AKANIMO SAMPSON

SACK BAYELSA GOVERNOR, ACTIVISTS TELL JONATHAN, LEGISLATORS
* Its Childish, Says Timipre Sylva's Administration

CIVIL society and insurgent organisations operating in Bayelsa State, one of the rich oil and gas states of the Niger Delta, appear to have loss confidence in the Timipre Sylva administration to deliver tangible dividend of democracy to citizens in the state.

While the Niger Delta Patriotic Front (NDPF), a radical group, is calling for an imposition of a state of emergency, the state wing of Save Nigeria Group (SNG) is pressing the state House of Assembly to impeach the governor for alleged gross violation of public trust and corrupt practices.

Mr. Dan Anderson, spokesperson for the NDPF told AkanimoReports in a telephone interview on Monday that their call for emergency rule in the state, has the support of some frontline insurgent networks like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

Although he did not give much details, Anderson said, ''if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to impose emergency rule on his home state, he will wake up one day to discover that his state has become the centre of state-sponsored terrorism''.

Continuing, the NDPF spokesperson added, ''the next phase of violence conflict in Bayelsa state is likely to be worse than the uprising of militants before the inception of the amnesty''.

But, the authorities in Yenagoa, the state capital, are not shaken. Mr. Nathan Egba, spokesperson of the state government, told AkanimoReports in a text message that the clamour for emergency rule and the impeachment of Governor Sylva, was childish.

Mr. Doifie Ola, chief press secretary to Governor Sylva describes Mr. Egba as ''the overseer of the Bayelsa state Ministry of Information''.

According to Mr. Egba in his comment, ''one cannot be reacting to every childish statement reeking with ignorance that turns up''.

In the mean time, the SHG in an eight-point resolution signed by their Coordinator and Secretary, Messrs Tony Nathan and Tony Akenge respectively are condemning the alleged embezzlement of billions of naira belonging to Bayelsa citizens by the Sylva administration without any concrete projects in the state.

They are also claimig that the economic policies of the administration have impoverished the people and set the state many years backward.

Equally, one of the reasons they are pushing for the governor to be impeached is alleged fraudulent collection of a loan of N60 billion for the construction of three senatorial District Roads, electrification of some parts of the state and the reticulation of water scheme.

''Governor Sylva through a criminally crafted public Private Partnership (PPP) under took to complete an almost completed 500 bed hospital built by Governor DSP Alamieyeigha and Goodluck Jonathan administrations'', the SNG alleged, adding, ''we are very much alarmed by this massive looting of Bayelsa State funds’’ the body said , and vowed to embark on street protests within 14 days if the Governor was not impeached''.

Continuing, they said, ''this is the time for the Bayelsa state House of Assembly to rise to the occasion and Save Bayelsa state from this quagmire and its negative attendances''

According to them, ''where are the hundreds of millions stolen from the Bayelsa State treasury in the name of quick- win jobs that were neither awarded nor executed, where is the N3.4 billion of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s loot that was returned by EFCC to Bayelsa state Government’’ wondering why the money had not been applied yet to infrastructural development of the state, instead of a Transparency House the government is claiming to build?''

They are not yet done. ''In a state surrounded by water'', they went on, ''residents spend over N200 daily in buying jerry cans of water from mairua { Hausa water sellers }, which is now a lucrative business in Yenagoa city and its environs''.

SNG said at the expiration of their 14-day ultimatum for the state legislators to play ball, they will embark on a peaceful mass protest, saying it is a right for us to know how our state is being governed. That’s what we are doing.

The group counseled the governor to stop accusing President Jonathan for his current travails and should render account of his stewardship in a bid to clear his name and save the state the embarrassment and poverty his administration has caused the good and humble people of Bayelsa state.
ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

JONATHAN's VISIT: RIVERS WARNS TROUBLE MAKERS, BEEF UP SECURITY

THE authorities in Rivers State have raised a red flag to all groups planning to use President Goodluck Jonathan's visit on Thursday, to stage a public protest, warning that security operatives will deal appropriately with law breakers.

Already, there is a heightened security activities in Port Harcourt, the state capital. More operatives of the armed security forces, Federal Road Safety Commission and the secret police are all over the capital city.

Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, a Superintendent of Police (SP) who is the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police, Rivers state Command, said the security agencies are on top of the situation, and accordingly counseled trouble-makers against taking the law into their hands.

Some insurgent and civil society groups were planning to use the visit of Mr. Jonathan, to call attention to the alleged N50 billion contract scam at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), an interventionist agency, and to press for tangible amnesty programme and development of the oil and gas region.

Jonathan is, however, visiting Rivers against the backdrop of claims that financial institutions in the country, are currently avoiding project contracts of the NDDC, as the rift among the top executives of the development commission worsens.

Concerned civil society organisation, South-South Elements Progressive Union (SSEPU), had on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, claimed that NDDC was down.

Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo, chair of the group told AkanimoReports that all leading financial institutions in the country such as UBA, Union Bank, First Bank, Oceanic Bank, Skye Bank, and First Inland Bank which were previously funding NDDC contractors are no longer doing so.

According to Ambakederimo, ''banks have loss confidence in NDDC. As a demonstration of this, they are no lnger giving Advance Payment Guarantees (APG) to contractors handling NDDC projects''.

This latest revelation is coming on the heels of on-going clamour for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, to sack the board of the development commission for alleged incompetence and corruption.

Thse pushing for the sack of the NDDC board are claiming that close to N50 billion has gone the drains in the past nine months due to graft. There are also worrisome allegations of contract duplicatins, lop-sidedness in the award of contracts, and ineptitude on the part of state representatives in the commission.

The commission is equally being accused of not being able to key into the post amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

Ahead of President Jonathan's visit to Rivers State, the board of the commission was locked in a prolonged meeting last Wednesday in a seeming desperate bid to be on top of the agitation in the oil region for them to go.

The board meeting was originally scheduled for the previous Tuesday, but the absent of the managing direstor stalled it.

Media handlers of the commission say the allegations being raised by those against the board are of a political nature and as such, beyond their brief for comments.

As Jonathan arrives Port Harcourt for an official visit, there were strong indications some aggrieved youths would state public protest in a bid to draw the acting president's attention to the alleged decay in the NDDC.

A civil society group, Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy (GIPD), has pointed out that Niger Delta youths want government to sack the board of the NDDC. ''They are prepared to use any means necessary to press home their demand'', the group said.

To this end, a number of groups in the oil region, including the GIPD are mobilising for a mass protest as the Acting President arrives Port Harcourt.

Executive Director of the GIPD, Mr. Akinaka Richard, told AkanimoReports on telephone on Wednesday: ''We want the board of NDDC dissolved because of the outright display of incompetency, gross financial mismanagement, fraudulent award of contracts against due process, and unwarranted internall rift''.

Continuing, the group claimed that the board of the development agency as presently constituted is incapable of freeing the oil region from acts of insurgency. ''To avert some unpleasant developments, we are strongly of the view that the best option for Jonathan is to sack the board as a bait to buy peace'', the group added. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

JONATHAN STORMS RIVERS THURSDAY, FOCUSES ON POWER SUPPLY

THE three-day official working visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Rivers State, the oil and gas capital of Nigeria, which was postponed last Thursday following the demise of former President, Umaru Yar’Adua, has been rescheduled for this coming Thursday.

Mr.Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, chief of staff of Government House, Port Harcourt, who announced this in the state capital, said the new date is Thursday, May 13th – 15th, 2010.

Wike said on Monday that the postponement of the visit was an indication of the cordial relationship existing between the presidency and the state government, noting that the visit would be the first official working visit of the President to any state.

He noted that the programme for the visit remains as earlier announced except that the reception to be accorded the visiting President would now be more elaborate as against the initial plan.

Wike, however, noted that the visit would afford President Jonathan the opportunity to inspect state and federal government projects undertaken by the Rivers State Government and also commission some completed ones.

Some of the projects, he said, are the new 100 megawatts of power at the Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, the Groundbreaking ceremony for the Monorail project and inspection of the Owerri-Airport dualisation project.

He therefore called on the people of the state to come out in their numbers to accord the August visitor the deserved welcome.

It would be recalled that Dr Goodluck Jonathan was billed to visit Rivers State from May 6th – 8th, but was cancelled due to the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

AkanimoReports correspondent in Port Harcourt however, reports that the visit will provide Mr. Jonathan another opportunity to harp on his administration's plan for sustainable electricity supply in the country.

The President on the second day of his visit to the state, will be commissioning a new 100 Megawatts Gas Turbine Plants at Trans-Amadi, the industrial hup of Port Harcourt. He will also commission the reconstructed Eastern-bye-Pass/Amadi-Ama/Oginigba Road project.

A programme of activities for the 3-day visit which was made available to NEXT on Wednesday indicates that Jonathan will swing into action immediately he arrives the Port Harcourt International Airport on Thursday.

Wike, who released the programme, said on arrival at the airport, Omagwa, the Acting President would inspect the dualisation work on the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road project, the new Tam David West Road (Airport Road), the Rumuokwuta-Ozuoba-Choba Road and lay the foundation stone for the new 60,000 capacity Adokiye Amiesimeka Stadium and Games Village, at the Greater Port Harcourt.

The Chief of Staff said that also on day one, the president would commission the new Model Primary School at Airforce Base in Port Harcourt, the Rumuepirikon Health Centre, as well as the newly dualized Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Road, performs the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Port Harcourt Monorail project.

He claimed that Jonathan will be accorded a Civic Reception at the Sharks Football Club Stadium, in Port Harcourt, while a State Banquet would round-up the visit for day one.

After commissioning the power project on day two, he will also be commissioning the dualised Oginigba/Rumuobiakani Road, and the Rumuokrushe/Eleme Junction Flyover project, while the Acting President would inspect the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project under construction, and also visit the new Model Secondary School project at Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area, as well as the new Rainbow Town Housing Estate under construction in Port Harcourt.

On day three, the president would be expected to attend the 26th Convocation ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, before departing for Abuja.

Wike described the visit of the president as a home coming, which would afford him the opportunity to access the developments that have taken place in the state since Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi assumed the mantle of leadership, and particularly appreciate how he stabilized the security of the state.

He therefore called on the good people of Rivers State to turn out en masse to give their son and in-law, who is visiting the state for the first time since assuming office as Nigeria’s president, a thrilling welcome. ENDS

AMAECHI ON YAR'ADUA's DEATH

On behalf of the government and people of Rivers state, I commiserate with Mr President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the widow and family of our late resident, and all Nigerian people on the unfortunate demise of our much loved President, Umaru Musa Yar Adua, GCFR.

Late President Yar Adua was a friend of the Niger Delta and especially Rivers State. He made deliberate choices to change the situation in the region against all odds. His commitment to the amnesty programme and support for the return of peace and security in Rivers State, as well as his insistence on greater participation of oil bearing communities in the oil industry are historic and unforgettable. Nigerians and particularly those of us in Rivers State, remain indebted to him.

While we mourn this great loss, we totally submit to the sovereign will of the Almighty God and pray him to grant his widow, family and the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.



Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,

Governor, Rivers State

AKANIMO SAMPSON

YAR'ADUA's DEATH SHOCKS AMAECHI, MILITANTS RENEW DEMANDS

THE death of the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua on Wednesday night, came as a shock to Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, who had planned to receive the now President Goodluck Jonathan to the oil and gas rich state on a three-day official visit.

And for the insurgents of the Niger Delta, while commiserating with the Yar'Adua family over the incident, they claimed that divine providence has provided Mr. Jonathan with a golden opportunity to right the wrongs to the peoples of the Niger Delta.

Mr. Nengi James, co-ordinator of the Network of Freedom Fighters in the Niger Delta (NFF), an insurgent group, told AkanimoReports on telephone on Thursday that the peoples of the oil region are looking up to Jonathan to initiate moves for the abolition of all ''obnoxious laws'' that have denied the region their property rights.

James said they are expecting action on the Land Use Act, a raise in the derivation principle to at least, 50 per cent, and a working post-amnesty programme as well as a shake-up of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

On their part, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), another armed group, expressed what they described as ''our sincere condolence'' to the new President of the Nigerian State over the death of Yar'Adua.

Mr. Bakabio Walter, spokesperson for the group in an on-line statement to AkanimoReports on Thursday said, ''this puts to an end months of speculations of who is actually in charge of the Nigerian State''.

According to them, ''we call on Jonathan to muster the political courage of mind and character to convene a Sovereign National Conference of all the ethnic nationalities that presently find themselves under the neo-colonial authority of the Nigerian State. This is the only peaceful way to the resolution of the crises in Nigeria and that which is brewing as a result of the death of Yar'Adua''.

Continuing, they said, ''the suggestions of Muammar Al-Gathaffi on the peaceful breaking up of Nigeria has become more relevant. We can no longer continue to waste the blood of innocent people on the alter of the insatirable greed of a few disgruntled individuals''.

The JRC however, pointed out that ''Operation Boro'' shall continue in the coming days with the greatest vehemence until we are able to liberate our territory.

However, Governor Amaechi who was shocked by the tragic development, observed that the late Yar'Adua was a friend of Rivers state and the Niger Delta , noting that he was one of the moving spirits for the return of peace in the region.

''On behalf of the government and people of Rivers state, I commiserate with Mr President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the widow and family of our late resident, and all Nigerian people on the unfortunate demise of our much loved President, Umaru Musa Yar Adua, GCFR'', Amaechi said.

Continuing, he said, ''Yar Adua was a friend of the Niger Delta and especially Rivers State. He made deliberate choices to change the situation in the region against all odds''.

He recalled Yar'Adua's commitment on the amnesty programme and support for the return of peace and security in Rivers State, as well as his insistence on greater participation of oil bearing communities in the oil industry,noting that these roles were historic and unforgettable ''as Nigerians and particularly those of us in Rivers State, remain indebted to him''.

Adding, he said, ''while we mourn this great loss, we totally submit to the sovereign will of the Almighty God and pray him to grant his widow, family and the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.''

On their part, the Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy(GIPD), a civil society group, regretted the death of the president, saying, Yar' Adua died when Nigeria and her democracy needed him most.

Mr. Akinaka Richard, its executive director, said in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, that the late president was a stabilizing factor in Nigeria since 2007, who strived to carry out reforms that were aimed at strenthening democratic institutions in the country.

''The Niger Delta will mourn him as he displayed uncommon courage and statemanship in declaring amnesty to the Niger Delta agitators and spiritedly moved to implement the amnesty protocol befor his health deteriorated'', Richard said.

Richard berated Mrs.Turai Yar'Adua, noting that she played ignoble role in her husband's health saga and unleased unnecessary controvery on the gentleman presient.

''Her children and other Nigerian women should learn a lesson from the sordi practice of power hungry woman who could not understand that power belongs to God'', he said.

Richard who expressed belief that Jonathan would implement the administration's Niger Delta plan, why condoling the bereaved family, called for immediate swearing in of acting president Jonathan.

A Port Harcourt lawyer and member of the Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA), Mr. Angus Chukwuka , in his tribute, described the death of the president as ''unfortunate and painful''.

Chukwuka said that the late Yar'Adua would be remembered most importantly for his promotion of the rule of law and the granting of amnesty to the Niger Delta Militants.

''He led a simple life as a president and is and example in this regard , may God receive his soul'', he said.

In the mean time, there were personalities and groups who believe that the official announcement of the demise of the president was a good omen to the polity as according to them , it has resolved a lingering political logjam that would have posed grave danger to political stability in the months ahead.

Some of these analysts belief that the visit of Good Luck Jonathan to Rivers would have given the acting president a new courage and resoluteness at the end . ''the announcement could therefore be a preemptive action to forestall the expected gain of the visit if it had taken place'', they argue.

Elsewhere , some peoples who have been discussing the announcement of the death in groups in public places such as vendor stands, beer parlors, and in the streets, express happiness that the presidency that some people were footdragging in allowing Jonathan to assume had been resolved by fate and nature.

Most of these people believe that the president had long been dead but that a cabal was hiding the fact away from everybody to practise their design.

Peoples Daily findings show that the hub of discussions accross the Niger Delta has shifted from concern and suspecion over Jonathan's leadership to relief, celebration , anxiety and what Jonathan will do with power. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

AMAECHI UNVEILS ICT CENTRE IN PORT HARCOURT

GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, one of the leading oil and gas states of Nigeria, has unveiled a new high-tech information and communication centre in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Speaking on Wednesday at the unveiling ceremony, he said the establishment of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre in Port Harcourt will help to increase business activities in the state.

The centre was donated by Zenith Bank Plc to the state government. According to Amaechi, the idea behind the establishment of the centre was completely that of the former Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia.

The governor expressed the hope that ICT, beyond its negative uses in Nigeria where some persons used it to perpetrate fraud, was an avenue to interact globally, and could serve as a place for people to go and study computer or ICT in the state.

Amaechi who expressed confidence in the relationship between the state government and Zenith Bank, said the state government would discuss with the bank to see if they can partner in the management of the centre.

He noted that the people of Rivers state were grateful to the Bank for her contributions towards the growth of the economy of the state, adding that their friendship with the state government would continue.

Earlier, the Deputy Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who represented the Group Managing Director, Mr Jim Ovia, said the fully equipped Information Communications and Technology (ICT) centre was donated by the Bank to the Rivers State Government as part of its social responsibility programme, as well as its cardinal policy to show gratitude to the Rivers Community for providing an enabling environment for business to strive in the state.

Mr Emefiele said the establishment of the centre was anchored on Governor Amaechi’s vision for the development of the state based on active corporate involvement under Public Private Partnership (PPP) Scheme.

He also said that the centre is aimed at enhancing government’s developmental aspirations since ICT is critical to such development, and assured the Governor of their commitment to continue the partnership with the Rivers State Government. ENDS

NDDC CRISIS DEEPENS AS BANKS SHUN CONTRACT FINANCING

THE interal top-level crisis rocking the official interventionist agency in Nigeria's main oil and gas region, appears to be taking a turn for the worse.

AkanimoReports gathered that financial institutions in the country, are currently avoiding project contracts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as the internal bleeding within the commission worsens.

A concerned civil society organisation, South-South Elements Progressive Union (SSEPU), on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, claimed that NDDC was down.

Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo, chair of the group told AkanimoReports that all leading financial institutions in the country such as UBA, Union Bank, First Bank, Oceanic Bank, Skye Bank, and First Inland Bank which were previously funding NDDC contractors are no longer doing so.

According to Ambakederimo, ''banks have loss confidence in NDDC. As a demonstration of this, they are no lnger giving Advance Payment Guarantees (APG) to contractors handling NDDC projects''.

This latest revelation is coming on the heels of on-going clamour for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, to sack the board of the development commission for alleged incompetence and corruption.

Thse pushing for the sack of the NDDC board are claiming that close to N50 billion has gone the drains in the past nine months due to graft. There are also worrisome allegations of contract duplicatins, lop-sidedness in the award of contracts, and ineptitude on the part of state representatives in the commission.

The commission is equally being accused of not being able to key into the post amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

Ahead of Acting President Jonathan's visit to Rivers State, the board of the commission was locked in a prolonged meeting on Wednesday in a seeming desperate bid to be on top of the agitation in the oil region for them to go.

The board meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the absent of the managing direstor stalled it.

Media handlers of the commission say the allegations being raised by those against the board are of a political nature and as such, beyond their brief for comments.

As Jonathan arrives Port Harcourt for an official visit, there were strong indications some aggrieved youths would state public protest in a bid to draw the acting president's attention to the alleged decay in the NDDC.

Already, a civil society group, Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy (GIPD), has pointed out that Niger Delta youths want government to sack the board of the NDDC. ''They are prepared to use any means necessary to press home their demand'', the group said.

To this end, a number of groups in the oil region, including the GIPD are mobilising for a mass protest as the Acting President arrives Port Harcourt.

Executive Director of the GIPD, Mr. Akinaka Richard, told AkanimoReports on telephone on Wednesday: ''We want the board of NDDC dissolved because of the outright display of incompetency, gross financial mismanagement, fraudulent award of contracts against due process, and unwarranted internall rift''.

Continuing, the group claimed that the board of the development agency as presently constituted is incapable of freeing the oil region from acts of insurgency. ''To avert some unpleasant developments, we are strongly of the view that the best option for Jonathan is to sack the board as a bait to buy peace'', the group added.

In the mean time, there is a heightened security activities in Port Harcourt. More operatives of the armed security forces, Federal Road Safety Commission and the secret police are all over the capital city.

Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, a Superintendent of Police (SP) who is the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police, Rivers state Command, said the security agencies are on top of the situation, and accordingly counseled trouble-makers against taking the law into their hands. ENDS

MILITANTS TO JONATHAN: CHOOSE BETWEEN PEACE, NDDC

WITH the on-going angry agitation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas region, for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, to sack the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), an interventionist agency, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), an insurgent network, has reminded the Nigerian leader that not all their members and affiliate groups, accepted the government’s amnesty.

While the Spokesperson of the group, Cynthia Whyte, insisted that this will be so until complete sincerity on the part of government is established, a civil society group, Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Democracy (GIPD), told AkanimoReports on Monday that Niger Delta youths want government to sack the board of the NDDC.

To this end, a number of groups in the oil region, including the GIPD are mobilising for a mass protest as the Acting President is billed to visit Rivers State on Thursday.

Executive Director of the GIPD, Mr. Akinaka Richard, told AkanimoReports on telephone on Monday: ''We the board of NDDC dissolved because of the outright display of incompetency, gross financial mismanagement, fraudulent award of contracts against due process, and unwarranted internall rift''.

Continuing, the group claimed that the board of the development agency as presently constituted is incapable of freeing the oil region from acts of insurgency. ''To avert some unpleasant developments, we are strongly of the view that the best option for Jonathan is to sack the board as a bait to buy peace'', the group added.

Already, the insurgent network, JRC, has said that the NDDC matter presents a pretty tricky situation because ''we do not see this as a power tussle per se but a conflict of interest between two people who are clearly not very experienced in dealing with a government agency such as this''.

According to Cynthia Whyte, the JRC spokesperson, ''the politics and intrigues involved in an agency such as this demands politically and administratively suave persons''.

Adding, she said, ''we are listening to complaints from concerned persons and we are yet to come to a conclusion on what should be the best thing to do. The truth is, development in the Niger Delta is currently being stalled by the ego-battles between these two.

''First, we hear the Managing Director Chibuzor Ugwoha was said to have accused Architect Esoetuk Etteh (The Executive Director, Projects) of awarding 44 consultancy contracts without due process. Mr. Ugwoha and some of his loyalists were said to have commenced a string of calumnious campaigns against the person of the Architect Etteh.

''Architect Etteh, in return, accused Chibuzor Ugwoha of awarding more than 60 contracts for projects, 51 of which were located in Rivers State alone. These contracts awarded by Mr. Ugwoha were said to be worth N5 billion (five billion naira)''.

''There are those'', they went on, ''who complain that Mr Chibuzor Ugwoha, (whose appointment was recommended and endorsed by the Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi) is suddenly converting the Commission (NDDC) into an extension of the Rivers State Government rather than focusing on the region-wide mandate''.

The rest of the comments of the JRC went thus:

''They say this is the reason why 51 contracts out of 60 were approved for Rivers State alone.

''The series of accusations and counter-accusations has made it difficult for many to come to grips with the real and true issues on ground.

''We are however hopeful that the presence of Elder PZ Aginighan on the board of the commission will continue to help in calming down frayed nerves as he has been a long time top management member of the Commission’s board. He should bring his experience to bear in managing crisis such as this especially at this time when our communities are slowly beginning to lose confidence in the ability of the Commission’s to deliver, it is important that people like Elder Aginighan and more experienced staff of the Commission step up and close the ranks.

''The development of the Niger Delta cannot be cheaply compromised. Our people expect far more''.

AkanimoReports however, reports that in the days ahead, two key issues are likely to dominate the struggle of the peoples of the Niger Delta. These are the clamour for the sack of the board of the NDDC, and what becomes of the report of the Ledum Mitee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee that was presented to the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua some two years ago. ENDS

LOCAL CONTRACTORS JITTERY AS AMAECHI SPOILS FOR WAR


FOR local contractors in Rivers State who think that they can play games with government funds, it is no longer business as usual. It is either they deliver quality jobs or risk jail terms.

The State Government has started to assess their jobs. AkanimoReports says local contractors in Oyigbo Local Government Area who have been delivering poor quality jobs do not appear to be comfortable with the action of government.

Irked by the poor performance of indigenous contractors handling the Model Primary School projects in Andoni Local Government Area, the state Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi has summoned them for a meeting to determine the reason for the slow pace of work.

Governor Amaechi, who noted that similar projects awarded to indigenes of other local government areas have achieved appreciable impact, decried the delay in the execution of government projects in Andoni particularly the new primary schools.

The governor, who announced this Monday during a Town Hall Meeting at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, said the indigenous contractors are delaying the development of their people.

He cautioned the Commissioner for Education for failing to give marching orders to the contractors to complete the school projects and directed the contractor handling the Community Primary School Inyongorong, deroofed by rainstorm, to go back to site to complete it.

The governor also appealed to the traditional rulers to impress on their subjects handling projects meant for the betterment of their people to ensure completion as state government decision to award contracts to indigenes was for both empowerment and quick development of the communities.

Amaechi said Andoni people have been lucky to have many projects sited in their area, many of which are costing the state government billions of naira such as the Unity Road, Ikuru Town Atlantic Ocean Road and Shore Protection and land Reclamation of Egbormung-Oluk-Ama.

The governor assured that all ongoing projects embarked upon by his administration or inherited would be completed to enable the people have the benefit of such facilities, adding that the three remaining health centres for the area would be completed this year.

On request for more roads projects, he urged the people to appreciate that it is difficult to construct roads in the area and solicited for more time to allow contractors handling the Unity Road get to Ngo and Ikuru Town before other smaller link roads could be embarked on.

The governor, who restated his zero tolerance for crime, warned that anyone that harbours criminal elements would be arrested and prosecuted, emphasizing that his reason for supporting the removal of the former Council Chairman was because he had criminals on his payroll who were not staff of the council.

He assured the people of Isiama Community that his government would ascertain the situation of the area with a view to sitting a new primary school project to prove that Chief Sampson Ngeregbara’s community was not left out in the distribution of projects.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Mr Tele Ikuru thanked the state governor for his love and care that has made the Andoni people benefit more during his tenure while assuring him of their continued support to the government.

Earlier, the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Hon Emilia Nte said in the history of the council no governor of the state has visited Andoni and toured round its communities to find out the problems of the people and proffer solution, and thanked Governor Amaechi for the kind gesture.

She commended the governor for the numerous projects aimed at bringing development to the people of the area for which generations unborn would continue to remember him. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

UTUAMA BLAMES NIGERIA's SUCCESSION CRISIS ON LEADERS

THE problematic succession crisis that has been the bane of Nigeria's politics since the 1960s has blamed on leaders at all levels in the country.

Delta State Deputy Governor, Amos Utuama, a law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) says it is high time political leades began to put their acts together for the interest of the country.

While locating the worrisome inability of successive administrations in the country to sustain existing policies on absence of proper succession and low capacity, he said at 50, Nigerian political elite and power seekers should learn to grow up and stop acting as infants.

AkanimoReports said on Tuesday that Utuama was speaking while receiving participants of the Senior Executive Course Participants at the Notational Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPSS), on behalf of the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, observed that the inability to sustain existing policies was at the bane of the country’s developmental challenges.

He explained that one of the reasons why there has been persistent policy reversals and discontinuity in the country was because those leaving office do not groom successors that would carry on their laudable policies and programmes.

According to him, the result is that every administration that comes into power fashions out its own policies and programmes, which most of the time outrightly reverses the existing ones that could have moved development further.

Utuama, a professor of law, noted that the administration of Chief James Ibori, was able to avoid that pitfall, arguing that the emergence of the former Secretary to the State Government, who had also served as commissioner for health, as the governor, has helped in sustaining the former policies and programmes.

He informed that himself was the attorney general and commissioner for justice from 1999 to December, 2006, adding that even the current secretary to the state government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, was a member of the state executive council for the said period.

Utuama also attributed the lack of policy sustenance on absence of the right capacity, explaining that where a policy that was formulated by a person with high intellectual capacity is being implemented by another person with low ability, there was bound to be policy failure.

Leader of the NIPSS Team, Prof Ajaka Ajak, had told the deputy governor that their visit was a fact finding one on the theme, “Policy Sustainability, National Security and Democratic Stability.”ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

GROUP EXPOSES AGRIC,ENERGY MINISTRIES IN NIGERIA

THE Nigerian Government Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources as well as that of Petroleum, came under a heavy criticism by a pro-public accountability organisation, the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG) on Tuesday.

Mr. George-Hill Anthony, the executive director of the group claimed in an on-line chat with AkanimoReports that the activities of the ministries under focus are not quite wholesome.

Analysing the graft tendencies of the ministries from the perspective of their fiscal allocation regime, NDEBUMOG said the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources has a total allocation of N148 billion.

But, the ministry is ranked by the group among the worst in the performance index of the federal ministries going by how basin authorities have compounded service delivery in social and basic infrastructure to the citizenry.

According to them, ''basin authorities shadowed how states and local government can better intervene on infrastructural delivery to the people, confusing stakeholders about Federal presence boosted only through their bloated recurrent envelopes. Matters such as water availability should better be left to the states and local governments''.

Surprisingly, the ministry is yet to explain to Nigerians what has happened to the billions given by the Federal Government to farmers in 2009. It has budgeted N37 million for local and international travels, N200 million as contribution to food and agricultural organisations, and N10 million for procurement of hooks.

On paper, the sum of N250 million will go for monitoring and evaluation of its own projects and programmes, N477 Million for Chinese (+ Nigeria) South- South Cooperation, N400 million for EC Assisted Water Supply and Sanitation, N400 million for ADB Assisted Water Quality Laboratory, N500 million for EU Assisted Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reforms, N200 million for National Water Sanitation Policy.

''The N200 million budgeted for National Water Sanitation Policy is a fraud. Unfortunately, nearly all the federal ministries have huge envelops for local and international travels even when the Presidency has restricted non-technical travels for civil servants of some cadre which was re-emphasised in the 2010-2012 Fiscal Strategy Paper of the Federal Government. The N10 million for this ministry and many other ministries (like Petr'', NDEBUMOG said.

Continuing, they said, ''at a time some African countries are wrestling to weed the influence of Chinese away against destruction of their economies going by poor quality of Chinese goods associated with poor human rights history of the Asian country, is the time the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to budget close to N500 million under China-Nigeria (South-South) Cooperation?''

Adding, NDEBUMOG said, ''atrocities which may come with such can be more destructive than what Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total/Elf and others has caused extractive communities in the Niger Delta''.

On the Petroleum Ministry, they claimed that the establishment is budgeting N150 million for the renovation of NNPC Towers. N810 million is allocated for facilities for technical and administrative cooperation on international bodies on oil &gGas utilization, and N100 million for library development and procurement of books. ''These are all frivolous projections'', NDEBUMOG said.


Quering the ministry, the group asked, ''why should the Petroleum Industry Bill implementation (when it becomes law) cost N7.5 billion to implement? N26 million is for refreshment and meals, N800 million for patrol vehicles and a N100 million for Oil and Gas reference library?

Apparently irked, the group said no responsible legislature can pass this sort of budget in any country, pointing out that Nigerians have been taken for granted for so long.

''Votes must count in 2011. Only credible elections in 2011 can arrest all these anomalies. The National Assembly needs massive fumigation through credible elections in 2011.The masses may not wait beyond 2011 and the outcome may be the predictions of America (on the break-up of Nigeria) coming to pass'', they said. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

AFRICA NEEDS COLLECTIVE ACTION ON HIV/AIDS, SAYS KAUNDA

FORMER President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, says African countries cannot combat the HIV/AIDS scourge alone. He has accordingly challenged Africa to pull resources together in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic which he said was ravaging the continen.

The former Zambian leader who was speaking in Asaba, the capital city of Delta State, specifically called on Nigeria to also return to agriculture which was the economic backbone of the country before oil and gas.

On his part, Delta state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, commended Kaunda for his dogged fight against the deadly HIV/AIDS, pleading with persons in positions of leadership to borrow a leaf from him.

Kaunda, speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the South South Office of his, Children of Africa Foundation, in Asaba on Monday, observed that the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa could only be won through concerted and collective efforts from governments and organizations in the contingent.

He reasoned that just as it took collective actions to free the continent from the shackles of colonialism, the war against the dreaded disease would also require similar posture, stressing, “only one country cannot do it.”

Kaunda lamented that Nigeria which had a comparative advantage over many nations of the world in food production before the discovery of oil, had abandoned agriculture, thereby leaving hunger and poverty in Africa.

He therefore pleaded with the leadership of the country to go back to its root by paying greater attention to food production while still engaging in oil exploration, exploitation and exportation.

Uduaghan, represented by his deputy, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), while commissioning the Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, commended Kaunda for his dogged fight against the dreaded disease.

“Your (Kaunda’s) sacrifices for the emancipation of Africans from the shackles of coloniasm continue to inspire us. But your current campaign against the deadly HIV/AIDS virus is even greater challenge to those of us who are at leadership positions.”

He described Kaunda’s action as a major boost to the efforts of the state government in the crusade against AIDS, adding, “it is also an interesting development as my administration is also focusing attention on children from when they are in the womb till weeks after their delivery.

“We are doing this through our Free Health Programme for pregnant women. Within the next few months, we will be flagging off our Free Health Programme for Children from five years and below. This explains why, your foundation’s programme sits well with our focus on the health of children including their mothers.” ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

EDITOR LOSES MOTHER IN RIVERS

MR. Kio Nimengoka, the editor of one of the leading local newspapers in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has lost his mother, Madam Sarah Tamunotaribo Nene Ochiemiebia. Mr. Nimengoka edits The Port Harcourt TELEGRAPH.

His mother,Madam Ochiemiebia who passed on on January 9, 2010 at Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, Port Harcourt after a brief illness was aged 75.

According to burial arrangements by the family, late Ochiemiebia will be buried on Saturday April 24, 2010 at her home town, Ogu in Ogu/Bolo local government area of Rivers State.

Fondly called Sisi, Late Ochiemiebia was described as devote Christian whose lifestyle had positively affected many within Ogu Community.

According to Mr. Nimengoka, who is the Chief Mourner, the demise of his mother had created a vacuum within the family considering her laudable contributions to the family. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

AMAECHI RAISES RED FLAG ON POLITICAL ARMY
* Says We Won't Compromise Security

FOR desperate power seekers in the Rivers State axis of the Niger Delta, who rely on armed youths as their political army to gain power, the game appears to be up for them.

The state Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, says his administration will not compromise on security no matter whose ox is gored. For the governor, open and transparent democracy must be allowed to gain roots in the state.

Inner administration officials who did not want their names in print, told AkanimoReports in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Tuesday, that Governor Amaechi has been consistent on open democratic process.

In October, 2007, while mounting the saddle as the governor of the state, he had warned that the era of writing election results in Port Harcourt was over.

AkanimoReports also gatheed that Amaechi firmly determined to deal with the security challenges in the state not minding if it will cost him his re-election. The way things are unfolding, the governor, according to political watchers, appears set to take on those sponsoring armed youths for political purposes.

Already, the Amaechi administration has said that it will continue to strive to get the state back to where it was when lives and property of the citizenry were well secured.

Amaechi gave the assurance during an open air funeral service for Special ApostleisFestus Enyinnaya MacPepple, father of Henry MacPepple, Managing Director of Amadac Group of Companies, held by the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, at Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area.

The governor said he was disturbed by the report of the kidnap of the octogenarian who later died in the hands of his abductors, explained that his government was prepared to commit its resources to restoring sanity in the state.

“We could even put in all the resources that we have to make sure we get to where we used to be before, so that we do not have a situation where our parents, brothers and daughters would be kidnapped again”, the governor said, warning that nobody has the right to take anybody’s life as no life is worthless.

Describing the late Special Apostle MacPepple, as a nice man, Governor Amaechi sympathized with the bereaved family urging them to follow the footstep of their late father.

Earlier in an exhortation, Supervising Apostle Emmanuel Agomo of Umuahia Province of the Cherubim and Seraphim remarked that death is for all and urged everyone to prepare for it because no one knows when it will come.

Supervising Apostle Agomo extolled the shinning qualities of the late MacPepple and admonished the family to watch over what their father has left behind.

The funeral attracted dignitaries from all walks of life among whom was Senator John Mbata. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

2011: NO VACANCY IN RIVERS GOVT HOUSE, SAYS PDP

CHIEFTAINS of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, a major oil and gas producing state in the Niger Delta, who are nursing a governorship ambition on the platform of the party in 2011, should shelve it for now.

Apparently surprised by the performance of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the inner circle of the party appeared to have settled on the governor as their winning joker The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Chief Godspower Ake, says that the performance of the State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has exceeded his expectations and that of the Party in just a few years in office.

AkanimoReports said Ake spoke on Sunday during a memorial service in honour of late Elder Renner Ikuru, father of the State Deputy Governor and thanksgiving service for the Appeal Court victory of Governor Amaechi at St. Simon’s Anglican Church, Ikuru Town, in Andoni Local Government Area.

AkanimoReports said the PDP chief also tactically said that the PDP has no alternative to Governor Amaechi in 20.

According to him, ''inspite of my support for Amaechi to become the governor of Rivers, i never thought he could perform to the extend he has done within a short time''. He accordingly lauded Amaechi for what he described as ''monumental achievements'' in the provision of infrastructural facilities.

He claimed that PDP was not worried about the outcome of the Appeal Court election matter because even if the case went back to the election tribunal and was annulled, Governor Amaechi would have remained the Party’s candidate and based on what he has achieved within the short period, he would still have won a fresh election.

In the mean time, the Amaechi administration says its ambitious road projects and other infrastructural development in the coastal communities of the state like land reclamation are geared towards fast-tracking economic growth to those communities which never thought of having such in their life history.

Governor Amaechi said this while conducting the management of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Network Centre, Port Harcourt, around the various projects embarked upon by the state government.

He said the people of Opobo Town, Ikuru Town, and other riverine communities in Andoni Local Government Area would soon access their communities by road, stressing that the State Government was delighted to spend billions of Naira on the projects to turn around the economic fortunes of the people.

On how to redistribute the reclaimed lands in Opobo Kingdom, Governor Amaechi said the communities would be left to decide how the land would be re-distributed among themselves emphasizing that the State Government would not interfere even though it is Government reclaimed land.

The governor also disclosed that his administration would introduce special allowance for teachers in the rural areas to encourage them take up postings to the rural communities.

Amaechi said the bills for the proposed Primary Healthcare Board and Social Welfare Tax, when passed into law by the State Assembly, are intended to institutionalize and sustain these projects/programmes beyond his administration.

He further claimed that his administration has decided to introduce a scholarship scheme for civil servants beside regular in-service trainings, noting that part of the money saved from the Christmas bonus will be used to fund the scheme.

On the Scrap to Wealth plant at Kira-Tai, the Governor said, would be ready in six months time, adding that the plant would be providing jobs for many people in the industry, the state has the technical man-power to operate the plant.

At the Trans Amadi gas turbine, the State Chief Executive said power generated are presently under-utilized, blaming the problem on the refusal of the Federal Government to allow the State Government re-distribute power generated from the State Independent Power Project (IPP) through the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) transmition line.

The tour took the governor and his entourage to some primary, secondary schools, health centres, roads and bridges projects in Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Eleme and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the state. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

JITTERS IN NIGER DELTA OVER 'ARREST' OF ASARI

ALLEGED delay of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, an insurgent leader of the Niger Delta, by security agents from entering Nigeria after a prolonged stay abroad, caused some jitters in the volatile oil and gas region on Sunday.

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), an insurgent network, told AkanimoReports in an on-line chat on Monday that if the rebel leader was detained, a fresh reign of terror would have taken over the Niger Delta.

Cynthia Whyte, the spokesperson of the rebel group claimed in her chat with AkanimoReports:

''At about 14.00 hours yesterday, in response to pleas from key stakeholders from across the Ijaw and Niger Delta territory, the flag bearer of the Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle, Alabo Mujahid Dokubo-Asari (Edi Abali of Kalabari) returned to the Nigerian State.

''His return was not without incidents. He was accosted and intercepted by security agents of the Nigerian State who refused him entry into the country and also refused him to go back to Benin Republic and was delayed for 4 hours before he allowed to enter the country.

''He was not arrested as reported by some media centers but remained in his car all the while.

''His return is a culmination of series of visits, pleas and advocacy driven by key heroic ex-combatants of the Ijaw and Niger Delta Struggle.

''We commend the efforts of ex-NDVF leader Ateke Tom, Ebikabowei Victor Ben (aka General Boyloaf) and Government Ekpemukpolo (aka GOC Tompolo).

''The efforts of these heroic ex-combatants of the Ijaw and Niger Delta Struggle were instrumental to convincing Dokubo-Asari to return to the Nigerian State and partake in the restoration, redemption and reconstruction of the Ijaw and Niger Delta territory.

''We also commend the efforts of Former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Oyeinfie Jon Jon, Hon Kingsley Kuku, Ambassador Boladei Igali and the many others who played strong roles to ensure his safe arrival in the confines of the Nigerian State''. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

SACK NDDC, NIGER DELTA TELLS JONATHAN

THERE are growing concerns in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas region that has been a zone of low intensity war since the late 1990s. This time around, the trouble is centring around the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a development agency.

There are unease in the oil region that the NDDC has been doing more on graft than on actual development of the oil-bearing communities. At the moment, there is a concentric opinion among both the conservertive and radical camps that the board and management of the commission should be sacked and replaced with core development experts.

Spokesperson for the Grassroots Iniative for Peace and Democracy (GIPD), a civil society group, Mr. John Abang, told AkanimoReports in an interview in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday that they are of the view that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan should unbundle the NDDC.

The group is claiming that the present group of leaders at the development agency are incapable of moving the volatile oil and gas region forward. The GIPD is not alone.

Other concerned social formations in the region are said to be pressing The Presidency to dissolve the board of the NDDC to forestall alleged monumental fraud going on in the commission.

The Niger Delta Non Violent Movement (NDNVM) in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, at the weekend, said the board should be dissolved now if Acing president Goodluck Jonathan hopes to achieve his agenda on the Niger Delta.

The statement, which was signed by the President of the movement, Mr. Onengiya Erekosima, claimed that members of the board were strange bed fellows who have not much in common and have not been stakeholders in the struggle for the Niger Delta development and emancipation.


Erekosima said for Jonathan to succeed, the board should be dissolved just as the federal executive council was.

This, he said, would enable the Acting president appoint qualified, honest and transparent persons including, activists, of Niger Delta who are conscious of the importance of the Niger Delta question to the success of the Acting president.

“This Niger Delta agenda will determine whether Acting president Jonathan will succeed and even his future political ambition”, Erekosima stated.


He said it was regrettable that the managing director and executive director (projects) were involved in in-fighting over a 5 billion naira contract just after nine months of the board’s inauguration.

This, he said, suggested that the board can no longer have a team spirit necessary to achieve their mandate.

“When you appoint people who have not tasted the pains of marginalization or are not in touch with the direct victims of the region’s deprivation, all they will care is their personal interest”, he said.

Erekosima said a fresh board that would carry the stakeholders along was what was needed and that it should be done now to avert the looting of the commission by the members who only care for their selfish interest and not that of the region.

Erekosima who is a strong contender for the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) presidency, warned that the youths of the region who are the critical victims of the Niger Delta imbroglio would not fold their arms and watch these appointees embarrass the region as non indigenes of the region would point to the fact, “is it not your people- Niger Deltans”.

He appealed to all Niger Deltans to give support to the Acting president so as not to give the impression that his people are not behind him. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON


MRS AMAECHI TACKLES PARENTS, WARNS AGAINST ABUSES, CURSES

MRS. Judith Amaechi, wife of the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has lashed out at parents who take delight in child abuse, and cursing children. While charging them not to lay curses on their children, she insisted that the best thing to do is always to pray for them and wish kids well even in the light of any provocation.

AkanimoReports said on Saturday that the governor's wife spoke when she received members of Scripture Union at Government House, Port Harcourt.

But in Gokhana, an Ogoni local government council in the state, as part of effort to promote early child education and literacy programme among Rivers children the council has redeemed N18 million as counterpart funding for the building of permanent site for ESI Nursery School run by the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) a non-government organization being promoted by Mrs. Amaechi.


The governor's wife is however, attributing youth exposure to social vices during their development to lack of proper parenting resulting from wrong foundation.

According to her “the problem with the youths today is that the foundation is wrong from birth, and the future will become bleak, if the foundation is right, the system will also be right, it is very worrisome that our youths are going through this situation”.

She is also blaming parents who do not inculcate the purpose and virtue of God in the children for the degeneration in the value system rather than invoke cursing on them at every provocation adding that the parents have enormous role to bless or destroy their children “parents are guardians of these children and their utterances when provoked can make or mar the future of the children. We must not speak evil, lay curses on our children but to bless them and pray for them”.

She charged the Scripture Union to be alive to this challenge and vacuum created by lack of proper parenting and to raise the youths on the path of righteousness with the fear of God.

The founder of the ESI stated that the objective of ESI nursery school was to begin to inculcate moral values in the kids and preach the words of God that can shape their personality in the future.

Coordinator of Scripture Union in Rivers State Cyril Harry said activities of the organization spread across secondary schools and tertiary institutions and has rolled out various programme aimed at developing the youths and to work with the fear of God.

He disclosed that the Scripture Union is about to launch a centre that will help the youths and develop them to become better citizens.

In the mean time, Chairman of the Ogoni council, Victor Giadom, who led principal staff of the council to sign the memorandum of understanding and presented a cheque of N18,000,000 representing 50 per cent contribution to the project said the council has placed some much premium on the education advancement of its people and will be willing to partner with Human Capital Organizations in this direction.

The Gokhana Local Government Council is the first Local Government Area in the state to partner with the ESI in providing a befitting nursery school for its early child programme.

While presenting the cheque, Mr Victor Giadom said the council decided to partner with ESI due to the impact of its content on the morale and education advancement of the kids and expressed optimism that Gokhana Children will be among the emerging educational advantage local government area.

Part of the MOU reads that the council has agreed to contribute the sum of N18,000,000 or 50 per cent of the cost of building one of the ESI nursery schools in Gokhana Local Government Area, ESI will promote excellence in early child education in Gokhana Local Government Council and partner with the council.

Responding, the project coordinator of ESI, Mr Nowa Omoregbe said the council’s initiative is a demonstration of its desire to build human capacity of its people from the cradle and added the school when completed will also serve as centre for adult literacy programme.

Mr Omoregbe thanked the council for the confidence reposed in ESI and pledged his organisation’s determination to drive the early child initiative in the council, toward achieving its set objective. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

WE'RE NOT AWARE OF KILLINGS IN OGONI BY SOLDIERS, SAYS POLICE

THE Nigeria Police, Rivers State Command, says they are not aware of alleged extra-judicial killing of Ogoni youths by soldiers guarding oil facilities belonging to the Anglo-Dutch oil and gas major, Shell.

But the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), in an on-line statement to our correspondent on Thursday, claimed that they have been receiving reports of impunity by the armed security forces in remote Ogoni villages.

Some local Ogoni people are claiming that not less than 12 Ogoni youths have been killed in the past few weeks under ''questionable circumstances''.

Spokesperson for the police in the state, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, a Superintendent of Police (SP) and a PhD holder claimed on telephone that the command headquarters at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, was not aware of such incidents.

''As far as we are concerned in this headquarters, we are not aware of such killings. I swear to you'', the police spokesperson said.

Apparently not persuaded, MOSOP Spokesperson, Mr. Sunny Zorvah, said the Ogoni mass movement on Tuesday received ''with utmost bitterness the shooting and killing of an Ogoni youth, Mr. Bariara Vurasi Lemon, by a team of soldiers attached (as guards) to some Staff of Shell working at Oil Well 4 in B-Dere community''.

According to Zorvah, ''MOSOP strongly condemns this latest killing which is one too many, and also expressed worry over the persistent irresponsible and reckless attitudes consistently perpetrated by the company’s personels and their armed guards while carrying out operations and other activities in parts of Ogoni.

Continuing, he said MOSOP received the sad news of Mr. Bariara Vurasi Lemon's killing, a School Certificate holder, aged 20, with shock. The late Lemon was said to be among a group of community youths engaged at the project site by the Shell workers and were given some food items to share to others.

Allegedly, a minor disagreement on method of sharing the food packs among the youths themselves attracted the attention of the armed security forces who swooped on the youths, tortured some of them while in an attempt to run away from the brutality, Mr. Lemon was fell by a bullet, as soldiers shot at the youths.

Mr. Lemon’s corpse was allegedly picked up immediately and taken to Port Harcourt by the soldiers.

In the mean time, MOSOP said they are viewing the incident as callous and cruel and called on the government and other relevant authorities to ensure that the culprits do not go unpunished as experienced in several other cases.

They are also calling on other rights organizations and the international community to rise against these actions that have become persistent developments in Ogoni, noting that she would ensure that justice prevails in this matter. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

FAO COUNSELS NIGERIA, OTHERS ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT

THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, has counseled developing countries like Nigeria, to focus more on better data on men and women farmers as a means to boost their rural development efforts.

AkanimoReports says this is contained in a new FAO toolkit which aims to sharpen the focus of anti-hunger and development efforts by helping countries gather more accurate information on differences between men and women in agriculture.

The Agri-Gender Database, developed in response to a request from the African Commission on Agricultural Statistics (AFCAS), offers step-by-step, example-driven guidance on how to collect gender statistics, or sex-disaggregated data, in agriculture.

It is designed for a wide range of users who influence development planning, from agricultural statisticians and researchers to policy planners and gender advocates.

"Gathering statistics on how women differ from men in the nature of their agricultural work - and on other issues like their access to resources and exposure to food insecurity - is essential to improving the planning and sustainability of development policies and programmes," said Diana Tempelman, FAO Senior Officer for Gender and Development.

"With more specific information, policy-makers can provide greater support to those who lack access to and control over agricultural resources and help women to achieve greater equality and food security," Tempelman said. "But users and producers of agricultural statistics have noted that the information compiled often does not reflect the actual roles and responsibilities of women in agricultural production."

The methodology for gathering such information, as illustrated in the toolkit, was developed over two decades of research and direct work on census surveys in numerous countries in Africa.

"Very often, when people look for gender-related data, they look for it in relation to social issues, education, health, and legal aspects of people's lives. Very rarely do they think of agricultural statistics-gathering as a tool for collecting gender data. The Agri-Gender Database will help them in this regard," says Tempelman.

The first edition of the toolkit includes examples of gender-relevant questions and table formats used in agricultural censuses in fifteen African countries between 1993 and 2006.

The database covers topics like agricultural population and households, access to resources, production and productivity, labour and time use, the destination of agricultural produce, income and expenditures, membership in farmer organizations and indicators for food security and poverty.

Asking the right questions

The contribution of women and girls to agricultural production is often underreported because data on much of what they produce is obtained from records of land holdings, which are formally headed by men. One of the key changes in data-gathering advocated by the Agri-Gender Database is the use of information gathered not only according to each land holding or household, but as reported by males and females within each household. The majority of women involved in agriculture - around 80 percent - work in households headed by males.

Data collected in Tanzania revealed how the use of financial resources for purchasing agricultural supplies tends to differ between male-headed households and female-headed households.

"Female-headed households use whatever little credit is available for labour or seeds, which may leave you only at the current level of productivity. It may increase production, but not necessarily productivity. Males, instead, are more likely to buy fertilizer or agro-chemicals, which are productivity-enhancing inputs."

This kind of information could enable planners to tailor their efforts to support those who lack access to adequate productive resources. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

RIVERS COUNCIL BOSSES IN SOUP OVER EDUCATION, HEALTH FUNDS

TOP officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Monday that the anti-graft agency will be interested in knowing what the 23 Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State did with their primary education and health care funds.

Some superior operatives of the anti-corruption body told our correspondent at the their Port Harcourt zonal office that they will like to know more about how the funds were expended since it was the state governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, who personally blew the whistle.

Amaechi had on Thursday expressed concern over what he described as ''improper utilization'' of funds meant for primary education and primary health care system by Local Government Councils in the state.

Governor Amaechi blew the whistle while swearing-in the new Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council (ONELGA), Mr. Raymond Wokocha at Government House, Port Harcourt. He said council chairman should account for how the funds meant for those sectors were used since the state was now financing it.

According to the governor, it used to be the responsibility of Local Government Council in the state to pay salaries of Primary School Teachers, renovate and maintain Primary Schools, as well as building and renovation of Primary Health Centres before now, and wondered why there has been no significant improvement in the performance of councils even when the state has taken over such responsibilities.

“They used to pay primary school teachers’ salary totaling, over N1billion, we have taken that over, we paid with our own money, not their money, the question to ask is what happens to that money in their possession?”, the governor said.

While emphasising that the state government would fully equip and employ staff for the Model Health Centres being built across the state, Amaechi said the new bill on the management of the Health Centres stipulates that Council would continue to pay the salaries of their old health workers.

He, however, charged the new ONELGA Chairmn to serve with the fear of God, and utilize the resources of the council to impact positively on the lives of the people, and avoid what led to the removal of his predecessor.

He told the Chairman that if he serves his people well without enriching himself to their detriment, he would have good will that could open many doors for him, challenging him to take stock of all those who have been Council Chairmen in the area and consider their present political and economic condition.

Meanwhile, the new council chairman, Mr. Raymond Wokocha says the focus of his administration would be on the proper utilization of funds to impact positively on the people and fight corruption. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

2011: RIVERS AC LEADER MEETS JONATHAN, STATES COMDITIONS

STRONG indications emerged in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday, to the effect that the opposition is not likely to be united in their confrontation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year's general elections.

Already, the leader of the Action Congress (AC) in Rivers state, Tonye Princewill, who is also a political associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, met with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja at the weekend, to discuss the possibility of his return to PDP.

AC chieftains who are closed to Princewill, scion of the Kalabari monarch, said he used his meeting with Jonathan, to discuss ''broad general pre-conditions'' for his return to the PDP which he left late in 2006 to the AC.

According to our AC sources in Port Harcopurt, Princewill is of the view that Jonathan has the opportunity to redeem the office of the President which had been allegedly undermined by the recent events in the polity if he can objectively address the challenges of certain paramount issues facing the nation.

AC state Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, confirmed on telephone that there are ''certain development going on at very high political level in Abuja''. The AC leader wants the seven point agenda of the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua to be reduced to three made up of – the Niger Delta, power sector and electoral reform.

The Kalabari prince is arguing that if Jonathan can address these issues adequately and seek solutions to the malaise in such areas, he is poised to etch his name in the marble of successful leadership in the nation.

''The success of these goals will be largely hinged on the peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta conflict. If there is peace in the Niger Delta, the gas needed to power the Power Sector will be readily available in the same vain peace would be sustainable when the Electoral reform allows for the election of legitimately elected leaders from the region'', Princewill told the Acting President.

On the Ledum Mitee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee which he was a member, the AC chief decried the Abuja’s failure to issue a white paper on the committee’s recommendations, pointing out that a timely implementation of the recommendations will go a long way in the resolution of the issues prevalent in the Niger Delta region. He also called on Jonathan to bring this issue to the front burner even as he steers the nation’s affairs.

On Abubakar’s planned return to PDP, Eze, who spoke for Princewill, claimed that while not justifying the move he was only attempting to put the records straight by offering a little background on the decision to move. According to him, the decision was borne out of necessity. Having done his best to rally round and galvanize the opposition through NDM and other efforts to make positive democratic changes in the country, Atiku had become disenchanted by the actions of the key actors within the opposition.

On his political future with assumptions in many quarters that he is set to follow his political mentor back to the PDP, where incidentally Princewill has his political roots, he reiterated that is still in consultation as to the way forward for him in what has been a hitherto short but eventful time in politics. He stated that so far he has four options available to him as to the way forward - Continue in AC; join another political party; join PDP or bow out of politics. He however assured his well wishers and supporters that whatever decision he takes would be known in due course. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

UNDP, DELTA CLOSE TIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE

THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Delta State Government are currently moving towards sealing a deal on the worrisome global climate change. They have already set a July time line to sign a pact on measures aimed at combating and mitigating the effect of the environmental challenge in the state.

Officials of the UNDP team on Territorial Approach on Climate Change (TACC) and top government officials of the state have been putting heads together in Asaba, the Delta state capital, to chart a path for the state.

UNDP team leader from Geneva, Christophe Nuttal, has briefed the state Deputy Governor, Amos Utuama, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on their efforts so far.

The UNDP team appeared to be quite pleased with the administration of Emmanuel Uduaghan on steps they have taken ahead of other governments in Africa in the crusade and measures on Climate Change.

A member of the UNDP team from South Africa, Akiko Yamamoto, claimed that the body and the state government have set a July time line for the signing of a final agreement on measures to address climate change.

Yamamoto explained that under the arrangement, a consultant would come to the state in May to interact with stakeholders and look into documents prepared by the Delta State Government.

“Then in June we will have first draft project document ready for review. We hope by ending of June we have a final document ready for appraisal. Our target is by end of July we have project document signed by Delta State Government, by the Federal Government and the UNDP,” she added.

Utuama, who stood in for the governor, on his part, said “We want to win the battle against the adverse effect of climate change… Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s leadership in the issues of climate change will not only be at the conception stage. It will be carried further to the implementation stage and even much further to the monitoring stage and step further to the conclusion stage.

In all of these, we will partner with you and others wherever it becomes necessary to do so. For us in Delta we are very certain…and will be on top of climate change in Delta State.”

Head of Climate Change Unit in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Victor Fodake on his part, acknowledged that the Delta State Government was taking the lead in the fight against the adverse effect of climate change and expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to collaborate with the state.

The Delta state Commissioner for Environment, Bello Orubebe also noted, “as a ministry we have attempted to frame the climate change. We’ve looked at mediation and we’ve also looked at adoption.

“We are the first in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a programme on climate change. We have submitted this to the stakeholders’ forum in February…We have embarked on consultations and we have been dealing with communities.”

ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

BAYELSA IN TUG-OF-WAR OVER MADUEKE

WITH the dust over alleged massive fraud in Bayelsa State yet to settle, there were strong indications on Monday in Yenagoa, the state capital, that all was not well with the choice of Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, former Minister of Solid Mineral by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan as one of the 32 nominees for the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF).

The state at the moment is polarised along pro and anti-Allison-Madueke camps. The former minister hails from Yanaka community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. She was appointed a minister two years ago by the ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua.

A group that calls itself Movement for Genuine Democracy in the state has said that the renomination of the Epie born female politician as a minister was not acceptable to them. They are claiming that Mrs. Allison-Madueke did not represent the best interest of the state in the past two years.

As the Senate began the screening of the nominees yesterday, the group threatened to stage a peaceful protest against her nomination should the Acting President fail to rescind his decision on the issue.

The anti- Allison-Madueke group which is led Ebiowei Amatari, a community chief, in a another statement in Yenagoa called on the Acting President to revisit the nomination. In their earlier statement, they vowed not to accept her since according to them, ''there are other qualified persons who can represent the state creditably''.

Amatari, the spokesperson for the group, is claiming that the ex-minister in the past two years failed to justify her position, insisting that the people of the state are yet to feel her impact in government.

They therefore want Mr. Jonathan to demonstrate greater understanding of the dynamics of governance and respect the feelings of the people and make an alternative nomination for the state.

But in a swift reaction,another group, the Association of Democratic Governance warned that it will organise a rally to neutralize whatever opposition that may have been perpetrated to frustrate the nomination of Mrs. Allison-Madueke.

Mr. Ken Embelede, chairman of the pro-group, and Mr. Conference Moupeide its secretary in a counter statement said that the re-nomination of Mrs. Allison-Madueke was designed to ensure continuity in the business of governance of the country.

They reminded those opposed to her nomination to realise that Mr. Jonathan who endorsed her current status had worked with the former minister for the past two years to appreciate the qualities that prompted her re-nomination.

The group accordingly urged citizens of Bayelsa to accept the nomination of their sister by the Acting President considering the fact that it will promote ''peace, unity and stability'' in the polity. ENDS

Chinedum Emeana, Port Harcourt

RIVERS STATE: PROMOYING POVERTY VIA KEKE NAPEP BAN?


IN the year 2000, the United Nations decided that for humanity to survive
there has to be certain benchmarks which all nations must attain in variousspheres and codified this initiative to what is now popularly known as theMillennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The key motive of MDGs is the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger
across the world come 2015.

From the set milestone, the world has six years to 2015 when gains of the
MDGs are supposed to be made manifest.

Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the UN recently observed that efforts
aimed at scaling down poverty and hunger across the world have begun to slow
down.

Ki Moon who spoke at the March16, 2010 General Assembly of the UN maintained
that something must be done urgently by government at various levels to meet
these set goals of eradicating poverty and hunger.

In 2007, when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was sworn-in, he came up with
the 7-point agenda initiative. Item no three on Yar’Adua’s development
agenda is wealth creation aimed at alleviating poverty.

All over the country, responsible governments are seeking for creative
avenues to empower Nigerians to “catch their own fish” and one of the
established and successful channels has been through encouraging the
purchase of three wheelers (tricycles) which are deployed for transportation
goods and passengers in the inner cities.

The tricycles was first introduced into the nation’s transportation mix by
last military governor of Lagos state Buba Marwa, and fondly called Keke
Marwa (note that keke in Yoruba stands for bicycle).

For its success in throwing up another option for the perennial challenge of
moving people from point to point, and serving as a authentic source of
wealth creation for those who operate them, the federal government keyed
into the idea in its bid to create sources of work and income for the large
army of employed people, young and not too young.

This was the basis on which the National Poverty Eradication Programme
(Napep) used it as a catalyst of it poverty eradication thrust. Napep
initially purchased about four thousand of these tricycles for beneficiaries
who now have a source of livelihood at the same time contributing to
solving, even though in small measure, the transportation question.

Aside from making the operators economically relevant to the society,
tricycles opened up a whole new network of allied industry, such as
mechanics to handle repairs and maintenance and dealers in its spare-parts,
to mention just the obvious.

They are also contributing of government revenue because they pay various
forms of taxes to the government, and a proven area of profitable funding
for banks, especially the Micro Finance Banks.

There are indications that Keke Napep introduction has gone beyond
instrument for “give us this day our daily bread”, to a formidable medium
for wealth creation.

It therefore beats the imagination why the Rivers state government will just
decide to prohibit the operation of tricycles in parts of the state, even
though by their nature they are already self restricted in terms of areas of
operation – they never ply the expressway.

You wonder whether this state government, despite posturing to the contrary,
is not out to ensure that poverty remains entrenched in these parts. May

Well, may be the government has reasons for its actions. However, the only
reason coming from the Rivers State ministry of transport is that the
operators of these tricycles are likely to become a public nuisance like the
banned commercial motorcycles. You wonder what that means.

Some of the reasons proffered for the banning of commercial motorcycles
operation include issues of security since bandits deploys it for get-away,
the plying of highways, and the devil-may-care approach of some of the
riders, which often led to accidents.

But these reasons are not applicable to keke Napep. They cannot be used for
robbery, while their operations are restricted to suburbs.

Moreover, keke Napep do not have the hideous statistics of accidents, either
in Rivers State or anywhere else in the country, associated with commercial
motorcycles.

It appears that the ministry of transport did not properly think this
decision through. Or is it a small thing for them to, in one fell swoop,
remove the source of income of thousands of people without batting an
eyelid?

Did they do any Environmental Impact Assessment? Did they consider how much
will be removed from the economy of the Rivers State? The number young men
and women who automatically become unemployed? How it will affect the market
women, commuters and the families and extended families? Did they reason
along these lines? I guess not!

Did anybody consider that most of these tricycles were purchased by the
operators through loans from MFBs, or most case on hire-purchase arrangement
and that abruptly prohibiting their operation would adversely affect the
economics of these Nigerian citizen, who by whatever design are resident in
Rivers State?

The popular advert payoff line of Toyota says “good thinking, good product”.
This obviously ignominious and awful decision is not the product of
first-rate thinking, and it definitely will not yield good results.

All men and women of goodwill within and outside the state should intervene
to help the hapless less privileged people of Rivers state that the ministry
of transport is determined to strap down below the poverty line. It is the
height of executive thoughtlessness. And yet people wonder why youths are
restive!

Despite the global gloomy picture in the attainment of the MGDs, the UN
scribe still insists that: “evidence shows that the Goals can be achieved,
even in the poorest countries, when good policies and projects are backed by
adequate resources.”

But on the evidence of this law to outlaw the operations of Keke Napep,
signed on February 19, 2010 to take effect April 1, 2010, Rivers is rather
determined to promote the proliferation of poverty in this treasure base of
the nation.

The position of the Institute of Human Right and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) is
reflected in a letter to the Rivers State Transport Commissioner in which it
pointed out to him that “the owners and drivers of the commercial tricycles
have rights to their economic, social and cultural development. The
operation of tricycles is one of the avenues of achieving this right.
Moreso, these tricycles are a source of income to lots of families, and a
source of employment to many youths and homes”.

The correspondence added: “Now sir that the ministry of transport has put a
ban on the operations of these commercial tricycles, what shall become of
the thousands of youths and homes that have lost their primary source of
income? The implications are apparent and clear; many children may drop out
of school, many homes would go without food, families may even lose their
homes, and the rate of nuisance and crime occasioned by the increase of
unemployed men and youths would increase phenomenally.”

Like Ali Baba, the acclaimed godfather of modern stand-up comedy in Nigeria
colourfully asks in his giant billboard along the Marina (is it still
there?) in Lagos: Need I Say More?

Governor Rotimi Amaechi should prevail on Rivers state ministry of transport
to immediately proscribe that law banning the operations of tricycles, as it
appears they have lost the plot. The governor is responsible for the actions
of all his aides.

It is never too late to retrace one’s steps from a wrong direction. ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

MILITANTS TACKLE SYLVA ON GRAFT REPORTS

UNREPENTANT militants in Bayelsa State have taken on the state governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva, saying the flurry of media reports on massive fraud in the state is no smear campaign.

But Governor Sylva is claiming that reports of alleged massive fraud in the accounts of the
state government is an orchestrated campaign to tarnish his image and ruin his rising
political stature. Sylva who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, also lashed out at some media reports at the weekend which quoted an alleged Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) interim report, alleging fraud in the finances of the state to the tune of over N100 billion.

The Sylva spokesperson in an on-line statement yesterday said the reports are “a well
structured campaign to undermine the Bayelsa state government, truncate the governor’s political career by preparing the ground for his illegal removal from office, and may be send him to jail after his governorship.”

But the Network of Freedom Fighters in Niger Delta (NFF), an insurgent group, said the governor was economical with the truth. Co-ordinator of the group, Mr. Nengi James, said on a phone interview on Monday, ''we have been crying out since last year about the worrisome level of corruption in Bayelsa. The said EFCC interim report appears to be vindicating us''.

Another insurgent group, the Niger Delta Patriotic Front (NDPF) galvanised by Mr. Dan Anderson, said the people of Bayelsa are crying for another Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to come and salvage them from rot.

According to Mr. Anderson who co-ordinates the affairs of the NDPF, ''Bayelsa state the way it stands today, is nothing short of a failed state. There is no life-changing developmental project the current ruling circle can point to as theirs. The state is simply rotting away with graft as the order of the day''.

Despite these seeming harsh comments, Governor Sylva is maintaining that a quick content analysis of the said media reports shows that the reporters responsible for the stories have already adjudged the state government guilty even when the said allegations of
financial misconduct have not been tested in a court of law.

''We do not see it as a coincidence that on the same day, two other newspapers carried another story about the Bayelsa State governor, saying he was contesting “power” with the Acting President!”, he said.

Ola stressed: “This story about grand larceny in Bayelsa state is bogus, and carefully planned to achieve political ends, namely tarnish the image of Governor Sylva, the easier to remove him from Government House.

''The stories are also meant to arouse people’s emotions, and incite them against the Sylva administration. If the EFCC has established a prima facie case against senior officials of the Government of Bayelsa State as it is claimed, the road to travel is the law courts, not the pages of newspapers.

Pointing out that one report went further to accuse the governor of involvement in “N101 billion fraud”, and in the infamous Wilbros scam, Ola questioned : “is it that the whole life of the governor that is being investigated by EFCC or his governorship?”

''Every one knows that the Wilbros matter happened before Sylva became governor. Is the said EFCC report an investigation of corruption in Bayelsa state or an investigation into the Wilbros scandal? At best, this is confusion at work!

The spokesman explained that no government since the inception of Bayelsa state has gone through the kind of financial challenge which the Sylva administration is contending with. “Yet, the evidence of the massive infrastructural development is there for all to see.”

“If over N100 billion has been removed from the Bayelsa state government accounts, how much has the state received from the Federation Account and from Internally Generated Revenue since 2007? How much has been spent on salaries and projects?”, he asked.
ENDS

AKANIMO SAMPSON

WHY EU IS INTERESTED IN AMNESTY PROGRAMME, BY FRENCH AMBASSADOR

THE French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jean-Michel Dumond, has given reason why the European Union (EU) is very keen on seeing to the success of the Amnesty Programme to repentant militants in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's volatile oil and gas region.

A well-placed functionary of the Rivers State Government told our correspondent in an interview on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that the visiting envoys rose from a closed door meeting with Governor Chibuike Amaechi and some key administration officials, pledging to partner with the state, the Federal Government and other core partners in the amnesty programme for a comprehensive programme of development for the country.


Mr Dumond, who spoke at the end of the closed door parley of 15 foreign envoys, which included nine Ambassadors to Nigeria, said the EU believes that such a programme will be a long term solution to Nigeria’s crises.


The French Ambassador, according to our source claimed that the EU was impressed with the success of the amnesty programme so far, and expressed the hope that the federal government would take all necessary measures that would ensure that the 2011 general elections would be free and fair.


“We, of course, take into consideration the elections which will take place in Nigeria in 2011, and we commend the authorities for the way the situation in Abuja has been handled”, the French Ambassador stressed.


Mr Dumond commended Amaechi, for what he described as ''a determined effor''t to develop Rivers state, pointing out that their visit was interesting because they were impressed with what they have seen in the state.


Governor Amaechi had explained that the idea behind the parley was to discuss issues concerning the wrong perception about the security situation in the Niger Delta, especially in his state.


The envoys were later conducted round some infrastructural projects such as the newly built Model Primary School, and Health Centre at Elekahia, some road projects and Trans-Amadi Gas Turbine station, by Governor Amaechi.


Ambassadors of Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Ghanaian High Commissioner, German Consul-General, British Deputy High Commissioner, Netherlands’ The Charge D’Affairs, Indian Defence Advisor were among the envoys that attended the meeting which was at the instance of the Rivers State Government. ENDS