Rivers
Ogoni Leaders Move To Revive MOSOP …Dissolve All Factions
In a bid to restore peace within the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and make the body truly united and more result-oriented, some Ogoni leaders have taken practical steps to revive the organistiaon.
To this end, the leaders, in conjunction with the MOSOP Peace Committee, last Saturday convened a congress at the Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where far-reaching decisions were taken to actually reposition the body.
The congress, which attracted a wide spectrum of Ogoni people from far and near, including some clergymen, traditional rulers, women and the youths was coordinated by an erudite lawyer and former President of MOSOP, Mr Ledum Mitee.
The congress unanimously dissolved all factions within the body and ordered for the setting up of a reconciliation committee, which would restore peace within its fold by reconciling all aggrieved parties and members with a view to conducting an election that would produce new leaders to pilot the affairs of the body.
Moving a motion to this effect, the President of Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Mr. Legborsi Yamaabana noted that the dissolution of all factions within the body had become imperative, as it would ultimately pave the way for peace to return to the body, as the existence of the various factions was hampering the growth and development of Ogoniland.
He also stressed the need for a committee to be constituted to conduct election for the emergence of new leaders to pilot the affairs of the body.
The motion was unanimously ratified and adopted by the congress, with a proviso that all members of the body should go back to their respective communities and revalidate their membership, after which a reconciliation committee would be constituted that would also conduct election for the emergence of new leaders of the body.
Speakers after speakers at the congress lamented the sorry state which MOSOP has degenerated today, and stressed the need for it to be retrieved from the throes of destruction and extinction.
Mitee set the tone when he highlighted the essence of the congress, and urged the Ogonis to close ranks to build a more formidable MOSOP.
Quoting profusely from comments credited to an erudite political scientist and thinker, Late Prof. Claude Ake, Mitee enjoined the people not to allow MOSOP to die.
On his part, former Secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani challenged the Ogoni people to rise and take back the body instead of allowing those he described as riff-raffs to hijack it and run it aground.
According to him, MOSOP is not for sale.
Also, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Ben Naanen said MOSOP has been an international body, contending that “We are all committed to the belief that MOSOP will never die. MOSOP shall rise again. MOSOP is a moving train. You cannot stand before a moving train”.
The Queen of Ogoniland, Queen Georgiana Teenalo urged the Ogoni people to take a firm decision anchored on righteous anger and courage to ensure that MOSOP does not remain the same as it is today.
Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Barrister Joy Nunieh described MOSOP as the only mouthpiece of Ogoni people recognised internationally and congratulated all and sundry for coming together to revive it, stressing that the Ogoni struggle is never a joke.
Those who also graced the event included Gbenemene Bua Bangha, Mene Suanu Baridam; brother of Late Ken Saro-Wiwa, Dr Owen Wiwa; Prelate of Christ Army Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Abel S. Vurasi: elder brother of former President of MOSOP, Mr Fergelo Mitee; and former Coordinator of MOSOP in the United Kingdom, Mr Lazarus Tamana; among others. The event venue was full to capacity, even as Ogoni women sang and danced at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi
Rivers
PH Airport Users Lament Deteriorating Facilities
Users of Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa have decried continuous deterioration of facilities at the airport, saying that rather than improving, such facilities are deteriorating continuously.
Some of the airport users who interacted with The Tide on the matter pointed out that the state of some facilities like electricity at the airport, network of announcement, access to banking and access road network among others have seriously gone down.
Reacting to the situation while interacting with The Tide, a protocol officer with one of the multinational oil firms in Port Harcourt, Julius Nwoye said rather than improving, the state of electricity at the airport currently, is downwardly unimaginable.
According to him, an international airport like the Port Harcourt Airport, ought not to be experiencing continuous epileptic power supply, because of the business activities being undertaken.
“ For over six years, I have been in this airport, I have not witnessed this kind of situation where there will be outage of power every now and then, some time, up to three hours almost every day, since late 2023 till now, that is what have been experiencing here.
“ Before now, you will hear flights announcement at the VIP lounge, as well as at the Genesis Fast Food, and even at the car hires office, but now, even the announcement at the terminal building is not loud enough, and nothing is being done about it, and this is not so in other major airports in this country”, he lamented.
On his assessment, Mr Tonye Dokubo, a travel agent at the airport lamented over the state of banking at the airport, stressing that the UBA is now the only bank operating at the Port Harcourt airport.
According to him, there were four banks operating at the airport, but that the new tax regime has pushed them out of the airport, as well as other business outfits that have left the airport because of high taxation and rental charges.
Dokubo also lamented that the service being rendered by only UBA, is not enough for the entire airport, as compared to the volume of users, like other major airports in Nigeria, and urged the authorities to take urgent steps to address the setbacks.
Currently also, access to food and drinks has become difficult at the airport, as users are compelled to trek some distance to get them, as the management had ordered total relocation of the vendors, and this has forced prices of things higher.
Meanwhile, several efforts were made by aviation correspondents to speak with the Airport Manager, Michael Arewa on these issues, but he has repeatedly shown no interest to speak with the press.
By: Corlins Walter
Rivers
Indorama’s Jossy Nkwocha Wins Environmental Sustainability Award
Group Head of Corporate Communications at Indorama-Nigeria, owners of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and Fertiliser group, Dr Jossy Nkwocha has won the maiden Distinguished Spokesperson’s Award in Environmental Sustainability.
At the International Conference Centre, Abuja, he was announced as winner of the Award among three finalists from other organisations in Nigeria. He was thereafter presented a gold-plated, plaque and a certificate.
Dr Nkwocha also emerged finalist in Oil and Gas category.
The Award ceremony marked the end of a three-day National Spokespersons’ Summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), which was declared open by the Vice President, Alhaji Ibrahim Shetima.
Various resource persons from abroad and Nigeria, all of whom were former spokespersons in the public and private sectors shared their practical experiences and perspectives in the art and science of being a spokesperson especially in crisis communication, stakeholder engagement, among others.
President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku said the 17 Awards categories were instituted to encourage Spokespersons in government and corporate organisations to be professional, responsive, ethical and creative in their Spokesperson’s roles and responsibilities to achieve impactful result.
“This healthy competition will produce impactful results,” he said.
Dr Nkwocha’s entry for the Award was how he and his team deployed the tool of stakeholder engagement to eliminate the false narrative that Indorama-Nigeria’s Petrochemicals and fertiliser operations were emitting soot in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The professional handling of the issue showed all the journalists, radio on-air personalities, the academics, professional bodies and concerned NGOs that Indoram’s operations were green and the company is environment friendly and environmentally sustainable.
Dr Nkwocha dedicated the prestigious award to his team members and management of the petrochemicals and fertiliser group.
Rivers
PH NiMECHE Inaugurates 9th Executive
The Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Enginers (NIMECHE) has inaugurated its nineth Executives with Engr Promise Jumbo as Chairman.
The investiture ceremony which took place in Port Harcourt has as its theme,” Challenges of Mechanical Equipment Maintenance and Abandonment in Nigeria”.
National Chairman of NiMECHE, Engr. Alhassan Muhammed praised the Port Harcourt Chapter of the body for contributing towards the growth of the institution in the country.
According to Engr Muhammad, who was chairman of the investiture ceremony, NiMECHE in Port Harcourt was a beacon of excellence as far as the institution was concerned.
Represented by Engr Dan Entire, he said the ceremony represents the transfer of responsibilities and charged the new executive to put in place measures that will further advance the interest of mechanical engineering in the region.
Also speaking chairperson of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt, Engr (Mrs) Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke said the event signified a major milestone in the growth of the institution not only in Rivers state but across the country.
While urging for full support to the new executive, the NSE chairperson expressed confidence in the ability of the new executive to take NiMECHE to greater height.
She also described the theme as apt, and urged them to put in place programms that will improve mechanical engineering contributions to Nigeria’s transformation.
In his inaugural address, NiMECHE new chairman Engr Dr promise Jumbo said the chapter is poised to distinguish itself as the best in the country.
“As a professional institution, our focus is to distinguish ourselves and be outstanding in our operations.
“We will strive to surpass the achievements of our predecessors and creat new heights for those coming after us to also surpass us”.
He said the institution will maintain cordial relationship with others, particularly the Nigerian Society of Engineers Port Harcourt branch, relevant Government Agencies and Allied Industries.
Jumbo said the chapter will carry out activities that will impact positively on the professional wellbeing of members and as well provide quality mentorship for the young professionals.
He also said the impact of NiMECHE is already being felt across the state as the institution had in the recent past embarked on career talks to schools and institutions as a way of giving back to the society.
The event was attended by people from all walks of life.
By: John Bibor
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