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Tag: Delta

  • Delta Central senatorial by-election holds today

    Delta Central senatorial by-election holds today

    The Delta Central senatorial by-election will hold today in eight local governments constituting the Urhobo nation, Delta State.

    The die is cast among the three major political parties in the district-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). After the poll, the candidates- O’Tega Emerhor (APC), Olorogun Emmanuel Aguariavwodo (PDP) and Chief Ede Dafinone (DPP)-will know their fate.

    The seat became vacant few months ago, following the death of Senator Pius Ewherindo, who was elected in 2011 on the platform of the DPP led by Chief Great Ogboru.

    Many Urhobos have returned home since Thursday in solidarity with the candidates of their choice. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 843, 411 registered as voters. The commission has promised a transparent poll. To make it possible, it solicited for the cooperation of the stakeholders.The police command has also given assurance of security during the poll, urging the candidates and voters to abide by the rules.

    In this by-election, none of the three candidates can be dismissed with a wave of the hand. But many factors, according to analysts, will shape the poll. Although the PDP has dominated the state since 1999, that power of incumbency collapsed during the last senatorial election in Delta Central. DPP was endorsed as the party of choice by the Urhobo. During this electioneering, that perception changed for two reasons. The APC candidate came with a bold challenge. The Urhobo nation also reckons with him as a great leader, philanthropist and strong personality. Also, his party came with clear manifestos.

    Many things may work against the PDP. The cry of marginalisation is loud in Urhobo land. The indigenes have alleged that both the federal and state governments have neglected the ethnic group. Recently, a politician from the area, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, complained to President Goodluck Jonathan that, despite its huge population, Urhobo has no minister in the Federal Executive Council. Other Urhobo politicians have also complained that the distribution of appointments by the President has always favoured the Ijaw.

    However, it appears that the ethnic group is looking beyond the DPP for salvation. In the past, Urhobo distanced itself from the progressive bloc, owing to its deep-seated sentiment against the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Action Group (AG) Premier of the defunct Western Region, who re-christened Olu of Itsekiri as the Olu of Warri, despite the fact that three ethnic groups-Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo-exist in Warri. But, the people, who had rejected the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Alliance for Democracy (AD), have not extended the hostility to the APC, which they perceived as a better alternative.

    Urbobo leaders have maintained that the DPP, which produced Ewherindo more than two years ago, had depleted, owing to the defection of some members to the APC. It was evident that a split had occurred in the party before the senator passed on. Many APC leaders were surprised that Ogboru refused to participate in the merger that culminated in the birth of the main opposition party in the country. “DPP is now an isolated minority party, an orphan, and, if it is denied victory, nobody will fight for the party. We have been clamouring for a better political platform and APC has given the Urhobo that platform”, said a politician from the district.

    It is a big test for the APC, which has been flaunting its national spread and credential of its governors and national leaders. This is the first major election and challenge the party will confront. Many youths in the district, who assessed the candidates, said that, in a free and fair election, Emerhor may have an edge. According to them, the APC candidate has done much for the district by attracting financial institutions, which generated employment. He is also perceived as a philanthropist, whose contributions have been acknowledged by the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU). The association recently gave a medalist to Emerhor, who is serving as the chairman of its fund-raising committee.

    The PDP is working assiduously, but it has not impressed the people during the senatorial campaigns. Other parties have alleged that PDP intends to rig then poll, an allegation the party has denied. Aguariavwdo is perceived as President Jonathan’s choice. But many have said that he has issues to settle at home. Many Urhobo have not forgiven him for resigning as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) chairman to contest for the governorship. “As the NDDC chairman, he was regarded as the governor of nine oil-producing states. Many really wanted him to continue in that important office”, a source said. Besides, a section of the PDP is angry that the 2011 candidate, Chief Ighota Amori, should have been compensated with the ticket for his persistent loyalty. During his campaign tour, the PDP flag bearer was harassed by some thugs. To analysts, that has demonstrated that he is not a popular candidate.

    In the DPP, the candidate, Dafinone, has earned the appellation of ‘Daddy’s boy’. This is because he wants to repeat his father’s feat as a senator. The elder statesman, Senator David Dafinone, was a senator in the Second Republic on the platform of the proscribed National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The younger Dafinone is facing some challenges. The bitter primaries in the DPP has generated post-primary crisis. But Dafinone has the backing of the majority in the party. The question is whether the chartered accountant can deliver the votes to his party like the late Ewherindo.

    Across the eight councils, opinions differ. The total number of registered voters is 843,411. In Ethiope West Council, there are 84,262 registered voters. This is Amori’s stronghold. Unless the people are pacified before the poll, they may turn their back at the PDP. Sapele local government has 95,031 voters. The council is made up of Itsekiri and Urhobo people. The three candidates will struggle for the votes there. But some observers said that, based on the Amori factor, protest votes cannot be ruled out. According to the electoral commission, 90,559 people registered to vote in Ethiope East. This is the home of Ogboru. Definitely, the political king will sway the votes there. In Udu council, there are100,656 voters. If the acrimony that trailed the rejection of Richard Odigbo by the DPP is not resolved, the party may not make headway there. In the local government, the APC state legislator is on ground. In Okpe local government, there are 79,436 voters. It is the home of Prof. Sam Oyevbaire. DPP and PDP will slug it out there. 147, 261 registered in Uvwie Council. It is the APC’s stronghold. Mr. Festus Keyamo and Akpore are from the area. It is the largest local government in the district. Ugheli South, the home of Ewherindo, has 94,811 voters. Ugheli South, the home of Emerhor, has 151, 425.

  • ‘You don’t need to be a Niger Deltan to see injustice here’

    ‘You don’t need to be a Niger Deltan to see injustice here’

    What is your assessment of the development of the Niger Delta?

    I must tell you, from my research round the Niger Delta communities and as far as I am concerned, there is no development in the Niger Delta. When I came here in the late 70s, I went round to what used to be called the old Rivers State and I was shocked to my marrow by what I saw. You don’t need to be from the region to see the injustice. I was in Lagos and I used to see the Third Mainland Bridge, then I asked myself what if one-third of this bridge was constructed here, then you could drive to Nembe and Bonny. You could drive to Ogbakiri, Buguma, Degama. The bridge they are constructing linking Adoni to Opobo is yet to be completed.

    So, I can tell you there is no development yet because the riverine areas of this region have not been opened to link upland. One major road that links the Niger Delta states, which I see as a beautiful concept, is the East-West Road; that was one major idea though they made mistake because they didn’t dualise the road. It links the commercial zone of the region. It was a good idea but totally inadequate. Beyond this road, I don’t see anything, maybe Rivers, Calabar, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Bayalsa have all expanded, including other Niger Delta states and may have been beautiful. And some of the states today have airports but that is not what I called development. This is because the masses benefit nothing from it. What I am saying is that if a fisherman in Ogbia and other communities in the region has no access to link up the major cities to sell what they have produced, then we are not there yet. And if this set of people cannot sell what they have because of lack of infrastructure, then it added nothing to the economy. We have not reached where we ought to have reached as far as I am concerned.

    What do you think is the prospect for lasting peace in the region?

    What I have always talked about is that if you are taking oil from under somebody’s building or land, it is not a crime because the person has no equipment or grantee by law to tap the oil by himself. But, what is crime is when we forget that there should be certain recognition that this oil was taking from his land. Treat the person in a way that he will feel comfortable like the man who ends up making enough profit from the same oil. That is what I called justice and equity.

    Don’t forget during the Peace Project, I told those who came to the training that you cannot talk about peace without talking about justice. There must be justice and equity to get peace. Anybody who comes to Niger Delta will arrive at the same conclusion: you don’t show wickedness to people because you are interested in profit. There was a time I challenged them and I told them that since they are always talking about profit without the concern for the people, suppose they exchange profit with the people. The people are dying, the people are suffering and you are talking about profit, and then replace a dying Niger Delta man with profit since you are interested in profit. And what these people do in Niger Delta is that if a particular people are shouting for injustice, they will use another group of people in the same community to shout them down; that is the politics. But, the truth is that you cannot have peace without justice.

    As far as there is unjust system, it will be very difficult to achieve peace. The British were the ones that colonised us and they were also the people that are talking about human rights. First, our right ab initio has been taken away to govern and to look after ourselves. But, it didn’t work because it didn’t stop attack on British establishment. It is not a verbal issue; the African nation kept on fighting until they became independent. You are creating a situation that creates conflict and you are verbally talking of peace. It cannot work until you match your verbal theory with action.

    What do you think we have achieved in our 53 years of nationhood?

    Over the years, the only thing one can say Nigeria has achieved is by remaining as one indivisible country, whether that is by design or accident, especially after the civil war. But, Nigeria, somehow after that war, still remains one country. Then, one should also look at the various aspects of the economy. We are also very lucky that oil has been flowing. And we are also deriving major aspects of our economic to this great commodity. We have been able to keep that despite all kinds of hiccups and turbulence in the economic system. Again, Nigeria was able to project themselves in another ways like sports and the rest of them. The only thing that tends to cloud the entire system is politics. When you look at what politicians are doing, you will say nothing has happened and when you look at the violence that often erupts like the issue of Boko Harem, kidnapping, militancy and the rest of them, it creates the impression that we have not achieved anything. But, we are trying and we have achieved something since Nigeria got independence. All we need now is to reinvest the money looted in the system back to the system.

    How do you think the challenge of unemployment can be tackled?

    For you to do anything in an environment that is called a nation, there must be certain structures that will be provided by the government; that is why we elected them to represent us. The provision of infrastructure and other basic necessities of life which include water, electricity, hospital, market and school are not being targeted.

    When government provides infrastructure, the people now function on the context. It is necessary that government or somebody must provide a starting point for you. Someone must give you a little push to begin life. There is no way you can start with nothing to become something. In life, there must be an initial push. If the government provides infrastructure, even if they don’t provide direct employment, a number of people will provide job for themselves. It has happened in my community. The first time we got electricity, some of the members of the community who were living in the town, such as welders, electricians, plumbers and so on, decided to relocate to the community. Those who relocated had apprentices working with them and people began to send their children to acquire skills.

    So, youths will find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to survive without an initial push from your parents or the government. It costs the government nothing to provide a little allowance for out-of-school youths. When the government does this, their input will galvanise the system and make them productive to the society. Instead of vandalising the pipeline, kidnapping, stealing and all the rest of things that frustration pushes them to do. It is not a matter of minimum wage. I know people that if you give them N10, 000 every month, they will start life with it.

     

     

  • Naked Kokori women protest military invasion, assault soldiers

    Dozens of naked Kokori women, on Sunday afternoon took to the streets to protest the siege on the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State community by troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    Reports from the community indicated that the about 100 naked protesters were unhappy that their husbands have fled the community due to the military operation launched in the wake of the arrest of notorious criminal, Kelvin Oniarah.

    It was gathered that naked young and old protesters defied soldiers who were deployed to the community in the wake of Friday’s attack on the palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Ogurimerime Ukori 1, by armed youths suspected to be members of the notorious kidnap kingpin’s gang.

    A source from the community said, “The women number about 100, they are singing mourning songs about the fate of Kokori.”

    “They said the soldiers who prevented their husband from coming home should come and sleep with them and perform the duties of their husbands,” a source from the community told our reporter on telephone.

    The Commanding Officer of Sector 1 command of the JTF, Lt. Colonel Ifeanyi Otu, could not be reached for comment.

  • Kelvin of Kokori…The man who terrorised Delta

    Kelvin of Kokori…The man who terrorised Delta

    On Wednesday, September 18, Delta State’s most wanted criminal, Kelvin Ibruvwe, made a surprise return to his Kokori hometown in Ethiope East Local Government Area. It marked the beginning of his end. Southsouth Regional Editor Shola O’NEIL and Aiwerie Okungbowa chronicle the criminal career of the man known as Kelvin of Kokori

     

    Since his criminal escapades propelled him into the top list of Niger Delta’s most wanted criminal, Kelvin Ibruvwe, has become a mystery of sort. He is so popular that he is known simply by his first name. He is diminutive, wealthy and impudent.

    His hometown, Kokori, is an oil producing community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. It is one of the six suburban ‘states’ of Agbon kingdom with a population of between 50,000 and 100,000 persons, occupying about 196 square kilometres.

    The fear of Kelvin was the beginning of wisdom in Kokori. Nobody crossed his path and went free. He was the defacto ruler of Kokori.

    He is not unlike Lawrence Anini, the infamous armed robbery kingpin whose fame and notoriety spread through the country in the mid-80s.

    Scores of verified and unverified sorties were attributed to him, so much so that he became known as the cat with nine lives.

    Kelvin’s notoriety as a crime lord was cemented in 2012 with his brazen kidnap operation and deadly high profile armed robbery operation in Warri, Eku, Abraka and other parts of state. He was also fingered as the ring leader of a vast kidnap syndicate, whose operation spread beyond the state.

    He placed his Kokori home town, one of the sub-clans that make up Agbon Kingdom in Ethiope East Local Government Area, on the world map, but for the wrong reason. The town has been tagged the headquarters of kidnappers in the Niger Delta region.

    Reliable police sources said eight of every 10 robbery operations in the Osubi-Eku- Agbor axis of the state were either planned in Kokori or executed by gunmen trained by the young man.

    The reputation of the Urhobo town was not helped by reports that some prominent chiefs were shielding him and his criminal gangs from the law. He was declared wanted by the Delta State Police Command earlier this year. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said the efforts of the police to arrest him were thwarted by community leaders in the area.

    As bloody as he had been, Kelvin outperformed himself when he led a team to secure the release of his ally and fellow kidnap suspect, who was awaiting trial at the Okere Prison in Warri. Rufus, the suspect, and other suspects were being taken by wardens for a court appearance when they accosted them and opened fire on the prison vehicle, killing at least three wardens and two civilians before freeing their man.

    Their getaway was as loud as the operation: they shot their way through the heavy traffic from Okere Road, through the NPA Expressway to Effurun Roundabout, where they left trails of blood, bloodied victims, bullet-riddled cars and thousands of panic-stricken residents in their wake.

     

     

  • Delta battles truancy in schools with Edu-Marshals

    Delta battles truancy in schools with Edu-Marshals

    Besides kidnappings and bunkering, one major problem facing Delta State is truancy by school pupils. No wonder, the government recently launched its Edu-Marshal (DEM) programme to curb the trend. To underscore the premium it places on the initiative, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan chairs the steering committee on the implementation of the programme .

    Uduaghan said the programme was designed to consolidate the developments in the education sector, especially through its free education programme and other initiatives. He said the statistics of out-of-school-children were between 8-14 percent of the total population of children in school.

    He said his administration has analysed reasons for the scourge of truancy, noting that reasons like inadequate classrooms, cultural, traditional and financial issues were untenable.

    He said his administration would tackle these issues. “We have tried to deal with some of the reasons. We have tried to rebuild our schools, build new ones; we are still in the process of rehabilitating and building. We have tried to recruit new teachers as many as possible, very soon we shall employ more .We have tried to produce the conducive environment for our children to have quality education. We have tried to improve on the income of parents by setting up our micro-credit scheme which has gone down to the rural populace. We also discovered at a time that when we give this money for micro-credit scheme parents use the money to pay school fees. So, we have also tried to stop that by ensuring that there is no payment of school fees or levies to at least up to secondary school level. Beyond that we have initiated a lot of scholarship schemes, even automatic scholarship to 1st class graduates; all these are some of the things we have done to make it possible for our children to go to school.”

    Notwithstanding advances made by his administration in the educational sector in the State, Uduaghan noted that daunting challenges still exist.

    He commended efforts by traditional rulers of rural communities at rebuilding schools affected by flood last year and urged them not to relent in their efforts.

    Uduaghan warned that parents of children found outside school hours will be prosecuted.

    But, can the education marshals rise up to the challenge of eradicating street culture and entrench learning culture among youths in the State?

    How effective will the education marshals be in helping government achieve its targets of reducing out-of-school children?

    With over 1,206 primary and 346 secondary schools spread across the 25 local government areas of the state, will the 100 marshals employed simply not get swamped by the sheer number of schools it has to police?

    Uduaghan said the focus for the first three months would be aimed at counselling and educating the public on the dangers of out-of-school children.

    Similarly, sceptics have wondered what criteria will government use in measuring the success of the programme? Will the vulnerable urban poor hard hit by the parlous economy take heed, mend their ways and desist from sending their children to work?

    Some parents have cited gross abuse of the free education policy by some school heads. But, to the credit of the Uduaghan administration, school heads found wanting have been sanctioned with some demoted to serve as classroom teachers.

    The initiative may yet succeed if all stakeholders join hands with government to make it work.

    Some communities have taken the lead in this regard. Okpe community runs a similar initiative. The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd) while sharing his experience, revealed that the policy was in its second year in the kingdom.

    He said committees were formed at the highest decision making body of the community (Odogun), down to the district and village levels.

    According to the Okpe monarch, these various committees are charged with the responsibility of reporting truancy among erring children and teachers to the appropriate authority.

    But the monarch, however, regretted that the strategy in his domain has not worked effectively due to lapses at the village committee levels, which have failed to enforce the policy.

    It remains to be seen how it works out at the state level.

  • Pupils protest school closure in Delta

    Angry pupils of the Government Model Primary School, Asaba, Delta State, yesterday protested the closure of their school on the orders of the Delta State government.

    As early as 7.30am over 20 pupils, who had turned out for the first day of the new term, were stunned to learn that the government had shut down the school.

    Some parents, who spoke to The Nation ,wondered why sufficient notice was not given.

    A parent said he was shocked that the school had been shut without adequate notice to parents, adding that he had to enrol his children in a private school.

    Another parent accused the school authority of demanding gratification to enroll pupils, stressing that the enrolment process was opaque and lacked transparency.

    An angry Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who arrived at the scene after he was told of the pupils’ action, warned parents to desist from using their wards for any form of protests.

    Uduaghan directed the relocation of the pupils of Government Model Primary School, GRA, Asaba.

    He said it was not in the best interest of children to be used for protests, explaining that it was not the right way to bring up a child.

    His words: “The school was specially built for a particular standard which has not been attained and we have not finished putting all the facilities in place.

    “All the electronics, security gadgets are not in place. Yet somebody opened the school and put children here before I realised it. I allowed them to finish last session before I took back the school to enable government complete the infrastructure.”

    A source said Uduaghan was peeved with the mishandling of the admission process by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

    Uduaghan told the protesters that the standard for the school must be maintained.

    “Special teachers will be employed and given special training, the management will be restructured and the infrastructure will be in place to enable the pupils attain the standard for the school”.

    The governor urged the pupils to avoid being incited by their parents and teachers to carry out protests.

    He said the government would relocate them to better schools where facilities have been completed rather than insisting on remaining in the uncompleted school.

     

  • Delta spends N38b in riverside communities

    Delta spends N38b in riverside communities

    Delta State Government has pledged to enhance the socio-economic potentials of riverside communities with various projects meant to improve the well-being of rural dwellers having reached advanced stage.

    Towards enhancing the well-being of the people, the sum of N38b was provided by the state government.

    Over 55% of contract sums for projects including N12.2 billion of the N28 billion allocated to the multi-billion naira trans Warri-Ode Itsekiri bridge project have been paid to contractors.

    According to Delta Commissioner, Directorate of Special Infrastructure, Orezi Eseivo who spoke in Asaba, said  the project involves the construction of a 24km road from Ubeji to Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area.

    She said the project includes the construction of spurs to riverine communities such as Ubeji, Ijala, Ugbodede, Orugbo, Ajigba-Inorin-Usele and township roads at Ode-Itsekiri.

    Esievo said six bridges have been completed with sub-structure works for four other bridges completed, adding that a five kilometer stretch of the road has also been completed.

    Also, the construction of the Ogheye Floating Market awarded at the cost of N3 billion has commenced.

    Ogheye Floating Market, according to Esievo, will comprise 1000 stalls, three concrete step-ways, piling platforms and protective barriers.

    It will have warehousing and cold storage facilities, aside banking, administrative, and berthing and fish processing facilities.

    Mrs. Esievi said the market has benefits for over 36 communities.

    Esievo said construction work at the Sapele-Abigborodo-Aruwon road has reached advanced stage.

    She said the project includes an 11km road with two bridges awarded at N7.2billion.

    According to Esievo, the first bridge has been completed while earthworks, piling and concrete works for the beams of the second bridge is in progress.

  • ‘No crack in Delta APC’

    The Olorogun O’tega Emerhor Campaign Organisation has said there is no crack in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.

    A statement by the Media Assistant to O’tega Emerhor, Larry Umolo, denied the alleged crack in the Delta APC.

    The statement reads: “The attention of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a report titled “Emerhor/Keyamo’s senatorial ambition causes crack in Delta APC”.

    “It is our belief that this purported news story was sponsored by those who are afraid of Emerhor’s emergence as the APC candidate in the forthcoming Delta Central senatorial by-elections.

    “These persons are obviously hunted and scared of the front runner status of our principal in the current race for the vacant senatorial seat.”

    “For the avoidance of doubt, any discerning reader knows that the report was not about any crack in APC but about discrediting Emerhor in order to stop him from becoming the APC candidate.”

  • Delta favoured by God, says Uduaghan

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has attributed the success of his administration to the faithfulness of God.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Ogefere, said the governor spoke during the Annual Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship Programme, tagged: “DELTA YADAH 2013-An Evening of Thanksgiving”, held in Asaba, the state capital.

    He urged people to continue to pray for the peace and unity of the state.

    Uduaghan explained that his administration has been able to achieve so much because the power of God was at work.

    “Delta State has gone through several phases since creation; there has been challenges, crisis and violence, but in the midst of all these troubles, God listened and intervened. All that we have achieved so far is by the grace of God.

    “He is a God of peace; an unchanging God, he brought peace to Delta State, he listens to us in times of trouble and has continued to bind the state together as an indivisible entity.

    “I thank God for this and for all he has done for this administration to move the state forward.”

    The governor praised the special guest artiste, Lionel Peterson, an international gospel artiste from South Africa, for his inspirational songs.

    He said the artiste’s songs have always motivated him to be firm and steadfast in the Lord.

     

  • Editors want FG to diversify economy

    Editors want FG to diversify economy

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged the Federal Government to embark on sustained diversification of the nation’s economy in a bid to free it from further dependence on oil and gas.

    The call was contained in a seven-point communiqué signed by the NGE Secretary, Isaac Ighure, at the end of a four-day conference held in Asaba, Delta, from August 21 to August 24.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 9th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference with the theme, “Nigeria Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor,’’ was chaired by a one-time Ogun Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

    The guild suggested that agriculture, tourism and other non-oil sources should be “intensively explored to avert the catastrophic consequences of a future without oil.”

    The statement said financial institutions and funding agencies should provide increased funding to non-oil sectors, especially agriculture, small and medium enterprises and manufacturing.

    “It is imperative for Nigeria to embark on deliberate and sustained diversification of its economy, weaning itself from dependence on oil and gas as a major revenue earner.

    “There should be an integrated approach to diversification of the economy by involving all sectors, curbing corruption and wastage, and improving governance to ensure the survival of the country beyond oil.’’

    The editors also called on the government to fast track efforts toward improving infrastructure, particularly in the power sector, transportation and telecommunications.

    They stressed the need for the country to add value to oil and gas resources through the production of by-products for local consumption and export.