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Tag: resolve

  • ‘APC should resolve Bayelsa crisis’

    ‘APC should resolve Bayelsa crisis’

    A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godwin Sidi, has called on the national leadership of the party to intervene in the crisis rocking the chapter.

    Sidi, a former Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (NPDP), was among the seven leaders suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

    He said his appeal for the intervention of the national leadership was to save the APC from disintegration, ahead of next year’s governorship election.

    He described his suspension as unconstitutional claiming that the person who signed the document containing the purported action, Mr. Marlin Daniel was no longer the party’s Secretary.

    He said: “I find it expedient to react to the said suspension, reason being that the person who made the announcement, Mr. Marlin Daniel, does not have the capacity to do so because he is no longer the secretary of our great party, APC.

    “You may recall that the so-called Marlin Daniel resigned as the state secretary to contest the just concluded House of Assembly elections and as such he is no longer the secretary.

    “If by any means he is parading himself as one, he should be regarded as an impostor and the public should disregard him. There is no truth in the suspension and it is baseless and does not hold water.

    “I am therefore, calling on the South-South Vice Chairman and national leadership of our great party to intervene in order to strengthen the state structure. Their intervention will also avert disintegration ahead of the coming governorship election in the state.”

    Sidi alleged that the suspension was meant to distract members of the APC and the public from gross misconduct, abuse of office by the state Chairman, Tiwei Orunimighe and his cronies.

    Another suspended elder of the party, Mr. Christopher Abareowei, said the suspension was illegal.

    He said: “Some of the APC members allegedly connived among themselves to suspend some party members without following the party rules and constitution as well as the law of fair hearing.

  • Jonathan yet to resolve Bayelsa PDP crisis

    Jonathan yet to resolve Bayelsa PDP crisis

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has not resolved the crisis in his state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It was gathered that the President attempted to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the crisis, but most party leaders and other aggrieved members did not show up.

    The party, ahead of its 2016 governorship election, is divided into two camps of members loyal to Jonathan’s family and supporting of the state Governor Seriake Dickson’s re-election.

    The anti-Dickson camp, controlled by the former President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, comprises former aides to the President, federal and state lawmakers who failed their re-election and sacked Dickson’s aides.

    A source said Jonathan was not allowed to intervene in the crisis because the elders were angry at his failure to exert his authority over the PDP when he was the President.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, noted that Jonathan allowed his former aides to sow the seed of discord in the party without calling them to order.

    “Jonathan lost his voice in the party the moment he allowed his former aides and his wife to launch a campaign of dividing the party in the state.

    “He allowed them to carry on as if they were larger than the party. Leaders in the state expected the President to give direction and beat everybody into shape. But he remained quiet,” the source said.

    It was learnt that matters came to a head when former presidential aides allegedly sponsored candidates in the opposition to challenge the PDP in the last general elections.

    He said: “Right now, everybody looks up to Governor Dickson for direction in the party. The Presidential cover enjoyed by Jonathan’s former aides ceased to exist from May 29. Some of them have been expelled already from the party. So, the governor, not Jonathan, holds the aces.”

    The main rival to the governor and former Special Assistant to Jonathan on Domestic Matters, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, accused the governor of destroying the party with his second term ambition.

    But PDP described Dudafa as an ingrate.

    In a statement at the weekend in Yenagoa, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osom Makbere, the PDP said: “Dudafa is not in a position to determine what goes on in the party, especially with regards to who flies the party’s flag in the 2016 governorship election.

    “…This is the height of ingratitude for a young man who came into politics after serving his mandatory one year National Youth Service corps (NYSC) programme in Yenagoa and was without any work experience. Yet, he became a member of the House of Assembly in 2003, Commissioner of Local Government in 2007 and Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs in 2012, through the magnanimity and grace of the party leaders at various times…”

    “Where was Dudafa when the founding fathers were toiling day and night to build the PDP in the state? Where was Dudafa when the present administration was re-writing the history of governance in the state? Where was Dudafa when the present administration was transforming the state

  • Labour asks Amaechi to resolve judiciary crisis

    Labour asks Amaechi to resolve judiciary crisis

    The Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, has appealed to the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, to end the lingering judiciary crisis in the state.

    Itubo, who made the appeal during the Workers’ Day celebration at Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt yesterday, noted that the resolution of the crisis which has lasted for more than one year would ease the suffering of the judicial workers as well as court officers who have lost their means of livelihood.

    Itubo said: “We are therefore compelled beyond circumstances to appeal to your Excellency to consider a holistic approach and put to rest the unending dilemma so that judicial activities would function again.”

    The Rivers Labour Chair however commended the Amaechi-led administration for boosting the work force of the state civil service that was almost wearing out due to retirements of the staff, with the employment of 13,200 teachers and hundreds of medical doctors and paramedical personnel.

    She also urged him to consider employing other cadre of officers in the civil service to fill the existing vacancies created by retirement of officers.

    She further appealed to the Rivers State Government to look into the training and retraining of civil servants already employed instead of hiring consultants and giving them jobs to do in the civil service.

    Itubo expressed regrets over the non-payment of workers’ salaries and urged the government to pay workers’ wages as and when due.

    In his own speech, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu commended Nigerians on the successful conduct of the general elections and the victory of the President- elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

    Onuegbu said that the emergence of Buhari is a clear indication that democracy is growing in Nigeria and that the days of impunity are numbered.

    Responding, the governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Barr. Samuel LongJohn, promised to pay the workers’ and pensioners’ salaries as from Monday next week.

    He also sought for the cooperation of the leadership of NLC and TUC in running the affairs of the state.

  • How artistic performances resolve conflicts

    How artistic performances resolve conflicts

    The first stakeholders parley by the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) was held in Lagos last week.  At the parley, the Artistic Director of the Troupe, Mr. Akin Adejuwon used the opportunity to unveil his plans to make the Troupe attain more heights to justify the transformation agenda of the federal government.  It was an opportunity for various interest groups and artistes and other stakeholders who have been working for the good of the Troupe to make their own contributions on how to ensure that the performative aspects of the National Troupe of Nigeria is maintained if not surpassed.

    Adejuwon stated that henceforth the primary assignment of the Troupe is to discover new talented artistes and encourage them to attain their goals in life as professionals.  With these new artistes, it is hoped that the National Troupe assignments would not only become more widespread in outlook, but is also geared towards reaching out to a greater number of people both at home and abroad.

    He said: “We intend to begin this revival project with a three state tour scheduled for this November.  We will organize two festivals.  The first, is the Domestic Festival of Performing Arts.  The other is an Abuja International Festival of Performing Arts.  The maiden edition of the first one is planned for 2015 while subsequent editions will be rotated among the states.  The second one will happen first in Abuja 2016 to make the federal capital territory feel the pulse of the Troupe in its epitome.”

    On the whole, Adejuwon intends to make Nigerian soldiers be a part of the tempo of this performative tendency of the Troupe.  In this regard, he said, “the present security situation in the country brings the import of this arm of government to the fore.  We will represent this importance through our performative expressions and then promote same.  Interestingly, we have just been invited to perform at the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration 2014.  I therefore consider this performance by the Troupe a unique one.  Apart from being the first foot forward within my vision of making the Troupe current and relevant in the Nigerian scheme of things, I see the performance which is billed to take place at the Aso Rock presidential Villa Banquet hall before a select audience of the president, his family and all service chiefs as a way of deploying the performative expression in a conflict environment.”

    Adejuwon also promised to maintain most of the old programmes of the Troupe in order to continue to promote the indices of the art, “since the National Troupe is the apex of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

    In his keynote speech, Professor Sunday Idodo of the University of Maiduguri and the President of the Society of Nigerian Artistes, (SONTA) highlighted the need for the Troupe to be more visible.  In his theme, the performative expressions in a conflict environment, he stated that an active National troupe should be in the forefront of making the whole people, the whole nation and indeed everybody to see, feel, watch and gain from its numerous, constant and engaging performances spread across the nation.

    He said “In the creative enterprise conflict is a constant, especially in the performative genre.  The preoccupation of any drama for instance is to generate conflicts and resolve them.  These conflicts are also derive from human experiences and engagements with his/her environment.  When conflicts are stimulated or imagined, they are also placed within plausible context of human appreciation.  The capacity of the performing arts to interrogate human condition and proffer solutions is innate to drama and the art forms of music and dance can add value and substance to the conflicts.  No one watches a theatrical piece without taking one or two lessons home apart from its entertainment values.

    The beauty of performative expression is its captivating intensity to hold spell bound an audience to a recreated world of imaginative reality that an audience can hardly dissociate itself from.  In other words, when a performative expression is well constructed and presented it does have a hold on its audience and capable of influencing and transforming them too.  It is on this account that the role the theatre can play as a change agent and as agency of mediation in conflict resolution can be understood.”  This is what we expect the National Troupe to be doing constantly.

  • Govt directs SPDC to resolve Bonga oil spill crisis

    Govt directs SPDC to resolve Bonga oil spill crisis

    The Federal Government has directed the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) to resolve the Bonga oil spill crisis in the Niger Delta.

    Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam gave the directive when officials of the corporation led by its country Chairman Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu visited her in Abuja.

    A statement issued in Abuja, said the delegation was on a follow-up meeting with the Minister to find solution to the Bonga spill.

    She expressed concern over the lingering crisis, saying  she has received series of petitions over the delay in resolving the crisis.

    She said the petitions call for concern, adding that it is in the interest of all parties to get the matter settled soonest.

    The minister who thanked the affected communities for their patience, assured that the Federal Government will not allow the patience of the people to be overstretched.

    She appealed particularly to the shoreline communities whose fishing activities were affected by the spillage to continue to exercise patience, adding that government is aware of the impact of the spillage on their livelihood.

    She said the government and SPDC are working on how to help mitigate the sufferings of the communities affected by the spill.

    Early in his address, country chairman, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu said that the corporation has carried out consultations with stakeholders as a step to finding solution to the crisis.

    He said the corporation was working on a mechanism that will put the matter to rest.

    Mr. Sunmonu revealed that a committee of stakeholders made up of Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the National Assembly (NASS), Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) among others are being set up to come up with recommendations aimed at resolving the matter amicably.

    He appealed to the Minister to assist in the settlement of the dispute, while calling for continuous understanding and patience from the affected communities.

  • Dickson to APC: resolve your leadership tussle in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson has urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Alliance (APC) to resolve the crisis rocking the state’s chapter.

    Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said his administration would not allow the crisis to threaten peace and security.

    He urged the police and other security agents to ensure security at the secretariat of the APC in Yenagoa.

    The governor said the directive was to maintain the policy of the present administration of ensuring security of life and property of residents and visitors.

    Said he: “As a responsive government, we will not abandon what is our duty of providing security and ensuring that people go about their duties without molestation.”

    Dickson said a building owned by Mr. Richard Kpodo, which he recently converted to APC’s secretariat, had been earmarked for demolition alongside other structures, to make way for the second flyover bridge in the area.

    He said government had set aside N1 billion for the payment of compensation to owners of the affected property.

    According to him, the demolition, which would soon begin, was not designed to victimise anybody or group.

    The governor said the exercise was intended to develop the capital in line with the restoration agenda of the government.

    He recalled that a section of his property was pulled down to pave the way for the ongoing expansion of the new Opolo/Elebele Expressway.

    Dickson said it was a price everybody had to pay for the development of the state.

    Appealing to the national body of the APC to resolve the leadership tussle among its members in Bayelsa, the governor expressed concern about the bitter rivalry among members of the party in the state.

    Said he: “The rift in APC is between loyalists of former Governor Timipre Sylva and members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who have been in the opposition all the while and a part of the new alliance, which gave birth to the APC.

    “Another thorny issue in the party is that two of Sylva’s loyalists (Richard Kpodo and Godwin Sidi) have reportedly imposed themselves on the party as chairman and secretary and sited the state secretariat at Kpodo’s building at Etegwe in Yenagoa without consultation.”

  • Why crisis is difficult to resolve, by Baraje

    Why crisis is difficult to resolve, by Baraje

    The Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, of being the obstacle to in the resolution of the PDP crisis.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze yesterday, the faction said Tukur had frustrated all efforts being made by President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders to end the crisis.

    “The latest of the belligerent actions by the Tukur faction is the ill-advised move to take over the party’s structures in the states controlled by the Governors loyal to Baraje’s leadership”, the statement added.

    The faction commended Jonathan and other party leaders for seeking amicable resolution of the crisis and appealed to them not to relent in their determination to end the crisis.

    “Mr. President should not be deceived by some party leaders who are making him believe that he can do without us. Most of these leaders currently cannot, under a properly organised free and fair elections, win their wards.

    “It is obvious that no presidential election in Nigeria can be won without states such as Rivers, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara, Niger and Kebbi States which are under our control.

    “Check the past general elections and see that some of these media-created PDP leaders have no followers in their states.

    “We are also aware of the attempts being made to rubbish and ridicule the BOT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, for stating that we have genuine reasons for what we are doing.

    “We want to assure Chief Anenih, knowing all his sacrifices and efforts in making PDP whatever it is today, that we will not sit and watch some jokers in Tukur’s faction undermine him or make him look ordinary in the affairs of the party. The truth will always see us through.

    “We are asking that internal democracy be allowed to thrive within the party and that Tukur and his undemocratic gang should not see the party as their personal property in which they can wake up any day and fire whoever they dreamt about in their sleep.

    “We will no longer condone such undemocratic reasoning and acts. Enough is enough!”

  • NLC moves to resolve ASUU/Fed Govt face–off

    NLC moves to resolve ASUU/Fed Govt face–off

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it will ask the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume negotiation with the Federal Government for the resolution of their differences.

    NLC President, comrade Abdulwahed Omar, spoke after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

    He said there were reports that the union had issued a statement to withdraw from the negotiations with the Federal Government.

    Omar said: “Congress resolved at the meeting that we are also going to make consultations to ensure that the negotiations resume immediately. We want to ensure that they are resumed to resolve the issues, not to resume and continue to dangle around without making any headway. We are also going to study the situation and make some proposals.

    “But we, at the meeting, also did deliberate on one or two other issues, particularly on the issue of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    “We are all aware that ASUU has issued a statement saying it will withdraw from the negotiation with the Federal Government following the government’s failure to make a headway in the negotiation.

    “According to the paper I read, it was also due to the lack of seriousness on the part of government concerning the negotiation. I think it is a very serious situation we are facing today, that we allow the lecturers to remain on strike for upward of two months without resolving the issues. I think it is a very serious issue.”

    Interior Minister Abba Moro yesterday urged ASUU to reduce its demands. .

    He said university students should also advise their teachers to review downwards their demands and yield to government’s position.

    The minister spoke in Abuja when he received officials of the National Union of Benue State Student (NUBSS).

    He said: “I assure you that the ongoing strike is one that the Federal Government is tackling headlong. In spite of the problems that have hindered further discussions, the government will continue to explore all avenues that are aimed at resolving the crisis in our universities, especially now that the government has given money to tackling all the problems in our universities for infrastructure.

    “Since you are children, I expect that some of your teachers are also parents. The government is making efforts to let ASUU see things from the position of the government, expect that you too have a role to play as students.

    “You must be in the position to advise and sometimes plead with teachers to take into consideration the future of the youth as leaders of tomorrow and mellow down on some of their demands…”

    House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to explore other means to resolve its differences with the Federal Government other than the ongoing strike.

    The lawmaker said incessant strikes are detrimental to the country’s educational system and standard.

    Lawan spoke yesterday in Abuja on the lingering ASUU action, which he said has dire consequences on the nation’s education sector.

  • Reps doubt NBC’s ability to resolve boundary disputes

    The House of Representatives has expressed reservations on the ability of the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to resolve lingering boundary disputes among various communities across the country.

    Its Committee on Special Duties has been mandated to interface with the commission to proffer permanent solution to such disputes.

    The House Committee was given four weeks to report back with particular reference to the inter-state border conflict between the Moon people of Benue State and the Kashimbila community of Taraba State.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance raised by Benjamin Aboho (ACN, Benue) who regretted that the dispute had lingered for several years and resulted in several deaths.

    Aboho said: “The lingering boundary disputes always result in armed conflicts between the Moon people of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State and Kashimbila Community of Takun Lopcal Government Area of Taraba State.

    “It is, however, important to state that the recent resurface of this problem has resulted in the abduction of people and an alleged invasion of soldiers in Imande-Debam Market of Moon District.”

    The lawmaker noted that a major contributory factor to the unending conflict was the inability of the National Boundary Commission to demarcate the Taraba/Benue Border on this axis despite many attempts in this direction.

    “It is worrisome that as long as this problem remains unsolved, the people (on both sides) will continue to suffer in the hands of security agencies, thus creating continuous conflict situations.

    “In addition, it also disturbing that the people on both sides are farmers, who rely on food production for their livelihood, and they may likely abandon farm work in this season for fear of invasion and abduction on farmlands, thus creating famine this year,” he added.

    He implored the House to mandate the House Committee on Special Duties to urge the National Boundary Commission to hasten up the demarcation of the boundary in the disputed area.

    In his contribution, Samson Osagie (ACN, Edo) said the NBC has nver been able to conclusively and successfully resolved any boundary dispute since its inception.

  • Jonathan to resolve Rivers, Bayelsa oil rift

    Jonathan to resolve Rivers, Bayelsa oil rift

    Disturbed by insinuations that he is supporting his Bayelsa home state on its oil well dispute with Rivers, President Goodluck Jonathan has resolved to broker peace between both states.

    The President, it was learnt yesterday, has convened a meeting of the feuding parties to resolve the dispute.

    The meeting may hold this weekend at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Sources said the President is not happy that he is being linked to the dispute on the alleged ceding of five oil wells in Rivers to Bayelsa.

    The wells are in Kula, Soku, Ehem-Saram, Idama and Aboseme communities in Rivers.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Kalabari monarchs and elders of Rivers are claiming that the wells had been surreptitiously ceded to Bayelsa which is now reportedly collecting revenues on them.

    Rivers, it was gathered, is contemplating going to court to stop Bayelsa from further collecting revenue on the wells.

    Those expected at the meeting are Amaechi, his Bayelsa State counterpart Seriake Dickson, Kalabari monarchs and elders.

    The president, who is said to be worried by insinuations of his partiality, is expected to use the meeting to correct this impression.

    A source described as “unfortunate” the linking of the president to the dispute, saying the issue does not concern him or his office.

    Rivers , it was learnt, is set to go to the Supreme Court over the matter, pending the delineation of boundaries between both states.

    A top Rivers official yesterday alleged that Bayelsa had collected about N17billion from the wells.

    He said: “The Rivers Government is left with no option than to return to court to stop further allocation of revenue accruing from the oil wells to Bayelsa State.

    “Our lawyers are discussing, they are weighing options to stop further disbursement to Bayelsa State.

    “We have it on record that more than N17billion accruing from the oil wells has been allocated to Bayelsa State. This is a slap on the face of the law.

    “What we expected was that the accruable funds from the oil wells will be paid into an escrow account until a decision is taken by the Supreme Court upon the recommendation of the National Boundary Commission (NBC).”

    Responding to a question on the issue of status quo raised by the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, the Official added: “The Federal Government itself admitted on oath at the Supreme Court that there were mistakes in the 11th Edition of the Administrative Map published in 2000, why can’t they wait for the 12th Edition before ceding the oil wells to Bayelsa State.

    “The status quo is to respect the order of the Supreme Court for all parties to stay action on the wells until there is a judicial pronouncement. You can see that the purported ceding was politically motivated.”

    Contesting this claim, Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said: “By the said 11th Edition of the Administrative Map of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 2000, Bayelsa State is entitled to derivation in respect of all the oil wells within the state territory.

    “The Government of Rivers State has been receiving derivation revenue over several oil facilities and installations which are clearly within Bayelsa territory from 1999 till date in spite of the clear boundary delineation in the said map.

    “The present claim is about the right of Bayelsa State, like any other states, to derivation in revenue in respect of activities within its territory as stated in the administrative map of Nigeria.”