Rivers
N’Delta Stakeholder Hails Wike’s Giant Dev Strides …Begs For Support, Royalties
An elder statesman, renowned activist and Niger Delta stakeholder, Rev(Dr) Sokari Soberekon, has applauded the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for the giant development strides of his administration especially in the area of infrastructural development within the past seven years of his administration.
This is even as the activist appealed to the Governor to provide some grants and financial support to him as a way of rewarding his efforts and contributions over the years as an exponent and champion of the 13 percent oil derivation principle which states in the Niger Delta, among others, are enjoying today.
Soberekon, who gave this indication in Port Harcourt said the Governor Wike administration has not fared badly in the area of infrastructural development particularly against the backdrop of the recent award of the contract for the construction of two additional flyover projects in the state by his administration, thus, bringing the total number to 12. He thanked the governor for doing what the Federal Government could not do for the state, in terms of road construction, saying it would have been disastrous without Wike.
According to him, this is unprecedented infrastructural strides in the history of the state. He however urged the Governor to also develop the people.
Soberekon said he was appealing to the Governor to remember his contributions to the growth and development of the state against the backdrop that he single handedly confronted former President Shehu Shagari in 1981 in Port Harcourt over the need for him to approve oil derivation for Niger Delta states which are producing the resources with which the country is sustained today.
This request, he said has become imperative as he is preparing to celebrate his 80th birthday on September 24, contending that it is more rewarding and honourable to celebrate the heroes of our struggles while they are alive.
He said his claim that he championed the approval of the oil derivation principle could be attested to and confirmed by people like the first Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; former Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Gabriel Toby; and former Governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada-George, among others.
He said he did not champion the oil denvation for monetary gains then, but for the love of the Niger Delta, insisting that now that he is old, he wants all the states that are benefitting from it to pay him what he described as royalties to enable him celebrate his 8oth birthday so as to continue his humanitarian works.
“I made President Shehu Shagari to approve the oil derivation in the presence of the then Governor of Rivers State, Chief Melford Okilo, then Secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Rufus Ada-George and the then Permanent Secretary, Sir Gabriel Toby. You can ask these persons who are alive today to confirm the authenticity of how the oil derivation was approved”, he said.
Soberekon also picked holes in the recent change of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) by President Muhammadu Buhari to a public limited company, and queried the composition of its Board of Directors.
According to him, a situation where Directors of the company are predominantly Northerners is unfair, unjust and inequitable.
While demanding justice for the people of the Niger Delta, Soberekon said he is disgusted that only one of the directors is from the Niger Delta region in spite of the area contributing the bulk of the nation’s resources.
He also condemned the recent hike in the price of fuel in the country, saying such an increase was not supposed to be enforced and implemented in the Niger Delta, an area where petroleum products are produced.
Soberekon recalled that over 40 years ago, he threatened to personally commit suicide when the price of petrol was increased from a paltry 9.5 kobo to 15 kobo per litre, and stressed the need for the people of the Niger Delta to be treated fairly.
By: Donatus Ebi
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