N’Delta Group Warns Gov Dickson Against Media Attack On Jonathan

N’Delta Group Warns Gov Dickson Against Media Attack On Jonathan

A rights group, the Niger Delta Roundtable, has warned Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, desist from sponsoring fake media  reports against former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group gave the warning in a statement signed by its acting state coordinator, Tony Ile, in Yenagoa, yesterday.

The group also alleged that the governor has  commissioned lawyers to “file frivolous court cases with a view to embarrassing Jonathan.

“We are out to align ourselves with the recent   warning issued by the Niger Delta Youth Movements NDYM to Bayelsa  State Governor Seriake Dickson as regards his continued attack on  the person of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“It is no secret that Dickson has failed as a governor and it appears  the only way he can divert attention from his gross incompetence is to  continue to rake up non-existent fallacious issues and sling mud on  the former president.  We had thought that a governor who was recently  adjudged to be the worst performing in the Niger Delta by a national daily would gain wisdom, roll up his sleeves and get down to work  to ensure the the hapless people of Bayelsa experience the dividends  of democracy for the first time in 6 whole years,” it said.
The group further accused him of reckless media spending, saying: “He  is busy frittering away what is left of Bayelsa resources by buying up  space in print and social media. He has abandoned projects in Yenagoa and and other parts of the state.

“In the past one week he has been busy running a campaign of calumny  against Dr Goodluck Jonathan and his family in a bid to score cheap   political points. He is so desperate that he is even sponsoring  negative stories against his government with the aim of blaming it on  the former president.  The latest in this bizarre campaign was the  fake impeachment plot against him which the Governor himself planted  in the media, in a bid to whip up sentiments from the same good people   of Bayelsa whose mandate he has betrayed and has continued to  shamelessly abuse.

“We have it on good authority that the follow up to this fake news  with the headline “Bayelsa lawmakers resist plot to impeach Dickson”  has already been written and waiting to be published. Even if he no   longer hides his hand against the former President, why is Dickson  ridiculing himself with such chaotic and predictable media campaign.

“With all the money he is pumping into the media, he has failed to  galvanise a credible argument against Dr Jonathan. We hear he is even taking his theatrics to a whole new level by  recruiting some charge and bail lawyers to file frivolous cases for  the arrest of President Jonathan,” the group added.

Federal Government Inaugurates Water Supply Project in Bayelsa

Federal Government Inaugurates Water Supply Project in Bayelsa

Bayelsa state  government and Otupoke neighborhood have actually revealed assistance and gratitude to President Muhammadu buhari for the conclusion of the water job in the ogbia city government location of the state.
The job which was started by the previous administration is to end supply of water difficulties occasioned by ecological issues.
The minister of water resources Suleiman Adamu turned over the job to Bayelsa state federal government on behalf of the federal government.

for video visit
https://jobtraining.green/green-job-training-videos/federal-government-inaugurates-water-supply-project-in-bayelsa/

DICKSON VS CIVIL SERVICE: Again Dickson Decries Fraud in Bayelsa Civil Service, Vows to Clean Rot

Dickson Decries Fraud in Bayelsa Civil Service, Vows to Clean Rot
Source: Thisday

The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday lamented what he described as the ‘massive rot’ that pervaded the state civil service when he took over, assuring that he will continue to block the leakages to reduce the challenges likely to be faced by the next government.

In a chat with journalists at the Government House in Yenagoa, the governor said many people in the civil service were in the habit of collecting salaries from at least three different sources every month.

He added that the effort of the government had already reduced the wage bill from close to N5 billion to just a little over N3.5 billion, insisting that  in the next few weeks, the public service should be ready for a new round of cleansing.

According to the governor, if the state is to make progress, it must stop servicing fraudulent activities in all its ministries, agencies as well as its parastatals, stressing that the huge burden left by previous governments must not be allowed to continue.

“The payroll in Bayelsa is like Nigeria’s voter register. Even children, you find them there. Nobody retires, nobody dies. We are happy that nobody in Bayelsa  civil service dies, but that is the truth.

“Bayelsa people must stop blaming the wrong people. If our allocation is down , do you expect local governments to steal money to pay your fraudulent salaries?

“Or should I stop everything I am doing and be paying fraudulent salaries? In the primary education system, there is monumental rot in our schools. This is the only state where you have a primary school with only one headmaster, with 10 clerks, 30 cleaners, and 20 labourers.

“All the labourers and clerks are over 70 years. That is the rot we have in the so-called public service and I am going to address it. There are people that don’t have certificates, we will look at all of them,” Dickson vowed.

He promised not to leave any stone unturned in turning around the fortunes of the state no matter whose ox is bored and urged the people to prepare for the next round of reforms.

“I wouldn’t want the next governor to inherit all of them (problems). The person will not handle it because it takes a lot of courage to do.

“In Bayelsa, all these people who know about it are the culprits, unions everywhere. They connive with criminals. These are bloody criminals. We are compiling a lot of data and even since 2012 there were no records. They will never retire.

“Somebody is in service, the son has retired, the grandson has retired, but the father is still working. They are contributing to the crisis. People don’t even go to work. We are stopping that. We will deal with them. We are stopping their salaries.

“From next week, they will see. We are already collating names. We cannot be intimidated. These are people earning salaries in three to four places. They buy grade level. They sell steps like it is in Swali market,” he lamented.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/09/12/dickson-decries-fraud-in-bayelsa-civil-service-vows-to-clean-rot/

BAYELSA GUBER: South South PDP Warns Against Ridiculing Jonathan

South South PDP Warns Against Ridiculing Jonathan
Source: Leadership



Concerned PDP members from the South South region has warned against a new trend of sponsored attempts aimed at reducing and ridiculing the image and personality of former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he deserves every respect as an elder statesman.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, jointly signed by Barr. Ariolu Tebidapa and Mr Akpan Ibibio it described such effort as a calculated attempt to distract him when he is busy working with other party leaders and focusing his attention on how to reposition.

The statement said that former President Jonathan remains a perfect gentleman and a national leader of PDP who will not want to reduce himself to affairs of state gubernatorial election or a region interest.

“Former President Jonathan is not contesting for the office of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, even though he is well qualified constitutionally and by pedigree because he is still widely loved and accepted by Nigerians . However, the PDP has zoned it’s presidency to the Northern part of Nigeria, so we wonder what these fifth columnist really want to achieve by selling falsehood.

“How can a sane man insists that Jonathan wants to install the governor of Bayelsa State as to help him in perceived presidential election? Presidential election will be held January/February? 2019 while Bayelsa governorship election will be November 2019 and the governor will be inaugurated February 2020,’’ it said.

http://leadership.ng/2017/09/12/south-south-pdp-warns-ridiculing-jonathan/

Ibo Man drowns In Bayelsa: Family accuses police of forcing him to jump into the River

Family of drowned man accuse police of forcing him ‘to jump into river’
Source; Premium Times

A family in Bayelsa State is accusing the police of forcing their son at gunpoint to jump into a river where he eventually got drowned.

Joseph Uzoukwu and Christiana Uzoukwu, who are the grandparents of the victim, are suing the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, the Inspector General of Police, and the nation’s Attorney General jointly for N864 million f the alleged murder of Tochukwu Uzoukwu, 25.
The case was first filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. It was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Calabar, Cross River State, to avoid it starting afresh, when the judge handling it was transferred to Calabar.
The Uzoukwus are also asking the defendants to jointly pay the family N3 million being the “cost” they said they incurred to recover the corpse from the river, the mortuary bills, and other sundry expenses.
The victim’s mother, Christiana Uzoukwu, and four of his siblings are also plaintiffs in the case.
The plaintiffs, according to court documents, said the victim, Mr. Uzoukwu, was arrested on May 11, 2011, at Shell Ramp Water Front, close to Goodluck Jonathan Bridge, in Yenagoa by a police sergeant, Benjamin Ogbuagu, for alleged possession of Indian hemp.
The Uzoukwus told the court in their affidavit that the police made a demand for “settlement” before they could release their son, and afterwards ordered him at gunpoint to jump into a river, despite the victim’s plea that he was unable to swim.
“Tochukwu Uzoukwu pleaded with them to spare his life and told the police he could not swim and that he is an Igbo boy but the police will have none of it,” the Uzoukwus said in their affidavit.

“When he refused to jump into the water, they cocked their guns and threatened to shoot. With imminent death facing him, Tochukwu jumped into the water and was drowned.”
The Uzoukwus also filed before the court a statement from one Stanley Godspower, a resident at Shell Ramp, who claimed to have witnessed the incident that led to the victim’s death.
“On 11th May 2011, (at) about 6:30 pm, I was taking my bath on the steps of the Shell Ramp jetty when I heard a shout from someone repeatedly saying ‘abeg (please) officer, abeg officer’ and was crying,” Mr Godspower said in his statement on oath.
“When I looked at the direction of the voice, I saw three police officers with the famous ‘Tangbe uniform.’
The police officers led a young man to the waterfront close to a floating toilet inches away from where I was bathing.
“The police officers ordered the young man to kneel down and say his last prayer.
“They later ordered him to stand up and jump into the river or be shot. The young man started saying that ‘I don’t know how to swim’ and continued to beg the police officers. The next thing I saw was that the young man jumped into the river when the police officers cocked their guns and threatened to shoot at him.
“I saw that the boy couldn’t swim and was drowning. The police officers stood there and watched while the young man drowned,” Mr. Godspower said.
The family said the body was recovered from the river after a four-day search.
Mr. Uzoukwu, before his death, had just finished his apprenticeship in the salesof building materials and had started catering for his mother and his siblings, the family said, adding that he lost his father when he (the victim) was 22.
Meanwhile, the police have denied being responsible for the death of Mr. Uzoukwu.

Paul Ekubi, a police sergeant, in an affidavit disposed of on behalf of the police, said Mr. Uzoukwu “escaped from policemen and ran into the dark, and that the police only got to know about his death later.”
They also gave their defence in an affidavit filed on their behalf.
“On the 11th of May, 2011 at about 1930 hours, one Tochukwu Uzuokwu (now deceased) was arrested by men of the anti-vice patrol team headed by Sgt Benjamin Ogbuagu for alleged unlawful possession of Indian hemp at the floating toilet shell ram waterside Yenagoa,” Mr. Ekubi said in his affidavit.
“The said Tochukwu Uzuokwu was with the team until the team leader Sgt Benjamin Ogbuagu received a distress call through a radio message that they should relocate to Arietallin road to effect arrest of some cultists operating in that area.
“Before the team left Shell Ram waterside, the team leader handed over Tochukwu Uzuokwu to another patrol team headed by Sgt Boniface Nwagboso also assigned to patrol that Area.
“Tochukwu Uzuokwu told the patrol team that he can go and show the team the dealer where he bought the Indian hemp. Tochukwu Uzuokwu led the team down the waterside of the River-ban area and showed the team a plank house, but as the officers were trying to ascertain whether there was somebody living in that house, Tochukwu Uzuokwu took to his heels and escaped from the team through the back door.
“When the search for Tochukwu Uzuokwu for re-arrest proved abortive, they returned to their vehicle to continue with their patrol,” the police sergeant said in the affidavit.
The police also denied that they demanded “settlement” for the release of the victim when he was arrested.
Ebimobowei Okele, of the D. D. Fuderikumo Chambers, Yenagoa, is the plaintiffs’ lawyer, while the police is represented by Mgbechukwu Asuru and Zedeme Gwegwe.
The case comes up on October 4 in Calabar for the adoption of written addresses by lawyers to the parties.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/242803-family-drowned-man-accuse-police-forcing-jump-river.html

Bayelsa PDP Power Tussle: Jonathans Accused Again

2019: Jonathan, wife plot to hijack PDP structures in Bayelsa

Source;  The Nation

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, are working desperately to hijack the strictures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

 It was gathered that the former first family was scheming to ensure that Governor Seriake Dickson lacked the capacity to make an input in selecting his successor.

 Besides, it was learnt that Jonathan desired to use the control of the state’s PDP platform to present a strong argument on why he should fly the Presidential flag of the party in 2019 despite reports that the position had been zoned to the north.

 A source and PDP chieftain, who spoke in confidence, said the plot was real, adding that for the former President to present himself as a candidate he must be seen to be in charge of the state

He said despite the efforts of Dickson, the wife of the former President had never liked him and had been working intensely to either remove him or wrestle the party structure from him.

 The source said Jonathan and his wife were not happy that Bayelsa was not among the state’s executive committees dissolved by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

 He said Patience later mandated Jonathan’s godson, Mr. George Turnah, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to write a petition against Dickson and the PDP leadership in the state

http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-jonathan-wife-plot-hijack-pdp-structures-bayelsa/

Bayelsa Man impregnates his Wife's little Sister then Kills the Baby

Man Impregnates Wife’s Younger Sister, Kills Baby

source; Thisday. photo source: Nigerian monitor

One Moses Otimba, a 47-year-old man from Ogbogoro community, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State , has been accused of impregnating his wife’s younger sister, Joy Matthew and killing the baby.

He was said to have allowed her  carry the baby for nine months ,before asphyxiating and burying the five-day-old  beside the sea shore in Yenagoa. 

Otimba, the police said, took 18-year-old Joy to a traditional birth attendant where the baby was born, before he, along with the teenager collected the baby five days later, moved across the Swali bridge, killed him and buried him in a shallow grave. 

 Two months later the young girl was said to have confessed to her mother who reported the incident to the police. 

The two suspects were paraded yesterday by the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asuquo Amba, at the command’s headquarters in the state capital. 

Amba said policemen from Yenagoa Police Division arrested the suspects, who confessed to the murder. 

”Mr. Moses Otimba, male, 47, impregnated one Joy Matthew, 18, a younger sister to his wife, Glory. The pregnant Joy was delivered of the baby by a traditional birth attendant at Amarata, Yenagoa on May 8, 2017. 

”On May 13, 2017, Moses, Joy and the baby left the birth attendant and went across Swali bridge where Moses took the baby from her mother (Joy), went down the river shore, snuffed the baby to death and buried him in a shallow grave.” 

Amba said Joy, who claimed to be under the influence of ”some spirits”, disclosed the incident to her mother some months after the act.

 He added that the police visited the scene of the incident , stressing that by the time they got to the scene, the currents of the river had washed off the child’s body. 

”The suspect, Moses Otimba, has confessed to the crime and Joy Matthew has also confessed on her alleged involvement in the murder of the baby. Investigation is ongoing”, the police chief said.

But Otimba in an interview admitted that he killed the baby boy because he was ashamed to  face his wife (Glory) and his mother-in-law.

He confessed that he killed the baby with the consent of Joy, after discussing his predicament with her.

Otimba said: ”I killed the baby boy because I was afraid and scared. I did not really know how to face my wife and my mother-in-law. That was why I killed the baby. I am really sorry.

”I took the baby to the bush in my community and closed his nose until he died. When I was carrying out the act, I was weeping and crying but I had no choice.

”When I got to the site, he was five days old then, I closed his nose and within some seconds, he stopped breathing. After that, I started regretting.

”The mother of the baby agreed that we should kill the baby. I told Joy that the situation was precarious for me and that I did not know how to tell my wife about the development.

”On that day, she was carrying the baby. She gladly gave me the baby to do whatever I wanted to do. My wife was not aware of all of this.  But somehow, I did not know what happened. I learnt the baby’s mother told her mother who alerted the police”

Also paraded was one  Isah Mohammed, 31, whom the police said was in the habit of killing vultures and selling them as chicken meet.

Meanwhile, an 11-year old boy was yesterday electrocuted to death in  Biogbolo community, Yenagoa, after he unknowingly picked up  a power line that fell in the area.

‎The boy identified as Joseph was reported to have died immediately after grabbing the live cable.

THISDAY learnt that the wire fell after the heavy downpour ‎last week. But residents of the area claimed they had alerted the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) but they failed to effect the repair.

Spokesman of the Bayelsa Police command, Asinim Butswat described the death of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) student as “ pathetic and unfortunate.”

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/09/09/man-impregnates-wifes-younger-sister-kills-baby/

Why We Gave Ex-GOV Timipre Sylva Back his 48 houses- EFCC

EFCC reveals why APC chieftain, Timipre Sylva recovered his 48 houses from the agency
source: daily post

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has come out to explain it gave back to a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva , the 48 houses it seized from him.
In a series of tweets on its official Twitter handle the anti-graft agency alleged that Justice Adeniyi Ademola was the one who thwarted the case in a controversial ruling.

The EFCC had recently come under fire for returning the seized houses to the Sylva who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The EFCC wrote, “He [Sylva] was facing 42 charges before Justice Mohammed of the FHC Abuja. The said properties were forfeited as part of the trial.
“The EFCC applied to consolidate charges against him before Justice Mohammed after the DPP, on June 1, 2015, withdrew its own charges.
“On June 10, 2015, rather than hear the case, Justice Mohammed dismissed the charges without him and co-defendants taking their pleas.

“The EFCC expressed its discontent at the ruling, and Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja reassigned the case to Justice Ademola of the FHC Abuja.
“On June 12, 2015 the EFCC filed fresh charges and on July 9 , 2015 and brought 50 counts against him before Justice Ademola.
“The EFCC had expected a speedy/fair trial. But no ! Few days to the Bayelsa State governorship election, Justice Ademola freed him without pleas taken.”

http://dailypost.ng/2017/09/04/efcc-reveals-apc-chieftain-timipre-sylva-recovered-48-houses-agency/

God Revealed that APGA will Win Bayelsa Guber Elections-APGA Chairman(Bayelsa State)

APGA Sells Membership Card For N100

The All Progressive Grand Alliance in Abuja on Thursday began   the revalidation of its members, and the registration of new ones and pegged its membership card at N100.The party also reacted to the outcome of the last general election and mocked the Peoples Democratic Party which boasted that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years.

The National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Oye, said these during the party’s national retreat for members of its national working committee, six zonal and 36 state chairmen.Oye said APGA , which is planning a tour of the country to assess its strength, has also commenced an aggressive membership campaign across the country in preparation for the forthcoming elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.”The APGA chieftain expressed optimism that APGA’s chances in the elections were very bright.

He said, “Our Bayelsa State chairman told me that he got a revelation from God that APGA will win the Bayelsa state governorship election. The PDP said they will rule for 60 years. That is why they are in crisis. When I told people that the PDP will fail in the last elections, they said it won’t happen because of the incumbency factor.

Our chances in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Edo states are very bright because the APC and PDP are in disarray and in serious crisis.Oye said APGA would present a very formidable candidate for the Bayelsa governorship election.The APGA chairman, however, said that practical steps have been taken to reposition the party and build bridges across political, religious and ideological divides.He said, “The era of division in our party is gone forever. We are in a new era where resourcefulness and hard work will be richly rewarded.

Party discipline will be entrenched as a creed and capacity building will be sustained.“We call on those who feel aggrieved in any way to work with us in building a new APGA where all of us will be happier and live in peace and harmony.“The political situation of our country is a great chance for APGA to make its presence felt in every nook and cranny of the nation. We are ready to capitalise on this to the advantage of our party.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/politics/apga-sells-membership-card-for-n100/

Family Of Three Killed by Generator Fumes in Bayelsa

Residents of Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been thrown into pandemonium following the death of five persons as a result of generator fumes.DAILY POST gathered on Thursday that a family of three, involving a husband, his wife and his child died in Emeyal community in Ogbia after inhaling fumes from a generator.The corpses of the deceased were said to have been discovered three days after their deaths following an offensive odour coming from their bodies in the area.

A resident of the area while reacting to the incident said, “The entire family slept on Sunday. There was no sign of them till Wednesday afternoon when we started perceiving foul odour from their house.“The odour was saturating the entire neighborhood and it got so curious.“The family always kept to themselves and that was why nobody discovered their condition on time. Toxic gas from a generator killed them. They must have inhaled it over night. We called the police.”The police in the area identified the family’s name as Ibieneye Tubotamuno.

Confirming the incident, the State Police spokesperson, Mr. Asinim Butswat, disclosed that the corpses of the deceased were discovered at about 3:50pm on Wednesday after residents alerted the police.“On July 29, 2015 at about 1550hrs, policemen responded to a distress call, that a foul smell was oozing out of the house of one Ibieneye Tubotamuno, at Emeyal Community, in Ogbia LGA.

“The policemen forced the house open and discovered the dead bodies of Ibieneye Tubotamuno, male, 34; Jennifer Asiagbuladia, female, 30 and Goodluck Tubotamuno, boy, eight years.“Preliminary investigation revealed, that the deceased must have died about three days back, when they were last seen, as a result of inhaled fumes from a generator exhaust, which was kept inside their living room.“Corpses have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Mortuary, Yenagoa, for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing,” Butswat said

Source; http://dailypost.ng/2015/07/30/family-of-three-killed-by-generator-fumes-in-bayelsa/

Husband Commits Suicide Over Wife’s Infidelity In Bayelsa

A 32-year-old man, on Thursday, committed suicide by swallowing a killer insecticide, known as “Sniper”, following the discovery of his wife infidelity with a younger man in Ikolo community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.While some of the kinsmen of the deceased husband also vowed to invoke their ancestors to deal with the unfaithful woman and her lover, identified as a suspected cultist and indigene of Ayama community.

The deceased, identified as Amatari Christmas, was married to Mrs. Tombara Christmas, an indigene of Ayama community in the same local government area. Their marriage was blessed with two kids.Our correspondent gathered that the incident provoked anger among indigenes of the Ikolo community.

A kinsman of the deceased, who identified himself as Francis, said their deceased brother upon receipt of claims of infidelity against his wife, decided to keep close watch over her activities in the community, “On Monday, he went to fetch vegetable leaves in large quantity for sale for his wife. After the vegetable cultivation, the husband told the wife to return home after market sale so as to cook the vending meal for the family.”

But the deceased husband became worried and suspicious at about 7pm when the wife did not return as instructed, he went in search of her mother- in-law’s house. At the house, he was told she had gone to the father’s place in Ayama community. At the Ayama community, a concerned friend, took him to the home of his wife’s lover where he discovered the lovers in bed.”

SOURCE: http://dailytimes.com.ng/husband-commits-suicide-over-wifes-infidelity-in-bayelsa/

Ijaws; How Dare you Dream

By Matilda Angaye

When it was announced that President Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential elections, My heart stopped beating for a whole minuite, i was very sure i was going to die, for the days that followed eating and drinking became a bitter chore, Banga soup(my favorite) tasted as chloroquine, and fresh fish suddenly turned to stone. I thought my condition was bad until i finally summoned the courage to return calls from colleaques, family and friends.. It was then i found out that Marvin was hospitalized, Maria had Severe Migraine and swollen eyes, Tarila was preparing for civil war, Tony changed career(he became a lawyer overnight), Meya, Bobby(let me keep your actions to myself).

As days progressed into weeks we all started coming around, discussing and debating on where our beloved president went wrong... Was he soft on corruption.? Yes, Was he tackling Nigeria's problems head-on?.. No, Did his Govt impact at least 60% of Nigerians?.. No. Did he pay attention to the Niger Delta?.. No, did he atleast discipline and set a standard for the parastals, Ministries of the Niger delta?..No. Did he checkmate and discipline PDP elected Governors?.. No.

However all this does not change the fact that he was the Best president Nigeria has ever had.. Most of his policies and achievements are Long lasting.. Our Interstate Express roads and Railways for instance,his Working policies on Agriculture and food supply, His brilliant Automobile policy, Tertiary Educational institutions for all Nigerian states, His super policy on power etc.. He was indeed a silent achiever.

As I welcome him back home, i stand tall with my head held high in pride, for he has written the name" Ijaw" with a golden pen in Nigerias history books, he has given us Ijaws a sense of belonging in a Nation that we were as Visitors, he has made us relevant and now we know we can never be intimidated. We held the highest office in a Land that thought but for our oil we were worthless, and we will do it again for we have been set free to dream.

I honestly pray that this new Govt of the General, can deliver on 50% of their campaign promises, because Nigeria genuinely needs the Change, the Good Change.

All i can say is, i wish Nigeria's 16th President and commander in chief Goodluck.

I am looking forward to his administration.

Long live the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (once a general, always a general)

Niger Delta Youths Caution Buhari, Warn South-South Politicians Against Betrayal

Subtle protests by youths of the Niger Delta against some perceived policy initiatives of the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) administration regarding the region may have gone full throttle, as the Niger Delta Progressives Alliance (NDPA) weekend, told the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, not to test the resolve of the youth to vehemently resist further suppression of the peoples’ interests.

The NDPA, a socio-cultural group with massive followership across the oil rich region, specifically warned Buhari against using the Presidential Amnesty Programme initiated by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as political tools to settle a few bigwigs of his party in the South-south.

President-General of the group, Chief Tombra Ekpedekumo, said in a statement issued in Abuja weekend that the Niger Delta people should not be treated as conquered specie simply because the region is not on fire after the harassment, intimidation and political manipulation to force President Goodluck Jonathan out of power.

“The harassment, intimidation and political manipulation through the use of the ‘Card-Rigger’ by INEC and its collaborators in the recently conducted presidential election to force President Jonathan out of office remained a bitter pill to swallow for the Niger Delta people.

“The region is not on fire basically because of some considerations, which is the peace and unity of Nigeria that President Jonathan has been preaching”, the group noted. It expressed regret that while the Niger Delta people had for decades, suffered environmental degradation due to oil exploitation and exploration activities with attendant effects on fishing and farming, which would have been alternative sources of livelihood for them, the people were still being treated as second class citizens despite their huge sacrifices to the nation.

The group said that the outcome of the 2015 presidential election, in which President Jonathan, an Ijaw from the minority Niger Delta region was forced out of office through institutional and organised conspiracy, was a testament to the age-long view that Nigeria as a political entity merely existed in name.

Part of the statement reads: “Nigeria’s unity had been preserved by the petro-dollars from the massive crude oil in the Niger Delta region, whose people are ironically the least beneficiaries of their God-given wealth. While the inhabitants of the area are bearing the brunt of the destructive oil exploration and exploitation activities by the multinational firms, the proceeds are used to develop and industrialise other parts of the country that now regard the Niger Delta people as second class citizens.

“Yet, the people have exercised caution and refused to engage in actions capable of breaking up the country. This is not a sign of weakness, but sacrifice they’ve borne for decades even with the stark reality that the project called Nigeria is a total conspiracy against the Niger Delta.

Having maintained their peace for so long, the Niger Delta people should not be stretched beyond endurable limits. “It is glaring that the only reason why they were bent on removing Jonathan from office was because he is a minority from the South-south region who has become a stumbling block in their quest to perpetually control the oil wealth in the Niger Delta.

They are pained and angry because it was no longer business as usual, and perhaps, the resources, which they had brazenly starched away in local and foreign currency over the years had depleted to unimaginable level. “

Since it is all about oil politics, we shall ensure that those lusting to grab political power as a means towards amassing our oil wealth will no longer see a single drop of oil.

We shall henceforth take appropriate measures to ensure that our God-given wealth is protected from the grip of people who do not wish us well.”

The group sternly warned some unnamed APC top shots of South-south origin against further betrayal of the peoples’ cause, declaring that such moves would be met with “unpleasant consequences.”

Noting that the Amnesty programme for ex-Niger Delta agitators and particularly the NDDC, were major programmes that had facilitated human and infrastructural development of the South-south, the group asked emerging political gladiators from the region not to trade the collective hope of the people by angling to alter the present status and composition of the NDDC for their personal gains.

“After the last presidential elections, it is speculated that some political bigwigs from the South-south are already on the loose, angling to take charge of affairs of the NDDC as settlement for their contributions to the electoral success of the incoming government.

We pray that it is a mere rumour; otherwise, it would definitely attract some unpleasant consequences.

“In fact, the tensed mood and uncertainty that has enveloped the Niger Delta as a result of the “Card Rigger” official manipulation by INEC and its cohorts, will shatter the eerie peace in the entire region. People should not take the prevailing imaginary peace for granted”, the group warned.

SOURCE; http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/05/niger-delta-youths-caution-buhari-warn-south-south-politicians-against-betrayal/

Norway regrets selling warships to ex-Niger Delta militant, Tompolo

Norwegian Defence Chief, Haakon Bruun-Hansen, an admiral, has apologised to the country’s lawmakers for the sale of a fleet of a decommissioned naval battleships and combats boats to a former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

Mr. Ekpemupolo was the leader of one of the several militias in the Niger Delta region that led a devastating campaign of violence against the Nigerian state for several years until he was awarded a multi-billion pipeline protection contract by the out-going Goodluck Jonathan administration as part of an amnesty deal with ex-combatants.

After giving up fighting, surrendering his arms, and leading his men to hand over their weapons, Tompolo in 2012 received at least six decommissioned Norwegian battleships, a Norwegian newspaper, Daglabet, found in December.

Among them were six fast-speed Hauk-class guided missile boats, now re-armed with new weapons.

The most recent hardware was the KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft allegedly used for anti-piracy patrol in the Nigerian waters.

Daglabet reported that the sale was implemented through a shell maritime Security Company based in the United Kingdom, CAS Global.

CAS Global was used to evade a requirement by Norway that arms dealers obtain export license from their country’s foreign affairs ministry, the report adds.

Mr. Ekpemupolo runs Global West Vessel Service, which handles maritime security issues for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

After the deal became public in December, the Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, claimed the vessels were purchased as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy. He said the Navy has rearmed the vessels to enable it effectively carried out its anti-piracy patrol.

“As an arm of the government responsible for maritime safety, security and regulations amongst others, we work in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant security agencies to use their men and arms to patrol and provide safety of the country’s water ways, as mandated by the global body, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

“It is the Navy that has fitted their guns on the vessels to aid their policing of the maritime domain,” he said.

The Norwegian government also, at the time, defended the transaction, according to Daglabet newspaper, saying the export “followed correct procedure and terms of export to Great Britain. The re-export from Great Britain to Nigeria is a question to be handled solely by British export control authorities”.

But the report that Norway sold such military hardware to an individual with a history of violence angered the country’s lawmakers and triggered an investigation leading to the arrest of three Norwegian civil servants, now being charged for corruption.

Speaking during a parliamentary disciplinary committee enquiry into the sale of the battleships this week, the defence chief, Mr. Bruun-Hansen, admitted that military officials did not do proper due diligence before selling the decommissioned ships.

“The fact that the vessels have landed in Nigeria under Nigerian flag reflects a breakdown in our systems, and I apologize for that,” Mr. Bruun-Hansen said during Thursday’s hearing.

Mr. Bruun-Hansen was not the Chief of Defence at the time when the battle ship were sold to CAS Global.

News bureau NTB reported that Mr. Bruun-Hansen’s predecessor, Harald Sunde, who was in-charge when the deal was struck, also apologised saying he was disappointed over all the mistakes made.

He however blamed the breakdown of due diligence in the sale of the vessel to a reorganisation at the defence department’s logistics organization (FLO), at the time the sales was made.

Also speaking during the hearing, Norwegian Foreign Minister, Børge Brende, said a lot about the sale and export of the vessels are still not known and the state prosecutor has been ordered to seek possible criminal violations.

Dagbladet, which uncovered the shady deal, reported that a simple google search would have revealed that CAS Global only had a post office address, yet the military went ahead and allowed Nigerian representatives of the firm, probably handpicked by Mr. Ekpemupolo, to inspect the vessels before they were sold.

“Does this mean that anybody can buy these boats, as long as they sign a declaration?” asked an irate Member of Parliament, Erik Skutle. “Even terrorists? How on earth could this happen?” he added.

During the hearing, Petter Jansen, the head of FLO also tried unsuccessfully to answer questions about another revelation by Dagbladet that Norwegian military had another former Norwegian Coast Guard vessel, the KV Titran, through a South African brokerage company, Nautic Africa, which in turn sold the vessel to an unnamed Nigerian company.

Mr. Jansen admitted that that transaction didn’t also follow due diligence.

SOURCE: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/182368-norway-regrets-selling-warships-to-ex-niger-delta-militant-tompolo.html

Shell agrees to start clean up of 2008 Niger Delta oil spill

LAGOS - Shell has agreed with Nigerian fishing community of Bodo in the Niger Delta to start the clean up of two devastating oil spills in 2008, activists and locals said Saturday.

Fishing boats are abandoned on Bodo waterways polluted by spilled crude oil allegedly caused by Shell equipment failure in Ogoniland, Nigeria, August 11, 2011

"Shell officials met with representatives of Bodo community in Port Harcourt yesterday (Friday). The meeting was attended by officials of the Dutch embassy, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), Amnesty International and some local activists," Steven Obodekwe of the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development lobby group told AFP.

"It was agreed that the clean up would commence in July or August," he said.

Local fisherman Christian Kpandei who is among the 15,600 affected by the spills, said a foreign contractor had been hired for the job.

"The company involved in the clean up of the massive spills in the Gulf of Mexico is handling the job. The clean-up will start by August," he said.

He said Bodo residents were looking forward to the exercise, adding that almost all the people affected by the spills had been compensated.

"Virtually all the 15,601 claimants have been settled. I am one of the beneficiaries. There are only 150 people that are yet to collect their compensation because of some issues of inheritance," he said.

Shell officials were not immediately available for comment on the development.

Godwin Ojo of Port Harcourt-based Environmental Rights Action said the clean up was belated.

"Shell should stop breaching its agreements with its host communities. The clean up is long over due. It should have started in January," he said.

Under a compensation deal hammered out in London in January, Shell's Nigerian arm agreed to pay pound sterling55 million (77 million euros) to people in Bodo following a three-year legal battle over the 2008 spills that devastated their environment.

The Shell Petroleum Company of Nigeria (SPDC) was to pay around pound sterling35 million compensation to 15,600 Nigerian fishermen whose livelihoods were affected, and a further pound sterling20 million to the wider community.

Each individual was to receive around pound sterling2,200, equivalent to around three years' income on the Nigerian minimum wage, said their London-based lawyers Leigh Day.

SPDC, a major oil operator in Nigeria, has repeatedly insisted that most oil pollution in the Niger Delta region was caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest crude producer, exporting some two million barrels per day but much of the Niger Delta oil region remains deeply impoverished

Source; http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/549759/shell-agrees-to-start-clean-up-of-2008-niger-delta-oil-spill

Nigeria: Kolo Creek Oil Spill - Help for Affected Bayelsa Farmers

The Bayelsa Government said on Thursday that it would assist farmers whose farmlands were affected by the April 15 oil leak from Shell oil field in Otuasega community.

The Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment, Mr Iniruo Wills, in a NAN report from Yenagoa said that the government would ensure that the impacted areas were cleaned up and remediated.

According to Wills, the state government is considering a review of the Joint Investigation Visit report on the April 15 spills.

The Commissioner confirmed that the state government had received reports that more areas impacted by the spill were not captured by the investigative team.

Wills said that the state government would verify the reported exclusion of impacted sites and ensure the firm compensate the victims.

"We have to look at the information and verify it and if it is true that the impacted area was larger than what was originally captured, we shall find a way of addressing the issue.

"Nobody can hide under the cover of technicalities to say a fact that is real will not be captured.

"We have to look at it and address it one way or the other even if it means paying another visit to the area," Wills said.

The commissioner dismissed the allegation that the spill was meant to sabotage the farmers.

According to him, the spill in Kolo Creek is an operational failure rather than sabotage because the facility is supposed to be a restricted area.

"It is a failure of the operational methods put in place by the operators in their field and this puts a big question mark, especially when you consider the frequency of the occurrence," he said.

Source; http://allafrica.com/stories/201505030396.html

Diaspora Group Claims There Is Conspiracy Against Ijaws

.

warns against pulling down Ijaw leaders

The Ijaw professionals in the diaspora, a socio-cultural group dedicated to the preservation of the Ijaw interest worldwide, has cried out against what it calls a conspiracy to destroy the Ijaw course, through the pulling down of its leaders, following the loss of the Presidency by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The Group rose from an extraordinary congress in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, last week with a resolve to sensitize Ijaw people of this deadly plot by her enemies, to be carried out, by using fellow Ijaws as was done to the President.

In a statement read out to the Press by its General Secretary, Mr. Akpoebi Okrowanta, the group lamented that, the loss of the Presidency was avoidable, if the President was not betrayed by some of his fellow Ijaws he trusted, warning that, such political miscalculations could repeat themselves, if they were not careful.
The Ijaws must void making similar mistakes by not pulling down its leaders, who can fill the big leadership vacuum existing today.

The group was particularly, concerned about attempts to destroy the stability of the only homogeneous jaw state for narrow political reasons, adding that, any attempt to disregard the larger interest of Ijaw Nation in the new dispensation will quickly erase the giant strides already recorded by the Ijaw race, especially in Bayelsa State.
To this end the group appeals to politicians to always consider what their actions will do to the overall wellbeing of the Ijaw cause and subordinate their narrow political interests to it.

The group is taking other steps to implement its resolutions to prevail on Ijaw leaders to work in synergy with others and to punish offenders by exposing publicly their divisive activities.
It has set up a five-person committee to independently investigate allegations against prominent Ijaw leaders and draw up a code of conduct for all its leaders.

The group believes that, the Ijaw race must not have a leadership vacuum at a critical moment like this and believes that the legacy of the outgoing President, should strengthen Ijaw cause as well as strengthen and empower up and coming leaders, such as Governor Dickson to play a more nationalistic role and to mitigate the collapse of the Ijaw cause.
It is to this end that, it frowns at the latest attempt by some detractors to tarnish his image, so as to make it impossible for the Ijaw race to continue in its upward progress, despite the loss of the presidency.

Already the group has investigated and found to be untrue, the latest attempts to destroy the unblemished record of performance of the leader of the only purely homogeneous Ijaw State to the mud by linking him to a spuriuos claim of misappropriation ofFUNDS with what it claimed as a First Bank Chairman, as being distributed in the social media.

We confirmed with the EFCC, that no such complaints have been received contrary to claims that the EFCC was handling the case.
With a fake website, the sponsors, who are strangely prominent Ijaw sons did not consider what the big picture of their action would be, but only concentrating on the immediately perceived political advantage.
This is just one of the many cases we have investigated and if those concerned does not stop this self destruction, we shall publish their names for the world to see.
Once again we appeal to all well meaning Ijaw people to prevail on the larger Ijaw community to work for their collective stability and progress as a way to ending the unfavourable tide that the enemy has woven for our people.

Signed:
1.Terry Leandon
2. Akpoebi Okorowanta
3. Sunny Engi
Ijaw Professionals in Diaspora,Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Source; http://www.spyghana.com/diaspora-group-claims-there-is-conspiracy-against-ijaws/

CERTIFICATE SCANDAL: We, Muslims Must Speak Up Now - By Umar Abubakar, PhD

Kaduna (NDR) - This certificate scandal of Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has really opened the eyes of many. Initially, some of us in the north thought that Goodluck Jonathan in his desperate move to remain in power beyond 2015 wants to use this certificate issue to shut out our champion, Buhari.But from every indication, the opposite is the case.

It's an understatement to say that I'm ashamed of being a Muslim and be supporting Buhari. Islam is not about lies and evil. Islam is a true religion based on peace and unity. For over a month, Buhari is yet to provide his certificate and remove the shame he has painted on us, his diehard supporters. I mean, how difficult is it for Buhari to instruct WAEC to send a copy of his certificate to INEC, not to Premium Times? Is this so difficult? He doesn't need to travel to do this.

The time he used in Press Conference is the same opportunity he would tell WAEC to kindly send his certificate to INEC. By so doing, the whole world would know that he is truly a man of integrity and incorruptible. Organizing a Press Conference with the aim to release a shabbily prepared Statement of Result is not ideal, especially when the CERTIFICATE is there with WAEC. Or is the Statement of Result more valuable than the CERTIFICATE? For 2 days now, I have thought about everything I held Buhari at high esteemed thinking that he was being victimized by the lucifers in PDP, but I was wrong.

I have come to a solid conclusion that he has been lying to us, his ardent supporters. I am ashamed to say this, but I must say it. I must describe Buhari in 6 words:

1. FRAUD - he entered the army without any certificate but rose to the rank of Maj-General taking salaries and pensions which he didn't merit.

2. COUPIST - he was the arrowhead in ousting Gowon in 1976 as well as Shagari in 1983.

3. LOOTER - I now believe the $2 billion in midland bank Fela sang about.

4. BIGOT - He jailed politicians that are not from his ethnic group or how could one explain why Shagari wasn't jailed but Ekwueme was. He feels so proud that he executed 76% of PTF projects in the north, neglecting even our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Southwest.

5. LIAR - He maintains that Abacha didn't steal just because he followed Abacha and looted Nigeria dry. He claims to have N1m in his bank account, yet his children are in the UK schooling where millions of naira are paid as Tuition fees.

6. FORGER - this one is causing me depression. I can't believe that Buhari has no single certificate, instead of him to open up, he went and forged one. We have no option than to stick with Jonathan till 2019. Buhari has messed us up walahi!Editor's Note: The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author.

Source: http://newsdayreporters.com/what-s-hot/588-certificate-scandal-we-muslims-must-speak-up-now-by-umar-abubakar-phd.html

Bayelsa Govt vows to eject oil multinationals with no headquarters in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State government on Sunday asked multinational oil companies with operations in the area to relocate their operational offices from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri to Yenagoa, the state capital, or quit the state.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kemasuode Wodu, said in Abuja the government took the decision in response to the discrimination suffered by its citizens at the hands of the oil companies.

According to the Commissioner, despite Bayelsa State’s contribution of oil and gas to the development of the country, the companies do not have their offices in the state capital.“It is worthy of note that crude oil was first produced in commercial quantities in Nigeria at Oloibiri in the present day Bayelsa State almost 60 years ago,” Mr. Wodu said.

He listed Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC), Chevron/Texaco Nigeria Limited and Conoil Nigeria Limited as some of the major oil companies operating in the state.He said while the companies have their operational facilities all over Bayelsa State from where they drill crude oil and gas, the offices are either in Lagos, Warri in Delta State, or Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

He said apart from coordinating and managing their operations, key management decisions, employments and contracts are made from these operational offices outside the state.“In these locations, they have very large state of the art modern office and residential complexes. Some of these estates are comparable to those available in the developed world, if not better.

Some of these structures are skyscrapers and some of these estates are built on tens of hectares of land,” he claimed.Besides, he said several other indigenous and multinational service companies have had to stay outside Bayelsa to enable them relate with these companies and their managers and Executives to secure businesses.

Apart from several other businesses that also follow these companies, the Commissioner said the hospitality industry and financial services sector, amongst others, are other major beneficiaries of the presence of the operational offices of these oil companies.He noted the benefits associated with the location of the oil companies, including the expansion of the economy of the area, revenue from employee income taxes to the state as well as taxes for the land and other company properties.

Besides, he said employees of those companies would also impact the economy of the area by either renting houses, buying land and building houses and estates as well as patronizing the local markets and supermarkets.“It is my view, with the greatest respect, that the foregoing situation legally amounts to discrimination against the people of Bayelsa State, contrary to the provisions of Section 42(1) of the Constitution,” Mr. Wodu said.

He said the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right prohibits discrimination against a people.The plight of the people of Bayelsa, Mr. Wodu said, has been aggravated by the fact that it is the state and its people that bear the brunt of the oil and gas operations in the country due to the environmental degradation by crude oil spills.“Our environment is in a grave state of devastation and despoliation. The companies do not carry out appropriate remediation of the degraded environment and neither is adequate compensation paid for the damage occasioned by the frequent spillages,” Mr. Wodu said.

Urging the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to invoke her powers and act to aid the economic and infrastructural development of the State, the Commissioner said the state has already set up a special committee of legal experts to take steps to compel the oil firms to relocate to the state.He said that when this was done, the internally generated revenue of the State would receive a boost for the State to be able to meet its responsibility of providing basic infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, motorable roads for the people of the State.

In the meantime, he said the state government would also interact with the companies to explore the possibility of achieving that objective without resorting to the legal process.He said the state government was ready to provide incentives, including land and Certificates of Occupancy, to encourage the companies agree to open their offices in the area.

Source...
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/170209-bayelsa-govt-vows-to-eject-oil-multinationals-with-no-headquarters-in-yenagoa.html