Renowed minister of  God in Rivers State, Pastor Enobong Ben, says the granting of amnesty and  the subsequent disarmament by the militants was the right step taken by  the government and the ex-militants towards resolving the violence and arm-struggle in the oil-rich region.

He, however wondered why the federal government and its relevant agencies responsile for the implementation of the post-amnesty programme have not been pro-active for the past two months.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Weekend Tide at Eberi, headquarters of Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State shortly after a church function last Sunday, Pastor Ben argued that full implementation of the amnesty programme especially massive employment of the teeming unemployed youths and aggressive development of infrastructure and social amenities would bring lasting peace in the regions.

Pastor Ben who hails from Omum-Unyam Community in Akwa-Ibom State and the resident Pastor incharge of The Apostolic Church, Eberi Assembly passionately appealed to the government to be pro-active in the implementation of the issues that arose from the violent agitation  if the government is determined to find lasting solution to the Niger Delta question.

According to him, the violent agitation has negatively impacted on the morals of Nigerian youths and   stressed the need for the government to emphasise moral studies in primary and secondary schools to cushion the effect of the recent social vices in the country.

To achieve this, the cleric therefore advocated for the handing over of all primary and secondary schools to the churches as was the situation in the early 50’s and 60’s so as to help bring up children in the fear of God.

Apparently, the man of God suggested that religious knowledge especially Christian and Islamic religions should be made compulsory like English language and mathematics in ‘O’Level examinations in the country.

On the efficacy or otherwise of the church in fighting corruption and moral decay in the society, the minister of God said  that the church of God has played significant role in reducing the rate of crime  in Nigeria as most souls won for Christ abandoned their evil ways.

He however, agreed that some churches have not done much to impact the basic moral principles in the younger generation because they have devoted much time and energy on preaching miracles, healings and materialism.

Consequently, Pastor Ben challenged church administrators and leaders to re-focus their strategy and attention towards teaching of moral and value principles to the youths through Sunday School activities, Bible studies and personal evangelism.

Commenting on the significant of annual harvest ceremony to Christiandom, the man of  God pointed out that the celebration reminds human race especially Christians that they are like seeds planted on the earth by God and that the owner of the farm would certainly come to harvest the crops.

Quoting the book of Genesis chapter 8 verse 18 to 22, to buttress his points, Pastor Ben urged Christians to always be prepared to bear good harvest for God, their creator.

Narrating how God encountered him, the cleric told The Weekend Tide that his father was a pastor in the Qua-Iboe Church but his friends in his secondary school days influenced him to embrace the Apostolic Church in 1981 due to unity of purpose and discipline among the students who were members of the Apostolic Church.

“More importantly, my recovery from  a fatal motor accident in 2004 in which God saved my life to enable me accomplish his work on earth propelled my acceptance of Jesus Christ  as my Lord and personal Saviour”, he emphasised.

Answering question on the efficacy of miracles and healings, the Akwa Ibom-born man of God acknowledge the existence of God’s miracles and healings, but vehemently disagreed with some pastors and prophets who attribute such miracles to themselves instead of God.

According to him, Jesus Christ in the book of Mark chapter 16 verse 15, commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel and win more souls, lamenting that some men of God today preach their ability t o perform miracles and heal the sick.

And again, he explained that the efficacy of miracles depends on the faith of the pastor and the person receiving the miracle, adding that God also uses  faith to perform miracle. 

On the challenges of Christianity, Pastor Ben maintained that except Christians exhibited the qualities of Jesus Christ anchored on love, huminity, submissive, obedience and joy among others. It is wrong for such person to claim to be a Christian.

He was emphatic that such qualities are lacking in most of the churches because of derailing from the original commission and focusing of attention on materialism and other earthly things.

The man of God, however, admonished Christians especially the churches to go back to their root of preaching repentance and salvation to the world so as to win more souls for Christ.

In the same vein, he supports the call for Christians to participate in active party politics, pointing out that when Christians rule, they would transform the society with the knowledge of the words of God which, according to him, is the beginning of wisdom.

On the recent call on President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua to resign following his ailing health, he described such calls as morally wrong, adding that what the president needs from Nigerians is fasting and prayers for quick recovery to enable him complete the seven-point agenda of his administration.

His Royal Highness Mene Suanu Baridam, Gbenemene Bagha II and paramount Ruler of Luumene Bagha in Khana Local Government Area,  Rivers State is a man that had a date with destiny. He was enjoying a flourishing career in the banking sector and equally warming up for full participation in partisan politics when providence thrust on him a royal status.

Rather than regret his compromised political chances and banking career, he opted fully for the traditional stool which he considered a privilege and honour from his people.

His regrets as revealed in an exclusive interview with The Weekend Tide is the dangerous incursion made by certain interlopers who lay undeserving claims to traditional tools.

These incursions to him, attract the wrath of the forefathers, as traditional institutions are sacred and devoid of personal interference. “It is suicidal to sit on the traditional throne of our forefathers when you are not supposed to be there, history reveal that such persons don’t last on the throne”.

The young monarch called for the review of the edict on traditional institution which currently gives impetus to certain usurping tendencies because of some existing clauses.

“Chieftaincy is not rotational; tradition should be allowed to take it toll. I believe it is  overdue for the Rivers State edict on chieftaincy to be reviewed to strengthen the various traditional stools”. Noting that traditional stools goes with enormous responsibilities, the royal father said he had enjoyed the unflinching support of his people and that accounts for the tremendous achievements recorded in his domain since his coronation. Apart from the relative peace the Bagha people enjoy, he said he had been able to attract some development projects, like roads, water and healthcare programmes to the area.

“I have enjoyed the support of my people because I get them involved in everything, I delegate role to every interest groups in the community, from members of the council of chiefs, youths and the CDC.

For Mene Baridam, the amnesty given to ex-militants by the Federal Government need to be complemented with community amnesty as all the ex-militants are members of various communities. He recalled that at the peak of militancy in the Niger Delta,  various communities were desecrated with sacrilegious actions and activities by the erstwhile militants. To attain full rehabilitation, he said there was the need for the ex-militants and others involved in the various acts to duly apologise to their various communities, for genuine penitence and acceptance back to the communities.

One of such abominable acts, he stated was the kidnap of Gbenemene Tuatua Tai at his palace, which is the symbol of traditional authority. “Its is important that the militants apologise to their communities, to get full acceptance back, by their previous activities they offended their communities in various ways and those actions have to be atoned traditionally to give them total acceptance.

The federal government on their own part, should comply with  the terms of agreement with the ex-militants. The boys have just dropped their guns and some of them are protesting that they have been allegedly slighted in the deal. The federal government must not foot drag; they must convince every body that they are serious about the development of Niger Delta”.

Baridam also reacted to the proposed 10% equity fund to be paid to oil producing communities in the Niger Delta. While applauding the legislative initiative, he said its implementation should be based on equity and consensus interest. Basically, he said representative commissions should be set up comprising men of proven integrity and traditional rulers as the custodians of communities should be actively involved in the management of the fund.

“The 10% equity fund should not be politicised, if the fund is left in the hands of politicians, then it is going to be controversial and it is going to plunge the communities into more crisis”. The former Rivers State chairman of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions employees, (NUBIFIE) also explained why Governor Amaechi is tough with contractors handling various projects in Rivers State.  Amaechi is succeeding because, he is tough with them. Amaechi personally inspects the projects at various stages and sees that the contractors are working”.

Mene Baridam is also the treasurer of the Khana Council of Chiefs. He described the demise of the Gbenemene of Babbe, His Royal Majesty, King Mark Saro Igbara, as a great lost to the Ogoni Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers.

Taneh Beemene

Joy and ecstasy knew no bounds for the staff and students of the former Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.
It was the day Governor Chibuike Amaechi signed the bill upgrading the institution to a full-fledged University – Rivers State university of Education (RSUOE), into law. Their joy was, however, not misplaced. The school, long ago, had all it takes to be the pioneer Education University in the country, but was over- taken by the one named after late social crusader, Tai Solarin in Ogun State.
Staff and students of the new University set aside a day for a solidarity rally for Governor Amaechi in appreciation of his love for the school and by extension, the people of the state.
Its Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemund Green Osah-Ogulu in The Tide’s Rountable had promised to develop programmes to stand the institution out in the comity of universities in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor did not mince words when she stated that the university can take-off with the personnel and other facilities in her arsenal for now.
The University’s pioneer Director of Consultancy Services, Dr. Jessica Ezekiel-Hart, re-echoed the Vice- Chancellor’s assurance to carve a niche for the school when she vowed that the institution, which was an affiliate of the famous University of Ibadan (UI), will not go below UI’s standard, in an interview with The Weekend Tide in her office, last Monday.
Her words: “Our new status will make us re-double our efforts. Besides, we have been doing it with Ibadan and we have that name to protect which is why we are not going to fall below that high standard. We have gone through National universities Commission’s accreditation process for our programmes and we have done well. If we were doing well as a College, we must surely do well now as a University.”
Dr. Ezekiel-Hart, an Associate Professor of Sociology of Education, has been in the employ of the school since 1978, after the National Youth Service Corps programme. She graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1977, later proceeded to the Universities of Port Harcourt and Buffalo for higher degrees.
What really influenced her at the time to study education which appeared less attractive to most young people?
“I had teachers who were good and I wanted to be like them, I cherished their whole personality and they knew so much,” she recalled.
For her, “the journey has been beautiful as teaching is a very noble profession, making impact in peoples’ life is rewarding, which though, cannot be translated to money. Sometimes, people see me on the way and tell me I taught them in school”.
Nevertheless, Dr. Ezekiel-hart, who is the immediate past Dean of the institution’s Education faculty is confronted by some challenges.
According to her, “the decadence in society is constantly reflecting in the school system, because the school is a miniature society. The kind of corruption now wasn’t there. Today, students are not willing to read. And some colleagues, we hear, engage in unimaginable unethical things. We hear of things like ‘sorting’. It pains your heart, knowing that we didn’t ‘sort’ anybody to go through. What we made was our effort. I didn’t pay for any handout all through my stay in ABU, the teachers gave to us free”.
Not withstanding this scenario, the consultancy boss does not believe that the nation’s educational standard is low.
“Although, there are shades of opinion on standards, the fact that some students are not willing to learn does not mean that standard is lowered.”
But is the teacher’s reward actually in heaven?
It starts here, because if you don’t know how to enjoy it here, you won’t know how to enjoy it in heaven,” she enthused.
On the preponderance of private schools in the country, the educationist opined that they should not be abolished, but advised government to monitor their activities as according to her, “some of them do not worth the name as they operate in garages.”
She did not hide her excitement for the strides of Governor Amaechi, specifically in education.
“He is doing very well, I mean it. I ‘m not singing his praise. Apart from changing the status of this school, there are model schools springing up everywhere in the state. I pray that they will not be model only in physical outlook, but also in their content. And this will be achieved by paying attention to the training and retraining of teachers.
“Before now, teachers did not go for refresher courses and they worked with obsolete ideas and materials. That was the picture of the Nigerian teacher. So, they must be constantly re-trained to enhance their productivity”.
Almost on daily basis, the Director tells her students “to always work hard because hardwork does not kill. What you sow is what you reap. If you sow laziness, you will reap it, maximise your opportunity.”
Dr. Ezekiel-hart, who is also Chairman, Rivers State branch of the ABU Alumi Association said that, “in our days, our certificate was sacrosanct, but these days serious-minded employers won’t employ you on the face value of your certificate. It is no longer sacrosanct. If you get a certificate through foul means, it will tell on you. For example, if you ‘sorted’ yourself through, there is a limit you can go with that certificate because you must surely be put to test by employers”.
The Chairman used the forum to highlight the activities of the association in these words:
“The Association had for several years pioneered efforts at improving infrastructural content of their almamater and the overall development of university education in Nigeria. Individuals and corporate bodies should join hands with the government in bringing succour to universities in the country, because government does not have the wherewithal to do it all alone”.
She lauded President Umaru Yar’Adua’s efforts at developing the Niger Delta region, pointing out that, the recent lecture organised by the ABU alumni in Port Harcourt with the topic – ‘strategies for solving the Niger Delta problem’ was aimed at addressing some issues affecting the corporate existence of the country.
On what she intends to do whenever she drops the chalk for retirement, the devout Christian, who is a member of the Foundation faith Church, simply responded that, “God will decide the next level”.

Hamilton Amadi & Marvellous Agonsi