Politics
Fubara Urges FG’s Action Against Crude Oil Theft
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the Federal Government to ensure sanity and reduce economic sabotage to the barest minimum in the oil and gas sector by locating and clamping down on the cartel engaged in crude oil theft.
Governor Fubara gave the charge while addressing the Joint Presidential Committee on Crude Oil Theft on facility visit to the Niger Delta, who paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Saturday.
Governor Fubara said the clamp down on this powerful cartel and their syndicates will address the depletion of national resources and huge revenue losses as a result of illegal bunkering activities and pipelines vandalism.
The Governor faulted the placement of surveillance roles and oil pipelines security in the hands of individuals, noting that the approach has remained counter-productive, while recommending a more wholesome approach in which all critical stakeholders, including host communities, will be involved in the security of oil and gas assets to achieve positive results.
He said, “We’re one of the first States that was able to break the rank of illegal bunkering. My predecessor had a special team; he funded them and he fought the cabal. We’ve sustained that committee; we’ve been giving the necessary support to security agencies and it has been yielding results. What brings all these is unemployment and poverty.
“The big people in this business aren’t from here, they are those in Abuja who have licence to operate. If they are not encouraging it, I don’t think it will thrive. We need to work, not just on the locals, but also see what we can do to really clamp down on those big ones that sit in Abuja that are also part of this.”
Governor Fubara who restated the commitment of the Rivers State Government to fighillegal bunkering activities in the State, called on relevant agencies and stakeholders to join the fight against economic sabotage.
He decried the neglect of critical infrastructure in Rivers State, citing the deplorable state of the East-West Road which is yet to receive any attention from the Federal Government despite its strategic importance to the economic development of the country.
In his remarks, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who led the delegation thanked the Governor for the audience, stating that the team was on a facility visit of the Niger Delta to ascertain the state of activities in the oil rich region.
He said beyond the resources in the region, the Niger Delta deserves peace and a better standard of living, and assured the commitment of the Federal Government towards the challenges of insecurity in the region.
Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Bagudu said the team had the marching order of the President to visit facilities in the Niger Delta and work with the states to promote peace in the region and ensure that national assets are protected.
On Friday, Governor Fubara condemned the recent robbery attack and molestation of students at the Rivers State university, assuring that proper investigation will be done on the matter to bring the perpetrators to book.
Speaking to newsmen at Government Secondary School, Eneka, shortly after the inspection of ongoing projects in parts of the state ahead of the celebration of his 100 days in office, Governor Fubara frowned at the security lapses in the institution which paved way for the attack.
He said, “I heard what happened in the Rivers State University this morning, it’s not an issue that we should be talking about in this jet age, people invading campuses to molest students; we aren’t going to treat it with kid gloves, it’s something that I’ve to take seriously. I’ll be there to see what the school authority is doing about the security of the students.”
Addressing the students community during a solidarity visit and fact-finding on the unfortunate incident in the school, the Governor who empathised with the victims, assured them of proper medical attention, stating that the security of the students would not be compromised.
Governor Fubara, who inspected projects in four local government area of Eleme, Oyigbo,Tai and Obio Akpor in company of the Commissioner for Works, Dr Alabo George- Kelly, and the Commissioner for Education, Prof Chinedu Mmom expressed satisfaction over the pace of work done by the contractors handling the various projects.
He said the old Bori road connecting Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo will be flagged off for reconstruction during his 100 days in office celebration.
Projects inspected included Comprehensive Secondary School, Alesa Eleme in Eleme LGA; Botem, Gbeneue, Horo Road in Tai Local Governent Area; Government Secondary School, Koroma, also in Tai LGA; Okoloama-Afam Road in Oyigbo LGA and Government Secondary School, Eneka in Obio /Akpor LGA.
By: Beemene Taneh
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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