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Tag: south south

  • PIB: South-South Governors demand 10% for host community trust fund

    PIB: South-South Governors demand 10% for host community trust fund

    …want NDDC funds escrowed till Buhari reconstitutes board

    Governors of the South-South States demanded an upward review of the provision of 2.5 percent as Host Community Trust Fund in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to 10 percent in the best interest of oil communities and the nation.

    The governors have also advised President Mohammadu Buhari that in the absence of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), funds for the commission beyond the payment of salaries should be put in an escrow account until he constitutes the board.

    Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa made this assertion at the end of the forum’s meeting which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday night.

    “We took up the issue of the PIB, the Petroleum Industry Bill which is already before the House and having compared notes with ourselves, we are of the view that while we welcome the Host Community Trust Fund, we do believe that the 2.5 percent that is appropriated in that bill for the purpose of host community fund is inadequate.

    “We have discussed with our people and collectively as leaders of the people in our various States and as leaders standing in on behalf of our people, we urge that the National Assembly should increase the provision in the host community fund from 2.5 percent to 10 percent in the best interest of our communities, in the best interest of our nation.”

    The governors maintained that the communities have a role to play in the surveillance of the nation’s oil facilities and pipeline network.

    They expressed the belief that if the communities feel satisfied with provision of funds for them in the PIB, they are more likely going to be watchdog on behalf of the federal government, the States and oil companies.

    “And the peaceful environment that would be seen in the various oil communities would enable us to have greater production and a seamless production in which we do not have any form disruption in our oil productions going into the future.”

    Governor Okowa described as worrisome the running of the NDDC in over a year by an Interim Caretaker Committee, and now, an interim administrator.

    According to him, this situation does not augur well for the people of the Niger Delta as opportunity for all States to be represented as they ought to be represented in the board of the NDDC does not exist

    “So, it means that the NDDC is actually run in such a matter that it is actually not truly beneficial to our people, because there is no stakeholders input in the running of the affairs of the NDDC.

    We do know that there is a forensic audit taking place and if that reason the board has not been constituted, our advise is that monies being sent to the NDDC should be put in an escrow account until a board is constituted and then proper processes are followed in the expenditure of the money in a such a way it will be visibly accountable in the best interest of the peoples of the Niger Delta.”

    The governors demanded that whenever the board of the NDDC is constituted, the advisory council must be called upon to place its role to ensure there is check and balance in such a matter that the States will truly have value for money expended by the NDDC.

    “A situation where we begin to have emergency projects that possibly will not last three to six months is not right, we don’t feel happy about it and we are urging Mr President to ensure that if the board is not going to be immediately constituted, then funds for the NDDC beyond the payment of salaries should be put on hold until he constitutes the board and the board can now run the finances of the NDDC as per the law creating the NDDC.

    “We feel already short changed as a people in the Niger Delta and we believe that we do not wish to see this kind of situation continue going forward into the future ,because our people feel the pains, we do not want a situation where there is an abuse of processes, neither should we have a situation where we have abuse of funds.

    “We believe that it is best for both the country, for the states of the Niger Delta and for the people of the Niger Delta when the due process is followed by the reconstitution of the board and also in reconstituting the board, that the reconstituted funds should come in and have funds to spend as per the law.”

    He stressed that the demands of the governors have been made based on the interest of Nigeria, the States and more importantly in the interest of various communities of the Niger Delta.

    Present at the meeting were Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri and the Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Mr Moses Ekpo, who represented Governor Udom Emmanuel.

  • 2023: Negotiate for power if you want it, Zulum tells South-South, South-East politicians

    2023: Negotiate for power if you want it, Zulum tells South-South, South-East politicians

    The Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum on Friday advised politicians across the South South and South East region of the country to negotiate for power if they so desire as no other region will willingly hand it to them.

    The governor also said for the sake of fairness, power should return to the south in 2023. He faulted the suspicion that any part of the country could not be trusted with power, perhaps for the fear of secession.

    He stressed that there was a need for fairness in the country, adding that marginalisation had become the loudest concern from the citizenry.

    He spoke in Lagos on Friday at the 17th Chief Gani Fawehinmi annual lecture, themed ‘The constitutional history of Nigeria’s dysfunction: Any pathway to indivisibility and common progress?’ which was an event organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, to celebrate the life and times of the late Fawehinmi. The governor stated that one of the pathways to common progress was for fairness to reign in the country.

    Zulum, who was accompanied by some commissioners and special advisers, explained that power should shift to other sections of the country. The incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari is from the North-Western state of Katsina and is serving his second and final term in office.

    The governor said, “I’m persuaded that other sections of the country should be given the opportunity to lead in 2023, why not? It is constitutional.”

    Zulum, who reeled out the criteria set by the constitution for anyone to contest the Presidency, as contained in Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), asked all the persons from the South-East and South-South at the event to rise. He then told them that once they met the four conditions stated in the Section, they were also qualified to contest the presidency.

    The section reads, “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

    Speaking further on the issue of fairness as regard 2023, he stated, “Consequently, my response to the question posed by the theme of this programme is that yes, there are pathways to indivisibility and common progress; we must collectively agree that we need to do more to demonstrate fairness to every constituent part that made up this country. That is the constitution.

    “We need to understand that pedestrian suspicion is not an empirical or legal reason to deny any section of the country from participation in the leadership of this country. We are fast moving towards a point of inevitable tension.

    “One of the loudest concerns from the public is marginalisation. Therefore, we must as a matter of necessity create an environment that is conducive for everyone. People must feel the impact of the government and that government is responding.”

    The governor also said south-easterners should negotiate for power rather than expect others to leave it for them.

    He said, “To our friends and brothers in the South-South and South-East particularly, only God gives power but you have to negotiate for power. Negotiation becomes easier when you make friends across the divide. If we negotiate for power, we don’t always get everything we want, but we will normally mention every clause that covers everything we need.

    “I said this because I have heard many people say ‘they don’t want to give us power’ but assumptions and projections will never actualise your aspirations. We must all remember that God gives power but human beings negotiate for it. Every interested party must be prepared to negotiate for it.”

    The governor also expressed reservation over the age limit of 40 as the minimum to contest the presidency, noting that in many countries around the world, people below 40 had become world leaders.

    He said, “Let me state here that I have a problem with the age limit set at 40, because whatever is the logic behind it, it is difficult to consider it valid in contemporary times.”

    He cited several examples of presidents or prime ministers who got to power under the age of 40, including President Emmanuel Macron, who became the President of France at the age of 39; Sanna Marin, who became the Prime Minister of Finland at 34; and Joseph Muscat who became the Prime Minister of Malta at the age of 39, among many others.

    “We must review our constitution to reflect this current reality in our country and provide greater access to the greatest number of our citizens,” he added.

    He admonished Nigerians to familiarise themselves with the 1999 Constitution, saying even though there are issues with the document, he believed strongly that it could still produce good results when faithfully discharged.

    He added, “If governance were to be a religion, the constitution would be its holy book. You know your Bible, you know your Quran, know your constitution. Gani Fawehinmi fought for a people’s constitution. We cannot let him down. Let us work to build bridges and drive a people-oriented constitution that would make Nigeria better for everyone.

    “We must make the constitution of Nigeria work for all Nigerians and not just some Nigerians. Our system of government must give people a voice while delivering services to them, including security of lives and property.”

  • APC appoints Oyegun chairman of South-South reconciliation committee

    APC appoints Oyegun chairman of South-South reconciliation committee

    The Caretaker/ Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday appointed, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, as chairman of its South-South reconciliation committee.

    The was disclosed in a communique signed by the Secretary of the committee and an APC Chieftain from South-South, Lucky Imasuen shortly after a meeting of the party leaders from the geo-political zone in Abuja.

    The communique also named other members of the committee as: Lucky Imasuen, secretary; Chief Sunny Jackson, Dr. Mrs. Maryam Ali, Dr. Sam Jaja, Senator Clever Ikisikpo and Chief Emmanuel Nsan.

    The communique read in part, “The meeting applauds Mr. President for the tremendous work he is doing under very difficult circumstances. Consequently, a vote of confidence was passed on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The meeting resolved that leaders must work together in harmony in the interest of the party and our people.

    “The meeting condemned the divisions amongst the leaders and urged on the need to foster unity in the zone.

    “The meeting resolved to set up a committee of six persons of integrity to handle reconciliation and issues from the various states.

    “The meeting called on leaders to use the membership revalidation, and update exercise as a tool for ramping up our support base and for unification of the party in the region.”

  • Zamfara gold: Only a bastard won’t support resource control – Festus Keyamo

    Zamfara gold: Only a bastard won’t support resource control – Festus Keyamo

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has said any Niger Delta son that does not support resource control and fiscal federalism is a bastard of the region.

    Keyamo made the statement on Tuesday as Governors of the South South and leaders of the region met to state their position on the sales of gold by the Zamfara State Government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the leaders of the South South region dropped 7 demands on the federal government at the stakeholders meeting that held at the Government House in Port Harcourt with a Federal Government in attendance.

    In his remarks Keyamo said, “The Federal Executive Council has approved the Coastal Rail line from Lagos to Calabar. The loan for the coastal Rail line from Lagos to Calabar is actually being processed now.

    “The other Rail line from Bonny to Maiduguri which is the Eastern flank has also been approved. That rail line begins from Bonny to Owerri, Makurdi and all the way to Maiduguri and the loans are being processed right now with the Chinese.

    “Congratulations to Governor Okowa because the rails incidentally will begin from Warri and it will either go east west or west west but it will certainly begin from Warri.

    “As for the Ports, Governor Okowa mentioned the issue of the deep sea port and as we speak here, I can show you a message from the MD of RCCI, the contract has been awarded already for the Warri port. It is the deep sea port that they want to establish in Warri.

    “For you to have a deep seaport you need at least 14 meters deep of water but the old Warri Port is about 8 meters deep and it will cost about $100 million dollars to dregde.

    “So what we want to do is that we have been mandated to work with traditional rulers like Olu of Warri and others to try and get a location that is at least close to 14 meters deep and that is where I will beg my brother the Hon Minister of Petroleum, because the channel to go in is also barricaded by the NNPC pipelines and some of them are obsolete so we are thinking of sinking or relocating the pipes for the ships to come in because the pipes are already under the water.

    “In a few days time, myself and the Chinese people will leave for Warri to make some of those investigations. Pessu was actually pencilled down for the port but it is 8 meters deep and I am sure Governor Okowa knows about this.

    *We are all part of the same region, I’m Urhobo like most of you here and when they tell you that the Federal Government should not take loan, tell them that they are taking loans to build railways in other parts of the country, so let us take loan to build our own too so don’t oppose it, we should build our own too with the Chinese loan as well.

    “My elder brother Professor G. G. Darah, let me add to your demands because being here today, also part of you too, making demands from the Federal Government.

    “You didn’t mention the Warri airport which is also very important. Shoreline that was managing the Warri Airport couldn’t pay up all its bills to FAAN. So the Federal Government had to take over the Warri airport, and some of us pursued it here and credit must be given to the Minister of Petroleum and myself because we pursued it all the way.

    “A proposal has been written to the Federal Government for the Ministry of Petroleum to take over the Warri Airport and the President has approved that.

    “They are working on it now and in the next few weeks the Warri Airport will become functional again.

    “So on a last note, I want to say that most of the demands if not all the demands of Governor Okowa as a child of the region who was born and bred in the region, I also support those demands because it is only a bastard who is not born of a father from the Niger Delta that will not support those demands.

    “It is not because we are here today. We will come back home tomorrow and any Niger Delta son that does not support resource control and fiscal federalism is a bastard of the region.

    “So we support it. But I must caution that it must be a collective effort. Do not think that it is the fault from this government. It has always been there. Our son was President. A southerner was President as a Yoruba man.

    “Luckily for us, the Deputy Senate President is the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee. Let us take our demands there, let us go and fight our case there.

    “Nobody should dall for the narrative that it is President Muhammadu Buhari that caused the problem why they have not amended the constitution.

    “Let us take all our demands there and let us go and fight it there”.

  • UPDATE: Governors, people of South South demand restructuring, fiscal federalism

    UPDATE: Governors, people of South South demand restructuring, fiscal federalism

    Governors and people of the South-South geopolitical zone have demanded for restructuring in line with the principle of true federalism, to guarantee peace, security and stability of Nigeria.

    The governors observed that the country is not at peace with itself and not working as it should, particularly, for the people of the South-South region.

    Chairman of the South-South Governors forum and Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa stated this as the position of the zone during the regional stakeholders meeting with presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Governor Okowa, explained the people of the South-South are committed to restructuring of Nigeria in a way that guarantees true federalism and devolution of powers to the states to create and manage their own police and security architecture under a federal structure.

    “True federalism guided by the principle of derivation, revenue sharing and control of resources by each State of the federation as it was the case in the first republic.”

    He said the kind of federation the South-South geopolitical desires, is one where federating units are constitutionally empowered to create their own structures like Local Government Areas, manage their elections and control their judiciary.

    “We are all aware of the huge endowment of this country. As such, it is imperative to stress that with a little bit of efforts, imagination, hard work, sacrifice and leadership, every state of the Federation as of today, has the ability and capability to contribute to the national purse. This should be encouraged rather than the whole country depending substantially on a region of the country.

    “What is worse and even more painful in this ugly situation is the deliberate lack of understanding, empathy and the uncompromising attitudes of some Nigerians, who have refused to understand the challenges of the South-South region of the country especially, the degradation of the environment and our waters. As a result, most of the demands of the region have remained unattended to while the resources of the region have been used continually to develop other parts of the country”.

    The governors reiterated the call for the relocation of the headquarters of major oil companies, NNPC subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the South-South region.

    Governor Okowa requested for immediate implementation of the consent judgment entered in the Supreme Court Suit No: SC/964/2016 to enable the South-South region get its share of $55billion shortfall of collection on deep offshore and inland basin production sharing contracts.

    The governors further called for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region’s major seaports in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri in order to enhance the economic development of the South-South region.

    In addition, they demanded that the two refineries in Port Harcourt and one in Warri that have continued to bleed the country’s resources in the name of turn around maintenance, should be privatised. According to him: “Enough is enough. Let us now privatise them and in doing so however, allow the States and the region among others, considerable equity in the name of fairness and justice”.

    Concerned about the rot in the NDDC, the governors observed that one of the major failures of the intervention agency is its refusal to forge and foster synergy, consultation and cooperation with the state governments especially, on project location, development and execution.

    “We have resolved and we, as the State governments will no longer allow NDDC to execute any project (s) in any state of the region without it consulting State governments. Frankly, enough is enough and we have a court judgment to back our position.”

    In his remark, the Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, said the stakeholders meeting was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari, to the presidential delegation comprising of all the Ministers from the region to visit and consult with representatives of the people regarding the recent EndSARS protest.

    Gambari, noted that reports indicated that there were instances , where breakdown of law and order was reported across various locations in the South-South states. He lauded the governors of the South-South States for their quick response and actions in addressing the EndSARS crisis.

    Beyond the EndSARS issue, he said, the President acknowledges that the citizens in the region have also been dealing with other concerns that are particular to the region such as the degradation of environment due to decades of mishandling and adherence to environmental standards.

    The chief of Staff said he will convey the demands of the region to the President

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said excuse of insecurity by the multinationals for not relocating to the South-South region is not tenable.

    He stressed that the relocation of the multinationals oil companies to the region will help stem restiveness.

    He urged the Minister of state for Petroleum to make history by ensuring the oil companies relocate to the region during his reign in office.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, urged the leaders of the region to avail themselves of the on going review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly since most of the issues contained in their demands are constitutional matters.

    The Director General of Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, lauded Governor Nyeson Ezenwo Wike, for his stance against the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) which hijacked the EndSARS protest and killed 10 security operatives, torched stations and court buildings in Oyigbo.

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, said fake news gave impetus to the nationwide EndSARS that culminated in the death of civilians, police personnel and their assets.

    Adamu alleged that intelligence has confirmed that the EndSARS protest was funded from within and outside the country. He further added that one of the primary objective of the protest was to effect a regime change.

    Present at the meeting were: Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akw Ibom; Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State; and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

    Others are: Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta; Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum; Goddy Jedy Agba ,Minister of State, Power; Festus Keyamo, Minister of State, for Niger Delta; Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammad. The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi was however , absent.

    Other eminent persons present included: the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, rtd; former President, Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Okocha (SAN); among others.

  • Zamfara gold: South South leaders drop 7 demands on FG

    Zamfara gold: South South leaders drop 7 demands on FG

    Leaders in the South South region of Nigeria have dropped 7 demands on the federal government.

    The leaders made the demands at a Presidential meeting held in Port Harcourt following the sales of gold by the Zamfara State government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari led the federal government delegation to the meeting.

    The six Governors and leaders in the zone in a common position presented by Chairman of South South Governor’s Forum, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, made the following demands:

    1. Immediate relocation of headquarters of oil multinational to their operational bases in the South South region.

    2. Immediate relocation of government -owned oil subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the South South region.

    3. Immediate completion of East-West road under construction.

    4. Immediate privatisation of the two refineries in Port Harcourt and the one in Warri for effectiveness.

    5. Call for release of all funds due NDDC and that henceforth, all NDDC projects MUST be done in consultation with State Governors.

    6. Reactivation of sea ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri. Then, the Lagos to Calabar railine.

    7. True federalism, resource control, fair revenue sharing and State Police, the best ingredients to achieving a better Nigeria.

    South South leaders insist on restructuring, true federalism

    Leaders of the South-South on Tuesday, insisted on restructuring of the country and true federalism, including devolution of powers to the federating units.

    The leaders made the demand at a consultative meeting with a Federal Government delegation with governors, ministers and other stakeholders from the region at Government House, Port Harcourt.

    Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who presented the region’s demand, said that the nation was not at peace because the country had failed to practice true federalism.

    Okowa said that it was time to restore the country back to a true federation with all the attributes and nuances of a federal state.

    “For us in the South-South, the #ENDSARS protest is a metaphor of almost all that is wrong with us, our refusal to properly understand issues, and imbibe and entrench the virtues of justice, fairness and equity.

    “The previous system of true federalism was jettisoned and it created a powerful center controlling and distributing all the resources unevenly.

    “There was now a strong desire to restructure the country in order to guarantee peace, security, stability and progress of the nation.

    “The region demands true federalism and devolution of powers to the states, including creating and managing their own police and security architecture, true fiscal federalism guided by the principle of derivation, revenue sharing and control of resources by each state,” he said.

    He decried the deliberate lack of understanding, empathy and uncompromising attitudes of some Nigerians, who refused to understand the peculiar challenges of the South-South region, especially the degradation of the environment and the pollution of our waters.

    “All we demand and ask for is fairness and equity and as we await actions to restructure the country, we hereby renew our demands for: ‘The relocation of the headquarters of major oil companies in Nigeria to the region; relocation of several NNPC subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the region.

    “The region further requested the completion without delay of the East-West Road and all federal roads in the region; Construction of the Lagos-Calabar railway, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region’s major seaports notably the Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri”.

    The leaders also demanded the privatisation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries after several failed turn-around maintenance attempts.

    The region called for the release of all funds owed Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and for the amendment of the NDDC Act to place the commission on a first-line charge.

    The stakeholders decried annual flooding challenge in the region and called for the establishment of buffer dams to control flood waters in the region.

    They also called for the completion of the abandoned Gas Revolution Industrial Park at Ogidigben and the stepping down of electricity at the Okpai and Utorogu gas plants.

    Leader of the Presidential delegation and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, thanked the people of the South-South for their co-operation, and assured that all issues raised at the meeting would be communicated to the President.

    Gambari apologised for the failure of the meeting to hold on Nov. 17 earlier slated, and said “we are here on behalf of the President as part of the ongoing and continuing conversation on how to make our nation better and I must thank the Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for his tireless effort in ensuring that this meeting held.

    “Our youths took to the streets to express their bitterness on ill-treatment meted out to them by the police and the President, recognising the importance of the demands made by the protesters agreed to implement the five demands.

    “All over the world, people have right to protest but in doing so, the respect for law and order must be adhered to and they must also respect the rights of others.

    “The President commends governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their role in handling the protesters,” he said

    Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on his part, commended the youths of South-South for their peaceful disposition during the protests.

    He assured that all constitutional issues canvassed would be addressed by the Constitution Review Committee and urged the governors to prevail on their Houses of Assemblies to give the necessary concurrence at the appropriate time.

    Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in his remark, said aside the massive economic effects of the protests, 243 public facilities were burnt, 71 warehouses looted, 610 vehicles destroyed, 134 police stations burnt,164 police vehicles destroyed and 136 firearms carted away.

    He added that 65 civilians were killed during the protests and

    37 policemen gruesomely murdered while 196 persons were seriously injured.

    On his part, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Magaji-Bichi, said the unity of the country, in spite of the diversity, remained the strength of the nation, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure that peace returned to the country.

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in a vote of thanks, commended the Federal Government delegation and stakeholders of the region for attending the meeting and urged the federal authorities to ensure implementation of the region’s demands.

  • FG stops South South Governors from meeting over Zamfara gold, Niger Delta oil

    FG stops South South Governors from meeting over Zamfara gold, Niger Delta oil

    Leaders of the South South geopolitical zone have demanded public apology from the Federal Government over botched stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Governors of the South South led by its Chairman and Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who were in Port Harcourt for the meeting, had informed the stakeholders comprising traditional rulers, religious leaders, opinion leaders, youths and women from the zone that the Presidential delegation which convened the meeting, had cancelled it.

    Okowa, who spoke for the governors, informed the people that the Presidency gave an emergency security meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari as reason for cancelling the PortHarcourt meeting.

    Irked by the information, the stakeholders expressed displeasure with the development, describing it as disrespect to the people of the region and called for an immediate public apology from the Presidency.

    They said that the action of the Federal Government amounted to treating the South-South and its people with disdain, and warned on the consequences of undermining the zone.

    But in a solemn appeal to douse tension, Governor Okowa implored the people to remain calm in the face of the disrespect and embarrassment caused by the cancellation of the meeting.

    He said that the governors were as pained as the other stakeholders over the disappointment, and assured that the governors would definitely convey the feeling of the people of the region to the Presidency.

    “We understand the anger in you, and on our own part as governors, we are also angry because the South-South zone is a very important part of this nation.

    “There is no doubt that we the governors also feel insulted and we feel very sad and touched at what has happened.

    “We felt it was necessary to consult with you as critical stakeholders because if we had acted on the information without consulting you, that would have added to the insult already meted to us.

    “Together we call for a public apology because the meeting was not called at our instance; it was called at the instance of the Presidency.

    “Some of us didn’t sleep trying to put things in order to make this meeting a reality.

    “We will convey this message to the Chief of Staff to the President that as a region we deserve public apology, particularly to our traditional rulers and opinion leaders and also to the Governors that you voted into office.

    “This is the least we expect before this meeting can be reconvened,” Okowa stated.

  • Democracy Day: Edwin Clark writes open letter to Buhari on alleged injustices to South South

    LET US CALL A SPADE, A SPADE!

    OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR
    President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria
    By Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON

    Mr. President,

    LET US CALL A SPADE, A SPADE!

    Let me, begin by, expressing earnest gratitude and appreciation to Mr. President, for congratulating me, both on my 92nd and 93rd Birthday anniversaries. I deeply cherish the thoughtful gesture, and the kind remarks. As Mr. President, rightly stated in the two congratulatory messages, I have rendered over 70 years of my life to the service of this country, starting from the age of 19. And it pleased the Almighty God to keep me up to this age, and in sound health. Accordingly, as long as, I live, I will continue to work for the good of this country, in any way, I find it possible.

    It is in that light, and in view of recent worrisome developments, that I am writing this letter to Mr. President on Democracy Day. The message herein, is a message of truth; encapsulating my thoughts, as well as, the feelings, dissentions, and remonstrations, of the people of the South South Geopolitical Zone, that I have been continuously inundated with.

    I have to state it, unequivocally, the way it is, for the sake of posterity, and in the interest of peace, unity, and progress of our dear country, Nigeria.

    And the truth, Mr. President, is that the South South Geopolitical Zone have not been treated fairly, by your administration, despite our contribution to the economy of the country. Let us call a spade, a spade!

    For reasons unknown to me, we have continued to witness discriminative, and unjust actions, against people of South South Extraction, under presidency, in the last five years.

    Why is it that people, particularly from the South South Zone, are being treated as if they are not Nigerians, as if they are foreigners, or as if they are second class Citizens, in their own country.

    Situations, whereby, people due confirmation for their positions, are being removed, and replaced with people from particular parts of the country, is not right.

    And the situations are getting too many. We are all Nigerians; we are entitled to be appointed to any position. If our people are not qualified, it is a different matter.

    Discrimination is a danger to any society, particularly, a plural society like ours.

    The recent events in the United States of America, over the ill-treatment meted to Afro-Americans; and the “Black Lives Matter” demonstrations across America, and around the world, should be a lesson to Nigeria; no nation is an island to itself.

    Mr. President, about two weeks ago, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), former Military Governor of Kaduna State, wrote a similar letter to you. The gentleman, pertinently and rightly, drew your attention to the imbalances in your appointments, and warned of the dire consequences, to the nation when he said “I regret that there are no kind or gentle words to tell you that your skewed appointments into the office of the Federal Government, favouring some and frustrating others, shall bring ruin and destruction to the nation”.

    Colonel Umar’s perspective is very correct. But, instead of giving conscientious considerations to the issues raised by the retired Colonel, what we saw, were unguarded utterances against him, by some of your aides, and partisan loyalists. That was very sad and unfortunate.

    Today, it seems, the only qualifications for appointment in the federal civil service or public service, under your administration, are religion or ethnicity.

    Let me highlight, a few of the recent puzzling, and embarrassing, actions of Mr. President, which many have termed, targeted exclusion of the South South from TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS in critical sectors of the nation’s Public and Civil Service.

    Replacement of Acting Director General of Security and Exchange Commission, SEC

    Mrs. Mary Uduk, acted as Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), for over two years, but Mr. President did not deem it fit to confirm her as substantive Director General of SEC. It will be recalled that this lady, from Akwa Ibom State, was appointed as acting Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, by the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, following staff reshuffling in the agency, in March 2018.

    In view of her track record of service, many in the sector, had expected that she would be confirmed as substantive Director General of the apex stock regulatory body. But, Mr. President, thought otherwise, and instead, replaced her with Lamido Yuguda, a retired staff of Central Bank of Nigeria, somebody from the North, who was a Commissioner working under her in the Commission.

    This is a very glaring instance, of the discrimination and unfair treatment against the people of the South South, we have been talking about.

    This woman has been part of the system; she has been at SEC for over thirty years. Why should she be treated that way? Was she found wanting in the discharge of her duties and responsibilities as Acting Director General?

    Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)

    Again, is the case of Mrs. Azuka Azinge. Mrs. Azinge who had worked at the CAC for about 10 years was appointed acting Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for about 2 years. Rather than confirming her appointment, charges were brought against her before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), that she maintains a domiciliary account, and that she was paid salaries and allowances which she was not entitled to, in an acting capacity, despite the fact the payments were approved by the Board of the Commission.

    In a manner unknown to extant laws, the Code of Conduct Tribunal “ordered the Minister for Trade & Industries to appoint a replacement for Mrs. Azinge”. In compliance to this “order” a letter dated 7th January, 2020, issued by the Minister of Trade & Industries, to Alhaji Garba Abubakar, from Bauchi State, who was a principal Manager and former Special Adviser to the former Registrar-General, appointing him the Registrar-General of the Commission. The whole essence of the case was to ridicule Mrs. Azinge, a South-Southerner from Delta State, and get her out of office, for a Northerner to take over.

    Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA

    Another worrisome appointment by Mr. President is that of the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

    Dr. Dakuku Peterside from Rivers State was appointed DG of the Agency, in 2016, his term expired this year, he was not re-appointed.

    Unknown to, and without the input of the Minister of Transportation, under whose charge the Agency operates, Mr. President, appointed a Northerner, Bashir Jamoh, from Kaduna State, who was an executive director at the Agency, to replace Dr. Dakuku Peterside. Mr. Bashir Jamoh, is reportedly, a father-in-law to one of your aides.

    Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, also from Kaduna State, was reappointed for another four years. The two agencies, NPA and NIMASA, are parastatals under the same Federal Ministry of Transportation. Hadiza Bala Usman of NPA, from Kaduna State, was reappointed for another four years, whereas, Dakuku Peterside from Rivers State, was not re-appointed. Worst still, replaced with a Northerner. What could be the logic behind this?

    Predictably, just a few days ago, Mr. President, renewed the appointment of the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta, which was done expressly, without any hullabaloo. Apparently, because he is from the Northern part of the Country.

    It is consequential, Mr. President, to further highlight that, we are yet to see a situation where Northerners have been removed and replaced with Southerners, like it was done in the case of NIMASA, and several other Agenencies.

    These situations give credence to suggestions of a Northernizing agenda of the Nation’s public service, by your administration; sacrificing merit, competency, sector experience, and geographical spread, at the altar of nepotism.

    The Situation in the Petroleum Industry

    Let me remind Mr. President, of what played out at the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, of the Ministry of Petroleum, last year. The man who was Director there, Mordecai Baba Ladan, from the North, attained the retirement age of 60 years in June, 2017, but he was retained till December, 2019. When he eventually left, consistent with the tendencies of your administration, Sarki Auwalu, also from the North, was appointed to that position. I was made to understand that, Mr. Auwalu, who was an Assistant Director, was appointed Director of the key regulatory Department, ahead of eight Deputy Directors.

    While, in the same petroleum industry, Roland O. Ewubare, who is from the South South, was moved from NAPIMS as Managing Director last year, another person from South South was not appointed to replace him. Rather, a Northerner was used to replace him, perhaps, because NAPIMS, like DPR, is said to be one of the strategic subsidiaries of the NNPC.

    Interestingly, on the other hand, when Roland O. Ewubare, was earlier, moved from Integrated Data Services Limited, he was replaced with someone from South South, in the person of Diepriye Tariah. I understand, Mr. Tariah, recently, disengaged from the service, and another South South person has been appointed to replace him.

    So it seems to me, there are positions in NNPC, reserved for people from the South South, and there are some other positions reserved for people from the Northern zone. Why the discrimination, and seeming snobbery?

    Space, and time, will not allow me, to exhaust the appalling injustices against the South South people, in the Oil and Gas industry alone.

    Mr. President will recall that I have written several Letters, both open and otherwise, to you on these issues.

    While our resources are being managed, and subjugated, mainly by people from other parts of the country, the people of the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta, who bear the brunt of degradation, arising from the oil and gas exploratory activities, receive mere soupçons, and are rendered spectators of the oil business.

    Recently, the House of Representatives passed a Motion that the unusual deaths of humans and fishes in Bayelsa and Rivers States, possibly caused by oil pollution, should be investigated. These situations cannot be allowed to continue.

    Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

    Mr. President may wish to recall, the instance of the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, who happens to also come the South South, from Cross River State. A woman, who after several years in the Civil Service of the government of the federation, rose to become Permanent Secretary, and served meritoriously, in two or three ministries before, Mr. President, appointed her Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in October, 2015.

    Mr. President, while we do not condone corruption, the way that woman was treated, leaves a lot to be desired.

    This lady worked for four years, as Head of the Federal Civil Service, and she was loyal and committed to the presidency. Throughout that period of time, nobody said anything about her. Until, I understand, she had cause to disagree with the late Chief of Staff in the presidency, Mr. Abba Kyari. It was then, that they realized she was corrupt.

    When she decided to resign on her own, Mr. President, said no; that she should remain in office. Only to be later humiliated, and disgraced, and now being prosecuted on all sorts of charges. Why? Because she comes from the South South, which is, regarded as a disadvantaged Minority area, where its people can be exploited, ridiculed and maltreated, by anybody. She had nobody to protect her; so, as usual, they treated her in such a shabby manner. I repeat that, I am not supporting corruption, if there is any malfeasance on her part, she should be tried.

    The Case of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria

    That brings to mind, the way the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, he too from Cross River State, was treated as well. I recall, how we appealed, when Mr. President hesitated to confirm his appointment after his recommendation by the NJC. Until the Acting President at the time, forwarded the letter for his confirmation to the Senate.

    One had expected his confirmation would have ended the hatred against the jurist but for obvious political and other reasons, and perhaps, having regard to Mr. President’s reelection stratagem in 2019, this man was allowed to be harassed, humiliated, dehumanized, and disgraced, by less qualified, and far junior benchers, like the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, to the extent that, the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, was undignified.

    And Mr. President, unprecedentedly, without deference to the Constitutional provisions on the appointment of Chief Justice of Nigeria, appointed an Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria; a person who was later queried by the Nigerian Judiciary Council (NJC).

    And for no known reasons, the NJC, made up of senior jurists, surprisingly, without making any attempt to rectifying the situation, confirmed the unconstitutional appointment made by Mr. President.

    As a Lawyer of over 50 years standing, I was ashamed that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) could not live up to expectation. I do not know what they are afraid of.

    Mr. President, why is this being done to people who have faithfully served this nation, in their various positions. What is going on?

    The 16-Point Demand of the Niger Delta region

    The 16-Point Demand of the Niger Delta region drawn up after our intervention as leaders of the region with the Niger Delta Avengers, for which, I led a 100 – Member Delegation including First Class Traditional Rulers of the region, and which had in attendance Governors of the region, to Mr. President on the 1st of November, 2016, is yet to be attended to.

    The Presidential Amnesty Program has now become everybody’s affair in Nigeria. These situations are unacceptable.

    The construction of the East-West Road has been abandoned. Recent news reports show the deplorable nature of the road. Motorists and travellers are stock and stranded in the Bayelsa axis, an unmanageable gridlock of trucks and other vehicles has formed stretching to several kilometers. A journey of between 15 and 20 minutes, now last for hours un-end. Same is happening at the Akwa-Ibom/Cross River axis. The East-West Road is undoubtedly the haulage route of the nation’s economy; yet it is a project not qualified as a priority project for the monies recovered from Gen. Sani Abacha to be spent on.

    My adjuration, therefore, to the people of the South South, is that they should esteem themselves as Bona fide Nigerians, and be courageous, in fighting for their undeniable rights. Nobody owns this country more than they do; rather Nigeria stands to lose, if there is crunch in our Region because of this injustices, unfairness, neglect, and continued marginalization.

    Conclusion

    Today is June 12, which Mr. President declared, Democracy Day, last year, in place of May 29, and the essence of this day, that is freedom and equality, epitomizes the crux of this letter.

    Therefore, as we remember, the heroic courage and sacrifices of MKO Abiola, and all those who have stood in defense of TRUTH, FREEDOM, and DEMOCRACY, may I implore, Mr. President, to discard the togs of nepotism and injustice. And don the noble vestments of inclusiveness, equity, fairness, and justice, for the betterment of Nigeria, our dear country as in the days when the politically motivated Kano State voted against their son Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and voted massively for Alhaji Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), from Souh-West.

    That was the height of Nigerian democracy.

    I pray that as we celebrate Democracy Day today, we go back to that era where Nigeria was Nigeria; not now when religion and ethnicity decides who is popular and who is better qualified to be voted for.

    I am an old man now, I have just celebrated my 93rd birthday, but it would be unthinkable for me, to keep quiet in the face of such injustice, oppression, and marginalization, unfair and unjust treatment, being practiced against my people. I can say, without doubt, we have never had it this so bad.

    I do not know when it will please the Almighty God to call me home. But, let me sound this note of warning, THINGS CANNOT CONTINUE THIS WAY!

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON
    Leader, South-South, former Minister of Information, Senator of the 2nd Republic
    June 12, 2020

  • The crab mentality and the minority junction of Nigerian politics – Mideno Bayagbon

    The crab mentality and the minority junction of Nigerian politics – Mideno Bayagbon

    By Mideno Bayagbon

    I have spent countless hours pondering over the crab mentality among politicians from the Niger Delta region. It surprises me to no end, how they self immolate, inflict damages on themselves, their peers and their zone with selfish impunity. It usually starts out from failure to understand that there is unity in strength; that a self-appointed leader without followers is an unmitigated lone ranger, a disaster waiting to happen. No support in the face of tempest, and he goes down easily when the locust run in. The ambitious lure to engage in national politics, at the top end, is the firing engine that blocks their sense of history. It is little surprise, they end up at the minority junction of Nigerian politics.

    For example, when a one time friend was getting carried away with the euphoria of being Managing Director of NIMASA, I cautioned him about the minority junction in Nigerian politics. He didn’t understand me. Not many people do. For the minority junction is a peculiar affliction that descends on people of minority stock in Nigerian politics, where an appointive position, or even an elective one, at the local or national level gets them all giddy and abnormally egoistic. They go into a frenzy, and a delusion of grandeur. They turn their backs on their people, except those who are yes men and women; people ready to go to the depth of hell to make the politician happy and get a mess of pottage in return. They assume their political and economic progress is made and lies in the hands of external forces, especially the northerners, and to some extent the Yorubas. They see them as the lords over their lives, who they must pander to, slavishly. And they delude themselves that their people do not matter to their dreams. Until the bubble burst and they come crashing down from their lilliputian heights.

    Today, like my NIMASA DG friend, the current gladiators who are killing themselves over the Niger Delta Development Commission have forgotten what happened to others before them. They appear to be very poor students of history and seemingly know very little about playing Nigerian politics at the national level. Like most discerning people know, the on-going fight has little to do with how the agency can be stopped from being used to service the interests of others outside the Niger Delta. Or how an end can be put to it being the go-to-place for funding elections and the myriads other reasons it has been turned to the milk cow, the bastion of corruption that it is today. The forces at play, like I have mentioned in an earlier article, are trying to outdo each other, showcase themselves as the good boys to their external masters who behold them with scorn. This is especially so as 2023 elections are beginning to come into view. To position themselves, they must destroy their brothers and sisters. Like the slave mentality of old, or like the crab mentality, they destroy others hoping thereby to rise. Yet the NDDC and indeed the political and economic development of the South South are crying for salvation as the people sink deeper into poverty and misery.

    Don’t mistake my views. I am all for the cleansing of the NDDC, which I have had cause to call for scrapping. Which means, currently, my hat is in the ring with Chief Godswill Akpabio and the forensic audit team. NO, he is not the cleanest of politicians. He comes with a heavy baggage. But how do you justify the wanton looting of the resources of the Niger Delta where a single individual has over a 1000 contracts awarded him? He collects hundreds of billions and nothing is on ground to justify even a tenth of the money collected. Or how does one justify the young man, who was a Special Assistant to one of the big wigs, who is under EFCC radar now, who collected billions of naira for spurious contracts but pocketed the monies? How does one justify the three trillion naira the commission is said to be owing contractors? But then Akpabio is half smart in illegally disallowing the Board from being sworn in. The NDDC law made no provisions for a perpetual Interim Management Board.

    But then, behind the mask is a contest for power, for the leadership of the South-South region. The main gladiators are all currently Abuja based politicians. They are in several formations. There is the one led by Oshiomhole and Ovie Omo-Agege which incongruously, imposed the Deputy Senate President as the APC leader in the South South. There is the Akpabio group trying to bulldoze its way and hoist Akpabio as the leader of the APC South-South, like it audaciously tried to do and failed, in Akwa Ibom, which made leaders like Obong Attah to simply dump the APC. Then there is Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the man who stuck out his neck and life to ensure victory for President Buhari in 2015. There is Timipre Sylva and a host of others. They can barely see eye to eye, talk less of coalescing forces to fight for the interest of the South South. It is a game of the self. The people are of little significance.

    It is unfortunate that these leaders who emerged from the backwaters of the Niger Delta come with a crab mentality. As it has been proved, if you put ten, twenty or any number of live-crabs in a basket, none is able to climb out. Anyone making progress or attempting to climb out, is quickly brought down by others who believe that the fall of one of their own will enhance their own fortune or progress. This perhaps explains the unfortunate situation of the South-South politicians who daily relive this crab mentality in the process of pursuing individual advantage, hoping thereby to survive in this polity where the odds are stacked in mountain heaps against them.

    At the local, state level, those of them who are governors cast a luscious, envious-green eye at Lagos state. They envy the one called the Jagaban, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and want to be like him in their states. To do this, they cast themselves as the unquestionable demigods, the be all and end all. They assume it is they, and no one else, who must decide who should be councillor, local government chairmen, assembly members, federal legislators and senators. They must decide who would succeed them as governors and deputy governors. They then go all out to look for supposed lackeys and imposed them, above every and any other rightful contender. In this, they are like most Nigerian ex-governors who believe they can still Lord it over their states, even when their tenures have ended. I am forced to think that sometimes they believe that even in death they can raise a hand from the grave to control the governor who sits on the ephemeral throne.

    They arrogate so much power to themselves while they are in office. But the day after their tenure ends, they suddenly, surprise themselves. Confounded, they realise, to their great shock, they are mere mortals, after all. They wake up in their luscious mansions, glide down in their usual pomposity, only to find that their parlours and waiting rooms, and indeed their whole expansive houses are empty. They rush to their phones and not a single missed call. Armageddon. They make frantic calls to their supposed die-hard allies. No one picks or returns their calls. It suddenly dawns on them that the average Nigerian politician is treacherous and out only for his stomach. To their shock, they discover that their genuflecting lackeys have moved on to the latest gods, the new dispensers of the commonwealth. They realise, all too late, that they have become phantom leaders without a troop and without a home base.

    Just take your mind back to the governors of all the states since 1999 till date. All played the Tinubu card, installed their lackeys and went ahead to attempt to lord it over them and the state. Of them all, only Bola Tinubu of Lagos, and James Ibori of Delta state succeeded in this quest. The rest, who successfully installed their successors, have lived to drink the bitter venom of the new gods in power. Take the three current cases, Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel, (Akwa Ibom), Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ganduje of Kano state and Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki (Edo) as stark examples.

    That has informed why almost all past governors now struggle to secure a seat and find relevance in the senate.

    True, the politicians in the South-South or Niger Delta, as they are also called, do not have a franchise on the vices listed above. The ones in the South East are equally as bad, if not worse, despite having the umbrella Igbo social-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo which aggregates their ethnic group. But unlike the politicians of the Niger Delta, they have the same ethnic identity, the gruesome civil war experience and other pluses completely missing among their peers in the Niger Delta, to fall back on when critical situations arise. Even their colleagues in the Middle Belt region have the Middlebelt Forum and Arewa Consultative Forum to conveniently run to as unifying factors. The Yorubas and the Core Northerners are at a different level altogether. They are the two most organised and most strategic of all the regional blocks in Nigeria.

    Within states that make up the South-South, there are no shared ethnic bonds, no shared leadership culture, no known leadership recruitment and training and mentoring. It is an all comers field. There are no unifying strong traditional institutions that bind them. Rather a plethora of traditional institutions litter the landscape. Of course, there is the Oba of Benin, The Otaru of Auchi, The Orodje of Okpe, The Olu of Warri, The Asagba of Asaba, in the Midwest region. We all saw what our main man, the bulldozer governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, did to the collegiate group of traditional rulers in his state recently. Any governor can do same in Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River; and get away with it.

    Unlike most other regions in Nigeria, the South South is bedevilled by an agonising lack of leaders. Chief E.K Clark tried using his connection to the former President Goodluck Jonathan to mobilise the region under his leadership, while Anenih did the same under the Olusegun Obasanjo government. Today, you can hardly find one or two persons who can mobilise their states, not to talk of region, under their leadership. The South South is an open field filled with willing prostitutes who sell themselves, their states and region for selfish pittance. This is where the crab mentality comes into full play. They all end up at the minority junction.

  • Edwin Clark: Celebrating Nigeria’s encyclopedia of political anatomy @93

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    It was in November 2007 that I met Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark at the Denis Osadebey Government House in Benin City for the first time as a career journalist.

    The news just filtered in that the voice of the South South was in government house to visit the then governor of the State, Senator Oserheimhen Osunbor.

    We all the then media aides to Governor Osunbor were in a meeting but had to cut the meeting short to see this enigma of a man.

    I had always read of him from my primary school days so I had the impression I was going to meet an old man clutching a walking stick.

    But to my greatest surprise I met a man standing straighter than us that were still in our late thirties and early forties.

    I was forced to ask Dr Tony Ikpasaja then SA Media and Publicity to Osunbor could this be EK Clark? He affirmed it.

    As if the former Federal Information Commissioner of the then Yakubu Gowon military administration read my lips.

    He asked me to just hazard a guess about his age and I said 60 sir and they all laughed.

    Chief Clark looked at me and he said I am 80years old to me it was difficult to believe.

    Thereafter the man gave us a brief lecture about the Niger Delta struggle before he was ushered in to see Gov Osunbor.

    Spotting a grey safari jacket no visible reading glasses in his breast pocket that afternoon jolted me that a man this age was looking 30years younger than his age was definitely the handiwork of God.

    Again, in 2015 I had the opportunity of accompanying Hon Ndudi Elumelu a guber aspirant then eyeing Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan’s job to his house in Abuja.

    As a Vanguard correspondent I was among the few journalists that sat with him to break the traditional kola.

    Chief Clark again dazzled me as he recalled virtually all Elumelu’s siblings, his mother and facts about his family.

    His memory for once was never faltered before he delved into Delta politics and Niger Delta at large.

    This politician of so many years experience told the gathering that his state, Delta has established a faultless rotational system without rancour.
    This is the position we have taken and it shall remain so unlike some other states in the Niger Delta where power is domiciled in just one zone.

    Today, like other Nigerians, Niger Deltans, the Ijaw nation corporate bodies,and other nationalities, we in ThenewsGuru.com, TNG, join to celebrate the encyclopedia of Nigeria’s political anatomy, a trail Blazer in his chosen legal profession, the voice of the South South, a patriot of many parts, an advocate of equity, justice and fairness as he marks 93years on planet Earth.

    We wish him more fruitful years of political activism laced with good health.