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Clark Tasks N'Delta Militants on Peace, Governance
FROM KELVIN EBIRI, PORT HARCOURT
A PROMINENT Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has appealed to youths in the Niger Delta to ensure that the country remains governable for President Goodluck Jonathan amid threats by militants to unleash mayhem in the region should he be schemed out of the 2011 presidential race.
Clark, who made the appeal in Port Harcourt at the weekend, said the controversial zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was primarily intended to conciliate the Yoruba ethnic nationality for the annulled election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola.
He said: "In 1999, the so-called zoning came as a way to please the Yoruba because of the injustice done to them when the best election was annulled. The zoning was a Yoruba affair".
The former minister, who explained that the PDP zoning arrangement ended with the 1999 election, insisted that what was uppermost at this time was how to make the federation governable.
Amid threats by some militants to disrupt oil production, Clark appealed to the new leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and youths in the region to ensure that the country was governable for President Jonathan.
Similarly, the Arewa Youth Forum said if President Jonathan must be president of the country by May 29, 2011, he should be a product of acceptance and not agitation.
The group's spokesman, Mohammed Ngiri, said that his organisation would support a situation where Jonathan would emerge as a President without expending so much funds to get his party's support and that of the generality of Nigerians.
He went on to say that Jonathan's presidency should rather be a bridge connecting the Niger Delta region with other sections of the country.
The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, had told The Guardian that if Jonathan was schemed out of the presidential race, that would be enough motivation to provoke a small group of very angry young men to attack and sabotage a strategic pipeline, an oil installation or a key government building in Abuja.
Whyte said: "We have declared, therefore, that if President Jonathan is stopped from running for Presidency in 2011 in a manner that undermines the people of the Niger Delta, then all efforts that have been made so far in their amnesty process would be useless as more than 90 per cent of all key combatants will return to the creeks directly or indirectly".
Whyte explained that while the JRC did not want to get entangled in the politics of PDP driven by bigotry and parochial mentality, as well as the matter of zoning, what was important to it was that President Jonathan should do the right thing for the Niger Delta immediately and not foot-drag.
"If Jonathan wanted to run in 2011, then he will be careful in giving to the Niger Delta because he does not want to step on the toes of so-called powerful elitist of northern cabals. We feel that way and it is true", said Whyte.
"Political jobbers and professional conmen have flooded Abuja again and will in no small way distract the President from doing the right thing for the people of the Niger Delta. We also feel that in the event that the President seeks to run, he will be careful not to step on the toes of a certain northern elitist cabal and so, will avoid doing what he should do for the Niger Delta", he added.
Source: The Guardian, 26th July 2010.
PORT HARCOURT: Agip Estate, Ada George Residents Lament Dilapidated Road
FROM KELVIN EBIRI, PORT HARCOURT
While the Operation Zero Potholes of the Rivers State Ministry of Works has brought succour to some part of the city, other areas seem to be jinxed, a clear example being the Ada George Road.
Piqued by the dilapidated state of the road, Mr. Goodwill Jaja, who resides at Genesis Close in Agip Estate, observed that though the government intends to dualise the road, it must not ignore the yearnings of the people for temporary relief to make the road passable.
"We used to have commercial vehicles conveying people from here to Iwofe. It is a major road and busy one that leads to the University of Port Harcourt too. It is saddening that you have to fold your trousers sometimes to pass here. And when it rains heavily, you have to follow one track road made of heaps of stone, thereby endangering one's life particularly at night."
Sylvester George, who runs a boutique in the area, said the state of the road is invariably impacting on business negatively. "Government needs to realize that economic forces are increasingly dependent on quality roads. He noted, "apart from trucks, no vehicle can pass here. There is no way people can come here to buy goods. Business has been slow. People go to where there is packing space and where they will not bother to deep their legs in water."
Amaechi Iyaegbu, who pays N5,000 monthly for his shop, said he is almost finding it difficult to fend for his family, adding that the earlier the state fix the road, the better for the people of the area. "We are almost living from hand to mouth. Government should assist us as soon as possible. We are in July, which is almost the peak of the raining season in Rivers. If nothing is done, everybody around this axis will lock up their shops and leave."
He acknowledged that the state government is trying its best in terms of road construction and reconstruction, but insisted it has become imperative for the Amaechi administration to intervene in the interim to prevent businesses and lives been ruined.
The state Commissioner for Works, Dakuku Peterside, in a chat with The Guardian said government has awarded the reconstruction of Ada George Road to Gitto construction firm. Hence, it is not covered by the Operation Zero Pothole exercise.
"The governor is desirous of transforming the state and the only way to achieve that is to put in place a world-class infrastructure that can drive economic growth and lead people to prosperity. We are sorry for the inconveniences the whole process is taking, but it won't be for long," he said.
Source: The Guardian, 11th July 2010.
Police Burst Kidnap, Robbery Gangs in P/H
From Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt
A gang which specialises in the killing of policemen and collecting their weapons while running a kidnapping business by the sideline were yesterday paraded before newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the state police command.
The accused persons gave the account of how they kidnapped and later killed an oil worker, Mr. Haruna Mutairu. They later ran into a restaurant with his car where nine people were killed. They have allegedly killed about 11 policemen before they were smashed by the police.
Leader of the gang said to be in his early 20s and identified as Sunebari Daboru a.k.a Golden was alleged by other members of the gang to have more than nine assorted vehicles "some of which he killed the owners and changed their looks and added to his fleet."
Parading them, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Suleiman Abba, regretted that the reformed militants were part of the criminal population he was contending with, but assured that his men were responding to their antics.
According to him, the designation of the state as one of the seven where a pilot upgrading scheme of equipment for the police has further enhanced their capabilities which he said will make the place hell for criminals.
"We have it on record that some ex-militants have been involved in crimes in particular violent crimes. I do not have the full records now, but after this we'll give you. As I speak to you I know we have in our detention an ex-militant who was involved in kidnapping, in any case we'll give you the details.
"We have a lot of strategies which we are adopting on daily basis. When you go round the town, you will see policemen at nipping points on patrols."
Source: This Day, 10th July 2010.
For Port Harcourt, It's Zero Potholes
FROM KELVIN EBIRI, PORT HARCOURT
Faced with growing complaints about delays, traffic congestions, injuries and damages to vehicles, the Rivers State government last November inaugurated its Zero-Pothole project. The second phase has begun with residents asking that their roads be included too.
MOST of the roads in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, are old and the signs are there: potholes.
Except for a few, the rest are over three decades old and yet, have to carry an ever-increasing volume of vehicular traffic.
Hardly is there a two or three- kilometre of road in the metropolis that does not have an unsightly pothole as a reminder of the need to fix Port Harcourt roads.
There are potholes almost everywhere and the consequences are unpleasant.
A resident, Mr. Ibe Wobo, who lives along G.U Ake Road that links Aba Road through Eliozu to the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, narrated his experience to The Guardian.
He took his wife out on her birthday when a pothole along the G.U. Ake Road ruined their night.
"It was dark and before we had a chance to spot this ominous pothole, we were already in it.
"Damage to the car ran into several thousands," he said.
Complaints such as Wobo's led the Rivers State government, through the Ministry of Works to embark on "Operation Zero Potholes" project, the second phase of which kicked off last month.
Already, many potholes have been repaired under the project, which has brought succour to some parts of the city.
The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, told The Guardian that the aim of the N1billion exercise was to ensure that roads in Port Harcourt and environs were pothole-free and accessible through out the rainy season.
To achieve this goal, Dakuku said his ministry, in partnership with the State Inter- ministerial Committee on Drainage and Deflooding, had given five contractors the task of fixing all potholes that constitute nuisance and danger to road users.
A trader, Uchenna Ndubusi, along Ikwerre Road by Ada George Road, said he was pleased with the intervention of the ministry to fix the potholes.
According to him: " Bad roads drive away customers.
"This section of the road was a death- trap. Consumers avoided here like a plague. But since the Ministry of Works finished rehabilitation of the road, our business is booming once again, I must confess."
Similarly, Jimmy Okara described the repair of one of the most dangerous craters at CFC Junction along Aba Road as laudable, saying it has reduced traffic congestion.
He noted that with the aging nature of roads across the state and low maintenance budgets, government needed to be more proactive in tackling bad roads.
"If we take a proactive approach in maintaining our existing roads like the government is doing at present, we can drastically reduce costly, time-consuming rehabilitation and the associated traffic disruptions in Port Harcourt," Okara said.
Residents around 3rd Avenue at Federal Housing Estate, Rumueme, are also among those relishing the rehabilitation of their once- pothole inflicted road.
Peterside told The Guardian the government was quite aware of the inconveniences experienced by the public owing to bad roads.
He gave the assurance that the present administration was already putting in place a mechanism to ease such inconvenience to the barest minimum.
Mrs. Ijeoma Banc-Lawrence explained that prior to the filling of the potholes along Aganaba Street in old Government Reservation Area (GRA), she plunged into two potholes about one foot apart which damaged her car.
"We earnestly wish government should sustain this road maintenance strategy. Potholes damage cars. It is usually difficult to notice these potholes at night, particularly when it rains.
"The state needs to fix bad roads regularly before they degenerate," she said.
Mr. Sele Digifa, who resides in Borokiri area, which has benefited from the Operation Zero Pothole project, said the intervention has eased hardship suffered by road users.
It would be recalled that the ministry first embarked on operation zero porthole exercise in November last year.
The areas covered then included Elabuchi, Mile 3, Mile 1, as well as some parts of Rumueme.
Peterside said the Operation Zero Pothole has covered some parts of Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Old Port Harcourt Township, Okporo Road, Rumuokuta, Rumubekwe, Rumuomasi, Eliparanwo and Borokiri axis of the city.
" The problem in the Okporo Road axis is drainage, but we have fixed the potholes in that area.
"The junction between Elelenwo and Oil Mill as well as Rumukwurishi Junction were bad, but have now been fixed " he said. ?
Though the commissioner said the vision of the state Government is to ensure that all parts of the city including the rural areas are motorable, residents of Ada George Road and other parts of the city are asking that the exercise be extended to their roads too.
Potholes still dot Ojoto Street, Elechi by Wobo Street, Chindah Road-Rumueme, Tombia Extention, Stadium Road, Ezimgbu Link Road and others.
A business centre operator along Ada George by Agip Estate, Michael Onigwe told The Guardian that the deplorable state of the road was adversely affecting his business and that of others in that part of town.
He acknowledged that though the state government was doing well in the area of road construction and reconstruction, it had become imperative for government to intervene in the interim to save businesses and lives from being ruined.
The computer engineer explained that since a thriving economy required good quality roads for goods and service delivery, the state would continue to lose business if critical roads such as Ada George and others were not maintained. "Our rent in this axis is running and we have to keep paying which depends on what we earn from our businesses. Government should assist us.
" Even if they are working from somewhere else, they should fix here so that our businesses could thrive, " he said.
Peterside, however, told The Guardian that the government had awarded contract for the reconstruction of the whole of Ada George Road to Gitto construction firm since the area was not covered by the Operation Zero Pothole exercise.
Source: The Guardian, 7th July 2010.
Police Arrest 41 Kidnap Suspects, Recover N4m Ransom
From Ezedike Joshua, Port Harcourt
No fewer than 41 kidnap suspects have been arrested by the Rivers State Police Command during the last six months. Also, 138 suspected cultists and 45 pipeline vandals were rounded up and charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, who gave the figures while briefing reporters in Port Harcourt, said the command had worked tirelessly to reduce the spate of crime in the state.
He decried the infiltration of criminals from the neighbouring Abia State. He noted that over 90 per cent of the crimes in Oyigbo, Etche and Eberi Omuma areas of the state were committed by suspects from Abia State.
"Almost 90 per cent of the crimes committed in Eberi Omuma, Etche, Oyigbo and Afam are coming from Abia State. I must tell you we're living up to the challenges. In the last two months, no less than 20 hardened Abia based criminals have been arrested by the command," he said.
He alleged that the suspects had been handed over to Abia State Police Command for prosecution.
The Commissioner, who pledged his commitment to reduce the crime rate in the state by improving on the response time to distress calls, urged the public to co-operate with the command by giving meaningful information that would lead to the arrest of suspected criminals in the state.
Speaking on the major challenges of the command, he urged the public to be confident in the police, especially when giving useful information. The commissioner said the attitude of his men towards work had been of great challenge, urging them to shun corruption. He said he had not been threatened or influenced by any VIP in the state and pledged to perform better with the help of the state government and the public.
Source: Sun, 5th July 2010.
Gunmen Kill One, Abduct 12 in Rivers
By Jimitota Onoyume with Agency report
A gang of gunmen killed a foreign seafarer and abducted 12 others in an attack on a cargo vessel off Bonny coast in Rivers State, late Friday.
The crew members of BBC Palonia are from Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine.
The Navy has already deployed men to the waterways to rescue the hostages, the state police command said yesterday through its spokesperson, Dr. Rita Abbey.
She said: "Commander Navy Pathfinder informed (Police) Command that on 2/07/2010 that pirates attacked Cargo Vessel BBC Palonia and one other at about 1800hrs, from South of Bonny FWB.
"The crew is eastern European. One confirmed shot dead, others taken hostage. Nigerian Navy already deployed from Bonny to investigate".
The Joint Task Force and the Navy immediately went into a meeting to assess the situation.
Commodore David Nabaida of the navy, told The Associated Press that pirates boarded the German-flagged cargo ship Friday night off the coast of the Niger Delta near the Bonny River fairway. A struggle broke out during the attack and pirates shot one crew member in the leg during the fight, Nabaida said.
Nabaida said the Nigerian navy escorted the ship to safe waters and transported the wounded Ukrainian sailor to a local hospital. The sailor was in stable condition, yesterday afternoon, he said.
"All efforts are being made to … rescue the kidnapped crew," the commodore said.
Nabaida said the navy had suspects in mind for the attack, but declined to offer further details. He said the crew consisted of sailors from Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine.
The attack comes after 12 pirates in speed boats attacked a bulk carrier in the same area June 27. The International Maritime Bureau, which tracks piracy worldwide, reported that the pirates shot at crew members with locally made firearms while trying to board the ship. Crew members repelled the attack using a slingshot, the bureau said. One sailor suffered a minor injuries during the assault.
Friday's attack is the latest as acts of piracy increase in the Gulf of Guinea, especially along Nigeria's 530 miles of coastline. Thousands of militants who for three years waged an oil war in the Niger Delta have been getting restless following months of delays in their post-amnesty retraining exercise.
Some have complained of poor reward after they surrendered arms, warning that they might return to the creeks to fight if the situation continued.
Around 20,000 former militants who were fighting for a fairer share of oil revenues to go to local communities, laid down their arms under an amnesty deal in the oil-rich region between August and October last year.
Under the deal, the government promised to provide cash, amenities in the region, jobs and retrain the ex-combatants.
Violence by armed rebels in the region between 2006 to 2009 played havoc with oil output, which dropped in this OPEC member state to around a million barrels per day as against 2.6 million barrels at peak production level.
Hundreds of people, both locals and foreigners, most but not all of them linked to the oil sector, have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta in recent years.
Most have been released after a few days or a few weeks in captivity, very often after the payment of a ransom.
Source: Vanguard, 5th July 2010.
Rivers: 12 Foreign Hostages Released
DENNIS NAKU, P/Harcourt
However, circumstances which led to their release were unknown at press time, but Daily Champion learnt from security sources that no fewer than 12 of the hostages have been freed.
Seven Russians, two Ukrainians, two Germans and a Lithuanian were taken hostages on Friday near Bonny while the 13th person, a Latvian, was allegedly injured in the attack and left behind by the gunmen.
Earlier, security report over the weekend had linked the attack on two vessels, one of them identified as a German vessel BBC Palonia, with the Fara Dagogo-led ex-militant gang.
A source said the hostages were suspected to have been kept at one of the militant camps near Cawthorn Channel in the Kalabari area of Rivers State.
Efforts to get detailed information on the release of the hostages from spokesman of the NNS Pathfinder, Lt. Edward Yeibo was difficult, as his two mobile phones rang out repeatedly, without a response.
Contacted, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said she had heard the information from the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, but was yet to get details of the development.
But Antigha could not be reached for more information as he refused to pick any of the several calls put across to him or respond to a text message sent for confirmation.
Source: Daily Champion, 5th July 2010.
Why I Want to Be a Senator in River State - Sir Paul Edor Obi
John Ighodaro
Once upon a time when Yenagoa was a street, a man produced the Bayelsa Masterplan which laid the foundation for the immediate and long-term socio-economic development of the state. It was that Masterplan that Alamieseigha, Goodluck Jonathan and now Sylva Timpreye came to build on and Yenagoa, which was a street has become a modern city.
The man behind that masterplan was Sir Paul Edor Obi (KSG) who was the military administrator of Bayelsa at the time. The man whose administration's masterplan transformed a street into a city has surfaced in his home place, Boki, in Cross River State and has vowed to replicate the miracle of Yenagoa in the Cross River State Central Senatorial Zone as a senator come 2011.
This pilot who retired as a Colonel in the Nigerian Army has flown into Boki in search of a place to develop once again.
While flagging off his senatorial bid at the Boki Comprehensive Secondary School, Okundi, Cross River State on Saturday the 5th of June, 2010, the grounds of the secondary school was crawling with hundreds of supporters who had come in Suvs, cars, motorbikes and some had even come on foot.
As Dolly Paton's "coat of many colours" blared from the huge electronic speakers, people were trickling into the venue of the event that spanned hours. Finally as supporters settled down, the aspirant mounted the rostrum and addressed the gathering which turned up in colourful attires.
In endorsing him, the Minister of External Affairs in the First Republic, Senator MT Mbu said, "the electorate who want what is good for Nigeria should hope and pray that the next National Assembly will comprise of men and women of impeccable character and experience. By that criteria, Sir Paul Obi is eminently qualified to be there."
Sir Paul Obi who schooled in the US said, "the election of US President, Barrack Obama, is a testimony that good things are possible and that the individual and collective will of the people must be given precedence for the peace, prosperity and progress of any nation."
He noted "as our own country takes this giant step towards conducting credible election through the present process of electoral reforms, it becomes very necessary that we put forward only our very best to serve."
Acknowledging those who had gone before him to the Senate from his senatorial zone, he said, "to the glory of God, we are blessed with abundant human and natural resources; we have so many credible, tried and tested people who have the capacity to serve with excellence and distinction. Therefore, the issue of having alternative options is not a problem.
We acknowledge with sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation, those who have gone before us to serve our people. Worthy of mention is His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Matthew Mbu (Jnr.) and currently, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba. They have been trailblazers and I commend them for their service to our people. I hope to build on these achievements and move this to the next level."
He argued that "like a relay race, it is obviously time for the baton to be handed over to enable yet another illustrious servant of our people to join the race for the continued betterment of our people. The time, therefore to make this change is here and now and we must grab the baton and run with it."
Sir Paul Obi who was a military administrator of Bayelsa state, said, "my track record of past service is a testimony to what I can do if given an opportunity. I recall how I used the proceeds of the civic reception by the Boki People while Administrator of Bayelsa State in 1999 to complete the Dibokun bridge which is a major economic link between my immediate community in Irruan and the people of Obudu LGA."
This, he argued, was achieved " through a Development Appeal Fund Committee. I also assisted in the area of providing water boreholes in the community by helping with counterpart funding from the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF)".
The aspirant, who further argued that he had been vigorously involved with the development of his people, said "another area worthy of mention is the setting up of the Okpete Education Trust Fund for assisting students from poor backgrounds currently in the university and tertiary institutions. So far, a total of 150 students have benefited from the scheme.
I have also assisted in the grading of the road from Nduk Junction through Mbube to all the Irruan communities from my own personal resources."
On what he hopes to do when elected, he said, "my plan is to expand the catchment areas to cover all the six local government areas in the Senatorial district. All of these are in addition to the numerous support initiatives and programmes I have been rendering to needy persons in our community and beyond."
He acknowledged that this was no picnic, saying, "in offering to serve our people in a senatorial capacity, I am not unmindful of the inherent hardships and pitfalls.
I am fully aware of the political challenges posed by this historic journey we have embarked upon today. However, I am fully aware and entirely grateful for the widespread display of support from all over the world, throughout our great country, Nigeria, and especially from my people in the Central Senatorial Zone of Cross River State."
Unlike many Nigerian politicians, he has only kind words for the senator currently representing the senatorial zone in the senate.
According to him the current senator has done tremendously well and has offered his best in the eight years that he has been there and that there is the need for a change to inject new blood and build on what the current senator has done.
His words: "It is a time for change. If you recall, in the US, George Bush was in the Republican party and he was there for eight years, then Obama came around to inject new blood in the administration of the US. In the UK, the conservatives had to go for the Labour party to come in. It tells you that no matter how good you are, people always clamour for change. No matter how good you have performed, it can always be better, it can always be built on."
As a youth, the peers of this former military administrator glimpsed his future, hence they nicknamed him 'Egbe', which translated, means 'leader'.
Source: Vanguard, 25th June 2010.
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