The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Calabar’s burden as Nigeria’s cleanest city

    Calabar’s burden as Nigeria’s cleanest city

    Over the years, Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has retained its status as the country’s cleanest city. But, it comes at a huge cost, reports Nicholas Kalu

    Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has variously been described as the cleanest city in the country. With the state establishing and fighting to maintain its status as a tourism hub, the tag does not exactly come as a surprise.

    At a time when the waste management agency had some issues with their evacuation trucks and refuse started piling up in various parts of the city, it became such a big issue that it was awash in the media.

    Sometime later when Governor Liyel Imoke commented on the matter, he said it was even a good sign because it showed the state has set a standard for cleanliness.

    Women sweeping the streets, public bins along streets, beautifully arranged trees among others are common sites in the city.

    Residents of the city boast that besides government policy, cleanliness  is second nature to the average Calabar man or woman.

    “The story of the cleanliness of Calabar starts with the natives of Calabar who are traditionally themselves clean people. They had very early contact with western civilisation and the issue of hygiene is second nature to them.  They know what it is to have a hygienic and clean environment. So, if you are visitor in Calabar and you come and live anywhere near anybody’s compound and you cannot keep the environment of that place clean, you are sure of getting a quit notice sooner or later. That transcends to the public,” Mr Stephen Bette said.

    However, the city’s status took a lot more than a psyche of hygiene to achieve. Behind this have been deliberate policies and an effective waste management system.

    Bette, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said: “But we didn’t leave it this way and the town started getting clean. It started from long time ago, when we had an organised system of refuse collection.

    “We have tried several things over time. We collected from road sides where they are dumped. We left that one and experimented with collecting from house to house. We had challenges in that area because most of the streets were not well tarred. So, most of the trucks could not get to destinations they should get to. We moved from there to the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) era in which many environmental sanitation task forces were set up. They were mobile courts that could arrest people. Later on as the civilian government came on board, we saw those were military approaches to enforcing sanitation. We dusted it off and started to bring in new laws. Laws on urban development authorities were enacted. We have five urban development authorities in the state. Ikom, Ogoja, Obudu, Ugep and Calabar, which are the biggest settlements. With that the law was put in perspective.

    “We entered a memorandum of understanding with a company to clean the city. It was comprehensive to manage the dumpsite, clean the city, and so on. We started having compacted trucks and so waste collection in Calabar now moved from the era of manual picking to the mechanical picking, where the trucks pick the bins by themselves. And the town kept getting cleaner.

    He said they were moving beyond this level to experiment a new strategy in waste management. According to him, the private sector would get more involved in the process.

    His words: “We are now moving to the era where the person will have to pay for the waste. Right now we are organising a tariff system, where the individual households in the urban centres will begin to pay a tariff. We will start with pilot schemes in some areas next month were we would take away bins from the streets and distribute bins to households. What we are trying to do now with the Private Public Partnership approach is that we expect to add some value to existing practices by giving the individual household bins for which they would pay a token over time. The waste managers would now move from one house to the other and collect the waste. That way we remove the bins from the roadsides and the streets would be cleaner.

    “The PPP partners would be involved in the collection of the tariff also and the management system to ensure the funds gradually begins to sustain the high cost of waste management in the city. That is the direction we are going to now.”

    Commenting on women sweeping the roads, which the state first started, he said: “The sweeping of the roads just had to take place because we were not satisfied with the cleanliness of the town despite the fact that we were picking refuse from the sites. In our household, we sweep our compounds traditionally. We sweep to the road or to the next person’s compound. So, we just had to introduce it. Peoples compounds were so clean but the roads were so dirty. It was common sense that we just had to sweep these roads. So, it was organised for the roads to be swept. In fact the roads are being swept in all the urban centres in the state. If the road is not swept on any day, we get callers.

    “Visitors to Calabar who feel people don’t drink pure water here because of how neat the streets are, it is not that people don’t litter. The thing is that when they litter, someone picks it up. Like the pure water thing, women who sweep the streets, pick the litters, not that people don’t drink and litter. People litter but some others are conscious. Most cars and buses carry bins inside their buses. And you know another thing with a clean environment is that, if you look around and see how clean the place is, you will be constrained not to throw a thing there. You see people move to where there is a bin and throw in. So, where we have bins you see some litter around. That is one of the reasons we want to take those bins off. Definitely the town has to be clean.

    “The sustainability has been entrenched. Even if you win an election as a governor and just fail to keep the town clean for one month, you will hear public reaction. There is nothing anybody can do about it. It has come to stay. Everybody who comes here comments on its cleanliness. The press has been helping because anytime they notice the city is not clean, they make noise about it and it can be very embarrassing to any chief executive of the state.”

    He said the Calabar Urban Development Authority and the State Waste Management Agency, which the Ministry oversees, were established to clean the city. The waste management agency is strictly for waste management. They superintend the PPP partners who are managing waste.

    But, CUDA’s job is more variegated as they cut grass, desilt drainages, enforce sanitation, carry out house to house inspections, attend to complaints, prune trees, bury corpses and animals that die on the road, do fumigation among others.

    , Bette said: “They also have facilities for event management like mobile toilets. So, when there is a big event, the environment is not messed up with faeces and urine.

    “As far as we are concerned and everybody knows that Calabar is the greenest city in Nigeria. We have maintained it. We knew that if we planted trees and grasses on the verges, it would protect those verges from erosion and check desilting of our drains. We are now at the era of management and extending the job to other new areas of development wherever a new layout is opened. We have it continually in our budget.

    “Even individuals with large estates are also greening and planting trees also. People have keyed into the cleaniness of the state to make money for themselves. People now have grass cutters, and tractor slashers as private businesses now in Calabar who can be hired to cut grass. Even people who sell spare parts for those equipment are doing well. It is highly complementary.

    “We thank Cross Riverians for the cooperation they have shown for the efforts of government over time. We are trying to clean the town and the citizenry have keyed in. We have the support of the populace in terms of keeping the town clean. If we say don’t throw things here, the residents of Calabar don’t throw. Sensitisation has gone a long way here.

    “All we have to say is that let those building houses should not emphasize concreting and tarring every part of their compound. They should also plant grass, because it helps is to enrich the underground water and also check erosion in most of the places. People should also avoid dumping refuse into the drains because it is causing flood all over town and most importantly all we have to do now is for them to go along with the new tariff system so we can provide better services.”

    Mr Elegance Edim is the Manager of the State Waste Management Agency and former Executive Secretary of CUDA.

    He said, “The cleanliness of Calabar started so many years ago. It is not just a flash of the pan. When the former governor was here, one of his ideas was to ensure that Calabar as a capital city was clean so that we have that opportunity of inviting investors and others coming in. So, I came on board the system in February 2004. I was the executive secretary for CUDA and had to put in a lot in place to strengthen CUDA, being a special purpose vehicle. The functions that belonged to local governments were excised and put under one umbrella which is sanitation. Sanitation is a function of local governments. To make sure Calabar was maintained CUDA was established. The cleaning of Calabar includes sweeping the streets, cutting the grasses of the verges, cleaning the drainages and so on. So we started off with that. We had to break up Calabar for managerial convenience. We had to break up Calabar into what we call cells. There are three different cells.

    “So, we had to break up Calabar from the Ibesikpo from the northern extreme, to Ikot Ekpo the southern extreme and east to west from Atimbo to Marina. Then we put women to be sweeping the streets. We are not saying women were better. The nature of the job from the African perspective, women do it better. So, we had to employ the women on part time basis because full time would be too expensive for us. The part time job entailed that a woman would be employed from her neighbourhood, which would not take her so much time. So, she can finish early in the morning and go back to prepare children for school. Most of those women whatever they earned was supplementary to their households. So, we succeeded in employing over 3, 000 people. So, we assist the families to make income and at the same time keep Calabar clean. So, we kept on till the end of the Donald era.

    “Fortunately, when Liyel Imoke came in, he continued in that spirit. He has maintained and even improved the tempo and what was on ground. That is how Calabar came to be judged the cleanest city. If your house is not clean you cannot invite people, can you? So, if we want to invite investors, our house has to be clean.

    “We have been able to remove waste collection from the ambit of government and give it to the private sector.

    “I know that government spends almost N100 million keeping the state clean. This includes the other urban centres.

    “After a while, the government felt that it should separate waste collection because it was so time consuming from other functions of CUDA. When I left CUDA, I was asked to come and head the waste management agency here. So, our agencies are saddled with refuse collection and evacuation. We deployed community bins and we have compacted trucks. We have galvanised bins everywhere. It would not take you more than five minutes from your house to the nearest bin.

    “We deploy the bins to residential areas and yardstick is based on walking distance. Residents walk and dump their refuse in the bins, then the compacted trucks go there and lift and in the process clear what is on the ground and keep the surroundings clean and then take it to the dumpsite. At the dumpsite there is a company that maintains it.

    “We have a dumpsite along LEMNA road. When it was used as a dumpsite, the area was isolated and a deep ravine. They were no houses in the whole of that area. But access provides value to land. So, when the LEMNA road was constructed, people started buying land around there and building. Suddenly, the dumpsite we had that was completely isolated from town was surrounded by houses and people started screaming. So, now we are in the process of moving that dumpsite to a place about 25km from Calabar what we call an engineered landfill. It is about 100 hectares of land to be used for the segregation of refuse and recycling. So, we are in the process of that now. The government is in the process of acquiring sites for the landfill.

    “Also we are trying to introduce waste tariffs. We just started it and people have not been used to it. What we are saying is that you generate the refuse you should pay for it. It is not tax. We charge token to continue towards the sustenance of the programme.”

     

  • Breaking tribal boundaries through marriage

    Breaking tribal boundaries through marriage

    It was an occasion that drew the crème-de-la-crème. The venue was Calabar, Cross River State, and precisely, the residence of Senator Princess Florence Ita-Giwa, Eka Iban Efik Duop Eba, at Diamond Hill last Friday.

    The renowned politician and leader of the Bakassi people was giving her daughter, Koko, away in a traditional marriage ceremony that defied tribal boundaries. It was according to the Efik native laws and customs. The groom from Imo State was Chimaobi, son of the late Chief Shawcross Moore Obioha, former Chairman of Continental Sales Ltd, a big player in the nation’s oil sector.

    Chairman of the occasion was an Efik son and former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke. The day though in period when the infamous Calabar rains remain persistent, was blessed with a clear weather which saw the event through. Efik and Igbo traditional performances kept the occasion lively.

    The couple beautifully attired in traditional Efik marriage outfits were excited about their union.

    Koko who had just been to the fattening room in preparation for marriage in accordance with the customs was grateful to God for making the day possible and a success.

    She said she was attracted to her groom because he is God fearing man.

    Her words, “He is a God fearing man and I feel that any man that is God fearing comes with a lot of other positive attributes that would complement him. When you are God fearing you are focussed. When you are God fearing, you will know that whatever challenges you face, you will come out victorious and successful. We work together as a team. He is my brother and best friend. He is my confidant.”

    On how they met, she said, “We met on my birthday. I went out for lunch and he happened to be in the same place and that is how it started.”

    Chimaobi described his bride as beautiful, down to earth, understanding and intelligent and hardworking.

    “I am excited about today because we looked forward to it for a long time. And God has answered our prayers and we are very happy,” he said.

    Mother of the bride, Senator Ita-Giwa said, “We thank all for their overwhelming support. It is a great day. I thank God. I just thank him.”

    She advised the couple to always believe in God in everything they do.

    “They should hold on to their God and have a successful marriage. They should live a good life and trust each other. They should believe in each other and always have the presence of God in their union,” she advised.

    Mother of the groom, Mrs Evelyn Obioha, who is from Abraka in Delta State, was excited her first son was getting married.

    “I have always been in support of their relationship. Koko is a good girl and would make a good wife for my son. I am happy we are marrying into her family. Intertribal marriage fosters unity and I am happy my son is marrying into an Efik family.”

    Popular Nollywood actor, Mr Nkem Owoh, popularly known Ukwa or Osuofia also had some words for the couple.

    “I wish them happy married life and blessings. The enemy shall not see them. I wish them love and understanding. Marriage is a very beautiful institution and I wish them well,” he said.

    Among dignitaries at the event were the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu; the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi, Dr Etim Okon Edet; the traditional ruler of Abraka, Delta State, HRM, Air Vice Marshal Lucky Ararile Ovie; the traditional ruler of Arondizogu in Imo State, Eze Kosmas Kanu; Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who represents the central senatorial district of the state; and Senator Bassey Otu, who represents the southern senatorial district.

    Also in attendance were former governorship aspirant in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru: Cross River House of Representatives member, Mr Daniel Asuquo; Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, members of the state executive council among a host of others.

    The white wedding of the couple is expected to come up in Lagos tomorrow.

     

     

  • Warri’s endless traffic gridlocks

    Warri’s endless traffic gridlocks

    Warri, the commercial nerve centre of Delta State, usually witnesses traffic gridlocks, which have been traced to bad spots across the stretch of the roads, writes BOLAJI OGUNDELE

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, to an average Delta State indigene or resident, is a performer. Not a few believe that the governor, especially in his second term, has doubled efforts to improve the state of the road networks in the oil-rich enclave.

    But, for residents of Warri metropolis and its environs, the state of roads in many parts of the city is still a source of concern. As a result of this, traffic jams have been a daily experience in the metropolis.

    Warri is small in size, but it is criss-crossed by one of the most complex road networks in the southern part of Nigeria. It is thus not uncommon to hear people make statements, such as “Only God knows what these people (government officials) are doing, there’s no reason why we should be experiencing this” or “if you get to the front now, you will see no real reason for this traffic jam”.

    Niger Delta Report found out that the road jams are mostly occasioned by bad spots, which usually are not longer than 50 to 150 metres. In some other cases, the bad spots are recently created by another set of public messengers, who are tasked with the responsibility of taking pipe-borne water to households in the city. In the process of carrying out their task, especially when they have to take pipelines from one side of the road to the other, they have had to break across hitherto good roads to be able to dig the ground and lay pipes. At the end of laying these pipes, the breaches created on the roads are merely covered with raw earth, which have been washed away by the ceaseless rains of Warri, leaving scores of gapping junctions across the city.

    Some road users said they were looking up to the government to correct the situation. Some summed the situation up as government’s ineptitude.

    Commissioner for Works Solomon Funkekeme did not pick his call, neither respond to a text message sent to him before filing this report.

     

     

     

  • Cries of Akwa Ibom street sweepers

    When you get to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, chances are that you will love it. It has really evolved over the years. Gone are those days when people saw it as a glorified village. It has gotten out of the shadow of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Uyo became the capital of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, 1987 following the creation of Akwa Ibom State from erstwhile Cross River State.

    The population of Uyo, according to the 2006 Census which comprises Uyo and Itu, is 436,606.

    Uyo is a fast-growing city. It has witnessed massive infrastructural growth in the past nine years. It has an intensive network of divided highways, such as the IBB Way, Atiku Abubakar Avenue, Udo Udoma Avenue, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, and Edet Akpan Avenue which is an eight-lane superhighway and currently the widest road in the Uyo metropolis.

    With Uyo’s development has also come the challenge of keeping its streets, especially the major highways, such as   the IBB Way and Atiku Abubakar Avenue, clean. This task has been given to the Green Brigade.

    The Green Brigade outfit was floated by the Ministry of Environment to collect waste and check erosion caused by block drainage system and water ways within the state.

    The Ministry of Environment is headed by Prince Enobong Uwah as Commissioner.

    The Green Brigade has a workforce of 2000 women and youths recruited to perform the services of waste collection and disposal, cleaning and desilting of drains and gutters, litter and vegetation control and daily sweeping of roads and streets in the capital city.

    Many believe the outfit has created a lot of jobs, even when some of the workers are not too satisfied with their take home pay which many of them said is too low.

    For instance,  one of the workers, who pleaded anonymity, said they resume cleaning of the highway by 5am to close by 7am.

    According to the Uyo-born woman, each worker sweeps in between nine poles everyday on most of the major highways.

    She explained that the end of the month, the government pays a salary of N10, 000 to each of the workers, which she lamented, cannot take most of them to anywhere.

    When asked if the salary for the month of August has been paid, she said no.

    Her words: “We normally resume here to sweep the highway by 5am in the morning and close 7am. We have been assigned the areas we are supposed to sweet. Normally, each of us will sweep in between nine poles. They pay us salary of N10, 000 at every month. Government should try increase the salary because it is too small for us to take care of our families.”

    Since the inception of the Green Brigade outfit, the Ministry of

    Environment has embarked on erosion control at Eka Street, where the gully was threatening residents and the road.

    Also, the gully at Dominic Utuk Avenue was addressed effectively, the persistent flooding which made Uruan Street, Obio Imo and Oron Road intersection impassable and a nightmare for road users and residents had been a thing of the past.

    The street sweepers are sweeping the streets well. They are doing a yeoman’s job of it. Government should thus not see them as casual workers who deserve what they get. In the task assigned to them, they are exposed to dust and other forms of hazards capable of impairing their health. When this happens, certainly their take home cannot bail them out, just like it is currently not enough to even feed their families.

    So, hearing their cries and adding to their take-home will not be too much. They are the men and women who are making Uyo beautiful. They deserve better.

     

  • NDDC heals as Ebola spreads tentacles

    NDDC heals as Ebola spreads tentacles

    Ebola is not here and we pray that it will never get here.” That prayer shared with an apprehensive crowd of villagers from fishing communitieswas met with a thunderous shout of Amen! Sensing the subdued trepidation over the scary stories of the Ebola virus disease, Professor AdelayoEjele, who led a team of health workers on a free health mission to Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, felt it was important to reassure the people of their safety.

    He was speaking at the flag off of the free medical programme organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,in conjunction with Golspin Health Care Foundation at Asarama Health Centre. It was a rare privilege for rural dwellers in and around Andoni to take their sick ones to a health facility for proper medical care at no financial cost to them. So, for seven daysthey gathered in thousands at Asarama, not minding the threat of Ebola.

    The medical team that participated in the programme also made a lot of sacrifices as they had to work with very limited facilities. Prof Ejele, the Chief Medical Consultant and coordinator of the programme, attested to the dogged spirit of the health workers. He particularlycommended the doctors who volunteered their services at a time most doctors were keeping away from government hospitals.

    Prof Ejele said the Asarama community and their neighbours should be grateful to the NDDC for bringing free health care to their door-steps, noting that good health surpassed all other needs. “The common saying is that health is wealth. But for us in this health mission, health is better than wealth,” he said.

    According to the Chief Medical Consultant, 1,479 cases were treated, including 21 surgeries, 108 dental cases and 365 laboratory investigations. He also said 156 patients were screened for HIV/AIDS and only 2 persons were found to be positive. “Fortunately, Ebola is not here yet. But we should all be on the alert to keep it away,” he said.

    For the Managing Director of NDDC, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, the free health programme was a free gift from President Goodluck Jonathan to the rural communities in the Niger Delta. He said apart from bringing good health to the people, the interventionist agency was determined to change the face of the communities with development projects.

    The NDDC boss, who was represented byChief Ephraim Etete-Owoh, the Rivers State representative on the board of the commission, said that no less than 900,000 people have benefited from its free medical services since the programme started 14 years ago. He stated that the commission was determined to make a difference in the health sector in collaboration with relevant partners such asGoldspin Healthcare andGlobal Hand Medicare Foundation.

    Speaking on behalf of the Asarama community, Chief AppolusEwaye, noted that the health programme came at a time many people in the villages were finding it difficult to access healthcare facilities.”We deeply appreciate this programme,” he said.

    Appreciation for the free health programme cannot come any better than the one from Mrs.BesseyMicha from Egendem community in Andoni LGA. The middle-aged woman, whose child was operated on for hernia, simply said in pigeon English, “make God bless NDDC for us Oh!”

    The popular free health programme, which had been taken to many communities in the Niger Delta, also berthed in some isolated fishing settlements of Ondo State. Given the enormous logistic challenges in these communities that are surrounded by water, the health mission was like God-sent for the people.

    Pro-Health International, which coordinated the programme for the NDDC in the state, went to great lengths to reach the people. In one instance, the programmewas held in a local church because there was no health facility anywhere near the settlement.

    The leader of the medical team, Dr. Levanus Martins, said thatabout 6,000 people benefited from the free medical services in the state, with many coming fromIgbobini, Igo and neigbouring communities.He said that other areas that benefitted were Ese- Odo local government area; Odun-Igo, Ilaje local government area, and Ajowa- Akoko, Akoko northwest local government area.

    According to him, 376 people did various laboratory tests, major surgery was conducted for six persons, 770 out-patients, 678 passed through pharmaceutical section and 41 were treated for dental ailments.

    Reviewing the success of the programme, the representative of Ondo State on the board of the NDDC, Chief Benson Amuwa, said thatseveral operations were performed in an environment where people could not have access to basic healthcare. “The aim of the NDDC is to ensure that people of the Niger Delta can access basic healthcare at their doorsteps. We know most of them cannot afford the kind of health care which normally they should get.”

    The Olu of Igbobini, Oba Oyedele Raphael, represented by Chief OlasehindeAjele, commended NDDC for remembering his people. He said: “We appreciate what you are doing for us; it is very great. We thank you very much.”The traditional rule said it was the first time any government agency was carrying out this kind of free medical programme in their area.

    In AkwaIbom State, the intervention of the free health programme was truly providential as exemplified by the story of Mrs. IniobongFidelix, who hails from Ikono Local Government Area of the state. Were it not for the free health mission in her locality, the pregnant woman would have died with her baby.

    Iniobong’s pregnancy was at its turbulent peak and she was taken to the hospital in Ikono. Unfortunately, there was no doctor at the hospital at that time to attend to her. The nurses could not do much as Iniobong was having complications and needed to be operated upon. The saving grace for this poor woman and her unborn baby was the Free Health Care Medical Programmeorganized by the NDDC, in conjunction with Global Hands Medicare Foundation, at the Ekpene Obo Cottage Hospital in EsitEket Local Government Area.

    It was a happy and proud Dr. Katherine Ntekim, the director of the foundation running the NDDC-sponsored free medical programme that told the story of the Ikono woman who was saved at the nick of time. According to her, Iniobong was lucky to have been rushed to the venue of the medical intervention in time to save her live and that of her baby. “She was rushed in for an emergency caesarian section from a general hospital where doctors’ strike had paralyzed healthcare delivery to this place where we saved her and her new-born baby.”

    She gave kudos to the NDDC for making it possible for her organisation to assemble medical experts in different areas of specialization to attend to the needs of people who may not have had access to such highly qualified medical personnel. According to the medical director, the week-long programme covered different aspects of Medicare.

    The NDDC Deputy Director for Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Solomon Ita, said that the goal of the commission was to make medical services accessible to the people of the Niger Delta region, especially those who live in the rural areas.  He noted that the commission had always placed a high premium on healthcare delivery, adding that it had extended health facilities and services to many communities across the region.

    “It is our belief that after this programme, the people of EsitEket will say farewell to all the endemic health problems that have long plagued them. It is expedient to mention here that the health partners are expected to hand over substantial quantities of efficacious drugs to the hospital management for the treatment of those who had some major operations,” he said.

    According to Dr Ita, of all the development programmes which the NDDC had undertaken in the Niger Delta, the one that brought tremendous relief and made immediate impact on the lives of the rural people was the free health care programme. “The free health missions have gone round virtually all corners of the Niger Delta, healing the sick and giving hope to the medically challenged,” he said.

    The NDDC director explained that the free health care programme was a combination of many activities, which included carrying out of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, healthcare promotion and malaria roll-back campaign. “The comprehensive health missions provide all forms of medical services, ranging from general consultation, laboratory services, general and gynaecological surgeries, as well as eye and dental services. Apart from the free medical missions, the NDDC has committed substantial resources to providing physical infrastructure in the health sector across the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Mr. Anieffiok Gabriel, who brought a relative for treatment, said he was delighted that the free healthcare programme came to Ekpene Obo at a time he was almost giving up hope on how to save his aunty who was very sick but could not find money to go for medical treatment. “We are glad the NDDC has come to our rescue,” he said.

    Anieffiok is one out of many poor people in the remote communities of the Niger Delta who have been rescued through the intervention of the NDDC’s free medical missions.

     

  • Much ado about Rivers govt’s scholarship scheme

    Much ado about Rivers govt’s scholarship scheme

    Shortly after Rotimi Amaechi became the governor of Rivers State, he established the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA). One of the mandates of the agency is to sponsor deserving students to further their education. Of recent, the scheme has been enmeshed in controversy, writes BISI OLANIYI in Port Harcourt 

    The Rivers State Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah,  sounded like a man sure of his facts. He also wore the toga of a man speaking for the oppressed. But, those who should know have said the man was simply playing games with the issue. The kernel of the PDP chief’s speech was: the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) was planning to recall the students on overseas scholarship.

    He also accused the Rotimi Amaechi administration of not keeping its promises to Rivers people.

    Obuah claimed that he was reacting to the cries of students who were sent to the United Kingdom by the Rivers State government in 2010 to study Medicine, but allegedly given a marching order by the agency to come home, when they were yet to start their medical programme (MBBS).

    He alleged that the RSSDA ordered the stoppage of the payment of the students’ upkeep and accommodation allowances, which he described as deceitful, a breach of contract and a fraud, claiming that millions of naira had been voted for the programme.

    The Rivers PDP chairman asked Amaechi and the RSSDA to consider the far-reaching implications of forcing the students to return home, without clearing their indebtedness to the UK institutions, which he described as a criminal case. This, said Obuah, could make the institutions to blacklist the students and deny them the possibility of travelling abroad for further studies or any other business in the future.

    Obuah said: “We have been vindicated in our allegation that Governor Amaechi has emptied the Rivers State treasury on sponsorship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he has consistently denied. Which other reason could compel Amaechi and his pet agency, the RSSDA, to stop the students on state scholarship halfway, rather than lack of funds?

    “The students have neither completed their programmes nor  has Amaechi got the trained and qualified personnel to keep his so-called super health centres afloat, yet he wants those sent out to acquire these skills to come home without qualifying, simply because the state is broke

    “We are demanding that the move to recall these students, without completing their programmes, be stopped forthwith or the billions of naira already claimed to have been spent on the aggrieved, but deceived Rivers State scholarship beneficiaries be refunded to Rivers people.”

    Obuah also stated that he thought the idea of starting a project and not finishing it, before jumping to the other, was only restricted to infrastructural development, while claiming that the Rivers governor had extended it to human capital development, which was described as unacceptable.

    But, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the RSSDA, Mr. Noble Pepple, said there was no truth in Obuah’s claim.

    Pepple said: “As an agency responsible for the development of qualified manpower for Rivers State, it will be counter intuitive for us to force our students to return home before the completion of their studies. That will negate the objective of the scholarship scheme.

    “The RSSDA was recently approached by parents of a group of 17 scholars, who were among a number of applicants awarded scholarship by the agency to study for first degree in Medicine or medically-related courses in 2010.

    “Unfortunately, they could not gain admission for Medicine, after their pre-degree (foundation) programme and they settled for medically-related courses, such as Pharmacy, Bio-Medical Sciences and Physiotherapy. The scholars, who have now graduated in these fields, with their full allowances fully paid to the end of their studies in July 2014, have turned around to demand fresh sponsorship from the agency to study Medicine.

    “These medically-related disciplines, from which the scholars have qualified, are also needed in the healthcare delivery system in the state. Besides, it would only be fair that having benefitted from the state sponsorship for their first degree, other deserving candidates are given similar opportunity.”

    Since the inception of the Governor’s Special Overseas Scholarship Scheme in 2008, the executive director disclosed that the agency had placed almost two thousand deserving young Rivers State men and women in top-ranking universities across the world, with the initiative taking over 70 per cent of the RSSDA’s annual budget.

    Pepple said by the end of September 2014, nearly one thousand of the students would have fully completed their studies, majority with flying colours, while stressing that the remaining are still in the programme and would continue to enjoy the full sponsorship of the government.

    Shortly after Amaechi became the Governor of Rivers State, he established the RSSDA, with the aim of empowering lives and creating better future for Rivers state and its people.

    Amaechi said at the inauguration of the RSSDA: “Our mission is to serve our people with humility and render transparent and accountable stewardship, anchored on integrity and good governance. We shall use our God-given resources to improve the quality of life of our present and future generations, and empower our people in a peaceful, just and harmonious society under God.”

    The pioneer executive director of RSSDA, Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, who was seconded from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), like Pepple, tried his best.

    Pepple, during the presentation of the agency’s 2013 annual report in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, last Friday, said the future of RSSDA was bright, in spite of the challenges.

    He revealed at the presentation that the 2013 report was the agency’s fourth, since 2010, when RSSDA began to publish an account of its activities to its stakeholders.

    The executive director disclosed that of the 249 graduates from the agency’s overseas scholarship, eleven physically-challenged students graduated from top universities in the United Kingdom, Canada and India, with flying colours.

    He said the agency, through  Amaechi’s overseas scholarship scheme, awarded 312 scholarships, with greater focus on medical and health-related disciplines.

    Pepple described 2013 as a tough year for the RSSDA, in view of the inhibiting funding constraints experienced in 2012, which he said became more severe last year, thereby impacting virtually all the agency’s planned activities.

    He said in spite of the challenges, RSSDA learnt to be more creative and innovative, making it to meet some of its commitments and mandate, with the efforts noticed within and outside Nigeria, through awards of excellence.

    The executive director said: “Our programmes suffered major setbacks, due to the funding challenge faced during the year. Of the N10 billion budget allocated to the agency for 2013, we had received only N4 billion by the end of the year. An additional N2 billion was received in 2014. We were unable to meet our payment obligations to our scholars and their universities overseas in a timely manner.

    “By the end of the year (2013), we had incurred accumulated debts owed to universities overseas, scholarship implementing agents, local vendors and service providers, amounting to N4 billion. As a result, we were unable to conduct the annual scholarship test and interview for the award of new scholarships into the programme for the 2014/2015 session.”

    In spite of the challenges, he noted that the RSSDA received two significant recognitions during the year: “HR best Practice Award in the Public Sector in Nigeria,” from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and “African Government Agency of the Year 2013,” by the African Leadership Magazine Award Committee in USA, for the monumental work done by the agency in developing the human capital in Rivers State.

    The executive director stated that the agency continued the development of its Songhai Rivers Initiative, with the introduction of improved crop and soil management technologies at the Songhai Farm in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

    He said progress was also made in setting up the first agro-support centre at Onne in Eleme LGA of the state, which is connected to the Songhai farm and also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) to train its students at the Songhai farm.

    Pepple lauded Amaechi for the RSSDA’s initiative, stressing that the governor’s trust and support had been instrumental to the agency’s success.

    While also assessing the performance of the agency, its Chairman, Rev. Canon Precious Omuku, also noted that 2013 was a challenging year, especially with the funding constraint. Omuku reiterated that the agency struggled to meet its obligations to beneficiaries of its scholarship programme, stressing that the challenges that lie ahead would become even greater, with limited resources, but noted that emphasis must always be placed on poverty alleviation and improvement in the quality of life of Rivers people.

    According to the RSSDA’s report, by the end of last year, 1,962 students had been awarded scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in overseas universities. Some have completed their courses, while others are still studying and at various stages in their chosen courses, costing N23.7 billion.

    During the year, 312 students (238 undergraduates and 74 postgraduates) were awarded scholarships to study overseas. Of the number, 149 travelled to their study destinations in 2013, bringing the total number of students studying overseas to 1,072, with the scholars currently studying at various higher institutions in twelve countries.

    Higher consideration was given to medical students applying to study at postgraduate level. Of the 74 postgraduate awards made in 2013, scholars in medical and health sciences took up 20 places.

    The agency also established opportunities for students to study Medicine at universities in the Caribbean and the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, to accommodate the additional placement for medical studies. With the additions, RSSDA was able to increase the number of students studying medicine by 56, bringing the total to 89.

    During the year, Urban and Regional Development was also added to the portfolio of overseas courses for which scholarships were awarded at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, to accommodate the rising and urgent need for qualified professionals and provide support for the new Greater Port Harcourt City project, with five awards made for the course in 2013.

    The RSSDA, in 2013, had the highest number of graduating and returning students since the programme started in 2008. The report indicated that 249 students graduated and returned to Rivers state from the United Kingdom (138), India (77), Singapore (26), Canada (7) and the United States of America (1). Of the 138 students from the UK, five graduated with First Class, while another made a Distinction.

    With the 77 students returning from India and 26 from Singapore, the state now has 258 qualified ICT graduates from both countries, with the remaining students to complete their studies in both countries in 2014, following which the sponsorship to the countries would draw to a close.

    In 2010, Amaechi launched a scholarship scheme, specifically to provide opportunities for people living with physical disability to study overseas, with 26 beneficiaries so far. During the year, eleven of the physically-challenged students graduated from Nottingham Trent University, UK. Daniel Nlemogu and Betty Alali Odema are among them.

    Nlemogu achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Law. Upon returning to Rivers State, he received an award of excellence from the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. He recently received a second scholarship award from Amaechi to pursue a Master’s degree programme.

    He said: “RSSDA’s scholarship programme has developed me academically and otherwise, as I always strive to be the best wherever I find myself. Sincerely, my life has been transformed as a result of the RSSDA’s scholarship programme.

    “My future plan is to do what would make me give back to the society, particularly Rivers State, for the huge investment made in my life. I want to thank God Almighty for how He has led me thus far. I could not have been at this stage of my life without God and the support of the RSSDA.”

    Nlemogu was also grateful to the NGF chairman for giving the agency human-oriented programmes and for giving him a sense of belonging.

    Another outstanding, but physically-challenged graduate of the overseas scholarship scheme, Odema, also graduated from the Nottingham Trent University with honours in International Relations in 2013. She received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement.

    For her good performance, Odema recently received a second scholarship award from Amaechi to pursue higher degrees in the UK and has already commenced her M.Sc. programme at the University of Coventry.

    Odema, in an interview, said: “Growing up in the Port Harcourt Cheshire Home, under very difficult environment, did not deter me from dreaming big, by aiming higher. The Rivers State Government picked me from a low level of life and gave me wings to fly and hope for a better future.

    “You (Rivers State Government) have sown for my future and the future of our dear state. I have a lot to offer. I want to be an inspiration to the physically challenged and the able-bodied persons and a testimony to the lasting legacy of the Amaechi’s administration’s investment in the youths of Rivers State.”

    Odema also expressed gratitude to the Rivers governor and the people of the state for the great opportunity given to her to obtain a high-quality education in the UK.

    A native of Umuagbai-Ndoki in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers state, Nwabueze Dike, is a 2008 graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, but had the privilege of studying at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, through the opportunity offered him by the RSSDA’s overseas postgraduate scholarship scheme in 2012.

    He stated that the scholarship enabled him to study for M.Sc. Subsea Engineering and graduated with Distinction in November 2013.

    Dike said: “Studying such a multidisciplinary course (Subsea Engineering) at postgraduate level, in a multicultural setting, was very interesting and challenging, considering the new environment, team, weather conditions and teaching methods, which I had to cope with.

    “The school, teaching staff and course modules were excellent, as the lectures and courses, including final examination, were drawn from current oil and gas industry practice, projects and challenges around the world.

    “As a Subsea Engineer, I have gained knowledge in the design, construction, installation and maintenance of subsea systems and networks required for deep and ultra-deep water oil and gas production. Through the scholarship/study, I have gained international exposure, practised UK work ethics and social responsibility and mutual respect for team members.

    “Now that I have improved myself, I want to give back to the society by transferring the skills I have acquired to the young, as well as up and coming engineers of Rivers State origin, aspiring to be part of the subsea business in the oil and gas industry.”

    Dike also stated that he was at the final stage of starting a free programme, aimed at grooming college students with relevant computer skills required for further studies in higher institutions home and abroad.

    The subsea engineer suggested to the RSSDA to incorporate into the scheme, a method of integrating their scholars into the relevant industry, after their study. So that the knowledge gained would be applied upon graduation.

    RSSDA also has other scholarship schemes, especially the Greater Horizon Opportunities Programme (GHOP), where students from poor homes are given the opportunity of attending the best secondary schools across Nigeria. Five of them graduated in 2013, the remaining 127 will graduate this year, except one, for health reason. One of the beneficiaries is Miss Faith Okwelle.

    Okwelle said: “If RSSDA had not intervened in my educational life, I would have attended the secondary school in my village, instead of the one I now attend and of course, the outputs of both schools are obviously different. The standard of teaching in Brookstone Secondary School makes me stand out, whenever I interact with my mates from other schools.

    “I have the opportunity to meet with other brilliant children and to go for excursions outside the country. RSSDA’s GHOP scholarship has helped my family to save the money my parents would have used in training me to invest in other things. This has helped my family’s income tremendously.”

    The GHOP beneficiary (Okwelle) also lauded Amaechi for bringing her and others out of the slums, through the scholarship programme.

    In 2011, the RSSDA launched a scheme to promote the study of agriculture and increase enrolment of Rivers state indigenes in agricultural courses at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

    The scheme involved providing financial support to pay fees and upkeep allowances for students of Rivers State origin, who enrol to study agricultural courses (Crop Science, Fisheries, Animal Science and Forestry) at the RSUST.

    RSSDA continued its commitment to the scheme during the year, by providing support for an additional 39 students, increasing enrolment in agriculture at the RSUST to 57 students by last December.

     

     

     

  • Isoko land owners protest oil surveillance contract

    A group known as Indigenous Landlords Association in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to redress the injustice over what they termed “illegal award of oil surveillance contract/oil mining (OML 30).

    In a petition sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, the group alleged that without due consultation with their traditional institutions, chiefs, youths and opinion leaders in Isoko Kingdom, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shoreline National Resources Limited and Heritage Oil awarded oil mining lease surveillance contract to several contractors.

    In the petition, copies of which were sent to the  Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke,  Delta State Governor  and other stakeholders.

    The group said more than one year after awarding this contract, there is no evidence on ground to show that the contractors are working in  Isoko land. The group said: “What we have noticed is that the Isoko Local Vigilante Group led by Hon. Victor Egbo, who is the co-ordinator as well as the state co-ordinator, is the one securing the oil pipeline as well as gathering intelligence, while those who got the pipeline surveillance contracts are just taking the money without doing anything.”

    The group also alleged that they have not received any commendation or recommendation for employment from these contractors, a situation that is a total disregard for the Nigeria Local Content Act, 2011.

    This, they said, amounts to “Baboon dey work, monkey dey chop” and in their opinion, “no reasonable man in this 21st century will permit such injustice.” Quoting copiously from an extract by John Ralw, the group said, “Justice is the distribution of the advantages and the disadvantages of the society equally among its members.” Going by this, they said, “it is right for us to also share the advantage of the society and not only the disadvantage that oil explorations has brought to our people.”

    The group  said  in order to address the alleged  injustice, the Isoko Development Union (IDU), the apex decision making body in Isoko Land, led by its President, Maj-Gen. Paul Ofuoma Omu (rtd), scheduled a a meeting between the Isoko people, Shoreline Natural Resources (Ltd), the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Heritage Oil for March 5. According to them, though due notice of the meeting was given, none of the representatives of the companies showed up at the meeting. As a result of this, they said, another stakeholders’ meeting was slated for April 29,  at the Isoko South Local Government Area Secretariat.

    In attendance at that meeting were  Hon. Idele Goodluck, traditional rulers from Oleh, Uzere, Ewhe, Emede, Emevor, Ozoro and all opinion leaders in Isoko land. The meeting was also attended by the Isoko Development Union led by its President, Major Gen Paul Ofuoma Omu (rtd), representative of the Nigeria police force, members of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and representatives of Shoreline Natural Resources, the Nigerian Development Petroleum Company (NDPC) and Heritage Nig (ltd). At the meeting, the group said, the IDU President Major Gen Paul Ofuoma Omu (rtd) OFR, made known the collective resolve of the Isoko people that the oil surveillance contract should be re-awarded to accommodate the interest of the entire Isoko people. According to the group, after about four hours deliberations, Shoreline Natural Resources, Heritage Oil and the NPDC promised to look into their demand, but up till today, the companies have refused to keep their promise.

    Consequently, the group said, since Shoreline Natural Resources, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and Heritage Oil Nig (Ltd), have chosen to walk the path of injustice against the collective interest of the people, they have “resolved from now onward, that there shall be no peace until this ugly injustice is addressed.”

    The group issued  a  21 days ultimatum, starting from September 1,  till September 22 within which the Companies involved should address the anomaly, failure which all oil wells connected to OML 30 in Isoko Land will cease to flow.

    The OML 30 (Oil Mining Lease) covers the largest ever upstream asset in Sub-Sahara Africa. The block is the second largest as well as the third largest on-shore Block with a lease covering 109 square kilometers which comprises of the following communities in Isoko Kingdom of Delta State: Oleh 21 Oil wells, Olomoro 17 Oil wells, Emede 4 Oil wells, Uzere more than 12 functional wells, Owhe 9 Oil wells, Igbide 8 Oil wells, Okpolo-Enwhe 6 Oil wells, Ozoro 7 Oil wells, Ellu/Ovrode 10 Oil wells, Ofagbe 4 Oil wells, Isoko Deep.

    Currently, the block has 8 producing fields of 395, 000 bpd, with an existing 850 bpd of pipeline segment to Forcados Export terminal. Its current gross production is 45, 000 bpd. It has over 2000 wells drilled with 120 in production. The block associated gas facilities can handle forth two MSCF/ day collected from 6 flowing stations. Its proven reserve includes 3 of 2 bb/s of crude oil and 2:5TCF of gas is a long asset with 8 years life reserved at production rate.

     

  • Flight Marine Safety Academy in Obubra is legitimate, says proprietor

    Flight Marine Safety Academy in Obubra is legitimate, says proprietor

    The proprietor, Flight Marine Safety Academy (FMSA), in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Captain Charles Origha, has faulted security operatives claim that the institution is fake.

    Early this year,  security operatives arrested him and paraded him as the operator of an illegal and unregistered Marine Academy.

    Origha, who holds a degree from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the security agencies did not do their homework well.

    He told our reporter that he was not operating an illegal or unregistered academy as he was accused of, but that the institution was duly certified and registered by the Cross River State Ministry of Education.

    “The academy is registered with the State government and affiliated to Star Maritime Academy in Igondo, Lagos our mother institute, which also has approval from the Federal Ministry of Education and National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) .We are operating within the ambit of the law; there is nothing fake or illegal about the academy,” he said.

    Origha, who also has a diploma  from the College of Aviation and Management Studies, Lagos, narrated his ordeal: “We were only on sea exercise with our passports endorsed by the Nigeria Immigration before we made the voyage. Although we did not inform the Nigerian Navy, we were arrested and handed over to Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and subsequently to Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) where we were abandoned for two weeks.

    “They believed us to be militants and sea pirates, we did not carry any arms neither was any drug found on us, the only thing we had on us was our international passports. I was not even given the opportunity to express myself. I was treated like a common thief, put in chains like a criminal.

    “It was when we were released that we saw our photographs all over the pages of newspapers where we were tagged pirates, militants and fake marine academy operator. This has ruptured both my image and reputation; it has caused me a huge loss. As we speak I am still suffering from the pains on my legs due to the chains I was bound with since the incident in March.

    “We are not fake. I am appealing to relevant authorities to do all the background checks to verify all our claims, if these documents are real. We cannot just  be accredited immediately by NBTE. It takes a little time, which is why we became affiliated to Star Maritime Academy in Lagos.’”

    When contacted, the Rector, Star Maritime Academy Igando, Lagos, Dr Ovai Reuben, confirmed that FSMA was an affiliate of his Institute and that it has approval from Federal Ministry of Education and NBTE.

    He also decried the ill-treatment meted to Origha by the security operatives, stressing that they should have done proper investigation before arresting and parading him and some of the cadets as militants.

     

     

  • Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson

    Bayelsa communities unite for Jonathan, Dickson

    President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson  are getting more supporters for their re-election bids. For their sake, communities in the state seem to have dropped their acrimonies and feudal battles to queue up behind and identify with them.

    In fact, local government areas are taking turns to shower encomiums on and declare support for the duo. Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma local councils at separate occasions  assembled their sons and daughters to make statements and tell Nigerians how much love they have for their kinsman, President Jonathan and their Governor, Dickson.

    Niger Delta Report monitored a similar communal meeting involving the communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area under the aegis of the Yenagoa Stakeholders’ Forum (YSF) recently.

    The hall ‘overflew’ with representatives of the communities that constitute the council. Most of the enthused participants wore their best traditional regalia festooned with beads and other symbols of Ijaw culture. Women in their various groups adorned themselves in their best outfits woven around colourful wrappers with headgears of different sizes to match.

    Community leaders, aides to the governor from the council and lawmakers representing the council at the state House of Assembly  as well as representatives of non-indigenes flocked the hall to identify with the occasion.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Abuja, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, was one of the brains behind the success of the event.

    Also present were the Commissioner for Information, Deacon Markson Fefegha, the Chairman of the forum, Chief GM. Odumgba, the forum’s Secretary and governor’s Representative, Mr. Ebiwarie Wariowei.

    Others were the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lawrence Ewrujakpor, Chief of Staff, Yenagoa Government House, the Mayor of Yenagoa, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Yenagoa chapter and Commissioner for Tourism. In fact, everybody who matters in politics and tradition of the council was in attendance.

    Describing Jonathan and Dickson as the two illustrious sons of the state, he appealed to the people to urge the duo to contest the the presidential and governorship elections in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

    “The reason for this clarion calls by the people are not far-fetched. Both have performed creditably to deserve a second term. He enumerated the near completion of the East-West Road, handling of the insurgency in the North-East, establishment of federal universities and implementation of the amnesty programmes among the achievements of their son, Jonathan.

    On Dickson, he said his Restoration Government has performed marvelously within record time.

    “This has not only attracted the people’s admiration, it has set the tone for so many pressure group’s and organisations to call for the endorsement of the governor for a second term”, he said.

    He reeled out the Isaac Boro Expressway, the Yenagoa-Angiama-Ayama Road, the New Gateway Road, the Tombia-Amasoma Road and the flyovers among others as the evidence of Dickson’s performance.

    “The various housing structures that have changed the landscape of Yenagoa cannot but be appreciated. The new ADR building for the judiciary, the Traditional Rulers secretariat, the Okaka Housing Estate and many others are commendable strides of this pragmatic administration,” he said.

    Also, the representative of non-indigenes, Chief Sunny Chukwueze, was excited that Yenagoa had risen to make a statement. He said he was initially uncomfortable that the council was mute when people all over the country were speaking.

    “Today, the jinx is broken and Yenagoa is speaking”, he said adding that President Jonathan had shown enough commitment to pilot the affairs f the country. He was, however, particular about Dickson whom he referred to as a friend to non-indigenes.

    He said Dickson won the love of non-indigenes by appointing some of them to his cabinet and paying them a thank-you visit after his election. He said in the history of the state, no leader had returned to thank the non-indigenes for their support after election.

    He said in June non-indigenes made a statement to support the reelection of Dickson. “Today, I am reaffirming the endorsement of Dickson and Jonathan”, he said.

    The Chairman of Yenagoa Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenamowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Akah, asked Jonathan to declare for 2015.

    “We are saying boldly that we are behind him and that he is going to win”, he said. The royal father also drew applauses from the crowd when he claimed that he saw Jonathan in his dream emerging victorious after the 2015 elections.”

    He further said Dickson had fulfilled his promise of turning Yenagoa to a construction site. “He has performed beyond expectations. Our traditional rulers council secretariat is first class and the police officers’ mess is one of the most beautiful in the country”, he said.

     

  • Ex-acting NDDC chief opposes zoning in Delta

    Ex-acting NDDC chief opposes zoning in Delta

    Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan, has said zoning will not determine who becomes Delta State’s next governor.

    He spoke at a news conference in Warri.

    Aginighan urged Nigerians to take their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) serious, describing it as the key to the enthronement of faithful and committed governance.

    Aginighan, who advised those who would be contesting elective positions in the state, especially the governorship, to play by the rule, also warned that those who have plans to enter any of the races for purposes of acquiring wealth overnight should forget the idea as the people of Delta would only vote for those they know have genuine passion for developing the state.

    He said: “On the 2015 governorship elections in Delta State, it is my position and indeed the position of many well-meaning Deltans that those who see politics as a means of building vast economic empires for themselves should forget about the race. Those who rely on a non-existent and unconstitutional zoning formula and expect the governorship conceded to either their ethnic group or senatorial district on a platter of gold  should have a rethink.

    “Only the candidate who offers the convincing promise of ensuring that the common wealth of Delta State will be reflected in the quality of life all of Deltans, irrespective of political party affiliation, ethnic background and religion, will earn the votes of the people. Deltans are all called upon to carefully examine the track records of all the aspirants in either the public service or the private sector and ensure that we do not enthrone a tyrant and a treasury looter as our governor in 2015.”