The Nation Newspaper

Tag: COMMUNITY

  • Delta community decries govt neglect

    Indigenes of Ezi community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to redress their alleged political marginalisation.

    They advised the governor to appoint their sons and daughters into his administration for the sake of equity and justice.

    Rising from a meeting in Asaba, the state capital, the community leaders, under the auspices of Ezi Patriots, noted that the area had suffered years of neglect in the hands of previous administrations.

    They said none of the indigenes had been given a political office – elective or appointive – at the state level.

    A statement by Ezi Patriots’ Chairman, Emeka Oshuoha, and Secretary, Comrade Nnamdi Ofonye, said their call was meant to draw the attention of the government and other well-meaning stakeholders to their plight.

    They said the community deserved to have a sense of belonging in the state’s political affairs.

    The statement reads: “It is a pity that a community, which prides itself to have produced the first Catholic reverend father in West Africa – Rev. Paul Emecheta – would be allowed to face such level of neglect. No light, no roads; the community has continuously been threatened by gully erosion.

  • Police killed Lekki Free Trade zone boss Disu, says community

    Police killed Lekki Free Trade zone boss Disu, says community

    •Sues security agents, Dangote Group

    The death of the Managing Director, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu was caused by police bullet, leaders of Okunraye community in Lagos have claimed.

    This claim was contained in an affidavit in support of a Fundamental rights suit filed before a Lagos High Court against the Police, Directorate of State Security (DSS) and Dangote group.

    The leaders who condemned the detention of  members of their community, alleged that contrary to reports on the incident that occurred on October 12, it was stray bullet from the mobile policemen that hit Disu from behind and killed him instantly.

    In the suit filed before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, brought under Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 23(1)(4)(5)(6) (7), 12 (1) and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 2004, one Alhaji Surajudeen  Salami, who deposed to the affidavit recalled that the Lagos State Government, sometimes in 2007, forcefully acquired their land from them.

    Joined as plaintiffs in the suit with Salami are Jubrila Balogun, Akibu Razak, Baale Yesiru Amusa (suing for themselves and on behalf of the people of Okunraye Town).

    The community also sued the Inspector General of Police, Lagos Police Commissioner, Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), the Nigerian Army and Ibeju Lekki Local Government.

    Salami said the people of Okunraye had their homes and native buildings on the land, which was also their source of livelihood.

    According to him, Disu was killed on a day the community leaders were to meet with Dangote Group, to discuss  job-related issues for eligible community youths in the massive project the company was erecting on their land.

    Salami said they had made several attempts to discuss with Dangote management but to no avail, adding that the development forced the youths to barricade the entrance into the project site of Dangote in an attempt to compel the company to discuss with the community.

    At about 9am, Salami said he was informed that a large group of mobile policemen had surrounded the entrance to the project and were burning down the barricade as well as other obstruction.

    He recalled that the policemen stormed the community on the fateful day and started releasing tear-gas and shooting in the air, adding that at the time the shooting was on-going, the Divisional Police Office in charge of the area was at the palace of the Baale of Okunraye to discuss on how the issue could be resolved.

    At that point, Salami said: “Some members then rushed to the Baale’s house to inform him of a mayhem on-going outside and how the policemen had burnt down the barricade.  The DPO left Baale’s house to go and confirm the report.

    “When I got there, I met the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) Limited, Mr Tajudeen Disu; Alhaji Jegede, Chairman of Resettlement Committee, and the Baale of Igiye Community.

    “When we were imploring Disu, Alhaji Jegede and the Baale of Igiye Community to stop policemen from shooting because the members of Okunraye community did not want to fight and  wanted to discuss with  management of Dangote, the police refused to stop shooting and then a stray bullet hit Mr Disu from behind and he died instantly.”

    He said the bullet also hit a young woman from the community and she sustained injury on the arm.

    Salami, who said he saw the policeman that pulled the trigger that killed Disu, alleged that the policemen stop shooting when they realised that a stray bullet had killed Disu.

    He added that himself and others left the scene immediately to take the injured woman to the hospital, and that by the time they came back, the remains of Disu had been removed from the scene.

    In the suit, the plaintiffs want an order directing the respondents to release them unconditionally from custody; an order declaring their arrest and continuous detention as wrongful and a sharp contravention of their fundamental human rights, as well as a declaration that the invasion of their community on October 12, 2015 and their subsequent arrests constituted a threat to life, freedom, private and family life.

    They also want a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from arresting, detaining, harassing, invading Okunraye community or otherwise violating their fundamental human rights.

    When the matter came up before Justice Adebiyi yesterday, the applicants’ lawyer, Akinlabi Apara informed the court of an ex-parte application and other processes filed in the suit, but the judge said she would not take any hasty decision in the matter without studying the file.

    She said the matter was just brought to her knowledge and that she needed time to understand the issues involved and adjourned till today.

     

  • Sea surge ravages Ondo community

    Sea surge ravages Ondo community

    Aiyetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has been ravaged by another sea surge barely one month after a similar incident destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. DAMISI OJO reports. 

    It was yet another tearful day for the inhabitants of the Aiyetoro community when another devastating sea incursion ravaged the community few months after an equally overwhelming incident wreaked havoc on the coastline community.

    Time and again, the seashore communities in the South Senatorial District of Oyo State, covering the Araromi Waterside Boundary with Ogun State have been submerged.

    The affected communities are Araromi, Oke Zioni, Ori Oke Iwa Mimo, Gbabijo, Ugbanre, Abetogho, Erunna, Idi-ogba, Ile Pete, Awoye, Ikorigho, Oghoye, Abereke, Ogogoro and Aiyetoro.

    According to an eyewitness, Emmanuel Aralu, the incursion occurred one Monday afternoon around 4:15 p.m. after a downpour which lasted till the following morning.

    Aralu stated that the havoc caused by the disaster was much more devastating than the first one on September 1.

    •An old man wading through the flood
    •An old man wading through the flood

    An elder in the community, Lawrence Lemamu, decried the abandonment of the community at the mercy of ecological disaster. He said the incident had wiped away more than three kilometres of their lands and threatened their existence as a people.

    He said: “Is it until we all perish in the sea and all our hard-earned properties and precious ones are washed away that the government at all levels will come to our rescue?

    “We urge the government to quickly save us, save our civilisation, save our generation, save our land which our fathers gave us more than 68 years ago.”

    Members of the community, which was founded on January 12, 1947, pleaded with the Federal Government to complete the embankment project it began long ago.

    Lemamu revealed that since the establishment of the community, it has not benefited from any project by the state government. He said their power project in 1953 and the roads in the community were achieved through communal efforts.

    He said: “We anxiously wait for the results of the pressure which the state government promised it would mount on the Federal Government for a thorough work on the embankment projects, awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.”

    The residents appreciated the state government and its delegations led by the Commissioner for Environment, Sola Ebiseni and the chairman of Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Johnson Ogunyemi respectively for the distribution of relief materials to the victims.

    The duo visited Aiyetoro and the submerged schools were relocated to new sites so that both primary and secondary school pupils could continue with their studies.

    An observer, Smith Ogunbanwo, from Ori-Oke Iwa Mimo, said the people would want government to put up ocean control mechanism as obtained in civilised climes.

    He contended that government should rule out the possibility of relocating and evacuating the people to other areas considered safer, saying that the area is suitable for their fishing occupation and which ensures their closeness to their ancestral homes.

    Ogunbanwo noted that his community is putting up efforts with the state government to relocate the submerged schools in the community to a new site as was done in Aiyetoro and Gbabijo communities.

    An officer at the NDDC Igbokoda office declined comment on the development, saying he was not competent to speak on the issue of the multi-billion Naira shoreline protections awarded by the commission since 2004, without any meaningful development.

    Ebiseni and Ogunyemi pointed out that the state government was working hard on providing relief materials for the affected communities on Friday.

    The Senator representing Ondo Southt District, Yele Omogunwa, sympathised with the people living along the coastline over their losses and threats to their lives occasioned by the disaster.

    Omogunwa assured the people that the government at all levels would not abandon them, saying as their representative in the National Assembly, he promised to ensure there will be lasting solution to the frequent sea incursion.

    The lawmaker, who was the former Commissioner for Works in the state, affirmed that he is committed to the welfare of the people. He said as a Senator working on the mandate of the people, he would complement the efforts of the state government to bring succour to them.

     

  • New police post for Oyo community

    New police post for Oyo community

    The residents of Omi Adio, an urban and rapidly growing community between Ibadan and Abeokuta, have been without a police station for over eight years. But it recently got a modern and befitting police station. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports

    Many residents of Omi Adio, the sleepy town in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State would not want to remember the bloody violence that led to the burning of the only police station in the area over eight years ago.

    It was a day when scores of people were killed in a faceoff between men of the Nigeria Police and angry residents. They engaged themselves in a shootout which resulted in many casualties.

    A resident, Alhaji Abinukan Lasisi who witnessed the violence in 2007 relived the ugly incident. He said: “A ranting policeman accused of snatching the wife of a commercial bus driver, beat and detained the bus driver on alleged frame-up charges. But eventually, the driver died in the police cell.

    “This triggered violent protest among the commercial bus operators, and resulted in the burning of the police station.

    “The angry drivers were later joined by street urchins who engaged in open confrontation with policemen.

    “Acting on self defence, the police, in carrying out the directive of the then Commissioner of Police to shoot at sight, shot at and killed many innocent people.” 

    Ever since then, the large population of Omi Adio have lived without a police station. They were dependent on the Apata Police Station, some 20 kilometres away from the town. 

    As a result, security of lives and property have become a source of serious concern for the inhabitants as men of the underworld rule in the community, with free reign of terror on the people.

    Hooliganism and thuggery among the youth became a common phenomenon. Many hideouts for criminals also exist, especially in some areas where teenagers openly smoke what is suspected to be Indian hemp as part of recreation. 

    Also, the commercial life of the people was not spared as reports of robbery and social menace filled the air.

    For banks and other financial institutions, transacting business in an environment devoid of security became risky.

    Surprisingly, there is no single bank or micro-finance institution in the city because of the absence of police station and other security outposts in the whole of the town.

    This explains why industries find their way out of the town, and why economic growth is stifled over the years.

    Southwest Report gathered that some banks that opened initially never stayed longer before they closed shop due to frequent cases of bank robbery. 

    At present, the residents still have to cope with incessant activities of hoodlums, burglary, land snatchers, theft and domestic violence that became unbridled.

    However, peace-loving residents recently heaved a sigh of relief when the construction of a modern police station in the city began some years back after over eight years of being without a security post.

    Sitting on a two plots of land, the new police which was conceived by the then chairman of caretaker committee of Ido Local Government Area, Prof. Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela has been completed and fenced.

    While the people are anxious to see the police station become operational, some leaders in the community have decried the delay by the government to inaugurate the station for the purpose for which it was built.

    According to one of the traditional chiefs who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security implications, the residents are still wondering why the police station which has been completed almost a year ago has not been put into use.   

    He said:”Many things are happening that have been negatively affecting the development of Omi. Where there is no security, there is no development and that is true in the case of Omi.”

    Speaking on the development of Omi Adio, the Balogun Olomi of Omi, Chief Mukail Adebayo described the city as a commercial hub nub of Ibadan, Abeokuta and some other surrounding towns.

    He said many traders in the Southwest geo-political zone source their foodstuffs and agricultural produce from the ancient Omi Market which has been in existence for centuries.

    He described the security of the town as normal in a rapidly developing society, but called on the government to make security of lives and property a priority.

    “We used to have a police station here until the sad incident happened. But we are grateful to the former chairman of the local government, Prof. Olowofela who saw the need to build a befitting police station for the town. I hope that the government will soon inaugurate the facility so that the people will enjoy a measure of security. This is a centre of commerce. Don’t forget that Omi is between Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa and Abeokuta, an ancient city too.

    “So, there is a great influence of both cities on the livelihood of Omi Adio community because we always see people migrating from one city to the other and the influence of those cities actually rubs off on the life of the community. Essentially, we have people who engage in commercial activities as their means of livelihood.

    “We also have technocrats and civil servants. Because of the nature of the place, majority of the people are either traders or farmers,” he said.

    For Prof. Olowofela, the unfortunate incident that led to the burning of the police station in 2007 shall never happen again. 

    He recalled that in 2007, there was a fracas in which many people lost their lives and some hoodlums burnt the police station in Omi Adio.

    “However, during my tenure as chairman of the local government, we recognised the importance of a police station in a rapidly growing community such as Omi Adio and the fact that Omi Adio is also very close to the boundary between Ogun and Oyo states which is bakatari. We felt that we should build a police station at Omi Adio.

    “And we contacted the Executive Governor of Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who gave us the resources to complete that. I am quite confident that any moment from now, the police station would be transferred by the Oyo State Governor to the Commissioner of Police so that they can effectively take over the place for the purpose of policing the community,” he said.

    Olowefela, a Prof. of Physics also sees Omi Adio as a peaceful town and a place which holds a lot of promises.

    He said: “Do not forget that the Nigerian Mining Corporation established by the Federal Government was in Omi Adio because of the abundance of kaolin in the locality and Adio Railway Station was famous in the olden days. The railway station was used for commercial activities whereby people can move their goods from the hinterlands to Lagos and so on and so forth. So, it’s a good community. It boasts hospitable people and it’s very accommodating. The fact that it is situated between two major cities is an advantage to the community. You will find out that many people from Ibadan city are building their houses here in Omi Adio. So, it’s a rapidly developing area.”

    As the state government and police authorities meet on the transfer of the newly built police station, expectations are high on the part of the people who anxiously await the return of security post which they hope will further drive socio-economic development in the ancient town.

     

     

  • Community thanks Ortom

    Residents of Tse Dzungwe in Mbakoya in Logo Local Government of Benue State have hailed Governor Samuel Ortom and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for helping them settle back to their ancestral homes.

    Residents spent 18 months in an emergency camp after Fulani herdsmen overran their community and killed more than 20 persons. Also, houses were burnt and farmlands destroyed.

    However, their plight changed when Ortom forced the Fulani herdsmen to return to their villages.

    A community leader, Kudushima Acka hailed  Ortom for ensuring that farmers returned to their ancestral home in Mbakorya, especially the Tse Dzungwe who are predominately farmers and fishermen.

    Head of Dzungwe, Chief Uke Dzungwe thanked Ortom for making it possible for them to return to their ancestral home. He assured him that his people would support the administration to bring development to the area.

  • Anxiety over gunmen’s Invasion of community

    Anxiety over gunmen’s Invasion of community

    The Rundele High School, Agba-Ndele in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State is under lock and key following its invasion by gunmen who abducted four persons, including two teachers, a corps member and the school’s labourer. PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA visited the community and reports that the school’s teachers are on the run while members of the community are living in fear.

    The people of Agba-Ndele community in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State are living in fear on account of palpable insecurity in the area. The island community was recently invaded by unknown gunmen who abducted two teachers from Rundele High School, identified as Martha and Christie Mbadigwe; a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member identified simply as Azubuike and the school’s labourer, Mr. Joseph Dimkpa Wofurum, At the time of filing this report, their abductors were yet to contact their families. But a source in the community, who pleaded anonymity, said the teachers were victims of the politics of development in the area. He disclosed that the neighbouring community does not approve the building of the high school at Agba-Ndele from the outset and had been looking for ways to get it shut down. If that were indeed the case, then the enemies of the community might well have had their way. At the time our correspondent visited the community, all the teachers had fled for fear of the unknown. The non-indigenes among them have also vowed not to return to the community until measures are put in place to checkmate the insecurity in the area.

    In different chats with our correspondent, some of the community’s elders, chiefs as well as the wife of the abducted school labourer and some teachers who escaped the abduction spoke on the abduction saga and the general insecurity in the area. One of the teachers who escaped abduction, Mr. Anwuri Akpenuchi Stanley, said he ran for dear life when 15 gunmen in military uniforms stormed the school with A-k47 rifles. He confirmed that five people from the school were abducted while one of them was later released because he was bleeding from the injuries he sustained during the attack.

    Anwuri said the two teachers, corps member and school labourer were still being held by their abductors who also abandoned another teacher close to the waterfront where the invaders boarded a speedboat.

    He said: “It was a very big incident. I am a son of the soil, but even as I am taking to you now, we are being careful with our movement. All the teachers in the school ran away after the incident. As the form master of JSS 3, I had gone there to take the roll call. The first period had just ended and it was a few minutes to 9 am.

    “Suddenly, I saw people running around in the school compound and they were all scared. I went out of the staff room to find out what was going on and I saw about 15 hefty men in army uniform. They told me not to run, but I had to escape.

    “They invaded the community through the river. After the invasion, they took away five of them. They injured one and later dumped him when they discovered that he was bleeding seriously. When they left. we took the responsibility of reporting the matter to the police station at Rumuji. Before we got there, they had already informed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) about the incident, so the police gave us the permission to go and treat him.”

    Another teacher Mr. Awute Sylvester Denis, who was given the beating of his life for resisting abduction, said he was told by his abductors to go back because he was bleeding profusely. Thanking God for not being among those that were being held, he recalled that the gunmen men were heavily armed when they invaded the school

    He said: “At a point, they surrounded me with gun and told me not to run. I escaped through the window, but when I got to the other side, I met another person. The one that had told me not to run became angry and hit me with the gun and I fell down. He then told me to follow them.

    “On getting to the Waterside where they had their speed boat ready, their leader saw how I was bleeding and became angry with them. He told them to search me and take away everything I had. So they took my phone and the money I had on me and asked me to go.

    “They took the other people into the speed boat and left. I think the community needs to do something about the insecurity in the area.”

    The wife of the abducted school labourer, Mrs. Dimkpa, who was in tears while she spoke with The Nation, said she was not around when her husband was abducted. She pleaded with the abductors to consider her five children and release her husband.

    But the Chairman, Community Development Committee, Elder Ikechi Chimezie, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and elders of the community, said they were working hard to ensure that the victims were rescued from their abductors.

    He called on the government to assist the community in securing the freedom of the victims and reopen the school to allow their children continue with their studies. He said the only remedy left was for the elders, the youths and the CDC to join hands and reason out the way to set the people free.

    The CDC Chairman said the school is the only government presence in their community.

    “That school is the only thing we have in this community. Now that the school has been shut down, all the teachers are moving out. The community cannot get anything good again. Imagine that there will be no school for a term or for years. What will the children do? They will have to trek from this community to the next one, which is about three or four miles away.

    “It is not possible for children to go to a school of that distance. That is why we are calling on the government to come to our aid and see what they can do about the issue of unemployment which is causing this issue of kidnapping. Before you know it, they will ask for ransom.

    “Look at this village; do you think they will be able to raise two or three million naira? Look at the women selling gari; that is just 1,200. Is that what we are going to use to pay the ransom?

    “The teachers are scared. One of them is our own son. They all come from different local government areas of the state. All of them have decided to move away from the community. We don’t know what to do than to call on the government to come to our aid and help us.

    “On our own, we can’t do more than what we are doing now. We are dialoguing, begging the parents and the relatives of those who were victims of the incident. There is a river that links Abonnema. There is one that links Abuah. So we don’t know where this thing might have come from.

    “Although we are not laying the blame on anybody, we are calling on the government to come to our aid.”

    The chairman of the vigilance group in the community, Mr. Clifford Dimkpa, said they cannot tackle the insecurity in the area without the help of government.

    He said: “I want the government to help bring some security personnel to this community. We want peace, but without security I don’t believe the people would be at peace.

    “I was in my house when I heard gunshots. I had to run down to the school premises. When I got there they had already gone. So I went to the staff room and spoke to one of the teachers. I asked what had happened and he said he could not explain at the moment; that the tension was too much for him.

    “But I have called the police to tell them what happened in my community.”

    The police at Rumuji Community in Emohua where the matter was first reported said only two persons were abducted at the time they got to the scene, adding that the ongoing investigation might reveal more.

    The Public Relation Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Mohammad Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the command was aware of the incident, adding that they would do everything within their powers to safely rescue the victims.

  • Edo community honours Oshiomhole

    Edo community honours Oshiomhole

    For over three hours, the long procession of different clubs, age groups, associations and societies marched on major streets of Sobe in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, drumming, singing and dancing. Led by a team of power-bike riders, the colourful parade rounded off the week-long activities with cultural performances and award presentation to mark this year’s Sobe Day celebration. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME was there.  

    To a first timer, this year’s Sobe Day celebration could go for a carnival of sort. But, the yearly celebration, which attracted thousands of participants from within and in the Diaspora, meant more than that to the people of Sobe.

    To them, it is a rallying point for the development of the community as well as to commemorate the merger of Sobe with her kith and kin in Edo State in 1991. This year’s celebration was to raise funds for the completion of the new community town hall.

    •Oshiomole
    •Oshiomole

    Little wonder the community honoured Governor Adams Aliu Oshiomhole with “team leadership for unity and development of the community award” for the developmental projects executed in the town by his administration.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Hon. Reginald Okun promised to deliver the award and the community’s messages to the governor. He also pledged to support the community’s town hall project with the sum of N200, 000.

    Also in recognition of the contributions of some of its illustrious sons and daughters, the community gave awards to no fewer than 14 recipients. They included the late Chief S.J Mayaki, the late Chief Andrew J. Sule, the late Pa Michael Arenrin, the late Odibiado of Sobe, Gold Omonikhe, the late Pa Eboh Addo and the late Chris Obadan.

    Others were Mr Francis Iruobe, Mr. Modupe Olomu, Bishop Pandit Oburekin, Pa Anthony Ehimiaghe, Mr. Olu Sikpojie, Special Apostle Funso Osoro, Chief Cletus Owuze and Mr. Joseph Oziren Igure.

    In the beauty pageant contest, Miss Bridget Egbezomo emerged Miss Sobe Day Queen and won a deep freezer while second place went to Miss Adelomo Udugbezi who won a flat screen TV, followed by Miss Blessing Desimoh who got a power generating set as third place winner.

    In his address, His Royal Highness Anthony Ero Aleburu, the Odibiado of Sobe land, said the slow pace of development in the community is not a function of lack of will to pool resources but that of global economic recession.

    “In terms of pooling our resources for development, not much has been achieved in this regard as a result of shortage of funds due to economic meltdown. However, our merger with our kith and kin has given us sense of belonging as we now feel at home with our people,” he said.

    •Odibiado of Sobe
    •Odibiado of Sobe

    The Odibiado of Sobe commended the developmental projects completed by Oshiomhole’s administration; citing the renovation of Sobe High School and renovation and fencing of St. Thomas Moore’s Primary School, Sobe as some of such projects. He, however, appealed to the Comrade Governor to post teachers to Sobe High School, reconstruct and equip the Science laboratory in the school.

    He assured that “on our part, we would support the present administration…We should come together and unite towards moving Sobe to greater heights.”

    He also urged parents to have time for their children and wards, noting that this has become necessary because of the high rate of crime in the community. He stressed that “our youths should engage in learning skill at the Skill Acquisition Centre in Sobe because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”

    First Deputy Governor of Edo State Rev. Dr Peter Obadan described Sobe as a distinct clan that must not be treated as an appendage in any scheme and to be left as a single political ward is also an error.

    “Sobe is a great community that must not be deserted. It must be given the altitude to show forth her greatness in commerce, education, politics and agriculture. Let no other community neither marginalise your community nor let anyone despise your greatness.  I am persuaded that one day, a light will shine from Sobe that will lighten the hearts of men to the greatness of our nation and to the glory of God. Your glory will soon and very soon manifest,” Obadan added.

    In her address entitled “So, Love it is”, the chairperson of Sobe Day 2015 Dr. Kate Obasuyi enjoined all to embrace love as the only element that would drive patriotic zeal needed to make Sobe an enviable society.

    She said Sobe has a large heart for love to germinate and grow but that ‘we must bury all those grievances and animosities that create clog in the wheel of progress of Sobe community.’ She noted that Sobe has all the tools required to be great but that love is the only oil to make the tools work.

    “Politics and titles should not be used as weapon of disorganising our society. Rather, they have to be harnessed as tools for progress and development of Sobe. Let each and every one of us resolve today to be good ambassadors of Sobe through genuine love that promotes conflict resolution coupled with sincere spirit of forgiveness,” she added.

    Interim President Sobe Development Association (SDA), Mr Francis Uwaifo, who commended Governor OShiomhole for his developmental projects in the community as well as the state in general, however drew government’s attention to some urgent needs of Sobe High School which include the uncompleted school hall, science laboratory block and equipment, fencing of the school compound, provision of teachers and classrooms furniture, renovation of the dilapidated primary school at the Agricultural Farm Settlement and the renovation of St. Eugene’s Primary School.

    Others are the purification of water from the borehole sunk by the state government near the Skye Bank, the abandoned 19km Sobe – Sabongidda-Ora road which is A federal government project, the abandoned market project (a project handled by the past House of Assembly member Hon. Mike Ohio-Ezomo and the former Council Chairman, Hon Godwin Aigbodion ), the upgrading of the three health care centres in the community to a general hospital; effective use of the approved court in the community as well as the building of a standard police station to checkmate criminal activities in the community and its environs.

     

  • Navy invades community of oil thieves

    Navy invades community of oil thieves

    Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman has just taken over the leadership of the strategically located Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy. The CNC has its headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Its areas of operation, perhaps, have the largest deposit of petroleum, the mainstay of Nigerian economy.

    His body language indicates that he is a no-nonsense man and has a brief to confront oil theft head on without compromise.

    Suleiman, a former Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos State, took over from Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Navy headquarters, Abuja.

    Immediately he took charge of the command, Suleiman warned commanders, officers and ratings against compromising rules of engagement in their areas of responsibilities.

    He appealed to the naval personnel to be totally committed to their work and avoid actions that could tarnish the image of the Navy.

    He said: “I want to reiterate here that naval personnel should work with the right attitude. They should be committed to their work to realise the mission of the Nigerian Navy and for the interest of Nigerians.

    “For the commanders on ground, let me sound it loud and clear that the authorities of the Nigerian Navy will not tolerate any form of compromise on their part in carrying out their operations.

    “Collaboratively, we are going to do the job set out by the Chief of Naval Staff without compromises. The Navy will not tolerate those who aid and abet criminal activities. The Nigerian Navy is paying all of us well and we must justify it and portray the force in good light. We must do our work well to achieve the mandate of the force in tackling illegalities.

    “To my commanders, whether my seniors, sub-ordinates and contemporaries, I urge you all to join hands with me to achieve our collective goals. We must put the interest of the force and Nigerians at heart at all times.”

    He warned against committing premeditated errors, saying that such mistakes would attract necessary sanctions.

    There are indications that the character of Suleiman has strengthened the war against oil theft. The commander has, no doubt, hit the ground running. He took his campaign against oil theft to Bilabiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

    His troops invaded a notorious creek in the area where massive illegal deals on oil had gone on for a long time. The creek is like community of illegal refineries. The operators established six camps of illegal refineries and linked them together with big pipes.

    On sighting the troops, the operators abandoned the site and fled to different directions. The troops took over the cooking site.

    The troops also confiscated over N10.2 billion worth of stolen products consisting of two million litres of illegally-refined automated gas oil (AGO) and over one million barrels of stolen substances suspected to be crude oil. Six large Cotonou boats used by the suspected thieves to transport the products were impounded by the troops.

    Suleiman further explained that the command achieved the feat through a tip-off. He said the oil thieves operated on a landmass of over 100 hectares and created a black market for massive illegal deals on stolen petroleum products.

    He said the command deployed its patrol teams from Delta and Yenagoa to ensure daily surveillance of the camps and the impounded boats.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) was accompanied to the creeks by the Deputy Command Operations, CNC, Captain Mustapha Hassan and other senior officers.

    But Suleiman said destroying the camps as required by law, would lead to serious environmental pollution and detailed his men to take charge of the creek. He also ordered them to wait for further directive from the naval headquarters.

    A few days after the Bilabiri raid, Suleiman’s men nabbed 11 suspected workers of an oil exploration and production company for allegedly siphoning and selling crude oil from a wellhead in Bayelsa State.

    The suspected oil thieves were arrested at Eremor Field 1 at Peretorugbene town in Ekeremor Local Government Area. Suleiman said the suspects were apprehended from a vessel christened MT DERA 1.

    The vessel, which belongs to the exploration and production firm, was rounded up by naval troops during a routine patrol of oil facilities in the area. The FOC said he discovered that a pipe was connected from the wellhead to the vessel.

    He said the suspected thieves had already pumped crude oil valued at over 8,000 metric tonnes into the vessel when they were nabbed. Suleiman further said the oil firm was only authorised to take samples of the product from Eremor Field 1 but not to sell it out to buyers.

    He said: “Eremor Field 1 is not a loading point. So, selling of the product by staff of the oil firm was illegal.

    “They are only asked to take samples but from our investigation, we  understand that they have been selling the product from the barge.”

    The FOC revealed that the command, through investigation, discovered that members of staff of the company had sold 5,000 metric tonnes of the product. He further said the navy knew about the illegal deal when the buyer returned the product on the grounds that it was contaminated and then sued the exploration firm.

    The FOC noted that the suspects were handed over to the relevant agency while signals were sent to the Navy headquarters, Abuja for further direction. He warned persons involved in illegal oil activities in the area to desist from such nefarious activities forthwith or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

    He insisted that there would be no hiding place for oil thieves within the command’s area of operation, adding that troops have intensified patrol of the creeks.

    He said the Navy will continue to make illegal business of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and sundry crimes unattractive. The FOC further warned that oil thieves should desist from all forms of illegalities and get involved in meaningful and legitimate businesses.

    He was accompanied on the raid by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA; Commodore Aliyu Sule, Commander Nigerian Naval Base Yenagoa; Commodore Yakubu Wambai, Command Deputy Operation Officer and Navy Captain Mustapha Hassan, among other principal staff officers of the Central Naval Command.

     

  • Alamieyeseigha was like god to us, says Bayelsa community

    Alamieyeseigha was like god to us, says Bayelsa community

    •PDP, APC mourn ‘Governor-General’ of Ijaw nation
    •Ijawdeclare seven-day mourning
    •Akpabio: we’ve lost a colossus in Niger Delta, Nigeria
    •Ex-governor was astute Ijaw leader, says Atiku
    •‘He was to be flown abroad for treatment’

    The expansive homes of the late Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha in Yenagoa, the state capital, and his country home in Amasomma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, were deserted yesterday.

    The compound of the late Ijaw chief was quiet, devoid of activities and visits expected from his kinsmen and political colleague, following his sudden demise.

    Alamieyeseigha died on Saturday at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    He was 62.

    But it was gathered that his wife, Margaret, and other children were still at their home in Port Harcourt. They had not returned to the late former governor’s home at Amasomma.

    Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states were thrown into mourning at the weekend, following the sudden death of the first civilian governor of the state.

    Alamieyeseigha, popularly known during his administration as the Governor-General of the Niger Delta, reportedly died, after falling in a coma for about three days.

    It was gathered that the former governor, who was the most popular politician in the state, died of cardiac arrest.

    Alamieyeseigha was said to have developed health complications after returning from an undisclosed hospital in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), for medical checks.

    Unconfirmed reports said he could not complete his treatment in Dubai after hearing of his extradition request by the United Kingdom (UK).

    The recent request by the UK to extradite Alamieyeseigha for prosecution for alleged corruption caused panic and uproar in Bayelsa State; many groups condemned it, saying the law abhorred double jeopardy.

    Alamieyeseigha is said to have been survived by seven children and a wife.

    But one of the children, Oyemifa, died in a controversial circumstance in Dubai a year ago, leaving five sons and a daughter.

     

    Compound deserted

    Our correspondent, who visited the Alamieyeseighas’ compound at Opolo in Yenagoa at the weekend, said there was no sign of life in the house.

    The gate was locked and nobody was around to attend to visitors.

    At Amasomma, the community where Alamieyeseigha hailed from, people were going about their normal daily activities.

    Most residents were not aware that the former governor, who single-handedly turned his village into a town, was dead.

    His massive compound dotted with many beautiful buildings at Amasomma was also desolate.

    An elderly gateman told our correspondent that the immediate family of his boss were in Port Harcourt.

    “You cannot go in because there is nobody in the compound. Madam and others are in Port Harcourt. Oga died there,” said the man, who refused to mention his name.

    The gateman said the late Alamieyeseigha was at home about two weeks ago – his last visit.

    At the home of the late Alamieyeseigha’s stepmother, children were playing football while the old woman and other elderly women were grieving over their loss in the sitting room.

    They declined to comment on the former governor’s demise.

     

    Bayelsa comunity’s monarch

    But the acting paramount ruler of the community, Chief Sharp Sogo, said the residents were shocked by the former governor’s death.

    He likened the community’s reverence for the late Alamieyeseigha to that of a god.

    Sogo said: “When the sad news filtered into this community, everybody was not happy. Boys, girls, men and women cried. He was one of the best leaders we had in this community. He was just like a father and grandfather to everybody.”

    The monarch said the late Alamieyeseigha had his last outing in the community when he vivited with his political associates and community leaders to plan for the December 5 governorship election.

    He said the former governor was a rallying point and a voice of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which relied on him to win the election.

    Sogo said: “We can’t count the values he added to this community. They are too many to mention. Without him, there couldn’t have been Amasomma. He brought the university and built the roads. Everybody took him like a god.”

    The monarch said Alamieyeseigha died without fulfilling some of the promises to the community.

    He said: “It was obvious he was not through with the community yet. He promised that a shore protection project would be completed and many other things would be done to further develop Amassoma. We will greatly miss him.”

    Sogo said community leaders would plan a befitting burial for Alamieyeseigha, adding that the community would work with the state government.

     

    Burial plans

    There were indications yesterday that the government was planning a state burial for the late former governor.

    It was gathered that the government was planning to bury him at the Heroes’ Park, a special cemetery constructed by Governor Seriake Dickson for the interments of persons considered as heroes of Ijaw nation.

     

    He was to be flown abroad

    There were plans to fly Alamieyeseigha overseas for further treatment before he died on Saturday.

    An official of the state government, who spoke in confidence, said Bayelsa State deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (retd), was planning to fly Alamieyeseigha abroad for further treatment, after visiting the former governor at the hospital in Port Harcourt.

    Jonah was said to be at Omoku, in Rivers State, for a programme when heard of the former governor’s poor health.

    The deputy governor reportedly called him on phone on Friday and spoke with him at 8.15pm.

    “This is a sad loss for Bayelsa and the Ijaw. Contrary to the claim that Alamieyeseigha was in coma for two days before he passed on, the deputy governor, who was at Omoku for a programme at Agip, on hearing about Alamieyeseigha’s poor health, called and spoke with him on phone at 8.15pm,” the source said.

    It was learnt that Jonah directed Health Commissioner Dr. Ayibatonye Owei to stay back and monitor him.

    The deputy governor was said to have later visited him at the hospital on Saturday morning before leaving for Yenagoa with an instruction that an air ambulance be put on notice for him (Aalamieyeseigha) to be flown abroad for further treatment.

    “Shortly after the deputy governor arrived in Yenagoa, he received the sad news that Alamieyeseigha had passed on,” the source said.

    Information and Orientation Commissioner Dan Kikile said Jonah spoke with Alamieyeseigha on phone on Friday but declined further comments.

    He also said Alamieyeseigha died of complications from high blood pressure and diabetics, which affected his kidney.

    “He had chronic kidney disease, which was aggravated by the sudden rise in his blood pressure and the long diabetics,” Kikile said.

     

    Ijaw declare seven days of mourning

    The umbrella organisation of the Ijaw, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide has declared seven days of mourning, from today, for Alamieyeseigha.

    During the period, Ijaw’s flag would fly at half mast, according to INC’s President Boma Obuoforibo.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, INC noted that with Alamieyeseigha’s death, a tragedy had befallen the ethnic nationality.

    The statement said: “The Ijaw nation was thrown into grief by the death of Chief Alamieyeseigha, the Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, on Saturday, October 10, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, following a cardiac arrest.

    “On behalf of the INC Worldwide, we commensurate with his wife, Margaret, the Alamieyeiseigha family of Amassoma, the Ogboin clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and the Government and people of Bayelsa State, on this great tragedy that has befallen the Ijaw.

    “May the gentle soul of DSP Alamieyeseigha rest in peace, in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

    “In honour of this great, vocal and irrepressible Pan-Ijaw nationalist, we hereby announce seven days of mourning, beginning from October 12. During this period, Ijaw’s flag will fly at half mast.”

    The INC hinted that its leadership would liaise with the Alamieyeseigha family and the state government on a befitting burial for “our great leader and hero.

     

    PDP mourns

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grief over the death of Alamieyeseigha.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party was in shock over the sudden death of the former governor.

    It described the development as deeply saddening.

    The statement said: “The PDP mourns the demise of this great Nigerian, who made immense contributions and sacrifices towards the unity, stability and development of his state and our dear nation, both as a military officer and a politician.

    “Alamieyeseigha was a true democrat, humble leader, brilliant administrator who had extraordinary love for his people. He was an outstanding party man, who, despite his travails, remained loyal to the PDP at state and national levels to the end.

    “The PDP sincerely commiserates with Governor Seriake Dickson, the Alamieyeseigha family, the Ijaw kingdom and the people of Bayelsa State and pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

     

    APC commiserates with family, Bayelsa

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condoled with the family and friends of the former governor.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also condoled with the Bayelsa State Government over the death of its former governor.

    The party said it received the news of the former governor’s demise with great shock, considering that he was not publicly reported to have been gravely ill.

    APC prayed that the family would find comfort in their moment of sadness as well as the strength to bear the loss of their loved one.

    “May the soul of the departed also rest in perfect peace,” the party said.

     

    Atiku eulogises ex-governor

    Former Vice-President and APC chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said Alamieyeseigha was an astute politician who protected the interest of the Ijaw.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media office, Atiku said he was shocked by the former governor’s death.

    The Turaki Adamawa eulogised the late Alamieyeseigha for being a worthy ambassador of the Ijaw and for contributing his quota to serving the nation and the development of democracy.

    He said: “No one can dispute the fact that the late Governor-General of the Ijaw, as he was fondly called, stood firm like a rock in preserving the interest of the Ijaw, and was a strong supporter of democratic governance in Nigeria.

    “The news of the demise of Alamieyeseigha came to me, as with many Nigerians, as a rude shock. He was a true leader of the Ijaw and contributed his quota to the development of Bayelsa State when he was governor.

    “I recall with fond memories the deep appreciation the late Alamieyeseigha had for democratic governance in Nigeria. Irrespective of the divergent opinions of Nigerians about his legacies as the governor of Bayelsa State, Alamieyeseigha died earning the respect and admiration of the people of Bayelsa State and, I dare say, the people of Ijaw land. He was a friend and a brother. Like the people of Bayelsa State, I will miss him, too.

    “It was only a few days ago he visited me, wishing me well as I recovered from my leg procedure.”

    Atiku prayed God to give the Alamieyeseigha family, Bayelsa State and the Ijaw the fortitude to bear the loss.

     

    Akpabio regrets death of  colossus

    Former Akwa Ibom State governor and Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio has described Alamieyeseigha’s death as the loss of a political colossus to Bayelsa, the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

    In a statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, the former governor said: “The sudden death of DSP Alamieyeseigha has robbed the Niger Delta of a committed and dedicated indigene, who was always in the forefront of the struggle for the emancipation and development of the region.”

    The statement added: “I also commiserate with the immediate family of the former governor, people and government of Bayelsa State, the Ijaw nation, the PDP and Nigeria for this great loss. I pray God to grant the family and the Niger Delta the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

  • Community laments bad road

    Residents of Akesan community in Alimosho Local Government Area have cried out to Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on the deplorable condition of the Agric-Dosu-Ekunrin road which connects the community with the LASU–Iba highway.

    When The Nation visited the community a few days ago, a cross section of distraught residents and community leaders lamented their plight while drawing the attention of our correspondent to the parlous state of the road.

    The anguished residents pleaded with the Lagos State authorities to fix the deplorable road in order to make life meaningful for them.

    Speaking with The Nation, a community leader, Elder Samuel Ijezie said life has become nightmarish for the residents as a result of the bad road.

    He said: “It is almost a hopeless situation because travelling on this road has been hellish for residents, especially those who work in the city. Whenever it rains, motorists would park their cars and trek home or to Igando bus stop along LASU-Iba highway. And because of the terrible condition of the road, people would have to trek for about 45 minutes on the 2.6 kilometre road. Also, our vehicles are usually damaged while it has practically become impossible to access neighbouring communities like Ipaja, Ayobo, Ajasa, Command and Itele near Ota in Ogun State.”

    Expatiating further, Elder Ijezie, who is also the chairman of Toluwani Community Development Association (CDA), said that the situation has taken its toll on business activities in the community. “Commercial activities in this community have dwindled because of the deplorable road as people now detest coming here to buy things from traders or patronise artisans. Even landlords are no longer finding things easy because people are not coming to rent house here anymore.”

    It was gathered that the dilapidated condition of the road has also affected security of lives and property in the community. Said Ijezie: “In most cases when there is emergency security situation, police cannot access the scene because of the pathetic road. Also, fire service response to fire outbreaks has been zero because their vehicles are usually either trapped or damaged by craters and pot holes that litter the road.

    “Recently, a house was being robbed and when I called a senior police officer at the Igando Police Station, he quickly dispatched his men to foil the robbery operation but they couldn’t get to the scene on time, hence, the occupants of the affected house were successfully robbed.”

    Ijezie added that the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola visited the community for on-the-spot assessment and promised to fix the road to no avail. “Former governor, Babatunde Fashola came here to inspect this road and his car was trapped on the road and (he) had to be ferried out on the back of some of his aides. He then made a promise to fix the road but nothing was done till he left office about five months ago.

    “We have also complained through several letters to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and he sent some officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to assess the situation of the road. The officials came here in August. Their counterparts from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development have also inspected the road without any fruitful intervention yet.”

    Another community leader, Mr Bashiru Ayinde said: “We are really facing serious problems as a result of the dilapidated condition of Agric-Dosu-Ekunrin road. Most transporters, especially commercial tricycle operators and commercial motorcycle riders popularly called Okada have been discouraged from plying the road and (have) relocated to adjoining communities.

    “Those who work in the city find it difficult to return home in the evening because they would have to trek to their residence. We have tried our best to give the road a face-lift through communal effort; we contributed N500,000 which we spent to grade the road not too long ago but our communal effort is not enough to rebuild the road. We are therefore appealing to Lagos State government to help us repair the road, so that it can be accessible for residents; we are really begging government for urgent assistance in fixing it.”

    A trader, who simply identified himself as Nnamdi, bemoaned the lull in his business, which he said was occasioned by the bad road. He said: “The condition of the road is really unpleasant and it is seriously affecting traders here. Before, I used to get a lot of patronage for my electrical accessories business, but customers are no longer coming to my shop to buy my wares. Many of them told me that they cannot stand the sight of being trapped in the muddy water and craters on the road.”

    One of the community’s commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada rider, Alamu Oyebade, said he was contemplating leaving Akesan for a neighbouring community. “It has not been easy working in this community. The road is in terrible shape and motorcycles usually have accidents on the tempestuous terrain of the road. I have spent close to N15,000 to fix my motorcycle in the last three weeks, yet, I am still repaying a loan I took to purchase the motorcycle. I am already thinking of relocating to Igando, which is no far from here.”