The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kuku

  • Ondo students honour Kuku

    From Ondo State came an honour for the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku.

    Kuku, who is also the chairman of Presidential Committee on Amnesty, was honoured by the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) for what they called Kuku’s achievement in reducing activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

    Kuku, represented by former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Oludare Ogunlana, said the award would motivate him to do more.

    He said he was grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing him as one of his aides, adding that the youth had never had it good under any government until the present administration came. He urged the youth to support the president.

    Kuku, who donated a Students’ Union building to Ekiti State University (EKSU), his alma mater, said he decided to give back to the society. He said he was committed to peace in the Niger Delta, noting more than 1,000 ex-militants had been trained in various vocations. He said the beneficiaries were trained in Germany, Italy and other European countries.

    While delivering a lecture titled: Ondo: Perspectives on good governance and economic development in a democratic state, Prof Akinbolaji Iwayemi of the Centre for Petroleum Energy, Economics and Law at the UI said that Ondo had risen from a dependent state to a less dependent one.

    He said: “Ondo is now the sixth oil producing State in the country and what remains is to tap into this. The state also grows food crops in large quantity. With this, the state will become the economic hub of the country.”

    The NAOSS president, Opeyemi Opara, a 400-Level History student, thanked members for the support given his administration.

    Guests at the event included Prof Nelson Fashina, who supervised Kuku’s thesis as an undergraduate, Prof Adenike Osofisan and representative of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Bolanle Olafunmiloye.

     

  • Kuku: Ondo PDP peace deal good

    Kuku: Ondo PDP peace deal good

    The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger-Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, has said the sharing formula for elective positions as adopted by the five-man committee that met with Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko was reasonable.

    He urged the state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to embrace peace.

    Kuku said: “The committee was given the mandate to reduce tension and we came up with a procedure and harmonised positions thus: Senate (new PDP two, old one), House of Reps (new PDP six, old three) and House of Assembly (new 17), old (nine).

    “It is not a bad bargain at all. It is better for Mr. President, it is better for PDP and it is better for all of us. For instance, before the governor defected, PDP has only one member in the House of Assembly and House of Reps with no senator at all.”

  • Kuku is over the moon

    THE Special Assistant to President Goodluck  Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs and the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, is presently in a happy mood.  His enthusiastic state and delightful moment is on the account of the success just recorded by some students under the amnesty scholarship programme in Poland.  On Tuesday 2nd September 2014, over 20 indigent non-militant youths,  who had scaled the selection process for scholarship on the amnesty scheme and subsequently got sponsorship to Poland to acquire skills and cutting-edge training in marine technology and operations, graduated in flying colours in their diverse trainings and courses at the Officers’ Training College of the Gydania Maritime University, Poland.

    Beyond the marine protocols and rules that interestingly distinguished the graduation ceremony as noted, the occasion seemed like a day earmarked for a special rendition for Kingsley Kuku on his stewardship and particularly in the management of the affairs of the usually erratic youngsters in the government programme. From the Dean Faculty of Navigation Gydnia Maritime University,  Prof Henryk Sniegocki , to the Nigerian Ambassador to Poland, Dr. Samuel Jimba, accolades were poured on Kuku for his physical connection with the students throughout the two years spent on the course in Poland.

  • Something for Kingsley Kuku

    Time was when peace took a flight from the Niger Delta. The target was not really the people but federal establishment and the Joint Venture Partners, be it Shell, Chevron and Mobil. Anyone with white skin could easily get kidnapped, too. Gang wars went on from Port Harcourt to Okrika to Eleme to Yenegoa and the creeks of the Niger Delta. There was no better way to say it than to borrow the lines of the late Chinua Achebe’s classic novel Things Fall Apart. The centre could not hold for the governments at both the federal and state levels.

    Oil revenue plummetted. Disorderliness made sure governance was on holiday. It was in the midst of this chaos that the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was ‘rigged’ in as president. In his maiden speech, the late Yar’Adua admitted the flaws in the polls which saw him becoming president. He made a lot of promises and one of them was that he was going to curb the lawlessness in the Niger Delta. Not a few wondered how he was going to do it. It did not take long before he unfolded his agenda. He unveiled an amnesty package for militants in the religion.   Give up your guns and be entitled to some favours from the government. The leadership of the militant movements also received juicy contracts in millions of dollars.

    Guns of all shades and sizes surfaced. Not a few were fooled that some were not kept away in case the government reneged. It is believed that some of those kept away are being used to support the high level of illegal bunkering and oil refineries still going on in the region.

    But the concern here is how the lawlessness will not return on large scale. Some days ago, two young men who looked nothing like ex-militants walked into this newspaper’s corporate office in Lagos. Their identification cards and some other documents show they are ex-militants who were invlved in illegalities in one of the many militant camps which used to dot Delta State.

    Going by their account, they embraced amnesty and were enjoying the benefits until their cap leaders who wanted a cut of their benefits connived with people at the Amnesty Office to stop them from enjoying these benefits.

    Phillip Ukange and Avurakoghene Ogofotha said after laying down their arms, they thought they would never have cause to think of going back that bad road again.

    Ogofotha enrolled at the University of Benin. Now, he is troubled that his education is under threat as the expected source of funding has dried.

    He said he was entitled to N65, 000 monthly allowance; he said he only got paid for six months.

    The young men claimed they were victims of corruption in the Presidential Amnesty Programme having being enrolled in the 2012 phase two of the initiative.

    “I want to do something meaningful with my life. I am an ex-militant of the second phase of the amnesty programme, I have not been paid since 2012 when they started paying money into the account of the second-phase ex-militants.

    “As at the time, they gave us a phone contact of a man called Tony (he said he couldn’t recall Tony’s full name) who was said to be the paymaster. We called him but to no avail. We also tried to go to the office but whenever we attempted going there they would bar us.

    “Although some other affected ex-militants have gone to lay complaints but nothing was done; sometimes we would be molested by the military men there.

    “I am not the only one, we are over hundred. Some got their money for a number of months while others were partly paid,” Ogofotha said.

    As head of the Amnesty Office, Kingsley Kuku needs to look at the case of these young men and others who have alleged that their camp leaders have cut them off from enjoying their benefits. The camp leaders are practically faceless to Nigerians. It is the Amnesty Office, Kuku and President Goodluck Jonathan that Nigerians know and when anything goes wrong with the programme, they are the ones to be held accountable. This allegation must not eb left uninvestigated.

  • Kuku denies Akure house rumour

    Kuku denies Akure house rumour

    Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Kingsley Kuku has denied reports that he is building a “multi-million naira mansion” in Akure, Ondo State.

    Kuku, in a statement yesterday, said his only home in Akure was built when he was member of the House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007.

    The special adviser, who is also Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), said: “I’m a loyal party man and can never be involved in anti-party activities. My support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the reason for all the mudslinging.

    “It is all politics by desperate politicians and individuals who are afraid of losing election. It is just mere distraction.

    “For the umpteenth time, let me state that I have no governorship ambition now or in the future just as I have nothing against the government or the governor.

    “But I will continue to support progressive individuals in my party who have such ambition and are committed to bringing real change and development to Ondo State.”

  • Abi and Funke Kuku part ways?

    Abi and Funke Kuku part ways?

    These are definitely the best of times for the creative director of Shakara Couture, Ewemade Emokpae. The lawyer turned fashion designer is now engaged and she is flaunting her engagement ring.

    On attainment of her Law degree from the University of Lagos, she sought to follow her passion and attended the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins to be professionally trained in millinery, dress-making, fashion illustration and personal styling.

  • Kuku enjoins UNILAG’s students to emulate Mandela

    Kuku enjoins UNILAG’s students to emulate Mandela

    THE National President, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association, Olorogun, Dr Sunny Kuku, has enjoined workers and students to sustain the reputation of excellence of the university by emulating the virtues of the late South African President, Dr Nelson Mandela, a 1990 Doctor of Law(LLD) Alumnus of the university.

    Kuku, who was recently elected a Council member, spoke at the varsity’s convocation.

    He noted with satisfaction some of the giant strides and plans of the university administration, which he claimed include multi-disciplinary research grant acquisitions through marketing and commercialisation of results, e-learning and administration and a new masterplan that would involve the construction of a 15-floor library and 12-floor buildings for the School of Postgraduate Studies, Distance Learning Institute, and the Faculties of Education and Law.

    UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, assured the newly-elected alumni leaders that university was on track.

    “The university continued to justify its reputation as a worthy citadel of learning and centre of academic excellence as a pioneer member of the newly formed 15-member consortium of African Research Universities and the recent commencement of the first-of-its-kind in Nigeria B.A. Degree programme in Chinese studies from the current session,” he said.

  • Will Kuku contest Ondo governorship in 2016?

    Will Kuku contest Ondo governorship in 2016?

    His position as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Head of the Amnesty Office has, undoubtedly, taken the profile of Hon. Kingsley Kuku to a new level. A major force in the Niger Delta, there are talks in certain circles within the zone that the Ondo State-born politician should give the 2016 Ondo State governorship election a shot. If he eventually throws his hat into the ring, Kuku will certainly be on a familiar terrain.

    From 1999 to 2003, he was the only PDP member in the Ondo State House of Assembly which was dominated by the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).

  • Ex-militants pass vote of confidence in Kuku

    Ex-militants pass vote of confidence in Kuku

    Ex-militants in the Niger Delta, under the aegis of the Network of Ex-Niger Delta Agitators (NENDA), have passed vote of confidence in the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

    They said they supported Federal Government’s amnesty implementation programme for repentant militants in the once troubled region.

    The group’s spokesman, who is also a former leader of a militant group, Williams Tubor, said yesterday in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital that they were satisfied with Kuku’s performance.

    Youth groups in the region recently accused Kuku, who is also the Chairman, Amnesty Implementation Committee, of running the programme aground. They alleged that besides misappropriation of the funds meant for the running of the programme, there was also self-enrichment and abuse of office.

    Kuku was said to be running a government of exclusion and favouritism, to the detriment of the ex-militants. They called for his sack.

    But Tubor hailed Kuku. He said he has performed.

    According to him, Kuku’s programme has not only trained ex-militants, but has also secured job placements for them.

    Tubor described the amnesty programme as one of the best things, which had happened to the people.

    He described as self-seeking, those calling for the removal of Kuku, whom he described as a messiah.

    Tubor thanked President Jonathan for his choice of Kuku for the amnesty job.

    The NENDA spokesman lambasted Mr. Victor Ben, aka Boyloff and Mr. Soboma Jachreece, aka Egberipapa, saying they are “desperados”.

    He said the duo were never genuine agitators in the Niger Delta struggle, adding: “They do not have followers and should not be taken seriously.”

    Tubor dismissed as untrue, allegations against Kuku and said he (Kuku) meant well for the repentant youths and also committed to delivering on his mandate and responsibilities in the region as a co-founder of the Niger Delta struggle.

    He urged President Jonathan and the indigenes to support Kuku.

  • Amnesty: Ex-militants flay calls for Kuku’s sack

    The John Togo-led Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has condemned the call for the removal of Hon Kingsley Kuku as Chairman of the Federal Amnesty Programme by a section of ex-militants in the Niger Delta.

    The NDLF also dissociated its members from criminal activities like sea piracy and others in the region, stressing that the the group would never embark on any act that threatens the prevailing peace in the region.

    The group’s position was contained in a press statement by its spokesperson, Capt Mark Anthony, which was made available to Niger Delta Report in Port Harcourt.

    It described reported arrest of some of the group’s members for alleged sea piracy as false and calculated attempt to smear the name of the group.

    NDLF said“The activities of some unscrupulous Niger Delta youths who hide under the cover of “ex-militants” to blackmail the hard-earned reputation of Hon. Kingsley Kuku and demanded for his removal from the amnesty office.

    “We want to be categorical in our statement that these sets of acclaimed ‘generals’ are fake as they never at any time engaged in the violent armed Niger Delta struggle. You cannot call yourself a general without a barracks and foot-soldiers or blow up any pipeline in Niger Delta only to suddenly wake up from your mother’s hut and ascribe the title to yourself.

    “The term “general” is not a child’s play. It is for those leaders of former militant camps who led their boys violently against federal troops led by army generals. General Sagir Belo and General Charles Omoregie of the Nigerian army,” the statement added.

    Mark Anthony described those calling for Kuku’s sack as “fake and street urchins”, urging Nigerians and President Goodluck Jonathan not to take them seriously in matters affecting the region.

    He said the renowned ex-militant leaders were satisfied and comfortable with the activities of the amnesty under Kuku and could therefore not call for his sack.

    The NDLF leader noted that Kuku had never short-paid or make arbitrary deduction of funds meant for ex-militants or diverted their gratuity to his private use as claimed by those calling for his removal.

    “Hon. Kingsley Kuku is a man of high outstanding integrity who had displayed efficient and robust management of the federal amnesty programme which result is the enduring peace and maximum oil production in Niger Delta.”

    “Therefore, we are appealing to Mr. President and the general public to disregard any self-styled ex-militant leader or group calling for the sack of the amnesty boss is doing so out of ignorance and selfish reasons. They are fake and do not understand how we fought the Niger Delta struggle.”