Rivers
Confab: Stakeholders Harp On Resource Control
As the country gears up
for a National Conference next year, some stakeholders from Rivers State say resource control should top agenda for those that will represent the Niger Delta.
Former Dean, Faculty of Engineering in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Prof Alex Akor in a chat with The Tide last Monday in Port Harcourt said since the Niger Delta had over the years fought for equitable benefit from its huge petroleum resource without success, the conference would provide platform to seek for resource control.
Prof. Akor lamented that the people of the area had suffered hugely from the environmental pollution as a result of crude oil exploration but had nothing on ground because of the poor allocation formula.
“For me, resource control is the only way the proceeds from the oil can be enjoyed in the region’’ said Prof Akor.
“Over the years, he argued that the people of the region have suffered environmental and health hazards from oil pollution without any adequate attention from the federal government, life expectancy is getting shorter everyday and people from this region are dying of strange diseases’’. ‘’ So, this is the time to talk on how we will stay together in the future’’, he said.
The university don also insisted that outcome of the conference should not be sent to the National Assembly for endorsement, but rather a referendum should be conducted for the citizenry to vote on the issues.
The Agriculture engineering expert believed that if the outcome was sent to the National Assembly it might be politicised and the essence of the conference defeated.
“ I think referendum is the direct outcome from the people. I believe that if the outcome of the conference is not politicised, it will help keep Nigeria standing on a strong foundation’’.
On his part, paramount ruler of Elieke community, Rumuokoro, Chief Clement Oku- Wabara called for interface between the National Assembly and the National Conference.
He opined that the interface would help solidify the outcome as it would be enshrined in the constitution by the legialators.
The traditional ruler said one way to encourage public support for the conference was for the organisers to have,’’ no restrictions on issues for debate’’.
Chief Oku-Wabara added,” Nigeria belongs to all of us, so if they say there are no- go areas then it will not help the system’’.
He also recommended that all sections of the society should be represented including market women, non-governmental bodies and labour unions, saying “ the conference is long overdue this the time to talk of our future as a country.’’
Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on ICT, Engr Goodliffe Nmekini (left) chatting with Executive Director, Keeping it Real Foundation, Mrs Bitebo Gogo, during the donation of computers to the foundation in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, yesterday. With them is the Operation Manager of the foundation, Mr Brendan Dumpe
Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi