The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

Foundation lifts health sector in Delta with N100m

MTN Foundation has donated mobile clinic worth over N100 million including medical consumables lasting for a year to the Delta State government.

The event which held recently was witnessed by a large crowd including the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and members of the State executive council.

The colourful event held at Asaba-the Delta State Capital.

The project is under the first phase of the MTN Foundation Y’ello Doctor Mobile Medical Intervention Scheme (MTN F Y’ello Doctor Project)

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan praised the telecommunication giant for contributing to its human capital development agenda, urging the private sector to emulate the good gesture.

Uduaghan, while recounting his experience as a young medical doctor, said the mobile clinic”gives me emotional memories”.

According to him, as a youth corps member, he had two jobs which comprises manning the local health centre and the mobile clinic.

He said the mobile clinic was deployed to remote communities.

Uduaghan said the most fulfilling aspect was the ability to give healthcare to rural folks.

He said: “The more fulfilling part of my job was the ability to provide healthcare to these rural folks. The healthcare means a lot to these people. We take the rural poor for granted, because health means a lot to these people.”

He appealed to the MTN Foundation for support in its dialysis programme, adding that such support would enhance the first kidney transplant performed at Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara.

He assured that the mobile clinic would be used for the purpose for which it was donated, while advising the medical personnel to put the equipment to good use.

The Executive Secretary, Nonny Ugboma, said the event was in “keeping with the promise MTN made to Nigerians when the MTN Foundation was established in 2004: to improve the quality of life in our communities”, adding that through this intervention the telecommunication giant is “contributing to government’s efforts to enhance the quality of health care in the country thereby improving and transforming lives”.

The project, which is in its first phase has a total of 6 state-of-the-art mobile clinics deployed in six states nationwide including Abia, Delta, Ogun, and Taraba and one each in the North Central and Northwest zones of the country.

The project has been inaugurated in Taraba, Abia, Ogun and Delta states.

The MTN Foundation Y’ello Doctor Mobile Medical Intervention Scheme, according to Ms. Ugboma, is just one of the many projects under this portfolio include the MTNF Medical Support Project (MSP) MTNF Eye Sight Restoration Intervention Scheme(MTNF EyeRIS), Annual MTNF Community Health Screening Project and the MTNF Sick Cell Project.

Ms. Ugboma said MTN also invested in education and economic empowerment.

May 2, 2014
JTF, trade unions unite to fight oil theft

Oil theft. The phrase appears to have become permanently fixed in Nigeria’s crime diary. Every day, people break pipelines with venom, setting up illegal refineries in dexterity and ferrying with swiftness stolen oil out of the creeks of the Niger Delta.

But, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, is relentless in its war against economic sabotage. Like the proverbial hunter that keeps shooting at a bird that refuses to perch, the JTF especially in the regime of Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, has continued to explore every possible means to end the endless economic sabotage.

Maj-Gen. Atewe recently sought a collaboration with trade unions to facilitate the war against oil theft. Swali Market Association, representatives of keke NAPEP Association, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA) and Spare Part Dealers Association were among the trade unions that met with the commander at the Headquarters of JTF in Yenagoa.

Maj-Gen. Atewe described trade unions as a key element in the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta Region. He said that the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft is a collective responsibility and should not be left in the hand of security Agencies alone.

“Security is everybody’s business and should not be left in the hands of security agencies alone. There should be synergy between stakeholders, community leaders and the JTF especially in the areas of giving out credible information that will aid the task force to carry out its mandate” he said.

He insisted that the JTF would not successfully tackle the menace without partnering with stakeholders. He requested for credible information about the activities of oil thieves in the creeks to enable him confront the saboteurs headlong.

Apart from the economic damage, he said illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism have left the region in the throes of environmental and health hazards.

He said: “I am looking for information on the activities of these criminals and I assure you that we will not give out the source of our information. The fight against criminalities in Niger Delta can only be reliable and effective through providing timely information to us.

“Apart from the economic lost, the continues rupturing and breaking of oil pipelines causes a lot of health hazards to the people of the region thereby polluting the environment which could in turn result in the out-break of epidemic.”

Maj-Gen. Atewe said the ongoing military exercise in the creeks was aimed at eradicating all forms of illegal oil bunkering in the region. He said the exercise was to create a good atmosphere for oil companies to do their legitimate business to boost the nation’s economy.

He assured the associations of JTF’s readiness to execute its mandate professionally and called on all stakeholders to join in the fight against criminality and other sundry crimes.

He informed the union leaders of the composition of JTF and said the outfit had been expanded to include other paramilitary agencies. He named the newly incorporated agencies as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil companies.

Maj-Gen. Atewe stated that the newly included agencies have helped JTF to dominate the creeks and waterways in the region. He said the development has provided aggressive aerial surveillance of oil installations aimed at checking activities of economic sabotage.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Erebuo ThankGod, thanked the commander for the interactive forum.

He said the opportunity has helped stakeholders to contribute their ideas on the best way to tackle security challenges. He said the suggestions proffered during the meeting would help the commander to actualise the mandate of JTF.

He assured the commander of his union’s support in fighting criminalities in the region. Also, the Chairman of Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association Bayelsa State chapter, Henry Igborigi, sought the JTF’s assistance in checking the movement of vehicles to mechanic village.

He pledged his association’s support in the war against oil theft promising to give JTF credible information to actualise its mandate.

May 2, 2014
Goodluck and Godswill

Politics is a game that outsiders are bound to find fascinating, especially the variant practised in this clime. A father can sell his son or daughter all in the name of politics. Blood, in politics, is not thicker than water. In politics, a relationship of decades can come crashing down all because of interest. Like they say, in politics, there are no permanent friends but interests. This means what matters is interest. To hell with everything else.

Today, I want to tell the story of two political men whose relationship of late, to me, typifies politics Nigeriana! One answers Goodluck; the other is called Godswill.

In political terms, Goodluck is more relevant. He controls power at the centre. Godswill operates at the second wrung of the ladder.

For some time now, Goodluck has been having running battles from all angles. He needed people to work with him in tackling the challenges. Godswill was one of those who stuck out their necks for him. On his behalf, Godswill abused everybody possible. With words drilling with sarcasm, Godswill fought Goodluck’s enemies.

With the way the duo carried on, it was like no one can ever see through them. But the first sign that people like me saw which made us feel all that glitters is not gold was when a man who goes by the name King, another close ally of Goodluck, started campaigning to succeed Godswill, a development that obviously did not go down well with His Excellency.

I wondered then what was wrong. I asked why Goodluck would be sponsoring a candidate for a position his chief loyalist had his own agenda. I got no answer. Now, the answers are tumbling out and we sure will get more as the days go by.

In case you are still wondering, Goodluck is none other than our President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan. And Godswill is His Excellency— the good boy of Niger Delta— Obong Godswill Akpabio, who rules over Akwa Ibom.

Check the newspapers of recent, especially The Nation, and you will have a feeling that a political war is on in Akwa Ibom. Daily, advertorials upon advertorials are published. Some by pro-Akpabio elements; others by anti-Akpabio elements. Two important ones, which put in perspective the relationship between Goodluck and Godswill, appeared last week in this newspaper. One was the communique of a meeting by the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party held a meeting at the Government House, Uyo, where a vote of confidence was passed on Akpabio and a vote of no confidence was passed on the Adamawa-born Ahmed Gulak, who was sacked on Tuesday as Political Adviser to the President. The attack on Gulak was seen in bad faith by Chief Don Etiebet, who said he shunned the meeting for reasons, including the fact that it was supposed to have taken place at the party’s secretariat. Etiebet feels attacking Gulak, who might have been in Uyo on the president’s instruction, amounts to attacking Jonathan himself. He feels Akpabio should not have allowed that to happen. To him, if Gulak committed any infraction, the governor ought to have reported him to the president privately instead of ridiculing him publicly. Did Gulak’s sack have anything to do with this? Former FCT Minister Nasir el-Rufai does not think so. He believes Gulak will resurface as the Director-General of the Jonathan-Sambo Campaign Organisation. PDP chair Adamu Muazu sees Gulak as arrogant.

The poser from all these is: Is all well between Jonathan and Akpabio, especially as it concerns who leads the state next? Neither of them has publicly acknowledged any rancour, but some say things may fall apart soon. And I ask: is history about repeating itself? In 2007, when then Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah was leaving office, Akpabio, who was his Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, was not his choice. He preferred Bob Ekarika, his son-in-law. But, the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, favoured Akpabio. At the end of it all, the Presidency had its way and Attah was made to nominate a deputy. He chose his former Commissioner for Information Patrick Ekpotu, who did not last long before falling out with Akpabio. His successor as deputy governor has also since been replaced.

Akpabio has not publicly acknowledged who his choice for a successor is. Many believe it is Udom Emmanuel, his latest Secretary to the State Government, who was a top gun in the banking world. The governor has clearly said he would prefer his successor to be from Eket. Emmanuel is from Eket. But is Aso Rock thinking the same way with Akpabio? If not, then we may see a replay of the 2007 scenario, when Akpabio emerged.

The battle, no doubt, has begun. Last week, Commissioner for Finance Bassey Akpan and Commissioner for Rural Development Effiong Abia were sacked in what observers say is a continuation of the intense politicking in the build up to the 2015 elections. The governor also approved the immediate removal of the chairmen of some Boards of government parastatals and agencies. The affected chairmen include those for Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company Limited (APICO), Sunny Udom; Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited (AKWCL), Patrick Ifon; Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC), Dan Akai; and Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC), Alex Nyong. The Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Management Board (AKEPMB), John Asikpo; and that of Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development, Tony Esu, were also sacked.

The decision to sack the commissioners and the aides, explained the government, was “in view of the need to re invigorate the machinery of government and drive further the Uncommon Transformation Programmes of the state.” But, beneath this official reason is politics. Politics of 2015. Akpan, for instance, wants to be governor. He is said to be strong. So, interests have clashed and things have got to give way, simple! After all, there are no permanent friends, but interests.

It is worthy of mention here that the battle for the soul of Akwa Ibom is not just a matter of Goodluck and Godswill. Many people of Ibibio extraction are also unhappy with the governor. They say he cannot choose for them. Akwa Ibom is sure a state to watch as we journey to 2015. The plots are unfolding. Stay tuned.

May 2, 2014
Brick House…Danagogo’s home goal

Rivers State-born Minister of Sports Dr Tammy Danagogo was until some months back a commissioner in the administration of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He became a minister few eeks after quitting the administration to take sides with the federal forces battling his then boss.

Before him, a fellow Rivers indigene and Ikwerre son, Nyesom Wike, has been in the Goodluck Jonathan cabinet and was a major force in the Rivers crisis. Wike, like Danagogo, was also in Amaechi’s administration as Chief of Staff.

As colleagues in the cabinet, Danagogo and Wike are now the best of friends or what explanation can there be for Danagogo’s endorsement of Wike as Amaechi’s successor.

The Sports Minister, in an advertorial in this newspaper, spoke at a summit in Ahoada, where some Kalabari and Bonny leaders met. Danagogo described Wike as a dogged fighter for the enthronement of democracy in Rivers State. He also equated himself with the people of Kalabari and on their behalf endorsed Wike.

Obviously aware of the fact that since 1999 a section of the state has been in power and that Wike hails from the same area with Amaechi, who will finish a second term of four years next year, Danagogo warned against zoning. For obviously selfish reason, he became an advocate of merit over zoning. He forgot that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believes so much in zoning that it is an integral part of its manifestos.

Danagogo’s posture is in sharp contrast with that of his people in the riverine area, who are seriously campaigning for the position.

Some weeks ago, Rivers Ijaw elders placed an advertorial in this paper and came close to declaring Wike as wicked for daring to take what belongs to their people: Rivers governorship.

The elders, in a statement on their behalf by the Andoni-Opobo-NkoroLeaders of Thought, signed by Prof Dagogo Fubara, Alabo Biekpo Jack, Amaopusenibo Diri, Dr Francis Minimah, Capt Paul Akins, Sunday Paul, Chief John Egongh, Mr Ubokineme Owor and Gilbert Mkparo, said the Supervising Minister for Education “caused a few self-serving politicians in the two local government areas, ostensibly, to induce the endorsement of his governorship ambition, and cause same to be published and carried in both print and electronic media”.

They said: “We shall resist any such attempts at turning the two local government areas into a theatre of war. Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro people are too sophisticated to mortgage their tomorrow for a pot of porridge today. No amount of money can make us sell our right to the Brick House, come 2015.

“While we do not begrudge any person or group in Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro communities from taking any political position, it is our unequivocal stand that such a position should, and must not have the colouration of the majority of the people. The quest for pecuniary benefit by a few selfish polliticians in the area leaves a sour taste in our mouth. Such elements are willing tools in the campaign for the promotion of divisive tendencies. Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro communities had gone through very painful moments of political reclusion, and we do not intend to go back there.

“In so far as the people of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas are concerned, we have either considered, nor approved any Governorship candidate for Rivers State. We therefore call on all discerning, nor approved any Governorship candidate for Rivers State. We therefore call on all discerning minds to discountenance the induced, misleading and deceitful planned endorsement of Chief Nyesom Wike for the exalted office of the Governor of River State.”

Obviously, the position of these leaders of thought that a Kalabari man like (Danagogo), an Opobo man or a Bonny man should be given a the chance to lead the state means nothing to the sports minister. He prefers to be led by another Ikwerre man for another eight years! Call it a home goal and only a few will argue it.

May 2, 2014
Bad turbine cripples Jonathan’s town

At the time we inherited this machine, a machine that was supposed to be running at least 20 megawatts was only scheduled to run for less than six megawatts because of the obvious gaps in the machine already. We wouldn’t want to accept that machine the way we saw it. So, we want it to return to what we call zero-rated running hours. It is not true that we were actually doing this to deny some parts of the state electricity

Darkness. That eight-letter word reigns in Otuoke, the Bayelsa community where President Goodluck Jonathan hails from. Other towns, such as Nembe, Southern Ijaw and Ogbia are in the same dire straits as Otuoke. No thanks to the Kolo Creek Gas Turbine, which has thrown them in darkness for some months.

These areas are not connected to the national grid and since the early 1980s, they have derived their electricity from the turbine which was first installed by the Melford Okilo administration. Subsequent administrations have been maintaining and servicing the turbine as a major source of independent power generating plant in the state.

The Governor Seriake Dickson may have inherited the turbine in a moribund state. A gas turbine designed by Rolls Royce, Vancouver, Canada, to generate 20 megawatts of electricity was only hovering between four and six megawatts. After managing it for some months, the government decided to shut it down and returned the faulty component to Rolls Royce for repairs.

But the people are questioning the motive of the government. Some persons from the affected areas have accused the government of insensitivity. They claim that the administration of Dickson, was not doing enough to address the problem. Others believe that the government hates some parts of the state and is deliberately denying those areas electricity as a form of punishment.

Still, persons who know the facts believe that the accusers of the government are speaking out of anger and ignorance. Following the development, the Niger Delta Report sought clarifications from experts in government involved in the electricity management of the state.

But all of them insisted that the ongoing repairs of the Kolo Creek Turbine were responsible for the energy crisis in the state, especially in some local government areas.

The Commissioner for Energy, Francis Ikio; Special Adviser on Energy, Olic Kemenanabo and the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, took turns to explain facts behind the crisis.

Ikio said the faulty component of the turbine known as Gas Generator has been undergoing repairs in Vancouver, Canada. Ikio hinged the delay in delivering the equipment on technical issues.

Reading from a volume of progress report on the equipment sent to the state by the company, the commissioner said the faulty equipment would be ready for test-running on May 26.

He assured residents of the government’s commitment to their welfare insisting that the administration would not play politics with the development of the state.

Sympathising with areas heavily affected by the crisis, he described persons accusing the government of deliberately punishing and marginalising some communities as mischief makers.

He recalled series of times the component was refurbished in the past and said the current repairs would turn the gas generator to a new one.

“This government is serious and focused. There is no marginalisation or intention to punish anybody. We know the importance of power and we cannot afford to play politics with it,” he said.

Kemenanabo, the expert in energy, fondly called Mr. Power, provided further insights into the problem. He said the administration inherited a moribund turbine.

According to him the present government took over the turbine at a time it could only generate six megawatts of electricity instead of its 20 megawatt capacity.

He said: “At the time we inherited this machine, a machine that was supposed to be running at least 20 megawatts was only scheduled to run for less than six megawatts because of the obvious gaps in the machine already.

“We wouldn’t want to accept that machine the way we saw it. So, we want it to return to what we call zero-rated running hours. With that we would be able to run it if effectively managed for another six years as against two years. It is not true that we were actually doing this to deny some parts of the state electricity.”

Describing the gas generator as the engine of the gas turbine, he said the equipment was first repaired in 1999. He said after the repairs, the gas generator began to function as a new one and lasted till 2006. But, the handlers committed the first error that dealt a deadly blow to the turbine.

He said: “The second case was when it was sent out for repairs but not to the original manufacturers. It was through a vendor whose name is Alba Power. It repaired and returned it. From the date of commissioning, it was obvious that there were many cracks on the machine.

“This same machine ran only about two and half years and it was already collapsing before this administration came on board. When the government came into power, the government in his wisdom established a committee to appraise existing and new proposals for gas turbine.”

He said the committee decided to take the gas generator back to the original manufacturers for repairs. He disclosed that the generator was sent to Rolls Royce on December 20, 2013.

On the delay in repairing and bringing back the machine, he said: “That generator was sent out at about December 20, last year. From that day there was no space to move it into the repair shop of the company in Canada.

“The machine was conducted into the shop on January 19. Ordinarily, the time limit given to us should start from the day the machine was conducted and repairs started and by their own schedule, truly within four months, we would have received this machine back to site.

“Unfortunately, because of the various machines of this nature that have been going into that workshop, the balancing aspect of the equipment has been a little bit of constraint. We would have equally accepted this machine if we didn’t want a thorough work to be done,” he said.

He further assured: “By May 26, balancing of various segments would have been completed, assembled and we would be invited for what they referred to as performance acceptance test.”

On why the government decided to refurbish old generator instead of considering proposals for new turbines, he said it was foolhardy to discard a turbine because of a faulty component.

He said: “Every gas generator even the one on the aircraft requires what we refer to as C check. Therefore, when the gas generator is the only component that is a problem, it will be of no use for us to completely consigned to the archive the machine that every other part is good.

“The new gas generator is not readily available in the market. For you to get a brand new gas generator to replace the existing one, a lot of engineering work will take place and it will take nothing less than 18 months to get one gas generator from the manufacturers, Rolls Royce.

“So we are looking at the advantage of taking something in existence to create something that will be newer. Even if we buy a new gas generator, it will not last more than the five years that the refurbished one will last.”

He revealed other plans of the government on power. He said: “The state government has also done a lot of studies and signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure that we have a robust power generating system in the state.

“Currently, we are in the process of doing a 100 megawatts power plant at Imiringi as well. All documents have been signed and we are at the final stage of project execution.”

But the people of the state also recalled an electricity deal on RB211 plant which was supposed to generate 31 megawatts. After the initial frenzy the plant fondly called Orobo Michael in the past administration seemed to have died a natural death.

Kemenanabo explained: “The RB211 is a 31 megawatts power plant that is very robust. It is the Orobo Michael. The machine is a 31 megawatts power plant that is very rugged. Unfortunately, along the line, there were issues that needed to be cleared.

“We have cleared all those issues and we have agreed that the original contractors should come back to site to sign an agreement with us as to the days they will deliver that power plant. They sent a proposal to us for a power purchase agreement. We are waiting for perfection of documents.”

Furthermore, Kemenanabo was reminded that there was a proposed gas turbine at Etelebu in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area, during the administration of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. He said Alamieyeseigha acquired some plants for that purpose.

But providing some insight, he said there was never a time a power station existed in Etelebu. He acknowledged that the former governor bought three power plants which could all generate 20 megawatts. He said the plan was to build the power plants at Etelebu and sychronise it with the one at Kolo creek.

He, however, said the gas required to run the three stations at Etelebu was not feasible. He said the gas requirement would not materialise till the end of this present administration.

“That makes it reasonable for us to move all the three power plants to where we think that gas development will be as fast as possible. One of those machines have actually been completed practically and then a test run has been conducted already.

“All we are waiting for is for the contractors themselves who gave us a claim. The details of the control room have not been provided by the contractors. They have only sent a sketch which does not in any way justify the cost they are asking for. We have given them a time frame to bring their detailed control room design,” he said.

Iworisothe-Markson said the challenges in governance were enormous. He, however, added: “But we don’t want to give Bayelsans excuses. What they want is performance and we are committed to doing it. We want the people to know the efforts we have put in in addressing this problem. The problems will soon be over.”

April 25, 2014
NIMASA takes safety to Calabar small boat operators

Worried by the level of fatalities recorded by small boats on the waterways in Calabar, the Eastern Zone of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has carried out a campaign of safety to passengers and operators.

Zonal coordinator, Mr Tony Ogadi, who led the campaign to the Safe Journey and Creek Town jetties in Calabar said so much attention was being paid to larger vessels than the small crafts which actually recorded more incidents.

The agency also donated 30 life vests to the operators at the two jetties.

Speaking at the campaign tagged “Raising safety awareness among the maritime workers union and passengers”, he said the level of safety among small among small boats was not so good hence their intervention to regulate their activities.

Ogadi who is in charge of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States said, “Actually the level of safety now is not too good and that is why NIMASA is concerned about it.

“In every port office we have district surveyors who go around to ensure safety, but most of the inspections are geared towards the very big crafts to ensure safety. Now you find out that most of the big vessels don’t have these incidences we are thinking of. When they occur they are few. Where we have the recurrent one are the small craft operators. We had to see that the little ones too are abiding by the regulations. That is why we decided to make the first move and provide the vests before we start regulating. Mostly, the level of people that partake in this kind of transportation are the economically disadvantaged people who may not have the wherewithal to acquire the vests, both the boat operators and the passengers. So we decided to give them the vests to ensure that we have safety of lives.

“Hence forth it will become a routine exercise of our safety unit to ensure that life vests are given to them. Intend to come in to regulate those who operate small crafts because of the casualty we have been recording in the past and want to make an incursion into this and reduce to to the barest minimum.

“Safety goes with security and NIMASA decided to go the extra mile to go into a partnership with the Nigerian Navy to ensure that it guarantees safety and went further into a partnership with to Global West Vessels specialist to provide a platform to enable us patrol these water ways and ensure that the safety tenets are adhered to. With time the issues of accidents would be almost eliminated. You cannot entirely eliminate it but you guard against occurrences.”

Cross River State chairman of the Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria, Mr Christopher Edem expressed appreciation for the gesture and promised to abide by best practices for travel on the water ways.

April 25, 2014
Felix Obuah… One year after

The Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State came on board on April 15, last year, through the judgment by Justice Ishaq Bello of an Abuja High Court, which sacked the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive of the party that is loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Members of the Ake-led executive challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal, insisting that the suit should not have been filed at an Abuja High Court, equivalent of a Rivers State High Court, in a case involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which ought to have been filed at a Federal High Court. The case is still pending.

The Obuah-led executive, according to the Abuja High Court, was duly elected at the Rivers state congress of the PDP, which took place on March 17, 2012 at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Shortly after Obuah became chairman, in the Rivers House of Assembly, five of the 32 lawmakers: Michael Okechukwu Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III) switched loyalty to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Wike is also the grand patron of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI).

On April 22, last year, the then 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers, in a 32-member House of Assembly, suspended the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Prince Timothy Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke; and all the seventeen councillors.

A seven-member caretaker committee, headed by Chikordi David Dike was screened by members of the Rivers Assembly on April 23 last year and inaugurated on the same day by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), George Feyii, but unable to function effectively, with police sealing off the council secretariat on “order from above,” while ignoring the court order.

The Obuah-led PDP asked Amaechi to recall the suspended Obio/Akpor officials, but the governor insisted that it was the responsibility of the lawmakers, who were investigating the allegations of misappropriation of funds and corruption levelled against them.

The 27 lawmakers were eventually suspended from the PDP on April 29, 2013. Amaechi was later suspended from the ruling party by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP for anti-party activities and subsequently recommended for expulsion by the Rivers chapter of the party.

Amaechi eventually defected to the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Many elected and appointed officials also joined him in the APC, which angered President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the PDP.

Amaechi, an Ikwerre from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area, declared that Wike, also an Ikwerre, from Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, would never succeed him in 2015, preferring somebody from another ethnic group or senatorial district.

Wike said he is from Ikwerre South, while Amaechi is from Ikwerre North and that he is qualified to be next Rivers governor.

To mark his first anniversary, Obuah hosted on Saturday, April 19, members of the PDP (formed on August 31, 1998), his associates and friends at the Krisdera Stadium of his Omoku hometown, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA in Orashi, Rivers state, where a former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, hails from.

PDP members came from the 23 local government areas of Rivers State and beyond, with the event held amid tight security. An unmarked Armoured Personnel Carrier was stationed at the main gate of the stadium. People were frisked by stern-looking and fully-armed riot policemen.

The anniversary proper was preceded by a thanksgiving service at the stadium, with many clerics and gospel musicians in attendance, while cultural dancers were not left out in the carnival-like event, with politicians in attendance mostly wearing PDP uniform.

The supervising minister of education, while speaking at the first anniversary, alleged that Amaechi and his supporters were jittery and afraid, with efforts allegedly being made by them to return to the PDP from the APC.

He also accused the NGF chairman of planting moles in the PDP, claiming that members of the party knew them and their movements.

Wike described Rivers as a PDP state, while stating that the party would take over the seat of power in Rivers in 2015, from the APC.

Wike said: “When the Chairman (Obuah) and his team won on April 15, 2013, they said in the next three weeks, the judgment would be set aside. They are one year and they (Amaechi and his supporters) have moved to another party.

“Instead for them to concentrate on what is happening in their party, they are interested in what is happening in the PDP and they are all making efforts to come back to the party.

“What is important to us is how PDP will take back the seat of Government House, Port Harcourt in 2015. Let Amaechi not rush. Let him take it calmly. Let him take it easy. He has been telling various stories to different people and groups. All those people he has planted in PDP. We are aware. We know them and we know their movements.

“They are saying it is the turn of this and that. Come to the party. The party will tell you the war canoe house it is going. Come and participate in the affairs of the party, in order to be waxing stronger.

“We will not disappoint you. All of us, we are working as a team. Do not bother about their abuse. We are all human beings. People must abuse us. We are still moving forward. The best material will emerge. PDP does everything openly. APC is one man’s party. PDP is the people’s party.”

The supervising minister of education also stated that anybody who was committed to the affairs of the PDP, who believed in the party, would make sacrifice, reiterating that members of the PDP were one family, which he claimed was why APC members were afraid.

He noted that there must be a party first, for people to say they wanted to vie, while urging all the members of the PDP in Rivers state to come together and work for the party.

Wike said: “Rivers State belongs to all of us. Nobody will leave this state for any other person. If you want to fly the flag of this party, come to the ward, the local government, the state and make sure you support the activities of the party. Even if you have all the contacts in the world, you cannot be imposed on anybody. Let nobody be deceived.”

The Rivers Chairman of the PDP, in his welcome address, noted that the road in the last one year had been characterised by some challenges and obstacles, but still with some inspiring moments, with the challenges and obstacles surmounted through the support of the members of the PDP and their dedication to the party.

He noted that his stolen mandate was restored by the judgment of the Abuja high court, through the support of Wike, who was described as a liberator, with the founding members of the PDP in Rivers, who left the party now returning.

Obuah said: “Let me restate my resolve to give equal opportunity and a level playing field to every party member to express his or her political rights, as we approach the 2015 general elections, irrespective of social status, height and body weight, ethnic background, religious affiliation or colour.

“One of the cardinal principles and core values of the PDP relates to justice, equity and fairness, without which political relations soon degenerate into bitter conflicts and an inhuman power game and this I will discourage.

“We shall not succumb to intimidation and blackmail. We have been able to reconcile, restructure and reposition the party in all the wards of the state. We have been able to re-establish the party as the only viable option for the liberation and elevation of Rivers State and its people.”

The Rivers PDP chairman also urged members of the party in the state to work for and support the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015, whom he said must be delivered 100 per cent, while admonishing the party faithful to continue to be loyal to the PDP.

While also speaking, a former governorship candidate, Chief Sergeant Awuse, aka Bulldozer, noted that when the journey started a year ago, to some people, it was an impossibility, claiming that God made it possible.

Awuse also alleged that PDP was dead in Rivers state, before the revolution started, shortly after the emergence of Obuah as the helmsman, stating that many people, including him, were chased out of the party, with many founding members of the PDP back, which he said was made possible by Wike.

A former member of the House of Representatives from Rivers state, Chief Olaka Worgu, while also speaking at the first anniversary, alleged that when some unnamed persons tried to kill the PDP in Rivers State, the court rescued it.

A former Rivers Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Toru Ofili, claimed that Wike had brought Rivers people out of bondage, while assuring that Rivers people, especially the women, would support the supervising minister of education to the Government House, Port Harcourt in 2015, while urging him to listen to the cries of Rivers people and vie.

As Obuah and members of his executive are in their second year, which is very crucial, since primaries of political parties and general elections will be held during the period, efforts must be made not to heat up the polity in the volatile Niger Delta state.

April 25, 2014
Another Immigration jobs stampede victim is buried

It was a poignant occasion marked by tears and weeping. The people of Kalaibiama Community in Opobo Nkoro Local government Area of Rivers State buried 26-year-old Brown Darlington, one of the victims of Nigerian Immigration Service stampede in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He was one of five victims who died on that inglorious in the state. About 19 deaths were recorded across the country during the shambolic exercise.

Brown, a secondary school certificate holder, was described by his the stepmother, Mrs Victoria Brown, as an intelligent gentleman who struggled for self-survival.

His friends from Port Harcourt wept inconsolably as they accompanied his remains from the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) mortuary, Port Harcourt to his hometown. It was their last respect for the young man whose life was cut short. His remains eventually left the mortuary by 8am and got to Uta-Ewa waterside by 12 pm where the youths of Kalaibiama received his corpse with tears and pains.

At his family house, his bereaved mother Mrs. Grace Jaja slumped and became unconscious when she saw her son’s corpse. She was revived two hours later.

She said her late son was born in May 1988; he was the first of two left children, regretting that he left Port Harcourt on the day of immigration recruitment exercise and did not return home as he was wont to do.

“On that Friday, which is a day before the recruitment exercise he went out to buy white cloths and other materials for the recruitment. That night he set his phone on alarm to enable him wake up on time. Before he left the house he went on his knee asking God that even if it is 10 persons the immigration authority want for the recruitment his own name should be among. He did not eat that morning because there was no food except the one we ate last night. He told me to recharge his phone which I did. In our yard two women also went for the immigration recruitment.

“When it was time to come back I did not see him, so I waited for one hour, I did not see him. The two neighbours that went for the same recruitment came back. When I ask them if they saw my son they said the crowd was much nobody could see each other. But my son was yet to come back. So I started calling his line, it was rigging but nobody was picking. Suddenly somebody picks and told me if the person I am calling is my son I should run to Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH). When I got there I search the emergency ward where people who sustain injuries and those unconscious were kept but I did not see my son. It was later they directed me to check the Hospital mortuary, when I got there I saw Darlington my son dead. “

She said there is no amount of compensation that will bring her son to life and want the Federal government to take care of her family as her late son was their only hope. She said what happened to her son is like a dream as she is yet to believe that Darlington is dead. She regretted that Federal government with their partners could conduct shoddy recruitment.

She said: “Look at my life, my son is dead because he made effort to be like others and to get something doing to take care of me and the young one. I have only two children Darlington and his brother now that my first son is dead what do they want me to do? The only thing I want Federal government to do is to take care of me and my family.”

Some of the youths of the community who spoke to our reporters expressed dissatisfaction with the sloppy recruitment exercise and the inability of the immigration authority to send a representative during the burial of the victims.

The youth leader of Kalaibiama Community, Comrade Tamunoipirinye Rogers Tolafari, said there will be war if at the end Federal government did not redeemed its promises to the victims’ family. He said their greatest annoyance is the inability of the immigration authority to send a representative for the funeral of their friend and brother.

Addressing his follow youths at the funeral Comrade Tamunoipirinye said it is an act of wickedness for immigration authority to conduct a careless recruitment exercise that led to the death of youths of this country. He said there should be remorse on the side of the immigration.

“We are not happy, but we have to take things the way we see it, the worst thing that will happen is to hear that the Federal government at the end of the day did not fulfil the promise they gave to the deceased’s family, it will be war. I trust Jonathan he will redeemed the promise.”

On March 5, five victims were confirmed dead in Port Harcourt during the stampede. They include Grace Nwokaku Amah, 28, from Ubima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State; Kalu Sunday Okezie, 30, from Okon-aku Community in Ohafia, B Darlington and two others.

April 25, 2014
Rivers…Between David and Goliath

Rivers. That six-letter state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria always glows. From its days when Bayelsa was part of it, it has registered itself on our minds. The exertion of Bayelsa from it did not diminish its status. It is difficult to ignore. And almost impossible to forget.

By nature’s making, Rivers sits in a pretty cool location. So good is its location that the early White adventurists could not but make good use of it. Remove Lagos and Abuja and there is no other place in Nigeria that is a busy billboard in the country’s landscape. Talk of great icons or easily recognisable names, Rivers will not be find wanting. Talk of great institutions and entities, such as the University of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, will occupy plum positions. Let’s move to corporate entities and Rivers will give Lagos a ride for its money with organisations, such as the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, the Eleme-Indorama Petrochemical and many more.

Rivers is home to many an ancient town, whose place in history is incontestable. Let’s leave Port Harcourt, which is the capital city and has thus enjoyed what some may call ‘over’ advantage over others; there is Opobo, that riverine town which many of us first read about in history books many years back, was home to Jaja—the icon we all love to call Jaja of Opobo. There is also Bonny, another Rivers’ riverine town with history as rich as any other Island on earth. It is also blessed with the NLNG, which by any standard, is perhaps one of the world’s most successful private-public partnership.

Rivers, by nature’s design, is divided into two: the upland and the riverine. The bulk of the upland, I am told, is occupied by people with ties to Igboland. They, however, prefer to be called Ikwerre. Not a few of them will punch you if you refer to them as Igbo. Being the ‘majority’, they are Rivers’ Goliath and this has shown in the political leadership of the state since Bayelsa was carved out of it. The riverine people, who have not had a shot at the leadership of the state, for me, the David of Rivers.

In the Bible, David defeated Goliath. In political terms, it may not be that easy. Really, even in the Bible, it was easy for David before God made Goliath look to him like the uncircumcised Philistine. Everyone around David was seeing a giant, but he saw something else, something so low.

Like Governor Rotimi Amaechi said last Friday when he received elders of a riverine community, the leadership of the state is not the birthright of the Ikwerre. Thank God for people like Amaechi, who has vowed to resist the tyranny of the ‘majority’. There are many other Ikwerre sons and daughters who also feel others should be given a sense of belonging in the Rivers project. They are the ones God is using to make ‘David’ have a say in the presence of ‘Goliath’.

This is no time to allow such sentiment that the people of Rivers State are not thinking of a riverine governor for now. When will they think of it? Is it after the Ikwerre have led for 50 years? Room should also not be given to argument about what happened in old Rivers State. Old things, like the Bible says, have passed away and all things are new. We should focus on the new. The tyranny of the ‘majority’ should be consigned to the dustbin of history. It should not deny Rivers of great leaders of riverine origin.

Leadership, like writing, is innate. One of my lecturers in those days at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Victor Bamidele, would always tell us during the Broadcast Journalism class: “I cannot teach you how to become a writer. I can only help to bring out the writer in you.” Leadership too cannot be taught. It must be in you and you can be helped to bring it out. I sincerely believe there are leaders in Bonny, Opobo and other riverine towns who are waiting to take Rivers to heights unimaginable. The tyranny of the ‘majority’ should not disallow them.

All in Rivers must work towards getting David its due. Stakeholders in the riverine areas should continue to engage the upland people and make them see reasons to give them the chance to lead this state which has no rival in the whole of Southsouth and can also be rivalled by Lagos and Abuja in the whole of the country.

Resource Control again

On Tuesday, there were fireworks at a sitting of the National Conference’s Committee on Devolution of Power headed by former Akwa Ibom Governor Victor Attah. A report in this newspaper indicated that a delegate from the Southsouth argued in favour of the need to allow states to control resources in their domain. Hardly had he finished when a delegate from the North took him on. A lawyer-delegate was said to have intervened educating the members of the committee on the position of the law as it concerns littoral states and why states cannot have control of resources on waters around them. By law, the waters belong to the Federal Government.

My take: laws are made for man and man not for laws. Men make laws from time to time to guide themselves. When they also deem fit, they can amend the laws. So, that the law, for now, says the Federal Government owns the waters in Opobo, Bonny, Okrika and other riverine communities in the Niger Delta, in the first place, is laughable to me. But because it is the law, we have accepted it. I sincerely believe the time to amend the law is now. And the essence of the National Conference is to look at things that are not right and change them to better the society.

Let’s even forget the resources offshore, for the purpose of argument. The resources onshore, especially oil and other natural resources, are also in the firm grip of the Federal Government. I dare say the grip is killing and capable of strangulating the states in the Niger Delta. The time to loosen the grip is now. Over to you Attah and other resource control advocates!

April 25, 2014
Brick House…Wike versus Rivers Ijaw

A colleague of the Rivers State-born Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, once described him as ‘Wicked Wike’ jokingly. It was during the height of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis in Rivers State when police believed to be loyal to Wike were terrorising the oil rich enclave. The day before Wike was described as “wicked” by his colleague, police had descended on supporters of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and thrashed them mercilessly. The minister, said a report, laughed and added that he was in Abuja and had no hand in the wahala that happened a day before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

Ask anybody on Amaechi’s side and they will readily say the minister is truly wicked.

Last Tuesday, Rivers Ijaw elders placed an advertorial in this paper and came close to declaring Wike as wicked for daring to take what belongs to their people: Rivers governorship after Amaechi. What infuriated the elders was an attempt by Wike to get an endorsement from their area for his ambition, which, they said, was uncalled for.

The elders, in a statement on their behalf by the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Leaders of Thought, said it is the turn of the riverine area to lead the state.

The statement by Prof Dagogo Fubara, Alabo Biekpo Jack, Amaopusenibo Diri, Dr Francis Minimah, Capt Paul Akins, Sunday Paul, Chief John Egongh, Mr Ubokineme Owor and Gilbert Mkparo, said Wike “caused a few self-serving politicians in the two local government areas, ostensibly, to induce the endorsement of his governorship ambition, and cause same to be published and carried in both print and electronic media”.

The elders said their investigation revealed that this was the first of an orchestrated plan by lovers of underdevelopment to plunge the peace loving areas into series of sustaining political upheaval, with the active connivance of outsiders.

They warned: “We shall resist any such attempts at turning the two local government areas into a theatre of war. Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro people are too sophisticated to mortgage their tomorrow for a pot of porridge today. No amount of money can make us sell our right to the Brick House, come 2015.”

They added that any aspirant worth the salt should come forward through the appropriate and legitimate means, “rather than going through the back door to induce lesser minds for endorsement”.

They observed: “While we do not begrudge any person or group in Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro communities from taking any political position, it is our unequivocal stand that such a position should, and must not have the colouration of the majority of the people. The quest for pecuniary benefit by a few selfish polliticians in the area leaves a sour taste in our mouth. Such elements are willing tools in the campaign for the promotion of divisive tendencies. Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro communities had gone through very painful moments of political reclusion, and we do not intend to go back there.

“In so far as the people of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas are concerned, we have either considered, nor approved any Governorship candidate for Rivers State. We therefore call on all discerning, nor approved any Governorship candidate for Rivers State. We therefore call on all discerning minds to discountenance the induced, misleading and deceitful planned endorsement of Chief Nyesom Wike for the exalted office of the Governor of River State.

“It is instructive here, to state that the people of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro local governments areas believe in the principle of fairness and politics of inclusion. We believe that having shown and given untainted support and solidarity to other areas and senatorial zones in their period of governance, equity demands that 2015 is the turn of the Riverine Ijaws to take a shot at the governorship of Rivers State. Any act, therefore, that tends to say otherwise, does not represent the true spirit, zeal and drive of the riverine Ijaw Project 2015.”

Last week, ‘freedom fighter’ Alhaji Mujahhid Dokubo Asari also spoke against an Ikwerre man like Wike succeeding Amaechi. He said it is morally reprehensible in the light of the dominance of the political landscape of the state by the Ikwerre, to which Wike belongs, in the past 16 years.

April 25, 2014