THE Ijaw ethnic group in the Niger Delta region may have concluded plans to install their kinsmen as governors in at least four of the nine states of the region in the next elections. Our investigations revealed that key leaders of the ethnic group in Rivers, Delta, Edo and Ondo are unhappy about their political fortunes, in spite of their numerical strength in the states. A source said Ijaw leaders are particularly unhappy that in spite of their population in Rivers, Delta and other states, they have been mere peripheral political players. According to the source, “You know that democracy is about number and population. Yet despite being the fourth largest ethnic groups in the country, we only have one Ijaw governor (Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa) and that is probably because Bayelsa is a homogenous Ijaw state. “In Delta, for instance, we are the largest ethnic group in the south, yet an Itsekiri man was able to emerge governor (Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan), while we cannot boast of ever producing a governor, deputy governor or even the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). “This situation has to change and we are working on it from all the angles. We will ensure that in the next election we produce a good number of Ijaw governors and work towards greater influential positions in state, where we are not in control,” the source, who asked not to be named, stated. Findings by our correspondent show that machinery has been set in motion in Rivers and Deltas towards actualising the dream of an Ijaw governor in those states in 2015. In Delta State, the Ijaw leaders, particularly those from the Izon Ekosotu (Ijaw Council of Elders), have swung into action in this regard. The move has resulted in the birth of the Delta Izon Congress (DIC), which is working underground to ensure that an Izon (Ijaw) man or woman succeeds Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015. “The plan is to install an Ijaw governor in 2015 and we are capable of achieving this target,” a member of the Brig Gen Cletus Emein (Rtd) –led DIC, who spoke on condition of anonymity stated. The Nation also gathered that some members of the DIC were actively supporting former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Peter Godsday Orubebe, who visited the group recently as part of his ongoing consultation. Although Gen Emein, who is DIC Interim Chairman, reportedly told Orubebe that the group would assess other Ijaw aspirants, there were strong indications that Orubebe may get the nod of the DIC. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has also joined the fray in canvassing for an Ijaw governor in some states of the Niger Delta region. It was gathered that the IYC, which is the umbrella body of Ijaw youth groups, was using Delta to make their case for Ijaw governors in the region. IYC Western Zone, comprising Delta, Edo and Ondo states, speaking through Preye Okaba, said it was the turn of the Ijaws in Delta, stressing that there was no agreement that the highest office in the state would rotate within the political districts. Similarly, the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, is poised to do battle with the Ijaws in Rivers State over Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s successor. Wike is believed to be angling for the top job, and he is reportedly being backed by Dame Patience Jonathan, even though he hails from the same ethnic group as the incumbent governor. Recently, Rivers Ijaw elders including Prof Dagogo Fubara, Alabo Biekpo Jack, Amaopusenibo Diri, Dr Francis Minimah and others insisted that it is the turn of the riverine people (mostly Ijaw) to lead the state. Among other things, they said, “… equity demands that 2015 is the turn of the Riverine Ijaws to take a shot at the governorship of Rivers State.” Their feelings were re-echoed by the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubor, who said it was wrong for Wike and other Ikwerre indigenes to aspire to succeed Governor Amaechi. Similarly, there were also reports of plan by the Ijaws in the riverine areas of Ondo State to produce Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s successor in 2016, with the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon Kingsley Kuku, allegedly warming up for the race.
Tag: Delta
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‘Why Delta is pursuing Green Economy’
The Delta State House of Assembly is considering a bill sent to the House by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the establishment of the Delta State Green Economy Commission. In this interview with SHOLA O’NEIL, Paul Odili, Communications Manager to the governor, explains the initiative and why it is the path to sustainable future for the state.
What is the Green Economy initiative of the state about?
The point about sustainable development and climate change has been a major part of this administration’s agenda. When the governor talks about ‘Delta Beyond Oil’, there are a couple of critical pillars that support that initiative. Beyond just diversifying the economy of Delta State from reliance on crude oil as a major source of revenue, it was important that we also think in terms of sustainable development initiatives. It simply means the ability to consume resources in a more efficient and environmentally friendly manner, such that we do not waste resources and it does not compromise the ability of the future generation to also have access to those resources.
The governor has being doing a lot. There are different ministries and MDAs that have been pursuing green initiatives – Ministry of Energy has done a lot of work in solar street lighting, Ministry of Environment has done a lot with waste recycling plants, Ministry of Transport is also doing quite a bit of it.
There have been pockets of these kinds of initiatives but it was important that it is consolidated further. It has been an ongoing process and I need to also add that since 2009 when he (governor) began to speak out on climate change, he was the first governor to have spoken out very forcefully, calling the attention of the nation to the issue of climate change and our apparent indifference to it. He was also one of the governors that formed the R20 Region of Climate Action, which is an international NGO that is led by the former Governor of California (Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger). The governor is the Vice Chairman of Africa and Middle East of this body.
Is there an enabling law right now for all these?
There is no enabling law right now, but what has happened is that the step the governor has taken is to initiate a process of consultation and brainstorming. We had a series of workshops that culminated in producing the Delta State Green Economy Policy document. This is a policy document that articulates the requirements of the state, the current position, what it needs to do, the strategies it needs to adopt and the structures it needs to drive forward the sustainability initiative of the government to be able to promote green development in the state. It is not just about green development; it is about also creating an economic structure that is sustainable. The way to do that is you have structure that is able to do a lot of research, attract investment, coordinate green economy policies and implement green economy projects and programmes in the state, working with existing ministries, which also in many respects have mandates that are related to green initiatives.
We know already that there is a lot of business models and technologies out there that is accessible and that is interested to partner with us. The point then becomes if you need to do all that, you have to have a formal structure and policy in place and it has to be backed by instrument of law. What the governor now did after the workshop in February, was to very quickly send it to the House (of Assembly). That bill is in the House and we are hoping that very soon it will be passed into law. When it is now backed by law you are now in a position to engage any stakeholder or business interest.
What are some of the provisions of the bill setting up this commission?
The law intends to set up the commission and the mandate is simple. It will initiate, coordinate and implement green economy policies and programmes in Delta State. It will collaborate with existing ministries and MDAs.
Deltans, like most Nigerians are sceptical about commissions, they see it as avenues to siphon public fund….
No, no, no. This is a very unique strcuture in that its mandate is to attract investments, initiate programmes and implement projects…
…It will also spend money
It will spend money but we have adopted a self-funding model, which is to say that government will fund the commission for 10 years and after that it will become self-funding. It will become a source of revenue for the state.
Will government fund it wholly during the 10-year gestation period?
No, we expect that it will be deescalating. In order words, by the 5th year government will only fund half of the cost and as the years go towards 10th year it will be self-funding. As the funding from government decreases, the agency is actually earning money to be able to offset some of its costs and operations. That is an indication that it is growing towards that self-funding target. We see tremendous promise and potential.
How does it benefit the state and ordinary Deltan?
It is very beneficial. You see, when we talk about Delta Beyond Oil, it simply aims to end overdependence on oil, diversify the economy, expand the industrial base of the state, create employment and reduce poverty. When you are going green, you are also promoting an economic development that recognises and reduces environment risk of development. Traditional ways of economic growth and development have always been done at the risk of environmental sustainability. This is saying it can be done taking into account the fragility of the environment. That is how this initiative compliments the overall objective of government. It will empower the people; it will create employment and economic growth. It would also improve the public welfare. A fully embedded green economy is one that recognises the welfare and wellbeing of the people first. It does that across a whole range of sectors – agriculture, transportation, water, energy, public health. Ultimately, it is about the welfare and wellbeing of the people. In urban planning, if you are eco-friendly, you recognise that one of the major challenges of developing society is rapid urbanisation that leads to congestion and pollution.
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Delta battles to wrest ‘oil city’ from filth, shanties
The popular Warri town in Delta State is the economic hub of the state and a capital of oil activities in the country. Journalists and residents refer to Warri as the ‘oil city’.
Over the years, the tag seemed to be misplaced as the city seemed more like the ‘dirty city’ because of the sprout of illegal structures, shanties and attitude of the people to cleanliness as well as indiscriminate waste disposal and the failure of the local councils to deal with the waste generated by over one million inhabitants.
‘Warri’ goes beyond the Warri metropolis – headquarters of Warri South Local Government Area. It is an amalgam of the metropolis, Ugbuwangue, Ubeji and Iffie in the WSLGA as well as Effurun, Ekpan, Enerhen, Ugbolokposo and some other towns in Uvwie Local Government Area. It is also quickly spreading into Orhumworhum, Aladja and other enclaves in Udu Local Government Area.
As the city grew over the past decades, the environment decayed.
Frustrated by the deplorable state of this mega city, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan several years ago slammed the attitude of the people to the cleanliness of their environment. The governor could not understand why people could not clean the front of their homes, shops and places of business.
Over five years later, the state government rolled out the bulldozers again in a final push to bring down illegal structures, makeshift shops, houses and shanties and wrest the city from the vice-like grip of filth.
A lot of Deltans felt the move was long overdue, particularly as heaps of dirt – some as high as a storey-building – are piling up in the streets and every nook and cranny of the city. Market women, particularly those at the Effurun Market randomly cast their wastes on the median of the PTI Road. They build moulds of waste that force motorists and commuters to cover their noses whenever they pass through.
The smelly, dirty sights are replicated on Airport Road, Jakpa and other major roads in the city, much to the angst of citizens and government alike. Even the redesign and beautification of the Enerhen Junction has failed to prevent indiscriminate disposal of refuse in the area.
It was against the backdrop that the state government recently constituted a 25-man special sanitation team, chaired by the State’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama to supervise the cleaning up of Warri, Uvwie and Udu Council Areas.
Speaking after the inauguration of the team in Warri, Prof Utuama said the state government was worried to observe the growing incidents of illegal markets, illegal motor parks and the poor waste disposal habits prevalent in Warri and its environs. He described the situation as unacceptable.
He lamented that the beautifully designed Enerhen Junction, which was constructed as part of the State Government’s junction improvement and beautification programme has been turned into a refuse dump. He also lamented that Ugbuwangue Junction on the NPA Express way had become an illegal market and trading depot.
The Deputy Governor warned that the team would not spare any effort in restoring sanity and order to the affected areas and advised defaulters and residents of the affected areas to remove their makeshift structures and refuse or be prepared to face the consequence of their actions.
True to his words, the bulldozers rolled into the area on Thursday, April 3. The team is backed by stern-faced security personnel, wheelbarrows, pick-up and vans. As the bulldozers roared into the city, it brought about tears, sorrow and wailing. But the victims were mostly the builders of their collapsing world because they ignored warning to remove the structures.
The scene at a popular Mobil Filing Station located on Airport Junction in the heart of the city was the clearest pointer to the poor attitude of business owners and residents of the areas to environmental sanitation. Our reporter who visited the scene saw refuse pits within and around the parameters of the petrol station.
The Commissioner for Water Resource, Dr Chris Oghenechovwen, ordered the shutdown of the filling station until the management evacuated the wastes.
But a member of staff at the premises said the management had paid the sanitation task force at the Uvwie Council to evacuate the waste.
However, Prof Utuama assured that the state Waste Management Board would be strengthened to ensure that the gains made during the exercise are sustained.
Already, the Commissioner for Environment, Frank Omare, said the government had invested a lot of money in waste disposal trucks, adding that 1,600 environmental marshals are being trained to ensure that people behave very well.
“In Asaba, we have installed incinerator that will tackle wastes in the whole of Delta north. We are bringing in an incinerator of about 2,000 tonnages in Warri. Those are things that we are putting together.”
Over 1,000 makeshift shops have been demolished in the affected areas and yet the exercise is far from over.
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Homosexual club found in Delta
A homosexual male club has been found in Uvwie local government area of Delta state.
This was disclosed on Sunday by the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, while delivering the Easter Sunday Message at the First Baptist Church, Warri.
Governor Uduaghan who also charged the people of the state to be vigilant about threatening visitors among them, also encouraged parents guardians to keep an eye on their wards not to be led into bad practices.
“These youths who engage in criminal activities are our children. Right here in Delta State, at Enerhen Junction we just discovered that we have children between 15, 16, 17 and 18 years old who rent rooms around Enerhen Junction and at night men come out to look for them. These are boys and men come to sleep with them in their rooms. These boys called themselves ‘Yansh’.
“So they belong to a cult called Yansh. This is right in our society here. It through the Edu Marshals Programme that we now discovered homosexual homes right here. We used to know about female harlots but we now have male harlots. Unfortunately they are young boys. They are our children. Yes, there much the government can do, but there is much we can do as parents”, he said.
According to him, the citizenry and parents also have tremendous roles to play in stemming the rising insecurity, explaining that there was the compelling need for people to be watchful and vigilant.
He admitted that Delta State was facing the challenge of herdsmen whose activities have prevented some farmers from going to their farms, but observed: “We are taking measures to deal with those issues.”
Uduaghan who has inaugurated a committee on the movement of cattle rearers in the state, indicated that the state government would in the coming days take drastic measures to curtail the excesses of herdsmen.
“Those who will come and will not make us comfortable, we will not allow to stay. Those who will come and will give us problem we will not allow them to stay.
“So when you see me acting, please know that whoever you see me taking that action against is somebody that I am not comfortable with coming to stay in our midst.
“These are very trying times. Yes there is much the government can do. But there is a lot you can do as parents. What role are you playing as a parent’” he said.
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Delta spends N6b on BRT, road delineation
THE Delta State government has put the budget for its ongoing BRT/Roads delineation project in the Warri metropolis at N6 billion, just as it employed 750 persons as road wardens to instill sanity in road users in the city. Disclosing this yesterday during a courtesy call on the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II, in his palace, the Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, also said the state government had acquired two incinerators to tackle the problem of refuse disposal in the state. Professor Utuama, who led other members of the Special Sanitation Team to seek the permission of the paramount ruler to enter Itsekiriland to execute their mandate to clean up Warri environ, also said the state government had devised means of sustaining the gains of the 10-day special clean-up exercise, announcing the employment of 1000 men and women to enforce the new regime for cleanness in the city. Speaking further, the deputy governor informed the monarch that the era of filth and disorder had ended in the three council areas of Warri South, Uvwie and Udu, where the special sanitation exercise is ongoing, adding that street hawking, erection of illegal stalls and illegal granite markets have been prohibited in the state. According to him, “we are here for the purposes of environmental sanitation exercise. We are aware that the Itsekiris are very clean people, but because of urbanization all sorts of people have come to Warri, generating all sorts of filth. Filth brings all sorts of diseases and Government is committed to beatification of our cities to appeal to visitors. It calls for behaviour change.
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Delta 2015: I’m the solution to zoning, says Oyibode
Amid the agitation for power shift to the north senatorial district of Delta State and the determination of the Urhobo of Delta Central determination to win back the power they lost in 2007 when Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan became the first Deltan of non-Urhobo extraction to govern the state since 1992 when Delta State was created, Ambassador Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode has emerged as a possible candidate to assuage the feelings of both sides.
The real estate mogul is one of the dark horses in the race. Born by an Urhobo mother from Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State to late Chief Sampson Oyibode, Ogwu of Ezionum Kingdom in Ukwuani Local Government Area, Oyibode stands well placed in the ethnic and zonal scales. The young ambitious politician entered into the cluttered field of contenders and pretenders in the race to the Government House in 2015 with a declaration: “I am not afraid to declare support for whichever platform I want to support nor afraid to declare to the people the party (that) I am interest in. I am a member of the PDP; I believe in the ideology of the PDP. So far, I know there are challenges and many odds.”
How he uses his expertise as a dispute resolution specialist to win the Urhobo – his maternal kinsmen – and the Delta North from where is father hails is yet to be seen.
Born in April 1968, the University of Massachusetts, Boston-trained Alternative Dispute Resolution also has an accounting diploma, HND in Estate Management, BSc in Business Administration and nearly a dozen certificates in conflict/dispute resolution as well as others.
On his plan for Delta State, he said: “I will ensure infrastructural renewal and expansion because these are the backbone of growth both in business and social development. I will also provide free technical education and revitalise the agriculture and build agro-allied industries. I strongly believe that technical education holds the key to Nigerian industrialisation.”
Beyond that, Oyibode vowed to lead and economic and industrial revolution in the areas of seaports and transportation to harness the drive and entrepreneurial spirit of Deltans, adding, “By the grace of God, I see industrial revolution across Delta state.”
On his plans for the state, he said his programme include attracting Deltans from all over the world to invest and partake in the growing of the state economy and the attendant profit and development that could result from it.
“We will provide world class health care and eradicate travelling abroad for medical check-up. Besides, the drain it puts in our economy through capital flight, going to India and other parts of the world for medical tourism does not tell well on our country. It portrays us as a people not yet able to cater for its citizens and we are determined to stop that.”
He has also been involved in youth empowerment programmes. He has organised several events and promotion that have endeared him to the youths.
“We, the youths, see him as one of us and an example of the generational change we have craved since the present political dispensation. If Nigerians and Deltans truly desire a breath of fresh air, we should support young, vibrant men and women who aspire to political offices,” Mr Dan Amraketa of the Delta Political Patriots, said.
How far is laudable programme and his auspicious background can take him in the race to the Government House, Asaba remains to be seen but there is no doubt about his capability and zeal for the race ahead. If he fails, it will not be because of lack of determination. For while his counterparts are yet to declare their intention, Oyibode had crisscrossed the length and breadth of state; he has met traditional rulers from all the zones, consulted with various groups and planted his billboards on all corners of the state.
On the downside, many doubt that the young politician can survive the murky and atrocious fight that the race could turn out to be, particularly within the ruling PDP, which has ruled the state in the past 15 years.
An insider in the PDP told our reporter that Oyibode “is mostly seen as an outsider and he is not one of those being considered by the governor and power brokers for 2015.”
It was also gathered that the aspirant’s efforts to curry the favour of Uduaghan have attracted very little success.
Others in the party see him as one of those flying a flag with the intention of “getting something at the end of the day” to step down for another candidate.
But one of his close associates debunked that theory, stating: “Oyibode is not prepared to play the politics of settlement. He has said it severally that he is not in the race in order to withdraw for somebody to settle him or promise him a political appointment. If the people reject him, he will go back to his private practice and re-strategise. For him, it is not a do-or-die matter because his intention is to serve his people.”
How long his propitious background and easygoing, down-to-earth disposition takes him in the race can only be determined by time. Now he is on the spotlight is enjoying his form.
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Two human rights lawyers shot dead in Delta
Legal practitioners in Delta state have been thrown into mourning following the gruesome assassination of two lawyers on Thursday.Renowned lawyer and human rights activist Mr Horrace Egbon Dafiogho and his junior colleague, identified as Sam Ekwajor, were shot dead along Ughelli – Ozoro road on Thursday.It was gathered that the duo were on their way to Ozoro, where they are defending suspects in a high profile kidnap case involving a prominent politician in the state, when they were killed.Although the circumstance surrounding the killing was yet unclear, it was gathered that the incident has led to shock and panic among legal practitioners in the state.The National Coordinator, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, told our reporter he was stupefied by the development.He said, “It was last night that I just heard the news and it is very surprising to me. Why would anybody kill a lawyer and an activist who spends his time defending the less privileged in the society?”Our reporter gathered that prior to his death on Thursday the legal practitioner had raised the alarm over threat on his life.One his colleagues told our reporter, “He even told the judge hearing one of his cases that his life was being threatened.” -
Oil cash fuels dispute between Bayelsa, Delta communities
A boundary dispute between two communities in Delta and Bayelsa states may snowball into a bloody war. Southsouth Regional Editor Shola O’Neil, who visited the area, reports that at the root of the crisis is a N305m court victory by one of the feuding parties against an oil giant
There is no visible attraction on Okia’s landscape to indicate why two communities are locked in a fierce tussle over its ownership. The tussle is between the people of Agge community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and Okia, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Okia is disappointing. Apart from a lone weed-overtaken multimillion naira civic centre, which sits forlorn in the middle of the bush, there is no suggestion of any other asset in the town.
The emptiness is accentuated by the imposing multimillion naira, Civic Centre, built by SPDC, operator of the NNPC/SHELL/TEPN/Agip Joint Venture. An abandoned (or failed) project – a solar power water scheme lies besides the centre.
The civic centre is as divisive as the community. One of several residents of neighbouring hamlets who spoke with our reporter said they could not comprehend why the company “would commit dozens of millions to build and furnish a massive structure in the middle of nowhere.”
Okia may just be another hamlet in the creek; yet for over a decade there have been lingering scrimmages between Agge community (a clan of four brothers) over the ownership of this strip of land on the tip of the Ramos River.
The sound of the war drum increased towards crescendo recently when the Okia (the Gbeneyeis) won a N305 million suit against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The case was instituted in 2001 after one of several crude oil spillages from the company’s facility.
Pius, one of the Gbeneyei brothers, alerted security and governments’ agencies to a ‘brewing boundary clash’ between Okia and Agge in Delta and Bayelsa states.
He accused the people of Agge of using resources from Delta land to service another state – Bayelsa. The move was seen as a ploy to drag the two state governments into the brewing crisis.
The comical and effervescent Pius told Niger Delta Report that Okia had borne the brunt of several aggression by their counterparts, explaining that the activities of the Agge people kept his town undeveloped. He said Okia was a thriving community until it was razed by the people of Agge nearly a decade ago: “They attacked us, killed our people, wounded some and laid the community to ruin.”
His claims, like several others over the community, could not be independently verified by our reporter, who found neither stumps of the former houses nor graves of those killed in the empty town.
Our independent investigation though indicated that until a few decades ago it was just a fishing camp. But it became strategic when the Trans Ramos Trunk Line was built by Shell to convey crude from oil wells in the area to the Forcados Terminal for export. Okia is the point where the pipeline crosses from one state to the other.
Oil Royalty the root of the crisis – Pius Gbeneye
With its strategic position, the community became attractive to the oil firm and locals. Confirming this, Pius Gbeneyei told our reporter that Okia “is a very small community, but it is also very rich”.
First sign of trouble emerged when Shell awarded the Integrated Production Surveillance Service (IPSS) to an indigene of Agge community, much to the chagrin of Gbeneyei and other claimants to the Okia title. The Gbeneyei brothers kicked and sued the SPDC to court.
But HRH David Isiayei, the traditional head of Agge and its Federated Communities, told our reporter that it was the right of Agge to get any contract from Okia. The traditional ruler, who spoke extensively on the tussle, recalled that the land was acquired from his community by Shell even before most of the claimants were born.
He explained that Okia was merely separated from his community by the necessity of using the Ramos River as a boundary between the two states, adding that Okia is used by fisherman for seasonal fishing expeditions.
“When the time for a particularly fishing in the area comes up, people leave Agge and other communities in Bayelsa and Delta to settle there for weeks. They fish, dry their catches and sell or take them to Agge, which has been a fishing depot for centuries.
“When Julius Berger was building the Trans Ramos pipeline, people came from all over the country to look for job here. That was how the Gbeneyeis came here. They settled and worked, but because they lived in Okia, at a point they started parading themselves as owners of the land. So we went to court and got a judgement, which ordered them to leave the land.
“You see, we are all Ijaws and we do not discriminate, but problem usually arises when some people want to take our hospitality for granted. Okia is part of Agge in Kou Kingdom, nobody can dispute that. That it falls on the other side of the river that has been marked Delta doesn’t change that,” he added.
While saying that there is no contest over the land, the aged monarch also revealed that Agge had recorded series of legal victories that conferred the ownership of Okia on his community.
Speaking in the same vein, Chairman of Agge and its Federated Communities, Mr Stephen Fiyapade, accused oil multinationals of using divide-and-rule tactics to create trouble in oil communities. He said the latest crisis was instigated by some Shell staff who used “some persons” to make money for themselves by making Okia a host community.”
Fiyapade particularly noted that the civic centre built in the bush was part of the concept adopted by the oil workers. “Which sane person would conceive a project like that in the bush? How many people are living around there for the company to build a town hall that can sit up to 1,000 person? Doesn’t that tell you anything?”
The mutual suspicion between the two communities is the major reason the Civil Centre had not been used for nearly three years since it was built.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, hinted that the project may have been a conduit pipe by some persons to make easy money.
“It is part of the deliberate programme of some oil companies’ staff to create ‘communities’ that they can use to hijack money meant for Corporate Social Responsibility. Tell me, if Shell’s headquarters in The Hague comes here would they be happy that their fund was put into a project that would benefit no one?” the source asked.
The source explained that the “Civic Centre might just be a contract awarded to empower some contractors and to benefit some powerful interest within the JV operators. Don’t be surprised that this same Okia may have been awarded other ’projects’ in the past. This kind of corporate social responsibility is irresponsible, to say the least.”
Furthermore, our finding revealed that in line with the Shell GMoU with communities, such projects as the civic centre are not conceived by Shell, but the community.
A high ranking Shell official told our reporter, “You can blame Shell or any other oil firm for this kind of project because the people of the community usually determine what they want and the company merely provides fund to execute them. That is how the GMoU model of community development operates.”
Meanwhile, Pius Gbeneyei debunked reports of court victory conferring the ownership of the community on Agge. Touting his own legal victories, he explained that Agge only won against Okibou, a boundary community in Delta State.
“Agge has never won any court case against us.”
He traced the latest “aggression” of Agge people to the landmark Federal High Court judgment, which awarded him and four others N305,637,381.60 as special and general damages caused by Shell crude oil spill.
Gbeneyei said prior to the ruling Agge, had sort to “gain through the backdoor” by asking to be joined in the case, adding, “They were denied and ordered to pay me N40,000. But they ran away and up till today we did not seen them.
“The Agge people do not have any oil well; they are looking for an opportunity to benefit at all cost that is why they want to annexe our land in order to continue to deal with oil companies as host communities. We are not going allow that,” he added.
“They have continued to go to oil companies in the area to collect money as host. With all these, I do not know why they are still troubling us. We are preparing to return to our community and they cannot stop us,” Pius Gbeneyei added.
But, the Agge traditional head said the ‘court victory’ being bandied by the Gbeneyeis was merely a criminal case when some persons were arrested by Agge indigene for erecting an illegal signpost on Okia land and not on the ownership of the land.
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‘Living in Niger Delta prepares you for any challenge in life’
A Canada-based film producer, Henry Eruotor, speaks with Shola O’Neil on his determination to, through his films, change misconceptions about the region and Nigeria in the international community.
I was born and raised in Warri, Delta State, where I worked in my family’s video rental shop. It was only logical for me to watch most of the films we offered so I could market them to patrons. My favourite part of watching a DVD was always the extra features section where the director described the making of the movie. I remember always wishing that these sections were longer. My exposure to these foreign films piqued my interest and curiosity about the art of filmmaking.
Many Nigerians seem to have certain preconceptions and misconceptions about foreigners and life abroad. My experiences in both countries have helped me portray life in each more accurately.
After my final undergraduate exam, my project supervisor invited me to join the production crew for another adaptation project. It could be that my niche is adapting established stories for screen.
Upon arrival in Canada, my quest to improve my filmmaking skills drove me to study Documentary Production at Algonquin College, Ottawa. I also have a Masters of Information Studies from the University of Ottawa.
For some time, like all of us, I was more of a Nollywood critic than a content creator. “Why is that woman waking up with full make-up? Where’s the wallet he was holding in the last shot? Why are they speaking proper English in the house?” Finally, someone told me, “That’s all well and good, but what have you done?” That put fire under my ‘yansh’ and forced me to start producing. That humbled me, because I learned that nailing these details—costuming, continuity, diction and a million other things—is not as easy as they seem. But it also motivated me to learn by doing. Practice, practice, practice. The goal is always to make the next project better than the last.
What do you hope to achieve with your works?
I am inspired to tell African stories, not just Delta or Nigeria. I want to tell the good, evil, tragic, funny, common and incredible. I’m repeatedly stunned by the number of people who are unaware of the talents and prospects of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. They are blinded by the negative stories they have heard or seen in the media. I want to broaden their perspective with my films.
I’m not trying to recreate Nollywood in Canada. Nollywood is the second largest film industry in the world by number of films. Nollywood tells our stories very well, but it can do better in terms of generating content and improving the technical aspects of film production.
Though Nollywood has done well, we should be aiming for more than just quantity. Nigeria has such tremendous writers and amazing stories to tell. I admire Jeta Amata and Kunle Afolayan, who have been able to marry Nollywood themes with Hollywood quality. I aspire to do the same. This winter, I attended the premiere of Half of a Yellow Sun at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was incredible. I also saw Fela! on Broadway in New York City and loved it. Sitting in those audiences, I felt very proud to be Nigerian.
I look forward to the day when we can turn more of our incredible stories into high quality, widely seen productions. I’ve seen wonderful Indian stories on film, and several have won prestigious awards. I would love to see a Nigerian film in serious contention for an Oscar or a Golden Globe. I have resolved to be a part of the generation of Africans and Nigerians that takes Nollywood to a different level and a wider audience. We have the talent, the drive, the creativity and the industriousness to do it.
About his works
My filmmaking journey continues. Each play, television show and film I watch is a learning experience, and every project I undertake is an opportunity for me to expand my skills. Since earning my undergraduate degree, I’ve produced documentary profiles (Mr. Independent, From Kaduna to Canada, Greener Pastures) short films and promotional videos. The No-Nonsense Wife and Otito are two of my favourites.
I faithfully read Nigerian news and blogs. When I read Abimbola Dare’s short story The No-Nonsense Wife online, I was drawn to the message. I’m a big believer in not passing judgment unless you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes. I immediately contacted Abimbola, who graciously agreed to my adaptation proposal.
I cast eager, talented friends and acquaintances that were available to film. Some were more experienced than others. In some ways, we were learning together. In fact, I had to scrap the first version of the film; I knew we could do better. I met Omodudu Onidada Osun (Toni) through a mutual friend in Toronto. She had no formal acting training, but she is expressive and creative, and I could tell she would be a natural on screen. I have known Efe Mike-Ifeta (Biyi) since we were classmates and flatmates in Abraka. We work together on film projects often, and he’s talented both on- and off-screen. Hans Oreva (Dennis) and Divine Emeovrode (Dayo), incidentally from my hometown, are actually siblings. I thought this might make it easier for them to be comfortable playing out a difficult scene together. They’re both very skilled. The cast worked very hard, often in very cold weather and late into the night, and I’m so happy with their work.
Otito (Truth) came out of my desire to lay out some of the innocuous ways Nigerians are stereotyped in the West. Ade’s experiences are just a sample of some of the frustrations I’ve experienced since emigrating. Individually they seem small, sometimes even humorous, but together they illustrate everyday prejudice. Once again, friends came through: John Eke (Ade), Jeti Olafimihan (Otito) and Robert Sykes (professor) were great, as were the management and staff of Le Dôme Bar-Lounge, where we shot the bar scene.
Misconceptions about the Niger Delta and Nigerians
There are a couple of misconceptions I experience regularly. The most common one is people asking me if I’m a boxer or a fighter. I could not understand their curiosity until someone explained that they are confused because of the scars on my face. I have facial tribal marks and back home it’s pretty normal to meet people with marks.
Of course, I’m exposed to quite a few negative misconceptions, often framed as jokes, about Nigerians being loud, boastful or crass (I especially get this from other Africans!), and about Nigerians engaging in fraud. People have asked about my village, and have assumed my upbringing was more impoverished than it really was. (This goes with general lack of awareness about Nigeria’s educated middle class.) I generally don’t mind, because I get opportunities to educate people about Nigeria and Africa.
But generally, I would say Canadians are quite open-minded and worldly, and other African immigrants always greet each other kindly and engage each other as in Africa.
How has your background as a Niger Deltan affected your life in Canada?
There is a reason for everything in life. I’m very happy that I was born and raised where I was; growing up in the Niger Delta prepares you to face many challenges of life, and has really helped me distinguish what’s really important. Life in Africa is full of drama and interesting experiences and these inspire my work most.
At the same time, being exposed to a very different society has helped me reflect on life in the Niger Delta. I’m constantly confronted with ideas and experiences that challenge some of the beliefs I held growing up, and it forces me to really think about the good and bad of the Niger Delta and the good and bad of my new home, and what I can learn from each. I think this comes across in my films, and will continue to.
I want my films to showcase the experiences that are unique to Nigeria and to Africa (certain customs, for example), but also to showcase our universal experiences like love and loss and laughter.
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Police arrest 27 ‘cult members’
The police in Delta State have arrested 27 suspected cult members, who were allegedly terrorising Ughelli and Ozoro axis.
Police spokesman Celestina Kalu said the suspects reportedly confessed to being members of the Eiye and Junior Vikings confraternities.
Kalu said 11 of the suspects had been arraigned in court, adding that others would soon be charged.
He said: “In a bid to stem the tide of violent crimes being perpetrated by suspected cultists in Ughelli and Ozoro axis of Delta State, on March 16 between 2100hrs-0200hrs, SARS operatives raided Ughelli and Ozoro areas and arrested Okogba Hezekiah and twenty-six (26) others.
“Investigation has revealed that 13 of the suspects are members of Eiye confraternity; the remaining 14 belong to Junior Vikings confraternity. The suspects have confessed to the crime.
“The command wishes to reiterate its warning to cultists to shun cultism and other vices,” the statement said.