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”
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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.

Stop Media Persecution of Amaechi – SNYA Tells Rivers State Government – Press Release

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The Southern Nigerian Youth Alliance (SNYA) has called on foreign media to always balance their news before publications.

In a press release jointly signed by Kelvin Adegbenga (the Coordinator) and   George Nwachukwu  (the Publicity Secretary ) of Southern Nigerian Youth Alliance in Abuja today, and made available to newsmen, the group said Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi remained innocent as nobody has brought up any allegations against him in the Law court, EFCC and the ICPC.

The group said the Rivers State Probe Commission set up by Governor Wike was totally a political commission even though the main white paper did not mention of Rotimi Amaechi in her final report.

 Below is the full text of the press release:

Re: Is Nigerian Leader’s Pal ‘Fantastically Corrupt’? Friend Of African President Accused Of Stealing £500million.

The attention of Southern Nigerian Youth Alliance (SNYA) has been brought to a publication by one Paul Cahalan for The Mail On Sunday, UK.

Paul Cahalan said Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, remains in his post as Minister of Transportation despite being accused of misappropriating £338million by a commission investigating the sale of state assets. We wish to remind Paul Cahalan that the so called Commission NEVER indicted said Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi in the white paper available to the public.

Secondly, the Commission knows the right channel to take her report to if anybody is indicted in their report.

Cahalan claimed that in the Nigerian press, that Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has been dubbed ‘ATM’ – the American term for cash machine – because of his ability to produce vast sums of money at short notice, we want to know which of the Nigerian press he cited for this biased publications.

Cahalan also alleged that Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi misappropriated £338million according to commission investigating the sale of state assets, how much is the total allocations to Rivers State under his administration?

“Separately, Amaechi is accused of diverting £140million of state funds into Buhari’s presidential campaign, with reports he paid for media, consultants and private jets.” Can Cahalan please publish the receipt or evidences for the media, consultants and private jets done by Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for Buhari’s presidential campaign?

We want to remind Cahalan and his sponsors that if Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi stand indicted, President Buhari won’t nominate him neither sent his name for confirmation at the National Assembly for confirmation as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Even though Cahalan ended is article with “Mr Amaechi has denied the allegations against him”, we still find his article ridiculous as it is purely sponsored by political opponents of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the Buhari’s administration from Rivers State.

If any group or individual have anything allegations against Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, such group or individual should go through the right channels; Law court, EFCC and ICPC, instead of embarking on unnecessary media persecution.

Finally, we called on foreign media to always hear from both side for balance reportage before publications to avoid libel and also called on the Rivers State Government to go through the right channel if they have any allegations against Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi remains the Hero of Democracy in Nigeria and we have no doubt about that.

Poll Bribery Scam: ‘Wike Ordered Me To Collect N700m From Fidelity Bank'-Witness

The detained Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Samuel Johnson Okpoko has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he collected N700million poll bribery cash from Fidelity Bank on the instruction of Governor Nyesom Wike.

But while Okpoko will soon be charged to court, the anti-graft agency might put the invitation of the governor on hold because of constitutional immunity.

The immunity however does not prevent the EFCC from investigating the allegation against the governor and keeping vital information for his trial after his tenure.

According to a source in EFCC, Okpoko admitted that he collected the cash in two tranches at Trans Amadi branch of Fidelity Bank Plc in Port Harcourt.

The source said: “Operatives of the EFCC, have grilled the Rivers State Secretary of  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Samuel Johnson Okpoko , for collecting N700million from the controversial $115milloon lodged with Fidelity Bank Plc, by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison- Madueke

“Okpoko, who was the Rivers state’s PDP  campaign coordinator in the 2015 Presidential Election collected the sum of N700 million in two tranches of N600 million and N100 million respectively at the Trans Amadi branch of Fidelity Bank Plc, Port- Harcourt. Investigations by the EFCC revealed that Okpoko cashed N600 million on March  27 and N100 million on March 31,2015.

“Explaining how he became involved, Okpoko said he was instructed by the then PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike to go to the branch of Fidelity Bank to cash some money there.

The source quoted Okpoko as saying: “I was with my governor in his house sometime 27th day of March 2015, when he got a call and Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike after the phone call told me that the call was from Fidelity Bank and they have some money for him”.

But Special Assistant to Governor Wike on electronic media Mr Simeon Nwakaudu said: “We are not aware of what you talked about in your test message”

He said Okpoko was already in the custody of the EFCC and would be charged to court soon.

Responding to a question, the source said: “Since the governor enjoys immunity by virtue of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, we cannot invite Nyesom Wike now for interrogation on the allegation by Okpoko.

“This however does not prevent the EFCC from probing issues connected with the payment of the N700million and asking for refund from the beneficiaries.”

Section 308 of the constitution reads in part: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution but subject to sub-section 2 of this section- (a) no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office; (b) a person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either on pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and (c ) no process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued.

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".

Labour Strike Ground Activities In Govt House Asaba

Activities at the Government House Asaba, Delta state were grounded as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta state chapter protest hike in fuel price.

It was leant that the state chapter of NLC had mobilized its members to protest the recent removal of fuel subsidy which gave rise to the increase in pump price of petrol to N145.

First Vice Chairman of the state chapter of NLC, who led the protesting workers to Government House, Comrade Jonathan Jemiregbe said that the only panacea to the indefinite strike was for the Federal Government to reverse its unilateral decision.

“We are here to execute the labour ordered industrial strike. The Governor (Ifeanyi Okowa) should by this peaceful demonstration know that the strike has been brought to bear in Delta state.

“Government offices are now under key and lock. The strike is not directed against the state but against the Federal Government.

On the restrain order secured by the Federal Government, Jemiregbe said, “Yes, we disobeyed the court order because the order was obnoxiously obtained.

“President Muhammadu Buhari himself has acknowledged that the judiciary is his headache. The law says the two parties must argue the matter before such order can be granted. That did not happen in this regard.

“This is a government that is not sensitive to the plights of Nigerians. It unilaterally increased electricity tariff, as if that was not enough, it went ahead to increase the pump price of petrol, we say no to this”, Jemiregbe said.

The protesters were addressed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Chief of Staff, Hon Tam Brisibe who apologized that his boss was in a crucial security meeting and commended them for conducting their affairs with honour, assuring them that their grouse would be addressed.

The unions which participated in the protest march included; Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), as well as Academic Staff Union of Polytecnics (ASUP).

The protesters trooped out as early as 7am at the popular Traffic-Light Junction in Asaba, where they marched through the streets of Asaba to Government House.

Chanting solidarity songs, the unionist vowed not to return to work unless the Federal Government revert to the old pump price and discontinue with the high electricity tariff.

Some of the inscription bore by the workers are; “Nigeria Jaga-Jaga, Everything Scatter, Scatter”, “Electricity Na Wayo-Wayo”, “Food No Dey, Water No Dey, Light No Dey”, “Labour Say No to High Electricity Tariff”, “We Need Employment, Not Fuel Hike”, “Labour Say No to Fuel Hike”, “Buhari Heal Us, Don’t Kill Us” and “Election Na Wayo-Wayo”.

Okowa Supports Federal Government’s Oil Sector Reforms

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has thrown his weight behind the reforms being carried out by the Federal Government in the oil sector.

Speaking when he received the management of Warri Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company (WRPC) led by the company’s Chief Operating Officer (Refineries), Mr. Anibor Kragha on Wednesday in Asaba, the Governor observed that though, the reforms would cause immediate pains for Nigerians, the long-term benefits cannot be quantified.

According to him, “if the refineries succeed, Nigeria succeeds and different states succeed because the importation of fuel has impacted negatively on the revenue of government; all the state governments are in support of the liberalisation of down-stream oil sector of the economy because, we are caught in the web as the price of oil is very low and there are no foreign exchange to continue to import fuel.”

“I sympathize with all Nigerians, we did not anticipate this situation, I believe the Federal Government will find ways to cushion the effects of the liberalisation but, above all, there are lessons to be learnt from the situation; we need to diversify our economy as quickly as possible,” he stated, adding, “the restructuring of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the liberalisation of the down-stream oil sector if followed through thoroughly will impact positively on the economy and create jobs for the citizenry.”

Governor Okowa used the occasion to decry activities of pipeline vandals, observing that while such had negative effect on the environment and the resources of the country, activities of economic saboteurs have affected negatively the oil production.

He said, “an advocacy committee led by the Deputy Governor is currently on sensitization visit to oil-bearing communities for the people to protect the piplelines and government property in their areas.”

The Governor called for partnership between his administration and WRPC to tackle the menace of tankers on the roads, disclosing that though, the state government has provided a park for the tankers, it has been observed that it could only accommodate about 20 per cent of the tankers which has given room for a bigger park to be constructed.

Earlier, Mr Kragha thanked Governor Okowa’s administration for its commitment towards providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.