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Tag: Jonathan

  • Nigeria raises $700m for Trans-Sahara gas project

    Nigeria raises $700m for Trans-Sahara gas project

    Nigeria has raised $700 million to support the completion of the Nigeria to Algeria gas pipeline project.

    President Goodluck Jonathan broke the news yesterday while giving a report on the status of the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project at the 30th meeting of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    He was represented by the supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri.

    Jonthan renewed Nigeria’s commitment to the project estimated to cost $20 billion.

    He said Nigeria’s immediate focus for Nigeria was to connect major gas supply sources in the Niger Delta region through pipeline infrastructure that traverses the northern half of the country and delivers gas to the Nigeria/Niger border.

    “We have raised $450 million in Eurobonds and an additional direct equity contribution of about $250m in support of this project.

    “The NNPC, which is the executor of this project, has completed the concept design for the pipeline, which is an important milestone since I last provided an update on this project to the committee.”

    The report noted that work had begun on the acquisition of Rights of Way survey of key segments of the pipeline while work on the environmental impact assessment study of the pipeline would soon commence.

    Jonathan informed the NEPAD meeting, chaired by President Macky Sall of Senegal, that the front end design of the pipeline would be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2014.

    “This will be followed closely by major construction activities on the Trans-Nigeria segment.

    “It is our expectation and aspiration that work on the Trans-Nigeria segment will be completed, as planned, by 2018”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the $20 billion trans-saharan project will transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Warri in Delra State through Niger Republic to Algeria and to Spain and Europe.

    The gas pipeline will be operated by the NNPC and Sonatrach of Algeria, both of which will hold 90 per cent shares of the project’s equities.

    The national oil company of Niger Republic, SONIDEP, will hold 10 per cent equity.

    Jonathan also told the committee that NNPC, SONATRACH and SONIDEP have engaged a reputable consultant for the revalidation of the project’s 2006 feasibility study.

    This, he said, was necessitated by recent developments in the environment. The study will be concluded by March.

    “This study is part of our collective determination to ensure that robust gas supply sources and gas marked windows still exist for the project,” he said, adding:

    “Preliminary results indicate some uncertainty around the

  • Why Jonathan has become dictator, by CNPP

    Why Jonathan has become dictator, by CNPP

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Osita Okechukwu, yesterday said the Goodluck Jonathan administration is becoming dictatorial because the President lacks a good record that puts him in good stead for re-election in 2015.

    “The President will, at the end of the day, turn to dictatorship. You know why? He is suddenly realising that he has no landmark achievement. If there is a free and fair election and he goes to campaign in Bayelsa, the people will ask him about a project anyone can see as what he (Jonathan) brought,” he said.

    Speaking with The Nation in Abuja, the CNPP spokesman, who is also a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that since Jonathan had realised that there was an alternative to the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), his re-election would be an uphill task.

    He said: “No one party has two-thirds majority at the National Assembly. And that is what democracy is supposed to be. Nigeria is at the zenith of liberal democracy. In the 2015 election, neither APC nor the PDP will win 50 per cent of the votes. None of them will have two-thirds of the governors; none of them will have two-thirds of members of the National Assembly.”

    The CNPP publicity secretary noted that in a free and fair election, Dr Jonathan would not be able to convince his state – Bayelsa – and other Niger Delta states, for votes.

    He recalled that over a decade ago, indigenes of Port Harcourt (Rivers State) believed that should someone from the zone become the President, he would transform their area.

    Okechukwu asked rhetorically if there had been any transformation in Niger Delta since an indigene of the area became President.

    He said Dr Jonathan shirked the responsibility of building refineries, which would have created several jobs, but waited for the Chinese and Aliko Dangote to do so.

    According to him, Nigeria has the resources to build refineries for the benefit of the people.

    Okechwukwu said: “He (Jonathan) is the Commander-in-Chief and the President of the country. His ‘sister’ is in charge of the Petroleum Ministry. Have they been able to set up refineries? They are waiting for the Chinese and Dangote.

    “And Dangote has even exposed their weakness by saying less than $4 million can build 400,000 barrel per day-capacity oil refinery. Yet, his is a President who inherited over $10 billion in the Excess Crude Account.

    “What do you refer to that he has done in Bayelsa State? What do you refer to that he has done in Rivers State? What do you point at that he has done in Akwa Ibom State? What has he done in Calabar (Cross River State)? What has he done in Edo State?”

  • ‘Jonathan, fix Arochukwu Road or forget our votes’

    ‘Jonathan, fix Arochukwu Road or forget our votes’

    The nightmarish road that leads to the famous Arochukwu may have become a bargaining chip.

    As hope of any redemption begins to fade, the people of the area have warned President Goodluck Jonathan to keep off from the area as 2015 beckons. They also gave the same warning to Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Hon. Arua Arunsi who represent them at the National Assembly.

    They further warned: “Any helicopter that lands on any space in any of the communities that make up the area would be attacked and destroyed. This is to check the trend where affluent sons and daughters of our area as well as top government functionaries return home in chattered helicopters with a view to avoiding the hazards of the road.”

    These decisions were taken at a Town Hall meeting of professionals, think-tanks and opinion leaders of the area. They said fixing the road which leads to the area is the only condition that would make them to lift the ban on Mr. President and members of the National Assembly from the area.

    “They should forget about coming to campaign for votes from us unless they completely rehabilitate the Arochukwu – Ohafia Road before the beginning of the rainy season this year. We, the people of Arochukwu Local Government Area have always voted for the PDP candidates and this is what we get for voting them into power.

    “Tell the President that we are no longer for him and his party as we see his nonchalant attitude towards our road as treachery,” Mazi Henry Okoronkwo, an opinion leader said at the meeting.

    Another community leader added: “It is the worst treachery in the political life of this administration (Jonathan’s). They will never deceive us again. Let them not think of coming to Arochukwu and Ohafia for any reason other than coming to repair this road. We didn’t do any wrong to vote for Jonathan and his party.”

    South East Report, however, gathered that the company handling the rehabilitation of the road, Messrs Beks Nigeria belonged to a relation of President Goodluck Jonathan. Some sources also hinted that the company was paid upfront to the tune of N4.8 billion.

    The company, it was gathered, lacks the competence to handle such sensitive road project. As at the time of filing this report, no sign of work was going on on the road. The equipment were all lying fallow at the site without any staff of the company present.

    The immediate past Special Adviser to the Abia State governor on Works, Mazi Jude Nwokoro who is indigenous to the area spoke to our correspondent on the condition of the road and also supports the people’s decision to ban politicians from campaigning in the area for votes.

    Nwokoro further said that the Aro expected so much from the present governments especially the Federal Government. He disclosed that the road that runs from Arochukwu to Ohafia which is less than 30 kilometres is a federal highway.

    Nwokoro said: “With the level of work going on there now, and the kind of contractor handling that road, I will say comfortably that the repairs cannot be achieved in the next 10 years. I totally agree with the people on their ‘keep off Arochukwu’ order to politicians because the benefit of democracy includes roads. “Once we have good roads, from Arochukwu to Ohafia is less than 20 minutes. But now you spend not less than two-and-half hours to get to Arochukwu from Ohafia in a good car, not just any car. There is no need for any politician to come and tell us about 2015 when the people we voted for in the past have disappointed us.

    “The Arochukwu – Ohafia Road which has been in terrible condition for years has been ignored. We are shutting our doors to all those who expect to come and campaign for votes. They should fix our roads first.”

    The former Special Adviser threw more light on why the state government did not undertake the rehabilitation of the road and pass the bill to the Federal government. He said: “Governor Theodore A. Orji actually commenced work on that road. And asphalting had already commenced before the Federal Ministry of Works asked him to stop on the grounds that it had awarded the contract to a company called Beks Limited. And the governor had to obey the directive of the Federal Government because he is a law-abiding citizen and chief security officer of the state. So, he stopped.

    “As you can see, no work is going on on that road since then. The equipment are in shabby condition. This is peak of the dry season. You cannot find the contractor on site. If you go to the site, everything is in shabby condition. No management, no engineers, not even any security guard for the equipment. With what is on ground, we don’t expect anything to happen on that road this year.”

    Nwokoro, however, exempted the governor from among those asked not to come for votes in Arochukwu, saying, “the governor is yet to be refunded the money he expended on that road since 2007. If you recall, he had commenced periodic maintenance work on that road. Until about a year ago, precisely February 13, last year when the Minister of Works, represented by the Minister of State for Works came to Arochukwu in the company of Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Arua Arunsi to inform the governor that they have flagged off construction of the road. Unfortunately, instead of constructing or rehabilitating the road, they destroyed and made it worse. It was better before.

    “If I can recall the experience I had on the road before they came, and the one I had after they came, I will conclude it was better before their visit. If they want to go back to the Senate or House of Representatives, they can search for votes in other local government areas not Arochukwu.

    They can be re-elected to the National Assembly but definitely not with votes from Arochukwu. We have to negotiate and that negotiation must be on a roundtable. And it will be seen to be done and not just signing document before the Aro can join them in this politics. For the governorship election, it’s a different ball game. That road is a federal road, not state road.

    “If all fails,” Nwokoro said, “we would be left out of the politics of 2015 so that we can do community fund-raising and fix the road ourselves through community effort.

    “I know the present federal legislators can still win but they cannot count on our votes. They should not count on our votes because we will not be voting for anybody. It’s not about opposition. It’s not about continued abstinence. But we will not cast our votes to anybody in 2015, no matter the party or the individual until that road is fixed.”

  • Jonathan and agricultural reforms

    The hall was filled to the brim with many standing at the back as all the available seats were occupied. It was almost green as nearly everyone in the hall was holding and waving two mini-Nigerian flags.

    The occasion was the launch of the 2014 Dry Season Programme of the Federal Government at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja last week Monday.

    President Goodluck Jonathan was ushered into the hall with a standing ovation by the farmers and stakeholders, all holding and waving the flags and singing ‘No farmer, no nation; No nation, no farmer.’

    Before the launching started, some of the farmers who came from every part of the country and who benefitted from the programme were given a few minutes to share their experiences with Nigerians.

    A woman farmer, Hajiya Tele Alaha from Jigawa State who spoke in Hausa and interpreted in English by another lady, said: “I am the women leader from Jigawa State. I started farming as a female farmer in rice.

    Initially, when I started, I produced about 400 bags of paddy rice but because of the support we are getting through the mobile phone, through fertiliser subsidy and free seeds, I have been able with other women to produce 1,500 bags in the last farming season.”

    “And with further support we are getting in the dry season, we hope to produce about 4,000 bags. I have no other business than rice farming and from the proceeds of this farming I had been able to train six of my children. Four of them are graduates from Bayero University, while two others are diploma holders.”

    “After graduation, they complained they don’t have jobs , so I decided to expand and opened my poultry farm and I asked them to come and work that I have work for them at home. With the empowerment we are getting from the president, we women of Jigawa State are ready to farm.”

    “But we want to appeal to Mr. President to separate the women from the men when he is supporting the farmers because the men are cheating us.

    Secondly, I will also like to appeal to Mr. President to support us with good roads because we find it difficult to transport our products because of the bad roads. To also support Mr. President, the governor of Jigawa State has also supported dry season farming with seeds and fertilisers.”

    Another farmer from Sokoto State, Hon. Murtala Gagado, who also spoke through an interpreter, said: “I am a confirmed rice farmer. Indeed, this dry season farming has actually supported farmers through the GSM phone and assisted farmers generally.”

    “These fertiliser subsidy and free seeds have made farmers love Mr. President and his government, generally. Through this cell phone, a farmer can get his fertiliser directly without any interruption. Because of this programme, the lives of the common farmers have been transformed. He is now enjoying himself and now very proud to be a farmer.”

    “Before this time, a farmer could only produce 10 bags of paddy rice, but because of the fertiliser subsidy and the free seeds, they can now produce 100 bags. We assure you, we will remove hunger from this country and continue to feed the nation well. We appeal to Mr. President to assist us to get buyers to buy our excess produce. We also appeal to him to assist us so that we can mill our rice before taking it to the market,” he said.

    But some doubting Thomases sitting close to me in the hall while discussing among themselves believed that the stories were too good to be real.

    They felt that the stories do not tally with the general situation in the Nigerian markets.

    But in his welcome address earlier, the Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina said: “They are not the politicians nor the rich and the famous, they are farmers, hard-working farmers of Nigeria, who labour day and night to feed our nation.”

    “Our farmers under your leadership and support, Mr. President, have reason to take our nation to greater heights, to make our nation self-sufficient in food. They are here to tell their stories, how their lives have changed under your support with the agricultural transformation agenda.”

    “Today, Mr. President, you will hear their stories. Mr. President, nothing is more important than food. Our dignity as a nation depends on feeding ourselves. Your support has ignited the hope that we will be able to achieve this.”

    Continuing, he said: “The millions of farmers benefiting from your strong support are not on Facebook, they are not in the internet, they are not on Twitter where they can interact and share their experiences but their voices resonate loud across our dear nation…they even make their ways into the king’s palace. Such is the power of our farmers, they feed, they create jobs, they defend our lands, for where there is food security, there is national security.”

    President Jonathan at the occasion announced governments approval of N14 billion for the 2014 Dry Season farming which was N5 billion above the N9 billion approved for 2013 Dry Season farming.

    He also promised that the Dry Season Food Support Project will soon become a national policy in the country.

    He said: “As a government we are committed to diversify our economy from sole reliance on hydro carbon resource, our drive to unlock the huge agriculture potential in our country so as to assure food security and create wealth for our people.”

    “As a nation,we must feed ourselves. A giant that cannot feed herself of course the weight of the giant will crush the weak legs if there is no food. It was in this regard that we launch the agricultural transformation agenda in 2011, with the gold of adding an additional 20 million metric tones of food to our domestic food supply to change their approach to agriculture.”

    “The various states have testified and almost all the states are now involved in this agricultural transformation agenda, we have heard from the fertilizers producers, we have fixed that sector. Before now fertilizers were not getting to the farmers, sometimes the fertilizers that gets to them are adulterated with about 50 percent of them filled up with bags and that will not encourage yield but government has been able to fix these lapses. Now farmers get the fertilizers through the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES).”

    “From the brief I have so far received from the ministry, about six million farmers have within two years that we started this programme received their farms imput via the mobile phone. I’m pleased that our nation is the first in Africa to launch this electronic wallet system (e-wallet) to enable farmers to receive subsidized farm inputs via the mobile phone.”

    “Listening to various testimonies of farmers of how this programme change lives, revive hopes in communities, created jobs for thousands of our young people, I feel very encouraged. We will continue to strongly support our farmers so that they produce more foods. Producing food in the rainy season is no longer enough we must also produce food massively in the dry season.”

    “We will continue to rehabilitate and expand our irrigation facilities to support our farmers to grow more than one crop per year. I’m pleased that the Minister of agriculture and rural development and the minister of water resources are working together to better utilize all our river basin authorities in vast FADAMA lands to expand food production in our dear country.” He added

    The ordinary man on the street will not really care whether the people that gave testimony at the launching were actual farmers or ‘arrangee’ farmers as long as the grains are massively produced in the country with the best international quality.

    Definitely, if what Nigerians heard at the launching is real, in no time high prices of foodstuffs in the Nigerian markets will start crashing in line with the dictate of the economic forces of demand and supply.

    They will also thump up for the Jonathan’s administration if the price of a 50kg bag of rice, for instance, can be forced from the present range of N10,000 to N12,000 down to about N3,000.

    That is the greatest testimony the Jonathan’s agricultural transformation agenda can give to Nigerians.

    Nigerians will also like to see reversal of the trend of Nigeria transforming from an importer to exporter of agricultural produce in order to get more foreign earnings for the country.

  • Elegbeleye charges Eagles to win trophy for Jonathan

    Elegbeleye charges Eagles to win trophy for Jonathan

    The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has urged the Super Eagles Team B to win the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) for the President (Dr.) Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    According to him, the good luck of Dr Jonathan is already shinning on the Nigerian team in South Africa after their dramatic qualification for the semi finals of the CHAN against Morocco on Saturday.

    He described the Eagles’ feat as a ‘miracle’ as they fought tooth and nail to run away with a 4-3 victory after a disappointing 0-3 first half deficit.

    “This team is good enough to win the trophy. They have shown that they have the character to win the tournament. The President is solidly behind the team and also happy with their performance so far in the competition. The National Sports Commission is also happy with the team and the technical crew,” Elegbeleye said.

    He said most Nigerians probably never thought the team could bounce back after the first half humiliation, but they proved everybody wrong and got the winner in extra time.

    “I was really thrilled to watch the Eagles display a ‘never-say-die’ attitude to win the game 4-3 in the second half from 3-0 goals down in the first half. They never lost hope in themselves even when the chips were down; they encouraged themselves and sent out the roaring Atlas Lions. They are really determined to make the best out of the championship,” he said.

    Elegbeleye said having gone thus far in the championship, no team can stop the Eagles’ ambition of winning the event in South Africa. “I think Nigeria now have the ace to win the competition.

    “The boys are hungry for success and South Africa has become a home for Nigerian football to make a good impression”

  • Jonathan congratulates Super Eagles

    Jonathan congratulates Super Eagles

    President Goodluck Jonathan Saturday congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their exhilarating come-back victory over their Moroccan counterparts.

    The Eagles won the quarter-final match 4-3 at the ongoing African Nations Championship in Cape Town.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said that President Jonathan applauded the indomitable spirit with which the Super Eagles fought back from being three goals down to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and won a most memorable victory with almost the last kick of the match.

    He commended the courage, patriotism, determination and dedication to national service exhibited by the Super Eagles during the match.

    The President urged the team to maintain their exemplary commitment to national duty until ultimate victory in the continental soccer championship for home-based players is achieved.

    Jonathan assured the team and its handlers that they will continue to receive the fullest possible support from the Federal Government and all Nigerians as they strive to add the African Nations Championship trophy to the African Nations Cup which Nigeria won last year.

    He joined all other patriotic and proud Nigerians in praying for the success of the team in the semi-finals and final of the tournament.

  • Another military timeline for Boko Haram’s end

    Another military timeline for Boko Haram’s end

    AN obviously elated and newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshall Alex Badeh, told the press last week that given the changes just made by President Jonathan in the military leadership, the Boko Haram insurgency would be defeated before April. The CDS may be a fine officer, but he appears to be a bad historian. Surely, he must remember that his ultimatum is not the first. The president himself and other military and police chiefs had on different occasions given timelines for the end of the insurgency. Any time a timeline was issued, however, the terrorists simply intensified the war and gave very embarrassing ripostes. Let us hope that unlike the president and others the CDS will not be forced to eat his words ignominiously.

  • Jonathan engages the reverse gear

    Jonathan engages the reverse gear

    Our President has come up with yet another book on Nigeria’s immediate future. Every leader, by his appointments, sets parameters for performance and lets the people into the inner recesses of his mind on the way forward. It affords the people, or those who think and speak for them, an opportunity of analysing the philosophy that guides or would guide the leader in his action. By merely effecting changes in the cabinet, a leader could inform the people that he would no longer tolerate nonsense.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has made some important appointments. In doing so, he appears to have engaged the reverse gear while facing the future. Coming so close to the next general elections, we seek to understand him and what he intends to do for or to Nigeria in the course of the next one year. Two major challenges faced by Nigeria now are the economy and insecurity. He has in place his economic team which has been stable since the inception of the administration. He seems to have placed the fate of Nigeria totally in the team headed by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. It is however doubtful if a total surrender of the economy to the Bretton-Woods institutions is what the Nigerian people want today. During the past week, the Finance Minister who is always on the war-path with federal legislators, reeled out statistics on the economy. The one that caught my attention was the claim that about 1.6 million jobs had been created. Where? When? How? These people must actually have built their mansions in the cloud.

    If at least there has been stability in the philosophy guiding the management of the economy, the same cannot be said of the security sector. The President, by the changes he constantly introduces, has given the impression that he lacks understanding of how the security agencies work and how a society as complex as Nigeria should be organised. He appears to lack knowledge of the interconnection between political and economic restructuring and the security of a country. He seems to have been dancing round the same circle, believing that mere change of personnel could do the trick. It failed in the past, but it has just been repeated.

    In effecting changes in the leadership of the armed forces, what message did the President pass across? He is returning General Aliyu Gusau to office. This time, as defence minister with full constituent powers. He is to oversee the whole gamut of the security apparatus. He similarly upgraded the Chief of Air Staff to Chief of Defence Staff. He thought the ethnic factor should determine who runs the agencies. Before this point, he had downplayed the defence ministry. He once appointed Dr. Shettima Mustapha defence minister. After that, he turned to Mrs. Olusola Obada to oversee the ministry and supervise the defence chiefs. The story of appointment of National Security Advisers is not different.

    So, now, what does Jonathan want? Is Gusau his messiah? Could he be said to have run out of options? Does he regard this as a war team for 2015? As a septuagenarian, I think Gusau should have been allowed to enjoy his retirement. The former Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff and NSA is largely respected in the international intelligence community. He is believed to have a wand for solving the insecurity problem, but does he? Does he fundamentally share the same philosophy with the president? What does Jonathan want- just another term in office? What does Gusau want- a peaceful Nigeria? Does General Gusau believe that the President’s ambition stands in the way of lasting peace? Is he in a position to prevail on the President to step down his return bid in the interest of peace?

    Gusau is not just a technocrat- he is a politician. For about two decades now, he has nursed the ambition of running Nigeria. Has he given up? If General Buhari is still plying his trade on the scene; if General Obasanjo is still being described as the “Navigator”, to what extent could it be said that the intelligence chief has given up on his ambition? Does he, generally, accept the Northern quest for return to power next year? Or, are both men, the President and the General, playing games?

    More on this sometime later.

    I looked through the list of ministerial nominees and, as usual, I could not see the spark. It could not be said the Dr. Jonathan picked men and women driven by passion for Nigeria or capable of raising standards. What did the President see in Ambassador Aminu Wali in bringing him on board? What does he have that others before him lacked?

    Boni Haruna is coming in from Adamawa. His sole qualification at this time seems to be an intention to checkmate the advances of Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako. But, General Jonathan should watch his back. Loyalty is not a word that means so much to the former governor of the state.

    I am concerned about the road to the future that this President has chosen. I am passionate about the divine mission of Nigeria in leading the children of Africa out of the bondage of ages. I do not see the road to a better future with Dr. Jonathan driving the vehicle. We must all shine our eyes now.

  • Still on Jonathan’s conference vs Peoples conference

    Still on Jonathan’s conference vs Peoples conference

    While the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan is carrying on with its plan to host a national conference that is not likely to be sovereign, given the recommendations of the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led advisory committee, the people of Nigeria continue to reject the proposed talk shop while insisting on a sovereign national conference.

    Chieftains and members of the Project Nigeria (Nigeria Consensus Group) and Pro National Conference Organisation, PRONACO; two major platforms in Nigeria committed to a peoples driven and all inclusive National Conference in Nigeria, are the latest group of Nigerians to re-iterate the need for President Jonathan to pocket his own confab idea and hearken to the voices of the people.

    The leaders of the groups have again called on the President  to jettison the plan to send the resolutions of the forth coming National Conference to the National Assembly as part of inputs for the ongoing constitutional amendments.

    Recalling how decree 24 of 1999 dubiously christened 1999 constitution as the peoples’ constitution, the groups said this is at the root of the current political strife and tension in the land and that no amount of amendments can transform it to a constitution legitimately owned by the Nigerian peoples.

    The group also wants President Goodluck Jonathan to make the diverse ethnic Nationalities in the country the core of the composition of the proposed National Conference as they are the original indigenous component units of Nigeria.

    The group averred that the universal convention for constitution making is that it is not a government or any of its organs that gives the people of a country a constitution but that it is the people that gives its government a constitution for popular governance.

  • ‘Jonathan and his wife are destroying everything about Rivers’

    ‘Jonathan and his wife are destroying everything about Rivers’

    A member of the defunct National Renewal Committee of the former Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wilfred Ogbotobo, speaks to MIKE ODIEGWU on  APC in Bayelsa State and the Rivers State crisis.

    How do you view the struggle for APC leadership in Bayelsa?

    It is normal for people to struggle for leadership especially in a scenario like the emergence of a great and powerful political party as the APC with its promise and prospects. It is normal and healthy for democracy, particularly in the context of Bayelsa politics. It is also expected that external antagonistic force would also want to attempt to destabilise “the Bayelsa Ark” at this stage just to keep the state perpetually on slow motion. These are some aspects of the struggle for the leadership of the party in the state. But no cause for alarm. Once an “Ark” always an “Ark”.

    Don’t you think APC does not stand a chance in Bayelsa State if it begins with crisis?

    I am not aware of crisis in the Bayelsa APC. Meetings and consultations have been ongoing smoothly in different places and on different levels, awaiting the forthcoming inauguration of the state interim exco. there are clear guidelines to manage every stage of the process. Some anomalies discovered in the case of the CPC’s representation on the interim exco, have been relayed to the Zonal interim exco for correction. At this stage, much enthusiasm and excitement, in diverse ways, is playing out and it is wrong and malicious to refer to this frenzy as crisis. I think it is instructive to urge the public to disregard the statements credited to Gov. Dickson and the Bayelsa PDP as the wild vituperation of a haunted government and an equally bankrupt, big-for-nothing political party. APC is at peace in Bayelsa state.

    Are you comfortable with the activities of of the loyalists of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva, who joined the party from PDP?

    Nobody is born to be comfortable with the actions or activities of others, but, as humans we have the ability to adapt to every material situation and condition. Obviously, these people have evolved from a particular political culture and peculiar ways of conducting the game of politics. They have also passed through circumstances which, I believe, have enriched their experiences. I should think that a synergy would ensue, at the end of the day, to strengthen not only individual readiness but also our collective commitment to the philosophy, rules and values of our great party, the APC.

    Bayelsa is known to be a PDP state, how can APC survive in the state of President Goodluck Jonathan?

    Bayelsa is not a PDP state. On the contrary, Bayelsans, in spirit and truth, are far removed from the PDP. PDP is not anchored in the hearts of Bayelsans. The relationship between the party and the state could be likened to a band of marauders terrorizing a gold-rich colony – careless, reckless and insensitive to everything about the colony except the gold and power.

    APC’s survival in Bayelsa would not ride on the crest of PDP’s apparent failure or the general disenchantment with Goodluck Jonathan’s lackluster performance. Rather, we are going to task our human ingenuity to chart a 21st century course that would engage every Bayelsans and, every community toward productivity. The “Bayelsa Ark” is already teeming with young, educated Bayelsans excited by the freedom and opportunities, offered by the APC, to impact their society. Surely, APC would have a smooth sail in Bayelsa.

    Bayelsans, young and old are fed up with poverty and ignorance, division and sentiments which PDP has successfully built into our brotherhood and values. The obsessions of PDP in Bayelsa, since 1999, are almost always not the paramount worries of the average Bayelsan. Enough is enough.

    How strong is the APC in the Southsouth?

    If the APC is not strong in Bayelsa state, Gov Seriake would not have embarked on his hurried tour of LGAs in the state, recently. If the APC is not strong in Rivers state, what is happening to Gov. Amaechi and, the trauma of the Rivers people would not have taken place. If APC is not in the hearts of the people of Delta state, Nigeria would not have commenced discussions with the UK authorities on prisoner exchange. Edo state is safe in our hands already. Our political seismologists have predicted great quakes in Cross River sooner than later. There is only one cock crowing in Akwa Ibom while others have discreetly booked for the “Ark”.

    APC would not recruit thugs, criminals, hooligans and guns to do our work. Our approach is to, responsibly, win back the hearts of the people for the collective task of uplifting our humanity in this 21st century. APC has firmly anchored in the South-South.

    How do you view the crisis in Rivers State?

    I strongly call on all God-fearing sons and daughters of the Ijaw nationality to prevail on President Jonathan so that he could realise the futility of his actions in Rivers State. The President and his wife are systematically destroying everything about Rivers State. I cannot see anything that Amaechi has done wrong. Amaechi, an Ikwerre and as governor of Rivers state, should even be commended for fighting a cause for our fellow Ijaws, the Kalabaris of Rivers State. In 2011, Nigerians overwhelmingly voted Jonathan without all this nonsense that is happening in different parts of the country. He should go before irreparable damage is done. Ijaws will not benefit, in any way, from these happenings.

    The Niger Delta is not in order and, nobody can predict the dimension in the event of any conflagration. The PDP, since 1999, has created so much distrust, bitterness and hatred in the system, even in an enclave like Bayelsa. Our values have been shattered to smithereens. Our communal systems have been pauperised.