The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Wike urges architects to weed out quacks

    Wike urges architects to weed out quacks

    Rivers  State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has challenged Nigerian architects to take steps to weed out  quack professionals  to stem the  tide of collapsed  buildings.

    Speaking when he received the Nigerian  Institute  of  Architects ,  Rivers State Chapter at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike  said   there were cases of  collapsed  buildings in different  parts of  the  country because  of  the  input of fake architects.

    He urged    the  Rivers State Chapter of the  Nigerian Institute  of  Architects to work with other building  professionals  in the  state  to keep away  the deadly cases of  collapsed  buildings  from the  state.

    The governor  noted that aside the road infrastructure  in a state, architectural  masterpiece  is critical  to  development.

    He said  that  government  is a continuum,  hence there is no need to  abandon  projects because  they were initiated  by  previous  administrations.

    “The problem  we have in this country  is that new administrations  abandon  existing  projects to initiate  fresh ones. As a result,  government  loses funds invested in these projects.

    “For us, this administration  will complete  abandoned  projects  by the  previous administration and also initiate new projects as we have done so far. We believe  that  the funds expended on these projects  belong to the  people of  Rivers State and cannot be allowed to be wasted. “

    A statement  issued by  the  Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu added that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike assured  the architects that his administration  will cooperate  with  them to deliver  on improved housing for the people.

    He congratulated  the  Rivers  State  chapter  of  the  Nigerian Institute of Architects for producing  the  National  President  of  the  Professional  Body adding that the state government  will  assist in the organisation  of the investiture  and inaugural dinner.

    Rivers State Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects Dike Emmanuel  commended Governor Wike’s  infrastructural  development.

    He appealed to  the  governor  to face housing  development  after the road infrastructure,  noting that  good roads and architectural  materpieces  make cities outstanding.

  • Godfatherism: Clog in our political development

    Godfatherism: Clog in our political development

    The euphemism, Godfatherism, is perhaps one of the most popular and self explanatory adjuncts in the world today. It has a dual meaning, one being religious and seemingly harmless and the other political and sometimes dangerous. In the sphere of religion, a godfather is supposed to be a guardian that undertakes to teach a child (grandson) Christian values. In politics, however, godfatherism connotes favouratism, undue advantage, tyranny, suppression and even treachery. Godfatherism gives undue advantage to a particular individual to excel over others; it grants unmerited favour on its candidate over others especially in a competition or contest. It allows tyranny to lord over the people; it aids and even supervises suppression of fairness, truth and justice. Above all, Godfatherism is an enemy of national development. It is a global phenomenon which pervades the realm of politics, casting its influence as far afield as in Commerce and Industry, Business and even Sports.

    But in no sector of national development is godfatherism as prominent and pronounced as in politics. The history of our dear country, Nigeria, especially her political history, is replete with stories of political kingmakers who have in the last five decades, bestrode our political landscape, dictating not only the pace of leadership and governance but also our political development. In the last 16 years, this political cankerworm has caused tremendous damage and stunted the development of the political process in the country. It has assumed the toga of a colossus in some states of the country where nothing practically happens without the godfathers being in the lead. In some states, these godfathers have even taken control of the economy casting their influence over such important institutions of governance and development as the three arms of government-the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – and even the State annual Budget. The political strategy of godfathers is well known. They anchor the political campaign to install their political sons to public offices as governors, legislators and local government chairmen in processes which involve huge resources and most times circumventing of electoral processes for their candidate who may not be the best on grounds of merit or the people’s choice by popular demand or vote.

    The Nigerian experience of godfatherism has largely left the nation politically and economically underdeveloped in spite of the years of democratic governance. This is both true in its ability to subvert the people’s right to vote in leaders of their choice at elections as well as the frequent backlash resulting from the fighting that often erupts between the godfathers and their grandsons after the elections.  It has been a recurring experience across the country in the last 16 years seeing these godsons turning around to fight their godfathers over control of the state or whatever level of influence they are meant to be in charge of. There have been numerous examples of political sons and their erstwhile godfathers going for each other’s jugulars, often over the control of resources of the state. In the last 16 years, godfatherism has raised its ugly head in several states of the Federation across the six geopolitical zones of the country. The Fourth Republic, particularly, has witnessed these ugly trends from inception.  Prominent among these cases were Senator Modu Ali Sheriff vs Governor Mala Kachalla of Borno; Dr. Olusola Saraki vs Governor Mohammed Lawal (Kwara State); Senator Jim Nwobodo vs Governor Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu State); Chief Emeka Offor vs Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra State); and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi vs Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, among others.

    In Edo State the issue of godfatherism in its political affairs centred on three personalities namely Chief Tony Anenih (Mr. Fix it), former Chairman Board of Trustee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Samuel O. Ogbemudia,  and Chief Gabriel Iginedion, father of the former Governor Lucky Igbinedion. The ugly head of godfatherism was first raised during the process of the party’s primary where the gubernatorial candidate selection saw a popular Alhaji Azeez Garuba losing to Lucky prior to the 1999 election in an undemocratic manner. Again in 2003, on behalf of the trio, Chief Igbinedion, boasted at a campaign rally at Sam Ogbemudia Stadium that government house was not vacant, even though it was manifestly clear that the performance of his son Lucky’s administration was nothing to write home about. The governor was loyal to his godfather (Mr Fix it )  until 2006, but when the issue of who would become the PDP flag bearer for 2007 gubernatorial elections came up, things fell apart. The matter was serious to the extent that two factions of the part emerged with two secretariats, both at the state and local government levels with Chief Tony Anenih and Dr S.O Ogbemudia on one side and governor Lucky Igbinedion and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion on the other side. With the older Igbinedionon  on his side and in the bid to prove his political might, the governor relieved appointees loyal to Chief Anenih and his group from their positions. But in reward for their loyalty, those people were often compensated with federal appointments where chief Anenih was very powerful. The tussle came to a head when Right Hon. Friday Itulah, an Anenih loyalist, was removed from office as speaker and replaced with David Iyoha, an Igbinedion supporter. It is no gainsaying that the people of Edo State suffered immeasurably in terms good governance and legislation as well as the development of social amenities while the economy also suffered considerably.

    That was the situation which the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole found on ground when he contested the Governorship of the State in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Of course he had to undertake a tenacious legal battle that lasted almost one year before he could reclaim his mandate from Professor   Osenhemen Osunbor of the PDP. The incumbent, whose popular campaign slogan was “One Man One Vote”, quickly went into battle to dismantle the machinery of godfatherism in the state. There is little doubt that his political battle with the “invincible “Mr. Fix it is still fresh in the memory of Edo State people who welcomed it as a sign of freedom from repression and the beginning of development for Edo State.

    That is why it is still unbelievable the rumours making the rounds at the moment that the same Governor Oshiomhole has anointed some candidates for the coming governorship election in the State. It would amount to going back on his vomit if the rumour is true. Firstly, it will be an indictment on his part that his battle against the godfathers in the State was all done to gain control of the State’s political machinery for his own self aggrandizement. Secondly, aside denying the people of Edo State the freedom to make their choice at the election, the act would be taking the State’s political development several steps backward. Thirdly the former godfathers, whose wings he was able to clip in the past seven and half years, would now feel justified to return to their old arena. There is no doubt that Edo State will be the worse for it. And of course it will be an unfair contest for other candidates to go into such a competition with the Power of Incumbency behind one of the contestants.

    One question that has always agitated the minds of political analysts is why state chief executives most times insist on installing “anointed candidate” over the people’s popular choices.  Aside the fact that it arrogates monopoly of knowledge to such governors, the whole thing smells of desperation on the part of a governor to cover up his evil deeds while in office. With his stooge taking over from him, he would feel more secure to enjoy his loot and even continue to exploit the people. A governor who has nothing to hide would be ready to quit the seat of government when his term expires without endeavouring to impose a stooge.

    On the whole, there is need to address the evil of godfatherism if this country must develop politically, socially and economically.  Happily, the present administration, whose war cry is change, has begun the process by addressing the issue of corruption. But while it is doing so, the government must also address the issue of poverty to empower the people against cash and other corrupt inducements during elections. Also our electoral machinery must be sanitised to check these political jobbers who believe they could subvert the right of the people to choose the leaders of their choice.

     

    • Omojade is a social commentator

     

     

     

  • Rivers communities urge oil giants to be socially responsible

    Communities  in  Ogu and Bolo Kingdoms in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas of Rivers State have called on companies resident in their communities to embark on infrastructural and human development programmes.

    The communities, which play host to ExxMobil and other multinational companies in the state, also called on the companies to improve on their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.

    The communities made the call during a one-day cancer and Tuberculosis treatment awareness campaign lunched in the communities by Divine Health and Good Society Foundation and Universal Basic Development both Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs), and sponsored by ExxMobile and NNPC under their Joint Venture Programme.

    The spokesman of the Communities and Leader of the Community Development Committee (CDC),  Omieibi Davids, said it was necessary for the companies operating in the area to be fully committed to its corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.

    He noted infrastructural and manpower development were needed in the area and called on the companies to be active in that regard.

    He urged multinationals which Ogu and Bolo kingdoms are playing host to, to ensure the development of the youths and the infrastructure.

    He pledged the communities’ commitments in ensuring that the good relationship that has been existing but the companies and the community is maintained.

    “The communities of Ogu/Bolo, which play host to some companies in the state, need infrastructural and manpower development.

    “Infrastructure and human development mean so much to us. We call on the companies to create projects that every person in Ogu/Bolo will see and feel.”

    The GM, EXXON Mobil, Paul Arinze, promised to sustain the cordial relationship between them and their host communities, by ensuring that more programmes and projects were attracted to the communities and the residents.

    As part of the gestures to the communities, the company donated a 16-seater bus to  youths of Ogu/Bolo.

  • Oil firm organises medical outreach for community

    To ensure a healthy life for the people of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, the management of NNPC/ Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited organised a three-day Free Medical Outreach on Cancer and Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness Campaign for the community.

    Speaking to flag off the campaign, the General Manager, Public/Government Affairs of MNP, Mr Paul Arinze, said the medical awareness which included testing for these two killer diseases was meant to draw the people’s attention to them.

    Arinze, who was represented by the Manager, Field Public and Government Affairs Operations of MPN, Mr Yemi Fakayejo, explained that while Nigeria ranks number four in the world for reported cases of death caused by breast cancer and number 11 for prostrate cancer, the country also ranks 38 of 172 countries in the world for TB.

    The MPN chief lamented that while cancer has no cure, TB is curable but “both diseases continue to take a toll on the human race, more particularly in developing countries such as ours, where access to quality medical care and information remains a challenge.”

    He also said to bridge the information gap on these diseases, his company sponsored two notable non-governmental organisations (NGOs) namely: Divine Health and Good Society Foundation (DHAGS) and Universal Basic Development Centre (UBDC) to enlighten the people on how these diseases are contacted, prevented, controlled and treated, hoping that the event would make a positive impact on the over all wellbeing of the people of the locality.

    He said the cost of sponsoring the two health projects and the bus which MPN also donated to Ogu/Bolo youths at the occasion is over N22 million and urged the youths to ensure that the vehicle is used for their civic responsibilities and not for political party rallies.

    The Executive Director of DHAGS, Dr Chijioke Mbaelu, enlightened the people on causes and prevention of many communicable diseases like TB, hepatitis B, scabies, malaria and cholera, stressing on the importance clean environment and hand-washing.

    The Executive Director of UBDC, Dr Marcelina Okereke, enlightened the people on the signs to look out for on their bodies to prevent breast and prostrate cancer.

    The representative of Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Golden Ovunda, commended MPN for its interest in the state noting that “it is rare to see corporate organisations putting back to the society what it has gained.”

    Ovunda, who stated that “an investment in health is an investment in wealth”, also expressed the hope that the medical outreach programme should not be a one-off thing but should rather be sustained.

    The programme, which lined up 21 medical personnel, including doctors, nurses and lab technicians, treated about 2000 persons of various ailments. It attracted many goodwill messages from the Chiefs Council of Ogu/Bolo, the lawmaker representing the constituency in the state assembly, Hon. Evans Bipi, the local government council and other groups.

  • Boost for 65 Rivers Law students

    Boost for 65 Rivers Law students

    Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and the needy. This is the work of lawyers and attorneys; High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs (O.B. Lulu-Briggs) and his wife, Dr. Sienye O.B.Lulu-Briggs are already doing this through their years of philanthropic gestures to the indigents of the society.”

    These were the words of the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, at the 6th edition of High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs Foundation’s Nigeria Law School Scholarship Award for the 2015/2016 set held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Wogu, also a lawyer, was the guest speaker at the event.  He spoke on the topic, “Expectations and challenges of a Legal Practitioner’s career”.

    He noted that Law profession is the hope of the common man and the public have a lot of expectations from them, adding that lawyers cannot afford to disappoint the public by bending the rule to favour the rich.  He urged them to speak for both the rich and the poor in accordance with the rules.

    The minister outlined some of the challenges faced by lawyers in the course of practice to include, high cost of Law books, activities of lawyers caught in the web of rich- quick syndrome, and the difficulty/inability of some young lawyers to procure their wig and gown, as well as undue pressure following the high expectations of the public on lawyers.

    He thanked the Foundation for its efforts in moulding future leaders for the Ijaw nation starting from Rivers State, and urged them on diversification of their chosen career.

    Sixty five lucky Law students of Rivers State origin, who are on their way to the Law School for their qualifying course before joining Law practice, bagged the award this year.

    They smiled home with brand new HP Laptop and cash gift from their benefactor, O.B.Lulu-Briggs Foundation, to assist them offset the crunchy financial difficulties usually faced by students at Law School; with the view of helping them face their studies and graduate with flying colours.

    The scholarship award is one of the five programmes of the Foundation founded in 2001. Other fields of the Non-Governmental/ not-for-profit organisation are: The Care for Life, Education and Scholarships, Free Medical Missions, Micro-credit and Entrepreneurship and Water purification and Access to clean Water, especially for river-rine communities  without good drinking water.

    No fewer than 442 students have benefited from the Law students award since it began six years ago.

    The Executive Director of the Foundation and wife of the founder, Dr.  O. B. Lulu-Briggs, expressed satisfaction at the feedback from past awardees who have graduated from the School and now practicing in parts of the country, stressing that “This informed our reason and encouragement to continue with the kindness and to even expand it further.

    “It is interesting to note that this grant scheme which was initially awarded only to natives of the Kalabari Kingdom is now open to all Nigerian Law School students who are of Rivers State origin.

    “In a bid to scale up our activities in the educational sector and also encourage academic excellence, we have raised the stake higher as the selection criteria is now quite challenging. By so doing, we hope that an atmosphere for healthy competition amongst students of Rivers State will be created.”

    Mrs. Lulu-Briggs released some fundamental tips that would make the new awardees more successful in the school and their chosen career, but also threw a challenge on them.

    “For you grantees, I would like you to seize the moment at hand and take a deeper reflection to understand the purpose of your selection. You were obviously not selected by chance, you must also understand that our World is rapidly changing, with advancement in technology and knowledge being updated constantly.

    “The Legal profession today to a large extent is interwoven, it is an interplay of what you know and how well you can build relationship with people. I urge you therefore to take advantage of the opportunity to network and also sign up as protégés of some of the senior advocates/legal professionals in your chosen career, as the membership they provide will accelerate your growth and development.”

    The clergy further explained reasons for the Foundation’s decision to extend hands of fellowship to this category of Rivers’ students when she said: “We are doing this, not because we just want to do good, but to impact positively on the society, using this arm of society as an avenue.”

    Past grantees and their parents at the occasion could not stop testifying of the immense succour the Foundation’s gesture gave to them.

    Benibo Reginald Wiyoka of the 20014/2015 set said: “I will like to express my profound gratitude to the High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs and his dear wife, the Executive Director of the Foundation Dr. (Mrs.) O.B. Lulu-Briggs and the entire staff of the Foundation. I was a beneficiary of the Foundation’s the grant early this year.

    “The grant impacted me in various ways that I cannot recount, but I must say that the grant enhanced me generally especially as a young Lawyer. After much consideration on how to utilise the cash award given to us, I decided to use it to develop myself further in-line with the advice of the Director of Programmes of the Foundation, Miebaka Nabiebo. This led to my registration into the Institute of chartered Secretaries of Nigeria, and as I speak now, I have almost rounded off the programme as the last examination will be taken this December.

    “This has added to my feather. Without this wonderful family and their candid advice this would not have been possible. Again the importance of the brand new Laptop that accompanied the cash cannot be over-emphasized as a Lawyer and student. I remain internally grateful to them for this rare gesture and pray that God will sustain the life of this family and reward their kind deeds.”

    Also Opumabo Georgewill and Mercy of 2013/2014 set, in their separate speeches noted that the Foundation’s intervention came to them when it was most needed.

    “They told the story of how the Foundation’ grant greatly enhanced their comfort stay in Law School, by helping them get their wig and gown and other necessary materials required by the school with ease; when it was not easy task for most of their counterparts.

    Also some parents at the event, Mr. M. D. Yellow and Mrs. Peace Williams, described the High Chief and his wife as Living Legends who have injected so much positive things into the society and its people through their glaring love for education in general and Law Profession in particular and prayed that the kindness continues as God continues to keep their lives.

  • Sad memories of ‘Rivers 100’ killed in cold blood

    Sad memories of ‘Rivers 100’ killed in cold blood

    On Monday, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital witnessed a memorial event to remember over 100 victims of the violence recorded before, during and after the last general elections. On that day, gunmen even attempted to kill those on their way to the remembrance rally tagged Black Day. All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr Dakuku Peterside relives the sad moments. Excerpts:

    We are gathered here for a purpose that is paradoxical. We are simultaneously mourning and celebrating our brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short by the inexplicable violence that characterized the general elections in Rivers State in March and April this year.  It is violence that has continued till today, merely mutating and transforming – from attacks before and during the general elections, now we suffer kidnappings, armed robberies, and assassinations by persons who are yet to be dispossessed of the guns with which they were “empowered”.

    Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends were attacked and killed in their homes in cold blood because of their political leanings. Some were attacked and killed while they were on their way to attend campaign rallies. Our campaign venues were victims of explosive devices and outright attacks by gun men. These were intimations of more unpleasant scenarios.

    On election days, ordinary citizens who wished to cast their votes as enshrined in the Statutes of our land were killed or maimed by trigger-happy and dagger wielding political thugs and mercenaries. In some cases, at polling units, elderly persons were beaten until their hearts literally stopped beating. Our brothers and sisters died because some politicians who were consumed with vaulting and inordinate ambition engaged in horse trading. More than 100 innocent persons were killed, victims of the evil acts of desperate politicians. You have heard chilling stories from their families, but for the sensitivity of our sensibilities, I wish not to recant that narratives here. Unfortunately, till date not a single person has been prosecuted for these crimes against humanity.

    Brothers and sisters, we are here to commemorate the memories of these victims of political violence. For us, they were not just victims but martyrs. They constitute the “strong breed” who have taken our collective burden to ensure the survival of democracy particularly in Rivers State and Nigeria in general.

    It would be callous of us not to remember and celebrate their sacrificial but untimely deaths. This commemoration is the more necessary because law enforcement Agencies have not provided any form of succour to the families and friends of these victims by bringing to book the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. We will therefore not shirk our moral obligation to continue to advocate for justice for these our fallen brethren. That is the whole essence of Rivers Black Day. To mourn and celebrate these martyrs of democracy; as well as cry out to God to show mercy on us as a people whose land has been polluted by the blood of innocent persons.

    Recall that we humans learn by relating previous experiences with current ones. Thus, what is the lesson from the tragedy of more than 100 human beings murdered as a result of immoderate political ambition? It raises questions about the character of those who want to lead us and the orientation of our political class. In accordance with the propositions of ancient Philosophers, that politics should be reserved for those with the character and experience required to make policy; I urge us therefore, that in all our dealings to always appreciate the sanctity of human life, and fashion out ways on how to direct the less enlightened in civic and civil conducts.

    We have recognised that at all times and in all situations we are “Greater Together”. Hence, today together we stand to say NO to any form of political intimidation and violence in our land. Brothers and sisters, welcome to Rivers Black Day, a day dedicated to the memories of more than 100 persons who were killed. May their gentle souls rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord. Amen.

  • Don urges young surveyors to shun corruption

    An Emeritus Professor of the department of Surveying and Geomatics, Rivers State University of Science and Technology(RSUST), Dagogo Jaja Fubara, has urged young surveyors to shun all forms of corrupt practices.

    Fubara spoke at the maiden national delegate training conference organised by Young Surveyors Network (YSN), for its members in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital,  tagged “Harvest of Ideas.”

    He noted that the profession was crucial and had been at the forefront of national development, especially in the areas of land as well as space and tracking of pipeline.

    He stressed the need for young surveyors to expand their knowledge for better service delivery.

    “I encourage them to read beyond the level of first degree which gives them naira and kobo, in other to be able to contribute to these areas earlier stated.

    “We need adherence to discipline and education to work according to World set standard of practice without compromising either quality of service or in honesty especially now that the Federal Government is taking the issue of the fight against corruption seriously.”

    The national coordinator of the group, Aro-Lambo Yusuf Agbola,  outlined the areas surveyors were needed for national development. He urged the government to create enabling opportunities for them to practise their trade.

    Agbola added that the train-the-trainers programme with the theme: “dynamic synergy of young professionals towards national development”, was aimed at better equipping young surveyors with today’s reality. He drew the attention of the government to the need to create the enabling environment for them to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

    He said: “Nigeria, like many other developing countries of the world, is faced with several challenges, such as, security, shelter, food security health, transportation, poor education infrastructure amongst others. It is important to note that all these are occurrences in in a place, therefore the surveyor on land expert is always needed to remedy any of this, whether on land, water of space.

    “It is rather disheartening to note that only a few less than 3,000 surveyors are on ground to render assistance to the country if called upon and this number includes both the old and young surveyors. In order to be relevant to national development, NYS Nigeria realised that acquiring the requisite skills by young Surveyors is the way forward; especially those needed for today’s interventions and those for future growth.

    “The need for developing and spreading skills among the young irrespective of their professional status is the instruments for moving the country forward since the older ones have the wisdom and the younger ones the vigour.

    “There is the problem of how to manage urbanisation, flood and desertification and surveyors have the tools to mitigate the problems.

    “We are not happy that after graduating as a surveyor, for lack of incorporation by the government, lack of job opportunities to practise what we study in the university, most of us end up in other sectors.

    “We are also drawing the attention of governments to the desires of young surveyors. Young surveyors in Nigeria want to be given their rightful place in the quest for national development.”

    The National Secretary of the group, Ajie U. Emmanuel, said synergy with other related profession was crucial for surveyors to achieve their desired goals.

  • Tears, blood as Ikwerre local govt chief, security agents eject tenants

    Tears, blood as Ikwerre local govt chief, security agents eject tenants

    THERE was wailing around the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State recently when security men and alleged thugs  ejected tenants from a lone-storey building in the area.

    They were said to have been accompanied the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Mr Samuel Nwanosike.

    Nwanosike is embroiled in a messy battle with a fellow stalwart of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Mr Deisy Okankwu, over the fate of the building.

    When our reporter visited the controversial property last weekend, it had been deserted; its occupants had all fled, following alleged threats of further attacks on them. They accused the council chief of using thugs to beat them up, destroying their properties and goods without any remorse.

    Some of the affected tenants who spoke to Niger Delta Report narrated their ordeals in the hands of Nwanosike and the thugs. They lamented that they were being made to suffer for the messy wrangling between the landlord and Nwanosike.

    Mrs. Angel Lucky, whose shop and goods were destroyed, recalled the incident: “I was in my shop when some policemen escorted the Caretaker Committee Chairman there. Immediately they alighted from their cars, they told us to pack our things and leave.

    “They threw our things away, destroyed what we were selling. 20 crates of eggs, drinks and other goods in my shop were destroyed.  One of them dragged me out of shop and went inside starting flinging our goods out of the shop. Because of their desperation to kill us we decided to leave. One of the thugs that came with them told us that they will shoot us if they meet us here again.”

    Another tenant, Ms Rita Ugwu, who was relocating her property from the building when our reporter visited the scene, said they had no option than to pack out the house.

    “My brother, the matter is beyond us; before the chairman came some bad boys ransacked our rooms. They pushed us out saying they are acting on the order of the chairman. The next day, I was in my shop when a group of boys came and started chasing my customers away, they scattered everything and destroyed even my tables and chairs. The worst thing is that the chairman was there watching them.

    “There was no notice given to us on this action. If I calculate the cost of what they destroyed, it is more than N800,000. When they came, they asked us to pack our things, we don’t know them; it is our landlord that we know so, we didn’t know what was happening.”

    The owner of the property, Deisy Okankwu, who identified himself as a strong supporter of PDP, expressed surprise at the treatment meted on him and his tenants by the council boss. He particularly lamented that he became a victim of the party which victory he contributed immensely to in the last election.

    Okankwu said he had called many chieftains of the party to wade in and to advise Nwanosike to stay away from his property.

    He said: “The caretaker chairman called me and said the governor asked him to use the property for some government functions and that he was giving tenants two days to pack out or he is going to damage their property and do whatever he needs to do to force them out. I called my lawyer and we went to court to obtain an injunction preventing anybody from interfering with the property.”

    He traced his ordeal to years back when the management of the Greater Port Harcourt City project paid compensation for the property to an alleged imposter.

    When contacted on phone, Nwanosike said the building had been marked for demolition by the Greater Port Harcourt City. He added that the woner had received compensation.

    Nwanosike said he was interested in the building because of the mandate given him by Governor Nyesom Wike.

    “We were instructed by the governor to sanitise the environment and fight cultism and kidnapping. When we came onboard after our security meeting, we discovered that the building was been used by criminals as hideout.  So we gave the occupants a seven-day ultimatum to leave but they refused. My administration has initiated a policy against robbery, cultism and kidnapping and we are going to use this building to carry out our assignment.

    “I want you to know that many visitors to the state have been attacked as soon as they alighted from plane heading to their various destinations. If the landlord doesn’t want us to use the building which Greater Port Harcourt City has already paid a compensation for, then we have no option than to demolish the building.”

    However, Okankwu said he was in Canada when the purported imposter forged a power of attorney, deceived the Greater Port Harcourt City and collected N46million meant as compensation of his building. He hinted of a connivance between the government agency and alleged fraudster, stressing that the agency went ahead to pay such huge amount of money without confirming from him or his sister whose phone number was with the agency.

    Besides, he faulted allegation of criminal activities in the building.

    He said: “Since there was a matter in court between myself and Greater Port Harcourt for paying a fraudulent man, I sent people to tell the chairman to stay away from my property that there were no criminals or kidnappers living there as he alleged.  Some of the occupants of the property were responsible people who were hired by the company building the International Airport. There has never been any case of robbery of kidnapping for over 15 years that we have owned the property.

    “My lawyer went to the local government office and served the chairman a restraining order not to interfere with the property. But recently he came and caused damage with his own hands and his security men, his boys were watching and also causing damage to the property too. They destroyed the properties of my tenants, broke their plates that was on the dining, broke their chairs and tables and caused so many damages.

    “He destroyed the structure and promised them that they will see the worst of it the next day. He still came back in the night that same day and warned them that nobody should remain in the building. He is still threatening to come and now the tenants are packing out because they are afraid for their lives. There has never been any warning or security issue on that property.  Even, the presence of the property around the Airport junction provided some security and prevented crime in that area. It was really an addition rather than a subtraction in securing the neighbourhood.

    “The staff of Greater Port Harcourt collaborated with the fraudster.  They never made any contact with me or my manager who was dealing with them but they ended up paying him a huge amount of N46 million for the property. So because of that we went to court to challenge the action of the fraudster and Greater Port Harcourt City. Don’t forget we had already applied for the compensation but we didn’t get any response from Greater Port Harcourt only for us to hear that the money had been given to another man.”

    Effort to reach the management of Greater Port Harcourt City proved abortive as all the phone lines provided to us to reach the agency was unreachable.  A text message detailing the matter was also forwarded to same numbers.

     

  • Police pension holds workshop for to be retirees

    The Nigeria Police Force Pension Limited has appealed to would be retiree officers to follow due process when accessing their retirement benefits.

    The head, NPF Pension Business Development, Chukwuma Ohaka, spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital during a one-day workshop for officers in the Southsouth due for retirement between January and June next year.

    Ohaka said NPF Pension Limited would ensure that retired officers did not wait too long before receiving their benefits.

    “The aim of the workshop is to prepare the minds of Police Officers that are about to retire from service, next month. This s also in line with the provision of the law which stipulated that they be informed of their upcoming retirement six months before the time.

    “The group we are preparing now are those that will retire between January and June next year.

    “Again we are doing this because of the importance we attach to our retirees/clients, we do not want a situation in which they will retire and begin to wait for their benefits (gratuity and pensions), so we are doing this to teach them what to do to complete their retirement documentations and file them on time after they had retired.

    “This will enable us to also get ready for them early enough so they can receive their gratuity at least two weeks after their retirement so they can plan their lives on time.”

    He added that all the administrative bottlenecks experienced by pensioners/retirees in the former benefit scheme would not be experienced in the current contributory pension scheme.

    Ohaka noted that his clients would receive nothing less than 25 per cent of their annual salaries as gratuity and 50 per cent of their monthly salaries as pension.

    Asked why the police was removed from other Pension Administrators, he said the large number of retirees being turned out by the police annually and the complaints against their former administrators necessitated the setting up of the NPF Pension Limited to give the best of service to ex-police officers.

  • Road safety goes tough in Akwa Ibom

    The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has decalred war on traffic offenders.

    The FRSC said it has strategies to curb accidents this Christmas period and beyond.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Godsgift Uwen, said Governor Udom Emmanuel would flag-off the campaign against reckless driving at a mega rally in the state in the first week of this month.

    Uwen said: “We are organising a mega rally in the state early December. To underscore the importance attached to the campaign of ‘zero accident’ we are targeting for Akwa Ibom State, the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, the Corps Marshal, transport Unions, drivers and every one that matters in the transport industry in the state will be in attendance”.

    Uwen noted that accidents in the state were fewer because of the good quality of roads, support from relevant arms of government and the efforts of the officers of the Corps .

    He noted that accidents occur more in the ’ember’ months than in other months of the year not because of the ‘presence of the devil to suck blood’ as erroneously believed but because of the increased number of people and vehicles on the road.

    This, the PRO added, has a corresponding increase of risky behavior on the road which often results in preventable road crashes. This, he said, the Command is out to check.

    As part of efforts to contain the situation and as part of the Command’s mandate, Uwen said they started the campaign of educating motorists and the general  public on driving to stay alive since the first week of September.

    “We have visited parks, Churches, Mosques, transport unions and associations. In order to curb road crashes, we need to remind an average motoring public on what to do and what not to do on the road during this period and always.”

    He said the Command had also embarked on retraining of drivers in state government ministries with the aim of  recording zero road accident in the state.

    “Government has done so much in ensuring roads in the state are in good condition. Our contribution is to help preserve the human capital to enjoy this noble efforts of government.