Niger Delta Problem is Not Resource Control
But Resource Management - Okocha

By Gbenga Oke
Vanguard
28 December 2008  

An interview with the Action Congress, AC, gubernatorial candidate in the last elections. In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, he speaks on the crisis rocking the party in Delta State. He also comments on the pending case of his party at the Appeal Court just as he gives thumb up to the judiciary but laments the slow pace of cases at the Appeal Court.

He argues that the AC is not just an opposition party on pages of the newspapers, adding that the only way the opposition could be heard is through the media. Excerpts:

RECENTLY, all appears not to be well with the Action Congress in Delta State. What is really wrong with the party?

Well, there is no time really that is meant for crisis and there is no time meant for peace. A party like any other thing is a conglomeration of people with different backgrounds, different ideas, only bound by one ideology and, if they have cause to disagree, it makes for a better understanding. So, it is not only Action Congress that is going through transformation, other parties are also doing same and I am sure that whatever Action Congress in Delta State is going through, they will overcome it.

You were fingered as the brain behind the AC crisis in Delta State. Will this not affect the party ahead of the Appeal Court judgment?

No, not at all. The crisis is within the executive members of the party, it is not with the whole party system. It is crisis within the management of the party and I am sure they are in the process of resolving it and that does not affect our chances in the Appeal Court. What happened is just one of those things that can happen to any party or any association and I believe in a week or two, it will be over.

What is your assessment of the judiciary in the country especially in the areas where people feel a lot of cases are being unduly delayed?

Well, I think the judiciary is overwhelmed by pressure of work and it is unfortunate that the cases are taking almost fifteen months or two years, after the elections, to be resolved. I was reading recently in the papers that NBA is saying that all the cases must be resolved before March next year, we hope so. As you can see, some cases are in court, you are not permitted to comment on them because it will be subjudice. So I am hoping and praying that, as the last hope of a common man, the judiciary will live up to expectation.

Now that a date has been fixed for your case at the Appeal Court, what are your expectations?

Well, my case is a very known case. It is a case of pure exclusion. There was similar problem in Kogi and Adamawa states; so we are waiting and we are praying that, that of Delta State will not be an exception.

The Appeal Court recently declared Mr Adams Oshiomhole winner of Edo gubernatorial poll and people praised the judiciary. Personally, what significance do you see in the judgement, putting in mind your own case at the Appeal Court?

Well, it shows that the election was flawed because I have never seen an election in the history of mankind that you have so many nullifications. So, the Appeal Court upholding Oshiomhole's election was a victory for democracy, the rule law and the common man; I am definitely sure that whatever Oshiomhole does will be better than what Osunbor will do or did. This is simply because Oshiomhole has been a man of the people and has been for the people.

I am confident that, if he replicates the kind of development Governor Fashola of Lagos State is putting in place, and am sure you will quite agree with me that Fashola is doing a great job, it becomes not only a soft landing pad for me, it becomes additional campaign material for me when the election in Delta State is annulled.

But many Deltans have always maintained that the PDP-led government has turned the fortunes of the state around...

What are they doing? I have not seen anything that the PDP-led government in Delta State is doing. That they light up the streets with generators shows that they lack the basic economic running sense because while other states in the federation are using solar, Delta State is running generators all over the place to light up the streets. Does that make any economic sense?

We have funds in abundance. How much are they fueling those generators to light up the streets at night? When the inhabitants of the town do not even have light in their houses, they are lighting up the streets.

The graduates are unemployed; if the government wants to do social welfare, why don't they clear the bush and build warehouses and arrange them and power them with generators and people will come and rent and do small scale business? Will that not make more sense? They are driving the armed robbers away from the street and pushing them to peoples houses because they can no longer rob on the streets as the streets are lighted, but the houses are dark, so they go into the houses.

Our institutions do not even have generators. If those that have cannot afford to service or maintain them and our streets are well lighted, I call it financial rascality and lack of development programme or trying to play to the gallery for people to say, 'oh, the streets are well lighted'.

The unfortunate thing is that in a state like Delta, after nine years of democratic governance, it has nothing to show for it. Thank God, they just started Asaba airport. Let us see how long it will take to finish it, let us see how much they will spend to finish it. All those are just nothing but Chinese small box economy or development without programme. There is no standard road in Delta State, 90 percent of the roads are called constituency projects.

People that got those contracts will rent graders and just add bitumen. Just one rainfall, the thing is off. Everything in Delta State has failed and they need to declare a state of developmental emergency so that the state can develop and indigenes will now realise the potentials of being one of the oil producing states because there is nothing to show for it.

How many youths in Delta are unemployed? Government does not have the data; governance is more than blowing siren, it is a 24/7 job and it is not what a father can hand over to his son. It is what you have to dream about, sleep about; every facet of your life, you have to be pre-occupied with how to make it better. But unfortu-nately, that is not what is happening in Delta and that is why I said Delta is an example of a failed state.

Having said that, if you have been the governor of the state since April 14, 2007, what difference would you have made?

First of all, I would want to know how much is in the treasury. As at today, we do not know how much we are owing, whereas this is supposed to be public information. How much is Delta owing and what is the income? How much are they paying out? As governor, I will have this information at my finger tips, then I will be able to know how to re-schedule our loan and prioritise our development within capital and current projects.

But everybody in Delta is groping in the dark, maybe except the governor that knows how much we are owing. Why can't he tell Deltans, this is the state of affairs in Delta State? Are we in debt, are we in surplus and how much did we inherit? Why have all these things become a secret?

This is what journalists should be asking. But nobody is asking questions. People are supposed to ask questions: What is happening to our money? Are we over-staffed or under-staffed? Are we negating capital projects or are we servicing debts on current projects? So, until we can fine-tune all these questions, we will be grumbling inside.

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Filipinos are 'white' in Nigeria--OFW
Presidential awardee seeks lifting of ban

By Veronica Uy

MANILA, Philippines -- Nigeria is a safe place for Filipinos because they do not suffer racial discrimination and are actually treated as white, said a Filipina working there, as she urged the government to lift the deployment ban in that country.

"I say that Filipinos are treated as whites in Nigeria because we get the same compensation as white expatriates. Filipinos in Nigeria are highly paid, from $1,000 to $20,000 a month plus other benefits like a house, a car, a driver, a steward [a housekeeper], and a local allowance of $1,000 for daily expenses," said Esperanza Racelis-Derpo, who received the Banaag Award this December from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Many Filipinos in Nigeria just spend their allowance for their daily requirements and save the rest of the money," she added.

There are an estimated 6,000 Filipinos in Nigeria.

Derpo, an engineer who works as a visa writer at the British Deputy High Commission office in Victoria Island, Lagos, thus asked the government to lift the deployment ban there.

"The ban was imposed after some Filipino seafarers were kidnapped in 2006. But the kidnapping happened in southern Nigeria, much like our conflict in Basilan, very far away from the rest of Nigeria," she said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

At the same time, she said the ban was unfair and inconvenient for Filipinos working there.

"The ban affects not just new hires, but vacationing Filipinos as
well, Filipinos who have been working in Lagos and in the non-oil areas for a long time already," said the resident of Lagos for more than eight years.

Derpo said so many supervisory and managerial positions await
Filipinos in Nigeria, particularly in the manufacturing, oil, and aviation sectors.

Unlike in Lebanon, where the government has partially lifted the ban and has allowed vacationing Filipino domestic helpers to
return to their employers, the Presidential awardee said Nigeria was generally a peaceful place.

"We don't have bombings. I myself leave for work at 5:30 in the
morning with only my driver and nothing untoward has happened. I myself would not stay in Nigeria if it weren't safe there," she said.
Source: Inquirer.net, 24^{th December 2008}

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The Corrupt Have Inherited Our Country

By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu

The venue was the Women Development Centre, Awka where the leaders and members of Ohanaeze gathered to conduct election into the soon-to-be vacant national offices of the body.

At the end of the day, eminent diplomat and former ECOWAS representative to Cote d’Ivoire on Peace, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, was returned as the President General of the organisation.

Uwechue, who has had a successful career in diplomacy and the academia, was before his ECOWAS job, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Ambassador for Peace in Africa.

His return was facilitated by a shadow election that was conducted a week earlier at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien where he was unanimously nominated as the candidate of the Anioma (Igbos) in Delta State for the presidency of Ohanaeze.

By the provision of the constitution of Ohanaeze, which provides for the rotation of the presidency, it was the turn of the Igbo in Delta State to produce the next president general.

Though flowing from the crisis that gave birth to the outgoing leadership of Ohaneze, the atmosphere did not seem quite smooth as it ought to be. The presence of one governor and representatives of three other governors showed that Ohanaeze was united again. The only governor absent was that of the host state, Anambra, Mr. Peter Obi, who the master of ceremony reassured the audience would soon join the party. But he never did.

The Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, who was present, cleared every doubt that the governors were not united behind Ohanaeze. He said they were all working together for the interest of the Igbo race. Two former governors of Igbo states, Ogbonnaya Onu of old Abia and Ndubuisi Kanu of old Imo were present.

At the adoption of Uwechue in Asaba a week before the election, the former secretary general, of Ohanaeze, Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd), was present, thereby removing every vestige of doubt that the body was united. In fact, no court order was issued to stop the election.

Uwechue’s election was smooth. Not so for the election into the next most important position of the organisation. Because of the irreconcilable differences between the national leadership of Ohanaeze and the Enugu State government, a consensus could not be reached on who should be presented for the post.

Apart from the delay in the commercement of the programme, everything at the venue of the election had appeared to be going on smoothly until the outgoing President General, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, announced that there was a deadlock in picking the consensus candidates for offices zoned to Enugu and Rivers States.

Soon afterwards, the delegation and contestants for the posts of vice president and other positions zoned to Rivers State came forward to present their candidates, who were subsequently unanimously adopted by the gathering.

But the Enugu deadlock could not be broken as the backers of the two main contestants for the position of secretary general did not want to yield grounds.

At this point, Ikedife announced that the election into the office of the secretary had been suspended pending the resolution of the deadlock. He however quickly pointed out that the Imeobi (Elders Council) of Ohanaeze had met and taken a decision on the position of secretary.

Though Ikedife did not mention the position Imeobi took on the position of the Secretary, it was all over the place that it wanted elder statesman, Chief Nduka Eya, to occupy the post.

That position stood against the request by the Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, to allow Mr. Rich Ozobu, the younger brother of a former Ohanaeze President, Justice Eze Ozobu, to hold the position.

Ordinarily, when an effort at reaching a consensus to pick a candidate fails, the house would go into election proper where the delegates would vote for their preferred choice.

But the Ohanaeze leadership would not go that far. Ikedife said that election could disturb the peace of the organisation. Therefore, further consultations would be entered into to reach a truce.

But the reality was that Ohanaeze’s candidate would have lost the election because the Enugu State branch of the organisation was under the firm control of the state government.

And the convention of Ohanaeze is that it is the delegates from the states to which certain positions are zoned that elect the candidates from their state.

Ohanaeze’s grouse with Chime stemmed from the failure of the state government to give any support to the group when it hosted the last Igbo Day celebration in Enugu.

So, though it was conventional for the body to accede to requests and wishes of the governors of the Igbo states, this time around, the national leadership of the organisation is seeing the opportunity as a payback time for what the Enugu Government failed to do for it.

And who is to pay for it? Ozobu, who has had a history of service to Ohanaeze? Though Chime was not there at the election venue, his representative made a spirited appeal that his principal’s position on the matter be accepted.

The situation leaves an arduous task for Uwechue, who might have to start work next month without a substantive secretary.

First, he must have to achieve a rapprochement with Chime and the Enugu government, which must be carried along, if the new Ohanaeze must start on a strong footing of unity and peace.

Coming from Delta State, the new President General must first shake off the minority toga identified with Delta Igbos. As he himself said in his acceptance speech, there was no way the Igbo west of the Niger should not be accepted to lead the Igbo race if the Ijaw could adopt Chief Edwin Clark from Delta State in which they are minority as their national leader.

He recalled the price the Igbos of Delta State had to pay during the Nigerian civil when thousands of its vibrant young men were gathered together at village squares and shot dead by invading federal troops for being Igbos.

The Aniomas are also not known to be fearful. Nigeria’s political history would be gaping wide if mention is not made of radical elements from the area that led the first violent change of government in Nigeria. And mention must be made of the late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, who after leading the coup of January 1966, died fighting during the civil war.

But he appealed that the rest of the Igbos East of the Niger must provide support in the struggle ahead. He anchored his speech on the need for the Igbo to speak with one voice and join in the regeneration of the Igbo race, which he said had become imperative.

Lacking in central traditional and political leadership, the Ohanaeze comes in to serve as the rallying point for the more than 40 million Igbos spread across the world. What emanates from the leadership of the body could therefore have a great impact on the fate and resolve of the Igbo and indeed Nigeria.

In the past, Ohanaeze had come very close to charting a solid political course for the Igbo. But petty and narrow political interests of its leadership had squandered the legitimacy and strength of the organisation.

Not too long ago, the organisation was split down the line after its leadership voted to support the unconstitutional tenure elongation proposed by Obasanjo.

That slip by the leadership of Prof. Joe Irukwu ruined the effectiveness of Ohanaeze. It was good news that that factions within the body had fizzled out before last month’s election. But Uwechue must watch out for the proverbial banana peel.

Being an accomplished diplomat, observers expect that he would use his skills and experience to unite the interest of the Igbo leaders, who had in the past never appeared to find a common ground to pursue the interests of the Igbo people in the Nigerian polity.

Would the Igbo still pursue the dream of Igbo presidency? What about the cry of marginalisation? How far can the Igbo find markets for their countless traders and businessmen? Male dropout ^{in schools; is the end in sight? Can Uwechue do anything about the rampaging gully erosions across Igboland? These and many more posers are waiting for the diplomat to find answers to as he steps in for the next two years to drive the boat of one of Nigeria’s largest and most vibrant ethnic nationality.
Source: Daily Trust, 25th December 2008.}

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Obasanjo Was an Affliction to Country, Says Ngige

By Rafiu Ajakaye And Olisemeka Obeche

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was an affliction to Nigeria who took the country eight years back into underdevelopment when other nations were making waves in varied human endeavours, Chris Ngige has said.

Ngige, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ruled Anambra between May 29, 2003 and March 15, 2006 before the Court of Appeal annulled his election based on the petition by All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate and incumbent Governor Peter Obi.

"Obasanjo is an affliction to Nigeria. He took us eight years back; as other people were moving forward, he was dragging us backward. So, we have lost about 16 years, we are still in 1995 by all standards, not 2008 because of Obasanjo's eight years misrule. That is the truth," said Ngige, whose brush with the PDP hawks and performance as impostor-governor brought him fame nationwide.

"How many African states still experience power outages in their country? Ghana, Ivory Coast and even Togo all have stable power supply and stable economy. When I was the chairman of the South East Economic Governors' Forum, I told them we must do what is called interstate roads for regional co-operation and economic development; and that informed the construction of that Umunze, Ogbunka road terminating at Isuochi (Abia State). That also informed the Awka, Nimo, Neni through Awka-Etiti down to Isekke at the border with Imo state; and others.

"Once that is allowed to take place, we are already creating a sort of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) set up where a lot of good things could be done: like rail transportation and mineral exploration which are bound in most parts of the state and the South East."

Ngige said he contested the governorship election in 2007 to thwart Obasanjo's plot to impose Andy Uba, the PDP governorship candidate whose purported electoral victory was quashed by the Supreme Court for lack of vacancy. The apex court held that Obi's tenure began on March 15, 2006 and would lapse in 2010 when fresh governorship poll would hold in Anambra.

His words: "Andy Uba contested the seat of Anambra State governor in 2007. He was to receive the state as a gift from his political father, Olusegun Obasanjo, for having served him well with good things; good foods and other domestic chores and he decided to reward him with the governorship of a state. And, unfortunately, he didn't take him to Ogun State, but to Anambra, my own state; so I said no, it is not going to happen.

"As I was watching them in my house in Maryland, United States, as they were cruising at Awka, I quickly went into my room and packed my luggage and took the next flight back to Nigeria. I didn't tell my relatives who were with me in America; and when I landed in Lagos, I went straight by road to Awka. While they were still looking for me at the airport because they don't want me to enter A^{wka, I used so many means to get there, including canoe.}

^{"Immediately they saw me, they changed their tactics and they decided to exclude my name from the ballot paper and I challenged that at the court and the court told INEC to include my name. But, when they found out that it was not enough to nail me, they went back and brought all sorts of excuses that I am not a registered voter and that my affidavit was sworn in America, but the court told them that oath is oath. That, if not, those that wedded in American courts should have been subjected to another court wedding on arrival in Nigeria. So, I told the court that I satisfied all the four conditions listed in the constitution for being eligible to contest for governorship election. "I told them that I am a Nigerian by birth and that I am educated up to a certificate level; I am contesting under the platform of the Action Congress (AC) and that I was well over 35 years of age, officially declared by the constitution, which means, I was overqualified age-wise. So, the court told INEC to include my name on the ballot papers but they still refused and went to an appeal court. And this was INEC, an umpire, trying to stop one man."
Source: Daily Independent, 23rd December 2008.}

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'We Should Learn From The South Where
Moslems And Christians Live In Peace'
The Secretary-General of Jamatu Nasri Islam (JNL), Alhaji Alhassan Shaibu believes the creation of additional local councils out of the present Jos North council is not the key to resolving the crisis.

From, Isa Abdulsalami, Jos

What do you think was the cause of the crisis?

The cause of this crisis to me is political. But when it took off, it metamorphosed into a religious dimension. The reason is because everybody involved in an affair will like to take a certain position that will make him succeed. But in a nutshell, I will tell you, that there has been a mutual suspicion among various ethnic groups in Jos and the ethnic groups that are involved in this suspicions are mainly the Hausa/Fulani and the natives. That suspicions have been there. The natives feel that the Hausa/Fulani want to take over Jos and the Hausa/Fulani feel that the natives don't like them and are not being treated fairly. That is the basic problem that generated most of these crises.

What, in your view, is the way forward?

The major way forward is for both Moslems and Christians to go by the doctrines of their religions. The religious leaders should strive to preach hard and tell people that they should go by the doctrines of their religions because no religion tells its followers to kill people or put people in difficulties.

Secondly, the government must try to treat people fairly and equitably. There should not be any element of favouritism to a particular group. I am not accusing government of anything but there are people who come to us and discuss issues one can easily understand what they are aiming at and the truth must be told.

Thirdly, we must learn from what is happening down south. The Yorubas, I think have almost equal number of Moslems and Christians yet they stay together.

Fourthly, we must try to avoid telling people what they don't like. There is no reason why somebody should be called a derogatory name. For example, when a tribesman in Plateau, a Berom, Gamai or whatever, embraces Islam, he is called 'Hausa'. What about the tribesman who embraces Christianity? Will he be called a white man? And some of the Christians complain that the Hausa/Fulani call them arna" meaning pagan. So, that derogatory name should not be used at all because it disheartens people. So, if people are ready to imbibe some of these things I have mentioned, I think there will be peace.

People are suggesting the creating of additional local councils in Jos North. Do you think this actually holds the key to the resolution of the crisis?

I have told you this place is cosmopolitan. The Igbos, the Yorubas and the Hausas came here purposely for economic development. In the process, they fought the indigenes and they beat us hands down. Who stopped us from going to Enugu to compete with the Igbos? Who stopped us from going to Ibadan to compete with the Yorubas? And who stopped us from going to Kano to compete with the Hausas?

If you ask us, the so-called Plateau indigenes, we all come from three or four major tribes. So if you originated from somebody why fight? History has clearly indicated that nobody came from the earth. It is true migration that people in this world exist and you can only do well if you mix. After all, our supreme law, the constitution provides that everybody as a Nigerian has the right to live in every nook and cranny of this country. And don't forget, if one does not go to another man's place, the world itself will not be a good place to live in.

So, if you create a local government from Jos local council, are you saying that every tribe should have its own local government? That is the question, because the Beroms and other tribes mostly live around Tudun Wada, Angwa Alheri, Kabong and Angwa Rukuba. The Hausa/Fulani elements are mostly found in Gangare, Garba Dafo, Ibrahim Katsina, Ali Kazaure, Sarkin Arab and Albani Shehu. So, if you will create local councils on that basis and you feel it will solve the situation, you cannot stop people from going into another local government different from theirs for one purpose or the other. After all, if you are a trader and a Christian, when you spread your wares in the market, will the Christians be the only people to come and buy, and vice versa?
Source: Guardian, 20^{th December 2008.}

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Niger bridge: A Passage Of Death
By Chijioke Iremeka

Despite being the main link between the South West and South East zones of the country, the Niger Bridge, which stretches over the vast River Niger - from Asaba in Delta State to Onitsha in Anambra State - has left its users complaining of noticeable vibration, especially whenever heavy-duty trucks pass through it. The bridge, which is over 40 years old, has been said by experts to be at the verge of collapse, if not urgently addressed.

As if the perceived signs of wear and tear on the bridge are not enough, the declaration by the former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Dr. Baba Ahmed, that the bridge be pronounced a "danger zone", has helped to heighten the fears commuters entertain while using it.

Government's effort in the past in carrying out extensive repair work has done little to douse these fears. The last administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in August 2005, awarded the contract for its rehabilitation at a cost of N2.4 billion, and just before leaving office, precisely on the May 24, 2007, the former president flagged off the second Niger Bridge project.

According to Obasanjo, the N58.6 billion bridge, expected to be completed within 32 months was to be built under public-private partnership (PPP), with the Gitto Group providing 60 per cent of the fund, Federal Government 20 per cent, while the Anambra and Delta State governments would contribute 10 per cent each to the project.

Recently, it would be recalled, Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, gave what could be regarded as a public outcry over the deplorable condition of the bridge, when the Senate Committee on Works visited the state. He also drew the nation's attention to the fact that Obasanjo merely hoodwinked the public by undertaking the flag-off without making any budgetary provision for the proposed new bridge.

However, instead of the construction of a new bridge as proposed, at Anam and Otuocha area, east of Anambra State, Setraco Construction Company undertook minor maintenance work on it last year, which resulted in a new-look Niger Bridge.

Emeka Nze, a motorist, told The Guardian that the so-called maintenance carried out was mainly repainting and replacement of already rusted and worn-out parts and nuts. And not long after the repair work, some of the nuts were alleged to have been stolen, and this is perceived to be the immediate cause of vibration on the bridge.

However, the incessant traffic jam on the bridge has created more worries, due to the apprehension that the hold-up tends to add excess weight than the bridge can currently contain.

"God forbid, should the bridge collapse carrying hundreds of vehicles, what becomes the fate of Nigerians?"

Speaking to The Guardian, Alhaji Abdul Razaq, a motorist and Civil Engineer, said a bridge should not be at the brink of collapse before it would be marked for demolition or renovation.

He said: "There is no country in the world where life is valued, that would allow its bridge to vibrate. The bridge is long overdue for replacement. The vibration of a bridge spells doom for the users. What would be the plight of businessmen and women, who travel to Lagos and vice versa on a daily basis, and in particular, during this festive season when people travel home for the Christmas and New Year holidays? I am of the opinion that the Federal Government should expedite action and embark on the construction of the new bridge, which has been packaged and endorsed by the previous administration."

However, according to one of the commercial motorcycle operators, Enya Ebong, who, along with his colleagues, uses the space under the bridge as park, "the vibration is mild when small vehicles are on the bridge, and at times cannot be noticed or felt by someone who is not observant, but both the carefree and the observant passer-by will notice the vibration once a heavy truck is on the bridge."

Asked whether he was not endangering his life by staying under the bridge, he said: "Well, for me, I don't know if I am safe doing my business under this bridge or not. But all I can say is that, I am a very clever man and before anything happens to the bridge, I would have gone."

Vincent Ezeme also confirmed the vibration of the bridge. He said the bridge was in a sorry state and needed urgent attention to avoid preventable disasters from happening. "Government should be proactive when it comes to disaster prevention and management," he said.
Source: Guardian, 21^{st December 2008.}

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'Jos Crisis Was Not A Political Crisis'

'Why Are Secretariats Of Political Parties Not Touched But Places Of Worships Burnt?' Archbishop Sam Amaga is the founder of Salem Church and National president of Pentecostal Bishops Communions of Nigeria (PEBICON). The Abuja-based preacher spoke to CHRIS IREKAMBA on why government must win the war against religious fundamentalism and how to arrest the incessant religious crises in the North.

Having been in the North for some time now why must it always be the hotbed for religious crises?

Not everyone in the North is against the Christian faith but there are those who are fundamentally trained to believe that they must rule; they must take over every territory. It is a fundamentalist agenda being pursued. It's been on for a long time and from time to time it erupts into carnage and violence.

What then do you make out of the recent Jos crisis?

I have said that it was not a political crisis; it was preconceived and meditated. The Islamic fundamentalists only waited for the political scenario to attack. If it was political, why were they burning and killing before the results were announced? Now, you wait for the results to be announced and go to courts if you are dissatisfied but why were they burning churches before? It was not a political war; it was religious. They planned it and premeditated it. If it was political, why were they in Army uniform, desecrating our army? Who gave them the guns? Who gave them the uniforms? Why have we not asked these questions? The problem we have and why this thing has become a recurring decimal is: whenever it occurs, the leaders quickly say it is a political agenda. The fact is it is a fundamental Islamic agenda to overrun Plateau State.

Plateau has been in the eyes of the storm. I read the papers today and they were blaming former President Babangida for creating a lopsided local council. Now, whatever it is, indigenes must not be overshadowed by settlers. We will recommend that Governor Jonah Jang visits all the white papers and do the right things. If we are going to put this under forever, we must know that no religion can overrun the other. Forever there are going to be Muslims in the nation; forever there are going to be Christians in Nigeria. The earlier we agree to live together, the better for the future of Nigeria. If we are truly looking for a united Nigeria, we must agree to live together.

With this, will Christians be bold enough to express their faith up North?

They are bolder. If you look at the book of Acts, you discover persecution made the Christians bolder. I have visited some of the states up North and realise the Christians there are bolder. Here is what you have been born with; here is what you have grown with and suddenly somebody wants to intimidate you and kill you for it. Of course, it will make you bolder. You don't coerce people to accept a religion. It is becoming a worldwide concern and source of hatred. In Mumbai in India, you saw what happened. Also, here in Jos; People are getting tired of this.

What then is the way out of all these crises?

Well, the way out is for government to play its roles and for all elected leaders to know they govern over Christians and Muslims. If we don't want this to keep repeating itself, we must warn the fundamentalists. Some say they are fugitives but they are not. Fugitives shouldn't be urchins and in uniforms. They were trained, armed and released to carry out this attack. The truth must always be told. We must get to the roots of all these attacks if we are convinced about changing this. See how parents have started refusing their children to serve in the North. Now, if national programmes are going to be killed because of some few, disgruntled elements, who think everyone must practise a certain religion, then we should really be worried. We must address the fundamental issues. We are trying to compound it by not swearing in the winners. Is it because they are Christians?

At the PEBICAN level, what has been done?

We reached out to the victims to ensure that the wounded are not dead. The Students Union of UNIJOS came out recently to say over 300 students were killed. Of course, we all know there are more. The PFN is working, the CAN is working; we are making sure that the wounded are taken care of. The Igbo community alleged that many of their own were buried en masse. We must get to the roots of such grave allegations. The government must send a peace committee to the affected families. Look, over 400 churches were burnt. We must know who burnt them. Why was it that the secretariats of political parties were not touched and places of worships were burnt? We must make sure that we let Nigeria be; our fear is that we are not learning from history. Sudan is what it is today because of this same issue. Somalia is destabilised because of religious fundamentalism. We don't want something like that in Nigeria. We should learn from history and let Nigeria be.
Source: Guardian, 21^{st December 2008.}

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S'East govs to resuscitate Enugu petroleum depot
By Uzoma Nzeagwu, Akwa

THE South-East state governors are planning to resuscitate the Enugu petroleum depot that had gone out of operation several years ago.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi disclosed this yesterday in Akwa while exchanging views with members the tripartite state committee on petroleum who paid a visit to the state.Obi who expressed worry over the development explained that the issue of the depot would feature as top agenda at the coming governors forum,saying that no stone would remain unturned until a permanent solution is found."We the governors will do every thing possible to resusitate the depot",Obi said,recalling that people in the area have restated the need to revitalised the depot for regular suply of petroleum products.

Realising the important of the product,the governor pointed out that petroleum is a critical component in economic prising mechanism,and ward that any limitation of its supply would directly affect the prise of other commodities.He also enphasize that such limitation would adversely impact on the socio-economic life of the people,with the result that more people are impoverished.

He reminded the federal government that part of its obligation is to scure and provide for every part of the country,including the oil pipelines which convey products to the depot.He also observe that since the federal government controls all security operatives in the country,government should do more in the area of providing adequate security to the sensitive facilities across the nation.

Obi however assured that state governors in the zone are poised to support with necessary logistics to realise the objectives.

In his remark,the Special Adviser to the Ebonyi state governor on Solid Minerals, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike regrated that people in the zone have suffered untold hardships since the depot was closed down as a result of incessant activities of vandals.Besides he accused the federal government of neglet,insisting that its inablity to respond adequately to the situation inspite of repitted appeals and rpresentations has deepened problems of the people.

In his reaction,the Chairman Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,Chief Chukwudi Ezenwa expressed concern on the atitude of federal authorities in-charged of the depot and called on government to qickly address the problems of people in the zone.

Ezenwa wondered why authorities concerned have not shown any appreciable intrest in Enugu depot after it stopped function while thesame government responds promtyl to problems in other petroleum depots in other parts of the country.
Source: The Guardian, 1^{st January 2009.}

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