The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Ecologist urges Fed Govt to speed up Ogoni clean-up

    An ecologist, Mr Dennis Ugwuja, has appealed to the Federal Government to fast-track the clean-up of oil spill in Ogoni land, Rivers.

    Ugwuja, also the Executive Director of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative (CCMAI), an NGO, made the appeal on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    According to him, the Federal Government should accelerate the implementation of the Report on Environmental Assessment of Ogoni land.

    The ecologist said that the Report, which was inaugurated in 2011 by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), was also handed over to the Federal Government for implementation.

    The ecologist recalled that the report recommended, among other things, that the Federal Government should commence immediate clean-up of oil spill in Ogoni land.

    “Having carefully studied the oil spill and clean-up projects of Gulf of Mexico and the Exxon Valdez Oil spill, it didn’t take ages to clean up the whole thousands of miles that were affected.

    “Ogoni communities have never enjoyed the natural resources deposited in their land as a result of impacts of oil activities on their land, especially the oil spill on their economic land,” he said.

    According to him, it is high time for the Federal Government to address the clean-up of Ogoni oil spill project it inaugurated in 2017.

    Ugwuja said that his organisation was yet to see the hand work of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) saddled with the responsibility of facilitating the implementation of the clean-up in Ogoni land.

    “It is only in the third world country like Nigeria that serious issues affecting the lives of oil producers and their economic farm land are politicised.

    “Government should make undiluted effort to ensure speedy clean-up of Ogoni land. The Ogoni people can no longer be deceived by mere promises,’’ he said.

    He called on well meaningful environmentalists to form synergy and remain steadfast in the fight against oil pollution in the Niger Delta.

     

  • A Benin son’s many firsts

    A Benin son’s many firsts

    Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is the son of one of the early Benin Senior Civil Servants, Pa Daniel Osagiede Odigie-Oyegun, who retired as Chief Registrar, mid-west region judiciary. Young John had his early education in what is now Edo & Delta State, attended the famous St Patrick College Asaba and the premier university, University of Ibadan.

    After graduating from the University of Ibadan with a degree in Economics, the young Oyegun joined the Federal Civil Service where he rose to the position of Permanent Secretary at the tender age of 36.  You can imagine the sterling qualities of this young man from a minority group in the country who rose to the pinnacle of his career without “godfathers”.

    I regard this achievement as his first of firsts.

    Chief John Odigie-Oyegun retired from the Federal Civil Service after a meritorious service and having spent the mandatory 35 years required for retirement. Responding to calls from his people, he joined partisan politics on the platform of the Social democratic party (SDP). In 1992, he contested and won the election as the 1st Executive Governor of Edo State, defeating the establishment and the federal might amassed against him at the time. A feat I consider as the second 1st of this great son of ours. But in less than two years of his administration, the military struck again under General Abacha and the government was sacked.

    Even though this awardee had the opportunity to clinch ministerial position of his choice in that regime, he opted out on the point of principle and belief in the democratic system of government by going into exile to fight for the return of true democracy. It is on record that while in exile, his served as the Secretary of NADECO. He returned from exile in 1998 to the warm embrace of his teeming supporters and admirers to participate in the political process leading to the 1999 general election. He joined the Action Democratic Party (AD) in line with his political/ideological leaning. AD was an off shoot of NADECO, a pro-democracy group with liberal tendency. Of course, he was aware that the AD as a party was not favored to win at the federal level but he was comfortable with his co-travellers of the left. Oyegun, the principled man.

    The PDP had ruled for sixteen years and had boasted that it would dominate the political space for the next 60 years and so the opposition parties decided to form one mega party to challenge and defeat the PDP and put a stop to their dominance. The APC emerged as the mega opposition party, and the next hurdle to overcome, was the choice of the Chairman to lead this new party. The APC in their wisdom perused the profiles of the candidates for chairmanship, voted overwhelmingly for Chief Odigie-Oyegun as the pioneer chairman of the party, again another 1st for our son and brother.

    The party APC has been formed and the executive is in place and the general elections have arrived. Chief oyegun distinguished himself once more by galvanising and harnessing the energies of the divergent and contending interest within the party into one potent and formidable force that dislodged a sitting federal government – another 1st in the political annals of this country. Drawing from his deep experience in managing persons and situations, he has been able to navigate and resolve the post victory challenges within the party.

    The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the recent NEC meeting of the party publicly acknowledged the contributions of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to the achievements, progress and stability of the party. Mr. President referred to the years: 1984, 1985, when himself and the awardee worked together and thanked God for bringing them together again. What a testimony from the number 1 Citizen. Having gone through the profile of this Icon, Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s robust education background, a first in the civil service, Federal Permanent Secretary at the tender age of 36, a first as the 1st Executive Governor of Edo State, highly principled as in his choice to go into exile to fight for true democracy instead of settling for a plum job in Abacha’s government, returning from exile to join the AD, a progressive party, instead of the favoured party, the PDP, resisting for 16 years, tempting offers from the ruling party and finally settling for APC where he was elected the 1st national chairman of the party; he is indeed the special one worth emulating.

     

    • Excerpts from a speech delivered by the former minister at the Benin National Congress Awards

     

  • Akwa Ibom promises Libya returnees adequate welfare

    The Akwa Ibom State government yesterday promised to cater for the welfare of the eight returnees from Libya into the state.

    Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo gave the promise when he received the returnees who were rescued from Libya by the Federal Government.

    The returnees, who arrived the country through Port Harcourt International Airport on Monday, wore forlorn faces.

    They said they were very happy to return to their state of origin after months of incarceration in Libya.

    Ekpo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary; Deputy Governor’s office, Mr. Nkopuruk Ekaiko, commended the Federal Government for coming to the rescue of the returnees.

    The deputy governor charged them to learn from the lessons of their travel and reintegrate themselves into the society, advising that there is no place like home.

    “I believe you have learnt your lessons through your travel to seek greener pastures where they do not exist.

    “Thank God for your safety, we have received you back into the state. Government will take charge and cater for your welfare.

    “Be of good conduct to benefit from state government’s welfare package,” Ekpo said.

    Speaking to the

    One of the returnees, Victoria Sampson, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she travelled to Libya in 2016 when she lost her husband.

    Sampson, a mother of three children, said that after the death of her husband, a woman took her to Libya on condition that she would work to offset the transport expenses incurred on her.

    “I work for 10 months in Libya and paid the madam her N600,000. Unfortunately, when I started to work for myself I was arrested and thrown into prison where I was living on a meal of Macaroni once daily.

    “I was arrested and put in an underground prison for nine months. The Libyans tortured us every day while in prison.

    “One of us from this state by the name Eno died in prison as a result of the torture,” Sampson said.

    Another returnee, Isonguyoh Patrick, a 2012 Banking and Finance graduate from one of the Nigerian universities said he travelled to seek job in Europe.

    He said he was trapped in Libya and imprisoned for four months.

    “After my graduation from the university in 2012, I tried to look for job in the country, but it was not forthcoming.

    “My friend facilitated by travelling to Europe in search of the greener pastures but I could not get to Europe before I was arrested and thrown into prison for four months.

    “Travelling to Europe by land is the worst venture anyone can undertake,” Patrick said.

    He appealed to governments to make policies and programmes that would create jobs for the teeming youths to discourage illegal traveling.

    The eight returnees were made up of five males and three females.

  • ‘I consulted Ifa priests, others for safe return of my daughter from Libya’

    Mr Kehinde Enabulele, father of Eki, one of the 846 Edo indigenes who was repatriated from Libya on Tuesday said that he visited an “Ifa priest” and native doctors, for the dafe return of his daughter.

    Enabulele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was not aware that his daughter travelled to Libya adding that, Eki and her mother kept it as secret from him.

    “One day I returned from work and asked where she was and her mother told me that she went to visit her aunty.

    “Each time I ask, they will keep me giving me excuses. Untill she called me with one foreign number after three weeks

    “I told her never to call me again and insisted that she must return home. I am not from a very poor family so why should she embark on such journey.

    “ I have never failed to provide for my family as a father. Apart from paying my children ‘s school fees, I also enrolled them in after school skills acquisition centres to ensure they become better people in life.

    “’Eki is my first child, when you lose a first child is like losing your own life,” he told NAN.

    He said that as a Benin man, he immediately went to the Ifa priest, native doctors and also churches to pray so that she will not succeed in crossing to Europe.

    According to him, God answered my prayers and my daughter is back. I am the happiest man right now. I cannot gamble with any of my children.

    “I nearly divorced my wife after my daughter disappeared.  I also threatened to divorce her if she refuses to tell me who sponsored the trip

    “I am just waiting for the state government to release her to me so that I can take her to the hospital for proper medical examination.

    The Federal Government on Monday said it evacuated 1,030 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya between Jan. 7 and Jan 8.

    Max Air Ltd., says it has signed contract agreement with the Federal government to evacuate 3,184 of the 5,037 Nigerians expected to return from Libya

    Muhammadu Buhari approved that a centre be set up in Port Harcourt, Rivers for the returnees.

     

  • Anti-robbery squad arrests two robbery suspects in Edo

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Zone 4 Anti-Robbery Squad has announced the arrests of two robbery suspects.

    A statement signed by the spokesman of the zone, DSP Emeka Iheanacho, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Benin said the suspects were arrested during a routine patrol in the Benin metropolis, following a distress call.

    Iheanacho said the team’s prompt response brought about the arrest of one Edo Nosamudiana and Anthony Osaze, both males, while other suspects escaped.

    He said the suspects were in possession of a cut-to-size single barrel gun.

    The police spokesman also said the suspects has confessed to the crime, and also claimed to be members of the Eiye cult group.

    “They confessed to have gone to Ute Quarters, on a revenge mission against another cult group alleged to be responsible for the death of one of their members during a clash on Jan. 2, 2018.

    “According to the suspects, as they got to Ute Quarters and could not find their target at home, the suspects resorted to criminal activities by robbing and dispossessing members of the public and innocent persons in the area of their handsets, cash and other valuable items.’’

    Iheanacho said that investigation was still ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

    He urged members of the public to continue to support and partner with the Police and other security agencies in the initiative to make the zone a more secured and better place for all.

  • Lessons from ex-commissioner’s mum’s burial

    Lessons from ex-commissioner’s mum’s burial

    Shortly before 10am in Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, some vibrant trumpeting and energetic drumming heralded the passage of an oxblood casket in which lay the body of Mrs Agnes Ashiedu, mother of Dr Antonia Ashiedu, an ex-commissioner in the state. It was on its way to the expansive auditorium of St Paul’s Catholic Church Cathedral to lie in state. Ezinne Agnes Nkem Ashiedu died aged 90 years.

    The casket’s passage was in itself a spectacle. Four strong young men decked in white and red beads bore it on their firm shoulders, advancing in short, well-choreographed steps to the rhythm of the music. As they moved, a train of women clad in akwa ocha, a prized local fabric, and golden blouses shuffled along beside the casket. Everywhere else, the same dress code prevailed.

    The church was ready. On an upper deck overlooking the auditorium, a youthful orchestra belted out soulful tunes guided by two conductors. Below, a sitting crowd of guests watched as priests took charge of proceedings, pointing out the need for the living to be conscious of the afterlife. That was probably lesson number one.

    Issele-Uku, an established kingdom with a deep Catholic core, was also ready. Residents and visitors mingled together in a buzzing mass of pedestrians, motorists and commercial motorcyclists and their passengers. Among the dignitaries were royal personages, Mrs Josephine Anenih, a former federal minister, a retired police chief and a battery of other celebrities.

    Amid much eating and drinking under a massive canopy, away from St Paul’s cathedral, the state’s commissioner for culture and tourism Sir Dan Okenyi declared, “We came here to celebrate an achiever. Look at her children.”

    There are eight of them, each an accomplished woman in her own right. One of them is married to a consultant medical doctor at University of Benin Teaching Hospital where Ma Agnes was attended to till the end. Another is Dr Antonia Ashiedu, a leading light in the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan. She was in charge of the highly successful microcredit programme, DMCP, later renamed micro, small and medium enterprises development agency or DMSMA. Under her watch, thousands of cash-challenged members of cluster groups armed with interest-free credit were fast becoming vibrant business owners, driving the state’s economy and deemphasising over-reliance on limited crude oil. Before Dr Ashiedu’s exit from government, a good chunk of these business owners across the state were setting up their own cottage industries.

    In an address at the cathedral, Dr Ashiedu pointed out the lessons she and her siblings learnt from their mother. One of them is that the ultimate service is the one rendered to humanity. They also learnt that a good home is not an accident; it is built and nurtured. Their mother, a qualified nurse and committed Catholic, looked after her children and even those of others. She led a calm life, and cherished serenity, Dr Ashiedu said.

    One of the priests led a prayer for the repose of Ma Agnes Nkem Ashiedu in the afterlife.

  • Amaechi, Obaseki, others celebrate Peterside

    Amaechi, Obaseki, others celebrate Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 election in Rivers State, was born on December 31, 1970.

    To mark the 47th birthday of the deputy leader of APC in Rivers (Peterside), his committee of friends, led by Dr. Henry Ogiri, put together a thanksgiving service and an elaborate reception at the highbrow Aztech Arcum Event Centre on Ken Saro-Wiwa (formerly Stadium) Road in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Choristers from various churches  and independent singers/musicians performed at the thanksgiving service (Part A), which had in attendance, renowned clerics, including Pastor Okechukwu Enelamah, Apostle Eugene Ogu, Pastor Belemina Obunge, Rev. George Izunwa, Pastor James Idode and Rev. Essa Ogory, among others.

    Prayers were offered for the former governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers and his runningmate at the poll, Asita Honourable, who also marked his 51st birthday at the same venue.

    The programme was attended by Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki; Peterside’s mother, Madam Sogba; a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the APC, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas; Deputy National Secretary of APC, Chief Victor Giadom; and two former Vice-Chancellors of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Profs. Nimi Briggs and Don Baridam; as well as many chieftains of APC, among other eminent personalities.

    In Part B of the programme, Ogiri described Peterside as a complete gentleman, hardworking, disciplined, brilliant, a man of honour and integrity, while lauding all the members of the committee of friends for the support and the distinguished persons in attendance for honouring the alumnus of UNIPORT and the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), now Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt.

    While proposing the toast, an oil magnate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, said: “Your background is not the reason why your back is on the ground. Commitment and prayers will give you all you need in life,” describing the former Rivers Commissioner for Works as very humble, trustworthy and reliable.

    The beautiful birthday cake was also cut by the celebrant, in company with Amaechi, who is the leader of APC in the Southsouth zone and Rivers state; Obaseki; and Asita, among others.

    Immediately after cutting the cake, the Masters of Ceremonies (MCs): Mike Ogolo and Tekena Iyalla, decided to test the dancing skills of Peterside and Asita, who did not disappoint their friends and family members, by digging it for about thirty minutes.

    Edo governor, who was accompanied by his wife, in his remarks, revealed that the 2015 governorship campaigns, energy and passion of Peterside, inspired him to vie as governor.

    Obaseki said: “I decided to leave Benin City on December 31. Traditionally, I am not supposed to, but I said I would come to Port Harcourt with my wife, not just for the respect for my in-law, but to come and tell him (Peterside) how much we love and respect him.

    “Peterside may not know, you are one of those who inspired me to run for the office of governor of Edo State. I watched and followed your campaigns. I saw the energy and passion with which you campaigned and they gave me inspiration. It is unfortunate that the deserved victory was not given to you, but you will get it back.

    “I know that given what you are doing in NIMASA today, you would have done much more for your state. If you have the opportunity to handle a state like Rivers that is so rich and so blessed with people and resources, we will find enough engine to change the fortunes of the Southsouth zone of Nigeria.

    “Edo is the entry point to the Southsouth. We have started the reform of our region from Edo State, but I am very lonely. I am the only APC governor from the Southsouth zone. I want my APC brothers to be governors in the zone, because in Edo State, with the little amount of oil (crude) and the little amount of money/derivation we get from the federal purse, if we can do what we are doing in Edo, can you imagine what this state (Rivers) can do?

    “The country realises the potential in you (Peterside). I am sure the people of Rivers State also realise the potential you have. Giving what you have achieved in these years of your life, no doubt, when you have the opportunity to do more for your people, you will do the same way you are doing at the federal level. We are very proud of you. Keep working the way you are doing. We also want to thank you, as people of the Southsouth, for helping us to remove our shame in NIMASA. We are grateful to you. You have come to demonstrate that what happened before your tenure was not in our character. You have done well. Please continue.”

    The governor of Edo state also assured that by the grace of God, he and others would come to Port Harcourt again and again to celebrate with the director-general of NIMASA.

    Peterside, who is also a former member of the House of Representatives, assured that end would soon come to the hopelessness, mystery and lack of good governance in Rivers by Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The NIMASA chief said: “There is no doubt that in Rivers State today, everything is going wrong at the same time. Our healthcare system has collapsed. The National Bureau of Statistics recently released the mystery index and Rivers State is number one in the mystery index. Our people are wallowing in abject poverty and mystery. We sympathise with the people of Rivers State.

    “I can assure you that between the next 12 and 24 months, by the power of the Almighty God and by the power of your rights as Rivers sons, daughters and residents, we will bring to an end, the lack of good governance, hopelessness and mystery in Rivers State. We will bring to an end the shame our people are suffering today.

    “I have heard the cries, pains and agony of our people. There is no one man who can bring to an end these pains, cries and agony. It has to be all of us, working together in the same direction under God and under a common leadership.”

    The former federal lawmaker (Peterside) also expressed gratitude to all the eminent personalities who honoured him and Asita on their birthday.

    The transportation minister, while also speaking, disclosed that the only time somebody, especially a top government official, could know who was loyal, would be when he/she was out of office.

    Amaechi, who is a former governor of Rivers state, said: “If indeed you will call everybody my boys in politics, it will be three persons: Peterside, Nwuke Anucha (from Omuma LGA of Rivers State) and Gabriel Pidomson (an indigene of Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana LGA/former Secretary to the Rivers State Government in the administration of Sir Celestine Omehia). Out of the three of them, it is only Peterside that is with me. By character we shall know them.

    “The only two persons that can write their histories and can call me their boy are Chief Rufus Ada-George and Dr. Peter Odili (both ex-Rivers governors). When we were fighting for the governorship of Rivers State under Dr. Odili, they said Peterside would betray me. I am telling Peterside for the first time. Is Pidomson there? Is Anucha there? The person they said would go (Peterside), is the person who is with us.

    “The only time you will know who is loyal, is when you are out of office. I am not out of office. The only reason they are trying their luck, with what they are doing, is that they believe he (Amaechi) is close to the President (Muhammadu Buhari), but they said there are others who are also close to the President that they can work through. If tomorrow, the President calls me and he says you are my son in whom I am well pleased in Rivers State, they will come back. But because the President does not speak and he attends to everybody according to their needs, they are trying to see some people who can talk to the President. They cannot stand hunger.”

    The minister of transportation also stated that NIMASA was a cesspit of corruption, but Peterside was able to recently return N20 billion, which he (Amaechi) described as highly commendable.

    With the disclosure that the NIMASA chief had a humble beginning, but through the grace of God and hard work, he is now a force to reckon with, not just in Nigeria, but globally, the youths should emulate him, especially bearing in mind that hard work does not kill, it pays.

  • This Toyin Abraham!

    This Toyin Abraham!

    I am going to ask for some favours today. The first: Forget Seun Egbegbe. The second: Think less of Nollywood actor and Tinsel star Niyi Johnson. And third: Cast your mind away from marijuana, codeine and hard drugs.

    Please you must also de-emphasize the past which involved hawking plantain chips. Also pretend you never heard any comment about willing to die for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    But the most important favour you will do for me is to please focus on the 2017 theatrical exploits of this Auchi, Edo State-born girl, who many still call Toyin Aimakhu despite the fact that she announced a change of name to Toyin Abraham over a year ago. Also help me thank Bukky Wright for giving this great actor a chance in 2003, when she was in Ibadan to shoot a movie.

    In one of her promotional materials for the sequel to Wives on Strike, ace actor and director Omoni Oboli predicted that the world would celebrate Toyin for her role as Iya Bola in the flick. I saw the film last Saturday and could not agree less. Toyin was simply crazy. Not that other actors were not good. They were. But Toyin was the life of that film, which showed that comedy could be full of messages for us all to learn from. There is no scene with this crazy girl that falls below standard. Like they say, she simply killed the role and my mind was simply made up about who should earn my trophy for Actor of the Year.

    In Pathetic, Tatu, Alakada Reloaded, Okafor’s Law, The In-laws, Celebrity Marriage and Wives on Strike the Revolution, Toyin gave her all last year. She was like the most-sought-after actor last year and I can predict she still will remain hot cake this year. Almost all the major productions at the cinema last year had Toyin playing one major role or the other and she delivered. Very well.

    Her performance in ‘Tatu’ was in a light I am not sure I have seen before. She interpreted the role so well that one could not but feel the pain she was made to go through. The scene where she was put in a hole was well delivered.

    One other great flick she featured in last year was Hakkunde. She was simply crazy here. The role needed a mad actor to play Aunty Yetunde and Toyin fitted the bill. Perfectly.

    At a point I noticed that she was in almost all the Nigerian movies at the cinemas and there was none n which she played mediocre.

    In Alakada Reloaded, which she produced, there was almost no dull scene. We laughed almost throughout while seeing it at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas at the Maryland Mall. Not a few even clapped when the credits were rolled at the end of the film, which appeared to have been produced with some ‘hefty’ money. It was one film in which Yoruba was the main language yet made significant impact at the cinemas home and in the United Kingdom.

    One major point Toyin was able to prove last year was that she is a cross-over actor. Give her Yoruba roles, she will deliver. Give her a role in an English production, she will kill it. She can play a pauper, a clown, a rich brat, an old woman, a mad woman and all. I have seen her play three persons in a film Eta and she delivered in a way I have seen only Tyler Perry do. I just love the fact that she throws her all into her job.

    This down-to-heart lady, who will turn 34 later this year, is brutally frank. She earned my respect when she spoke at the 2017 edition of Success Story Africa at the TLC Auditorium, Lagos.

    “You need to stop bad habits. I was involved in a lot of vices and it became worse last year,” Toyin said and added the clincher: “I did drugs and I am not ashamed to say it because it is now a thing of the past. They say codeine makes you high; I took a lot. I smoked a lot and I didn’t even know I looked horrible, because I was so skinny. If you came to my house last year, you would meet a lot of people and you won’t want to leave because we smoked, gossiped about people and what have you.”

    She said more: “I made a lot of mistakes when I began acting and that was because I did not have plans. I just wanted to be known.

    ”But, I now know that being popular isn’t the same thing as being successful. When I got into the industry and the fame became too much, I became irresponsible.

    “I could not boast of N1 million in 2016. I was making money and I wanted to feel among. When one of our colleagues bought a car, it was trouble because we all strove to buy the same car or a bigger one. I had to change my circle for good and this change started in March 2017.”

    Aside the films I earlier mentioned, you need to see London Fever, Mentally, Dance to my Beat, Love is in the Hair, Esohe, Alani Baba labake, Ebi mi ni, Alakada and Sola Fe Pami to appreciate the good in this controversial Edo girl.

    For this year, The ghost and the tout is one production in which she will most likely dazzle us when it goes to the cinemas. Femi Adebayo’s Diamonds in the Sky in which she acted last year should also hit the cinemas later in the year and I am positive Toyin will just scatter the place like she is wont to do. With direction from respected Kunle Afolayan, I expect Toyin to surpass her previous records.

    My wish for Toyin this year is that she will not go down like Iya Bola refused to do in ‘Wives on Strike the Revolution’ when she misunderstood a white man who asked her and others in London if they would like to follow the lift to the ground floor. There will be no more codeine; no more hard drugs and scandals will be a thing of the past.

    Let me leave you with Omoni’s take on Toyin: “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.”

    Well, I present her my own award today. It is time ToyinTitans got together and celebrated the one they call World Best.

    Happy New Year!

  • Tough time awaits criminals in Bayelsa

    Tough time awaits criminals in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State police command will be one of the busiest police outfits in the country in the New Year. The signs are there. Last year was tough and challenging. Without the strong will of the police Commissioner, Mr. Amba Asuquo and the anti-crime disposition of the state government, criminals would have run residents out of town.

    Crime wave swept ferociously across the state especially Yenagoa, the capital city in 2017. Some residents murdered sleep following house-to-house robbery operations carried out by hoodlums, who operated with assorted weapons. Some were shot, many were injured and properties worth millions of naira were lost in the criminal operations.

    Despite the efforts of the government, the police and other security agencies, cultists still operated in the state, robbing and shooting innocent people. Cult-related supremacy war occurred in some parts of the state capital and led to loss of lives.

    In fact, 2017 witnessed some assassinations in Yenagoa. Some persons were murdered in unclear circumstances. In a single attack carried out by unknown gunmen, the state Chairman of Cattle Breeders Association (CBA), Alhaji Jubril Abdulkarim and three of his employees were assassinated in Yenagoa.

    In another incident, a former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr. Ayakeme Masa, was murdered in his house in cold blood by unidentified gunmen. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) mourned the gruesome murder of an employee of the state-owned radio station, Glory FM 97.1, Mr. Famous Giobaro.

    The state government rallied round to ensure that a female reporter with the African Independent Television (AIT), Owei Patience, who was shot at close range by a lone gunman survived the incident. In fact, 2017 was tough especially towards the yuletide

    But Asuquo battled to tackle the development. He deployed many strategies that yielded positive results. Statistics at the end of 2017 showed that the police command stretched itself beyond the limit to fight crime.

    The police commissioner displayed cache of arms the police recovered from suspected criminals. About 66 different rifles, 105 of 7.62mm ammunition, one dynamite, 190 cartridges, 12.9mm ammunition and one grenade were among the haul of arms ammunition in display.

    Among the arms were 40 locally-made pistols, five locally-made double barrel guns, 11 pump action guns, three revolver pistols, one K2 rifle and 4 AK47 rifles. Asuquo described the haul of arms as alarming in a small state like Bayelsa. He complained of high level of unlawful possession of firearms. But he said efforts were ongoing to mop them up.

    He said the police arrested 561 suspects in 2017, adding that 107 suspects were nabbed for unlawful possession of firearms. Among the suspects, he said 29 cases were under investigations, 30 were filed for legal advice at the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) and others were charged to court.

    The police boss called for a special intervention to curb circulation of illegal firearms. He noted that 177 cases of armed robberies were reported to the police, leading to arrest of 241 suspects. He said out of the 177 cases, 56 were filed at the DPP while 20 cases were charged to the court.

    The police boss further explained that the police received 33 cases of kidnapping, which led to the arrest of 87 suspects adding that 17 cases were under investigations while eight had been charged to court.

    Asuquo, who called parents and guardians in the state to discharge their responsibilities to the children and wards, said rape cases soared with 73 cases. He said 122 rape suspects were apprehended while 37 were under investigations.

    He lamented that 62 murder cases were reported within the period, which led to the arrest of 68 suspects adding that 27 of such cases had been charged to court.

    He identified the major crimes in Bayelsa as cultism, rape, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms describing the proliferation of illegal arms and light weapons in the state as dangerous.

    He said: “The proliferation of small arms and light weapons have slowed down the pace of our fighting against criminal gangs, who engage in armed robbery.

    “However, we have made significant progress in arresting armed robbers and recovery of arms. We have stemmed the tide of cultism in schools through ensitisagion programmes and campaigns.

    “Breeding ground of cultism has been identified and teenagers were discouraged from hanging out in such locations. Parents and guardians have been advised to warn their children and wards from visiting such locations”.

     

    Expectations of residents in 2018

    The crime statistics released by the police commissioner for 2017 was receives  by residents with mixed feelings. While residents appreciate the efforts of the police, they are scared that such number and amount of illegal arms and ammunition are in circulation especially in the state capital. They want the police to be be preoccupied with a programme aimed at mopping up illegal arms in the state. Asuquo should work with the state government to float a project of ensuring recovery of all arms in wrong hands. Perhaps, Governor Seriake Dickson could adopt the amnesty template of the Ondo State Government, which encouraged youths to turn in their arms and ammunition in exchange for state protection and empowerment. The police and other security agencies should work in synergy to block trade routes for illegal arms through intelligence gathering. Efforts must be made to stop new illegal weapons from entering the state.

     

    Unresolved cases

    Residents also expect the police to resolve some of the murder cases that occurred in 2017. Who killed Giobaro, Alhaji Abdulkarim and his four boys? Who murdered Masa and shot Patience? Residents expect answers from the police to send strong signal to would-be criminals that there is no hiding place.

  • MSMEs as panacea to youth unemployment: Delta’s example

    Over 400 youths participated in a Products Exhibition and Business Fair which held in Asaba, the Delta State capital, recently. The crowd of youthful exhibitors, beneficiaries of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) designed by the Okowa-led administration to help achieve its twin goals of tackling unemployment and nurturing Micro, Small and medium scale Enterprises (MSME’s), filled the cenotaph.

    A morning haze, which was tempered by a cool breeze, hung over the venue of the event.  Loud contemporary Nigerian music thrilled the audience -creating a carnival atmosphere .The mood was buoyant and the crowd expectant.

    Gaily dressed women, mostly PDP faithful, filled the terraces adding colour and drama to the event.

    Hundreds of excited youths, clad in sky-blue vests and base -ball caps, jeans trousers manned colourful booths- exhibiting their creative and productive potentials in a variety of goods and services. The exhibitors were some of the graduates of the Okowa administration’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneur Programme (YAGEP) schemes.

    Business was brisk at the fair. Rows of food vendors, mainly products of the scheme’s catering and confectionary programme, offered both Nigerian, Foreign and local delicacies to the teeming crowd. Sizzling hot barbecued catfish, roasted ham, bacon and chicken were on display on locally fabricated ovens –an inviting aroma hung over the grounds. Many seized the opportunity provided by the business fair to shop for the yuletide.

    The art of weaving of the local fabric (Akwa-Ocha) received a boost with the display of modern Akwa-Ocha machines, to improve productivity and reduce production times.

    Akwa-Ocha, a local fabric, literally means white cloth. It is a symbol of the cultural heritage of the Anioma people.

    The well-apportioned booths brimmed with a variety of goods and services including ICT, hair dressing and makeover, catering and confectionary, cosmetology, craft/home care products ,decoration and event management ,electrical installation and repairs ,fashion design and tailoring ,shoe-making upholstery ,welding and Fabrication and auto mechanic works.

    The agricultural enterprises covered aquaculture, crop production, agro-processing and piggery.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who declared the Product Exhibition and Business Fair open, was accompanied to the event by Ex-Governor James Ibori and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and several top functionaries.   Other include wife of the Governor of Delta State, Edith Okowa, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro and his wife, Ebi.

    Okowa noted that his administration recognition that certain economic sectors and activities hold the highest potentials for job and wealth creation for the economy ,adding that this informed the need by his  government to spend more on these sectors knowing it is cost effective and go a long way to reduce youth unemployment and poverty

    His words, “Globally, it has been established that certain economic sectors and activities hold the highest potentials for job and wealth creation for the economy; these are agriculture, agribusiness, agro-based industries, vocational skills-based micro enterprises, cottage enterprises, small and medium scale enterprises as well as public works such as environmental sanitation, housing and road construction; in fact, interventions in these sectors are generally cost-effective and go a long way to reduce youth unemployment and poverty, while ensuring social inclusion, positive economic growth and sustainable development as has been observed in many countries in South Asia, South East Asia and Latin America.”

    Through our flagship Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), we have achieved what many thought was unthinkable; after two programme cycles, two thousand, three hundred and twenty four (2,324) previously unemployed youths are now small business owners and employers of labour.”

    Okowa lauded the Products Exhibition and Business Fair organised by the beneficiaries of Job Creation Scheme of his administration.