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Tag: Rivers

  • Wike: Harry’s death a great loss to Rivers

    The Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has described the death of former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Harry, as a great loss to the state and country.

    Harry represented Degema Constituency in the House of Assembly from 1999. He died a fortnight ago.

    Wike, who visited the late legislator’s family at their Port Harcourt GRA home on Sunday, promised to assist them.

    He described Harry’s death as “a great loss to Rivers and the nation.”

    The minister said the ex-speaker was a man of impeccable character, whose death had created a political vacuum.

    Pledging his support to the deceased’s family, Wike prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    Replying on behalf of the family, Dr. Harry Ogiri hailed the minister for the visit and promised to keep him abreast of the funeral plans.

  • Rivers: A chronology of impunity

    Rivers: A chronology of impunity

    In its most recent intervention on the seemingly intractable crisis in Rivers earlier this month, my party said it is very important for Nigerians to pay attention to the situation in the state, because everything happening there suggests it is being used by President Goodluck Jonathan as a testing ground for fascism.

    We made that assertion with all seriousness, considering the level of lawlessness, impunity and constitutional infraction going on in the state. As I intend to show shortly, democracy has been stifled in Rivers and this constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy in the nation at large, if left unchecked.

    Suffice it to say that, shorn of all pretences, the root cause of the Rivers crisis is the 2015 elections, specifically the presidential poll.

    Because he is hell bent on running and obsessed with winning at all cost, President Jonathan does not give a damn (to use his own language) if Nigeria, not to talk of Rivers, disintegrates in the process. That was why we alerted Nigerians to the situation and quoted the Iate Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke, who said all it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.

    Back to the 2015 elections, I can say without equivocating that if the President and his puppets succeed in their current anarchic experiment in Rivers, they will simply re-enact the Rivers scenario in as many states as possible in the run-up to the elections, thereby ensuring the polls will be everything but free, fair and credible – with consequences too grim for anyone to contemplate.

    Imagine the antics of the arrowhead of the presidential onslaught in Rivers state, Alternative Inspector-General of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, being replicated in other states? Imagine an Mbu or his like as the Commissioner of Police in any state during an election? He will simply ask his men to disperse all monitors and party agents, coerce the electoral officers into writing the result and then dare anyone to challenge him (Mbu). In other words, he will give cover to uniformed

    thugs and assassins who will decide the outcome of the election.

    Under President Jonathan’s watch and Alternate IGP Mbu’s self-assumed authority, Rivers state now has two parallel governments, one being run by Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, who was elected by the good people of Rivers State, and the other by the Commissioner of Police (now Alternate IGP) Mbu, who derives his unlawful authority from President Jonathan.

    To those who may think we are exaggerating things, a few examples of what has transpired in Rivers State in the last couple of months will prove beyond doubt that we are not just crying wolf where none exists.

    1   On the 6th of May 2013, Mr Mbu practically provided the needed backing for a group of hired thugs and ex-militants with dangerous weapons to unlawfully and forcefully invade the Rivers State House of Assembly to terrorize its members, sack them and other management staff members from the complex and prevent the lawful exercise of legislative functions.

    2   A caretaker committee lawfully set up for Obi/Akpor Local Government Area was prevented from delivering governance to

    the people due to the sealing of the LGA secretariat by police operatives acting under Mr. Mbu’s directive.

    3   Security details were withdrawn from the principal members of the state government, including but not limited to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Attorney-General and principal judicial officers of the state

    4   On the 17th of May, 2013, the same Commissioner of Police summoned the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree, to appear before him on Monday, 20th May, 2013, following an open letter written by the Speaker to President Jonathan to intervene to restore peace to the unnecessarily-charged political climate of Rivers State.

    5   On the 22nd of May, 2013, Mr Mbu again provided cover for a sponsored protest by over 5,000 ex-militants and other criminal elements brandishing dangerous weapons to completely take over and parade the streets of Port Harcourt, thereby creating fear and an atmosphere reminiscent of pre-amnesty siege in the minds of right-thinking residents. Curiously, bus-loads of ex-militants from neighboring Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa and Delta State, complete with their dangerous weapons and paraphernalia of secret cult membership, were cleared to join in the unlawful procession by the Police.

    6   On the 26th of June, 2013, Mr Mbu almost engineered an unnecessary but deadly riot by directing his men to restrain over 500 people – including traditional rulers – from the Orashi communities of Rivers State from paying a scheduled and legitimate courtesy and solidarity visit to the State Governor at Government House, Port Harcourt.

    7   In July 2013, a potential bloodbath at the Island Community of Bonny was averted only by the maturity exhibited by the young members of the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation in the face of serial provocation by members of the Rivers State Police Command

    8   When sometime in August, five colleagues of Governor Amaechi – who felt they were exercising their constitutional  rights of free movement and association – had the temerity to pay him a solidarity visit in Port Harcourt, they were molested and humiliated at the Port Harcourt Airport by hired thugs under the protection of Mr Mbu

    9   On September 26th, police operatives used tear gas to cause a potentially-deadly stampede through the forceful dispersal of 13,201 newly-recruited and trained teachers who had gathered at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt for the final round of their training, orientation, mobilization and deployment to primary and secondary schools.

    10 To cap it all, a few weeks back, the Rivers State Command blockaded a road leading to the Government House in Port Harcourt, forcing the Governor’s convoy to turn back and take another route to his official residence.

    These are just a few of the reign of terror that has been unleashed on Rivers by Mr. Mbu, and it should be clear to any discerning mind that what is going on in Rivers State goes far beyond political or personal differences between the first family and Governor Amaechi. It is simply the takeover of an elected government by a clique aided and abetted by President Jonathan and Mr Mbu.

    The situation in Rivers State is the worst nightmare for any democracy. The rule of Jonathan and the police has replaced the rule of law, and Rivers has become a police state in its most brutish form.

    More worrisome is that in spite of the well documented allegations of abuse of office, high-handedness and disrespect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Mr Mbu, neither the Presidency nor the Police hierarchy has deemed it fit to subject his indiscretions to any review.

    A petition to the Police Service Commission (PSC) by the State Governor, in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the State, has yet to receive any attention and, even if it did, its outcome is yet unknown. Similarly, resolutions passed by the National Assembly asking for the redeployment of Mr Mbu have been given the toilet paper treatment. Even the 21-day ultimatum issued to the Inspector General of Police and the PSC on Sept. 27th by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to redeploy Mbu or face an indefinite workers’ strike will fall on deaf ears.

    Against this background, is anyone still in doubt that Rivers State is indeed in a state of anomie? Is anyone still in doubt that Fascism, in its classic sense, is far off? The theatre of the absurd in Rivers State must be stopped immediately to restore the rule of law and save our democracy.

    Some people have accused the APC of crying more than the bereaved on the Rivers State issue. Our response is that we in  the APC are indeed the bereaved anytime the rule of law is supplanted with the rule of the jungle; and we are the bereaved anytime a democratically-elected President thumbs his nose at the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

    The system of government that we operate does not make provision for an imperial presidency, who can neither be criticized nor opposed. Therefore, when an elected President begins tottering on the edge of Fascism, the mechanism built into the system to check that must automatically kick into action.

    •Lai Mohammed is the Interim National Publicity, All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • ‘Speak out against oppression in Rivers’

    ‘Speak out against oppression in Rivers’

    A former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Rivers State, Apostle Eugene Ogu, has advised Nigerians to speak out against the injustice and oppression in the state.

    Ogu, founder of Abundant Life Evangelic Mission (ALEM), spoke with Niger Delta Report against the backdrop of the alleged face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    He said prominent indigenes of Rivers and Bayelsa states have failed to speak up against perceived injustice meted on the state because of tension between Jonathan and Amaechi.

    Jonathan hails from Bayelsa State, which was part of the old Rivers before it was exorcise in 1996. His 2015 ambition and Amaechi’s rumoured vice presidential ambition is blamed for the crisis in the Rivers.

    Apostle Ogu said: “People know the truth, you and I know the truth but nobody is willing to speak out because they are afraid of being reprimanded for speaking the truth. Yes, we have a constitution that guarantees freedom of speech, expression but people are not speaking because of fear.

    “We have a situation where you hear oil blocks from Rivers

    are taken and given to Bayelsa state; we never heard that until Jonathan became president. Now we are heard that and nobody is speaking about it.

    “What is the problem? Is it that there are no leaders in Bayelsa or Rivers who could sit down both men and tell them the truth not minding the consequence? I think the leaders, elders in the two states should tell Mr President or whoever is bringing the confusion that we never had this confusion before.”

     

     

     

    “People should tell them not to bring out this confusion because Rivers and Bayelsa states are brothers. They were one before Bayelsa was created out of Rivers in 1996.”

    Apostle Ogu, who is the President of Arm of Hope World Outreach, expressed concerns that while politics and perceived ambitions are

    allowed to take the centre stage in the controversy, common people of the state are bearing the brunt and suffering unnecessarily.

    He also flays the role of the Rivers State Police Command in the crisis.

    He said the controversy is more than the alleged vice president ambition of the Rivers State governor, adding that “allowing the situation to degenerate to the level where the police becomes irresponsible is ‘unacceptable’.

    “Wherever the problem is, it is politics and intrigues.

    The players played it to get to where they are; it should be allowed. What cannot be allowed is a situation it degenerates to the police holding a state to ransom, where the courts are undermined, where lives and properties are under threat, where people, who could until now not open their mouth to speak because of criminal records, now come to the television parade themselves as whatever and people cannot speak! We now become cowards,” he lamented.

     

  • Councillor’s murder reopens Rivers’ communities’ land tussle

    Councillor’s murder reopens Rivers’ communities’ land tussle

    The murder at the weekend of a councillor representing Ekporo ward 5 in Eleme Local Government of Rivers State, Nelson Ogbuji, has reopened a land tussle between Eleme and Ekporo communities.

    Ekporo is in Eleme Local government Area and Ogu is in Ogu/Bolo Local Government in Rivers State.

    The people of Ekporo at a news conference accused the people of Ogu of killing the lawmaker and promised a reprisal attack.

    Chief Samuel Obe, the paramount ruler of Ekporo, told Niger Delta Report that the community has petitioned Police Commissione, Mbu Joseph Mbu for intervention.

    He said: “Ogu people killed our son. They were the ones attacking my people on that land. I don’t know why they resumed attack when the said land belongs to us. I think the police’s inability to respond fast on this crisis also contributed to the attacking and killing of my people.”

    Obe said the Ekporo community became tensed when youths of Ogu numbering over 200 invaded his community shooting sporadically.

    “I have been shouting before now that the way things are going our rivals have plans to murder members of my community. They have killed one of the futures of this community but they have murdered sleep and they will sleep no more,” he said.

    A colleague to the deceased, John Ngelale, alleged that the killing was politically motivated.

    “It was the brother of prominent politician in Ogu who is interested in the land that supervised the killing of the Lawmaker. We know them but they will soon be exposed,” he said.

    But, the Elders and Chiefs of Ogu community have denied the allegation and accused Ekporo of attacking members of their community alleging that two of their missing sons were abducted by the Ekporo community.

    The Chairman, Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Emmanuel Ibiorika, said: “The people of Ekporo have abducted two of our sons, Ibunemisa Obie and Stephen Oju, who are yet to return home.

    “We want to state clearly that there was never a time my people killed or attacked the people of Ekporo who have no boundary with us as they claimed. They are liars and cannot intimidate us over this issue when the land in question is our land. We are appealing to the Rivers State government, the security personnel and other relevant authorities to plead with Ekporo community to release two of our sons abducted at the disputed land.

    “They migrated from Ogoloma in Onne. They suffered ritual banishment. In fact, they were refused acceptance by Ebubu people who are their kith and kin. They came to Ogu through one of our elders who introduced them to our forebears. In our spirit of magnanimity, our forebears accepted and kept them on an island called Oguchuku. After a while, they complained of starvation as they could not fish and wanted a bush where they will farm.”

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ahmad Mohammad confirmed the incident. He said the police was doing everything possible to prevent further bloodshed.

    He said: “We are aware; right now police has taken over the disputed land. Normalcy has returned, though the killing took place before the arrival of the police but we are doing everything possible to stop further attack and bloodshed.”

     

     

  • Care for senior citizens in Rivers

    Care for senior citizens in Rivers

    It is a clear demonstration that the government cannot do it all. Across six local government areas of Rivers State, the elderly are getting comprehensive care. Every day, many citizens walk into a facility dedicated to them and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    It does not end there. They are clothed, and two times in a month, a medical doctor calls to ascertain their health. If any is ill, they are given drugs. And for some who are in dire need of shelter, their care provider also builds a house for them.

    That provider is Mrs Sienye Lulu-Briggs, a philanthropist who believes that private citizens can support government’s efforts by meeting the needs of the people.

    About 12 years ago, she built the Biokpo Recreational Centre in Abonnema, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state, which has continued to give hope to the elderly.

    Apart from the daily meals, over 200 senior citizens registered with the centre come in once a month to take home various food items, which include rice, beans, yams, garri and beverages, among others.

    When Mrs Lulu-Briggs turned 53, she was only too glad to mark it with her elderly crowd. Many of them came with walking sticks, but they were no less happy to celebrate with their benefactor. They surrounded her when she cut the birthday cake. They danced with her when the music played. They shared food with her. They shared love.

    They prayed for Lulu-Briggs, asking God to continue to provide, protect and keep her.

    Even as they celebrated, they presented a request. Could Madam help replace their broken-down vehicle to assist their movements in and out of the centre?

    They also appealed that more elderly persons who are seeking registration with the centre be given the opportunity to become members too.

    Mrs Lulu-Briggs offered some insights into her brand of outreach and philanthropy, saying it is in obedience to God.

    “The word of God told us to invite those that cannot invite us back in their own celebration, and I have come to discover that keeping to this instruction, to invite those that cannot invite you, gives greater joy.

    “If you invite those who can afford it, you haven’t done anything really, because they too will invite you at their own time, but these ones we have invited for this celebration are at the lowest point of their lives; they have little or nothing to give back to you. So it gives me great joy to be able to share with them.

    “The joy I have in my heart is so much that I can’t keep it to myself, so I wish to share it with those who will truly appreciate it. Ordinarily, nobody will invite them but God has been able to open my eyes to see that they are the one that should be invited and they give me so much joy.

    “When I was dancing, I was dancing with my whole heart; I was honestly very happy. It is a joy to see that what you’re able to do is affecting other people positively.

     “The people are special, they are wonderful, if you see the photograph we had with them when we started 10 years ago, you will not believe that they could last for some more months, but today they are very strong, looking fresh, and healthy; they always have smiles on their faces.”

    She said the more the senior citizens related with the Centre, the more they thought they had a reason to live.

    “Now they look forward to coming to this recreational centre,” Lulu-Briggs continued. “It was built for them, they look forward to September 21, every year; before now, they had nothing to look forward to; it gives them a reason to live.”

    The philanthropist also spoke about clergy who turned up at the event.

    She said: “The presence of so many clergymen at this event was for no other reason than to identify with the doctrine of love and care for the needy and the downtrodden they preach.

    “They understand that this aspect is the whole essence of Christianity, and every lover of God would want to identify with that.

    Ten more elderly people joined the Centre at the birthday ceremony, bringing their number to over 200 spread across six councils in the state. They are Etche, Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Abua and Igbo-Echte among others.

    The Director, Programmes of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Miebaka Nabiebu expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to this foundation.

    “I do know that their blessings are awaiting them,” he said.

    “You know what the bible says about giving; when you give you receive, and when you give to the needy you receive, the elderly, the grace the Lord will give to you will be manifold and the blessing that will come with that grace is something that you cannot quickly quantify.

    “For those that have given and been giving to this programme, please don’t stop giving because breakthrough will definitely come from it particularly giving to the poor, the helpless and children.

    On the incentives for the beneficiaries, he said: “Once you are a beneficiary, we take care of you holistically, your blessings. This includes their physical, medical, spiritual, nutritional and emotional needs. There are doctors that visit all the Foundation centres across the state twice monthly for their routine medical check-up.

    “Every month the Foundation provides and shares to them between 15 and 30 bags of rice, tubers of yam, bags of beans, plantain, cartons of milk, beverages, fish among others for their feeding at home.

    “Then, as many of them that are living within the recreational centres across the state, go to feed at the centres every day, Monday through Friday. At the Biokpo centre they have facilities to refresh, play games, relax and go home after dinner in the evening.

    “There are caterers and a matron at this centre who cook for them and give them their drugs. There are also those employed just to give them adequate care, the kind of care they cannot get from their homes. These care givers assist those of them that are visually impaired.

    Some 20 people provide care for the seniior citizens, providing their clothes.

    “What they wore to this event today,” said Nabiebu, “were provided for them; that is why you saw somebody donating 35 yards of lace material today, it is for them.

    “We make clothes for their January 1 party every year. They are always celebrated and this keeps them happy; what we are doing here is appreciation of God’s love for our lives.

    “We have been doing this for ten years now, and the programme is designed for life.

    What are the criteria for membership?

    Nabiebu said “you must be 70 years of age and above, you must have no relation that could be able to assist and take care of you, which means that you have been neglected by the society.

    “Every beneficiary you see here has nobody to assist him or her. It is only in this area that you see the young ones dying while the old ones live on.

    “We build houses for them; I have just informed one of them in this event now that the foundation of her house will be laid anytime from now. I have also instructed those responsible for that to begin work the work.

    “What we do here is, if you have a portion of land or a mud house we can bring it down to erect a modern building. The size of the house also depends on what you want and the size of your plot of land, but the minimum is a room and parlour.

      “The Foundation also embarks on free medical outreach, where we carry out surgery on the needy and the helpless.

    On funding, he said 99% of the cash comes directly from High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs and his wife, while people of good will contribute the remaining one per cent.

     Their budget for this year is N380million.

  • JTF uncovers illegal armoury in Rivers

    JTF uncovers illegal armoury in Rivers

    •Residents say discovery merely tip of iceberg 

    Fresh concern over security in the Niger Delta region heightened yesterday after the alleged discovery of an illegal armoury in a private residence in Bille Ttown, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The arms were unearthed by troops of 130 Battalion attached to the Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, who carried out a cordon-and-search operation in Bille on Friday.

    Troops acting on a tip-off moved into the Ijaw town with an estimated population of about 250,000 at 3am, one hour after they left Port Harcourt.

    The operation, led by the commanding officer of the battalion, Lt Col Caius Baushe, lasted till 6am.

    Two G3 rifles, five pieces of AK- 47 rifles and a Barreta pistol were recovered from the house owned by a prominent leader in the area.

    Also found were 260rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, nine rounds of 7.62mm and two rounds of K2 ammon.

    The search also revealed 10 AK-47 magazines, binoculars and 592cm of detonator cords.

    Nine suspects arrested along with the weapons during the operation were taken to the Bori Camp of the Nigeria Army on Friday afternoon.

    The weapons were reportedly discovered in a private residence in the community but it could not be ascertained if the landlord was among the suspects arrested.

    The Nation on Sunday authoritatively gathered that troops from the Sector 2 of the JTF stormed the community following reports of arms build-up in there.

    The Joint Media Campaign Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the report in a telephone interview with our reporter.

    He said, “Acting on intelligence report that some persons were illegally storing arms in a community in Rivers State, troops of 130 Battalion covering Sector 2 JTF area of responsibility carried out a cordon and search operation that lasted from 3am to 6.30am today (Friday) at Bille community.”

    “Nine suspects arrested in connection with the illegal armoury are currently undergoing preliminary investigations at the Headquarters Sector 2 before they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency,” Lt. Col Nwachukwu added.

    Meanwhile, a very reliable source in the town who does not want to be named told our reporter that the discovery was just a tip of the iceberg.

    “These people have been acquiring arms and ammunition. What was seized yesterday (Friday) was just a drop in the ocean of weapons in this community and environs. People are not saying anything now because they have been cowed and afraid of going to the police because security operatives in the area are no longer trusted,” our source added.

  • Restoring the rule of law in Rivers

    It would sound like a broken record to repeat that the disturbing events in Rivers State, like that of the old Western Region in late 1960s, have the capacity to conflagrate Nigeria. The other day five legislators sat under the watch of the police and purported to remove the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Analysts had projected that had they been successful, they would have reconvened to also purport to remove the State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

    However, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the five legislators could neither remove the speaker nor the governor. But in a society where the Rule of Law has been sent on vacation, oddities happen. Where the Rule of Law is not in place, might becomes right and minority rules. It takes society back to the State of Nature, characterised by, what Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), called “a war of every man against every man”.

    Even during the Dark Ages, societies observed some measure of the Rule of Law, as draconian and as ad hominem as the laws were. Emperor Constantine (274-337 AD) applied debate and edicts to quell the flame of the Arian dogmatic dispute ignited in Christian Egypt but which threatened the Christian world. Sensing a larger threat, Constantine convened an Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in Bithynia (now Iznik in Turkey). Small flames, when sensitive, have a way of having its embers fanned into an uncontrollable inferno. Had Constantine not acted timeously, the first world war could have come ahead in the first century, who knows?

    The World War I shows that global armed belligerence could result from the minutest dispute when tempers are high. Although deeply rooted in the European history of the 19th Century, particularly in the political and economic policies that prevailed in Europe after 1871, when Germany emerged Europeanpower, the immediate cause of the war was the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the Austria-Hungarian heir, by a Serbian nationalist. Soon, Europe’s Allied and Central Powers were clashing. Japan joined the Allied Powers and Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers. Italy and the United States joined the Allies and world peace ceased for half a decade.

    Last week, major headlines had it that Policemen used vans to block Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his guests, (about 102 of them, mainly former speakers) from entering his official residence. I had initially thought that the ‘Rivers side’ of the Abuja-Rivers ‘war’ was up to some propaganda. Then, in the video there was the governor standing before the barricade. Then two former speakers of Plateau and Lagos States spoke, expressing shock at the action of the police.

    Reports later claimed that when Governor Amaechi demanded to enter his residence, the policemen made a lengthy phone call after which they said they had order that nobody, including the governor, should be allowed to pass! They reportedly added that they “don’t take orders from bloody civilians”. I never knew that policemen are now also ‘soldiers’. Section 215(4) of the Constitution allows the Governor to give “lawful directions” to the Commissioner of Police, who may request a reference to the president for “his directions”. Governor Amaechi’s direction to allow him passage to his official residence was lawful under Section 215(4). Who countermanded it over the phone? The Commissioner of Police? The Inspector-General? The President? These are issues for another day.

    I have not taken sides with the ‘Rivers’ flank of the Abuja-Rivers ‘war’. I am not a politician and I live in Lagos and not Port Harcourt or Abuja, although both cities regularly play host to me. Even the explanation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the blocking of the governor was to forestall entrance by ‘authorised persons’ into the “new PDP” office in Port Harcourt, is weak. I think the legality of a “new PDP” office anywhere is a matter for the courts. Using police power may spell anarchy. So, the action of the police is still deplorable, provocative and smacks of display of naked power. It is an abuse of power through a misuse of Section 215 of the Constitution.

    Even a trainee prosecutor can sustain a charge of treason against the officers and men that perpetrated this ignominy. An armed barricade against the president or a governor from entering his office or official residence is an act of war. There is no easier way to meet the definition of acts that “intimidate or overawe” the incumbent of those offices. The ‘bloody’ policemen in Port Harcourt simply intimidated and overawed the governor.

    If only the feuding parties in Rivers State can show mutual respect for each other’s interests and observe the Rule of Law, the unnecessary tension would calm down. Let me start with the Rule of Law, believed to be the bedrock of constitutionalism.Thomas Fuller (1608 – 1661) posited more than 300 years ago thus, “be you ever so high, the law is above you”. In GOURIET V UNION OF POST OFFICE WORKERS (1977) 2 WLR 310 @ 331, Lord Denning cited Fuller with approval. Nigeria has a constitution and laws, which parties to the Rivers conflict swore to uphold.

    Allowing the Constitution and statutes to be sacred guide in the midst of confusion and conflict of interests is the essence of Rule of Law. Conflicts and disagreement are normal in politics, but let Law be the arbiter. The Rule of Law compelled British PM David Cameron to seek Parliamentary support for the proposed US-led military action against Syria. The Rule of Law also compelled him to abide the unfavourable ‘nay’ vote. Rule of Law checks arbitrariness and caprice. Conversely, arbitrariness, dictatorship, abuse, conflicts and war, thrive where there is no Rule of Law.

    Neglect of the Rule of Law can sound the death knell on Nigeria. It is the oxygen that keeps the modern society going. Indeed the Rule of Law is the final arbiter of disputes in Nigeria. The Supreme Court merely makes a final declaration of its principles. If not for the Rule of Law, Governor Amaechi might not have been governor in his first term, after the then President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly spotted a “k-leg” in his nomination at the Liberation Stadium.

    But for the Rule of Law, those bent on the Rule of Cabal against the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President when President Umaru Yar’Adua became mortally ill, would have succeeded. If not for the Rule of Law those relying on some sectional agreement would have barred President Jonathan from contesting the presidency in 2011.

    But for the Rule of Law, those opposed to the Jonathan presidency would have met at night at the Transcorp Hilton and ‘impeached’ him without due process. But for the Rule of Law, members of the “new PDP” could have been rounded up by now and detained without trial. Simply put, Nigeria is preserved by the Rule of Law. If not that my jealous God detests polytheism, I would have erected an altar for worship of the ‘Rule of Law’ as another god.

    It has been alleged that the Rivers feud is fueled by permutations for the 2015 presidential election. President Jonathan is said to be eyeing re-election, while Governor Amaechi eyes vice-presidency with a Northern president. Apart from “body language” none of the two men has validated these claims. Yet, these ambitions do not suffice to destroy Nigeria.

    President Jonathan has right to bid for re-election in 2015. It is a legitimate ambition. I declare my support for him, especially when I am not a party to the alleged agreement said to limit him to one term. But Mr. President has to clinch his party’s nomination through a legitimate exercise devoid of intimidation and victimization. The Rule of Law should prevail.

    Governor Amaechi also has the right to aspire to be vice-president under PDP, “new PDP”, APC, VOP or PDM. So why would Abuja destabilise Rivers State for that? Can only Amaechi stop Jonathan’s re-election? Some say Rivers State is sensitive because it is Mr President’s neighbouring state. Really? How many Southwest states voted President Obasanjo in 1999?

    But then, is it not for Rivers people to decide in 2015 whether they want a President Jonathan or a Vice President Amaechi? Each aspirant should prepare to make his strong case. So, why ruin Rivers State for that? Why break a someone’s skull for that? Why bring the corporate existence of Nigeria under threat over a simple decision that should be left to the electorate?

    Both President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi have been beneficiaries of excessive divine favour in politics. By now both should have realised that their fate in 2015 is in God’s hands and not in the hands of thugs, whether ‘bloody’ policemen, ex or serving militants or political jobbers! Therefore, let the Rule of Law prevail in Rivers State.

     

     

  • It turns out CP Mbu is actually governor of Rivers

    Since the officious Rivers State police commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, began to lend himself for political uses, neither he nor victims of his insubordination have slept peacefully. His career seems fated to crumble like that of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Raphael Ige, who in 2003 led the abduction of Chris Ngige, then governor of Anambra State, but what does he care? He is inured to history and its harsh lessons. He boasts a high level of education from reputable schools, but in all his doings in Rivers State, he has shown nothing of the learning and character required of an educated officer and gentleman.

    But Mr Mbu, we all appreciate, could never on his own summon the courage or the recklessness to undermine the person or office of the governor of the state as he did last Thursday when he blocked the access of the governor and his august visitors to the State House. And like many of his colleagues, there is no incentive in the police conditions of service, nor flexibility in their training, to equip them with the character required to resist unlawful orders or to call their souls their own. Except I err gravely, I do not also think the urbane Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, would give Mr Mbu orders to disrespect the Rivers State governor. If anything, I suspect that if it came to the crunch, the two, or any other police officer in their shoes, would simply and safely second-guess the presidency.

    But whether they were ordered to disrespect and subvert the elected governor of Rivers or not, or they second-guessed the presidency with intent to curry favour or secure promotion or not, the important thing is that Mr Mbu has acted and presented himself as the real, not even alternate, governor of Rivers State. He proves increasingly that he has more real power than the governor, and could even ruffle the feathers of the governor, if not singe them altogether, if provoked. That we elected the defiant Governor Amaechi, not the snivelling and grovelling Mr Mbu, is, to the police officer, a small theoretical inconvenience. Given the way he speaks whenever he crosses path and arms with the governor, it is obvious that Mr Mbu has assured himself that what obtains in the state, and in which he is not disadvantaged at all, is what historians describe as contrapuntal paramountcy. Cheeky analysts may even describe the balance of terror in Rivers State as a sort of dual mandate, where Mr Mbu draws his insidious and destabilising power from Abuja, and Mr Amaechi draws his legitimate power from the long-suffering and sometimes confused electorate. To our collective dismay, we know that the real power resides in Abuja, not in some vague and indefinable electorate.

    Someday, however, we will have a bright patriot as president. He will know what to do, and he will do them well. That day, alas, is not here yet.

  • Delta spends N38b in riverside communities

    Delta spends N38b in riverside communities

    Delta State Government has pledged to enhance the socio-economic potentials of riverside communities with various projects meant to improve the well-being of rural dwellers having reached advanced stage.

    Towards enhancing the well-being of the people, the sum of N38b was provided by the state government.

    Over 55% of contract sums for projects including N12.2 billion of the N28 billion allocated to the multi-billion naira trans Warri-Ode Itsekiri bridge project have been paid to contractors.

    According to Delta Commissioner, Directorate of Special Infrastructure, Orezi Eseivo who spoke in Asaba, said  the project involves the construction of a 24km road from Ubeji to Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area.

    She said the project includes the construction of spurs to riverine communities such as Ubeji, Ijala, Ugbodede, Orugbo, Ajigba-Inorin-Usele and township roads at Ode-Itsekiri.

    Esievo said six bridges have been completed with sub-structure works for four other bridges completed, adding that a five kilometer stretch of the road has also been completed.

    Also, the construction of the Ogheye Floating Market awarded at the cost of N3 billion has commenced.

    Ogheye Floating Market, according to Esievo, will comprise 1000 stalls, three concrete step-ways, piling platforms and protective barriers.

    It will have warehousing and cold storage facilities, aside banking, administrative, and berthing and fish processing facilities.

    Mrs. Esievi said the market has benefits for over 36 communities.

    Esievo said construction work at the Sapele-Abigborodo-Aruwon road has reached advanced stage.

    She said the project includes an 11km road with two bridges awarded at N7.2billion.

    According to Esievo, the first bridge has been completed while earthworks, piling and concrete works for the beams of the second bridge is in progress.

  • Rivers receives free HIV drugs

    The Rivers State government yesterday expressed its willingness to give out some anti-retroviral drugs it recently received from ACTLAP Children Foundation, Canada.

    Parker said the drug was given to the state free of charge by the foundation to assist in fighting the virus.

    Experts in a programme held in the state said the state requires over N15 billion to fight the disease between now and 2015.

    The commissioner said: “All the government did was to cover the logistics of shipment and transportation so it is only natural to give some to our neighbours, who are in need.”