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Dark Days Ahead …Checking Political Violence In Rivers
When, one time President of the United States of America (USA) Abraham Lincoln once said, “no one is good enough to govern another without that other’s consent,” he was merely underscoring one of the most valuable ingredients of true democracy. By its nature, Democracy ought to be a process whereby a leadership is chosen for the people by the people before such leadership can qualify to be called government of the people.
That being the case, the people must be courted like a bride by political parties and ambitious politicians. For, no sane man brutalises his bride-to-be to coerce her into marriage.
In fact, the main responsibility of a political party is to articulate programmes and policies it intends to sell to the electorate and through persuasive appeal, earn the approval of the citizenry. Such a process must be idea-based and bereft of incitements or appeal to violence.
But in Nigeria, politics has assumed the status of war where anything and everything must be done to ensure victory, including assassination of opponents.
That tendency has left behind countless unresolved political murders ranging from those of Chief Bola Ige, one time Minister of Justice, Dr. Marshall Harry, National Vice-Chairman, South/South of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Late Chief Aminasoari Kala-Dikibo, National Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
These are merely few of countless other politically motivated deaths of ordinary Nigerians, among them defenceless men, women and children. Those are victims of inter-party rivalry resulting in violence.
After the blood-bath that attended the outcome of the 2011 Presidential elections, it was reasoned that most Nigerians must have learnt their lessons. They ought to know that violence does and cannot win elections.
In fact, no one’s ambition is worth any human blood, a reason why faith-based organisations, civil society groups and indeed well-meaning political leaders have relentlessly preached against violence of any kind, in the process leading to the 2015 general elections.
Candidates of the two dominant political parties, President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC have themselves preached against violence and repeatedly advised their supporters to play the game according to the rules.
But recent happenings in Rivers State leave a sour taste in the mouth. Barely, weeks to the first set of elections, there are very disturbing signals of a violence-prone electioneering with attacks on political opponents.
Last week, APC supporters from Khana Local Government Area on their way to the flag-off of the Presidential campaigns at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium at Igwuruta, were attacked, wounding two in the process. The wounded are still recuperating in a hospital in Port Harcourt.
While media reports described the assailants as unknown gun-men, it is usual for the affected party to point accusing fingers at the opponents. This was indeed so in that instance.
Just at the weekend also, a vehicle carrying the PDP candidates for the House of Representatives and House of Assembly, Bright Gogo and Adams Dabotorudima respectively and a former councilor Hope George, all from Okrika Local Government Area was attacked also by unknown gun-men. In the process, Mr. George was shot at and killed.
While many believe that to be an armed robbery attack, it is not unlikely for the victims to point accusing fingers at perceived political opponents even if the victims were dispossessed of money they had withdrawn from the bank, a moment earlier.
As if these are not enough causes for worry, the APC secretariat in Okrika Local Government Area was last Saturday night attacked with locally crafted explosives, suspected to be dynamites. This is in spite of the fact that the structure is a rented one and naturally does not belong to the political party.
Residents of Abam-Ama where the structure stands said the impact of the explosion was deafening and sent shock waves in nearby communities. The property itself, was severely touched while, a second dynamite was diffused early Sunday morning by the anti-bomb squad of the Police.
All these portend danger to free, fair and credible elections and require the urgent intervention of the law-enforcement agencies. Culprits in all the instances should be identified and brought to book and in a timely fashion.
These are times when, criminals may also capitalise on the distrust among political parties to commit crimes and make same where political colouration to attract reprisals. Unless the security agencies are vigilant and more proactive to the dangers we face, there is no telling the magnitude of violence that await Nigerians in days and weeks to come.
For instance, Nigerians expect answers to the questions raised by the recent violent attacks. We expect that some suspects are being trailed or already arrested. Nigerians expect to have information about efforts being made to track-down persons bent on militarising an ordinarily civil political process.
For the elections to be credible, the Nigerian electorate expect the security agencies to be apolitical, thorough and committed to their primary responsibility of safe-guarding lives and property. They must identify soft political targets and fashion pre-emptive devices towards warding off criminally minded misfits.
More importantly, the police must not consider any defaulter, a sacred cow in the handling of their mandate. This is because; the greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment. So, if the foot soldiers of any political parties are convinced that they would not go unpunished if caught, it will discourage the tendency to be violent.
For now, the situation raises more questions than answers and unless the security agencies brace-up for the fresh challenges posed by the rising politically motivated violence, it can only get worse in days and weeks to come.
On their part, political parties must avoid the temptation of hurriedly blaming attacks on political opponents without awaiting proper police investigation. Such can only encourage avoidable reprisals and counter attacks which will do no one any good. They must continue to preach peace to their supporters as violence cannot guarantee favourable political outcome. Instead, it ignites a ring of lasting enmity, hatred and further violence.
Truly, no one’s ambition is worth such level of animosity and hatred. Unfortunately, those who die in the process are not children or wards of the candidates but other gullible young men and women who feed on violence and indeed other defenseless men, women and children very often caught in the cross fire.
This should not be the case. Politicians ought to be civil and responsible in persuading the electorate to accept them and their programmes as a means of forming government at various levels. Such a process ought to be violence-free and be conducted in such a manner that ignites followership and support.
My Agony is that the body language and public statements of some political leaders are not only ready incitements to violence, they have made the political process wear the semblance of war, which must be won, At All Cost. The do or die disposition of such leaders is indeed the spirit that truly fuels the violence primarily, the rest is secondary.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Tunde Bature, Rivers State CP and Suleman Abba, IGP
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.