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Uduaghan Is Repositioning Delta State, Says Commissioner
The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Oma Djebah is a global journalist with over 17 years experience in the industry. In this interview with KAYODE OGUNBUNMI, Djebah spoke about the challenges and achievement of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan as governor of Delta State. Excerpts:
Achievement of the Delta State government
The administration of Dr. Uduaghan, though barely one year old, has recorded some impressive performance. This has made the last one year a glorious beginning in the fulfilment of an electoral mandate which took off on May 29, 2007. Six months into the life of this administration, I had written an article detailing the progress the governor had made in so short a time after his swearing in. Since assumption of office, the Uduaghan administration has, in several ways, demonstrated its unflinching capacity and determination towards fulfilling the governor's campaign promises anchored on his Three-Point Agenda of Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructure Development, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) programmes, as contained in its election manifesto. This developmental tripod is not only very popular among Deltans at home and abroad, but also fully accepted and internalised. In fact, as I speak to you, this has been accepted as the road map for building a greater Delta State that all would be proud of. Though like what exist in every human society, there are challenges that beset this administration when it came on board and would have thrown an inexperienced and unserious-minded administrator off balance. But I am not surprised that they did not in the case of Dr. Uduaghan. And to the glory of God, the successes recorded in the three critical areas are eloquent testimony to the dynamism and vision of the workaholic governor.
Challenges of Peace and Security in the state
It is evident that Uduaghan has laid a firm foundation, which is reflected in the prevailing peace in the state. Having done this, he is now building on other areas like human capital and infrastructure development.
Let us look at the peace and security situation of the state that accounts for over 30 per cent of the nation's total oil and gas output. In less than 48 hours after his swearing-in, Dr. Uduaghan constituted and inaugurated the Delta
Waterways Security Committee with the mandate of monitoring and
gathering intelligence on activities in the riverine areas of the
state. Don't forget that these areas are considered to be the hotbed
of the restiveness and militancy that has bedeviled the Niger Delta
region for long. And with hard work and peace-building initiatives, Delta State has witnessed relative peace with no record of hostage-taking, disruption of production activities and militancy in recent times. Added to the activities of this committee is the direct intervention of the governor himself in trouble-shooting. There are many examples where
Uduaghan had dug into the creeks himself and sometimes with very
little security detail - all in a bid to inspire and sustain confidence
in the youths. Such direct interventions by the governor have helped to
strengthen regular reach-out strategies through constant dialogue,
mediation and conciliation.
Another significant is adequate funding of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). The dedication of 50 per cent of derivation revenue accruing to the state to the Commission has given oil-bearing communities a great sense of belonging. The general feeling currently prevailing across the state is that the governor is systematically
redressing marginalisation and neglect. The people of Delta are
happy. They are grateful. If you found time to watch a documentary on
AIT and DBS, entitled 'Uduaghan: 365 Days of Sights and Strides,' you
will appreciate what the elite, traditional rulers, youths, and the
Deltan on the street say about the governor. This has never been the
case. In fact, the other day, a friend working at the UN in New York
called and narrated how he saw dramatic infrastructure changes in
Warri during a recent visit.
The economic direction of the Uduaghan administration
The governor's economic blueprint for Delta State is anchored on an
ambitious and very realistic integrated development programme that
would make Delta the economic hub of Nigeria and indeed, West
African. As I speak to you, a bill is already before the state assembly to set up the Delta Integrated Development Agency (DIDA), and let me use this opportunity to commend the Speaker and members of the house for the immense support and cooperation they have given His Excellency. The governor has a plan to develop the state through a diversification of the
economy under the public-private partnership arrangement. That is why
there has been a lot of emphasis on developing the Koko, Sapele, Warri
and Burutu ports and a plan to build a brand new one on the 26km
stretch in the coastline. And I can assure you that this can take at
least four Deep Seaports and will thus become the quickest route in
and out of Nigeria. Another very important aspect is to make Delta State the choice destination in the area of gas exploration and exploitation - which is why the state is keying into the national gas masterplan being promoted by the federal ministry of energy (gas).
Impact of these on the average Deltan
Everything that is possible is being done to ensure that the abundant
human capital of the state is developed and empowered in an all-round
fashion. As I speak to you, maternal healthcare is now free for all
pregnant women and newly delivered mothers throughout the state. The
Delta State free maternal health is in fact, similar, in many respects, to that which obtains in the Scandinavia countries where absolute medical attention
is paid to both expectant and newly delivered mothers and their babies. With a solid foundation at the infant age, the child is expected to grow up to become strong, healthy and bright. And as the saying goes, a bright child is one of the greatest assets to society.
In the area of education, Governor Uduaghan wasted no time in setting
up a committee led by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) to recommend measures on the re-opening of schools closed down during the crises in the riverine communities which predated the administration. Many of the schools have been reopened and the educational appetite of pupils and children in the affected areas are now being fed with wholesome and qualitative teaching. The administration pays the bills of
students writing WAEC and NECO exams and the state assembly is considering the Child Rights bill sponsored by the governor. When passed into law, it would be criminal to neglect and molest the child.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Micro-Credit Programme has turned out to be one of the rare achievements of the Uduaghan administration. The programme, deployed in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), provides seed capital to carefully selected co-operative societies for business
growth and expansion in a manner that grooms micro businesses.
The state of the education sector
The welfare of the teachers has received front-burner attention. For instance, primary school teachers are currently benefiting from the 15 per cent wage rise approved for all public workers throughout the federation. It would be recalled that Delta State was one of the first states in the country that agreed to the new wage structure agreed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Furthermore, the government has demonstrated strong commitment
towards improving the physical environment, aesthetics and living
conditions of all Deltans. The gigantic Asaba international airport project, which foundation stone was recently laid by the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, is recording a very fast pace of work such that it could be completed in less than the period initially envisaged for its
completion. Plans and negotiations have also reached an advanced stage
to expand the Osubi airstrip in Warri to make it a standard airport.
Significantly, another area that is receiving government's attention
is the land, inter and intra city transportation scheme in cities like
Asaba, Warri and Ughelli, among others. To achieve this, there is the
dualisation and reconstruction of existing roads, and outright building of new ones. The administration has also built model markets across
the three senatorial districts of the state, while also putting in place a comprehensive industrial and business road map to integrate al these efforts.
Information management under the government
The governor has recorded impressive strides in the information
sector. The repackaging of the Pointer is a loud testimony
in this regard. Before we came on board, the newspaper was far below
standard of a modern newspaper, but today the Sunday Pointer favourably
competes with national papers in terms of coverage, circulation,
reader-appeal and aesthetics. In no distant time, the Saturday edition
and the daily will follow suit. And then attention is also being given
to DBS to reposition the stations for optimal performance.
Source: The Guardian, 15th June 2008.
FG seeks more British involvement in resolution of N' Delta crises
Written by Kingsley Omonobi
THE Federal Government said yesterday it would like Britain as a stakeholder in the Niger Delta area of the country by way of being the owners of Shell Petroleum Company, to show more interest in the resolution of the multi-faceted problems ravaging the area.
Defence Minister, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed who made the disclosure after he and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Robins Dewar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in his office, noted that “a situation where British oil giants, SHELL has continued to be the largest investor, explorer and owner in the oil industry in Nigeria with more than 50 per cent holdings, and yet they show little interest in the resolution of the crises there is unacceptable”.
“Therefore, British interest and Nigeria’s interest as far as cooperation in resolving the Niger Delta crisis, should be a must for us. The Niger Delta issue should not be seen as a Nigerian problem alone. We have joint responsibility of seeing off all criminal elements in that area”.
“That means that companies like Shell, and Mobil that are UK concerns that are given opportunities to operate without hindrance should join hands in addressing these problems that we all know about”.
Continuing he said, “We all know that anything affecting oil production in Nigeria, results into negative consequences for international market. Even in Britain, recent increase that led to tanker protest for instance, was seen all over world”.
“So we are saying that the overall effect of instability in the Niger Delta is bad for world economy. That is why we are calling on all stakeholders to be part of the new initiative of government aimed at resolving the issues in that area.
On the MOU, the minister expressed the hope that it would re-invigorate the economic, social and political relationship between Nigeria and Britain.
“I have observed with concern, the dwindling cooperation between Nigeria and UK. Considering the historical ties between our countries, this dwindling cooperation has allowed others to come in penetrated more into our Defence programmes”.
“In relation to the transformation of the armed forces” the minister said, “It is gladdening to note that following my earlier observation at another forum, Britain is now ready to play their expected role. Having learnt from the British best tradition, we feel that the cooperation of UK to our peacekeeping contributions should be more than presently exist. We desire and require more from Britain towards our conduct and commitment”.
Earlier, the British High Commissioner explained that the MOU was aimed at providing the legal framework for military training and the role if its advisers regarding their work in Nigeria.
“Britain admires the role of Nigeria in peacekeeping not only in African countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone and Darfur, but in other parts of the world. We are happy to work with you in the training and enhancement of capacity in peace support operations” he said.
Mr. Dewar expressed his country’s condolences on the death of 46 Nigerian military personnel who recently died following a motor accident after arriving their fatherland and prayed God to grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.
Source: Vanguard, 13th June 2008.
Probe panel on collapsed Asaba High Court building submits report
Written by Austin Ogwuda
THE 7-man Inter-Ministerial Committee set up by the Delta State government to investigate the collapse of the administrative block of the High Court building in Asaba has submitted its report, assuring Deltans that the issue of shoddy execution of jobs would be a thing of the past if the recommendations are fully implemented.
Chairman of the Committee headed by the Commissioner in charge of Directorate of Project Monitoring, Mr. Ejaife Odebala formally submitted the report to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who will eventually prepare it in its normal form and sent it to State Executive Council for ratification.
Odebala, in his remarks said “the Committee made far reaching recommendations on the individual or collective role of actors in respect of the project”, pointing out that “it is the belief of the committee that if the recommendations are fully implemented it will launch the state into a new regime of contract award implementation and evaluation where individuals could be held accountable for shoddy execution of government projects”.
The high court complex under construction, which partially collapsed on the 2nd of February last year, has been generating a lot heat.
Already, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Asaba branch have kicked against any attempt to effect repairs on the collapsed high court building insisting that the structure be pulled down completely.
Source: Vanguard, 12th June 2008.
Ijaw leaders deny reprisal attack on JTF
Written by Emma Arubi
IJAW leaders in Egbema clan in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, denied any reprisal attack on men of the military Joint Task Force, JTF, posted to an oil location at Ogbudugbudu community.
In a press conference in Warri, Evangelist Sam Ife and Darlington Ayetigha said there was no iota of truth that militants from the area clashed with the soldiers.
According to them, they were surprised about a report credited to the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Brigadier-General Wuyep Rimtip, in the Vanguard newspaper that his soldiers were attacked by militants in the area in retaliation to last Sunday’s raid by the special task force on some militant’s camps.
“No reprisal attack was carried out on the soldiers and that the JTF Commander, who is supposed to be a custodian of truth, can make such spurious allegation without confirming the authenticity of such allegation is most unfortunate”, they added.
They however expressed the fear that the JTF might be using the allegation of such attack on its men as a smokescreen to unleash terror on the people of the area and called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to call the Commander to order.
An Egbema Youth Leader, Mr. Meshack Ubabiri condemned the activities of the special task force noting that the peace loving people of the area could no longer go about their legitimate business because of constant fear of attack by soldiers.
He called on the Federal Government to caution the JTF Commander because according to him, he does not employ diplomacy in tackling issues leading to the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis adding:
“The Federal Government is not sincere in the search for and solution to the Niger Delta crisis. How can soldiers continue to attack Ijaw communities and at the same time calling on the Ijaws to participate in a planned Niger Delta summit?”
Source: Vanguard, 12th June 2008.
Delta Lauds Judgment on Return of Oil Wells
The Delta State government has commended the Federal High Court judgment which yesterday in Benin City , Edo State , nullified the ceding of Ugbede community land with about 260 oil wells in Warri North local government area of Delta State to Ondo State .
The Ugbede community had challenged the ceding in court with the case dragging for long before yesterday's verdict that nullified the objections of the Ondo government.
A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah, said the Delta State Government "receives with satisfaction and joy" the judgment by Justice Chukwuma Nnamadi which declared the ceding of the communities and about 260 oil wells therein as null, illegal and unconstitutional.
Mr Djebah described the development as a vindication of the stand of the Delta State Government which unequivocally states that Ugbede Community and the oil wells therein were illegally transferred to Ondo State, saying that this was in line with the avowed commitment of President Umaru Musa Yar?Adua to the principles and application of the Rule of Law in the country.
The statement added: "The Delta State Government has by the judgment of His Lordship, Justice Chukwuma Nnamadi of the Federal High Court, Benin, been vindicated in its position all along that the controversial ceding of the community and its resources to another state was illegal, unconstitutional and therefore null and void.?
?Ceding the Ugbede community was, in total violation of Section 8 (2) of the 1999 constitution, which abruptly disjointed the people?s ancestral ties, cultural heritage, and economic potentials by the controversial decision and the state government is happy that the judiciary has satisfactorily overturned that earlier decision that ceded the land to Ondo State,? the statement said.
?The state government wishes to commend the judiciary for dispensing justice on the matter while praising the patience and maturity of the people of the affected community whose belief and faith in the rule of law has paid off eventually. The State Government also wishes to commend our team of lawyers, especially Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) for their doggedness in the pursuit of justice and the Rule of Law.
Source: ThisDay, 12th June 2008.
Lulu-Briggs Donates N150m to Niger Delta Varsity
By Samuel Oyadongha
Lagos
A Port Harcourt based oil magnate, Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, has donated N150 million to the Bayelsa State owned Niger Delta University, Amassoma, for the construction of two hostels.
The two hostels, one for male and the other for female students when completed are expected to address the problem of accommodation faced by students on campus.
Making the presentation to the management of the institution led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chris Ikporikpo, the donor, Chief Lulu-Briggs said it was in fulfillment of his earlier promise to assist in the infrastructural development of the university and by extension the development of the youths of the troubled Niger Delta.
Though the oil magnate was physically present during the presentation of the cheque but he spoke through his wife, Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, ostensibly due to his health.
He noted that despite the myriad of crises rocking the Niger Delta there is light at the end of the tunnel, saying "there is still hope for the region," and appealed to well meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations to invest in the development of the youths as well as the development of the only university in the predominantly riverine Bayelsa.
"Today is a day one has done what one had planned to do. I am grateful to God for the opportunity to serve, that we are being used to help our children. Having visited this university and having seen the state it is in currently and the potentials of the young ones, it is only proper one does something about it.
"That today we are able to kick off the project is a fulfilment that we have been granted life," he said while presenting the N150m cheque to the Vice Chancellor of the university.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Chris Ikporikpo, thanked the donor and his wife for the kind gesture, describing them as distinguished Nigerians and great individuals, assuring that their legacies will remain indelible in the annals of the institution.
An elated Prof. Ikporikpo added that the donation of two hostels would go a long way in reducing the accommodation problem faced by students and called on other well meaning Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of Chief Lulu-Briggs.
His words, "as some of us know the Niger Delta University lacks infrastructure such as hostels and residence for staff and other forms of infrastructure required for teaching and research. So, there is no doubt that this donation by this distinguished Nigerian will go a long way in addressing some of the very pressing problem of the university."
The vice chancellor further explained that "the donation of the two hostels is an expression of the belief Lulu-Briggs has in the future of children."
"The name of the Lulu-Briggs as far Niger Delta University exits will be in gold and will never be forgotten in the university," he declared and assured that the hostel blocks would be ready in no distant time.
Source: Vanguard, 10th June 2008
Legislator condemns violence in N-Delta
Written by George Onah
A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Mr. Otobo Opusiri has said that the solution to the Niger Delta problem can only be surmounted if the youths of the region agreed to a total ceasefire and reject all forms of restiveness.
Opusiri, who is the House chairman, committee for commerce and industry was also of the view that “it would amount to daily fetching of water with a basket”, if restiveness does not abate in preference for dialogue of all stakeholders, which aims at development.
The legislator’s condemnation of violence in the region came on the heels of a communiqué after a roundtable discussion by a panel of discussants rejecting the criminalization of the struggle for resource control by Niger Deltans.
Speaking to the press in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, the lawmaker said “the youths of any state or country are the labour force needed to achieve high or improved level of productivity.
Consequently, every youth must drop whatever weapon he possesses, because we cannot be talking about development of the region when you would not allow peace to reign. How would growth come when those who are genuinely interested in developing the area are constantly frightened or chased away .
There is also the need to let those who arm these youths know that they are causing more destruction in the society that the people they send on those deadly assignments”.
Opusiri then called on those unhappy politicians in Bayelsa to join forces with the new governor of the state, Mr. Timipre Sylvia “in the march towards rebuilding the land.”
On the discussion organized by the National Orientation Agency, Port Harcourt, “the conference condemned in its totality the complete distortion of the struggle for resource control, because the character of the struggle has derailed from resource control to criminality”.
To stem the vice, therefore, participants want the “offering of more jobs and education opportunities to the youths as well as putting in place an acceptable mode of leadership succession at all levels”.
Further to these, “that the nature character and structure of the Nigerian state be visited as what subsist today as criminalization is a reaction to the poor structure and management of the Nigerian nation.”
Source: Vanguard, 4th June 2008.
Awaiting Uduaghan's Three-point Agenda
By Abaraham Ogbodo, Deputy Political Editor
DR. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State tries most time to be precise. Even when he calls conferences to brief the press, he manages to get to the spot at the appointed time. The tradition did not change when he talked to the press on his one year in office in Asaba, the state capital last Wednesday.
He only allowed 10 minutes for everybody to get settled in the auditoriun of the Government House Press Centre before showing up at about 10.10 a.m. Even in presenting his own report card of one year in office, he was brief. He spoke off script for less than 10 minutes and stopped. His delivery put him more in the mould of a professional than a politician. He stuck strictly to the main business of the day, which was that his three-point agenda of peace and security, capacity building and infrastructural development is still taking time to evolve 365 days after it was initiated.
He paused for reactions from newsmen who came from known and unknown constituencies of the media industry. One fellow introduced himself as the chairman of the National Association of Community Newspapers of Nigeria. Another said he was the publisher and editor-in-chief of Government House Monitor.
The questions also came in different hues; some tough, almost getting the Governor on his toes and others simply laughable. One journalist said his Delta Central Senatorial District has been marginalised in the Uduaghan's scheme. The fellow was angry and slammed a mixed verdict on Uduaghan. "Your Excellency, you have done very well in the past one year in some areas, but there are certain areas where you have performed very badly", he decreed. Another said the governor is deliberately cultivating "warlords" to buy peace for his administration. There were many questions on the operations of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), headed by one Chief Wellington Okrika and this was understandable. Fifty per cent of the 13 per cent derivation fund the state gets from the Federal Government is dedicated to DESOPADEC. The 2008 budget of the state allocated a handsome N30 billion to the commission. There is money in DESOPADEC and there are bound to be issues.
The Governor listened and took notes as the questions tumbled in. He interjected intermittently to bring some questioners to order. For instance, when the issue of marginalistion of Delta Central was raised, he allowed the speaker just enough time to commit the fallacy before interjecting with a heavy tint of satire. "What you are saying is really true but where is Uvwie in Delta State?" The speaker hesitated and dragged around for an answer which, failed to invalidate the point raised by the Governor.
In a hurry to raise a strong point, the fellow forget to articulate properly his position and instead of bringing some heat to bear on Uduaghan which was his intention, he succeeded in sounding stupid when the Governor raised a counter argument. Uduaghan was winning and naturally wanted the dialogue to continue. He allowed the speaker the pleasure of a little time to regain composure and then resumed: "Where is Ughelli? Or is the dualisation of the Ughelli township road not part of the projects being executed by the government in Delta Central?"
From the sides a voice noted that the questioner "did not do a proper home work to get his facts right before pretending to know so much about Uduaghan's misdeeds." Another member of the media audience who appeared fairly informed about the issues tried to situate the quarrel in context. "That man is close to the Governor and actually worked for him during the campaigns. Maybe he is talking of personal marginalisation and not the marginalisation of Delta Central Senatorial District."
Uduaghan came with all the answers in his head. Even when one journalist wanted to give him some breathing space, he bluntly refused to take a break. The fellow had asked that the commissioners for information and finance react to issues regarding the state owned newspaper - The Pointer - and the non payment of the salaries of workers at DESOPADEC for three months. The Governor quickly rose to the defence of his commissioners and said: "This is my press conference and all questions should be directed at me."
The issues were laid. He listened, explained some, parried some and those concerning the DESOPADEC, he pointedly said, "I am the Governor and overall boss of all government agencies in the state and I take full responsibility for whatever that is happening at DESOPADEC." On that note, a lid was firmly placed on all questions relating to DESOPADEC and its operation under Chief Okrika at the press briefing.
The point on the pacification of warlords by government offered another opportunity for Governor Uduaghan to dramatise. The reporter was still in the middle of the question when the governor harmlessly cut in with an unexpected question. "Who is a warlord?" The reporter was not expecting the sudden counter attack and became completely disoriented. He searched fruitlessly for a while for something meaningful to address the Governor's poser. But he took too long and lost the initiative to the Governor who seized the opportunity to explain most scholarly the diabolic dynamics that have sustained the Niger Delta crisis till date.
He said the issues in the oil rich region turned complex at the point where criminals and rights group took refuge in the same umbrella of fighting for freedom and better conditions for the people of the Niger Delta. He added that for peace to reign, the issues must be separated and administered with different solutions. That is, criminals including people that blew up oil facilities in Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government area citing marginalisation must be contained by the laws of the land while genuine rights groups must be engaged in the continuous search for a lasting solution in the Niger Delta.
Some of the answers by the Governor were stretched beyond their essence because he had to explain even in longer sentences the dwindling resources of the state and why it has become increasingly difficult for Delta to live up to its sobriquet of the Big Heart Of The Nation. Yet commitments, which include the establishment of an airport in the State capital in just 18 months, have increased in the face of diminishing resources. The cost of the project is put at about N 7 billion.
Uduaghan described the level of electricity supply in Delta State as "criminally low and even capable of adding to the tension we have been trying to manage these past years." Accordingly, the state is diligently searching for some willing private sector partner to build a 800-mega watts power plant to liberate the state from the anemic national grid. At peak, the state with its envisaged industrial complexes will not require more than 600 mega watts. The spare capacity will be offered for sale in the new drive to make more money for the Delta State.
The Governor said these copious constraints explain why the over-advertised three-point agenda of his government is not coming on stream as fast as expected. He also cited the Nigerian brand of federalism which concentrates all powers and resources at the centre. He lamented: "Eighty per cent of my movement to Abuja is to negotiate with one agency or the other of the Federal Government on how to get out things that are due Delta State." Apparently, Uduaghan may have spoken for other states, which have been constrained by the over unitarisation of the Nigerian federation to grow at the pace dictated by Abuja.
By some curious re-adjustment of the locations of oil wells, Delta State lost vital grounds to neighbouring Ondo State. This has further marked down the state's monthly earnings from the federation account. But the larger Delta dream is a long-term project that is bigger than its share of the common wealth at Abuja. The governor is enthusiastic about a government and private sector partnership that will bring about the rapid realisation of the three-point agenda. What is left is the sincerity to allow the partnership to flourish. The governor confessed to the media crowd in Asaba that having being part of government first as commissioner, later as secretary to the state government and now the ultimate boss, "my needs are limited." He elaborated: "I have a wife and two children. My concern is to work and leave a legacy behind and not to accumulate personal wealth because I absolutely do not have need for such accumulation."
Ethnic balancing in the state is still a major challenge even as the Governor stuck to the same old line that "there will be no problem if all stakeholders receive their dues accordingly." It explained why several questions on marginalisation of some ethnic stakeholders, were raised by reporters at the press briefing. Governor Uduaghan refused for the umpteenth time to join issues with Chief E.K. Clark, whom he described as "my leader and father" stressing "in the end we shall settle all matters as father and son."
Nobody remembered to raise the challenge of his election by the Action Congress candidate, Peter Okocha. The matter, which was decided in his favour at the Election Tribunal in Asaba is before the Appeal Court for determination.
Source: The Guardian, 1st June 2008.
Uduaghan urges peace, unity
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State yesterday stressed the need to ensure that peace reigned supreme in the state.
"Peace is the magic wand to the numerous problems that presently plague the state," he said.
He spoke at the first anniversary of his inauguration in Asaba, adding that the last one-year had been really challenging as he came to terms with the reality of governing the state.
Uduaghan added that with God on his side, he had been able to walk through what seemed the valley of pains. But waxing philosophical, he said: "The last one year have been really challenging. God has survived Nigeria and Delta State. God will never fail me."
He also used the opportunity to explain the reasons for the lean financial position of the state.
Present at the event, which was rounded off with cultural display, included former Governor James Ibori, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martins Okonta and his deputy, Mr. Basil Ganagana; Chief Judge, Mrs. Roseline Bozimo; the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien and a host of others.
Source: The Guardian, 30th May 2008.
Kukah blasts FG, int'l community over N-Delta crisis
Written by Austin Ogwuda
ERUDITE scholar and social critic, the Reverend Matthew Kukah declared in Asaba yesterday that the much-talked about problems of the Niger Delta region have remained unresolved due to the insincerity of both the Federal Government and international community including the non governmental organizations (NGOs) whom, he said have their hidden agenda based on personal prejudices.
He therefore noted that no matter the intervention of the outsiders, the people of the region would best resolve the problems themselves.
While appreciating the fact that the region is suffering from enormous degradation, he posited that the solution does not lie on the jumbo percent that can be won in the fight but noted that “the solution to the problem lies in whether we can generate enough love for our people, enough concern for our people”.
He spoke at a public lecture to mark the one-year in office of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
His words: “I think that from the Federal Government to the international community indeed the difficulties in resolving the problems of the Niger Delta arise from the fact that everybody knows what the problems are.
The sad thing with the many answers that we have is that most of the answers are based on our personal prejudices, on our personal mindsets.
“My question then is whether these concentration of human initiatives. It has two options, it can become a bridge or it can become a wall in which case we can have everybody with the concentration of energy and resources that are being thrown into the Niger Delta but because so much is being said that there is very little that will be done.
“When we talk the Niger Delta do we talk about it as geography, politics, as economics, as culture or
indeed is there a Niger Delta. At the end of the day each and every one of these organizations whether they are embassies or nations or international NGOs everybody has his hidden agenda.
The problem with their agenda is that it is not part of the larger agenda. At the end everybody will go back home to
sleep and leave us alone to solve our problems”.
Continuing, he said, “no matter the weaknesses of the social, political, economic problems in the Niger
Delta in the final analysis, the problems in the Niger Delta will be resolved by the people of the Niger
Delta themselves.
“What is most critical”, he stated, “is that this part of the country beyond just oil, needs to refresh our
minds with certain facts. Was there a story before oil?
“Way back in 1830 and 1850 the Niger Delta from the point of view of palm oil and palm kernel trade out of approximately N1.5 million pounds that was the proceeds of exports from Africa as a whole, the Niger Delta was responsible for about 800 pounds.
“What is most critical in Nigeria is how do we develop the political will to do what needs to be done.
“The diagnosis have been effectively done (right from Isaac Boro and Ken Sarowiwa ) what is most critical is how do we generate action.
“Part of the problem that has produced this spiral of violence, he said, is because of the legalistic
tendencies of those in power, who simply are framing the issues of the Niger Delta from the point of view of law and order.
“And if you are approaching these matters from the point of view of law and order…it is a do and die
affair. It is important for us to understand that the local elites of the Niger Delta not only today has the
capacity but has also it is important to understand that we cannot allow our children to seek for their
heroes elsewhere”.
He added that “the solution to their problem may not necessarily lies in whether it is 90 per cent or 80
per cent or 1 per cent.
The solution to the problem lies in whether we can generate enough love for our people, enough concern for our people. Let us begin to have deliberations of best practices and it is imperative on our people to understand that nobody else will design the weapons of your own future. Your future is in your hands”.
Source: Vanguard, 29th May 2008.
Crisis in Delta community deepens
From Shola O’Neil, Warri
The crisis in Seimbiri kingdom , Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State over the creation of Zadobiri Kingdom , assumed a new dimension yesterday.
The Enekorogha community warned against plans to include it in the "imaginary kingdom".
The kingdom feared that some persons from one of the communities plotted to excise another kingdom out of the ancient Ijaw kingdom in the oil rich council area.
Leaders of Enekorogha, in a letter to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, drew his attention to a move by some people from the Oboro Community in the kingdom to include them.
The letter, obtained by our correspondent, alerted the governor of the plan. " Enekorogha Town is one of the five communities that make up the ancient Seimbiri Kingdom.
Other communities are Okpokunou, Edegbene, Oboro and Dunou-Ogusu," the letter stated.
Enekorogha is the second community to dissociate itself from the plan.
Mr. Conference Jalai, Secretary of Enekorogha Town and Chiefs Togoland Beke, John Kiyo Clark, Ebe-bebearea-Owei and Ebe-Ogulasuowei respectively of Seimbiri as well as Dieweremi Orutei, who signed the letter to Governor Uduaghan, appealed to him to stop the Oboro community from further misleading the public.
"We wish to state that our community has never and can never act in concert with Oboro community to fraudulently deceive the state government to believe that there has been an existing kingdom called Zadobiri or that there was an imaginary king called Pere Wikimo Beke Oboro who ruled over the imaginary kingdom.’
Source: Nation, 27th May 2008.
Master plan will check Niger Delta crisis, says Yar'Adua
From Madu Onuorah, Abuja
PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday said the full implementation of the Niger Delta master plan would remove the basis for the political agitation in the region.
The President also said that his administration had reached an advanced stage in discussions with political and community leaders as well as the militants in the efforts to find a lasting solution to the violence, kidnappings and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta.
President Yar'Adua told the new Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Mr. Flemming Bjok Pedersen, at the presentation of his letters of credence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja: "We already have a 15-year master plan for the comprehensive development of the Niger Delta region, and once this is implemented, the basis for the political agitation will no longer be there."
The President noted that the issues of criminality and oil theft must be separated from genuine political agitation.
He listed the Niger Delta as one of the priorities of his administration, adding that "tremendous efforts" were being put into finding solutions to the problems in the area.
Speaking on bilateral issues, President Yar'Adua directed that arrangements be made for a Nigerian trade delegation to reciprocate the Danish trade delegation's visit of October 2007, adding that this is one of the ways of strengthening relations.
Source: The Guardian, 27th May 2008.
Ijaw female students oppose Okah's secret trial
By Bertram Nwannekanma
A GROUP, Association of Ijaw Female Students (NAIFS), have opposed Federal Government's secret trial of the leader of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, in Jos, Plateau State.
They also kicked against any government's sponsored Niger Delta summit until it proves its seriousness to hold such confab in the region.
National President of the association, Miss Florence Kalioat, in a statement at the weekend in Port Harcourt, said such summit could only be held when Okah was granted the opportunity to participate in it.
The students regretted that the insurrection and criminality in the Niger Delta had contributed to the galloping prices of petroleum products as armed youths continued to press for justice by attacking oil pipelines, ships and flow stations in the region.
They accused the Federal Government of adopting the concept of employing these armed groups in "community policing" of oil installations under a policy that has been rejected by MEND and other groups.
While declaring MEND as the only recognised body, the students said: "We are sadly aware of the Abuja government disavowal of its self-adopted and trumpeted respect for the 'rule-of-law', by going ahead with the secret trial of Henry Okah, an Ijaw of the Niger Delta and a citizen of Nigeria, who they claimed is the leader of MEND.
"We demand that a general amnesty be first declared to pacify our fellow youths who were forced to resort to armed struggle as a tool of 'self-determination', otherwise we reject the obviously not-well-thought-out proposal to create "Militants Plc" as a bid to divide-and-conquer the Ijaw/Niger Delta youth.
"We demand that Henry Okah be granted all his constitutionally-guaranteed rights, including a free, open, fair trial and unrestricted access to his family and lawyers", she said.
Kalioat added that since there appears an on-going sincere holistic constitutional review, "we demand the urgent legislating and implementation of true fiscal federalism in Nigeria; drastic overhauling of the National Inland Waterways and Petroleum Acts, scrapping of the Land Use Act, and redefining of other legislations fundamental to Nigeria's constitutional injustices to the Niger Delta".
Source: The Guardian, 26th May 2008.
Bishop lauds Uduaghan over achievements
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
ALMOST one year after his inauguration, the Anglican Bishop of Asaba Diocese, Rev. Nicholas Okoh, during the weekend in Asaba showered encomiums on Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The occasion was a church service at St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral Church, Asaba, to mark the first anniversary of Uduaghan administration.
While advising him to consolidate on his achievements, Okoh remarked that when one looks at the performance of his government, there was cause to give thanks to God going by the relative peace and security in the state.
The clergyman said: "The level of success, although not 100 per cent, but is in the right direction. The performance of the Uduaghan administration has been wonderful in the past one year in the area of good roads, provision of street light, construction of Asaba Airport and other infrastructure. It goes to tell us that government is focused."
He prayed God to give the administration the wisdom to remain focused.
Represented by the Deputy Governor Amos Agbe Utuama (SAN), the governor said that his government was out to ensure that the three-point agenda of peace and security, human capital and infrastructure development are successful.
Source: The Guardian, 26th May 2008.
Delta to set up peace ministry for development
GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said his administration's peace and security strategy would be further deepened with the creation of a Ministry of Peace Development in the state. He also added that the success of the state government's security strategy made it possible for the Warri refinery to be reopened after being shut down for years.
Uduaghan told investors recently at the Nigerian Gas Master plan Investors Road show at London Hilton Metropole Hotel that the establishment of Delta State Waterways Security Committee, has addressed maritime peace and security issues. He added that it also would lead to the creation of un-armed surveillance agency that would provide vital information for the law enforcement agencies to prevent pipeline vandalisation or any criminal action in the waterways.
Continuing on the strategy the state was adopting to restore confidence and ensure that stability in the state was not disrupted, Governor Uduaghan said his administration was establishing community security agencies that would watch over pipelines, and form part of the community development committees.
He also spoke about the establishment of a monitoring neighbourhood watch, which enhances and strengthens the Nigeria Police, the governor added.
Illustrating the successful example of the peace and security strategy of his administration, Uduaghan said at the peak of the crisis two years ago, the pipeline conveying crude to NNPC facilities was punctured in 24 places and that crippled the Warri refinery. He, however, said that in the last one year, the state government's security strategy has made it possible for the Warri refinery to be reopened.
Meanwhile, at the Road shows Uduaghan has urged interested investors to give the local communities a sense of ownership of their investment as a strategy to guarantee security of their investment in the Niger Delta.
Uduaghan in his paper: "The Niger Delta Region Development and Security Strategy," explained that contrary to impression, a lot of progress has been made to improve the security situation in the region.
Uduaghan's paper which drew a lot of attention from the audience who were concerned about the security situation, gave an overview of the situation in the zone, the key issues and challenges in Niger Delta, Federal Government's strategy and approach and that of the state government.
Source: The Guardian, 22nd May 2008.
Employment Racketeering Rocks Delta Immigration Service
Written by Austin Ogwuda
THE on-going recruitment exercise being conducted by the Delta state command of the Nigeria Immigration Service Asaba has been characterised with large scale racketing allegedly being perpetuated by some officials of the command, investigation has shown.
The command located near the Asaba bridge Head for the past two weeks is besieged daily by anxious applicants seeking recruitment.
However, investigation has shown that the slots appropriated for Delta state indigenes were being ‘sold’ to other applicants from neighbouring Anambra state at exorbitant cost without recourse to the fate of Delta indigenes seeking the positions.
One worrisome aspect of the whole scam is that other non-Delta indigenes falsely swear to affidavits claiming to be indigenes of Delta state.
Vanguard gathered that security operatives are already closing in on the perptrators with a view to arresting and pressing charges.
A Deltan, who gave her name simply as Philomena stormed Vanguard office in Asaba yesterday saying “I came all the way from Warri for this exercise. I have been coming here for the past four days but what do you find instead of getting attention other applicants from Anambra and Easter parts buy up our (Delta) chances”.
Also, a security operative who pleaded anonymity confided to our reporter that most of the state of origin declaration obtained from the local government councils were falsified. Efforts to get official reaction from the command were unsuccessful as at the time of this report as bot phone calls and text messages put to the Public Relations Officer of the command were not replied.
Source: Vanguard, 15th May 2008.
Uduaghan lauds Okonjo's patience over stool, urges peace
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State at the weekend lauded the patience of Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, who waited for about 22 years for the outcome of the legal tussle over the stool.
Uduaghan, who spoke during the first anniversary of the coronation of the monarch, enjoined the other parties to tow the path of peace by extending hands of fellowship to the king so as to enable the community forge ahead.
He advised that instead of wasting so much money on litigation in court, the aggrieved parties should channel such resources towards the meaningful development of the community.
Uduaghan extolled the sterling qualities of the traditional ruler, saying: "I know you are a peace lover, forgive those that tried to prevent you from mounting the throne".
Uduaghan, also at the event reiterated his government's commitment to completing all abandoned projects.
He expressed sadness that most of the abandoned projects at Ogwashi-Uku were awarded to indigenes of the community.
Earlier the monarch, who is the father of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said: "We are extremely grateful first and foremost to the Chief Judge and the Judiciary that we in the kingdom have been given the opportunity of having peace in the community".
He added that the state government had moved so rapidly and effectively to cement and solidify the peace that the enthronement of the monarchy now returned to its rightful and legal owners will usher".
Source: The Guardian, 13th May 2008.
Niger-Delta crises--- ominous Yar-Adua
Written by Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa Sunday, 11 May 2008 *Says Nigeria may lose position to Angola
President Umaru Musa Yar”Adua yesterday lamented the situation in the Niger Delta, saying if oil exploration and production are not allowed and peace restored in the troubled region, the country stood the risk of losing its position in Africa to Angola.
The president, who painted a bleak future for the country on account of the tensed situation in the troubled region, in Yenagoa during the flag-off of the governorship campaign of Chief Timipre Sylva, said he felt pained anytime he received the disturbing report on the region.
He said though his administration was already on top of the situation in the region with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan charged with the responsibility of ensuring a peaceful dialogue on contentious issues, the people of the region should not throw away the opportunity for the country to become the petrol-chemical hub of the African continent.
''There is a growing energy situation in the world and the energy demand is becoming worrisome. The situation has started driving upward the price of crude oil. When the world press talks about it, they said it is due to the lack of peace in Iran, Iraq and now the Niger Delta region. This assertion is becoming true. It is because we provide the world with the opportunity to do so. It is painful for me because we have the potentials to become the petro-chemical hub of the continent,” he lamented.
The President noted that in a country that needed development, there are two ways of developing money for such a country.
He explained that all the government needed do is to provide necessary empowerment for growth citing the issue of the release of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) funds as a priority and in accordance with the Act establishing it.
“We have set aside funds for the oil producing states of the country, and in the supplementary budget, we will make the issue of power/energy, security and the Niger Delta region, a priority. The administration is doing everything possible to lay foundation for development,” he said.
President Yar”Adua however stated that without peace and unity, such desired development can not be achieved.
”If there is no peace in the Niger Delta region, the country may loose its position to Angola, that is what it will cost us. Let us not throw away God given opportunity. As in other places in the world, it is not governments that provide investment; it is the private business and investments. Of the whole continent, there is no where with abundant resources but the Niger Delta.
“The Vice President is leading the process of dialogue. I appeal that you co-operate with the Vice President, the National Assembly and the Government. This conference will provide a way forward for peace and I appeal in the name of God. I am talking from the bottom of my heart. It is painful that we could lose our position,” he noted.
He however agreed that the issue of conflict in the Niger Delta may have been an offshoot of what has befallen the African continent in the last five decades of existence. ''the growth of the continent among the league of nations has been retarded by conflict and crisis. But once peace comes and stays for 15 years, you will not believe the transformation that will occur in the region. Don't create fear and tension that impede development.”
Source: Vanguard, 11th May 2008.
First Bank Partners Group To Develop Niger Delta
By Ajibola Amzat
FIRST Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc has delcared its commitment to expand the Niger Delta development programme it embarked upon last year in conjunction with Noble Youth Association, a Non Governmental Association (NGO) in the region.
The programme, which targets youths in secondary and tertiary institutions in the Niger Delta, has been expanded to include youths who may not be in formal schools, but are reside in the local communities.
Apart from conducting workshops and seminars in various secondary and tertiary institutions within the region, both organisations planned to provide substantial assistance for the training and eventual engagement of youths in skilled labour such as auto mechanics, carpentary/joinery, welding and others.
The programme also covers those who are already engaged in agriculture /aqua culture such as fisheries, snail rearing and garden-egg farming.
According to the president of the NGO, Uzor Nwachukwu, the partnership with the bank has is a veritable source of hope to the youths in the area. He said that without such selfless and well - intended rescue missions by the private sector and relevant NGOs with integrity, there may not be any tomorrow for these youths as efforts by the government through her various agencies and ministries have proved ineffective, ill-coordinated and bogged by the twin forces of bureaucracy and politics.
Nwachukwu explains further that the proactive approach employed by the partners in the total development of the youths will create an enabling platform and bring about the emergence of a set of youths who are educationally and morally balanced as well as properly equipped to provide good leadership at various levels in the future.
He notes that majority of the campaigns are being carried out in public/private schools, which accounts for over 85 percent of youths of school age in region. He believes that the failed state of public schools in the country, especially within the Niger Delta, has contributed more than any other factor to the high level of criminality and poverty that have come to be associated with youths of the area. Some of the resource persons that are part of this national reformation include: Prof. (Mrs.) Mildred
Amakiri who is the chairperson of the board of trustees of the NGO. Others are Prof. Emeritus Oladele Akinla.
Source: The Guardian, 10th May 2008.
Fiscal responsibility:A fundamental tool for infrastructural development in the Niger Delta
Being text of a lecture delivered by Chief Timipre Sylva, former Governor of Bayelsa State at the Ijaw Media Forum.
FIRST I will like to thank the organisers of this lecture, the Ijaw Media Forum, for their commitment to the welfare, unity and development of the Ijaw people. The activities of the Ijaw Media Forum clearly demonstrate that community spirit is still strong amongst the Ijaws, and that our people continue to renew their commitment to the struggle for a better Ijawland where there is unity, justice and progress. I will also like to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the founders and leaders of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and their affiliate organizations for the promotion of the unity of the Ijaws and the sacrifices made towards what I can now describe as justice by installment. That is the limited access, which we now have to our oil resources through the 13% derivation revenue.
I believe that it is this revenue that we are here to talk about today.
My task today is to speak on the topic- Fiscal Responsibility: A Fundamental Tool for Infrastructural Development in the Niger Delta. I accept this responsibility with joy because I have always believed that fiscal responsibility is key to the development of any nation. This belief has been the driving force for the reforms that I initiated in Bayelsa State while I was Governor.
In Bayelsa State, we reasoned that in order to bring about not only infrastructural but sustainable development in the state, we had to first win the confidence of the people of Bayelsa State and all our development partners including the Federal Government, the oil industry and the international community. We had to demonstrate that we had a vision for the sustainable development of Bayelsa State and that the vision was underpinned by a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
So I commissioned the drafting of a Bayelsa State Sustainable Development Strategy to provide guidance for development in Bayelsa State and a common platform on which all of Bayelsa State can work to ensure an effective progression towards a state with consistently sustainable improvements in quality of life. It is the aim of the Bayelsa State Sustainable Development Strategy to identify all on-going development projects in the State, coordinate the management and implementation of such projects and report implementation progress to relevant stakeholders.
The central goal of the Bayelsa State Sustainable Development Strategy is to utilize the endowments and resources (Natural, Social, Human, Physical, Financial, Spiritual etc) of the State to meet the needs of present and future generations through the integration of environmental protection, ethics and morality, social advancement and economics. This strategy will align with community, Local Government, regional and national development frameworks.
The development of the Bayelsa State Sustainable Development Strategy would be fully participatory, allowing all stakeholders to agree on a common platform that will ensure a Bayelsa State that is United, Secure and Prosperous.
We recognised that the best of intentions are not attainable where there is no fiscal responsibility and that transparency is the best guarantor of fiscal responsibility so we took steps to assure both.
As Governor, I established the Bayelsa State Due Process and e-Governance Bureau to promote fiscal responsibility which has ensured greater transparency in contract award, eliminated inflated contracts and over a period of less than one year saved more than 7 billion naira for Bayelsa State. This amount, which without Due Process would have been wasted, has been made available for additional development projects in the state.
In Bayelsa State there is now a growing culture of fiscal responsibility, which is reflecting rapidly on the infrastructural development of the state. In less than one year, fiscal responsibility has helped us in Bayelsa State to achieve the following amongst many others:
The on-going construction of Fifty two internal roads within Yenagoa is the most comprehensive urban renewal infrastructure upgrade in the Niger Delta
The Central Business District and Marina Projects will improve the business climate in Yenagoa and create wealth, prosperity and jobs for our people
The simultaneous and on-going investment in three top class hotel projects guarantees Bayelsa State's place as a major leisure and investment destination
The upgrade of the 500 bed hospital together with the deployment of the Bayelsa Medical Scheme constitute the highest annual investment in the health sector in the history of Bayelsa State
Investment in winning accreditation for the Niger Delta University (Amassoma) Medical and Law Faculties and on-going infrastructural, facility and policy up-grades and the government's robust scholarship policy is contributing to educational advancement in Bayelsa State.
On-going upgrade of electrical infrastructure including gas turbines, transformers, cables, switch gears and street lighting are investments that will supply cumulatively 356 MW of power, enough for the state's power requirements over at least the next 15 years, given high industrial and residential growth
Senatorial District roads leading to Ekeremo, Brass and Oporoma will open up Bayelsa State with potential for additional link roads, ensuring the easy evacuation of produce, and movement of passengers and goods
Rural Development projects ranging from walkways to jetties and craft centers are presently on-going in all local governments of Bayelsa State
Water projects have been re-designed to serve clusters of communities and pipes now reach homes in Yenagoa.
This progress has not come without challenges. In fact the challenges have been fierce and unrelenting. Coming from a past culture of opacity, scandalous waste and free floating money means that many will fin | 
