Furore over condition of Port Harcourt/Bayelsa road

The contract for the quick re-construction of the East/West road linking Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States was awarded in 2003, but to the consternation of the  people of the three states, the reconstruction has moved at a snail speed. Those plying the road have been at the receiving end, as their vehicles are often damaged and several lives lost to avoidable accidents on the ever busy inter-state road.

Speaking with InsideNigerDelta, a respondent, Mr Festus Obach, noted that the road was so bad that the dual carriage portion had been converted to single carriage road, and that the many accidents on the road could have been avoided, but for the condition of the road.

Another respondent, Madam Florence Jaja, noted that the road was completely bad, and that one could not keep appointments owing to the wastage on manhour caused by the port holes and bumps.

She lamented the politicisation of the situation of the road by the governments at the centre and at the state which had continued to trade blames over the condition.

According to her, “my greatest regret is the fact that I lost an uncle on this same road in January”, adding that if the rate of work was fast enough, her uncle might not have died.

A commercial driver, Mr Johnson Ayodele from Osun State, said they hardly met their target returns for the day because the condition of the road often made them make less than 5 trips, adding that if both sides of the road had been completed, commuters would be able to make 10 to 13 trips on a daily basis.

He also noted that the construction work in the area had been subjected to political wrangling; hence, the work had continued to move at snail speed with no hope in sight that it would be completed.

Susan Amadi, an undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt, expressed regret over slow pace of work on the East/West road, which she described as an important road to the people of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.

A lecturer at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Mr Awele Chinedu, said the condition of the road forced him to relocate from Ahoada to Bayelsa in order to get to work on time, adding that if the dual carriage road was completed, it could have been easier for him to live in his Ahoada resident while working in Bayelsa.

SOURCE; http://www.tribune.com.ng/niger-delta/item/13820-furore-over-condition-of-port-harcourt-bayelsa-road

Bayelsa NUJ threatens to boycott 2015 elections

Following the continued security challenges in Bayelsa such as sea piracy and kidnapping, the Bayelsa state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has threatened to boycott the coverage of 2015 general elections if measures are not taken to curb the menace.

Traveling in the waterways in major parts of the state has become a source of worry and fear to marine transporters due to the incessant activities of sea pirates and kidnappers who have caused a major havoc in the area.

Speaking yesterday in Yenagoa during the Security Stakeholders Forum organized by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) as part of the activities marking the 2014 Inter-Agency security week, the Bayelsa state NUJ Chairman, Comrade Tarinyo Akuno decried the increasing wave of sea pirates and kidnapping, while describing maritime security as very important to the people.

He pointed out that the issue of sea piracy and kidnapping has become a big challenge for the people and as such has made the people to become apprehensive of their environment.

“Maritime security is becoming very important to Bayelsa. It has become a big challenge for us as the issues of sea pirates are becoming rampant, and we are becoming apprehensive.

We may not cover the 2015 election due to the issue of piracy and other kidnapping activities”, Akuno stated. The NUJ Chairman also condemned the burning of oil and barges seized from the illegal oil bunkerers by the JTF operatives, saying such acts further destroys the environment.

Earlier in his address, the deputy Commander of JTF, Commodore Imeh H. Ekpa noted that the forthcoming Inter-Agency security week slated to hold from August 20 – 22 would give them the platform to discuss the security challenges.

SOURCE;http://newtelegraphonline.com/bayelsa-nuj-threatens-to-boycott-2015-elections/

Bayelsa elders carpet northern elders over ultimatum on Chibok girls

Elders and leaders of thought in Bayelsa State under the aegis of Bayelsa Development Forum (BDF) have slammed Northern elders over the ultimatum given to President Goodluck Jonathan on the rescue of Chibok girls.

At a press conference held in Yenagoa, the BDF said the  Northern elders’ ultimatum was in  bad faith as it showed that they were fully aware before the abduction took place.
Chairman of BDF, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said the forum’s attention had been drawn to an “invidious attack” on Jonathan by the Northern elders.

According to him, the Northern elders have launched   weighty allegations against President Jonathan, which smacked of hatred on the person of the President and the Federal Government.

Okorotie noted that it was a public knowledge that Jonathan had demonstrated sufficient political will and had consistently taken steps towards the release of the abducted girls.
The BDF threw its weight behind President Jonathan to contest the 2015 election, stressing that his right was constitutionally guaranteed.

“The BDF views these statements as most unfortunate. In their desperation, its members have finally exposed their complicity in the kidnap of the Chibok girls, which they had long planned to use as a political ploy against President Jonathan.”This is most callous. They, who have connived to kidnap the Chibok girls and put this burden on Nigeria, should now take definite steps towards assisting the Federal Government to secure the release of the girls.

Mr. President’s achievements have been the basis of the overwhelming support the President is enjoying daily from all parts of the country including the North. We, therefore, call upon Jonathan to declare his intention to contest,” the group said.

Source; http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=77681

Group flays SPDC, others for frustrating local content law

The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has flayed Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other multinational oil companies for frustrating the implementation of the local content law in project execution in the Niger Delta.

The NDIMRC also enjoined the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to call the oil companies to order in the interest of peace.

This was made known at the weekend in a statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, and made available to Community News in Warri, Delta State. 

The group accused SPDC for the continued undermining of the Nigerian Local Content Law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan in April 22, 2010 through injustice and unfair treatment of the people of the Niger Delta region. 

 “We have been drawing the attention of the whole world to the unholy activities of Shell  in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, but the situation has remained the same as the company has refused to repent.” 

“Our indigenous contractors, who obtained huge loans from  banks over the years to invest  on capacity building are not getting a better deal from the multinational oil companies and Shell is a major culprit. Hence, we are urging the Honourable Minister of Petroleum to call the company to order so as to end the frustration of our local contractors in the hands of Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, Chevron and Agip,” the group stated.

SPDC, it said, has been frustrating indigenous contractors by denying them contracts, adding that, “we are not going to allow Shell to get away with this. We want an end to this injustice now,” the group demanded.

Source; http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/community-news/item/13753-group-flays-spdc-others-for-frustrating-local-content-law

Group Slams Ex-MEND Leader Over Letter To Jonathan

A group, the Grassroots Connect for Restoration (GrassCore), yesterday slammed a former member of the Upper Chamber of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Paul Eris, popularly known as General Ogunboss, over his open letter to the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that the state governor, Hon Seriake Dickson is disloyal and part of a plot to assassinate him.

The group described the accusation levelled against the state governor, Hon Seriake Dickson as irresponsible and another calculated attempt to create a bad relationship between the governor and the president.

In a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa and signed by its national coordinator, Hon Nyenye Kuro Mathias, the group called on security agencies to investigate the ex-militant leader for alleged perjury.

“How can a man like that claim that a sitting governor, Hon Seriake Dickson is disloyal to the president? He is being used by some politicians to throw the state into a state of insecurity,” the group said.

According to the group,the preliminary investigation by the group showed that the refusal of the State Governor,Hon.Seriake Dickson,to be drawn into the local conflict between the ex-militant leader and his boys at the Peremabiri community over the sharing of the Agip N5million meant for fuelling community generating set is responsible for the false claims.

“We are aware on good authority that some youths of Peremabiri community interested in freeing their community from the clutches of slavery by Ogunboss had engaged him in deadly battles.Though the State Commissioner of Police,Hillary Okpara,had intervened and finding a lasting solution,the aggrieved ex-militant leader felt he has a sole right over the community and wanted to draw the state government into the crises.”

“The ex-militant leader,who is widely known as part of the dark era of violence during the last administration,is under investigation by different security agencies for alleged cultism and killings.What the people should ask is how he got to the top of his militant camp before the amnesty?How did the notorious Igodo die?Who are the boys that engaged Ogunboss in violent youth leadership clash in Peremabiri community?Were they not boys he armed and trained for nefarious activities in Southern Ijaw councils?what happen to the stipends paid by the Amnesty office to these aggrieved Ogunboss Youths?Truth must be told,he lack credibility.”

“If the past issues of Igodo killings and militant era is hunting Ogunboss,he should not draw the State Governor and his aides into it.He should open his eyes and see that the a new and sustainable peace is existing in the state.In the new Bayelsa,under the Dickson administration,the use of security and government power is over.Rule of law must be followed.”

On the loyalty of Governor Seriake Dickson to President Goodluck Jonathan,the group noted that though the likes of the Former Militant leader may not know what loyalty entails and assured that Dickson is loyal.

Source; http://leadership.ng/news/381406/group-slams-ex-mend-leader-letter-jonathan

IMG Sets Guidelines for Dickson's Loan

The office of Ijaw Motoring Group, IMG, has released the guidelines for the smooth take-off of Governor Seriake Dickson's Micro-Finance loan for Niger Deltans in South-West.

According to the guidelines released by Mr. Andrew Elijah, Chief of Staff to IMG, interested Niger Deltans must belong to a registered cooperative society made up of, at least, 10 persons. The 10 persons must show evidence of having a bank account in the name of the cooperative society and the society shall also produce a group photograph of the members.

It also stipulated that the cooperative society members must participate in the micro-finance management workshop to be organised by IMG as part of requirement for the loan.

It said: "Every umbrella body willing to secure the loan for its affiliated groups must have a bank account as evidence to safe-guard the loan.

"All interested cooperative societies shall collect and submit forms for the loan beginning from Wednesday, August 20 to Friday, August 29, in Lagos."

The IMG thanked the Bayelsa State governor for the loan and lauded the effort of Director General of the agency, Mr. Ifiemi Ikpaikpai for his zeal in driving the vision of the governor on poverty alleviation to uplift Bayelsans.

According to IMG, "we will apply the same method adopted in the disbursement of Delta State Poverty Alleviation loan granted by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan through the IMG office.

Source: Vanguard

"http://allafrica.com/stories/201408190110.html

Bayelsa monarchs blame indigenes for travails

Traditional rulers in Bayelsa State, who came together under the auspices of Swamp Area Oil and Gas Producing Communities’ Association, have revealed that indigenes of the state working with multinational companies are behind the neglect suffered by the state over the years.

According to them, their sons and brothers working with the various oil companies are the ones making things difficult for the communities each time they approach the management of these multinational corporations operating in the Niger Delta.

The association, which inaugurated its executive corps at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa with an impressive turnout, however, recorded no presence of multinational companies.

The monarchs, however, said they would not allow that to discourage them from achieving their objective of forming a formidable body that would protect oil installations from vandalisation, and other prevalent crimes in the area.

Speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Chairman of the body, Chief Victor Kurekigha Ighaba, said letters were sent out to the multinational companies as they also wanted to use the medium to discuss some oil-related issues affecting the area, but that they turned their back on them.

SOURCE; http://newtelegraphonline.com/bayelsa-monarchs-blame-indigenes-for-travails/