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Tag: south

  • Peterside… A ray of hope from the South

    Peterside… A ray of hope from the South

    His friends describe him as a man who despite his growing profile has remained the man they knew when he was nowhere the ladder of leadership. They believe his humility, fear of God, loyalty to friendship, detribalised nature and compassion for the less privileged have worked in his favour. The man they are talking about is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Hon. Dakuku Peterside. From his time as Student Union leader, aide to a governor, local government chairman, Commissioner for Works and now member of the House of Representatives, those who know him insist Peterside has remained the humble man they knew right from his days at the Okrika Grammar School. What may have changed, his aides say, is that he has proven himself as a dependable leader driven by the desire for change. They have described him in these words: compassionate, intellectually-driven, imbued with leadership virtues, dependable and obsessed with integrity.

    This man, who turned 43 on the eve of the New Year, has indeed come a long way; yet, those close to him say he is still a mission in progress. Wherever that mission takes him, what is clear now is that he is touching lives in different ways. He has become a role model of sorts to younger people garnering unprecedented followership because of his simplicity, consistency and sense of accommodation.

    Every year the lives of 10 graduates from the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State change for good. Last September, Harry Dunotio Zipporah, Utong, Barthemaeus Abraham, Ofik Tana,Oko Jaja Opuada, Festus Victor Pepple and five others left for the United Kingdom to pursue masters degrees, at no cost to them. All their expenses throughout the duration of their studies at A-list universities, such as the Kingston University, University of Aberdeen and University of Bedfordshire, will be borne by one man, Hon. Peterside through the platform of the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation.

    These young men and women are the latest of the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme through which Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro’s generation next are being groomed.

    Besides this scheme, Hon. Peterside also facilitates the participation of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro scholars in at least four other overseas scholarship programmes sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rivers State government, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and oil giant Shell Scholarship.

    Peterside recently brought resource persons from the United Kingdom alongside a former Chairman of Federal inland revenue service( FIRS) to train upcoming women entrepreneurs, 300 women from Andoni/ Opobo/ Nkoro benefitted from the first set of trainees. These women have all developed different business proposals which is being assessed for sponsorship of top ten viable ones which addresses a local need.

    Peterside will in August this year start a scheme to award local university scholarship to 46 underprivileged undergraduates from all the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. This scholarship is not for the children of the rich. It is meant to give education to the underprivileged or less privileged and other vulnerable members of Rivers State society.

    Peterside, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), has been described as members of the committee as ‘a leader in whom they are well-pleased’. There is no doubt that Zipporah, Abraham, Festus Pepple and other beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme will echo the same sentiment.

    That Peterside cherishes education can be easily gleaned from the fact that despite his tight schedule as the chairman of a very busy House Committee, he still finds time for intellectual activities, such as delivering lectures in Nigeria and abroad and giving talks on areas of national importance. He is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    He has had the benefit of being educated in some of the best institutions at home and abroad. A native of Biriye, Opobo Kingdom, Dakuku attended the Okrika Grammar School (OGS), the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, the University of Port Harcourt, the Georgia State University, Atlanta, United States and the Harvard-Kennedy school, University of Harvard, United States.

    He earned degrees in Medical Laboratory Sciences (Haematology), Business Administration (Management) and certificates in Leadership and Project Management. Peterside is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), a fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMCN) and a member of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences of Nigeria (MLSN).

    He has held various leadership positions, such as Rivers State Commissioner for Works (2007-2011), where he anchored Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s transformation of roads and Infrastructural landscape of Rivers State, Board member of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority (GPHCDA), Executive Director of the Development and Leadership Institute (DLI) between 2005 and 2007, Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Rivers State on Works (2003-2005) and Chairman, Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area (2002-2003) and he was declared the most outstanding local government chairman by Dr Peter Odili, who was then the governor of Rivers State.

    Peterside has also served as Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Youth and Student Affairs and Board member, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), a Federal Government arts and research establishment.

    Peterside, who is the Amaopusenibo of Opobo kingdom, was elected to represent Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro in the House of Representatives in 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Some weeks back, he dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a result of PDP’s endless crises. In a recent interview he said Rivers long term interest and that of his constituents is his incentive for being in politics and that whenever that is compromised or threatened he is bound to stand up for the people. It is obvious that his recent defection to APC is because PDP could no longer protect and advance the interest of Rivers State. Aside serving as the chairman of the strategic Petroleum (Downstream) Committee, he also serves in the House most important committees on Anti-corruption, National Ethics and values; Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes; Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Electoral Matters; Industry; Communications and Works.

    Peterside has sponsored bills, which have gone through various stages in the House of Representatives. They include: A Bill for an Act to amend the firearms Act F28 LFN2004 to increase the penalties for illicit possession, transfer, manufacturing, dealing in and housing of fire arms, small arms and light weapons; a Bill for an Act to establish the National Post graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science and for matters connected therewith 2013; a Bill for an Act to authorise law enforcement Agencies to receive oral and written, in form of SMS, communication made by an individual using telecommunications and internet in order to enhance criminal investigations in Nigeria and for related matters among several other bills. He has at least fifteen motions to his credit.

    He also co-sponsored an act to provide for the establishment of the legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry; establish guidelines for the operation of the upstream and downstream sectors.

    Peterside is a champion of reform and strengthening of institutions as key to unlocking development potentials. He is an international resource person on oil and gas matters and a leading leadership/management scholar and speaker. Peterside has spoken and still speaks in conferences around the world.

    He established the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Development Summit (AONEZDS) as a constituency engagement project and through it, he is showcasing the vast investment cum economic potential of the zone. The summit provides a platform for traditional rulers, academics, thinkers, businesses, NGOs, women, youths, the clergy and professionals to share ideas and shape the economic vision of the constituency.

    Peterside, who is married to a lawyer, Elima, is blessed with three children, Soba, Belema and Miebi.

     

  • South West PDP: ‘George cannot impose our leader’

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Chief Buruji Kashamu, has berated attempts by another chieftain of the party, Chief Olabode George, to impose a new National Vice Chairman of the party on the South West zone.

    Speaking in an interview with The Nation, Kashamu, who is the major financier of the party in Ogun State, also accused the former Governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Olusegun Oni, for acting out George’s script to stop the South West congress of the party, which was earlier scheduled to hold yesterday.

    Some days ago, Oni had purpotedly obtained an injunction at an Ekiti High Court, stopping the zonal congress. The court has since denied issuing the injunction.

    Kashamu alleged that the recent visit of George and some leaders of the party to the Presidential Villa was to deceive President Goodluck Jonathan to sanction the postponement of the South West congress using the purported court injunction as an excuse.

    He said, “George and his group knew that the president will not disobey a court order. They fraudulently claimed that there was a court order stopping the congress, but there was nothing of such.”

    Kashamu, who said his goal is the unity and cohesion of the party in the South West, also denied insinuations in certain quarters that he is supporting the aspiration of the party’s former interim National Vice-Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, to become the substantive leader of the party in the South West.

    “I’m not backing any candidate. What the true members of the party want is for all the aspirants to test their popularity through a free and fair congress. And I assure you that anybody that wins will have my full support. This culture of imposition by one man must stop!”

     

  • South south group wants Atiku

    South south group wants Atiku

    Ahead of the 2015 presidential election, a pressure group, the South-South Progressive Youth Movement, has thrown its support behind former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to run under the platforms of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a statement on Friday by its President, Mr Austine Ibok, the group expressed confidence in Atiku to address the teeming challenges confronting the youths in Nigeria.

    They noted that the high rate of youth unemployment, which was yet to be properly addressed, had resulted to the emergence of the Boko Haram sect in the north and militancy in the Niger Delta region, among other teething problems in the other geopolitical zones.

    It also canvassed that such ticket should consider the inclusion of River State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as running mate.

  • 2013 AfricaN Cup of Nations South African Police to secure Eagles

    2013 AfricaN Cup of Nations South African Police to secure Eagles

    The South African Police Service has assured football fans of adequate security at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament which takes place from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10.

    “Everything is in place with regards to security; we started planning for the tournament as early as May this year,” the Deputy Minister of Police, Maggie Sotyu, told newsmen in Pretoria on Tuesday. Both national and international screening regarding the participating 16 teams has been completed. Security will be provided for all the teams, including Bafana Bafana 24/7,’’ Sotyu said.

    “We will strengthen security at all ports of entry during this period, especially our borders, airports, seaports and border points. All the teams would be provided round the clock security; from the airport to their hotels, their training sessions and to match venues; to ensure maximum security for them,’’she said.

    Sotyu also disclosed that a permanent detachment of police officers will be deployed to all the hotels where the participating teams will be staying. She also said that Home Affairs was ready to handle the movement of both people and goods simultaneously at the country’s various entry points.

    “We also have our own police officers that we’ve trained, with regard to assisting at the ports of entry; in case we need more man power. Buses carrying players will be escorted by the police at all times; each and every movement of the buses carrying the teams will be covered by the police,” she said.

    The deputy police minister also said that special courts to try criminal cases during the tournament will not be set up this time around.

    “Dedicated investigators would be in place to focus on the cases that may come up during the tournament. While there would be the normal procedure of handling the cases, especially criminal cases during the tournament which would be prioritised in the courts of law,’’ Sotyu said.

    On the issue of crowd control she pointed out that the police were going to put adequate measures in place to keep the crowd under control in and outside the stadiums.

    Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Elias Mawela, the Chairperson of the National Joint Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) said part of the security concept to effectively contain any form of hooliganism was also in place.

    “Part of our security concept to deal with hooliganism in and around the stadiums would entail the positioning of ‘spotters’ amongst the spectators to identity the so-called hooligans. Once they have been identified, they are to remove them from the stadium and taken into police custody.

    “We would ensure that we have a rapport with the intelligence community that we are working with in the region, consisting the Southern African Regional Police Chief Council Organisation (SARPCCO), and Interpol. They will also assist us to monitor the movement of people coming to our country for the tournament,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that SARPCCO is an official forum comprising of all the police chiefs in the Southern Africa region. Mawela added that known football hooligans from neighbouring countries would be apprehended before they set foot in South Africa.

    “We are not going to lower our high standards, which we are known for in the hosting of landmark events,’’he said.

    He stressed that alternate plans would be adopted for the security guards, who will be working at the stadiums.

    “We have plan D and even plan E, for the private security guards. We have a reserve group at a national level that can be moved around the country at short notice. We have contingency funds in place to ensure the quick dispatch of personnel to the affected stadium. There will not be any problem with regards to this issue,” Mwela said.

    NAN reports that the 2013 AFCON will hold from Jan.19 to Feb. 10 in five centres across South Africa, the country will be hosting the competition for the second time since 1996.

  • Be good ambassadors, Obi tells Igbos in South Africa

    ANAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has advised Igbos in South Africa to be good ambassadors of Ndigbo and Nigeria.

    He spoke yesterday during an interactive session with them at Johannesburg as parts of efforts to woo investors to come and invest in Anambra State.

    Obi, who explained events at home to them, assured that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is on the right paths towards restoring the glory of the country.

    He chided Nigerians in the Diaspora for encouraging government   officials to buy houses and other things they do not need in foreign lands.

    Answering questions on the power situation in the country, Obi said Jonathan had done a lot with the present efforts to privatise the distribution companies as one among the series of measures already taken.

    He said: “With the unbundling of NEPA, formation of PHCN, series of measures already taken and the present efforts to sell the power distribution companies to private companies, I assure you that in the next two years, energy situation in the country will be celebrated.”

    On the second Niger Bridge and other projects the current administration promised Ndigbo, Obi said South East governors are closely monitoring development.

    “As I speak, Enugu International Airport is under reconstruction. It is one of the airports where new terminal will be built. As responsible and responsive governments, once the East is not carried along, we shall shout.”

     

  • south south leaders warn north over violence threat

    south south leaders warn north over violence threat

    South South leaders under the auspices of Southern Mandate (SM) have lambasted former Governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, over his threat that there would be violence should President Goodluck Jonathan fail to increase budgetary allocation to the North East geo political zone.

    Senator Ibrahim, in an interview, deplored what he called the paltry allocation of N50billion to the North East in next year’s budget proposals.

    However, Southern Mandate, comprising political and business leaders from the South-East, South-south and South-West, after an emergency meeting in Effurun, Delta State, cautioned the former governor that such pattern of intimidation and harassment of President Jonathan would no longer be tolerated by the President’s kinsmen.

    They declared that no single region has a monopoly of violence.

    Dr. Godwin Omene, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said: “We note with dismay the recent threat issued by Senator Bukar Ibrahim that if President Goodluck Jonathan does not allocate more resources to the North East zone, a more violent insurgency than Boko Harm would be unleashed on Nigeria. We state that this has gone beyond mere agitation, intimidation and blackmail and has entered the domain of treasonable felony.

    “He (Senator Ibrahim) should note that the North East or any part of the North for that matter, does not have exclusive right to the use of violence.

    “We too, in the South and the Niger Delta in particular, are prepared to protect our son President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in this unenviable task of a nation building, transformation and national unification,” the group added.

    Omene said the group and other Niger Deltans would resist any attempt by the National Assembly and some northern leaders to impeach the president.

    “It is common knowledge that the Boko Haram insurgency was deliberately masterminded to create a scenario of insecurity and portray President Jonathan as incompetent to govern the country.

    “President Jonathan is today considered weak and impeachable on account of the Boko Haram insurgency, and non-implementable resolutions from a confused National Assembly, because he has not ordered the killing of innocent people and total destruction of a town in the north over the activities of a few misguided criminals as was the case in the past,” the group added.

    “We hereby state that in the face of relentless provocation by these elements of disunity, the Southern Mandate has reviewed its earlier stance of not responding to development in the interest of peace, stability and national unity. We affirm that henceforth, we shall take commensurate measures in response to any form of attack on the interest of the South and South-South in particular.”