The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Bayelsa engineer floats talent hunt to end cultism

    Bayelsa State has been notorious for cultism. Despite the efforts of the state government in tackling cult-related vices through laws, rival cult wars which usually claim the lives of youths still occur in most parts of the state.

    Engineer Gospel Oboro, who hails from Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, blamed the intractable problems of cultism on lack of deliberate efforts and programmes of the government to engage the youths.

    Oboro said it was unfortunate that sporting facilities, entertainment centres and talent hunt programmes which hitherto used to keep youths busy had vanished from the state. He recently opened an entertainment centre comprising, bar and talent hunt facilities along Azikoro Road Yenagoa.

    He said his new facilities, christened, Renew, was designed to scout for and nurture talents among the youths. He said Renew would produce talents in music, instruments and sports.

    “This place is a fully entertainment centre and it is here to entertain and in the same time produce talents. It will keep the youths busy and diver their attention from criminalities”, he said.

    He added: “We want to produce musicians,instrumentalists and sportsmen and women. We want to bring back our sports”.

    He said the country generally had derailed in the area of youth sustenance and empowerment noting that in their youthful years, the government paid attention to their development. He recalled that there was no problem of cultism during their days as youths because they invested their energy on many noble activities.

  • Akwa Ibom community blames govt for 59-year-old crisis

    The struggle for the ownership and control of four parcels of land has divided two former friendly and neighbouring villages, Ikot Mbuk Village of Idoro sub-clan and Ekim Village of Ibiaku sub-clan, both in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

    The once friendly villages now have nothing in common. They don’t cross each other’s village, intermarry, trade in the same market, attend the same school or church anymore. The only thing these two communities now do in common apart from breathing the air that God gives to every living creature, is engage each other in occasional  fight over land which often results in death and destruction of properties.

    The crisis which is said to have started in 1957 has consumed about 20 lives in Ikot Mbuk with a population of  about 15,000  while goods and property worth over N2.5 billion is said to have been destroyed especially between 2004 and 2015.

    Addressing the Press in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital  over the weekend, elders of Ikot Mbuk Village: Elder Abraham Emmanuel, Chief Okon Essien Udo, Deputy Village Head and representative of the Village Head, Eteidung Pastor E. U. Akpanobong and Chief Ekanem Essien, said they were forced to speak out because of recent publications in some newspapers by the Ekimbok Village claiming ownership of four parcels of land in our village. “ Ikot Mbuk Village owns the land, Ekim Ibiaku lied to mislead government and the public. Their claim is misleading, mischievous and false”,  the Ikot Mbuk elders insisted.

    The Ikot Mbuk elders who blamed the State government for ‘ looking on while the problems gradually becomes a monster’, noted that if government had taken enough interest in resolving the crisis, the lives wasted and property destroyed over years would have avoided.

    The elders stated that the land tussle is only between Ikot Mbuk in Idoro sub-clan and Ekim village in Ibiaku sub-clan and not the whole Idoro clan as the Ekim people wants the public to know.

    “ From time immemorial, Ikot Mbuk village in Ibiono Ibom Local government area has been the owner and has the right of occupancy of the four parcels of land, namely Edem Nyo, Obot Awawa, Obot Ototoho and Ikot Andem Umoatang, which all situate at Ikot Mbuk village”, Elder Abraham Emmanuel explained.

    Elder Abraham said:“From time immemorial, the four parcels of land were first founded and deforested by our progenitor, late Chief Mbuk. The people of Ikot Mbuk village now, who are the descendants have, farmed and cultivated the four parcels of land without encumbrances, even bury our dead ones and maintain shrines without encumbrances.”

    He insisted that the natural boundary between their two communities is the DUEM Stream which those who first migrated to Ekim Village observed until the middle of 1900 when some people from Ekim village started tampering with ancient landmarks which Ikot Mbuk village resisted and will continue to resist, the elders vowed.

    Chief Okon Essien Udo, Deputy Village head who relied on Survey Plan number UND/23/72 SES  quoted the following parcels of land: Edem Nyo, Obot Aduem, Akwa Anwa, Ikot Mbuk village settlement, Andik Ukok, Ndiogho, Obot Ekpo, Obot Awawa, Obot Ototoho and Ikot Andem Umoatang, as all being on the Ikot Mbuk side of the DUEM Stream side as ruled by the Uyo High Court in Suit Number HU/40/76 and affirmed by Enugu Appeal Court Number FCA/E/50/82 published in the Nigerian Weekly Law Report of 10/11/86 at page 393.

    The Ikot Mbuk village elders said the Itu Boundary Committee was constituted on February 1, 1992 but the Ekim people refused to show up while their people waited with the Committee at the Ikot Mbuk and Ekim Village bridge head, venue of the meeting.

    For a lasting solution, the elders call on Governor Udom Emmanuel to undertake a physical inspection of the disputed land area in order to ascertain the permanent boundary between  Ekim Village and Ikot Mbuk. The panel, the elders suggested, should be made up of men of impeachable character, with requisite experience and fear of God.

    They proposed that the two villages should be restricted to their own side of the DUEM Stream boundary for social, cultural, mining, hunting and agricultural purposes.

    They request compensations to be paid to the Ikot Mbuk people for the heavy losses they had suffered over the years. They claimed they had lost over N2.5 billion in terms of residential, household, farm and economic crops and more than 20 lives.

    “Ekim people, their warriors and fighters are laying siege in our surrounding bushes and farmlands and should be ordered out of those hiding places immediately to allow our people go about their legitimate undertakings unhindered,”the elders said.

     

     

  • Bayelsa ANA celebrates authors, young Sylva

    The recently concluded World Book Day was celebrated with fanfare in Bayelsa State. It saw the gathering of writers, authors, publishers and persons with creative ability at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa.

    The writers were assembled to mark their day by the state chapter of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA). They seized the opportunity to celebrate their achievements, showcased their works and encouraged reading.

    It was a lively and colorful event as different books, articles, short stories and collection of poems were on display. ANA was particularly concerned about the dying reading culture among the youths. The body spent time to encourage the youths to take reading seriously.

    The state Chairman, ANA, Mr. Mike Afenfia, lamented that over 40 per cent of children between the ages of six to 11 had no access to schools. He said one of the targets of ANA was to bring back the books by encouraging the younger population to adopt the culture of reading.

    He insisted that reading will only benefit the society if it is targeted at the youths adding that youths will stop indulging in criminality by constantly reading books. For example he said ANA through its campaign to promote reading excellence, would focus on girl-child education and advancing excellence among the youths.

    He pointed out that lack of motivation was one the reasons for the dying culture of academic excellence. He derided some multinational companies and private organisations in Bayelsa for their inability to encourage excellence bye celebrating students who came tops in their classes and disciplines. He said the absence of such motivation dampens the spirits of healthy competition among the youths.

    He said: “As responsible members of the society, we owe it to strongly promote education be it girl child education or boy child education.”

    Afenfia said ANA was determined to lead by example. He immediately announced a presentation of a cheque of N25,000 to support Master Benjamin Sylva in his academic pursuit. Sylva emerged as the overall best student in an event organized by ANA at Ayama Montessori Secondary School in Yenagoa.

    Presenting the cheque, Fefegha said ANA spotted Sylva as a talent and would want to encourage him. He said the body’s little gesture would go a long way in encouraging the youth. He said Sylva would grow up knowing that he was once celebrated for his brilliance.

    “I believe strongly that apart from whatever gift he may have and whatever effort the school may have made in nurturing his talent, his parents too should be commended”, he said.

    On the abduction and forceful marriage of Ese Oruru by the Kano State-born Yinusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, Afenfia strongly condemned it describing it as criminal. He called on parents to give their children adequate attention at home.

    In his response, the young Sylva described ANA’s gesture as a wonderful experience. He said it was heartwarming to know that his years of hard labour and studying did not go unnoticed. Sylva said he felt motivated to pursue academic excellence following the encouragement by ANA.

    He advised other children to embrace reading culture saying it would help them in the future. He commended ANA for its kind gesture and advised the body to keep the flag flying.

  • Letter to black hairs

    Hi guys,

    You may wonder why I am writing you. The reason is not far-fetched: The race for the Edo State Government House, which will see the people voting on September 10.

    I suspect you may know that already fight has broken out in the two major political parties in the state. Men who want the coveted seat about to be vacated by Governor Adams Oshiomhole are already breaking or planning to break one another’s head, all in a bid to outsmart the other. Blackmail, mud-slinging and name calling have started.

    Men who were friends some months back are now sworn enemies. Families are being torn apart all because of this seat that comes with enormous influence. Enemies of a few months back are becoming allies. Principles do not matter. The end will justify the means.

    Many are searching for godfathers forgetting that there is God the father who can do and undo, who when He says yes nobody can say no.

    I need to let you know that before Oshiomhole’s emergence, the governorship of the state was not decided by the people. It is not that the people were not allowed to cast their votes. But the votes never truly counted. Results that were contrary to the will of the people were written in bedrooms and foisted on compromised electoral officers.

    I remember Oshiomhole was robbed in a similar manner. It took the courts for him to get back the seat. Now, Oshiomhole is packing his bags and I have got a dilemma. My dilemma is not about electoral robbers. My dilemma is about the people who are coming out to seek the office. At the last count, there are over 20 of them. But a cursory look at them all gives me a headache. It is not that they are not qualified to run the state. It is just that their ages make me wonder if the young will ever grow. They are mostly men in their late 50s and 60s. Their hairs are grey already. And I ask myself: where are the Donald Dukes of Edo State? Duke became governor of Cross River some months to his 38th birthday. He is 54 now, some 16 years after quitting office.

    I will be the first to admit that there are young people who have been given opportunities and they have failed big time. Some are failing as you read this. They are looting and squandering their people’s money. They have committed and are committing all kinds of atrocities that give the old ones the excuse to play Robert Mugabe. I am ashamed of them and will always be. But that is not an excuse for the youths to be contended with being used as political thugs as we are seeing in Rivers or be contended with being special assistants that no one listens to.

    Guys, there is power in youthfulness. As a youth, you are daring and not afraid of experimenting. And what is life without experiment? There will be nothing like Science or Chemistry without experiment and we will just be contented with what we have and not seek new ways of doing things.

    I need to let us know that it took a youth for history to be made in America. Its first black leader, Barack Hussein Obama II, was born on August 4, 1961. He is 54 now and will vacate office early next year after being president for eight years. What this means is that he became the leader of the world’s most powerful country at about 46. Before then, he was a senator — a confirmation that he has been in political leadership position since his youth.

    I want to remind us that before Obama, there was Williams Jefferson Clinton, who we all call Bill Clinton (Clinton, by the way, is his step-father’s surname). He is 69 years now.  He left office as American president some 15 years ago. He was some 54 years at the time. Before then he was governor. He won the governorship in 1978 at 31 and became the youngest governor the country had seen in 40 years.

    In the United Kingdom, there was Tony Blair; there was Gordon Brown; and there is now David Cameron. All young people when their people trusted them with running their lives.

    Cameron, now in his second term, is 49. He has been the UK Prime Minister since 2010. He became the leader of perhaps the world’s second most respected nation at 43.

    For those who will say the youths do not have experience to handle such sensitive office, the Clinton story will suffice. When Clinton set out to be governor, he decided on an ambitious agenda to reform education and health care systems. He won and as governor he was hampered by his youth and political inexperience. He made several blunders. One of them was the poor handling of riots by Cuban refugees interned at Fort Chaffee. Another was the highly unpopular fee hike on auto licenses, which he instituted. So much were these errors that after his first two-year term (At the time, Arkansas governors served only two-year renewable term), he was defeated in 1980 by a little-known Republican challenger, Frank White in 1980.

    But he never gave up. He went to work at a law firm for two years and staged a come-back. He admitted his errors and promised to right his wrongs. Arkansas people gave him a chance and they were better for it. They were so pleased with him that this time Clinton held onto the job for four consecutive terms.

    And before anyone will ask about the local examples, I will return to Donald Duke. This dashing man, who was governor from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007, is son to Henry Etim Duke, the second indigenous and longest ever serving Chairman, board of Customs and excise duties (now known as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service). He received LLB degree in 1982 from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the B.L in 1983 from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and the L.L.M. in Business Law and Admiralty in 1984 from University of Pennsylvania. He was practicing law in Lagos before the call of office took him back to Calabar, which he made the cleanest city in Nigeria.

    Like Clinton, he was not experienced. He made his mistakes but till today he is remembered for his contributions to the fields of agriculture, urban development, environment, investment drive and tourism. No one else can take the credit for Calabar being seen as the “cleanest city in Nigeria.”

    Duke created the idea of the Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race, which has now grown to become one of the most lucrative mountain running competitions in the world.

    Permit me to give two more examples from Cross River, which seems to have perfected a model of always giving the number one seat to a young man. Duke’s successor and friend, Liyel Imoke, showed what youthfulness can do to the way a state is run efficiently. His successor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has started well too. With his like, I am proud to be young and be at the fore-front of the campaign for our youths to be given chance to lead.

    There is also the young Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Luke Onofiok. He is a young guy of 37. He is a lawyer and community organizer who right from school had shown leadership qualities.

    Many of our early leaders, such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and so on were not Metusellahs when they burst onto the political scene. The likes of Gens. Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo were in their youths when they took over power. Their hairs were still black. Gowon was even unmarried, indicating he was still ‘grooving’ about town when he became the Head of State of a country whose problem was not money but how to spend it. I can go on and on.

    Guys, I was excited when a Daniel jumped into the Edo political lion’s den. His name is Linus Idahosa. He is 37. I have checked his CV and it speaks volume. His imprints are all over what is now known as new Nollywood. He is husband to adorable Stephanie Linus, the brain behind the award-winning flick ‘Dry’.

    Politics, my guys, is too serious a business to be left to grey hairs alone. As Edo decides, I urge the young ones to participate, not just as party men and women but as aspirants and candidates. If the big parties shut the youths out, the not-so-popular ones are there. They can make them popular like Idahosa plans to do with the Young Democratic Party (PDP). I agree the odds may seem high but I urge the youths to come up with unusual campaign strategies. Above all, the black hairs should not rely on godfathers but have their gaze on God the father, who knows all and can do everything.

    I long for days when our fathers will play advisory roles and let us run the show. The time is now. I believe. What do you guys think?

    • A version of this piece appeared in the Southsouth and Northen editions of this paper last week.

     

  • Anger over three friends’ murder in Delta

    Last Tuesday, March 1, three friends, Odafe Kevwe Iwhiwhi (29), Kennedy Ogodo (33) and Otamedaye Onojighofia (26), left their homes in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta in search of fun. They went to a usual place on Ekrejebo Road, where they usually played games.

    Few hours later, the remains of the trio were paraded by the police as criminal suspects killed during a ‘fierce gun battle with criminals”.

    A senior police officer at the A Division, Ughelli, said they were killed when policemen from the station responded to a distress call. He affirmed that they got three of the boys during exchange of fire.

    They were buried on the evening of the incident. But if the police thought the matter was buried, they were mistaken as family members and friends of the boys raised the alarm over the incident.

    Some of their siblings and friends who witnessed the incident told Niger Delta Report, that the police’s allegation is incredulous, stressing that they were being economical with the truth.

    It was gathered that 29-year-old Iwhiwhi was preparing for the ongoing Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination and would have written the examination three days after he was killed. His centre, our reporter gathered, was at the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor. His examination number was given as C12113158.

    His uncle, Hon. Victor Okpowho, said: “He was supposed to have sat for JAMB last Saturday before he was killed. When l heard they were killed, l rushed to the police station on that Tuesday evening, at about 8pm. I was told they were killed in broad day light and I saw their dead bodies on the ground at the police station.

    “I asked the police what happened and he said they were armed robbers. I told him no, there is nothing like that. On Wednesday, l went to the street where the incident happened at Ekredjebo road to find out. I was told that they were playing cards with their friends. There were no stories of robbery or breaking and entry in the area.

    “I even took my time to start making inquiry if anybody had raised alarm or reported that he or she was robbed but there was no such incident; the picture of the house they were playing the cards and the shoes which one of them was wearing before they were killed was still there and the pictures are with me,” Okpowho added,

    One of the friends with whom the deceased were playing the game of card, who also witnessed the incident, told our reporter on condition of anonymity that they were neither fighting nor engaging anybody in a physical combat when the police stormed the scene and fatally shot the trio.

    “We were playing cards when the vigilante group came and started chasing them. The police came and killed three of them with allegations of robbery.”

    Chief Michael Ogodo, Kennedy’s father, lamented the tag of criminal being placed on the neck of his son and his ‘murdered’ friends.

    “It is very unfortunate thing for the police to have pronounced that my son is an armed robber. There is nothing like that. My son is 33 years old and from birth till when he was killed he had never stolen from anybody. Complaint never came to me from anybody about him.

    “I was not around when the incident happened, it was about 6pm that I was told that my son was killed on allegations of robbery. If my son could be murdered in such a manner and putting on him allegation that he is a robber, then the police or the vigilante should equally tell me who he robbed or who had complained to the police that had led the killing of three innocent children.”

    Reports that could not be independently verified indicated that the Ughelli Police Division was making spirited effort to settle the matter amicably. It was gathered that the remains of the trio has already been exhumed and deposited in a morgue.

    “As I am speaking with you, there was an effort by the police authority to meet with the Ovie of Ughelli. But I don’t think the king was in the mood to see them because of the killing of his subjects. They were told that the monarch was not available,” a source privy to the matter added.

    Meanwhile, the aggrieved grieving family has petitioned the AIG in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, the Senator representing Delta Central and other lawmakers, as they begin a quest for justice for the deceased.

    The petition was authored by the law firm of Roland A. Ekpe & Co Chambers, which said the trio were brutally murdered in cold blood by the police and vigilance group.

    It reads:  “At about 12noon on the 1st day of March, 2016, Messers Odafe Iwhiwhi, Kennedy Ogodo and Otamedaye Onojighofia and some of their friends were in a partially completed building situate along Ekrejebo road, Ughelli playing a game of cards (WHOT) when the vigilante members and their cohorts crept in and shouted a command thus: ‘If you move, we will shoot’. The deceased persons and other persons present took to their heels in order to save their lives.

    “The suspects ran after them and first shot at Odafe Iwhiwhi who fell down and identified himself as a student of the Marine School in Ogoni, Olomu in Ughelli South local government area. The vigilante members then searched him, saw the identity card, discarded it and shot him dead. The vigilante members also succeeded in getting hold of Kennedy Ogodo and Otamedaye Onojighofia who they arrested and took to their waiting pickup van together with the corpse Odafe Iwhiwhi and drove away. They subsequently murdered Kennedy Ogodo and Otamedaye Onojighofia in a cold blood and were later deposited in the Nigeria Police Station “A” Division, Ughelli.

    “Some of the friends of the deceased persons who were present at the scene luckily escaped and are willing to tell the true story of what has happened over the broad daylight killing perpetrated by their killers and their cohorts whom some officers of the A Division, Surveillance Squad are apparently and inexplicable covering up. The friends of the deceased emphatically assert that there was no robbery incident along Ekrejebo road on that faithful day,” it added.

    Attempts by our reporter to speak with the leader of the team at A Division, Mr Macaulay Imuni and Police Public Relations in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, were unsuccessful. But sources had initially said that the police acted on a distress call, adding that when they got to the scene, they found the suspects “absconding”.

    “This resulted in a gun exchange during which three of the suspects were felled by superior gunfire from the police.”

    However, Mr Festus Onojighofia, older brother of Otamedaye, also debunked police’ position, insisting that the “family is prepared to get to the root of the matter.”

    The killing is generating tension between the law enforcement agents and community leaders in the area. It was learnt that the incident, which wasn’t the first, has also pitched some traditional title holders against the police.

    It was gathered that earlier in the year, a local vigilante team had also shot dead a local tricycle operator at Oveto Street in the town. Although the suspect was arrested by troops of 222 Battalion of the Nigerian Army Agbarha-Otor, nothing much has been heard of the incident afterwards.

    The three suspects who were handed over to the Ughelli ‘B’ Division police station the following day were identified as Peter Oghenechuko of the Ughelli Vigilante Council, UVC, Sunny Oyovwire and Fidelis Onwah with two single barrel guns, 4 live cartridges and a cutlass recovered from.

    A female passenger of the diseased (name withheld) who witnessed the incident, said the diseased was shot at the back of his head by one of the vigilante members who had accosted them along Oveto street, following an argument between the Okada rider and the vigilante members.

    The person who allegedly pulled the trigger, said it was not deliberate, adding: “I wanted to shoot into the air to scare him while he (Okada rider) tried to ram into me with his motorcycle when the gun exploded and hit him at the head.”

  • Forum honours illustrious Cross Riverians in Calabar

    It was a memorable gathering the Transcorp Hotel in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, last weekend as the Cross River South Progressives Forum (CRISPROF) honored illustrious indigenes of the state who are serving in the present government at the national level in a thanksgiving dinner.

    Those honoured were include the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita; the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani; and National Vice Chairman, South South of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Hillard Eta.

    Coordinator of CRISPROF, constituted of eminent sons and daughters of the Southern Senatorial District of the state, Mr Eyo-Nsa Ekpo, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for emphasizing excellence as exhibited in appointments he has made from the state.

    He called on the president to change the trend of humongous neglect, marginalization and deprivation the state suffers for instance in the seizure of the states 76 oil wells; displaced people of Bakassi; poor condition of Ikom-Calabar and Calabar-Itu highways; and the delay in the activation of Calabar seaports.

    Ekpo, a lawyer, said: “We want you to honour Cross River State indigenes, whom the almighty God in his infinite mercy, using the instrumentality of this era of change under President Muhammadu Buhari, has decided to elevate to higher heights in the service of Nigeria.

    “The rational behind it is that it not very common in Cross River State. The state has not been this elevated and favoured and I know that it all because of the persona of the person, who is today in charge of the affairs of Nigeria. He recognizes excellence and recognizes record of service and it is no longer business as usual. And he also recognizes that Cross River has been at the forefront of providing dedicated service to the fatherland. We have a rich history in this direction and we thank the President, for bringing Cross River State into the main stream.

    “Nigerians are very hardworking people, but the reactionary politicians that have been holding sway since 1999 have not allowed our people to work. The godfather syndrome should be put to rest. People must be made to understand that there is pride in being productive. That is the objective of this group.

    “In the era of impunity, excellence was never recognized. The time has come for us to recognize excellence. The godfatherism that existed in the years of the locusts must be killed. Now we must recognize excellence. And these people that were selected to this positions were selected because of merit. And we must recognize them. If we at home don’t recognize them, then who will?”

    He urged the honorees to continue to render selfless service to the development of the country.

    He also warned against the call for the disintegration of Nigeria by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    He maintained that the state does not subscribe to or encourage the call for Nigeria’s disintegration.

    He said: “The people of Cross River South and indeed the entire state will resist any attempt to use them as cannon fodders for the actualization of any landlocked, land-challenged ethnic nationality’s expansionist pretention or agenda.

    “Our forebears resisted it, we shall also resist it to the last person and most importantly, we shall educate and indoctrinate our offsprings to stand against the very idea of balkanization of Nigeria under any guise or subterfuge”.

    Responding, the Head of Service who was represented by Mr. Gershom Davies thanked the group and pledged to do everything in her power to instill discipline in civil service while upholding the change mantra of the President.

    She said: “ I value this award and honour because I may be honoured all over the world but the one from home is what the world will value most. I demand your prayers and corporation to do my job diligently.”

    Also speaking, the CNS who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Theresa Ibas, said: “It is great to my family and the Nigerian Navy. I pledge to continue to be a good ambassador of the state and Nigeria at large”.

    The south-south national vice-president of the APC Prince Eta commended the President and his party for what the “unequal love because considering our support for him, we won’t be where we are today in his administration”.

    A keynote address titled Leadership Issues Related to Managerial Failures in our Political/Cultural Space, delivered by Prof Eyo Etim Nyong charged the Buhari government to be cautious in decisions it makes for the country.

    In Cross River, Nyong urged those in leadership position to focus more on how to lift the state out of its presently very low status in the country, which he said was characterised by low presence of Cross River employees in federal establishments, absence of significant Federal projects in the state, including the challenge of bringing the Calabar Seaport to realisation in order to drive the economy of the state and create employment for youths.

    He advised the current leadership to dwell more in driving the state’s agricultural, ecotourism, hospitality, and cultural heritage sector rather than throwing all its weight on just one annual carnival.

    Chairman of the thanksgiving dinner, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Cross River with appointments.

    Otu said Buhari’s benevolence to the state sent a strong message that meant that the APC was out to win Cross River.

    Among several dignitaries who graced the event are former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, former governor of the state, Mr. Clement Ebri.

  • Road expansion: Uselu residents lament non-payment of compensation

    Some persons whose buildings were demolished to pave way for the construction of additional service lanes on the Ugbowo-Lagos Road in Benin City yesterday protested non-payment of compensation by the Edo State Government.

    The protesters sat in front of the Assembly complex and carried placards with inscriptions such as “You have made us homeless, pay our compensation.” “Demolition without compensation is unjust, oppressive.”

    One of the protesters who gave his name as Harrison Uwangue said other affected were already bedridden

    Uwangue explained that the peaceful protest was to draw attention of the state government to their four years old plight.

    He said no compensation has been paid to them since the their buildings were pulled down.

    According to him, “As I speak to you, among the 24 of the affected persons, two are dead and some are bedridden. That is why the number has reduced.

    “We are dying and getting frustrated by the day. We are suffering untold hardship, homeless and financially emasculated. You can’t feed well and you can’t even clothe yourself. Besides, we cannot even pay our children school fees.

    Another affected landlord, Andy Olotu, said the additional service lanes have brought pains and hardship to them.

    Olotu said, “I did not build on the right of way This is the third time we have witnessed expansion of Uselu/ Ugbowo Lagos Road in Benin City. In 1965, the there was an expansion and there was another expansion of the Road in 1975 by the then Brig. Samuel Ogbemudia regime. The last expansion which affected our houses, came with walkway and service lanes”.

     

  • Hit FM commissioned in Calabar

    The first privately-owned radio station in Cross River State, Hit FM, has been  commissioned in Calabar.

    The station’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Pat Ugbe, said the station was set up to give Crossriverians an alternative voice in radio broadcasting.

    “Hit FM has come to stay. We will provide our audience with the best of music, sounds, news, and talk shows.  We will also partner with the state government in projecting her developmental strides to the people,’’ he said.

    Governor Ben Ayade urged Crossriverians to evolve the spirit of setting up small scale businesses that would make them entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

    Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, Ayade said setting up of the station shows that Crossriverians were beginning to invest in their home soil in other to drive the economy of the state forward.

    According to him, the station, if well utilized, will compete favourably with other government and privately owned stations in the South-South.

    “We want to see more Crossriverians investing in profit organisations that would create more jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

    “This station should serve as a great contributor in disseminating content to the masses. I urge the management of Hit FM to be factual and objective in their reportage,’’ he said.

    Director of Engineering, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Abuja, Engr. Friday Ukwela, said that the commission has certified the station equipment fit for broadcasting.

    Ukwela advised the management to adhere strictly to the NBC code, saying that any programme that contradicts the code of the commission will be sanctioned.

    The event was graced by popular Nigerian artists including Don Jazzy, Rugged Man, Sunny Neji, Dr Sid, MC Galaxy and others.

  • Police join fight against malaria, zika in Cross River

    The Nigeria Police Force has donated over 600 Insecticide Treated Nets and drugs worth millions of naira to the Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State to help protect the students and staff from mosquito bites and prevent the spread of malaria, zika and other diseases caused by mosquitoes.

    The nets and malaria drugs were presented to the School Management on behalf of the Police Authority in Akpabuyo by the Commissioner in Charge of Police Medical Services, CP Wilson Akwiwu in the presence of the Commandant, Police Secondary School, Superintendent of Police Peter Austin and the Officer in charge of the Police Medical Clinic in the School, Inspector Baba Enoch, as well as other management staff of the School.

    Commissioner Akwiwu said the donation was part of the Inspector General of Police’s commitment to support healthy living within Police formations across the country.

    He said the human body can only function properly in a healthy environment and urged the students to maintain good hygiene in order to be healthy to pursue their studies diligently and compete favourably with their counterparts in Lagos and Abuja.

    The Police Medical Services Commissioner pointed out that the Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo was specially selected as one of the beneficiaries of the program because it is the only Police school with a Medical Centre in the country.

    He emphasized that malaria is a killer disease that has affected many families in Nigeria and called on the beneficiaries to judiciously use the drugs and the insecticide treated nets to achieve desired results.

    He lauded the staff and students of the school for their high level of discipline and commitment to work, assuring that their problems, including inadequate accommodation, expansion of the school Medical Clinic to meet increasing health needs, would be taken to Abuja for possible positive response from the Inspector General of Police.

    Commandant of the Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo, Superintendent of Police Peter Austin, thanked the Commissioner for the gesture, assuring that the drugs and Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets would be properly put to use by the students.

    Mr. Austin appealed to the Police high command to look into the challenges facing the school especially accommodation and expansion as well as improvement of facilities in the School Medical Clinic to meet increasing health needs of the people.

    The Officer in charge of the School Medical Clinic, Inspector Baba Enoch, also praised the efforts of the Commissioner in tackling their health needs, noting that the Clinic requires expansion and well equipped facilities in order to meet growing health challenges of the student.

    Enoch said the items donated would help a great deal in checkmating the spread of malaria, zika and other Mosquito causing Diseases in the school and its environs.

  • Navy retools for battle against pirates, oil thieves

    Navy retools for battle against pirates, oil thieves

    For the first time in the history of the Nigerian Navy, twenty five security boats, locally built by Epenal Group of Companies, were inaugurated at once.

    The inauguration took place at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The Managing Director of Epenal Group of Companies, Mr. Numo Aaron, disclosed that his firm was the largest employer of labour, in terms of building boats in Nigeria.

    Aaron noted that the impressive performance of Epenal group had proved that high quality boats could be manufactured in the country, with many Nigerians already employed by the indigenous company and more about being engaged.

    The Epenal Group chief also stated that it was in the best interest of Nigeria to encourage local ship manufacturers, for the creation of more jobs and capacity.

    The launch was attended by the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, and the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir.

    The Commander of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, and the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, among other eminent personalities, were also in attendance.

    Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, in his goodwill message, lauded the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari for the measures taken so far to improve the operational capacity of the military.

    Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also commended the naval high command for taking concrete measures to stem the theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta by strengthening the security architecture of the waterways.

    The Rivers governor promised that his government would provide logistic support to the Nigerian navy in the operation of the 25 Epenal boats, stressing that security in the waterways would help in the acceleration of development in the Niger Delta.

    He noted that the local construction of the Epenal boats had helped in the creation of jobs in the country and the improvement of the capacity of Nigerian ship manufacturers.

    Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, said: “The Rivers State Government is happy with the Naval High Command for deploying these boats in this region. It will help in reducing (crude) oil theft. This will in-turn have a positive impact on our economy.

    “The boats will also check violent crimes in the creeks and improve the standard of living of our people. The Rivers State Government will provide logistic support in the operation of the boats.”

    Rivers governor also assured that his administration would always cooperate with the armed forces on security matters.

    The warrant of arrest issued by a Federal High Court in Lagos and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, declaring wanted an ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, over corruption allegations, made the Niger Delta militants to issue threats that they would resume hostilities in the crude oil and gas-rich region.

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, however, declared that no individual would take on Nigeria and get away with it.

    He stressed that nobody could be bigger that the country, while maintaining that any attack by militants/other criminals would be an attack on Nigerians and would not be taken lightly.

    Ibas, in his welcome address, disclosed that the launch of 25 Epenal boats was the first time in the history of the Nigerian navy that such number of patrol boats would be inaugurated at once, noting that when the fact of the boats’ local origin was factored in, then the event truly deserved to be considered a historic milestone.

    The CNS said: “The decision of the Nigerian Navy into this adventure (patronising local boats) could be considered circumstantial. Confronted with mounting operational challenges, in the face of progressively dwindling economy, the Nigerian Navy explored cost-saving options, which included embarking on local construction of the patrol boats. For immediate appreciation, the cost of production of a unit of the boat is less than half the cost of producing similar boats from overseas.

    “The contributions of the 25 launched boats are ultimately expected to enhance Nigerian Navy’s capability at carrying out its statutory roles and strengthen the fight to prop up zero tolerance to crude oil theft and other maritime illegalities, in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s aspiration.”

    Ibas also stated that the delivery of the 50 more security patrol boats from Epenal group of companies would ensure that the nation’s backwaters were saturated with patrol boats for improved security of the maritime domain, with the regime of sea robbery, crude oil theft and other maritime illegalities within the creeks to be met with stiff opposition from the navy, while efforts were ongoing towards acquiring more patrol vessels for littoral waters.

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, also declared that any threat by Niger Delta militants or other criminals would be met with appropriate military action, with the troops already directed to be on alert.

    Olonisakin said: “In defence, we are up and doing and we want to warn them (Niger Delta militants and other criminals) and tell them that the defence will not take it (threat) lightly.

    “Any threat will be met with appropriate military action. We have directed all our troops to be on alert and ensure criminals and vandals are brought to book.”

    The CDS also disclosed that Epenal Boatyard was contracted in 2015 to construct thirty 8.2m boats, fitted with two 250 horsepower Yamaha outboard engines and mountings for 12.7 mm and AGL guns, revealing that five of the 30 boats were delivered to the Central Naval Command in December 2015 and deployed for patrol duties during the governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    He disclosed that the Nigerian navy had awarded another contract for additional 50 Epenal boats, with anti-ballistic protection and other capabilities, as improvement on the ones inaugurated.

    Olonisakin said: “Today, our nation is challenged by multi-faceted threats with grave manifestations, especially in the Northeast and the maritime environment, where the Nigerian Navy is the lead security agency. These challenges will require enormous material resources to surmount.

    “Accordingly, in line with the strategic vision of President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (Muhammadu Buhari) and in spirited response to the current economic challenges being faced by the nation, the Nigerian Navy’s decision to look inward by contracting local ship building vendors for the provision of some of its defence articles is highly commendable.

    “This decision has not only helped conserve the much-needed foreign exchange, especially at this period of serious economic downturn, but has afforded the indigenous manufacturers opportunity to prove themselves and garner experience. It is gratifying to note that Epenal Shipyard has risen to this challenge and lived up to the task, by meeting some of the needs of the Nigerian Navy.”

    The CDS also stated that giving Epenal group 50 more boats to build was an indication that the Nigerian navy was truly looking inwards for the development of local content, in the face of dwindling economic fortune and foreign exchange reserve.

    He stressed that the initiative was in keeping with the change agenda of the current government of President Buhari, whom he said had directed the services to strive to be self-sufficient or at most endeavour to source locally.

    Olonisakin stated that he was personally grateful to all the persons that contributed to the actualisation of the great accomplishment, noting that by their efforts, the maritime landscape of Nigeria was gradually being accorded the much-needed security enhancement for peace and prosperity, hoping that the launched boats would be most professionally committed and put to the best rewarding use.

    With emphasis being played on local content development by the administration of President Buhari, especially by patronising indigenous companies like Epenal group, there is hope for employment opportunities and capacity building of Nigerians, particularly the youths.

    If the Niger Delta militants, however, resume hostilities as they threatened and are confronted by the military, it is very obvious that the employment and empowerment of the youths will be drastically affected, since there cannot be development without peace.