The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • ANA celebrates poets, journalists, patrons, others 

    ANA celebrates poets, journalists, patrons, others 

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter, had a banquet. It was not a feast of wine, red meat and revelry. It was a banquet of poetry and prose; a literary outing to draw a curtain on 2016.

    ANA led by Mr. Michael Afenfia, entertained hordes of literary geniuses and visitors who graced the occasion with soft drinks and food packed in plate-like foils, but the item seven was not the motive of the gathering.

    ANA lifted the spirits of its guests to a plane of literature at the event that was held at the palace of its Grand Patron and Paramount Ruler of Tombia, His Royal Highness, Chief Christian Atani Okpofaa Otobotekere.

    It was a day of poems. Even the welcome address of the aged grand patron, a prolific writer himself, sounded poetic. “Looking around, I can see all of you in good cheer. You call your good selves ANA, but surely, you are much more than a name. I feel humbled at you presence and feel extremely delighted”, the Amanana-Owei of Tombia said.

    Though old, the paramount ruler sounded like his good old self. He glanced through his condensed written address and thundered: “Today, is therefore, a day for high cheer and laughter. A day for ANA and all friends. A day for beams of mental ecstasy.

    “I can see everybody in good cheer. See them. Name them. They are all joyous and smiling, some are almost falling down with laughter”.

    In fact, looking at Otobotekere and another celebrated author and traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Dr. Bokumo Orukari of Sabagreia, it becomes obvious that some communities in Bayelsa are blessed with learned monarchs.

    The Tombia ruler continued with his rendition. He said: “ANA is another name for the progressive Nigerian outfit bent on lifting a nation, indeed, the world to brighter and higher levels. ANA is on the scoreboard today”.

    The opening remarks of Otobotekere, no doubt gave the event a focus. It opened the floodgates of reading of competitive poems, written and submitted by various poets. All the poets submitted their entries to compete for a prize of N100,000. They were asked to write on the change agenda of the present administration.

    Drums of Terror, the Change Agenda, Journey  so far; Winter Season, Pretty Promises and Promises, were some of the poems filed in for the competition. But before announcing the winner, Afenfia, first presented a certificate to Darlington, a student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), who won the Yusuf Ali Prose Competition for tertiary institution, earlier in the year.

    Similarly, awards were given to some journalists for their contributions to the promotion of art and literature especially the activities of ANA in the state. The Head of Raypower, Daar Centre, Yenagoa, Mr. Winston Akpabio and the Head of News, Silverbird, Mr. Oyins Engrenbido, received their awards.

    Other outstanding writers and promoters of ANA such as Chief Lambart Otiotio, Emmanuel Frank Opigo, Chief Orukari, were all given awards.

    Indeed, it was a gathering of writers. The controversial prolific author, Josef Nengi Ila, who was once committed to prison following his works and past leaders of ANA attended the literary occasion.

    But at the end, a female poet, Hannah Olugbo Isuku, won the poetic competition. Her entry, Pretty Promises, was adjudged the winner of the competition followed by Winter Season and Drums of Terror written by Thomas Peretu. Pretty Promises was described as expansive, explicit with splatter of poetic tools.

    Hannah, who immediately received her N100,000 prize thanked ANA for the competition and asked people to join authors’ association.

    In his remarks, Afenfia thanked the awardees, patrons and other traditional rulers who in several ways contributed to the growth of ANA in the state. He said the awarded journalists had given tremendous support to the association.

  • Day friends, associates celebrated Peterside, Asita

    Day friends, associates celebrated Peterside, Asita

    It is rare to find a governorship candidate and his running mate sharing the same birthday, but that is the situation in Rivers State.

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State during the 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and his running mate, Mr. Honourable Okorie Asita, a lawyer, were born on December 31.

    Last December 31 was a memorable day for Peterside and Asita, as they clocked 46 and 50, having been born in 1970 and 1966.

    Peterside is an alumnus of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt and the University of Port Harcourt, popularly called Unique UNIPORT, where he bagged Doctorate in Organisational Behaviour, while his doctoral dissertation was in Corporate Political Strategy.

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) also attended Georgia State University, Atlanta and Harvard-Kennedy School, University of Harvard.

    While at the RSUST, Port Harcourt, where he studied Medical Laboratory Sciences, specialising in Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Peterside was elected National President of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS) in January 1992. His Master’s in Management was also at RSUST, after a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD).

    Peterside and Asita were at the House of Representatives at the same time (2011-2015). The NIMASA boss hails from Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers state, the kingdom of the famous King Jaja, while Asita is an indigene of Okarki in Ahoada West LGA of the state.

    The governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers in the 2015 election, while speaking at the elaborate birthday bash organised by his friends, which took place at the highbrow and newly-inaugurated Lasien Pavilion Royale, an event centre on Forces Avenue, old Government Reservation Area (GRA), near Government House, Port Harcourt, said Asita played a key role in his election as National President of NURSS, while they were both at RSUST.

    Peterside said: “The good Lord has been faithful to us. He has been kind to us. We do not deserve His mercy and honour. We thank the Almighty God and we vow to serve Him all the days of our lives.

    “I am here to share with you that God rewards a life of sincerity, honesty, humility and trust. My brother Asita and I are products of God’s mercy and faithfulness.

    “Honesty, humility, fear of the Lord, trusting God will definitely be rewarded now and eternally. That is why we have absolutely no fear about what the future holds for us. The good Lord will always make a way, where there seems to be no way.”

    The NIMASA boss was appointed as Commissioner for Works by the then Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, now the Minister of Transportation.

    From being a commissioner, he was in 2011 elected to represent Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency in the House of Representatives, where he became the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).

    Peterside also said: “After the Almighty God, God chose Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as an instrument to take me from one point to another. It will be uncharitable not to acknowledge the roles he (Amaechi) has played in my life.

    “There is nobody who gets something, without God providing a platform or an instrument. I am grateful to Rt. Hon. Amaechi and his family. I also wish to thank the leadership of the APC in Rivers State. I have enjoyed tremendous support from the APC.”

    While the ex-Rivers commissioner for works was chairing the House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, was also chairing the same committee in the Senate, which made them to be much closer, besides being Rivers indigenes.

    When Peterside aspired in 2015 to be Rivers governor, Abe, who hails from Bera-Ogoni in Gokana LGA of Rivers state, was also a strong contender/aspirant on the platform of APC. The former eventually got the party’s ticket, while leaders of APC prevailed on the latter to return to the Senate, where he presently is.

    The director-general of NIMASA said: “Senator Abe has always been my friend. Sometime in 1991/1992, Chief Rufus Ada-George (the then Rivers governor) put us together in a committee to celebrate the silver jubilee anniversary of the creation of Rivers State.

    “When I was getting married in 1999/2000, in my home, the person that first arrived was Senator Magnus Abe. I used to live at No. 29, Immaculate Street, Borikiri, Port Harcourt. Senator Abe literally supervised my dressing, until we got to church.

    “Senator Abe said to me he was not going to stay throughout the wedding and that he would leave at some point. We have always had a close relationship. He has been to me, a brother, a friend and a trusted ally. Nothing will change it.”

    Peterside also publicly acknowledged the roles played by his running mate, whom he described as his reliable and trustworthy brother, friend and confidant.

    He said: “In 1991, I wanted to be the President of the Students’ Union at the RSUST, Port Harcourt, Asita played a key role and I emerged the President, by God’s grace.

     

    “Asita who played the key role at RSUST, went to the background. In 2015, when the members and leaders of the Rivers State APC chose me as the party’s governorship candidate, they also chose Asita to work with me as running mate.

    “We made attempt (in 2015), but God said He did not want me to be governor at that point in time and we said God, we surrender to your will and that God’s will is the best for us.

    “To the best of our ability, we (he and Asita) will continue to live a life of sincerity and selflessness. We will always put the interest of the generality first, before our own personal interest, whenever we have the opportunity. We will always put God first in all our activities and we will put the people next. Gratitude is a way of life for me. I appreciate all of you.”

    Asita, earlier in his opening remarks, stated that in spite of being four years older than Peterside, they remained very close friends, describing the governorship candidate as very honest, transparent, hardworking, a man of integrity and honour.

    Abe, born on May 24, 1965, while proposing the toast, described Peterside and Asita as his God-fearing and reliable friends, while referring to the director-general of NIMASA as an accomplished Nigerian, who had recorded tremendous achievements at 46, while displaying brilliance and intellect.

    The ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government in Amaechi’s administration (Abe) also noted that the unique and easy-going Asita had no worries, making him to look like a 30-year-old man at 50.

    There were many men of God/clerics at the carnival-like thanksgiving, with the sermon handled by Rev. Essa Ogorry, who said there was the need for people to always put their trust only in God Almighty, while various groups of beautifully-dressed choristers added colour to the birthday bash.

    In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the birthday committee, Bisi Nwankwo, an engineer, declared that besides God, the success of the thanksgiving should be attributed to a former member of the House of Representatives, who represented Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru constituency of Rivers state between 2011 and 2015, Dr. Dawari Ibietela George.

    Peterside was first appointed Special Assistant to the then Rivers Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, on Students and Youths’ Affairs in August 1999, from where he was invited to serve as Chairman, Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Council in December 2002.

    He was later appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Works to the then governor, after his tenure as the chairman of Opobo/Nkoro council, while in 2005, he went further to pursue another passion of leadership grooming, through the founding of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Development and Leadership Institute (DLI).

    While Peterside was championing the transformation of DLI from a local NGO to an international non-profit organisation, Amaechi invited him to serve as commissioner of works.

    The Amaopusenibo of Opobo Kingdom (Peterside), at various times, turned down no fewer than fourteen chieftaincy titles, many honourary doctoral degrees and awards, while rather believing in the people as a reason for service.

    The NIMASA boss is married to Elima, a lawyer, and they are blessed with three children: Soba, Belema and Miebi.

    The Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, while speaking on the birthday, said: “Those who have followed Dr. Peterside’s trajectory as a leader from his school days, until he was appointed Senior Special Assistant to Rivers Governor on Youths and Students Affairs at the beginning of this republic, know that he obviously has a rendezvous with history and he has shown invaluable and inestimable capacity to deliver beyond target.

    “Peterside has become legendary for showing limitless benevolence to the downtrodden, associates, colleagues and practical display of immense love and compassion to everyone that has crossed his path in life, especially with many persons on his ongoing overseas scholarship programme, which he started many years ago.”

    Ikanya also stated that Peterside’s 46 birthday was a perfect opportunity for him to sense the feeling of being alive in the depths of his heart and promise himself to continue to do greater things and aim even higher.

    While speaking with reporters after the thanksgiving, the NIMASA boss noted that Wike had a Herculean task to prove that the two leaked rigging audio tapes were not his voice.

    Peterside said: “It is a big embarrassment to our state that a governor or anybody who occupies the office of governor can be associated with the two leaked audio tapes.”

    While commenting on the passage of the Rivers State’s 2017 Budget under 48 hours, before Friday’s inauguration of the six APC lawmakers, the NIMASA boss noted that it was ridiculous and shocking.

    “We all know that Wike has taken loans in excess of N130 billion. Is there any provision in the budget to service the loans? No such provision.”

    Peterside also expressed displeasure on the spate of insecurity in Rivers, with kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, sea pirates and assassins, among others, letting loose, leading to loss of lives and property.

     

     

     

  • In this New Year

    In this New Year

    Last year died five days ago. A New Year is here. It is 2017. This year promises to be interesting for the people of the Southsouth. Rivers State will certainly be a state to watch out for. This is not downgrading the importance of Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where Nsima Ekere and Victor Ndoma-Egba are in charge, is one agency to watch out for in the New Year.

    Rivers closed the year on a controversial note with leaked tapes, which suggest that human lives mean little or nothing.

    Omoku, a Rivers town which used to be busy, looks forward to a New Year free of killings. Not a few have relocated from the town to avoid being victim of the blood-letting going on there. It was in this vicinity that Alkali Mohammed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and his orderly were beheaded. Some days back, their uniforms and riffles were recovered in this violent town.

    Mohammed and his orderly met the waterloo at Ujju community near Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers. The agents of death waylaid the DSP and his junior colleagues from the Mobile Police Unit 48. After the hoodlums took off the duo’s heads, they snatched their patrol vehicle and weapons.

    For Mohammed, his orderly and other policemen, their nation gave them an assignment. On the face value, the assignment looks simple: provide security during the legislative rerun election in Rivers. But Rivers is like no other state. This assignment that is simple and routine in other places is similar to going to war in dear Rivers, where commissions of inquiries have established that politicians outsourced killing of their opponents and their supporters.

    Before Mohammed, many a policeman had gone. Many a soldier was killed. Some people have ‘justified’ these men’s fate by saying it was a reprisal attack because the police were terrorising the people to give advantage to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the rerun legislative election. Governor Nyesom Wike accused some policemen of killing three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area and Tai-Ogoni Local Government Area. Soldiers, he said, were involved in ballot box snatching, illegal escort of politicians, arrest and detention of voters. The army has denied the allegations.

    Even if Mohammed and others broke any law, jungle justice is also a crime. It is akin to replacing ringworm with leprosy.

    In Mohammed’s death, we see a society where values have collapsed, where everything is falling apart and where money makes man.

    Are we likely to see a Rivers with reduced violence? It appears too close to call.

    In the case of Akwa Ibom, many are waiting for the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Enquiry set up by the state government to investigate the end-of-the-year collapse of the Reigners Bible Church Int’l Inc in Uyo, the state capital.

    The founder of the church was to have his ordination as a bishop. He is not a small fry. So, the church was jam-packed. Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel came with some of his commissioners and aides. Some of the commissioners are new in the State Executive Council. They were sworn-in December 1.

    Thirty minutes into the governor’s arrival hell literally came down. No thanks to human error, the church’s iron pillars gave way and the blue roofs came thumping down. Of course on people! An account said someone was cut into two by iron pillars. A policeman who reportedly saved the governor is now six feet below. And some others broke their necks, their limbs and their back. The founder of the church, Pastor Akan Weeks, had his leg broken.

    Coming to terms with the tragedy is a task that is still defying many. Pastor Weeks believes the tragedy is the devil fighting back and he urged Christians to unite and not see it as his battle alone. But we must give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and give unto God what is God’s. The contractor must account for this tragedy, which the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) said was caused by shoddiness. We sure await what will come out of the commission of enquiry.

    The people of the region will also closely monitor the activities of the Ekere-led NDDC. Since the 50s, the need for a special treatment for the Niger Delta, as a result of its difficult terrain, dawned on the authorities. As such, the region has had interventionist agencies, such as the Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC), attending to the needs of the area. It was the OMPADEC that gave way for the NDDC.

    OMPADEC achieved next to nothing. One of the first things the NDDC thought of was a Masterplan for the region. It was done about decade and a half ago. This is a long time for change to take place. In that period, a new city can spring up, a small company can become a conglomerate and a toddler can become a teenager. ?

    The Niger Delta worked with other stakeholders in the region to design this plan whose dream was to turn the creeks around by 2020, which is just three years away.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his preface to the Masterplan, was so optimistic that with the plan, the Niger Delta would get back its groove.

    But the NDDC, which is supposed to drive the development of the area, has been bogged down by internal and external factors.

    At a point, the commission owed its contractors over N1trillion on existing contracts. At a point, contracts, we were told, were awarded with no design and no specific location but with the sole purpose of collecting advance payments.

    There were instances where one contract was awarded to two or three contractors. Many were just interested in taking money meant for a road, hospital or other projects and did not care to do the job.

    There were allegations that members of staff of the NDDC were colluding with outsiders to institute legal actions against the commission and later come and push for out-of-court settlement, after which they shared the settlement money from NDDC. The commission, at a point, had over 400 court cases against it in courts.

    Things were so bad in the commission at some point that an insider said if it were a private sector firm, it would be regarded as insolvent.

    A presidential report on the commission showed that it also got into projects with nothing to do with its mandate as an interventionist agency. What on earth was NDDC doing renovating Port Harcourt Club and commissioning a study on the generation of electric power from gully erosion sites?

    A former Chairman of the Governing Board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, at a management retreat in Uyo, spoke from the heart about how the commission had not lived up to expectation. It was a session where he let out some home truths and declared: “It can no longer be business as usual. Substantial and immediate changes for the better must take place. We must root out impunity from NDDC.”

    It was admitted during the retreat that the people of the Niger Delta had not received the value they expected from the commission.

    The quality of some of the infrastructure projects fell below acceptable standards. The commission was seen as a ‘contract cow’, whose award letters were being hawked in the major cities of the country.

    I must also point out that the blame for the non- realisation of the dream of the Masterplan four years into 2020 is not just NDDC’s. Other stakeholders, such as the Federal Government, Southsouth state governments, Southsouth local government areas and the oil giants, have not done their parts as envisaged in the Masterplan. The Federal Government, for instance, has not released all cash due to the commission. Several trillions statutorily due the commission are held by the Federal Government, the state governments, the local governments and the oil giants. So, the commission has far less than it needs and to make matters worse, people still stole the inadequate cash using all kinds of tactics.

    Mrs Ibim Semenitari lay a foundation which not a few are waiting to see what Ekere will do with it. This will sure be an interesting year for NDDC.

    Another interesting development to watch out for may be the relationship between Governor Emmanuel and federal appointees from his state. One of them is Ekere. Another is the MD/CEO, Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone Authority (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election Emmanuel won. The governor some days back warned the federal appointees not to take his Christianity for granted. He will bite if he has to. Interesting times lie ahead!

    My final take: In this New Year, my wish is that God will force the leaders in the Niger Delta to put the interest of the people first. Against their will, God will give them no room to serve personal interest as public interest. It will be the people’s year. Or, am I asking for too much?

  • Concerns over Ogoni clean up as minister moves to UN

    Concerns over Ogoni clean up as minister moves to UN

    The President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, did not mince words while describing the competence of the outgoing Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed, during a media roundtable organised by the umbrella organisation of Ogoni people on December 22.

    The roundtable on the implementation of the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the environmental assessment of Ogoni land took place at the MOSOP Secretariat, Off Ken Saro-Wiwa (formerly Stadium) Road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, appointed Mohammed as the environment minister. Mohammed, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the reformed Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), was on December 15, appointed as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

    The environment minister, immediately after her appointment by President Buhari, took special interest in the Ogoni clean-up and the implementation of the recommendations contained in the UNEP report.

    The UNEP’s team of environmentalists made 76 recommendations. 50 of the recommendations are for the government, 22 for the Anglo/Dutch oil giant, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and four are for Ogoni communities.

    UNEP’s recommendations are divided into two parts. The first set of recommendations, once implemented, will have an immediate positive impact on Ogoni land, while the second set of recommendations has longer timelines and which when implemented, will be a path to sustainability that will bring lasting improvements for Ogoni land and Nigeria as a whole.

    MOSOP president said at the media roundtable: “Mrs. Amina Mohammed was not working alone on Ogoni clean-up. She was working with a team, including the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril. Definitely, we (Ogoni people) are going to miss Mrs. Mohammed. We are going to miss her passion, commitment, dedication to duties and hard work.

    “We are pleading with President Buhari to either elevate the equally-competent minister of state for environment or appoint a committed substantive minister of environment, in order to fast-track the Ogoni clean-up.

    “The Ogoni clean-up process has begun, but the actual clean-up has not started. The clean-up is to be done in an environment where there is nothing (no structure). You cannot compare the intervention in Ogoni land with the intervention in the Gulf of Mexico, already with Environmental Protection Agency for over four decades in the United States of America and it is one of the most highly-respected environmental protection agencies in the world.

    “The USA has already-established institutions that can respond immediately to such situations. The situation in Ogoni land is not like that of USA and that is why UNEP made recommendations about institutions’ building and having adequate structures on the ground, which are being addressed. Before the end of January 2017, there will be a Project Manager, who will be in charge of the day-to-day affairs of HYPREP. Applications were received from within and outside Nigeria.”

    Pyagbara also stated that the high level of youths’ unemployment in Ogoni land must be holistically addressed, stressing that if urgent measures were not taken to absorb the teeming young population that were graduating without jobs into gainful and meaningful employment, people would be looking for alternatives like illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism to survive, while urging government at all levels and the private sector to rise to the occasion.

    He noted that there would be no way to address youth restiveness or criminality, without tackling unemployment.

    MOSOP president, who is also one of the representatives of Ogoni stakeholders on the Governing Council of the reformed HYPREP, also stated that for Ogoni clean-up to be successful, there must be peace in the area, stressing that without peace, there would never be the much-desired sustainable development and that nothing noteworthy would be achieved in the area.

    Pyagbara also stated that the UNEP report came as a result of the collective struggle of Ogoni people, who non-violently challenged environmental degradation that was taking place in Ogoni land, because of pollution from crude oil and gas.

    MOSOP president noted that the struggle led to the launch of the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) in 1990, especially for greater part of Ogoni’s resources to be for Ogoni development; adequate and direct representation, as of right and the rights of Ogoni people to a clean environment, among others.

    While also speaking at the roundtable, one of the representatives of Ogoni stakeholders on the Governing Council of the reformed HYPREP, Dr. Batam Ndegwe, admonished all Ogoni people and other stakeholders to fully support the clean-up of Ogoni land and the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the UNEP report.

    MOSOP president states that: “As a response to the continuing destruction of the Ogoni environment, unparalleled military repression and horrendous human rights abuses in Ogoni land, that attended the prosecution of the non-violent struggle of the Ogoni people, the United Nations responded by creating the position of the Special Rapporteur on Nigeria in 1997 and appointed Mr. Soli Sorabjee to the position.

    ”In his report to the 48th Session of the then United Nations Commission on Human Rights in March 1998, the Special Rapporteur recommended that the Nigerian government should undertake an independent environmental study of Ogoni land.

    ”This was the setting that led to the invitation extended to UNEP in July 2006, within the context of the Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation Process, to carry out the environmental assessment of Ogoni land.

    ”The UNEP released its report on August 4, 2011. As a response, in July 2012, the Federal Government set up HYPREP.”

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2005, appointed Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah (now Bishop) as the mediator between the Ogoni people and SPDC.

    As part of the reconciliation process, an impartial, international agency was to be appointed to undertake an environmental assessment and supervise the clean-up of the areas damaged by the effects of oil operations in Ogoni land.

    Buhari, on August 5, last year, approved many actions to fast-track the implementation of the  UNEP report on Ogoni land.

     

  • A case for the disabled

    A case for the disabled

    Recently, the world celebrated the 2016 International Day of Persons Living with Disability (IDPwD). It is a day set aside by the United Nations (UN), to promote an understanding of persons with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights, wellbeing and integration in every aspect such as political, social, economic and cultural life.

    The theme of the year’s celebration was, “achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the future we want”.

    Nigeria is one of the member nations of the SDGs, having participated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in which 175 countries of the world signed up to. The MDGs ended last year.

    The 17  new agenda,  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are meant to fashion out ways of ensuring that the achievements of the earlier agenda (MDGs), were sustained.

    Stakeholders, including PwDs,  groups, individuals, organisations who are passionate about the well-being of disable persons across the world have been speaking on this crucial matter.

    One of such groups in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, “Lifeline Organisation for Children Empowerment” (LOCE), founded by Ngozichukwuka Obiyo  is advocating for the need for the authorities concerned in implementing the inclusion, integration programs for PwDs to adopt the “Catch them young” approach for good results.

    Obiyo said: “The wrong perception and stigma they were having about themselves and suffer from normal children with this, would soon fade away and every one of them will now relax and being to see themselves as human being and God’s creation after all despite their challenges, and normal children will also begin to accept them as friends, then the gift of God in them that will bring about the future we want will begin to manifest naturally, then will the saying that there is ability in disability will be glaring to the society.

    “The physical, social and mental development is important for all children. It is their legitimate right. Adults see recreation as a way of relieving stress, especially after long hours of work, to them, play is a form of leisure or sport but for children, play is life; it is natural and almost all that matters. Play helps them learn and make connection with the world. Evidence suggests that play can contribute to a child’s resilience – his or her ability to rise to challenges, withstand stress, and overcome adversity.

    “LOCE is breaking the norm by encouraging parents to bring their children for outdoor interaction for a holistic development of the child. Lifeline Children Funfair (LCF) is an inclusive program that is targeted to help children with disabilities socialize with their peers to promote acceptance and inclusion by their counterparts.

    “While the world celebrates the achievements and contributions of adults PwDs on the United Nation’s on  IDPWD,  LOCE through her “Lifeline Children Funfair” (LCF) celebrates children and showcase their skills and abilities.” Obiyo explained.

    According to her, the theme of this year’s celebration, was meant to build a more inclusive and equitable world.

    She said:  “To every awesome child present today; I want you to know that there is no difference between you and that girl/boy that talks a little differently or walk a little differently.”

  • Excitement as foundation donates to 650 widows

    Over 650 Christian widows from Rundele community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State are now sure of cooking and eating rice to celebrate the New Year celebration. Thanks to  the Alice Worluh’s Widows Foundation.

    The event which took place at St. John Anglican Church, Rundele was not the first outing of the foundation. This was the 10th edition.

    Some widows were crying while others were rolling on the ground after receiving rice and other items. The reason for the overwhelming joy was not because they were among the beneficiaries but because they thought this year’s event would have be cancelled.

    Of course, their assumption was due to the current economic hardship of the country and for the fact that the founder of the programme has been out of public  office for two years.

    In a short  but touching sermon,  Rev  Ven.  Fortune Okechukwu   said: “Everybody is benefiting, even Christian widows who are not from Rundele but reside here was also considered. If every politicians and privilege individuals in this area can donate one item as token from what God has done in their lives then the society will be a better place. We must learn how to give others especially those who are in need of our help.”

    Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to The Nations, said they would continue to be grateful to God for using the chairman of the foundation, Sir Lucky Worluh to touch their lives.

    Mrs. Priscilla Ogbu, one of the beneficiaries, said: “Women in this area will forever remain grateful to the foundation. The most important thing is that six poor widows who have no house to sleep, today have a roof under their heads which was provided by the foundation. You can see how happy these widows are because the foundation has provided them with relief materials, wrappers, and rice.”

    Another beneficiary, Mrs.Anthonia  Agbovu, said God would meet the needs of founder for carrying  the burdens of widows in the area.

    ”God has been using Sir Worluh to provide for us through his foundation.  I am not happy being a widow, but I am glad to be one of those receiving from the free will donation of his foundation.

    Worluh said: “I have been out of work for two years, yet I told God that what I entered with Him was a covenant agreement. That even if I did not have money to buy them rice I must look for a way of showing love to them. I can buy biscuit and groundnut to celebrant them. What I’ m doing does not have any political undertone rather it is purely charity; I am wining souls for God through almsgiving.

    ”I am interested in their welfare. One who gives to widows, God replenishes him or her. Based on some biblical testimonies, I am still striving to be like people of old who gave their all to the service of God.  I derive joy in reaching out to widows.

    ”This is the only way we can appreciate God for all the numerous blessings he has freely given to my family. My own mother was also a widow. She suffered so much bringing up her children just that death couldn’t allow her eats the fruit of her labour. So, the only thing I can do for her is to immortalize her name through this Foundation, (Alice Worluh Widow Foundation).

    ”I have  helped a lot of people as a civil servant even as I am out of work I will continue to assist them. I built houses for six widows; I was not doing this because I want to contest an election like some politicians do. But I am doing this because I want to make them happy and use that opportunity to bring them closer to God.”

  • Time for testimonials

    Time for testimonials

    The year ends tomorrow. But for a public figure, who a friend two years and 29 days ago relived his experience with in London and Port Harcourt, it is the beginning of another year.

    The London meeting was because he was in Queen’s Country to see his scholars, who were undergoing post-graduate studies on his bills. The meeting point was a famous Nigerian restaurant on Old Kent Road. He came across as a down-to-earth person. He also radiated extra­ordinary courage and a depth of knowledge.

    The Port Harcourt meeting, as relived by my friend, shows that in his church, he is not looked upon as a politician.

    “The worshippers there see him as one of us,” recalls my friend, who also adds that a security man at the church car park said: “I know him to be one of the early birds in this church; he comes before the service starts. He’s not your typical politician. We see him as one of us. He acts like a priest.”

    I once had cause to have electronic interview with the scholars he had gone to see in London, when my friend caught up with him. From their testimonials, it is clear Dakuku Adol Peterside, who is now Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), will for a long time be on their minds.

    Interestingly from what they told me, almost all of them doubted that Peterside was going to see them through post-graduate studies abroad.  From Victor Pepple to Tana Ofik to Barthemeaus Utong to Opuada Oko-jaja to Raymond Awortu to Prince Ogbilikana to Hope Ngerebara to Hanson Pepple and Zipporah Harry, they just decided to try and see and were eventually amazed at what they got.

    Pepple said he was “badly ridiculed into this glorious opportunity today by my elder cousin, Theophilus Pepple”. It all started during the Christmas season of 2012 when posters for the Peterside overseas post-graduate scholarship scheme were pasted everywhere in Opobo Town and designated collection centres in Port Harcourt. When he saw it, he had cold feet about it. Reason: his previous experiences with sourcing for a scholarship to study abroad had always been a last minute disappointment even in situations where he met the criteria.

    He felt this was just going to be another bad case. So, he did not pick up the form until January 2013 when he saw that a cousin whom he hinted about the scheme had collected the form. He became an object of ridicule at home and hence got the form.

    Though he had the dream of studying abroad someday, but how that would happen was largely a dream since he could not afford it. Raised from a humble background, he had faith that one day, his breakthrough would come.

    Like Pepple, Oko-jaja did not attach much importance to information about the scholarship. In his words: “I got to hear about the scholarship from a friend, Mr. Tammy Aloma Cookey who travelled to Opobo Town for Christmas break in 2012. However, I received the information softly as I believed its outcome was going to be business as usual because of my previous experience in scouting for scholarships and jobs.

    “Reluctantly, I got the form because of the pressure from my parents. Shortly after the submission, I was called by a friend from the university (FUTO) where I was undergoing a post graduate diploma in Geo-Physics that my name was announced over the radio, inviting me for a test at the ICT centre at Aba Road,Port Harcourt. I never prepared for the exam because I was frustrated with the business-as-usual and man-know-man virus that had eaten deep into the country and I had no one that could assist me.”

    Pepple said: “After the submission of completed form, I was told about the selection test by a friend of mine who heard my name announced over the radio, inviting shortlisted candidates for the test which held at the Rivers State ICT Centre along Aba Road Port Harcourt. I came into the hall barely having had about three days to prepare for the test; not knowing what to expect, I literally came in for the exam fasting. It was the first and most transparent public exam I have ever taken in my life. Not only did we see our scores on display at the expiration of allotted time for the exam, the decision on who has been awarded the scholarship was made right on the spot based on the result of the test. I emerged the first candidate for Engineering from Opobo Town. Even at that, I was still apprehensive as to whether there would still be last minute substitution of candidates. To God be the glory, nothing of such was done.”

    Oko-jaja said: “Surprisingly, I met the shocker of my life. After the exam, the result was printed out in hard copy and given to us. I thought that was all. As I was about to leave the venue, we were called back and the decision was made publicly and successful candidates were picked, which I was also part of. At that instance, I began to have hope in the system that shortly the change we are clamouring for will come, when positions will be awarded on merit. This has been the first, unprecedented and transparent public exam I have ever taken in my life at that moment.”

    Pepple, who studied for a Master of Science degree in Engineering Business Management at the University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, said Peterside kept his part of the bargain. He said full tuition and upkeep allowance as promised by the scholarship board were paid.

    “We were credited with over six months’ maintenance allowance for living expenses before arriving the UK. Beyond that, the Honourable has come to visit us in person to see how we are faring. This I find very rare of any public office holder in his capacity. For this, I remain eternally grateful.”

    Utong said to the best of his knowledge, the process of selection was transparent, adding: “If there is interference, may be I would not have been selected.”

    The son of His Royal Highness, Chief and Mrs. Abraham Utong of Ilotombi Community in Andoni Local Government, said: “Dakuku Peterside is one of the rare leaders we have. He is an achiever and a true believer of transparent, generous and selfless leadership. I strongly encourage all politicians to emulate the sincerity and kind heart of Hon. Peterside to his people. Hon. Dakuku Peterside is a man of his words, God-fearing, sincere to his people, down-to-earth, selfless, generous and principled.

    “He is a man with the heart of gold and empathy for the all. A man of the people. Most times I get amazed at his humility. He is a selling brand all over the nation. I implore our leaders to emulate this icon.”

    Ofik, a native of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, who studied for an M.Sc. in Subsea Engineering, said: “I got selected as a beneficiary of the Hon. Peterside’s overseas post-graduate scholarship in June of 2013 after a very transparent selection process in which I emerged the best candidate for the engineering disciplines. The scholarship covers my tuition and living costs at the University of Aberdeen… Dakuku Peterside is truly a leader who has the concern of the people at heart.”

    Pepple added that the name Dakuku Peterside would forever remain engrained in the hearts of many, for being a man who helped in writing the history of many generations even yet unborn.

    “The man has modestly proved that his words are honourable and he keeps his promise. He said he would empower the people of his constituency with qualitative education abroad, he did it. He said he would not interfere with the selection process for the candidates, not even on grounds of any primordial sentiments, and he did it. This I find very remarkable because if it were otherwise, people like me would most likely never have been on the preferred list and I know it,” he said.

    What more is there to add to these testimonials for this man who spent most of his growing up years in Bori in Ogoniland and spent most Christmas holidays in the house of the Wiwas in Bane? His NIMASA story is still being written. The plots are taking shape. He knows that the agency needs surgical operation. He needs all the political will to change our perception of it as the place where people just go to get free money without offering any services.

    My birthday wish for you is that you will make NIMASA an organisation revered globally for transparency, accountability and above all an agency run with the fear of God.

  • War against illegal bunkering, kidnapping in Delta

    War against illegal bunkering, kidnapping in Delta

    They had almost turned Delta state into a no-go-zone and virtually converted the image of the ‘Heart Beat’ state to something of a heartache as the most common reports were of kidnapping and massive oil theft and unbridled attacks on national oil and gas assets. They were gradually tagging a strange identity on the state that naturally ought to have been identified as peaceful and progressive.

    This ugly and heartbreaking trend was gaining concern from virtually every quarter, especially in government and this was why the Delta State House of Assembly’s Committee on Security, chaired by Hon Michael Diden, almost immediately after its inauguration in November 2015, constituted a special task force, comprising of men of the 19 Battalion, the state police command and community vigilante, to curb these dangerous criminal activities. This task force’s categorical terms of reference were to ensure the eventual eradication of kidnapping and oil bunkering activities across the state, working with all community and security stakeholders. The kidnap and killing of the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue II, in the earlier part of the year was a high point of the notoriety of the burgeoning criminal enclave in the state.

    The challenges posed by hoodlums against innocent and unsuspecting citizens of the state in the first quarter of the year, particularly in Sapele, Jesse, Oghara and Mosogar, Effurun, Ughelli, and three other cases in the riverine communities of Omadino and Aja-Ogolo in Warri South council area, Oria-Abraka in Ethiope East, and Ebrumede in Uvwie council area, coupled with vandalism of oil facilities by criminals, alone, left nothing to be desired.

    Swinging into action to fulfill its mandate to rid the state of the menace of crimes, tainting the image of the state in the consciousness of the wider-world, the task force went after some targets, recording huge successes. The successes recorded by the committee in the rescue of over 12 victims, including a teenage girl, Alima Rivina, Deacons of the Heaven on Earth and Mountain of Fire Churches, the wife of Committee’s chairman, Mrs. Light Diden and a host of others, were not without the prompt responses from men of the Nigerian Army, DSS, police and Anti-kidnapping committee, a sub-committee of peace and security committee.

    Narrating the experience on the tedious task so far, the member representing Warri North Constituency in the state’s House of Assembly, who is also the brains behind the new security initiative, Hoourable Diden, who is popularly called Ejele, said the terrains where these criminal activities take place and the unusual brazenness of the criminal masterminds had posed serious challenges to the task force, he however noted that the challenges, breathtaking as they seem, have not deterred the committee and its task force from following the mandate to success.

    “There were times we had to chase these vandals from one community to another. There were even cases of shoot-outs by these vandals to scare our men away from apprehending them. It was a tug of war at a point in February this year, at Aja-Osoro / Ubgoritseduwa communities in Warri South council area, when we went on a joint team with the 19 Battalion to raid the communities of illegal oil brunkerers, who were into local refining of petroleum products. They carry out the cooking of crude oil. Some of these camps were fortified against external invasion, they even have sophisticated arms with which they tried to fend us off, but if not that we went with well trained soldiers and superior weapons, we wouldn’t have been able to dislodge the hoodlums”, the chairman of the committee disclosed.

    According to him, in that raid alone, more than five cooking camps were destroyed, even as adding that the task force was able to prevent the communities from further tampering with facilities or siphon crude oil from the wells at Okpomani Oil Field. Speaking further, he said four months after the successful operation, the task force, in collaboration with the local Conoil surveillance workers at Okogho/Ubaleme Field, oil thieves who were specialists in the siphoning of crude oil into waiting vessels for local refining, burst the hideouts of some sophisticated syndicates and brought their decades of oil theft activities to a halt. He said several of their operational tools were seized and destroyed.

    Speaking further, Ejele said between July and September at Okwo-Oro, along Sapele-Warri Road, three petroleum tankers were intercepted by the Land Patrol Team of the House Committee and handed over to the police command in the state, adding that the task force recovered the ones that were illegally ferrying finished products (Kerosene/petrol) to the northern part of the country at Adeje/Okwo-Edjeba communities.

    “With our early intervention, we were able to chase the vandals from this point (Adeje/Okwo-Edjeba) with the help of the Adeje local vigilantes. They were unable to load from the point. This same group of vandals two months ago relocated from there to break open another point along the same major trunk, but this time at Okwotolor. We were still able to forestall their activities. This time with the help of the military”, Hon. Diden disclosed.

    Recounting the successes so far achieved by his committee in the fight against kidnapping across the state, Ejele said the people now breathe a bit easier. According to him, kidnappers had sneaked into the oil City of Warri, Ughelli, Sapele, Mosogar, Jesse and Orero-Okpe communities, making the months of April, May and June the most difficult and dreadful in the memories of several residents and families from these areas. Kidnapping syndicate held these communities like an evil hold throughout their reign. Travelers through these communities had their hearts in their mouths until they arrived at their irrespective destinations. Traders closed from market places early while shop owners locked-up before night.

    They were armed to the teeth with various weapons ranging from pump action riffles, locally made pistols, shot guns to AK 47 riffles. Their ages ranged from 18 to 22 years, said Sinfianu, one of the suspects now in police custody. The list of casualties of this terror armed gangs is endless. It inflicted agony, tears and sorrows in many homes across the state. No day passed without any reported cases of kidnapping in these communities.

    They were brutal, wicked and could rape their female victims with impunity, said a top police source. The activities of these terror armed gangs soon became a thing of the past. Like the saying goes that any episode that has a beginning must have an end. Residents of these communities can now sleep with two eyes closed as the hoodlums have been chased away through the combined efforts of anti-kidnapping committee and other security agents.

    In the State capital, Asaba, for instance, kidnapping has become a forgotten occurrence as their last attempt to kidnap a female politician (name withheld) was foiled by a crack team from the anti- kidnapping committee.

    “Both the general public and the business community are appreciative of this development in the state. The reason for this feat is the regular policing of the cities by special squad from the anti-kidnapping and other security agents operating within and around Asaba. Their regular presence on the streets must have given the criminals much cause for a rethink” said a resident of Warri, Eng. Tobore Kemute. Surveillance of known black spots has also helped in nipping the activities of these criminals in the bud.

    According to Barrister John Ogbemi, a resident of Asaba who said he had lived in Asaba for over Twenty years. We have witnessed several years of kidnapping both at nights and broad day light. “They have inflicted pains, sorrow, agony and tears on residents. But recently, statistics in the state have shown that record of kidnapping and vandalism of oil facilities has changed. Social life, particularly night activities, have returned to Asaba. The committee which was set up to compliment the effort of other security operatives has made us proud”, said Barrister Ogbemi.

    Some of the leaders of the kidnapping syndicate and vandals were recently swooped-on by a crack team from the state police command and surveillance squad from the anti-kidnapping committee led by Austin Opubor, Mabiaku Omassan and Abraham Obarume. The suspects were trailed by members of anti-kidnapping to their various hide-outs where they were arrested with mobile phones of the victims.

    Giving graphic details of the arrest of one of the suspects (name withheld), Mr. Austin Opubor, Mabiaku Omassan and Abraham Obaruine said “immediately we got report of the kidnap of the victims, we mobilized our personnel to the field because we believe that the police cannot achieve it all alone without the support of other stake-holders. Making a major breakthrough in apprehending some of the suspects so far was quite tasking”.

  • Telephone conversations

    It is one week and four days after Ekiw Moseyn drowned in alcohol and vomited all over himself in his multi-million dollars Governor’s Office.

    Now, the D-day is finally here; the day that has given him sleepless nights; the day of battle. Today he must prove to all and sundry that Waters State is an Umbrella Peoples Party (UPP) state.

    The day before, a Situation Room had been set up in his office. It is equipped with the best communication gadgets you can imagine.

    As soon as he gets into the room, he places a call to his aides. Simeone Okah arrives first. They are soon joined by Chukwu Oke and Anthony Majaro.

    “How are the arrangements for us to win this election?” Ekiw asks his men.

    Anthony speaks first: “Everything is in order sir. We have mobilised enough boys. You know the usual mobilisation sir. They will be ready whenever we need them. They have all the tools they need. They are ready for fire for fire.”

    Simeone explains the situation with the social media rats he is asked to co-ordinate. He says the boys have been equally properly mobilised and will be dishing out propaganda upon propaganda against the Change Peoples Party (CPC), Timiro Ihcema, Sidepeter and Ugnus Abe.

    By the time they are through with their briefings, Ekiw grabs the phone and calls Yohanna Ankpa, an Electoral Monitor.

    “How far?” he asks, as soon as Yohanna answers the call.

    “Fine sir, but we are having some challenges…”

    “What challenges?” Ekiw fires back.

    “The security agencies are really monitoring me and my people. I am afraid we may not be able to change things…”

    “What are you talking about? The other people are doing it. Why is your own different?”

    “Sir…”

    “Listen to me, I don’t care how you do it, but this is a task that must be done. You have signed the deal and you must deliver. I am not joking with you. I am dead serious about this. Tell your people that I, Ekiw, will make sure they do not leave this state alive. I will kill them before they can leave, if they fail to do what I want and they do not return my money. I will kill them in this state. I am telling you. I am not joking at all.  They are small fries and very easy for me to kill. I have killed even people who thought they were sophisticated and could escape me. I don’t joke with my money. You cannot collect my money and think you can just go away without doing my bidding. That is fraud. If that is the way you defraud people, you cannot defraud me. I am telling you and I hope you understand me…”

    “Yes sir, I will get back to you.”

    The telephone conversations end and Ekiw grabs his alcohol. He does not bother to pour it in a cup. He simply puts the bottle in his mouth and gulps down half of the content. Anthony and Simeone glance at it and needs no one to tell them their boss is his mean mood.

    He soon orders Chukwu to call another Election Supervisor.

    “How are you madam?”

    “Fine o, my brother,” Mrs Ijoya says.

    “How is everything?”

    “Great but pepper no rest for this side o. Tell oga to find me something now…”

    “The people who waited after yesterday’s meeting got something now. But you did not wait…”

    “I need the money. Things are tight…”

    “Talk to oga…”

    “Is he there?”

    “Yes, he is here. Talk to him,” Chukwu says.

    “Madam, how you dey?” says Ekiw.

    “I am fine oga but please find me something. Things tough these days…”

    “Don’t worry I go find you something but just make sure you hold your area…”

    “No wahala oga, we will just slot the result as you have given us. We will not allow the change people any room for manouvre at all.”

    “Ok, let’s talk later…”

    As soon as he is through with her, he dials Yohanna again.

    “What is the situation now?”

    “No progress sir…”

    “Then you have to get me my money or else I will kill you and your people before you leave this state. You people cannot dupe me. You cannot take my money, refuse to do what we agreed on and want to run away with my money. It will never happen. If in four hours I don’t have my money back, I will send my boys after you. You people should consider yourselves dead. Na me dey tell una,” he shouts and cuts the call.

    Unknown to Ekiw and his aides, his daughter Mimi has been by the door in the last 30 minutes hearing all the threats being issued to electoral officers. They are shocked when she comes in. She stands and looks at all of them with disdain.

    Ekiw thinks to himself: “This girl again. I am sure she has come with her sermon again.”

    For five minutes, Mimi keeps quiet, perhaps searching for the right words to use. She addresses the aides first.

    “When will this whole charade end? I think you can help my father. Tell him the truth always. You  don’t have tell him what he wants to hear. A lot of nonsense is going on around here. I am not saying the opposition are blameless but this is a truth I can only admit in the closet like this, my father is crude. His ways baffle me. There are so many things he has done since he became governor that I have confirmed myself and I am ashamed of him.”

    Ekiw feels like slapping her, but he keeps quiet. He loves the girl and hurting her will look to him like hurting his dear mother who she looks like.

    Mimi looks at her father once more and then shifts her attention to Chukwu and Anthony.

    “Dad, you have security agents who work for you and yet you issue threats to people forgetting that the loyalty of these security agents does not lie with you. Their loyalty is with the federal government, which pays their salaries. Even with the extra cash you give them, they can still sell you out. Imagine if they record your telephone conversations today and make it public, how will you fell?”

    Ekiw says nothing but quickly thinks of a way out in case there is a leak of his telephone conversations: “I will ask my people to issue a statement saying that a software was used to fabricate the voice. I will vehemently deny issuing death threat to anybody. I will distance myself from bribery and insist that I will always win election here because of my popularity and acceptance by the people and if need be, I will set up a judicial commission to look into the remote and immediate source of the leak…”

    Mimi cuts into his thought with her stern look.

    “Dad, I love you. God knows but many a time I am ashamed of you. This is one of such moments. I am ashamed of you when my classmates ask frequently ‘why is your father described as wicked?’    I feel bad each time you go to a church and make political statements filled with malice. I feel ashamed each time I have cause to wonder what manner of a politician you are. Is it difficult to play politics with conscience?,” she asks and before anyone can answer, she storms out.

    They all remain silent for the next few seconds.

    “Don’t allow Mimi to dampen our spirit. You should be used to her exuberance by now. She obviously does not understand life, especially political life in Waters State yet. In this race, we are like David, while our opponents are like Goliath. David defeated Goliath despite all his might. We must defeat this Goliath even if it means some people must be deleted from the face of this earth,” he says and declares that it is time to go to the field and implement his winning strategy.

  • Debunking their lies about Amaechi’s era in Rivers

    If not for the sake of clarity, I would have dismissed a piece by Governor Nyesom Wike’s media aide titled: “Amaechi, lies and needless excuses”, with a wave of the hand.

    In his piece, Rt.Hon Chibuike Amaechi was portrayed as one without any achievement in the health and education sectors when he was the governor of Rivers State.

    The governor’s aide may also be probably suffering from amnesia if we consider that the first thing his boss did on assumption of office last year was to withdraw all Rivers students on scholarship abroad back to Nigeria as sponsored by Amaechi’s administration and the crippling of free education and free health care systems introduced by Amaechi.

    It is on record that Amaechi built over 500 model primary schools. About 250 were fully furnished and functional while about 300 or more were completed and yet to be furnished before he left office.

    Amaechi focused on building a new economy that called for massive infrastructural turn around, building of a mega city he called “The Greater Port Harcourt City”. The establishment of a world class education system that ignited human capital development through oversea scholarships will not be forgotten in a hurry.

    Non indigenes resident in Rivers had no course to worry as they fully benefited from Amaechi’s benevolence. For Amaechi, there was no indigenous status, there was no segregation at all. This principle of oneness saw Amaechi recruiting over 3000 non indegenes into the state work force,particularly in education Ministry.

    In one of his visits to the Ignatius Ajuru University in Port Harcourt, Amaechi also consequently reversed the payment of fees which was discriminatory for non indigenes. Amaechi pegged the fee at flat rate for all and sundry.

    Amaechi’s model primary schools are spotted in all nooks and crannies of the state including the remote communities. The purpose was to bring education closer to the people. The era when pupils travel far to neighboring communities to acquire knowledge became history. Amaechi’s model primary and secondary schools received wide spread commendation  from both local and international communities. His slogan “bring the child to school naked, we will provide school uniform, sandals, bags,books,laptop for every child” was sacrosanct.

    Like every other projects, Amaechi embarked on affordable health care delivery. His health policy which cared for all was also applauded. Be you non indigene or indigene, all you required was to walk a stone thrown to access the model health centers and you would be treated free of charge.Patients from all walks of life trooped in drove to access Amaechi’s health center including Abia State indegenes. Then, No matter the nature of your sickness or ailment you were hopeful of getting treated. That was the Rivers State I know.

    As the governor, Amaechi recognised that his primary function as stipulated in the nation’s statute book was to provide adequate security for the people and to maintain absolute law and order.

    Amaechi promptly and aggressively confronts a task as if he was fighting with his last blood, especially when it has to do with the issue of insecurity

    He waged war against criminality and violence which could affect the revenue base of the state. Then, security was well funded as such; the prevalence kidnapping and terrorism in the state had no hiding place. Youths were meaningfully engaged. Some in crafts, others in sports and some in agriculture as the case may be.

    Young school leavers were hopeful of being incorporated into the system due to the prevailing job opportunities. Corp members posted to the state saw no need returning to their home state due to job opportunities.

    Amaechi no doubt revitalised the state from the decay it was kept by previous government. Then, anyone who lived in the Garden City before October 2007 will concur with my view.

    During his first year in office, Amaechi literally turned the state into a busy construction site due to the volume of construction work ongoing. Some of these roads that have gained facelift  due to Amaechi’s intervention are the dualisation of Elekahia Road, dualisation of G.U Ake Road, construction and dualisation of the Trans Amadi road, dualisation and expansion of Ikwerre road,construction of Obiri Ikweree inter- change,construction and dualisation of the Owerri/Airport road which is a federal road among others.

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

    When Amaechi held sway, Port Harcourt, the Garden City was a place to dwell in. It was a place to behold, it was a safe haven for investors and investors alike including the multinationals and indigenous companies.

     

    • Oyemaechi sent this piece from Abuja.