News
Kula Threatens Shell, Chevron Operations
Kula Community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, has threatened to shut down both Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited oil and gas operations in the area, if the companies further delay the inauguration and implementation of the new Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) earlier agreed on before the state government.
The people made their position known in a communiqué signed by the paramount ruler of Kula kingdom, King Kroma H Eleki and his council of chiefs at the community’s general meeting held last Tuesday at King Sara Square in Kula.
The communiqué noted that SPDC allegedly truncated the GMoU signed in 2005, using excuses such as death of some chiefs in Kula, who were members and signatories to the GMoU board as a ploy to evade implementation of the agreement.
The communiqué alleged that SPDC also denied the community access to the sum of N371.0 million in the community project account paid in 2007 following the GMoU agreement.
The communiqué further stated that several attempts by the community and the state government to inaugurate a new Community Development Board (CDB) constituted early this year to replace the former board, whose many members are dead have been allegedly thwarted by SPDC officials for selfish reasons.
The people of Kula also extended their reasons for wanting to shut down the company’s operations to the abandoned N3.8billion land reclamation/shore protection project awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to Berwick Nigeria Limited in 2009.
The communiqué revealed that the company handling the project mobilised to site in 2010, but could not do anything and finally abandoned the project and pulled out of the site without reasons.
The community also said it was aggrieved over the internal road projects awarded by NDDC to O.K Sokariari and Sons Company Limited and Shell’s hostility against Kula.
The community said that it had resolved to shut down four flow stations, two gas injection and booster plants in the community operated by SPDC and Chevron.
However, the community in the communiqué, faulted insinuations in some quarters in the state that there were 14 autonomous communities with paramount rulers in Kula kingdom.
According to the communiqué made available to The Tide, the paramount ruler of Kula kingdom and the entire community have never at anywhere agreed that families in the kingdom should be recognised as autonomous communities and neither the heads of the families were at anywhere or time appointed or elected or coronated as chiefs or paramount rulers of the purported 14 communities.
“we, the people of Kula community use this opportunity to call on the public to disregard the purported 14 communities as claimed by a faction, which does not mean well for the community, but wanted to use the medium for their selfish interest”, the communiqué stated.
The meeting which was witnessed by officials of the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies was however peaceful and well attended by all sons and daughters of the community.
The paramount ruler, King Eleki used the opportunity to pledge his readiness to work relentlessly with his councils of chiefs to ensure that peace reigned in the kingdom for development to thrive.
Enoch Epelle
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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