AN OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF BAYELSA STATE (RISING RATE OF ROBBERY, CULTISM AND INSECURITY IN THE STATE) – By Prekebena Kariebi Joseph

Your Excellency,

Not too long ago, you were awarded an award for the “Best Policing” in West Africa, a tall feat for a budding administration. That was then, now security in the state is porous and fresh cases of robbery and cultism are reported weekly. Just last week, a Youngman was shot opposite “Bolex carwash” and it was game (cult) related. Things will only get worse in Amarata, opposite Diamond Bank, that area records daily incidence of cult clashes and house breaking/robbery.

Sir, this scenario was how you meet Bayelsa State then before we saw fit to initiate the Renunciation programme, which you graciously accepted and thousands of youths embraced peace, which brought unprecedented peace to the administration and became the foundation for your administration Restoration Agenda. True to type, you rubbished all the efforts we put in place to get these our renounced brothers off the street, you threw away our sleepless nights, the blood and sweat, those youths put in to make the peace process a success and went ahead to put in place square pegs in round holes, hence the result is what Bayelsans are reaping now.

HOW TO CURB THE RISING RATE OF ROBBERY AND CULT CLASHES

Sir, REVERT TO THE RECORDS TAKEN IN ALL THE EIGHT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DURING THE RENUNCIATION EXERCISE…..USE THE DATA AND REDEEM THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO THE YOUTHS.

Forget about the various police vans, they are ineffective, our roads are bad, especially now, police van can be at a junction, while robbery or rape is going on in the water logged streets, not motorable.

Forget about the threat of the seven year jail term for cultists, it has outlived its usefulness, they are no longer afraid of that and to be completely honest, you made it so. It’s appalling to witness how quickly the renunciation programme derailed, due to bad advice from those around you who know no better. Those youths trusted and believed you when you seem to offer them a new beginning, one where, education, skill acquisition, small businesses, were all within reach but sadly enough you bungled everything. You put US at risk, those who were actively persuading the street youths to embrace peace, all for nothing. I am speaking out of over a decade in the Anti-gang/cult experience, I can safely predict how quickly and serious this situation will deteriorate if the right steps are not taken to redeem the situation.

SIR, THE VOLUNTEER AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BOARD WILL NOT ADDRESS THE RISING SPATE OF INSECURITY IN THE STATE. BUT IF YOU SINCERELY FALL BACK ON THE DATA GENERATED BY THE LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS AND USE THAT DATABASE TO REACH OUT, I AM CERTAIN, THE VIOLENCE WILL BE REDUCED DRASTICALLY.THEY ARE HUNGRY, WITHOUT SKILLS OR EDUCATION, WITHOUT ANY SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU PROMISED TO GIVE THEM A NEW BEGINNING BUT INSTEAD YOU CAST THEM OUTSIDE YOUR PRESENCE.

ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE YOU AND MR BEN MURRY MADE PROMISES OF A NEW BEGINNING TO.

Comrade Prekebena Kariebi Joseph is the Founder/National Coordinator of the Niger-Delta Youths Anti-Cultism & Nonviolence Organization.

THE BURDEN OF TRUTH: The Political Apathy Of The Wise & Good – By Fortune God’sSon Alfred

These are not the best of times for the Moral Mirrors of our society. Our Commonwealth has sunk to such abyss that being Objective and pursuing the greatest good for the greatest number is frowned at and discouraged. Those who engage in this perilous act are maligned.

It seems that the moral fibre of our society has been so destroyed that it seems strange and unbelievable for a large number of our people (even many who should know better) that there are people who are conscious and concerned enough to campaign for a paradigm shift in governance and other spheres of our lives to better the lot of the greatest number of our fellow men WITHOUT BEING SPONSORED. So whenever they see such folks they tag them as hired hands. By the way, if I am being sponsored(which means I am up for grabs by the highest bidder) and I am by far better and effective than all you hire in public opinion molding, then why not BUY ME? If I am so cheap and easily swayed by the oppositions that are less financially buoyant than the Ruling class, how come only those who are not in office always sponsor me? SUCH INSULT! The most interesting thing is that NO ONE HAS EVER CONVINCINGLY ACCUSED ME OF LYING ON ANYTHING I HAVE EVER SAID.

I understand why it is very difficult for those who have sold their conscience and souls to meet their immediate pecuniary needs find it hard to understand that there are people whose motivation for socio-economic and political advocacy cannot be valued in monetary terms.

With this mindset prevalent in our land, it should not difficult to decipher why wise and good men refrain to meddle in the commonwealth. “For when they see the people swarm into the streets, and daily wet to the skin with rain, and yet cannot persuade them to go out of the rain, and to their houses, knowing well that if they should go out to them, they should be wet also in the rain, they do keep to themselves within their houses, being content with being safe themselves, seeing they cannot remedy the folly of the people.”

A leader is not far from ruin if everyone around him agrees with everything he says or does. So, wise rulers always search for people who could tell them the truth no matter what.

Leadership should not be a popularity contest but a phenomenon that contributes to improving every facet of the lives of the Led. It should not be about the Leaders and their idiosyncrasies, but the promotion of the wellbeing of the Led.

Yet, I have been dwelling on the ideals. The reality is a far cry from this ideal and that is why the best citizens are often tempted to avoid public life.

Sadly, the greatest loser in this scheme is the greater society. Many people in the corridors of power in our clime are only interested in things said in their favour and not necessarily what is Right just, and better for the greatest number of people in their society.

Thus, since the advent of Social Media, when public Office holders and their minions started reading my thoughts, they have often frowned at them for as long as they are in the Ruling Class. But immediately they are out of power, they start seeing how right I have always been and speak of what a good job I am doing. Put differently, those in power always don’t like my comments, while those out of power and those hoping to get power like them for as long as they have not gotten power. Yet as soon as they get power, I become the villain. So, during Sylva times, I was accused of being a hireling of the opposition and the fact that I later openly supported Henry Seriake Dickson even makes those claims plausible even though baseless.

Today, when I speak of the wrongs of Sylva, his people will accuse me of being a Dickson man, while Dickson supporters applaud. Yet the following day, when I speak against Dickson, the same cheering Dickson crowd will label me an opposition member even though it is an open secret that I do not belong to any party.

Should I therefore retire from speaking the truth in order to avoid the baseless and insulting accusations and allow my society to go on as it is?

History has shown that the wise and good are punished by posterity by the Reign of their alternates for as long as they stay away from the rain.

Teach those around you the right things and ways of doing things, even if they believe they may never see those things you teach being practiced in their life time. Tell them FGA says knowledge is virtue and has its own intrinsic good.

Man arrested for buying stolen Jeep in Bayelsa

An ‘innocent’ buyer of a stolen Lexus Jeep, Okwodu Ndubuisi, has been arrested by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Bayelsa State Command.

Ndubuisi was apprehended at the point of registering the number-plate of the vehicle in Yenagoa.

He was said to have gone to get the Jeep registered in the state capital but unknown to him that the car was snatched by robbers from the real owner, Iwatt Kingsley.

Sector Commander of the FRSC, Bayelsa Command, Vincent Jack, who shed light on the arrest at the weekend, said Ndubuisi was arrested when he came with the vehicle to register.

He explained that at the point of uploading the information on the corps’ online portal, it was discovered that the chassis number of the vehicle already existed on their system.

“On Thursday, about 1pm, somebody came with the vehicle to get it registered and upload on the national vehicle identification scheme portal where we keep data of vehicles that are duly registered in Nigeria.

“And at the point of uploading this information, we discovered that the vehicle chassis number already exists on our system. At that point, the officer directly working with the state’s board of internal revenue raised the alarm and alerted me that there was a vehicle he was trying to upload but on checking it, the chassis number had the details of somebody in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“However, the person who wanted to upload the information, lives in Yene-Zue-Epie in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State”, he said.

Jack said on further prodding, the owner claimed to have just bought the vehicle from Lagos for N1.4million, stressing that from the anomaly, it was important that they got the buyer arrested for questioning.

Bayelsa state Government to sanction contractors over slow pace of work

Bayelsa State Government has threatened to sanction three errant contractors handling the construction of hostel blocks at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

The government said it would blacklist Keppy, Centry and Ecoglobal companies for the slow pace of work on their jobs.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, issued the threat on Thursday at Kaiama during the weekly inspection of ongoing projects by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration.

He said government was disappointed with the slow pace and quality of work carried out by the contractors.

Ewhrujakpo warned that government might be compelled to revoke the contracts.

He said: “I have directed the affected three contractors to see me urgently because we cannot continue to wait for people who don’t want to grow and do what is right.

“If they don’t sit up, we will have no choice but to revoke the contracts and give them to people who are ready to work”.

He, however, gave some other contractors kudos and encouraged them to complete the jobs on schedule.

According to him, the Dickson administration was desirous of delivering on the projects on time while bringing succour to the people of the various communities where the projects had been sited.

TAN Rally Pavilion Collapse: My Wife is Unhurt, Say Aliyu

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has debunked reports in some newspapers that his wife was injured at the pavilion collapse which occurred in Minna on Saturday, during the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) Rally.

According to Aliyu who made this known in Minna yesterday, his wife was among the lucky dignitaries at the VIP stand who left the pavilion without a single bruise.
“I read in some papers that my wife was ‘badly injured’ and I wonder where all that was coming from. Let me therefore make it categorically clear that she was not injured.

“After the rally, we were together to visit victims at the hospital. Aliyu said it became necessary for him to tell Nigerians the true position of his wife’s health on account of several calls across the country by well wishers who were demanding to know how she is faring.

He thanked those who expressed concern urging them to relax their nerves as she was indeed on her feet all through the incident. He also debunked claims of fatalities as some people are already speculating, insisting nobody died.

“Let me also intimate that nobody died in the incident. The worst cases were cuts sustained during the collapse. Most of the victims have since been discharged from the hospital only a few are under observation.”

The Governor who shed light on what led to the collapse of the pavilion erected by TAN, organisers of the rally, said despite their expertise and experience some incidents cannot be avoided, adding that the scaffold might have yielded to weight on account of the surging crowd.

Aliyu said he was grateful to Allah that nobody died adding that the purpose of the rally was achieved. He also said he accepted the incident as a sacrifice towards making Nigeria succeed in its democratic experience.

N/Delta’ll continue to push for increased derivation —Uduaghan

Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, declared at the weekend, that the people of the Niger Delta, would remain undaunted in their quest for increased derivation from the Federation Account.

Governor Uduaghan observed that the people of the region, despite the stalemate on increased derivation at the just concluded National Conference, would continue to push for more funds.

Governor Uduaghan made the remarks at the weekend, while receiving the Minister for Niger Delta, Dr Steve Oru, who came on a thank you visit to the governor. He was accompanied by political leaders of Urhobo extraction, including the Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama,

Uduaghan explained that the agitation of the Niger Delta region was not borne out of insensitivity and greed but because of the huge fund required to remedy the devastation and pollution to the environment occasioned by the activities of oil exploitation and exploration.

The governor appealed for understanding from all Nigerians to these developmental challenges of the Niger Delta region, which the current 13 per cent derivation could not adequately address.

“Let me appeal to our brothers outside the Niger Delta that what we have presently is not near enough what is required to address the challenges of development we have in the region,” he said.

Governor Uduaghan noted that although, the 50 per cent the delegates to the conference was demanding was not achieved because of the stalemate but stressed, “we shall not give up asking for more for this region.”

He appealed to politicians as well as political office holders in the state to eschew the attitude of grumbling but seek the interest of the state above personal interest.

“There are a lot of us who are always grumbling, sometimes, we need to draw a line and first of all, think of the system, what is in the interest of the state before our personal interest.

The state governor, who commended the delegation for coming to appreciate him for his contribution and support towards the appointment of the minister, said, “Yes, I played my part, but, I believe that this appointment was given to Dr Oru by God and God should take the credit.

“God used President Goodluck Jonathan, to listen to the cry of the Urhobo people, to listen to the cry of Delta people and to listen to the cry of those who believe in loyalty,steadfastness and those who believe in remaining where they should be even if it has not happened. And that is why we were able to get this appointment”.

Professor Utuama, who led the delegation on behalf of Dr Oru and the Urhobo nation, thanked the governor for his numerous contribution s and support for the Urhobo people, saying that his detribalised disposition had enable him to pilot the affairs of the state in the right direction.

Dr. Steve Oru, while showing his appreciation to the governor, assured that he will contribute his quota to the development of the region and the benefit of the Niger Delta.

Youths Invade Chevron’s Oil Facility in Koluama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government, Shut down Operations

In a commando-like operation, Ijaw youths from Koluama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday invaded an oil facility belonging to the nation’s second largest oil producing company, Chevron Nigeria Limited, and successfully short down its operations.

The irate youths who were said to be protesting the attitude of the company to their welfare  are said to be embittered by how issues concerning them had  been handled, in the operations of the North Apoi Oil Platform, located over 10 kilometres offshore into the Atlantic Ocean, forcing the security operatives to surrender.

The youth were said to be angry with Chevron which had refused to pay compensation or send relieve materials to the community when its KS Endeavour oil rig exploded in January 2012.

Credit: Thisday live

Jonathan encouraging TAN to break electoral law –APC

The All Progressives Congress has berated President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party for flouting the electoral law by encouraging and funding the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria which has been rallying support for Jonathan’s re-election nationwide. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement on Sunday that Jonathan’s refusal to stop the rallies was evidence that he was behind TAN.

The APC also said the fact that the rallies were being coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius, ministers, governors and other public office holders in Jonathan’s administration, showed that TAN had the President’s backing.

The APC said it was hypocritical of the President to have stopped the Bring Back Goodluck 2015 movement after international condemnation but allowed TAN to continue to operate. The party said the collapse of the podium where dignitaries were seated during the TAN rally in Niger State on Saturday was only the beginning of the destruction of the PDP.

The statement read, “If the President had not been running a government hallmarked by impunity, there is no way any political party would have brazenly kick-started electioneering campaign under the guise of an ‘’NGO’’ that is coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, governors and other public officials, at a time like this.

“The PDP-led Federal Government and its ‘NGO’ called TAN are bare-faced liars and cheats. They have seized an undue advantage over every other party by defying the nation’s laws to start an early electioneering campaign, and no one, not even INEC, dares call them to order! Little wonder, their podiums are collapsing under the weight of their lies,’’ it said.

However, the PDP in a statement on Sunday, urged members of TAN and other groups in support of the second term of Jonathan not to include officials of the party in their campaigns.

The National publicity Secretary of party, Chief Olisa Metuh, who said this in a statement he issued, said it was wrong to link officials of the party with the campaigns of the support groups.

Metuh insisted that while the party recognised the inalienable right of citizens under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to freely associate and publicly express their support for persons of their choice, the party wished to restate in the strongest possible terms that no official of the PDP at any level should for any reason whatsoever be involved in such events until after the primaries.

APC members defect to PDP in Rivers

AT least 400 members of the All Progressives Congress in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Saturday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party. Receiving the new members of the PDP, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Obuah, urged them to embrace the political party.

The reception for those who defected to the party coincided with the state PDP’s empowerment of 80 party faithful with tricycles, sewing machines and other items.

Obuah, who was represented at the occasion by the state secretary of the PDP, Chief Ibibia Walter, urged the defectors
to be disciplined. He promised that the PDP would accommodate them, but added that the newcomers must shun unwholesome behaviour that could affect the party.
According to Obuah, “Today, you are admitted, not to come to make trouble because the APC is a troublesome party.

“Since you have dropped the broom, this umbrella will give you protection and peace. The PDP will not tolerate undisciplined attitude. You have come, don’t exhibit undisciplined character.”

He, however, promised that the state PDP would present a level-headed person as its candidate for the 2015 governorship election.

Also, the assistant publicity secretary of the state PDP, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, said the empowerment of the PDP faithful in the area was part of the party’s kind gestures to the grass roots.

Nwanosike, who is also the Secretary General of the Grassroots Development Initiative, an association sponsored by the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, promised that the needs of the people at the grass roots would be addressed.

He pointed out that the exercise aimed at empowering members of the party was in batches, maintaining that another group of persons would soon benefit from the programme.

“The gesture is our little way of thanking Omagwa Ward 9 for their support. It is to show the less-privileged that there is hope of opportunity for the future.

“This empowerment will continue. There is another phase that will come up. We wanted to control the crowd,” Nwanosike said.

Culled from: Punch

Governor Dickson, ex-militant leaders head for clash

The refusal of Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, to mark the Peace Day festival of the state is generating bad blood between him and ex-militant leaders, according to a report by Daily Independent.

The Peace Day is usually celebrated on August 22 every year to commemorate the day ex-militants from the state gathered at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, to surrender their arms and ammunition.

The disarmament, which led to the return of peace in the Niger Delta region, was in compliance with the amnesty for the Niger Delta militants proclaimed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Militant leaders from the state were said to have submitted the largest cache of arms and ammunition in the region on August 22, 2009.

Credit: Daily independent