The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Waiting for the fruits of Bayelsa Investment Forum

    Waiting for the fruits of Bayelsa Investment Forum

    Last weekend, Bayelsa State government hosted an investment forum in Yenegoa. For the citizens, what matters is the fruits of the event, writes Mike Odiegwu

    All roads led to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital last week. For over three days, personalities from different walks of life trooped into the city.

    It was not the just-concluded Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) beauty pageant that brought them. They came to attend the first Investment and Economic Forum organised by the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, though was absent, was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

    But the ministers of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke; Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur were among dignatries that attended the forum. They also delivered goodwill messages.

    Also, Chief Timi Alaibe, Mr. Uche Orji, Managing Director of Notore Chemical industries, Miss Ivana Osagie, Regional Manager South-south Operations Bank of industry, Mr Balarabe Musa were among the lead speakers and panelists.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Steve Oru and his counterpart at the state for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, were not left behind. Investors from China, South Africa, Europe and America came to see Bayelsa and her business opportunities.

    The governor was convinced that the event was strategic. It was designed to bring eminent and foremost industrialists, entrepreneurs, tourists and influential politicians from different parts of the world to the state. It was put together to showcase the state as untapped rich business virgin that tasty for business suitors.

    Dickson believed that the programme would act as a key to unlocking the investment potential of the state and move it to the world map as a preferred destination for foreign investors.

    Indeed, one leg of the forum’s objective appears to have been achieved. People, locals and foreigners, came. They kept the state busy for three days. Most of the hotels were fully booked and from the world press conference to the cocktails including practical sections, contacts were established and business agreements were signed.

    Jonathan was concerned about using the forum as an opportunity to identify other investment possibilities in the state. He wanted the participants to be involved in diversifying the economy. He urged Bayelsa to develop other sectors of its economy instead of depending on oil and gas alone.

    Jonathan said: “Bayelsa must diversify its economic base. It should not focus on oil wealth. It should pay attention to agricultural, coastal landscape for tourism, maritime industry and new housing estate.

    “The desire by the state government for development will be supported by the Federal Government.”

    Dickson was in his best element. In an elaborate statement, Dickson sold Bayelsa to the world and told investors the specific money-doubling opportunities in the state.

    He spoke about tourism, agriculture and power generation. He solicited partnership in the areas of road construction, small and medium enterprises development to expand the economy beyond oil and gas.

    Keynote Speaker, Mr. Jim O’Neil, Retired Chairman of Gold Sachs Asset Management, was represented by Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Lord Malloch-Brown.

    He said the need to build an inclusive political government, create critical infrastructure and institutions to gain the confidence of investors.

    In line with the recommendations of O’Neil, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, said the state was ready to ensure quick dispensation of justice to provide an enabling environment for investment.

    Addressing potential investors, she said: “Bayelsa will not allow any corrupt investors in the state. We will do all we can to allow justice and your business must be in line with the much desired economic growth of the state government.”

    But, Mrs. Madueke said the Federal Government had taken practical steps to deepen its partnership with Bayelsa on a number of projects, including the Brass Liquified Natural Gas (BLNG).

    She said the final investment decision (FID) of the BLNG would be reached in the first quarter of next year adding that the Federal Government intended to create more jobs in the state through various programmes, using the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

    She identified the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as a critical element of petroleum development in the country. The minister insisted that establishing the content board had propelled Nigerians to participate actively in the petroleum industry.

    Mrs Allison-Madueke, who also visited the office of the board in Yenagoa and was received by the Executive Secretary of the board, Mr. Ernest Nwakpa, and other board members, said the Nigerian content had been deployed in other sectors of the economy.

    She noted that, work on a pipe mill development project at Polaku in Yenagoa local government area was ongoing in addition to the proposed industrial park at Otuoke.

    In his remarks, Dr. Aganga noted that Bayelsa, like Nigeria possesses a viable macro-economic environment for investments to thrive. He noted that the state accounts for more than 30 per cent of the nation’s crude oil production and could do well in agriculture.

    Dickson was able to extract commitments from some of the investors. The state government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with many companies.

    With Proton Energy, the government signed an MoU for the construction of 500mgw power plant and with the Bank of Industry, Mainstreet Bank and the Bank of Agriculture entered into an agreement to establishment N25billion SMEs development fund.

    Dickson was not done yet. His restoration government entered into pacts with Ostertrade for the establishment of ceramic tiles, glass and tomato paste and beans canning industries.

    Dickson further put pen to paper with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and four media organisations, comprising Channels Television, Africa Independent Television (AIT), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Silverbird. The deal was aimed at promoting effective dissemination and management of information concerning government activities.

    The Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobolaji Johnson signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while Secretary to State Government, Professor Edmund Alison Oguru and Information Commissioner, Deacon Markson Fefegha signed for the state.

    The governor Described SMEs as a critical aspect of the state’s economic plan, especially the diversification from the oil and gas sector. He urged the people of the state to key into the SMEs programme for the creation of wealth and job opportunities. He insisted that the era of dependence on political patronage was no longer sustainable.

    He presented some certificates of occupancy (C of Os) to Julius Berger Plc and other individuals and underscored the importance of the land title document in addressing the issue of access to business finance.

    Beyond the speeches, Bayelsans are watching. Many of them commended the efforts of the governor. Others are waiting to see the practical transformation of the theme of the forum “Unlocking Bayelsa economic potential: Opportunities and Challenges”, into a reality.

    In fact, they are looking forward to the establishment of ceramic tiles, glass and tomato paste, including beans canning industries in Bayelsa State.

     

     

  • Mandela ressurects in Asaba, as South Africa marks 20th anniversary

    Mandela ressurects in Asaba, as South Africa marks 20th anniversary

    The South African Consulate in Nigeria marked last week 20 years of the country’s freedom and democracy and the Nelson Mandela International Day.

    In Asaba, the Delta State capital, a programme was held at the scenic Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees in honour of the late freedom fighter.

    The Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees was founded in 2013, a joint initiative of the Delta State government and a civil society organisation, Fight Against Desert Encroachment (F.A.D.E). It is a research, educational and recreational centre.

    South African Ambassador to Nigeria Mokgethi Monaisa, at a news conference, said the objective of the celebrations was “to identify with the nations and people that stood fast with South Africans, supporting them in their struggle for freedom”.

    He said Nigeria played an important role in the liberation of the majority of the South African people.

    Monaisa observed that the global Nelson Mandela International Day highlights the values and ideals that Mandela exemplified, adding that the consulate “has identified Delta State as one of our key friends with which we would like to share this moment.”

    His words: “Apartheid has been with us for centuries and we have been free from it and we redress the iniquities of the imbalances that were caused by the apartheid regime.  This cannot happen overnight, it becomes a process, but so far we have achieved a lot towards the dream  of Nelson Mandela and his peers who at the time early in our struggle, fought very hard to bring us to where we are.  Some of them have gone like he himself, but we are carrying on that beacon. If you go to SA today, it is definitely not the SA of 1994.We have addressed a lot of imbalances .

    “We have social programmes to bridge the gap between the haves and the have not. We have built a lot of schools for the people, we have social grants to take care of our aged ,the disabled, the needy, especially the abandoned children. We have built more hospitals in the country and electricity. You are aware that SA is highly industrialised and therefore generates power, but even then has built more power plants. Many homes, especially the homes of the previously disadvantaged are electrified. A lot of roads have been built especially to areas which used to be for blacks only. In the educational arena SA is now building three new universities in three provinces that did not have universities. Universities used to be concentrated in certain areas such as Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban. We did not have universities in Northern Cape, Umphumalaga .We are really living Mandela’s dream.”

    He said government has tackled crime in SA headlong, noting that the crime situation was perceptive rather than real.

    According to him, the media exaggerated the issue of crime in the run-up to2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    He said, “We demonstrated to the world that what they read in the newspaper and the perception they had was not true…the World Cup came and went with no major incident. People were so free that many decided to stay longer. Some of them came back to buy property in South Africa”.

    Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Festus Okubor, described the late Mandela as an “icon”, adding the state is honoured to host part of the celebrations commemorating South Africa’s 20th anniversary  and Nelson Mandela Day.

    He said this honour by the South African consulate speaks volumes about the “concerted efforts of Delta State government under Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to open up the State to the outside world”.

    The founder of F.A.D.E and renowned environmentalist, Mr. Jibunoh Newton, said he adopted Nelson Mandela as his mentor about 50 year ago. He said his NGO in conjunction with the state government in 2013 built the Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 trees to commemorate the life of sacrifice exemplified by Nelson Mandela.

    He said: “All the 95 trees are doing well and some have even started flowering.”

    The highpoint of the occasion was a visit by Monaisa and his entourage to Madonna School for Children with Needs, Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area. The group donated books, writing materials and Tee-shirts to the over 193 pupils of the school run by the Catholic Mission. Pupils were entertained with soft drinks in a ceremony which lasted over two hours.

  • War against Akwa Ibom ‘baby factory’ operators

    After winning the war against branding of children as witches and wizards,  Akwa Ibom State has turned the heat on “baby factory” operators, writes Kazeem Ibrahym

    The battle used to be against pastors, parents and others who branded children witches and wizards. That era, the state earned so much bad press, especially overseas. Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio had no choice but to pass the Child Rights Bill into law in 2008. The events leading to the passage of the law are still fresh in the memories of many. A report on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) detailed the inhuman  treatment meted to suspected child-witches by their parents and communities. In the report that went viral, a self-styled cleric, Bishop Sunday William, declared that 2.3 million witches and wizards existed in the state – most of them, according to him, were children.

    Williams also claimed that he helped parents kill about 110 “child-witches” for as much as N400,000 per ‘witch’. The BBC documentary on the activities of his church went viral. It angered Akpabio that a ‘Bishop’ would declare that 2.3 million of the 4 million people in the state are witches and wizards.

    As the problem of branding children “witches” and “wizards” is going down in the state, criminals have devised another means of making quick money. They abduct children either from school or church and sell them. Some of them also operate ‘’baby factory’’, using boys between 18 and 25 to impregnate young girls.

    In the last three months, the police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested many suspects allegedly involved in “baby factory” business.

    In May, a traditional doctor and four others were arrested by the police for the stealing of a three-year-old baby. Commissioner of Police Umar Gwadabe listed the names of the accused persons as Miss. Imaobong Udoh, mother of the baby, Mrs. Regina James, buyer and Mr. Mfon James, her husband.

    Others, according to the police boss, are: Mrs. Comfort Henry, the traditional birth attendant who delivered the baby and Mr. Emmanuel Okon, a homeopathic doctor. The police boss explained that Mrs. James paid N150, 000, to the mother of the baby and N110, 000 to the homeopathic doctor for his transaction.

    His words: “On March 3, 2014, a case of child stealing was reported by Mr. Eteobong James, of No. 33 to the police where a three day old baby girl was sold for N260, 000. Based on the report, the suspects were arrested. Mr. Emmanuel Etim Okon,is the one who arranged the infamous deal and personally conveyed the baby from point of delivery at Nna-Enin in Urhan Local Government Area to the buyers at No. 37 Church Road, Uyo.”

    Gwadabe, who warned criminals, especially those involved in stealing of children, to desist from it as the state would not be conducive for their illicit trade.

    To fight this, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, has taken the violence against the children’s campaign to some churches in the rural areas of the state as a way of sensitising the parents on the dangers in giving their children out to either friends or relatives for training.

    Mrs. Akpabio, who is the Chairperson of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), told the parents during her visit to worship at Christ Faith Church, Utu in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, that they should take advantage of the free and compulsory education policy and stop giving their children out for any pecuniary motives.

    Mrs. Akpabio described children as the greatest assets of any nation, saying when a child is protected; the future of a nation is also protected.

    She said: “On my way to Ukanafun, I noticed that some small children were walking on the streets and that is not good enough. I want to tell you that they have started kidnapping our young children. I don’t want you to take your children to church and leave them outside while you are inside the church. Sometimes they come into the church to kidnap our children. After the kidnap they sell the children. Don’t give your children out to anybody for training. Take advantage of the state’s government free and compulsory education policy and send your children to school.

    “When they kidnap your male child, they sell him between N400, 000 and N450, 000 while the female child goes for N250, 000. Know that our children are worth more that many tubers of yam they will promise you. If you are suffering, let your children suffer with you. Be careful where you send your child to. Tell the people that your child is not for sale.”

    Mrs. Akpabio, who also frowned at the issue of “baby factory business”, said the government would eradicate it.

    She said: “They are using the female children for prostitution business. They get them pregnant and sell the babies. Let any child that is not up to 18 years stay with you. Don’t allow anybody to useless your child. Don’t truncate your child’s education. It is only education that will make your child great.”

    The governor’s wife, who later gave out some gift items and cash to widows in the church, also donated N2million for the completion of the church project.

    In the entourage of the governor’s wife were Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet; Information and Communications Commissioner Mr. Aniekan Umanah; wife of the State Secretary to Government, Martha Emmanuel; and wives of other commissioners.

    From Christ Faith Church, she took her campaign to two other churches, Qua Iboe Church of Nigeria in Ikpe Atai, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area and The Apostolic Church, Nigeria, Ikot Akpa Nkuk Area Headquarters, in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

    At both churches, Mrs. Akpabio’s messages to the parents were not different. She warned them to resist any attempt by anybody to truncate the future of their children as a result of an instant gratification. She gave a cash donation of N500, 000 and N1million to the two churches.

    Mrs Emmanuel commended Akpabio for his holistic approach to the protection of children in Akwa Ibom State, by signing the Child Rights bill into Law.

     

  • Rivers Ijaw…Unique people, great culture, endless prospects

    Rivers Ijaw…Unique people, great culture, endless prospects

    In Rivers State, the people have, for a long time, seen themselves as made up of upland and riverine groups. The riverine people are the Ijaw, who believe it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state. BISI OLANIYI examines this unique people.

    Ijaw, arguably the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, with fishing as the people’s major occupation, have a noticeable presence in six states in the country- Ondo,Edo,Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Ijaws say the word means “truth” or “justice”. Culturally the Ijaws are divided into three blocks following natural river courses. You have Western Ijaws in Ondo, Edo and Delta states;central Ijaw is primarily found in Bayelsa State while Eastern Ijaws are found in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Rivers Ijaws are seen by others as urbane and highly educated due to early contact with Europeans.

    The Rivers Ijaw people are  spread across the coastlines in the over ten local government areas of Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Ogu-Bolo, Port Harcourt (South), Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Abua-Odual effectively make them more than one third of the state both in population and landmass. The state has 23 local government areas.

    The Ijaw have unique culture and they always stand out of the crowd. The dressing of an Ijaw man will not be complete without the bowler (resource control) hat and a walking stick. It is rare to find an Ijaw man in “agbada,”. They have their special top and trousers, which at times is referred to as “chieftaincy”.

    Married Ijaw women always traditionally tie two wrappers, with matching blouse, while the single lady will tie one wrapper with the blouse. Both men and women like to complement their dressing with expensive coral beads and gold.

    Conducting marriage in Ijaw takes three stages of knocking of door, which is referred to as introduction in the Southwest, to be followed by traditional marriage and rounded off with elaborate church marriage.

    Burial in Ijaw is always very expensive, with the deceased’s house first renovated and repainted.  Efforts will quickly be made to build house, in a situation where the loved one could not build house till the death, while the body may be in the morgue for many months.

    Ijaw people prefer to bury the dead on Saturday morning, while there will be a Christian wake, popularly called “Obito” on Friday evening, to be followed by social wake till dawn.

    The food items, plantain is the most popular ,soup, stew and drinks of the Ijaw people are also unique, in view of their hospitable nature. With different types, shapes and sizes of fish, their visitors always feel at home.

    They also spare time for “Owambe” (elaborate partying) with uniforms (aso ebi), especially during chieftaincy celebration, house warming, burial, marriage or child dedication.

    In spite of the Rivers Ijawland’s richness in crude oil and gas, the people still complain of marginalisation, neglect, pollution and environmental degradation, while calling for increase in the 13 per cent derivation to crude oil and gas producing communities, as well as special attention to be given to the host communities, in terms of development and empowerment of the people.

     

     Upland-riverine dichotomy/ prominent sons

    Right from inception, the politics of Rivers State has been played around a concept referred to as Upland/ Riverine dichotomy. Riverine actually refers to Ijaws. Nobody remembers the origin of the concept but all Ijaws agree that it predates the popular Willinks Commission that was set up by the British in 1956 to look into the fears of the minorities/ coastal dwellers. This upland /riverine dichotomy reflects in almost all allocation of political offices from 1979 to date. Since 1999, only the upland part of Rivers State has been at the helm of affairs.  This is the root of the current agitation by all Ijaws in Rivers State to be given an opportunity to produce the next governor of Rivers State. This agitation no doubt enjoys the support of other ethnic groups in Rivers State. Recently three groups, Ikwerre Alliance , Eleme General Assembly and Etche Peoples Assembly, threw their weight behind the riverine agitation describing it as just and fair.

    The Ijaw people in Rivers State, while appealing for understanding and support by their brothers, under the umbrella of the Eastern Delta People’s Association (EDPA), through the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Lawrence Jumbo, declared that: “On upland/riverine dichotomy we stand.” The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has been vocal on their call for a Governor of Ijaw extraction in Rivers State.

    Prominent Rivers Ijaws are distributed in Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress (APC). APC chieftains include former Deputy Governor Sir Gabriel Toby, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, representative of the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Rt Hon Otele Amachree,  Dawari George, Dr Sokonte Davies,among others.

    PDP chieftains include First Lady Dame Patience (Okrika), Prince Tonye Princewill, Alabo Pawariso B J Horsefall, Senator George Sekibo from Okrika, Dumo Lulu Briggs, Prince  Uche Secondus ,Nimi Walson-Jack and Alatubo Charles Harry, amongst others.

    Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Prof Tam David-West, Chief A K Horsfall, Prof Nimi Briggs, Chief Rufus Ada George, Ambassador Tari Sekibo, HRH Prof DMJ Fubara, Dr Silas Eneyo, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Senator A M Pepple, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and Sampson Ngerebara, an engineer, are also Ijaw leaders of note. One thing unique about the ijaw agitation is that all the people are united behind the cause.

    Harry appears to be the arrow head of the Ijaw struggle. He once ran for the Presidency of the umbrella body of the Ijaw in Nigeria, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and is the brain behind the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA). He is championing the cause of an Ijaw governor after Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    He is the man behind the Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM) and is now better known for a pressure group, Affirmative Bloc for Credible Democracy (ABCD).

    In August last year, he authored a piece titled ‘Why Ogoni can’t succeed Amaechi’. In the piece he made it clear that Ogoni is part of Upland Rivers, which has been ruling the state since 1999. It is now the turn of the riverine part of the state, he said.

    He wrote: “Old Rivers State was created on the 27th of May 1967 from the then Eastern Region and further balkanised into Bayelsa and the present day Rivers State in 1996. Made up predominantly of Riverine Ijaw (Kalabari, Okrikan, Ibani, Andoni, etc) and the Upland (Ikwerre’s, Ogoni’s, Ekpeye, Etche, Oyigbo, Ogba’s etc). From inception, harmony, brotherhood and cooperation has been sustained through the efficacy and conscientious application and observation of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy principle in the allocation of socio-political and economic gains accruing to the State, as a balancing ideology to promote unity and discourage discord.”

    He went on: “Some erstwhile leaders who had tried to repudiate the principle had failed spectacularly and the budding revisionism borne of the myopia of inordinate ambition of an unconscionable few today, would fare no better.”

    Harry believes the Ogoni should in good faith ought to concede the exalted position to their Riverine neighbours. Failure to do this, he said would amount to excluding the riverine component of the state from the power matrix for 24 years.

    Last week, Harry wrote another treatise. His focus was to insist on the riverine’s right to succeed Amaechi. He said even with the agitation that only the Rivers South East senatorial district that is yet to produce a Governor, that there are Ijaws in all senatorial districts in Rivers State.

    He also advised the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, to forget about running for Rivers State governor. Harry said his ambition was immoral, height of injustice and greed, negates equity and against the public conscience  in the state.

    He said: “Rivers Ijaws will not sit still and watch idly our posterity and heritage consigned to hewers of wood and fetchers of water in the political matrix of our state.”

    A Kalabari son, Walson-Jack, is an ex-General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Speaking at his 50th birthday recently, he expressed worry about some Rivers people’s endorsement of Wike as the governorship candidate of the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Walson-Jack said: “Upland/riverine dichotomy is something that has been on. We respect the sentiment that has held these two together. Everybody who is well-meaning will decide on the right thing to do at the end of the day. Rest assured that the PDP will take a position that Rivers people will be proud of,

    “We need to have a better society. We need to have a society that is caring and we need to have a society that will no longer monopolise prosperity. We must have a society that will share prosperity. We are so prosperous. So loved by God, but we have a society that has left more than 90 per cent of its people behind. All of that has to change. We need to have a government that will accommodate everybody.

    “Wike has not told anybody he will run and I think at this point we should not be talking about body language, but he has been endorsed by some groups. I have also been endorsed by so many persons, but at the end of the day, we shall do what is the best for Rivers State. The PDP will put its house together and present somebody that will be acceptable to all Rivers people.”

    Another PDP candidate, Engr Jack, said PDP cannot afford to take Rivers people for granted by presenting an upland candidate. He counseled that APC is the party in Government in Rivers State and is equally blessed with credible candidates, such as Senator Magnus Abe, a very articulate politician and Dr. Peterside, who is generally seen as humble, God-fearing and a grassroots politician.

    Walson-Jack added: “I am going to run (as Rivers Governor in 2015). A lot of work has been done. My campaign office is ready, but INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) says we cannot start campaign now. So, we have not gone out to begin to campaign. Therefore, we are talking to major stakeholders and so far, I feel that the reception is amazing too and I feel encouraged.”

    Even non-Ijaw, such as Barisi Benson Nnah, are rooting for Ijaw governor. Speaking through the Centre for Peace and Development in Ogoni, a Rivers State-based non-governmental organisation, of which he is the president, Nnah has faulted the quest by the people of Ogoni in Rivers State to govern the state in 2015.

    Nnah said: “The selfish interest of some individuals who want to be governor against collective interest of the Rivers State people made the ongoing National Conference to exclude Bori State or Ogoni State from the list of states being proposed for creation.

    “It was due to the failure of the Ogoni leadership to submit a request for state creation to the national conference secretariat that has now made it impossible for us to have our state listed for creation. They are so fixated on how they would manipulate the process to make an Ogoni man a governor in Rivers in 2015 and we all know that it is not possible, because we know it is the turn of the riverine area.”

    He further blamed the exclusion of Ogoni or Bori State on what he described as “the lucrative business called Ogoni Governorship-Project 2015 which has now swallowed up the vision of Ogoni and MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People). What has happened is a lifetime opportunity lost.”

    He added: “It is regrettable that the lessons of the over 20 years of the Ogoni struggle for self-determination seems not yet properly assimilated and a golden opportunity as this will slip away and be sacrificed for a mere governorship ambition of some self-seeking individuals pretending to bear Ogoni interests.”

    The group urged the Ogoni people to spell out their preferences and pursue the issue of self-determination in the interest of all rather than a self-seeking governorship project disguised as an Ogoni project.

    Ijaw in other placesIjaw are also found in Delta states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo, rich in crude oil and gas.

    With their specialty in fishing along the coastlines, Ijaw people also settle in Cross River and Lagos states, especially in Ajegunle and other coastal communities.

    Bayelsa State, the heart of the Niger Delta, is regarded as the headquarters of the Ijaw nation. Bayelsa is the only homogenous Ijaw state.

    There is the Ijaw National Congress (INC), which is the umbrella organisation of the Ijaw people, while the youths have the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

    For administrative convenience, INC and IYC have the western, central and eastern zones. The western zone is made up of Delta, Edo and Ondo states. The central zone is mainly Bayelsa State. The eastern zone consists of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

  • Imoke’s wife lifts Destiny Children

    Imoke’s wife lifts Destiny Children

    My name is Abigail and I play the violin. I have no one to look after me; so, I roam the streets of Cross River. Perhaps someone out there will help me. If they don’t, my destiny will be cut short, my talents wasted and I may never get to play the violin.”

    But, for the intervention of Obioma Liyel-Imoke, wife of the state governor, Abigail and over 100 street children in Cross River would have had no future.

    October 11 2009 marked a transition, an exodus of at least 54 despondent street children, in Calabar, the state’s capital, to a much more comfortable environment where they would finally fulfill their purpose in life. Their name was changed from Street Children to Destiny Children.

    But, it did not stop there. That same year, a fashion show was organised, by Obioma, whose name means, “Heart of Gold.” The fashion show tagged The Destiny Child Charity (DCC) Fashion show, which combines the best of music, culture, talent and fashion serves as a fundraiser for the upkeep of the Destiny Children. Here the children paraded alongside professional models and artistes. The Destiny Child initiative was taken to Atlanta, United States where Mrs Liyel-Imoke was the special guest of honour.

    “We key into this vision,” says Geoffrey Teneilabe, Nigeria’s Consul General to Atlanta. “What Obioma Liyel-Imoke is doing is innovative; she’s taking the rejected and downtrodden in our society and giving them life again. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. We will encourage her every step of the way, and the Good Lord will give her the strength. We also pray for the means to sustain this laudable project.”

    “Our special guest has tirelessly served women and children in her community over the years. She is ably represented here this evening hoping to mobilise others to rise to the challenge of helping in our individual communities and communities worldwide,” said Norma Jean Martin, Founder, A Fashion Affair Inc, organisers of this landmark event.

    The wife of the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, Patricia Endeley, gave insights into the child abandonment situation in Cross River State and in Nigeria.

    “Child abuse is not only on the rise but gradually assuming epidemic proportions. It has also been described by experts in the field as a hidden epidemic because most cases are largely unaccounted for.”

    “In Cross River State, two peculiar dimensions that are linked with a high incidence of child abuse are unwanted adolescent/teenage pregnancies and the child-witch phenomenon (a.k.a. the child-witch syndrome).”

    Though giant strides have been taken to alleviate this menace, Obioma acknowledges that the obstacles are huge. “We all will agree that running a charity organisation and projects of this magnitude are not devoid of challenges. Some include highly capital intensive and specialised nature of the residential care services for the DCC housemates; few skills options given to the beneficiaries of DCC due to inadequate funding; inability to purchase equipments/tools for DCC housemates trained on vocational skills to begin their small businesses and thus reduce level of poverty in their families; inadequate/lack of information about families of some DCC kids to enable family integration for existing housemates.”

    The DCC initiative is also garnering momentum with other stakeholders in the State of Georgia. Abby Ebodaghe, President of the Nigerian Women’s Association of Georgia (NWAG), at an event, said: “We’ve been in existence since April 2000. Our purpose is to empower women, youth and children in Atlanta and in Nigeria. We support 10 orphanages in 10 states in Nigeria including the FCT, and hope to extend this to two more, which may include the DCC.”

    The event tagged Afro Caribbean Splendour, which held recently at the prestigious Holiday Inn Dunwoody Atlanta, could be best described as a combination of the finest of Nigerian and Caribbean talent. It featured internationally acclaimed professional models as well as celebrities such as musician and songwriter Kenny Gilkes, jazz artist Andrew Lawrence, Adaeze Eluke, Carnival Calabar Queen 2010 and the current Carnival Calabar Queen Nancy-Olive Aisaghonhi.

    “We have faith that because MACA’s steps have been ordered to meet the right people here, we will collectively mitigate these challenges with your support, said the Wife of the Governor.”

    “I am proud to be associated with this event, I remain forever grateful to A Fashion Affair for taking our campaign to the next level and look forward to forging stronger links ahead,” she added.

  • Traders’ rage against Bayelsa govt

    Go away. We don’t want to talk to you again. The last time you came we spoke to you but since then till now, nothing has happened. It is either that this government doesn’t read papers or they are insensitive to our plight,” an angry trader at the popular Imgbi Road, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State screamed at this reporter.

    The young man identified simply as James had reason to be angry. He was not the only aggrieved person. Other traders along the area were indignant at the negligence and alleged insensitivity of the Bayelsa State government.

    They were annoyed that two months after an articulated vehicle lost control and rammed into their business premises, the government has failed to remove the truck popularly called tipper.

    The truck marked XA 419 KTD was involved in a lone accident on May 21st at the Imgbi Road junction of Amarata Road, Yenagoa. The truck crashed into pavements and decked roofs of buildings located in the area. The accident reportedly occurred in the early hours before the resumption of business.

    Indeed, passers-by had no kind words for the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration. One of them who simply identified himself as Jonathan accused the government of running an elite government.

    “This government pays lip service to the plight of the masses. If this truck had rammed into premises belonging to a prominent person in this state or relations of the governor and governor’s aides, they would have removed it a long time ago.”

    Another woman who said her name is Preye Thomas flayed the government for abandoning the suspended truck at the city centre. He, however, said persons working in some agencies of the government should be blamed for the negligence.

    Besides, a young man who identified himself as Billy was more concerned about what he called the hypocrisy in government.

    “Is this not the government who said they are promoting tourism? The Peace Park at the city centre directly opposite the government house is decaying. Now a truck with this kind of environmental hazard has been abandoned here for a long time and nobody is doing anything about it.

    “They have been bringing foreigners to the state for many international events. This truck was like this when they hosted the international fashion show and other events.

    “Now they are planning economic summit and most beautiful girl in Nigeria show and we know that this thing will remain this way. These foreigners will only come and see how irresponsible we are”, he said.

    James and other traders and shop owners close to the site of the disaster are in dilemma. Their lives are in danger and their business environment is under threat.

    The articulated vehicle popularly called tipper is blocking their business premises, their only sources of making a living. The truck is dangerously suspended on pavements threatening to collapse on them and their shops.

    James and his colleagues have tried in vain to get the authorities to remove the truck, including writing a letter to the Environmental Sanitation Authority.

    Speaking on the same matter, Blessing Ohoach, a petty trader said a responsible government should have removed the truck immediately after the accident.

    Despite their plights, the traders are constantly harassed by officials of the Environmental Sanitation Authority to pay levies. Recently, some of the officials stormed the area to seize goods of the traders demanding N4000 unknown levy from them.

    When one of the officials was asked why his office had done nothing about the abandoned truck, he said: “It is not our business to remove things like this. It is the job of the Ministry of Environment and FRSC. But if the government gives us the order, we will definitely remove it.”

    What is there to say again other than to amplify what these people are saying: government should remove the truck. Failure to do this will amount to insensitivity.There are no two ways about it. Chikena!

  • As doctors’ strike bites, NDDC’s health mission rescues the sick

    As doctors’ strike bites, NDDC’s health mission rescues the sick

    As doctors’ strike continues to bite, residents of  communities in the Niger Delta are being rescued by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from dire health challenges,  writes WALE AJETUNMOBI

    As the nation-wide strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) casts an ominous shadow over a sick medical delivery system, one woman was writhing in labour pains in a health facility deep in the heartland of the Ibibios. The travails of Mrs. Iniobong Fidelix, who hails from Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, would have ended in death, were  it not for a providential free health mission in a nearby local government area.

    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 to attend to her because they were on strike. 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 Programme organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in conjunction with Global Hands Medicare Foundation, at the Ekpene Obo Cottage Hospital in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    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 various specialisations 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 various aspects of medicare.

    The popular Free Health Care Medical Programme, which covers different communities in the Niger Delta region, as part of NDDC’s commitment to bring qualitative healthcare delivery service to the door-steps of the people of the region, was flagged off simultaneously in Abia and Akwa Ibom states on July 9.

    Speaking at the Ekpene Obo Cottage Hospital, the NDDC Managing Director, Bassey Dan-Abia, said the programme was meant to bring healthcare to the door-steps of rural dwellers. The NDDC boss, who was represented by Etim Inyang Jnr, the Akwa Ibom 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 through the engagement of relevant partners such as Global Hand Medicare Foundation, Goldspin Healthcare, Total Health-Minders Foundation and others.

    He said: “It is our belief that after this programme, the people of Esit Eket 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.”

    The NDDC Deputy Director for Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Solomon Ita, said the goal of the commission was to make medical services accessible to the people of the Niger Delta, 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.

    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.

    The Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area, Ibanga Itang, praised the NDDC for bringing the free medical programme to his locality, noting that the council was always ready to collaborate with agencies and organisations that provide needed services to the rural areas. He said that the mobile health care delivery system was a practical way of reaching the sick in the rural communities. “This effort is very well appreciated as can be seen from the huge number of people that have come to benefit from the free health care. The high demand for the health care services is understandable, especially as doctors in our public hospitals are on strike,” 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. For one week, the Ekpene Obo Cottage Hospital was a beehive of activities as the sick and their caring relatives thronged the place for medical attention.

    The free health programme is still moving from one community to the other in all the 9 states covered by the NDDC.

     

     

  • War against oil thieves begins in Nembe

    War against oil thieves begins in Nembe

    It is oil and gas everywhere. In fact, the ancient kingdom of Nembe is the home of the black gold. Almost every community in Nembe, one of the eight local government areas, in Bayelsa State, produces the mainstay of the country’s economy.

    Nembe is the host to two major oil multinationals – Shell Producing Development Company (SPDC) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The rich oil block famously known as Oil Mining Licence (OML) 29 operated by Shell is domiciled in Nembe.

    OML 29 is believed to be the most lucrative asset. Its output is said to have increased to 62,000 bpd of oil and 40 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/d). It also holds reserves of 2.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe). Shell’s Santa Barbara Flow Station, Tora Manifold and Odema Flow Station are located within the council. Agip also boasts other oil producing platforms in the council.

    Indeed, Nembe is said to have the largest oil field in Africa. But, the Ijaw-speaking Nembe, just like Ogoni in Rivers State, appears to have the largest share of oil curse. Its development belies its wealth and its environment is ravaged and devastated by oil exploration and exploitation. Gas is still flared almost everywhere in the ancient city.

    Apart from anti-environmental activities of oil companies, Nembe is suffering the diabolic and criminal menaces of pipeline vandals, oil thieves and illegal bunkerers. Niger Delta Report learnt that many communities have taken to the illegal business of setting up illicit refineries and breaking pipelines as their major sources of livelihood.

    In a decisive move, however, the new administration of the council led by Mr. Eminah Bioghoemi, has declared war on economic sabotage prevalent in the council. Bioghoemi in a rare display of courage and patriotism has evolved strategies to combat the menace.

    Niger Delta Report found that the council chairman has already established a task force consisting of notorious oil theft converts and opened discussion with the the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for partnership.

    It was learnt that the chairman held discussions with the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, to fine-tune the tactics and logistics required to flush economic saboteurs out of the council. He believes that if each council should deal with the problem, oil theft would soon be history in the state.

    Bioghoemi said his council decided to partner with NSCDC in recognition of the corps’ mandate as provided by the Act of 2007. He said: “We have already set up the task force and what we are looking at is for the operational arm of the civil defence to also come and back up the task force.

    “Facing criminals in the creeks will not be mere surveillance affair. We need to confront people who are seriously in that bunkering activity. You can’t fight drug without arming yourselves the way it happened in Colombia.

    “That is why we are partnering with the civil defence. We are happy that the state commandant and the whole of the service in Bayelsa State have promised to give us the needed support by following us to the creeks.”

    He confirmed that former oil thieves and operators of illegal refineries gave up their criminal ways to help the task force realise it’s mandate. He said the former vandals repented because of government interests.

    “They have listened to the government and have also agreed to work with civil defence to ensure that this menace is arrested,” he said.

    To begin the operation, he said the council has acquired two boats of 250 horse power each, gunboats against light ammunition and other facilities. He is optimistic that the arrangement will end  the problems of oil thieves.

    “We held a meeting with the civil defence and we were impressed with what we heard from them. With the cooperation of most of these men who have declined to be involved in that business and volunteered to come back and support the government, we are going to get results”, he insisted.

    Apart from the warfare, the task force will engage in widespread sensitisation of communities on the negative effects of oil theft. The chairmen of community development committees, youth leaders and community leaders will be persuaded to support the war against illegal bunkering.

    The chairman said: “Youth leaders, the CDC chairmen and the community heads will be engaged. The arrangement is for them to concede to government and see reasons why this notorious activities must stop”.

    He added: “These things are not done in the moon, they are done in communities. We are aware before now that these criminals were even paying community leaders pretending to love them while they come to sabotage their economy.

    “We want to take the message to the communities that if anything like that happen in your area, the first clamping will be on you the community leaders for abetting the criminality. It is conspiracy in crime. We want them to see reasons why security must start from them.

    “They need to give us vital and security information to enable the government act. The task force will also go from community to community for an awareness campaign. Youths are mainly involved in this criminality. They will engage them and tell them the reason why vandals will not be allowed to operate in the local government area.”

    Confirming the partnership, Agu said the chairman was motivated by a similar intervention in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Agu disclosed that the task force in Southern Ijaw lead by civil defence operatives has so far destroyed 225 illegal refineries operated in 17 communities, discovered and clamped 70 spill points.

    Describing the exercise as successful, he said persons arrested had been arraigned by the corps. “Having studied the ongoing successful operation at Southern Ijaw, the Chairman of Nembe became interested and we have finalised to begin the operation.”

  • How Akwa Ibom, Cross River indigenes were rescued from jail

    How Akwa Ibom, Cross River indigenes were rescued from jail

    They were arrested separately. But, the police came up with a theory to lump them together as partners in crime. Friday Saturday and Amen Daniel spent eight years in jail awaiting trial before they were rescued, reports PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

    They came to Lagos to eke out a living. They are from two neigbouring states in the Southsouth, which used to be one. Amen Daniel is from Ikon village in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. Friday Saturday hails from Calabar in Cross River State.

    But, to hang them, the police said they were both from Akwa Ibom.

    Saturday was arrested at Oyingbo Market in 2006. He was selling puff-puff. Because he could not afford the alleged N5,000 “bribe” demanded by the police to secure his freedom, the only N700 he had was taken by his oppressors.

    He was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba where he was tortured, wounded with electric iron and shot in his legs twice— just to coerce him to admit he was an armed robber. He was not offered medical care; other suspects held in detention with Saturday poured candle wax into the gunshot wounds as first aid.

    After several weeks in police detention without being able to provide the N100, 000 allegedly demanded for his bail, Saturday was charged alongside Daniel, 30, whom he only knew on the day of their arraignment at a Yaba Magistrates’ Court.

    Like Saturday, Daniel, who had his share of police brutality, was arrested in broad daylight on Lekki-Epe Expressway on his way to his mechanic’s workshop after assisting a client whose car broke down.

    He, and three others had assisted the client push his car into a filling station and on his way back to his shop at about 12pm, he was stopped by a plain-clothed officer who forced him into a vehicle.

    Unable to provide the N30,000 demanded by the policemen in Ajah, Daniel said he was threatened with being framed for armed robbery and would rot in prison.

    Daniel was transferred from Ajah Police Station to SCID, Panti. Other suspects, who were arrested almost the same time as he, were released after their relatives paid “ransoms”.

    Knowing that armed robbery is a capital offence which can only be tried at the High Court, the police took the victims to a Magistrates’ Court, secured remand order and dumped them in Ikoyi Prisons.

    Like several other awaiting trial inmates, the victims were forgotten in custody. They prayed day and night, hoping that fate would smile on them since they had no money to hire the services of a lawyer.

    Fortunately, luck shone on them after a lawyer, Charles Okungbowa, visited the prison and probed into the cause of their incarceration.

    Their trial was conducted before Justice Adeniyi Adebajo (rtd), and it took about four years before conclusion— no thanks to several adjournments at the instance of the prosecution.

    After about four years of litigation, Justice Adebajo dismissed the charge of conspiracy and armed robbery against Daniel and Saturday.

    Narrating his ordeal before Justice Adebajo, Saturday said: “I was selling puff puff at Oyingbo Market around 12pm and police came there at a point I was about to sell to a customer. As I put down my show glass to sell to a customer inside a vehicle, they drove close and arrested me.

    “They searched me and saw the N700 in my pocket and a newspaper I folded in my back pocket. There was nothing more and so they collected the N700 and told me to enter the car.

    “I was asking them what I have done and that they should wait for me to carry my show glass but they dragged me inside the car and told me to give them N5000 before they will free me.

    “I told them I do not have any other money except the N700 they have taken from me and they said I will see myself at the station. When we got to the station, they asked me to write my statement and I told them I am not educated and do not even know what to write since they arrested me while I was doing my business.

    “I did not write any statement. They wrote it themselves and they accused me of armed robbery at Ajah. Meanwhile, I have never been to Ajah. They told me to call my people to bring N100, 000 to bail me. My brother came with N30, 000; they collected it and said the money was small that he should bring more.

    “He told them he does not have money and they were beating me everyday to accept I am an armed robber. They even shot me on my leg and it was the other suspects in the cell that used candle wax to treat the injuries they inflicted on me.

    “They told me that is how they treat any wound inflicted on them by the police. That they light candle and put the wax inside the injury to kill the germs. I was tortured on daily basis while at Panti until they finally took me to Yaba Magistrates’ Court for arraignment.

    “I never knew Amen Daniel until the morning of our arraignment. It was the police who brought him and told me that he was my co-suspect, that we committed the armed robbery together. I told them I do not know him and have never seen him but they told me to shut up and took us to court.

    “I just thank God that eight years after, I am alive and have regained my freedom. I am begging the government to investigate the police. The way they treat poor people is not good. I was 19 years when I was arrested, now I am 26 years and I have spent eight years in prison, for committing no offence.

    “If not for this lawyer who came to the prison and asked us what happened, after we explained to him and told him we do not have money, he promised to help us and since then, he has been the one helping us. I pray that God will bless him for the good thing he did for me,” said Saturday.

    Delivering judgment, the judge berated the police. He said it was spurious that the police did not provide any evidence whatsoever linking the defendants to their purported crimes.

    Justice Ebenezer Adebajo held that “the only evidence of robbery before this court was the taking of N700 from the second defendant (Saturday) by men of the Nigeria Police who are usually armed when going on patrols or raiding…

    “I am of the opinion that in the course of the defendants’ incarceration at the police stations, they suffered gunshot wounds and the first defendant was further tortured. No statement that purports to be confessional would stand in the light of police brutality… I find the defendants not guilty of the charge. The charge is hereby dismissed and the defendants discharged and acquitted.”

    Although the defendants have been released by the court, the pain inflicted on them through torture, loss of loved ones and wasted years have not been wiped away.

    Even the filing of Fundamental Human Rights (FHR) infringement charges against their oppressors, which is the only available option, may not hold water, especially because the police have flagrantly disobeyed such orders from court without being held for contempt.

    A lawyer, Ahmed  Adetola-Kazeem, said lawyers are frustrated in pursuing and ensuring the victims get their money as a result of the solidarity between the judges and the law enforcement agencies.

    He noted that the agencies also file appeals, which they do not pursue, as tactic to avoid paying judgment debt, just as he insisted that the laws are accurate but not enforced.

    He said: “Most times the sums awarded as damages or compensation by the courts, especially the state high courts, are very meager and hardly worth pursuing giving the rigours involved. The meagre award is largely in my opinion due to the solidarity between the judges and the government. The judges who do this are mostly those who were formally in the ministries of justice.

    “Where the judges were also bold to award damages, they are unwilling to enforce the judgments, for the fear of been victimised by their various state governments or the law enforcement agencies.

    “Another reason why it is difficult to recover the damages is that, the agencies will most times not pay the damages in their volition or on receipt of demand letter from counsel to the victims. They instead rush to file appeal, which is rarely pursued, but filed as a tactic to frustrate the judgment creditor.

    “They equally file application for stay of execution at the high court, which is often granted. All these adds to the frustration of the indigent victim, who doesn’t have the financial muscle to go all the way to recover the damages.

    “In my case, I have had to do the cases pro bono from inception and it becomes discouraging after a while because of the delay and frustration tactics employed by the judgment debtors, the situation is worsened when you realise the paltry sum awarded by the court.

    “We have the garnishee proceedings where the judgment creditor urged the court to order the garnishee( most times, the bank(s) keeping the money of the judgment debtor) to pay him the judgment debt.

    “Where the garnishee, who has the debtors money in its possession, refuses to pay the money, a contempt proceeding can be instituted against the responsible officer of the bank. Contempt proceeding can also be brought against the Judgment debtors where they brazenly disobey the orders of the court.

    “So, in summary, the problem is not in the laws, but in the willingness of the courts to ensure its orders are obeyed.”

    Okungbowa said he decided to help the duo because he felt they were denied justice and fairness by the police, the Magistrates’ Court and the Ministry of Justice since their arrests on December 6 for Daniel and December 14 for Saturday, both in 2006.

    “I met the defendants in Ikoyi Prisons sometime in 2010 during a visit to see some of my clients. My clients were the ones who introduced the duo and asked me to see how I could help them since they had suffered hopelessness to access justice and regain their freedom of liberty being deprived them by the long prison remand, which ordinarily should not have been more than one or two months as the case may be.

    “When I came in contact with them, they were still awaiting trial and neither the police nor the state Ministry of Justice had filed a charge against them at the appropriate courts of competent jurisdiction.

    “The unprofessional, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional manner they were arrested and the circumstances/torture of beating, hanging, burnt with hot pressing iron and being shot with gun on their legs that they were subjected to by the officers and men of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba in their detention cell propelled me as a lawyer and activist to take up their case pro bono and defend them successfully.”

    Okungbowa said he felt bad that the police still go about arresting and detaining innocent people.

    “I feel very bad and concerned. It is condemnable, reprehensible and a stop must be put to it. Everybody in the society must come together in fighting it to a standstill and not offering lip services in public, only to go behind and use the police to harass or intimidate others.

    “Also prompt investigation of any allegation of misused powers by the police should be carried out with appropriate punishment meted on any defaulter. Another measure is to hold their superiors, departments or formation, accountable and responsible too, who do not properly supervise them and take any of their wrong doings seriously.

    “Finally, the human rights units in the police force are not working as it should be and is manned by the same police officers and men. This should stop and if we are serious with the unit, it should be headed by a lawyer and comprise other members of the civil society.

    “Also seminars and workshops on civil and constitutional right lectures, topics or courses should be organised as refresher and retraining for the police,” he said.

     

  • How Citizen Danjuma survived 35 days on dumpsite

    How Citizen Danjuma survived 35 days on dumpsite

    For over 30 days, 25-year- old Danjuma was atop a refuse heap. He was fed secretly by a 14-year-old girl, Sarah Okoro and sympathetic neighbours. Danjuma’s story, said sources, is that of rejection and struggle.

    Officials of Edo State Ministry of Women and Social Development did nothing to get him out of the dumpsite.

    Danjuma was born a paraphelgic. His father, according to him, is a native of Ndoma, Benue State. His late mother, Kate, was an official of the moribund Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) . The father’s whereabout is unknown.

    It was gathered that Danjuma’s predicament began when his mother died in 2007 and his care fell on the late mother’s relatives.

    Sources said Danjuma was taken in by his aunt. A neighbour said Danjuma’s mother left some substantial amount in her account for the upkeep of her son.

    A life of rejection and torture began for Danjuma after the money left by his mother was said to have been spent. Danjuma’s aunt living at Ugbiyoko was said to taken him to his uncle who lives at their family residence on Oza Street, off Sakponba Road.

    A tenant at the family’s residence told our reporter that the uncle known as Arase was peeved that Danjuma was brought to his residence after all the money left for his upkeep has been spent.

    The tenant said the uncle took Danjuma to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and abandoned him there. The university management was said to have returned Danjuma to the uncle after many months.

    According to the tenant, “The uncle threw him out and left him in the backyard. Danjuma was inside the rain and sun. The place is flooded. Whenever it rained , Danjuma would be inside. If any of us wanted to take Danjuma out, the uncle would threaten to beat us.”

    It was further learnt that the uncle threw Danjuma on top the  refuse heap to prevent people from caring for him.

    Neighbour were aware of Danjuma’s plight but did nothing to rescue him.

    Pastor Infeanyi Anyanli said they used to give Danjuma bread and food secretly to avoid being caught by the uncle.

    Miss Okoro took pity on Danjuma and bravely provided meals for him despite repeated beatings by the uncle.

    The wheel chair used by Danjuma was destroyed by the uncle at the refuse heap.

    The Coordinator of Forum of Women in Politics (FONWIP) Mrs. Florence Igbinigie, told reporters that the uncle was annoyed that family members who collected the N6m left by Danjuma’s mother brought him to his house without any money.

    According to her, “Danjuma would be inside the flood and sun. The wheel chair he used was thrown away. The man threatens to deal with anybody who gives him food.”

    “I have reported to the Woman Affairs Ministry and they are yet to take action. The boy needs medical care and rehabilitation. He can still do something.”

    Mrs. Igbinigie lamented the slow rescue efforts by the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Police  and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    She said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the zone said it was not within their responsibility to rescue Danjuma from the heap.

    The letter she wrote to these organisations reads: “I wish to draw your urgent attention to a 25-year-old physically challenged who was thrown into a dustbin behind their house at number 12 Oza Street, off Sakponba Road by his uncle, Mr. Arase.

    “As we tried to approach the house, the said uncle paid a deaf ear to us and was almost attacking us; so, we had to run for our dear lives. Due to that kind of attitude, we suspect more harm can be done to the boy if urgent step is not taken. Hence we write you to please intervene to protect the life of this boy and seek justice for this inhuman treatment meted to him.

    “Please use your office to help rehabilitate the boy. We have been caring for him since we learnt about the incident. Rescue came for Danjuma last Thursday when he was taken to the Faith Mediplex on Airport Road in Benin City.”

    He is being treated for malaria, sepsis, urinary tract infection and cholera. Doctors said Danjuma’s survival on the refuse heap was an act of God.

    On the hospital bed, Danjuma’s first words were: “My uncle put me for dustbin.”

    He said he was yet to comprehend why his mother’s relatives mistreated him when the mother cared for them when she was alive.

    Danjuma, who said he stopped at primary five, said he suffered more when he was staying with his aunt.

    He disclosed that his mother’s properties were at Ibadan and that the relatives would collect them if they knew the location.

    He tried to spell his father’s name but could not.

    “My mummy sister beat me very well. She put me outside and I slept outside in cold for many days. She took me to my uncle and my uncle returned me to her. She called two soldiers who took me back to my uncle.

    “I feel better and I am eating well now. I asked my mother: ‘where is my father?’ She said he went to Port Harcourt. My father is an Ndoma. I schooled at Ibadan. I ended my education in primary five. My mummy said I should stop because we were going back to Benin.

    “My mummy had money. She cared for her people. My mummy’s sister lives at Ugbiyoko. She kept me in the cold. I was outside for many days in the cold. My uncle beat me. He threw me on the ground. If I show you my back, it is peeled. My uncle took me back to my aunt’s place. She called two soldiers who carried me to my uncle place. I can read when it is written down.”

    Miss Okoro, who was at the hospital looking after Danjuma, was all tears when she was informed that she was too young to care for him.

    “Why did they say I should leave Danjuma? I am from Delta State. They kept him at the back of our house. I cannot be at home and see him not  eating. I used to hear him shouting: ‘I am hungry, I am hungry’. I then took food to him. The uncle stopped us from feeding him. My brother and I  fed him. The uncle used stone to hit my brother but my mother told us not to give up. The uncle beat me one day.”

    There was a drama on who was responsible for the rescue of Danjuma as two NGOs, Face to Face Empowerment Initiative and FONWIP clashed over who was responsible for the rescue of Danjuma.

    Mr. Curtis Ugbo Eghosa of Face to Face said he was taken aback when he heard a voice from atop the refuse heap, saying: ‘I am here’. He was almost dying when we saw him. He talked faintly and I felt we should take him immediately.

    “I was called that somebody was on a refuse heap. I was really surprised to see man’s inhumanity to man in this age. I felt we cannot leave the man there. The wheel chair was destroyed. We took him to Central hospital but they were on strike. I took him to another hospital and there was no space; so, we brought him here.

    “The hospital asked Mrs. Igbinigie why she waited for so long before the rescue on the day I went there. That boy would have died the next day. Her only quarrel was that I did not mention her name when I spoke to the press.”

    But, Mrs. Igbinigie said she was responsible for the rescue of Danjuma.

    She said: “The hospital management was shocked when I brought out the receipt for deposit payment. I have never seen this kind of thing in my life. My NGO has been on for a long time. People want to be in NGO to claim other people’s credit.”

    She vowed to take on the Commissioner of Police and the National Human Rights Commission for the delay in  the arrest of Danjuma’s uncle.

    Police spokesman DSP Uwoh Noble said he was yet to be properly briefed about the incident.

    A Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that they were aware of Danjuma’s case but said the state government had no place to keep him.

    The Director said they were discussing with an NGO, Project Charilove but that the NGO was making things difficult for the  government.

    “Please meet our commissioner to hear from her on why we have not gone there. The Permanent Secretary is also aware of the situation,” the director said.

    The administrator of the hospital, Prof. Doreen Babog, promised that the hospital would do its best to ensure that Danjuma got good health care.