The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Chief priest’s arrest sparks anger in Delta community

    The protesters’ anger was visible. Elders, women and youths defied thunderstorm and rain last Saturday to stage a peaceful protest in Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The Olaja Orori (chief priest) of the community, Omadeli Benson Dube, had been arrested by naval operatives and taken to Warri under controversial circumstances.

    The Nigerian Navy said Dube and three others were arrested to avert a breakdown of law and order in the community; but the protesters said they security agency was acting the scripts of their paymasters and pandering to the whims of the state government.

    The arrest was anything but peaceful; shots were fired, doors in the Itsekiri town were smashed, people were beaten up, hounded and thrown into four waiting gunboats and two speedboats.

    The NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base Information Officer, Lieutenant I Yohanna, told our correspondent on telephone that Dube ordered the torture of two young men and supporters of an influential titleholder in the community, Chief Ayiri Emami, who was part of the operation that Friday.

    Emami, who heads the Delta State Waterways and Security Committee, later told newsmen that the quartet was arrested for illegal bunkering and other sundry crimes.

    But the protesters fingered Emami and the chairman of the Ugborodo Community Trust, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi for instigating the arrests of their kinsmen, who challenged their leadership of the community.

    The bone of contention, it was gathered, was the community’s interest of its committee to negotiate its interest in the $26 billion proposed Ogidigben Gas project. It was gathered that the community rejected a list from the ‘government’ and insisted on theirs.

    Prior to the latest face-off,the Ereyitomi/Emami group had been engaged in a no-love-lost relationship with the factional chairman, led by former chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Mr. David Tonwe, who is backed by Dube and other elders from the community. It was this group that kicked against government’s interference.

    Three weeks earlier, a young supporter of the Tonwe group was purportedly shot dead. His remains were allegedly carted away by his killers. Emami said the ‘victim’ was made up to embarrass him, adding that there was no murder.

    It was against this background that Dube, Joseph Uwawah and others were arrested on Friday.

    The four men were detained at the Warri naval base for three days before they were taken to Asaba on Sunday morning because the Warri Area Command refused to take over the case. It was gathered that the police was unwilling to partake in their ‘trial,’ having investigated and found them innocent.

    But, in a dramatic turn, they were returned to Warri and taken to a Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. They were sent to the Okere Prison after having five-count charge of attempted murder, kidnapping and illegal bunkering, among other charges read to them. The matter was adjourned to December 10 for mention.

    Femi Uwawah, who led the Saturday’s protest, told Niger Delta Report that Ereyitomi and Emami were being used by Governor Uduaghan to persecute the community for his personal interest.

    He said: “The state governor called a stakeholders’ meeting. We went there with the spiritual head of Ugborodo. He (Uduaghan) asked the chief priest to be arrested. He was arrested and taken to Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Warri, until the chief priest was later released. Now they went to the Navy because the police would not support their evil intention.”

    Femi accused the governor, who is an Itsekiri, of setting up a parallel ‘trust,’ and insulting the traditional leadership of the community because of his selfish interest.

    Pa Anderson, who led the elders, lamented: “We are highly intimidated. We are highly oppressed. They made money now; they want to enslave us. They want us to dance to their tune; that we have no say of our own again. Those we gave power sometimes ago are the people fighting us because they have made money.”

    Madam Felicia Bobi said the people of the community decided to go on protest because the leaders of the community have failed them; as there is nothing to show for their years of leadership

  • Edo Assembly suspends two council chiefs

    Edo Assembly suspends two council chiefs

    Hon Roland Alari and Chief Roland Ibierutomwen are currently running from pillar to post to retain their jobs. They were both elected and sworn in the same day as chairmen of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government areas respectively.

    Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode used to be one local government until Uhunmwode was carved out of it in 1991by the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

    Both council chiefs have the same fate of being suspended from office by lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly though for separate reasons.

    They also preside over local governments that are yearning for development when compared to other flouring local governments in the state.

    Apart from major highways that criss-cross both local governments, there are no other good roads linking communities except the roads under construction by the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Basic amenities like electricity, water, quality healthcare that are supposed to be provided by the local councils are conspicuously absent.

    Chief Ibierutomwen, who is a former lawmaker, was suspended indefinitely for travelling to Italy alongside all elected council officials for the purpose of studying local government administration.

    Trouble started for Chief Ibierutomwen when the Orhionmwon Youth Congress (OYC) caused traffic gridlock on the Benin-Onitsha highway and protesting at the gate of the council secretariat over allegations of corruption.

    Some of their placards read: “Stop looting Orhionmwon treasury,” “Develop Abudu now” and “Probe Ibierutomwen’s trip to Italy now,” among others.

    Leader of the protesting youths, Mr John Osazuwa, said they were informed that Chief Ibierutomwen abandoned his duty at Abudu and travelled to Italy.

    In a petition to Governor Oshiomhole and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the OYC stated that “whereas Orhionmwon prides itself as the foremost oil and gas producing community in Edo State, several communities in the council are neglected. Dilapidated roads, markets, schools and health centres are begging for attention.”

    They called for a probe into the circumstances under which the chairman approved millions of Naira for the trip to Italy to understudy local government administration.

    Some officials of Orhionmwon council told Niger Delta Report that the trip to Italy was approved, but Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky James challenged them to show evidence of the approval.

    James, who also absolved the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu said no state government officials would approve such ‘a funny trip.’

    Meanwhile, his counterpart, Roland Alari was suspended for two months at the first instance for allegedly leading thugs to assault councillors at the legislative chambers and stopped them from removing their leader, Douglas Idahor.

    It was learnt that Alari’s attempt to stop the removal of Douglas was to pre-empt the councillors from commencing impeachment process against him.

    Alari was said to have been at loggerheads with the councillors for not carrying out some resolutions passed by them. The resolutions included buying officials vehicles for principal officials of the house, refurbishing official bus of the councillors to bring them to work from Benin, refurbishing their official residence at Ehor as well as refusal to approve funds for seminars to enable them to improve their competence and legislative duties.

    Sources say the chairman bought official car for Douglas without addressing other resolutions. This, according to the source, caused the councillors to reason that their leader has compromised and become insensitive to their plights.

    Another source said Alari’s trouble started when he refused to provide support for the mobile clinic bought by Hon. Elisabeth Ativie representing Uhunmwode constituency in a bid to lessen her electoral chances in the future.

    It was further learnt that Alari told Ativie that he would not use council fund to support what was supposed to be a constituency project of a lawmaker.

    Besides, the move by Hon. Ativie to ensure the taking over of a health centre at Obadan by the Federal Government was frustrated because Alari allegedly insisted that it was the council fund that was used to build the now-moribund health centre.

    Following the suspension of Alari, the people of Ehor, administrative headquarters of Uhunmwode, have vowed to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to probe past and present leaders who they blamed for the area’s under-development.

    The traditional ruler of Ehor, His Royal Highness (HRH) David Igiehon, traced the under-development of Ehor town and the entire local government area to past local government chairmen who he accused of amassing wealth for themselves.

    He said: “The chairmen that have ruled the local government in the past only went to the council to amass wealth for themselves. The chairmen do not have a residential house within the local government during their time. Though there are only 10 wards in Uhunmwode local government area, these chairmen had formed another illegal Ward 11 where they reside and rule the 10 wards from there.”

    Chairman of the Ehor Development Forum, Mr. David Uduebor who spoke at the first Ehor National Day, said they were jubilant when Uhunmwode was created out of Orhionmwon with Ehor as its headquarters.

    He said: “All sons and daughters of Ehor were joyful over the creation of the Uhunmwode local government area. Our belief was that at last our sufferings and neglect by the Orhionmwon Local Government Area had come to an end.

    “It is sad to state that virtually all previous administrations at the local government headquarters have utterly neglected the development of Ehor town. One wonders where the billions of Naira allocated to this local government have gone to since 1991.

    “You cannot see any development in Ehor town let alone its environs. The Ehor Development Forum says enough is enough. Henceforth, we shall demand to know how Federal Allocations which are published in national dailies are spent. The Freedom of Information Act shall be put into action.

    “The Lucky Igbinedion administration established a pineapple juice industry at Ehor. The buildings were constructed and machinery installed. In a commando type of action, cranes were brought into Ehor and the machines were removed to unknown destination to the amazement of everybody.

    “The government went ahead and sold the purported industry. Till date, as I speak to you, the proposed industry remains a mirage. This is what that utterly neglected people of Ehor will call the only visible state intervention.”

  • Group rewards winners of National Chemistry Competition

    Group rewards winners of National Chemistry Competition

    The Delta State chapter of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) has held an award ceremony for the state winners of the National Chemistry Competition.

    The award ceremony was held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun Delta State in honour of the winners of the state’s competition and its standard bearers, who came second and third at the national competition.

    The competition tagged “Awokoya Memorial Competition,” was organised in collaboration with Chevron Nigeria Limited in memory of the late Prof. Stephen Awokoya, Nigeria’s first chemistry graduate and a founding member of the CSN.

    In his welcome address, the chairman of Delta State chapter of CSN, Pastor Gideon Irerhievwie, said the competition was an off-shoot of the Awokoya Memorial Competition in chemistry for secondary school students across the country. He said that the CSN is committed to encourage and sustain students’ interest in the all-important subject at the grassroots.

    He further explained that the competition at the Delta State chapter of CNS was organised in two stages; with the first stage involving two students each from public and private secondary schools in the 25 local government areas. The students wrote qualifying examinations in the 20 centres simultaneously.

    “The second stage involved students from stage 1 who are made to write another examination at a designated centre. The best two students were then selected to represent the state at the National Final Examination usually held during the Annual International Conference of the Chemical Society of Nigeria.”

    Pastor Irerhhievwie said 508 students from 248 secondary schools in the 25 local government areas took part in the first stage of the competition; a 100 per cent increase in the 2012 edition that witnessed 235 students from 125 schools vying for the top position.

    He commended Master Durojaiye Victor of Our Saviour Secondary School, Sapele and Master Oguns Oghenetega Wisdom of Lords and Kings Academy, Warri who came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the National Chemistry Competition, describing them as “worthy ambassadors of the state.”

    Mr. Deji Haarstrup, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, expressed happiness that the robust partnership between NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, Chemical Society of Nigeria and the Delta State government on the Awokoya Memorial Competition in Chemistry has continued to grow over the years, adding that the reason for initiating and supporting the competition are being met.

    Haarstrup, who was represented by Mr. Tunji Idowu, Area Manager West, congratulated the two Delta State candidates on their excellent performance.

    He said: “Over the years, we have demonstrated commitment to quality education through investments in education infrastructure, sponsorship of man-power development programmes and provision of scholarships. Our corporate belief is that education remains a veritable tool for personal, societal growth and sustainable development. We are pleased that our contributions to education are helping to improve the ability of Nigeria to develop quality man- power in different fields,” he said.

    Speaking in the same manner, Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muobaghare, said the state government was happy with the giant strides made by CSN, Delta and Chevron partnership in education.

    Speaking on the topic “Being an Entrepreneur,” the guest lecturer, Prof. Peter Egbon challenged the youth not to depend on the private sector for jobs but rather should create their own jobs.

    Prof. Egbon also urged the youth to combine ‘book wisdom’ with ‘street wisdom’ in order to succeed in business, adding that they must put the knowledge they have acquired into use.

    The ceremony also saw a technical presentation/lecture by Chevron.

    High point of the event was the presentation of prizes to Oguns Oghenetega Wisdom and Duojaiye Victor.

    Other winners included Ajari Ejiroghene Esther from Merit Secondary School Sapele and Azuowu Odinma of College of Education Demonstration Secondary School Warri, among others.

  • Tributes for Dickson as communities demand more

    Tributes for Dickson as communities demand more

    The People of Nembe and Brass local government areas were in high spirits on Monday and Tuesday. They trooped out en mass in a carnival-like manner to welcome their Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who chose Brass and Nembe to begin his unique “Thank You Tour.”

    Prominent sons and daughters from many communities in the councils, were present to receive the governor and his entourage. Even the hoi polloi, consisting of fishermen and women including children, gathered to catch a glimpse of the governor.

    Traditional rulers and chiefs appeared in their royal regalia; with some of them in their paraphernalia of offices. Children milled around the venues of the event to see their governor. Their joy knew no bounds and their happiness was a function of their past experiences.

    They were elated that, for the first time in the history of the state, a governor, after assuming his office, deemed it fit to come back and show appreciation to the electorate.

    “This has never happened before. There has never been a time a governor came to thank us for voting for him. This is a special moment and this shows that he appreciates what we did for him,” an obviously delighted woman who identified herself as Aye Thomas said.

    In fact, the streets of Brass and Nembe were decorated for the purpose of the event. All the communities used the occasion as a showcase of their customs. Energetic youths wrestled and beautiful maidens of the kingdoms, especially the Seven Angels of Sangana, twisted their waists as they danced to the rhythm of their traditional music.

    Different cultural troupes sang and danced to entertain the governor. It was a period to show Dickson the hospitality of all the communities. Members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) were not exempted from the ceremony as they queued to salute the visitors.

    A firm believer in Dickson who is the King of Opueme Kingdom, popularly known by his traditional title of Obigbomikimiki, King A.J Turner was in the governor’s entourage. The former Military Administrator of Ebonyi State, Walter Feghabo and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, were among the dignitaries.

    Besides, the events generated many commercial activities. It opened a vista for hawkers, food vendors and beer parlour owners to make brisk business. All the hotels in Nembe and Brass were not enough to accommodate the crowd of persons in the governor’s entourage.

    Women in the councils particularly benefitted from the visit. The governor started redeeming his earlier declaration that he would empower the women with N500m credit facility.

    The governor, through the acting Director-General, Bayelsa State Micro-Finance and Enterprise Development Agency, Mr. Ifiemi Ikpaikpai, gave the women in the councils their share of the money. The money was given to the women through the chairmen of their rural development agencies.

    In appreciation of the governor’s gesture and his achievements within the two years of his administration, the council of chiefs in Brass admitted him into its fold. The Amayanabo of Twon Brass Kingdom, King Alfred Diete-Spiff conferred on him a chieftaincy title of the Twon-Ibe Amatolomobor 1 of Twon Brass. The title means the Restorer of the Glory of Brass.

    With the help of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Ateki, Diete-Spiff adorned Dickson with his royal costume comprising a flowing gown, beads and a hat to match.

    “It is our pleasure to bestow on you the title for all your hard work. Your restoration has ushered in great opportunities and this title is to appreciate you,” Diete-Spiff told Dickson.

    He added: “You deserve our gratitude for your outstanding performance so far in the development of our kingdom. Your activities in the kingdom are very visible for appreciation.”

    He, however, lamented that Brass, the former headquarters of the Consul-General of Nigeria, had not been given adequate recognition by the Federal Government. He asked the governor to intervene in the lingering Brass/LNG project.

    “At a time when we have a President that is indigenous to the state, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Final Investment Decision (FID) should not be allowed to scuttle this opportunity of our time,” he stressed.

    He further asked the governor to facilitate the construction of the Yenagoa/Kolo/Nembe/Brass Road project; embark on shore protection of the kingdom to avert natural disaster; rehabilitate and upgrade the water facilities in the kingdom and assist in connecting the area to the national grid.

    While he was also worried about the insecurity in the waterways, Diete-Spiff lamented the relocation of the proposed headquarters of the Central Naval Command (CNC) to Yenagoa by the Federal Government.

    “This is so even after Brass had been announced in all the media as the headquarters, even as the leadership of the Navy had led a delegation of naval personnel on an official visit to Amayanabo, chiefs and people of this kingdom,” he said.

    He implored Governor Dickson to take steps in reinstating Brass as the headquarters of the CNC.

    Among the barrage of demands presented by the king to the governor are rehabilitation of concrete roads and drainage, furnishing and equipping the general hospital and acquiring restoration boats to aide marine transport.

    Dickson, who addressed the mammoth crowd at the Adama Field, promised to address the problems in the council. He also said that the reason for the tour was to factor the problems in the various communities to the 2014 budget. He said the people in the area needed a befitting arena to hold events and promised to build a stadium for the council.

    He further said he had instructed his Commissioner for Sports to consult with the leaders in the communities to realise the project, promising that his next visit would be hosted in the proposed stadium. He said the government had awarded a contract for water reticulation in the council, adding that the electricity problems in the area would be addressed.

    Governor Dickson also assured the people of Brass of his administration’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government and other investors to ensure the actualisation of the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (BLNG) project.

    Describing the project as very key to the economic development plans of the restoration agenda, Dickson said the government was interfacing seriously with other critical stakeholders to ensure the commencement of the Brass Fertiliser project.

    The governor further thanked the council of chiefs for bestowing on him the chieftaincy title and dedicated it to all the people in the council.

    Governor Dickson advised the women not to toy with the empowerment scheme, saying his intention was to ensure that women engage in profitable businesses. He described women as the key to fighting poverty.

    “Don’t make yourselves tools. They will use you and dump you. They will give you cocaine and gun and put blood in your hands while their children study abroad. This is what we have come to wipe away. Keep away from violence and brigandage,” he said.

    In his remarks, the state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd) said the restoration team received the most important blessing from Brass when it inaugurated its campaign for the elections. He said King Diete-Spiff gave the team the blessing.

    Also, Ateki eulogised the governor for giving the council its pride of place, even as he lamented what he called negligence of the headquarters of Brass before the current dispensation. He further praised Governor Dickson on what he described as his all-inclusive government.

    The chairman of Brass Local Government Area, Mr. Andy Obed, also praised the leadership qualities of the governor and said he had keyed into the restoration agenda of the state government.

    He highlighted some of the projects the council embarked on and promised to work hard for the development of the council.

  • Group advises members to be selfless

    A political pressure group, Peoples Democratic Party Youth Circuit (PDPYC), Delta State chapter, has advised members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to scuttle the prevailing unity in Delta Central chapter of the party by pursuing selfish interests.

    The group gave the advice while congratulating the candidate representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, on his victory at the just-concluded bye-election.

    In a statement by the state Chairman, Comrade Andaye Rawlings Dagidi and state Publicity Secretary of the group, Hon. Roland Oyibo, the group praised Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, chairman of the party in the state, Mr Peter Nwanboshi, party leaders and party faithful for their efforts towards the party’s success at the polls.

    In a related development the Ovu Ward 5 of PDP described the party as a gateway for development in Urhobo nation in particular and the state in general.

    The leadership of the Ovu PDP ward 5 made the remark while commending the ward leader, Chief Vincent Omovie and the Ethiope East PDP party leader, Chief Bernard Edewor for their efforts in ensuring that the local government is delivered to PDP during the just-concluded Delta Central bye-election.

    The ward chairman, Mr. Johngold Ighoyivwi commended the exemplary leadership of Chief Bernard Edewor and Chief Vincent Omovie, noting that the success recorded during the Delta Central bye-election was as a result of the tireless efforts of the leaders to ensure that PDP regained its mandate in Delta Central.

  • Implement court order on council polls, by CNPP

    Implement court order on council polls, by CNPP

    On November 6, 2013, Justice Michael Edem of the Calabar High Court voided the election of three local government chairmen in the September 21 council polls in Cross River State. The ruling was on a suit filed against the State Independent Electoral Commission over adjustment in the time table for the election. In this interview with NICHOLAS KALU, chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Mr. Cletus Obun insists that the ruling must be implemented.

    That are your views about the September 21 local government elections in Cross River State?

    It is important for people to know what is happening and the efforts being made to frustrate the opposition parties from participating in local government elections. Members of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP); including the National Conscience Party and Progressive Peoples Alliance which, having fulfilled all conditions precedent to conducting the elections in 2011, had gone to court for two separate things.

    First, the National Conscience Party (NCP) and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) insist that, by the time table of CROSIEC, they are the only parties qualified to contest elections in three local government areas where they fielded their candidates and met all conditions.

    In the judgment of November 6, the judge granted all reliefs. This indicates that only the NCP and PPA qualified to run for elections in those three local government areas which included Obanliku, Yakurr and Obudu. It is on this basis that we demand that the judgment by Justice Michael Edem on November 6 be implemented.

    Any contrived delay in its implementation is anti-democratic. We demand that this anomaly should be corrected and urgently too because, justice delayed is justice denied.

    We expect that on December 14 2013, the tenures of the current administrations in the local government system will expire. So, the non-conduct of elections in these three local government areas in accordance with the existing court order which has not been challenged is going to deprive the NCP and the PPA from producing their candidates for the election and taking off along with others on December 14. Let us not create an unnecessary crisis because if the status quo ante remains, it would translate to either setting up a caretaker committee or handing the councils over to civil servants in those local government areas.

    If any of the two happens, it will be unconstitutional because Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), is very clear on that matter. It stipulates that a democratic local government system should be established in Nigeria and that there is no room for caretaker committees.

    Trying to create a situation that would bring that logjam would be resisted. So, CROSIEC should act like an independent body that the Constitution envisages it to be under section 7 and conduct elections in those three local government areas.

    The judgment of Justice Michael Edem is being delayed. Incidentally, on November 20, the matter instituted by the NCP and the PPA seeking clarification on the interpretation of the judgment in order to give an outright order for conduct of the election has already been cleared that we enjoy the benefit of that judgment.

    The matter was heard on November 20 and adjourned to December 2.

    We do not think that this kind of long adjournment on a serious matter like this ought to be. The Chief Judge of this state is creating judicial history.

    For the first time, the Cross River State judiciary is coming up to bring some revolutionary judgments and it should not be tainted by the continuous delay. The Chief Judge must live up to expectations and must live up to the tenets of the oaths of office that he took, which is to give justice to all manner of people irrespective of their status, political leanings and colourations, race or gender.

    It is their duty to do so. They remain the bastion and hope for the common man. It is expected that the weak be made strong, by the law, even as the strong must be made to obey the law irrespective of who is involved.

    This matter must be expeditiously pursued until justice is seen to have been done. This will be when we have elections in these three local government areas in which judgment was given. Justice should be done by having elections conducted in these three local government areas before the swearing-in of the chairmen who would be occupying their offices illegally.

    Our jurisprudence should go beyond the mundane tricks and tactics of delaying justice to make people wrongfully benefit from office they ought not to occupy. A situation where a chairman sits in office and begins to use state resources to deny justice to others should not be allowed by the judiciary.

    The judiciary must set the pace and the Cross River State judiciary has shown a glimmer of hope. The NCP and the PPA are passing the rough road of non-implementation of court judgment.

    What would be your next step if this judgment is not implemented and chairmen of these local government areas are sworn in?

    That would be a step towards anarchy and violence. Now violence is not just the act of picking up guns and matcheting people. Violence is the act of denying rights to individuals in such a way that their lives are affected.

    Swearing in a chairman who was not elected and who ought not to be in office is the worst form of violence you can inflict on the people. Therefore, people reacting by carrying stones and machetes and going to engage in guerrilla warfare is only a mild reaction to the bigger injustice of imposition.

    It is in the state’s interest not to create a situation where it becomes ungovernable. This is because nobody has the monopoly of violence as the saying goes. The insurgency in the north and in the creeks of the Niger Delta, the kidnappings and all that are fallouts of denying people their rights; especially the right to choose their leaders. Once you have a false leadership, you are going to have a sham followership and false society. This ultimately leads to faulty base for development.

    So, let government bear in mind that it will be impossible to guarantee peace when people are denied their rights or imposing leaders they did not elect on them. In the circumstances, their destiny is trusted in the hands of lawbreakers who we know are just puppets of some cabal that is bent on bringing under-development to our people.

    There is an argument that the court did not make any pronouncement about not swearing in the chairman…

    The order is very explicit. It stated that all actions CROSIEC has taken by giving forms to and recognising the lists of these people are illegal, null and void. I don’t know the kind of grammar they want to hear again. This is quite explicit even for a secondary school boy to understand. So, which order are they looking for?

    What do you think this judgment implies for the 15 remaining local government areas since the basis for the court’s nullification applies to all of them?

    The CNPP, in conjunction with the affected parties, are already on the drawing board about the implications which we are not ready to disclose for now. It is only left for the courts to interpret. This is so because we are going to approach the courts to seek what implications there are if you have three local governments that didn’t qualify. We would want to know if it does not follow that others that filed out for the election ought not to have done so in the first place, based on the judgment by a competent court.

  • 8,000 youths benefit from Akwa Ibom integrated farmers scheme

    The Akwa Ibom Government has said more than 8,000 youths in the state benefited from its sponsored Integrated Farmers Scheme (IFS).

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Godwin Afangideh, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that more than 80 per cent of the beneficiaries were trained in animal husbandry.

    The commissioner said the beneficiaries of the scheme were doing well in poultry, piggery, rearing of rabbits, grass cutters and snails.

    He said the scheme had contributed immensely to the supply of animal protein and creation of employment for the youth in the state.

    Afangideh said the state government planned to build a modern poultry farm and hatchery in the state.

    He said the hatchery would have the capacity to produce 540,000 day-old chicks monthly.

    The commissioner expressed regretted that all the day-old chicks sold in the state were brought from other states in Nigeria.

    He said more than 4,000 women were trained and empowered under the state Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEDEP).

    Afangideh said 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of WAEDEP, which grants stood at N250,000 each, was also involved in animal husbandry.

    He said the rest were in crop production, processing and marketing of agro-based products.

    Afangideh said the state government was committed to making agriculture an attractive business venture.

    The IFS started in 2003.The programme was, however, re-invigorated by the current administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2007 by increasing the beneficiaries’ grant from N300,000 to N500,000.

  • Youths shower love on elderly

    Youths shower love on elderly

    Those who think the elderly around them cannot be appreciated may need to ask the youths of Assembly of God, Kings Cathedral Parish, Mile 1 Dioub, Port Harcourt, how best to celebrate with the elderly ones. They will teach them how to love, care and appreciate our aged mothers and fathers.

    It was a day to honour the heroes and heroines of faith when the youth of Assembly of God gathered the elderly members between the ages of 60 years and above to shower them with the love and adoration they deserved.

    The programme was aptly tagged: “Indeed God is Faithful”.

    The youths were given the opportunity to tap blessing from the aging fathers and mothers and by so doing were also sowing seeds for their own old age. The elders prayed for their younger benefactors to live good lives that could sustain them with enough grace to get older than the celebrants.

    There was enough to eat for both the elderly and the youths, the celebrants were also given the opportunity to present special songs, dance and to declare blessings and favour upon the youths and children of the church.

    Speaking at the special service to honour the elders, Rev. Chigozirim Amadi, lamented that elderly in the society were made to beg on the streets to survive because of lack of care from the younger generation who they helped sustained.

    “I thanked God that the youths are honouring all of you here today. It is a good thing that the young ones recognize that our parents who have attained the age of 60 and above deserve recognition and appreciation. But I want to tell you something, I have discovered that why some old men and women beg on the street is because they did not live a good life, some of them were wicked and did not help anybody while they were young because if you are a good person even if you don’t have children somebody somewhere will make you his or her mother or father. “

    Rev. Chigozirim advised the youths to live good lives so that at their old age they will be favoured, love and cared for. He reminded the youths to know that how long they stayed on this earth depend on how they live their lives, adding that there is no other way to live a better life than to live a worthy life and be committed in the things of God.

    Dr. Chidi Agbarakwe, while speaking with the Niger Delta Report, noted that the elderly is an age at which functional capacities of systems are below installed capacity where chronic and non- communicable diseases are common.

    “This includes diabetics, hypertension, chronic, airway disease and cancer, the elderly that is happy to be old will live happy than one who lives with regret. Don’t forget the most common elderly illness is poor vision, dementia (loss of memory) urinary incontinence. The women may have problem with menopause which gives them night sweats, irritability, facial flush and labile emotion. Above all the elderly must endeavour to serve God with joy and gratitude in his or her heart in order to live happily here on earth and make heaven at last

    Some of the celebrant who also spoke to Niger Delta Report said they are delighted to be honoured by the young ones in the church. “I am happy that God kept me till today to be part of this programme. I want to thank the youths for recognising that we are still important for them by organising this programme to honour their mother and father. May the Almighty God continue to favour them and give them the grace to get older than me. Although many people did not witness this programme maybe because they are sick or not alive but at 75 years, God has continued to make me stronger” Mrs. Evelyn West said.

    Evangelist Oluchi Onyekwere, one of the celebrants said, “I am very grateful to be part of the celebrant today, the most thing that excite me today is that I am living a life that pleases God. That is the more reason why God is helping me and my family. Even my children are born-again Christians including my late father he gave his life to Christ after hearing the word of God many years ago. One thing in this life is that whatever God says you will be that is what you will be. I did not have the opportunity in life to go to school but today you can see me speaking English because I just concluded my elementary six this years.”

    Another celebrant, Awom Ishmael, said being honoured by the youths has increased his faith in God.

    “I am very happy more than ever before, since my life I have never been honoured this way. I am glad to be among the elders honoured here today by the youths, but what has happened here today definitely has increased my faith in God.”

    For Samuel Nwanka, the courage by the youths to celebrate the elders in the church makes him to feel younger, “I am not just happy I am glad to be honoured and I feel like a young boy today. Let me say this, in Assembly of God as a whole this kind of celebration has never happened before. To be sincere, this is the first time I am seeing this kind of things and the programme has taught me that the lives we live at the young age determine how we live at the old age.”

    The high point of the celebration was the cutting of the cake by the celebrants, and the presentation of souvenirs to all the celebrants.

  • When will Reps’ probes change the fortunes of Niger Deltans?

    When will Reps’ probes change the fortunes of Niger Deltans?

    The House of Representatives has conducted many a probe on issues affecting the people of the Niger Delta. But, these probes have had little or no effect on the people.

    They do not have good tales to tell. Even though it will be two years next month since the incident, Lucky Tema and Ayeomane Ayela still remember the oil spill in the Bonga field on December 21, 2011 with sadness. Both men are fishermen. The spill made them unable to fish. The thick slick of crude oil, which took over the river, sent the fishes packing.

    Shortly after the incident, Tema said: “I have been in this fishing camp in Odioama for about 12 years. I am an Ilaje man and fishing is my main occupation; that’s what I do here. As you can see I am just returning from the ocean. If you go into the ocean you will find the thick slick of crude oil floating, tossed here and there by the waves. It is spreading according to the direction of the current. That is what we are seeing even right here at the waterside on St. Nicholas.

    “As a fisherman, one of the things I know about this crude oil is that, apart from killing aquatic life, it chases away the fishes that used to be around. If our nets get in contact with the crude oil it will stain the nets and, because of the smell and colour, fish will notice and avoid such nets in the water. You can see the little catch that I returned with. This is not how it used to be. Our efforts are yielding far below expectation these days.”

    Ayela’s tale is not different. He said at the time: “Actually, we started noticing this crude oil on the Atlantic a week ago. But it came ashore about two days ago. Oil spills affect our fishing and, this one is not an exception. We used to catch enough fish before but it is difficult now. I go into the ocean almost every day and, since we began experiencing this spill we have been unhappy. If you had come when we had full tide, you would have noticed the crude oil slick all around the waterside. Now the water has ebbed, though you can still see signs of crude oil at the waterfront. We are not happy because it takes extra effort to avoid the slick from contaminating our fishing nets. Once your net has stains of crude oil fishes will run away from the net because they will see it. As you can see we are powerless; we cannot order the government on what to do.”

    He added: “But I think a responsible government should be able to appreciate our plight and assist us. Because of this kind of situation we are becoming debtors as we hardly even meet up the payment of the fuel we use for our ocean-going boats. We want Shell to clean up the spill and compensate us for loss of livelihood. Our business has been impacted. Bonga fish that used to come to the surface are no more. The company should not deny us of our Bonga with their Bonga Facility.”

    The Environmental Rights Action (ERA), in a report issued after monitoring the

    spill site, said the spill affected 923 squre kilometres.

    The report reads: “Following an alert from fisherfolk in Odioma community on the discovery of oil slick suspected to be from Shell’s Bonga Field, ERA/FoEN monitors visited the Atlantic shoreline in the company of some of the fishermen where spreading spill was sighted.

    “Odioama, a Nembe-speaking Ijaw community is on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and its people have a large number of fisherfolk who derive their livelihood from Atlantic Ocean. Areas visited by ERA/FoEN monitors in the company of three community folk – Elder James Sampson aka Ovie Kokori, Danyo Ogoniba and Ayeomane Ayela, included Fish Camp 2 opposite the Varnish Island and St. Nicholas. In the course of the visit, spreading slick was observed close to the coastline of Odioama and along St. Nicholas. More quantity was observed spread out at the Varnish Island.

    “Shell had, on Wednesday, December 21 announced that some 40,000 barrels of crude had leaked into the Atlantic Ocean from the 200,000 barrels per day Bonga Deep Offshore Oil Fields which it operates on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under a production sharing contract. The field, 120 kilometres southwest of the Niger Delta, was discovered in 1996, with government’s approval for its development given in 2002 and first production in November 2005. The field is run in partnership with Esso (20 per cent),

    Nigeria Agip (12.5 per cent) and Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (12.5 per cent) and was built at a cost of $3.6 billion.

    “The December 21 spill at the Bonga facility is said to have occurred while a vessel was being loaded with crude oil. The River Ramos near Warri is reported to have also been affected by the Bonga spill, while local fishermen in Forcados on Monday (December 26) also raised the alarm about an unreported oil spill that has been on for about two weeks at Otumara in Escravos, Ugborodo area of Delta State.

    “On Wednesday, December 21, SkyTruth obtained a radar satellite image showing a major oil spill on the waters off the coast of Nigeria. The image, taken at approximately 9:30am local time on December 21, 2011 by the ASAR instrument aboard the Envisat satellite operated by the European Space Agency, reveals a slick covering 923 square kilometres (356 square miles). The image may be viewed and downloaded from the SkyTruth blog.

    “In the course of the field visit, ERA/FoEN noticed that the spread of the spill continued into Fish Camp 2, behind the community and by the entrance of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas joins the Atlantic ocean from this point. However, even before visiting Fish Camp 2, the surface of the river showed signs of the slick sheen everywhere. Apart from what was observed in the Ocean, crude oil slick was noticed coming into St. Nicholas.”

    The group said the Federal Government should make the oil giant properly account for the spill. It said: “The Nigerian government should compel Shell to state the actual amount of oil spewed from its facility.

    “We demand that Shell also reveal the names and types of chemical dispersants used in fighting the spill.

    “More importantly, the Nigerian government, in addition to carrying out an independent investigation of Shell’s claims that only 40,000 barrels of crude was spewed, should make the company pay adequately for the damage done to Odioma Community folk and other affected communities along the Atlantic coast of the Niger Delta.

    “An independent verification and cleaning up of existing mess (all over the Niger Delta) onshore and offshore should be the focus of NOSDRA and other regulatory agencies. The international community, especially environmental and rights related groups should join in this just cause to defend the environment and livelihood of the people.”

    The House of Representatives said it was touched by the spill. But, it was not until over a year later that it began investigating it. The investigation of the Bonga oil spill began in the House on July 14, 2013 as the Committee on Environment headed by Uche Ekwunife summoned SNEPCO, its parent company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) were also invited to explain their roles in the spill alleged to have destroyed the means of livelihood of 83 communities along the Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State. The investigation is still ongoing.

    But, going by the past probes on such issues in the past, not many expect anything good from the probe. Even recent examples prove pessimists right. Reps decided to investigate the Rivers State security situation July 3, having expressed concerns over the degenerating security situation in the State as a result of the face-off between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu.

    The adoption of a point of order on July 9 on a matter of urgent public importance by Andrew Uchendu (PDP, Rivers) had the lawmakers resolving to probe attack on Rivers State House of Assembly. Uchendu posited that democracy is under threat as ex-militants attacked members of the State House of Assembly a day previously.

    Consequently, the House directed the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor (PDP,Delta) and the Majority Whip, Ishaku Bawa (PDP, Taraba) to liaise with the ad-hoc Committee that was constituted earlier to look into the crisis between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu. The investigation has been concluded.

    Not long after this, the House named a 14-man ad hoc Committee to investigate oil theft in the country and also to look into the propriety of contracting the protection of our water ways and oil pipelines to private firms.

    The Ad-Hoc Committee was also mandated to investigate the allegation made by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolekemi, of the involvement of influential people in oil theft and the fact that his organisation has seized ships belonging to the oil thieves and report back to the House within two weeks.

    In addition, the Ad-Hoc Committee is to ensure compliance on the issue of putting automated metering system on oil wells, flow heads and export terminals, so as to have accurate data on all processes, and report back to the House by end of January 2014.

    Last year, there were also probes and investigations by the House. These include the resolution of July 17, last year, which was stimulated by a tanker tragedy on July 12, which led to the death of no fewer than one hundred and fifty persons.

    The House subsequently resolved to investigate the dualisation of the East-West road project. According to them, the condition of the road was a major contributory factor to the accident. It remains to be seen what the outcome of this will be. But, what is clear is that only a few take the Reps serious.

     

  • Wike, Ateke unite for 2015 at Okrika rally

    Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, is the hometown of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience and a former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo.

    The ex-leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Movement, “High Chief” Ateke Tom, also hails from Okrika, which can be accessed both by land, from Eleme and water, mostly from the Marine Base waterfront in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, is also the grand patron of a socio-political organisation, the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), with the minister and his loyalists moving round the 23 LGAs of the state.

    The Supervising Minister of Education has been claiming that he and his allies are involved in thanksgiving and inauguration of wards and local government executives of the GDI, as well as mobilising support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, however, declared that Wike had started his 2015 governorship campaigns.

    In Okrika, Ateke and ex-militants in their hundreds, took over the rally by Wike, a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011.

    The minister declared at the Okrika rally that the Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Wike alleged that Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), wanted to cause confusion in the PDP, while urging his teeming supporters not to be distracted.

    The supervising minister of education spoke at the thanksgiving and inauguration of wards (12) and Okrika LG executives of the GDI at the playground of the National Secondary School, Okrika.

    Amaechi, however, asked Wike to face the problems in the Federal Ministry of Education, especially the strike by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), since July 1 and stop his 2015 governorship campaigns.

    The Rivers governor, who spoke through Okocha, also called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to call Wike to order, for flouting INEC’s rule of no campaign until 90 days to elections.

    The NGF chairman, while commenting on the presence of Ateke and other repentant militants at the GDI’s rally, said: “Illegality is being legitimised. Nigerians are wiser,” insisting that he remains a member of the PDP.

    The minister of state for education got to the arena at 2:50 pm, danced round to greet his teeming supporters, who were already seated under the canopies and he sat on the front row of the seats reserved for eminent personalities.

    Ateke and the ex-militants stormed the arena at 3:10 pm, with the programme temporarily halted because of the loud noise, accompanied with drumming, singing and dancing round the expansive premises.

    The former “General” then joined Wike; the Rivers PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, and other leaders of the PDP, while the patron of the GDI (Ateke) sat near the supervising minister of education.

    When Wike was asked at 4:23 pm to address his supporters, the Master of Ceremonies urged Ateke to have handshake with the Minister of State for Education, which took some minutes.

    The ex-warlord was also given a full page in the programme for the event, with his photograph with brown suit, white shirt and red tie on page 9.

    Wike said: “All our leaders who are here, particularly the freedom fighter, Comrade Tom Ateke (followed with loud ovation by his supporters), let me sincerely thank everyone of you that has gathered here today. Do not be provoked. Be calm. Our time will come. Nobody will stop it.

    “When you are provoked and you take action, what you may want to achieve, you may not realise it. I will continue to plead with all of you to be calm and be focused. Our agenda is to make sure that by the special grace of God, in 2015, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan returns to Aso Rock.

    “They have told you that they will take away the party structure from the Chairman (Chief Felix Obuah) and his committee. If you have not done anything, let me tell you one thing that you have achieved. You have put the governor of a state to start making arrangements to leave the party.

    “Let him (Amaechi) bring his money and change the structure (of the PDP in Rivers), it will not work. They are doing one leg here, one leg there, trying to distract us, so that we will not be focused. We must be focused. It is very obvious they are leaving the party or they have left the party. What they are doing now is to cause confusion. Do not be distracted.”

    The supervising minister of education also insisted that there was only one PDP, led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, with President Goodluck Jonathan as the leader of the party at the national level, while maintaining that the PDP remained the only party in Rivers state.

    Wike said: “If they are popular, do not be postponing that they are consulting. What are you consulting? Do not consult. We are saying leave today, we will do thanksgiving. We thank the governor (Amaechi) for misbehaving.

    “If he (Amaechi) did not misbehave, most of you would not have had the opportunity (of returning to the PDP). The day he finally leaves, we will say God thank you, for letting problem leave us alone, because the governor and his people are problems to us. Let them leave, so that we can have our peace.”

    The minister of state for education also urged his supporters to continue to work hard and not to be distracted, stressing that the people had agreed that by 2015, they would make sure that Rivers PDP would totally deliver President Jonathan.

    Wike admonished his loyalists to continue to work together, while describing the GDI as a family within the PDP, to mobilise the people for the success of 2015.

    The Rivers PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, noted that nobody stoned Amaechi during the recent burial of the mother of the First lady in Okrika, while lauding the people for showing maturity.

    Obuah also urged Okrika people and other members of the PDP in Rivers state to continue to support President Jonathan and his wife.

    The representative of Rivers East Senatorial District, George Sekibo, said he and other members of the PDP would not be afraid, and would be ready to fight at anytime and anywhere, while lauding Wike for leading the battle.

    A former Transport Minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, said mud that was rubbed on the faces of Rivers people must be cleaned, while insisting that the people of the state would stand by their daughter (Dame Patience) and support President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.

    An ex-Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, alleged that Amaechi wanted to be vice-president in 2015, while he and other members of the PDP would ensure the re-election of President Jonathan, declaring that: “Time for battle has come.”

    A former Rivers governorship candidate, Chief Sergeant Awuse, aka Bulldozer, accused the NGF chairman of deceit and lies, insisting that President Jonathan would win again, while lauding Wike for opening the door for more PDP members and thanked Amaechi for misbehaving.

    The self-acclaimed Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, of Ogu/Bolo constituency, declared that: “Amaechi cannot stop President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015,” stressing that the Assembly’s key was in his pocket and would open the complex at anytime.

    The President-General of the GDI, Bright Amaewhule, described the socio-political organisation as the only movement that could bring about positive change in Rivers state, while urging the people to stand by the supervising minister of education, to ensure better governance.

    The GDI’s Coordinator in Okrika LG, Adams Dabotorudima, alleged that inept leadership, despotic tendencies and reactionary stance of the Amaechi’s administration, made the Rivers people to lament in supplication to God for a change, with Wike chosen as the champion of the desired change.