The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Emmanuel’s aide leads first time voter’s campaign

    Over the years, youths in Akwa Ibom State have constantly been sitting on the fence in terms of governance. They barely participate and only engage in nagging, criticising, complaining and fighting, among others. These seem to be their major functions, especially on the social media platforms.

    Questions are often not asked regarding how actively involved they can be in governance or their contributions towards nation-building.

    They are, it seems, interested in mobilising support for one particular political party or the other. Politicians dole out paltry sum of money to them as reward, irrespective of the prospect of the party or the politician.

    The question each fail to ask is; how useful will the money be to me and my future and how long will this level of dependency continue?

    The young generation has lost faith in the electoral process in the country due to the constant hoax and other vices associated with it. They believe that their voices do not matter and they would rather not speak up. They also feel that their votes do not count anymore.

    In their desperation, they clinch on to the so-called mobilisation money which cannot sustain them for a long time.

    The lack of faith, given the above scenario, only led to the conclusion of the uselessness of obtaining a permanent voter’s card (PVC).

    Having monitored this ugly trend for some time, Mr. Louis Udom, Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Marketing and Brand Management is mobilising over 15,000 youths of Akwa Ibom State and non-indigenes to embrace the reality of the power of the PVCs.

    Mr. Udom has created a platform where young people and others that have never voted before could express themselves by sharing their fears.

    Mr.Udom is convinced that the best way they could make their voices count in the society is to bring them together under a platform.

    That platform is First Time Voters Community, a community where the young people are given the opportunity to express themselves and exercise their franchise without fear or bloodshed.

    The Governor’s aide said the community would enable youths to be active participants and not passive observers in the business of governance.

    He said: “The community is aimed at fostering unity among Nigerian youths within and outside campuses; a community where the youth are no longer seen or called “Political Dogs”; a community that enlightens young people on their rights.

    “It’s about time our youths were reminded of their constitutional rights, human rights and God-endowed capabilities to adapt and lead. It’s time they saw the need to rise above little sums of money from political mobilisation and demand what is rightly theirs.

    “I strongly believe that our youths have all it takes to build a better Nigeria because they are full of zeal and fresh insights.” Mr.Udom said.

  • A ride round Rivers

    Johwor Ile, the 2016 winner of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, took me on a ride round Rivers State last Friday and part of Saturday.

    The ride reminded me of when Toni Kan, the poet and novelist hailed as ‘the Mayor of Lagos’, made me feel like I did not know Lagos enough.

    On the ride with Ile, we encountered Eleme, Ogba land, Ekpeye, Omoku and Ahoada. In Port Harcourt,   Obigbo, Borokiri, Mile 1 Market, Garrison Junction, Nwaja Bridge, Rumuola, D-Line, Trans Amadi Road, Isaac Boro Park and Elekahia poked fun at us.

    But it was in Ogba land that we saw the evil of oil when an oil giant did all sorts of things, including using cows, to divide and conquer the people. For filthy lucre, villagers turned against themselves. Friends became enemies. It was difficult to know who to trust. The people saw wealth around and about them but only had access to crumbs.

    In one sad instance, a councillor hoping to become local government chairman turned against his people. He got a contract from an oil giant for the good of his people but he did a wishy-washy job and used the police to harass Application Master, the man who reported him.

    The evil of oil saw swamp giving way; ponds dried up; trees were felled; slowworms, bamboos, brackens and blackbirds became history; and the people’s treasures were taken from them deceitfully.

    At a point on the ride with Ile, tears welled up in my duct but the man in me deceived me that I should not allow it cascade down my cheeks. The sadness was not unconnected with Paul’s disappearance. Paul was the son of Ma and Bendic. 11, Yakubu Gowon Avenue, Port Harcourt was their home.

    According to Ile, Paul disappeared on a Monday. The eldest of three children of Ma and Bendic had told Ajie, his younger brother, that he was on his way to see a friend, Fola, just some blocks away. He left with a backpack.

    Days turned to months and months into years and no sign of Paul returning home. No news of him anywhere. The announcement on the broadcast media could do no magic. All efforts just ended in nothing. Bendic died without any clue as to what happened to his son. Ajie relocated abroad for studies. Bibi, the only sister, came of age and was thinking about marriage when her mother asked her to come home. Ajie too had been summoned home from overseas. They were all ordered home because finally there was news about Paul.

    Like they all feared over the years, he was dead but not in a manner they could have ever imagined. He was a victim of an overzealous riot policeman who mistook him for one of the protesting university students.

    An ex-riot policeman now turned a pastor was looking for restitution and he came to 11, Yakubu Gowon Avenue to confess his sin. He said he saw Paul’s address on a video club card he saw inside his backpack the day he was mistakenly killed by his colleague. To cover his track, a report was concocted: Paul was caught looting a shop during the protest and he attacked an officer who tried stopping him with a knife. A struggle ensued during which Paul went for the officer’s gun. This led to an accidental discharge which killed him.

    With the report perfected, Paul was designated a robber and was buried at the back of the police station.

    Ma, according to Ile, almost ripped the pastor apart when he made the confession. She hurled a vase at him screaming ‘my son, my son’. But she was happy that, at least, a closure was found to Paul’s disappearance. A promising son, quiet and ready to learn, was wasted just like that. Ma got the government’s permission for the body to be exhumed and a DNA test done to be sure it was really Paul’s. The result confirmed it was indeed Paul that the pastor and his conniving colleagues buried in an unmarked grave. He was eventually given a befitting burial in Ogibah, their village. And Ma and the siblings picked up the pieces of their lives.

    Now to my own confession: This ride with Ile is literary. I only read his award-winning debut novel. And after many days’ aboard a Turkish airline flight and while waiting for a connecting flight at the Instanbul. In it, the Port Harcourt boy brought Rivers alive.

    He evoked in me those imageries Helon Habila’s Oil on Water brought alive. The homes of multitude when compared with the Residential Areas of oil giants cannot be described better than saying “heaven and hell, side by side”. The majority lives in hell; the minority in heaven.

    In some parts of the Niger Delta, they never see night. The multi-national operating in these areas have their flow stations so close to homes and send out gas flares throughout the day. So, the only way to differentiate between night and day is to check their wrist watches.

    Oil pipelines, in many a town, are not underground. They are in the open. And often they burst or are burst and our soils and existence are damaged in the process.

    For the umpteenth time, the people have shouted, protested and threatened violence over their fate, yet change has refused to come. It is as if the multi-national also has another licence: to send them all to their early graves so that their leaders can have all the wealth for themselves, including the little they manage to spend on basic amenities. This environmental genocide, as some have called it, is having serious effects on the people. Strange diseases are killing the people. Pregnant women are developing strange allergies. Yet, health centres that should take care of their health needs are ill-equipped. There are several people with aggravated asthma; there are increases in respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and difficult or painful breathing, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Premature death is not uncommon.

    The government is an accomplice in this man’s  inhumanity to man. Once the royalty keeps coming in, to hell with the people. It is lost on the government that the richest nations in the world are agro-based. The country used to make so much money from cocoa, groundnut, palm oil and other cash crops. But, oil has made everyone mad. The nation has lost its sense of reasoning. The madness has eaten into the youth who are now looking for easy money. That is why they see militancy, kidnapping, illegal bunkering and robbery as better than tilling the few good soils left.

    The soils are polluted and where they are not, the people are not properly motivated. Everybody is just waiting for handout.

    My final take: Man’s inhumanity to man appears like something that can never be eradicated. But, let us all have a resolution to do that which is right. Oil giants should stop cheating the people. Government should look beyond royalty. And the people themselves must remain united to fight the oppression from government and oil giants. Cows and such ephemeral gifts should not cause brothers to turn against themselves.

  • Fertilisers ready for planting season in Edo

    Are there fertilisers in Edo State for farmers to improve their yield? Opposition says no, but findings by Niger Delta Report indicate otherwise, reports OSAGIE OTABOR

    It appeared derelict. That is the impression one has on approaching the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Plant in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area. It seems the factory is devoid of any activity except for the presence of security personnel at the gate. But the reality is different.

    The fertiliser plant is meant to provide fertiliser for neighbouring states such as Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra.

    The perceived inactivity at the plant, perhaps, explained why the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged Governor Godwin Obaseki to show the world fertilisers produced from the plant that was inaugurated in August last year by Vice-President Yomi Osinbajo.

    At a news conference in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, Chairman of Edo State chapter of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, described the fertiliser plant as another fraud of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. Orbih said the plant was not operational, even as he said it was worrisome that Osinbajo could be made to inaugurate a plant that was never meant to function.

    A fact-finding visit to the plant revealed that the PDP’s allegations were baseless. The visit showed that the plant has commenced commercial production of fertiliser.

    The fertiliser plant was revamped last year with a target to produce 60,000 metric tons of fertiliser. The move to revitalise the plant began in January, last year when Obaseki led the Director-General of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji and President of Fertiliser Producers’ Association of Nigeria Thomas Etu to the plant with a view to reviving it to meet the Federal Government’s target of creating 250,000 jobs from all the 38 fertiliser blending plants across the country.

    Orji told reporters that the visit to the fertiliser plant was part of the Presidential Initiative on Fertiliser (PIF) whose purpose was to ensure that farmers in the country buy fertiliser at the cost of N5,500.

    During the inauguration of the plant in August last year, Osinbajo said the desire to revitalise fertiliser blending plants across the country was the direct consequence of Buhari’s initiative to diversify the economy and move the country from being dependent on crude oil to agriculture by boosting farming activities as well as develop the agriculture value chain.

    Osinbajo added that agricultural activities in the country could be enhanced significantly if fertilisers are easily available and accessible to farmers.

    The visit to the fertiliser plant on Tuesday last week revealed that over 30,000 bags of fertilisers have been produced since August last year and stored in the warehouse waiting to be sold.

    Factory Manager of the plant, Mr. Iyere Okhuorabo who took reporters on a guided tour of the plant and the stores where the fertilisers were stored said the plant did not deliberately stop production.

    Okhuorabo further explained that production was stopped because the factory’s stores were filled with finished products that had not been sold.

    He said: “For the few days, we were able to produce more than 30,000 bags. That translates to about 51 trucks with 600 bags of fertiliser each.  Six trucks have been loaded already.

    “We are expecting order for 11 trucks so that we can start production again. We stopped production because of space constraint. Our stores are filled up.

    “Now that we are getting orders for supply, we now have spaces to stock fertilisers when produced. This means that the plant will start operations again. What is stopping us is not lack of raw materials but space for storage. We can produce 60,000 metric tons per annum.

    “We are getting power 15 hours daily but we want them to give us more. As the farming season has begun, we are receiving orders from farmers. We are set to load out 18 trucks within two weeks. Our plant is running but we reduced the two shifts to one interchanging them because of space.”

    Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, said there was abundance of fertilisers for farmers in the state.

    His words: “I came to see what they have in stock. We are getting our farmers ready to go to the farms. They have been producing and storing fertilisers. I came to make sure fertilisers are available for our farmers. You can see that there is abundance of fertilisers. They will be made available as we need them. There is no doubt about the plant’s working ability.”

    The price tag of N5,500 was boldly written on each bag of fertiliser.

  • Colours, excitement as Efik women revive cultural heritage

    It was festival of colours and excitement as the women of the Efik Kingdom (Mbono Iban Isong Efik) got together to drive the renaissance of the cultural heritage of the people through the exhibition of traditional displays (Mbre) and cuisine.

    Tagged the Abang Cultural Festival, the event, which held at the African Club in Calabar, Cross River State capital, was aimed at reviving and promoting Efik traditional displays and cuisine that seem to be fading away.

    Led by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Eka Iban ke Essien Efik Duopeba(Mother of the 12 Efik Kingdoms), the women said it was pertinent for their cultural heritage to be maintained.

    On the significance of the cultural event, Ita-Giwa said: “We have an amazing cultural heritage that may be forgotten if care is not taken. There are so many things that the world does not know about our cultural heritage that have been on since the times of our ancestors. We are putting them on display. We are going to start reviving all our lost cultural heritage.

    “There are so many deep-seated cultural values in the Efik land, so many cultural plays, what is called Mbre in Efik. I am not talking about masquerades, because women don’t carry masquerades. There are traditional cultural displays which we call our cultural heritage that were there in the days of our ancestors. But unfortunately, these are gradually disappearing. What is very popular is Ekpe, and it is actually a man’s thing, with due respect. Gradually, the women’s culture is disappearing. So, I just thought that we should bring out that aspect of women’s cultural heritage and showcase them to the world.

    “We are here to put on display our cultural heritage by means of cultural dances, costumes and cuisine. We are bringing what is in our kingdom to showcase to the world. Part of our culture is our food. The Efik women are well known for their ability in cooking.

    “Starting with the traditional displays (Mbre) take for instance the Abang. I used to see Abang when I was a kid, and Abang is a very elegant cultural display dance, which is very ancient and traditional. Then we also have the Ntimi. When we were kids in school, we used to see it. But now I am grown I don’t see it again. There are so many others like that.

    “In the area of food, we are going to showcase the foods that the people have forgotten about not just the Afang or Edikang Ikong that everyone knows about. I am talking about Efik food such as Ekpang Nkukwo Ikon, where you would see the amazing things the people do with melon. We are going to showcase our own unique Banga soup. We also have Anyan Ekpan, which is cassava, yam and cocoyam wrapped in leaves which is our traditional food. We are going to show our Iwuk Abia, a popular dish, yam porridge cooked traditionally; and our own jollof rice, Iwuk Eresi. The Iwuk Eresi is the Calabar jollof rice, which is very traditional and different from every other jollof rice. These and others would be on display.

    “And we decided to make it competitive, because they have not been out in a long time. Some of them are from villages. So, they can compete and take some prizes home. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with something.

    “We are going to make this a yearly affair. We are worried about the disappearing cultural heritage and that is why we are doing this, because we want to bring them back. What is a nation without culture, without tradition? Nothing. We must bring our culture back. The culture of a nation is what makes a nation.

    “We are also using it as a platform to promote peaceful co-existence and also to advise youths to stop killing themselves. Tourism is very important. A country like Brazil lives on tourism, so we should try to promote all our cultural values. Things like this should attract people from all over the world to witness. So, we are using this platform to also promote tourism. It is the dependence on oil that is making us not to promote tourism as we should. So, this is a good platform.”

    Wife of the Obong of Calabar, Queen Ansa Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, who was the special guest of honour expressed delight with the event, saying it would promote unity.

    ”The women of the Efik Kingdom have come together to revive and promote our lost cultural activities. This would promote our culture and ensure togetherness among us, and our children would learn the culture of our ancestors so that when we are no more, they would continue from where we stopped. We pray to continue to do it every year,” she said.

    Chairman of the Etuboms’ Traditional Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, His Royal Highness (HRH) Etubom Bassey Okor Bassey Duke, said he was  delighted about the development.

    “This is something we are excited about, because we have almost lost some of the cultures we are seeing today. Women do not dance Abang any longer. In the past, during Christmas and other festivities, we used to celebrate it and there used to be competitions among different Abang groups then. We are happy to see it revived. It is impressive. We are very particular about cuisine in Efik land. The Efik people have very impressive cuisines and we are happy they are being revived,” Duke said.

  • Jubilation as Okowa presents staff of office to Ebu monarch

    It was a carnival atmosphere at the vast playground of Ubueni Primary School, Oshimili North Local Government Area with the large crowd thronging the school. Many drummed, sang and danced.

    Huge colourful billboards placed at strategic location around the community proclaimed the event. Residents of this mainly agrarian community took the day off. Socio-economic activities were suspended and the famous Ebu yam market was closed.

    Before the event proper, the crowd which hitherto was a trickle had transformed into a deluge as the young and old from the five quarters of Ebu community besieged the venue of the ceremony.

    Music blared from loudspeakers around the playground. The mood was jubilant as visitors from neighbouring community joined in the celebration.

    The famous Ebu masquerade captivated the audience. Guests marveled at its magical powers. The cylindrically shape masquerade clothed in light brown spotted  canvass material rose to dizzying heights only to  contract  into a tidy neatly  folded heap fitting into a 3ft by2ft box.

    The occasion was the coronation and presentation of staff of office by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to His Royal Majesty Paul Odilile Opili, Onu Umukojordu,  Onu of Ebu.

    The Ebu people were expectant having been without a king for many years following the untimely demise of the last king, HRM Aninta Ojorjadu 11.

    But soon the wait was over as the convoy of the Deputy Governor; Mr. Kingsley Utuaro who represented Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa drove into venue.

    The President General of Ebu Development Union, (EDU) Akpeli Tom Nwakalor kicked off the event with his address.

    He said that Ebu community is the only Igala speaking community in the State surrounded by Igbo speaking communities, adding that their uniqueness has impelled them into developing the community and much of the relevance it enjoys in the scheme of things in the present Delta State.

    His words, “Ebu is the only Igala speaking community in Delta State and regarded as a minority in Anioma group in the State. In the light of this apparent disadvantage, one would expect the Ebu community to have sunk in her endeavor to develop. No, this was not to be. Rather our sons and daughters have remained undaunted and held to their faith and belief that God had his purpose for locating Ebu in its present abode and for giving it, its peculiar character.”

    He appealed to government for intervention in infrastructure, stressing that the community has not had light in over ten years.

    He appealed for a new public secondary school, stressing that   said as a result of government policy, Ebu Grammar school  was handed over to the missionary  and a a consequence  students who could not  afford the new fees charged by the missions have relocated to the primary school compound.

    Chairman, Oshimili North L.G.A, Mr. Louis Ndukwe praised the Ebu people for resolving the kingship issue without bloodshed or litigation, while describing the maturity shown as “legendary and commendable”.

    He said the installation of the monarch of Ebu brings to six the number of gazzetted kings in the local government area, adding that it was a welcome development given the “enormous roles they play in ensuring peace in their respective domains.”

    According to him, Ebu is important to the local council due to the fact that it is a frontier community and an entry point into the State for people from the North, while stressing also its value as a “strong internally generated revenue base of the local government area.”

    He urged the monarch to uphold the sanctity of the culture and traditions of Ebu land, maintain peace and harmonious relationship between the various quarters.

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa commended the Ebu people for rallying round their king, adding that the large number of Ebu people witnessing the coronation of their monarch was reflective of their “extreme regard they have for the traditional stool. It expresses their love and respect for the royal father”

    He assured that his administration will support traditional institutions in the State through the provision of conducive environment for their leadership to thrive, adding that this support would galvanise the paramount rulers to mobilise their subjects to support government policies.

    Okowa listed the achievements of his administration and assured the Ebu people that the request by the community will be addressed by the appropriate authorities.

    The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of the staff of office by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa to the new monarch.

    Present at the occasion were the Delta North Senatorial Chair, Moses Iduh, Delta Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, Obuzor of Ibusa, HRM Prof Louis Nwaboshi, Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo, Obi Azuka, Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu,Attah of Igala HRM, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni 11,Chief Moses A Braimoh, Amana Attah of Igala, Chief Ibrahim Adama Atadoga,Inalogun, Attah Igala and HRM  Ibrahim Gambo Amodu, Onu Ido Okoliko amongst other dignitaries.

  • Firm splashes projects on Akwa Ibom communities

    It was a festival of appreciation and commendations as international oil giant, Total E&P splashed life-touching social, economic and educational projects in some communities across six local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

    The projects completed, commissioned and handed over to the benefiting communities were six classroom blocks at Ette, Ikot Abasi council Area, renovated six-classroom block at Ikpa Ibom Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ekong, Mkpat Enin, completed six classroom block at Lutheran High school, Ikot Udo Mbang, Ukanafun and renovated five classroom block at Ekpene Inuen, Ikono Council Areas.

    Others include six classroom blocks at Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono, Ikono Local Government, completed six classroom block at Government Primary School, Nto Obo, Abak and completed Community Health Centre at Ilot Ntuen Nsit in Nsit Atai Council Areas.

    The Deputy Managing Director of Total E&P, Mr. Francois Le-Cocq while handing over the projects to the communities said that the multinational oil company was committed to fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to the state.

    Le-Cocq said the company was willing and ready to renew its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with stakeholders in the state.

    “In line with a Nigerian song that a roasted yam is just to tell the mouth that the main menu was on the way. We will soon meet with Akwa Ibom Stakeholders to re-negotiate their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pave way for more projects for the host communities,” Le-Cocq said.

    He spoke in Uyo during the commissioning of Civic Centre at Iboko Offot in Uyo Local Government and seven projects in other Local Government Areas where the company operates in Akwa Ibom.

    Represented by the Manager, Community Relations, Port Harcourt/Offshore Operations Okechukwu Obara, Le-Cocq warned the beneficiaries of the projects not to “allow it die and decay like the proverbial public goat which was left to die of hunger as nobody was the owner”.

    He appealed to the communities to take full ownership of the inaugurated facilities in terms of security and maintenance so that the benefactor would consider them in subsequent phases.

    Prof. Chris Ekong, an indigene of Iboko Offot and lecturer in the Department of Economics in the University of Uyo, recalled that the Iboko Offot Civic Centre built by Total was conceived in his tenure as Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

    Ekong said he used the project to keep militants at bay and appreciate the oil firm for keeping the promise of giving back to the community.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel, who was represented by the Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Orman Esin, hailed the oil company.

  • Udom Emmanuel’s scorecard in Akwa Ibom

    In today’s Nigeria, it is very rare for people who do not share similar political ideologies and goals   to acknowledge the giant strides of the opposition. This is probably because politics in this part of the world is still seen as winners take it all. This could also have accounted for the slow pace of Nigeria’s   development.  Here, political parties rarely work with members of the opposition once they are in government. There is this suspicion among the political class. Unfortunately, such suspicion has only fueled retrogression and inhibited our development.   Our politicians are yet to learn the important lesson that good governance should be expected after politics. Governance should target the good of all irrespective of the political divide. The fact that a ruling party wins in an election should not be the basis for excluding brilliant minds from any part of the country, locality or political group from offering   their quota to the overall development of the country. What should be of paramount concern in such contributions should be the overall interest of the country as a whole and assurance that such contributions are in line with the goals and aspirations of the ruling party or party manifesto, so to say.  Our goal should be even development and progress.

    Having said this, it becomes instructive also when electorate who for one reason or the other, in the course of exercising their fundamental rights of voting for political officers, showed preference for one candidate above the other, and still come out to publicly acknowledge the good works of the people they didn’t vote for. This is also a rarity in Nigerian politics. The norm here which is by no means the acceptable standard is for people to criticize those they didn’t vote for. Somehow too, consciously or unconsciously, the people voted into power, also seem to be more interested in the affairs of the people that voted for them before considering that of those who didn’t vote them in.

    The popular statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari readily comes to mind here. The president had shortly after becoming the President, declared that the interest of the people who gave him 95 per cent votes would be prioritised above the ones that gave him just five per cent votes.

    Perhaps this is why the acknowledgment by   the Ikot Ambon community in Ibesikpo Local Government  Area of Akwa Ibom State that  the trademark  of their state governor, Udom Emmanuel,  is excellence is worthy of note.  Even though   angry with the government, these people could not hide their admiration for a governor who they believe, has worked relentlessly to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people.  The community had in a peaceful protest, asked the governor to ensure that the quality of road projects in their areas, match the world class standard of work that their governor is known for. The people called on the government to extend its trademark of quality road construction to the Ikot Ambon-Nung Ette-Ikot Abasi Idem Road.  These people testified to the good works of their governor and acknowledged diverse ongoing road constructions and rehabilitation works by the state government in Uyo, the state’s capital as well as in all major towns and communities across the state.

    However, the people made it clear to the governor that the ongoing road projects in their area which links the Nung Ette and Ikot Abasi Idem villages falls short of the expected standards for which their governor is reputed for. For the people to openly testify to the giant strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel is a big deal in this part of the world. Such is a testimony to the administration’s hard work in bringing development to every part of the state.

    Really, the Udom Emmanuel’s administration can rarely be faulted in some of his major cardinal projects. The administration has gone a long way in making its impact felt in all the local government areas in the state by embarking on even development of the state. When the governor got to office on May 29, 2015, he did not leave anyone in doubt as to his mission at the Government Office. He had presented a five-point agenda of wealth creation, job creation, poverty alleviation, political and economic inclusiveness as well as infrastructural consolidation and expansion.

    The administration has since recorded some accomplishments across all sectors of the economy. With a budgetary allocation of N65.42bn in 2015 state appropriation and 91.8bn in 2016, infrastructural development and road construction, bridges and drainages have remained some of its priorities.

    Dogged at accomplishing his objectives, the governor has ignored every form of distraction.  Since his inauguration, he has constructed nearly 200 kilometres stretch of roads across the state, touching every community. For instance, even the Ikot Ambon community confirmed that the governor awarded a road contract to a construction firm between May and June last year.  Indeed, as of mid last year, the Udom Emmanuel’s administration has constructed over 160km of roads, 12 bridges and other infrastructure across the state. The projects included the dualisation of 19.7kmUyo-Etinan Road; construction of 39.4km Etinan-NDON Eyo Road with bridges and spur; construction of 7.3 km Ebekpo-Ikot Ebidang road; construction of 3.5 km Ikot Udom Road with 15m span bridge in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area;  construction of 5km Ikot Usop-Ikot Edegbe-Ikot Ekpuk Road with 30m span bridge in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area; construction of 5km Mkpok-Okat road in Onna local government area; dualisation of Eket-Ibeno road; dualisation of Oron-Uyo road ;  construction of Information Drive and other internal roads in Uyo.

    All these construction works are aside the urban renewal projects within Eket township, emergency interventions, flood control, completion of outfalls and urban roads in Oron.  The administration also constructed a second Runway at the Akwa Ibom International airport. This is in addition to the construction of three collapsed bridges and internal roads in Obot Akara Local Government Area.

    The governor has also gone beyond road construction to investing in human capital, particularly in the youths through different vocational trainings. The farmers are not left out.  He established a Special Cocoa Maintenance Scheme (SCMS) to train farmers and youths on pruning/shading management, under- brushing, and tree care by fumigation, all in an effort to improve on farm yields.

    It is heartwarming that this is happening at a time that many Nigerians have come to the realisation that the nation should invest more in its agricultural sector to improve its foreign earnings.  The governor has re-introduced the second planting season in the state for enhanced food production and sufficiency.

    Leaders should learn to always put people at the centre of governmental policies. Gone are those days when elected officials can do what they like. The electorate are getting smarter. They watch and they prepare the scorecard at the end of the day. Doing things that uplift the electorate’ lives remains the surest way of getting a good score card.

    • Michael wrote in via dsuccessfactory@gmail.com

  • Omoni Oboli @ 40

    The first time I took note of her prowess was in Kunle Afolayan’s Figurine. In two days, this amazing woman that I consider one of Africa’s greatest talents will be 40. She acts. She directs. She writes amazing scripts.

    You need to see her with her kids to know whether or not she is an outstanding mother. Nnamdi is never tired of celebrating this wife of his youth, who he captured young.

    Her never-say-die spirit came alive when she was told it was not possible for a woman to make it as a movie director.

    Welcome to the world of Omoni Oboli, the woman who does not take no for an answer, except her heart is not in it. So, she worked on being a successful director and today we all can see the outcome.

    To make a success of directing, she took a short course in digital filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. This was to enable her understand the technical details, instead of using on-the-job experience. She equally learnt from other filmmakers’ work, journeys, successes and failures.

    A major influence on her career is Tyler Perry. This explains her love for writing, producing, directing and playing multiple characters. In Being Mrs. Elliott, she was writer, producer, director, dual roles actor and executive producer.

    Omoni’s relationship with other female actors, producers and directors portrays her to me as good-hearted. The way she celebrates Mo Abudu, Uche Jombo, Chioma Akpotha, Ufuoma McDermott and Toyin Abraham is amazing. In one of her promotional materials for the sequel to Wives on Strike, Omoni predicted that the world would celebrate Toyin for her role as Iya Bola in the flick. When I saw the film, I could not agree less. Toyin was simply crazy.

    Let me serve you another evidence that she is never tired of celebrating what she believes in.  She said of Toyin in an Instragram post: “I am so proud of you my darling. The world will celebrate you some more after they watch #Wivesonstriketherevolution. You murdered your role as Iya Bola! I could not have casted a better actor. I’m so glad you took all we talked about into consideration and you ran with it! You just wait for the accolades and the awards! I love you my baby girl.”

    Her disdain for child bride and domestic violence is evident in her last two cinema releases Wives on Strike and Wives on Strike the Revolution. I won’t be surprised if Moms at War, her yet-to-be released movie, has anti-domestic violence stance. The lyrics of Gone Forever, the soundtrack to the Wives on Strike the Revolution, which she wrote for Chidinma to voice, can melt any heart.

    The Wives on Strike series parade a bunch of pidgin-speaking women and men whose acts made us laugh and also think. It has also a group of senators and the wife of one of them whose acts made us think and ready to stop the child-bride craze.

    The movies are not comedy for comedy sake. They are comedies for social change. They are comedies for re-evaluation of our social mores. These sort of socially-responsible comedy movies are rare. What we have most of the time are just plastic-comedies.  Omoni employed the trick of the rat, which usually fans its victims before attacking. Call it the carrot-and-stick approach to fighting against child-bride advocates and you won’t be wrong. You will laugh at the seeming jokes in the film while being hit unconsciously by the message: She is a child, not a bride!

    The language in these movies is the clean. Omoni deploys creative coinages to describe acts which kids are not supposed to be exposed to. One very creative coinage is ‘janglova’, which means love making. There is also ‘kongea’, which means pent-up sexual passion.

    Interestingly, some weeks before the premier of the first part of the movie, it was engulfed in a controversy. Reason: its central idea of women going on strike and preventing their husbands from having sex with them has a similar ring with the theme of Spike Lee’s satirical musical drama Chiraq. So, when the trailer of Wives on Strike came out, the mother of three was accused of copying Lee.

    The controversy forced Omoni to give vital background information on the movie.  The movie’s concept, she said, came to her about four years ago when she wanted to do a movie about women going on strike, but could not find a sensible reason for the strike.

    Her words: “We felt there was no sense in making comedy, just for comedy sake. At least, that’s how I think, and I like to stick to what I know and leave others who are better at their own areas of expertise to do theirs. So when my husband and I wanted to do something concerning the Child-Not-Bride issue which was steaming up back in 2013, we decided that we had found a good enough reason for the strike. I wrote the script, and when we were ready we started principal photography in April 2014.”

    She added that she got to know after her shoot that some women in South Sudan suggested a sex strike to end the war in their country.

    “The idea of going on strike was just fantasy and wishful thinking, not knowing that it had really been conceived by other women in practice, or by other filmmakers and playwrights in theory,” said Omoni.

    The director of Being Mrs Elliott said she heard of Chiraq for the first time when her  husband sent her the trailer.

    She said she expected a reaction like this: “Nollywood is at it again! Copy! Copy! Copy! Omoni Oboli has joined the bandwagon of Nollywood producers who steal original works and make it their own.”

    She continued: “Spike Lee commenced principal photography (that means he started shooting) in June 2015, and released in select theatres on December 4 of the same year. Heaven forbid that Spike Lee would copy little old Omoni Oboli, who is in our Nigeria here! How can that happen?! If I had released it first on October 1st, instead of The First Lady like I did, then Spike Lee was definitely being artistic and the similarities were just mere coincidences, but since I decided to release later, then I ‘definitely’ (beyond a shadow of a doubt) copied Mr Lee. Case closed!”

    From the look of things, this amazing daughter of Mosogar, Delta State—who shares not just birthday with me but also birth year — will continue to break a leg. And God will keep her, the three boys and the eternal treasure in her life called Nnamdi.

    Happy 40th birthday to us in advance.

  • Hope as foundation fetes persons with disabilities in Edo North

    The Anamero Idofe Anamero Foundation has brought hope to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Afemai, Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State.

    The foundation gave wheelchairs to PwDs drawn from the six local government areas that form the district, a gesture it said would be sustained.

    The facilities were presented at the programme where industrialists, members of the civil society, political office holders and religious leaders inspired PwDs to think beyond their challenges. They encouraged them to go for their dreams as they have the capacity to attain any height despite their conditions.

    Relating the success story of Nicholas Vujicic, who has impacted the world despite being born without limbs, the founder of the foundation, Mr. Anamero Dekeri, told the beneficiaries that “it is only your thinking capacity that can limit your success in life”.

    Speaking at an event held in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area, Dekeri said, “There is nothing you cannot achieve if you are determined in life. Disability is a thing of the mind. Physical disability cannot stop anybody that has made up his or her mind to achieve greatness. The story of Vujicic has shown that there is no limit to what human beings can achieve no matter their physical state.  It also proves that there is, indeed, ability in disability.”

    Dekeri, a successful entrepreneur who started business as a cocoa/kernel merchant at 18 years, said the event was a way of demonstrating the life of Jesus Christ whose sacrificial death Easter represents. He called for equal opportunities for all members of the society irrespective of their physical conditions.

    “The foundation is committed to putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society. It is our hope that the wheelchairs will make life easier for the beneficiaries and help them to compete for socio-economic opportunities,” he said.

    Dekeri, at South Ibie Day, another event held in Etasko West during Easter where he described himself as quality education ambassador, gave scholarship to 10 students.

    Mr. Ifedayo Eshieshi, a chieftain of the Edo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, commended Dekeri for associating with PwDs, saying “the world is taking note of your humanitarian services.

    “The foundation has built town halls for several communities, rehabilitated roads, built several bridges, sunk dozens of boreholes, given scholarships to hundreds of students among several other projects since 2012 when it was founded. But Dekeri himself has been involved in humanitarian services since early 1990s when he was still very young. He started annual distribution of 200,000 exercise books to public school pupils in Edo North several years before the foundation was established. Edo is fortunate to have him as a son.”

    The leader of PwDs in Okpella, Mr. Andrew Sylvester, who the foundation earlier assisted to procure equipment for shoemaking, commended the organisation for identifying with them. He said the wheelchairs would go a long way in improving their lives.

    Christopher Asemah, a beneficiary from Akoko Edo, called on other successful individuals in the state to follow the example of the donor. He lamented the neglect suffered by his colleagues, saying, “Even some of our relations do not think that we are good for anything. We are not asking for too much; it may be unrealistic for all of us to acquire university education. But we can all learn a trade in order to contribute to the national economy like other people.”

  • Okada riders, traders criticise council boss’ street revenue drive

    Since March 5 when he was sworn-in as the chairman of Esan West local government area, Hon Patrick Aguinede, has been on the streets of Ekpoma and other communities ensuring that the people adhered to the payment of approved levies and rates.

    His action has drawn the ire of commercial bike riders and traders whose levies and rates have been increased.

    Before March 5, commercial bike riders, popularly known as Okada, pay N100 daily while traders and shop owners pay between N2000 and N3000 monthly depending on their power of negotiation. Most of the monies ended in private pockets as the council only receives between N68,000 and N100,000 daily from such collections.

    A bike rider, who gave his name as Monday, said they were shocked when the chairman increased their daily payment to N150.

    He said: “The new chairman is always on the street making people to pay. Traders and shop owners now pay N12,500 and above every month. The increase is too much for us.

    “Before now, we pay N50 to the council and N50 union dues and we were happy. His boys are now everywhere collecting money.”

    A shop owner, who gave her name as Teresa, said they would be happy if the council chairman performed as he preached that the money collected would be used to construct road, build health centres and make Ekpoma clean.

    She said they were praying for the rains not to start because all the roads in Ekpoma are in bad shape.

    Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West, plays host to the Ambrose Alli University. The roads, which are in bad shape, were constructed during the administration of the late Ambrose Alli. All the public water supply provided by the state government and local government have since broken down which made the people to rely on rain water or the few available boreholes.

    The health centres in Ekpoma and other communities lacked basic testing kits for malaria. Some of the residents, who spoke to our reporter last weekend, said they seldom visited the health centers.

    Reacting to the condemnation of his action, Aguinede said he is in the street for revenue drive so as not to leave the council in the mess that he met it. Aguinede told our reporter that he inherited a council that was indebted to the tune of over N400 million, eight months unpaid salaries and empty treasury.

    Aguinede said he wanted to perform in line with the blueprint of Governor Godwin Obaseki but could not do so if he fails to raise revenue and ensure the people complied by prompt payment so as to fulfill his electioneering campaign promises.

    He stated that he planned to fix all the moribund water projects in the locality, revamp the health centres, build roads, construct new markets and make Ekpoma clean.

    His words: “We came on Board on March 5th. We are still trying to settle down but we have paid salaries for the month we came in. We have looked at the environment and convinced that the allocations including the Internally Generated Revenue is well managed we will be able to come out of the financial mess we met.

    “The central borehole that has been abandoned for years, we want to put life of it. We want to give water to Ekpoma people. We want to build markets. Work will soon commence on the abandoned market. We have identified key areas like the health centers in the local government. We have gone round the health centers and saw work that needed to be done. As soon as we have our executive, we will begin work on them.  Erosion problem in Ekpoma axis will be looked into. It is possible to construct roads with council fund. We are partnering with international agencies to construct some roads. We are paying our counterparts fund to help us implementation on areas of roads, skill acquisition centers and market. They are disposed to assist.

    “We felt the need for enlightenment to raise revenue because before I came on board, the highest money generated was between N68,000 and N108,000 daily. I have embarked on enlightenment and personally involved in the revenue drive. Many people do not want to pay. We have told them why they should pay. Some are now willingly paying. We are getting huge returns. From that N68,000 daily, we now collected between N850,000 and N1m daily. We have made over N1m daily. I look towards collecting N20m monthly IGR. In the last JAAC meeting, I presented N2m but I want to raise the bar. If I get N20m monthly, why will I not construct Road, why will I not make health centers functional. Why will I not provide basic amenities and pay salaries. My desire is to raise money to satisfy the people.

    “The bike riders earlier refused to pay the N150 as directed by the state government because a cabal was backing them. The cabals resisted the payment. When I took over, I saw that the directive was not implemented. We held meetings but they said they will not pay. I discovered that the cabals are not bike riders. I took the matter to the police and they were invited for questioning. They were collecting the money and used it to service the cabals. We now have 100 percent full compliance and now collect over N250,000 from bike riders. I devote two hours daily to go to the streets for revenue drive. There are a number of things I feel should change in my time and that I will do.

    “I hope to leave a council without debt. I dream of leaving a council that is having a lot of infrastructure to work. I dream of a leaving a council with an established Revenue generation. I want to leave behind a council with good money left in the account.”