The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Tears, anger as victim of stampede is buried

    Tears, anger as victim of stampede is buried

    One of the five victims who died in Port Harcourt during the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) employment disaster, Sunday Okezie Kalu, was recently buried in Ohafia, Abia state. Precious Dikewoha, who witnessed the ceremony, reports.

    It was all tears, pains, sorrows, emotions and angers when the remains of a Micro Biologist, Mr Sunday Okezie Kalu, one of the victims of Port Harcourt National Immigration Service employment stampede, was brought from Port Harcourt to his home town in Okon-Aku Community, Ohafia Local Government of Abia State for burial, last weekend. The ceremony marked the end of the young man’s five fruitless years search for a job.

    His corpse left the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt by 6am on that fateful Saturday and was received by his grieving parents, relatives and youths of Okon-Aku Community in Ohafia by 12pm.

    The white ambulance carrying the remains of late Sunday was escorted to his home town by his weeping friends from Port Harcourt, who later handed the corpse over to the youths of Ohafia who then took it round the community in a final rite.

    When his body finally got to his family’s house, his 48-year-old mother Mrs Justina Okezie Kalu, who collapsed and was later hospitalized for days when she heard the news of her son’s death, collapsed again and almost gave up the ghost.

    His father took in the event with a stoic equanimity and speechlessly watched his son’s corpse being carried out from the ambulance. The only sign of the pains he felt was his two trembling leg. He nodded his head intermittently as if willing his body to come to terms with the pains that flowed from his broken heart.

    The family and grieving community expressed their annoyance with the NIS by refusing the reading of a condolence message sent by Rivers State command of NIS. The message, which was signed by the Comptroller General was rejected by the community and the relatives of the deceased. The youths of the community said it was unnecessary as it would not bring back their kinsman.

    The mourners struggled with sorrow as they commenced the burial of a promising youth who they had touted as one of the futures of the community. Their anger became even more intense when they realised that the condolence letter was not accompanied by any official of the NIS.

    The grieving mother said she warned her son not to attend the recruitment exercise, but she gave in when he explained that he had to get a job to secure his future.

    Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Kalu, the father of the decease, a security guard with Abia State Primary School Board, said nobody should blame his son. Rather, he said the blame lies squarely with the organisers of the shoddy recruitment exercise for playing politics with human lives. He said the handling of the exercise showed clearly the organisers’ disregard for young Nigerians who responded to their requests.

    Kalu, 55, said: ‘’Some persons are saying he shouldn’t have apply for the job but what do they want him do. As a graduate I think his decision to apply for the immigration job was in the best interest of the family. My son was an academic hero from primary to tertiary education. He studied Micro Biology at Ebonyi State University and graduated in 2008, he served this great country during his one year compulsory National Youths Service Scheme (NYSC) and did his primary assignment at Baptist Grammar School, Otu-Itesiwaju Local Government of Oyo State.

    “The painful part of the death of my son is that I suffered as security man to train him from primary school to university level and now that I am anxiously waiting the day I will eat the fruit of my labour everything has turned upside down. It is unfortunate that I am to bury my son instead of the other way round. My son’s death has made me lose hope in anything that has to do with Federal Government. I don’t believe the Federal Government anymore even as they said they will compensate the deceased family with jobs, as for me, it is just a story I don’t believe them.”

    Narrating how the family received the news of Sunday’s death, Mrs. Kalu, 48, said the last time she saw her late son was on Friday evening, a day before the evil recruitment exercise.

    “He visited me in Port Harcourt to tell me that he was going to be part of the immigration job recruitment. But my spirit did not accept such movement so I told him to forget about the recruitment. But he said he was going to be fine. He also made me to understand that he was not comfortable living as graduate without job.”

    She added that when she received a call telling her that her son was among those who died at Eleekahia Stadium’s stampede, she became comatose.

    “Somebody told me on phone that my son was among of those who died, that was the only thing I could remember, because I was unconscious and hospitalized for days. Those who organize this recruitment are wicked and heartless.”

    Elders, chiefs and youths of the community wept uncontrollably as lambasted the Federal government’s insensitivity in setting up a committee for fresh recruitment.

    They argued that setting up a new committee for fresh recruitment when victims’ families are yet to bury their loved ones is unnecessary. They also said it is disrespectful to young and vibrant youths who lost their lives in the cause of shoddy recruitment exercise organised by Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “Nobody is stopping the Federal government from setting up a new committee to organise a fresh recruitment. What my people are saying is that it is bad to do that now when those who died on the last recruitment exercise are yet to be buried. We will protest if they go ahead to do that,” Chief Joseph Madueme said.

    Chief Lucky Chukwuma, another elderly man in the community, said: “The Federal government is not serious, look, we don’t expect any recruitment now until after one year. This is to respect those applicants who sacrifice their lives because of this job. Any further recruitment at this moment is tantamount to betrayal.”

     

  • ‘Why Ndoma-Egba must seek re-election’

    ‘Why Ndoma-Egba must seek re-election’

    The race for who occupies the seat of the central senatorial district in Cross River State is hotting up. It is now occupied by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba. There are forces in high places against his fourth return. But, the chairman of the Forum of Past Student Union Leaders in the state and former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Jerome Egbe, spoke with NICHOLAS KALU on why he must seek re-election

    What is your forum about?

    The forum comprises of all former students union presidents, all local affiliated students who have served in one capacity or the other in the universities, polytechnics or colleges of education. They form the nucleus of the forum and it is a kind of leadership training ground.

    You have expressed your support for the senate leader to run in 2015. Why did you take this position?

    We have observed that for the past 35 years when Cross River had an opportunity in the national political scene with the election of Senator Joseph Wayas as the Second Republic Senate President in 1979, which leadership was terminated by military intervention. Since 1983 till date we also know that Cross River has not gotten a voice in the national politics. And now we have a victory of our own illustrious son in the person of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and he is the Nigerian Senate leader and that has been able to bridge that gap after 35 years. We felt that this kind of person need not return home. He needs to continue to consolidate on the gains of his past achievements and it is against this backdrop, that we say being the second highest ranking senator, we felt his return in 2015 is an embodiment of change in Cross River in totally.

    We also take note that his return in 2015 will not only sustain Cross River on the national political map, but we also say that in terms of effective and quality representation for the good people of the central senatorial district, he deserves tenure. We also look at it that after these 35 years we have this young and dynamic senate leader we felt it is an added advantage to Cross River. We have also followed the trend of his leadership and we have seen his contribution on the floor of the senate. We also take note that he has been in several delegations of international dimensions. Most recently and most significant the presidency of the African Legislative Forum that brought over 150 presiding officers of African parliaments to Abuja and we felt that feat is second to none.

    We have also seen that out of the six specialist hospitals in the 36 states we have seen one sited in central senatorial district. Over 540 persons have directly benefitted from his scholarship scheme in the central district. If he does not return we would have no option than to carry out a law suit against his person. It is our decision as a forum that Ndoma-Egba has made us proud and should go back. He does not need to retire. This is our chance to lend our voices and we urge all well-meaning Cross Riverians to lend their voices to support this struggle. Nobody is perfect, but we pray not to lose our position in the national space.

    Those against him say he has stayed too long and should let someone else take over.

    For us if a team is winning you don’t change it. Why should you substitute such a team? Why should you change something that is working? He is human and would have his short comings. It is only when you have not performed credibly, that is when we have second thoughts to say let us look at what you have done whether it qualifies you to return or we look for a substitute. But for now Ndoma-Egba has done very well and we know that if he returns whoever we are sending from central cannot be the senate leader and as such it is a monumental damage and loss to us as good people of the central and the state.

  • ‘Foreigners behind renewed security threats in Niger Delta’

    ‘Foreigners behind renewed security threats in Niger Delta’

    A security expert, Benjamin Irikefe, was a member of the Presidential Panel on National Security (between 2001 and 2002) and also a member of the first Presidential Retreat on National Security held in August 2001. Irikefe, now the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency (NACOJSP), spoke with Eric Ikhilae.

    There is growing threat of renewed insurgent activities in the Niger Delta where the president hails from. Some groups have threatened to blow up some pipe lines, and people are saying that if the president cannot ensure security in his region there is guaranty that he will win the battle at the national level. What do you think?

    I will tell you categorically that militancy, in its true sense, has ended in the Niger Delta. The amnesty programme being coordinated by Kingsley Kuku has performed excellently well. What you have there now are just essentially criminal elements. Everybody can go to the cyber space and claim to be all kinds of things. Those who were doing the insurgency were agitators, they were not criminals. They were not faceless, and as soon as the Federal Government declared amnesty, they came out in the open and said ‘these are our grievances.’ And the Federal Government is doing very well. They are being trained; everything is in public domain. Many of them today are pilots, engineers and all kinds of professions, and some are doing education.

    So, if anybody tells you that there is an organized militancy in the place, that person is a liar and a wicked person.

    So, who are behind theses fresh threats?

    The issue has to do with criminal elements, who are interested in oil theft. It has become an organized crime, where foreign nationals—Indians, Philippines, Pakistanis and so on and so forth are coming to commit crimes in this place, trying to steal our crude oil. It is not the local Niger Delta people that have these vessels. So the common people are suffering in the midst of plenty due to this illegal bunkering.

    The ex-militant leaders have full control over their boys and the Federal Government’s amnesty programme under the leadership of Kuku has succeeded. In the whole world, this is the only amnesty programme where there is no United Nations involvement, it is home grown and it is a total success.

    So I will not agree with you that there is resurgence. You can only tell me or call it criminality, people want to get rich. If you check today’s newspapers, you will see the story of a Briton arrested in the Niger Delta over this. He even tried to offer 20 to 30 million naira bribe, but the JTF refused.

    Your group has asked the governments of Adamawa Borno and Yobe states to end insurgency in their states within 30 days, given that they have got security votes to address the security challenges. Do you think your request is appropriate, given that they do not control the military and the police?

    We are trying to point out that there is failed leadership here. If the leadership refused to provide for the youths, they become easy recruits to people, who can use them. This is because they become available to hungry power seekers and people who have agenda of trying to undermine the state, undermine the security and so on.

    So what this coalition is saying is that these governors are not doing enough to ensure that they provide employments for the youths; trying to empower people who, for instance are farmers, to get wholesome alternatives. That is the angle we are coming from.

    It is just a call that governors of these states must be alive to their responsibilities. That is just the long and short of it. It has nothing to do with the control of the security apparatus or security infrastructures.

    Do you believe that President Jonathan can win the next presidential election, given the current opposition against him?

    I must tell you with all sense of responsibility that, if you conduct an election today, President Jonathan will win 2015 election. The challenges of the country today are not caused by President Jonathan, they have been there. These problems have been there and this government has tried to address them.

    For instance, in the power sector, this is the first time in the history of the country that power has been handed over to core investors. Although we know that it will be expensive, but the issue of power is going to become a thing of the past very soon that even the artisans would begin to enjoy their businesses. Because of his leadership style, which has won people hearts, he will triumph over others. There are people who just woke up and think that they will get popularity by beginning to make unfounded criticisms of the president.

    This is the only country where people will just wake up and begin to abuse the president. These are people who have been made to become governors, people who have been made to become ministers, people who have been made to be federal legislators. They get up and abandon their political party just like a woman abandoning her husband and go outside her matrimonial home and begin to abuse the husband. I don’t have any doubt; it is not a question of whether President Jonathan will win the election. It is the margin. You will be surprised.

    What happens if the opposition defeats him?

    If Jonathan does not win, heaven will not fall. But his track records will speak for him at the election. I have given you an example here that out of the 100 percent, he has already scored 59 percent. He has already had about 59 out of 60 and just left with 40 percent in examination. But people who have zero percent because of the fact that they are moving from one political party to the other have lost 20 percent, so there is no way Jonathan will lose any election.

    What is your assessment of the President and his governance style?

    President Jonathan is a leader who has passion for leadership. He is a mobiliser, a harmonizer and a man of peace, who has a genuine desire to develop his country. But, who is confronted with daunting challenges, saboteurs, people who do not wish other well; those who just wake up in the morning and call others names. It’s like a case of a kettle calling pot black.

    So, even the international community looks at him as a man who is facing challenges that are not easy. They know that Nigeria is still a native country, with a lot of primordial groupings; anything you do, they hold you. They know that President Jonathan is not a weak leader. The only thing is that he is patient. Even my wife tells me at times that I am too patient and I just watch because at times when you react, many things will happen. That is it.

    You are rooting for the return of President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo in 2015. But, if you sample the opinion of Nigerians, many will tell you that both have not really done well, particularly in the area of security. What is your take on this?

     

    Well, I am not a mere person in security issues. Like I told you earlier, I was a member of the Presidential Panel on National Security. I understand the national security infrastructure, the national security procedures and the complex nature of the country.

    What is happening in the Northeast is an insurgency that is not domestic; that has its foreign components. You cannot say these people are poor Nigerians, because they have all kinds of weapons. They have rocket propelled grenades, they have brand new jeeps and they seemed not to be short of ammunition and so on and so forth. So, it is something that is alien.

    This security threat is not limited to Nigeria; let us not give the picture that Jonathan is weak. It is across the whole world. Right when the Pentagon, the most secured place in the whole world, with all the computers in the US, was bombed, this issue has become a global one.

    How do you see the future of the country with President Jonathan winning the next election, given the threat by the North that power must return to that part of the country, and a counter threat by some individuals in the Niger Delta that there will be war should he lose?

    Let me tell you, the mere fact that Nigeria has celebrated its centenary shows that Nigeria will not break up. I am not saying that if President Jonathan did not win the election, people will riot or there will be war and all that. But I know that based on his track record, victory will be on his side.

    I don’t see any alternative to President Jonathan at this time to rescue Nigeria from this chaos.

     

  • Our Dame has done it again

    Our Dame has done it again

    Until recently, zoning was one word that did not find a space in my dictionary. And for justification, I did not stay in this sphere. United States of America was a regular example for me to cite. I was always pointing at the fact that Mrs Hilary Clinton almost became America’s President eight years after her husband Bill left office. Americans saw nothing wrong in it. Also cited to back my aversion to zoning and the likes is the fact that George Bush snr and jnr led America some years after each other.

    But with time, I have come to accept that Nigeria is not America. Unlike America, Nigeria is a nation of over 250 ethnic groups, where as much number of languages are spoken. Americans speak only one language. Their country is far bigger than Nigeria. I actually see it as a continent. But the fact that they speak one language makes things a lot easier.

    Here our people feel a sense of belonging when one of their own is in power. They feel alienated when power is held by a part of the state or country for a long time.

    My concern this week is Rivers State, where Dame Patience Jonathan, our dear President’s wife, has done it again. For some time now, there has been a debate in the state about where power should shift after Governor Rotimi Amaechi must have completed his tenure. Amaechi, an Ikwerre person, will complete his eight years as governor next year. Before him, Sir Peter Odili did eight years. Both men are from the upland part of the state.

    The state geographically is divided into town, the upland and the riverine. Since the upland has done 16 years, the riverine people are saying this is our time and they held a summit not long ago to seek the understanding of the upland people for their quest.

    The First Lady is from Okrika, one of the riverine communities. Other communities that are riverine include Andoni, Opobo, Nkoro, Bonny and so on. Being a riverine person, not a few had expected the Okrika-born First Lady to support the quest of her people for the coveted seat. But if the statement by an aide to the Dame is anything to go by, she thinks the people of Rivers may not be ready to have a riverine governor.

    The statement by the First Lady said she was in support of the governorship ambition of Supervising Minister for Education Nyesom Wike. It also described Wike as the leader of PDP in River State. What that means is that the First Lady considers Wike as more important in Rivers PDP than the likes of Odili, Dr Ombo Isokrari, Chief Victor Odili, Prince Uche Secondus (Deputy National Chairman of PDP) and Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the Minister of Sports.

    The First Lady was not done. She also said the minister ‘enjoys the followership of the people of Rivers State and that is why the First Lady is solidly behind Nyesom Wike’.

    For me, I think the First Lady should avoid dabbling into matters like this. She should follow the first part of her statement where she said she never dabbled in party affairs. I wonder if declaring support for a particular candidate does not amount to dabbling in party affairs. I also think it is insulting to the intelligence of Rivers people to say they are not thinking of having a governor from the Riverine area after 16 years of being ruled by governors of the upland part of the state and eight of those years being under an Ikwerre person .

    The riverine people are serious about producing the next governor. Not long ago, they forgot political affiliations to chart a course. The theme of their summit was “The Eastern Delta in the Political Development of Rivers State: Past, Present and Future”. Organised by the Eastern Delta People’s Association (EDPA) , speakers after speakers at the Atlantic Hall of the Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt demanded to produce the successor to Amaechi in 2015.The event, which attracted persons across party lines, had in attendance the cream of Rivers Ijaws from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, elder statesmen, political office holders, religious leaders, women, youths and students. Interestingly, despite the political crisis in Rivers State, which has divided the people along party lines, the political elite still came under one roof to demand that riverside communities must produce the next governor.

    A speaker at the summit was quoted as saying there was an unwritten pact about power rotation in the state. Interestingly, Amaechi, who will play a big role in deciding who succeeds him, has been quiet. Though his commissioner for Information Mrs Ibim Semenitari was at the summit, she only seized the opportunity to highlight her boss’s achievements and called for unity among the Rivers’ Ijaw. There was no indication as to whether or not the governor believes in the riverine people’s cause.

    Interesting times sure lie ahead in Rivers and the First Lady needs to be careful. As an indigene of Rivers, she has a right to have interest in who leads the state. But she will be overstepping her bounds by seeking to impose a candidate on the people.

    I sincerely believe it will be unfair for the next Rivers governor to be another Ikwerre man. It would not have mattered if this were America. But this is Nigeria. The First Lady should stick to the first part of the statement by Ayo Adewuyi that she ‘does not meddle in the affairs and selection process of the ruling party, the PDP’.

    And to the riverine people, in deciding who to root for eventually, the best man should be chosen so that merit can still be achieved. Pedigree, character, fear of God, sincereity of purpose, evidence of touching people’s lives and, above all, the ability to deliver the goods should be major crtierion in deciding a candidate.

    Madam, your husband has enough headache, please do not add to it for him by being solidly behind a man whose kinsman has led the state in the last almost seven years and still has another year or so to go.

  • New dawn for Delta’s physically challenged

    New dawn for Delta’s physically challenged

    The hall was packed full .It was a sea of yellow shirts and baseball caps as physically challenged persons stormed Asaba-the Delta State Capital in their numbers from the twenty-five local government areas.

    .Many came unaided, but some were brought in while others came with crutches, wheel chairs. They were all excited, expectant and hopeful of a better tomorrow.

    It was on the occasion of the disbursement of N18.4 million by the Delta State Government to physically challenged persons in the State in furtherance of government’s Human Capital Development agenda.

    A total of 249 physically challenged persons benefited from the financial empowerment with 119 persons receiving N100, 000 each, while130 persons received N50,000 each.

    The ceremony titled: “Teaching men how to fish”, put together by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and office of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on physically challenged, aimed at training and empowering the physically challenged for economic self-reliance.

    Commerce and Industry Commissioner, Mr Kingsley Emu, who represented the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, reiterated the commitment of the present administration to the welfare of the people who were physically challenged, adding that they were also covered by the Human Capital Development Agenda in the state.

    The Governor noted that the essence of the programme was to ensure that unemployment was reduced in the state describing them as being very beautifully made by God.

    He enjoined them to make the best use of whatever sum they were empowered with, to enhance their skills as well as justify the interest of government in them by the investment.

    He said that efforts would be made to ensure fair and equitable disbursement so as to enable all the beneficiaries get their dues in the scheme.

    Also speaking, a resource person who addressed the physically challenged at the event, Mr David Anyaele, urged them to look beyond their physical appearance, noting that “there is ability in disabilities”.

    He charged them to be transparent in whatever business they are doing or want to venture into as that was they only sure way to success.

    Anyaele commended the Delta State government for its support for the physically challenged which he said would help to discover their potentials as well as encourage them to bolster their economic fortune.

    On her part, the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on the physically challenged, Ms Omasan Buwa, said the financial assistance was to boost their skills and enhance possible expiration of their businesses, having acquired skills.

    She therefore urged them to justify government’s effort by being committed to their businesses.

    Also in attendance was the Economic Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Mr Afam Obiago.

  • Dickson, hear Miss Oyintarila‘s prayer

    Her story is pathetic. It is difficult to read it and not pity her. It reads like this: Miss Ekade Oyintarila, as a youth corps member, participated in the voter registration exercise and had an accident. She is now confined in a small room at Akenfa, a suburb in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. The 27-year-old graduate of Economics from the Niger Delta University (NDU), in the last cover report of Niger Delta Report said: “Sometimes, I even get tempted to commit suicide because of the situation I found myself. I have tried suicide not once. When I became a graduate, I felt I had achieved one of my dreams in life. I got my NYSC letter and went to camp and came out . What I wanted to do after my youth service was to get a good job, be useful to the society, my family and myself.

    “I had an accident. On the last day of the preview, we submitted all our computers, tools they (INEC) gave to us and also collected our allowances. Actually, I was on the way to collect the allowances when I had the accident.

    “I later discovered myself in an ambulance. I asked the man with me what happened. He told me it was an accident. He asked me of my people’s address. It was only my father’s phone number that I could remember off by heart then.

    “He called my dad immediately and I spoke to him. My father asked me not to worry, that I was going to be okay. That was the last thing I remembered. I went back into a coma.

    “I was at the recovery ward, the former President of INC was even in the same ward with me and some government officials were coming to see him. I tried to get their attention –to let them know what was happening to me and that I needed help-nobody was willing to help.”

    She wrote Governor Seriake Dickson. The governor received the letter and sent acknowledgement dated August 15, last year and signed by the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Dido Waltson-Jack, to the family of Ekande. Dickson further sent his Commissioner for Health, Dr. Anapurere Awoli to visit Oyintarila and assess her condition. The commissioner visited the family and rekindled the hope of the victim. But several months gone by, Oyintarila’s hope has been hanging.

    The commissioner said he forwarded a memo of his recommendations on the victim’s condition to the governor on August 21, last year.

    A November 12, last year letter by Miss Oyintarila thanked the governor for sending his commissioner to her. She reminded the governor that the file of her case had been sent to his table.

    She begged: “His Excellency, l now have a renewed hope that l can walk again as my file is on your table for approval. I am a hard-working girl. I was serving my nation Nigeria on INEC assignment as a corps member when l had an accident.

    “But NYSC and INEC abandoned me at my critical time in hospital and now. Most of my colleagues are all working now but l am still on crutches. Please, sir, help me so that l can go for the final surgery in India to enable me walk and work and contribute my services to the Restoration Agenda.”

    What more is there to say? Dickson seems to hold the key to Miss Oyintarila walking again. Please make her walk, your Excellency.

  • Refocusing NDDC for better service delivery

    Refocusing NDDC for better service delivery

    The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bassey Dan-Abia has said the commission must be alive to its responsibilities. He spoke at a three-day retreat for members of the board and management of the commission at the Ibom Le Meridien Hotel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The theme of the retreat was “Re-focusing NDDC for better service delivery.”

    Addressing the members of the board and management, the Chairman of the board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw said: “I believe that it is now time to tell ourselves some home truths. It can no longer be business as usual. Substantial and immediate changes for the better must take place.”

    At the end, the board and management of the NDDC agreed to evolve robust and innovative strategies in order to deliver on the mandate of the commission.

    In a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of the retreat, the NDDC leadership outlined its strategy to transform the commission in order to achieve better service delivery and align with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. The resolutions, jointly signed by the Chairman of the NDDC board, the Managing Director, as well as the two executive directors in the commission, stated that the agency would actively seek the co-operation of other stakeholders to achieve its vision as captured in the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.

    Senator Ewa-Henshaw, who flagged off the retreat, said it was very timely, coming at a critical time in the history of the NDDC. He noted that the Bureau of Public Service Reform had, in 2013 “observed that the commission has a large pool of capable personnel, which is constrained by poor leadership, weak institutional systems and a culture of impunity.”

    The NDDC chairman warned members of staff of the commission that it would no longer be business as usual. He said he was hopeful that the retreat would re-orientate the minds of members of the NDDC family and re-focus their attention to address the image problem of the commission. He urged the participants to leave Uyo with a more positive attitude and a greater commitment to achieving the goals of the NDDC.

    Corroborating the chairman’s views, the Managing Director admitted that the commission was losing focus, even as he added that the critical question was how to get back on track.

    He said “holding this 2014 board and management retreat is our first step at getting back on track.”

    He said the priority of the board was to re-position the commission for better service delivery which would contribute immensely to achieving the objective “to offer a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of the Niger Delta region.”

    Sir Dan-Abia conceded that the quality of some of the infrastructural projects undertaken by the NDDC fell below acceptable standards and this had made the people of the region to differentiate NDDC projects from other well-delivered ones.

    He, however, traced some of these shortcomings to inadequate funding, noting that the release of funds from contributing partners does not follow the funding provisions of the NDDC Act of 2000.

    After the retreat, the commission said some external constraints hinder the commission’s efforts to effectively discharge its duties.

    “Some of the constraints pertain to compliance with provisions of the NDDC Act of 2000, Public Procurement Act of 2007, funding and issues surrounding the ownership of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.”

    The resolutions further stated that there were internal challenges “which include weaknesses in the management systems and procedures; corruption, defects in the organisational structure, disconnect between staff performance and reward system; weak interface between head office and state offices; poor corporate communication culture and in-fighting within the commission.”

    They said in-line with the recommendations of the Master Plan, NDDC would embark on medium and long-term planning beyond the annual budgeting exercise. The resolutions stated: “It is important to underline that the Master Plan is a regional plan in which all stakeholders, including state and local governments and the NDDC are required to take ownership and play their parts in the course of its implementation.”

    The NDDC board and management also resolved that they “will initiate, build and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholder groups with the view to improving working relationships and co-operation with such organisations and institutions. The Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism will be explored to leverage NDDC’s ability to undertake major/critical projects towards the delivery of its mandate.”

    The retreat was not all about the members talking to themselves. Other stakeholders were also present to proffer solutions to the challenges confronting the commission.

    The Presidency, which supervises activities of the commission, was represented to offer a deeper insight into what should be its responsibilities.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the SGF office, Mr. Linus Awute, urged the new board and management of the NDDC to change its strategy to fully align the activities of the commission to the roadmap set by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms.

    Senator Anyim said President Goodluck Jonathan had directed that the NDDC should be “supported to develop a management structure that is fit-for-purpose, that can ensure that the board and management team of the commission work effectively and harmoniously to deliver on its mandate.”

    He said:”The signal we are getting now is that the commission has started operating with the development templates that are built on the condition for mutual accountability. To us, such stride is commendable as it is in alignment with the principles of transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, which is also in tandem with our collective national vision as articulated in our National Strategic Development Plan to address the enormous challenges facing Nigeria in the quest for economic prosperity.”

    He said the expectations of the Presidency was that there should be a correlation between the Federal Government policy thrust as encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda and the activities of the NDDC. He acknowledged that substantial progress had been made in transforming the economic fortunes of the Niger Delta region, noting, however, that there was still more work to be done by the new administration in the NDDC.

    The SGF said the report of a recent monitoring exercise undertaken by his office on the activities of the NDDC was encouraging. According to him, the exercise commended the great strides the commission had made with the completion of some projects and programmes that had direct impact on the beneficiaries of the locations where the projects were sited.”

    Senator Anyim said the report also noted major “constraints to the timely completion of projects. These include, delayed interim payments to contractors, poor consultancy work, undue requests for reviews and variations as well as inadequate funding of mega projects arising from faulty planning.”

    One of the keynote speakers spoke on regional infrastructure that was bound to transform the Niger Delta.

    Mayne David-West, a design engineer, made a presentation on the proposed East-West Coastal Highway.

    He said the East-West Coastal Road was pivotal to the rapid development of not just the Niger Delta but the entire country. He said by strategic design, the road would be Nigerian extension of the Trans-West African Coastal Highway segment linking Dakar-Banjul-Monrovia-Lome-Lagos.

    The member representing Uyo (North East) Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State in the Senate, Senator Ita Enang represented the National Assembly.

    He advised the NDDC to widen its horizon and venture into industrial activities such as investing in the building and running of modular refineries, to secure the future of the people of the Niger Delta.

    Senator Enang said the NDDC should not concentrate only on building roads and other infrastructure but must begin to make investments that would outlive oil production in the Niger Delta.

    “It may look like a tall order but that is the way to go to ensure a sustainable development for the oil-rich region. The truth is that oil is not going to be important forever.

    “So, we must begin to prepare for life after oil. We have to keep something for our children who may have to live in a world where oil is no longer relevant,” he said.

  • The meeting

    The meeting

    He was the last person I was expecting to see. I could have also missed him. But the grey hair called attention to him. I checked the face and a step behind me was one of the men of influence in today’s Nigeria.

    Our first meeting was in an NGO’s office in Ogba, Lagos. It was in 2008. Then I had just ‘ported’ to this newspaper after working for some nine years in two different news magazines. I am sure he cannot remember that meeting again or even remember me. A big brother and friend of mine had arranged the meeting. He came across to me as a humble human being despite his exploits in the NGO world and his past position as Commissioner for Information in oil-rich Bayelsa. We sat face-to-face and he told me he would need some media mention for a project he was working on then. We parted and only had indirect contacts after that.

    Some months back, I saw him in Lagos. He clearly had no memory of ever meeting me before and I did not bother to introduce myself. He was presenting a book on behalf of the Presidency which he now works for. But what struck me and many others that day was that he had emaciated and grew grey. He looked older than his age. His eyes were bulging as if ready to come out of the sockets. Some of us suggested he should sit while making his presentation. He refused on the excuse that he had been sitting all day.

    As loud as his voice could go, he enumerated the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan and said politics apart, Jonathan had changed a lot of things.

    Douglas said politicking in the country has blinded the people to the progress being made by the President and his team, adding that a lot of transformation is on-going.

    He said: “When it is time for politics, we should play politics. But there is no need to play politics with development. It is wrong for anybody to say this administration has done nothing. In this publication, you will see evidence that this administration has performed more than any other in record time. Pictures can’t lie and pictures tell stories better than a thousand words.

    “I challenge us to go and verify the facts in this publication and then report back to the public. What this administration has done is unprecedented. We must give credit when due and not allow politics to cover facts about development.”

    He added that Jonathan would not play politics with the Transformation Agenda.

    “This administration is serious about development and will not play politics with development,” he said.

    After the presentation, he answered questions, accepted blames where he should and debunked myths when he sensed one.

    We left the meeting with someone like me praying for him to regain his health and be able to withstand the rigour of his office. I did not know that I was going to see him soon again. On Monday, March 31, I was about boarding a late-night flight from Lagos through London to New York with my wife when I saw him at my back spotting a brown check suit and a pair of black trousers. He had in his hand a black bag. His hair was almost all grey. His gait frail and my heart was broken. The air-conditioning system in the remodelled Murtala Muhammed International Airport was messing up and we could not but sweat. He too was sweating. At some points, he fanned himself with his boarding pass.

    Since he could not recognise me, I did not introduce myself. I told my wife who he was and she suggested I introduce myself or even help him carry his bag given his state of health. I told her there was no need and that from the little I know about him, he would not fancy being pitied to the extent of being helped to carry his hand luggage. He struggled his way into the plane and we never saw again. I suspected he was going to keep an appointment with his doctors.

    The man I write about is Oronto Douglas, whose name I had borrowed on two occasions on this platform when I need to speak as an Ijaw.

    For some time now, there have been speculations about his state of health. No doubt, all is not well with the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy. He has really emaciated. Gone is the Douglas who co-founded the Environmental Rights Action (ERA). Gone is the Douglas who served Bayelsa as Commissioner for Information. Gone is the Douglas who first joined the Presidency when Jonathan was Vice-President. Gone is the Douglas who sat with me in ERA’s office some six years ago on our first meeting. And gone is the Douglas who qualified as a lawyer many years back.

    I don’t care what illness he is battling. There are speculations around that which I won’t profess. But what I will profess today is that God Almighty, in his infinite mercy, will visit Douglas and restore him to good health. His father did not die young. Oronto, in Jesus’ name, will not die young. Amen.

    Before his foray into government, his collaboration with other like minds, such as Nnimmo Bassey, gave Nigeria its foremost environmental rights group, ERA, which has done a lot in the area of tobacco control (though it is sad that Jonathan refused to sign the National Tobacco Control Bill passed by the last National Assembly) and environmental protection.

    Oronto, the man whose identity I have acquired without his permission, will be one of those miraculous recoveries that the world has ever seen and it will be good in our eyes and we will rejoice in it. It has been difficult for me to forget the meeting and each time I remember it, I pray for the miraculous.

    You will live Oronto and not leave by His grace!

  • This boy needs N150, 000 monthly to stay alive

    This boy needs N150, 000 monthly to stay alive

    Three months ago, a 23-year-old student, Joseph Oghenetega Uhawha, made history as the beneficiary of the first successful kidney transplant in the Niger Delta, when a kidney donated by his mother was successfully used to replace his failing organ. The young man whose life has now returned to normal will need at least N150, 000 monthly to stay healthy, report South-South Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL and BOLAJI OGUNDELE.  

    In a beautiful sunny morning in January 2013, hundreds of fresh students were in a joyful mood. They decked their academic gowns in preparation for the day’s matriculation at the Niger Delta University.

    Among the freshers was Joseph Oghenetega Uhawha of the Department of Agriculture Technology. First son of his parents, the tall and handsome youth was taking the first step towards making his parents proud. He told Niger Delta Report that his dream was to become an expert in fishery.

    Unlike his colleagues, the Delta State-born student could not make it to the auditorium for one of the biggest events of his youthful life. He was bogged down by a weak, almost useless kidney that threatened to end his life, before it had begun.

    “A day to my matriculation, I noticed that I wasn’t able to stand up from the bed. I was very weak and tired; couldn’t walk for two meters. That morning, I could not go to school,” Uhawha said.

    He was rushed back to Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State where he lived with his parents. It was the beginning of a nightmare for the young man and his family.

    ecalling his ordeal in an exclusive interview with Niger Delta Report, Tega as he is fondly called, said it started a year earlier when “I noticed swellings on my legs and hands. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I notice that my face and hands are swollen. When I press my hands, the spot doesn’t come up immediately; it stays down for some time before coming up.”

    His maternal uncle, a medical doctor at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), asked him to come over to UPTH where they did series of tests including full blood count and urinalysis.

    “They said it is renal problem and that I have blood in my urine and there is a little protein in the urine. We went to a nephrologist in Port Harcourt who told us that it is a kidney problem but that it was not yet serious. He said we could still wait for some time before we go for dialysis,” he said.

    Devastated by the revelation, Tega said he was forced to re-examine and take stock of his young life because of the widely held view that kidney diseases are caused by heavy drinking and other crummy lifestyle.

    “I was told that heavy drinking, infection and heredity could cause kidney problem. Those were the things I was told but there is nobody in my family who has been diagnosed with kidney problem. I seldom drink and I did not take more than two bottles of beer at a time. I never took much alcohol. I was living a very normal life and I was a very calm and quiet boy,” he stated.

    Shortly after he got home and broke the sad news to his parents, Tega discovered that his legs were swelling again. He went to Warri General Hospital, where he did more tests. From there, he was referred to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara, where he was subjected to more tests.

    “We met with the consultant (at DELSUTH) and she told us that I should start dialysis immediately. I started dialysis in March, 2013. At that time, dialysis was about N23, 000 per session and I went three or four times every week. My parents spent up to N40, 000 per session for dialysis and the Erythropoietin (Epo) injection, which cost N8, 000. Sometimes we also need to buy blood,” Tega said.

    He said he was lucky because his father had just been paid about N4 million at the time. So, there was money to pay for the expensive therapy and drugs needed to sustain him.

    However, it was not long before the money ran out and they could no longer afford the expensive three to four times weekly dialysis sessions.

    As he continued to skip the sessions, Tega’s condition deteriorated so much so that he became partially blind and unable to walk.

    “My parents could not afford it anymore after my father had spent well over N5m. If you have kidney problem, the fluid go to every part of the body, even the eyes. I was blind from March till July 2013 because I could not afford the dialysis,” he said.

    Delta State govt’s subsidy

    Providence smiled on the young man at that critical period when Delta State Governor; Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan (a medical doctor) slashed the price of dialysis from N23, 000 to N5, 000. The price for the Erythropoietin injection was also crashed to N2, 000.

    ”We were happy and everything was fine. I was able to go for dialysis frequently. I began to see again. All the things I couldn’t do for myself, I started doing again because things became easier for me and my parents,” he said.

    However, like most patients with kidney problems, the 23-year-old boy knew that the dialysis and other medications were merely to manage his ailment-they were not the ultimate solution.

    He said he and his mother continued to pray fervently for God to take away his pains and anguish.

    “My mother would pray throughout the night. When everybody is sleeping, she would be on her knees. She would cry, pray from midnight till early in the morning and would only go back to bed when people start waking up. She would then sleep for maybe two hours before she would wake up to go to work,”he stated.

    It was gathered that his mother decided to take her supplication to God when the family was informed of the cost of taking her son to India for the operation. Tega said the cost of the operation was put at over N5m. “My parents could not afford it after all the money they had spent on my treatment,” He said.

    Meanwhile, before Tega was diagnosed with kidney problem, the Delta State Government had been investing in world-class equipment at the DELSUTH. The advent of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration in 2007 brought fresh impetus to the health sector. Results of the investment were seen in the numerous medical feats, including pacesetter operation, hipbone replacements, knee cap and other transplant operations that were successfully accomplished.

    In 2013, the governor and the Dr Leslie Akporiaye-led board of the DELSUTH targeted kidney transplant –a medical procedure to replace diseased kidneys as those on Tega’s with a healthy one from a donor.

    Prior to the development, patients from the Niger Delta region and other parts of the country who could afford it usually opted for India and other western countries to treat the ailment.

    One of the initiatives of the government was a partnership between DELSUTH and the University of Texas South-western Medical Centre in the United States of America. In furtherance of the union, an agreement was reached to perform the first kidney transplant in the South-south geo-political zone of the country.

    “One day, my doctor and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) (DELSUTH) told me that they would be doing kidney transplant in the hospital. I was happy to know that I was selected as the first person and it was totally free.

    “When Dr. Okoye told us that I have been selected for the transplant, the attention shifted to who would donate the kidney. My mother immediately volunteered. She said she would give it to me,” Tega said.

    Expectedly, there were doubts and concerns over the operation. Some people were scared and there was rumour that the hospital wanted to use the beneficiaries for experiment.  But Tega and his mother, who volunteered one of her kidneys to save her son’s life, weren’t bothered.

    At 10:00 a.m. on a sunny Monday, January 13, mother and son were wheeled into the theatre.  ”I came out about 4:30 p.m. I was very fine, taking in a lot of water. We were taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and they took very good care of us.”

    When our correspondent met Tega on Thursday last week, he looked healthy and very happy.

    “When I was diagnosed, I couldn’t do anything for myself. I was unable to walk; I only stayed in one place. When going to the hospital, my mum had to support me to get into the car because I couldn’t walk. But now I am doing things for myself. I now cook, wash my clothes and do everything others do,” he said.

    He also spoke of the comforting words of the governor, who was part of the team, not as a medical doctor, but as an anaesthetist and a comforter. “He spoke gently to me and assured that I was going to be fine,” Tega revealed.

    Cost of staying alive is very high

    Unfortunately, the return of his life to normal was at a cost. He said he would have to be on regular medication for the rest of his life in order to maintain his good health. The medication could cost as much as N150, 000 monthly.

    “The governor (Uduaghan) said he would give us the drugs free for six months. They are still giving us the drugs free. After that, we would start buying for ourselves and the drugs are very expensive –up to N150, 000 a month -and I am supposed to take it every day, morning and night for the rest of my life,” he said.

    With his parents’ life savings depleted in the course of caring for him, Tega faces uncertainty over what to do when the free medication from the government expires in July.

    “I must thank Governor Uduaghan for making me see today because he was the one God used to save me. I will also appeal to him and the good people of the state not to leave me like this. Public-spirited individuals, well-to-do Nigerians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should please save my life. If I don’t take these drugs, my health situation will relapse. This miracle that is my life should not end; the government has saved my life, it has to help further.

    “I intend to go back to school and I am pleading with the government to assist me. I need to have something doing even while I am in school in order to be able to afford the drugs,” he said.

    Beyond soliciting help for himself, he appealed to the Federal Government and policy makers to focus on provision of quality healthcare for citizens. He lamented the number of people living with defective organs with little or no hope.

    He said: “I advise governments at all levels, not just in Delta State, but all over the country, to take health issues seriously because there are a lot of people suffering from several ailments. Not all are as lucky as I am. People are suffering, not just from kidney problem, but from several other ailments.

    “I was in Oghara and I saw a lot of people and only a few of them are still alive today. When you go one session, the next time you return and ask after someone you met, they will say he/she is dead. Some of them died because they could not afford treatment and drugs and because of some minor mistakes. I met a lot of people in the course of the routine dialysis but today only a fraction of them are alive.

    “Many people-young and old-are diagnosed of kidney problem. I have seen a lot of young boys with kidney problems and the solution is just transplant.

    “There is the need for efforts on renal ailments and the Department of Nephrology. There is need for governments and NGOs to channel efforts towards enlightenment and cure. Departments of Nephrology should receive more attention,” Tega said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Protests in Edo over BEDC’s monthly fixed charges

    For eight days, members of the Edo State Civil Society groups staged protests across major streets of Benin-City, the state capital. The protests were against the N750 monthly fixed charge demanded by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) upon payment of electricity bills, especially for those using pre-paid meters. The protests unsettled the BEDC as they paralysed activities at its premises.

    The protest, which began on March 17, was first taken to the headquarters of the BEDC along Akpakpava Road in Benin-City after which the protesters began to picket branches of BEDC across the state.

    Members of the Edo State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Uyi Igbe, joined the protesters on the first day. The lawmakers marched round the Oba Ovoramwen Square in solidarity with the protesters.

    Founder of One Love Foundation, Patrick Eholor, who was one of the leaders of the protesters, said they were on the streets to protest continuous payment for darkness.

    Eholor, who urged the people to join in the struggle against exploitation by BEDC, said they would remain on the streets until the monthly fixed charge is abolished.

    The fixed charge, he said, “is a projection of Multi-Year Tariff Order which means the fee increases ever year and as such translates to exploitation, oppression and fraud.

    “The fixed charge is programmed to run for a period of four years in the first instance; from 2012 to 2015. This means that customers in Edo State will pay N500 in 2012, N750 in 2013, N1, 500 in 2014 and N1, 800 in 2015 for single meters only.

    “It is clear from these facts that the operations of BEDC is geared towards exploitation, oppression and fraud.”

    Managing Director of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, in an earlier reaction to the protest, explained that the fixed charge was not extortion but a charge that enables electricity to be constantly distributed to various homes in the region.

    She said the fixed charge might be re-introduced in a different way because of the huge amount of money they had to pay the generating company to make sure that electricity is evenly distributed.

    She said: “The N750 fixed charge is not a Benin Distribution Company issue; everybody is deducting it. The N750 fixed charge is capacity charge. You know we take supply from transmission and transmission also take supply from Djenko. So, the N750 is the charge for making that power available and having that capacity to make it available. So, once you are connected to us, you pay that fixed charge to us every month.

    “Our bill for power every month is anything between N3.2 billion and N3.6 billion so far. But what we have collected from our customers ranges between N1.8 billion and N2.1billion. The capacity charge is not something we can just decide to suspend and even when it is removed, it will come back to you in a different way because there are parties in the chain of transmission that are constantly working.”

    At another forum with the Edo State House Standing Committee on Energy and Water Resources, Mrs. Osibodu said it was only the National Electricity Regulatory Commission that could scrap the monthly payment of N750 fixed charge.

    Osibodu commended the protesters for engaging in a peaceful protest, even as she admitted that the protests revealed many weak points of the company that needed to be tackled. She also said it will make them be more focused; it will give us the direction as to what her firm required to have the best of electricity supply.

    Speaking earlier during the hearing, the Head of Market, Competition and Rates Division, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Haliru Dikko advised the BEDC to provide enough meters for consumers in conformity with the agreements signed with the Federal Government.

    Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Michael Ezomo, said investigation showed there was no basis for the monthly N750 fixed charge being paid by electricity consumers in the state.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at a meeting with management team of BEDC and the civil society groups, also described the N750 monthly fixed charge as extortion and exploitation of consumers.

    Oshiomhole said the fixed charges and estimated tariff by the electricity company was not only irresponsible, but also crude and illegal, adding that he would not preside over a state and watch Edo people exploited under the guise of fixed tariff and estimated billing.

    He told the BEDC management to invite the officials of NERC to Edo and explain to consumers why the collection of N750 fixed charge.

    ”There is fixed tariff by the new power company. There is no argument about whether or not the tariff or estimated charges are paid. I think I mentioned it that now that the Federal Government has handed over NEPA or PHCN to private investors, it is necessary that you improve on your service delivery to consumers so that they will have confidence in your organisation as failure will spark a revolt from consumers. This is exactly what is happening today.

    “As someone elected to represent the interest of the entire Edo people, I cannot be silent on this type of exploitation by one company which claims that there is somebody in Abuja or somewhere responsible for generation. Therefore, transmission of electricity is not the matter because from what I have gathered from the various speakers, it is certain that what is being done in Edo State does not exist in other states,” he said.

    Governor Oshiomhole urged the BEDC to discontinue their purported disconnection exercise of those who refused to pay estimated bill after paying for meters.