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Tag: Brambaifa

  • Ex-militants vow to resist protests against Dokubo, Brambaifa

    Niger Delta ex-militants have expressed their disappointment over sustained protests against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, and Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    The ex-militants, who met at the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, under the auspices of Conference of First Phase Ex-Agitators (CFPE), vowed to resist further protests against Dokubo and Brambaifa.

    A statement by the Chairman, Ifiemi D-Bull, and Senior National Adviser Chief Kalaiti Obadiah-1, said they would henceforth go after robbers and kidnappers operating at the Rivers and Bayelsa states axis of the East-West road.

    The ex-agitators described the protests as “professional”, saying their investigations showed that they were borne out of frivolities, bigotry, hostilities and political differences.

    They condemned the looting of empowerment packages at the amnesty warehouse in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma council in Bayelsa State by “security agencies and indigenes”.

    The statement reads: “We will not fold our hands against crimes that short-changed us. We are the victims. We condemn the act. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to set up investigation panel to look into the looting to stop the suspicion on Prof. Dokubo, even as we plead that Dokubo be retained to continue as Special Adviser and Coordinator of PAP.

    “Payments of stipends to the ex-agitators have been regular. Bursaries to students and school fees are released unhindered. Contracts are issued according to merit and social services to ex-agitators have not been ignored.”

    They noted that Brambaifa’s appointment as Acting Managing Director of NDDC was a welcome development, saying he was qualified for the position having been part of the Niger Delta struggle.

    The ex-militants insisted that his appointment was a clear indication of Buhari’s intelligence and visionary instincts in choosing the right people.

    According to them, the professor had rejuvenated the commission’s abandoned social welfare and empowerment projects, and women groups, youth organisations and medically-challenged persons were benefitting from Brambaifa’s inputs.

    They said: “We are proud of him as an Ijaw man, and doubly proud that he is a Bayelsan. We admire and appreciate his strides, and we urge him to be steadfast in his good work. We believe that the water hyacinth jobs and voluntary surveillance contracts would include members of the CFPE.”

    The ex-militants urged Buhari to confirm Brambaifa’s appointment as substantive managing director of the NDDC.

    On criminal activities on the East-West road, they said: “We realise that kidnappings, killings, robberies are big problems to all of us and our families. Businesses are collapsing because of these crimes. People no longer have the mind to move around and do business because of threats to their lives.

    “As ex-militants, we have embraced peace. This is the reason people confront us, desecrate our land and do whatever they want in the name of dirty crimes.

    “We are using this opportunity to let the world know that henceforth, whosoever attacks people on the East-West road, especially at the Bayelsa State axis, will have us to contend with. Such person will have to deal with us in a manner that we will make sure they will never ever survive.

    “We are sending this message to the entire world, Rivers and Bayelsa States to work together and do the very best possible because if they don’t stop, we shall take our action and enter the road.”

  • Ex-militants to Buhari: don’t confirm Brambaifa as NDDC MD

    A group of ex-militant leaders has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to shelve any plan to confirm Prof. Nelson Brambaifa as substantive Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The ex-militant leaders under the auspices of Niger Delta Ex-agitators Leaders Forum (NDEL) alleged since his appointment as the acting MD of the commission, Brambaifa had not been able to coordinate the activities of NDDC.

    For instance the ex-militant leaders, who met in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday said the acting MD had not been able to resolve issues surrounding the water hyacinth project.

    The Coordinator of the group, Leader Monday, particularly said Brambaifa refused to pay for water hyacinth projects and to meet with them to discuss kilometer road jobs.

    Monday said the attitude of Brambaifa was at variance with the principles of youth empowerment to stop restiveness in the Niger Delta in line with the objective of the commission.

    He said if the acting MD continued to neglect them, they would storm Aso Rock, Abuja for series of protests.

    Monday said they were particularly unhappy that Brambaifa snubbed all their efforts to meet with him to discuss the knotty issues.

    He called on elders and leaders from the region to reach out to the aching MD and prevail on him to act properly to avoid violent conflicts in the Niger Delta.

    “Professor Brambaifa like most public office holders should desist from playing politics with public NDDC funds to the detriment of e-militants and remain apolitical.

    Read Also: Buhari condemns Kaduna violence

    “Brambaifa is unfit for the position of managing Director of NDDC and should not be confirmed as one. We need an apolitical MD who can address issues without bias,” he said.

    But a university don, Chief Kalaiti Jephthah, sued for peace and warned the ex-militant leaders against fighting their kinsman.

    Jephthah argued that Brambaifa should be given benefit of the doubt and time to settle down as the acting MD of the commission.

    “To the best of my knowledge Professor Nelson Brambaifa is a well- meaning elder, gentle, amiable and a true product of the struggle with good listening ears. We have everything to gain if we are patient with him,” he said.

  • Brambaifa: I was the least qualified for NDDC job

    The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, has said he was the least qualified for the post when the appointment process started.

    He noted that there would be no development in the volatile Niger Delta without peace.

    Brambaifa spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving mass for his appointment and successful surgeries for two of his children.

    The thanksgiving held at the Chapel of the Annunciation, Catholic Chaplaincy, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    The mass coincided with the service to mark the start of the 32nd convocation ceremonies of UNIPORT. It was attended by the Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Ndowa Lale; Deputy VC (Academic) Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi; Deputy VC (Administration) Prof. Regina Ogali, other principal officers and eminent personalities.

    Prof. Lale, who was proud of Brambaifa’s achievements, urged him to intervene in the institution’s electrical challenge to ensure constant power supply.

    Brambaifa said: “When we started the race for appointment as Acting Managing Director of NDDC, I was the least qualified, because in Nigeria, everything goes with money, but I did not have any money. So, what I did cleverly was to have a covenant with God, through His priest. I said if God could give me the job, I would build His house.

    “We are tired of collecting money for the Reverend Father’s house which we have been building in the last 10 years. When he meets with me, within the limit of my salary, the house will be built to glorify God.

    “I feel fulfilled today. We are just one month on board and a lot of work must be done to fulfil our mandate. The people should be patient; we will do what is expected of us. Let us be calm. Peace should reign. There cannot be any development without peace. We need peace. We will do our best to maintain peace. I am pleading with the youths to always give peace a chance.

    “We are already clearing the backlog of money owed contractors. We started with N10 million and below. Our aim is for the contractors to be in their houses and receive alerts. They do not need to be coming to the headquarters, running all over the place. We will go up to N20 million and below. We will get there gradually. The race of a thousand miles starts with the first step.”

    Rev. Fr. Boniface Nwigwe, in his homily titled “Conversion”, taken from Luke 13:1-9, said God is pleading with sinners to return to Him and in every circumstance, do the right things.

    The cleric said: “We get converted through prayers and fasting. We also need to work on charity. As human beings, we do not own our lives. God, at any juncture, can ask us to give account of our lives.

    “Do not harden your hearts. Strive to be part of the heavenly kingdom. God is wonderfully merciful. If you lean on God, the Almighty, He is always willing to give you a second chance, to make amends. Today is the second chance, utilise it in the service of God and humanity.”

  • Commission of inquiry invites, Sylva, Lokpobiri, Brambaifa, others

    The Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, to probe alleged violence and breach of peace before, during and after the general elections, has invited leaders and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to appear before it.

    Those the commission extended invitations to are former Governor Chief Timipre Sylva; Bayelsa State House òf Assembly member Israel Sunny-Goli and the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    Others are the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and Mr. Famous Danumiegha, the candidate of the APC for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the last election.

    The Commission under the chairmanship of Justice Inikade Eradiri is inviting the top APC chieftains to put up appearances and clear allegations against them by victims of the violence.

    Eight new witnesses appeared before the commission in Thursday and testified on the roles played by politicians in the last elections.

    Led in evidence by the Commission’s lawyer, Prof. Festus Emiri, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Daupirimo Ikuromo, said despite the peace accord signed, thugs allegedly loyal to Sylva forced the leadership of Okpoama and Ewoama communities to compel their people to vote only in favour of the APC.

    Ikuromo stated that he and other PDP stalwarts couldn’t exercise their franchise as they were chased out of the community.

    Read Also: Why youths confronted police boss in Brass, by Sylva

    He said those who came out to vote were beaten up and forced back into their houses, alleging that the Army and other security agencies were under the control of the APC during the period.

    Another witness, Chief Ebitimi Ayah, the Regent of Ewoama community said he was compelled to authorise a proclamation ordering his subjects to vote only APC or risk losing their lives.

    The traditional ruler avvered the community was thrown into fear by the heavy presence of thugs and threats to monitor and deal with whoever voted the PDP and its candidates.

    Also, the Auditor of Nembe Cheifs council, Chief Kio Eldred-Siari, indicted officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), who according to him prevented him and other PDP supporters from voting on the day of the election.

    Another witness, who is the Director Strategic Communication, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan Egba-Ologo, said that an existing peace accord was violated by APC leaders and thugs

    He said that the thugs of the APC who laid siege on Okpoama community rough-handled the 84-year- old Chairman of the Council òf Chiefs, Chief Allen Orukari, and compelled him to approve an announcement forcing his subjects to vote only for the APC or leave the community.

    Others who testified before the commission are the Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Student Affairs, Mr. Austin Adigio and Chief Febor Kuroekigh the Public Relations Officer Iwoama Chiefs Council.