News
Clean-Up: Ogoni Youths Differ Over FG, HYPREP’s Actions …Issue Seven Days Ultimatum
Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has called on all sons and daughters of the communities to rally support for the Minister of Environment, Barrister Abdullahi Mohammed, and the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Dr. Ferdinand Giadom, to deliver the Ogoni clean-up project in record time.
This is even as another set of youths of Ogoni have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi for his role in the alleged delay in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), report on oil impacted sites in Ogoniland.
The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) is an umbrella body of all Ogoni youths and organisations operating in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
A statement signed by the President-General, Ogoni Youth Federation, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana, made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, commended the duo for their outstanding performance recorded so far in the project.
Yamaabana pointed out that the decision to applaud the duo was due to the ongoing linking of Ogoniland to the national grid, and building of a specialist hospital.
He further explained that, other areas of commendation include unparalleled commitment and resolve to the success of the Ogoni clean-up project and overhaul of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to meet timelines set for delivery of the project.
OYF leader called on the general public to discountenance insinuations from rumour mongers and jobbers, who are hell-bent of tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of the minister of environment by accusing him of contract hijack, among other things, and claiming that Ogoni youths are planning to carry out a protest at HYPREP office and other strategic locations in Ogoniland.
“This is a pathological lie that should be jettisoned in its entirety and let it be known that as at today, Ogoni Youths are happy with the way, manner and direction in which the minister of environment and the project coordinator of HYPREP are steering the ship of the clean-up project.
“Whilst we are not holding brief for HYPREP or Ministry of Environment, for the records we wish to state that credible information available to us reveals that certain individuals, disparaging the Minister of State for Environment and disgusting as though they are fighting for the interest of Ogoni, are not fighting the Ogoni cause but are those who collected money from unsuspecting firms, and promised to use the name of Ogoni to secure them HYPREP contracts in return.
The president general also warned rumour mongers, blackmailers and jobbers to desist from any form of unholy act or risk their names being mentioned to the general public.
“However, when the firms they took money from started requesting for refund, and when the perpetrators noticed that the minister for environment is a man of due process who cannot be bullied and who is not ready to cut corners nor award contracts to portfolio carrying firms, they became rattled and purportedly passed a vote of no confidence on him as a strategy to blackmail the minister and get what they want.
“This is laughable and Ogoni youths are forced to question the nativity of these individuals, because this is not the attitude of the Ogonis.
“We advice these characters to go and refund monies collected from films, apologise to the minister of environment and desist from negative acts that tends to portray Ogonination in bad light.
“May we also use this medium to warn them to desist from this unholy act or risk their names being mentioned.
“We call on all sons and daughters of Ogoni to rally round and support the Ministry of Environment and HYPREP to deliver the Ogoni clean-up project in record time,”Yamaabana stated.
However, rising from a press conference in Port Harcourt, youths of Ogoni in Rivers State have asked President MuhammaduBuhari to immediately sack the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi for his role in the alleged delay in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on oil impacted sites in Ogoniland.
The youths and stakeholders also demanded the full implementation of the Local Content Act in the award of contracts in HYPREP, and livelihood programmes for people of the area.
Failure to do so within seven days, the youths said, would attract a mass protest at the Federal Ministry of Environment and shutdown of HYPREP activities.
Briefing newsmen after a meeting of Ogoni youth leaders and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, President of South-South Youth Initiative, Comrade Saviour Oscar Imeabe, said the mismanagement of the HYPREP clean-up programme, which was supposed to remediate the Ogoni environment and create succour to the people, and the fact that the project has completely derailed from its motives, has left them with no option than to inform the world about their disappointment and next line of action in a bid to return the project back on track.
He recalled that in 2017 when the clean-up programme took off, Ogonis were very upbeat about their expectations but, “sadly, five years after, two project coordinators have come and gone, and now, we are operating with the third and the story is the same or even worse”.
He lamented that, “today, all the contracts in HYPREP are being awarded to faceless contractors without recourse to the established Local Content Act which guarantees the local contractors a fair share of the allocation in the contract spread. Five years down the line, not even a single aspect of the project has been conclusively done, yet, millions of dollars and billions of naira have been frittered away.
“The livelihood programme, which was also a key aspect of this project that was supposed to give a sense of belonging to the youths of the land, has been so politicised and whittledown to a level that has turned Ogoni youths to beggars on a project they should claim ownership of.
“This and many other ills in HYPREP, today, have made a mess and mockery of the good intentions of the President MuhammaduBuhari who came through as a white knight to the Ogoni people when we needed him most. The project, which was supposed to be a field project, has been converted to a paper work which exists only in Abuja while the degraded environment which was supposed to be remediated is left in further degradation.
“The current project coordinator literally lives in Abuja and wakes up daily to the whims of the minister who has demonstrated complete lack of commitment to the project. Contractors who have no business in environmental works are those holding sway in HYPREP today as long as they have Abuja connection.”
The youths further demanded the full implementation of Local Content Act in the award of contracts in HYPREP based of 60/40percent ratio in favour of the Ogoni people, immediate suspension of every attempt to withdraw $300,000,000, from the Ogoni Trust Fund by the HYPREP management as alleged and the removal of the minister of environment who ‘has become a clog in the wheel ofprogress to the implementation of the project, due to his constant bureaucratic bottlenecks that has delayed the project beyond expectations, amongst others.
They warned that, ‘failure to show commitment and accede to our requests in seven days after the receipts of our complaints, we shall have no other choice than to shut down completely the activities of HYPREP’.
Also speaking, President, National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Comrade Kingsley Menele, said the body has no confidence in any leadership of HYPREP as they have failed in the implementation of the UNEP report.
He called on the Federal Government to quickly intervene, and call them to order or the youths shall protest at the expiration of the ultimatum.
On his part, Rivers State Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade NwisabariBani, said they were in solidarity with Ogoni youths in calling for the implementation of livelihoods programmes for them.
A member of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa family, Mr YiraWiwa, who also spoke at the briefing, said they have led several delegations to HYPREP but all their demands have never been adhered to.
“We have led several delegations to meet the management of HYPREP but our demands have fallen on deaf ears. The area is still very much polluted, there is no clean-up going on anywhere.
“Since the present PC came on board in March, nothing has happened there except meetings upon meetings without any effect. The water project which has been bided for and people expecting it to happen is stagnant including the livelihoods programmes,” he said.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 has elected new officers to pilot its affairs.
An elder statesman and staunch supporter of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart emerged the club’s Secretary.
Sir Hart’s emergence followed an election conducted by the electoral committee over the weekend which threw up new officials to pilot its affairs at its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The election which was adjudged one of the most credible, fairest and freest elections in the annals of the Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947, saw the emergence of Dan Harrison as Chairman.
Other members elected to run the activities of the body are Chief Coker Jimmy, Dr Oma Awoh, Chief Bib- Manuel Afonya, Dawari Dingo, Dango Kala- Otaji, Bara Alagoma and Dago George.
Recall that Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 was founded by the former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.
Many years after its inception, the club is still waxing strong with notable personalities as members.
Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief AbiyeSekibo is also a prominent member of the club.
The elected officials including Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart were subsequently sworn in, signalling a new chapter for the revered group of bigwigs in the oil- rich region.
With the likes of an elder statesman, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart on board, the narrative has changed for Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 as expectations are high.
The newly elected boat Secretary, Sir Fubara Hart promised to work assiduously with the chairman and other members to chart a new course for the esteemed club.
He said efforts are in top gear to enroll new members who will contribute their quota to the advancement of the club.
Sir Hart described his emergence as an act of God, promising to support the new leadership to achieve the desired objective.
He hinted that the core values of the club would be upheld with vigour, saying working in synergy with the principles laid down by its founders remains their watchword.
He said the rules and regulations of the club shall be sustained in the interest of the club and every legitimate member.
The Akpajo Clan in Eleme Local Government Area was recently agog with activities following the coronation of HRH Emere Sunday Obo as the Oneh Eta Akpajo XII/paramount ruler of Akpajo clan in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Emere Obo was crowned by the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka on behalf of the land priests at the community square.
Before his coronation, the new King was an acting traditional ruler of the community since the death of his predecessor, Emere Friedrich on the 11th of January, 2023.
He was also a member of the late King’s Council of Chiefs and member of Nchia and Eleme Council of Chiefs respectively.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after his coronation,the new Akpajo monarch said his reign will usher in peace and prosperity to the Kingdom.
He said he intends to work together with the government and companies operating in the Kingdom to attract development to Akpajo clan.
According to the monarch, he will always seek the advice of his elders and other clansmen before taking any decisions.
“I have promised them that I cannot use my authority to do anything without hearing from them first,” he said.
Emere Obo also stressed the need for the youths in the area to toe the path of peace, adding that as a traditional ruler, his responsibility is to ensure that Akpajo clan remains peaceful.
He also assured the government of support and praised both past and current administrations in the State for siting projects in the community.
Also speaking , the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka said Emere Obo’s installation was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo Kingdom.
He also told newsmen that the king makers have not received any protest from any quarters concerning the installation since the process started months ago.
Chief Goka equally said his crowning of the monarch was based on instructions from the clan’s land priests and expressed optimism that Emere Obo is capable of representing the clan Traditionally and other wise.
Chief Goka described Emere Obo as trustworthy and law-abiding, adding that having worked with the late traditional ruler, Emere Obo has a full knowledge of the customs and traditions of not only Akpajo clan but the entire Eleme Kingdom.
He assured the new monarch of the support of the people of Akpajo and the entire traditional institution in the area.
Also speaking, one of the community’s land priests, Levy Kattey Jumaa said the installation of the new Akpajo monarch was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo and Eleme kingdom.
According to him, the new King has all the qualities expected from a chief in Eleme land, stressing that Emere Obo was only ascending the throne of his fathers having come from the royal family of Akpajo Kingdom.
He urged the public to disregard any insinuations concerning the installation, ”if at all there is any,” adding that it is only the land priests families that talk about kingship installations in Akpajo and Eleme and no other persons outside the land priests families can do that.
By: John Bibor
If urgent steps are not taken by concerned authorities, the Awo Idemili community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State may become a ghost town, due to incessant killings, arson and kidnapping of residents by some alleged criminal elements suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB).
The Tide’s sourc learnt that a certain family, the Emenikes, said the only possible solution to save the lives of the family members and that of others was to seek protection in a foreign land.
According to sources, one of the family members, Mr Peter Emenike was adbucted and murdered in a gruesome manner by people believed to be members of the IPOB recently.
It was further learnt that Peter Emenike, now deceased, was the Personal Assistant to the Imo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Traditional Matters and was never a member of any secret organisation as to warrant the fate that befell him.
His only offence as further gathered, was an alleged intelligence leaked to the Imo Government which the IPOB framed up in order to get him and his family members nailed.
It also learnt on a good authority that Peter Emenike’s lifeless body alongside that of his wife was found at their residence in Awo – Idemili, Imo State on 14th November, 2024 .
It was also reported that few days later, some family members of the Emenike family were declared missing and as one of them was found dead by a bush path, while others were still held hostage as at when this report was filed.
The Tide’s source claimed that a letter purportedly written by the IPOB members was delivered and dropped inside the car of the deceased bearing the insignia of the IPOB with the inscription: ‘None of your family members can hide for long’.
Unconfirmed report has it that the family, out of fear could not immediately report the matter to the Imo State Police Command as the group is believed to possess some spiritual powers to identify their perceived enemies from afar.
The family members of the deceased including oneMr Daniel Emenike, Boniface Emenike , Paul Emenike and others are now under serious threat by the separatist group (IPOB), thus the urgent need for protection especially in a foreign land.
A security analyst who pleaded anolmity, warned that the assassination of Peter Emenike and the serial killings and abduction of his family members stood as a signal to a new phase of IPOB’s operations .
“ This is not an attack on one family , but on the nation and our collective safety . The government must act swiftly not just to rescue the family but to reaffirm their stance on zero tolerance to terrorism “ he said .
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