Issues
Climate Change, N’Delta And The World At Denmark
One of the World’s topical issues today is climate change and its implication to developed and developing nations. This issue can be compared with the global economic recession in some developed economies like USA and oil spill and environmental pollution in developing nation like Nigeria. This issue has become more imperative, given that the world will gather to deliberate on the same in December 7, at Denmark.
Climate change, according to frame work convention on climate change is defined as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable period”.
From this definition it is obvious that climate change may be natural or human caused. Some of the human causes of climate changes are: gas flaring, dust from cement industries, burning of fossil fuels, electricity generating industries, burning of bushes, deforestation, green house gasses, spray from pesticides, air conditioners and waste from industries. One of the most human induced climate changes came from gas flare. Gas flare gives rise to green house effect which, include (water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxide, menthsine, chloro fluro carbon and ozone). These substances trap heat in the atmosphere instead of allowing it to radiate back into space.
It is important to note that without the green house gasses, the earth will be about 60o cooler than it is today and life will be impossible meaning that there are positive sides of the green house gases.
However, human activities enhance the green house effect primarily by burning fossil fuel (coal, oil and natural gas). These fuels are stored carbon, formed from organic matters, burning them return carbon to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, the gas that contributes most of the enhanced green house effect. Other green house gasses are less common than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but have potent effect. There are nitrogen oxides, (chloro fluro carbon). These have impact to the atmosphere.
The negative consequence of climate change include but not limited to global warming, plant and animal depletion and extinction, respiratory and other diseases, severe storm leading to flooding and the spread changes in ecological imbalance. The net consequence of this is that these regions and places can not adequately address the problem of hunger and poverty occasioned by climate change.
Nigeria is a Federation of 36 States and 776 Local Government Areas; it has a unique Federal Constitution. A strong centre and weak States and Local Government Areas.
The constitution is the grand norm of the people controlling the activities of the states and creating areas of jurisdiction for the various tiers of government. Powers are shared between the Federal Government (central government) and the corresponding States and Local Government Authorities. Nigeria runs a bicameral legislature at the centre, a single and monolithic economy derived from oil and gas. Crude oil and gas account to 800% of the export earning for the country. The said crude oil is found and located in the Niger Delta region of the country. The Niger Delta region is made up of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States. But for political and selfish interests, the geographical location of Niger Delta has extended to Edo, Ondo, Akwa lbom, Cross River, Abia, and lmo States. All these states are located in the southern part of the country. The total land mass of both Natural and political Niger Delta is 70,000 KM2 square meters.
The main feature of these regions apart from the presence of highly prized crude oil is the low topography and the geology is made up of homogeneous sedimentary rocks. The region displays a typical dendrite drainage pattern. This is because most of the tributaries join main Rivers at oblique angles. There are thick forest and marine environment, high vegetation, costal areas like creeks, rivers and sea beds. The region has also the greatest wet land in Africa and mangrove forest in West Africa.
Since 1956 the region has become synonymous with resources of Nigeria. It is said that crude oil exploitation has accounted for over 90% of the nation’s foreign exchange and over 80% of the nation’s (GDP) as well as 95% of the National Budget.
The Niger Delta people are very bard working people and contribute to the National economy through Agriculture. The major occupation is fanning and fishing both at subsistence and commercial levels and also contributing to the food need of the country.
In this region, are key major oil and gas companies and multinational corporations. Some of these companies include SHELL BP, GULF, MOBIL, TOTAL, ELF, AGIP SAFRAP, TEXACO, CHEVRON. Some of these companies carry out exploratory activities while others carry out geological and seismic activities. The search for oil includes such activities as seismic and geological, exploratory, production, refming and transportation of final product either through the marine vessels or through trucks. Each of these activities leave behind, environmental problems and degradation one of which is gas flaring leading to green house effect and global warmingi.
Although, the Nigerian government through the Nigeria National Petroleum corporation entered into a joint ventures with some of these oil companies, the level of environmental pollution and degradation in the region where the prospecting and exploration take place has not improved . Oil spill takes place almost every day in tins Nigeria
Since 1956 the region has become synonymous with resources of Nigeria. It is said that crude oil exploitation has accollilted for over 900/0 of the nation’s foreign exchange and over 80% of the nation’s (GDP) as well as 95% of the National Budget.
The Niger Delta people are very hard working people and contribute to the National economy through Agriculture. The major occupation is farming and fishing both at subsistence and commercial levels and also contributing to the food need of the country.
In this region, are key major oil and gas companies and multinational corporations. Some of these companies include SHELL BP, GULF, MOBIL, TOTAL, ELF, AGIP SAFRAP, TEXACO, CHEVRON. Some of these companies cany out exploratory activities while others cany out geological and seismic activities. The search for oil includes such activities as seismic and geological, exploratory, production, refining and transportation of final product either through the marine vessels or through trucks. Each of these activities leave behind, environmental problems and degradation one of which is gas flaring leading to green house effect and global warming.
Although, the Nigerian government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation entered into a joint ventures with some of these oil companies, the level of environmental pollution and degradation in the region where the prospecting and exploration take place has not improved 14. Oil spill takes place almost every day in the region.
The nationalization of the oil and mineral resources by the federal government of Nigeria has not help matters. This region that produces the crude, rather than having good shares in the benefit of the natural resources are exposed to environmental pollution and degradation from the oil prospecting and exploratory companies. This has led to the high level of insecurity in the region and agitation for resource control and management as can be seen in the case of A.G OF ABIA STATE AND 36 ORS VS. A.G FEDERATION.
The Nigeria government set up an emission target for 2004. There is also an LNG in Bonny in Rivers State for abolition of flare since 2004. but due to non corporation by multinational cooporations, the date has been extended to 2010 and thereafter emission of gas still continue because of lack of cooperation from (MNC) and industries in Nigeria.
AI-GORE (2007) had to say that the negative effect of climate change would be severe for poor nations. Gas flare shall be felt by poor region and poor people of the World. The Niger Delta people are said to be the poorest in Nigeria and Africa living below $1 (US) dollar per day. Diseases, hunger, unemployment, poor infrastructural facilities, plant and animal extinction, flooding, desertification, are the common feature of these regions. This region is very vulnerable to climate change and the negative effect.
This essay is therefore, intended to examine, the effect of climate change on the oil and gas producing region of Nigeria. The study will also include providing solution to the climate changes and the adverse effect on the rich region and poor people of the Niger Delta. .The study will involve, evaluating the United Nation Conference on human environment 1972 at Stockholm.. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1972 and the KYOTO Protocol of 1994 open for signature in 1998. Attempt would be made to find out the reason for the exclusion of the developing nation from the framework plan on climate change and the preparedness of the Niger Delta region to natural disaster given the fragile ecosystem induced by decade of oil exploratory activities in the region locally too, some oil companies have constructed some gas recycling plants and others are cuing from there. Internationally, awareness in this regard has been created by the United Nation Conference of 1972 in Stockholm, the Rio declaration on Environment and Development in 1997, the KYOTO protocol of 1994. In fact the present Copenhagen conference of head of states is aimed at enlarging and expanding the activities and conclusion reached in KYOTO (JAPAN) as some of tile decisions and actions plans have been rested and tried with minimal progress in this regard. A new approach perhaps need to be adopted by the meeting of the heads of states this time around to reach an acceptable globally binding agreement on climate change.
Unarguable, both locally and internationally climate change is being addressed but will the adverse consequences arising from the unregulated use of the air and its component completely phase out as a result of these efforts? How can the natural causes of climate change be handled by the conference? For us in Nigeria and Niger Delta, these questions call for answers. This is more so, as oil production is on daily basis, injustices are springing up hourly, local method of refuse disposal system are on the increase, bush burning for fuel cards and grazing are part of our national lives.
Indeed, it is almost true to say that these factors are endemic and thus cannot be totally eradicated. What are therefore the solution particularly taken into account the vulnerability of the Niger Delta people?
Firstly, alternative energy use must be put in place; such energy use like wind and solar energy must be embraced. This will reduce the present energy regime of burning electlicity and churning out carbondioxide. The alternative energy left will erase or reduce the use of generators that is a common place in every house hold in Nigeria. Therefore, rather than generating more mega watts of electricity without knowing the dangerous implication of the effect to the people of Nigeria, as quoted by the vice president, recently, more effort be directed at engaging in wind and solar energy as practiced currently in advance and developed societies.
Secondly, clean development mechanism as currently in place in USA should be totally embraced. This involves all friendly environmental practices that are not only sustainable but will endure all weather and remain human friendly. These practices will eradicate the growth of carbon emission companies; encourage the adoption of petroleum production, distribution processes that are environmentally safe and friendly, a safe refuse disposal systems, alternative local cooking energy system, and alternative use of fallowed bush for Agriculture that will not involve buming, plant treatment chemicals and a lot more.
In addition to the above short term measures out- lined above, the government of Nigeria should, as a matter of urgency, place more emphasis now on Agriculture and other alternative import and export sources of income rather than the oil and gas sectors. More than any other factor, gas flare and carbon emission from the oil and gas companies have contributed more to climate change in the Niger Delta region than any other factor. If the government does not see beyond the amnesty and continue to dig deep into devastating sector (oil and gas), then the lives of the Niger Delta people is not only short- changed but shall remain precarious. The time to act is now, even as the Nation awaits the outcome of the meeting of the heads of states and government at Copenhagen Denmark on climate change, we must warn ourselves of the impending natural disaster in this region. Noting that natural disasters are not preventable but its effect can be minimised by conscious positive act from human beings. Climate change can be reduced by concerted positive actions by man that will improve his environment.
The poor people and region of the Niger Delta should be prepared to face any natural disaster, but we plead God’s mercy and pray that our leaders act now and listen to the world in Denmark come December 7.
S. C. Dike
This is an open letter to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Your Excellency,
Sir, ordinarily, I would not be writing an open letter to you, but like a wise man once said, “Silence would be Treason.” So I prefer to stay alive than face the consequences of silence in the face of crime. With each passing day, and as the socio-political tides continue to turn, it has become more pertinent that more people speak up in a concerted MANNER to prevent the death of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as we appear to be, in the words of W. B. Yeats, “turning and turning in the widening gyre” heading for an end where the falcon will no longer hear the falconer
It is unfortunate that since losing control of the Federal Government, with the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan at the poll in 2015, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued on a downward spiral. It is much more painful, that where it is expected that leaders within the party should rise to the challenge and put an end to this decline of our great party, some have instead taken up roles as its undertaker.
It will be hypocritical to claim aloofness to what I believe is your grouse with the PDP and I am not a hypocrite. It will be uncharitable on my part to discountenance the role you have played in strengthening the PDP from 2015 up until the last Presidential primaries of the party. It is my belief that your grouse against certain members of the party who you perceived worked against the party and abandoned it in 2015 and then came around much later to take control of the party, is justified. Also know that your decision to remain in the Party and stifle its progress on the other hand, as a sort of payback, stands condemned. For a man of your pedigree and stature, it is a dishonorable act, highly dishonorable and stands as testimony against all you claim to stand for.
At least, it can be argued that those who you hold this grudge against, abandoned the party completely and did not sit back while actively working to destroy it from within. But what then can be the argument on your own part, seeing that those you are currently working with against your party are the same people who set in motion, and executed surgically, the plans that not only ended our Party’s leadership at the centre, but ended up dislodging the first Niger Deltan to occupy Aso Rock as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Is this not akin to “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face?” That will be worse than folly. Let us not throw away the baby with the bath water because we do not like the soap used in bathing the baby. It will be a grave mistake.
Honourable Minister, sir, it is rather unfortunate that of all people, you have also decided to play the role of an undertaker not only for our party, but for our dear Rivers State.
I will like to take you down memory lane a little. Let me remind you of your emergence as Guber candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, against all fairness and justice in 2014. You will remember that despite the reality being that you as an Ikwerre man was poised to replace a fellow Ikwerre man in Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in our multiethnic state, Rivers people overwhelmingly stood by you and pushed for your emergence as Executive Governor of Rivers State in 2015. I dare say that your popularity in the entire Niger Delta region was at an all-time high at this point.
I want you to understand why you were loved across board leading to your eventual emergence as Governor of Rivers State in 2015; it was because when it looked like all were against the second term ambitions of the first Niger Delta man to emerge as President of Nigeria, you became not just a pillar but a beacon of resistance by standing for Goodluck Jonathan. Rivers people, as grateful and rewarding as they can be, paid you back by ensuring your electoral victory against the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) led by your predecessor. On your emergence, where there were second term Governors in the region, you, a first term Governor, was seen by the people as not just the leader of the PDP, but the leader of the entire Niger Delta region. You earned it, and no one could dispute it.
In 2019, when your re-election bid was being challenged ferociously, Rivers people once again stood solidly behind you. Many were killed in the process of defending your votes. Do you remember Dr. Ferry Gberegbe that was shot and killed while trying to protect your votes in Khana Local Government Area? There are many more unnamed and unrecognised sons and daughters of Rivers State who sacrificed their lives so that you could emerge as a second term Governor of Rivers State.
In 2022/23, Honourable Minister, you oversaw a party primary across board that saw some candidates imprisoned and internal party democracy jettisoned for your wishes, leading to the emergence of flag bearers of our party all singlehandedly picked by you. You have on more than one occasion publicly stated that you paid for all their forms. Even those shortchanged in this process licked their wounds and continued to play their roles as party members to ensure the success of the party at all levels. In what will go down as one of the most keenly contested elections in recent Rivers history, with formidable candidates like Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the vibrant youth driven Labour Party (LP), PDP emerged victorious across board except for Phalga Constituency 1 that was lost to the Labour Party. (Not that you did not loose in some other LGA’s but let’s stick to the official figures declared by INEC).
It begs the question, why then do you want to burn down Rivers State, when everyone who now holds political office emerged through a process designed and endorsed by you? Is it that you do not care about Rivers people and you are all about yourself? If so, I am forced to believe that those around you are not telling you the truth. The truth being that in a state where your words were law; where houses and businesses could be demolished or closed down without any recourse to legalities, where Executive Orders could be deployed to stifle the opposition, that your popularity is now at an all-time low. Probably because they are afraid of you, or of losing the benefits they gain from you, they fail to tell you that what you might perceive as a battle against your successor, has slowly but gradually degenerating into a battle against Rivers State and Rivers people. You know, there is a popular saying that, a man can cook for the community and the community will finish the food, but when a community decides to cook for one man, the reverse is the case.
LEAVE FUBARA ALONE
You have gone on and on about being betrayed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. You point fingers forgetting that some of those same fingers quick to spot betrayals point straight back at you. It is not Governor Fubara that has betrayed the PDP by working against it in the just concluded General Election, and working with the opposition at the State and Federal level to destabilise the party. It is you, Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that betrayed Rivers people by instigating a political crisis with propensity to escalate ethnic tensions in Rivers State. It is you Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that has declared himself God over all in Rivers State and has no qualms with burning the state to the ground to prove a point. It is you Honourable Minister. It is you Honourable Minister who told the world that the APC was a cancer and you can never support a cancerous party. It is you Honourable Minister who ended up facilitating the emergence of the same “cancerous” APC that has accelerated the economic decline of this country and further impoverished our people with no remorse. All so you can be a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory? The lack of self awareness is gobsmacking.
Some days back I came across a video where you talked about death and how you do not cry when you hear about the death of some people because you have no idea what might have caused it considering many a politician swear “over dead bodies” and still go back on their words. Those words made me think, and I could see the reason behind them. You see, in chosing to be God in the affairs of Rivers people, you have closed your eyes and ears to reason; you see nothing and hear nothing that can cause you to rethink on the path you have chosen. In your quest to “show Fubara” you have unwittingly united a vast majority of Rivers people behind him, so much that even those who despised him because of you, now like or love him, because of you too. In your scheming, I will advise you not to forget that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”.
Note that the war which you have or are waging against Governor Fubara, has gone beyond being merely political as you might see in your minds eye. It is now one that, fortunately for some and unfortunately for others, has evolved into a war against Rivers people. It is good to point out that no one has taken a stand against Rivers people and won. No one has gone against God and won. In your defiant characteristic manner, it will be unfortunate if you believe your own hubris and that of those around you on the possibility of you being the first to successfully go against Rivers people. It will be a needless gamble; one where if you win you create more enemies for yourself than you can withstand on your political journey, and if you lose, your legacy becomes an inglorious and irredeemable one in Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria at large. For your sake as regards posterity, it is my greatest wish that you have a moment of sobriety and a deep reflection and introspection on this path you have chosen.
Honourable Minister, sir, what is left of your legacy is on the brink of being completely desecrated and relegated to the dustbin of our political history, and it will be a sad end to what I will say has been a wonderful political career that many can only dream of. The ball is in your court, and may God Almighty have mercy on us all and forgive us for our shortcomings.
Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson
Dr Pidomson is former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and former member, Rivers State House of Assembly.
In 2015, I made a conscious decision to invest my financial resources, my time, and energy into supporting Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial campaign. I poured my heart and soul into ensuring Nyesom Wike emerged victorious even at the risk of my personal safety.
Again in 2019, I doubled down on my commitment. I invested a significant amount of money to procure campaign outfits for all twenty-three Local Governments Areas of Rivers State. I spared no expense in supplementing Wike’s election efforts in my own local government, and once again putting myself at great risk to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
However, despite my unwavering loyalty and sacrifices, I found myself abandoned and forgotten by Wike. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he failed to acknowledge my contributions or fulfill his promises and agreements. Even as a former Deputy Governor, Wike denied me my severance benefit.
My investment in Wike’s governorship was not just financial – it was a commitment of passion, dedication, and belief in a better future for Rivers State. Yet, his leadership style of dishonesty, greed, drunkenness and rash abuse of senior citizens brought me nothing but disappointment, misery and losses.
By the grace of God, today I speak not as a victim, but as a hero. I have accepted my losses, and I have moved on. And as I reflect on my experience, I cannot help but urge Wike to do the same and allow peace and development to reign in Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike, when you speak of investing in Governor Sim Fubara’s election, remember those like me who also invested in you. Remember the sacrifices I made, the risks I took, and the promises and agreements you left unfulfilled.
It is time for you, Wike, to let go of the past and allow Governor Sim Fubara the breathing space he needs to lead Rivers State forward. Allow him to focus on the challenges of good governance and the aspirations of the people. Spare him these unwarranted and ill-conceived political manoeuvrings founded on personal agenda and not for general good of Rivers State and her people.
I may have lost my investment on Wike, but I have not lost hope in the future of Rivers State. And together, we will continue to strive for a brighter tomorrow.
Long Live the Governor to Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara!
Long Live the Good People of Rivers State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Engr Ikuru is former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
Tele Ikuru
