Traders, tricycle operators in the Ugbuwangue area of Warri metropolis in Delta State recently carried out a special cleaning of the community and its market in commemoration of the birthday of late former South African President Nelson Mandela.
The event tagged ‘Sweep for Madida’ was in celebration of the Nelson Mandela International Day as declared by the United Nations.
The cleanup was organised by an NGO, the Concerned Itsekiri Social Media Activists (CISMA), in collaboration with Warri based OAP and jazz music promoter Omatseye Atsenuwa of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri to mark the 97th post-humous birthday of of foremost anti-apartheid icon.
The cleanup exercise started from the Ugbuwangue market area through to main entrance of Ugbuwangue and tricycle park and the recently constructed pedestrian bridge.
The United Nations set aside every July 18 as Mandela Day to marked the birthday of the great African. Individuals and group are expected to set aside 67 minutes to a special cause that impact on others in celebration of the day.
In an address delivered by the coordinator of CISMA, Prince Onesan Oritseweyinmi Jerry, the group called on elected and appointed officials of the government to imbibe the spirit and character displayed by the late Mandela.
They urged politicians and elected officials residing in Ugbuwangue community to facilitate the speedy completion of the the pedestrian bridge and market for the use of the public.
He said: “We wish to appeal to the Honourable Commissioner of transport Hon. Vincent Uduaghan, Political Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Omimi Esquire, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area.
Hon. Mofe Edema and others to kindly facilitate the installation of hand rails on the pedestrian bridge and other finishing touches before commissioning.
“We also plead that efforts should be made to facilitate the completion and usage of the Ugbuwangue market as it is fast becoming an eyesore.”
Also speaking, the Director of publicity of the group, Mr. Gedu Godwin Toju, thanked the traders, tricycle operators and participants at the clean up exercise for turning up in their numbers to support the group.
He urged the Ugbuwangwe community to reciprocate government’s kind gesture of siting the state’s first ever pedestrian bridge in the community by taking ownership and encouraging its use.
He said: “CISMA is deeply pained to see students and other pedestrians dashing to cross the ever busy road, risking their lives when a simple stroll on the bridge will take them across”
Thoughts on Nigeria is the latest offering from Prof Steve Azaiki, ex-Bayelsa State Secretary to the State Government (SSG). It is a five-part book. The first part deals with governance and politics; the second centres around the Niger Delta; the third is made up of tributes to great Nigerians; the fourth are views on international and contemporary matters; and the last part is made up of interviews on issues largely around the Southsouth, resource control and so on.
The book, which is a collection of Azaiki’s published articles, essays and interviews, contains his emotional piece on the passing of his sister, Cecilia Zifawei. As expected of such piece, it drips with emotion. It shows the moment must have been one of the most painful in his life. The emotion displayed in the piece confirms the fact that the deceased was like a mother to Azaiki.
His “My Three hours with Goodluck Jonathan” is a detailed account of his meeting with the former President at the Presidential Villa and issues related to the meeting. Some of the issues that came up during the meeting include Almajiri education, second Niger bridge, power challenge and so on.
Another article, which will remain relevant for a long time to come, is “Confronting Poverty and Social Insecurity in the Niger Delta”. It espouses the issues in the Niger Delta and how corruption has not made impossible to tackle the challenges facing the region.
Azaiki’s intellectual prowess comes into play in “Why the Hostage-Taking Industry must collapse”. It is an x-ray of the hostage-taking, which started in the Niger Delta but has spread to other parts of the country and seems to have defied all efforts to curb it.
Two pieces, which those leading the fight against insurgency, are bound to gain from are “Nigeria at War: The case for State of Emergency” and “State of Emergency against Boko Haram”. They are both about the Boko Haram menace. Written before the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, the pieces paint the gory picture of the insurgency challenge and suggested ways to deal with it.
Azaiki’s concern in “Political Conference of Hope” is on the vexed issue of how to arrive at a working configuration to move Nigeria forward.
Aside his tribute to his sister, Azaiki’s offering on former President Shehu Shagari is worth delving into. Titled “Alhaji Shehu Shagari: The Moral Leader of Our Nation”, it is a fitting tribute to Nigeria’ first Executive President. It is an expression of the high esteem in which he holds the respected statesman. So many writers have examined the Da Vinci Code from different perspectives. It is no surprise that such spiritually-stimulating subject is bound to attract such responses. Azaiki tried to review some of the these diverse views in “The Vinci Code: Was Jesus married?”
His desire to help solve the myriad challenges facing the country led him to the formation of the National Think Tank. So, the piece “Call to Service: The National Think Tank – Mission Statement” points out why the body was formed. It shows that strategic planning, being very critical to success of any nation, was the main reason for the organization, which provides a platform to assist government in the formation of its policies.
His piece “Let Mandela Go” reviewed the rare honour and privilege of meeting Madiba in 2007 when former President Thabo Mbeki introduced him to the world icon. The new about the late Madiba’s health provided him the opportunity for the review. In the piece, he leaves no one in doubt that he saw Madela as great and fulfilled man, who fought the good and had nothing to lose departing in peace.
Also touched in this book are issues quite germane and connected to the Niger Delta, oil theft, kidnapping, constitutional conference, Bok Haram, leadership, politics, agriculture, patriotism and many others that have impacted positively on the people and country.
Azaiki shows that he is a highly detribalised Nigerian who has continually called many’s silence in time of danger into question.
In this book, he has given so much to the country expecting nothing in return. This book indeed is a document of history.
Indications that the planned restructuring of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission may not be easy appeared after Governor Arthur Okowa presented an executive bill to the House of Assembly for amendment of its law. Okowa’s predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, also failed a similar attempt.
DESOPADEC is very dear to the people of oil-bearing communities in the state, despite its shortcomings and turbulent eight-year existence, they see the commission as a half bread that is better than none.
•Protesting Ijaw host communities
It was against this background that Ijaw youths threatened to shut down oil facilities in Warri, Ogulagha, Egbema, Odidi, Batan, Ogbe-Ijoh and other parts of the state over part of the new law that they view as being against their interests.
DESOPADEC came into existence in 2005, pursuant to Section 162(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, which deals revenue paid into the Federation Account, which provided for the development of oil producing communities. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had directed states receiving the 13 per cent derivation fund to establish agencies, similar to NDDC, to cater for the communities.
Yet, the commission was not constituted until the last weeks of the ex- Governor Ibori administration in 2007. Uduaghan, who succeed him, incessantly complained of financial shortfall emanating from give half of oil revenue to the commission.
Chief Wellington Okirika, a founding member of the Host Communities Oil and Gas of Nigeria (HOSTCOM), which fought for the creation of the commission, was made the chairman, while Andi Osawota, lawyer, was appointed secretary.
In 2009, Uduaghan appointed a commissioner to oversee the activities of the commission due to infighting between board members, allegations of administrative ineptitude, financial recklessness and corruption. Yet, reports of mind-boggling expenditures on hotel and medical bills continued. Uduaghan once cried out over a bill of over N10million presented to the commission for the treatment of malaria which was beautifully wrapped in the medical term Plasmodiasis.
It was not only such scandal that dogged the commission under the Okirika-led board.
Due to the huge fund accruing to it, top official of the state government and House of Assembly members inundated chairman and other members with financial requests.
A member of the Assembly abandoned his legislative duties and ‘decamped’ to the commission headquarters in Warri as soon as he became chairman of the House Committee on DESOPADEC.
Allegation of underpayment
It was against this backdrop that at the expiration of the three-year tenure of Chief Okirika board in July 2010, a caretaker committee headed by Mr Reginald Bayoko, was set up to clear its mess.
After cleaning the Augean stable, a new board-led by Oritsua Kpogho, was inaugurated, with Henry Offa, Joseph Ogeh, Michael Diden, Johnson Boro, Rev.Chukwudi Eke, Benedicta Osakunih Izuegbu, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro (now Deputy Governor) and Dr. Peter Egedegbe representing the various nationalities.
Through all these processes, the leaders of oil-bearing communities had constantly checkmated the government and commission; they raised alarm when they felt the government was taking step detrimental to the commission and their interests.
In spite of their close watch, rumours of underpayment to the coffers of the commission were rife; there were also allegations of government ‘releasing funds with the right hand and taking it back with the left hand’. Various sources say the past administrations underfunded it by N300billion.
It was against the backdrop that Uduaghan’s amendment bill faced stiff opposition from the oil-producing communities. While some accused Uduaghan of attempting to cover up alleged misappropriation of its fund, contractors who had executed jobs for the commission feared sinister plot to avoid payment for jobs they did.
However, the resistance against the Uduaghan amendment bill has been a child’s play when compared to the vituperations and reactions toward Okowa’s. The incumbent governor hails from the non-oil producing Ika area of the state and it was against this backdrop that some parts of his bill were viewed with intense scrutiny and suspicion, particularly in the face of rumours that he planned to scarp the fund to free up fund for the development of his area and the state capital.
His bill proposes the scrapping of the office of the executive secretary, while appointing a managing director, with executive powers to carry out day to day running of the commission. The hazy details of how the MD would be appointment led opponents of the bill fearing an ominous plot and agenda. They prefer the old system where communities have a voice in appointees
The amendment recommends: “The MD shall be the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer…responsible for the day to day running of the commission… Executive Director shall be in charge of the three directorates.”
“What this means”, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, spokesperson of the Ijaw Wellhead and Flowstation host communities youths, told Niger Delta Report, “is that management of the oil fund is again shifting back into the hands of the governor and politicians who have being mismanaging the oil revenue over the past decades.”
Also, the replacement of ‘Oil Producing Communities’ with ‘Oil Producing Ethnic Nationalities’ is a contentious issue in the proposed law. Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko host communities view it as a move to rob them in favour of the governor’s area.
Documents sourced from the commission indicate that Itsekiri produces about 29 percent of the state’s oil; closely followed by Ijaw and Urhobo with 27 and 23 percent respectively with (12) Isoko and Ndokwa (nine) percent.
In view of the above, the southern part of the state accounts for 68 per cent of the state’s oil revenue, while the central and north have 23 and nine percent. This too explains why the south is against part of the bill which provides for the appointment of directors from across the three senatorial districts on equal basis.
A leader of the Delta Ijaw Oil Producing Communities, Chief Favour O Izoukumor, who spoke with Niger Delta Report when he led a protest to the House of Assembly, explained: “What this means is that although the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko produce the bulk of the oil revenue, we will be at disadvantage in the sharing of position, as it is already being done.
“The bill does not address the present injustice were Urhobos have three commissioners, Ndokwa has two and Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko together have one each on DESOPADEC board. What this means is that the people that produce about 70percent of the oil revenue enjoy less than 40percent appointments, employment and contracts while those with will barely 30 enjoy over 60percent.”
The Urhobo ethnic group, on their part, viewed the amendment as a move to rob them of their right to produce the executive chairman of the commission. By the provisions of the existing law, the position is rotated among the oil producing nationalities. With the Ijaw (Okirika) and Itsekiri (Kpogho) having produced chairmen, the next in line is Urhobo.
Public hearing turned public combat
But no arena has produced as much anger towards the amendment as the public hearing, which was dogged by protest, scuffle and violence. Blood literarily flowed at the House of Assembly with various interest groups clashing among themselves and with security operatives.
The Chairman, HOSTCOM Delta Chapter, Benjamin Eweta sustained injuries from attacks by members of a faction of HOSTCOM. Police had hectic times containing stakeholders who insisted on being part of the public hearing. In more than one occasion, they police had to wield the stick and throw punches.
Proceedings suffered incessant disruptions as various interest groups held entrenched positions refusing to budge. Inside the chamber, the Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon Dennis Omovie, threatened to send those who breached the peace to jail.
In a presentation, on behalf of Host Communities Oil and Gas, Ndokwa Chapter, former Speaker, Dr Olise Imegwu, noted that the problem with interventionist body was not its structure, but inadequate funding.
A leader of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko Elders and Leaders Forum (I3S), Mr Amorighoye Mene, argued that the interventionist body has been unfair to the three ethnic groups, adding that projects and social works to benefitting communities should be based on volume of oil produced by such communities.
Izuokumor, agreed with that position and also reaffirmed his group’s opposition to the bill’s lack of equity in representation on the board of DESOPADEC. He also rejected the overbearing influence of the State government in the affairs of the interventionist agency.
Who produces what, how much?
An underlying grievance brought to light in the latest attempt to amend the DESOPADEC is about the production of each ethnic nationality. Some of those who spoke at the public hearing and others who confided in Niger Delta Report expressed concern that their groups were not credited with their true production value.
For instance, a representative of Ndokwa Elders and Leaders Council, Mr Oyibosochukwu Nwabueze, noted that the current nine percent allocated to the Ndokwa nation is incorrect. He said available data suggested that Ndokwa nation contributes 18 per cent. He urged the legislators to investigate the reduction.
The Ijaw and Itsekiri also expressed suspicions about the 23 per cent allotted to the Urhobo ethnic nationality. An anonymous source hinted that the figure was inflated by former Governor James Ibori to favour his kinsmen, to which he also allotted three (highest) commissioners slots.
An Ijaw further said, “Before Uduaghan became governor (2007), the Ijaw had the highest production; how did the Itsekiri jump from number two to one? Did they discover new oil wells in Itsekiri land?”
An Itsekiri leader insisted that Ijaw are not a close second as records indicate, insisting that oil wells in Jones Creek, Odidi and other parts of Warri South West Local Government Area are owned by the Itsekiri of Omadino.
Okowa’s peace shuttle, suspension of ultimatum
Worried by the avalanche of opposition to the bill, Okowa tried to calm fray nerves by meeting with the various interest groups.
“We are not repealing the old law. It is not a new bill. The amendment we are proposing is to structure DESOPADEC in line with the NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) model.
“This is democracy and I am not expecting that the amendment bill will come out exactly as we proposed it. There will be public hearing and people will make their contributions. I don’t believe in forcing the hands of the legislators,” he explained.
Last Friday, two days before the expiration of the Ijaw’s ultimatum, he met with traditional rulers and leaders of the Ijaw Oil Producing Communities.
A reliable source at the Friday meeting disclosed that Okwa expressed shock at opposition from the Ijaws, who passionately supported him during his race to become governor.
“One of the revelations from our meeting with the governor was that some prominent members of the House of Assembly are trying to take advantage of the bill for their selfish interests.”
It was gathered that the Ijaws reaffirmed their opposition to the change of nomenclature of the law to oil producing nationalities, instead of communities and they also insisted on fair representation, overbearing influence of government official and misapplication of fund accruing to each group.
“A situation whereby a member of the board, because of his powers, corners funds for a particularly group to his group would not be tolerated. We have made that absolutely clear.”
Based on the meeting with the traditional rulers, the Ijaw youths agreed to suspend their ultimatum. Confirming the development, Izoukumor told Niger Delta Report, “Due to the intervention of the Ijaw traditional rulers and some Ijaw leaders, which culminated in a meeting with the governor, the traditional rulers pleaded with the Ijaw Oil Producing Communities and those that gave the ultimatum to shelve the ultimatum and give room for further dialogue.”
Mulade also confirmed the development, adding that the group had relaxed its warning to foreign missions and urged oil firms to go about their normal duties.
At the time of going to press, peace had returned to the state, yet many are skeptical that the controversies will continue unabated regardless of the final outcome.
In the 50s, a buffalo terrorised Odi, the Ijaw community in Bayelsa State which was invaded by soldiers in 1999 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The blood-thirsty buffalo used to appear in the community from a nearby forest. It would attack the residents and on a number of occasions kill people in the area. But eventually, the animal was killed on July 27, 1957.
To commemorate the freedom of Odi from the animal invasion, the community celebrates the feat every year. The festival is called Odi Ogori Ba Uge. But this year’s event was not about the festival. It has so much to do with the presence of Governor Seriake Dickson and his promises to the Odi community.
Dickson inaugurated the festival, but used the occasion to give the people something to hope for. Dickson promised to complete work on the renovation of the abandoned Odi General Hospital. He said the work would be completed soon to improve healthcare delivery in the area.
The hospital project was initiated by a previous administration. But Dickson re-awarded the contract when he took over the government. He maintained that the decision to re-award the contract was based on his policy of completing every people-oriented project within the limits of available resources.
The governor also promised to construct a civic centre for the people of the area. He urged the community leadership to provide land for the construction of the centre. In fact, he the government would award contract for the project and mobilise workers to site within the next three weeks.
Dickson did not stop there. He pledged to support Odi financially in sponsoring the festival. The governor also promised to build a befitting pavilion for the community to hold its social functions.
The governor also unveiled an art work depicting a hunter and the killer of the buffalo. He promised to give one million naira each to the two sculptors, who are students of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) for doing what he describes as a beautiful job.
Dickson described Odi as one of the biggest communities in Ijaw land. He acknowledged that the people have been supportive of his administration right from its inception and, therefore, deserved more dividends of democracy.
He commended the community for honouring the heroic exploits of their fathers, which culminated in the killing of the rampaging Ogori (buffalo) some decades ago. Dickson appealed to the people to resist any temptation that will divide them. He asked them to always be united front to attract more development to the area.
Dickson paid a courtesy visit on the Amadaowei of Odi, Chief Shine Apre where the palace spokesman, Chief Millionaire Asangba poured encomiums on him for his developmental strides in the community and the state at large.
Chairman of the 2015 Odi Ogori Ba Uge Planning Committee, represented by its Secretary, Mr Amaitari Melo, gave a brief history of the festival. He noted that the buffalo first appeared at the Mission Primary School in the community in 1953.
According to his account, the animal killed a total of five people and injured many others before it was gunned down on July 27, 1957. He highlighted some needs of the community to include the renovation and proper equipment of the Odi General Hospital, lack of steady electricity supply and the financial burden of sponsoring the annual festival.
Member representing Kolokuma/ Opokuma and Yenagoa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Douye Diri and the Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Isenah, lauded Dickson for carrying Odi and their local government area along in his administration.
The Ughelli Pipeline Surveillance Vigilante team in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have arrested three suspected vandals in connection with oil pipeline explosion at Ighwrenene community.
The ring leader is still at large. A source, who spoke with our reporter on the ground of anonymity, said after the arrest of the suspects, they were handed over to the Joint Task Force, JTF, 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli.
The source added that one of the suspects confessed to the crime and gave useful information.
It was gathered that the suspects were apprehended at Affiesere community in the early hours of last Thursday by after an ambush was laid for them.
All efforts made to get the reaction of the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Lt. Col. Mathew Oyekola failed.
The sleepy community of Sabongida-Ora, headquarters of Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state was agog last weekend as members of the community grouped out in their thousands to honor their illustrious son, who is the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase.
Arase’s mother hails from the Owan community and he grew up among his maternal relatives, after the death of his father, who was a scion of the prominent Arase family of Benin City, in Oredo Local Government Area.
The event attracted Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other prominent Nigerians from all walks of life and there was heavy presence of security operatives. The massive blanket of security thrown over the community prompted one of the curious locals to ask our reporter whether Arase would now be operating from Sabongida-Ora.
The event, which was organized by the Ora-Ekpen Development Association (ODA), was also attended by many notable sons and daughters of the community, traditional rulers as well as top politicians from across the country.
Among other dignitaries present were former deputy governor of the state and Chief of State to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe; Senator Oseriemen Osunbor; Senator Roland Owie; Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe; Senator Ehigie Uzamere; Senator Yisa Braimoh; Sir Arumemi Johnson-Ikhide and Amb. Moses Ihonde.
Others included National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun, who was represented by Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor; Mr. Mike Okogie; APC Governorship candidate in River State, Peterside Dakuku, amongst others.
Speaking at the occasion, President of ODA, Prof. Sam Ifijeh Ahonkhai, said the event was to celebrate their son who rose to the pinnacle of his chosen career based on merit, hard work and service rendered without blemish.
Prof. Ahonkhai said the choice of Holy Trinity School as the reception venue was carefully selected because it was the secondary school that moulded the character of Arase and helped shaped his future.
He described Arase as a man who is forthright, diligent dependable and full of integrity.
Ahonkhai called for prayers from Nigerians so that Arase ‘s tenure would witnessed tremendous milestone in the Nigeria Police Force.
Chief Sam Ifidon, a maternal uncle of the IG, recalled how Arase’s late mother helped pay his school fees after their father died. He urged Nigerians to pray for the IG and always tell him the truth because the public would assess his performance as the head of the Nigerian Police Force.
On his part, the IG said his late mother was disappointed that her only surviving son opted to join the police instead of seeking employment in the civil service.
Arase recalled how his late mother taught him that sacrifice, diligence, perseverance and complete reverence to God were indispensable ingredients of future success.
According to him, “Sabongida-Ora has made my life. I can only promise three things in return. Firstly, in my line of duty, I shall continue to project those values that will edify this community and I will never engage in anything that will bring our communal values and the image of the community into disrepute.”
“Secondly, to my relations who raised me, I will not let you down. I shall continue to keep the bond and hold onto your hands and hearts as we jointly continue to walk through the journey of life.
“I promise to give back to Sabongida-Ora and Owan land what the community has given to me. It is in furtherance of this that I incorporated the Madam Mercy Igbe-Arase Foundation which has been awarding scholarships to deserving Owan West and East undergraduates to enable them fulfill their dreams and make their youthful age and future as worthy of celebration as mine.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole who graced the occasion with his wife, Lara, said Arase became IG by reasons of his unique qualities and not political connection.
He said, “The IG recognize that those called troublemakers are meant to be protected. There is a lot we can learn not from the fact of being an IG but even from delicate political environment, you can do your job without descending on innocent citizens. You represent the finest tradition of an Edo man with courage, determination to do your job without minding whose ox is gored.
“If you are being oppressed, you can count on him.
“He needs all the support, all the prayers he can get from Edo people. Let it not be said that the challenge of policing Nigeria become more difficult because of people from Edo State. He is serving under a President who is a no-nonsense man, who will not tolerate anything you call indiscipline. He is an IG at a time of profound changes in the psyche and governance of our great nation.”
The IG and his wife, Agharese, were later decorated with the title of Ojeagbase of Ora Land.
The Chairman of Oghareki youth in Oghara, Delta State, Mr. Favour Ededey, has dissociated himself from Niger Delta Report’s story on the quarrel between the traditional ruler, HRM, Noble Oyibo Eshemitan, Oreki III and the community youth leadership.
The Oghareki community youth chairman, in a statement, confirmed that an alleged N200m oil royalties crisis had been looming in the community, but said that he did not grant any interview on the matter.
He said he would not contest what his co-chairman, Mr. Ejiro Efetoborem, said in his interview with The Nation.
The crux of the matter is a government’s directive lifting ban on youth activities in the twin communities of Ogharafe and Ogharaeki.
The battle line is drawn between executive members of the subsisting youth organisations and the traditional institution.
The pre-ban leaders of the youth groups, want to continue in office following the lifting of the ban, but the traditional ruler (Ovie) of Oghara, Noble Oyibo Eshemitan, Oreki III, wants a new youth’s body elected based on new guidelines. The net effect of the monarch’s plan will see the removal of the executive and usher in a new group, a situation the subsisting youth group find intolerable.
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has set a 50,000 direct jobs milestone for his administration in the next four years.
Okowa, according to a statement by his media team, said he aims to achieve the lofty targets through its empowerment programmes, tagged ‘Prosperity for all Deltans’.
The governor spoke on Tuesday when the National Working Committee of the PDP in the Southsouth led by its Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.
Julie Donli, an Amazon of the Niger Delta region described by her friends as amiable and generous woman hails from Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. She wears many caps.
In fact, she has served in different professional capacities as legal practitioner, Legal Adviser and Company Sectary of the Nigerian Capital Market Institute, an affiliate of the Security and Exchange Commission, Abuja. At some point she was appointed the Executive Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor, Government House. But now she is a principal Partner in a top legal firm based in Abuja.
Donli, however, loathes kidney diseases and has a passion to create a better living and easier access for treatment of persons diagnosed of kidney ailments. Donli, was driven to delve into humanitarian service after watching her mother die helplessly of kidney-related problem.
Her mother was diagnosed with an end stage renal disease. Her both kidneys later collapsed and stopped working. Donli, said her mother was on dialysis at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where she had a transplant. She could not survive it as she died in 1984. She established Julie Donli Kidney Foundation, after the incident to reach out to victims of kidney problems.
Donli said: “I watched my mom go through this very difficult and painful stage of the ailment for three years. I realised that the timeline for her would have been quicker if we had no money.
“After the experience, and now with the foundation, I am just so passionate about people undergoing dialysis. I want to see as many people as possible go through dialysis when they should, at a very cheap and affordable rate. I am passionate about making sure that kidney is prevented and nobody suffer from it. It is easier to prevent than to attempt to cure it.”
Niger Delta Report gathered that at the last count, over 38.6million Nigerians including people living in the region are suffering from kidney ailments with cost of treatment beyond most persons diagnosed of the disease. While many families have lost loved ones to the kidney ailments, others have struggled over the years under heavy financial burden to sustain the lives of their loved one.
Recently, the foundation a healthy kidney awareness campaign. Over 1000 Participants attended the event and 203 persons were screened for their kidney health free of charge. 2500 handbills were distributed.
A two-kilometre kidney health awareness walk was also carried out. The Board of Trustees of the foundation called on the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Abuja, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, used the occasion to call on business community and corporate organisations in the country to partake in the campaign for healthy living for persons diagnosed with kidney ailments.
A Patron of the foundation, Mr. Collins Adeyemi Pman; President and Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. David Adesanya presented the certificate of conferment as Patron of Julie Donli Kidney Foundation to Gwarzo who gladly accepted it.
Donli later invited the official launching and fundraising of the foundation. Gworzo thanked the Board of Trustees and assured them that SEC would live up to their corporate social responsibility in partnering with the foundation.
Oghara, the hometown of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, is boiling. The youths are up in arms against their monarch. The fight may get messier, reports OKUNGBOWA AIWERE
ll is not well with the residents of Oghara community in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Fear of insecurity has enveloped the community of former Governor James Ibori, with residents living in mutual suspicion. The past few weeks have been tumultuous. Irate youths have barricaded its streets, setting bonfires at intersections, seeking justice for the extra-judicial murder of the community’s vigilante boss.
To further worsen the matter, the community is inexorably drawn into further crisis with a low level war being prosecuted between the youth’s group and the traditional institution.
The crux of the matter is a government’s directive lifting ban on youth activities in the twin communities of Ogharafe and Ogharaeki.
The battle line is drawn between executive members of the subsisting youth organisations jointly led by Ejiro Efetobore and Favour Ededey and the traditional institution.
•Hrm Eshemitan
Ejiro and Ededey, the pre-ban leaders of the youth groups, want to continue in office following the lifting of the ban, but the traditional ruler (Ovie) of Oghara, Noble Oyibo Eshemitan, Oreki III, wants a new youth’s body elected based on new guidelines. The net effect of the monarch’s plan will see the removal of the executive and usher in a new group, a situation the subsisting youth group find intolerable.
Youth activities were banned in 2013 by the Uduaghan administration following allegations of rampant criminality, including kidnapping, oil bunkering and extortion of oil companies by youths in the area.
But the youth’s chairmen alleged that the king, who upon ascension in 2013 to the throne, misled the Uduaghan administration into banning youth activities, stressing that the real reason for the ban was to have unrestrained access to oil companies.
The monarch debunked such insinuations, adding that he and his council of chiefs have resolved to put an end to the violent crimes in the area engineered by the youth’s group by electing credible youths.
He said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in a tripartite agreement between the youth, traditional ruler, and the women at a meeting with the ex-Governor Uduaghan at his Warri residence, required him to set new guidelines for election into the youth’s group.
According to him, the process was close to completion, stressing that the new rules include pegging membership of the youth group to those between the ages of 20 to 40 years old and other criteria that will be unveiled soon.
He said the youth group did not meet conditions stipulated in the new guidelines, stressing that the ‘youth’ are ‘discredited men of over 50 years’.
He alleged that the current youth constituted themselves into an extortionist body that terrorised oil companies in area.
•Efetobore
However, Ejiro Efetobore, who is the Chairman Ogharefe community, argued that it was wrong for the king to implement new conditions to elect new youth group when there is a subsisting youth executive council.
His words: “We were delighted following the lifting of the ban on youth activities by ex-Gov. Uduaghan on the 26th May 2015. Uduaghan invited the youths, traditional ruler and the chiefs. This meeting culminated in the lifting of the ban on youth activities. There is the assumption that the youths ought to resume their various functions including building our secretariat, liaising with youth leadership at clan level for the good of the community. Whether you like it or not, the youth is the mouthpiece of every community. The tradition has been that we the youths take on issues afflicting community and report to the elders.”
He traced the crisis to 2013 when three persons aspired to the kingship position, adding that since the kingship tussle had been resolved and staff of office presented to the new king, the youths had pledged their allegiance to the new monarch and are prepared to work with him.
Continuing, he said: “Some time ago after the demise of our former King the tussle for the position between three persons but some persons believed the youths were not in support of the reigning monarch. When he became King he opposed the youth body and told lies to Uduaghan who banned youth activities in the community. Some of the allegations ranged from extortion of oil companies, illegal bunkering, kidnapping and other social vices. A traditional ruler who is supposed to support the youth has turned around to fight us. We are surprised we do not know where the problem is coming from. We pledged our loyalty to him, but we are surprised that the king does not want us to function.”
On what exactly the monarch is doing to frustrate their efforts at performing their functions, Ejiro stressed, “since the ex-governor lifted the ban on youth activities we have not been allowed to function. If we gather in our secretariat for a meeting or organise a party, he instigates the law enforcement agents to disrupt the occasion”.
At the heart of the dispute, according to our investigation, is the annual N200 million royalties, allegedly accruable to Oghara community from the oil companies operating in the area.
Efetobore maintained that the monarch stopped the youth from providing labour contracts to the oil companies, while accusing the monarch of ‘appointing his chiefs to the positions of community liaison officer of the various oil companies’.
His words: “He stopped us from performing our various function to oil companies and appointed some people who reports to him all transactions between the community and the oil companies. The persons appointed by the king have side-lined the community and reports only to the king and this has not been the tradition and custom of Oghara community.
“The former monarch never intruded into community affairs, he was entitled to 40 per cent royalty from the oil companies, but we are surprised that this reigning king wants all the money and always intrudes in our activities. The custom is that the youth’s intermediates between community and oil companies including homage, appointments, labour contracts, and so on, these are passed through the youths onward to our king. The situation is that the king has direct transactions with the oil companies including yearly homage.”
On the rampant cases of criminality for which the community has become infamous, Efetobore blamed the upsurge in criminal activities to the ban placed on youth activities, adding that, ‘There has been series of criminal activities, but thank God, we have the military and the police which are working round the clock to check their activities.
“There was an upsurge after youth activities were banned as they were no longer given chance to function, but since the lifting of the ban and with renewed collaboration with the military criminal activities will be minimised. The youth group does not harbour criminals, when we discover any such persons we usually hand over such to the police. The vigilance group set up by the last administration had bad elements among them, some were criminals. We cannot guarantee that they are all clean’.
Ededey
Favour Ededey, co-chair Oghareki community corroborated Efetobore. He said, ‘Our present king is really giving us hard time. During the reign of the former King, the three tier of administration were functioning in the community. After the presentation of staff of office, we have been banned from his palace.
According to him, ‘during the last meeting with Uduaghan, it was resolved that three members be drawn from among the youths, chiefs in order to fashion a proposal to guide youth activities. Since on the 28th May, the monarch and his chiefs have not put anything forward to resolve this conflict’.
He alleged that monies collected from oil activities in the area have been diverted into pockets of individuals, stressing that the monarch has usurped the activities of the youths.
He said: “In Oghareki vessels berth daily and NI million is collected, we ask where this money is going to. It is going to the pockets of individuals in the community. This has been going on since youth’s were banned, they cannot account for the money. In the past when oil companies come to the community they deal with us, but not so any longer as the king is directly in charge they give the jobs to their children and sell the other job slots.”
But, the monarch in an interview with our reporter blasted the youth body labelling its members extortionists. He said since he assumed the throne he had done a lot to curb the excesses of the youth group.
His words: “The youth group has been terrorising the oil companies in the area, and this has impacted negatively on the community. The task given to us by Governor Okowa is nearing completion and we will make our proposals known in due course. Youths are normally from ages 20-40 years but this set of youths is over 50 years. This situation will not be allowed in this community. The youths in the community are known to us.”
