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Tag: Niger Delta

  • I humbly disagree with Obasanjo and his oily thesis – Mike Ozekhome

    I humbly disagree with Obasanjo and his oily thesis – Mike Ozekhome

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome has expressed disagreement with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his stance on the oil and gas of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ozekhome expressed his disagreement with theformer President in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday.

    Ozekhome in the statement stressed that the Niger Delta region has been repressed, suppressed, marginalized and neglected enough, and that Obasanjo, more than any other person, knows this very well.

    The statement reads: “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has theorized that the oil and gas found in the Niger Delta region belong to the federal government, and not to the oil-bearing communities.

    “Legally speaking, Obasanjo can be said to be correct, because he was part and parcel of successive military juntas that cleverly and systematically inserted expropriatory and inhuman laws concerning ownership of oil and gas into our statute books.

    “But, does that make such laws right or justifiable? No. I think not.bEx president Obasanjo should be told in vsry clear terms that there is such an overriding principle of law which goes with the maxim of “quic quid plantatatur solo solo cedit”.

    “This literally means that whoever owns the land owns everything on top of it. Any extant constitutional or statutory provisions ( such as those apparently referred to by Obasanjo) that run contrary to this commonsensical common law principle are therefore nothing but bad, immoral, exproriatory and exploitative laws.

    “Help me inform Obasanjo that Nigeria operates a federal system of government, and that federalism is fiscal and plural. One of the major attributes of federalism is that it ensures that regions, sub-national or federating units develop according to their pace and needs, using the God-given resources that are available to such units. They pay tax to the central government.

    “Help me inform President Obasanjo that a law that literally steals the resources of a people, punishing them with destruction of their only available aquatic and agrarian life, even though in the statute books, is a bad, aberrant and obnoxious law.

    “Help me tell Obasanjo that in the USA, since oil was discovered in 1859,(a country whose Presidentialism and federalism we ape after), oil and gas are not owned by the American Federal government, but by the surface owners; while oil and gas offshore are owned either by states or federal government.

    “Help me remind Obasanjo that before the January 15, 1967 first military putsch led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu Chukwuma, neither the cotton, groundnut and hides and skin obtainable in the North, the cocoa grown in the West, Palm produce produced in the East; nor the rubber and timber that existed in the then Midwest, were said to belong to the federal government. They belonged to the regions that took a lion 50% share, while paying tax to the Federal government at the centre. What has changed? Nothihg, I believe.

    “Help me remind Obasanjo to remember history, and that the major reason his 2005 Political Reform Conference failed was because of the rancor and rockus generated by the thorny and still unsolved controversy of resource control.He should remember that this led the South South delegates to stage a walkout from the conference. I was not only a Civil Society delegate, I was actually the head of the Civil Society unit that drafted our final committee report and recommendations.

    “Obasanjo should therefore not have dismissed such a festering thorny issue as oil and gas and bleeding oil-bearing communities with a wave of the hand in a most provocative and cavalier manner.

    “The 1960 independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution had actually activated true fiscal federalism, after the 1957-1958 Willinks Commission Report which had identified and validated the fears of minorities within the Nigerian space.

    “Help me inform Obasanjo that the failure of the 1922 Hugh Clifford Constitution, 1946 Arthur Richards Constitution, 1951 Macpherson Constitution and 1954 Littleton Constitution, was partly ascribed to the overbearing influence of majority tribes over the minority ones (374 ethnic groups in Nigeria, according to Prof Onigu Otite ).

    “Kindly emphasize to Obasanjo that as an Elderstatesman, former military Head of State and former democratic President, his well respected public statements and opinions (which he is constitutionally entitled to, should be generously garnished with unifying, healing, therapeutic and inclusive flavor ; and not with the vinegar of devisive and provocative statements.

    “The Niger Delta region has been repressed, suppressed, marginalized and neglected. Respected Obasanjo, more than any other person,knows this very well, having had the rare privilege of governing Nigeria both in khaki and agbada.

    “The poor people have had to pay with their sweat, sorrow, tears,blood, pains and pangs, over their God-given wealth. The wealth has become a curse rather than a blessing. I wholly disagree with Obasanjo’s thesis. I rather embrace wholly embrace Pa E.K.Clark’s anthesis, which wears a human face”.

  • Niger Delta oil: Obasanjo replies Clark

    Niger Delta oil: Obasanjo replies Clark

    …change from a tribesman to a statesman of character – Obasanjo tells Clark

    …I reject your offensive words that I am inconsistent, hypocritical – Obasanjo to Clark

    … Obasanjo insists he is nobody’s lackey

    Apparently peeved by an open letter written by frontline Niger Delta leader, Chief EK Clark, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has maintained his position that in principle location of mineral resources in any part of Nigeria is valid.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Obasanjo’s reaction to Chief Clark’s letter has sparked an open confrontation between both men.

    TNG recalls that Chief Clark had in an open lambasted Obasanjo for displaying hatred towards Niger Deltans but Obasanjo in his reaction backing his position with constitutional clauses says he has no hatred for Niger Deltans but he simply stated the obvious.

    Read his full letter below:

    MY RESPONSE TO THE OPEN LETTER BY CHIEF (DR.) E. K. CLARK

    Your letter titled “My Disappointment Over Unprovoked Outburst Against The People of the Niger Delta Region” came to my attention on my return from the Horn of Africa on Christmas eve. After very careful and close study of your letter, I decided to respond to your letter also openly for general education of all and to clear some misconception and misperception on your part.

    First, my visit to you on the evening of Monday, December 13, 2021, was both a condolence and get-well-quick visit to you that had nothing to do with Bishop Sunday Onuoha meeting which I attended the following day. You should remember that I did not discuss in particular the meeting of the Committee for Goodness of Nigeria, CGN, that was coming the following day except to ask if the papers had been received by you. The brief touch on the state of the nation is the normal discussion on the situation which you rightly described as “continues to drift to very disturbing levels” that evening. Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, who was with me to your house and to all the four people I visited that night, can testify. You were one of the four people I visited. I would have. expected my social visit to be excluded from your vituperation on other matters. However, you deserved the visit and that was it.

    For me, personally, I have never shown any anger or distraught with Niger Delta Region nor with any part or Region of Nigeria. Rather, I have always picked points on leadership performance or policies and I will continue to do so. Even when a particular part of Nigeria decided not to vote for me and their leaders told me that in clear terms, I showed understanding and not anger or distraught and disabused their minds on what I believed they got wrong. And in subsequent elections, they voted for me. My records before, during and after the civil war in Niger Delta Region was without blemish and it was all goodwill to all the people of Nigeria and especially the people of the Niger Delta Region which was my theatre of operation during the Nigerian civil war.

    I could not have mentioned to you any grievances against the Niger Delta Region during my social visit because there was never anyone and there cannot be anyone. But if you take my holding a constitutional position on federalism and reiterating the position of our past Constitution – 1963 Constitution as I understand it as anger or grievance against the Niger Delta Region or Niger Delta people, that will be a very wrong position to take because until I can be legally and constitutionally persuaded otherwise, I will continue to hold my ground. And it is not a matter of emotion or threat or name-calling which do not throw light on the issue or walkout which does not strengthen any argument or debate.

    What you call outburst is my own way of calling or attracting attention. I raise my voice or stamp the desk such that those who are sleeping would have to wake up to listen to me. Even in bilateral discussion, I consciously tap the other person to ensure that I am attracting his or her attention. I have had experience that it was when the person I was talking to started snoring that I realised he was not listening to me. But if raising my voice, stamping the desk or tapping is unpleasant to anyone, I tender unreserved apology. If I interjected to either complete a statement or to correct a statement being made that I believe was not the true situation, I have no apology for that. Truth must be stated and upheld no matter how bitter it may be.

    Chief Clark, you are right to say that we have known ourselves since we were both in General Gowon’s administration in 1975. The good thing and maybe the bad one as well is that you haven’t changed much, if at all, since those days and I haven’t changed much either. You stated and displayed what you are characteristically known and noted for – Urhobo or Ijaw; and what I am characteristically known and noted for. Let me proceed with the most basic constitutional fact that you cannot have two sovereign entities within a State which is what your position of Niger Delta ownership claim of the crude oil found in that location amounts to.

    All those who purchase crude oil from Nigeria enter into contractual relationship with Nigeria not with the Niger Delta. The territory of Nigeria is indivisible inclusive of the resources found therein. No territory in Nigeria including the minerals found therein belongs to the area of location and this remains so until the federation is dissolved.

    This is the position of the Nigerian Constitution and international law. If there is a threat of violence to any part of Nigeria today including the Niger Delta it is the Nigerian military backed by any other machinery that can be procured or established at the Federal level that will respond to any such threat. In principle and practice, the position I have taken on the location of mineral resources in any part of Nigeria is the legal and constitutional position.

    May I also recall the adjunct position I proposed that equity and justice demand that those domiciled in these locations are entitled to more of the material benefits accruing from the crude oil or other minerals. At the end of the day, it may transpire that our linguistic differences on this matter are no more than semantics. And we stand on the same logic with respect to the criminal mining of gold deposits in Zamfara State today or any other State in Nigeria or any other part of Nigeria.

    Since you have selected the 1963 Constitution as your ideal guide, I will now quote the relevant Section 140 for the Nigerian public to arrive at a more informed and balanced understanding of our discourse: “The 1963 Constitution Section 140, titled “Mining Royalties and Rents”, stated thus: “(1) There shall be paid by the Federation to each Region a sum equal to fifty per cent of (a) the proceeds of any ROYALTY received by the Federation in respect of any minerals extracted in that Region; and (b) any mining RENTS derived by the Federation during that year from within that Region”.

    My dear Chief, where in this constitutional provision is it said or implied that minerals located in any part of Nigeria belongs to that location? For emphasis and to further buttress the point, the provision is even in the exclusive list – exclusively reserved to the Federal Government!

    You made the unnecessary reference to the appointment of Engr. Funsho Kupolokun as the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, but you conveniently forgot that before Kupolokun, there was Gaius Obaseki and Kupolokun served under Dr. Edmund Daukoru, who was Minister of State for Petroleum.

    I would be the last person to celebrate the civil war (a tragedy of enormous proportions). Needless to say that the war was fought in order to maintain and secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria to which the Niger Delta is integral. I leave you to second-guess what would have become the fate of the Southern minorities and your ownership claims of the crude oil located in your backyard in the event of a contrary outcome. How do we pay homage to the memory of those who gave their lives to ensure the successful outcome of the civil war including the millions who perished on either side of the war?

    This is certainly not the best of times for Nigeria and I understand and empathise with your frustrations but we must be guarded and measured in the expressions of such frustrations lest we throw away the baby with the dirty birth water.

    In para 13 of your letter, you made reference to the issue of asset sharing between Midwest Region and Western Region in the days of General Adeyinka Adebayo and General Samuel Ogbemudia to which you are an eyewitness, observer or participant. I would not hold brief for either of the two military men or for the two dissolved Regions; but if this will feature in your consideration today, I really wonder where you are getting to. There may be more than meets the eye.

    In para 15 of your letter, you tried to compare my Ota Farm with minerals under the soil which are exclusive to the Nigerian Authority as I have earlier shown. But even here, these are issues that must be explained that you wittingly or unwittingly skipped. I have a State Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, for my farmland and if any mineral is found under the ground on my farm, Federal Government will ask the State Government to revoke my C of O for overriding public interest. I could claim for development already carried out on my farmland but the Federal Government would issue licence to any company that had been allocated the right to mine the mineral. It would not matter what I grow on my farm and what development I have carried out. Compensation I could get based on assessed development that I had carried out on the farmland.

    The Constitution that affects Niger Delta Region affects Zamfara State where gold is found and if anybody at the Federal level has remised in implementing the Constitution, then that is a different matter. The gold in llesha, Osun State, and the lead in Ebonyi State, all come under the same Law and Constitution. There is no part of Nigeria whose interest is not dear to my heart. And stating in your letter that it is only the interest of the North I continuously hold dear to my heart is that type of buka gossip that, knowing you as I do since 1975, I am not surprised that you echoed.

    I have always stood for equity and justice in our Federation and, for me, tribe has to be suppressed for the state to emerge. And until the state emerges, Nigeria will not make the desired progress as tribesmen will always sacrifice state for tribe. This has always been my position and it will remain my position until I breathe my last.

    There are many important points that you easily or conveniently left out in your letter. When Tin, Columbite in Jos Plateau and Zinc in Abakaliki and Coal in Enugu were discovered in the early 1900s, the ownership was vested in the Colonial Government. Mitigating the hazards suffered by people in any mineral-producing area is legitimate and must be differentiated from the issue of ownership. The mitigation process must go for oil and gas, lead, gold, limestone for cement, etc.

    What developed Nigerian Regions in the colonial days and early post independence days were cocoa and rubber in the West, groundnut and cotton in the North and oil palm in the East.

    Your paras 18-23 are tissues of concoctions and outright distortions and lies which may be due to loss of memory on your part or misrepresentation. Let me illustrate with few examples. On resumption of office as President of Nigeria in 1999, the first meeting I held out of Abuja was a meeting on the Niger Delta Region. Without being prompted, I decided the 13% derivation that the new Constitution granted to oil-producing areas should be paid. If you have evidence of a legal action that forced me to implement it, please produce for me to see or publish it. At the meeting of December 14, 2021 although the recommendation was to go from 13% to 17% to oil -producing areas, Dr. Igali made the case for 18% and we as CGN went up to not less than 18%. Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, bill was my initiative for contribution to be made by State Governments, oil companies and Federal Government. The States lobbied the National Assembly to exclude them. They were excluded and what was passed became the law eventually and I implemented it. You seemed to know little to nothing on LNG generally including efforts made to turn Bonny LNG from three trains to seven trains and surely you are not updated on Brass LNG and I will plead with you to be better admitted on it all.

    Let me now separate Global Peace Foundation meeting of December 13, 2021 at the instance of Bishop Onuoha and where I participated from the second meeting of CGN which followed on December 14, 2021. We believe that the Conclusion and the Report of the meeting of December 14, 2021 hold the best position for realistic and pragmatic action for taking the country forward as possible actionable amendment to the Constitution before 2023 elections. Every Nigerian has rights under the Constitution. And no one should exercise his right against the right of another Nigerian. Our Report was only recommendations to those who can take action for implementation.

    If at a meeting, singly or collectively with others, you will take action to negate the outcome of another meeting of national interest and importance based on extraneous outcome on issues emanating from another meeting not directly connected with the original first meeting, then how much can anybody take you seriously as a democrat, that smirks of a dictatorship to me? Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them. I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, unstatesman and nor am I anybody’s lackey. You use your own yardstick to judge others. I fear God and I respect those who respect themselves and I hope it is about time you change from a tribesman to a statesman of character. That is what Nigeria and indeed the Region you profess to love demand of you at this stage. I believe one lesson that we all must appreciate that we have all learned in the last sixty-one years of our independence is that we all need to be civil to ourselves and occasionally put ourselves in the position of others. Bad language does not show prudence, wisdom and maturity. I hope you will think and adjust. Negotiation achieves better results than dictation. I believe that we should be reformists rather than being pedantic with leave-it or take-it attitude. Together, I also believe Nigeria can be fixed and mended for the benefit of today and tomorrow on the basis of give and take. If we all demand what we consider as our rights without yielding and with unbending stature, we will be wrong and record failure at the end of the day. Reform is a continuous exercise but relatively slow in achieving results. Revolution for sea-change may rarely happen and then we may continue to languish in frustration and regret with dire judgement of posterity.

    I wish you well and may the Year 2022 be a great year for you personally and for our country, Nigeria.

    Yours in service of Nigeria

    OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

    December 28, 2021

  • Obasanjo’s disdain, insincerity towards Niger Delta people, region unacceptable – Edwin Clark

    Obasanjo’s disdain, insincerity towards Niger Delta people, region unacceptable – Edwin Clark

    An elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has accused former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of displaying open hostility towards the people of Niger Delta.

    In a strongly worded letter on Wednesday sent to newsmen, the elderstateman reminded Obasanjo of how oil from the Niger Delta was used to develop the entire country even more than the Niger Delta region got over the years.

    Clark was speaking over what transpired during a summit organised by a group called Global Peace Foundation, on Monday, 13th December, 2021 where Obasanjo was seen hitting the table with his hands, that the oil found in the Niger Delta region does not belong to the people of the Niger Delta.

    He also shut down some speakers at the event and interjected intermittently when they were speaking in his bid to dismiss them on how Niger Delta had been treated despite boasting of oil, Nigeria’s economic mainstay.

    Obasanjo openly interjected to stop both Engr Wodu and Mr O’Mac Emakpore, each time they tried to speak, to the consternation of other people.

    The video of the event has since gone viral

    Clark, who is a former Federal Commissioner for Finance, said after watching the video, what Obasanjo displayed was unstatesmanly attitude, describing it as an unwanted outburst.

    Clark noted that, “Natural resources found in regions, were controlled by the people of the regions in the country an enunciated in Section 140 of the 1960 Constitution.

    “As a former Military Head of State of Nigeria, 1976-1979, and later a democratically elected President of the country, 1999-2007, I am certain Your Excellency knows that the principle of derivation, has always been top on the agenda of our national discourse, before and after the country’s Independence.”

    According to him, the principle was very much entrenched in the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitutions; the principle was very well received and implemented by the nation’s founding fathers.

    He reminded Obasanjo that it was the practice of the principle of derivation that enabled his region, the Western Region, then under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the Northern Region, then under Sir Ahmadu Bello, to reap all the money that enabled them develop far ahead of the then Eastern Region.

    “The Eastern Region did not progress like the other two regions,” he said, pointing out that from the benefits of the practice of derivation principle, the Western Region introduced free education, built universities, the first Television in Africa, among other economic and social infrastructure, including hiring at the time, an Israeli Company, Soleh Bole, to develop roads and other infrastructure.”

    According to Clark, the implementation of this principle continued until 1956 when crude oil was found in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, in the present day Bayelsa State.

    “When this happened, the Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, sent congratulatory message to the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, ‘welcoming him to the club’, that will benefit from resource found in its area, as a result of the derivation principle.”

    He explained that the sharing formula then, was that 50% of the revenue from the resources is retained by the owning region, 20% went to the federal government, while the remaining 30% went to the distributable pool, for sharing among the regions, including the contributing region.

    He pointed out that it was the coup of 1966 that ended that sharing formula adding that the Cocoa House and the Liberty Stadium all in Ibadan, the Western House in Lagos and the Oodua group of companies, one of the biggest companies in Nigeria, are solely owned by the Western Region.

    “One very disappointing thing that happened in the whole of this, was when the Midwest Region, to which I belonged, was created out of the Western Region, the Western Region, bluntly refused to share assets with the Midwest Region on the reason that the Midwest Region did not contribute anything to the Western Region and to its economy.

    “This was unlike what happened in the Northern Region, where the assets of the region were jointly owned and shared amongst the Northern States; so also, in the South East Region.

    “I witnessed the harsh attitude towards us in 1972, when as the Commissioner for Finance, Midwest State, I accompanied my Governor, Col. S. O. Ogbemudia, as he then was, to visit the Military Governor of Western Nigeria, Col. Adeyinka Adebayo, to demand for our share of the assets, the Midwest Region having been created out of the Western Region.

    “Military Governor Adebayo bluntly refused to grant our request. This happened in the presence of the then Ooni of Ife, and Chief S. B. Bakare, a prominent Lagos business man.”

    He further pointed out that, “Today, by irony of fate, all the thirty-six (36) States in the country, now depend solely on the minerals produced by the Niger Delta. They come every month to share revenue from the region.

    “Following your argument that resources are placed in the soil by God, therefore, free for all, it will definitely mean chaos and anarchy, as anybody in any part of the world can enter into any land, including Your Excellency’s Ota Farm, to undertake any activity that they desire to do.

    “By the way, why have you not made similar outburst against the open declaration of the Governor and the people of Zamfara State, that the gold under their soil belongs to them?

    “Where was Your Excellency when people went to the Villa, accompanied by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, to present gold bar to President Muhammadu Buhari, mined by the government and people of Zamfara State, as their property?

    “Your Excellency probably did not speak because Zamfara State belongs to the North whose interest you continuously hold dear to your heart,” he said in the letter.

    He accused Obasanjo of being inconsistent, saying that “is what many other elder statesmen like myself, are unable to tolerate. If this country must remain peaceful and united, it must be based on truth, justice, equity, same rules for all.

    “As the saying goes, what is good for the goose, is good for the gander.

    “Your views represent the continuous arrogant stance and disposition against the people of the Niger Delta. This is inspite of the environmental damages the region is suffering.”

    He further accused Obasanjo of being insensitive to the people of Nembe, Bayelsa State, who recently suffered pipeline explosion thus inflicting “untold hardship on the people of the area and caused humungous damage to the area; the aquatic life is destroyed.”

    He explained that the people can no longer engage in their major source of livelihood, fishing, can no longer be practiced. There is hunger; starvation is staring at the faces of people, including infants.

    “The soot in Rivers State has assumed an alarming dimension with no hope of abating in the near future.

    “The only thing people like you, are thinking of, is how much a barrel of oil cost, how much revenue is continuously accruing to the country from the despoiled and ravaged Niger Delta region. A region where there is not even water to drink. To Your Excellency, the oil belongs to the country, while the sufferings belong to the people of the region.

    “I am not surprised because your open hostility for the Niger Delta region was equally displayed when derivation went down as low as 0% during your period as Military Head of State. Even the current 13%, which happened reluctantly under your government later, came about after a sustained legal action to force you to implement what was provided for by the 1999 Constitution.

    “The 2005 Political reform Conference recommended 18%. But the South-South delegate to the Conference led by me, was against it. As we demanded nothing less than 25% for a start. When we saw the hostility against us, we staged a walk-out.

    “The 2014 National Conference recommended 18%. Your Excellency’s disdain and insincerity for the Niger Delta region has not in any way reduced.

    “We still remember the fact that as President of the country, in 1999, you drafted the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) bill as one of your first Bills, but later refused to sign it into Law. You also decided not to pay the full entitlement to the Commission until you left office.

    “You tried to kill the Brass Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), by bringing your proxy, Engr. Funso Kupolokun from retirement to be the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to pursue the failed Olukola Liquified Natural Gas project; as a result, Chevron withdrew its shares from the Brass LNG company.”

    He assured Obasanjo that the people of the Niger Delta will always rise to defend themselves and their region.

    “Please be informed, that henceforth, together with other groups with whom we are working, the Afenifere of South West, the Middle Belt Forum and the Ohaneze of the South East, we will take critical look at any hypocritical dialogue you want to invite us to, or co-chaired by you, until our rights under the Constitution are recognised and respected.”

  • Ex-NDDC Director denies ownership of N1.8bn properties court ordered to be forfeit to FG

    Ex-NDDC Director denies ownership of N1.8bn properties court ordered to be forfeit to FG

    A former Executive Director of Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli has denied ownership of the N1.8bn properties which the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    Omatsuli, who was reacting to a judgement of a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which on Wednesday, affirmed the final forfeiture of properties, stressed that it’s malicious to be linked to the said properties which its owners were already challenging in court.

    In a statement on Friday, the former NDDC director of projects, who claimed he had no investment in the real estate sector, added that reports linking him with the seized properties were fabricated and untrue.

    He maintained that he had earlier filed and sworn to an affidavit that he was not the owner of the forfeited properties situated in Lagos.

    Omatsuli expressed surprise why he was being linked to the properties when Westfield Energy Resources Ltd and Francis Momoh were already in court separately claiming ownership of the controversial properties in court with EFCC.

    Recall that Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, had, on Monday, December 10, 2018, in a case brought before it by EFCC, ordered the final forfeiture of the properties alleged to be owned by Francis Momoh.

    Momoh, who was not satisfied with the order of the lower court, approached the appellate court seeking to set aside the order of the court while contending that the said properties rightfully belonged to him.

    But in a judgment read by Justice Daniel Kalio, the appellate court held that Momoh did not place any material before the court “to enable it to disturb the findings of the lower court” that the said properties were his.

    The properties ordered to be forfeited include Block 117, Plot 4, Lekki Peninsula Scheme, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Eti-Osa L.G.A, Lagos, measuring 1804.089Sqm and Plots 1-18, Block 43, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa, Lagos, measuring 10,000Sqm.

    Others are Plot 1b, Northern Business District, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, measuring 1000Sqm and Plot 1; Block 25, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Eti-Osa L.G.A, measuring 2989.10Sqm, to the Federal Government.

    Omatsuli, according to the statement, noted that he was surprised to read on various news platforms reports linking him with the owner of the properties.

    He also denied receiving kickbacks from contractors while serving as director of projects of the Niger Delta interventionist agency – NDDC.

    While urging the public to disregard the said reports, Omatsuli stated that he has directed his lawyers to thoroughly study the reports wrongfully linking him with the said properties as owner.

    “For the umpteenth time, let me unequivocally state that I am not the owner of the various properties which the Court of Appeal on Wednesday ordered their final forfeiture to the Federal Government. I have no interest in the real estate industry. Linking me with the properties is malicious.

    “Prior to the judgement of the Federal High Court in Lagos, I had before the same court filled and sworn to an affidavit that the said properties do not belong to me. It will do the general public good to know that Westfield Energy Resources Ltd and Francis Momoh are in court laying claim to the said properties. I’m not a party to the suit.

    “My record as NDDC’s director of project is there for anyone to judge. I performed my job with utmost honesty and sincerity. There was no time during my stay I engaged in fraudulent activities against the oath of office sworn to.

    “While I have directed my lawyers to carefully study the situation, I urge the general public to discountenance reports that the properties are owned by me. For the sake of emphasis, I have no link with the properties which the court has ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government”, the statement read.

  • CSO Engages IOCs, FG: Demand Remediation of Degraded, Polluted N’Delta Environment

    CSO Engages IOCs, FG: Demand Remediation of Degraded, Polluted N’Delta Environment

    By Gabriel Choba
    A Civil Society Organisation known as Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) yesterday faulted the pollution and degradation of the Niger Delta environment through gas flaring and other oil activities in the region, just as it stressed the need for remediation of the environment.
    Speaking through the Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Sheriff Mulade, the CSO lamented that despite the high oil production in states such as Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers, oil pollution and reduced life span are the prices that the oil rich region has to pay for feeding the nation.
    Mulade noted that the Nigerian economy is heavily dependent on the oil sector, accounting for about 95% of the export earnings, and 40% of government revenue, according to the International Monetary Fund, IMF. He added that the revenue generated from the Niger Delta is used practically to run the country’s economy.
    He said “it is no more news that the exploration and exploitation activities of oil companies in the region have degraded and devastated the environment at an alarming rate, so much so that life expectancy in the Niger Deltan Region has been reduced due to health hazards from the polluted environment.”
    “Oil pollution has destroyed the environment and the traditional occupation of the people, leading to high rates of poverty unemployment, criminality and violence in the Niger Delta Region. This morbid situation has been worsened by the poor environmental practices of the IOCs, (international oil companies) and the failure of Government Agencies to hold them accountable.”
    He asserted that the people have resorted to self help by engaging in pipeline vandalism, illegal refining of crude oil, illegal oil bunkering, destruction of forests, militancy and other forms of violence as a result of perennial environmental pollution and degradation. He then proffered solution to the the sad violation of the region by stressing that the oil multinationals and the Federal Government must interface and make aggressive efforts to increase the standard of environmental practices by the oil companies in the region.”
    The CSO however, warned the IOCs to adhere strictly to environmental sustainability practices and equally urged the locals in the region to stop all acts of violence and vandalism that can lead to the continues pollution of the environment, adding that the Niger Delta is their economic base that must be protected at all times.
  • NDDC: Bury your heads in shame for calling Akpabio a Messiah – former Arewa youth leader tells Niger Delta youths

    NDDC: Bury your heads in shame for calling Akpabio a Messiah – former Arewa youth leader tells Niger Delta youths

    …says you are traders not true Niger Deltans

    A former leader of Arewa youths, Musa Saidu said Niger Delta youths calling Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio a Messiah should bury their heads in shame.

    Saidu who was also an aide to Late sage Chief Harold Biriye described the youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Progressives Movement as “bunch of traders and not true Niger Deltans”.

    He said “there’s urgent need to inaugurate the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, saying the delay was generating tension in the region.

    Saidu who is the leader of Arewa in the South also lashed at some youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Progressives Movement, NDPM, who poured encomiums on the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio for launching a Strategic Implementation Work Plan for his Ministry, dismissing them as political traders.

    He said it was unfortunate that some youths would come out at this time to shower praises on the Minister at a time the region was condemning his delay in constituting aboard for the NDDC.

    “I am not sure they are Niger Delta youths. At a time the region is bitter over delay in constituting aboard for the NDDC some youths could come out to shower praises. This is wrong. What we expect now is for all Niger Deltans and youths inclusive to be focused on agitating for a board for the commission and fixing the East-West road. “, he said.

    “When these are done, achieved then you can call anyone a Messiah. But for now, these youths that came up with the statement under the name Niger Delta Progressives Movement, NDPM, should bury their heads in shame. “, he said.

    He said he had called for the sack of the Minister over the delay in inaugurating aboard for the commission and the deplorable state of the East-West road, adding that he had not changed his mind.

    Alhaji Saidu said the Niger Delta is very dear to him because he had been actively involved in driving matters of development in the region, adding that he moved a motion for the north to support the creation of the NDDC at a gathering of prominent northerners at the Arewa House when he was national youth President of Arewa Youth Forum.

    He explained that” as an aide to the late Harold Dappa Biriye, a Frontline leader of the Niger Delta, he accompanied the late sage to almost all meetings on matters of development of the region.

    “And at meetings in the north Chief Biriye will ask me to speak first on matters of the region on many occasions before he would wrap up. So you know and see my passion for the region”, he said.

    Alhaji Saidu further called for the implementation of recommendations of the Niger Delta Environmental Survey and several other recommendations on Niger Delta, stressing that sweeping them under the carpet was not a good one for any serious government.
    “It is high time federal government visited recommendations on redressing challenges in the Niger Delta. There are several of them.

    “There are the recommendations of the Niger Delta Environmental Survey and many others. They should give them attention so the area can enjoy development “, he said.

  • National Park service to establish parks in Niger Delta

    National Park service to establish parks in Niger Delta

    The National Park Service (NPS) has pledged its commitment to establish more parks in the Niger Delta region and preserve the available forests across the country.

    Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator General of NPS made this known at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

    Goni said that the conference was to intimate the media on current development in the service.

    According to him, the conference is also to make known the outcome of conservator general’s visit to Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

    Goni, who was represented by Emmanuel Ntuyang, the service’s Public Relations Officer, said about 60 per cent of the country’s valuable forest estate was lost.

    “Most of what is left is currently under threat, hence the commitment of the park to reverse the trend,” he said.

    The conservator-general said the service was about partnership with critical stakeholders, adding that Niger Delta region was important and critical to NPS due to its rich ecosystem and diversity.

    He noted that the region’s rainforests, wetlands, marine, mangrove, and derived savannah ecosystem were of high conservation value, but were being threatened.

    According to Goni, the park service looks forward to strategic partnerships in protecting the country’s critical natural environment in all geopolitical zones of the country.

    “Two of the recently approved national parks by President Muhammadu Buhari are located in the Niger Delta region,” he said.

    On his part, Enang assured that his office would partner the service to protect the resources in the region.

    He, however, noted that establishment of more national parks in the region would have far-reaching implications on the security situation of the area in view of the country’ security challenges.

    Enang called for the establishment of a national park around Itu-Ini, Ikono and Eastern Obolo areas of Akwa-Ibom.

    He also called for a park in the adjoining forest of Arochukwu-Ohafia area in Abia to protect the forest belt currently under threat.

    According to Enang, the gesture will enable the people of the area to enjoy benefits of sustainable conservation.

    He promised to liaise with government of Akwa-Ibom for the proposed park and governments of Ebonyi, Abia, Imo and Enugu, to facilitate the establishment of national parks in the zone.

  • Niger Delta militants resurrect, claim responsibility for bombing oil facilities in Rivers

    Niger Delta militants resurrect, claim responsibility for bombing oil facilities in Rivers

    A new militant group has surfaced in the Niger Delta region and claimed responsibility for bombing an oil facility belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Rivers State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the new militant group called ‘Bayan-Men’ attacked the oil facility belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company in the Obosi area of Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government area of the State.

    The attack followed the expiration of the 24-hour ultimatum the militants issued to the company to address their demands.

    It was gathered that the fresh attack resulted in an explosion that shattered the serenity of the area.

     

  • Rivers women barricade NDDC, demand reconstitution of board, release of forensic report

    Rivers women barricade NDDC, demand reconstitution of board, release of forensic report

    Disappointed over the deliberate refusal by Federal Government to reconstitute the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC board, some women from Niger Delta on Tuesday shut down the main entrance of Niger Delta Development Commission in protest over the delay in the release of the report of the forensic audit of the commission as well as the constitution of the substantive board.

    The aggrieved women sealed off the main entrance to the commission with their placards preventing access into the premises.

    The presence of security agencies however could not deter the women from carrying on with their protest.
    One of the leaders of the protesters Adienbo Odighonin, the Coordinator of the Wailing Women of Niger Delta said the protest was in expression of the grievances against the “sole administrator-ship” of the NDDC.

    Odighonin also expressed concerns that they (women) have not been carried along in the scheme of things.

    She said “We are here tell Akpabio, Malami and Buhari to constitute the board, to bring to public the outcome of the forensic audit report. To tell them that when constituting the board women should be properly constituted into the system”.

    “We are here to tell them that this illegal sole administrator should be dissolved”.
    We promised Niger Delta that we are going to bring out a naked women protest, this is just the beginning. Women will come here lie down and sleep and tell them that the board must be constituted”.

    After a passionate appeal by the NDDC security operatives, the women submitted their protest letter before vacating the premises.

  • Niger Delta critical stakeholders demand immediate increase of 13% derivation to 50%

    Niger Delta critical stakeholders demand immediate increase of 13% derivation to 50%

    …condemn proposed Bill by 59 northern Reps seeking alteration to derivation principle

    …describe lawmakers as terrorists

    …warns FG that region is ready to mobilize resistance against attempt to alter Section 162 S2 SS2

    Critical stakeholders in oil producing states in Nigeria emerged from a virtual meeting last Monday demanding for an increase from 13percent derivation to 50percent.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this was contained in a communique issued by major stakeholders of the Niger Delta under the auspices of PANDEF.

    The Stakeholders apparently peeved over move by 59 northern lawmakers in the House of Representatives to alter Section 2 SS 2 of the portion harbouring derivation principle in the 1999 constitution as amended warned that any attempt to alter it will be met by resistance.

    In the communique issued and signed by the stakeholders, a seven-point demand was made which includes the following:

    “Unequivocally and in full resolution, condemns the obnoxious and Satanic Bill intended to delete Subsection 2, Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and describes the Bill as a “Legislative Coup” against Oil and Gas Producing States and Regions of the Country.

    “Warns that the Niger Delta people are ready and mobilized to dispense full resistance against this wicked machination and any future attempt to further Economically Emasculate the Region and its people. We will resist this Satanic and Senseless Coup with every fibre in our being. If they move one more step, we will respond in kind.

    “Describes the sponsors of the Bill, the 59 ignominious, and barefacedly dishonourable Members of the House of Representatives and their clandestine backers, as “Terrorists”, who do not care about the peace, progress and corporate existence of Nigeria.

    “Reminds the 59 dubious and rapacious Members of the House of Representatives, their Sponsors and indeed all Nigerians that the Derivation principle was negotiated by the founding fathers of Nigeria before Independence and it cannot be deleted now. And that any attempt to do so is a call to anarchy.

    “Implores President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to focus attention on addressing the fundamental issues confronting the country, instead of further stoking the ambers of discord and disharmony.

    “Notes that the extant 13% derivation has not been reviewed for 22 years, despite the constitutional provision for review of revenue allocation every five (5) years, to reflect changing economic realities.

    “Consequently, DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE OF THE 13% DERIVATION TO 50%.

    “That, the position of the Niger Delta People is 50% Derivation, and nothing less.

    Read full communique below:

    COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PAN NIGER DELTA FORUM, PANDEF, HELD
    ON MONDAY, 25TH OCTOBER, 2021

    An emergency General Assembly of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, was held (virtual) on Monday, 25th October 2021. The Meeting which was chaired by the National Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE, had in attendance Critical and Strategic Stakeholders of the Niger Delta Region; including Representatives of Governors, Former Governors, Members of National Assembly both serving and former, Retired Top Military & Security Officers, Members of PANDEF Board of Trustees, Presidents of Ethnic Organizations, First Class Traditional Rulers, Leaders of Oil and Gas Host Communities, Women and Youth Leaders, Civil Activists as well as Niger Deltans in the Diaspora.

    2. Elder statesman and PANDEF National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, delivered a goodwill message at the meeting while the Director-General of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, OON, gave a keynote speech.

    3. The Meeting extensively discussed a Bill cited as Constitution (Alteration) Bill 2021, intending to delete Section 2, Subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), sponsored by 59 Members of the House of Representatives from the Northern part of the Country; given its socio-economic consequences on the Niger Delta Region and the Country at large.

    4. Arising therefrom, the Meeting resolved as follows:

    i. Noted that following the Richard’s Constitution of 1946 and Macpherson’s Constitution of 1951, Derivation Principle became a major factor in Revenue Allocation in Nigeria. And was reflected in both the 1960 Constitution and 1963 Constitution.

    ii. That the principle of derivation as encapsulated under the proviso to Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was aimed at providing recompense to the producers of any natural resources for the expropriation and sequestration of their rights to control and manage same, by the Nigerian State.

    ii. That when revenues from cocoa (in the West), groundnut (in the North), and Palm Produce and Coal (in the East) were the nation’s economic mainstay, derivation in the Revenue Allocation principle was not less than 50 per cent.

    iii. Noted that derivation, as a revenue allocation principle, has been resolutely suppressed since crude oil became the country’s major revenue earner. Meanwhile, oil and gas exploration activities have degraded the hitherto luxuriant, healthy ecosystem of the Niger Delta, and damaged the indigenous people’s means of livelihood, with little or no effort to ameliorate their consequential dire standard of living.

    iii. Therefore, insists that the principle of derivation in revenue allocation in Nigeria cannot be deleted from the Constitution.

    iv. Notes that it is not only against the principles of fairness, equity and justice but atrocious and wicked to contemplate deleting derivation principle from the Nation’s Constitution.

    5. Therefore, the Meeting:

    i. Unequivocally and in full resolution, condemns the obnoxious and Satanic Bill intended to delete Subsection 2, Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and describes the Bill as a “Legislative Coup” against Oil and Gas Producing States and Regions of the Country.

    ii. Warns that the Niger Delta people are ready and mobilized to dispense full resistance against this wicked machination and any future attempt to further Economically Emasculate the Region and its people. We will resist this Satanic and Senseless Coup with every fibre in our being. If they move one more step, we will respond in kind.

    iii. Describes the sponsors of the Bill, the 59 ignominious, and barefacedly dishonourable Members of the House of Representatives and their clandestine backers, as “Terrorists”, who do not care about the peace, progress and corporate existence of Nigeria.

    iv. Reminds the 59 dubious and rapacious Members of the House of Representatives, their Sponsors and indeed all Nigerians that the Derivation principle was negotiated by the founding fathers of Nigeria before Independence and it cannot be deleted now. And that any attempt to do so is a call to anarchy.

    v. Implores President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to focus attention on addressing the fundamental issues confronting the country, instead of further stoking the ambers of discord and disharmony.

    vi. Notes that the extant 13% derivation has not been reviewed for 22 years, despite the constitutional provision for review of revenue allocation every five (5) years, to reflect changing economic realities.

    vii. Consequently, DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE OF THE 13% DERIVATION TO 50%.

    That, the position of the Niger Delta People is 50% Derivation, and nothing less.

    6. The Meeting was held in an atmosphere of peace and collective commitment to the decisions.

    7. Done this 25th Day of October 2021.

    Signed:

    Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE
    National Chairman Akwa Ibom State

    Chief Hon. Thompson Okorotie, OFR
    Deputy National Chairman
    Bayelsa State

    Senator Bassey Ewa- Henshaw
    PANDEF State Chairman
    Cross Rivers State

    Prof. G. G. Darah
    PANDEF State Chairman
    Delta State

    Dame Betty Igbeyi
    PANDEF National Woman Leader
    Edo State

    Prof. B. B. Fakae
    Member, PANDEF BoT
    Rivers State