Niger Delta
Otuokpoti’s New Monarch Breaks Silence …As Diri’s Appointed CDC Chairman Resigns
Newly enthroned Acting paramount ruler of Otuokpoti Community of Ogbia Council Area of Bayelsa State, Chief Rescue Orisa Abi, has revealed why the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, dethroned the community’s former monarch and enthroned him in acting capacity.
The traditional ruler, who spoke with The Tide in the community at the weekend denied the insinuations making the rounds that his proxies in government lobbied for him to become a royal father.
He stated that against the allegations that he lobbied for the position,he was not interested in politics, noting however that his leadership trajectory as one time acting paramount ruler between 1988 -1989, and one time vice chairman of the Ogbia Kingdom Council of Chiefs, as well as his former positions as chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogbia Local Government Area, and one time Secretary of the Otuokpoti Community Council of Chiefs as well as his current position as Chairman of the Community’s Council of Chiefs prior to his elevation as acting monarch would have informed the state governor’s decision in making him the community’s acting royal father.
The Tide reports that a second-class paramount ruler of Otuokpoti Community in Ogbia Council area of the state, A.C.T. Wongo, was deposed by the state governor, following security reports which implicated him and others in an alleged illegal oil refinery business which security investigations further revealed, led to the kidnap of the state Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Federal Otokito, whom reports said was against the illegal oil bunkering, popularly referred to as ‘kpo fire’ in the community.
Chief R.O. Abi who also reeled out his blueprint informed The Tide that though the government has not communicated him, the duration for which he would be in acting capacity pending when the community would have a substantive monarch, he intends to collaborate with the government and its security operatives to strengthen the security situation in the community, just as he also hinted that in line with government’s directive, plans have reached advanced stage for the community to have a database of all non-indigenes living in the community and their sources of livelihood, respectively.
“I never knew the state governor would appoint me as acting paramount ruler any day, I was surprised myself when I first saw it in the social media, so I called on the governor’s chief of staff to confirm. He told me he would get back to me and truely called me back later with the confirmation of the story. I’m not a politician and don’t intend to be one any day, anytime. I’m a retired teacher”.
“The Governor is called ‘miracle governor’ and so God has performed another miracle in this community through him. Like the governor, I’m also a ‘miracle’ acting paramount ruler.
Meanwhile there were palpable fears in the community as reports have it that security operatives during the week foiled attempts to stage protest by some members of the community believed to be relatives and sympathizers of the dethroned monarch, A.C.T Wongo during the commissioning ceremony of the newly upgraded Otuokpoti police post to station by the state governor.
The foiled protest, The Tide, gathered may not be unconnected to the resignation of the governor’s appointed CDC chairman, Mr Jerry Ofor, as either him and the protesters declined audience with newsmen.
However, The Tide gathered from the acting monarch that the failed protest was carried out by no fewer than 12 people.
He said the resignation of Mr Jerry Ofor earlier appointed by governor Diri to replace the sacked former CDC chairman, Mr Azibalua Amon would not threaten the peaceful coexistence of the community as the council of chiefs has since filled the vacancy created by the resignation with a replacement by one Mr Godspower Parapa.
The royal highness described the new CDC helmsman as one who is willing to work with the new community leadership, noting that the community has since kept the government and security agencies abreast of the new development.
“The CDC Chairman appointed by the governor came to me one day, saying that his inner man was telling him not to be the chairman and that he was resigning. I summoned a meeting of the council of chiefs and informed them so he tendered his resignation and has since been replaced by one Mr Godspower Parapa as new CDC Chairman. I’ve informed the government and security agencies”, the monarch said.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Peter Ryan, has expressed delight that the projects being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) in Ogoniland are all about the people, and commended the Project for the feat.
Ryan, who made the commendation during a working visit to the Project Coordination Office of HYPREP in Port Harcourt, said HYPREP’s projects and programmes can be impactful when they are owned by the people, thus, the small changes the Project is bringing about in Ogoniland are worthwhile, as they directly and indirectly benefit the people.
He noted that he and his team are also delighted to be part of what HYPREP is doing, the project being a multi-generational effort, stressing that Ireland would be exploring the potential of partnering with HYPREP in the research and education sector through its Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration for the project to achieve greater success.
Ryan said the work of the Project Coordinator is more like a vocation than a job, because, according to him, his community is depending on him to deliver, to do things properly and doing something at the world-class level that is sustainable, and urged HYPREP to carry out this noble task with diligence and be mindful of the high expectations and dependency from the communities to deliver a world-class project that is sustainable.
He noted that there are people in Ireland who are desirous of knowing the progress HYPREP is making and the level it has attained in the cleanup project, and praised the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey and his team for not being new on the Project, and for building immense collaboration networks across the world, describing them as people with global standard track record.
He hinted that his country could also partner with HYPREP and Nigeria in the areas of research, education, culture and business, in a bid to “be the best we can and do the best to impact on resilient communities, and address years of under investment, exploitation and other negative things that come with globalisation.”
He further indicated that his visit to Port Harcourt was significant and special in Ireland’s history in Nigeria, because the day of the visit was the first working day at the new Ireland Embassy in Abuja.
Ryan praised the strong connections between Ireland and Port Harcourt and the wider Niger Delta region, saying, “you don’t have to go very far to see the impact the Irish had here “.
He expressed joy that two Irish companies are working successfully on the cleanup project, devoting their time and efforts in contributing to the development of Ogoniland, stressing that just as his wife had noted, what they were missing when they were still in Ireland were the people of Nigeria and not the food, the weather and the mangroves.
According to him, Ireland is willing to partner with HYPREP to actualise the Project’s mandate for the future of Ogoni, as the project is all about the people.
He said the visit had given him an opportunity to appreciate the pace of the Ogoni cleanup project ,which is focused on the people.
He noted that as the 17th Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, he has come to the country not to invent the wheel but to stay true to the legacy of his predecessors and other Irish people who had worked in Nigeria for over 40 years.
“I am the 17th Ambassador to come to this country.But I am not coming as the first.While we might not have a lot of missionaries today, there a lot of people who remember those connections between Ireland and Nigeria in Ireland. And to me, those connections are what we can build so many other contemporary connections on,” he said.
In response, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey expressed delight over the visit, and the opportunity to inform the ambassador about the ongoing and completed projects, including the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; the Ogoni Specialist Hospital; the Buan Cottage Hospital; the Ogoni Power Project; the shoreline cleanup; the water projects; and the mangrove restoration project; among others.
While describing the envoy’s visit as very special and motivating, Zabbey said it had boosted the morale of the HYPREP team.
He noted that while the core mandate of HYPREP is to remediate oil spill impacted sites in Ogoniland and restore the livelihoods of the people, it is also the responsibility of the Project to transform seemingly bleak situations to opportunities, considering the fact that the Ogoni environment consists of wetlands.
The Project Coordinator further hinted that HYPREP is building a world-class Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which is expected to be a hub for international research, where researchers would conduct cutting-edge innovative research, adding that it is a centre every stakeholder would be proud of.
He disclosed that HYPREP is going to partner with universities in Ireland and the private sector in Ireland to contribute to the work of the Project, and to also build local capacity as well as advance knowledge, and assured that HYPREP and the envoy would continue to do the best, to contribute to environmental sustainability in Ogoniland.
Zabbey noted that the basis for the sustainability of the project is the fact that the people are the drivers of the HYPREP’s mangrove restoration intervention in Ogoniland.
He emphasised that the focus of the cleanup project at the moment is Ogoni, stressing, however, that HYPREP is building a template that would be replicated in other parts of the country.
He explained that HYPREP is passionate about delivering a sustainable cleanup in this region, “which all of us will be proud at,” saying, “we will continue to do our best to leave behind a knowledge legacy that will drive environmental sustainability in Ogoniland.”
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, ” the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, has highlighted Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s commitment to inclusive and people-focused governance.
He cited the recent upgrade of infrastructure at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in the state as a reflection of this approach.
Izeze stated this during an inspection of ongoing construction of internal roads and drainage works at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area.
The Works Commissioner said the Governor was deeply concerned about the deplorable state of the internal roads at the camp and how Corps members might perceive the state.
He said, “Until now, the internal roads within the NYSC Orientation Camp were practically non-existent. That is the best way to describe it.
“If you are familiar with this area, you will see that the rainy season has begun, and everywhere is already muddy.
“The NYSC Orientation Camp, for some individuals, is their only encounter with Delta State. Some Corps members will attend camp, seek redeployment, and leave.
“The impression they leave with will be based solely on their experience at the Issele-Uku NYSC Orientation Camp and that becomes their lasting impression of Delta State.
“Governor Oborevwori understands this. But more importantly, he believes that the three weeks Corps members spend at the Delta State orientation camp should be memorable and hospitable. Only a leader with a human face to governance can truly appreciate that.
“He understands this because he knows that his own children are also serving or have served in various parts of the country. He appreciates the importance of comfort within the precincts of the Orientation Camp.
“That is why he graciously approved the construction of all internal roads within the Orientation Camp particularly in areas where Corps members are lodged, where they hold parades, and engage in leisure activities.
“As a result, he approved the construction of 1.2 kilometers of roads with 2.4 kilometers of covered drainage.
“By the time this project is completed, you will understand why many of us refer to him as the ‘Governor Quality’ because of the high standard of finishing and the thoughtful aesthetic considerations.”
On his part, the contractor, Mr. Rony Karam, said the project is expected to be completed within two months, as most of the drainage work has already been done.
“As you can see, we are nearly done with the drainage. Very soon, we will begin the earthworks, stone base, and asphalt laying. We expect to complete the project within two months”, the contractor said.
In a related development, Commissioner Izeze expressed disappointment over the abandoned Nnemiyi erosion control project, which was intended to connect to the storm drainage system linking the Okpanam–Ibusa Bypass Road.
“This is a project we inherited from the previous administration. That tells you it’s over two years old. I can say with all sense of responsibility that this project has clearly been frustrated. It is my intention to report back to the Governor.
“From what I see here, the project has stalled due to the contractor’s failure to meet the terms of the agreement for reasons best known to him. Therefore, I will recommend to His Excellency that the project be terminated due to clear failure and frustration”, Izez said.
Albert Ograka,
Asaba