The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Akwa Ibom govt urges communities to end land crisis

    The Akwa Ibom State government has called for a ceasefire between the warring communities of Ikot Akpan Udo village in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area and Amazaba group of villages in Eastern Obolo. The communities had been embroiled in boundary disputes since 2008.

    Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo, who made the call during a meeting between representatives of Ikot Akpan Udo and Amazaba at the old Executive Chambers’ of Government House, Uyo, warned the  communities to keep the peace in the area while awaiting government’s White Paper on the matter.

    Ekpo wondered what could have instigated the fresh disputes when the matter was awaiting government’s White Paper after a Commission of Inquiry had already made its recommendations to the government.

    The deputy governor urged the two communities to resolve their differences in the interest of Akwa Ibom people, saying that the final resolution of the crisis would serve as an example to other warring communities in the state.

    “You cannot develop a society when those who live there are virtually at war with themselves to the extent they spill blood”, said Ekpo.

    He condemned the recent clash in the two communities, adding that “Land belongs to God and God alone. We are only given a portion to live; man does not know how long he has to live but he has to leave and bequeath it to another person.”

    Ekpo, who urged them to live in peace like brothers and sisters, said Emmanuel was worried about the disputes. He called on the communities to assist government in bringing the needed development as the creation of local government areas was not to separate people but to bring development.

    The meeting was attended by the local government Chairmen of Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas, the Paramount Rulers of the two areas, the village heads of the communities, youth leaders and the Divisional Police Officers and others.

  • Joy as Bonny family remembers forebears

    The Captain Hart Major House and Hart Group of Houses in Grand Bonny, Rivers State recently celebrated the final burial rites of their leaders, Chief Emmanuel Hart and Chief Athanasius Hart.

    Speaking during the ceremony, the Head of Captain Hart Group of Houses, Se-Alabo Reginald Hart, who ascended the stool in 1993, recalled that the seat was created to compensate their ancestor, Adango, for his services to Prince Fubara and Bonny Kingdom.

    Giving the stool to Adango also made it possible for him to become the second commoner to be a Country Chief in Bonny Kingdom.

    Reginald said:  “Adango being a pilot derived the name Captain Hart from trading with Europeans of the time because of his regular duty of piloting most of their merchant vessels which were engaged in trade in the Bonny River.”

    At the service which took place at the First African Church, Rt. Rev. Sunday Matilukuro praised the past leaders of the Hart Group of Houses for working for the interest of the people and the overall development of the kingdom.

    Matilukuro urged members of the Bonny Chief Council to strive to live worthy legacies for those coming behind to follow.

    The Publicity Chairman of the burial committee, Amaopusenibo Sonny Meshack Hart, said the event was organised to honour the two sons of Captain Hart Major Group of Houses as well as to pray for the repose of their souls.

  • Calabar traders protest extortion, harassment

    Calabar traders protest extortion, harassment

    Commercial activities in Calabar,  the Cross River State capital, were  slowed down  at the popular Etim Edem Motor Park as traders locked their shops in protest against the management of the park for alleged incessant battering, extortion and harassments.

    The traders under the umbrella, Etim Edem Traders Welfare Association, led by their Chairman, Comrade Etim Akpan took to the streets adjoining the market to call on the Calabar South Local Government Council Chairman, Mrs Majorie Asuquo to sack of the management of the park led by Michael Mesembe.

    The traders who said they have endured the constant humiliation of their executive members by the park managers for long without complaining, erupted into protest after the secretary of their association, Chukwu Emeka Eke was allegedly battered to a point of coma and one of his eyes injured.

    The traders insisted that either the park management is replaced or they would continue in their protest to persuade the relevant authorities to act.

    “It is better we are managed by armed robbers than by the present management where our members are daily subjected to battering, extortion, harassments and verbal assault by Imoh and his boys. We will continue to protest peacefully until the authorities that put him there acts on our demand,” Comrade Akpan said.

    The Chairman alleged that they are asked to pay sums ranging between N20, 000 to N30, 000 by the management of the park to even fix their own stalls.

    Akpan said, “The matter that resulted in the battering of Chukwu Emeka to a point of coma follows the demand from management of the park that every trader who displays goods outside his stall should pay the sum of N20,000 in addition to the amount paid for each stall and when one of the traders insisted on not paying his goods were destroyed by Imoh, the operations officer of the park and his boys  which resulted in a scuffle and when the secretary went to find out what was wrong, he was attacked.

    “Imoh brought out his chest and started with me and rained all sorts of abuses on me and there is nobody that can contend with him and when the secretary came, he did not join issues with them but simply asked what the matter was and Imoh and five of his boys started to assault  him  and threw him on the concrete floor and continued to beat him until  the liquid in his eyes came out”.

    The traders who took the protest to the nearby Atakpa Police Station were addressed the Divisional Police Officer for the Division, DSP Rasheed, and the Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Council, Majorie Asuquo.

    The DPO said Imoh and his colleagues who battered the trader would be charged to court.

    The council chairman said it was unfortunate that the park management which was instituted to take charge of motor vehicles in the park  had over stepped it bounds by meddling into the activities of traders just to extort money from them.

    “Each time I wanted anything from the traders I always write to them through their association and  have not sent anybody to terrorise or extort money from them and this  must stop and I am going to ensure that drastic changes are effected in the market immediately to put pay to ugly situations like this,” she said.

    She appealed to the traders to resume normal business activities while she undertakes the process of carrying out reforms in the market.

  • Accolades for welding firm

    Accolades for welding firm

    Mudiame International Limited, a welding company based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has been praised for its development of local content in the oil and gas sector.

    Captains of industries and the representatives of  the Executive Secretary Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Managing Director, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, President, Nigeria Institute of Welding (NIW) and others witnessed  the commissioning of Mudiame Ultra Modern World Class Welding Laboratory.

    Mudiame International Limited, a subsidiary of Mudiame Welding Institute located at Igbo-Etche Road, Rumuokwurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. It has trained many youths in different welding capacities. The company was established in 2013 to provide training on courses leading to the certification in international welding in line with International Institute of Welding (IIW).

    The  Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe, who was represented at the occasion by NCDMB Capacity Manager, Frank  Ibi, said the vision of Mudiame would boost Nigeria economy.

    He said with what he saw during the facility tour Mudiame vision would assist the government and industries in achieving local competency and skill capacity building.

    Ibi said:  “This is one of the projects that can contribute to minimize youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region. Once the people of this community recognise that there is something of this nature here they can source a way to empower themselves. The training here is of international standard, who ever that graduated here is made for life. All we need in this country is infrastructure because with this we can empower the youths.   There are other parameters that we use to judge establishment. Local content is about everything like marine, engineering, engaging of personnel etc, but   it is a gradual process.”

    The President, Nigerian Institute of Welding, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, said welding was a major market of the economy. He said the company had observed the huge gap in the oil and gas industries where competent Nigeria welding engineers and welders were lacking and the huge cost of attending training abroad. “And that became a burden for Mudiame to establish this institution,” he said.

    Edebiri said his organisation was engaging with companies operating in Nigeria to ensure that trained Nigerian welders or welding engineers were given opportunity and respectfully treated. “This is a great opportunity to boost our economy; days are gone when we see lawyers or medical doctors as a major market. Today welding is the right place to go. To show you that we are advancing, Mudiame offers about ninety percent of laboratory testing services required in the Oil and Gas sector. And with the certificate in International Welding Engineer (IWE) International Welding Technologist (IWT) International Welding Specialist (IWS), International Welding Practitioner (IWP) International Welding Inspection (IWP) and International Welder (IW); This shows that the company is ready to assist Nigerian government in agricultural policy through agricultural equipments. Of course,   before now these are training you get abroad but today you can get them here in Nigeria.”

    The Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mudiame International Limited, Mr. Sunny Eromosele,  said he was delighted to have companies like Saipem, Aveon, Offshore, FMC Technologies, Mobil,  GE Oil and Gas, Total, SPDC and others    supporting his dream.

     

    •Eromosele
    •Eromosele

    He said:  “It gives me great joy and deep sense of fulfillment to stand here to welcome you to this all-important event in the history of Mudiame International Limited. What we have today is a reality of yesterday‘s dream, and it will remain green in my memory. I appreciate God for his grace and mercy as I welcome you to the official commissioning of Mudiame Ultra-Modern Laboratory and the Graduation ceremony of Mudiame Welding Institute’s International Welding Engineer (IWE) students. Mudiame International Limited started in a very small way with great challenges and limitations .Keeping faith with destiny and taking solace in the book of Luke chapter 1:37 which says ‘’for with God nothing shall be impossible” we surmounted the challenges and broke the jinx.

    “Our vision to be a leader in the Laboratory Testing Services led to the quest to have this facility seen here today which is a one stop laboratory where all various tests required in the Oil and Gas industry as well as Allied industries can readily be obtained instead of going outside the country to perform  such tests. It will also interest you to note that Mudiame has gone beyond offering services to her clients to developing competent International Welding Engineers that can compete with our foreign folks in the Oil and Gas industry in order to fill in the gap where Nigerians are lacking, participating in the welding designs on Nigerian project as it has been in the past years.”

  • Rivers, RIVERS, RIVERS

    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court resolved the dispute over the Rivers State governorship election. In the wisom of the seven-man panel, Nyesom Wike was elected in compliance with the Electoral Act. The justices will list the reasons for the judgment on February 12.

    For me, the Supreme Court is god on this matter. It has spoken and whatever people like me feel about its judgment matters less. I look forward to hearing the reasons their lordship will give for upholding this election, which was the hallmark of violence.

    I congratulate Governor Nyesom Wike and wish him well. My prayer is that Rivers shall know peace like Pastor Enoch Adeboye foresaw during his recent meeting with the Rivers governor.

  • Letter to the comrade

    Letter to the comrade

    Dear Sir,

    I really do not know how to start this letter. Well, I will start the usual way. How are you sir? How are Adams, Jane and Steve? And how can I forget to ask about Madam? How is it to be married again? And not to just any woman but to a beauty in almost every sense? Madam, I guess, must be a solid source of inspiration. Even from afar she inspires me. So, I assume she must be inspiring you and making you feel good and tempted to sing: “I feel good, parararara. So good”.

    Sir, the major reason why I am writing this letter is because of your impending exit from power. It looks like it was yesterday when the Court of Appeal returned your mandate that was stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  and handed over to Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor, who some days back indicated interest in taking over from you on the platform of your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Time sure flies. Your second term of four years is rounding the bend. Time really flies.

    Baba Anthony Anenih has not quite recovered from the blow you dealt on him. Now, he even has more to worry about. No thanks to Dasukigate.

    As you must be aware sir, dozens of people have already indicated interest in being the next governor of Edo State, the home of the great Oba of Benin, the leopard who we were told was ill in the Savannah bush. Among those who have shown interest are clowns, pretenders and those who truly mean business. By their fruits we shall know them, says the Bible.

    Comrade Sir, my concern this morning centres around the controversy being generated by the belief that you have an anointed candidate already. You have not told us anything like this; what you have told us is that you would not be neutral when the time comes for a choice to be made.

    Permit me to quote you: “ I come from a tradition that neither succumbs to blackmail nor can be frightened away from what I believe is right… If 10 aspirants ask for my support, I can only support one and if I’m going to support anybody as a sitting governor, I should have looked at the person, his records and do my own evaluation.

    “I’ve worked with people and I know the strengths and weaknesses of all those I have worked with. Even in school a principal will write testimonial for his pupils and in the case of teachers, he will write a report of evaluation of the performance of all the teachers he is working with.”

    But no matter what you have said or not, many seem to have read your mind and already a family feud has been ignited between your alleged choice and a member of his family who had earlier sought his blessing to be your successor.

    The Bini Leaders of Thought (BLT)  also joined the fray recently. A portion of a communiqué at the end of its meeting is instructive. It reads: “BLT believes that god-fatherism in Edo politics was detrimental to the social, economic and political development of the state. God-fatherism is not acceptable to BLT and the good people of Edo State. It should not be reintroduced under any guise.

    “The people of Edo State should be given free hand to determine their next governor. Popular participation bestows responsibility for governing one’s own conduct, develops one’s character, self-reliance, intelligence and moral judgment. In a democracy, there is no substitute for popular participation. Even a benevolent despot who could govern in the public interest, would be rejected by the classic democrat. Man can only know the truth by discovering it himself.”

    Let me say it here loud and clear sir. You have the right to be involved in  the choice of who succeeds you.

    But, I want to remind you of the theme behind the great book Merchant of Venice. In the book, a rich man lent a poor man some money and it was agreed that if he refused to pay at a particular time, the rich man was going to take a pound of flesh. The rich man was happy the poor man missed the deadline and all efforts to get him to be merciful failed. Eventually, he was asked to take the pound of flesh. He was, however, reminded of the letters of the agreement: pound of flesh. Nothing more, nothing less. And there lay the dilemma: how to ensure what his knife would cut would not be more than a pound when weighed and how to ensure no blood was drawn in the process of cutting the pound of flesh. The agreement did not indicate that some blood would be taken. At the end, the rich man had to bow to the rule of law.

    Sir, the essence of recalling this story is to advise you that in whatever you do in supporting a successor, allow level-playing field. Don’t bend the rule to favour anybody. Don’t force your choice on the people. Let there be a primary and if for instance the party agrees to a consensus, let it be a consensus in every material particular. I beg you sir do not bend the law to get in someone who shares your vision.

    Please let me add this as my final take: In making your choice, which I think should be in consultation with leaders of your party and other stakeholders, have this in mind: Edo State is no longer a place where  a learner should be presented for the management of the state’s resources. So, the state needs somebody with experience, good qualification, good interaction with the Presidency, and with a global world view.

    I must also point out that carrying along everybody does not mean some people will still not disagree at the end of the day because of personal well-being and other pecuniary interests. But just satisfy yourself and your conscience that whatever you do is in line with democratic tenets.

    For now, I want to rest my case. I sure will have cause to write on the processes leading to your final exit in November. I wish you well sir. Say me well to Madam Iora, Adam, Steve and Jane.

    Sincerely yours, ‘Korede.

  • Edo 2016: Let the people decide

    Actually, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had to lay ‘low’ to conquer the godfathers, the demonic cabal and legions of contract hungry vampires swooping on his young administration. It was the zenith of political frustration for the Comrade  Governor. Tactically, he waited to conquer those tyrants, thieves and despots in political garbs, who ravaged the blessed land of Edo state with absolute impunity’’-Quoted in Nowinta’s book; 2012: Conqueror of The Godfathers (page 64).

    In many ways the recently concluded Bayelsa Governorship Election was an acid test for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its number one citizen, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

    This is so because the peculiarity of the election raised tempers and eye brows to the zenith in both camps of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressivess Congress (APC).

    In the midst of some dare devil election spoilers spread within the wings of APC and PDP who wanted at all cost to tarnish and rubbish all concerted efforts put together by INEC and other stakeholders, thank goodness that a winner has finally emerged.

    Those who were equally throwing stones at the presidency concerning the just concluded Governorship election in Bayelsa State, implying that President Buhari and the APC were hell bent on grabbing the state can now swallow their words like bitter pills. One thing INEC and the presidency must urgently look and work out is the terrible issue of electoral violence in Nigeria. Because if there is an Electoral Offences Tribunal the indiscriminate and reckless resort to savagery and barbarity by a fraction of supporters of both leading candidates would have been drastically reduced.

    What I am saying in essence is that like never before we need to practicalise the setting up of Electoral Offences Tribunal. It was most unfortunate and degrading to see some political thugs bathing in the pool of blood of innocent electorate. As I congratulate  sitting Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP for a well deserved victory over Timpre Sylva of APC, Edo State 2016 Governorship Election is on my mind.

    Edo state in 2008 was like a big ocean of rot and decay created by the PDP after a most ruinous eight years in power. Every where one turned to the appalling state of things stared at us unblinkingly, even as the masses were worst of.

    Much more disturbing was the palpable loss of confidence in the political leadership of Edo State before the April 14,2007 general elections, as poverty stricken citizens were manipulated by economic/political elite to achieve their selfish egocentric and destructive ambitions. Then came the man with the big heart-Comrade Adams Oshiomhole!

    As some one tenaciously committed to duty, Oshiomhole began in 2008,to introduce a brand new analysis to the issues of governance by preferring reasonable and better arguments to counter the reasons earlier adduced by the political godfathers when they vehemently subjected the ‘people’ to unimaginable animalism and brutality. Now more than seven years in the saddle the people of Edo State are at liberty to judge the performance of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    Absolutely, it is only the people, certainly not the politicians that often behave like prostitutes that will honestly scale and score Comrade Oshiomhole transparently without any shadow of bias.

    If the people are the umpires that must blow the whistle for or against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as the count down to Edo State political governorship primaries approaches they should be made to be truly in charge of things within the political parties fielding candidates?

    In Edo State 2016 political governorship primaries intra-party true democratic process must be allowed to prevail so that the best material will have the opportunities of facing the people during the governorship election proper.

    It is only in that way that the people of Edo state can settle for the right man that will continue from where Comrade Oshiomhole will stop on November 12th 2016. If you ask me, amongst the aspirants that have indicated their interest so far in the race for Sir Dennis Osadebey Avenue, Engineer Chris Ogiemonyi stands taller in terms of pedigree and integrity?

    • Nowinta wrote Adams Oshiomhole: Conqueror of the Godfathers.
  • Ogiemwonyi gives N.25m to mother of triplets

    Ogiemwonyi gives N.25m to mother of triplets

    A former Minister of State for Works and an aspirant in the 2016 Governorship election in Edo State, Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, recently stunned Mrs Grace Joshua who gave birth to triplets in Benin City, when he has presented her a cheque of N250,000.

    Ogiemwonyi, who identified Preventive Health Care delivery as a key welfare programme of any good government, said his gesture was to help the family overcome the current economic challenges.

    He noted that he decided to identify with the family because it was difficult for an average family to live well in this current economic challenge most especially when the job of a triplet is added

    According to him, “Preventive Health Care delivery system is one of my key focus. I want Nigerians, especially, the affluent ones, irrespective of political affiliation to assist in the upbringing of the new babies.”

    “Health care delivery, as a key welfare programme of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is the motivating factor for my visit to the medical centre for the purpose of identifying and celebrating with the family of the triplet.”

    Mother of the triplet, Mrs Grace Joshua, thanked  Ogiemwonyi  for the gesture which she described as a surprise.

  • Developers seek solutions to Bayelsa housing problems

    Developers seek solutions to Bayelsa housing problems

    Lack of affordable and decent accommodation has remained one of the major headaches of living in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Residential houses are scarce and the ones available are expensive and almost beyond the reach of many inhabitants.

    A standard two-bedroom flat goes for between N450,000 to N550,000. A good self-content apartment is priced between N180,000 to N200,000 while a bedroom flat goes for about N250,000. So, most people are forced to live in slums under excruciating environmental conditions.

    Such slums located at different parts of the capital city, even close to the Government House, Onopa, are congested neighbourhoods. People erect and live in mud houses with their families.

    In fact, the problem is compounded by lack of deliberate plans by the state government to engage in housing projects. Also, wealthy politicians known to have amassed wealth in government, instead of building residential estates, prefer erecting hotels.

    But private developers seem to have come to the rescue. One of the developers, Orlum Nigeria Limited (ONL) has embarked on a project of encouraging people living in the state to build and own their houses. Recently, the company entered into an agreement with the Otuasega, a community close to Yenagoa, to acquire large parcel of land, map it and sell to interested builders in affordable prices.

    The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the community to develop and sell the parcel of land situated at Ekuraba/Obo-olo bush within Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The company recently mowed down the forest with its earth-moving equipment to access roads to the area.

    Speaking to Niger Delta Report, the Chief Executive Officer, (ONL), Mr. Teknikio Clarkson, said the company adopted a strategy of providing good housing with quality environment to residents.

    He said: “To us sometimes the work is really challenging, the challnges we face is that we source for funds, invest and we are also stakeholders so that we will feel the pain and participte with the people and then come up with development measures that would make us achieve an aim of quality enviroment and quality living.

    “It takes a lot of convincing, resources for is to get there. Everything that is done must be done according to accuraccy. If you are not patient enough you will end up not even achieving anything but thank God we have been able to make a mark.

    He assured people intending to acquire plots of land in the area of security on their investment. He said the company operated within the bounds of the law. He said the firm was founded with the principles of integrity and justice.

    “We stand on truth and justice. So, we are assuring eveyone who invest in us that you can invest and go home and sleep. We secure your investment so you dont run a loss. So we are assuring everyone to come and invest with us”, he said.

    Reacting to the development, an elder from the community who identified himself as Pastor Ogar, praised the company for initiating a gesture to develop the rural community. He said the roads being mapped out in the area would help to open up the rural dwelling.

  • How Bayelsa author wrote his way to Rivers prison

    How Bayelsa author wrote his way to Rivers prison

    Colleagues and family of Nengi Ilagha are in a sad mood. Reason: the author has been in jail in Okrika, Rivers State since December. A Bayelsa court jailed him for writing a book considered libelous of King  Edmund Daukoru of Nembe. MIKE ODIEGWU reports on efforts to get the author out of jail

    Since last month, a popular Bayelsa State-born author, Nengi Joseph Ilagha, has been in prison. A High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, committed him to prison over a libel case between the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, King Edmund Daukoru and the author.

    The state chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), which disclosed the travails of Ilagha in Yenagoa, called on its national body, human rights community and international organisations to help free its incarcerated member.

    The state Chairman, ANA, Mr. Michael Afenfia, said a book Ilagha wrote, titled Epistles to Maduabebe, was the subject of litigation between Daukoru and the author.

    He said while Daukoru, who was a character in the controversial book, went to court demanding damages, Ilagha was not aware of the suit until the court ruled in the king’s favour.

    He said in the judgement delivered on March 27, 2013, the court awarded N30million damages and N80,000 cost against the author.

    Afefagha further explained that Ilagha was trying to have his day in court when the court ruled in another contempt suit filed by the king and committed him (Ilagha) to prison on December 14, 2015.

    He said the state leadership of ANA decided to speak on the issue to help the world know that such a prolific writer who had contributed immensely to the development of the state, was in detention.

    He said the body was seeking a resolution that would bring him out of the prison adding that Ilagha, whose works had touched lives, should not be allowed to rot in jail.

    He said ANA sent its legal team to the Okaka Prisons to find out the state of affairs and explore ways of appealing the judgement and reconciling the author with his kinsman, the king.

    He said: “We want Ilagha to know that we stand by him. Even though we are behind him, we stand for peace. We know how imprisoned we feel as authors if we are not able to freely express ourselves. We commiserate with his family.

    “We call on ANA national level, all lovers of justice and well-meaning Bayelsans to come and held us resolve this problem. There was no appeal and Ilagha had no opportunity to defend himself.

    “This opportunity should be availed him to speak and defend himself and stand by what he has written. We are considering appeal to enable him defend himself. He was not represented and he said he had no knowledge of the legal process until judgement was passed.”

    Throwing more light on the development, the Legal Adviser ANA, Mr. Murphy Briabebe said when Ilagha got wind of the 2013 judgement, he tried to contact a lawyer, but the lawyer died.

    He said the author wrote a letter to the judge demanding an opportunity to defend himself adding that Ilagha lacked knowledge of legal processes.

    “It was on the basis of contempt of court which is viewed as criminal that he was committed to prison. He is detained until he purges himself of the contempt. The process to free him is ongoing”, he said.

    But what really irked the king about the book? A review of the Epistle to Maduabebe  by Onyedi Boniface Ossai gave an insight into why King Daukoru felt offended by the book.

    The reviewer said: “Epistle To Maduabebe is a revelation. It is one piece of literary adventure by Nengi Josef Owei (Ilagha) that is bound to stand out as an instrument of freedom for so many people that have remained dumb in society, even when they grovel under the yoke of poverty and enslavement. From the first word, the author grips the reader and refuses to let go until we are compelled to reason together.

    “The book is an exercise in courage, a platform for articulating the truth as a matter of course. Well worded on every page, the content is as revealing as it is baffling. Like a bull on rampage, the author charges forward and leaves no stone unturned along his path. If this epistle seeks to level the Goliaths of our time, then the goal is fully achieved in one fell swoop.

    “Nengi Josef Owei (Ilagha) hails from the creeks of the Niger Delta, precisely Nembe, the small brave city-state. He competently demonstrates that he knows the story of neglect in his territory like the back of his hand, to say nothing of the source of that neglect. A passionate writer, an editor per excellence, a master of the written word with a knack for adhering to the rules of constructive language use, he comes across as honest, tough, inspired and uncompromising.

    “These are the qualities that have guided him even as he explodes on the satanic forces that hold our world in thrall, as epitomised by Seiton (the real name for Satan in the language of Eden) masquerading as Maduabebe. The consummate author of this piece of work demystifies the credentials behind Dr Edmund Maduabebe Daukoru, and throws a blinding light on the condemnable acts of the impostor king who has visibly reduced the worth of everyday living in the floating island, and by extension all around Bayelsa State.”

    The reviewer added that the author delved into the darkest side of his subject and came up with details that had so far been hidden.

    According to the reviewer, Ilagha accused the king of usurping the throne and locking up fellow contenders. He also accused ex-Governor Timipre Sylva of working with the king against the people’s interest.  He was not done. He accused the king of not contributing to the development of “his primary constituency in real terms”.

    The reviewer added: “For indeed, in his capacity as Nigeria’s first Chief Geologist, the power equation in Nigeria today could have been more favourable to the people of the south, if Dr Edmund Daukoru had held his grounds and acted in the largest possible interest of his people. He failed to do so. He settled for crumbs on the master’s table, and that is why the Niger Delta region is in its present state of gross underdevelopment. Rather than lead the fight against exploitation and degradation of the environment from the beginning, the man became the primary enemy of progresss.”

    The book accused the king of cutting off voices of dissent and subverting age-long traditions and common norms.

    Each of the twelve chapters of the book, the reviewer noted, ends with twelve posers for King Daukoru. The 153-page “epistolary tirade” at the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and former Petroleum Minister blamed him for the backward state of Nembe. The author also wrote of Judgment Day for the perpetrators of evil and wickedness in the land.

    The king was livid with the content of the book. He sought redress in court and the court agreed with him. That is why Ilagha has been in jail since December. His family and friends are now doing all they can to get him out.

    For now, he remains in jail. A new book may emerge from his experience in Okrika’s ‘hell hole’.