The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Uproar over Wike’s meetings with ex-militants

    Uproar over Wike’s meetings with ex-militants

    The meetings between ex-militant “Generals” and the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, are generating uproar in Rivers State. BISI OLANIYI reports 

    On April 26, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, visited an ex-militant “General,” Soboma Jackrich, aka Egberipapa, at his palatial Usokun-Kalabari residence in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. He was said to have gone there to solicit Jackrich’s support for his 2015 governorship ambition.

    Jackrich, who is aspiring to be the Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council of Rivers State, is a strong supporter of Wike and President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi does not want Wike to succeed him, since both of them are Ikwerre.

    During the visit to Jackrich, who is also the founder/leader of the Kengema Unity Forum (KUF), the supervising minister of education urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State to unite and work as a family, to enable the party win the 2015 general elections in the state.

    Jackrich noted that Wike was loyal to the President and making efforts to reposition the PDP.

    He assured that the KUF would continue to sensitise and mobilise Rivers people to ensure that President is re-elected in 2015.

    The ex-warlord, who is also the Director-General of the Network for the Defence of Democracy and Good Governance (NDDGG), stated that the activities of the GDI in the area had tended to create division among PDP members, a situation he described as inimical to the continuous progress of the party.

    The former freedom fighter assured the supervising minister of education of the support and cooperation of the KUF to ensuring that the party triumph in all elections in Rivers state in 2015, claiming that Nigerians has never had it so good, since independence in 1960.

    On May 8, the supervising minister of education held a political meeting with another ex-militant “General,” Solomon Ndigbara, aka Osama Bin Ladin, and his boys at their Yeghe-Ogoni hometown in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The ruling APC, Rivers state chapter, however, accused Wike of insensitivity, wondering why he would opt for politicking, while the abducted Chibok girls are still in the den of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    APC said: “As the global calls for the release of the abducted girls heightened this week, on Thursday (May 8) night, APC members who infiltrated the gathering of the PDP, confirmed that Nyesom Wike held a political meeting with notorious warlord, Solomon Ndigbara, aka Osama Bin Ladin, and his boys at Yeghe-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where certain decisions (now in our custody) were reached.

    “The APC in Rivers State is not surprised that Nyesom Wike, under whose watch as Minister of Education, the girls of Chibok Secondary School where abducted, returned to conduct nocturnal political campaigns in his home state of Rivers, while the entire world is pre-occupied and speaking with one voice, calling for the return of our abducted girls.

    “For over 9 months, lecturers of polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria have been on strike, without the Supervising Minister of Education batting an eyelid.

    “We are also not surprised that a supposed father like Wike would feel unperturbed about the harrowing experiences parents of the Chibok girls are going through at the moment. We are not surprised, because the Governor of Rivers State has already made it public that Nyesom Wike once swore with the name of his (Wike’s) children in vain; confirming that the minister is a man completely bereft of the values of family obligation and responsibility.”

    Wike, while responding through the Director-General of the PDP in Rivers state, Emeka Woke, an engineer and two-term Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, noted that the APC leaders needed help and should be ignored.

    Woke said: “APC leaders and members are jittery. They are resorting to cheap blackmail. It is very obvious that they are afraid of Barr. Wike’s political sagacity and rising political profile. He has the right to hold private meetings. He has never abandoned his official duties.

    “Chief Wike is doing what he ought to do on the abducted Chibok girls. You must bear in mind that the Federal Ministry of Education issued a warning that the Borno State Government should relocate the girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, which was ignored. The security agencies are also working hard to rescue the girls.”

    Some politicians are insisting that the upland/riverine dichotomy should be considered in the choice of the next governor of the state, stressing that since 1999, all the governors, Dr. Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia and Amaechi are from the upland part.

    Still on Wike’s meetings with the ex-warlords, the PDP, Rivers chapter, accused the APC of prying into the internal and private affairs of its leader (Wike).

    The Rivers Chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, insisted that the private visits of the supervising minister of education to “notable leaders” in the state were geared towards building a stronger, virile, progressive and united party.

    PDP said: “Violation of one’s privacy has always been the handiwork of idlers, which the APC politicians symbolise. Rather than pokenosing into PDP’s private matters, the APC leaders should do well by looking inwards and devising ways to save its sinking boat and battered image, arising from its failed congresses.”

    While pleading with the Rivers people not to give in to the APC’s “rabble,” the PDP also admonished Wike not to be deterred by the antics of the members of the APC.

    In his response, Ndigbara, who described himself as the Nigerian Peace Ambassador and Gbenemene (Chief) Sira-Bara-Bateerah of Ogoniland, claimed that the leaders of the Rivers chapter of the APC, rather than focus on issues, chose to send “sniffing dogs” and “flies” to get information about people’s private life.

    He said: “Let me make it clear that the meeting I held with the Supervising Minister of Education on Thursday, May 8, 2014 had in attendance, the President of the Ogoni Youth Council, Comrade Sunny Bekanwaa; two former Local Government Council Chairmen in Rivers State: Drs. Fred Kpakol and Jacobson Mbiinah; as well as a former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Dum Deekor, and over 10,000 Ogoni youths, who came to show solidarity during the minister’s visit.

    “It was a private visit from the minister to show his love and support on my recent victory in court, against those who persecuted me innocently and used the state security forces to chase me out of my home since 2011.

    “I do not see how the private visit has frustrated any effort at moving Rivers State or Nigeria forward. I urge the members of the APC in Rivers State to focus on issues and not my private life.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • The battle for the soul of ONELGA

    The crisis rocking Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, looks like a youth crisis but it is actually a battle of supremacy between the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Trouble started when the council Chairman, Dr Augustine Ahiamadu, thinking that he was doing his people good appealed to the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi to lift the ban on Omoku Youth Association in the area which the state government had proscribed in 2009 due to crisis that rocked the area.

    In February this year, after several pleas from Ahiamadu and others, the governor lifted the ban and subsequently, Ahiamadu, who is now a member of APC, inaugurated the youth association but made it known to them that it was just for one year.

    Sources alleged that the Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Felix Obuah, who is also a native of Omoku, condemned Ahiamadu’s action and reportedly inaugurated a factional youth association.

    Ahiamadu, using the power conferred on him by the ONELGA bye-law, dissolved the youth association. Furthermore, thinking that the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Omoku was also going to foment trouble, he invoked the Rivers State Regulatory Law, 2010 and also dissolved the committee.

    Angered by this, the youths protested and barricaded the ONELGA council secretariat, which is owned by six zones in the area namely: Egi, Omoku, Igburu, Usomini, Egbema and Ndoni. They blocked the council with a coffin. They pasted the pictures of Amaechi and Ahiamadu on the coffin and said they would not remove it. They demanded N16 million, several tubers of yam, goats and other items.

    This incident, which took place on May 1, prevented the chairman and his workers from observing the Workers’ Day celebration.

    Not satisfied with what they had already done, on May 5, the youths stormed major streets in Omoku protesting suspension of the leadership of their association.

    Their protest crippled economic activities in the town leading to the closure of banks, motor parks and the main markets. Traders were forced to lock their stores for fear of losing their wares to the protesting youths.

    The protest also forced parents to keep their children away from school while some residents relocated to neighbouring communities for fear of being attacked.

    Some community people told Niger Delta Report that while the rampage was going on, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, was in Omoku claiming that he had an assignment at the Federal College of Education (Technical). But a resident of the area told Niger Delta Report: “Everybody knows (that the college) has been on strike for more than six months now.”

    The Assistant Police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the police was “making frantic effort to restore law and order in the area”.

    Speculations were rife in the area that the protest was engineered by the PDP, which is the opposition party in the area since Ahiamadu and other political office holders in the council have defected to the APC with the governor.

    To contain this crisis, Ahiamadu on May 6, wrote the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, complaining of the crisis rocking his council and the seeming refusal of the police in the division to step in and restore law and order.

    He said: “Every crisis being grappled by the Federal Government today started on a small scale but the inability of security agencies to nip it in the bud caused it to escalate.”

    Ahiamadu urged the IGP not to allow a few individuals to hold government and people to ransom due to complicity of the police.

    To draw the governor’s attention to the crisis in the area, the people from other communities in the area trooped to Government House, Port Harcourt on May 7 on a peaceful march to protest the crisis.

    The people carried placards with messages like: “Oba, Felix Obuah cannot hold us on hostage”; “Oga, pls call Oba of Omoku to order”: “Oba and Felix are selfish; We want Hon Austin”; ONELGA Council HQ must move to Obite”; “Hon. Austin Aiamadu Government must stand” and “Go-Round! Leadership is by choice Not by Force Leave ONELGA people Alone.”

    The leader of the group, Mr Sunny Esor, alleged that since 1991 when the ONELGA Council was created, Omoku youths have allegedly been a threat to peace, especially when the council chairman is not from their town (Omoku).

    He said: “The fact that council secretariat is located at Omoku does not imply that it is the property of Omoku but it rather belongs to the six geo-political zones of ONELGA.”

    Esor said the continued blockade of their council gate was disrupting governance, adding: “We can no longer tolerate this continuous hostage of the six geo-political zones by a section of one geo-political zone as in a democracy, minority would have their say but majority would have their way.”

    On this note, they pleaded with the governor to permit Ahiamadu to relocate the council secretariat to another community in ONELGA.

    They also called on security agencies to protect lives and properties of ONELGA people.

    The Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr Fortune Oguru who received them on behalf of the governor, said their request would be communicated to Amaechi.

    For now, the governor has not made any official statement on the ONELGA crisis. Wike, Obuah and the Oba have also kept silent. Thus everyone is watching and waiting to see how the matter would be resolved.

  • Community protests Shell’s plans

    It was not a boat regatta. It was an event more serious than a ceremony. In fact, it was a protest. Indeed, it was strange and perhaps unimaginable to see people stage a demonstration on water.

    Obviously, whatever compelled the Nembe-Bassambiri community in Nembe, Bayelsa Local Government Area, to empty into the river for a demonstration must be a serious matter.

    The youths, women, elders, chiefs and opinion leaders were involved. They left their comfort zones to partake in chanting solidarity songs as they sailed the vast waterways. Their weapons were placards and their countenances bore their message.

    Some of their placards shouted:  “The land is ours, the oil is ours, Shell cannot divest without us”;  “No, to Shell OML 29 sale”; “After polluting our land and water, Shell wants to sell our land”.?

    Others screamed: “No to fraudulent sale of investment”. “No to Shell fraudulent divestment”;  “OML 29, OPU Nembe demand justice”; “Do not sell our oil wells to strangers” and “Include our companies in OML divestment plans”.

    It was indisputable that the protesters were angry at their tenant, Shell Petroluem Development Company (SPDC). Their indignation was centered on the divestment plans of SPDC and the company’s proposed sale of its Oil Mining Licenses (OMLs). OML 29 is the bone of contention.

    Why should Shell be planning to sell OML 29, the oil well operated by the company within their domain without consulting them? “We are the landlords. Shell is the tenant. A tenant cannot take some decisions considered injurious to the landowners without informing them”, they reasoned.

    Niger Delta Report learnt that Shell has reportedly placed its 45 per cent stake in four oil wells, including OML 29 for sale, as part of the company’s divestment.

    OML 29 is considered the most lucrative asset of the wells being sold. With the end of militancy in the region, the output of the oil well 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 cited oil theft and pipeline vandalism as reasons why it decided to engage in divestment.

    They were not against the plans of divestment by Shell, but they sought to be included in all the processes.

    They were large and intimidating in number. Over 100 of them turned up for the demonstration and they came on over 15 speedboats.

    Everybody who mattered in Nembe-Bassambiri was there. They were led by an influential member of the community’s Oil and Gas Committee identified as Chief  Brigidi. All the major oil platforms of Shell, the Santa Barbara Flow Station, Tora Manifold and Odema Flow Station felt their presence.

    Nembe waters became boisterous, tossing and splashing as various sizes and sounds of speedboats cruised along them. The presence of the protesters initially created panic among Shell workers living in houseboats. It kept operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) guarding the facilities on their toes.

    But the tension dissolved gradually after the soldiers discovered that the protesters came in peace. The presence of women, young girls and elders helped to convince the soldiers that all was well.

    At the Santa Barbara Flow Station, the protesters marched on the facility.

    A member of the Nembe-Bassambiri Council of Chiefs, Chief Bukunor Alfred, said members of the community were angry at the plan of SPDC to sell oil blocks in the area without consulting them.

    He said the Council of Chiefs sent delegates to discuss the issue with SPDC but he noted that the emissaries returned with disappointment.

    He said though SPDC has contributed in the development of the community, the company was wrong to take a major decision of divesting without consulting its landlords.

    He asked the company to down tools for three days and engage the community in a dialogue to resolve the knotty issue.

    Heads of different segments of the community took turns to express their grievances. The Chairman of Opu-Nembe Improvement Union (ONIU), Mr. Ebinyo Robert, said the community would not allow Shell to leave unceremoniously after it devastated the environment with oil exploitation.

    He insisted that the company must incude the community in all the processes involved in selling OML 29. He warned that individuals and companies indicating interest to buy the oil wells should desist or have the community to contend with.

    He said the communities have nominated three companies, Amot Oil E&P Limited, A-Abas Resources and Isea BMG, to participate in the bidding process.

    Also, the representative of the opinion leaders in the community, Mr. Ikakumo Tubu, warned Shell to avoid repeating a mistake it earlier made when it came to operate in the area. He said lack of adequate consultations at the beginning of the company’s operations was the reason behind the community’s problems with its Kalabari neighbours in Rivers State.

    After the women had spoken, Chief Brigidi said, the protesters were not done yet. He asked the Community Development Committee led by Mr. John Twonmute and the youth group led by Mr. Otubo Isake to make their feelings on the development known to SPDC.

    Twonmute, while addressing the comoany, said: “This community is a peace-loving community and since your stay here nobody has made a mistake of coming to challenge you. Our present here is to tell you that before Shell could sell their properties, the community should be fully contacted.”

  • Every gas flare site is a crime scene, says Nnimmo Bassey,

    Every gas flare site is a crime scene, says Nnimmo Bassey,

      Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, speaks to Seun Akioye on gas flaring in the Niger Delta. 

    As an environmentalist, what have been the most horrid effects of gas flaring that you have seen in your campaigns?

    Gas flaring is a raw sore on the conscience of this nation. It is dehumanizing to communities and should be seen as a crime against nature as well. The impacts of gas flaring are many and severe. The lightest of the impacts that is glaring in the communities where these flames of hell roar is that the corrugated metal roofs in the communities corrode rapidly due to acid rain caused by the mixture of nitrous and sulfur oxides in the fumes with moisture in the atmosphere. This places economic pressures on the locals who have to contend with frequent roofs replacement or repairs.

    Routine gas flaring is a big insult on our people. You just need to imagine living in a community with those toxic fires burning non-stop for decades, roaring noisily, banishing the night and yet the community stays without electricity.

    Why is it difficult for the government to implement the laws on reduction of gas flares by the multinational oil companies?

    The Associated Gas Reinjection Act of 1979 is not about reducing routine gas flaring, but about stopping the act. Right from 1984 when the Act came into force, those who engage in routine gas flaring have been committing crimes. In fact, every gas flare site is a crime scene. That Act has not been repealed. It is still in force.

    The law requires that associated gas should be re-injected or harnessed for utilization. Where associated gas is to be flared, the oil company is required to obtain a permit from the responsible minister and to pay a fine for the objectionable act. But most importantly, the permit or fine come only after the company has presented an acceptable plan to stop the flaring at the specific sites. The Act never anticipated reckless and open ended flouting of its requirements as is currently the case.

    The situation now is that the oil companies are simply running amok, completely unrestrained. Notice that in the past the government used to set deadlines for stoppage of gas flaring. That is no longer the case today. The convenient cover under which the companies persist in this atrocious act is that they are making plans to use the gas in power plants. The truth is that this is largely a cover. A high ratio of gas used in power plants in the country are from natural gas fields and are not gas associated with crude oil extraction.

    The government has been unable to face this situation squarely because we are running a mono-product economy the government is tied to the apron strings of the oil companies. The government is so unconcerned about this obnoxious act that it provides the oil companies sufficient reason to ignore the crime also. We say this because the companies have been complaining that the government is not stepping up to the plate as a joint venture partner and keeps reneging on making necessary counterpart funds available. This is scandalous. It speaks very poorly of the government and of the nation. It sentences our people to avoidable harm.

    Do you believe Nigeria can make any appreciable impact in tackling this issue especially with the non passage of the PIB?

    The PIB does not offer any solution to the problem of gas flaring. It is the same old story. It will allow the scam to persist at the pleasure of whoever is the responsible minister. That is the sad truth. The Gas Flaring bill passed by the previous Senate had more teeth than the provisions of the pending PIB.  In fact, the Gas Reinjection Act of 1979 was more serious about stopping gals faring than the PIB as it stands now. The PIB only says that a date for stoppage of flaring will be as agreed by the “minister” after the PIB comes into effect. Nothing could be more lax. The oil companies must be laughing at us.

     

     

  • 2015: Akpabio should respect tripod agreement

    2015: Akpabio should respect tripod agreement

    Chief Edet Nkpubre is a former National South-South Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As an Oron man, he is one of those advocating for Oron governorship. He believes that the tripod of Ibibio, Annang and Oron should be respected in deciding the 2015 governorship in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with Kazeem Ibrahym, he argues that administrative boundaries of senatorial districts should be ignored while politics of tripod should be followed in deciding the next governor of Akwa Ibom State.

    What is your opinion about the town hall meeting that was held by the Governor Godswill Akpabio in Oron Federal Constituency as it concerns Oro 2015 governorship aspiration?

    The summary of that town hall meeting, if we will take our governor by his words, was satisfactory to Oron and their aspiration. The summary was that Oron people thanked the Governor for zoning it to Eket Senatorial District with particular reference to Oron governorship 2015. The governor requested that Hon. Robinson Uwak should move a motion for the governorship to move to Oron and it was supported by Hon. Alice Ekpenyong and there was uproar in the house. But if you go home to sleep with that you are a kid politician. What the governor did in the town hall meetings was to size up opinions and then in the end he said he was going to call for a stakeholders’ meeting to take a final decision which federal constituency should have his support. So, we are waiting for that meeting and that is why we are continuing with our advocacy. The advocacy is that even though it has come to Eket Senatorial District, Oron people have a better case. They are the largest ethnic group in Eket Senatorial District just like Annang which is the largest in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and it was given to Annang. I remember I asked former Governor Victor Attah, that now that you are shifting it to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, where will it go? Attah asked me Nkpubre was it to go to Ini or Ikono? It is for the Annangs. It is so clear. So now that it has been shifted to Eket Senatorial District, I hope somebody will ask Governor Akpabio the same question I asked Attah and I hope he will answer the way Attah answered. Attah answered, is Annang not the largest ethnic group in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District? It should go there. Therefore, I expect Akpabio to affirm that it is the turn of the Oron people being the largest ethnic group in Eket Senatorial District.

    But how would you reconcile the governorship aspiration of Oron and the intention of some of your people to run for the Senate?

    Very clear, very clear, when Annang people were advocating for the governorship in 2007, Hon. Saviour Udoh aspired for the position of the Senate and he won the primaries while Akpabio won the governorship ticket. It was negotiated. The Ibibio people who are our elder brothers objected to the Annangs keeping the two positions. And the Annang conceded the Senate to an Ibibio man from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. The overall interest of the Annang superseded and he conceded. The overall interest of the Oron people is to produce the governor; any other interest is subservient to that.

    You saying that since Oron is the largest oil producer that should be a pre-condition for clinching the governorship in 2015?

    No we are not even saying that. We are saying please do what we have been doing in Akwa Ibom. What we have been doing is that we have been moving on tripod. Ibibio people have taken; Annang people have taken it is now the turn of Oron. Forget about the administrative boundaries called senatorial districts or federal constituencies. Share things the way God placed us in the area now called Akwa Ibom before the administrative boundaries were created. God put us here, Annang, Oron, Ibibio and the other smaller ethnic groups. When we celebrated the creation of Akwa Ibom State all the paramount rulers in the state gathered at the stadium and they prayed and poured libation that this state that in this state political offices should be shared to reflect these three ethnic groups so that there would be peace in Akwa Ibom.

    That was the prayer and libation was poured. Those who try to do things contrary to that are attracting the anger of gods of the nations of Akwa Ibom.

    Are you aware that some Oron sons and daughters are in league with Uyo Senatorial District to produce a governor from Uyo?

    They have their own reasons to be there whether their reasons are acceptable is another issue.  One of them granted an interview and he said this very clearly that his father was one of those people who sat down to arrange how power should shift in Akwa Ibom. That agreement has been respected till now. And he is afraid that they are not going to respect that agreement with his own reading of the goings-on in Akwa Ibom. So, he is playing his Option B of Oron Nation. That is what he said. And he has explained why he is playing option B and that is if a candidate from     Uyo senatorial district is in government for 8 years Oron man would have the opportunity to contest after 8 years when power shifts to Eket senatorial district. But if other ethnic groups from Eket senatorial district becomes a governor in 2015 it

    would take 24 years before power can return Eket Senatorial district for an Oron man to contest. It means Oron people would never smell the governorship of Akwa Ibom for 40 years. Do you know the effect of that on a people? Bondage. You develop a slave mentality. You start celebrating crumbs when you start celebrating crumbs your generation becomes slaves to the system. They won’t even have the confidence to change their situation. We are saying that it is not right.

    Chief Don Etiebet, a founding father and permanent member Board of Trustees of the PDP recently said that the PDP has no official position on zoning. Why are you anchoring your governorship aspiration on zoning?

    Zoning has never been sacrosanct. It is not a law and has never carried the force of law. But is has a moral force of persuasion. When it is zoned to a particular area it doesn’t constitutionally exclude aspirants from other zones. Zoning has never been a part of guidelines for screening in and out of aspirants by or great party PDP. But it has the moral strength to persuade the voters.

  • ‘Derivation formula less than 50 per cent unacceptable to Niger Delta’

    Mr Sunny Amorighoye Mene, in this interview with SHOLA O’NEIL, explains why Niger Delta must have 50 per cent of money derived from oil.

    What is the position of the Niger Delta and Itsekiri people on the recent call for the reduction of the 13 per cent derivarion?

    First, let me clarify that Nigeria is a Federal Republic and resource control is an essential component of a Federal Republic. If our founding fathers at independence accepted this political arrangement of a federal structure, then the argument to the contrary is false and disservice to those who fought for our independence. The position they are pushing threatens the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria because, except we are deceiving ourselves, we cannot say in one breath that we are a federal republic and track back on the tenets of the federalism.

    The oil activities in the Niger Delta have completely devastated our environment; devastation of our flora and fauna, extinguishing our means of livelihood and truncating sustainable development of our communities.  When the ACF claim that they are the owners of oil or that it is owned by Nigeria without looking at the devastating effect of its exploitation, they seem to call us fools and this is what is really annoying us. As a people who are feeling the impacts of the oil exploration while people who have failed to exploit their own resources fail to realise the problems we are passing through and then begin to claim that the resources belong to them; it is provocative to the extreme.

    The postulation of the ACF is that their resources were used to exploit the oil…

    (cuts in) That is not true. They should realise that they are talking to very educated people in the Niger Delta, who followed the developments of this country, who actively participated in the negotiation of Nigeria independence. We do not know what they think when they say it is the northern resources that was used to develop the oil resource. Oil resources in the Niger Delta were developed through joint venture; foreign investors brought their money to exploit oil and pay royalties and share profit with government.  At what time was the northern resources used to develop the oil in the Niger Delta?

    You see, this kind of assertion provokes the Niger Deltans because their position tends to look at us as uninformed, uneducated and it is not true. I say with all authority that northern resources were not used to develop oil resources in the Niger Delta. That is why we are calling for restructuring of Nigeria because until we do, we cannot move forward. Some people cannot at one end of the country refuse to be productive, just lay back and enjoy oil resources without contributing anything and at the end of the day turn around to call us fools.

    That is why we say, let us go back and  renegotiate through a conference, sovereign or whatever, the basis of our coexistence because what we practice today is not what was  thought by our founding fathers; we are not practising federalism. It is clear that the Nigerian project today is not working, the country called Nigeria has failed.

    The position paper by the north also raised the issue of the South not wanting to play the role of being their bothers’ keeper because of demand for resource control; do you not think they have a point?

    We are very willing to be our brothers’ keeper that is why we are not saying we want to take everything. We are saying in a federal system, we will pay appropriate tax to the centre. All over the world, when you pay tax, it is used to take care of those who are not as endowed as others. It is a universal principle. But in a situation where people who do not own the resources are saying they will take it from the owners not matter what… they are also saying that the meagre 15percent is more than enough? That is being insensitive to our plights. When we pay tax to the centre, it can be used to provide education, healthcare and other essential services for areas that don’t have the resources.

    Money can also be given to them to develop their own resources so that all of us can contribute something to the central purse. You have 44 local governments in certain states where all they do at the end of the month is collect money, share the money and go back to their villages and when it is end of the month again, they come back, share money and go back. It is promoting laziness. Leaders we have in Nigeria today are political rent takers and a country cannot survive like that. A country that does not produce, that is only dependant on these meagre earnings will not do well economically. We are prepared to concede something, but to say they want to take all and give five percent, is to threaten the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria because the people of the Niger Delta will not take it: we will not take anything less than 50 per cent. We accept 50 per  cent to be very considerate, anything less than that is exploitative, unacceptable and I tell you will threaten the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

    What do you see as the problem with the current political dispensation in Nigeria?

    Federalism recognises the fact that the people are not homogenous but are a diverse people. So to rule the diverse people, they adopt federalism where their diversity is recognised and you rule them on the basis of that diversity. In Nigeria today we are being ruled as homogenous people where someone at the centre will give directive and policy that tends to portray that we are homogenous; we are not we are very diverse. Until we recognise this diversity and governor the country on the basis of our diversity, we will not move forward. That is why the country is not moving forward.

  • A comrade governor’s tough decisions

    From the countenances of teachers in public schools in Edo State during the May Day celebration, it was clear that the lingering impasse between them and the state government over the issue of assessment test was far from over. The teachers walked out of the stadium when Governor Adams Oshiomhole was still making his speech  and it became clear that the governor would not back out of the issue.

    Oshiomhole has vowed to put his political fortunes as well that of the ruling All Progressive Congress at stake over the assessment test issue. He is a ‘one man standing’ on the assessment test issue as many of his political associates as well as members of APC are afraid that it might affect next year’s general elections and the 2016 governorship elections.

    Only 97 teachers presented themselves for the assessment while others stayed away on the orders of their union leaders that the National Industrial Court has barred the state government from conducting the test.

    The assessment test is one among many tough decisions Oshiomhole has had to make  that was not initially supported by his party leaders and people of the state.

    In June last year, Oshiomhole surprised those he loved and has promised not to hurt even if other states rejected them-the commercial bike riders popularly called Okada. Oshiomhole gave them six days to stop operation in three metropolitan local government areas in the state and some parts of Ovia North East and Uhunmwode local government areas.

    It was an announcement that jolted the okada riders and many thought it was a joke but when they heard the governor in a repeated live broadcast threatening to confiscate and destroy any motorcycle seen in the affected areas, they knew the game was up and were compelled to obey.

    Oshiomhole took the painful decision due to security report of an imminent attack in the state following the influx of suspected Boko Haram members. However, not many, including former okada riders, would wish a return of the use of motorcycles within the city.

    The roads are now free. Statistics showed that intra-city accident victims have reduced and many former okada riders now own cars. The crime rate has also reduced.

    He was also stubborn on the issue of the Internally Generated Revenue which was less than N300m then.  Oshiomhole decided to introduce the progressive tax system as well as increase the registration fee for private schools, private health centres and ensure that establishments remitted the Pay as You Earn tax deducted from their staff salaries. Other taxes recently introduced are the Consumption Tax and the Land Use Charge also known as Property Tax.

    Many rich businessmen, who hitherto were not paying tax or paid less, are now made to pay full taxes. Both federal, privately owned and state owned organisations, including institutions have been sealed up for failing to remit PAYE and the state IGR is now at an average of N1.5bn.

    The Urban renewal project was another tough decision, which pitched  Oshiomhole against many rich and powerful individuals in the state.

    Now, many residents have forgotten what Airport Road, Siluko Road, New Lagos Road and Oba Market Road looked like  before the transformation.

    The big question is: will  Oshiomhole  laugh last as he has always done on the Edo teachers’ issue?  We believe teachers’ ability to impart knowledge must be determined. And if an assessment test will show that, so be it.

  • Expert harps on hygiene promotion

    As Nigerians continue to clamour for improved healthcare delivery, a health expert and member of Global Hygiene Council, Dr Nneoma Idika has identified hygiene promotion as the most cost-effective strategy in reduction of illness. This, she said, could be achieved through Dettol Hygiene Initiative which Reckitt Benckiser, a global health, hygiene and home care products manufacturer propagates.

    Dr Idika, who spoke in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, said hygiene promotion has become important to public health policy makers as low cost illness reduction strategy.

    In a paper entitled “Dettol’s Contribution to Health and Hygiene in its 50 years in Nigeria” which she presented at the scientific session of the 54th Annual General Conference and Delegate Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) which the firm sponsored, Dr. Idika further said common hygiene behaviours that could improve cleanliness and lead to good health include frequent hand washing, bathing with soap and water, among others.

    She said: ‘‘Hygiene practice in the home, environment and hospital plays an important role in preventing infection transmission like common cold, influenza, gastroenteritis, diarrhoeal infections and so on.’’

    While pointing out that several empirical studies have lent credence to the association between hygiene and rate of infection reduction, she stated that hand washing with soap in particular has reduced diarrhoeal diseases by 50 per cent while germicides have significantly caused reduction in vaginal candidiosis.

    Dr. Idika said studies have also shown that Dettol antiseptic liquid has caused a reduction in bacterial population in water for bathing in comparison with local purification agents like alum, lime, salt, potash and Moringa oliefera seeds.

    Aligned to the theme of the conference entitled, “Healthcare Delivery and National Development: A Critical Appraisal in Nigeria’s 100 Years Existence,” she said Dettol has been part of the national efforts to improve  s Nigerians continue to clamour for improved healthcare delivery, a healthcare delivery in the country since its 50 years of existence in Nigeria.

    She highlighted some of the corporate social responsibility initiatives of Reckitt Benckiser to include contact programmes with new mothers and over three million children from 1,000 schools in Nigeria, especially in Lagos, Oyo and Kano states and Abuja.

     

  • 2015: Akpabio should respect tripod agreement

    2015: Akpabio should respect tripod agreement

    Chief Edet Nkpubre is a former National South-South Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As an Oron man, he is one of those advocating for Oron governorship. He believes that the tripod of Ibibio, Annang and Oron should be respected in deciding the 2015 governorship in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with Kazeem Ibrahym, he argues that administrative boundaries of senatorial districts should be ignored while politics of tripod should be followed in deciding the next governor of Akwa Ibom State.

    What is your opinion about the town hall meeting that was held by the Governor Godswill Akpabio in Oron Federal Constituency as it concerns Oro 2015 governorship aspiration?

    The summary of that town hall meeting, if we will take our governor by his words, was satisfactory to Oron and their aspiration. The summary was that Oron people thanked the Governor for zoning it to Eket Senatorial District with particular reference to Oron governorship 2015. The governor requested that Hon. Robinson Uwak should move a motion for the governorship to move to Oron and it was supported by Hon. Alice Ekpenyong and there was uproar in the house. But if you go home to sleep with that you are a kid politician. What the governor did in the town hall meetings was to size up opinions and then in the end he said he was going to call for a stakeholders’ meeting to take a final decision which federal constituency should have his support. So, we are waiting for that meeting and that is why we are continuing with our advocacy. The advocacy is that even though it has come to Eket Senatorial District, Oron people have a better case. They are the largest ethnic group in Eket Senatorial District just like Annang which is the largest in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and it was given to Annang. I remember I asked former Governor Victor Attah, that now that you are shifting it to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, where will it go? Attah asked me Nkpubre was it to go to Ini or Ikono? It is for the Annangs. It is so clear. So now that it has been shifted to Eket Senatorial District, I hope somebody will ask Governor Akpabio the same question I asked Attah and I hope he will answer the way Attah answered. Attah answered, is Annang not the largest ethnic group in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District? It should go there. Therefore, I expect Akpabio to affirm that it is the turn of the Oron people being the largest ethnic group in Eket Senatorial District.

    But how would you reconcile the governorship aspiration of Oron and the intention of some of your people to run for the Senate?

    Very clear, very clear, when Annang people were advocating for the governorship in 2007, Hon. Saviour Udoh aspired for the position of the Senate and he won the primaries while Akpabio won the governorship ticket. It was negotiated. The Ibibio people who are our elder brothers objected to the Annangs keeping the two positions. And the Annang conceded the Senate to an Ibibio man from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. The overall interest of the Annang superseded and he conceded. The overall interest of the Oron people is to produce the governor; any other interest is subservient to that.

    You saying that since Oron is the largest oil producer that should be a pre-condition for clinching the governorship in 2015?

    No we are not even saying that. We are saying please do what we have been doing in Akwa Ibom. What we have been doing is that we have been moving on tripod. Ibibio people have taken; Annang people have taken it is now the turn of Oron. Forget about the administrative boundaries called senatorial districts or federal constituencies. Share things the way God placed us in the area now called Akwa Ibom before the administrative boundaries were created. God put us here, Annang, Oron, Ibibio and the other smaller ethnic groups. When we celebrated the creation of Akwa Ibom State all the paramount rulers in the state gathered at the stadium and they prayed and poured libation that this state that in this state political offices should be shared to reflect these three ethnic groups so that there would be peace in Akwa Ibom.

    That was the prayer and libation was poured. Those who try to do things contrary to that are attracting the anger of gods of the nations of Akwa Ibom.

    Are you aware that some Oron sons and daughters are in league with Uyo Senatorial District to produce a governor from Uyo?

    They have their own reasons to be there whether their reasons are acceptable is another issue.  One of them granted an interview and he said this very clearly that his father was one of those people who sat down to arrange how power should shift in Akwa Ibom. That agreement has been respected till now. And he is afraid that they are not going to respect that agreement with his own reading of the goings-on in Akwa Ibom. So, he is playing his Option B of Oron Nation. That is what he said. And he has explained why he is playing option B and that is if a candidate from     Uyo senatorial district is in government for 8 years Oron man would have the opportunity to contest after 8 years when power shifts to Eket senatorial district. But if other ethnic groups from Eket senatorial district becomes a governor in 2015 it

    would take 24 years before power can return Eket Senatorial district for an Oron man to contest. It means Oron people would never smell the governorship of Akwa Ibom for 40 years. Do you know the effect of that on a people? Bondage. You develop a slave mentality. You start celebrating crumbs when you start celebrating crumbs your generation becomes slaves to the system. They won’t even have the confidence to change their situation. We are saying that it is not right.

    Chief Don Etiebet, a founding father and permanent member Board of Trustees of the PDP recently said that the PDP has no official position on zoning. Why are you anchoring your governorship aspiration on zoning?

    Zoning has never been sacrosanct. It is not a law and has never carried the force of law. But is has a moral force of persuasion. When it is zoned to a particular area it doesn’t constitutionally exclude aspirants from other zones. Zoning has never been a part of guidelines for screening in and out of aspirants by or great party PDP. But it has the moral strength to persuade the voters.

  • Who ordered demolition of private school in Effurun?

    The efforts of the Delta State government to clean up Warri consumed a private school last week.

    The school on  New Layout Road, Off Jakpa Road,  was crushed by the bulldozers of the special sanitation committee.

    The Proprietress of God’s Favour School, Mrs Oyobor Oche, said she had no prior notice that her school had violated any rule, noting: “The school is about 20 feet from the road.”

    She expressed suspicion about the exercise, saying it happened at an odd hour and called on the state government to investigate the action.

    The owner of the  property on which the school was located, Paul Obuh, while expressing surprise at the development, described it as a deliberate act of suppression by the vice chairman of the Delta State Waterways Security Committee, Chief Boro Opudu.

    Opudu, however, denied any link with the demolition of the property involved, saying that he had been out of the state for a long time. He also denied a claim that he had an eye on the property.

    Obuh, while speaking to Niger Delta Report, alleged that Opudu had approached him in the past to buy the plot, an offer he rejected, adding that his relationship with the politician had since been less than cordial.

    Obuah said: “The pale loader was already out of this place when I came, it was in the next place, I went there and saw Boro because the information we got was that it was Boro who brought them because of this my land, claim ing that there is a church here making noise to disturb him.

    “Before then though he had approached me to sell the plot to him, which I refused, when he was building he said the back of his building was too tight so he needed me to sell part of my land to him, but I said no that I didn’t want to sell, but I gave him three feet by hundred and only told him to pull down the fence at the back there for me. People were telling me to collect money, but I said no that at least he’s going to be my neighbour. After some time he started approaching me to sell

    “I believe he has an avenue now to raid the place and that is why he did this because if you check the whole Warri, I don’t think there’s a place they destroy like this; destroy hundred by hundred with the whole property, the blocks, the granite. After the caravan, he still went inside into the school, packed everything together and smashed them. You can see for yourself that this is a deliberate act”, Obuh said.

    Opudu said:  “ Am I the government that is doing the work? What concerns me with this; why will I want to buy plot of land there again, for what? Even where I am now I am thinking of leaving. I am building house at home. I’m from Ogbe-Ijoh. What am I going to do with his plot of land? Destroy to do what? So, he’s pointing finger at me that I was the one who destroyed the place?”

    Niger Delta Report learnt that the matter had been reported to the committee. Mr Linus Chima, a member of the committee and Press Secretary to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan,  said the matter would be investigated.