The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Life after Govt House

    Life after Govt House

    Siren. Convoy. A retinue of aides. Freebies upon freebies. Power almost beyond limit. These are the words and phrases that readily come to mind when one discusses power the Nigerian way.

    As governors, there is a larger-than-life image around individuals elected or rigged in. Sirens announce their arrival and exit from events. Aides have headache on their bosses’ behalf. Things happen at a governor’s say so. A governor once asked that a boy who insulted him should be beaten to a pulp and brought him. He thereafter gave his father money to rehabilitate him. The beating was carried out by men of our security agencies who are well aware that their action was unconstitutional. But who were they to disobey the governor? Such is the power of a governor.

    It is, however, a different kettle of fish after a governor has completed his tenure of office. Some of them even go broke and unable to sustain the life in power. The flipside of power is nothing like life in power.

    That perhaps explains why some governors have tried to make provisions for their lives after power to be close to their years in power. Until three days ago,  Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio was the darling of commentators. He has less than one year to complete his tenure. He plans to take a seat at the National Assembly thereafter. Whether or not he will succeed with this can only be determined by time. The reason behind the bashing of His Excellency  was  a law he assented to, which literally meant he did not have to work again for the rest of his life.

    If the law had endured, Akpabio’s headache would have become the state’s. His pain the state’s. His worries would have been sold to the state. He could rest and the state would bear the brunt for him. Many had wondered what more can a state do for the architect of Uncommon Transformation? How better can a state pay a man who is serving a second term of four years and is getting set to take a seat for another four years, in the first instance, at the Senate?

    By virtue of the controversial law, the state would have been paying the governor, effective from May 29 next year, N100 million annual medical allowance. He would have been entitled to a brand new official car and utility vehicle once every four years; a personal aide paid for by the government would have served him for the rest of his life; his security would have been sorted out by the government; and he would have been paid some N5 million annually as payout for a cook, chauffeurs and security guards.

    Additionally, His Excellency would have been entitled to a house either in Abuja or any part of the state at the expense of the government; a furniture allowance of 300 per cent of his annual basic salary must be paid to him once every four years; an annual maintenance and fuel allowance of 300 per cent of his annual basic salary and severance gratuity of 300 per cent of his annual basic salary must be paid to him.

    His Excellency, in the wisdom of the lawmakers, also deserved a yearly utility allowance of 100 per cent of basic salary. There was also a provision which mandated the government to bear the full cost of the burial of the beneficiary and pay a condolence allowance equivalent to the annual basic salary to his next of kin. The gesture would have been extended to his predecessors.

    Akwa Ibom rakes in an average of N15 billion every month. It is on top of the chart of the top 10 on the Federal Allocation. Let us not talk about its debts which are some N150 billion. It is also instructive to add that despite Akwa Ibom’s wealth, poverty still walks on all fours in the state. Many of its citizens can still not afford three square meals and life is certainly not sweet for these people ravaged by extreme poverty. Only a fraction of the state’s population enjoys the chunk of its wealth. What the majority benefits from is nothing but crumbs.

    For a fact, Akpabio did not score first by assenting to this bill, which some have vowed was his idea in the first place. One or two governors had done something similar.

    On Tuesday, Akpabio put a seal to the whole debate by initiating a reversal. He said the state government has sent a bill to the House of Assembly requesting that a section of the controversial state Pension Act be expunged.

    He also asked the lawmakers that the act reverts to the status quo, according to a statement by the government on Tuesday.

    In his letter to the House, Akpabio said: “It is my hope that with the excision of these sections from the amendment, the agents of falsehood would lift their siege on truth and not distract the good people of this state from the task of the Uncommon Transformation of our dear state.

    “Let them remember that I am not a governorship candidate. Instead of firing brickbats at me, let them tell the good people of Akwa Ibom State their plans for Akwa Ibom State.

    “Because of the sponsored media comments and misinformation of the members of the public on the good intentions of Pension Act by the few opposition elements in the state, and because this government is a product of the people, we have, as a government, decided to forward a request to the House that those areas, which the opposition has capitalised on to misinform the people be expunged and the former law that had been in existence be made to remain the law.”

    With this decision, Akpabio seems to have silenced a former Secretary to the State Government and governorship hopeful Umana Okon Umana  who  condemned the law and promised to repeal it if he gets into power next May 29.

    He described the legislation as “obscene, provocative and insensitive”.

    In his words: “It is surprising that in spite of a nationwide public outcry against the bill, the state House of Assembly rushed to pass it within 11 days and the governor signed it into law with indecent haste within 24 hours without any inputs from members of the public who will foot the bill.”

    My final take: The amendment should not have even been contemplated in the first place not to talk of being given life. The governor’s argument about the law not being new but only an amendment to an existing law is neither here nor there. I must also add that Akpabio’s  achievements are there for all to see. The record will speak for him and he deserves to rest after office without having to grapple with a situation whereby his successor will make a mockery of the time and energy expended on making the law by doing away with it.  It is good he has repealed it himself. He has no one but himself to blame for the blows he has received on account of the misadventure.

  • Imoke…Seven years after

    Imoke…Seven years after

    Seven years and some days ago, Liyel Imoke assumed office as governor of Cross River State. What has changed since then? Nicholas Kalu was part of a media tour of government projects. His report

    When Governor Liyel Imoke assumed office as Cross River State governor in May 2007, he promised that he would ensure the state did not fall from the height it attained in the Donald Duke era. He has kept that promise.

    Agriculture, tourism and others have been the focus of the administration.

    Agricultural projects abound but worthy of mention is the Songhai Farms Project embarked upon by the government. The 200-hectare Songhai Farm Project in Abi Local Government Area is intended to become the pivot of agricultural revolution in Nigeria.

    The project is a prototype of what is in Port Novo, where the original Songhai Farms is located. It is divided into technology, processing, agricultural and service parts, and is intended to attract the entire value chain in agricultural production and is expected to generate more employment as it grows.

    The concept of the farm is to become a food basket using both local and modern technology while ensuring zero emission as by-products are recycled and put back into production

    Already a first batch of 100 graduates from the state has been sent to Port Novo, Benin Republic, on training on administering the farm.

    According to the governor, it is expected to be replicated in the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Another massive agricultural investment of the government is in oil palm production. One of them, the Calaro Oil Palm Estate which was established in government in 1954 on 6, 384 hectares of land in Mbarakom community of Akampka Local Government Area was handed over to one of the leaders of oil palm production in the world, Wilmar from Malaysia, to manage.

    The company has a contract of 25 years which can be renewed. The estate manager, Henry Dusmin, said the first planting was done in 2012 and is expected to be harvested in 2016.

    There is also plan to construct an oil mill instead of transporting them out for processing.

    According to Imoke, “Our biggest agricultural investors, Wilmar International, have settled in and the operations are beginning to yield the expected results on the lives of the people in the rural communities within which they operate.”

    In the area of tourism, which the state’s leadership position has remained unchallenged in Nigeria, the state is steadily becoming a credible destination within the West African sub-region.

    To remain at the peak, the state’s new regulations on standards for the hospitality industry have been approved while efforts are being made to enhance its sites and making them more visitor–friendly.

    The state has embarked on the Summit Hills development, which will also host a range of projects pivotal to the growth of its economy. The state, in 2013, made provisions for the development of the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), the new Calabar Golf Course and the Calabar Specialist Hospital, which is expected revolutionalise the delivery of specialist healthcare in the state and in Nigeria.

    Reginald Longdon, Project Manager of the Summit Hills project, said it is also designed to revive the Tinapa.

    “The idea of the centre is not just to bring in tourism into Calabar but also to open up Tinapa. The CICC is not just a building but a vision,” says Longdon.

    He said it was part of the government’s strategy for the development of tourism in Calabar and the state. “Tourism has been identified as the key driver of the Cross River economy going forward and one of the key factors is the project,” he stated.

    He said the centre is built to cater for functions of various sizes and flexible to accommodate meetings of just 20 people to hosting up to 2000 people. The main auditorium, he noted, holds 2000 while the entire building can hold up to 5000.

    He said the centre would be linked to Tinapa through a monorail, so that visitors would not need to go and do a drive around to access Tinapa. The monorail, he said would also be a novelty which would attract more people to the facilities.

    Also to boost traffic into the Obudu Ranch Resort, facilities at the Bebi Airstrip in Obanliku have been upgraded. The airstrip has the Dopller Very-High Frequency Omnidirectioanl Range (DVOR), one of only two in the country, says Christian Ita, the governor’s media aide.

    Again with Cross River becoming a destination in the West African sub region, the demand for land has become and the need for proper land management becomes necessary. To this end, the state government has set up the Cross River Geographical Information Agency (CRGIA) to digitally manage every issue related to land.

    Also noting the importance of adequate housing for its citizenry, the government has also embarked on a number of housing projects for the people, one of which is the Akpabuyo Housing Project.

    Located in Akpabuyo Local Government about 15 minutes’ drive from Calabar, the projects aims at alleviating the problem housing for civil servants as well as decongest the state capital. The project kicked off in 2007 but after initial setbacks with incompetent developers was taken over in 2010 by different developers.

    The project is aimed at constructing 610 houses in three phases. So far, the first phase of 200 houses has been completed and fully occupied.

    The Special Adviser on Mortgage Finance to the governor, Eddy Ogon, said the state keyed into the Federal Housing Fund to make the houses available for the people.

    He said the estate is the first of its kind in the state in 30 years, and subsequently would be replicated in Ikom and Ogoja in the central and northern senatorial districts.

    He said the houses were heavily subsidised, with a three-bedroom apartment selling for N4.8 million, two bedrooms for N2.8million and one-bedroom apartment for N1.8million. He said pipe borne water was supplied to the estate from Calabar.

    The project, he said, has opened up the area in terms of social activities and business. “The idea is to develop a new city outside of Calabar,” he said.

    The administration has also shown its desire to develop sports, which the governor has identified as a viable means of developing youths.  Already it has established a comprehensive youths’ sports development programme, which is already yielding results in terms of laurels. Further manifesting its desire for sports, the government has embarked on the construction of two stadia, each located in Ikom and Ogoja.

    Ita said it was important sporting facilities of world class standard were made available across the state.

    Also the state, which will host the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival, is putting things in place to ensure it will be the best since the inception of the competition.

    Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Patrick Ugbe, who conducted reporters round some of the facilities for the festival still under construction, was confident everything would be ready in time.

    Ugbe said the swimming pool was being expanded from an eight-lane pool to 10-lane pool and the depth taken from 1.2 metres to 2 metres, according to FINA specifications.

    He said they were using the Mitre pool technology, which is going to make it the first of its kind in Africa.

    The government’s plan to decongest the city centre also led to the construction of the N6.4 Margaret Ekpo Airport bypass.

    The Commissioner for Works, Legor Idagbo, said project which passed through difficult terrain would do well to check the volume of traffic within the centre.

    The notorious Atimbo gully erosion is also being checked by the Ministry of Works. The erosion, which threatened to cut the Atimbo Road in two and which claimed a life, is being speedily fixed to the delight of residents of the area and commuters. Idagbo said concrete drainages would be constructed to make the work permanent.

    Also given a breath of life is the College of Education, which has been elevated from the derogatory status of a “glorified secondary school” to a tertiary institution in its own right. Dilapidated infrastructure and earth roads within the premises have now given way to renovated and new strictures as well as asphalted roads courtesy of the Imoke administration. The Provost of the institution, Dr James Ejue, said: “The place was devastated when we took over.”

    He said the state government carried out about 40 enormous projects within the institution and TETFUND funded about 10 projects.

    The institution, which has about 1000 students when the Imoke administration took over, now has 6,000, Ejue said.

    He said the intuition offered 23 courses, of which 20 have full accreditation and three, partial accreditation. He said they were vigorously pursuing the accreditation of these three just as they were working to ensure the institution starts awarding degrees.

    In partnership with Highbury College in the United Kingdom, the state has established the Institute of Technology and Management in Yakurr Local Government Area, which is expected to kick of next session.

    Rural roads are also not left out of the developmental strides.  Director, Rural Roads of the agency, Isaac Ishamale, said the Cross River State government has spent N35 billion constructing rural roads under the Rural Development Agency (RUDA).

    He said 565km of roads have been completed with the amount. He added that the number of roads which total up to this stretch are 36, with two in each of the 18 local government of the state.

    Also under the Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP), which is in collaboration with the African Development Bank, 474 km of roads have been constructed according to Engineer Benson Ogba.

    Sharing the success story of water management and distribution in Calabar to other parts of the state, the government had gone ahead to fix water treatment plants in Itigidi, Ikom and Ogoja.

    In Ikom,  Godwin Adie Akwagiode, in charge of the new plant, said they were still in the first phase of the water supply scheme, which holds a capacity of 5, 700 cubic metres per day.

    “Before now the people were drinking from ponds, rivers, lakes and wells,” he said.

    He said the water projects would be expanded to accommodate more communities in subsequent phases.

    The Ogoja water treatment plant though established in the 1960s was rehabilitated by the present administration and its capacity increased from 900 cubic metres per day to 3000.

  • Pomp, ceremony as Ogbe-Ijoh buries monarch

    Pomp, ceremony as Ogbe-Ijoh buries monarch

    For one week, the chiefs and people of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in Warri South-West Council Area of Delta State turned out in their best to bid their late king, Pere Amakosu, the Oduwor III, farewell. SHOLA O’NEIL and BOLAJI OGUNDELE chronicle the elaborate ceremonies that attended the monarch’s funeral

    He was their chief; the first to be named when names are to be called among their kind. They revered him while he was still among them. He led them for over four decades, during which he became the longest reigning monarch in the state. It was therefore no wonder that his people spared no expenses when the time came to accord him their last respect.

    They are the Ogbe-Ijoh people, one of the Ijaw clans in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. For the seven days the burial rites lasted, they came from far and wide, left their businesses and gave all to bid the Pere Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijaw/Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Israel Sele Sokoh Gbenebode, Oduwor III, a final goodbye.

    To honour the passage of the late king, the council of chiefs and people of Ogbe-Ijoh, lined out a number of activities, spanning a whole week, and involving participants from home and abroad. Having led the people for almost forty years -1974 to 2012- and participated in the larger political affairs of his state, right from the defunct Midwest (Bendel) state to the current Delta State, the Pere was not the sort of traditional ruler who would be allowed to just go home without a bang that would reverberate throughout the Niger Delta.

    The events of his final journey to join his ancestors were led by the Regent of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Chief (Dr) Samson Mamamu; they were carefully planned and executed with the sort of pageantry befitting a true royalty that he was.

    The ceremony was flagged off on May 24 with the traditional wake-keeping (Duwei Deinkoru). The rarely seen Ogbolomo masquerades, which only perform in honour of revered personalities, as monarch and those who reached a very ripe age as Pere Amakosu did, came out. They defied the sun and scourging heat as they performed for several hours. When night fell, the elders and spiritual leaders of the kingdom took over to perform Igodo (traditional cleansing) ceremony.

    As a predominantly Christian clan, an interdenominational church service was held in the town on Sunday, 25th May; it combined all but a few churches Ogbe-Ijoh. The service was followed on the third day by colourful dance troupes from the various quarters of the kingdom. Dancers from Egrangbene, Orugbene, Ijansa, Kenlogbene and Oyangbene took turns to perform all day long into the night. Their songs and dances were not mournful, rather, it was salutary to legacies and achievements of a monarch, during whose time on the throne Ogbe-Ijoh was made the headquarters of oil-rich Warri SouthWest local council.

    On the fourth day, the ceremony crossed the creeks into Warri metropolis for a couple of events. First, there was the Pere Ogele; a long procession by sons and daughters of the kingdom from the Catholic Church down to the Ogbe-Ijoh Market, through the NPA area. The procession was capped with a boat regatta in Warri.

    The rest part of the day was occupied by some more Ogbe-Ijoh sub-communities, performing dances; Wilikigbene, Bomobolou, Arotenghan, Odidi and some Warri town corner communities.

    Wednesday last week saw the visit of traditional rulers from other towns and communities paying their last respect to the memory of their departed royal colleague, who was one of the longest serving monarchs in the state. More than 25 royal fathers from different parts of the state, made their way to Ogbe-Ijoh to bid a colleague farewell. The train include His Royal Majesty, Pere Charles Ayemi Botu (JP) OFR, paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom; the Owhorode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM Ovie Ogoni-Oghoro1, JP; Agadagba of Egbema, His Royal Majesty Benipere III; HRM  Joseph Timiyan (JP), Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom and HRM S.O Akemetubo (JP) The Ebenanaowei of Obotebe Kingdom. Others were E.B.O Delekpe, Owhorue (JP) Ovie of Udu Kingdom; Pere of Akugbene Mein V11 Pere Kalanama V111 (JP).

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Owhorode of Olomu Kongdom, HRM, Ovie Ogoni-Oghoro 1, (JP) poured encomium on the late king, describing him as a father indeed. He said the late Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh was a peaceful and hardworking traditional ruler who believed in team work and spirit of unity among his subjects and neigbhouring kingdoms in the state.

    “We have lost a colleague who was like our father. He was a peaceful and industrious ruler who was the oldest traditional ruler in the state on the throne for 40 years. He held various offices in the Delta state traditional rulers council before his demise. We want to tell you that we loved him so much. We wish him peaceful rest at the bosom of the Lord”, the royal father declared.

    On Thursday last week, in-laws, family members and children led by the deputy governor of the state, Professor Amos Utuama, whose daughter is married to an Ogbe-Ijoh son. The deputy governor was in the kingdom in dual capacity; as an in-law and as a representative of the state government.

    The rites climaxed last Friday with HRH Mamamu leading the kingdom to receive an array of other dignitaries, comprising of chiefs, political office holders and some ex-freedom fighters. The last set of callers included Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; the state’s Commissioner for Environment and a son of Ogbe-Ijoh, Frank Omare as well as representatives of Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark. Intels Nigeria, a corporate organisation operating within the kingdom also sent representatives. The climax of the last day of the event was the arrival of ex-agitators, led by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo).

    The Fiye-Owei (spokesman) of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Chief Favour Izoukumor, attributed the success of the programme to God’s grace and the support of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the traditional rulers, Chief Ekemupolo and other personalities who participated in one way or the other.

    On the next step for Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom, the spokesman said the selection of a new Pere would have to be initiated within the shortest possible time, after which installation ceremony would be performed, for a new leader of the people to be crowned. All these would only happen after the kingdom has rested from the stress of burying its last king.

  • Rivers’ rainstorm victims seek help

    Rivers’ rainstorm victims seek help

    Scores of persons were displaced in Ubima community of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State following a heavy storm that also blew away a Catholic Church and buildings.

    The strange storm removed the roofs of over 12 houses, damaged important documents and properties at the affected houses.

    It was gathered that the storm accompanied by heavy rain started at about midday, when some of the affected members of the community were in the farms. When they returned they found their houses without roofs. Their clothes, food, and other important items were soaked with rain beyond amendment. Some of them said the roofs of their houses were pulled out completely and taken to another location by the strange wind. Their cloths and goods were littered everywhere when they returned back from farm.

    The victims urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to their aid.

    Some residents of the community and victims who spoke to Niger Delta Report said the strange storm killed two persons at the neighbouring community in Elele the same day.

    Mr. Eze Ofurum said: “I was in school when I received a call that our house has been de-roofed by the heavy storm, when I returned  I discovered that  water has soaked inside my room.  My documents were fully soaked, including my foam. I don’t know what to do and I have no money with me.

    “I  am sleeping outside; there is no money to renovate the house for now.  What we did is to evacuate everything in the house to our neighbours’ house.  Though some of them were soaked beyond use, I want to call on the government to assist us. It is very sad that my family is sleeping out. “

    Mrs. Mary Orlu, a victim whose house was completely damaged, said the condition has forced her and others out of their homes.

    “Everything in our house was damaged that day, even the bed, chair and the zinc were destroyed. We are confused. Right now we are sleeping in my husband’s brother’s house. We are calling on the government to come to our aid.”

    Chibueze Amadi, another victim, said: “Some of us are now sleeping in our neighbour’s house.”

    The Parish Priest of St. Theresa Catholic Church Ubima, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nnadozie whose church collapsed, said the members of the church have nowhere to worship.

    “We give glory to God that no life was lost; we need help at the moment, what happened was terrible, the church is totally off. But we are hoping on God to bring those who will assist us, we have nowhere to worship. The Local government Chairman, Hon. Welendu Amadi, has visited us and other individuals but all we are praying is that God should touch them to re-build the church of the Lord.”

    The Chairman of Ubima Community Development Committee (CDC), Chief Kingdom Elem, said the community is in a sad mood. He advised the people to be calm, saying: “We are going to write to NEMA, the LG chairman and every other person that may show willingness to assist the victims. Some of these affected persons are not doing anything they solely depend on the proceeds from their farm which may not be enough to take care of their family.”

    For Ikwerre Citizens for Democratic Movement, it is the responsibility of the local government chairman to assist the rural communities affected by disaster.

     

  • Naval medical mission makes Otuoke people happy

    Dame Patience Jonathan Square in Otuoke, President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown, was a beehive Tuesday last week. Many residents trooped to the square to partake in a medical rhapsody organised by the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy.

    It was a case of who heard should tell another. In a twinkle the entire town was saturated with the information that the medical team of the Navy was on ground. Teenagers, pregnant women, women, men and elders including children soon rushed and occupied the seats at the square.

    The free medical exercise was organised as part of the Navy Week to mark the 58th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy. Experts in dental care, eye care, reproductive health, pharmacy, laboratory, and sexual health were not in short supply.

    Different medical stands immediately sprung up. Beneficiaries started by consulting a doctor who received their medical complaints. They went for medical tests. They tested for HIV/AIDS, blood sugar, High Blood Pressure (HBP), malaria and hepatitis. Others were asked to do dental and optical examinations.

    After the results were produced by the laboratory technicians, the doctors prescribed drugs and the beneficiaries headed for the dispensary. There were a range of drugs to cover treatments within the scope of the exercise. Persons whose ailments were beyond the scope, were given referrals to hospitals that could handle their cases.

    But before the medical tests and treatments commenced, experts in various fields were invited by the Navy to offer free health lectures to the residents. Many health practitioners gave talks on a wide range of health related issues such as reproductive health, substance abuse, visual impairment, among others.

    In her lecture, state Coordinator, Family Planning, Dr. Mary Ogholi, spoke on reproductive health with emphasis on barrier method. She hammered on the need for people to abstain from unsafe sex. Her lecture dwelled on the significance of condom in healthy living.

    She debunked some sentiments that had discouraged some persons from using condom. For instance, she dispelled the belief by some persons that condom usage does not guarantee maximum pleasure in sex.

    She insisted that there is only a slight difference in enjoyment when people engage in sex without condom. But she maintained that the difference is compensated with peace of mind and good health.

    According to her apart from preventing the users from contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), condoms are also very useful in preventing unwanted pregnancies and for family planning.

    She clarified the beliefs in some quarters that condoms could go into the womb and constitute a risk for women. She said it was false to say that the woman’s vagina does not have end.

    Ogholi said: “Woman’s vagina has an end. The myth that condom can go into the womb is not correct. If you do not want an unwanted pregnancy or contract viral and bacteria infections, your sure bet is to use the condoms.

    “However, one condom is meant for one round of sex only. Using the condoms give you rest of  mind. Also, some people say it is not enjoyable to use the condom. I also dispute this assertion. The difference between condom and without condom use is very insignificant.”

    She also warned those who drink the spermatozoa to desist from it, saying it was erroneous to believe that one could get nutrients from it.

    Also, Ephraim Sobito, a medical practitioner with the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, counselled Nigerians against substance abuse.

    He said abuse of substances such as gin, drugs, antibiotics, narcotics and others posed health risks, stressing that many had been sent to their early graves because of such abuses.

    Sobito said another far-reaching implications of substance abuse were depression, wrong association, and the risks of engaging in unprotected sex and thereby contracting terminal diseases.

    On her part, Dr. Obiageli Azubuike, lectured the residents on the causes of visual impairment. She advised against too much intake of sugar, saying it could lead to diabetes, which would in turn result in visual impairment, stroke and other attendant diseases.

    She also recommended the use of sunglasses especially when the sun is too harsh, saying that excessive sun ray could damage the eyes.

    She further recommended regular eyes check, noting that it was a panacea for detecting quickly if one was suffering from eye defects.

    A resident, Chief David Ibeh, commended the Navy for the programme, advising other institutions to emulate the Navy.

    “I am very happy. It is a good thing that has happened to my people. We thank the Navy for choosing our place to be one of their engagements. We have a lot of drugs, doctors here. They are testing everything, “ Ibeh said.

    The Navy health experts worked alongside health officials from the state’s Ministry of Health and practitioners from health based non-governmental organisations during the exercise.

    Shedding light on the Navy outreach programme, Chairman, Organising Committee and representative of the Flag Officer Commanding, CNC, Navy Capt. Salihu Jibril, said the health programme was part of the activities to celebrate the Navy’s 58th anniversary.

    He said it was customary for the security outfit to perform some civic responsibilities during the Navy Week.

    He stressed that this year’s celebration was targeted at health because of itsix portable to the people.

    Jibril said: “This health rhapsody is organised wherever we are domained that requires help. The idea is to go round and give the community or area we have chosen some health awareness, testing and drugs.

    “As you can see, before we started administering tests and treatment, we had given them lectures on safe sex, STIs, STDs, family planning, hypertension and a whole lot of other ailments. From that point, they will be better educated on lifestyles and how to live a healthy life.”

    He urged the residents to embrace the health programme and see it as an opportunity to get themselves tested and treated free of charge.

    He said persons with challenges above the scope of the programme would be referred to the appropriate health facilities.

  • Senate Leader empowers constituents with N150m

    Senate Leader empowers constituents with N150m

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has donated several items to people of the Central Senatorial District in Cross River State, which he represents, for their empowerment.

    Items he gave out at an event at Government Secondary School Ikom Local Government Area  included 50 brand new cars, garri grinding machines, corn mills, oil mills, sets of flat screen televisions, electricity generating sets and decoders for viewing centres, among others.

    According to him, the items were procured at the cost of N150 million and was the fifth in series of empowerment programmes he has carried out this year among which are scholarships to students and grants to widows.

    He said in the past week, 26 cars had been given out in addition to the 50 given at the event.

    Also he said 121 constituents who trained at the Entrepreneurial Development Centre in Calabar were given N200, 000 to start up their businesses.

    Complete band sets were given to 22 churches in the district.

    Beneficiaries were drawn from the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district.

    He urged  those who have not yet benefited to be patient as they would get theirs in the near future.

    Senate President David Mark, who also attended the event, praised the Senate Leader for the gesture, saying it would bring succour to the people.

    He commended the cordial relationship between the governor, Liyel Imoke and Ndoma-Egba.

    He said if the empowerment was to be sustained, it was necessary that the people support Ndoma-Egba for another term in office.

    Mark said: “The governor spoke about sustainable empowerment. How would we have this? If Victor Ndoma-Egba goes back to the Senate, then there will be sustainable empowerment. If he doesn’t go back, you cannot sustain the empowerment. I hope this is clear to those who are here. Go out and spread that message.

    “When you say the Senate is stable, there are two people who make it very stable. They are the Deputy President of the Senate and Leader of the Senate. So, you have produced a son who has made a mark in this country. He has helped to stabilise a very important institution of democracy in this country.”

    Governor Liyel Imoke also praised the Senate Leader for the empowerment programme, even as he urged other lawmakers to emulate same.

    His words: “Democracy is not about self but the people. Those who represent us are expected by our people to truly empower them, to go out there and work for them and bring good things for them. We are here to witness the good things Ndoma-Egba has brought to his people in the central senatorial district.

    “Today, we come to honour the Senate Leader as our own son who has done well and who deemed it necessary to come to his people and say thank you. All our representatives must engage in empowerment. I am talking about sustainable empowerment. They must ensure that our people truly feel the impact of democracy.

    “I want to thank our leader for purposeful leadership at the national level and here in the state. I want to thank our son for being part of that family that today makes Cross River State proud.”

    Also speaking, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Adamu Muazu, who was represented by Dr Steve Oru, said if one does not empower people, hatred is built.

    He urged other leaders to continue to empower their people.

    Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr John Okon, described the gesture as part of the dividends of democracy.

    “The party would be strong if we continue to show these kind of gestures. We are very proud of Victor Ndoma-Egba,” he said

  • ‘We’ll resist turning Cross River to a police state’

    ‘We’ll resist turning Cross River to a police state’

    Dr Sandy Onor is the Director-General of the Jedy-Agba Support Movement, a group campaigning for  Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba for governor of Cross River  State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke with reporters in Calabar. NICHOLAS KALU was there.

    The state chairman of the PDP has said the person you are rooting for, Godwin Jedy-Agba, is not a member of the party. What are your comments on this?

    Recently, a lot of comments have been made by our state chairman. Comments we believe are not expected to flow from such an exalted party officer and from a respected party like the PDP. The first issue we would like to react to is that of intimidation and threat issued by the state chairman, which we think is completely out of order. Democracy allows for freedom to associate, freedom to pursue your democratic ideals and goals within legitimate means. In fact, the political party is supposed to encourage that pursuit. We will like to say quickly that we will not be intimidated by such threats. If anything, such threats would stoke us even further in the pursuit of equity, peace, justice and genuine democracy in our state.

    Two, we are friends of Godwin Jedy- Agba. We believe that he is the right man for now for the governorship of Cross River State. He is a man of proven integrity and probity and with requisite exposure and contacts and connections. He is a man with the experience that would take Cross River to another level and he is a proper Cross Riverian in all ramifications. We are not campaigning. There is nothing to show that we are doing anything out of order. The electoral act is clear as to the fact that when they are talking about the prohibition of campaigns for now,  they mean public campaigns undertaken by political parties. Section 101 sub-section (1) is very clear about that. I am sure you have been to other states and seen that people are out. People are conversing and talking to people about their aspirations. Ours cannot be different. These must never be a police state. We will resist turning Cross River to a police state. We don’t want anybody to take the peace in Cross River State for granted. We enjoy our peace but nobody, especially those in positions of power and authority, should create a situation of chaos, where none exists in our state.

    Goddy is a member of this party and that is the truth. We also heard that Goddy is a civil servant and so what? When has becoming a civil servant become a bad thing? There are so many people who are functioning today who were retired civil servants. Chukwuemeka Ezeife was a retired Permanent Secretary, the present governor of Niger State was a retired civil servant. In fact, our own PDP chairman, John Okon, was clerk of the State House of Assembly. So, I wonder why that should be an issue. And if anybody should even speak on it at all for whatever reason, it should not be our state chairman. All Nigerians have a right to congregate and associate and affiliate. Goddy cannot be an exception.

    The law provides for freedom of association for civil servants and all. But we also know the leadership of any party at every level is there to give directives on issues of the party. Don’t you think by still congregating in groups like this, these people will accuse you of flouting the orders of a legally constituted leadership?

    Not at all. If we flout directives that are legal, then we have a problem. If they are punitive and illegal, in fact to conform to them would be illegal. So that is the point we are making.

    From the way things are going, if it happens the aspirant you are supporting is stopped from participating in the electoral process in the PDP, what would be your next line of action?

    We are veterans in this business and we should see clearly where they are going. Their determination is to exclude us from the party. But there are internal processes for reconciling that. You may desire to do a thing and that desire may generate opposites for you. They desire that we would be excluded from the party, but if they love this party, that is a dangerous path to take and we think we have all the processes in this party from here to the national to ensure that what they think would not come to pass. We would be here in this party and contest primaries with them in this party and would, by the grace of God, defeat them in this party.

    How do you react to allegations in some quarters that this association has actually appropriated him from the party establishment in the state?

    I wish I had the capacity to appropriate the man. Let me make the point clear. Nobody has the capacity to appropriate Goddy Agba. He is too large to be appropriated. That is why we are offering him to Cross Riverians. Actually at this point in time, the development of the state needs a man like that. With his head clearly above water, with intellectually clarity, social content and experience, adept at administration, technically superb, that is the kind of man we need. So, all these attempts to confuse the vision would not work. Our Cross Riverians are determined to ensure that this happens. These guys are just trying to appropriate their destinies to themselves and trying to play God. That is the truth.

    Let me add that we are not planning any violent take over as some people are imagining. In other words, Goddy does not have any agenda than the development of Cross River State. He has not isolated anybody in his plans if he mounts the saddle as governor. He rather believes that all must come together to fashion a common strategy for the advancement of Cross River State.

    People say he has not contributed to the party. So what has he contributed really to the growth of the party since he has been a member for a long time?

    I am tempted to ask you what the contributions of some of these people who are talking is. A lot of these people who are grandstanding have always been beneficiaries of the PDP and have contributed nothing to the party. Having said that let me assure you that Goddy has been contributed a lot to this party and even the leadership is aware. Not just to this party but to this government.

  • Kidnapping of Dutch nationals in the Niger Delta

    Kidnapping of Dutch nationals in the Niger Delta

    In this piece, we are going to make references to Nnamdi Onyeuma’s article which was published on  May 17, 2014 entitled “In the Niger Delta.” Our interest here is merely to appraise a few events in the past few years in the Niger Delta.

    We will try to place them in some kind of perspective. Here, we surely will not go into much detail of the various happenings taking place in that environmentally traumatised region.

    It is interesting to note that because the oil and gas produced in this part of the world is distributed worldwide mostly because of their excellent quality, then it is not unlikely that some foreign readers of this piece may have recently taken a ride in a vehicle, operated a machine or something that used fuel from this delta region of Nigeria. So, it is a subject that actually connects many people around the globe. It is for this reason that it becomes important that all commentators should be careful not to deliberately misrepresent any person or issue as they relate to the region. A lot of people have perished; caught in the crossfire of the politics of the Niger Delta oil and gas.

    The most notable of these deaths are those of Biafra in the 1960s where 3.1 million people died and the 1995 murder of Ogoni’s nine most important citizens by the Federal Government of Nigeria under Abacha. It is in reverence for these so-called sacrificial lambs that we must encourage every effort by groups or persons who are trying to build lasting peace, security and institutions that will help improve lives and human relationships in the Niger Delta. At the same time, we also frown at any attempt by anyone, either ignorantly or otherwise, that tends to distort issues and stories in the Niger Delta.

    Niger Delta is important to the world community as we earlier pointed out but it is even more so to the Nigerian union because it provides more than 95 per cent of the country’s economic sustenance. So, any news coming out from the region therefore tends to elicit a wide interest.

    This is why the news  about the kidnapping of five Dutch nationals in the creeks of Niger Delta at the beginning of this month made huge headlines around the world. As usual, when such incidents happen, most people will hold their breath and hope for the best. For those who have been the direct victims, or  their friends or relatives who have been so unfortunate to go through such harrowing experience, it is something no one will wish for even an enemy. Whichever way it ends, both the captives and their well-wishers go through periods of suspense and apprehension that leave them thoroughly traumatised. In this case, however, we are glad that it ended well because all the people taken captive have been released and they have re-united with their  families now. The ordeal lasted for about a week and we are happy it is over. The people will need a period of healing and we hope that time will help them heal fast.

    Now, it is important to contrast this incident in the Niger Delta with the horrifying and inexcusable Islamic terrorism taking place in the Northern part of Nigeria. The  Boko Haram sect in the North is currently holding captive since the last one and half months, almost 300 young teenage school girls and has threatened to sell them into child sex slavery and there is no hope in sight that the girls will be released anytime soon. This is despite the presence of an international contingent rescue team with sophisticated equipment and personnel to help find and rescue the girls. Just a month before the abduction of the school girls, Boko Haram had gone into another school in the North and slaughtered scores of the kids there in the night. Inas- much as we condemn and demand that the senseless kidnapping of all shapes and for any reason in the entire Eastern region must stop forthwith but we must not be naïve by failing to note a very big difference between events in the North and those of the South or East. Without going into any details, yet we cannot help but ask the reader to take time and consider what informs this difference that is between the Southeast or South-South and the Northern part of the Nigerian union. Several analysts have continued to emphasise that it is nothing more than the obvious differences in the culture or religion of the two regions. The North is Islamic while the Southsouth and Southeast are Christian and Animist. This is very important since it is responsible for this huge difference of life and death.

    For many who followed events and activities in the Niger Delta, while the kidnapping ordeal of the five people lasted, the much they could do was to pray. The way the news of the kidnapping was received by some is that again, the fragile peace finally breaks. The patched up peace had been held together by the glue of credible interveners and go-between organisations like Hope for the Niger Delta (HND), the non-profit/non-governmental organisation being run by Sunny Ofehe. But, by the sheer twist of fate, Ofehe and his HND are the ones caught in the middle of the web of circumstance of this early May tragedy. So, for Sunny Ofehe, the kidnapping must have been like the breaking in one’s face in the twinkle of the eye everything that one ever dreamed and worked for.

    Ofehe had spent the last decade or so working hard and dedicatedly for peace, development, the overall well-being and, above all, the security of the Niger Delta, his birth place. Ofehe and his HND have tried within this period to broker a triangular peace and understanding among the important Niger Delta stakeholders, i.e. the people of the oil communities in the Niger Delta, the government of Nigeria and the oil companies. Given the complexities of the politics of oil and big money, an unprejudiced analyst should be able to score the organisation high in what can be considered their modest achievements.

    This is true when one juxtaposes the activities and accomplishments of HND and those of others working within the same area. It is not difficult to see that Ofehe’s HND remains one of the most trustworthy key NGO players in the Niger Delta today. It is also not hard to note that the group has achieved this through hard work and strategic planning. It is through transparency and sincerity of the group that they succeeded in winning and sustaining the confidence of the major stakeholders in the Niger Delta. For those who are familiar with the kind of work being done by HND and others, it will be easy to agree that it is a field that is full of so many variables and even uncertainties. A player in this field can always hope for the best but practical experience will always make them to prepare for anything, even for the worst.

    While at the same time those of us who are genuinely hopeful that the security situation in the Niger Delta will eventually improve to the extent that anyone with genuine business or humanitarian intentions can travel freely without fear of molestation, let alone being kidnapped, we recognise that this will remain only a mere wishful thinking if people and organisations like Ofehe and his Hope for the Niger Delta should become scared away by the activities of some unscrupulous elements. All stakeholders there must see to it that the noble and good work of building bridges of peace and reconciliation in the Niger Delta does not stop. The kinds of bridges that the NGOs in the category of HND are building in this traumatised region are such that should not be played politics with.

    The monumental environmental issue of Nigeria’s Niger Delta has since attained a very staggering proportion. Nigeria’s Niger Delta is not the only place on earth where oil and gas are extracted but the disastrous devastation of the environmental situation there cannot be compared with another place anywhere else. The scandalous degradation of the ecosystem of the Niger Delta has inspired many environmental and humanitarian activists ever since. The most celebrated among such people is Ken Saro Wiwa, one of the Ogoni Nine as noted above.

    It is for the sake of finding means to alleviate the pain and suffering of the people who live and endure the worst kind of deprivation in this region that we are urging that somehow, we must end politics; we must end partisanship when discussing and commenting on the events of the Niger Delta. The destructions taking place today in the Niger Delta must stop because it is not just the lives of those alive today that are being affected; those of the yet unborn generations are also being destroyed.

    Of all the NGOs operating in the various countries of the world today, none can be said to be more reputable than the ones mentioned by Nnamdi in his article. Transparency International, Oxfam and others are world-renowned for their strict adherence to stipulated standards in international humanitarian business and in their dealing and association with countries and organisations. It is therefore interesting to acknowledge the fact that if these organisations are the major donors to Sunny Ofehe’s Hope for the Niger Delta, then they must have found the organisation and its accounting system to be trustworthy enough since these organisations do not put their money just anywhere.

    As we conclude, we will borrow Nnamdi’s phrase. It is no secret that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the oil companies are not doing as much as they should right now in the Niger Delta. That the people will depend mostly on the conscientious work of NGOs like HND to keep reminding these powers of their negligent responsibility, cannot be over-emphasised. So, it is hoped that if these charitable and humanitarian organisations are encouraged, they may, perhaps eventually be able to rest the ghost of crime against humanity that has always been committed against the people of this oil-bearing region. The ghost of Biafra and the Ogoni Nine may finally be pacified once the commentators can stop joining politics with and trivialising the lives and destiny of the people of the Niger Delta.

     

     

    •Culled from Sri Lankan The Guardian

  • Echoes, sounds and glitz of AMAA

    Echoes, sounds and glitz of AMAA

    It was no doubt a glamourous event. Nollywood stars, screen divas, celebrities and achievers in the entertainment industry, including media executives trooped out in their numbers to grace the annual occasion.

    In fact, the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which held in Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was a crowd puller.     Indeed, AMAA may have ended. Shortlisted entertainers for different categories of awards may have won and lost. Nollywood actress Clarion Chukwurah may have emerged the Actress of the Year.

    South Africa’s Mothusi Magano  may have emerged the Best Actor in a Leading Role. Nigeria’s Patience Ozokwo  may have become the Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Lebohang Ntsane may have clinched his award as the Best Child Actor.

    But the glitz, garish and grandeur of AMAA was not only about winning and losing of awards. It was also about the special tribute for the late Nollywood superstar and entertainment icon Mrs. Amaka Igwe who died after a protracted battle with a terminal ailment.

    The founder of AMAA and woman of excellence, Ms. Peace Anyim-Osigwe rendered the emotional posthumous ode.

    So, this year’s AMAA was about the tears that uncontrollably rushed down the succulent and robust cheeks of dignitaries who soberly reflected on the sombre tribute to Nwanyi Kara aka (strong woman) and Oke Osisi (big tree), Igbo sobriquets selected by Anyim-Osigwe to describe the late Igwe. In a tearful tone, Igwe was described as the most interesting creative genius.

    Actors and actresses who gathered for the event had justifiable reasons to let out tears. Nobody would have blamed them if they had saturated the congested hall with their tears. Igwe played a role in Nollywood that crossed their paths and helped to nurture their acting businesses. Checkmate and Rattle Snake, among the list of works that originated from her creative brains, provided a platform to launch most of the celebrities into limelight.

    This year’s AMAA was also about the fashion and fads that worked the red carpet. Celebrities made statements with their fashion choices. Some flowing gowns were like brooms. They swept the ground and floors. Or was it about the hairstyles? Some of them looked like peacocks.

    In fact, 2014 AMAA appears to be the most policed in the history of the event. The venue was cordoned off. Barricades manned by stern-looking security operatives prevented vehicles from plying the roads that led to the cultural centre.

    Apart from notable dignitaries who were permitted to drive their vehicles close to the event venue, others, including journalists, were asked to trek to the event centre after parking their vehicles some kilometres away.

    Even persons who had nothing to do with the event bore the brunt of the watertight security. Many police patrol vans, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) thronged the area. They were all fearfully kitted and armed. Even trained police dogs were deployed in the area to sniff at guests who lined up with their tickets to attend the event.

    Knowing that Nigeria is undergoing trying times and being aware of Boko Haram scare even in the state of President Goodluck Jonathan, it was obvious that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, left nothing to chance. They ensured that no bomb exploded and that everybody was safe throughout the period of the ceremony.

    Also, this year’s AMAA was about many well-dressed ladies who could not gain access to the event centre. They all came relying on promises that were not kept. Most ladies were promised tickets and other protective instruments by their boyfriends, but they came and waited agonizingly for a promise that never materialised.

    A distraught lady who fumed out of frustration after waiting for hours outside the gate voiced  her pains. The lady, who identified herself as Deborah said: “A man l met promised to let me in. He asked me  to call him immediately l get to the gate. But l have been here for hours. I have been calling his line but it is switched off. This is embarrassing.”

    But her pleas fell on deaf ears of the mean security operatives who insisted on sighting her tickets before letting her into the arena. The same fate befell others who were later driven out of the gate by security operatives. So, they went without partaking in the thrills of AMAA.

    What about the hotels that were overbooked? The hotel business that boomed during the period could just be another side and economic benefits of this year’s AMAA.

    Guests and visitors came from different parts of the world to witness the occasion. They hustled for hotels. So, managers of various hotels in the city of Yenagoa experienced a boom period and smiled to the banks later. Left to hotelliers, everyday should be AMAA.

    Or could it be the tourism potential of the event. Yenagoa became the cynosure of all eyes. It was an opportunity for the visitors to experience the hospitality of the Ijaw, especially their cuisines.

    This year’s AMAA was also about “Lady Esther”. It was the title of the award-winning dress designed in the United States of America by the Bayelsa State-born Patience Tolorwei. The dress was showcased to the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) hours before AMAA.

    “Lady Esther” won the just-concluded Earth Matters fashion competition show held in Washington DC and was flown to the Glory of All Land to demonstrate the exploits of the Ijaw people in the Diaspora.

    After the exhibition which was witnessed by AMAA panel of jurists, including the President of the panel, Mr. Steve Ayoride, Lady Esther  was flown back to the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts, Washington DC to occupy her pride of place in the international museum.

    Tolorwei  was showered with encomiums by the Deputy Governor during a brief send forth ceremony. Jonah hailed the designer of the dress which contains symbols, engravings and paintings that depict man’s unfriendliness against his environment.

    In fact, ‘Lady Esther’ was all about the theme of the fashion show, “Earth Matters.” Jonah observed vividly that Tolorwei has made not only the state, but also the country proud, especially on issues concerning the environment, which he said, ‘means a lot to the world’.

    He said: “The story is told by the dress; ‘Lady Esther’. The environment means a lot to the world now. Environmental degradation in Africa, particularly in the Niger Delta area arising from activities of crude oil exploration is quite clear and are documented in some areas.

    “The lifestyle that she has told in this simple, but complicated dress, for those who had the privilege of growing up in the rural areas, the story is quite apt. Such people will have a clear understanding of the inspiration behind the dress.”

    Even the Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack was elated that Tolorwei was among the eight selected African designers. Having emerged winner of the fashion competition, she rejoiced that Lady Esther has earned the right to have a permanent home in the Smithsonian Museum of African Arts in Washington DC.

    Tolorwei also used the AMAA event to explain that she named the dress after her late mother, noting that she got her inspiration from her early life in the rural area of Bayelsa.

    “The colours and characters of the dress depict the pollution and destruction of the environment occasioned by crude oil exploration, mining, blood diamonds in Liberia and other parts of Africa. These activities have adverse effects on the environment”, she said.

    Furthermore, this year’s AMAA provided an opportunity for the state and other stakeholders to take stock and count their blessings for hosting the event for 10 years. It was, therefore, a period for speech-making.

    Dickson, who spoke through Jonah, identified Nollywood as a veritable tool for human capacity development and a critical source of job creation in Nigeria.

    The governor said his administration was committed to exporting the state’s cultural values through AMAA to international community. He said through the annual show budding indigeneous talents inherent in the youth are being harnessed.

    He said: “This informs our attaching high premium to human capacity building and we see Nollywood as one of the platforms to achieve this.

    “Government alone cannot provide jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. That is why it is imperative for us to continue to encourage Bayelsan youths who are talented in the area of arts and aesthetics.

    “By our calculation, we believe this can lead to wealth creation and ultimately make lives more meaningful to them.”

    Dickson praised AMAA and said the state was proud to identify with the  event and to have hosted it consecutively for 10 years. The governor insisted that the state has been reaping the benefits of the event.

    Highlighting the benefits, he said: “In the first place, it brings together movie producers and other practitioners from across the globe to interface and share ideas, while celebrating excellence in film making.

    “On the other hand, AMAA serves as a springboard and veritable channel to showcase our rich cultural heritage as well as the promotion of the tourism and investment opportunities in Bayelsa.”

    Ayorinde highlighted the uniqueness of the years’ ceremony. He  said about 500 films were submitted all over Africa. He said 150 of the films were of short films category. He stressed that from the observations of the jury, short films had become a means for Africans to tell their own stories.

    Ayorinde said two new awards, the Madiba Awards for best film on peace and Banda Award for women issues had been introduced in AMAA.

    Commenting on the quality of African films, Ayorinde said: “What we have observed over  the time is that every year, there is another layer of creativity in African films.

    “We now get films from French and Portuguese speaking parts of Africa and the quality is good. In Nigeria, the quality has improved and I am personally impressed.”

    But another juror, Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi, urged the Bayelsa State Government to maximise the full benefits of AMAA. He appealed to the government to make a policy on how to maximise the benefits of the awards.

    In her remarks, Director- General, Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, said the state had developed quite a number of Bayelsa youths in film making.

    She said it was one of the cardinal objectives of the government to develop  the youth in the state, stressing that since the state started partnering with AMAA, the fortunes of youths had improved very significantly.

    She said the symbiotic relationship between the state and the management of AMAA has helped to expand the frontiers of tourism and the hospitality sector of the state’s economy.

    She commended AMAA for its consistency in charting a positive direction for the film industry in Africa.

    So, this year’s AMAA was celebrated without the physical presence of Amaka Igwe, the entertainment icon. But her name reverberated. She will surely be missed by all as she continues to miss Bayelsa Stats, the Glory of All Land.

  • Chevron’s N50m projects excite communities, govt in Delta

    Chevron’s N50m projects excite communities, govt in Delta

    It was harvest of projects across Delta State last week as Chevron Nigeria Limited, operators of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, inaugurated  developmental projects worth over N50 million in Edjeba and Ubeji communities in Warri South West and Osubi in Okpe local government areas of the state.

    The projects included a solar-powered borehole at Edjeba Primary School; two 500KVA electricity transformers at Osubi Community and a block of six classrooms for Egharegbemi Primary School Ubeji.

    Chevron also partnered with some of its employees to donate books and electronic teaching aids including laptops, projectors and electricity generating sets to five schools in Delta State. The benefiting schools are Ogbe Secondary School, Ekpan Secondary School, Alegbo Secondary School, Ugborikoko Secondary School and Ugbmro Secondary School all in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking at one of the project sites, the Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovouzorie Macaulay, praised the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for the commitment to partnering with the government to provide infrastructure and facilities for socio-economic development of communities.

    Macaulay, who was represented by Mr Vincent Omorie (Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Affairs), noted that the gesture by the JV partners supports the state government’s agenda of infrastructure and human capital development.

    The SSG revealed that the provision of potable water for the school children was aimed at sustaining the healthy living of the “leaders of tomorrow,” adding that the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration had done a lot to improve infrastructure and facilities in its schools.

    Also at the events at Ubeji and Ogbe Secondary School, the Delta State Commissioner for Education (Primary and Basic) Prof. Patrick Muobuoghare, thanked the JV partners for partnering with the state government for educational development.

    He called on other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to emulate the gesture of Chevron and its employees and contribute to development of educational infrastructure and human capital in the state.

    Muoboghare, who was represented by the Chief Inspectors of Basic and Secondary Education in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas, Dr. Michael Emeshili and Mr. Solomon Onojaiyefe respectively, noted that Chevron has been in the forefront in supporting government’s programmes in the education sector and has initiated several activities to help contribute to educational development in Delta State.

    He urged members of the community and the schools’ management to put the facilities provided for them to good use, protect them and to ensure that they are maintained for the betterment of the school children and the communities as a whole.

    The General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Mr. Deji Haastrup, who was represented by Mr. Trust Inimgba,  PGPA Superintendent in Chevron’s Warri, noted that the company was committed to enhancing partnership with relevant stakeholders to achieve the goal of sustainable development of communities around its areas of operations in the Niger Delta.

    He noted that the company also believes that education is the key to national and societal development, stressing that it was that belief that informed CNL’s commitment to educational development as one of the thematic areas in its social performance programmes.