The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Chevron leads campaign against HIV in Bayelsa

    Chevron leads campaign against HIV in Bayelsa

    Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) is leading a campaign to reduce the spread of the pandemic, HIV/AIDS in Bayelsa State. The company has received accolades, especially for championing a campaign tagged Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) which is popularly known as PROMOT.

    Indeed, Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan, has a case with the virus. It has the third highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the country with 9.1 per cent after Benue State (12.7 per cent) and Akwa Ibom State (10.9 per cent). The state of Governor Seriake Dickson occupies a higher step on the ladder than Rivers State (7.1) and Delta State (4.1).

    One health expert once said sex smells in Bayelsa. What worries stakeholders, especially health experts, is not the high libido in the state but the entrenched and pervasive ignorance entrenched in most people on sex matters.

    Curiously, most people in the state still do not believe that HIV/AIDS is real. They still frown at the use of protective measures such as condom during sex. A report presented by the Director, Public Health, Ministry of Health, Bayelsa State, Dr. Wakiente Omubo, referred to the state as a priority state for HIV/AIDS control including PMTCT.

    It is one of the states that contribute 70 per cent of Nigeria’s PMTCT burden and that have been earmarked for phase one scale-up towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

    The report breaks down the percentage prevalence rate of the virus according to the eight local government areas in the state. Sagbama, the local government area of Dickson is the highest with 12.7. This is closely followed by Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe and Ogbia which have 9.1 each. Brass has 7.6; Yenagoa, 8.7 while Southern Ijaw has the least with 3.5.

    The statistics further shows that 6,072 pregnant women are living with the virus. Yenagoa has the highest number with 1333; Sagbama, 1032; Ekeremor, 1067; Ogbia, 711; Nembe, 518; Southern Ijaw, 590; Brass, 608 and Kolokuma/Opokuma, 314.

    The spread of the virus in the state is caused by intense transactional and intergenerational sex and low condom use; high rates of sexual intercourse with multiple and older partners with low condom use rates and low personal risk perception.

    It is also reported that women in the state have poorer comprehensive knowledge of HIV, routes for mother-to child transmission, utilizing a healthcare professional in pregnancy and obtaining HIV testing and counselling.

    Apart from that, the 2010 National HIV zero-prevalence sentinel survey estimated that 98,000 women were pregnant in the state but only a quarter of them accessed ante natal care during pregnancy.

    The development prompted Chevron to partner with Pact, the state government and others to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. The partnership especially with Pact started in 2012 and recently the company expanded funding for the project in a ceremony that was held in Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

    Chevron’s Chairman/Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop, says the company’s partnership with Pact is part of a larger, multi-organisation, $20million United Nations Millennium Goal commitment to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

    Fawthrop whose speech was read by the company’s Area Manager, Mr. Joe Jakpa, said the partnership had achieved many results in the state. He said it had helped to reach more than 6,500 people with critical HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention information, test more than 7000 women during prenatal care and arrange for a HIV counselling for nearly 700 people.

    He said the company’s additional $1.7million for PROMOT has raised its five-year investment in the project to $5.3million.

    “The additional funding support will facilitate the expansion of the PROMOT project to all local government areas in the state. Chevron is proud to expand our partnership with Pact to support initiatives like PROMOT.

    “This is a proven model that we are motivated to expand as we work together to deliver real, measurable results towards ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV”, he said.

    He said Chevron’s $55million investment in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria has helped millions of people in Africa and Asia since 2008. He said at the Global Funds Replenishment event which was held last December in Washington DC, the company announced its commitment to an additional $5million over two years to Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

    “This commitment raises Chevron’s investment in the Global Fund to $60million, making the company the single largest private sector partner to the organisation.

    “Working with partners globally and at the local level, Chevron will continue to dedicate a great deal of resource capabilities and effort to support initiatives that build local capability and deliver real, lasting gains in the fight against the devastating diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria”, he said.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Anapurere Awoli, said the expanded Chevron’s social investment in the state was a reminder that people should save lives by eliminating transmission of mother-to-child.

    The commissioner lamented that despite the efforts of the government, new cases of HIV infections had continued to rear their ugly heads. But he emphasised that prevention was the only to halt the spread of the virus. He said the state was in support of Chevron’s efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Describing the oil company as Nigeria’s greatest trading partner, Awoli expressed optimism that the expanded programme would cover all the local government areas.

    But he added: “PMTCT is not an easy topic. It requires vocal and concerted leadership in all sectors. This campaign will have the greatest chance of success if political, traditional, faith, and civil society leaders all talk openly about deeply entrenched cultural norms, gender relationship and other challenging issues that make elimination difficult”.

    During his presentation, Omubo said the war against the virus in the state was far from over. He commended Chevron for its investments but called on other corporate entities to imitate the oil company. He said the state needed about N8billion (51.5million USD) to effectively tackle the pandemic.

    To underscore the importance of creating awareness especially on prevention of mother-to-child transmission, an entertaining and educating drama piece was presented to the audience by the state’s cultural troupe.

    Chevron also rewarded persons who have been playing crucial roles in implementing PROMOT with awards. The highpoint of the programme was cutting the ceremonial cake to launch the expansion.

  • Peterside: Mbu a politician in police uniform

    Peterside: Mbu a politician in police uniform

    The immediate past controversial Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, is settling down to his new posting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and his successor, Tunji Ogunsakin, is proving to be his opposite. For a long time to come, the people of Rivers and politicians, especially those in the opposition will remember Mbu.

    Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, in an interview, said forgetting Mbu easily would be difficult given the fact that “he was a politician in police uniform”.

    On whether or not Mbu’s transfer to Abuja may signify the beginning of peace in Rivers State, he said: “Yes and No. Yes because I believe that the police authorities have replaced him with a more professional and competent public officer. CP Mbu who was at the center of the show of shame in Rivers State is simply a politician in police uniform. In the discharge of police responsibility, integrity and impartiality are fundamental if the people you are supposed to police must have confidence in you. Joseph Mbu did not earn and could not have enjoyed the confidence of Rivers State people.

    “Conversely no, because the insecurity in Rivers State is an institutional problem facilitated by the same persons whose duty it is to care about the protection of lives and properties of the people of Rivers State. The transfer of Mbu could be change of strategy due to the persistent pressure of the people and concerns raised by both Chambers of the National Assembly and other, well-meaning members of Nigerian society. You know evil cannot thrive for a long time. Our approach is to wait and see.”

    Peterside, who represents the Andoni/Opbo/Nkoro in the House of Representatives, said Mbu and those who sent him could not have affected the fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

    He said: “APC is actually a mass movement whose time has come. APC offers Rivers people hope as the platform that will restore the dignity of the Rivers man. APC is waxing stronger and stronger by the day as more persons realize that the dynamics of national politics has changed. The reality that PDP will soon be an opposition party stares everybody at the face. The non performance, avoidable mistakes and insensitivity of PDP has further contributed to strengthening APC. The difference between APC and PDP in Rivers State can be likened to the difference between light and darkness. Rivers people would once more be rewarded for their contribution to the national economy. Rivers people know that a good friend is better than a bad brother. The days ahead will show that the ordinary people of Rivers State would love quality service as represented by Governor Amaechi to continue and will outrightly reject corruption and politics of exclusion.”

    Speaking on how APC can retain power in Rivers after the next general elections, he said: “Retaining power in Rivers State is a combination of factors. Who among the gladiators will protect in a fair and equitable manner the interest of all Rivers people against the interest of a particular clan. From the antecedents of the political actors and leaders, who will work for the interest of Rivers people above personal consideration? Who among these political actors have character and competence? Character will be key in Rivers people deciding who to follow. APC in Rivers State is led by men of character who have shown that given the opportunity they will place the interest of Rivers State above their selfish interest. Leaders of APC in Rivers State are those who can give youths in Rivers State hope that there is a future for them against the current regime of hopelessness, exclusion and violence. APC in Rivers State has proven beyond doubt that they have capacity to bring about change. Most importantly, APC leadership in Rivers State is populated by God fearing men and women. The recent party registration exercise in Rivers State has shown that majority of registered voters in Rivers State registered as members of APC to the chagrin of our detractors.”

    He disagreed with people who believe that Governor Rotimi Amaechi is stubborn. As far as he is concerned, Amaechi is only vocal and forthright, adding: “Nobody will take away the fact that Amaechi is fighting for the right ideals. Nobody will deny the fact that Amaechi has performed well, has character and can go to any length to protect the things dear to the minds of Rivers people. Governor Amaechi is not our everyday politician who quite often lacks courage and do not have principles and ideals to live for. Love him or hate him, Governor Amaechi represents the new face of democracy in Nigeria. Whenever Governor Rotimi Amaechi has cause to challenge the establishment it is certainly in the interest of the people and not for selfish interest or ego. A few persons would have preferred the status quo to remain, yet hopes for change. What a contradiction? It is almost obvious that nobody is comfortable with the way things are going currently in the country but very few are ready to risk the comfort of their life and office to champion change in society.”

    He faulted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) belief that the APC would disintegrate with time, describing the view as unfortunate.The PDP, he said, is behaving like the proverbial woman who cannot give birth and is blaming her mate.

    Peterside also spoke on the allegation that some of the movements from the APC to the PDP were induced.

    “You are aware that there is allegation that some of these movements are influenced by inducement. I may not know the veracity of that allegation but it is definitely a scenario. Ultimately what I am sure is that most members of the National Assembly identity with the philosophy of APC which is change. Very few persons are comfortable with the current dysfunctional system. Most persons yearn for change meaning they believe in APC though local factors vary. You cannot ignore the influence of local politics thus you have a few persons whose heart is in party A but they are physically in party B.”

    Peterside, who recently walked out on the budget defence of the Ministry of Works, gave an insight into the action. He said he was not playing into the gallery.

    Said he: “I looked through the budget proposal of the Executive and confirmed that there is absolutely no intention to do any project in Rivers State in the year 2014 despite our contribution to the national economy and the votes we gave to the current government. I raised alarm that the implication of denying ordinary Rivers people infrastructural projects is akin to declaring war on innocent Rivers people. I perceive this zero allocation to all federal road projects in Rivers State as an extension of the political persecution Rivers State is going through for some time now. I considered it morally indefensible to sit in a session where Rivers State will be denied its due. I had to loudly register my protest by staging a walk out. I am told the Hon. Minister did not deny my assertion but explained that the Ministry discovered that Ahoada-Omoku road dualisation has been awarded by NDDC thus his Ministry is not proceeding with it. The Minister said the money meant for that project will be applied to Degema-Abonnema road which is nowhere in the budget. How he will do that is yet to be seen as there is no budgetary provision for such. The Minister is not the National Assembly that appropriates. The Minister claimed that Bonny-Bodo road will be executed under public private partnership after being listed in the budget for several years. On rehabilitation of Enugu-PH expressway, the Minister said it will be given adequate attention this year but refused to acknowledge that Rivers State government has awarded the section that is in Rivers State to JDP Limited, an Israeli firm. JDP is on site, so Enugu-PH Expressway cannot be said to be a project in Rivers State. Eleme flyover is a project started and executed by Rivers State government through Julius Berger though it was allocated no fund. Eleme flyover to Onne awarded to RCC is not funded. It is obvious that there is a deliberate plan to exclude Rivers State from infrastructural development but like all their previous attempts, this one will fail too. Rivers people will respond to all these injustices at the appropriate time.”

     

  • Group commends NDDC, Turner on youth empowerment

    A Niger Delta group, Women Initiatives for Values Empowerment (WIVES), has commended the Managing Director and board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for their efforts towards sustainable peace in the region.

    The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Tonbra Kasikoro, the group said the recent Niger Delta Conference on Ethics, Values and Re-orientation organised by the commission was the right steps towards the peace and youth development in the region.

    Kasiboro made the remark during the programme organised by the Special Assistant to the MD on Youths, Sports, Culture, Conflict Resolution and Women Affairs, Mr. George Turner.

    She said: “I want to commend Barrister Turner on the success of the conference as well as the youths for their patience and willingness to engage in meaningful deliberation geared towards bettering the lives of the people toward sustainable development.

    “While WIVES understands and appreciates that although development is a process, we also know that it can add beauty and values to the existence of humanity when properly managed.

    “It is a process that when given the necessary cooperation it yields the needed changes we all craved for security wise, but there is need for more engagement of our youth.”

    Meanwhile, the WIVES Coordinator has urged youths of the region to remain focussed and committed to the development of the region.

    “We must shun divisive tendencies, criminality and all acts capable of portraying the region in bad light. It is in our interest for the Niger Delta region to move on at the pace that will ensure peace and development.

    “That is why WIVES is appreciative the effort of the SA to MD for his efforts in this regards. The conference was apt and timely in this critical time in our lives. There is need for reorientation and value change,” she added.

    She charged the NDDC management to always find ways to engage the youth for purposeful development in the region in line with the President Goodluck Jonathan’s vision for the people.

  • Justice for killer policemen’s victims

    Justice for killer policemen’s victims

    Though three of the policemen indicted in the killing of two bus passengers in Port Harcourt have been sentenced to death, all eyes are on the police to release the other accomplice to face the law, writes Precious Dikewoha

    Clement Indyel is waiting for the hangman. His fellow police operatives, Sergeants Ali Bello and PC Auwalu Kwale, are also getting used to the prisons where they are to spend the rest of their lives.

    For the three policemen, the journey to hell began on January 17, 2010 when they killed passengers of a bus when its driver refused to part with a N100 bribe.

    They were sentenced by Justice Biobele Georgewill, who until some weeks back was of the Rivers State High Court. He has since been promoted to the Appeal Court.

    The families of Ugochukwu Harcourt and Chinyeaka Kamalu, who were shot to death by the convicted police officers, said the victims were inside the bus heading to their various destinations before the policemen killed them.

    “When they got to Agip Junction, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, the driver was confronted by police officers who demanded for the usual bribe of N100. The inability of the bus driver to say no to such illegal transaction made the officers to pursue him until they got to the point where they shot at the bus leading to the death of two passengers with many that got injured,” said the Kamalu family.

    On the day of the judgment, Justice Georgewill’s court was filled to its capacity. While reading the 51-page judgment, Georgewill said the only way the souls of the victims could rest in peace was for justice to be done. He thus declared: “Ali Bello and Auwalu Kwale are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.” He entered his inner chamber and changed his Law gown to red and black, which signified death. He came back and said: “Clement Indyel is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”

    When the presiding Judge pronounced the death sentence on Indyel, the crowd at the court showed little sympathy for Indyel and his partners in crime.

    The judge, who presided over the three-year long case, said the victims were sent to early grave by the armed police officers who were supposed to protect them.

    The judge said the evidence given by ASP Emmanson Udoh, who works at the Forensic Science Laboratory FCID, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos as a Ballistician with the Nigeria Police, confirmed the policemen’s guilt. The ballistician stated that on 21/1/2010 seven guns were brought to him from State CID, Port Harcourt for examinations and he carried out the examinations and issued a report on them, including four AK 47, one FNC Riffle, one K2 Riffle and one Beretta Pistol, three expended Shells of ammunition and one distorted bullet. He said as a ballistician he fired test shots with the suspected firearms and only the empty ammunition of the AK 47 Riffle that was brought to him while the rest did not have empty shells. The judge said the evidence given by ballistician however showed that the death of the passengers resulted from the act of shooting at the bus.

    Justice Georgewill, while delivering the judgment, said: “The souls of these young boy and a girl, the hopes of their respective families and the future of this great nation, cut in their prime of life lies in the grave crying for justice from all those including the 1st ,2nd and 3rd Accused persons and the confederates of the 2nd Accused person in the Hilux Van on 17/1/2010 by whose hands they met their untimely gruesome death. The law is not a respecter of any persons. All those police officers and men in the Hilux Van should be re-arrested immediately and charged and tried fortwith for the murder of the deceased persons, for which the 2nd Accused has been convicted of manslaughter.”

    Two days after the judgment was delivered, the counsel to the deceased Chidi Ekeh, who appeared for state, wrote a letter on behalf of the Attorney General of Rivers State directing Rivers State Commissioner of Police to produce the remaining officers who were suspects in the matter to face trial.

    Mr. Prince Obiajunwo Dike, the President of Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum (NIDAF) who was in the court room when the judgment was delivered, said: “In a case of this nature, I was expecting that more journalists would have been here to create awareness on the judgment so that people, especially Nigerian Police can read to learn.

    “I just wonder if the state didn’t take up the matter, what would have been of the matter today? We are aware of the recklessness of officers of Nigeria police and as I speak to you, we are doing everything possible to ensure that we put a stop to the madness exhibited by officers of Nigeria Police. It is uncalled for to have officers using the guns bought with tax payers’ money to send the people they are supposed to protect to early grave. So, we are ready and willing to partner with state through the ministry of justice to ensure that extra-judicial killing will be minimised in our society.”

    Chigozie Orlu Orlu, a human rights activist, said: “Remember the law is not a respecter of anybody. This is not just a crime but a murder case. If one will not consider the law to take the life of others, then the law will be considered based on merit to look at his legality or illegality of taking the life of others. But the truth is that there are a lot of extra-judicial killings in our society.”

    For Kingsley Nwagwe, a lawyer, said “inasmuch as we cannot rule out crime in our society everybody must work hard to minimise it”.

     

  • ‘Living in Niger Delta prepares you for any challenge in life’

    ‘Living in Niger Delta prepares you for any challenge in life’

    A Canada-based film producer, Henry Eruotor, speaks with Shola O’Neil on his determination to, through his films, change misconceptions about the region and Nigeria in the international community.

    I was born and raised in Warri, Delta State, where I worked in my family’s video rental shop. It was only logical for me to watch most of the films we offered so I could market them to patrons. My favourite part of watching a DVD was always the extra features section where the director described the making of the movie. I remember always wishing that these sections were longer. My exposure to these foreign films piqued my interest and curiosity about the art of filmmaking.

    Many Nigerians seem to have certain preconceptions and misconceptions about foreigners and life abroad. My experiences in both countries have helped me portray life in each more accurately.

    After my final undergraduate exam, my project supervisor invited me to join the production crew for another adaptation project. It could be that my niche is adapting established stories for screen.

    Upon arrival in Canada, my quest to improve my filmmaking skills drove me to study Documentary Production at Algonquin College, Ottawa. I also have a Masters of Information Studies from the University of Ottawa.

    For some time, like all of us, I was more of a Nollywood critic than a content creator. “Why is that woman waking up with full make-up? Where’s the wallet he was holding in the last shot? Why are they speaking proper English in the house?” Finally, someone told me, “That’s all well and good, but what have you done?” That put fire under my ‘yansh’ and forced me to start producing. That humbled me, because I learned that nailing these details—costuming, continuity, diction and a million other things—is not as easy as they seem. But it also motivated me to learn by doing. Practice, practice, practice. The goal is always to make the next project better than the last.

    What do you hope to achieve with your works?

    I am inspired to tell African stories, not just Delta or Nigeria. I want to tell the good, evil, tragic, funny, common and incredible. I’m repeatedly stunned by the number of people who are unaware of the talents and prospects of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. They are blinded by the negative stories they have heard or seen in the media. I want to broaden their perspective with my films.

    I’m not trying to recreate Nollywood in Canada. Nollywood is the second largest film industry in the world by number of films. Nollywood tells our stories very well, but it can do better in terms of generating content and improving the technical aspects of film production.

    Though Nollywood has done well, we should be aiming for more than just quantity. Nigeria has such tremendous writers and amazing stories to tell. I admire Jeta Amata and Kunle Afolayan, who have been able to marry Nollywood themes with Hollywood quality. I aspire to do the same. This winter, I attended the premiere of Half of a Yellow Sun at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was incredible. I also saw Fela! on Broadway in New York City and loved it. Sitting in those audiences, I felt very proud to be Nigerian.

    I look forward to the day when we can turn more of our incredible stories into high quality, widely seen productions. I’ve seen wonderful Indian stories on film, and several have won prestigious awards. I would love to see a Nigerian film in serious contention for an Oscar or a Golden Globe. I have resolved to be a part of the generation of Africans and Nigerians that takes Nollywood to a different level and a wider audience. We have the talent, the drive, the creativity and the industriousness to do it.

    About his works

    My filmmaking journey continues. Each play, television show and film I watch is a learning experience, and every project I undertake is an opportunity for me to expand my skills. Since earning my undergraduate degree, I’ve produced documentary profiles (Mr. Independent, From Kaduna to Canada, Greener Pastures) short films and promotional videos. The No-Nonsense Wife and Otito are two of my favourites.

    I faithfully read Nigerian news and blogs. When I read Abimbola Dare’s short story The No-Nonsense Wife online, I was drawn to the message. I’m a big believer in not passing judgment unless you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes. I immediately contacted Abimbola, who graciously agreed to my adaptation proposal.

    I cast eager, talented friends and acquaintances that were available to film. Some were more experienced than others. In some ways, we were learning together. In fact, I had to scrap the first version of the film; I knew we could do better. I met Omodudu Onidada Osun (Toni) through a mutual friend in Toronto. She had no formal acting training, but she is expressive and creative, and I could tell she would be a natural on screen. I have known Efe Mike-Ifeta (Biyi) since we were classmates and flatmates in Abraka. We work together on film projects often, and he’s talented both on- and off-screen. Hans Oreva (Dennis) and Divine Emeovrode (Dayo), incidentally from my hometown, are actually siblings. I thought this might make it easier for them to be comfortable playing out a difficult scene together. They’re both very skilled. The cast worked very hard, often in very cold weather and late into the night, and I’m so happy with their work.

    Otito (Truth) came out of my desire to lay out some of the innocuous ways Nigerians are stereotyped in the West. Ade’s experiences are just a sample of some of the frustrations I’ve experienced since emigrating. Individually they seem small, sometimes even humorous, but together they illustrate everyday prejudice. Once again, friends came through: John Eke (Ade), Jeti Olafimihan (Otito) and Robert Sykes (professor) were great, as were the management and staff of Le Dôme Bar-Lounge, where we shot the bar scene.

    Misconceptions about the Niger Delta and Nigerians

    There are a couple of misconceptions I experience regularly. The most common one is people asking me if I’m a boxer or a fighter. I could not understand their curiosity until someone explained that they are confused because of the scars on my face. I have facial tribal marks and back home it’s pretty normal to meet people with marks.

    Of course, I’m exposed to quite a few negative misconceptions, often framed as jokes, about Nigerians being loud, boastful or crass (I especially get this from other Africans!), and about Nigerians engaging in fraud. People have asked about my village, and have assumed my upbringing was more impoverished than it really was. (This goes with general lack of awareness about Nigeria’s educated middle class.) I generally don’t mind, because I get opportunities to educate people about Nigeria and Africa.

    But generally, I would say Canadians are quite open-minded and worldly, and other African immigrants always greet each other kindly and engage each other as in Africa.

    How has your background as a Niger Deltan affected your life in Canada?

    There is a reason for everything in life. I’m very happy that I was born and raised where I was; growing up in the Niger Delta prepares you to face many challenges of life, and has really helped me distinguish what’s really important. Life in Africa is full of drama and interesting experiences and these inspire my work most.

    At the same time, being exposed to a very different society has helped me reflect on life in the Niger Delta. I’m constantly confronted with ideas and experiences that challenge some of the beliefs I held growing up, and it forces me to really think about the good and bad of the Niger Delta and the good and bad of my new home, and what I can learn from each. I think this comes across in my films, and will continue to.

    I want my films to showcase the experiences that are unique to Nigeria and to Africa (certain customs, for example), but also to showcase our universal experiences like love and loss and laughter.

     

  • Protests trail non-appointment of Edo NDDC Commissioner

    Protests trail non-appointment of Edo NDDC Commissioner

    More than three months after the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was inaugurated, the commissioner representing Edo State is yet to be appointed. The state is waiting on President Goodluck Jonathan to send a name to the National Assembly for clearance out of the many names forwarded by interested parties.

    Among the many nominees, the names of Henry Okhuarobo and Courage Enofe stand out as it could not be confirmed who the state Peoples Democratic Party nominated.

    Okhuarobo was nominated by Governor Adams Oshiomhole while Courage was nominated by four communities of Oben, Iguelaba, Ikobi and Obozogbe-nugu in Orhiomwon local government area.

    Oshiomhole picked Okhuarobo because of his performances during his two year tenure at NDDC. Several roads were rehabilitated within Benin City and environs, transformers and water were provided for communities in need in Okhuarobo’s two year tenure.

    Okhuarobo, in an interview before the end of his first tenure, said the NDDC has a comprehensive plan to electrify Orhiomnwon and some neighbouring local councils to stop the people of Orhiomnwon from depending on Delta state for electricity.

    He said: “But we have put in place some electricity projects that will enable them now generate electricity within. We are already renovating and reactivating all non-functional NDDC electricity project with a cost of N150m.

    “We constructed an inter town connection line linking thirteen villages. We are generating power from Sapele road substation to a substation at Ugo. The other half is the sub-station itself at Ugo which is a 30MVA substation which is another project on its own. When completed, it will light up Orhionmwon and even extend power to some part of Uhumwonde and Ikpoba Okhai.”

    Courage was picked by the communities to address what the communities termed 41 years exploitation of the communities’ rich mineral resources. The communities houses the largest gas reserve in West Africa and currently has about 60 oil well head.

    The delay in the appointment of Edo NDDC commissioner has however led to series of protest from youths and several communities across the state.

    A socio-political group, the Edo/Delta Movement for Equity and Progress in a protest letter urged President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the nominee of Governor Oshiomhole since the President confirmed the Delta State Governor nominee, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli.

    National Coordinator of the group, Victor Aigbe said the president should consider the performances of Okhuarobo within his two years stay at the NDDC board.

    Also, on March 6, members of the Edo Youths for Good Governance (EYGG) and other Bini youths stormed the premises of NDDC office in Benin City and sealed it up. This followed the expiration of a two weeks ultimatum the protesters gave to the Presidency to appoint Governor Oshiomhole’s nominee.

    The protesters who chased NDDC staffers out of their offices hinged their action on non-appointment of Edo commissioner into NDDC board.

    They said the delay was impeding development in oil producing communities in Edo South Senatorial district and warned Senator Ehigie Uzamere to stop playing politics with the Edo NDDC nominee.

    Inscriptions on placards carried by the protesters read: “President Jonathan respect Edo people and give us NDDC Rep”, “Uzamere dont destroy NDDC in Edo because of your selfish interest”, “Mr President stop playing PDP politics and resptect Oshiomhole’s nominee”.

    Leader of the protesters, Iyamu Osaro, said they want all the stakeholders to reach an accord on the choice of the state NDDC commissioner in order not to destroy the laudable projects embarked upon by NDDC in the state.

    “We heard that there is disagreement between Governor Oshiomhole and Senator Uzamere on the issue and that is why the President has not appointed Edo NDDC Commissioner. But our argument is that the Governors of other states were asked to produce the NDDC commissioner in their states why will Mr President listen to a senator who did not know how Oshiomhole made efforts in ensuring that Edo people supported President Jonathan in 2011 and voted for him immensely,” he said.

    The four communities are also not left out in the protest frenzy in order to get their son nominated for the NDDC board. They protested in December last and also carried out another protest two weeks ago.

    In the first protest that took place in December last year, the communities threatened to stop oil and gas production in their locality.

    The second protest saw members of the communities came out in large numbers and shut down the operation of Seplat Petroluem at Oben. Women, chiefs, students joined in the protest march through the streets of Oben to flow stations and oil well heads.

    Secretary of Oben Community, Comrade Johnbull Omokaro, said they took to protest because they are craving for their son, Courage, to be appointed into the NDDC board.

    He said: “We have not gotten anybody appointed into positions of such nature.”

  • Calabar’s gullies of death

    Calabar’s gullies of death

    This place was just a road, but before we knew it, the houses started coming down. The whole of the places you see this gully were houses. I have been living in this area since 2007 and with each passing rains it got worse. I have lived here and seen houses go because of this situation. For me, I don’t have anywhere else to go. Would we run away and leave our houses? Well some people have left but not all of us can do so

    They go to bed every night with the consciousness that they may wake up at the bottom of a ditch or even be floating in one of the many rivers that surround Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Normally, people step out of their houses onto their veranda, but for these people stepping out of the wrong door could send one hurtling down the side of a steep gully several metres deep to serious injuries or even a horrible death.

    This is the story of residents of the several gully erosion sites that dot the state capital.

    Why would they continue to live under such precarious conditions? Why would they not move? The likely answers one would get is “move to where?” and “we don’t have any place else to go.”

    They would tell you when they lived there, there were no gullies. They bought or built their houses there and the gullies developed due to erosion over time and government neglect of their pleas when the problem was developing.

    In one of such places at Ikot Ekpo community in Calabar Municpality, the community leader, Elder Aye Edet Aye, whose house is right on the edge of one of the gullies said when he bought the land in 2007, there was no gully. He said where the wide chasm is right now used to be a road.

    He said: “When I bought the land there was no trace of this. The problem started in early 2008. It started as a very small gully back then down at the stream about 400 metres from where we are right now. But with the rains and consequent running off water, it started widening. We informed the government severally. We have gone to the State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the Calabar Municipal Council among other agencies of government but we got nothing.”

    Aye said some of the agencies had sent people a couple of times to come and look at the situation but nothing has ever come out of it.

    He said as a result of this the residents had to resort to their own remedial measures to check the constant eating away of the sides of the widening gully, putting their lives and property more at risk with every passing moment, especially with the coming of the rains.

    Some measures they adopted were planting bamboo and burying tyres in the gully as well as lining the edge with concrete. Though it may have slowed down the pace of the damage, it has not been helped.

    He said several people, including children, have died in the gully as well as several houses washed away.

    Another resident of the area, Sunday Odey, said: “This place was just a road, but before we knew it the houses started coming down. The whole of the places you see this gully were houses. I have been living in this area since 2007 and with each passing rains it got worse. I have lived here and seen houses go because of this situation. For me, I don’t have anywhere else to go. Would we run away and leave our houses? Well some people have left but not all of us can do so.

    “It is very dangerous and I must tell you that even this place we are standing having this interview is not safe. To be honest it can just come down and down into the gully. I have seen it happen before. That is how the gully keeps getiing wider and wider. As the rainy season is about to start now it is only God that we pray will look after us.”

    At the Nyanasang community, the situation is not better. Dr Edem Asuquo, the community head, blames the widening chasm on the poor work done by the engineers who constructed some roads in the area.

    Asuquo said: “Before now, we have not been experiencing erosion problems but the present gully erosion challenges are as a result of the poor water diversion channel done by the contractor that handled the road construction of Access road, Akpandem and Canaan Avenue in 2011.

    “We are to exposed to danger as some houses are at the mouth of the gully, some their fence have collapsed, other peoples farm have been washed away but our luck is that so far no life is lost yet unlike other places.”

    At Atakpa community in Bayside, Calabar, the chairman of the Bayside Development Association, Chief Esin Cocobassey, said they had lost over 50 plots of land to the erosion. He said erosion is threatening so many buildings, including the Union Bank.

    “This place used to be a road,” he said pointing to where the vast chasm lay. “I could say we have lost an entire village in this area. The gully has been here a long time and it is expanding. The state government planted gmelina and bamboo to help check the problem but it has not been much use, because water must still find its level.”

    For residents living close to the Edim Otop gully the images of a man who lost his entire family members to the precarious nature of the environment last year, are still fresh in their minds.

    The Edim Otop gully known as Burrow Pit it was gathered also started as a small gully in the early 90s and was worsened by the excavation of sand from the area for building.

    According to a government official said people who were living in the area occurred were doing so illegally and calls have been made on them severally to leave the place as it was not safe. He also said several attempts to stop people from digging sand from the area had been to no avail and this was contributing seriously to erosion in the area.

    The situation has even grown so bad it has threatened to divide the Atimbo Road. A child was recently died on this road as she fell into the ditch, it was learnt. When our reporter visited the area, it was a yawning gap that was already eating up into the road. Several houses hung precariously along the sides and residents expressed fear that in no time the road would be cut off and their houses washed away.

    Areas with similar scenarios include Beebosco, Ikot Anwatim, New Airport among others.

    As a form of respite for some of these people, the World Bank would spearhead an intervention in five gully erosion sites in Calabar, the Cross River State capital within the next two months.

    The intervention would constitute the first phase of such which would be under the Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and is expected to cover other areas of the state in subsequent phases.

    Project coordinator, Mr Fidelis Anukwa, said gully erosion sites in this phase include Ikot Anwatim, Ikot Ekpo, Edim Otop, Nyaghasang and Atakpa.

    He said the project would be carried with a participatory integrated approach where communities would be carried along every step of the way.

    A consultant to the project, Mrs Mojisola Akpojyovbi, said they had been bringing contractors to see how the slopes can be stabilised.

    She said work would begin on the sites in less than two months and only people whose house were affected by the remedial measures would be compensated after consultations and negotiations.

    Victims whose houses were already destroyed by the erosion, they would not be accountable for, she said. There would also be a welfare programme for the communities, he said.

    Having received several failed promises b various agencies to tackle their predicaments, those affected hope that this time the intervention would be for real and holistic.

    “If they come, and I stress, if they come, we would not want them to come and do any kind of shoddy job and go away,” a resident of Atakpa community hoped.

     

  • NYSC DG to corps members: Don’t extort politicians

    NYSC DG to corps members: Don’t extort politicians

    The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, has warned corps members to shun all forms of monetary inducements from politicians during next year’s general elections.

    Brig-Gen. Olawumi gave the warning during his working visit to the 2014 Batch “A” corps members at the permanent orientation camp of the NYSC, at Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    The Director-General said serious punishment awaits any corps member caught in the act of extorting money from politicians during the election.

    He told the corps members that the Federal Government through Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made enough arrangement to pay the allowances of some of the corps members that would be engaged during the exercise.

    His words: “I know that very soon when you get to your places of primary assignments, politicians will start going round. They will want to induce you with money or gifts.

    “Say no to that. Let me sound a note of serious warning that any corps member who is reported to me for getting himself/herself involved in electoral malpractices, that corps member is going to face the music and I am not joking about it.

    “So when they come with money, shun their money. The Federal Government through Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made enough arrangement to pay the allowances of those of you who will be involved in the election exercise.

    “INEC has made all the arrangement including even your security and this money will be paid through the NYSC. What that means is that any money that is not coming from the INEC through the NYSC, do not accept it.”

    Brig-Gen. Olawuni also urged the corps members to take advantage of the Federal Government’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED) at the camp and turn themselves from job seekers to job creator.

    He said: “We don’t want you people to finish the service year and

    start carrying files up and down looking for the job that is not available. If you take advantage of the SAED programme, you are going to get yourself equipped with skills in this camp.

    “We have even gone beyond that to make provisions for you to continue training even after the orientation camp. We are not even stopping at that. We have even signed Memorandum of Understanding MoU with a very reputable firm, Bank of Industry, to give loan to people who can come up with a good proposal to start up something.”

    On his part, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Akinkunmi Martins, said the NYSC, in its determination to strengthen national unity, had arranged its platoons and hostels in a way that would allow corps members of different cultural, ethnic, religious and social backgrounds to interact freely.

    Martins said the orientation course had received adequate adjustments with lots of innovation and welfare for the corps members.

    According to him, 1,817 corps members comprising of 939 males and 878 females registered for the 2014 Batch “A” orie

  • ‘Why I wrote a play on the Amaechi / Mbu saga’

    ‘Why I wrote a play on the Amaechi / Mbu saga’

    The lawyer and playwright, Mr. Clinton Dan-Jumbo, gives insight into a play he has released on the Rivers crisis. He spoke to ROSEMARY NWISI, in Port Harcourt.

    What is the play, Amaechi Mgbu all about?

    The play is about my conversations of happenings in Rivers State, my state and Nigeria, my country.

    Looking at the title, ‘Amaechi Mgbu’, two popular names in the recent Rivers political crisis. Has the play anything to do with that?

    Just as I said earlier, the play is all about my observations of happenings in my state; it is not about any individual or particular institution. Am sure as journalists my job as a writer is to mirror the society which I live in and Nigeria is that society, I will therefore be failing in my duties if I don’t write about the things I see in my country.

    So what is your objective of writing the play?

    My objective here is to make my leaders to learn not to politic with our moral values. The issues of 16 being greater than 19, as stated in my work and 5 greater than 26 or 27 touches on our moral values, as it makes our leaders liars and by extension teaching the younger generation that it is alright to lie or distort facts.

    By the way, you sound as if you are a card carrying member of a political party.

    Yes. But my political tie with any party has nothing to do with this work. I try to devoice my political tie to any party from my work. My work is on the society I live in and the things going on in it.

    Did anybody or group sponsor this work?

    Neither the state government nor any group sponsored the work. I can say that in any case giving my profession. I am a bit comfortable and can afford to sponsor my work. Whether Amaechi, President GoodLuck Jonathan or any other person has seen the work, I do not know.

    But how do you imagine that Amaechi will sponsor a book that has balanced view of issues like this one. To a large extent, the book throws punches at him also. Some of the things he has not done well were identified in the work, and the areas the president has equally not done well were also captured in the play.

    Before now have you had any work to your credit?

    Yes. ‘The Snatched Verdict’ and ‘Broken Pedigree’ were my original works.

    Are these books in the market, and is their rate of acceptance?

    The Snatched verdict was my final year project; it was later adopted into the Nollywood movie. While the Broken Pedigree was used for the NYSC 1996 yearly national competition of art.

    Apart from being a lawyer, what else would you have done?

    I am also a playwright as I said earlier, and I love it. I must confess here that I lost the muse at a point, but I have found and recovered it.

    In a nutshell what is the play all about?

    Amaechi Mgbu is a play that Ex-rays large number of unresolved questions in the minds of people, within and outside Rivers state of Nigeria.

    It encapsulates events of happenings in the state on one hand and showcasing its concomitance effects on Nigeria polity on the whole.

    Interestingly, the word “Mgbu” is an Igbo term meaning pain. I have already stated in the introduction that should anybody suggests any other meaning to that word that is the person’s own opinion. In this sense, “Amaechi Mgbu” simply means Amaechi’s pain.

    The play blends fiction and facts. The facts are based on what I gathered from the media. It also captures arguments for and against parties in the imbroglio. It allows the readers to decide for themselves who has the superior argument in this whole drama.

    The work attempts to force those who maybe partisan in the imbroglio to play the characters in it, by engaging in common questions and answers, dialogue, without recourse to physical attacks from anybody or carrying arms to disrupt rallies; that is what all this work is all about.

    Why is the scenario of the drama on a “Mama Put”, eatery joint?

    Well, I needed to gather the facts and the facts I gathered were from those areas. The arguments are more in these areas, including the airports. In fact, as we are granting this interview now I can bet you that arguments are going on concerning this whole drama we are talking about here.

    This is a period we are talking about politics, are you a political office hopeful of any political party.

    I have not contemplated contesting any election, so the question will be addressed much later, time will tell, but for now, I don’t have any such ambition.

    Port Harcourt has been adopted as the World Book Capital for the year 2014, what is your view concerning knowledge application and reading in the state?

    I thank God for Port Harcourt being made World Book Capital. To a large extent I believe that it will take this state to another level. You will agree with me that reading culture died a while. Like, how many people are still visiting the Port Harcourt Library?, but with what was kick started by the “Rainbow Book Club”, in which children were gathered together to appreciate reading culture equally positioned Port Harcourt to winning this honour.

    I believe also that it will engineer more book writers, that is my thinking.

    Who are your target audience?

    To me, this book is for everybody, pupils, students, teachers everybody at all provided you can read. It is devoid of any form of in-umbrage, it is made easy to read by everybody.

    It is even targeted more by the younger generation, because some of the things happening in the polity of this country currently affect them. They are the ones who are learning from it.

    The question of 16 being greater than 19, 5 being greater than 27 as mentioned in the book are questions that would disturb their minds at a time. They will be asking around it, some may even want to accept it as a norm; this book tend to answer their mind agitations by saying no, this is not the norm or right thing, this is the reason for the book.

    The event that led to the writing of this book took place in this environment within eight months and the book is already out, how long did it take you to gather the facts played out here?

    There is no one writer that can capture everything on a particular event. But in this case I can say that I captured so much. It took me approximately one month and half to capture and put these together.

     

  • Orubebe: You can be a good Christian and a good Politician

    Orubebe: You can be a good Christian and a good Politician

    Until recently, Godsday Orubebe was Minister of Niger Delta. He resigned to pursue his dream of becoming Delta State’s next governor. In this encounter with Okungbowa Aiwerie, he discussed politics and Christianity, among others.

    Ogbobagbene is an obscure community deep in the Niger Delta creeks. What motivated your building a church here?

    My father’s mother fished on the lake within the community; so my father followed her here. I grew up to see very few houses, not more than twenty thatched buildings. And we lived a communal life where you could eat in any person’s home. Due to the size of the community, people kept saying the town was not growing because there were witches in the community. So, we became a laughing stock of neighbouring communities. Although we are blessed with sand and people will come and dig sand to build block houses, but we the owners of the resources never had the funds to build block houses. I remember when one of my uncles was discussing with a friend who visited and sand dredging was going on that day and the community wanted the dredgers to pay for the sand, my uncle’s friend replied that Ogbobagbene did not understand the value of sand. I was in the restroom when this discussion was going on. I cried to God throughout that night. I cried: “God, give us the opportunity to know the value of sand”. Today God has blessed us; my brothers, sisters, cousins and nephews have all built houses in this community. You have buildings all over the community .This area, which is built up, was supposed to have been bewitched. The community believed anyone who built a house here would die. A wealthy uncle of mine who attempted to build his house on this side of the community suddenly died. So, when I wanted to build my first house (you know I happened to be the first son of my mother), my mother kicked against it. I told her I am different from other people. I told her I am a child of God and that I had my own destiny. I called my pastors and consecrated the land and I built my home. Soon, everyone started building on this side of the community. For this feat, the community bestowed the title of “Amafinowei” meaning “The man God sent to develop the town”. God spoke to me about this vision; He said build a place for me for people to come and worship me. This centre is non-denominational. The centre runs a series of projects, such as support for widows and elderly. Every last August of the year, we have a very major event where over a thousand widows and the elderly are clothed, fed and empowered.

    How do you combine your role as a preacher and politician?

    By practice, I am a politician. I studied Political Science. I was born a politician. In 1987, in Lagos I was praying and speaking to God. I asked God to reveal to me what I was created to accomplish on earth. God revealed to me that I was meant to be a politician. I am a politician by practice and by calling a servant of God. What I do is that there is a thin separating line between my Christian life and my political life. I do not mix the two. When I am doing politics, I face the activities of politics and when I am preaching, I do not bring in politics into it. When I am practising politics, I bring in the values of Christianity. These are the values of love, equity, good; these are the things I bring into politics. So, my Christian life affects my political life. I do things differently in politics by bringing in the values of Christianity. I want to bring a new concept of love in politics, transparency, doing what is right and keeping your promises. The issues of deceit are frowned upon in Christianity. I have come into politics to let people know that you can be a good Christian and be a good politician.

    As the 2015 general elections draws near, many are scared that violence may mar the elections, what is your advice to politicians?

    If we see politics as service to humanity, then there will be no issue of if I do not get it, no one else gets it. The do-or-die attitude, some people feel it is their birthright to govern others. If we see ourselves as one, if we share love one with one and other, if we think about the development of this country, all the crisis will go away. From 1960 till date, Nigeria has been enmeshed in one crisis or another, and Nigeria has the capacity to absorb any crisis thrown at her. God has a way of taking care of the problems of Nigeria. So, my advice to politicians is that we should not see politics as a do-or-die game. We should see it as a game where brothers and sisters are thinking of becoming governor with the sole aim of taking care of the people. If that is the general thinking of everybody, we should be happy that any one that is there will do the wish of the people. I believe God will take care of 2015. There will be no crisis; we are praying for peace. God has always sustained the country because of the prayer of the saints.

    How do we deepen democracy?

    We deepen democracy by imbibing the values of Christianity and Islam, which are centred on love and by strengthening the institution of democracy, like INEC, to improve the welfare of the people. Take for instance, we are talking about the issues of Boko Haram, the money that would have been used in combating the insurgency is enough to do a number of things to empower the people. During the Niger Delta crisis, crude oil production went very low. If there is a crisis, it affects the resources of the country. A lot of states in the Northeast, the governors are crying of paucity of resources, the resources are not there to do the things ordinarily they are expected to do. If we allow the system to grow and we see government as service to the people and we love one and other, we will deepen democracy.

    During the programme, you repeatedly mentioned that every decision you have passed through is shown to you first by God and it often comes to pass. Will this replicate itself in the2015 gubernatorial race?

    The life of anybody on earth is determined by God. If God wants me to govern Delta State, it is God that knows how He will take care of the process to take me to that exalted seat. I have joined the governorship race in Delta. What will be the outcome is to be determined by God. I can only say let’s wait for God to take care of the process.

    PDP has a zoning policy which may conflict with your ambition…

    Zoning is defined by participation by all, zoning is an all-inclusive term that says that everybody must have a stake in the activities of governance, and we are graduating to a system which is that if you have somebody who can do work to satisfy all sectors, nobody will be talking of one ethnic group or another. If the resources of a nation are well-distributed to all corners, nobody will care if his or her kinsman is governor or not. In Delta State, over the period we have always had everybody working and contesting together at the end of the day whether the person is from whatever area; if he emerges, we all rally around that person to where we are going. If you are talking about zoning and you want to define it to suit yourself, then it becomes an injustice to other people. In Delta State, we have so many ethnic nationalities and if you are talking about Mr. A from an ethnic nationality and Mr. B from another ethnic nationality and you think that where Mr. A is coming from should be able to represent another ethnic group, which of course is not what should happen in government, supposing it is like that the people from the area that have not gotten anything will also say they have not we have not been represented. Delta State from creation till date we have never had an Ijaw man as governor of the state. So even if you want to look at it very from that perspective, you will see that the Ijaw man has the right to say he has to be the next governor if we are talking about zoning properly. I am talking about candidates coming out to sell themselves to the people. We should look out for someone who would unite the state; someone who will bring about love, peace and development and above all bringing concepts within the confines of Christianity in order to transparently deliver to the people of our state.