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Tag: Niger-Delta

  • Why I decamped to APC – Uduaghan 

    One of the newest defectors to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Tuesday night listed the reasons that attracted him to the party.

    Uduaghan, who was the immediate past Delta State Governor, moved from the major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also:Uduaghan, Marwa, others join Buhari at APC meeting

    He was among those that attended the APC National caucus meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday night.

    He said that one of the factors that brought him to the ruling party was the massive developments coming to the Niger Delta area under Buhari’s administration.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said; “Politics is about interest, I’m from the Niger Delta and I managed a lot of crises from in Niger Delta. Sometimes I went to the creeks and engaged the boys and my principle when I was managing the Niger Delta was that of engagement and the current APC government has succeeded in managing the crises they met on ground through engagement.

    “The President was seeing a lot of leaders from the Niger Delta while the Vice-President went from state to state of oil producing states, making a lot of engagements and agreements were reached.

    “Nobody at that level had gone from state to state before in Nigeria, this was the first time and of course if that is happening, the crisis is not over, they need to be supported by those of us from the Niger Delta who are passionate about Niger Delta so that in moving forward we can have solutions to the crisis of Niger Delta.

    “If a new person comes he would start putting agreement up again and all that.

    “Secondly in the area of infrastructure, this government has done very well. Talking about my state, for the first time a rail line came to Delta, for the first time the gas city which we have been talking about, a committee has been officially inaugurated and for the time we have human capital development projects, school feeding and a lot is happening in Niger Delta.

    “So for me, let me join the party to be able to effect changes because we cannot achieve anything by working from the outside in the Niger Delta.

    “Some of us have to join the APC train and many people are going to come with me so that we can achieve a lot more in the Niger Delta for the APC government. Politics is about regional interest and I’m interested in the Niger Delta,” he stated.

     

  • 2019: Will ‘Rivers of blood’ know peace?

    Rivers State in the Niger Delta, hitherto the hotbed of militancy, is now gaining notoriety for violence and thuggery. Our Southsouth Bureau Chief, Bisi Olaniyi, writes that all stakeholders must unite, cooperate and re-strategise to ensure peaceful general elections next year

    THE general elections between 1999 and 2003 were not so bloody in the three core states of the Niger Delta, namely: Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta, since Nigerians were just recovering from military rule, tyranny and dictatorship, with many politicians not sure that the transition to civilian rule would work, thereby making many competent and qualified persons to stay away from politics.

    The polls in 2003 were quite different, as the well-educated and decent persons, who earlier stayed away from politics, decided to throw their hats in the ring, with the then incumbent elective office holders, especially the governors, desperate to be re-elected, thereby allegedly purchasing arms and ammunition for mostly educated, but jobless youths, to work for them as thugs with the singular bid of rigging elections.

    With the pay reportedly irresistible, the “boys” took up arms against political opponents of their masters and their supporters, thereby “winning” the elections at all costs, but with some of the thugs also losing their lives in the process.

    Insiders confided that with the elections won and lost, the politicians who emerged “victorious” through thuggery did not bother about retrieving the guns. This, The Nation gathered, was the genesis of militancy in the Niger Delta, although disguised as a movement for the emancipation of the crude oil and gas-rich region.

    The supremacy war among the militants heightened in 2005, leading to the emergence of many “Generals.” While Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, was in charge in Delta State, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, aka General Boyloaf, was controlling the “boys” in the creeks of Bayelsa State. Rivers State had a former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and Ateke Tom, who led Niger Delta Vigilance Movement, among others as leaders of the militant groups.

    Dokubo-Asari, an indigene of Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, was almost in charge of the major militant camps in Rivers, but top Rivers State Government officials sponsored Ateke against him, for support during the 2007 elections.

    The former IYC President (Dokubo-Asari) was later arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), moved to Abuja and was put in an underground cell for many months before he was eventually released, in view of agitations and protests by prominent Niger Deltans and friends of the region.

    Dokubo-Asari also refused to accept the 2009 amnesty offer to repentant Niger Delta militants by the administration of the then President Umaru Yar’Adua, insisting that he and his teeming freedom fighters were not criminals. Shortly after his release from detention, the former President of IYC relocated to Benin Republic, where he established a university.

    Ateke’s base in Okrika was later destroyed by the military, when Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, was governor of Rivers State, because the Ubima, Ikwerre LGA-born politicians declared that he would not have anything to do with criminals and militants, thereby chasing them out of town, with the leader of Niger Delta Vigilance Movement (Ateke) relocating to Lekki, Lagos.

    Ateke and his numerous militants eventually embraced the Federal Government’s amnesty offer and they surrendered their arms and ammunition at a colourful ceremony in Port-Harcourt.

    In 2014, Amaechi joined other progressive Nigerians to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), but his former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port-Harcourt (2007-2011), Nyesom Wike, who was the Director-General of Amaechi Governorship Re-election Campaign Organisation in 2011, and recommended by Amaechi after the 2011 polls to the then President Goodluck Jonathan, to be made the Minister of State for Education, showed interest in succeeding his boss (Amaechi).

    With federal might, sudden return of the chased-away militants, thuggery, violence, beheading and killing of no fewer than one thousand members of the APC, Wike, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of the election, reportedly rigged massively but the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, now the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), approached the tribunal to contest the result. Wike eventually got victory at the Supreme Court on technical grounds.

    The apex court admitted that 2015 governorship election in Rivers State witnessed unprecedented violence and massive rigging, but posited that APC and Peterside could not call a witness from each of the polling units across the state, where the rigging took place, which was a Herculean task.

    Quite unforgettable during the governorship campaigns in early 2015 was the attack by fully-armed militants and thugs in Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika LGA of Rivers State, the hometown of the then First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Ateke, both of PDP, with Peterside and other APC leaders escaping death by a whisker, as the campaign was about to kick off, but the “boys” took over, shooting sporadically, while a policeman was killed in the process, with many journalists and others injured and their personal cars, other vehicles and other valuable property were either vandalised or burnt.

    The then Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ikanya, stated that the Supreme Court had set a precedent with its judgment on the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, with most politicians to prefer to win through massive rigging and violence, while the opponents could go to the tribunal or court, where it would be extremely difficult to get justice.

    After the 2015 elections, the Rivers of blood continued during the legislative reruns, with many innocent persons killed/beheaded, maimed or injured, while the electorate became scared of getting close to their polling units to exercise their franchise.

    Shortly after settling down as Rivers State Governor and as a way of expressing gratitude for the support during the campaigns and elections, Wike approved the appointment of Ateke as the King of Okochiri-Okrika.

    Some of the ex-militant “Generals” are currently members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (names withheld), while many of them are top officials of the Rivers State Government.

    In spite of having ex-militants in Rivers State Government, APC leaders vowed to unseat Wike in 2019, while the Rivers State Governor is to either seek reelection or become a running mate to one of the presidential candidates of PDP from the North, especially Aminu Tambuwal, since he reportedly sponsored the election of Prince Uche Secondus, an indigene of Andoni LGA of Rivers State, as the National Chairman of the main opposition party.

    The by-election controversy

    To confirm that the political rivalry may not stop in the near future is the intrigues that have trailed by-election for Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers House of Assembly. It would be recalled that recently, the representative of Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers House of Assembly, Victor Ihunwo, of the PDP, resigned in June this year to contest as Chairman of Port-Harcourt City Local Government Council, which he won.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, an indigene Cross River State, therefore announced that the vacant

    Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 seat would be filled on August 18, through a by-election.

    But as leaders and members of APC were preparing for the by-election, the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, a governorship aspirant on APC’s platform, decided on August 17 to inaugurate a parallel secretariat of the party at Waterlines Bus Stop on Aba Road, Port-Harcourt, which was earlier vandalised by hoodlums.

    The duly-elected Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, however, insisted that there was no faction in the state’s chapter of the party.

    Flag-Amachree stated that the activities of Abe were nothing to worry about, while admonishing loyal and committed members of APC to remain focused, while ignoring the distractions.

    The Director-General of the Free Rivers Development Initiative, Sampson Ngerebara, an engineer, who is a chieftain of APC and an ally of Amaechi, also disclosed that the only senator of the PDP in Rivers State, Osinakachukwu Ideozu, who was “elected” for the first time in 2015, is set to defect to the APC.

    Ngerebara, while speaking on a local radio station in Port-Harcourt, disclosed that in the next few days, Ideozu, the representative of Rivers West Senatorial District, would be joining in the APC, Senators Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East) and Abe, with Wike no longer having any senator, while more lawmakers and many top officials of Rivers State Government are also concluding arrangements to move to the APC.

    Rivers APC chairman said: “All through last week, there were heightened enquiries from the media, concerning the inauguration of what the journalists referred to as ‘parallel office’ of the APC in Rivers State. I want to use this opportunity to discountenance that suspicion and to clearly state that it is far from the truth.

    “Let me state for the umpteenth time that APC in Rivers State is not in factions and there is no basis to even conjecture that we will ever get to that situation. There were no parallel congresses of the APC in Rivers State, from the 319 wards, 23 Local Government Area congresses to the state congress.

    “Indeed, we believe that with party primaries drawing near, many aspirants to various offices under our party are already erecting campaign offices, in pursuance of their aspirations and no one can possibly fault that.

    “However, it must be stated that, given the possibility that some human beings may sometimes decide to act in unconscionable manner, should any attempt be made by anyone or group of persons to cause mischief, by deliberately naming campaign office as Rivers State APC secretariat, the leadership of the party will take deliberate steps, within the ambit of the law, to ensure that such malfeasance does not succeed.”

    Flag-Amachree also assured members of the public that Rivers APC is one, under the able leadership of the Minister for Transportation and himself, as the authentic state chairman.

    The face-off between Amaechi and Abe, an ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in Amaechi’s administration, took a dangerous dimension on August 11, as yet-to-be-identified hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, vandalised the senator’s parallel state secretariat.

    The parallel APC’s secretariat of Abe’s faction has a former Deputy Chairman of the party, Prince Peter Odike, as the Acting Chairman, while the duly-elected Rivers Chairman of APC (Flag-Amachree), is loyal to Amaechi, the leader of the party in the state and the Southsouth zone.

    Amaechi, the Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, recently declared that the governorship candidate of APC in the state for the 2019 election must come from the riverine part of the multi-ethnic state, to ensure even development, equity, justice and fairness, since Rivers governors since 1999 had been from the upland part of the state.

    Abe, an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in the upland part of the state, claimed that Rivers APC’s governorship ticket was zoned in 2015 to his senatorial district and yet to be changed, but it was immediately dismissed as a lie, by the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, from the same Bera-Ogoni as Abe.

    Besides Abe, who was a governorship aspirant of APC in 2015, there are other governorship aspirants in Rivers chapter of the party, namely: Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the party’s governorship candidate in 2015, Tonye Cole, the Chief Executive of Sahara Energy, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, an oil magnate, and AkpoBari Celestine, a renowned human and environmental rights activist.

    Wike’s allegations

    On August 17, Rivers governor, in a statewide broadcast, called on all eligible voters in the affected communities to come out en-masse, not only to vote for the party and candidate of their choice, but also to defend their votes and ensure their votes count.

    Wike said: “We have it on good authority that some failed politicians are planning to use cultists and political thugs to intimidate voters and attempt to disrupt the voting process.

    “I wish to reiterate that the Rivers State Government will not close its eyes to such thoughtless acts by any person or group of persons to deny our people their God-given right to freely and fairly elect their leaders. We shall not hesitate to apply the full weight and force of government and the law on any delinquent.

    “This election, important as it is, must not be taken as a do-or-die affair. I urge leaders of political parties and their candidates to advise their supporters to peacefully conduct themselves during and after the by-election.”

    Rivers governor also admonished all the persons who had no business with the election process to, in their own interest; keep their distance from the constituency during the duration of the by-election.

    Heavy gunshots, thuggery, violence and snatching of electoral materials, however, marred the by-election, with soldiers, policemen and other security personnel forcing residents to raise their hands on the streets of Port-Harcourt, the state capital, where the election took place.

    In spite of Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed’s announcement on August 17, during a news conference in Port-Harcourt that 1,500 policemen would be deployed for the poll, with the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCSC) also providing more personnel, the thugs were undeterred, as they unleashed mayhem, with many innocent persons critically injured.

    Candidates of four political parties took part in the by-election, but the real contest was between PDP’s Chiemeka Merukini and APC’s Mr. Dickens Worlu.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, an indigene Cross River State, who earlier assured that the election would be free, fair and credible, stated in the morning of August 18 that the electoral materials were sent to all the polling units on time, stressing that he had assurances from the heads of security agencies in Rivers State that the poll would be peaceful.

    The polls took place in Rumuokowu, Ihuwo-Orogbu, Rumuokara-mati, Rumuelechi, Oro-obaziolu, Rumu-enyika, Rumuopareli, Rumuobiekwe, Rumukpalukwuozu, Rumuogbarawehu and Rumuwoji communities, all in Port-Harcourt, with Rivers Police Commissioner announcing restriction of human and vehicular movements from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., which was enforced by security personnel.

    Effanga, in the evening of August 18, announced the suspension of the by-election due to violence and irregularities.

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Chris Finebone, however, insisted that members of the main opposition party (APC) were not involved in the violence and thuggery.

    He said: “The Rivers chapter of APC notes with sadness how the PDP resorted to large-scale violence across the units and wards of Port- Harcourt Constituency 3, State House of Assembly, during the by-election.

    “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency by-election witnessed unprecedented voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting activated by PDP members, in line with their usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.

    “It is encouraging that the people of Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 stood their ground and resisted the intimidation by PDP leaders in the area. It signifies that PDP will no more have its way, as was the case in the past years.

    “The talk that the Rivers State Chairman of APC, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, was engaged in any form of activity in the constituency during the election is mere façade created to mask the evil machinations of the PDP during the by-election.”

    The Chairman of the Rivers chapter of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, however, lauded INEC and its REC in Rivers State, for suspending the by-election.

    Obuah said: “I commend INEC for the suspension of the entire exercise (by-election), following the large-scale violence visited on the constituency by APC hoodlums and anti-democratic forces, with their collaborators in security agencies.”

    Rivers Chairman of APC urged INEC to lift the suspension and announce the results of the poll, won by APC.

    Flag-Amachree stated that the hasty decision of REC of INEC in Rivers State to suspend the by-election was disappointing, considering the fact that collation of the results had gone far at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Emenike Junction, Mile One, Diobu, Port-Harcourt.

    Chairman of the main opposition APC in Rivers said: “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency by-election witnessed pockets of voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting, activated by the PDP, in line with the party’s members’ usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.

    “It is worthy of note that security agents gallantly rose to the occasion and effectively quelled the pockets of violence that threatened the by-election in some wards in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, leading to the eventual collation of the results.

    “Members of APC in Rivers State want to believe that the suspension is to allow INEC’s officials to sort itself out and conclude the process accordingly. As a political party, APC is not questioning the judgment or discretionary powers of INEC to make decisions about the by-election. However, such decisions must strictly conform to relevant laws guiding the system and specifically do not include cancellation of a process that has commenced.

    “It is pertinent to remind INEC and reassure APC members and the public that, when it comes to any election process that has commenced, the powers of INEC end at suspension of the process for evaluation and eventual conclusion. Such powers do not include cancellation, as widely and erroneously peddled. It is only the tribunal or court that can decide on the cancellation of such a process, on approach by relevant stakeholders.

    “In view of the need to timeously conclude the by-election process and douse the anxiety of voters in the constituency, APC calls on INEC to swiftly and fairly do the needful and subsequently conclude the process and declare the result accordingly. It must be emphasised that INEC has no luxury of options over the matter, but to audit the process up to the collation stage, when the process was suspended and direct action towards bringing the process to a conclusion.”

    INEC explains

    INEC, however, described the violent disruption of the by-election as shameful, but lauded the Rivers Police Command for preventing a slip into chaos in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, while Wike blamed the police for allegedly declaring war on Rivers State, but the governor hailed the electoral commission for its good organisation.

    The three RECs of INEC: Rivers (Effanga), Mike Igini (Akwa Ibom) and Cyril Omoregbe (Bayelsa), who conducted the by-election, at a news conference in Port-Harcourt on August 19, expressed “gross” disappointment at the display of shamelessness by politicians and their supporters.

    Effanga accused political heavyweights of openly storming polling units with thugs and armed security personnel to disrupt the well-arranged and peaceful process.

    REC of INEC in Rivers said: “The commission, in full readiness for the by-election, deployed personnel and materials in the 142 polling units involved. However, midway, miscreants and hoodlums accompanied by heavily-armed security personnel in uniform stormed the various polling units and registration areas, disrupting voting activities, destroying and carting away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes. In addition, many electoral officials were manhandled, injured and held hostage.”

    Igini, who represented INEC’s National Commissioner for Southsouth, disclosed that an official of the commission was stabbed, others beaten up and held hostage, while a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member’s leg was broken.

    Akwa Ibom State’s REC of INEC stated that reporters were also attacked and voters injured by thugs in some of the polling units, while commending Rivers Police Commissioner, Zaki Ahmed, for providing experienced personnel for the by-election, but wondered where the heavily-armed personnel were brought from by their sponsors.

    Igini said: “What happened on August 18 was a tragedy. It was shameful. It represented a higher level of electoral discredit, falling below the minimum expected standards. Elections must be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, which will allow voters to vote and leave the centre without grumbling.

    “While election was going on, there was violence in significant areas of the polling centres. Some journalists, INEC staff, including NYSC members, were attacked and held hostage during the by-election. An official of the commission was stabbed, others beaten up. Also, a youth corps member’s leg was broken, individuals beaten and injured.

    “Thanks to the security personnel who worked with us (INEC); they were not part of those who disrupted the election, as they were not armed, according to the law.”

    Wike, in a statewide broadcast in the afternoon of August 19, alleged that the consistent sabotage of the electoral process by the police amounted to a declaration of war against the people of Rivers State and their solemn rights to freely and fairly choose their leaders and representatives.

    Rivers governor said: “Clearly, there are dangerous times ahead, but we must not give in to intimidation, lest we lose our liberties and become slaves in our own land.

    “As we had feared, the police failed us completely once again and negated all that they promised. Instead of providing security for voters and INEC officials, the police brazenly colluded with political thugs of the APC to subvert the democratic process and deny the people of Port- Harcourt Constituency 3 their rights to free, fair and credible elections.

    “Confirmed reports from the field indicated that INEC promptly and rightly distributed election materials to all the polling units within a record time. However, while voting was underway, armed thugs from the APC moved freely from one polling unit to another, violently assaulted the voters and INEC officials and carted away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes.”

    Wike also claimed that the police aided and shielded the leader of the thugs from arrest and prosecution.

    APC states case

    The Acting National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, however, hailed Rivers people for standing up and bravely defending their votes, in spite of the violence and snatching of electoral materials, which he insisted were perpetrated by the members and leaders of PDP.

    Nabena said: “Nigerians will recall how the PDP, speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, had earlier vowed to deploy all means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramifications and magnitude, to rig all coming elections in Nigeria.

    “While we condemn the PDP-sponsored violence and failed attempt to rig the by-election in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, the APC calls on the Rivers State electorate and indeed all Nigerians to continue to stand their ground and resist any attempt to rig elections. Votes must count. The people’s will must prevail in all elections.

    “The PDP’s rigging plan is a red flag that requires urgent attention by INEC and relevant security agencies.”

    While later speaking during a news conference in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers chairman of APC alleged that Wike reached out to him during the August 18 by-election for Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 of the Rivers House of Assembly, pleading to have his cooperation for PDP’s candidate, Chiemeka Merukini, to emerge victorious.

    Flag-Amachree, a former chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council of Rivers State, revealed that as a loyal member of APC, he declined Wike’s advances and promptly reported the offer to the leadership of his political party, while continuing to work for the success of APC’s candidate in the election, Dickens Worlu.

    He maintained that there are deliberate actions of Wike, Rivers Government officials, PDP members and officials of INEC, all aimed at scuttling the by-election.

    Flag-Amachree said: “Some hours after the voting process commenced across the 142 polling units of the Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, words came out through the agents of both parties (APC and PDP) that the APC’s candidate was winning comfortably in most of the polling units.

    “No sooner the information was given to Wike that he mobilised his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Promise Nwosu, who led fully-armed officers and men of the Nigeria Police attached to Government House, Port-Harcourt to invade various polling units to forcibly disrupt an otherwise peaceful exercise for the purpose of rigging the process in favour of the PDP’s candidate. In the course of the intervention, many shots were fired to intimidate both voters and electoral officials.

    “It was encouraging to observe that despite the massive violence orchestrated by the team of policemen led by Wike’s CSO, most of the voters in the constituency stood their ground and resisted the spate of shootings, assault, battery and intimidation by the armed policemen from Government House, Port-Harcourt.

    “In a failed mission to bribe me, Wike and his CSO became more determined to scuttle the by-election, by joining forces with their armed hoodlums to shoot sporadically around the polling units they visited, beating lawful voters and in some cases either destroying or carting away voting materials. From that moment, Wike decided to undertake a smear campaign against me, as demonstrated in his subsequent broadcast and interviews.”

    Rivers chairman of APC also stated that the state governor lied against the Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in Rivers State, Akin Fakorede, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who was in Abuja with other F-SARS commanders in Nigeria for a conference with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, when the Port-Harcourt by-election was ongoing, but he was accused by Wike of rigging the poll for APC.

    Flag-Amachree asked the REC of INEC in the state to complete the electoral process by announcing the winner of the by-election, without further delay or meet the party in court.

    The ex-Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council also stated that members of APC were not surprised that Wike and Rivers REC of INEC were working hand in gloves to rig elections in the state, declaring that the recruitment and posting of Effanga, described as a confessed PDP apologist and virulent critic of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was beyond mere accident, considering his earlier piece in a national newspaper, where he thoroughly abused Buhari’s government, before he was mysteriously employed and posted to Rivers State as REC of INEC.

    Rivers chairman of APC declared that members of his party and other electorate in the state were determined to kick Wike out of Government House, Port-Harcourt on May 29 next year, thereby putting an end to his bad governance, without loss of life and property.

    Rivers governor, who reacted through the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Emma Okah, described Flag-Amachree as a chronic liar.

    Wike said: “He (Rivers Chairman of APC) should stop his cheap lies, meant to divert attention from the atrocities he committed during the by-election in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3. No matter how long he tries to run, the atrocities will continue to haunt him. Nobody offered him N200 million bribe.

    “Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 is a stronghold of the PDP. Even if a goat is fielded as PDP’s candidate in the area, the goat will still win for the ruling PDP.”

    The REC of INEC in Rivers also denied working for Wike and PDP, stressing that he remained unbiased and is committed to conducting free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in Rivers State, without taking sides.

    Effanga said: “I am not working for PDP or Governor Wike. I am working for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria. My only interest is Nigeria.

    “I cannot stop anybody or political party from going to court. People have the right under the laws of Nigeria to go to court.”

    Rivers Commissioner of Police, while later briefing reporters at the police headquarters on the by-election, insisted that officers and men of the command were not involved in the disruption of the poll.

    Ahmed said: “Police did not at any time collude with any political party to discredit the political process, as alleged in some quarters. Information at the command’s disposal revealed the presence of political thugs at Miles 2 and 3 in Port-Harcourt, who were armed and were disrupting the voting process.

    “The police, in the wake of the information, deployed more personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers to safeguard the electoral process, lives and property. It must be emphasised that the timely action of the police in checkmating the political thugs prevented loss of lives and property.

    “The INEC officials, who appeared to have been intimidated by the thugs, were reassured by our presence. Accordingly, our counter measures against the thugs and the thuggery they exhibited, calmed the situation and the INEC officials left with some of the electoral materials and subsequently suspended the entire process.”

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC also raised the alarm on the ongoing efforts by Wike and officials of Rivers Government to enlist the services of a judge of the Rivers State judiciary to sit and grant an injunction stopping INEC from proceeding to conclude and announce the result of the by-election.

    Finebone said: “So far, all the judges approached to execute the scheme have politely turned it down. The APC salutes the courage of these judges. We call on those yet to be contacted to emulate their colleagues and turn down an attempt by the Rivers State Government to abuse the judicial system.

    “The APC believes that despite the threats being made against the judges who have refused to be dragged into the matter, the judges of the Rivers State Judiciary, as noble men and women, will continue to display this kind of uncommon bravery and strict adherence to the tenets of the hallowed profession of dispensing justice without fear or favour.

    “We urge Wike and the PDP in Rivers State to abandon their evil agenda, meant to, once again, drag the judiciary into the murky political waters of the state.”

    Coalition calls for end of game

    The Coalition of Opposition Political Parties in Rivers State equally declared that the white lie of the REC of INEC in the state on the controversial by-election remained unacceptable and a disgrace to Nigeria’s democracy.

    In a news conference on August 22 in Port-Harcourt, the coalition, through Sobrasua Johnbull of the Democratic Alliance, and Lucky Ekeji of Mass Movement of Nigeria, disclosed that members of the political parties and civil society might consider self-help and mass action.

    It expressed surprise that Effanga, rather than admitting that he was working for Wike and PDP, gave flimsy excuse of suspending the by-election for Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 of the Rivers House of Assembly, already won by candidate of the APC, because of alleged violence and irregularities.

    The coalition said: “We find the news of the suspension of the Port -Harcourt Constituency 3 by-election by Rivers REC of INEC as astonishing, unnecessary and against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.”

    Members of the opposition political parties in Rivers also called on INEC to immediately make public the results, as declared in the polling units and wards that were collated.

    The politicians declared that they would no longer fold their arms and see corrupt people steal the power of the electorate, which was described as the drama unfolding in the by-election of Port-Harcourt Constituency 3.

    The coalition said: “It is our belief that Mr. Obo Effanga (REC of INEC) will never associate himself with such levels of lies and deceptions to rob the winner of the by-election of August 18, 2018.

    “We align with the statement made by Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, earlier in a news conference in Port-Harcourt, in which he attested to the fact that the pockets of violence noticed during the by-election were successfully quelled. We agree that this is the only election in Rivers State that saw the least of violence, as no single soul was lost or property burnt, as was rampant during previous polls in Rivers State.

    Members of the coalition also strongly called on INEC to promptly conclude the collation process of the by-election and results released immediately, to avert possible self-help by affected stakeholders and civil society mass action.

    The REC of INEC in Rivers State, however, insisted that his only interest is Nigeria, while denying supporting Wike and PDP.

    For now, it cannot be guaranteed, if there will not be a repeat of the 2015/2016 Rivers of blood in 2019, considering the desperation being displayed by many political leaders and their supporters, who must be called to order, in order to avoid war, loss of lives of mostly innocent persons and valuable property worth billions of naira. A stitch in time saves nine.

  • Why SNEPCO Base must remain in Niger Delta

    The Niger Delta region for many years was a centre for violence, communal clashes and militancy. It took a negotiated and sustained intervention for the government to purchase relative peace in the region. Until the now taken-for-granted relative peace, the region was characterised by youth restiveness, militancy and constant inter- and intra- communal clashes. Serenity was scarce and cordial business-host community relationship was scarce. Oil revenue dwindled due to constant attacks on oil installations. The impact of these events was felt by the multinationals, the nation and the international community at large.

    Since then, the government have come to realise the importance of concerted efforts at sustaining peace and stability in the region. It is widely acknowledged that youth restiveness is a major hindrance to peace and progress anywhere, and especially in the Niger Delta region. Youth restiveness is a direct consequence of high unemployment and non-engagement. This has been the lot of the highly endowed Niger-Delta region. The people are divinely blessed with unquantifiable natural resources, especially crude oil that has sustained the country for decades. Yet they are subjected to a paradoxical level of penury. In the midst of abundant natural resources are a people living in abject poverty –fuelled by the greed and corruption of the leaders both at the state and national levels. There are no jobs for the teeming youths; the few jobs available are claimed by a minute population through a survival of the fittest struggle.

    However, few companies and facilities domiciled in the region have managed to employ the youths and sustain the peace. Some of such facilities are the Onne Port and the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone – the largest in the world. Onne Port is perhaps the only functional port in the eastern region. The other ports including Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt are all in near-comatose states. Onne Port has remained alive and proved that public private partnership is a veritable means to manage Nigeria’s port system. The Free Trade Zone, on the other hand, has become a destination of choice for multinationals operating in the Niger Delta region. And the patronage of these companies has improved the capacity to provide employment for the teeming youths of the region. In essence, it is an interwoven cycle that benefits all parties – the companies, communities and government. In the same vein, it is a relationship that can be highly consequential by one party’s disconnection or disaffection. Hence, the eyebrows the decision by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) to relocate its supply base out of the zone has raised.

    Some concerned employees of SNEPCo recently circulated a statement in the media informing the public of an impending decision of the company to relocate from the Onne Oil and Gas Export Free Zone in Rivers State to Lagos.

    In a swift reaction, the spokesperson for SNEPCO, Bamidele Odugbesan denied the alleged relocation, although he also conceded that SNEPCo, which has been making use of SPDC’s logistics supply base operated in Onne, is trying to develop its own alternative supply base in Lagos.

    The feeble reaction from the company has been unsuccessful in dousing the brewing tension the news has elicited. The decision has already generated disaffection amongst the youths of the region towards the company. In a peaceful protest, youths under the umbrella of Onne Youth Council (OYC), expressed total condemnation of the move, urging the company to rescind its alleged plan. The youths also revealed that the planned relocation could lead to the loss of more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Paramount Ruler of Onne Community, John Dennis Osaronu, has also joined in the call for SNEPCO to reconsider the decision to relocate its supply base to Lagos because of the consequences on the people, the community and the entire Niger Delta region.

    There are many perspectives to examining the plan to relocate. It can be examined from a strictly economic perspective – impending job loss and impact on the Onne Free Trade Zone – and it can also be viewed from the security perspective – implications for peace and stability in the region. Whichever perspective analysts choose, it is undeniable that executing the alleged plan has wide implications for the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, the Onne Community, River State, Niger Delta region and the country at large. There is a truism that organizations are corporate citizens and should be treated so. It is therefore important for the company to consider other stakeholders outside its internal system in arriving at a decision such as this due to its wide-ranging impacts. Whilst the underpinning motive for the alleged decision may have some business advantages for the company either in the immediate or long term, its overall consequence on Onne Free Trade Zone and the entire region should attract equal consideration.

    More so, as a foremost oil and gas company in Nigeria that has operated in Onne for more than 20 years, the planned relocation may also serve as impetus for other companies in the zone to follow suit. And when this is encouraged the eventual consequence is a drastic drop in business activities in Onne. This does not only affect the country in terms of revenue loss, it will also lead to job loss and increase in unemployment in an already volatile region. As a case study for other Niger Delta communities, Onne is practically built on the going concern of the companies in the area, especially the Onne Free Trade Zone. This suggests that any challenge faced by Onne Free Trade Zone will directly impact the employment of youths in the community. And the issue has the potential of escalating from a community issue to a regional concern within the shortest possible time.

    The government clearly cannot afford a huge population of idle youths at this point in an already volatile region. It is too much of a risk to ignore. It also sends a negative signal that Shell and its subsidiary SNEPCO may not really be interested in ameliorating the plights of people in the Niger Delta region; rather it portrays the company as one willing to suck the region without committing to its people. Issues like this reinforce the perception in some quarters that the government and the multinationals do not really care about the Niger Delta region, a position that was pushed forward by the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative earlier in the year. More so this alleged decision is coming at a time when Niger Deltans are demanding for multinationals to relocate their headquarters to the region. Whereas that call was amplified by the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo during one of his visits to the region, it has now become a major demand by the leaders of the region. However, this latest alleged decision is potentially capable of injecting a negative dimension to the relatively peaceful atmosphere of unending discussions for stability.

    Ultimately, whilst it is difficult for external powers to determine how a company is run, it is only appropriate that Shell pays attention to the responses that have greeted this decision and act accordingly. Observers have been left in disbelief on what could have informed the alleged decision considering that Onne is considered as one of the best managed ports in Nigeria and the Onne Free Trade Zone, which is the largest in the world, has continue to surpass expectations. More so, the Onne people have been friendly and receptive to companies operating in their community in an exemplary manner.

    So far, the government has been silent on the matter. The role of the government is important at this point to understand the issues and provide useful perspectives to SNEPCO. The contribution of SNEPCO to Onne through the Free Trade Zone is enormous and cannot be wished away. Without companies like SNEPCO, the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone would not have been able to employ the number of youths it has on its payroll.

    At this point it is advisable to let sleeping dogs lie and not create unnecessary tension in the Niger Delta region. The government has worked assiduously to ensure that relative peace is sustained in the Niger Delta. And in fairness to both the federal and state governments, there has been a considerable absence of violence and militancy in the region. Nigeria has consistently met its daily oil production target due to this relative peace. There is no need therefore to trigger unnecessary disaffection amongst the people for a decision that has no expediency to it. Besides, SNEPCO will do better having all its property and equipment, including turbines, engine spares close to its operations.

  • NLNG’s battle against militancy in Niger Delta

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, for many years, had its corporate headquarters in Lagos, before it relocated to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi was governor of the Niger Delta state.

    NLNG’s befitting corporate headquarters building in the Garden City is nearing completion on Peter Odili Road, while the company’s operational base/liquefied natural gas plant is on Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    Accessing Bonny, for now, is either by air, using helicopter or by water, through the use of NLNG’s executive boats with heavy security to prevent attacks from sea pirates, illegal bunkerers/refiners, militants and cultists, but many people who are usually unable to join NLNG’s timed boats, which are safer and usually booked in advance, have no choice, but to opt for the regular speed boats.

    Travelling to Bonny from Port Harcourt with speed boat is regularly associated with tales of woes from attacks by fully-armed sea pirates, who will dispossess innocent passengers of their valuables, especially cash, phones, laptops and rape ladies right inside the boat, while engine of the boat, which costs about N500,000, can also be taken away, leaving the boat’s driver with just paddle to get to the shore, before help will come.

    To put an end to the risk of travelling to Bonny by water, the abandoned Bodo-Ogoni to Bonny Road was recently re-awarded by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a partnership between NLNG Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria, but the construction is yet to commence, owing to minor disagreements involving benefiting communities and Rivers state government.

    NLNG Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company on May 17, 1989 to harness Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and produce Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) for export, while the establishment of NLNG is backed by the NLNG Act.

    The company is owned by four shareholders: the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 per cent), Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (25.6 per cent), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France  (15 per cent ) and Eni (10.4 per cent).

    NLNG has wholly-owned subsidiaries, namely: Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) Limited and NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML).

    With six trains currently operational and train seven already approved for construction, the NLNG’s plant is capable of producing 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of LNG, and 5 MTPA of NGLs from 3.5 Billion (standard) cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas intake.

    NLNG’s expansion with train seven’s construction is to complement the existing six-train structure, which when in operation will up the company’s total production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

    As the arrowhead of Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate gas flaring, NLNG’s operations have helped to reduce Nigeria’s flaring profile from 65 per cent to below 25 per cent, while the company also supplies about 40 per cent of the annual domestic cooking gas consumption, while the company’s driving force remains its vision to help in building a better Nigeria.

    In NLNG Limited’s determination to discourage Nigerian youths, particularly the young men and women from the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, from getting involved in restiveness and militancy, it put in place the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).

    The 2018 YES graduation ceremony for 84 beneficiaries took place on August 3 at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, with many of the youths, mostly with First and Master’s degrees, showcasing their skills and talents.

    Eminent personalities at the graduation were so impressed with the eloquence, intellect, boldness and brilliance of one of the beneficiaries, Miss Candace John-Jumbo, an indigene of Bonny Island, when asked to respond on behalf of others, by declaring that: “We will surprise NLNG Limited and we will continue to meaningfully contribute our quota to Nigeria’s development.”

    John-Jumbo also lauded the liquefied natural gas company for the opportunities given to the youths to acquire various skills, the starter packs and take-off grant, while asking other companies to emulate NLNG.

    The paramount ruler of Ubeta Kingdom in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers state, King Chimezie Nathaniel, while also speaking on the occasion, stated that it would not be possible for everybody to go to school, particularly to acquire tertiary education, thereby making the youth empowerment scheme imperative and timely, in order to build capacity.

    The monarch, who was glad that NLNG organised the programme, reiterated that any youth who refused to go to school or learn a trade would be a problem/burden to the society.

    The Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, in his opening remarks, revealed that the 84 beneficiaries graduated after intensive training in their chosen vocations, while most of them knew nothing about their current vocations nine months ago, but eventually became full-time practitioners with not just national certifications, but also life skills.

    Mai-Bornu, who was represented by NLNG’s General Counsel/Company Secretary, Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, disclosed that in 2004, when the company launched the youth empowerment scheme, NLNG clearly demonstrated a commitment to sustainable human capital development and alleviation of high rate of poverty in its host communities and other parts of Nigeria.

    He noted that since 2004, NLNG had trained over 900 youths, of 18 to 35 years, across its 110 host and pipeline communities in Rivers state in hairdressing and cosmetology, catering and events management, fashion designing, photography and video production, welding and fabrication, woodwork and furniture making.

    The deputy managing director stated that in 2014, the youth empowerment scheme was refocused towards equipping the youths with skills in relevant industries that would enable them to compete favourably for jobs anywhere in the world, revealing that for the 2017 scheme, NLNG signed a contract with five training centres to offer training opportunities to 267 youths in its host and pipeline communities, over a period of three years.

    He noted that refocusing the scheme made the company to be training the youths in automotive (mechanical and electrical), advanced welding, catering, video production/photography and farm management, with the beneficiaries now graduating with national certifications (NABTEB and Trade Test 11).

    He revealed that NLNG departed from the usual procurement and handover of starter packs to ensuring that the youths became self-reliant and employers of labour on graduation, with the training centres not only required to set the beneficiaries up, but would monitor and mentor them for three months post set-up, to ensure focused attention on the business, for success.

    The deputy managing director said: “They (84 youths) are now poised to forge ahead, to conquer poverty and wants, and build a new world of self-sustenance and self-sufficiency, to contribute to development of their communities, states and the nation.

    “We are glad that some of you (beneficiaries) have already taken up the gauntlet. Worthy of mention is Daniel Ebere, one of the graduates in Photography and Video Production, who has shown significant mastery of the field he formerly knew nothing about. He currently trains twelve students in Video Production and Photography at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. This is worthy of emulation and shows that we all can succeed in whatever vocation we choose.

    “Today, NLNG Limited is co-funding the world’s biggest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, the Bonny-Bodo Road, with a contribution of N60 billion. We have invested massively in the provision and upgrade of infrastructure in most of our host and pipeline communities. We are the highest tax-paying company in Nigeria, yet we invest heavily in our CSR programmes, because of our passion to make a difference and to touch lives.”

    The Permanent Secretary in Rivers Ministry of Employment Generation and Empowerment, Mr. Lawson Ikuru, in his remarks, stated that NLNG’s youth empowerment scheme was designed to rekindle the entrepreneurial spirit of the teeming youths and reduce poverty.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Damiete Herbert Miller,  thanked NLNG  for the  initiative.

  • Stop holding Amnesty events outside Niger Delta, says IYC

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide yesterday warned the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) against hosting amnesty stakeholders meetings and other events outside territories of the Niger Delta region.

    IYC, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, said youths  in the region would rise up against the Amnesty Office if it continued to host Niger Delta-related events in other states.

    Kemepado told the Coordinator, Prof. Charles Dokubo, that taking amnesty activities to other states was adversely affecting the economy of the region.

    He said investigations carried out by the IYC leadership showed most of the training and events under Dokubo were hosted in Lagos, instead of the region.

    Kemepado argued that the office is giving the region a bad name and creating an impression Niger Delta is not safe, adding the office is starving the region of resources.

    “We won’t fold our arms and allow this ugly trend to continue. The amnesty office exists to cater for the interests of the Niger Delta region. It is supposed to promote the region by creating activities in the states of the Niger Delta.

    “But what is happening is an aberration and is further marginalising the region. We have watched with dismay how activities, events, programmes and trainings co verbiage the Niger Delta are ferried to other states outside the region”, he said.

    Kemepado is insisted that the region is safe and serene and capable of hosting all meetings, activities and trainings conducted by the amnesty office.

    He accused Dokubo of playing the script of the region’s detractors, bent on demarketing the region for economic gains.

  • Catching them young in the Niger Delta

    Niger Delta, previously known for militancy, sea piracy and cultism, is now embracing change, as youths who are leaders of tomorrow, place emphasis on quality education.

    As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria initiated a full scholarship programme tagged: “Catch them Young,” for students of secondary schools in its host communities, especially those from Oil-Mining Lease (OML)-58. Most of the beneficiaries are from Rivers State.

    While rounding off their primary education programme, the beneficiaries will have the opportunity to participate in the competitive examination. The best among the participants will be picked to study at Showers International Christian High School, Igbo-Etche in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State which began its academic programme at D-Line, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, before moving to its permanent site in the serene and secure Igbo-Etche.

    While speaking at the graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries of Total’s catch them young programme on July 14, the outgoing head girl of the secondary school, Victoria Nwankwo, described the experience as rewarding and inspiring.

    Nwankwo said: “It is a good thing to be a member of Showers’ family. I can vividly recollect the day I was told about my success in the Catch them Young examination about six years ago. Sincerely, I was excited and overwhelmed with joy, because I knew it was a rare privilege for me and my entire community.

    “Prior to that time, I had heard about boarding life, but now I know and can say from experience how it is. I really thank God that I came, I saw and I conquered. Showers International Christian High School has helped me to acquire knowledge in all its ramifications. More importantly, my spiritual life has greatly improved.

    “Showers International Christian High School has inculcated the core values of discipline, modesty, hard work and the fear of God in me and other beneficiaries.”

    Also speaking, the outgoing head boy, Oji Ogorchukwu Obinwa, revealed that he was among the privileged few that secured admission into the prestigious school, stressing that he was so happy to leave his Akabuka hometown in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State for the great school. He assured that he and other beneficiaries would always make Total and the school proud.

    Mrs. Chioma Chinedum who won the Teacher of the Year Award has been teaching Biology in the school since 2007. She was specially honoured and gifts were presented to her in appreciation of her hard work, dedication to duty and commitment to the progress of the school.

    Responding, Chinedum said the school is one of the best in the Southsouth zone of Nigeria, even as she revealed that teachers and students at Showers were always rated high. She thanked management of the school for the honour, promising that she would continue to put in her best.

    Also speaking, one of the products of Total’s catch them young programme, Chilem Amirize, who recently graduated with First-Class in Business Administration from Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State and emerged as the best graduating student of the university noted that hard work pays.

    Amirize, who was among the Class of 2013 said he and other beneficiaries of Total’s initiative had a solid foundation from the school, particularly in the area of encouraging them to write their examinations without any assistance from anybody. He assured that he and others would continue to be good ambassadors of the oil giant and the world-class school.

    In his welcome address at the send forth ceremony for the 8th set of beneficiaries of Total’s initiative, the Chairman, Board of Governors of the school, Anthony Akpan, an engineer, stated that the oil giant (Total) had been investing so much in education in its host communities in the Niger Delta.

    Akpan also noted that school, student and parents were the essential tripod in education and must adequately play their expected roles to achieve significant results. He maintained that the partnership involving schools, students and parents must be very strong, in order to have a better society.

    While presenting the report of the 2017/2018 academic year, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Emilia Akpan, stated that many beneficiaries of Total’s programme had been graduating from some of the best higher institutions across the world, especially with the school’s no-cheating policy and discipline, thereby making Total and Showers proud.

    In her paper entitled “What is Your Life’s Blueprint?” the guest speaker, who is Total’s Deputy General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Dr. Nkoyo Attah, urged the graduating students to continue to take education seriously and remain focused.

    Attah said: “You cannot be anything in life without education. Always strive for excellence and keep learning. Anyone that must be celebrated must be well educated. There can be no success without sacrifice. Education is the bedrock of whatever career path you want to take.

    “The beneficiaries of Total’s Catch Them Young programme are destined to be great with the solid foundation from Showers International Christian High School, but they must remain focused, not distracted, be bold, courageous, do not allow yourselves to be intimidated and always put God first.

    “Beyond education, be employable by acquiring new skills. You need competitive edge. Stand out of the crowd. You should also place emphasis on entrepreneurship. Be a role model, but you must have Godly mentors to guide you. Be hard working, disciplined and determined. The world is looking for assets not liabilities.”

    In her words of advice, Total’s Community Development Manager, Mrs. Erika Ukey-Omodu, stated that the efforts of Total through the scholarship scheme were now yielding results, stressing that the destinies of the beneficiaries were in their own hands, while standing out to pursue excellence.

    Ukey-Omodu also advised the beneficiaries and others to always depend on God, adding that: “you also need self-confidence to pull through in life.”

    In order to move Nigeria forward, other multinationals should emulate Total in order to contribute to move the education  sector forward.

  • NDDC resumes foreign scholarship scheme

    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it has concluded plans to resume its Post-Graduate Foreign scholarship to qualified indigent youths in the Niger Delta.

    Mr Ibitoye Abosede, NDDC’s Director of Corporate Communications, announced this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    He stated that the Governing Board and Management of the company had met and approved the commencement of the 2018 award process worth about 30,000 U.S. dollars per annum.

    He noted that the programme was cancelled earlier to allow the commission to carry out comprehensive restructuring of the scheme.

    He stated that “NDDC regrets the cancellation of the inconclusive 2017 award process and the inconveniences suffered by students who applied for the scholarship.

    “To this end, all outstanding tuition for recipients of the scholarship have been cleared. This is to provide a fresh start and a seamless process.

    “However, any student who has proof of non-receipt of payment should feel free to contact the commission immediately.”

    Read Also: NDDC Resumes Post-Graduate Foreign Scholarship Programme

    Abosede explained that the scheme covered disciplines in engineering, medical sciences, computer science technology, geosciences, environmental sciences, agriculture, environment, oil and gas law and project management.

    He added that advertisement for the scholarship would be published in national media and the commission’s website.

    Established in 2010, the scholarship is designed to produce top level professionals with technical manpower, capacity and expertise to compete in oil and gas industry and in other sectors.

    So far, 1,409 students have benefitted from the programme, including Charles Igwe, whose unique redesign of the Turcot Interchange road saved the Montreal Area Municipality (Canada) over one billion dollars.

    Igwe is a Ph.D student of Construction Engineering at Concordia University in Canada.

    Similarly, Mr Ubong Peters won a global three-minute thesis competition.

    The NDDC spokesman, therefore, urged interested and qualified candidates to take advantage of the opportunity to apply for the foreign scholarship.

  • Niger Delta leaders warn against attack on Amnesty boss

    Some concerned leaders of the Niger Delta region at the weekend warned stakeholders of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) against verbal attacks on the Coordinator of the scheme, Prof. Charles Dokubo.

    The leaders in a communiqué at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said Dokubo should not be a victim of a “pull-him-down” syndrome.

    The meeting was attended by monarchs and youth leaders from the region.

    In the communique which was signed by Chief Mike Loyibo and Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the leaders said Dokubo deserved the support of stakeholders to enable him succeed with the scheme.

    They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for Dokubo’s appointment, describing the amnesty boss as “a round peg in a round hole.”

    According to them since Dokubo assumed office, he had taken satisfactory steps to advance the course of the programme.

    They said: “From the measures he (Dokubo) has embarked on so far, we believe he has the desire to advance the goals and objectives of the programme as well as taking it to the next level. So, we are solidly behind him and we hereby pass a vote of confidence on him”.

    The leaders also urged Buhari not to toy with the funding of the programme in the interest of peace and security in the region.

    They argued that the peace being witnessed in the region was as a result of the amnesty programme.

    They appealed to the President to address some of the issues raised concerning the development of the region during their last meeting with him

    They said: “We also want to use this medium to remind President Muhammad Buhari to address our issues raised concerning the Niger Delta during our last meeting with him as only the Maritime University has been addressed.

    “President Buhari should also know that funding of the amnesty programme is the key towards ensuring the prevailing peace being witnessed in the region, hence this should be upheld.

    “We also want the boys in the creeks to be patient with President Buhari by continuing to give peace a chance for the overall development of the region.”

  • N13B Port Project: Group alleges plot to scuttle contract

    A Warri-based civil society group; the Niger Delta Good Governance Watch (NDGGW), has raised the alarm over an alleged plot, by a syndicate led by an unnamed senator, to scuttle the recently approved Escravos Bar-Warri Port dredging contract.

    The group, in a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday and signed by President and Secretary-General, Mr. Pawei Ikpidi and Godwin Okotie, respectively, alleged that the syndicate had plotted to abort the successful takeoff of the contract through an orchestrated House of Representatives’ probe.

    According to the statement, the senator, who allegedly was one of the figures behind the failed Calabar Port dredging contract, had instigated a motion to be moved on the floor of the House of Representatives on May 3, 2018 to probe alleged infractions in the N13 billion project.

    The group, however, raised alarm over  what it described as procedural fraud as the probing House of Representatives committees failed to invite supposed primary stakeholders in the project for public hearings, but rather went for some nongovernmental organisations, which are said to be both unknown and having no relationship with the area where the project is situated.

    “Curiously the public hearing started without the committees inviting stakeholders from the Niger Delta and especially Delta State and the immediate Warri communities who would be the beneficiaries of the project to participate in the public hearing process. Rather some unknown non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were the ones invited and mobilized by the sponsors of the probe to make presentation on behalf of the public and interested parties wherein they called for the cancellation of the dredging project.

    Read Also: Niger Delta and peace

    “The very reliable information available to the Niger Delta Good Governance Watch is that a South East Senator and the brains behind the failed $56 million (fifty six million dollars) contract for dredging of Calabar channels who collected money without doing any dredging are behind the House of Representatives probe because of the failure of their preferred company to be awarded with the contract.

    “It would interest the Nigerian public to know that the same Senator is also the promoter of the company that was awarded the failed multi billion naira Koko Shoreline Protection contract by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Koko Shoreline Protection project in Delta State was abandoned by the contractor without any job done after collecting money running into billions of naira.

    “We wish to warn that the people of Delta State and Niger Delta region would resist any attempt to frustrate the long awaited Escravos bar to Warri port dredging contract which has the capacity to revitalize the economy of Warri, Delta State and the Niger Delta region. As stakeholders, we have taken ownership of the Escravos bar to Warri dredging project and call on the management of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that this project is timeously executed without any delay.

    “We also call on the Chairmen and members of the House of Representative Committees on Ports, Harbours and Waterways and Public Procurement not to allow themselves to be used by selfish and unpatriotic individuals to frustrate this project for parochial reasons.

    “The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dogara is hereby called upon to be on the side of the Nigerian people who earnestly desire the functionality of the maritime industry to create jobs and economic activities rather than a few who feed fat on collecting billions of naira for contracts without executing them. The brains behind the House of Representatives probe especially the South East Senator is warned to withdraw his nefarious activities or we may be forced to give details of his failed contracts and invite the intervention of the EFCC”, it warned.