The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • No end yet to my dilemma (2)

     

     

    The time was some minutes past nine when I read the last lines of The Dame of Our Time. I had never read it in such a record time of three hours, being a particularly slow reader. I soon went into some sort of day-dreaming and as I was coming out of it, my mobile phone came alive. First, I was startled. Later I picked it up and my guess as to who the caller was right.

    “What is it again?” was the first thing I said to this friendly voice.

    “Nothing much. Just to remind you of the deal…”

    “I have told you times without number that I have got no deal with you…”

    “My friend,” he shouted, “this is an important call, and it will be in your own interest not to trivialise it. I’ve called you to lend you the only money I’ve got. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. And whatever you do after now will tell me whether you are wise or not. I am giving you a last chance. The last chance to name your price or allow me to force one on you.”

    He paused. Perhaps for emphasis. I was not moved by anything he had said. And not until later in my life did I truly understand the purpose of this particular call.

    “So, what is your price?”

    I felt he was insulting me. How could he assume that he could put a price on my intellectual property? I just did not answer him. And he got furious.

    “In the part of this country where I come from, there is a wise saying that when you are trying to save a hen from death, it feels you are robbing him of the right to feed from the garbage dump. I can see clearly that you are not different from the hen. You are still blind now. But time will heal you of your blindness. And then it will be too late,” grunted the unfriendly voice.

    As far as I was concerned, he was only trying to threaten me so as to sell my conscience. And I was not ready to do that. Not now and not later.

    “Bye. Good-bye.” And the phone was hung.

    By now darkness had enveloped everywhere. The whistle of the night-watchman could be heard from some distance. The weather was cool. And gentle breeze was ruling. My eyes were beginning to play some tricks on me when the phone rang. Who could it be again? After all, my tormentor had told me that he would never call me again. Perhaps he forgot to tell me something. I was convinced he was the one on the line. But I was dead wrong.

    The next morning, a group of men from the Department of State Security  came for me. I was accused of trying to blackmail the First Dame. I was charged to court and they made sure the case dragged on for months while I was remanded in prison.

    After months of time wasting, I was discharged and acquitted. But it took some weeks later before it became clear to me that there was a link between my months in jail and my novella The Dame of Our Time. It never crossed my mind that my months in prisons had anything to do with my ex boss who lied and committed all kinds of atrocities.  But the link was established one day in my house shortly after I regained my freedom. A young man I could not place his face came asking for me. I was damn sure I had not seen that face before but his voice sounded very much ‘familiar’ to me. I knew I had heard it before. But whose?

    I could not answer that question until this young man started spinning the yarn, or more appropriately, spilling the beans.

    He told me that he was the mysterious caller who was bombarding me with strange calls shortly before I was arrested and tried for a sin I knew nothing about. If that revelation shocked me, what followed left my mouth agape. He revealed to me that it was my refusal to co-operate with them by insisting on publishing the novella that made Mama Peace implicate me.

    And more terrific for me was his revelation that the pictures, which led to the end of my relationship with my fiancée were his handwork. He told me how they had trailed Kaira and me to that restaurant, taken the shots without our knowledge and how they had got my fiancée’s address and mailed them to her. According to him, they did all these to break me, to put pressure on me so that I would not be able to publish The Dame of Our Time which he told me Mama Peace felt would tarnish her image and deplete her followers.

    At this stage, I could not but ask him how they got to know about the book. And this was another shock to me. He told me someone told them. When he mentioned the person’s name, it turned out to be the same person who had told me of Mama Peace’s many misdeeds. Why he had gone back to them was a mystery I would never be able to unravel. Perhaps he was afraid Mama Peace would find him out. Perhaps he discovered he had a stake in the First Family. Perhaps. And a whole lot of perhaps.

    The young man would not leave my office until I told him I had forgiven him. Forgive, yes but would I ever forget? Certainly not!

    Concluded

     

  • Bayelsa Ijaw fight over surveillance contract

    Bayelsa Ijaw fight over surveillance contract

    Friday last week was a bloody day in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The city was held spellbound in a tension-soaked encounter between ex-militants and the police. Hundreds of the former warlords threw decorum overboard and slugged it out with armed security operatives.

    To most residents in Yenagoa, that Friday came like a normal day. With the spirits of “Thank God it is Friday”, workers and shop owners headed for their various business ventures without knowing that foreboding lurked around. On getting to Tombia Roundabout located along the popular Mbiama-Yenagoa Road, the bright day changed to darkness.

    IMG_3049Hundreds of recalcitrant ex-militants carrying anti-Governor Seriake Dickson’s placards  and chanting hate songs against their governor had blocked the roundabout. They disrupted traffic and held commuters and motorists hostage. The youthful vigour exuded by the ex-militant and their leaders sent fears into the spines of everybody around the area.

    Shortly after the protesters took over the road and grounded traffic, patrol vehicles of armed policemen stormed the area. The more the security operatives tried to calm down the frayed nerves, the more the ex-militants became unruly.

    The policemen fired teargas canisters into the crowd of protesters. The ex-militants retaliated by hurling stones and other dangerous objects at the security operatives and their vehicles. Shortly, truckloads of armed policemen arrived the area for reinforcement. The situation got out of control degenerating into a full-blown clash between the policemen and the ex-warlords.

    At the end, about eight persons including a policeman were injured. Many vehicles, including a truck belonging to the police, were vandalised.

    Reason for the violent protest

    What was the bone of contention? The pipeline surveillance contract awarded to groups, companies and individuals in various states by the Federal Government was immediately referred to as the immediate cause of the pandemonium.

    The Bayelsa State share of the contract was the reason why the ex-militants led by a former Commander of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Eris Paul, popularly known as ‘General Ogunboss, took over the road and disrupted public peace.

    But investigations revealed that there could be other reasons such as a sectional hatred for Dickson following sustained determination by a camp loyal to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan that the governor should vacate office. During the protest, the ex-militant leaders were united in their chants that “Dickson must Go”.

    A close aide to Dickson, who spoke in confidence, said the ex-militant leaders were sponsored by the enemies of the governor working in concert with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

    He said the camp of the First Lady including Abuja-based politicians had decided to use ex-militants and violent protests to destabilize the state and discredit the governor.

    “They have tried many things without success. This is their next line of action but they are still going to fail”, he said.

    But the ex-militant leaders insisted that the protest was borne out of the decision of the state government to drag the surveillance contract with them. The ex-militant leaders and their foot soldiers vowed to make the state too hot for Dickson unless he steers clear from the contract.

    They insisted that the contract must be awarded to Bajero, a company formed with the initials of ex-militant leaders who hail from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. The ex-militant leaders who combined their initials to form Bajero are Victor Ebikabowei (Boyloaf), Africa Ukpariasa (General Africa), Joshua Macaiver, Eris Paul (Ogunboss), Pastor Reuben and Osei Clever.

    Dickson explains

    Without mincing words, Dickson called the bluff of the ex-militants and their leaders insisting that the pipeline security contracts were designed for oil-producing communities and not only for ex-militant leaders from Southern Ijaw.

    The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, described the activities of the ex-militant leaders as a breach of the existing peace.

    He said the ex-militants were hitherto, beneficiaries of pipeline contracts which they failed to execute. Dickson expressed displeasure that the ex-militants were being used by those he described as misguided politicians to embark on senseless public demonstrations within and outside the state capital.

    “Sadly, these ex-militants, who have mismanaged the Amnesty programme to shortchange their followers, are again planning to use the innocent youths to play out the script of their sponsors to malign the state government and destabilise the state for their selfish financial interest.

    “In addition to the Amnesty programme, which they control exclusively, these ex-militant leaders also have a share of the pipeline surveillance contract, but they are fighting to be the only ones to carry out this function throughout the state.

    “They have no capacity to do this and it doesn’t make sense because there are so many youths and chiefs in the state that can also be involved in their communities for accountability.

    “The position of the government is that, pipeline surveillance contracts are not for ex-militant leaders alone, most of whom hail from a particular local government area. The state-owned security company is for all persons in the state and will ensure that they are made to carry out their duties effectively.

    “There are youths from other local government areas that, must benefit from these contracts and not just Bajeros whose promoters are only from Southern Ijaw local government area.”

    The governor explained that the rationale behind the establishment of the state-owned Izon-Ibe Security Company was part of efforts to address the challenge of youth unemployment.

    He said the security outfit was basically set up to provide special training for youths and engage them for the purposes of security services.

    He said: “The Izon-Ibe Security firm is a limited liability company that is a community-based security and empowerment scheme for Bayelsa youths across the communities with the active involvement of the chiefs and leaders to train youths in the surveillance of pipeline and guard duties.

    “The management of the Izon-Ibe Security Company, which has Chief Joshua Fumudoh as Chairman and Chief James Jephthah as Managing Director, with a representative of the Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC) among others on its board is expected to take steps to engage youths to go for the necessary training for job placements in the company.”

    He called on members of the public to discountenance the antics of the ex-militants, who he said had become political jobbers, sponsored to cast aspersions on the good intentions of the government.

    He stressed that the restoration administration would not succumb to any form of blackmail and intimidation. He advised Bayelsans, especially the youths not to be misled by persons, “whose stock in trade it is to put the communities and the state into jeopardy by their nefarious activities”.

    He warned Bayelsans, especially the youths to resist the temptation of being used by this group of persons to foment trouble, as the law enforcement agencies had been put on red alert to deal decisively with trouble makers.

    Ex-militants adamant

    The National Chairman, 6166 Presidential Amnesty Phase II, ‘General’ Aso Tambo, insisted that Dickson had concluded plans alongside the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide to hijack the contracts.

    “Other states like Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom are also involved because they have ex-militants like us. The governors  of these states did not encroach into these contracts.

    “In the case of Bayelsa, we don’t know why the governor is making it peculiar that he wants to share the security contracts with the ex-militant leaders. He wants to take 50 per cent while the ex-militants will be given 50 per cent.

    “As at the time this contract was awarded, Dickson was not even a governor. These contracts were awarded as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we undertook with the federal government that if we accept the amnesty offer, pipeline security jobs will be given to us. That was why the jobs were given to us,” he said.

    He said they would never allow any governor to hijack the jobs and threatened to make the stage uncomfortable for Dickson if he refused to stay away from the contracts.

    He said: “If the governor has people he wants to empower, the state has many resources through internally generated revenues and statutory allocations. Bayelsa is a room and parlour state.

    “We are even surprised that the state till tomorrow has not been developed to our state after all the trillions that had come into the state. The governor should not interfere with our contract.

    “If he does so, we will continue to keep him restless. We will continue to suffocate him pending when his elections will come and we will definitely not give him any room to come back.”

    Also, Ogunboss said the angry ex-militants trooped to the streets to protest wrong policies of the present administration in the state and the plot by Dickson to hijack a multibillion dollar NNPC pipeline surveillance contract to communities in the state.

    “Apart from the numerous show of incompetence by the present administration, Dickson is trying to hijack the job meant for the oil-bearing communities in the state.

    “Most of the South-South states have signed the allocation of the surveillance contract but Dickson is insisting that the job be awarded to a self-styled company known as Izon Ibe, a security outfit that we don’t know.

    “Dickson should concentrate on the use of state allocation and internally generated revenue to advance the good of the State rather than hijack jobs coming to communities.”

    Ijaw youths clarify the issue

    Ijaw youths quickly reacted to the protest describing the ex-militants as misinformed individuals. The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, Mr. Udens Eradiri, said by the protest, the ex-militant leaders had exposed themselves as selfish individuals who have no interests of the poverty-stricken Ijaw communities at heart.

    He further faulted the implementation of the pipeline surveillance contracts saying they were formerly designed to directly benefit the oil-bearing communities. He said for that for two years the ex-militant had enjoyed the proceeds of the contracts, pipeline vandalism recorded all time high.

    He said the initial plan was that why the Federal Government would engage 30,000 ex-militants in training and reintegration into the society, it should also engage the communities through pipeline contracts.

    Tracing the genesis of the contracts, he said: “I was coincidentally Secretary-General of the IYC when the Niger Delta was on fire and that leadership led by Dr. Chris Ekiyor swung into action to resolve the crisis in the region.

    “We were negotiating with the Federal Government. Many past leaders came together and eventually an amnesty was proclaimed. Now this amnesty was proclaimed for about 30,000 youths that were directly involved in the agitation.

    “When we were designing the programme, we said that if you have 30,000 young people that have been involved in this agitation taken away from the creeks to be trained and reintegrated into the society, you need also to do something to engage the communities, the people.

    “This is because the number of youths who are vulnerable to being used for criminal activities are basically in the communities. I was part of those who wrote that programme for a security surveillance for oil installations in the communities”.

    But he regretted  that when the programme started, the government politicized it and awarded the contracts to ex-militant leaders who were supposed to have been in schools preparing for reintegration.

    “When the programme started, some of us went into playing politics and eventually when it got to implementation stage it was handed over to the same people that are supposed to be in class learning.

    “A surveillance is meant for communities that host oil facilities. The implementation was wrong. They took it and handed it over to the same people as part of compensation for them. It is a very negative gesture of government. Because of the huge sums of money involved, NNPC and many others started getting interested in the monies.

    “So, they deviated from the original plan. For over two years, they were receiving money and just sharing it. The media should plot a graph today on pipeline management. Pipelines were managed to a point because companies were having their own surveillance arrangements.

    “But if you plot a graph, you will see the straight line until where these contracts were awarded, that was when the destruction went up. The massive destruction of pipelines began exactly the period when the implementation of surveillance started because  the communities became angry that they were not the original executors of that process.

  • Trouble in the People’s Paradise

    it is called the People’s Paradise and for good reason. Cross River has earned the status of being the most peaceful state in the country. Its capital, Calabar, has been referred to an acronym of Come And Live and Be At Rest. Crimes and vices that characterised other areas of the country were near absent in the Southsouth state. Even during elections when the pressure to keep the peace is stretched to its limit, the state still managed to come through unscathed from the violence that are found elsewhere.
    This political season, however, things are no longer the same. With assassination attempts and kidnappings, it appears the halcyon days now belong to the past in the state, which prides itself as a destination in the West African sub-region. This is besides the rate of crime that has also escalated in the past few months. The peace, which has been sustained for so long, appears to have been broken.
    The first sign that an ugly trend had come to characterise the political atmosphere in the state was when gunmen attacked the Speaker of the State House of Assembly in his house on Parliamentary Village Road in Calabar, late last year.  The assailants jumped into his compound and fired shots at the house. A policeman was shot in the process. It was then strongly believed in political circles to be an assassination attempt. This was a strange development as far as the state was concerned and the police had dismissed it as a random armed robbery attempt. However, they were still strong reservations among the people over the incident. These reservations in the times that have followed that incident up to this moment, however, have proved not be unfounded as the situation has escalated.   In February, there was a suspected assassination attempt on the life of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the southern senatorial district of Cross River State, Mr Gershom Bassey.
    Earlier this month, unknown gunmen again attacked the house of the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbuna, in Ekorinm, Calabar.
    They were resisted by the security on guard and a policeman was shot and his rifle taken.
    Only last Sunday, the LP candidate for the Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Dominic Edem, was atatcked in his Calabar home by unknown gunmen.
    Up till the moment, his whereabouts remain unknown.
    Again, at least three persons were reportedly killed and several injured in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area in a violent political clash.
    LPchairman in the state, Mr Austine Ibok, decried the level of insecurity and the attacks he said were targeted at his party due to its growing popularity.
    In an interview, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, dismissed the accusations againt the ruling PDP on the upsurge of violcnce as attempts at scoring cheap political points.
    The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state has condemned the development, especially the kidnapping. The council’s chairman, Mr Goddie Akpama, said: “IPAC condemns in totality, the kidnapping of illustrious son of Cross River. And the government has not done anything about it. We had earlier called the government to order on the issue of non-internal democracy in PDP, which caused problems. We were condemned for that. But today we are vindicated because the problems it has created has become worse.”
    While the accusations and counter accusations continue, residents live in palpable fear. Already there are indications that the situation could increase the level of voter apathy during the elections, as many residents said they would rather stay home on Election Day than risk their lives at polling units.
    All the people want now is that the peace of the state, which appears to be yielding to the pressure of politics, be regained and sustained.
    This paradise should not be lost so that there will be no need for expending energy regaining it in the future. The madness should stop now. Yes, right now.

  • ‘Govt’s award of pipeline contracts to ex-militants an affront’

    ‘Govt’s award of pipeline contracts to ex-militants an affront’

     Mr Edward Ekpoko, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and chairman of the Warri Study Group, in this interview with SHOLA O’NEIL, reacts to statements made by his kinsman and former Minister of State for Defence Dr Rowland Oritsejafor  on the award of security contracts to ex-militants. Ekpoko, a lawyer, also speaks on the unending postponement of the $16bn gas project, among others.

    The former Minister of State for Defence, Dr Rowland Oritsejafor, recently said in an  interview that the Fed Govt is right to award security contracts to ex-militants in the Niger Delta r, what is you view?

    There are two issues in that interview that bother me. His position that the Federal Government was right to have awarded the contracts to ex-militants and where he said that the Ijaw militants’ threat of war if President Jonathan does not win the presidential election, which he also supported, because he said that it was a reaction to similar threats made by some persons in the north.

    Let me start by saying that I am utterly disappointed in Dr Oritsejafor, not only me; the entire Itsekiri people are disappointed in him. What he has said is an assault on the sensibility of the Itsekiri people. He should realise that the Ijaw, going by their antecedents, when they make such threats of going to war, do they have common boundary with the northerners that they are threatening to fight with? They normally start with the Itsekiri. That has been the case and that is what is happening in the EPZ that has not even started. They have started attacking Itsekiri people.

    So, for Oritsejafor to just come from nowhere and say what he said is an assault and affront on the Itsekiri people. As a matter of fact, after his inglorious exit as a minister, where he did not do anything for the Itsekiri people, since then the Itsekiri people have forgotten about him; no one knew where he was until he resurfaced and began to talk like someone who has lost touch with his people. The Itsekiri only remember him for one thing: he is the one who introduced the politics of mediocrity, where you have mediocre holding public offices. When we are talking serious issues about Itsekiri nation, no one mentions him. That he was a former minister for defence or a chief doesn’t make anything. When it comes to serious Itsekiri matter, he has no right to speak on it because he has lost touch with the Itsekiri people and he is disconnected and no on relates with him. I don’t know whether he is seeking political relevance now; but what kind of political relevance is he seeking in a sinking ship, where people are jumping from?

    How do the Itsekiri people feel about the failure of Mr President to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the third time?

    What it portends is that the Itsekiri have no place in the PDP agenda and their reckoning. Jonathan does not think of the Itsekiri; as far as he is concern, the Niger Delta is synonymous with the Ijaw. Look at the history of his Presidency, what has he done for us? Nothing. The only thing that could have been his achievement he has refused to commission. The project in the first place, was located there not because Jonathan loves the Itsekiri, but because of the nature of the place and it is investment friendly. If it was something that he has total control over I know they won’t take it there. But since he is there he has refused to commission it because the Ijaw are making unfounded allegations that they are owners of the land, which he knows is false but because of the Ijaw agenda which he has, people are now sponsoring the Ijaw to make this trouble.

    The annoying part of it all is that on the 27th of February when he came to Asaba, before the Olu and leaders of Itsekiri, he told us that he was going to commission the project in March and he was going to meet with Governor Uduaghan and the date would be communicated to us. March 16 was communicated to us, but up till now the courtesy of even reaching the Itsekiri people that the ceremony has been postponed was not there. He ignored us and treated us with levity as if the Itsekiri are nobody. We are not prepared to accept that and the only way the Itsekiri can tell him and any other political officeholder in Nigeria that they cannot be treated like that is to use their votes to express their bitterness and that is what I have been hammering on. I will continue to do that until the Election Day; Itsekiris will be moving from door to door to sensitise our people on their rights and how they should vote. They have right to vote for any candidate, but they are going to be guided. They cannot use their votes to enslave themselves.

    There is the contention by the Ijaws of Ogulagha that they own part of the land for the EPZ project and the President possibly stayed away for security reasons…

    The President has not told us anything about that or why he stayed away from today (March 16) ceremony again. But if that is the reason, government acquired land for this project, from whom did it acquire the land? If you know that government acquired your land falsely and ascribed the ownership of that land to another person, the law court is there, go and challenge it. Why should you resort to arms? Are we in the jungle where people resolve to force of arm to settle issues? They should go to the law court to challenge it, but they won’t because they feel they have the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces as their kinsman and the security of our waterways is in the hands of an ex-militant who is their kinsman. They think the entire Niger Delta is in their grip and they can do anything and the court does not mean anything to them.

    Are you worried that the EPZ project could die without leaving the drawing board?

    As a matter of fact, speaking from the bottom of my heart, I am no longer keen about President Jonathan coming to commission it. Somebody would commission it one day, but we are no longer keen about Jonathan.

    I know it could be part of the Ijaw agenda to move the project from the Itsekiri area to an Ijaw area but the Itsekiri man would not because of this project make ourselves to be slaves to the Ijaw or to President Jonathan. We have our dignity, which we stand on.

    Pipeline surveillance contract is causing furrow in Itsekiri land, do you think it is a ploy to scurry for votes?

    Any Itsekiri man that is worth his salt, a true Itsekiri man will never betray the Itsekiri cause. At worst, those beneficiaries have one vote and the Itsekiris know where they are going and they know who their true leaders are. The people in PDP are not their leaders because they have failed them and the people know. Some of those so-called PDP leaders cannot even go to their villages. The Itsekiri know what they are doing; you can give the contract to an Itsekiri man, give him a billion contracts, he cannot sell the Itsekiri people because everyone has his vote and they know where they are going. We are not going to force them to vote for whom they don’t want; that is where the card reader comes in and that is what INEC has been saying.  Gone are those days; no one can write results and declare people as winners without election.

    How has the Itsekiri nation fared since the past 16 years of unbroken democracy; do you think that you are better off today?

    We are not better off today. Since the inception of this democracy, the Itsekiri have not made the desired progress. The reason being that we are represented by incompetent persons both at the legislative and executive arms of government.

  • Itsekiri, Urhobo over surveillance contract billions

    Itsekiri, Urhobo over surveillance contract billions

    Since the Federal Government awarded the multibillion pipeline surveillance contracts to some ex-militants in the Niger Delta and leaders of the militia leaders in the Southwest, the some Itsekiri and Urhobo people in Delta State have been unhappy.

    In Delta, the pipeline protection contract was re-awarded to the Oil Field Surveillance Limited (OFSL), a company jointly owned by Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and some Itsekiri youth leaders. It was welcome by some oil industry operators because of the success recorded in the state. Operators said the OFSL performed well, particularly in the Ijaw areas of the state, where Tompolo held sway, adding that even after the end of the contract in 2012, oil facilities in the areas were still protected due to the influence of the company and fear of the dreaded ex-warlord.

    However, it was gathered that the Tompolo/Ijaw performance was not replicated in the Itsekiri areas where the sharing of the booty from the contract was enshrouded in controversy. It is against this background that some interest groups are kicking against their leaders and principal beneficiaries of the initial contract in 2010, who are poised to front for them in the new dispensation.

    Mr Michael Diden, the enigmatic PDP House of Assembly candidate in Warri North Local Government Area, Chief Ayirimi Emami and others are the arrowheads of the Itsekiri’s interest in OFLS.

    It was gathered that long before the contract expired in 2013 the surveillance deal had flunked and was dogged by allegations of mismanagement and underhand dealings.

    A window into the allegedly mismanagement of the contract was opened recently when Itsekiri youth leader and activist, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi spilled the bean on his erstwhile boss and ‘leader’ Hon Michael Diden, who goes by several monikers, including Ejele and Agumba.

    The allegations by Newuwumi, who is the Chairman of Iwere Development Association (IDA), are even weightier considering that he was a notable member of the mafia-like clique known as the ’12 Disciples’. Comprising more than the dozen indicated by its name, the group is made up of some very powerful Itsekiri youth leaders who for more than a decade bestrode the Itsekiri nation like the Colossus of Rhodes. They dictated everything from business, contracts to the politics of Itsekiri villages and towns spread across the three Warri LGAs of the state.

    ‘The 12 Disciples’ is reportedly led by Diden, a former chairman of Warri North Local Council. A source in Koko said: “They (12 disciples) have cornered all the juicy contracts, employment slots and political appointments and deals accruing to the nation. They disbursed such benefits as they deemed fit and to whom they felt worthy.”

    Addressing reporters recently at the 911 Hotel in Warri, Newuwumi expressed regret over his role in the group.  He said he was coming out to “reject and reveal what have been existing under the umbrella called 12 disciples….in Itsekiri Kingdom where I play a formidable role.”

    The press conference, turned out to be a precursor to an open letter, which was dispatched to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who appointed Newuwumi Commissioner for Youths Development in the fallout of his botched Warri North Local Government chairmanship aspiration.

    He said: “I am writing this letter based on my conviction on what the Itsekiri nation has suffered and I am saying that ‘enough is enough’ for a few individuals to continue enriching themselves with our collective wealth which Almighty God has given us.”

    “This open letter has become necessary”, Newuwumi continued, “based on recent attempt to re-award the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline surveillance contract in Delta State to a surveillance company where Mr. Michael Diden represents the Itsekiri interest again.”

    He hinged his reservations about the contract on how the employment slots and emoluments from the first phase of the contract were shared, stressing that although the term of the first phase provided for the employment of 1,500 Itsekiri youths who were entitled to a month salary of N120,000, it was not implemented.

    He disclosed that the 1,500 staff were each entitled to a pair of rain boots, rain coat, safety shoes, life jackets, uniforms, batteries, flash lights, pairs of cover-all among others for three years. He lamented that although funds were duly provided to procure these items they were not expended but cornered by few individuals.

    The former commissioner  challenged the OFLS Itsekiri representatives to provide proof that workers were paid or vehicles and equipment budgeted for were procured to facilitate the security of the pipelines as specified in the contracts.

    “They should also show the world the invoices/receipt of vehicles, speedboat or any equipment bought with the huge contract sum which was being paid during the years under review.”

    Concluding, Newuwumi said: “I want to invite the Economy and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate these allegations for the purpose of bringing” those behind them to book and to justice.

    Several efforts, including telephone calls and text messages soliciting for Mr Diden’s comment were abortive. He was also yet to respond to our SMS inquiry, which was sent to one of his telephone numbers on Sunday, March 8, even though a report showed that it was delivered.

    However, one of his associates, who spoke on condition of anonymity, defended him, stressing that the he was only a victim of the bitter politics that has engulfed the Itsekiri nation in the run-up to the 2015 election.

    “Why are these allegations coming up now? Is it not clear that people like Omolubi (Newuwumi) and others who benefited from this same Ejele are the ones trying to drag his name to the mud simply because he is running for office?”

    Besides, the source said Diden was not entirely responsible for the success or failure of any of the programmes, noting: “Some very top Itsekiri leaders and politicians know everything about it. Those who are making these spurious allegations should be wary of throwing stones in the market place.”

    The Urhobo are also not happy about the turn of event. An ex-militant leader,  General Evans Akponana aka Che Ernesto Gueverra, held a meeting at Ughelli North Local Government Area, where different groups of the 2nd phase Amnesty, 3rd Phase Amnesty and women demonstrated against the non-inclusion of Urhobo in the pipeline surveillance job.

    Akponana  said: “We all read with dismay, on the cover page of The Nation of Thursday, March 12, 2015, with the caption “Jonathan Okays Oil Jobs for Tompolo, Dokubo, Others. In the said piece, different companies belonging to different individuals from different ethnic nationalities were mentioned as beneficiaries of the Federal Government Oil Pipeline Surveillance Contracts.

    “Here lies injustice; where lies justice and equity? Fellow Youths, Amnesty -Generals, Women leaders, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, considering these elephantine degrees of injustice and oppression being hauled at us, the Urhobo Nation, it does appear to me as though I am in a dream; and if I am in a dream; am I still  asleep?; and if I am still asleep, when shall I wake up?

    “Can the Nigerian state be kind enough to wake me from this bad dream to the reality of justice-for-all, including the Urhobos as beneficiary of the Federal Pipeline Surveillance?

    ” May I seize this opportunity to inform Mr. President that the President-Generals and Secretaries as well as all Traditional Rulers of Oil/Gas Producing and Pipeline bearing Communities in Urhobo land have given a Power of Attorney and recommendation to one of their own for the surveillance job and we remain steadfast with that. We are not given to violence; neither shall we succumb to any act of intimidation.”

    For now, it is not clear how the Federal Government will address these complaints.

  • ‘We need to prevent a slide into anarchy in Southsouth

    The Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD) has stated that a slide into anarchy in the Southsouth geo-political zone and other parts of Nigeria must be prevented.

    It also told the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to insist on the use of card readers, to ensure free, fair and credible elections on March 28 and April 11 this year.

    NUD described the card readers as Nigeria’s biggest hope for addressing electoral malpractices, while declaring that the persons who are against the use of card readers are election riggers.

    The pro-democracy group in the defence of Nigeria’s democracy maintained that INEC must hold elections on March 28 and April 11, in order to move the country forward.

    The Southsouth Convener of NUD, Anyakwee Nsirimovu, accompanied by the Chairman of an Abuja-based Partners for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagwu, and other human rights activists, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, admonished Nigerians to kick against electoral terrorism.

    The pro-democracy group said: “We need to prevent a slide into anarchy. We need to take our destiny in our own hands. We need to ensure that darkness does not once again descend on our country. We are insisting that nothing must change the new dates of March 28 and April 11. Elections must be allowed to hold on these dates. Nigeria is on the march again. This time, no one will be able to halt the decisive will of the people for democracy and sustainable livelihood.

    “We are also worried by the current move to frustrate INEC in conducting credible elections, by pushing for the use of Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs), which will not allow for the use of card readers, already procured for checkmating election rigging. We wish to emphasise that the use of the card readers is Nigeria’s biggest hope for addressing election day malpractices. The quest to remove the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in the middle of a context, further confirms the attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan’s government to undermine the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the country’s forthcoming elections, which the main purpose is to perfect plans to rig the March and April polls.”

    NUD also noted with utmost concern, the growing political tension and killings in various states of the federation and their potential to undermine the electoral process.

    It particularly stated that the violence recently witnessed in Rivers state required vigilance, impartiality and professionalism on the part of the security agents, while urging the security agencies to ensure their fidelity to the constitution and that the citizens are not in any way undermined by political considerations.

    The pro-democracy group also condemned the buying of PVCs by politicians and bribing of voters, stressing that the electorate would not be able to vote with stolen PVCs, describing any attempt to illegally procure PVCs as an exercise in futility.

    The group said: “In rejecting the manipulation of the political transition, the NUD will continue with its rallies across the country, to condemn the conspiracy of the ruling clique against Nigerians.

    “The rallies are for Nigerians to stand hand-in-hand to speak with one voice against electoral terrorism, against any further polls’ shift, against any attempt to remove the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, before his terminal date of June 29, 2015, against any attempt to introduce an Interim National Government (ING), against any military incursion into politics, against corruption, against the devaluation of the national currency and conspiracy to use the court to frustrate INEC from conducting credible elections.

    “Civil authority is a delegation from the people. You cannot hold the country in darkness. Stop struggling against increasing light and liberality in the land. Allow Nigerians their inalienable rights and ensure the correction of abuses before we are completely destroyed under your (President Jonathan’s) leadership. It is a fact in political history that power abuse justifies resistance.”

    NUD also called on Nigerians to come out in large number to assert themselves and take control of their destiny, by fully participating in the nationwide rallies and to always give peace a chance.

     

     

  • Rivers NUJ declares war on fake journalists

    Rivers NUJ declares war on fake journalists

    The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State chapter Opaka Dokubo has said the inauguration of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Chapel of the NUJ would help the body win the war against the activities of charlatans in the profession.

    Dokubo made the statement while inaugurating the pioneer executives of the Union in the University recently.

    He lamented that journalism profession has been overtaken by charlatans, its image and pride smeared/gone, hence the urgent need to recover it.

    Suspecting poor university training and wrong mind-sets, the chairman expressed the hope that with the inauguration of the UNIPORT chapel, the Union especially in the state is on its way to winning the war.

    Dokubo said, “Today our profession out there is nothing to write home about, with many persons doing what they ought not to be doing. There are a lot of carpenters and bricklayers in the profession who are smearing the image of the noble profession.

    “I am so glad that the NUJ having come into UNIPORT, means that you can no longer dissociate yourself from whatever the image of Journalism and the union is out there; so the is need for to take up the challenge in helping to ensure that we bring up the crop of professionals that will go out there and make us proud.

    “I’ll will like to think that the UNIPORT chapel of the state NUJ will bring in the uniqueness of the institution in the Union to lead the way for other chapels to follow.

    “We do not have any other chapel that have the kind of concentration of professors and Doctors that you have, and as such believe that you will bring it to bare into Journalism profession.

    “There is dare need for us to redeem our profession, take it back from charlatans. There is need to train our members to become the professionals we can be proud of; obviously there is  problem with the training and mind-sets of journalists that are being graduated into the system this days, and what we see in them do not give our profession sense of pride.

    “Journalism is not like any other trade,  what we have is what we give if there is a problem with their training then it will show in their output, and we have the believe that with the entrant of UNIPORT into this union you will help us to win this war.

    “If we insist on standard already established, I assure you that within the next three years we will have only those who are qualified to practice doing the business in the state and by this we would have achieved our goal.

    “We need a lot of mentorship in this profession, we cannot hide the fact that there is so much stench among us and we need to sanitize our house.” He said.

    In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion Prof.  Boniface Nwigwe, a priest of the Catholic Church, described Journalism as important profession, that interacts directly to the people.

    Rev. Fr. Nwigwe noted that Journalism is the tier of government that breaks down governments function and activities to the peoples in the grassroots.

    “Those who structured governance structured it in such a way that to govern is an act of religious worship like, taking the place of god for the people, or serving as a medium between god and the people so that what you take from god you hand over to the people.”

    He expressed the hope that the crop of Journalists who passed through UNIPORT would be distinguished in the profession and excel in the business, stressing that the calibre of teachers in Linguistics and Communication department of the Schools informed his claims.

    In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the chapel, Dr. Udoudo Aniefiok said the move became necessary  for their love for the profession and  the realization on the need to promote journalism practice in the country, not only by teaching but also in practice.

    “I want to restate here that we are Journalists; we train journalists after all, before becoming teachers some of us were practitioners in the field. Once a journalist, always a journalist.”

  • No end yet to my dilemma

    some months back, all I could see after quitting my job as spokesperson for the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Niagra, Dame Peace Azikwe, was that a new phase, and  a different one at that, was beginning. How different it was going to be was what I was not sure of.

    As planned, I took up the job as Deputy Corporate Affairs Manager in the firm my friend, Dodondawa, introduced me to.

    All was well at first until I decided to write a book. The idea of doing a book was beautiful and marvelous in my sight.  I tried to run away from it. Try as I did it would not leave me. In my dreams at night and during the day, the muse kept drawing me to it. I heard the muse clearly telling me to become a devotee and at the same time nudging me on the shoulder to take the quills. With time, I began to admire the muse and got enraptured. Then one day, I decided to give it form by putting pen to paper and by the time I was about to bask in my new joy, hell came down hard on me. My head began to do topsy-turvy.

    Then one day, I was in my three-bedroom apartment when there was a knock on the door. I stood from the only three-seater chair in the sitting-room, where I had been sitting for hours, ruminating over the turn of my life.

    I peeped through the door-view and saw a strange face, wearing what looked like a uniform. The colour of the uniform was blue. I opened the door.

    “Good afternoon sir,” greeted the stranger.

    “Good afternoon,” I managed to reply.

    “I’m from Ramson Express. I have a parcel for Mr. Tunde Omoeko…”

    “I’m Tunde Omoeko,” I cut in.

    I signed and collected the parcel. I bid the courier man farewell and retired to my previous position on the three-seater. I tore the envelope hoping the content would add some sunshine to my wearing-out existence. But it was only a matter of time for me to realise that I had murdered sleep and single-handedly threw it out of the window. And never would I sleep again.

    The first thing I saw on opening the parcel sent a rude shock down my spine. It was a picture of a lady, a colleague of mine and myself. The picture in question was taken inside a fast food joint. I could not immediately remember taking any such picture with Kaira. This must be some trick, I tried consoling myself. But the fact that the parcel was from my fiancée in far away Port Harcourt puzzled me. Even if I had taken a picture like that, how did it get to Adeeza, my fiancée?

    Yes, I had taken Kaira out some weeks back when she was celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday. But I could not remember taking a picture with her during this outing. The state of confusion which the picture had put me made me forget that there was an accompanying note in the parcel. Quickly, I fished out the note and fed my eyes and soul with the content:

    “Lover boy,

    I’ve always known that I am a pain in your neck. I am debarring your progress as far as the exploration of female anatomies is concerned.

    Don’t be surprised that I got this picture of yours and your latest catch, which was at the scene of the bash you organised to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday.

    I’m on my way to Lagos as you are reading this. It is for no other reason than to bid you a final bye-bye, pick my things in your apartment and drop the damned spare keys of your apartment in my possession.

    Till then, hold your breath.

    Adeeza.”

    I re-read the letter more than four times. And all I kept muttering was: “Why bring this at this material time, Adeeza? I’m still battling one mighty problem and here you are adding what can turn me into an emotional wreck.”

    Before I knew it, my eyes had turned a flowing  river. Tears. Tears. And more tears. I could not really think straight. Things were happening too fast for me to comprehend.

    The sun was up in the sky. In high quantity too. But not a dose of this was in my life at the moment. The sun soon peeped through the window and poured harsh rays on my sitting position.

    Just when I cleansed off the films of suspended tears in my eyes, my mobile phone buzzed. It startled me as if I was not aware of the facility’s existence. I did not feel like answering it. But when the phone would not stop ringing, I grabbed it and said a very weak “hello”.

    There was silence from the other end. A dead silence. I managed to say hello four more times. Still it was a graveyard silence. But just when I was about to drop the handset, I heard something that sounded like a “hello”.

    “Hello, hello,” I cooed.

    But there was no answer from the other end. A thought was about taking a shape in my heart when the phone came alive again. I felt like smashing it. But in no time I was clutching the handset.

    “Hello…”

    “No time for pleasantries, Tunde,” purred an unfriendly voice from the other end.

    “What is it this time?” I asked.

    “Nothing much, nothing much…”

    And then a dead silence.

    “Please say what you want to say,” I begged.

    “Don’t be too smart boy!” rebuked the unfriendly voice.

    Somehow, I had the impression that the fellow on the other end had a cigarette burning in his hand. I could feel the stench. So nauseating. This unfriendly voice had been terrorising me on phone in the last one week.

    “Mr. writer, do you know what happened to Dele Giwa?” asked my tormentor.

    I did not say anything.

    “He was blown to pieces…”

    “For doing his job,” I managed to say.

    “No, no, not exactly…”

    “Then, why was he blown?”

    “For following a path similar to the one you are now following.”

    I did not say anything.

    “If you love yourself, just keep the term of the deal…”

    “I don’t remember having any deal with you,” I grunted.

    ”You sure do. That useless book you are working on about Mama Peace must not see the light of the day. If it does, then light will be permanently out of your life. You may be deceiving yourself that you have written fiction but we know you only use the Kole Omotosho style to write about your experience working with Mama Peace…”

    ”I still don’t understand,” I feigned.

    “When you are ready to cut a deal, I’ll be here. I’ll call you from time to time to find out your price. Bye!”

    And he hung up. I was soon smoking away the pains searing away my inside. One. Two. Three.  Four. Five… By the time I got to the tenth cigarette, my eyeballs had turned red.

    I later went into my room and came out with a copy of the manuscript of my coming novella The Dame of our Time. Another copy was with a foreign publishing company. We were trying to work out an agreeable contract.

    The time was almost four in the afternoon. I took a look at the manuscript, which I had expended a lot of energy on and had done everything possible to hide the true identity of the dramatis personae. Yet my life was in danger, because of this same work.

    “Even if I’ll die, this work must see the light of the day,” I said to myself and opened The Dame of our Time and started reading it for the umpteenth time. But with more attention now…

  • Rural dwellers laud UNICEF intervention in Cross River

    Rural dwellers laud UNICEF intervention in Cross River

    Rural dwellers of remote communities in Cross River State have expressed gratitude to the United Nations Children’s Fund for its intervention, especially in providing water and promoting good health among them.

    Some of them who our reporter spoke with in some local government areas visited said the succor and relief brought by the fund through its programmes especially on women and children had impacted their lives tremendously.

    UNICEF has over the years been collaborating with the state government on several programmes, which among others include water, sanitation and maternal newborn and child health week.

    A mother of two from Okpoma community in Yala local government area in the northern axis of the state, Mrs. Augusta Arikwu, who was grateful for the free healthcare she had gotten throughout the period of pregnancy and even after delivery hoped that UNICEF would continue its programmes in their community.

    “I am praying that UNICEF should not withdraw from assisting the country as it is being rumoured. I am a beneficiary of all their programmes. Be it water or the maternal newborn child exercise,” she said.

    Mrs. Arikwu also commended the state government for partnering with the international agency and urged it to continue, as all its programmes are very important to the well being of the women and children.

    “UNICEF water projects are scattered in many communities in Yala today courtesy of the state government collaboration. Before now we usually trek long distances to look for water from the stream for our domestic use,” she said.

    Also in the same community, Mrs. Elizabeth Onah, a mother of four was full of praises to both UNICEF and the state government under the leadership of Governor Liyel Imoke for attracting the kinds of programme they got.

    “We never had it so good before. Today I do not stress myself before getting water to drink or for other domestic purposes. The free medical care to mothers and their newborn babies is a gift from God. I commend the annual maternal newborn and child week which is always observed in all the local government areas of the state. A lot of health related issues were taught to women during the marking of the week. Newborn babies were also immunized during this period,” she said.

    Also, in Akpabuyo local government, the stories were the same as the people expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the state government.

    Madam Affiong Okon from Ikot Nakanda said the entire community where she comes from had been lacking potable drinking water for years until the coming of UNICEF assisted water programme.

    She said: “We were reluctant in accepting the drilling of the borehole because of the stereotype attitude of contractors. They will start a project and halfway, it will be abandoned.

    “Today I can tell you that the UNICEF borehole has being of tremendous assistance to the entire community. The water runs for 24 hours and it has been a blessing to us.”

     

  • Six Amazons of the Niger Delta

    Six Amazons of the Niger Delta

    March 8 was observed worldwide as International Women’s Day (IWD). To show its support for gender equality, women’s empowerment and participation in peace-building, the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) highlighted the work of eight women, including six from the Southsouth. SHOLA O’NEIL reports on these women who through their works, created a peaceful environment that led to more economic opportunities  in their local communities

    In commemoration of 2015 International Women’s Day, the Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) had #MakeItHappen: Women as Peace Agents in the Niger Delta as sub-theme. It said the sub-theme was critical in view of the fact that the 2015 IWD came barely weeks before the 2015 Presidential election on March 28, remarking that the election is predicted to have its own share of violent outcomes in flashpoint locations throughout Nigeria.

    In celebrating the women, PIND remarked that the foundation recognizes that women are well positioned to prevent the start and spread of violent conflicts, as they are more likely to notice early warning signs.

    It was against this backdrop that the foundation spotlighted 55-year old Mrs Biobara Makalabh (aka Mama Rose), a lawyer; Ms Emem Okon; Mrs Mercy Akpowowo; Hon Fanty Wareya; Mrs Blessing Orijos and Mrs Mfong Edidiong Esua for advocating peace and preventing conflicts in their communities.

    Mama Rose:  Averted election violence in Bayelsa

    This former police officer, who rose to the rank of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), is a peace advocate from Otuabagi Community in Bayelsa State, the founder of ‘The Makalabh’, a development foundation and she uses her artwork to propagate her message of peace.

    She says although Otuabagi is host to over 22 oil wells, “the community has nothing to show for it. My people are not happy, my women are not happy. My people are suffering, no water, there is erosion. I have been busy calming my people down. “

    Makalabh and PIND are particularly proud of her role in nipping a crisis that would have torn her community in pieces during the 2011 election.

    She said: “The generality favoured a candidate, while the Government and political elite favoured another. So everybody was ready for a show down – youths guarded the community to see how anybody would hijack the polls, while women threatened to go naked.

    “When I saw the political tension, I had to call everybody to a round table. They all agreed to give-and-take, the candidate favoured by the Youth and Women agreed to step down. The election went peacefully, every party was later absorbed in the political leadership and Community is the better for it.”

    Mrs. Mfon Edidiong Esua – Nipped leaders/youths conflict in A’Ibom

    The 35-year-old native of Akai Atti Udesi community in Mbo LGA of Akwa-Ibom State is the Executive Director of an NGO – Dynamic Youth Development Organization. She is a social worker who has been involved in several peace building efforts and conflict resolution, including midwifing peace during conflict between the youths and leaders of Ikot Ambon community in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA of the state.

    The crisis was sparked off when construction company offered to provide income generation opportunities for members of Ambon as part of its social responsibility. Disagreements arose over selection of beneficiaries. The youth accused the community leaders of displaying nepotism/favouritism in selecting beneficiaries thereby excluding most vulnerable. Thus, the youth were pitched against the community leaders.”

    At the time the conflict was brewing, DYDO had concluded plans to carry out community entry events in Ikot Ambon.  The initial sensitization event was marred by protests by the youth. Mrs Esua led the team to hold consultations and make enquiries to unravel the cause of the brewing conflict.

    Her findings revealed: “The men wanted to allocate slots to who they knew especially family members who were not qualified for the slots, and to those who offered them bribe and to the children of their peers and party members. The youths disagreed vehemently to such ideas and kept on saying the slots were for less privileged and the vulnerable. This led to a misunderstanding between the community leaders and youth who protested in the community and at the local government council.”

    Underneath the tension was also high poverty level occasioned by unemployment as well as allegations of corruption among leaders and discrimination against the poor and most vulnerable. All the warning signs of conflict were imminent in Ikot Ambon and it was only a matter of time before it blew open.

    Mrs Esua and her team picked up the warning signs; sensitised the women and youths on the need for dialogue to resolve their differences. Traditional and religious leaders were also encouraged to use democratic and transparent means for beneficiaries’ selection.

    Consequently, conflict was averted and “community leaders and youth embraced dialogue and transparently selected trainees; “the names of those selected were read to the hearing of all at a community forum and all agreed”.

    “I am proud that I have been able to mitigate a conflict which would have resulted in war between families and heads of the community and that I have been listened to by men not regarding the fact that I am a woman,” Mrs Esua told PIND.

    Mrs Mercy Akpowowo: Helped Edo community farmers

    The 64-year old founder of the Progressive Women Cassava Farmers Cooperative Society in Evbuwa Village of Orhionmwon LGA of Edo State was recognised for her role in organizing women into the coop society and for mitigating conflict within various groups in the area.

    PIND said, “The women of Evbuwa are reputed for their hard work. Many of them cultivate cassava, among other crops. In the past, they used to market their produce direct from the farm individually. Conflict often arose over non-payment by debtors leaving many women stranded.”

    Mrs Akpowowo said, “One conflict I helped mitigate is that between a couple and a certain woman. The couple sold 3 acres of cassava farm to the woman for a given amount. She defaulted in the agreement terms and this led to serious fighting between the two families. The matter was reported to me by (seller) (a member of my Cooperative) and I immediately invited some opinion leaders and influential people in the community including the Community Head (Odionwere) to intervene.”

    In the course of her peace initiative and dialogue, Mrs Akpowowo said she found out that the debtor refused to complete payment because the quality of produce from the farm was below her expectation.

    Beyond being a peace builder, Mrs Akpowowo’s Cooperative has attracted 2 grants so far – the World Bank Fadama III facility and another from the TY Danjuma Foundation and helped to prevent exploitation as members now jointly own a Garri processing mill.

    “We now process our cassava and fry it to Garri then send to the cities for sale unlike before that we just sell our cassava farm away without making profit,” she enthused

    Mrs Blessing Orijos – Prayed Peace into warring Rivers community

    In 2005,  Rumuekpe, an oil producing community in Rivers State, was engulf in by violence resulting from internal leadership tussle and bickering over the sharing of largess from an oil company operating in the area. The conflict led to random killing and sacking of the community.

    Mrs Orijos, who founded the Rumuekpe Women Prayer Warriors, was one of those who lost loved ones: “People were dying every day. Many people were killed and the community was deserted… They even came to Port Harcourt and killed some people in their houses. My brother was also killed.”

    Her personal pain and the need to stem the tide led her to form the prayer group, which she described as “a rescue mission.” The group staged protests, with half-clad women at the LGA secretariat and State Government House in Port Harcourt.

    On 14th November 2010, the women’s group entered the community. The peaceful protests touched the conscience of some of the perpetrators of violence and they dropped their weapons and joined the peace movement.

    She said: “When we entered, the boys came out from their hideouts confessing and surrendering.”

    Despite the return of peace, Mrs Orijos said community members especially women remain impoverished in Rumuekpe. She calls for support (economic empowerment) for the women of Rumuekpe and for capacity building of her women’s group (now a community-based organisation) for sustained action.

    Hon Fanty Wareya: Fed IDPs in Delta

    Warri ‘Girl’, Hon Fanty Goodness Wareya, earned PIND’s accolade for her role in feeding hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons during the May 2009 clash between militant and troops of the Joint Task Force in Gbaramatu area of Warri, Delta State. As the Community Development Committee Chairperson, she led a mission that provided succor for thousands of the displaced women, youths and aged.

    “I had over 30 persons in my house in Warri who managed to find their way through Sapele River and other routes. I had to take care of them. Then came the duties at the IDP camp. I had to be at the camp every day. I drove from Okumagba (Avenue in Warri) to Ogbe Ijoh daily to make sure that the women and children were catered for.

     

    “For two full months, I was waking up and resuming at the IDP Camp until peace was restored. At this time, we still had to make sure relief materials were sent to those who hid in the bushes and were now back in the burnt down communities. We got word that people were dying of hunger and the government set up a committee. I was in one of the committees. We had to go back and forth again with relief materials and lots of food items. Those two months were the most traumatic time of my life.

    ”Wareya’s work attracted the support of other women and they were able to build a united front. My group and I got recognition. We were even taken to Brazil for training on peace and conflict resolution.”

    Some of the challenges she faced included not being taken seriously because of her gender. She recalled even being told by some men to “go home and take of your children and husband, leave these matters for us”.

    Ms Emem Okon: A wager of peace

    Apart from working closely with Mrs Orijos’ Women Prayer Warrior to bring peace to Rumuekpe Community of Rivers State after five years of conflict, Ms Okon, who is the founder of Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre in Port Harcourt Rivers State, led the historic ‘Mothers for Peace´ marches held in Tere-ama, Emuoha and Ogoni land to denounce militancy, cultism and other violent practices in the state.

    She trained the women on conflict transformation and peace building. In collaboration with the Conflict Mitigation and Management Regional Council (CMMRC), she initiated and sustained dialogue between men, women and youth on how to restore peace, supported women to take mass action and held a peaceful protest march at the Government House and Rivers State House of Assembly calling on the leaders to desist from fueling violence.

    She said: “High poverty rate among the women whose means of livelihood were destroyed during the years the conflict is an issues. I am making efforts to ensure that the women benefit from the N220b loan facility handled by the Quintessential Business Women Associations.”

    Ms Okon urged the Federal Government to provide grants for women in conflict affected communities in the Niger Delta, extend the amnesty program to women affected by militancy, cultist activities, particularly women that were affected by the military invasion in Gbaramatu clan in Delta state in 2009 and implementation of the UNSCR 1325.

    Mrs Ajih Florence and Ngwamma Onuoha

    The two other women highlighted by PIND were Mrs Ajih Florence, the Exectuvie Director of Women Advancement and Development Initiative and first female State Coordinator of Civil Society Organisation on HIV/AIDs in Nigeria and Ngwamma Onuoha, Assistant Secretary, P4P Central Working Committee from Ondo and Abia states.