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Tag: ogoni

  • Ijaw, Ogoni renew claim to Rivers governor

    Ijaw, Ogoni renew claim to Rivers governor

    The battle for which area of Rivers State should produce Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s successor continued yesterday. The Ijaw, the Ogoni and a section of the Ikwerre backing Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike are involved.

    The Ogoni added a new angle to it by organising a prayer session yesterday. The Ijaw, speaking through the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), at the weekend, said it was not negotiating its right to produce Amaechi’s successor.

    The renewed battle is coming on the heels of condemnation of the violence at a parley of the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja last Thursday. The violence is not unconnected with the quest of the Ijaw in Rivers PDP to stop Wike, an Ikwerre man, from succeeding his kinsman, Amaechi.

    IYC President Udens Eradiri said the next Rivers governor must be an Ijaw person.

    He spoke at a summit organised by the IYC in Warri.

    “An Ijaw man must be governor in Rivers State, but we must help ourselves. Even now those who can’t even afford the form have started jostling to be governor,” Eradiri said.

    Ogoni leaders from four of the Rivers State’s 23 Local Government Areas of Khana, Gokana, Eleme and Tai, spoke at a dedication service and special prayer session organised by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) held yesterday at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland.

    MOSOP President Legborsi Saro Pyagbar called for an end to the political marginalisation of Ogoni people, who are yet to produce governor, deputy governor, speaker of the House of Assembly and chief judge, since the creation of Rivers state from the defunct Eastern Region on May 27, 1967.

    Pyagbara also called for the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland’s environmental assessment, in order to end pollution, environmental degradation and marginalisation of the crude oil and gas-rich area by the Federal Government and the oil companies.

    The MOSOP president, who took the first lesson from Isaiah 6: 1-8, requested a minute silence for all Ogoni, who lost their lives in the course of the struggle, including the renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

    Pyagbara declared that an Ogoni emerging as the next governor of Rivers state was non-negotiable, in order to ensure justice, equity and fairness. He urged all the political parties, especially the APC and the PDP, to field only Ogoni persons as their governorship candidates.

    The service, which had as theme: “That We May Be One,” was presided over by the Bishop of the Methodist Diocese of Bori, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ndinwii, had the governorship aspirants of two of the political parties in attendance.

    The governorship aspirants at the service were the representative of the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was represented by a member of the House of Representatives, Barry Mpigi, an Ogoni, who represents Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo constituency and Abe’s predecessor in the Senate, Lee Maeba, of the PDP.

    In attendance at the service were also the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee; Rivers Commissioner for Works, Chief Victor Tombari Giadom; the representative of Gokana constituency in the Rivers House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor; Chairmen of the four Ogoni local government councils and other eminent personalities.

    MOSOP president said:                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “Twenty four years after the launch of the OBR, it is our time to produce governor. If we miss it this time, God forbid, we will have to wait till 2031. We must stop the political marginalisation of Ogoni people now. The MOSOP’s campaign is not centred around any political party. President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and leaders of all the political parties should look the way of Ogoni people, as they are taking their decisions. We have competent persons. We are angry in MOSOP. That is why we are involved in this campaign.”

    Pyagbara also assured that Ogoni people would sink their political differences this time and speak with one voice, while calling on the youths and others to shun violence and bloodletting, drop their personal interests and support the collective Ogoni interest to produce Rivers governor next year, adding that behind the tragic history of Ogoni people, there is hope.

    The President of the umbrella organisation of Ogoni elite, KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme), Dr. Peter Medee, expressed optimism in Ogoni producing the next occupant of Brick House (Government House) in Port Harcourt, but said the peace-loving people must continue to be united.

    Medee said if an Ogoni is not elected as Rivers governor next year, the people would have to wait for another 24 years, saying the campaign against zoning was a conspiracy against the Ogoni people.

    Abe said Ogoni people would not continue to be slaves, saying: “This is liberation time. Ogoni people are prepared to move forward by producing the next governor. The unity of Ogoni must continue.”

    Maeba, who is of the PDP, declared that: “It is our time to produce Rivers governor. People who can do it are in Ogoniland. Dr. Peter Odili is of Rivers West Senatorial District. Sir Celestine Omehia and Governor Amaechi are from Rivers East Senatorial District. It is the turn of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District and an Ogoni person will be the next governor of Rivers State. Elections are coming and they are now saying no to zoning. We will not accept it.

    “When we produce Ogoni governor in 2015, it will be easier to have Bori State.”

    Rt. Rev. Ndinwii said he was glad that Ogoni people were now speaking with one voice, while admonishing them not to betray the just cause.

    He said: “Whatever happens in Ogoni, we should demonstrate faithfulness, love and forgiveness. If we do, good things are on the way and all of us will celebrate.

    A PDP governorship aspirant, Mr Tonye Princewill, condemned last Thursday’s violence at the party’s reconciliation parley in Abuja.

    Nyesom Wike yesterday insisted there was no violence at the meeting.

    Wike, through his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, supplied pictures showing factions of the party exchanging pleasantries.

    He added that a chieftain of the party, Chief Sara Igbe, after being part of the peaceful process, “went ahead to mislead journalists who were not around”.

    Princewill, in a statement at the weekend, apologised to Nigerians on behalf of the party.

    He said the incident was regrettable.

    Princewill’s statement by his Personal Assistant (Media and Publicity), Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu, reads: “As the 2015 elections draw closer, statements, actions and decisions become more influential in moulding the future of our dear state. The incident at the Legacy House in Abuja is not just condemnable but an embarrassment to Nigeria’s democracy, the PDP and the good people of Rivers State.

    “Portraying the party in a bad light will not help its growth and existence and will do those of us who wish the President well, no good whatsoever.

    “No individual’s ambition is more important than the peace and development of our state. Following the perceived security challenge, and advice from some PDP national stakeholders, Prince Tonye was not present at the integration committee sitting, but had earlier submitted his memorandum. A Rivers state in crisis is a region in crisis. And our region in crisis will not bode well for our beloved nation. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

     

  • Rivers community, clerics make case for Ogoni, Jonathan

    Politics is in the air and there is no dull moment for socio-political groups. Even communities are seeking relevance in a game that will climax in 2015. In the spirits of 2015, Rivers community in Bayelsa State trooped out recently to announce their preferred candidates for the election year.

    Displaying placards and banners, members of the Rivers community under the aegis of the Federated Union of Rivers State Indigenes in Bayelsa (FURSIB) State marched the streets of Yenagoa. Under police protection, the enthusiasts chanted songs to create awareness about their mission.

    They are rooting for two persons – President Goodluck Jonathan for reelection and an Ogoni indigene for the Governor of Rivers State. In fact Prof. Don Baridam is their preferred candidate and they want him to run n the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In unison, they asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stop foot-dragging and declare for his reelection in 2015. They also asked President Jonathan to support Prof. Don Baridam’s ambition to govern Rivers State in 2015 on the platform of PDP.

    The President of the group, Emman Ubaka, said  Jonathan’s Transformational Agenda was being felt in critical sectors of the economy.

    He said: “And whereas key infrastructure such as roads, economic empowerment of citizens and improvement of the well being of Nigerians are effectively developed and promoted despite all the distractions.”

    “Nigerians have never had it so good until now and if Jonathan achieved so much in less than four years it is obvious that if given a second term, he would achieve more and the glory of Nigeria will fully return.”

    He said the call on Jonathan to support Baridam was based on “fairness, equity and justice as the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State had not produced a governor, deputy governor nor speaker since the creation of Rivers State.”

    Ubaka said an Ogoni governor would give the ethnic group a sense of belonging and urged all other ethnic groups in Rivers State to throw their weight behind Baridam’s candidature.

    “We believe that Prof. Don M. Baridam represents equity, justice, peace and prosperity in Rivers State and will not antagonize the Federal Government or undermine the interest of the Southsouth zone.”

    The community is not the only voice.  Clerics under the aegis of Concerned Clergies for Good Governance (CCGG) also asked Nigerians to bury their selfishness and follow divine direction to avert looming bloodshed in 2015 general elections.

    The National President of the group, Prophet Lawrence Okorie, in Yenagoa warned Nigerians against hauling insults against the President.

    Okorie, who claimed to have predicted the militancy in the Niger Delta in 2015, said the country was drenched in injustice and bloodshed.

  • ‘Ogoni should produce next Rivers governor’

    ‘Ogoni should produce next Rivers governor’

     The President-General of Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum, Rivers State, Emmanuel Amadi, spoke with Precious Dikewoha in Port-Harcourt on the agitation of the Ogonis for power shift in next year’s governorship election. 

    Why is your group not in support of the agitation for a ‘riverine governor?

    The Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum is made up of people from Ikwerre Local Government, Emohua, Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor,  Etche and Omuma  local councils. In 2015,  the forum will not support any ‘riverine governor.’ The former governor, Dr. Peter Odili, is from Rivers West Senatorial District. Governor Rotimi Amaechi is from Rivers East. Okrika has produced Chief  Rufus Ada-George.  We are expecting the Southeast Senatorial District to produce the next governor. But, when you look at this senatorial district, Opobo/Nkoro, which is under  the South East District, has produced  the deputy governor. Adoni  has also produced the deputy governor. But,  Ogoni has produced none. The forum is totally in support of the Ogoni project in 2015. They have suffered a lot. Their kinsmen were murdered by the Federal Government.  Their environment has been sentenced to death due to oil exploration and production in the area. Ogoni has lost its natural resources. The Federal Government has refused to implement the UNEP report, which would have been leverage for them. It will amount to injustice, if we refuse to give them a chance in 2015. Even, the Kalabari has also shown sympathy for Ogoni people.  No Ogoni in 2015, no governorship in Rivers State.

    It apppear some of your members are divided over the decision to support the Amaechi Administration… 

    That is incorrect. That is propaganda. Because of the visionary leadership in the state, we have decided that there is no other person we could give support than Amaechi.  We have not seen what the PDP has offered.  All what they have offered is violence, which cannot attract our support. Those who are supporting the PDP in Rivers State, especially in Ikwerre and Etche, are not supporting them with sincerity. They are following them because of what they will gain from them. Some of the chiefs and elders who claim that they are supporting the PDP are being deceived. If you want to know where the major chiefs and elders of the area belong, then, you go to the Ogbakor Ikwerri, which is the highest consultative assembly in Ikwerre. They are in support Amaechi. We have passed a vote of confidence on Amaechi after assessing his developmental strides.

    The opposition has said that the governor is not working. What is your assessment?

    One of the goals of Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum is to support good governance and sustainability. We believe that a good and hardworking leader sgould be supported. In Rivers State, we have seen the developmental strides of  Amaechi. All of us cannot claim ignorant of the development. He has  shown that democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. He has touched the lives of the people. We are not talking about giving people cash.  We are talking about projects that have touched the lives of the people and communities.

    There are accessible roads. That means the poor are beneficiaries of the massive development.  The same thing also happens in the education sector, where those who cannot send their children to private schools now enjoy the same facilities in government  schools. What the rich man’s children benefit, in times of teaching aids, are now available in our model schools. The government of Rivers State has also gone further by providing free school bags, uniforms, and sandals to the pupils. In our health sector,the government has made health accessible to the poor,  especially the primary healthcare.

    If you talk about scholarship, thousands of youths are studying in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.  In the area of employment, Amaechi has become a reference point. Apart from the employment of thousands of teachers, he has also employed graduates and non-graduates in other sectors. More than 35 doctors were given scholarship. That is what we call democracy. That is what a visionary leader should do. During the dark days in Port Harcourt, when cult groups were ruling the state, the governor descended on them.  Today, that issue is a thing of the past. Today, if not that some desperate politicians have begun create  tension in the state, Port Harcourt could be regarded as the most peaceful city.

    If Wike becomes the PDP governorship candidate, can the APC candidate defeat him?

    Look, we don’t need to struggle to  defeat the PDP. How many people are members of the PDP?  To me, I see no battle because of what the government has done at the grassroots level.  During the last party registration,   my  community, Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, registered over 4000 APC members. So, how many PDP members are left in that ward?  PDP members are just making noise in the state. They love propaganda. The PDP once put the photograph of Lamido as the presidential aspirant and that of Amaechi as his running mate. Today, Lamido is in the PDP while Amaechi is in the APC.  Look at what is happening in the Rivers State PDP. Supporters are busy destroying APC flags and banners.   As far as I am concerned, the PDP will not win this state.

  • ‘Competence should determine Amaechi’s successor’

    A frontline politician in Rivers State, Sam Agwor, has said the major criteria for choosing the successor to Governor Rotimi Amaechi must be competence.

    Agwor spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    He said the best persons, devoid of ethnicity, must be presented as candidates during the 2015 elections.

    He said the era of upland/riverine dichotomy had passed in Rivers State, with emphasis now being placed on competence, political experience and capability to deliver, rather than sentiments.

    Rivers Ijaw and the Ogoni are campaigning for the governorship of the state to be zoned to their area. The riverine people, who are Ijaw, are saying they have not led the state since 1999. The Ogoni are also making the same case.

    Candidates from other upland part of the state, such as the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, are also saying they are entitled to run for the office.

    Agwor, a former Special Adviser to the ex-Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, also called for concerted efforts to battle terrorism.

    He observed that terrorism should not be given room to fester before being nipped in the bud.

    He said: “It has become clear to everybody that the security situation calls for cooperation of all. Boko Haram has no limit and does not respect personality. We must work together and become watchmen for the country.

    “If you see strange movement in any place, you must report to the appropriate security agencies. With such cooperation, we will be able to check insecurity in Nigeria.

    “The security situation in Nigeria is to undermine the Federal Government. They thought it would constitute an instrument with which they would continue to say the Federal Government is inefficient.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain urged public office holders facing impeachment should deeply reflect on their performance and activities, in order to avoid whipping up sentiments.

  • UNEP report: Ogoni indigenes demand $100bn restoration fund

    UNEP report: Ogoni indigenes demand $100bn restoration fund

    Ogoni indigenes yesterday demanded a $100bn restoration fund for the Niger Delta to, among other issues, address the clean-up and compensation of citizens in the region.

    The demand was made in Abuja in commemoration of the third year of the release of the United Nations Environmental Programme assessment report on Ogoniland.

    The Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Uyi, alongside several representatives from the region, stated that Shell Petroleum Development Company and the Federal Government had failed to implement the recommendations of the United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) report three years after it was released.

    Uyi said: “Shell would not obey the laws of Nigeria and would not accede to the implementation of the report recommendations.

    “We reiterate our demands, among others, that the Ogonis in collaboration with other Niger Delta communities and civil society approach the United Nations to appoint a Niger Delta Reconciliation and Restoration Commission with autonomy and authority to do so.

    “We are not only demanding $1bn for the Ogoni environment restoration but the sum of $100bn restoration fund for the Niger Delta to address clean-up, restoration and compensation.”

    Uyi said since the UNEP report Shell had disputed some of the findings in it without providing any scientific basis for its claims.

    He said the oil major had blamed the Federal Government for not putting in place requisite framework to make the company to commit funds in remediation.

    However, Shell, in a statement by its Media Relations Manager, Precious Okolobo, said the majority of the UNEP recommendations required multi- stakeholder efforts that will be coordinated by the Federal Government.

    It said neither the SPDC nor any other stakeholders  was in a position to implement the entire recommendations of the UNEP report unilaterally.

    “SPDC has an activity programme in place, focused on delivering improvements in the environmental and community health situation on the ground.

    “We continue to work with the government, communities and a number of constructive NGOs and civil society groups in the Niger Delta to accelerate progress,” the statement said.

     

  • Verdict in Ogoni, Shell case soon

    London court may deliver judgment on the multi-million dollar compensation suit involving Shell and Bodo Communities in Rivers State before December, Bodo Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Mene Slyvester Kogbara, has said.

    Kogbara told The Nation that the Head, Leigh Day & Co (a UK-based Solicitors for the communities), Martyn Day, visited Nigeria last week to brief the communities on the matter, three years after it was filed in the London court.

    Kogbara quoted Day as saying the judgment would determine the exploration of crude oil in the Niger Delta region, its effects on the host communities and the responsibilities of oil firms to the people of the area.

    “While we are not trying to speculate on the outcome of the judgment, we believe that the judgment would determine a lot of things for stakeholders in the industry,” Day was quoted as saying.

    Kogbara said the visit by the Leigh Day & Co chief had doused the tension among residents, adding that they were happy the judgment was coming.

    According to him, the visit has eased off pressures on the Council of Chiefs which was accused of not fast-tracking the case.

    “The visit has reduced pressure on the Council of Chiefs accused of not doing anything on the matter. Everybody is waiting for the judgement. We expect the court to be fair on the issue. Once there is a fair hearing, victory is assured,” he added.

    However, Shell’s spokesman, Precious Okolobo, said it would amount to prejudice to speak on a case in which the plaintiffs and defendants were awaiting judgment.

    Shell had accepted responsibility for the two oil spills in 2008 that polluted the waterways of the fishing communities.  It said the volume spilt and the number of those who lost their livelihoods is exaggerated.

    The battle for compensation begun six years ago when the communities discovered that oil spills from exploration has affected their land. The spill from Shell oil wells has ravaged many areas in the Niger Delta region.The region has been plagued by many  problems, including sabotage, kidnappings of oil workers for ransom, crude theft, pipeline vandalism, armed rebellion, and conflicts between communities over clean-up contracts or compensation deals.

  • Ogoni community seeks speedy trial of case against Shell

    Ogoni community seeks speedy trial of case against Shell

    Three years after suing Shell in  a London Court for oil spillage, the  Bodo community in Ogoniland in  Rivers State, is seeking speedy hearing of the case. The community has asked its chiefs and London solicitors – Leigh Day & Co – to fast-track the hearing of the case.

    The Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Mene Slyvester Kogbara, told The Nation that the over 15,000 villagers wanted the matter tried speedily. He listed the group to include farmers, fishermen, artisans and traders.

    The council, he said, also demanded from the lawyers why the case is delayed and what should be done to fast-track the hearing.

    He said: “The community is worried about the delay hence the pressures from different angles to  ensure that the case is fast-tracked.  The pressure is coming from  the Council of Chiefs and the community. Meetings have been held to get the right support on the issue. Our solicitors have promised to fly to Nigeria in the next two weeks to give us the updates vis-a-vis efforts being made to speed up the hearing of the case.‘’

    Mene said the community  believes that  the court would favour it.

    ‘’We are not contemplating failure at the London Court where Leigh Day & Co has been standing as our Solicitors since the case started a few years ago. The last thing on our mind is defeat at the court. We have enough evidence that the oil spills have ravaged our land  and affected socio-economic activities. Shell has accepted responsibility for over two oil spills in 2008 that polluted the waterways of the fishing communities, even though it is  insisting that the volume spilt and the number of those who lost their livelihoods as a result is exaggerated.

    “Though the case has suffered delay, the victory is sure because the court has promised to be fair to all the parties concerned on the issue. Once there is a fair hearing and presentation in a court, victory is assured. Part of the demands is that Shell should come and clean the land since the communities are running short of food supply.’’

    Mene said the community would not disclose the amount of compensation expected from Shell in line with the advice of their lawyers.

    He said other community affected by the oil spills are Bomu, Gbe, K& B, Dere,  and Kpor Gol.

    ‘’For technical reasons, we have agreed individually and collectively not to disclose the worth of the compensation expected on the issue of spillage and its attendant destruction to the environment,‘’ he added.

    Efforts to get Shell’s spokesman, Precious Okolobo,  to speak on the issue proved abortive. Text messages and calls made to him were not replied.

    The battle for compensation began six years ago when the community discovered that  spills  from oil exploration  have affected their land. The spills from Shell wells have ravaged many areas in the Niger Delta. The region has been hit by problems, including sabotage, kidnappings of oil workers, theft of crude, and conflicts between communities over clean-up contracts or compensation deals.

  • Rivers 2015: Kinsmen dump Wike for Ogoni candidate

    Rivers 2015: Kinsmen dump Wike for Ogoni candidate

    Kinsmen of the Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike have dumped him, opting to back an Ogoni candidate for Rivers State governor in next year’s election to ensure fairness, equity and justice.

    The Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum and non-indigenes in the areas insisted yesterday that an Ogoni ought to be allowed to be Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s successor, so as to give them a sense of belonging.

    They said Ogoni have not been able to produce a governor since the creation of Rivers state out of the defunct Eastern Region on May 27, 1967.

    The group also passed a vote of confidence on Amaechi based on his developmental strides across the 23 LGAs of the state.

    The forum’s President, Emmanuel Amadi, in company with the General Secretary, Dr. Gift Nwiyi, yesterday at a news conference in Port Harcourt, read a six-point communique and later responded to questions from reporters.

    Ikwerre people are of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas, while Etche ethnic nationality consists of Omuma and Etche LGAs of Rivers state.

    Besides Amadi and Nwiyi, the communique was also signed by Collins Wali (Coordinator of Ikwerre LGA), Uzodimma Nwafor (Etche LGA), Okwu Anokuru (Port Harcourt), Jude Obodo Chukwu (Emohua), Hanachor Amadi (Obio/Akpor) and Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma).

    Amaechi hails from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, while the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, is an indigene of Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state.

    Wike is interested in becoming Rivers governor in 2015, while Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), declared that he would not allow another Ikwerre person to succeed him.

    The supervising minister of education claimed that he is from Ikwerre South, while Amaechi is from Ikwerre North and qualified to be governor in 2015.

    Ikwerre/Etche people’s forum stated in the communique: “We support the zoning of the next governorship position to the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District (comprising Ogoni’s four LGAs of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme), particularly to the people of Ogoni, who have not produced even a deputy governor, speaker or chief judge, in order to promote equity, justice and fairplay.”

    The group also stated that its members remained resolute and committed in their support for Amaechi, while urging Rivers people to join hands in prayers with the NGF chairman, to ensure that a candidate who would advance his developmental gains succeed him.

    It also lauded Amaechi and Rivers people for accepting and embracing the All Progressives Congress (APC), while commending the new Rivers Police Commissioner, Tunde Ogunsakin, for acknowledging the status and office of the governor, which it said had brought about peace and security, since Ogunsakin’s assumption of duty.

    The Ikwerre/Etche people’s forum stated that its members were not being sponsored by politicians or any governorship aspirant in the state.

    While speaking on behalf of the non-indigenes in Etche and Ikwerre, Musa Ademola, who hails from Ilorin in Kwara State and has been in Rivers state in the last 30 years, stated that Amaechi had performed well, while an Ogoni should be allowed to succeed him.

    Ademola added that Ogoni people had been marginalised over the years, in spite of the area’s richness in crude oil and gas, while stressing that they should be allowed to produce the next occupant of the Brick House (Government House), Port Harcourt.

    It will be recalled that many Rivers stakeholders are clamouring for upland/riverine dichotomy, in the choice of the next governor of the state, while some persons prefer zoning, based on senatorial districts.

  • Eleme/Ogoni youths protest attack on Abe

    Eleme/Ogoni youths protest attack on Abe

    Souths from Eleme and Ogoni communities in Rivers State staged a huge demonstration to protest “the attempted murder” of Senator Magnus Abe by policemen.

    Abe, an Ogoni, was shot by policemen trying to stop a rally on Sunday. The army of youths, as early as 5:30 am, barricaded the double lane Eleme/Ogoni axis of the East-West road, spreading from Aleto Bridge to the Eleme Refinery junction. They blocked the road with trucks, preventing movements.

    They were complaining about their polluted environment and other issues.

    Ogoni, especially Eleme and Onne, is host to most of the Federal Government’s oil, gas and maritime companies in the area.

    Two refineries, the Petrochemical, oil and gas free zone, among others, are located in the area. The barricaded road is the only access road from Port Harcourt where most workers in the employ of these companies reside and are conveyed to work in their official vehicles before 7:00 am every day.

    Officials of these companies were at the Eleme Junction, Port Harcourt, after 7:00 am, stranded in their company vehicles. Some of the companies sent their workers back home to avoid any casualty.

    Many motorists who ran into the protesters abandoned their vehicles to escape being attacked. Truck and trailer drivers were forced to park their vehicles in such a way that they would block the road.

    Keys of some vehicles were retrieved from the drivers. Others had their front tyres deflated.

    The protest went on for hours, until the police intervened.

    Micheal Idoko, a tipper driver who had the windscreen of his vehicle smashed, said: “I was going to work this morning, about 6:30am. On getting to this point (close to the Aleto bridge), I noticed that people were running back. I quickly parked by the side and joined. On my return, I noticed that my vehicle had been smashed.

    “It was not only my vehicle that was vandalised; several others were involved.”

    A commercial driver, Mr. Sunny Monday, whose car key was taken from him by the rampaging youths, said: “I am a commercial driver. I ply Bori to Eleme junction. I was coming from Bori and on getting to Akpaju Bridge, I noticed that a lot of people were trekking while vehicles had parked with none going or coming.

    “I equally parked and worked up to the bridge to ascertain what had happened. On getting to the bridge, I noticed that they had used trailers and trucks to block the road, I decided to come back to my car so I could go back to Bori.”

    “On getting to my car, the boys came and forced my key out of me and now I can’t find any of them to get my key back. I’m now stranded here. I don’t have any other key.”

    The police dispersed then youths and cleared the road. The police arrested scores of them.

    Police spokesman Ahmed Mohammad said he was in Abuja and could not comment on the arrest.

    The protesters regrouped at various points to continue the protest.

    Comrade Friday Needam, who led the protest, said no amount of police humiliation would stop Ogoni people.

    He said the protest was necessary because the blood of an Ogoni was involved, adding that the best prayer for the country is that nothing should happen to Abe.

    “We are warning the politicians not to use the blood of Ogoni man to cleanse Rivers State or Nigeria, Nigeria cannot continue to be using the blood of Ogoni man as a sacrifice in political temple to redeem the past; it can no longer happen.”

  • Surveillance contract: Ogoni landlords urge Shell to maintain status quo

    The Ogoni chapter of the Oilfield Landlords Association of Nigeria has threatened a showdown with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over the company’s facilities’ surveillance contract.

    It accused Shell of planning to give the contract to people unnown to the association.

    The landlords, after an emergency meeting in Bori , Rivers State, said Shell must abandon the plan.

    The chairman of the association, Chief James Bebe, accused Shell of holding meeting with a group of people with the view to change the original order of awarding surveillance contracts.

    He said the association was angry over the move by Shell to remove the original contractors who had in the past risked their lives to protect SPDC facilities.

    He said: “The association is by this meeting ordering Shell to stop any plan to remove our members. As Ogoni landlords, we do not want to be reminded of our dark days. We are not against SPDC to award contract to any other group but we are worried that their action may cause another crisis in Ogoni land.

    “We are not fools but respected landlords of Ogoni land who are ready to fight for their rights, we are yet to recover from the pains and agony that Shell caused Ogoni people. This step by Shell to think of abandoning the old agreement may be a plan to cause another disaster in Ogoni land.”