The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Double celebrations for an apostle of God

    Double celebrations for an apostle of God

    It was a double celebration for Apostle John Richard, the Presiding Bishop of Warriors of Christ International Church Port Harcourt, as his friends, family and well-wishers gathered to mark his 25th year in the Ministry and as well as his 42nd birthday celebration.

    The event started with a church service and ended with thanksgiving, during which hundrends of prominent dignitaries, including Senator Magnus Abe, a former Minister of Transport, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas and others joined the man of the moment to thank God for many victories and successes. The guests included great men of God who came from different parts of the country to celebrate with one of their own.

    Some of the members of the church and guests who spoke to Niger Delta Report said the Warriors of Christ, as a church, has enough reasons to celebrate considering the temptation and persecution against the presiding Bishop and members of the church that almost led to the collapse of the ministry. They recalled when the Bishop was accused of using diabolical means to perform miracles and attempts to destroy the church and properties.

    A member of the church Mr. Onyebuchi Peter said “We are not only celebrating our Father in the Lord for his 25 years in the ministry and for adding another year in his life, we are also celebrating the victory of good over evil. Some pastors in Port Harcourt last year ganged up against our church saying all kinds of things. They also said my Bishop was using a diabolic means to perform miracle, they sent police and thugs to destroy our church some members of the church were arrested. When the heat became too much to bear, the Bishop went into hiding. So we thank God today that we are celebrating this great man of God in this church. ”

    Describing Bishop John Richard as a great man of God, the chairman of the occasion Mr. Greg Ogbaifo said one needed not be told that Bishop Richard is filled with the grace of God. He noted that the crowd that embraced the occasion was enough to understand the kind of life he lives.

    He said, “My prayer for him is that as God gives him years in the ministry so shall his strength be. And so shall his congregation grow and the anointing of God in his life will increase on a daily basis.”

    Ogbaifo said there was no doubt that the Bishop was a man called by God, stressing, “when a man speaks into your life and it come pass, then; we need to believe that he is a true man of God. From the growth of the ministry, the Lord said he will bless the work of our hands, this ministry only started seven years ago and you can see how big the church is growing.

    “There are churches I know in this town that have been in existence for 15 years and they are still where they are. It is obvious; he is a humble man, he is a true man of God. There are so many churches and so many ministers all over the place, some are called some have called themselves.  So we have listened to believe the spirit of discernment to know who are called and who have called himself. I believe this man of God is called of God. When we listen to the things he is doing not only in the kingdom but in the secular world, especially reaching out to orphanages, widows, then you will know that he was chosen to make sacrifice to take the ministry beyond church, tithes and offerings.”

    Senator Magnus Abe commended the celebrant for having the gift to work in God’s vineyard and also thanked God for giving him the gift of the ministry. He urged him and other men of God to speak out for the truth and for the good of the society.

    “As we face some challenges in our country today, the place of the church as the sanctuary of truth has become very important. It is  a place where God’s intention in our  lives  and the lives of our country cannot be contaminated, cannot be confused and cannot be diluted by man. The place of the church in Nigeria today is more important than it has ever been and it is our prayer that God will continue to raise men of truth and holiness to do His work in a very challenging period in the life of our country.”

    A former Minister of Transport, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas described Apostle Richard as a believer. “Since I met the Bishop I have observed and interacted with him and have found him to be enthusiastic and an assiduous young man that is devoted to his work. ”

    Responding, Bishop John Richard said he lacked words to thank God and those who left their various worship centers to attend his double celebration and thanksgiving.  “I feel so overwhelmed, I feel so excited and I feel like any celebrated person in the world.  Twenty-five years in the ministry is not 25 months, I am thanking God for the vision and for making me to see this day especially when the grace has become double to mark my birthday today.”

    The highpoint of the celebration was the cutting of the anniversary and birthday cake by Bishop Richard who was supported by friends and well-wishers.

  • Before garbage takes over Asaba

    A shadowy figure burdened with a sack darts across the dimly lit street stopping momentarily on the median along Ibusa road, to deposit a sack full of garbage.

    As far as the eye can see, neatly stacked plastic bags line the median on the two major roads in Asaba –namely Ibusa and Nnebisi, vitiating efforts of the government to improve sanitary conditions.

    Illegal dumping of refuse has become predominant practice with illegal dumpsite adorning major streets and intersections in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    With the failure of the Delta State Waste Management Board to develop an effective waste evacuation plan, residents have taken laws into their own hands by dumping their waste indiscriminately.

    A desperate bid to curb the menace of filth saw Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan constituting a 25-man special sanitation team chaired by Deputy Governor Prof Amos  Utuama but these efforts appears to have come to nought.

    The Chairman, Delta State Waste Management Board (DSWMB), Olori Magege, in an interview over a month ago assured that with the plans being put in place by the Uduaghn administration, waste management would improve.

    According to Magege the private waste collectors had not done a good job in waste evacuation, but blamed residents for defaulting in their monthly payments to the waste collectors.

    Magege said with the World Bank’s entry into waste disposal in the State, Deltans would see an improved waste collection system.

    He said SEEFOR, a World Bank-assisted programme was designed to empower youths using the platforms of waste management and road maintenance.

    He said the programme had the capacity to employ a large number of youths, adding that the pilot scheme would start in Warri, Ughelli, Sapele and Asaba.

    According to him with the SEEFOR project many idle Deltans would be gainfully employed, adding that the state had been zoned into 130 zones with a PSP assigned to each zone.

    With the new waste management policy in the State, Magege said monitoring and enforcement would be reinforced.

    But over a month since SEEFOR took off, the sanitary conditions have not improved; illegal dumpsite have continued to thrive and the Asaba metropolis is at the verge of being swamped by garbage.

    Although, some old rickety trucks ply the streets of Asaba , but this has not translated to effective evacuation of filth in the community.

    A resident, Mrs Felicia Abuah, said the dumping of filth on the median of major roads would continue due to the inefficiency of the agency saddled with the responsibility of waste evacuation.

    A retired school headmaster, Mr Vincent Okafor, also blamed the DSWMB for failing in its responsibility to address the issue of effective registration of resident and its inability to enforce its laws.

    His words: “The failure to register everybody as directed by the law and the inability to enforce or compel defaulters to register and to sanction them by the DSWMB gave birth to the present irresponsible attitude displayed on our environment.”

    He expressed sadness at what he called ‘lack of moral, conscience and culture of decency’ in the society, and urged DSWMB to address the situation squarely.

    Another resident, Mrs Mary Ijeoma, said the dumping of waste on street median ‘is a real trial of the efficiency of the DSWMB. If the management of the board excelled in its performance the refuse will not be staring at us on the roads now’.

    But it remains to be seen whether the DSWMB will rise up to the challenge of effective waste disposal and save Asaba residents from a possible outbreak of disease.

     

  • Rivers varsity seeks answers to Niger Delta problems

    Worried by the prevailing environmental challenges in the oil-rich Niger Delta, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt says it has resolved to use its international conferences to proffer solutions to issues militating against the development of the region.

    This, the university said, is why it hinged the theme of its last week’s 2nd International Conference on “Flood and Erosion Prevention, Protection and Mitigation” so that it could be used to proffer solution to the peculiar environmental problems facing the Niger Delta region.

    Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof. Barineme Fakae, expressed gratitude to the participants who have come either to deliver papers or give audience to the lectures.

    He drew attention to flooding and erosion that have impacted negatively on the communities in the region in recent times.

    The chairman of the conference, a Professor Emeritus, Dagogo Fubara, commended those who have championed the cause of solving the region’s problems.

  • Foundation honours Justice Obaseki

    A retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki, has been bestowed with the Role Model Award   by the led by Hallmarks of Labour Foundation (HLF).

    The HLF said the award was in recognition of Justice Obasaki’s outstanding qualities and contributions to the growth of the legal profession and judiciary.

    The event took place in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    Presenting the award, a member of HLF board and first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Grace Alele-Williams, said Justice Obaseki was picked as a recipient because of his courage throughout his career in both the bar and bench.

    Prof Alele-Williams said: “I am extremely happy that we are honouring a Justice that has done wonderfully for our part of the world, our part of the country and of whom we are very proud.”

    She urged the younger generation to emulate the qualities of Justice Obaseki as a role model on hard work, dedication and forthrightness, noting that while others were in the habit of using their positions to make quick money, “he was busy establishing a good reputation for himself.

    Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mrs. Patricia Otuedon-Arawore,  said: “HLF believes that something has to be done to salvage the image of our country. I am convinced that our society still boasts of exemplary men and women who against all odds have embraced integrity; that there are great Nigerians who can match and excel their contemporaries elsewhere.”

    Responding on behalf of the Obaseki family, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Jackson Gaius-Obaseki said “I feel very happy and it gives me hope.”

  • Mystery in Amaechi’s hometown as fallen tree ‘rises’ after two weeks

    Mystery in Amaechi’s hometown as fallen tree ‘rises’ after two weeks

    Those who saw and heard of the mysterious event at Ubima, hometown of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, describe it differently: some say it is amazing; others say it is mysterious and unbelievable. The ‘rising’ of a sacred tree that was felled by windstorm in the community has continued to elicit mixed reaction from the people of the area.

    Niger Delta Report’s investigation in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, revealed that the ‘rising’ of the fallen tree led to panic and anxiety among locals, particularly the aged, who felt that something must be done to appease the gods of the land. Juju priests and local deity adherents believed that it was a warning from the gods that they would not take kindly to being neglected any longer. But Christian leaders said the rising of the tree was a ploy by the devil to return the Ikwerre community to the dark days.

    It was gathered that the mystery started some weeks ago when a heavy downpour, accompanied by thunder and windstorm wreaked havoc in the community. Several houses and properties were destroyed by the ill wind. And among the ‘victims’ was a tree in the sacred forest, called Ali-Ubima, which was uprooted by the wind.

    But as the saying goes, ‘one man’s loss is another’s gain’ . It was gathered that loggers quickly brought out their motor-saw and went to work on the fallen tree. Azubuike Chukwu was one of those who went to work on the fallen tree. He and his colleagues got more than they bargained for. He told our reporter that the threat that the wood was in a sacred forest did not scare him because he had worked in woodlands described as more unfriendly and dreadful than Ali-Ubima. But a few hours after he went in, the logger left with his tail between his legs.

    Chukwu said: “We went there to saw one of the trees that were pushed down by the wind. After dividing the long tree, we became hungry and tired; so, we decided to leave the work to look for food. To our greatest surprise, when we returned to the forest, we discovered that the tree had risen from the root side and stood up again. That was how we abandoned everything and ran for our dear lives.”

    The awe-struck logger and his colleagues beat a hasty retreat from the forest. They ran into town to tell the unbelievable story of a tree that fell and rose again.

    “We ran for our dear lives because nobody knew what could happen after that,” he said, adding that they left behind the paraphernalia of their operation.

    The news that a fallen tree in Ali-Ubima had risen again spread quickly, like wildfire, through the community. Those who heard the incredible story soon shook off their fear, took their smart phones and turned the scene into a Mecca of sort.

    But while crowd from far and near trooped in to catch a glimpse of the mysterious occurrence, elders and leaders of the community were troubled. One of the leaders who spoke with our reporter said: “It is disturbing to hear that a tree that has fallen stood up again, especially when this happens in the sacred forest, it is an indication that all is not well in Ubima.”

    However, while the elders were troubled by the occurrence, one man was joyful. The happy man was Elder Raphael Amadi, the Chief Priest who described himself as the ‘Commander of Juju Priest in the community’. He said he celebrated and rejoiced when the incident happened because it vindicated his position that the abandonment of the community’s deity would one day come back to haunt them. He said he had been telling the community that Ali Ubima was still alive, but the members of the community would not believe him.

    He lamented that the community for a long time abandoned the deity and ceased to give it sacrifice or obey its command. He noted that members of the community daily disobeyed the spirit of Ali Ubima and encroached into the forest to build houses, cut down trees and do anything they like, believing that Ali Ubima is dead.

    It was gathered before the advent of the Christian religion and proliferation of churches in the community, Ali Ubima was a sacred forest that was revered by the members of the community. It was seen as the saviour and protector of the people during time of peace and war and it was believed that through the chief priests, the deity could alert them of pending dooms and calamity.

    An elder said: “The mentioning of the name of Ali Ubima saves one from any danger, but today the community no longer regards it as a sacred place. In fact, they believe that there is nothing like Ali Ubima; that was why the members of the community fearlessly entered the forest to cut down trees, build houses and do anything they want.”

    However, the unusual event of the rising of the tree awoke the elders who rushed to see the Chief Priest for consultation and supplications to appease the god and forestall an even deadlier reaction from the angry deity.

    Some of the community members, who spoke with this reporter, expressed either total ignorance of the  deity or said they had forgotten about Ali Ubima to worship the Almighty God.

    “In this era, nobody is talking about worshiping of spirit. Many years ago they told us that Ali Ubima is no longer in the forest that she got angry and ran out of the forest. So, what happened recently was a surprise to the entire community. If you go to Ali Ubima today, you would discover that people have started defying the forest. Nobody wants to worry him or herself with man-made god or spirit. I visited the scene and I was surprised by what I saw,” Michael Ordu said.

    Narrating his role in the drama, the chief priest said: “I was in my house when members of the community came in large numbers pleading to me that I should follow them to the forest to plead with the gods of the land. Then I asked them what happened and they said the tree in Ali Ubima forest which fell down few weeks ago had stood again after the wood cutter separated the wood. I immediately fell into laughter praising the spirit for vindicating me. I was very happy and excited. To be frank, I did not want to follow them but for the sake of the god I serve, I decided to go and plead with the spirit.

    “When I looked at the tree and the entire forest I saw the annoyance of the spirit. I made some incantations to appease the gods to forgive the community for neglecting her. I also informed the spirit that I am only a messenger who has been so honest in serving her. The only problem I had in serving her is that my people are no longer interested in her protection.  After that fateful day I called a meeting of Chiefs and Elders of the community where issues on how to respect and honour the Ali Ubima were discussed. But one thing is certain; some people still doubt the power of Ali Ubima and its existence.  But I am only a messenger of the gods and I have made my message clear to them if they like let them abide by it or dishonour it.”

    Despite the event, Elder Amadi expressed doubt that the event would change the perception of the people towards the worship of the deity. In fact, he was doubtful of willingness and ability of the community to find a suitable priest to head the clan after his demise.

    “Nobody in this community is qualified to serve Ali Ubima spirit except the person is a native of Akpohia village, who entrusted to worship and to serve the spirit. Many people have served her including my father before it got to my turn and I am glad to serve her. Not even everybody that is of Akpohia could serve her because your hands must be clean. Some died in the process of trying to serve her but since I started serving her nothing has happened to me.  My father was not afraid to enter the forest and he diligently served the god before he died. Now that it is my turn to serve her I will do everything possible to ensure that the community respect the forest.

    Elder Amadi opined that the worship of the deity does not stop the worship of God, stressing that it could be done side by side. “Just because people believe that they are worshiping God, tell me who is not worshiping God. In the olden days when we are keeping to the law of Ali Ubima are we not worshipping God? So why should somebody believe that the only way to worship his or her God is to disrespect the gods and tradition of the land?

    “This is where the source of abnormal happening in the community is coming from, because the gods of the land is angry with the people. Today people no longer make sacrifice to the gods even when situation warrants them to do so. Before, when you fall from a tree and die, the family of the victim must make a sacrifice to the gods before that person would be buried.  When you die at your youthful age, or something falls on top you and you die, that person’s family must make a sacrifice to gods before he or she will be buried but nobody agrees to do it anymore, instead they will tell you that they are going to church.

    “Even in the meeting with the elders, I told them my mind that the community should respect the gods and give sacrifices that belong to her.  Even in the olden days, there is church and there is tradition; yet people never withhold what belong to the gods. I am happy that if I die today, my burial tradition would be maintained as chief priest of Ali Ubima. As a humble servant of the god, I will not be taken to mortuary. I will be buried the same day. The community will construct a wood in form of bed, decorate it and lift it up.  A black dog with night vision and he-goat will be slaughtered before I will be buried. This practice has been with us since the existence of the community.”

    Expectedly, some Christian religious leaders in the community, whose opinion were sought by our reporter, differed and expressed their reservation about the occurrence. They said the devil has no power in the present generation, adding that the community should not be carried away by the ‘devil’s display’, which they said is a gimmick aimed at turning taking the community back to old days.

    Pastor Odinaka Dike  of First Baptist Church  advised the community to see the event as an opportunity to be liberated from the evil forest and all that it portends and stands for.

    “The community with the wisdom of God should clear the forest and build a house of God on the land. The devil has no power over man. The Juju priest is ignorant of what he is serving. The only person in this world that deserves sacrifice is God. The community cannot because of one devilish sign in the forest decide to turn their back on God; that will not happen.  Ali Ubima has been forgotten by the community and no amount of sign that would make the people to worship her again.”

  • Lonely in the spotlight

    The vendor just supplies his copies of the day’s dailies. He reads the front page of his favourite, Noisemaker. He is soon on the continuation page and what Moseyn Ekiw sees troubles him. It is a report quoting an elder in Waters State denying reconciling with him at a church service last Sunday. He remembers that his aides have flooded You Tube with the video of his encounter with Elder Maharg Douglas at the Amazing Stars Bible Synagogue.

    He reads the report and Elder Maharg Douglas says he only greeted him in church as a true Christian.

    “I made it clear to him that there was no way I can support his aspiration. I told him the governor has to be a man from among the People on Water or Saro-Wiwa people. I won’t compromise on that. Giving blessing to his aspiration will amount to going against a principle I believe so much in and I won’t do that,” this part of the report makes him feel bad.

    “What is wrong with this old man?” he asks himself.

    But an inner voice tells him: “Nothing really is wrong with the old man. You are the one that has changed; the one who has forgotten your stand on the need for the governorship of the state to move to people who have not had it before. What has come over you?”

    He continues reading another of the elder’s quote: “He calls himself the caterpillar. We don’t need a caterpillar in this state. What we need is a cool-headed young man, who can unite the state and ensure that we are in safe hand. We certainly do not need a bulldozer. What will he do for us? I think a caterpillar will just scatter us.”

    Before he finishes reading the report, a call comes in. It is Haubo, the man he installed as the leader of the Umbrella Peoples Party (UPP) while he was a minister of the Republic of Niagra.

    “Good morning chief, have you seen The Noisemaker?” Haubo asks.

    “I have and I wonder why Elder is doing this to me. I begged him on Sunday and in a church, the house of God. He should have allowed by-gone to be by-gone.  Does he have to come out in the media to deny me? He even said I came to ambush him in his church. He said I was not a member and only came to ambush him. Can you imagine that?”

    Haubo says: “Your Excellency, the man is too soaked in with Governor Timiro. Don’t mind him.”

    Ekiw cuts in: “You are saying don’t mind him. This man is well-respected in this state. His People on Water respect him so much and his opinion carries weight in this state. And forget all those propaganda that the People on Water don’t have much electoral numbers. They actually do because many of them don’t actually live on water any more. They are now living among us. If you add the figures of those living among us, they are more than those still on water. I sense trouble.”

    Haubo thinks of what next to say to encourage his man.

    “Your Excellency,” he sounds like a sycophant to himself, “don’t forget that our major backer in this project, the First Dame— who has declared you as the son in whom she is well pleased and has the ability to go and conquer and wipe our tears— is also one of the People on Water.  Her voice carries weight among her people too. With people like her and others with us from this area, we will neutralise the like of Elder.”

    There is a second silence before Ekiw comes in again: “The situation is not as easy as you have painted. Forget all those noise I make in the public; when I am alone, I do critical analysis and thinks of what I can do not to be disgraced at the end of the day. That is why I came up with the idea of going with you guys on Sunday to go and worship in Elder’s church and see if we can get him on our side. We certainly need more of him on our side for me not to be put to shame…”

    “You’ll not be put to shame in Jesus’s name,” Haubo cuts in and sounds like a man sure he does not deserve to mention the holy name of Jesus considering all the treacheries he has been involved in all in the name of making Ekiw the governor.

    They soon sign off with an agreement to meet later in the day to review the situation and fashion the way forward.

    He changes his position to the one-seater in the living room and continues reading The Noisemaker. A story on page six catches his attention. It is about the 16 aspirants ganging up against him. He wonders why they are doing that instead of joining hands with him to defeat Governor Timiro’s candidate. The G-16 is threatening a court action to stop his emergence as the party’s candidate.

    “What the hell is wrong with these guys?”

    He decides to stop reading at this point.

    ###############

    The market is busy. It looks like one of those modern markets Governor Timiro has just built. Ekiw sees a figure walking towards him. It turns out to be his mother who died a month ago. She walks up to him and says: “ My son, it is a good thing to be the governor, but it is also a bad thing to cheat others in trying to become governor. The other day that the First Dame brought a letter saying she wanted you to drop out of the race for the People on Water, I was secretly happy because I thought she had seen the light and that it would help you to get right your priorities. You had spoken about the job they offered you in Paris and I had prayed the offer should still be there for you to grab. But I was devastated when the First Dame changed her mind again and insisted it must be you.”

    She stops talking at this stage. Ekiw looks confused. He wants to tell her to continue but he seems to have gone dumb. Hard as he tries his mouth only opens and no word comes out of it. Then his mother begins to walk away. Then he notices an inscription at the back of the T-shirt she is wearing. It reads: “Lonely in the spotlight.” And he wonders if it has anything to do with his situation. There is no doubt he is in the spotlight, but is he lonely? Is it possible to be in the spotlight and be lonely?

    ###############

    He is soaked to the skin as he jumps out of the chair where sleep chanced on him. Flashes of the dream return to him and the one that sticks is the part about being in the spotlight and still being lonely. His wife soon runs down from the room upstairs.

    “Honey, what happened? I heard you scream and why are you sweating with the AC on?”

    “Did I scream?”

    “You did.”

    “It was a dream or a nightmare. I saw Mama talking to me about my aspiration. It looked like she was dead and came back alive to talk to me. But my own mother is not dead. What kind of a dream is this?”

    His wife just walks away at this point, saying as she goes up: “I just hope we will emerge unhurt from this your quest to run against the tide. I hope your decision to go against your own words will not harm us. I just hope so.”

  • No tears for Dickson

    No tears for Dickson

    ACT one, scene one: Once upon a time, Bayelsa State had a governor named Timipre Sylva.  He led the state to the best of his ability. Not all were pleased with his style of leadership. So, there were voices against some of his actions. But what did him in was not whether or not he was perspicacious; it was his loss of the support of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

    Sylva was Jonathan’s governor because the president hails from Otuoke, a community in Bayelsa. Mrs Jonathan, by marriage, is also from Otuoke. By birth, she is from Okrika, Rivers State. She takes more than a cursory interest in political developments in both states. She has openly endorsed  former Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer in Rivers. The other close to 20 aspirants can go to hell for all she cares.

    Some will vow that Sylva lost out more because he fell out with the First Lady, who convinced her husband to disallow him from securing the PDP ticket to run for a second term of office. I can’t confirm this.

    Mrs Jonathan never publicly listed Sylva’s sins. But her husband did. Jonathan said Sylva was prevented from participating in the November 2011 governorship primaries of the PDP in Bayelsa State because of failure to make impact. He described his reign as “monumental disgrace”.

    Jonathan accused his successor of failure to stimulate development and complete worthy projects left behind by his administration. He cited the five-star hotel project among such projects. He did not forget to say the people were frustrated and “openly stoned him (Sylva) during the Presidential rally sometime in October 2010.”

    His words: “I was second in command to Alamieyeseigha. One thing I remember is the Tower Hotel. It was not my dream but it was conceptualised under the Alamieyeseigha administration. He discussed with the contractors. It was supposed to be a 5-star hotel and it would attract people from all over the world. But now, it is a monument of disgrace.”

    While Jonathan was speaking, Seriake Dickson was seemingly enjoying the drama. He was the ultimate beneficiary of Sylva’s loss. Dame Jonathan was also happy that her husband was painting Sylva black. It was good for the project-install-Dickson.

    Jonathan added at a point: “Dickson you brought the people from Abuja to present flag, the only thing I want to do is to tell you that sometimes ago I was in Bayelsa and the people stoned the governor. I was here and you must work hard for Bayelsa not to stone you. The day they stone you, I will join to stone you.”

    Dickson spoke too that day. His words were those of a man who believed every brick thrown at Sylva was well-deserved. He also accused Sylva of directing “unwarranted attack” at the president.

    He said: “In the new PDP government in the state, we will be working with the youths and elders to replace Bayelsa lost glory. We want to turn Bayelsa to the Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation. We will work with the people. I am aware of the unwarranted attack on the President, the blackmails and the rest.”

    PDP’s Mr Fix-It Chief Tony Anenih was also at that event where Dickson received the party’s flag. He spoke in riddles, but the long and short of it was that Sylva wanted to be taller than his father and deserved to be banished.

    Act one, scene two:  For some time now, there have been speculations about whether or not all is well between Dickson and Mrs Jonathan. These speculations bring to mind how Sylva’s problem with the First Family began. It all started as a rumour. But time proved it.

    Five months into his inauguration in July 2012, Dickson caused uproar in the country when he announced the appointment of Mrs Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa civil service.

    It emerged last week that Mrs Jonathan voluntarily retired as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa, a position Dickson appointed her under controversial circumstances.

    Civil society screamed. Human rights activists condemned the appointment. They urged the First Lady to reject it. But the First Lady not only accepted the appointment, she personally went to Yenagoa to be sworn-in on July 21, 2012. She was one of 17 who took the oath of office that day at the Government House Banquet Hall.

    The governor shrugged off criticism of arbitrary use of constitutional powers.

    He rationalised the appointment, saying he did it based on the power conferred on him by Section 203 of the constitution. He added that the First Lady merited it because of her services to the state and the nation. He did not forget to remind Nigerians that she was a directorate level officer in the civil service and was only on leave of absence to support her husband.

    For the discerning, Dickson was only playing to the gallery. Many wondered why the appointment could not wait until she finishes her tour of duty as First Lady. The general consensus, which I share, is that His Excellency only wanted to help his benefactress to reach the summit of the civil service. Something tells me he did it under duress.

    It has been over two years since then and things seemed to have fallen apart between the duo. They may never give us the details, which are usually ugly and shared only in private circles. Like the First Family complained of Sylva, Dickson’s leadership style, we hear, is also being bandied around here.

    A source said of the 57-year old First Lady: “The whole thing is political. It appears Madam Peace is not happy with the governor. I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.”

    Now, she is awaiting her entitlements and for life, she will also be entitled to the pension of a permanent secretary. All thanks to a godson now about to give way to another favoured son in the person of Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, who is the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters.

    Before curtain falls: The Bayelsa governor’s tenure will not lapse until 2016. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not hold the election until the last quarter of next year. By then, the 2015 rush will have died down. As they say, 24 hours is a long time in politics. So, Dickson can still re-find favour in the First Lady. But the poser still remains: Will there be a repeat of Jonathan, the Dame and the PDP top echelon handing over the PDP governorship standard bearer flag to a candidate other than Dickson and expletives being poured on him? It won’t be surprising. After all, what goes around, they say, comes around. And like the Yoruba will say: “The cane with which the first wife was flogged is still there for the enjoyment of the second wife.”

    Really, I have got no tears for Dickson. I admire him and have absolutely nothing personal against him. I am only guided by the law of gravity that says: “What goes up must come down”. It remains to be seen if the law will come to fruition in this case or not.

    I must add that I don’t think it is right for Mrs Jonathan to choose Bayelsa governor.  I also beg the president that whatever the First Family decides to do with Dickson, please don’t join in stoning him. It is not presidential.

    The end? Not quite. So, watch out.

  • Governor talk na do, stop the death traps

    Like a prophet, the Niger Delta Report sounded a warning on dangers posed by roadside markets in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The article which was published last Friday lamented that buyers and sellers sit on a keg of gunpowder and roam a minefield on each market day.

    On Saturday, a day after the publication, the keg of gunpowder exploded and the mines detonated. Tragedy occurred in Swali market, located along Swali Road, Yenagoa. A trailer rammed into the roadside market, killing one person and injuring seven others.

    The trailer with number plate, XY 259 FST, also destroyed four tricycles and goods on display at the market. The list obtained by the Niger Delta  Report from security agents at the scene of the accident showed that three male adults, three female adults and two female children, were the casualties.

    The names of casualties according to the list are, Chigozie Chukwu, 26; Ogadinma Chukwu, female; Juliet Emmanuel, female; and Alao Abule.

    Others are Eyo Edem Okon, male, 27; Chinyere Uzoma, female, 42; Lawrence Okon; and Ade Emmanuel, female.

    Bystanders, market women and men as well as sympathisers cried and discussed the unfortunate accident. The trailer, carrying an escavator,  was descending the Swali bridge when the acident occurred. The unidentified driver lost control of the heavy-duty truck because of brake failure.

    The dead victim of the crash, whose name was given as Edem Okon, was dragged by the vehicle more than 100 metres before the driver eventually rammed into the market.

    Okon would not have died. Nobody would have been injured if the government had heeded the warning that roadside markets should be relocated to other safe places. In fact, even if the government had acted immediately by moving into such markets to enforce “operation leave the road”, the death and injuries would have been avoided.

    But how much does the government care? How much does it value the lives of its subjects? As far as relations of government functionaries are not among the casualties, who gives a damn? Instead of remedying the situation, persons who pose to be government agents collect dues from traders who occupy the road to make a living.

    Undoubtedly, similar accidents would continue to happen until the ministries of environment, trade and investment and other relevant agencies of the government take steps to build befitting markets in the capital city or take effective actions to ensure that the cramped markets do not overflow to the roads.

    Following the tragedy, some residents of Yenagoa metropolis, have asked the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who is fondly referred to as “talk na do governor”, to redeem his promise of building ultra-modern markets in Yenagoa.

    They insisted that traders would confine themselves in such modern markets instead of selling on the roadsides that expose them to risks of accident.  A resident, who identified herself simply as Patience further lamented the conditions of the existing markets in Yenagoa.

    Indeed, the government does not need much prodding from its subjects to build modern markets and regulate commercial activities. It is the right thing to do to enhance the capital status of Yenagoa, remove environmental hazards and stop avoidable accidents caused by roadside markets. For now, Yenagoa seems to be the only capital city in the country without a regulated, organised and well-mapped out market.

    Until the government responds to the yearnings of its subjects, the dangers will continue to loom and the warnings of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and environmental experts will continue to be relevant.

  • Ivory tower of decay, confusion

    Ivory tower of decay, confusion

    •Sorry state of Bayelsa federal polytechnic 

    From a citadel of learning, the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, the only polytechnic owned by the Federal Government in Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan, has gradually become the Ivory Towers of decay, corruption and confusion.

    The polytechnic is located on the bank of the River Nun in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. It has a mandate to produce middle and high level manpower in Aqua Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Applied and Enviromental Science programmes.

    The institution’s journey to destruction started last year during the tenure of its former Rector, Dr. Eneyi Ekpebu. The school then erupted with allegations of financial fraud against Ekpebu and the then bursar, Mr. James Neminebor.

    The school was said to have only admitted 48 students since its establishment in 2009. Despite its lean student population, the school reportedly maintained 100 employees on its payroll.

    It was discovered that the institution might have been crippled by inefficient management and perhaps gross and deliberate financial misappropriation. It was as if some persons vowed to destroy the institution by making it their personal cash cow.

    Irked by the development, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANP), engaged Ekpebu, the bursar and other management staff in a protracted labour dispute.

    The union wrote petitions to the then Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, detailing the woes of the institution and calling on him to bring sanity to the polytechnic.

    They complained among other things of infrastructural decay, unpaid arears of salaries, allowances, minimum wage, first 28 days allowance and implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and pension scheme.

    Maybe, as some persons said, the minister was embroiled in the politics of Rivers State and turned deaf ears to the cries of SSANP. Ekowe continued to burn. The crisis claimed its first casualty, Mr. Frank Moses, a 35-year-old senior administrative employee of the institution.

    Moses was assassinated in his home in Yenagoa. SSANP accused the rector of killing Moses alleging that the deceased became a target for exposing N1bn fraud in the institution and for dragging the rector to court over allegations of embezzlement.

    Petitions were further written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) by the union. Ekowe suddenly became a campus of reproach as officials of the anti-graft agencies turned their satellite on it.

    In fact, officials of the institution including the former Rector, Dr. Douglas Ekpebu, were summoned by the EFCC. They were invited to appear before the EFCC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of investigations into alleged financial scam in the polytechnic.

    Ekpebu was requested to come along with the institution’s Bursar, Mr. James Neminebor; Head of Audit, Mr. Denson Ojigbare; Mr. Abadani Woyengikuro; and Mr. Zechariah Owutuamor.

    A letter of invitation dated January 20, 2014, and signed by the EFCC’s Zonal Head, Mr. David Inyang, said the rector and other officials would be interrogated by the Officer in charge of Economic Governance.

    The letter reads: “This office is currently investigating a case involving your school in which the need to obtain certain clarifications from you and some of your officers have become imperative.”

    The letter also requested them to come along with a list of academic and non-academic employees showing their ages, sex, state of origin among other things from 2009 till date.

    The rector and others were also requested to furnish the agency with the list of all contracts awarded and executed by the institution from 2009 to date.

    The contract list, according to the invitation, must show “contract sum, contract type, date of award, status, contractors, locations, award letters and bill of quantities.” Other requirements are “mode of payment, vouchers, cash books, income and expenditure, and cheques from 2009 to date.”

    The investigations continued until Ekpebu proceeded on his terminal leave after the expiration of his tenure.

    The Governing Council, on February 20, appointed Mrs. Emilian Bribena as Acting Rector.  Bribina, before her appointment, was the Librarian.

    Despite the change in the mantle of leadership, the rot in Ekowe has festered. Sadly, the institution has been abandoned and it was allowed to become a thick forest.

    Now, administrative and academic activities are grounded at the school. Vegetation, long shrubs and grass have overgrown many buildings and facilities in the school. Some of the buildings are in disuse and are locked.

    Academic, non-academic, senior and junior members of staff are no longer reporting for duty at the polytechnic.

    “The ugly situation has left the students in a very terrible condition in the campus,” a source, who pleaded for anonymity, said.

    “The school clinic is locked up due to the fact that all the drugs have expired. No lectures are going on, there’s no medicare and what have you,” he added.

    Indeed, indications emerged during the week that Ekowe was going from bad to worse. The acting rector’s desire to bring changes to the university appears to have been frustrated by a cabal. The acting rector was said to have uncovered a grand conspiracy to keep the polytechnic wailing in its knees. She has petitioned the EFCC in respect of the discovery.

    The acting rector in the petition accused the Acting Registrar, Mr. Woyengkuro Abadani; the Bursar, Mr. James Nimenebo, whose tenure was said to have expired; the immediate past Registrar, Mr. Williabo Apelebiri and the Chairman and some members of the Governing Council of conniving to swindle the institution of funds running into hundreds of millions of naira without her knowledge and authority.

    The petition was dated October 23 and titled, “Petition on Gross Mismanagement and Embezzlement of the Funds of Federal Polytechnic Ekowe and addressed to the Zonal Head, EFCC, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    She alleged that the bursar cunningly made himself the compulsory signatory to the polytechnic accounts right from the beginning of her appointment in order to perpetuate the embezzlement of the school’s funds.

    She said : “They have made the functioning of the Polytechnic difficult due to the cabal and syndicate this trio – the Chairman of Council, the Bursar and the present falsely appointed Ag. Registrar have formed.

    “Sir, it may interest your Commission to note that  the Chairman of Governing Council never responded to any of the distress calls or letters written for his intervention as Chairman of Council because he is their backbone and the kingpin behind the financial woes of the Federal Polytechnic.

    “The bursar should produce my approvals for every withdrawal he has made so far for salary and overhead accounts and other accounts of the Polytechnic.

    “By Section 9, Sub-section 2 of the Polytechnic Act, Laws of the Federation 1993, ‘the Bursar is responsible to the Office of the Rector for the day-to-day administration and control of the financial affairs of the Polytechnic’.

    “In order to fulfill the tenements of administrative law, I issued the Bursar queries and even reminder without any response. I have also chronicled these developments to different federal quarters without any immediate response.”

    She added that the trio held a kangaroo tender board meeting, awarded contracts to themselves and later tried to force her to sign the document.

    “ I humbly petition that the finances of the Polytechnic be investigated between January 20, 2014 to date. That the Bursar should bring all his financial books and approvals given to every withdrawal and posting/transfer he has made so far.

    “The Bursar has ceased being the Bursar of the Polytechnic as his tenure expired since 27th of September, 2014 without any renewal known to me.

    “By regulation, he was meant to have proceeded three (3) months to this time on terminal leave. I have directed him to handover to the next most senior officer in his department (Mr. Steve Otobo) in writing but he has refused to hand over because he wants to continue in his craft with his cohorts”, she said.

    She prayed the commission to apprehend the suspects and prosecute them for fraudulent conversion of Polytechnic funds and for misrepresenting her as being present in a crucial Tenders Board meeting as the Chairperson of that board to award hundreds of millions to their personal companies whereas she was not present at that purported meeting.

    She insisted that the persons mentioned in the petition should be prosecuted for the forgery of documents relating to the tender meeting; gross misconduct and abuse of their offices as public office holders against anti-graft laws of the country.

    She said: “They should be prosecuted for threat to my person and family by using different pseudo names and fake GSM numbers to send threat messages and threat calls to my family members due to my holding of the truth against them in terms of the financial crimes they commit and keep committing till this moment.

    “And they have gone berserk now because I have written to freeze all the Polytechnic accounts.”

    Following the moves by the rector to sanitise the institution, Niger Delta Report gathered that the the Chairman of the Governing Council was plotting to replace her.

    But the students are appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan, the ministry of education and other responsible agencies to quickly wade into the crisis rocking the institution in the interest of their future.

    They have also suggested radical change in management and maybe compulsory retirement and prosecution of persons accused of stalling institution’s progress. They have also asked the persons mentioned in the petition to explain their roles in the scam.

    When contacted, the bursar, Mr. Mimenabo, asked the Niger Delta Report to direct its enquiries to the Public Relations Officer.

     

  • Oil giant lifts community

    Oil giant lifts community

    Impressed with the result of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in Kula Community, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chevron Nigeria Limited has said that it would now advance to a new phase of the agreement known as GMoU+.

    This new GMoU+, Chevron said would focus on business development and economic empowerment; third party partnership and collaboration; delivery on the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs]; Operational Excellence and Human Rights.

    The General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of Chevron, Mr. Deji Haastrup disclosed this during the inauguration of 30 housing units worth about N530million built in Kula built by the  Kula Regional Development Committee (KRDC) under the GMoU with the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture.

    Haastrup said: “The successful completion of the projects reinforces the GMOU Community Engagement model as a vehicle for sustainable socio-economic development in communities around Chevron’s operational areas in Nigeria.”

    The PGPA General Manager of Chevron also said : “The successes recorded in the implementation of the GMOU in Kula and in other cluster communities bordering the company’s operations in the Niger Delta region have shown that with adequate support, the communities can drive their development process.”

    The GMoU Community Engagement model, established by the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in 2005, Haastrup said is a long-term stimulus for sustainable expansion of the economies of the communities in the Niger Delta.

    The model, he also noted would help provide youths of the Niger Delta with opportunities for meaningful engagement and enhance peace in the region through constructive dialogue and respect for the Rule of Law.

    He further confirmed that the GMoU has continued to meet its objectives of making communities take the driver’s seat in their development and ensuring that huge empowerment and capacity building opportunities come to the people.

    While restating the company’s commitment to enhancing the partnership with all the Regional Development Committees including KRDC, he urged the people to continue to ensure peaceful environment for business activities so that all the stakeholders would continue to benefit from NNPC/Chevron’s operations in Rivers State.

    Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State government, Chief Charles Opurum thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for its development efforts in the State and urged other organisations to emulate the company’s social responsibility outlook.

    The KRDC Chairman, Mr. Stanley Benibo, thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for establishing the GMoU noting that the community engagement model has benefited Kula communities by enhancing sustainable development of the area.

    The housing project incorporates distribution of low-tension electricity lines, reticulation of water supply, and construction of link roads/kerbstones and interlocking stones on the walkway.

    Through the joint venture agreement, the Kula RDC had before now executed several projects such as the construction of four housing units in Boro; Offoin-ama; Robertkiri and Luckland villages, including the construction of standard generator house, purchase of 500KVA generator, potable water projects as well as the electrification project in Boro.