The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Lest Mrs Khan forgets

    Lest Mrs Khan forgets

    There is a limit to what the brain can remember. Despite its enormous capacity, it is like an elastic band. When you stretch it to a point, it cannot go further. It is for this reason that I do not blame the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mrs Gesilia Khan.

    The Bayelsa-born Khan, on Tuesday, was honoured by three groups. I have since lost count of the number of awards she has received from shadowy groups since May 29. The spokesperson of the latest group to honour her described her in glowing terms.

    Mrs Khan, while receiving the award, said she complied with the Electoral Act in carrying out the last general elections. She said her efforts contributed to ensuring the violence in Rivers was minimal. She almost said she was able to bring to shame people who expected the state would grieve for a long time after the polls.

    Listening to Mrs Khan talk these days make me appreciate more the relationship between the brain and the elastic band. Now, I feel it is time I reminded Mrs Khan that she was wrong to have said the violence in Rivers was minimal. Was she deliberately being economical with the truth when she said that? Or is it all about the relationship between the brain and the elastic band?

    Well, today I will refresh her memory. Madam, Rivers was hell before, during and after the polls. For months, men without spine, men of brawn—and please permit me to add— who lack humanity and conscience put Rivers State, the Lagos of the Southsouth, on the spot. It was either they were shooting guns or they were throwing bombs. And when they did it, they hid their faces. They acted most times under the cover of the dark and daylight.

    Aside guns and dynamites, they also used machetes and other dangerous weapons. Heads were broken. Necks were twisted. Arms had hot leads pumped into them. And there was a woman whose back was reshaped with bullets. It was simply a tale of blood.

    Last year, I received the picture of a man on a hospital bed somewhere in dear Rivers. Blood was gushing out of the middle of his head. It looked as though his skull was broken. His name, I found out, is Emenike. In the picture, he looked dead. In fact, he was reported dead and condolences were sent to his friends and families. The picture was to illustrate a story for the next day’s edition of this paper. But, we simply could not use it. It was gory. My Editor, Gbenga Omotoso, cringed on seeing the picture and simply screamed: “we can’t use this. It is gory.”

    He was not the only one attacked that day.  Others were too. They were at a meeting when they were attacked by men of low moral standing, men who are so-called because of their physical possessions.

    Jerry Needam, who speaks for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, alleged that the then Chief of Staff to the immediate past Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha ordered political thugs and APC supporters to attack a former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Timothy Nsirim at a function in Rumueme. Needam described the alleged attack on as “criminal, barbaric and animalistic”.

    Nsirim, he claimed, was physically battered by Okocha and sustained major injuries all over his body and had his clothes torn to shreds. “The PDP therefore, calls on the Inspector General of Police, IG and the Rivers Commissioner of Police, CP to arrest and prosecute Tony Okocha. The party also describes Okocha as lawless, blood thirsty and one if not tamed, would cause crisis in Rivers State, ahead of the general elections,” he said.

    But Nsirim’s father who is the King of Rumueme community, Nyeweli Omunakwe Nyeche Nsirim, accused his son of using thugs to disrupt the APC rally. According to him, the APC stalwarts in the community had duly obtained the blessing of the chiefs of the community to organise their political rally. He described as false the claim by the PDP that Okocha and other APC supporters attacked the former council chairman.

    The bulk of those at the receiving end of the madness in Rivers were of the APC. The PDP said the APC was the one throwing the dynamites and attacking its own to buy sympathy.  Several APC supporters on their way to the official flag off of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in Port Harcourt were attacked by masked gunmen near Harry’s Town, in Degema and Sakpenwa, in Tai. The cowards were not bold enough to do it without hiding under face masks. They left many unconscious and in their pool of blood and fled into anonymity to spend the filthy money from their cowardly masters.

    Ask Aadum Pya-Alu, Deemua Beatrice, Sorbari Npebee, Barbe Jack, Victory Vinam and Wisdom Akpogbara and they will tell you tales that not only touch the hearts but break them.  Pya-Alu’s leg shot by the cowards tell all the story; Beatrice’s back-arm can never forget the day hot leads were pumped into it; Npebee, who was shot in the head and neck, is lucky to be alive to tell the story; and elated is Jack for not dying as a result of the gun-attack on his stomach; so is Vinam, who was shot in the leg; and Akpogbara must be thanking God that the bullet he received on the head for daring to identify with Gen. Buhari’s aspiration did not kill him.

    Okrika, the hometown of ex-First Lady Dame Jonathan, never allowed any APC rally. On one occasion, gunshots were exchanged between those who wanted the rally stopped and the police. At the end, a policeman died and a reporter with Channels Television, Charles Eruka, was stabbed. Some other policemen were also badly injured.

    Mr Anayo Onukwugha, a journalist working for Leadership in Port Harcourt, said he saw youths carrying AK-47 rifles, locally-made pistols, cutlasses and bottles.  They overpowered him and collected all they could lay their hands on in his pockets, including his two phones, a digital voice recorder and some cash.

    His colleague, Emeka Amaefula, the Bureau Chief of City, sustained abrasion on his sheen and waist and had an elbow inflammation.

    Of all the killings, those of the Adubes caught the public’s attention more. Their killers showed no mercy. In one fell swoop, nine persons, including a father, his two sons and daughter were killed. The Adube family members are still in tears and are seeking justice.

    Those killed are: former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local government, the late Hon. Christopher Adube, his two sons Lucky and John Adube , his daughter Joy,  a family friend, Mr. Iyk Ogarabe and the family driver, Mr.  Samuel Chukwunonye.

    Gunmen also killed nine persons and burnt the house of a politician in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in one day.

    My final take: There were other killings. But I think these should be enough to get Mrs Khan to stop talking about minimal violence in Rivers. As to her claim that she conducted the polls in accordance with the Electoral Act, I think the tribunals are in a better position to say that.

    By next month, the verdicts will start rolling out from the House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship tribunals. Only these tribunals can give the sort of verdict Mrs Khan is ascribing to herself. Until they speak, please ma, keep your mouth sealed.

  • Association identifies quackery as cause of collapse buildings

    The Nigeria Association of Draughts-men (NAD) has identified quackery as a major cause of building collapse.

    The Chairman of the association, Delta State chapter, Chris Akeni, spoke at a workshop held at Oteri community, Ughelli North Local Government Area.

    He said the association organised the workshop to re-educate its members on their role in building construction.

    In a lecture titled: Preventing Unnecessary Building Failures and Collapse in Nigeria, the Role of the Draughts-men “,  Akeni described draughts-men as indispensable member of both the design built team in any construction work.

    Akeni, who urged engineers to be more careful and accurate in the pursuit of their duties, noted that their role in building construction is to make detail drawings which communicate all aspects of designs that are used to build houses.

    Speaking on the cause of the frequent occurrence of building collapse, the State chairman stated that they are caused by faulty design owing to inadequate or improper structural detailing and wrong specifications.

    While calling on the government to regulate the practice of draughts-men in Nigeria, he stressed that the profession is too porous and open to quacks thereby producing incomplete detailed working drawings.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after occasion, the Ughelli zone chairman, Mr. Fred Egbudu commended the State leader for organising the workshop for the purpose of retraining them on how to be more focused and the modern trend of the job.

  • For Mary Slessor, twins invade Calabar

    For Mary Slessor, twins invade Calabar

    The name Mary Slessor is synonymous with the stoppage of the obnoxious culture of killing of twins in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. Hence it really was not out of place as twins from all works of life, under the aegis, Mary Slessor Twins Club International gathered in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, where the Scottish woman first landed the country in 1876, to commemorate her to sustain the legacies she stood for, in a one day memorial symposium.

    Founders of the Club, also known as Twins Foundation, Twin Ene Cobham and Twin Mkpang Cobham, said the symposium is to immortalize the woman and also to appreciate her for all that she did and the magnanimous show of love she showed by stopping the killing of twins.

    They said it also provided the opportunity to gather twins from all works of life from one umbrella where they can express themselves as one mind and a sense of purpose, developing themselves and the society.

    “If not for her coming, what we are experiencing today would not have come to pass. So we appreciate God for bring her to this part of the country and that is why we have this symposium to brainstorm on the way forward, immortalising her by promoting and sustaining her legacies. Her legacies are so enormous. We started the organization in August 23, 2002. We have been moving strongly although not without some challenges, especially financially. We have been working with some government agencies and the private sector and we believe the best is yet to come.

    “Though we have twin organizations all over the country and the world, ours is unique because we are celebrating the woman who stood and sacrificed her life to stop the killing of twins so it is very significant for us to that we honour her,” they said.

    Chairman of the event, Elder Eyo E. Okon, noted that Slessor was a selfless person, lamenting this was a quality that leaders in the country today lacked. He urged that if justice is to be done to the Scottish woman’s memory, then the ideals she stood for should be sustained, even as the twins commemorate her.

    Chief Executive Officer and the secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation in a paper titled the benefits of the Post Mary Slessor Centenary Celebrations to the Socio-Economic Applications: The Twins Perspective, said “the legacy of Mary Slessor must survive for us to build the same platform of the same shared dreams for stakeholders, partners and descendants.”

    “The benefits of investing in the venerated name and legacy of Mary Slessor are awesome. Spiritually, she beckons a stepping-stone for our evangelism, a catalyst for breaking religio-ethnic barriers and a cornerstone of reference in terms of faith, courage and responsibility.

    “Mary Slessor is also a living legacy that brings continuous socio-economic wealth to the church, the catchment states and Nigeria, as she brings all to the realization of man’s ultimate spirit and ability to overcome every conceived spiritual and environmental challenge or obstacle.”

    Also presenting a paper on the Legacies of Mary Slessor in Time and Space, Rev Ubong E. Eyo of the Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Calabar, said the path of honour is not always trod by those who were born into greatness but by those who irrespective of their birth made positive indelible marks in the lives of people. Such, according to him, could be said of Mary Slessor.

    “The boldness of traversing the jungle of Africa by this Scottish woman need not go uncelebrated. In the dark and thick forest of Africa were different customs which were inimical to the welfare of human society, and Mary Slessor delivered the people from those customs,” he said.

    Among her legacies, he said inhumation, which she fought against human lives accompanying dead kings of chief, stopping the killing of twins, acting as a judge and her mission work of professing the gospel. He noted Slessor was never married as she gave all of her life to helping people.

    He urged that her legacies be sustained at the personal level, the institutional level and also through the fight for gender equality.

    Represented at the event were the Obong of Calabar and the Muri Munene of the Efuts, who urged the Foundation to get bigger and stronger ad whatever should be done on Slessor’s behalf, must be properly done.

    Mary Slessor was born on December 2, 1848, near Aberdeen, Scotland. She was the second of seven siblings. She came from a poor family background and lost her father and four of her siblings at an early age. By 1859 when she was only eleven years, she began part-time work in a weaving mill and by 1862 was working full-time. She later became very active in church activities and in May 1875 offered her services to the Foreign Mission Board. Her heart was set on Calabar, but so eager was she to be accepted that she said she would be willing to go to any other field. Her personality, and the accounts given of her character and work, made such an impression on the officials that they reported favourably to the Board, and she was accepted as a teacher for Calabar. After training in Edinburgh, she set sail in the S.S. Ethiopia on 5 August 1876, and arrived at Old Calabar in West Africa in September of the same year. She died on January 13, 1915.

  • Kogbara out, UNIPORT Vc’s son in

    Kogbara out, UNIPORT Vc’s son in

    The latest victims of kidnapping in Rivers State are Vanguard renowned columnist Donu Kogbara and 25-year-old Ejira, son of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Ndowa Lale. Both victims are Ogoni.

    Kogbara is an indigene of Bodo in Gokana LGA, while Ejira hails from Ebubu-Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area.

    The columnist was kidnapped on August 30 and spent almost two weeks in the den of the criminals in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

    The easy-going Kogbara decided to visit her mother, Mrs. Ann Kogbara, at her Nkpogu-Port Harcourt residence, but became target of what she later called “highly educated” kidnappers.

    In the morning of Sunday, August 30, what might be on the mind of the celebrated columnist would be to prepare for church service to praise God for His faithfulness, but the unwanted visitors prevented her from spending quality time in the presence of her maker.

    The gunmen, who wore police uniform, seized Kogbara in the morning of Sunday, August 30, when they stormed her Nkpogu-Port Harcourt residence in a CRV car, amid gunshots. The gunmen blindfolded her and quickly disappeared with the columnist, whose whereabouts remained unknown for almost two weeks.

    The columnist was eventually released at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 11, but returned to her Nkpogu-Port Harcourt residence around 2 a.m. on Saturday, September 12. Rivers State Commissioner of Police Musa Kimo and some senior police officers visited her at 4:30 a.m. on September 12 at her residence and promised to apprehend and prosecute the kidnappers, to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded people.

    Kogbara, in a brief interaction with reporters at her Port Harcourt residence, was very angry with Niger Delta youths, who she said kidnapped her, in spite of fighting their cause.

    The columnist revealed that the kidnappers told her that the Niger Delta youths had been abandoned and they decided to abduct her to take their share of the loot by Nigerian leaders. Unknown to the gunmen, she was not part of the looters of the treasury.

    She said: “I was dumped in the middle of the creeks, leading to nowhere around 10 p.m. on Friday (September 11). They forced an innocent fisherman to take me to Borikiri-Port Harcourt.

    “I am very happy to say that I have been released. I am alive, that is all that matters despite all the things that were lost in the robbery (cash and jewelleries) that preceded the abduction. Uncle Sam Amuka, the publisher (of Vanguard) was actually the first person to call, when I was abducted.

    “Before we left the house, they took my money and jewelleries. Though, the money was not much. I was taken to the creeks, middle of nowhere. They actually told me I was in Cameroon, but I have been told that probably was not the case.

    “Their meal, it was not bad. Considering that they were young men. They cooked rather well, but the conditions were not very sanitary. To be fair to them, when I complained of not having my blood level medication, they actually went out and bought some for me. It was much more complex than that.”

    The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) described the release of the columnist unhurt and unconditionally, as a welcome development

    MOSOP, through the Media/Public Affairs Advisor to its President, Bari-ara Kpalap, declared that Kogbara did not deserve the inhuman treatment from the kidnappers, who blindfolded her and moved her to the creeks of Niger Delta, kept her in solitary confinement and later handed her over to a fisherman on the high sea, who moved her in a canoe to the waterfront of Borikiri, Port Harcourt.

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people happily thanked the “Most High God” for His divine intervention, that led to the release of the columnist, while lauding the press, security agencies and other well-meaning citizens, whose prayers and relentless efforts helped in the columnist regaining freedom.

    MOSOP said: “In the first place, Donu Kogbara did not deserve the treatment that was meted out to her, as she did nothing wrong to warrant the denial of her constitutional rights to freedom. In civilised climes, people with her endowment and humility, willingly and relentlessly deplored to the benefit of society are celebrated, emulated and rewarded and not humiliated.

    “It is in this light that we call on all men of goodwill to rise against the outlaws in our midst, who would not want to do anything good to earn our commendation, but to inflict pains us all

    “The spate of kidnapping and other forms of criminality has imposed a saddening web of insecurity in Rivers State and occasioned divestments, which has no doubt affected the socio-economic wellbeing of the state.”

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people also called on the security outfits in Rivers state to improve on their security approach, to ensure adequate protection of the people.

    MOSOP pointed out that the strategic position of Rivers state to the economic well-being of the Niger Delta region and Nigeria would be undermined, if insecurity in the state was not appropriately addressed.

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and Vanguard’s publisher,  Sam Amuka, who recently turned 80, were also at the residence of Kogbara, to join her in thanking God for her safe release.

    Peterside called on security agencies to be more decisive in their approach to all forms of threat to the nation’s peaceful co-existence.

    The dust had hardly settled on Kogbara’s ordeal when the son of the VC of UNIPORT was kidnapped on September 14 in Rivers State by six hooded men, who wielded AK-47 rifles and machetes, with everybody in sight robbed.

    Ejira was immediately moved to an unknown location. No demand for ransom had been made as at press time.

    The kidnap of the VC’s son came barely 48 hours after Kogbara’s release. Ejira, a graduate of UNIPORT, as at the time of the kidnap, was living in his father’s house at their hometown in Ebubu-Eleme-Ogoni. Ejira is Managing Director of Ejiis Fish Farms, which he runs in the house.  He studied Geography and Environmental Management at UNIPORT

    Eleme, near Port Harcourt, hosts two refineries, Indorama Petrochemical Company, many oil and gas servicing companies, corporate organisations and business establishments. The town is on the East-West Road, on the way to Akwa Ibom State, especially Eket, Ikot-Abasi and Uyo, the state capital.

    The VC’s son was kidnapped around 8 p.m. on Monday, by youths who strolled into Lale’s compound, without a car or motorcycle, indicating that they were from the neighbourhood. They went away with Ejira’s mobile phones, his laptop computer and an undisclosed sum of money. The kidnappers also robbed Ejira’s younger brother of a mobile phone.

    When the criminals stormed the VC’s residence, they first met some tenants, who they robbed of valuables and asked them to lead the kidnappers at gunpoint, to the apartment of the VC’s son.

    On sighting Ejira, the heartless kidnappers gave him machete cuts all over his body, before pushing him out and moving him to an unknown destination.

    Lale, who became UNIPORT’s VC a little over two months ago and lives at the VC’s Lodge on the university’s campus, also pleaded with the kidnappers to immediately release his “struggling” son unconditionally, in order to enable him to continue to contribute to societal development, through his fish farm project.

    The VC, who spoke through UNIPORT’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Dr. Williams Wodi, who is also a lecturer in the university’s Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, stated that he was not a millionaire or a contractor and would not be able to raise any ransom that the kidnappers might demand.

    Lale also called on security, law enforcement agencies and their operatives, especially policemen, officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and military personnel, to ensure quick release of his son unhurt, while expressing optimism that they would be alive to their responsibilities.

    Rivers Deputy Police Spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the kidnap of the VC’s son, said no arrest had been made, as at press time, but police were on the trail of the criminals.

    Iringe-Koko assured that the victim would soon be released unhurt and unconditionally, without the payment of any ransom, declaring that the kidnappers would also be arrested and prosecuted, to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded persons, but called on the members of the public to assist the command with timely and useful information, while assuring that the informants’ identities would be adequately protected.

     

  • Isoko women demand 40 per cent of Okowa’s appointments

    THE women wing of the Isoko Development Union (IDU) has demanded 40 per cent appointments from Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Speaking to reporters after the national convention of the IDU, Women Wing at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, the President, Mrs. Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniyi lamented the sidelining of Isoko women in the appointments made so far.

    Stressing the need for the government to focus on women into the political positions, Usikpedo-Omoniyi thanked God, saying there is going to be new development goals that are replacing the millennium Development Goals which will be pronounced in this September and have decided that women into decision making should be a top priority.

    “We are saying that henceforth, the women wing of IDU most be given its rightful place in anything that is being done in isoko nation without begging. We are talking of infrastructure, affordable healthcare for women and children; we are talking of economic empowerment.

    “It is not enough to train people and dump them. You must ensure that they are able to stand on their own to reduce their vulnerability and poverty. We want to discuss our matters. Let no one discuss our matters on our behalf.”

  • Yenagoa Institute launches schemes to address youth unemployment

    The Institute of Science and Technology, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has launched a number of innovative, practical job creation schemes designed to tackle acute youth unemployment and insecurity in Africa. The schemes are TeachFirst Solutions (TFS), Public-Private Partnership Job Creation Solutions (PPPJCS), and Youth Engagement and Entrepreneurial Training Solutions (YEETS).

    TFS is aimed strictly at African governments experiencing unemployment among their university graduates in maths, science and technology fields, while the PPPJCS is aimed at both governments and private sector organisations and is particularly useful for addressing unemployment among educated or literate young people. The latter scheme is also designed to provide high technical skills to young people as well as aid workplace productivity. The third scheme, YEETS, is aimed at governments experiencing high unemployment among their artisans or low skill people. It is particularly useful in dealing with challenges pose by youth violence, kidnapping and insecurity.

    In all the three schemes, the Centre for Youth Employment and Job Creation at the Institute of Science and Technology will design and write-up the scheme and train people who are to implement them. Each scheme, which comes with built-in review, monitoring, research and evaluation – all designed to guarantee results and assure quality, guarantees jobs and training places for the unemployed young person.

    Speaking on the new Innovations, James Ogunleye, professor of innovation and enterprise and Deputy Rector at the Institute, said: “A significant reason for the current high rate of youth joblessness in Africa is a virtual absence of interactions between education and the labour markets. Be that as it may, what is missing between the youth and employment is innovation”. According to him: “the Institute of Science and Technology solutions are both strategies to prevent and actions to address youth unemployment, kidnapping, gang violence and general insecurity anywhere in Africa”.  

    The Institute of Science and Technology Yenagoa is a new interdisciplinary research-led institute dedicated to applied research and education in science and technology, operating out of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The Institute’s main objective is to empower our generation and make a contribution to the nation to help uplift the progress in business, science and technology and to undertake cutting-edge research that will inform policy and development in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

  • Excitement as Cross River awaits Buhari

    Excitement as Cross River awaits Buhari

    During his inauguration as the third Governor of Cross River State in the fourth Republic, Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade made a policy declaration that he was going to undertake the construction of a dual super highway running the length of the state and the construction of a deep seaport, (Signature Projects) and until recent some few skeptics still question the veracity and honesty of the governor.

    However, what matters now is not the wrong misrepresentations of those skeptics but the reality that preliminary works are not only ongoing but that genuineness of the well-conceived projects by Ayade has attracted the respect and a Presidential handshake from President Muhammadu Buhari who is coming personally to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony of the N700Billion of over 260 kilometers super highway from Calabar to Gakem, Bekwarra and to the famous Obudu Ranch Resort. The Funding architect is Public Private Partnership (PPP) based with 500Million Euros tabled by Broad Spectrum, a European based firm.

    All necessary arrangements have already been concluded for the revered President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony billed for Monday, September 21, 2015 in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State. One irrefutable reality which nobody can deny is that it is no mean task to win the confidence of a highly principled and anti-corruption crusader, number one citizen of Nigeria, President Buhari to consider Governor Ayade’s proposal and included it in his very busy schedule to come in person to perform the groundbreaking.

    The ability of Governor Ayade to have conceived and dream big with a clear vision supported by a pragmatic leadership, worked assiduously and propelled those abstract concepts into concrete terms no doubt is the very reason why in this dispensation the government and people of Cross River State have not only earned a special place in the very disciplined heart of President Buhari, but has become the first state in the south-south geo-political zone to be visited by the Nigerian number one citizen.

    As a man who before now has prepared himself sufficiently ahead of time to provide service to the people, Ayade came into government with array of development projects and programmes that will transform the socio-economic and political face of Cross River State. The dual super high way, the deep seaport, the Garment factory, refinery among others are carefully planned to turn around, 360 degrees the fortunes of the state and its people. The super high way whose groundbreaking is fixed for Monday, September 21, 2015 in Calabar will provide an easy access from the seaport up to the northern part of Nigeria, reducing the many man hours that presently are being wasted between Calabar seaport and the northern part of Nigeria, as well as the neighboring countries such as Niger and Chad.

    The road will drastically reduce the rate of accidents and the associated carnages, waste of human lives, maiming of persons and bringing a lot of sorrows to many families. Several persons have lost their lives on this road, while several million litres of fuel, kerosene and diesel have equally been wasted on that same road as a result of the bad nature of the road. Another benefit of the dual super high way to the people of the state is that it will greatly boost the economic profile of all the communities that lies along the super high way route

    Similarly, the deep seaport which is one of the two signature projects of governor Ayade is signed to accommodate mother vessels, when completed is expected to remove the hitherto blockage by evacuating the corridors that have always served as obstacle to bigger vessels from entering the Calabar seaport, forcing them to always anchored at Lome, transferring the goods to smaller vessels that can find their way to the Calabar seaport. The combined force of the dual super high way and the deep seaport will equally serve as a veritable boost to land lock countries like Chad and Niger Republics to evacuate their goods from the seaport through the super high way to their various countries, as well as northern Cameroon.

    The people of the state are very happy with the landmark achievements of Ayade and for specifically winning the trust, confidence e and respect of Mr. President to create time from his busy schedules for a groundbreaking in Cross River state.

    A former member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council and former chairman of the Military wing of the Petroleum Trust Fund, Gen. Edward Unimna, said it is a privileged treatment that Buhari is visiting Cross River State.

    “It is a very good pointer that the state is doing well. I must commend the Federal Government for this confidence reposed on the state. When President Buhari selected Ayade to accompany him to Cameroon, it was a clear indication that the president is happy with what our governor is doing and that the governor is working harmoniously with the Federal Government”.

    Reacting to the Nigerian number one citizen’s visit to Cross River State the former elected female Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Hon Cecilia Ally reasoned that the acceptance of President Muhammadu Buhari to personally come to perform the groundbreaking for the super high way is a very clear indication that Buhari is a father to all Nigerians. Hon. Lady Ally said that President Buhari has proven that he is accommodating both his political party, APC and   other political parties by coming to carry out groundbreaking on a project conceived and initiated by Senator Ben Ayade, a PDP governor. “Buhari has shown that he is a father to all Nigerians. Equally, Ayade has proven to us that we have a bright future before us under his leadership”. The former number one indigene of Obudu expressed her deep appreciation to Governor Ayade for creating and ensuring such cordiality between him and the president within a very short period in office, indicating that we have a very bright future before us, adding that through Ayade efforts, Cross River has become the first state in the south-south to be visited by the president.

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Chief Linus Okom, saidthe coming of the President, “makes the people of the state not to feel that they are in  the opposition party and that they are part of the family”.

    The former Commissioner Local Government, Chief Peter Ojie, said: ”It is a clear indication that the President is happy with what our dear governor is doing in the state with the array of people-oriented projects which he has packaged and by the grace of God would be a reality.”

    The immediate past Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, hailed Buhari for his transparent leadership and for playing politics beyond party line.

    A plantain trader from the Central Senatorial District of the state, Mr. Boniface Osafung, expressed happiness that with the coming of President Buhari to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony, there is a clear indication that the road project is on course and that the super high way would be completed so they the traders and other Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief.

    A woman, who identified herself as Paulina Ubong, a whole sales garri merchant, said that she has never had any fear about Ayade because she had heard him speak and had also seen him work and the sincerity of the governor in bringing about projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of the common man, and thanked president Buhari for accepting to come and carry out the groundbreaking ceremony of the super high way.

    A motorist plying the route between the northern part of the state and Calabar, Mr. Godwin Atem Ogani, commended Ayade for his visionary leadership and for conceiving the signature projects.

     

    • Ulayi and Asha are media aides to Governor Ayade.

     

  • Group lauds MAN Rector

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been commended on the re-appointment of Dr Joshua Okpo as the Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

    In a statement by the President, Akpakip-Oro Graduates’ Forum (AGF)  Mr Dominic Esifa, the group stated that Ambassador Okpo in the last four years has boosted various developmental projects through his harmonious working relationship within the institution and her host communities.

    The group also congratulated the MAN boss on his well deserved reappointment and urged him to keep up his good work.

    According to the group, the Maritime Academy has witnessed an unprecedented infrastructural and manpower development revolution under Amb. Okpo as the Rector.

    The Oro graduates enjoined all stakeholders in the institution to give the Okpo-led administration more support to enable him complete his transformational policies.

    On the  controversy surrounding the tenure elongation of the MAN Rector, the group condemned  the recent attack on Okpo by some faceless groups and urged  them to rather sheathe their swords and seek ways of enabling a peaceful environment to ensure that the only Federal Government presence the Oro community can boast the development of the community.

    While stressing that Okpo is proactive and capable of delivering the Federal Government’s blueprint of reconstructing and transforming the institution the group said he should not be distracted.

    The group equally gave a positive appraisal of the Academy’s lofty strides that have made the cadets churned out by the Academy be a toast for national and international maritime sector employers.

  • Free treatment, drugs for 4,000 rural dwellers as O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation storms Rivers community

    Free treatment, drugs for 4,000 rural dwellers as O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation storms Rivers community

    When in 2001 High Chief O. B Lulu-Briggs caught the vision to help the poor in villages and communities to address their health care challenges,  he knew he was  like the biblical David. His vision is supported by his wife Dr. Sienye, who is a pastor.

    Many personalities of the region’s origin could be adjudged wealthier than the High Chief, but their occasional ‘charity’ outside their immediate family, is often associated with their intended political gains from the communities; but for the High Chief, he transverses the length and breath of communities and villages with his milk of kindness expecting nothing in return.

    Communities always crave to host the foundation’s medical team. The free Medical Mission held four times annually, – once in a quarter features all aspect of medical intervention, including eye care, dental, physiotherapy, Paediatrics, blood sugar investigation as well as free surgery.

    Many of the patients have lived with the diseases for a period for their inability to carry the high cost of accessing care in public and private healthcare facility with their slim income. The facilities are sometimes not also found in the community or anywhere close to them.

    An estimated number of over 500,000 persons, including children, have benefited in the 25 missions conducted by the foundation since inception.

    The free medical mission train has visited many communities in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, and some in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in 14 years.

    The five-day long event always witnesses high turn-out of healthcare seekers.  Each outreach records between 2,500 and 4,000 beneficiaries.

    The demand for the foundation’s gesture is apparently increasing, more communities and villages desire to play host to them, the wok is expanding, heart of the giver is getting larger, eager to do more, he feels he is not doing enough whenever he remembers that some intended beneficiaries are always shut off because of time, especially those needing operation.

    Surgeries are not usually carried out on the Fifth day, being the last day. The reason being that there is usually no time to watch and monitor their recovery process before the team leaves the community, so they will have to continue to live with their pains till God knows when.

    High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs is the sole funder of all the Foundation’s programs from inception. Annually, hundreds of millions of Naira is used to carry out intervention programmes of the foundation, including the quarterly free medical mission in rural areas.

    The need for partnership to reach out to more beneficiaries in communities at this time cannot be overemphasized.

    The Foundation is calling for partners like passion to assist deliver this noble course to the suffering rural poor.

    It must not necessarily come in form of cash donations but volunteering of services by individuals, groups’, organizations, provision of medical equipment, consumables, including drugs by pharmaceutical companies, health facilities by government among others, would go long way in providing the suffering rural dwellers formidable shoulder to lean on. The Executive Director of the foundation, Sienye O. B. Lulu-Briggs said at Omudioga outreach recently.

    Moved with passion on the way crowd trooped out on the fourth day to access the free treatment  at Omudioga recently, Mrs. O.B. Lulu-Briggs said: “The work is much, but I have satisfaction up to an extent that as much as we can do, we are doing. We are aware that this programme lasts for five days, there are so many people that will not be attended to and I am not happy about that.

    “Though happy that we have over 3000 people treated, including over 30 surgery cases, but we do not carry out surgeries on the last day even when they are identified, because we like to monitor them and then refer them to a hospital in case they would need further follow up.

    “The fact that there are many that were not treated, operated upon, is very painful part for me, and that is actually the part that makes me to plan ahead for yet another mission, because I know that the work isn’t done yet.”

    Omudioga, a community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, is located between Omarelu and Elele in Emuoha. It was carved out of Emuoha from Ikwerre Local Government Area 24 years ago. Residents are predominantly farmers. The community is rich in land mass with good soil rich for agricultural purposes and mineral deposit.

    The Executive Director, while expressing her plan on how to expand the scope of the mission to accommodate more beneficiaries, called  for partnership with other interested organisations.

    “There is room for more supports from organisations and institutions as they work with us in critical role of bringing health care delivery and social development to the door steps of rural dwellers.

    “We are certain that charity and philanthropic organizations who are willing to create a strong collaboration with other organization in their specialized field of operation, will have a comparative advantage of resources to expand their reach, in far communities and in full service.

    “The O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation is willing at all times to join hands and resources with government institutions, private individuals, corporate organizations and likeminded philanthropic organizations in executing programmes that will positively impact the health care and social landscape of rural  dwellers.

    “This synergy has brought to the fore the twin pillars of healthcare delivery and spiritual wellbeing of rural dwellers as a pinnacle upon which our free medical mission is predicated.”

    Close to 4000 persons were treated with over 30 surgeries carried out in both adults and infants during the outreach.

    The Executive Director wished more grounds had been covered by the foundation within its 14 years of existence.

    “This is the 25th outreach of the foundation, I don’t know whether we can cover all communities in the Niger Delta region in this life’s time. We have been in four states, we are yet to cover communities in Rivers state, because in each Local Government, we don’t have just towns and villages but communities.” She expressed.

    Some of the beneficiaries, could not hold back their gratitude to the foundation, especially fathers whose sons successfully went through surgery section in the program.

    They testified of the gesture before the crowd. Ajunwata Uchenna Emelayo,  a native of Imo state who is resident in the community said, “My son was diagnosed of double hernia on his scrotum but the surgery was not carried out for some obvious reasons.

    “Some years later the problem started, I spent N85, 000 to remove the first one at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), a Federal Government health facility, it was not easy for me and family then because the case sapped our lean finance.

    “Last year again, the second one began to trouble him.  Each time the pains starts he will be restless, refuse food, and would not go to school. This has been a great source of worry and fear to me because I have been thinking of how to raise another N85, 000 or even more to go for another operation.

    “When I heard about the coming of this team on a free medical mission, I decided to take advantage of this rear opportunity God has provided to us, and my son was operated on at no cost.

    Also testifying, another man whose seven-year old son was operated of hernia said the surgery was delayed for five years for lack of money and expressed gratitude to God for Lulu-Briggs Foundation for coming to his rescue.

    “I thank God Almighty for this signs and wonders He has brought to my home, I also thank the Foundation for her care and love for humanity especially the rural poor/neglected of the society.

    “This my son has been suffering from this hernia for the five years now. We’ve been to several hospitals both public and private, but the bill is too high for me to afford, I have gone as far as Bayelsa looking for where it could be affordable all to no avail, till I got tired.

    “In June I traced the foundation to  Minama in Asari-Toru LGA where they were holding the mission , but I was asked to come down to this place( Omudioga), I came back and waited for them and today, my son is free from this 5-year old pain free of charge. I pray that God reward this Philanthropist of our time with longer life, so he will continue to do this good work.”

    Also a middle aged Gabriel Amadi who was also operated of his long standing hernia problem at the event, testimonies and good wishes were as usual the order of the day, as the community and her members thanked their benefactor and prayed for God’s continued blessings, good health and long life.

    Also the Founder of the Royal House of Grace, Apostle Zilly Aggrey who partnered the Foundation in evangelising the community while the program lasted blessed the High Chief for considering the forgotten community of Omudioga for the program.

    He prayed, “Generations unborn will speak of this day for what you have done in Omudioga. We declare to you, like father Abraham, it shall be the God of O.B. Lulu-Briggs; anywhere they go to, it shall be said, of this day there was a man who lived and this is why we had those testimonies from those children.

    “The oil of God upon your life shall not cease; Omudioga community blesses you that it will be well with you, your children and children’s children. Generations after another shall call you blessed in Jesus name…Amen.”

    The joy of the community at the gesture was unimaginable. In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Monarch, Eze E, C. Onyeka, an Octogenarian by Ezekiel Wosamma, said it was the first time the community was experiencing such milk of kindness.

    “Today, the people of Omudioga celebrates free medical mission programme, the first of it’s kind since the inception of Omudioga 24 years ago.” The Monarch said.

    Shortly after the event, leader of the surgical team, Dr. Etuk Akpan, explained to newsmen the cases handled in the community.

    “What we do here is out-patient services, with day-case surgery, in which patients who under-go surgery are discharged to go home after a few hours, or at most the following day.

    “Because of this, we carry out cases like lymphoma, hernia, hydroceles both in adult and children. We carried out over 30 surgeries must were children.

    “Common surgical cases we found in Omudioga are lymps,  swellings, hernia and hydroceles, none of these is caused by lifestyle, type of food or anything they have done, but just an atomical disorder.”

    The Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, expressed  gratitude to the High Chief for bringing health care delivery closer to the rural poor at no cost.

    Represented by the permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr, Somiari Isaac Heart, Banigo described Lulu-Briggs as a philanthropist of great repute and promised government continued collaboration by obliging the Foundation the health facilities across the state to continue to bringing succour to health challenges of community dwellers.

  • Popular Benin man in trouble for daring Oba

    Popular Benin man in trouble for daring Oba

    An Oredo Magistrate’s Court sitting in Benin City on Wednesday remanded Richard Arisco Osemwengie in prison custody for coronating himself as the Ogiamien of Utantan Benin.

    Also remanded alongside Osemwengie is Patrick Osabuohien, who joined others to install Arisco as a traditional ruler without approval of the Executive Council. Osemwengie was arraigned on a four-count charge. Osabuohien was arraigned on a two- count charge.

    After over 900 years when their forefathers were defeated in a battle by forces loyal to the Benin monarchy, a faction of the Ogiamien family dared the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa.

    The Ogiamien faction is led by Osemwengie, who was last week installed as the Ogiamien of Benin kingdom.  The last occupant of the seat, Chief Ogiamien Osarobo, was last seen in 1998 and he was said to have travelled abroad but no member of the family is sure of his whereabouts.

    Ogiamien Osarobo, a Master Degree holder in History, succeeded his father at a tender age. He was 13 when Oba Erediauwa ascended the throne in 1979 and he led the Ogiamen family to perform the Ekiokpagha war-a mock battle that is performed by a new Oba to reenact the defeat of the Ogiamen by Oba Eweka 1.

    The palace of Ogiamien on Sokponba Road is the only building that survived the British Invasion of 1897. It is a historical site that attracts thousands of visitors but also abandoned. A section of it is used for selling wood and the entire palace is unkempt.

    What is however assuming a frightening dimension is the move by Osemwengie to challenge the Benin monarchy and restore alleged lost glories of the Ogiamien.

    To the group supporting Ogiamien Osemwengie, the supposed treaty reached between their forefathers and Oba Eweka has been breached. They want to reclaim control of parts of Benin kingdom under the authority of their forebears. They claimed that they have amassed the resources to fight their course.

    In a letter written to the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, Arisco is demanding the establishment of a separate traditional council for the Ogiamien kingdom, total refund of money due to the Ogiamiens from three and half local government council areas and the payment of N350m.

    Other demand is not to refer to Ogiamien as a Chief under the authority of the Benin monarch.

    In another letter to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Ogiamien Arisco among other things demanded for the payment of royalties due to the Ogiamien to be deducted as source and paid into a First Bank account and the recognition of Ogiamien as a king and not a chief.

    Osemwengie said the reigning Ogiamien, Osarobo, abandoned his people since 1998 and has made no contact with any family member.

    Osemwengie said his great great grand father, Obanor, was a son to one Ogiamien Ekunwe and that he was appointed by the entire family to be the next Ogiamien.

    He said he was appointed by the family because the family wanted to restore the lost glory of the Ogiamiens as well as renegotiate the treaty their forefathers had with Oba Eweka the first.

    In what is seemed as a sacrilege and a confrontation of the Benin monarch, Osemwengie named some palace chiefs in his newly created Ogiamien Traditional Council and appointed some Enogies (Dukes).

    He said his territory covered three local governments namely part of Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode.

    According to him, “I am a full fledge member of the Ogiamen family. Obanor gave birth to my great-grand father Orumwense. Orumwense gave birth to Osemwengie and Osemwengie gave birth to me.

    “Ogiamien is the rightful owner of the land. Ogiamen functions well in the Benin nation. He has his Chiefs. Without an Ogiamien, who will lead the Eki-Okpagha ceremony. We have been cheated for a long time.”

    Some members of the Ogiamien family loyal to the missing Osarobo, who claimed to be descendants of Edo Nori Ogiamien, disowned the installation of Arisco as the  Ogiamien.

    Sister of the ‘missing’ Ogiamien, Ehimwenma and seven  others, who spoke in a press statement said Arisco was not a member of the Ogiamien family.

    They said Chief Osarobo remained the recognised Ogiamien as there was no evidence that he was dead and burial rites performed.

    The Edo Nori Ogiamien descendants said they have maintained friendly relationship with the Benin monarch for over nine centuries since the Eki-Okpagha treaty was sealed.

    According to the statement, “The Palace of the Oba of Benin and Ogiamiens have had years of cordial relationship.

    “Mr. Osemwengie has no locus standing to speak or act on behalf of the Ogiamien family whether directly or indirectly.”

    They said the treaty being referred to by Arisco was a guarded secret between the Oba and the Ogiamien.

    Reacting to the installation of Arisco, the Ayobahan of Benin kingdom, Chief John Osamede Adun, described the action of the Arisco-led Ogiamiens as a taboo and an abomination, as according to him, nobody has the right and powers to challenge the authority of the Oba of the kingdom.

    Chief Adun stated that the Ogiamiens have no blue blood (Princely lineage) and therefore “its palace … could be described as a mere ‘cave’.

    Adun warned the Ogiamien family not to drag the kingdom into a bloody war saying that the Oba conquered their forefathers several centuries ago.

    According to Chief Adun, “Ogiamien family was perished by our forefather many years ago. He is not a chief; he is a (alleged) slave. He is not a prince, people who can bear prince in Benin are the children of Oba of Benin. It is an abomination, and it is a taboo to the Benin people for anybody to challenge the authority of the Oba.

    “He is challenging the authority of the Benin.  Our Oba is not for sale and Oba is an authority. After God, it is the Oba. If you go down the history of Benin kingdom there is only one Oba, nobody has the right to challenge the Oba. The Ogiamien’s family wants to cause war in the kingdom.

    “Nobody in the whole world can challenge the Oba of Benin, he is an authority himself. Anybody who aligns himself or herself with the Ogiamien’s family is an enemy of Benin kingdom.”

    Edo State government threatened to invoke the relevant laws against anyone who proclaims himself a chief or traditional ruler in the state, saying anyone who does so will face criminal charges.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary to State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, reads: “Government condemns in totality the abusive language used in the publication. The family says it has forwarded a petition on their grievances to the State Government.  The family is therefore advised to await Government response to the petition.

    “Government condemns in strong terms, the disrespect the Ogiamien family has shown to HRM Omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin. The publishers are therefore admonished to desist forthwith, from showing such rudeness to a personage, the whole nation holds in very high esteem, our most revered monarch.

    “Government will invoke the relevant sections of the Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law, 1979 which prohibit any person or group to proclaim self as a Chief or Traditional Ruler, a breach of which is a criminal offence.

    “Government will not tolerate any act calculated to disturb the peace of the State or any part thereof.”