The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • What I learnt from my father, by Okotie- Eboh’s son

    What I learnt from my father, by Okotie- Eboh’s son

    Compare the era of your father with the present politics in Nigeria?

    Nigerians and Nigerian democracy have come a long way from the First Republic in the 1960s. For one, Nigerians are more matured and advanced. Unlike in the past when the politicians were the know-all, the people are far ahead.

    The major difference with the key players of the yore days and now is that the First Republic politicians were very sincere and had the love of the country and their people at heart. Their actions showed it. The Nnamdi Azikwes, Obafemi Awolowos, Ahmadu Bellos, Aminu Kanos and Abubakar Tafewa Balewas among others – these were great men who put their people first in what they did.

    Because they were humane in their dealings you see that when they spoke their words were like laws. People obey and follow them. But today, if the leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other party says one thing, you see the others going out to openly challenge them. These are people whose leaderships do not emanate from the people.

    Today’s politicians are materialistic. People do not seek elective offices to better the lives of their constituents any more; they do it for self-aggrandisement and personal enrichment. That is why when you see a councillor just a few months after his election, his lifestyle is totally different.

    But Nigerians are wiser. Look at what happened in the 60s: when Christians were attacked in the North and churches are burnt, the South retaliated by targeting Moslems and mosques in the south. If there are burnings in the South, the North retaliates by burning there too. Yet, today in spite of all the Boko Haram is doing in the North the people are exercising restraint and caution. This shows that the people are more matured than in the past.

    What you would like to see change about Nigeria politics?

    I think it is principally this idea of going into politics to acquire wealth. Over 80 percent of those who contest election today are going there for that purpose. That is the reason why you see people so desperate to win elections that they are willing to kill, maim and kidnap their opponents and their spouses.

    That is the difference between the politicians of past eras and now. You see the Mandelas of today; their children are not all over the places showing off ill-gotten wealth because the man went there for public good. That is the reason for the global followership he still commands. On his sick bed, you see people from all over the world praying for his speedy recovery.

    In Nigeria, you see children of politicians displaying unbridled affluence, much to the anger and perplexity of the common man in the society. So, the bottom line should be politics for the good of the society, not for your family and children.

    The effect of money on politics and society reflects everywhere, even in our communities. You see a small boy, who acquires money through any means,drive luxury car and people much older are willing to kowtow for a pot of porridge. If a leader talks youths in the community will ask him to shut up because he doesn’t have money.

    Your father was a key political figure, what did you learn from him?

    If there is one thing I learnt from my father, it was diplomacy. He was a very diplomatic politician and he had lots of respect for his elders. I was very young when he died but I know that he was very focused and diplomatic. Despite his position, he never disrespected his elders and he taught us to respect our elders.

    Do you intend to run for public office?

    I am a strong supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but I do not see myself running for any political office because of a number of reasons. Because of my age, I cannot become a local government chairman or a councillor. The only position that I should vie for is the presidency, but we have a President from the South-south there and he is doing a very good job.

    If I decide to follow my father’s footstep and go to the House of Representatives, there is no vacancy there because the man from my constituency (Warri) is doing extremely well. He is the best candidate. I am happy to support him for a third and fourth term. There is the need to allow continuity if you have a good candidate in the House. It will be a disservice to the Itsekiri nation for me line up against the present occupant.

    What is your assessment of Gov Uduaghan?

    Governor Uduaghan has done well, especially in the areas of health, education and roads construction. Public schools in the state today remind us of what obtained in the good old days. The school buildings are wearing new looks with lush green fields. The only problem is to ensure that school heads stop giving the schools out for ceremonies. If this is not stopped in a few months the good works of the governor will be undone. The fields are for recreation, not for parties.

    In the area of health, I stand to be corrected, there are few states with the kind of modern facilities we have here. The mother and child centres, health programmes and others have stood the state out in this strategic area.

    Also look at road construction, massive road projects are going on all across the state. The governor has even taken over federal roads and he is dualising them.

    Are you people impressed with the pace of work on the Trans Ode-Itsekiri road project?

    I am impressed that work has started on this very important road. That the governor even thought of doing it is commendable. The road is progressing – that is very good. You can see that the roads before the waterfronts are about 80% completed.

    The problem is the crossover bridge. I know this government has the intention of crossing over the bridge but I think as people from oil producing areas, we deserve that bridge to be done. If it is left to the state government alone this might take a very long time to complete because of the huge amount of money involved. Interventionist agencies like NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry should partner with him to complete this project that is very dear to the Itsekiri people. The Omadino Bridge was started by OMPADEC, but it was completed by the state government of Ibori administration. This project should not be left to the state government alone. There should be a partnership.

    There is so much debate on the Delta South senatorial ticket, what is your position on this?

    We all know that it is the turn of the Itsekiri’s to produce this senator and it is not negotiable. There are three major ethnic groups in the district and the Isoko have had it as well as our Ijaw counterpart, which has Senator James Manager in his third tenure now.

    As a result, I think come 2015, the Itsekiri should get it and I am sure that we have an experienced and very capable person with the right credentials, experience in public service and impeccable track record who should ease into that position seamlessly.

     

  • Chevron lifts blind students

    Chevron lifts blind students

    The Niger Delta Blind Students Association and beneficiaries of the Blind Students Scholarship Programme initiated by the Chevron/NNPC Joint Venture have commended the JV partners for the gesture.

    The President of the association, Tariye Ben Omietimi, said the scheme has helped its members to continue their education and to measure up to the requirements of higher education in Nigeria.

    Omietimi, an indigene of Bayelsa State, explained that his compassion for the teaming visually-impaired students, who lacked help, informed the decision to set up the body, whose members are among over 200 blind students in various tertiary institutions who receive N150,000 annually since the scheme started in 2007.

    A recipient, Emmanuel Sylvanus, said the scheme has proved that there is hope for blind students whose aspirations for further education are being hampered not by their physical challenges, but financial handicap.

    The final year student of Mass Communications at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, said life was even more difficult for him as a blind child of a blind woman with four blind persons in his family.

    “As a child of a blind woman and brother to four blind persons in my family, you can understand that the means of survival for daily bread is even difficult not to talk of affording higher education.”

    “Chevron has made it possible for some blind students who would have dropped out of school because of lack of money to remain in the school system,” added Emmanuel who graduated in 2010 as the second-best student in the Ordinary National Diploma level before he proceeded to the Higher National Diploma level.

    The story is the same for Gabriel Godwin, an Urhobo final year Mass Communications at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). He described the company’s gift to him and others as “unique”, adding that the Chevron’s scholarship has gone a long way to alleviate his financial plight in the school.

    “I find it easy to pay my school fees, buy the necessary textbooks, tape recorder and some other materials needed in the school for the smooth running of my academic activities,” he said.

    “This (Chevron) is the only oil company in Nigeria and even in Africa that has given this exceptional scholarship to the visually impaired particularly the Niger Delta students – there is no aptitude test, nothing whatsoever.”

    Felix Lodio and Idowu Philip are also beneficiaries of the NNPC/Chevron Blind students’ scholarship. While Felix is a final student of English/Literature, Idowu, an indigene of Ondo State is a final year student of Mass communication at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

    Mr. Edison Edhere, father of one of the beneficiaries, Omoefe Edhere, a final year student of Special Studies at the University of Jos, was also full of commendation.

    He stated: “I had stroke for over 10 years now. If not for this scholarship from Chevron, there would have been no hope for me and my family. “

    He particularly expressed joy that Chevron deviated from the norm of companies concentrating Corporate Responsibility programs on the healthy and able-bodied people while neglecting the plight of physically challenged like the blind students.

  • Nigeria should invest crude oil cash in agriculture, says ex-commisioner

    You are a lawyer and politician, what motivated your involvement in agriculture

    I come from a farming background. I hail from Patani community what we do there is fishing and farming. Once an opportunity to actualise it emerges I am wont to jump at it because it is a passion. Apart from rice. I am also cultivating oil palm, sugarcane, fish and pineapples. It is a passion and a conviction that it is not enough to say lets feed ourselves, we must demonstrate it. It is possible to feed ourselves.

    The floods of last year devastated your farm, this year you increased your acreage, are you not scared that the floods will deal a similar fate on your investment?

    I am not scared. After last year’s flood, I wrote a letter to the Minister of Agriculture saying that despite the fact that the flood affected me, I will remain in agriculture. It is a personal challenge. Last year we cultivated 30 hectares, but this year we have cultivated 105 hectares of rice. Last year we did not do agric insurance, but this year we have one in place. I have a strong feeling that Nigeria can feed itself and we should be feeding ourselves. It is a shame that Nigerian businessmen spends billions importing rice, if local farmers are encouraged to plant rice ,I am sure before long we can end importation of rice.

    Have you been compensated for the losses suffered by your farm in 2012.The Federal Government gave a grant to affected states you will recall?

    No, I have not gotten any support from any government department as far as the last year’s flood is concerned. We are believing that the support will come quickly, especially now we are at the peak of the planting season.  The assistance coming must come on time so that it will be of use to victims of the flood disaster. We lost about N7million to the floods last year.

    How do you think government can assist farmers in Nigeria?

    One way government can support farmers is in land acquisition and preparation .The River Basin Development Authority set up by the Federal Government is a good idea, but there are many parts of Delta State where this initiative is non-existent. Therefore, a prospective investor will have to face the communities, and when this has been surmounted, you will have to deal with the issue of preparing virgin forest for farming purpose which you will agree with me is capital intensive.

    If government at all levels can do what the Federal Government is doing with the River Basin Development Authority, then Nigeria farmers will feed the nation. Government can also assist farmers by giving inputs like fertilisers. I am working on 105 hectares of rice farm, the GSS programme is supposed to support farmers, but that programme does not take us commercial farmers into consideration. The GSS programme gives only two bags of fertilisers to farmers, but in this farm we are using over 200 bags of urea already, not to talk of NPK. My position is that the Federal Government must support big farmers.

    Do you agree that agric is the way forward for Nigeria?

    Before the discovery of crude oil, agriculture sustained the economy. Where are the groundnut pyramids, palm oil and rubber plantations? The government of the day must use the proceeds from oil to reinvest in agriculture. In Malaysia, there is petro-dollar from crude oil but it is not the mainstay of the economy. Our research institutions are not being funded adequately. If this is done then we can begin to appreciate the immense potentials locked untapped in our soil.

  • Ebony Life: Entertainment from the heart of Calabar

    Ebony Life TV, the brainchild of dynamic Nigerian talk show star debuted on DStv on July 1.

    Fusing exclusive African original programming, featuring some of the continent’s biggest names, with relevant international urban movie and series programming, Ebony Life TV will be available on DStv channel 165 to DStv Premium, Compact Plus (where available) and Compact viewers.

    With the tagline “Live the Ebony Life”, the channel is both inspirational and aspirational, celebrating style and success while simultaneously motivating audiences to dream and dream big. Glossy, polished and sophisticated, the EL experience puts African superstars such as Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Uche Jombo Rita Dominic, Funke Akindele, Tiwa Savage and Banky W. on a line-up that also features Latoya Jackson, Taye Diggs, Damon Wayons and Sherri Shepherd.

    Homegrown programming on the channel includes the glamourous flagship talk-show Moments with Mo. This time round, the always engaging Mo is joined by two brand new co-hosts, whose selection during an intense search is also chronicled on the dramatic, must-watch reality show Mo’s Search.

    Viewers can also look out for the glitzy EL Now, the daily entertainment news show featuring the hottest global black news, the latest celebrity buzz, African success stories and all things ‘Africana cool’ across music, movies, TV, fashion, beauty, design and the arts.

    Other programmes created specifically for Ebony Life audiences include Screen Divas, where Nollywood Queens Kate, Uche, Funke and Rita combine their star power to produce the short film ‘New Horizon’ tackling the issue of domestic abuse. Then make a date to watch the fascinating Fattening Room in which six beautiful, feisty modern women from Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana and Kenya embark on a journey of self-discovery by revisiting the legacies of Efik tradition.

    The cultures and traditions of Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and America intersect in the appealing Culture Connects, where each episode takes audiences on a cultural journey to explore the values that both continents hold dear.

    And that’s not all…look out for the seasonal, fashion forward EL Runway, the hilarious sitcom Ojo’s in D’ House, the youthful ensemble talk show The Spot, the romance and relationship themed Love Lounge, the fun and ‘captured on camera’ lives of the Sistaz and the talent-focused In My Shoes, which tracks a day in the life of Africa’s top personalities, providing an intimate look at the life of the real people behind the celebrity names.

    From beyond Africa, Ebony Life TV has sourced some of the boldest content available including the sensational The Love Triangle, laugh out loud quiz show The Newlywed Game, hot and hip Ocean’s Models, the wedding fashion search Keasha’s Perfect Dress, Damon Wayans’ hit sitcom My Wife and Kids and the humorous British sketch comedy show Little Miss Jocelyn.

    Dramas on the channel include the Taye Diggs led ‘legal eagle meets new dad’ story of Kevin Hill and the emotional, evocative police drama Lincoln Heights.

    Special highlights to look forward to are the sitcoms Mr. Box Office where a Hollywood A-lister heads to South Central LA to serve out his community service as a high school English teacher; The First Family that follows the story of William Johnson, the 45th President of the United States and the second African-American elected to the office and Life with LaToya where fans can enter the outrageous world of LaToya Jackson; the unpredictable wildcard from one of showbiz’s most famous families.

    Commenting on the channel’s launch, Ebony Life founder and CEO Mo Abudu says, “”On behalf of the entire Ebony Life TV team, I want to express the greatest delight that this dream has finally become an amazing reality. We have spent years and months putting some of the brightest minds together on an exciting mission to build Africa’s first Global Black Entertainment Network focused on the continent’s most important demographic, the youth, aged 18 to 34.

    “We are even more excited that we have created a channel that stands on the same pedestal as any international brand. We urge African audiences to tune in and live the Ebony Life.”

    • Culled fromenewsghana

  • Diseases, malnutrition ravage infants at Bakassi camp

    Diseases, malnutrition ravage infants at Bakassi camp

    Fifteen –year-old Blessing Ene Okon was huddled up with over 2, 000 other returnees in classrooms, until she developed a strange ailment which has left her with a distended stomach and swollen feet since April.

    She is one of the Bakassi returnees who were evicted by Cameroonian gendarmes last March 7 and are now quartered in classrooms at St Marks Primary School and Community Secondary School both in Akwa Ikot Edem in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

    Her father, Mr Edet Ene Okon, 40, lamented that his daughter, who is presently in the paediatric section of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, is in a critical state and may get worse, if nothing is done urgently.

    He said efforts to get assistance from the state government have so far proven abortive and the over N200, 000 donated to him by the Clan Head of Eyo Edem Clan in Akpabuyo has since been exhausted.

    She needs blood transfusion and is in pains, he said, adding that they were too financially exhausted to even afford food and drugs for her.

    “Since they pursued us from Cameroon, we left everything we had and came here. We don’t have any money and it was only the clan head who has helped us this far. Please government should come to our aid. As I talk to you I don’t even have N10 and the hospital needs money to continue her treatment,” he said.

    Blessing’s situation is the worst of the cases of over 700 children who are presently exposed to unhealthy, poor sanitary and feeding conditions in the temporary camp. Not all of them have a benefactor like Blessing.

    The camp leader, Etim Okon Ene, said the situation in the camp is terrible especially for the children. Besides being exposed to the weather and various ailments without healthcare, they are also malnourished because food supplied by the State Emergency Management Agency cannot meet their needs. They also lack potable water.

    Ene said: “The condition of the children is very bad. Not properly clothed. No financial assistance for the mothers to take care of them. No social welfare for us. The state government has put in place a conditional cash transfer programme. That programme should be extended to us here in the camp. Even when the children are very ill, there is no money to pay transport fare not even to talk of hospital bills or buying medicine.

    “Presently, there is no health facility in the camp. Government has tried by trying to know what is happening here, but that is the only thing they have done for us. The returnees here have no money. Government should help. Blessing’s problem started here; she should not die.

    “We are desperate. It is not until someone dies that something should happen. Some of these children here have been wearing just one cloth for weeks. We need money to manage the camp. When the children are sick, we use bitter leaf and scent leaf to prepare their medicine. That is the only thing we have been using here since.”

    Ene lauded SEMA for always providing them food, but said this was not enough. He said besides the rice, beans, Geisha, noodles, they needed to have some money in their pockets to be able to take care of other vital needs.

    Such vital needs, he said, included mothers’ ability to take their children to the hospital for check-ups and to afford food that will be nutritional to the children.

    Promise Edet is a 17-year- old girl who has been taking care of her late sister’s one- year-old baby, Favour. She said the baby is always sick. “Since we got here she has not taken any medicine or gone to any hospital because we cannot afford it. The baby is just over one year now and she cannot even crawl not to talk of walking. She needs drugs and food and proper healthcare.

    “We have only been grinding bitter leaf and rubbing her and giving her to drink and also use it to give her enema. The place we sleep is also not good for her. It is too open and the cold weather is making her sick.”

    The story is the same for six other mothers, such as Magadalene Okon Etim, who gave birth in camp to baby Esther three months ago. She said: “Since she (baby) was born in this camp, I have not taken her to the hospital. I have not been treating her. It is a miracle that nobody has died here.”

    Another mother in the camp, Magdalene Rita, said her son Moses, who is almost two years old, is always falling ill .

    She said, “The food he is eating here is not good with him. He has not been feeding properly. If we had any money, I would love to be giving him vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and other foods that would really be good for him. He is not having balanced diet here.”

    A camp official, Prince Aston, said it was unforunate that the Federal Government could cater for former militants but abandon displaced persons.

    He said: “Why can they (government) not take care of returnees who committed no crime but are in dire need of government help? These people lost their land and everything and now they are not taken care of. The only thing we have here is camera response. Nothing is coming out of it.

    “You can see the children are not fine. One of them is in a critical state. Most of them are malnourished. We are tired of being told that everything is okay; that things would be fine and then nothing would happen. While we await proper resettlement, essential amenities should be given to us.

    “The state government’s conditional cash transfer which they call Project Comfort should be made available to us. All efforts we have made to the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare to come to our aid have not yielded any result and we beg the Federal Government to intervene.”

     

  • Centre urges review of Amnesty for ex-militants

    THE Centre for Peace and Environment Justice (CEPEJ) has called for the review of the amnesty granted ex-militants in the Niger Delta.

    The organisation said the training for the ex-militants should have factored in the remediation of the environment devastated by years of militancy, illegal bunkering and oil exploration activities.

    CEPEJ’s National Coordinator Sheriff Mulade, spoke at a a review of the amnesty programme to train the former warlords on how they can help clean the environment destroyed by attacks on oil facilities.

    He said: “The Federal Government should review the amnesty programme with inclusion of Environmental Remediation Taskforce to engage trained youths as this will help to solve issue of unemployment.

    “We have observed that the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta youths addresses capacity building through training and re-integration, without capability. It fails to tackle the fundamental issues of underdevelopment as well as environment pollution and degradation caused by the reckless activities of multinational oil companies, illegal bunkering and oil theft.

    “It is regrettable that over the years, oil pollution had destroyed farmlands, waterways and various sources of drinkable water, thereby impoverishing the local people and affecting their socio-economic well being. Also cases of oil spillage recorded were not handled in a satisfactory manner by oil companies and relevant government agencies.

    “We are calling on the Federal Government, especially the Special Adviser to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, to set up an Environmental Remediation Taskforce to critically address this environmental challenge through the Federal Government’s laudable programme, as well as take proactive steps to monitor oil spillage and cleanup activities in the Niger Delta.”

    Mulade said the majority of unrest and criminalities taking place in the region are the handiwork of unemployed trained ex-militants, who have not been gainfully engaged since returning from training.

    He disclosed that CEPEJ, in collaboration with the Bayelsa State government, was organising a two-day annual peace and environment seminar with the theme “Towards Eradicating Environmental Threats and Sea Piracy Challenges in Africa”.

    Mulade said the seminar would address fundamental issues, such as crude oil theft and illegal refineries, illegal mining, kidnapping and marine piracy, as well as other environmental challenges in Africa.

    He added that the forum would facilitate policy and dialogue among key stakeholders in the environment sector on how best to promote innovations to meet environmental best practices.

    Among the speakers to deliver papers at the event are the Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Mailafia; the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Ghana, Dr. (Mrs.) Bernice Heloo; Prof. Moses Montesh of the College of Law, University of South Africa, Pretoria and other renowned academics from within and outside Nigeria.

     

     

  • We need more scholarships from our lawmakers, say Bayelsa students

    Forty-six students, who benefitted from a scholarship scheme sponsored by Senator Clever Ikisikpo Educational Foundation, turned Oliver Twist in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, when they asked for more sponsorship.

    Some of the students asked their lawmakers to imitate the senator’s gesture by floating more scholarship schemes.

    Ikisikpo represents Bayelsa East Senatorial District. Since 1999, the year he was elected into the state House of Assembly, his foundation has offered scholarships yearly to selected students in tertiary institutions.

    Before he was elevated to the Senate, Ikisikpo’s foundation had restricted the gesture to only students from Ogbia, the Local Government Area of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But the foundation later expanded it to include students from Brass and Nembe in the spirits of his new position. Every year, students sit for the scholarship examination and persons who qualify are offered financial incentives.

    This year, 250 undergraduates sat for the examination but only 46 persons passed. The successful students hailed the senator when they gathered at the Ogbia Brotherhood Hall on Saturday to receive their awards.

    They described the senator’s decision to support their education as the best gift “from a lawmaker to youths from the Niger Delta”.

    They asked other lawmakers to engage in capacity building programmes for youths in the region. They urged the senator not to relent in his service to God and humanity.

    “We appreciate what the senator is doing for students every year. It has gone a long way to lift the financial burdens on our parents.

    “With this scholarship, I feel motivated to study harder and make this region proud. But we want other politicians to imitate the senator,” one of the beneficiaries, Joseph Barakumo, said.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Allison Oguru, who was at the occasion, appealed to politicians to emulate the gesture of Ikisikpo.

    He described the scheme as “the best gift one can offer a whole generation”.

    The Chief Examiner of the foundation, Prof. Alfred Ockiya, appealed to other politicians to invest in the education of people from their constituencies.

    Ikisikpo, who presented cheques to the students, said the scholarship would be extended to postgraduate students from next year.

    He said the foundation was also working to establish entrepreneurial scheme for fresh graduates in the senatorial district.

    Ikisikpo also presented cheques to old beneficiaries of the foundation.

     

  • Wanted! Volunteers for medical missions

    The Care for Life Programme of the O.B. Lulu Briggs Foundation has urged volunteer medical professionals to partner it in the provision of medical aids for the needy in Rivers State.

    The foundation’s Programme Director, Miebaka Nabiebu spoke during the 2nd Free Eye Care Project held in Buguma, headquarters of the Asari Toru Local Government Area.

    He said the foundation was determined to extend the free eyecare project to all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Nabiebu said the significance of the project is to identify the health related problems of the less privileged, including the elderly in riverine communities, who suffer eye-related problems with a view to conducting free medical mission that would restore their sight.

    Nabiebu said: “When we went to Abua and Okomoko, we realised that there are communities you visit where you also identify hernia or other related diseases. But when you go to riverine communities most of their health deficiencies were associated with eye problems. This was where the Free Eye Care Project was borne.”

    He said the visit was the second to Buguma, where over 1,000 residents and those from other neighbouring villages in the Local Government Area benefited from the free eye care treatment of the foundation.

    “We have free drugs, free eye glasses, and there are also cases that are referral which we specifically sent to specialists hospitals for proper diagnosis and treatment. The free eye care project is a programme that we want to carry out across Rivers State and beyond.

    “Like this free eye care in Buguma, I also participated in the free eye test exercise and I am highly impressed with the conduct of the exercise,” he said.

    He equally explained the readiness of the foundation to carry out a five-day free medical mission in Mbok in Akwa Ibom State from July 29 through August 4.

    Nabiebu added that the foundation is working out modalities to promote a community based mass deworming exercise for children, and urged pharmaceutical industries, Nigerians and high network individuals form a synergy with the organisation.

    He explained that this would help rural indigents, adding: “If anybody is ready to assist the foundation, especially on the free eye care project, we shall be glad. Let the sponsors come with their personnel, we will come with the equipment, all we want the sponsors to do, is to provide the drugs and the venue, and we will discharge our obligations and service to humanity. Every programme that we embark upon is spectacular, even if we attend to just one elderly, who is above 70 years of age.”

    Some of the beneficiaries at the free eye care treatment in Buguma described the exercise as a welcome development and a strong palliative measures to restore the lost vision of those who have eye problems.

  • Akwa Ibom ‘child-witches’ still endangered

    Akwa Ibom ‘child-witches’ still endangered

    Every Akwa Ibom child will be completely protected by this law we are signing today, and this is a commitment we would protect with all the might of the legal instruments at our disposal. We have come to make a law to protect everything we cherish and value….”

    Those were the words from Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio shortly after signing the Child Rights Bill into Law on December 5, 2008.

    The law became necessary after many parents and guardians in the state subjected their children/wards to inhuman treatments after branding them “witches” and “wizards”.

    The events leading to the passage of the law are still fresh in the memories of many as the state was subjected to global odium by a report on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on alleged child-witches and inhuman treatments meted to them by their parents and communities.

    A self-styled cleric, Bishop Sunday William, declared in the report that 2.3 million witches and wizards existed in the state – most of them, according to him, are children.

    Williams also claimed that he helped parents kill about 110 “child-witches” for as much as N400,000 per ‘witch’.

    The BBC documentary on the activities of his church went viral on the internet. It angered Akpabio that a ‘Bishop’ would declare that 2.3 million witches existed in a state of less than 4 million people; leaving just 1.7 million of the population witch-free.

    The governor immediately ordered the Bishop’s arrest. The Bishop was later paraded at the State Police Headquarters, where he told reporters he did not kill the children as alleged, but merely destroyed spirits of witchcraft in them.

    “I started destroying the spirits of witchcraft from people since 2007. I only destroyed the spirits out of the people up to 110 but not killing the main people.

    “You can see behind me some of the children whom I have destroyed the spirit of witches out of them.”

    Akpabio dismissed the 2.3 million witches claim. The governor, who spoke at a ceremony organised by Inoyo Toro Foundation in honour of Science, Mathematics and English language teachers in Uyo, said some of the children had confessed to being witches and wizards when they were tortured by their parents and church leaders.

    Akpabio said: “If you put a nail on my head and ask me to agree that I am a wizard, I would do that to save myself from torture. That is how these children are tortured to accept that they are witches and their parents would gladly throw them out of the house.

    “We will not only destroy such churches, but also get their pastors prosecuted and jailed to set example for others because some churches are deceiving people.”

    While the number of such persons prosecuted since the enactment of the law remains unknown, cases of maltreatment and abuse continue to increase daily in the state.

    Commissioner of Police Umar Gwadabe said the command was grappling with the rising tide of violence against persons accused of witchcraft.

    His words: “On several occasions, our men were called upon to rescue vulnerable persons, such as women, children and the elderly who are falsely accused of being witches, and who are being subjected to untold acts of torture and brutality by some criminal elements.

    “A case in point is the rescue of two male children aged nine (9) and six (6) years Mmenyene and Samuel who were branded as wizards in a village called Ikot Obio Asanga. They were rescued in a toilet having been locked up for 14 days without food and water.

    “This followed a so-called prophesy that the children were wizards and responsible for the misfortune that had befallen the family. Those involved, the father and a prophetess had been picked up and charged to court.”

    One of such unlucky victim was 12-year-old Mercy Frank, whose mother bathed her with acid because a prophet claimed she was possessed by witchcraft.

    When our reporter met Mercy at the Children Ward of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), she was sitting alone and begging for food.

    Mercy, before the acid bath, attended Atabong Primary School in Oron. The acid bath affected her breasts, mouth and other parts of her body.

    Narrating her sad story, she said: “I am from Atabong village in Oron Local Government Area. I am the second child in the family of four children. My mother poured acid solution on my body that is why my mouth and my body are like these.

    “One of our neighbours told my mother that I was a witch but I told her that I was not a witch. She took me to Apostolic Church in Atabong, Oron and the pastor told her that I was a witch. When the pastor asked me if I was a witch, I told him I was not a witch.

    “The pastor prayed and told my mother that I was a witch then we went back home after the prayer. When we got home that night, my mother canned me seriously. Other neighbours begged her to let me be but she refused.

    “Later at midnight, my mother took me to a deep forest and poured acid solution on me and dropped me by the roadside and left.”

    She said security agents brought her to the hospital after seeing her in pains and crying by the roadside.

    Mercy was lucky to survive the attack.

    Effiong Lawson was not. He was recently beheaded, allegedly by his stepfather, Felix Lawson, 43, who accused him of being a wizard. Sources said Lawson accused the child of being responsible for the fate of his wretched and poverty-stricken family.

    Eyewitness said the incident occurred while the suspect was enjoying his meal after returning from work on the fateful day.

    His hungry step-son reportedly sneaked into the backyard and whispered to his younger sister to bring him leftover food to stop his hunger.

    But the enraged stepfather, who heard and recognised his voice, went for his machete and attacked the child.

    Two friends of the late Effiong’s who accompanied him to the house, sensing the danger from the stepfather, took to their heels but the late Effiong was not as lucky. He was overpowered and beheaded by the irate father.

    Our investigations revealed that these and other incidents occurred despite the Child Rights Law.

    Observers say the state government needs to exercise its judicial power and make the law function effectively by ensuring that perpetrators, like Effiong, are punished by the court to serve as deterrent to others.

     

     

  • Delta civil servants want foreign training

    Delta civil servants want foreign training

    Civil servants in Delta State have urged the state government to organise foreign training for them to enhance their research skills.

    A cross section of the civil servants spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba, the state capital.

    They said such research skills would go a long way in building the potential of talented civil servants.

    They also called on the state government to invest in practical training, especially for those in the technical field to boost their knowledge.

    The civil servants commended the state government for its manpower development programme locally, but stressed the need to complement it with foreign training programme.

    Mr Roland Magbulu, a civil servant in the state public service, noted that civil servants needed to acquire more skills, especially in the area of research.

    He said  this would go a long way in building the potential of the civil servants in the state.

    Another civil servant, Mr Oghenemena Avwenaghagha, said though the state government was doing very well in the area of capacity building, there was need to focus on practical training.

    “Apart from increasing our knowledge on the job, it will also help to build confidence in our people when it comes to professionalism,’’ he said.

    Another civil servant, Mrs Emuobo Okpubuluku, said: “No man is an island and for us to be effective as civil servants, there is need for training and retraining of public servants in the state.’’

    She commended the government for its efforts and urged that more civil servants be trained annually within and outside the country.

    The Presidential Amnesty Office on Tuesday said it would facilitate jobs for the 30,000 former militants enlisted in the amnesty programme.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kukuspoke at the unveiling of the Post-Training Agenda for the former militants in Abuja.

    Kuku, who is also the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, said: “It is imperative to create a new department that will facilitate jobs for our trained youths to prevent them from going back to the creeks.

    “The purpose of unveiling the post-training agenda is to create a rehabilitation department that will facilitate and create an avenue for jobs placement and engagement for our trained youths before the amnesty programme ends in 2015.”

    Kuku said the amnesty office was worried about the former agitators’ fate after post-training and that was why it created a new department that would begin the process of placing them for jobs to ensure peace and stability in the Niger Delta.

    He said 14,029 ex-militants out of the 30,000 who enlisted in the amnesty programme were trained in various universities and vocational skill centres since the inception of the programme in 2009.

    The special adviser said the beneficiaries were enrolled in local and international skill centres  since the proclamation and implementation of the amnesty programme by late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    “Like I mentioned earlier, a total of 30,000 people were enlisted in the amnesty programme. Of this number, over 14,000 have been deployed to universities and vocational skill centres both within and outside the country.’’

    He said of the 14,029 trainees, 6,875 were enrolled in vocational skill centres in the country, while 4,425 persons were sent to various vocational training centres abroad.

    He added that 1,077 people were deployed to various universities in the country, while 688 were enrolled in universities abroad.

    According to him, 661 militants have been withdrawn for allegedly violating the law of the schools and host countries.

    “It is also imperative to provide economic lifeline to the leaders of these agitators as agreed in the amnesty proclamation terms before the programme ends in 2015,” he said.

    Kuku stressed the need to involve the leaders of the former militants, community leaders and youth groups in protecting oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

    He said: “These people know every nook and cranny of the Niger Delta better than the security agencies and their involvement will go a long way in complementing the efforts of security agencies to succeed.’’

    Mr Tamarabebe Freeman, who headed the Rehabilitation Department of the Amnesty Office, promised that he would act on the Local Content Act to facilitate employment for the trained former militants.