Okowa’ll Deliver On Promises—Otuaro

*says God is key to prosperity

From Bulou Kosin

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. (Deacon) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, reiterated his conviction that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will continue to deliver on his promises despite challenging economic times and qualify for a second term in office.

Otuaro gave the assurance after Pastor Samuel John of Living Faith Church Worldwide (aka Winners Chapel), Ibusa Road, Asaba, charged politicians to make a mark in office or be disqualified for further term. They both spoke, yesterday (Tuesday), at Aboh during the 2nd edition of the annual Festival of Praise programme put together by the Ndokwa East Local Government Council and the area’s Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The ceremony doubled as a thanksgiving service by the council chairman, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah who recently survived several volleys from assassins’ guns.

Pastor John had earlier commended the Ndokwa East Council for the initiative to praise God in keeping with God’s commandment. He listed the benefits of praising God to include divine blessings/ideas, presence and security that enrich, banish fear and prevents evil from befalling children of God.

Saying he was glad to have attended the “Festival of Praise” programme, Otuaro stressed that the Ndokwa East Local Council initiative was in tandem with the Okowa administration’s standard. He said: “Okowa instituted the praise to God night initiative from the beginning of this administration. We worship Almighty God every morning at the Government House chapel in Asaba and dwell on the things of the Spirit on which the success of man and society depends. We are therefore confident that by God’s grace, we’ll deliver on our electoral promises and qualify for more terms”.

“My friend, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, had been having series of challenges that culminated recently in surviving 22 bullets from assassins. When I got the news of her survival, I exclaimed it could only have been God!”, Otuaro said, adding: “God made her a bullet proof”.

Otuaro who prayed for the council boss to fulfil her mission and exceed her own expectations, said life was about acknowledging God who is the key to prosperity. He thanked the massive crowd that attended the event, especially the royal fathers from various kingdoms in the area, “for gracing the event with their majestic outfits”. The Deputy Governor described the culture of praise to reverence God as “awesome, commendable and worthy of

How Inmates Allegedly Smuggle Cell Phones Into Prisons In Delta

 ***Delta Govt Summon Comptroller of Prison

Cell phones which ought to be contraband in Nigeria prisons are now prevalent in prisons in Delta state, Bigpenreports has learnt.

Dependable sources told Bigpenreports that though cell phones are banned, they are often smuggled into the prisons by inmates who allegedly connived with some dubious prison officials.

The prisoners allegedly use the phones to control the flow of drugs both in and out of the prisons premises, control activities outside the prisons as well as relate with members of their families, a source who didn’t want his name on print disclosed.

The source disclosed that some of the hardened prisoners were allegedly using the cell phones to give directives to their gang members, thus jeopardizing the security of the state.

Bigpenreports learnt that the development however came to the fore on Monday when Delta state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi  Okowa was fielding questions from journalist who sought to know what the state government was doing about the menace.

Confirming the development, Governor Okowa disclosed that the Comptroller of Prison in the state has been summoned to attend the state Security Council Meeting to explain the alleged security breach which could pose grieve danger to the state peace and security agenda.

Governor Okowa who was speaking during a media briefing to herald this year’s Democracy Day and his first year in office celebration, said that he was already aware of such issue which has since come to the knowledge of members of the state security council .

He disclosed that based on the development, an invitation has been sent to the Comptroller of Prisons in the state to attend the next State Security Council meeting.

“I got to know about the situation about a week ago, I had to find out from the Commissioner of Police and he has confirmed that some kidnappings which has occurred was controlled by some individuals in the Prison and we intend to invite the comptroller of Prisons in our next security meeting because we need to know why that is happening and why it is being allowed because it is a very dangerous trend and it is not the best for our security.”

According to him, his administration does not handle the issue of security with kid’s gloves, disclosing that on assumption of office, a 41-member Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council comprising men and women of proven integrity and exemplary character were inaugurated to tackle the teething problem of peace and security in the state.

 “They (Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council) have been very active in working to implement policies and programmes to increase public safety in Delta State.

“Our strategy is to strengthen, sustain and create the institutions and structures that enable peaceful co-existence among diverse ethnic groups and communities; we are committed to seeing that our cities, towns and communities become places where people feel safe to work, live and do business, he added.
Speaking on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, Governor Okowa disclosed that his administration has taken proactive measures to curb the menace.

“We have been talking about it at the national level; also at the state level a committee has been set up which is made up of the SSG, Police, SSS, Civil Defence, our communities and some Fulani leaders because, we want to ensure that there is an identification of the herdsmen groups that we have in our localities and to create an interface between them and our communities so that together the communities and the herdsmen can work to identify the criminal elements and ensure that those criminals are made to face the law.

“We have gone to the extent of appointing a Special Adviser on the Fulani herdsmen who has been helping us to reach out to the various groups in the state, even to the leadership of the Fulanis that bring in these cattle to the state.”

The governor also spoke about the spate of pipeline vandalism in the state saying that currently, an Advocacy Peace Committee headed by the Deputy Governor Barr. Kingsley Otuaro has been traversing the length and breadth of the riverine communities to hold talks with traditional rulers, community and youth leaders on the need for peace in the region adding; “we are confident of positive outcomes from these interactions”.

He said that on assumption of office, his administration had in collaboration with the local government councils had organised a well-attended One-Day Stakeholders Summit on “Vandalisation of Oil and Gas Facilities” on Wednesday, January 31, 2016, at the Petroleum Training Institute Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri .

Oil Facility Vandalism: Ogulagha Kingdom Assures Otuaro-led C'ttee of Oil Installations Protection

By Bulou Kosin

Delta State Deputy Governor and Chairman of Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, says "Ogulagha Kingdom is critical to national and state economy" while tasking the kingdom to sustain it's "peaceful disposition and collaborate with government to end the recent spate of oil facility vandalism".

Speaking in like manner, Secretary of the Advocacy Committee and former Ijaw Youth Council President, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, who said Ogulagha Kingdom with its oil concerns would have been a developmental wonder if in Europe, also pleaded for support and collective vigilance to stop the bombings. He stressed the need to avoid what he said was looming war from apologists of military option.

The Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee yesterday (Wednesday) visited Ogulagha Kingdom where HRM, Joseph Timiyan, the Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom who assured the Committee: "We'll support Government to stop the vandalism. As a kingdom, we have several oil concerns namely, Forcados Terminal Crude Loading Platform,   South Bank Flow Station, North Bank Flow Station, Estuary Flow Station, Forcados/Yokri Integrated Gas Project, amongst several others. We do not harbour militancy and the oil companies operate in a conducive environment".

The royal father was, however, peeved that despite contributions of his peaceful kingdom to the national economy, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo shunned his palace in his recent visit to the kingdom to inspect oil installations. This, he said, was coming upon sustained political marginalization over the years.

"Ogulagha Kingdom has never produced the chairman of Burutu local government area where we belong. The state government has never seen fit to appoint an Ogulagha son as Commissioner in the State over the years let alone recommendation for federal appointment. We thank the Okowa/Otuaro administration for appointing a Special Assistant from Ogulagha Kingdom. We hope we'll not continue to be marginalized", he said.

While promising to take up to appropriate quarters, the concerns of the Ogulagha Kingdom, which he acknowledged as "one of the most peaceful oil-rich kingdoms", Otuaro solicited support of the Kingdom to protect oil concerns and hence the national economy for development.

"The 2016 National Budget of 6.6trillion naira, Otuaro stressed, is predicated on borrowing, VAT and a 2.2mbd production expectation. A sustenance in bombings without collective efforts to stop same,  he explained, will worsen our already bad economic situation".

The Ogulagha Monarch, who expressed delight that it was the first time a sitting Deputy Governor would visit his Palace, prayed for the success of the Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee in its assignment.

Delta Monarch Says Army Alone Can't Secure Oil Installations

*Assures Otuaro-led Advocacy C'ttee of Support

By Bulou Kosin

Paramount ruler of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area Of Delta state, HRM Couple Oromoni Mobene III, The Pere-Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom has said that the military can't protect oil facilities because of lack of knowledge of Niger Delta terrain" .

The Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Monarch made the declaration when he played host on Thursday to the Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism led by the Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, which sought partnership and collaboration in ending the ongoing spate of bombings in the delta.

While condemning the spate of pipeline attacks, the Pere-Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri recommended the formation of Pipeline Guards, which he said should combine efforts of the locals and the Army.

Assuring the Advocacy Committee of support, Mobene III, said: 'There is no youth in the Kingdom that would go out there to commit atrocities and return without information coming to me from my youths many of who sleep freely with me in my Palace".

He advised youths across the Niger Delta that endangering oil facilities was foolish as possible oil company contracts would disappear or relocate with the companies. 

He expressed surprise that oil facilities would be vandalized within metres to the house-boats quartering the military only for the military to vent anger on innocent and defenseless Indigenes. 

The monarch however expressed concern over the recent killing of  a sand scooper by an over zealous soldier who was in their stock of extorting money from locals by intimidation instead of protecting oil installations.

“I hereby call for court-martial of the soldiers in the vicinity of the bombings who now go about causing more havoc on the Indigenes for their own dereliction of duty".

The Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri king however advised that development was key to solving the Niger Delta question, stressing that it was surprising that a school such as the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, which should have engaged idle minds meaningfully in our area was reportedly taken away.

Speaking on the ongoing training of Amnesty beneficiaries, the Ogbe-Ijoh Monarch said; "How can you spend over 30 million naira on a trainee on a course at the Philippines that can take care of 30 persons in Nigeria?".

Saying that training was necessary to avoid relapse of militants to militancy, he said only special courses with proper training not possible in Nigeria should be done abroad.

Earlier, the state Deputy Governor who led the team to the monarch’s palace, said that with a budget hinged on borrowing, taxation and 2.2mbd production expectation, “we cannot afford more bombings and expect to advance the national economy and fulfill our electoral campaign promises”
.

Former Ijaw Youth Council President, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, and Secretary of the Advocacy Committee, reinforced need for every Ijaw Kingdom to collaborate and stand against vandalism and ward off looming danger, rationalizing: "If a man calls for rain, it falls on all". He added: "No war is won at the battlefield, but on the table of dialogue".

Some of the chiefs from the palace who spoke including; Chief Favour Izoukumor, representing Ijaw nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, women leader Madam Queen Azenetolu, youth leader Comrade Christmas Ikare and Barr. Alex Akemotubo, Chairman Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council had expressed resolve of the Ogbe-Ijoh people to partner with government to stop vandalism of oil facilities.

Pipeline Attacks: Otuaro To Gbaramatu Youths: Peace Is Path To Development

× Youths Cry Out Over military Harassments and Oil Companies Denials

From Bulou Kosin.

Chairman of Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism and Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro has appealed to the youths of Gbaramatu Kingdom to rise up to protection of oil facilities in their domain whether or not they were perpetrators of vandalism, stressing that peace by any means remains the platform from which development and progress can be launched.

The Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee, yesterday (Tuesday) , visited Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom where it retired to a Town-Hall meeting with youths and ex-militants in their numbers, after conferring with HRM, Oboro-Gbaraun II, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The youth after youth who spoke at the Town Hall meeting, lamented that innocent citizens were being harassed by the military in occupation. A youth leader, Moses Yabrade, apparently hit the bull's eye when he recommended a path to safety of oil installations not implemented by oil companies and government.

He lamented that while the youths were willing to be involved despite their lamentable condition, there was no synergy between the government and its agencies for opting for surveillance, stressing that the arrest and incarceration of 5 persons/agents of the Pipeline Surveillance/Protection Services (PSPS) as confirmed by Chevron was a frightening experience. He advised that the Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee should help create the platform for the required synergy and work.

"In history, violence upon violence has never produced peace. Innocent ordinary people suffer for military harassment and intimidation that has made Gbaramatu Kingdom an endangered species. Gathering and working with intelligence is better", Yabrade said, adding: "Nobody will destroy or allow the destruction of what or where he feeds from".

"If the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) gas line was engaged to generate electricity, for instance, for the communities in its path, no community will allow such vandalism that negatively affects its comfort, without confronting the perpetrators", he continued.

Yabrade added that the Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) should re-introduce its abandoned but beautiful proposal of development award/projects for  peaceful communities, an idea he said could galvanize communities to active protection of oil facilities.

To the applause of the youths, Yabrade opined that the employment of Niger Deltans and grants of meaningful contracts in the Oil Industry could help motivate communities to protecting oil installations. He said the non engagement of people of the state in pipelines repairs contracts with non employment of youth of the area poses a serious problem for the people. He also said the Federal Government should kick-start the Export Processing Zone(EPZ) project capable of employing over 150, 000 youths.

He concluded that over 80% of pre-amnesty issues were left unattended to by Government.

The youths also expressed concern that people of the region close to the previous Goodluck Jonathan administration were being hunted, like High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, who was zealously protecting oil installations from vandals.

They also recommended that the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, be funded and allowed to kick off to  further engage the youths to meaningful ends.

The Deputy Governor, while agreeing that Gbaramatu Kingdom was 'an endangered species", noted that "war was hardly founded on justification". Otuaro stressed that it was better to pursue peace so that as leaders, even before now in the struggle, we could engage federal government to grant some of the requests you have made.

Otuaro, who told the youths that his Advocacy Committee was open to privileged information even in private, asserted: "We seek your partnership and collaboration to finding a permanent solution to the challenge. It's upon this honour you'll do to us your leaders that we'll engage the federal government to grant your requests. A dead man can't ask for light or employment".

Otuaro Pledges Commitment Of Delta Govt To Partner Federal Ministry Of Women Affairs, Social Dev On Its Responsibilities

Delta State Deputy Governor, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro has pledged the willingness of the State Government to partner and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) in the provisions of better services and enabling environment for the survival, proper development, protection and participation of the teeming women, children, persons living with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups in the State.

The Deputy Governor, flanked by the Commissioners for Women Affairs and Information, Rev. Ishola Williams and Mr. Patrick Ukah and other top government functionaries in the State, made the pledge on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Asaba, when he received on courtesy call the Honourable Minister of the Ministry, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan and her entourage on the occasion of her advocacy visit to the State.

Barr. Otuaro noted that government and governance is all about enhancing her citizenry, especially the children and women and this can easily be achieved through partnership with relevant organizations and enacting and implementing laws that will help them.

He commended the visitors for chosen Delta State as one of the states in Nigeria to carry out their advocacy on issues which are critical to the development of the State and Nigeria in general.

Earlier, the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry, Binta Adamu Bello, stated that the Ministry has the mandate for promoting and protecting the rights of the vulnerable groups (women, children and persons living with various forms of disabilities) and integrating their concerns into national development.

The Honourable Minister disclosed that Nigeria remains the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of over 160 million people, out of which 49.10% are women, with the total number of the vulnerable groups constituting about 70% of the entire population.

Senator Alhassan pointed out that issues concerning women, children and other vulnerable groups are listed in the concurrent list of the Nigerian constitution adding; "this is to say that their issues are handled by the federal and state governments and which underscores the important role that states play in the actualization of the mandate.

"It is in recognition of your key role on these issues, that I am on this advocacy visit to your State to solicit for your support for the actualization of my Ministry's concerns at empowering our women, children, and other vulnerable groups in the State, knowing fully well that the current situation and conditions of these group doing not reflect the state of our national development", she asserted

Senator Aisha Alhassan appealed to the Delta State Government for the Implementation of the Child Right Law; Violence Against Women, Orphans and Vulnerable children, National Priority Agenda on Vulnerable children, Nigeria Children's Parliament, Improved Maternal and Child Health and Women Economic Empowerment.

Other requests made by the Minister are Women Increased participation in politics and decision making, Implementation of the National Gender Policy, its strategic framework and the establishment of Gender data bank; Harmful traditional practices that affects women and children; Care, development and integration of Persons with Disabilities; Increased budgetary allocation for issues relating to women, children and other socially disadvantaged groups.

She also prayed for Women Organization and their role in Development and promotion of Child Welfare issues; and Empowerment and job retraining activities for activities for the elderly in the State.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development submitted that we will greatly limit our chances of achieving national and sustainable development, if we do not make conscious and sustained efforts to tackle gender disparity in the country.