TheNewsGuru

Tag: MEND

  • Ijaw congress inaugurates committee on pipeline surveillance contract

    Ijaw congress inaugurates committee on pipeline surveillance contract

    The Ijaw National Congress (INC) on Friday inaugurated a committee to interface with some angry youth groups over the pipeline surveillance contract re-awarded to Chief Government Ekpemupolo.

    Newsmen reports that Ekpemupolo, an ex-militant leader is a former commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), also known as Tompolo.

    Prof Benjamin Okaba, President of the INC, performed the inauguration of the five-member committee at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa, in the presence of other officials of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation.

    Also witness to the event were INC’s national secretary, Ebipamowei Wodu; central zone chairman, Doodei Week, and other Ijaw stakeholders.

    The committee is headed by the Financial Secretary of the INC, Kennedy Odiowei, while a former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Oyinfie Jonjon, will serve as Secretary.

    Other members of the committee are Dan Ekpebide, Ambah Binaebi and Eneyo Athanasius.

    Okaba explained that the intervention was necessitated by the need to douse the seeming rising tensions among various groups and persons in Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta over the Tompolo job.

    “Recently, the INC has been buffeted with reports of brewing tensions amongst various Ijaw groups as a result of the pipeline surveillance contract. We frown at such divisive tendencies and propensities.

    “The purpose of this committee is very clear: to identify and interact with the various and divergent groups and see how their individual interests can be taken care of in the spirit of brotherliness,” Okaba said.

    Okaba called for unity and understanding in the Niger Delta, stressing that the pipeline protection job awarded to Tompolo through the NNPC, must not be a source of conflict and infighting in the area.

    The Ijaw leader said the region and its people had already suffered monumental invasions and harassments by armed federal troops over the years on account of their oil and gas resources.

    He stated that all concerned stakeholders had “a responsibility to ensure that Ijaw land is not made a battlefield for the shedding of blood and destruction of property and values”.

    He said it was very important for Ijaws to avoid internal squabbles and reftrain from sowing the seeds of discord or promoting the Pull-Him-Down Syndrome.

    “We should rather resist external aggressors and invaders of Ijaw territory. We must be patriotic to the peace and unity of Ijaw nation. This, at all times, must not be lost on us all.”

    He said it was unfortunate and ridiculous that Ijaw brothers were threatening to kill themselves over crumbs (not even by way of Ownership of Oil Wells) given to them to help protect national assets.

    Okaba urged the committee to reach out to the feuding groups and harmonise their individual interests to ensure that Ijaw unity and agenda were not compromised.

    Newsmen reports that the committee is expected to submit a preliminary report within two weeks.

  • Tompolo, a true patriot of the Niger Delta – Muoboghare

    A former Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Primary School Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare has described ex-militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo as a true patriot of the Niger Delta region.

    Prof. Muoboghare made the remarks at a Colloquium/Book Presentation in honour of Professor Godini Gabriel Darah at the Petroleum Training Institution (PTI), Conference Centre, Effurun.

    He said Tompolo is a true patriot of the region for the major role he played in founding both the (MEND) and also his fighters that drew the Federal Government’s attention in establishment of the Maritime University at Okenrenkoko.

    The former Basic and Primary School Education Commissioner lampooned persons criticizing Tompolo for selling his buildings and other facilities at the International Diving School he built at Kurutie, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, Delta State, to the FG at an alleged sum of N13 billion, which the Federal Government acquired for the Maritime University, Okerenkoko to have a rethink saying that FG cannot even build those facilities at that cost as a result of the difficult terrain.

    The book titled Scholarship and Commitment: Essays in Honour of G. G. Darah was edited by the trio of Sunny Awhefeada, Enajite Ojaruega and Peter Omoko, and published by Lagos-based publishing outfit, Malthouse.

    The event was chaired by the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and the Special Guests of Honour, the Governors of Delta and Bayelsa States, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon Seriake Dickson were represented by their Chiefs of Staff. The 101-year-old Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM, Ovie Richard Ogbon Ogoni-Oghoro 1 and HRM, Matthew Ediri Egbi JP. Owawha 11, the Okobaro of Ughievwen kingdom were in attendance. Other dignitaries included the former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama, Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, Rev Fr Christopher Ekabo, Hon Evelyn Oboro, Hon Efe Afe, Chief Francis Arhiyor, the academia and others.

     

  • Prof. Darah: 13% derivation means 87% deprivation

    The struggle for resource control and discourse on derivation principle took centre stage as Niger Delta political heavyweights gathered in honour of Professor Godini Gabriel Darah at the Petroleum Training Institution (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta state.

    TheNewsGuru reports Prof. Darah at the Colloquium/Book Presentation said the 13% derivation accruing to oil producing states means that the states are being deprived 100% resource control.

    “13% derivation means 87% deprivation,” he said, with former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, who chaired the occasion declaring that the region will no longer make demands for 30% derivation from federal government (FG), but demand for 100% derivation.

    “We shall no longer demand 30% derivation from the FG but 100%,” the former Delta State Governor stated, while also stressing that the Niger Delta region has suffered enough neglect.

    In his remarks, a former Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Primary School Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare extolled ex-militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo for his contribution to the Niger Delta struggle.

    He said Tompolo is a true patriot of the region for the major role he played in founding both the (MEND) and also his fighters that drew the Federal Government’s attention in establishment of the Maritime University at Okenrenkoko.

    The former Basic and Primary School Education Commissioner lampooned persons criticizing Tompolo for selling his buildings and other facilities at the International Diving School he built at Kurutie, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, Delta State, to the FG at an alleged sum of N13 billion, which the Federal Government acquired for the Maritime University, Okerenkoko to have a rethink saying that FG cannot even build those facilities at that cost as a result of the difficult terrain.

     

  • Malabu oil deal: Jonathan disgraced us, he must appear before Reps – MEND

    The controversies surrounding the Malabu oil deal maybe far from nearing its end as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Monday supported the decision by the House of Representatives to summon former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before it and give personal accounts of what he knows about the deal.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Chairman, House of Representatives ad-hoc panel probing the contract of Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245, Razak Atunwa, had said his committee will invite former president, Goodluck Jonathan, to assist in the ongoing investigation of the Malabu oil deal.

    Jonathan in a swift reaction, however, dismissed reports that he received the sum of $200m as kickback from the Malabu oil deal, stating that the deal predated the commencement of his administration.

    Reacting to the controversy, MEND, in an online statement issued by its Spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, claimed that ex-President Jonathan received $200 million as kickback from the oil deal.

    The group urged the federal lawmakers to compel Jonathan’s appearance

    It said, “We are compelled by natural justice, equity and good conscience to lend our voice to the most ignoble and despicable role played by the former President in the messy affair which has tainted the image of Nigeria, both locally and internationally.

    “Like millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, who have keenly followed the OPL 245 saga, we have reasonable grounds to suspect that former President Jonathan may have indeed compromised his high office with regard to the matter, more especially, given the fact that key officials of his administration, including the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, have been indicted and charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    “We are in full support of moves by the House of Representatives to summon the former President to appear before the House to give answers to the myriad of questions concerning his role in OPL 245 saga.

    “Where he (Jonathan) refuses to honour the invitation, we urge the House to invoke its inherent powers to compel his appearance.”

    The militant group also said it was alarmed by media reports of the planned relocation of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to Lagos from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    It added, “Besides the massive loss of jobs, opportunities, taxes and other incentives, the planned move (by SPDC) will cause in the medium to short term, it is clear to all stakeholders, including the Federal Government, that such a move is ill advised, especially against the backdrop of the recent directive from the federal government to the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate to their areas of operation in the Niger Delta.

    “To be sure, the Niger Delta region is no longer hostile to the business interests of the IOCs, including SPDC, as peace has since returned to the region; following the enervating efforts of MEND, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the various state governments and the federal government. There is therefore no reason whatsoever for SPDC to relocate to Lagos.

    “We use this opportunity to warn that we shall reconsider the unilateral ceasefire of May 30, 2014, if SPDC relocates to Lagos.”