News
MOSOP, Group Differ On Mega Filling Station
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has stated that plans by the Federal Government (FG) to build a mega petrol station in Ogoni land rather than giving the people potable drinking water was laughable.
Speaking to The Tide yesterday, The MOSOP Publicity Secretary, Feegaloo Nsuke stated that Ogonis had made their demand clear that one of their critical needs at the moment was the provision of potable drinking water for the people and the release of funds for cleanup of Ogoniland.
Nsuke added that the building of a mega filling station in Ogoniland was not one of the critical needs of the Ogonis at the moment.
“At this very moment Ogoni people were dying by the day because of the pollution of the air, if there is anything we expect the government to do first is to restore the land and to go ahead with the provision of water to the people because we cannot have a situation where people are dying and you are talking about building a petrol station. We need to set our priorities and for now the priority of the Ogoni people is to have the land restored”, he said.
The MOSOP Publicity Secretary noted that recent comments by some stakeholders in Ogoni that the Federal Government had released fund for the Ogoni cleanup was not true.
“It’s not the first time we would be hearing of fund being released for the Ogoni cleanup. You will recall Amina Mohammed did tell us that N1bn for the Ogoni cleanup is intact, those are official lies and we are not concerned about that.
“What we are saying is that we want to see the fund in the Ogoni Trust Fund and we want to see the fund deployed to restore Ogoniland,” Nsuke added.
In its reactions, another Ogoni group, popularly known as the Ken Saro Wiwa Associate (KSWA) has described the move by the Federal Government to build a mega petrol station in Bori, the headquarters of Ogoniland as a welcome development.
The National Coordinator, KSWA, Chief Gani Topba has stated that the building of the mega station in Bori could not stop the Federal Government from providing potable water, adding that Ogonis should embrace and accept the noble gesture as well as insisting on their other demands.
“Everybody knows that the provision of potable water was very important in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report and as a result, the KSWA has been insisting on the provision of this potable water for the Ogoni people. I am surprised that the leadership of MOSOP is kicking against the building of a mega station that would impact positively on the people of the area. The same masters have connived with the Ministry of Environment and have looted Ogoni people money.
“This mega filling station would create employment and you know there is bunkering going on which the leadership of MOSOP benefits from that bunkering activities and because they are benefiting from that, they are as well destroying our land. They know that the mega filling station would discourage illegal bunkering as well as people from buying illegal bunkering products. This is why they are against it”, Topba added.
The national coordinator, KSWA hinted that his group was also working with the Federal Government to build a semi-loading point in Ogoniland as a way of creating employment and wealth for the people of Ogoni.
“We have proposed to the Minister of States for Petroleum Resources to put a semi loading point in any of these areas; Bodo Water Front, Kaa, Opuo-oko or Kono Water side. Any of these areasthat the Federal Government thinks will be best, can serve as a loading point, by so doing it would create wealth and opportunities for the people of Ogoni , but the leadership of MOSOP has failed to understand as well as failed the people of Ogoni, thus should know that their days in office are numbered.”
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.