optimal productivity among its personnel, the Edo Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Thursday in Benin organised a retreat.

    Mr Anthony Oko, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, said that the retreat was aimed at changing the psyche of personnel toward the job.

    Oko said that on assumption of office a month ago, he observed that the morale of staff of both the command and component units was low.

    “In view of this, we decided to re-strategise through retreat as well as look inward and tell ourselves some truth toward rejuvenating our output and optimal productivity.

    “We will also look at issues of attitudinal change, because to be honest with ourselves, the attitude of some members of  staff in the course of their duties is nothing to write home about,’’  he  said.

    He said that the current environment was much more challenging than it was years back, adding that there was the need to evolve new strategies and adapt forcibly without negative consequences.

    “We can only achieve this for optimal productivity among staff through Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely (SMART) approach.

    “This also means we all have to be disciplined, focused, purposeful and pragmatic,’’ Oko said.

    The sector commander said that the theme of the retreat, “Toward Enhancing Competitiveness in a Challenging Environment: The Role of Staff in achieving Optimal Productivity’’ was apt.

    The Zonal Commanding Officer  in Charge of Zone RS 5  comprising Edo, Delta and Anambra, Mr Kehinde Adeleye, said the third  quarter was a wake-up call for staff to go back to the drawing board to reassess  their achievements and challenges.

    He said the time and essence of retreat could therefore not be over emphasised.

    Adeleye urged all participants to make the best use of the retreat.

     

  • New Sheriff in APC

    Some days back, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, the one his aides and admirer still refer to as Comrade even after serving two terms as governor of Edo State, took a step unprecedented, at least to the best of my knowledge.  Oshiomhole wrote ministers who have refused to inaugurated boards of some government agencies. When I read of the letter, I simply said a new Sheriff was in town. Oshiomhole is asserting himself as the chairman of the party, to which members, including ministers, must listen.

    The inaction of some of these ministers over this matter has denied Nigerians the opportunity of knowing what the likes of Chief Frank Kokori can contribute to the nation. Kokori parades sterling credentials from institutions, such as the University of Ibadan and the Institute of Social Studies, The Haque Netherland (ISS) where he bagged a master’s degree (M.A) in Labour and Development Studies in 1984. Kokori was conferred with the fellowship of the Petroleum Training Institute (FPTI). For 22 years, he was the Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of NUPENG, which, for me, was Nigeria’s most visible trade union.

    Kokori is a recipient of several national and international awards, such as the revered George Meany Labour/Human Right award by the American Federation of Labour/Congress of Industrial Organisation (AFL/CIO) for the most outstanding Labour Leader in the world for 1996 and the Febe Elizabeth Valasquez Trade Union/Human Right Award of the Dutch Labour Federation (FNV) for the most outstanding Labour Activist and Human Right Crusader in the world for 1998. He was declared Prisoner of Conscience by the late Nelson Mandela and Pope Saint John Paul II in 1997.

    Kokori contributed greatly to the struggle for democracy, a development which made the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Amnesty International (AI) and labour federations across the globe declare him prisoner of conscience between August 1994 and June 1998. Kokori was in solitary confinement for four consecutive years in the infamous Bama Prison. He was just dumped there with no charges preferred against him by the evil regime of Gen. Sani Abacha.

    As the secretary-general of the NUPENG, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kokori shone. The NLC was divided and could not provide direction. There was no unity of purpose on the need to challenge the poison Babangida forced down our throats. Kokori provided leadership by rallying oil workers to challenge the annulment.

    His action provided tonic for the activities of other pro-democracy forces and it was not surprising that the Abacha junta saw him as an enemy that must be cut to size. That we still have him alive now can only be a result of God’s abiding grace.

    It was thus understandable that Kokori was ecstatic about the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the honour done Chief M.K.O. Abiola who won the June 12, 1993 election, which Babangida shamelessly annulled and still tries to justify till this day.

    In a statement thanking President Muhamamdu Buhari for the justice done on June 12, Kokori said: “First of all I thank God for everything, I thank God that today the country has finally come to end that big controversy about June 12 and May 29. I thank the president for doing that, at least, at this time. He was the least person I actually expected to do this because we had expected that during the 8 years of President Obasanjo, with the pressure at that time, with Gani Faweyinmi still alive, with people like us still active, we thought he would declare that day the national democracy day and make it a public holiday.

    “I am the happiest man in this country today because I now realise that the struggle we made, especially my union; NUPENG and PENGASSAN, was not in vain and most of us who suffered terrible deprivation at that time. I am happy to be alive this day. They even said it is above October 1 because that was the day that we really fought for freedom and I have always said it everywhere. I am one of the happiest people on earth today and I appreciate this government because it is this government to come to realise the importance of that day.

    “Before it used to be only Lagos and some Yoruba state that were recognising it, but now it is a national holiday. What a good news for me and those of us who are still alive, who fought in that struggle in the civil society and labour. I give a special tribute to my union; NUPENG and PENGASSAN. We suffered deprivation, just as people must suffer deprivation in struggle and some will pay the supreme sacrifice.

    “This is to say that no matter how long injustice lasts, at the end of the day goodness and truth will triumph. That is what has happened to us today. The significance for Nigerians is that it tells us that when you struggle for your country, such struggles are never in vain. Many have mocked us that we have been forgotten, they say those who never struggled for democracy are the ones enjoying our democracy today.

    “Today we have been recognised and though I’m no more in the union, I will want NUPENG to get involved in this from now on; all June 12, NUPENG can come out and flaunt their muscles that they were the heroes and the arrowhead of that struggle.”

    Not less than eight months after Buhari appointed this great man the chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the board remains not inaugurated. The Urhobo Patriotic and Transparent Movement to recently urged Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige to inaugurate the board so that Nigeria can benefit from his wealth of experience.

    The group said: “Chief Frank Kokori was incarcerated for several years by late Gen. Sani Abacha while he was the Secretary General of NUPENG for refusing to call off a nationwide strike that crippled the Nigerian economy over Abiola’s June 12 struggle, it is the same person that is being denied what is due for him.

    “President Buhari appointing Chief Frank Ovie Kokori as Chairman of NSITF was as a result of the confidence and trust he repose on him as a credible statesman whose credibility is guaranteed owing to the fact that his unique leadership qualities and roles and positions he has held while in active service.”

    My final take: Now, Oshiomhole has added his voice to the need for Kokori and others to be inaugurated. There should be no further delay. I believe he has a lot to offer Nigeria and he should be given all the support to serve us. Anyone standing against us benefitting from this outstanding Nigerian should have a change of mind and let us have the benefit of the Kokori touch at NSITF.

     

    • Part of this piece earlier appeared on this space.

  • Bayelsa airport advances to completion

    The International Cargo Airport project in Bayelsa State will soon be completed. In fact, barring any change in plans, President Muhammadu Buhari, will be on a state working visit in the state to inaugurate the only airport sited in the only homogeneous Ijaw state.

    The workaholic Commissioner for Works, Lawrence Ewruhjakpor, is working round the clock to deliver the project. In a recent tour of the project located at Amassoma, the community of late former Governor Diepreye Alamiyeiseigha, in Southern Ijaw, it was obvious that all the aspects of the project were nearing completion.

    The commissioner is working to ensure that the project is delivered in August ending following the directive of Governor Seriake Dickson. Ijaw youths, some political leaders and other stakeholders accompanied the works commissioner for the inspection of the project.

    The commissioner declared that the project was about 80 per cent complete. He said the terminal building was complete but that some corrections were being made by the contractors based on the suggestions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which visited the project site.

    The commissioner said the car park was 70 per cent complete adding that the fire trucks and other fire equipment were on their way. Ewruhjakpor said most of the fittings had been done and explained that the access road was also complete.

    Conducting the stakeholders round the project, he said: “On the August 10, we should be through with asphalt work on the binders and we’ll have another five days because of the markings on the runway to give guidance to the pilot and airport users.

    “The contractors that worked on the Abuja airport assured us that we can do that in one week. From what is on ground, the deadline of August ending which is the date the governor has given to us for the commissioning approved by Mr. President.

    “I think it’s quite visible because all we need to do is to up our visits in terms of rounding off on the project. Clearly, we are on target and we are working with the contractors. For every place we need to look at details.

    “We want to see if we can reduce the time. If we are able to work hard and we get 31st of July as our ending date for asphalt work,  we will be happy but if we cannot do that it’ll be because they’re a few issues that is out of our control like the weather.

    “Once it’s raining there’s an extent to which we can work and that is why work is slow. But we are looking at 30 days to do our asphalt laying. That is the major area we have issues but every other area is complete”.

    The commissioner further explained that the terminal building in the airport is of international standard and comparable to similar buildings in airports in Enugu, Owerri, Calabar and Akwa Ibom. “It is more magnificent, the only one that can actually give us a chase for our money is the one at Lagos and the one at Abuja”, he said.

    Ewruhjakpor dwelled on the passion of the governor for the development of the state. He said Dickson was prepared for governance. He said: “If you know why you’re coming into government, you’ll know what to do as a governor, so he is not a governor who came to learn on the job.

    He said the governor’s desire to develop Bayelsa compelled him and his ministry to always visit project sites. He said Dickson was always seeking information about all the projects in the state adding that failure to furnish him with details would mean incompetence.

    “He is a governor who has learnt how to become a governor before he came one. He sees underdevelopment of Bayelsa as the greatest injustice anybody can make to humanity, so he feels pained every day. Right now, the Nigerian nation has left us behind. Do we ourselves leave ourselves behind?

    “The answer is no. So what Dickson is trying to say is that since Nigerian nation has left us behind, we have the capacity to catch them up, so let’s catch them up and that is what we’re doing even if means going spiritual, physical or otherwise.

    “That is the driving force of Dickson. Every day, you meet the governor to say good morning, he’ll answer you but the answer will be what of this project? And that is why we are achieving the successes we are getting because if you have the boss is always around you, you have to be on your toes and some of us that are on our toes it’s because of what he is doing”.

    He added: “Definitely, he’ll ask you questions about the project and if you’re not able to explain to him clearly, you’re incompetent and you don’t want to become an incompetent person before your boss. So, his passion for the development of Bayelsa”.

    Apart from the airport, the governor was also working relentlessly on the Agge Deep Seaport. He said Dickson desired to see the commencement of the seaport and was working to see whether he could bring in some ships before the end of his administration.

    “If it were to be some governors who have one year and a half to go he should be slowing down but he is not prepared to slow down. What he told me in his closet is that we are going to work until the day we are going to hand over. So if there is a project that needs to be started on the February 13, 2020, start it, then we hand over that project to the next administration that is coming in”, he said.

    He said the completion of the airport would open the state to the world and the world to Bayelsa. He said it would prevent the risk of kidnapping faced by people traveling to board flights in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    “The airport will also increase tourism because the man who knows that he doesn’t need to drive two to three hours of risk before he gets to Yenagoa will prefer to come to Yenagoa. There is no traffic congestion. The air here is pure”, he said.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of IYC Central Zone, Tari Pori, said the project was evidence of Dickson’s visionary leadership. He said they had earlier taught that an airport project in the state was impossible but Dickson changed their perceptions,

    He said the magnificence of the project made people to claim falsely that it was a federal project. “I could recall when we were pushing for the 2015 election, many people were playing politics with this project, but today the governor has disappointed them”, he said.

    He described the airport as unique saying it surpassed similar projects in many states he had visited. He praised the governor for keeping faith with the project despite the economic downturn. He said persons outside the state claiming that nothing was happening in Bayelsa should try to visit the state.

    He said: “These are projects we felt before now that without federal government supporting, they were not possible. But the governor has realized it. The youths of Bayelsa are absolutely standing with him and we are happy that he is giving us legacy projects such as international airport.

    “Don’t also forget that this project will engage many young boys and many young ladies. We are also again saying thank you to the Governor because when you don’t come up with legacy projects such as this, it will be very difficult to engage the youths.

    “This project will create enabling environment for international communities to come to the Ijaw land. This is the first airport in Ijaw land and for us we are speaking on behalf of Ijaw people and what we are saying is that the youths are behind the governor”.

     

  • Two young men killed in Cross River, Ebonyi communal conflict

    Two unidentified young men from Ukelle community in Yala local government area of Cross River State were reportedly killed yesterday morning by people suspected to be from Igbeagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.

    This happening just a couple of days after the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, visited both states to find lasting solutions to the problem between the two neigbouring communities.

    A resident of Ukelle who called The Nation on phone yesterday alleged that the two ill-fated young men were riding on a motorcycle at Izzi-Mfuma village, when youths suspected to be from Igbeagu ambushed them and shot them at close range killing them instantly.

    “This latest attack is unprovoked and we do know what to do anymore from stopping the Izzi people from killing us. Right now negotiations are on by all stakeholders, security agencies and even the government at the state and federal levels to resolve this problem, but it appears the people just love killing just for killing sake.

    “About three Sundays ago, while the deputy governor of Cross River State and that of Ebonyi were in a meeting to resolve the problem they were still attacking us. In fact while the meeting was ongoing they invaded some of our communities and killed three young men. One of them was beheaded and we don’t know where the head is till today. One Vincent Ojobo was the unfortunate young man that was beheaded. He was killed at Ijobolo 2 Village. The other two were killed in Ipollo Village.

    “As I speak with you Ukelle is a ghost town. The community has been deserted. Go to our villages like Ijibollo 1 and 2, Ogomogomo, Ogba, Ujama, Mfuma and Ipollo 1 and 2, they are like warzones. They have burnt down our houses. Our farmland and livestock have been destroyed. We can no longer go to our farms again for fear of our lives. The children are no longer going to school. In fact life has ground to a halt for us in this community.

    “We are begging the Government to come in urgently to protect. We are only always forced to defend ourselves, because we are not aggressors. But the Ebonyi people from time to time for no reason attack and kill our people indiscriminately. For how long will this continue?” the source who did not want to be named said.

    Cross River Acting Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, when he received Dambazzau in his office in Calabarexpressed frustration over the conflict, saying they were confused about how to go about the matter as all efforts to stem the problem has been futile.

    He was upset that meeting with their Ebonyi counterparts with service chiefs, traditional rulers, assembly members, the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, among other stakeholders from both communities to resolve the issue, the killing have still continued.

    He had said Cross River loves peace and in conflicts with neighbouring states, they are usually not the aggressors, but only try to defend themselves.

    Esu said state is bordered by Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi and Benue States which at one time or the other are in conflict with communities in the state over land.

    He begged the Federal Government and the NBC to do all that can be done to restore peace to the people of the state.

     

  • Catching them young in the Niger Delta

    Niger Delta, previously known for militancy, sea piracy and cultism, is now embracing change, as youths who are leaders of tomorrow, place emphasis on quality education.

    As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria initiated a full scholarship programme tagged: “Catch them Young,” for students of secondary schools in its host communities, especially those from Oil-Mining Lease (OML)-58. Most of the beneficiaries are from Rivers State.

    While rounding off their primary education programme, the beneficiaries will have the opportunity to participate in the competitive examination. The best among the participants will be picked to study at Showers International Christian High School, Igbo-Etche in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State which began its academic programme at D-Line, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, before moving to its permanent site in the serene and secure Igbo-Etche.

    While speaking at the graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries of Total’s catch them young programme on July 14, the outgoing head girl of the secondary school, Victoria Nwankwo, described the experience as rewarding and inspiring.

    Nwankwo said: “It is a good thing to be a member of Showers’ family. I can vividly recollect the day I was told about my success in the Catch them Young examination about six years ago. Sincerely, I was excited and overwhelmed with joy, because I knew it was a rare privilege for me and my entire community.

    “Prior to that time, I had heard about boarding life, but now I know and can say from experience how it is. I really thank God that I came, I saw and I conquered. Showers International Christian High School has helped me to acquire knowledge in all its ramifications. More importantly, my spiritual life has greatly improved.

    “Showers International Christian High School has inculcated the core values of discipline, modesty, hard work and the fear of God in me and other beneficiaries.”

    Also speaking, the outgoing head boy, Oji Ogorchukwu Obinwa, revealed that he was among the privileged few that secured admission into the prestigious school, stressing that he was so happy to leave his Akabuka hometown in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State for the great school. He assured that he and other beneficiaries would always make Total and the school proud.

    Mrs. Chioma Chinedum who won the Teacher of the Year Award has been teaching Biology in the school since 2007. She was specially honoured and gifts were presented to her in appreciation of her hard work, dedication to duty and commitment to the progress of the school.

    Responding, Chinedum said the school is one of the best in the Southsouth zone of Nigeria, even as she revealed that teachers and students at Showers were always rated high. She thanked management of the school for the honour, promising that she would continue to put in her best.

    Also speaking, one of the products of Total’s catch them young programme, Chilem Amirize, who recently graduated with First-Class in Business Administration from Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State and emerged as the best graduating student of the university noted that hard work pays.

    Amirize, who was among the Class of 2013 said he and other beneficiaries of Total’s initiative had a solid foundation from the school, particularly in the area of encouraging them to write their examinations without any assistance from anybody. He assured that he and others would continue to be good ambassadors of the oil giant and the world-class school.

    In his welcome address at the send forth ceremony for the 8th set of beneficiaries of Total’s initiative, the Chairman, Board of Governors of the school, Anthony Akpan, an engineer, stated that the oil giant (Total) had been investing so much in education in its host communities in the Niger Delta.

    Akpan also noted that school, student and parents were the essential tripod in education and must adequately play their expected roles to achieve significant results. He maintained that the partnership involving schools, students and parents must be very strong, in order to have a better society.

    While presenting the report of the 2017/2018 academic year, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Emilia Akpan, stated that many beneficiaries of Total’s programme had been graduating from some of the best higher institutions across the world, especially with the school’s no-cheating policy and discipline, thereby making Total and Showers proud.

    In her paper entitled “What is Your Life’s Blueprint?” the guest speaker, who is Total’s Deputy General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Dr. Nkoyo Attah, urged the graduating students to continue to take education seriously and remain focused.

    Attah said: “You cannot be anything in life without education. Always strive for excellence and keep learning. Anyone that must be celebrated must be well educated. There can be no success without sacrifice. Education is the bedrock of whatever career path you want to take.

    “The beneficiaries of Total’s Catch Them Young programme are destined to be great with the solid foundation from Showers International Christian High School, but they must remain focused, not distracted, be bold, courageous, do not allow yourselves to be intimidated and always put God first.

    “Beyond education, be employable by acquiring new skills. You need competitive edge. Stand out of the crowd. You should also place emphasis on entrepreneurship. Be a role model, but you must have Godly mentors to guide you. Be hard working, disciplined and determined. The world is looking for assets not liabilities.”

    In her words of advice, Total’s Community Development Manager, Mrs. Erika Ukey-Omodu, stated that the efforts of Total through the scholarship scheme were now yielding results, stressing that the destinies of the beneficiaries were in their own hands, while standing out to pursue excellence.

    Ukey-Omodu also advised the beneficiaries and others to always depend on God, adding that: “you also need self-confidence to pull through in life.”

    In order to move Nigeria forward, other multinationals should emulate Total in order to contribute to move the education  sector forward.

  • Lawmaker suspended for alleged anti-party

    The All Progressive Congress in Owan West local government has suspended Ojo Asein for alleged anti-party activities.

    Hon. Asein, who is the lawmaker representing Owan West Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), was  suspended by the APC leadership of his Ward 2, Uhonmora.

    The Chairman of Uhonmora Ward, Mr Lucky Aroye, in a statement ,said the local government and state leadership of the APC have been notified of the suspension.

    Aroyo said Asein held series of meetings with the opposition party and openly told some of his supporters to prepare for defection to the opposition party.

    According to Aroye, “He (Asein), has been going about holding meeting under the disguise of the APC where he openly told the members to prepare themselves for defection.

    “All this, we have warned him against, but rather than stop, he persisted. We drew the attention of the LGA and State to this, and we have their support to do what is constitutional right against such action.

    “It is in this regard that at an enlarge meeting of the ward, we took the decision for his suspension by invoking Article 21 of the party’s constitution. The same Article, spelt out disciplinary procedures.”

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker, when contacted on phone, declined to comment on his alleged suspension, saying, ‘I will not speak on this issue and nobody has the right to suspend me.’

  • Bayelsa stakeholders accuse security firm of extra-judicial killings

    A group of stakeholders in Bayelsa State yesterday yesterday accused the Darlong Security Services (DSS) of masterminding extra-judicial killings in the state.

    The non-governmental organis-ation (NGO),  Kimisese Mass Movement for Good Governance (KMMGG), called for the suspension of all operations of the company in the state pending the conclusions of investigations into the alleged criminal activities against the firm.

    The group also appealed to the the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to save the state from crisis and further bloodshed by withholding the pipeline surveillance contract it awarded to the firm.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the Chairman, KMMGG, Mr. Charles Kuroteizi, showed that the security firm had issues and must submit itself for investigations.

    The security firm, owned by David Lyon, a loyalist of former Governor Timipre Sylva, is handling surveillance contract for NAOC in the state.

    Its activities came under scrutiny following a resolution of the state House of Assembly in a motion sponsored by a member representing Sagbama two, Bernard Kenebai accusing the firm of killings in the creeks.

    The plight of Darlong worsened on Wednesday when members of the House of Representatives unanimously sponsored a motion at the House seeking the suspension of all surveillance contracts in Bayelsa.

    Kuroteizi said from the findings of their organisation, many indigenes were killed in various communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    He said: “We engage you (press) today due to somek critical security issues bedevelling the peace in SILGA and if not urgently handled could metamorphose into serious crisis.

    “As a responsible organisation, we cannot sit down in our comfort zone and watch insecurity deteriorate to the level where youths are allegedly murdered in cold blood on a daily basis by Dalong Security Service under the guise of protecting oil facilities in the communities.

    “From petitions at our disposal, one Erelayefa Ayawei, a native of Korokorosei was allegedly killed while Delight Olando and Justina Samuel sustained gunshot injuries.

    “In Ikeinghbiri community, Mr. Kosene Komoh0Nimitei was allegedly shot dead. At Ondewari community, four persons including Deintei Rufus, Kombowei Godknows, Showboy Imienye and Ebimobowei Alasuo were killed by the same security company while Akpokere Christopher lost his leg to amputation owing to bullet wounds.”

    He added that in Korokorosei community, 12 houses were allegedly burnt down and 25 persons in exile in neighbouring communities for fear of being attacked.

    Kuroteizi asked Governor Seriake Dickson to immediately set up a panel of inquiry and investigate the alleged killings and bring the perpetrators to book within three weeks.

    “But if nothing is done at the expiration of three weeks ultimatum, we will commence a legal action against the governor. Afterall, one of the responsibilities of government is to protect lives and property,” he said.

    In its reaction, the management of Darlong described the allegation as lies, unthinkable and unfortunate, saying it existed only in the imagination of the accusers.

    Its Public Relations Manager and Security Coordinator, Mr. Preye Oseke, said there was nothing illegal and criminal in the activities of the company.

    He described the allegations from the group as “ill-conceived, malicious, unfounded and politically motivated.”

    He said that Darlong as a responsible and law-abiding firm, operates within the limits of the law, adding that its operations created jobs for more than 4,000 youths hitherto engaged in oil theft and sundry crimes in the creeks of Bayelsa.

    Oseke said: “If we killed somebody, what is the name of the bereaved? Who killed him? When, where and how? I am the spokesman for the company and I am telling you that Darlong Security and Guards is never involved in criminalities.

    “If you say somebody is stockpiling arms, which employee of Darlong is stockpiling arm? At where? The state government should go to the place with security agents and get the arms that are being stockpiled.

    “If any government person has any criminal case against any employee of our company, they should write the Inspector General of Police, and other security agencies and let them get the person arrested and be prosecuted,” he said.

     

  • FAAC: Obaseki gives local councils loan to pay salaries

    Succor came the way of teachers and local government employees in Edo State as Governor Godwin Obaseki doled out soft loan to local councils in the state to pay June salaries.

    Obaseki’s intervention was due to the non-release of funds to state and local governments following the indefinite suspension of the Federal Account and Allocation Committee meeting.

    It was gathered that seven local government councils paid workers June salary without waiting for allocation from the federation account while the remaining 11 councils were assisted by Governor Obaseki.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Jimoh Ijegbai, who confirmed the development, said the introduction of e-ticketing made it possible for seven local governments to pay June salaries.

    Barr. Ijegbai said plans were on to fish out ghost workers in local government because of reports that many local government staff were based in abroad and still collecting salaries.

    Ijegbai stated that the staff verification would be carried out in all the 18 local government councils.

    He said local councils in Edo were already having financial autonomy because their allocations are not tampered with.

    His words: “The 18 local government councils are doing well. For two months now, there is this hiccup from Abuja that is delaying release of funds from the federation account but seven local councils were able to pay salaries without waiting for allocation to be shared.

    “On Monday, Obaseki gave us soft loan to be able to pay primary school teachers before the allocation will be shared. He also paid out the remaining 11 councils salaries that didn’t have any savings to pay. All local councils have paid their salaries now.”

    “We are fishing out ghost workers by first making sure that we migrated the payment of salaries to technology platform and stopped payment by hand. Inspite of that, we still get pockets of complaints of some workers that have travelled abroad and yet they are on the payroll.

    “We will not give specific date but very soon we will go round the 18 local government to ensure we fish out those that are not on ground and get them out of the system.

    “We have financial autonomy for local government in Edo State because there is a template that follows the monthly allocation from Abuja. In Edo, nobody tampers with the local government fund. The issue is that they should be allowed administrative autonomy in terms of allowing them to do whatever they want to do without supervision”.

     

  • Edo uncovers 39,000 fake Cooperative Societies

    Edo State government has uncovered 39,000 fake Cooperative Societies that were registered for the purposes of raising funds for dubious reasons.

    It said the fake  societies were uncovered after an audit of registered cooperatives societies were carried out.

    State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Employment and Cooperatives, Barrister Emmanuel Usoh, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen said a little over 1000 Cooperative Societies were found to be functional in the state.

    Barr. Usoh said the state government carried audit because it planned to build a strong local economy in various locations where the Cooperative societies are located.

    Usoh stated that the discovery made a strict measure to be out in place for any new Cooperative Society to be registered.

    He said a committee has been set up to help recover funds from some Cooperative Societies that diverted the funding it got from the state government or financial institutions.

    Usoh noted that the data gathered would help the state government develop the Cooperative societies and fund them by building capacites, trainings and helping them access funds to be able to develop what they are set out to do.

    According to him, “We made a huge discovery of the fact that we lacked data to prosecute the intentions of this administration. A lot of Cooperative societies totaling 40,000 were registered with the aim of attracting quick funding that may never be used for the purpose of galvanising the local economy which cooperative society serve,

    “Having done an audit of of the Cooperative Society, we found out that only over 1000 were functional which we have compartmentalised into various groups. All these have their different roles they played in the local economy.

    “Once you are able to galvanise their intentions, we are good to go to building a very strong local economy in the various locations where the Cooperative societies are located. Their finances will be strong to attract funding or loans to deal with the basic requirement or expectations.

    “We have set up a machinery for registration of Cooperative Societies. The process are  now strict that if you do not have a purpose as a Cooperative Society, you will not be registered.

    “For others who have taken benefit of funding, we have set up audit to investigate and ascertain to what extent of culpabilities individuals and association have. When we are done, those to be referred to arbitrations will be refer. We have set up committees to recover such funds from association or individuals. When a case of fraud is established, we refer such group to the police for prosecution.”

     

  • Wike’s jamboree

    For some weeks now Governor Nyesom Wike of the oil rich Rivers State has been commissioning some projects initiated by his boss and predecessor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, with so much fanfare. The governor would assemble some market women and his loyalists at night and invite top political figures outside the state to cut the tape.

    After his invited guest would have finished commissioning the project, the Governor would mount the stage and begin to attack the man whom project he is commissioning. The governor does nothing other than criticise his boss and predecessor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

    For record purposes however, every Rivers man will not forget in a hurry the collapsed state of infrastructure in Rivers State before Amaechi took over office in May 2007, as the executive governor.

    Then, governor Nyesom Wike was Amaechi ‘s Chief of Staff who carried most of these project files that he (Wike) is commissioning today. Some of these projects were awarded to indigenous contractors who would sometimes go through the CoS if they must win the job.

    If Wike would be sincere to himself and his invited guests he would humbly give credit to Amaechi for most of the projects he is commissioning .Such singular act would have earned him some applause from Rivers people in particular.

    Amaechi may not have placed priory in commissioning projects when he was on the throne, doesn’t mean that he did nothing has been painted by Governor Wike at every slightest opportunity.  Anyway, the governor could go ahead to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the commissioning as he has boasted or even President Donald Trump of America the interesting thing is that Rivers people know who worked and who is re-asphalting and painting projects. The millions of naira expended for the commissioning of these projects would have been used to construct at least the shortest kilometer of road in any parts of Port Harcourt but Wike would not think in that direction. Wike likes groove and unnecessary show off yet he has nothing to offer the people for three years after he was sworn-in as governor.

    As the then governor of the state Amaechi focused on project delivery such that a former minister of petroleum Professor Tam David West said, “Any man who cannot see the projects Amaechi is building in all over the State is blinder than a bat”.

    Professor West assertion was corroborated by Wike himself when as the then Director General of Amaechi Re-election Campaign Organisation in 2011, he told a mammoth crowd of Amaechi supporters in Ahoada West LGA that “ My boss the governor of Rivers State Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has simplified my work for me.Amaechi’s projects that are in every local government area of Rivers State will speak for us. So believe me,as the DG of his campaign team I can now go to sleep”, Wike said.

    As the governor, Amaechi worked tirelessly day and night to bring back the glory days of the garden city. He recognized that his primary function as stipulated in the nation’s statute book was to provide adequate security for the people and to maintain absolute law and order. In addition to that was the massive provision of the basic necessities of life such as water, health care, welfare and so on.

    Amaechi promptly and aggressively confronts a task as if he was fighting with his last blood especially when it has to do with the issue of insecurity .He waged war against criminality and violence which could affect the revenue base of the state. Then, security was well funded as such; the prevalence kidnapping and terrorism in the state had no hiding place. Youths were meaningfully engaged. Some in crafts, others in sports and some in agriculture as the case may be.

    Young school leavers were hopeful of being incorporated into the system due to the prevailing job opportunities. Corp members posted to the state saw no need returning to their home states due to the chances of securing jobs in Rivers State.

    Importantly, Amaechi had a shift from sharing public funds to massive infrastructure building especially bridges and roads including a world class stadium which had the capacity to create wealth, jobs etc.

    Amaechi also systematically tackled social and physical security through promotion of subsistence farming to venture agriculture just to mention a few.

    Amaechi no doubt revitalised the entire state from the decay it was kept by previous government. Then, anyone who lived in the garden city before October 2007 will concur with my view. During his first year in office Amaechi literally turned the state into a busy construction site due to the volume of construction work ongoing. Some of these roads that have gained facelift  due to Amaechi’s intervention are, dualisation of Elekahia road,dualisation of G.U Ake road, construction and dualisation of the Trans Amadi road, dualisation and expansion of Ikwerre road, construction of Obiri Ikwerre inter- change, construction and dualisation of the Owerri/Airport road which is a federal road just to mention a few.

    Amaechi was passionate in diversifying the state economy through his passion in investing in agriculture. Here, fish farms were built in some local government areas of the state including the Buguma fish farms. The Ogoni banana farm and the gigantic Songhai farm in Ebubu Eleme are legacies of his administration.

    When Amaechi held sway, Port Harcourt was a place to dwell in. It was a place to behold, it was a safe haven for investors and investors who CRA, as fondly called by his supporters, was always on his toes to deliver good governance to his people. Time to time he was moving round the communities in the state to inspect ongoing projects to make the contractors deliver in other to improve on performance and governance.

    For Amaechi, governance was a call to duty nothing more. His sense of openness knows no bound, a man endeared with tremendous dynamism and ponderous intelligence. Amaechi was a cynosure of all eyes. For him, his entire years of stewardship for public resources entrusted to him were hinged on openness and truth and transparency with which the process and operations of government businesses are performed.

    Amaechi focused on building a new economy that called for massive infrastructural turn around, building of a mega city he called the Greater Port Harcourt City.

    The establishment of a world class education system that ignited human capital development through oversea scholarships will not be forgotten in a hurry. Non indigenes resident in the state had no course to worry as they fully benefited from Amaechi’s benevolence. For Amaechi, there was nothing like a non-indigenous status in Rivers, there was no segregation at all. This principle of oneness saw Amaechi recruiting over 3000 non indigenes into the state work force. Amaechi consequently reversed the payment of school fees by non-indigenes which was formerly far higher than that of the state indigenes, the fees were pegged at flat rate for all and sundry.

    Amaechi’s model primary schools are spotted all over the state including the remote communities, the purpose was to bring education closer to the people. The era when children had to travel a far distance to neighboring communities to acquire knowledge became history. Amaechi model primary and secondary schools were akin to standard university in some African countries, Amaechi  received wide spread commendation from both local and international bodies for building schools which are likened to higher institutions of learning.  The schools were fully equipped with modern facilities to aide learning especially for science students.

    Amaechi’s Education Commissioner Dame Alice Nemi bagged an education ambassador award. Amaechi’s education policy “education for all is the responsibility of all was key to his administration’s mission statement. Amaechi was poised to providing quality education for his people, thus; his slogan, ‘Bring the child to school naked we will provide school uniforms, bags, sandal, books including computers for every child.”

    Just like every other project he ventured in ,Amaechi embarked on affordable health care delivery. His health policy also received commendation with the introduction of free Medicare for all. Be you indigene or non-indigene ,all you required was to work a stone throw to access the health centers and you would get treated free of charge. The specialist hospitals were there for referral purposes, no matter the nature of illness you were hopeful of getting treated for free.

    Prompt payments of workers’ salaries and pensions for pensioners were not left out at the time. Civil servants promotion exercise which became almost a dead matter reinvigorated. Civil servants of the state rose up to their duties of providing effective services to government and they both added value to their jobs because of the robust relationship that exist between them and government. That was the Rivers State that I know, a State of so much possibility.