Page 2 Mixed Gill

Amaechi Administration Built On Visionary Leadership\ ~ Hon Nle-Ejii

By Joe Kalu

The present administration of Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has been described as that built on visionary leadership and empowerment of the people of the state to make them realize the keys to unlock their potentials as well as to network all areas to promote peace not only in the state but also in the Niger Delta region.

The Honourable Commissioner for Culture  and Tourism, Mr. Marcus Nle-Ejii disclosed this in Port Harcourt recently while briefing the press on the activities lined up by his Ministry this last quarter of the year.

He stated that apart from the annual Abuja Carnival where the state has made her mark, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has packaged two additional events Miss ECOWAS PEACE PAGEANT 2009 whose theme is “Peace and Development in Diversity” and ION International Film Festival (IONIFF PH, 2009) with the theme “People, Passion and Possibilities, PPP” to boost two year's edition of the state carnival (CARNIRIV 2009).

Hon Nle-Ejii explained that the pageant is slated for November 14, 2009 while the IONIFF will showcase its activities within four days of the 2 week CARNIVAL event starting from Saturday, December 12 to Sunday December 20, 2009.

He further disclosed that the benefit of the projects lined up includes instilling the culture of togetherness, peaceful co-existence among the youth in the state to divert their energy in the positive directions as well as create job opportunities for the people.

The Honourable Commissioner used the opportunity to assure participants of improved security as well as improvement of last year's outing of CARNIRIV. He further stated that each of the 23 LGA's of the state will be encouraged to have a stand at the games village to be opened at Elekehia.

Representative of the “702 productions” a Ghana based outfit explained that it was in recognition of the efforts of the Amaechi administration on consolidation of peace and acceleration of the peace development in the region that the pageant was organized among the 15 West African countries to crown an ECOWAS PEACE AMBASSADOR.

He said the aims and objective of the pageant include using it to build communication platforms, strengthening cultural ties, promotion of peace and development in the sub region as well as to create brand awareness and recognition for the pageant. He used the opportunity to appeal for the cooperation of all.     

Also speaking, representatives of the IONIFF explained that the organization is touring festival that is dedicated to promoting  independent film, documentaries, animation, music videos and student film.

“Each year since 2007 IONIFF is held in a different location in an effort to promote Global Awareness and Unity”. IONIFF 2007 she disclosed was hosted in Hollywood, in 2008 it was celebrated in Dubai while this year's edition is hosted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Africa and from there it goes to Istanbul in 2010.

She further disclosed that the aims and objectives of the film festival includes to bring awareness to individuals and organizations who are creating  socially relevant film, to positively impact our world and to further celebrate and appreciate classical creativity.

In his vote of thanks to former permanent secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Tobias Toby expressed the Ministry's appreciation to those who are labouring day and night to make the events a success adding that the package is one of the outcome of the Calabar retreat for Government officials and assured that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was poised to make Rivers State the Tourism centre in Africa and indeed the whole world. Highlight of the occasion was a drama presentation and cultural performances by the Rivers State Cultural troupe.

Stakeholders in the film industry and the Actors Guild were all in attendance including Mr. Danbala Bisala, Satelite Coordinator AGN Oyigbo zone, Engr Reginald Odu, President Film Producers and the Chairman of all Chairmen of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, and the controversial Miss Ibinabo Feberesima.

Amaechi Prays For Repose Of Late Wanjoku's Soul

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has described the late Chief James Wanjoku as a rear gem whose fatherly advice will be greatly missed.

Governor Amaechi stated this today in his graveside oration at the burial of the late teacher, lawyer and statesman at his home town, Apani in Ikwerre local Government Area of the state.

The governor said that late Chief Wanjoku was like a father to him, noting that he often sought political advice from the man who was also known as a strict disciplinarian.

He pointed out that even though death is anticipated by everyone at old age, the demise of Chief Wanjoku appeared to be painful because of his impact on family members and those who knew him.

The State Chief Executive therefore advised the bereaved family to take heart and accept the death of their father as fate, since nobody can question God over His decisions, describing the late Uzojimba I of Apani as a man that feared God.

While praying God to grant his soul eternal rest, Governor Amaechi reminded his first son, Azubuike Wanjoku, that with the home call of his father, the family responsibilities have fallen on him and should therefore brace up for them.

Other personalities who also gave their graveside oration such as Bishop Chinasa Nwosu, representatives of lawyers and Apani community, eulogized the late Chief Wanjoku for his sterling qualities and outstanding achievements as an educationist, legal practitioner and community leader.

Page 3 RSG News

Rivers Muslim Community Condemns RSUST ASUU Strike

The Muslim Ummah in Rivers State has condemned the attitude of the Lecturers at the State University of Science and Technology for staying away from classes when their employer does not have any trade dispute with them, under the guise of a sympathy strike.

The Vice President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Ahmad Okiri, who gave the condemnation today during the Eid-el Fitri courtesy visit to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt, said the continued strike by the RSUST ASUU is uncalled for, as no dispute exist between them and their employers.

According to the Muslim Leader, “we are aware that the present administration has done a lot for their welfare being the best in the South-South, and we the Muslim Ummah therefore call on the RSUST ASUU to go back to work immediately”.

He explained that Rivers Students have suffered tremendous hardship since the ASUU strike commenced and wondered what the RSUST ASUU would gain from the sympathy strike that has lingered for so long, and advised them to consider the plight of the students whom they are paid to teach.

Alhaji Okiri, however, appealed to the federal government and other well meaning Nigerians to intervene and resolve the differences to end the ASUU strike at the centre, in the interest of the students.

The State Islamic Leader commended the state government for enhancing inter-religious harmony in the state, especially for successfully hosting the meeting of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Port Harcourt, and for the university scholarship programme and infrastructural development in the state while urging the government to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Receiving the Muslim delegation on behalf of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Magnus Abe, lauded the Muslim Community in the state for the peaceful and mature manner they conduct themselves.

Governor Amaechi noted that Rivers State is one of the few states in the federation that has not witnessed religious crisis and attributed it to the tolerance among people of various religious inclinations in the state.

The Governor called on the Muslim leadership to extend a hand of fellowship to all Islamic faithfuls in the state so as to ensure peace and harmony within their ranks.

The State Chief Executive also appealed to Muslims in the state to support the efforts of government towards restoring sanity in the society as government was taking some painful decisions to correct the anomalies of the past.

On the deplorable condition of roads in the state capital and its environs, he explained that government has already directed the Ministry of Works and the Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Agency to carry out remedial work to make them passable.

On the sympathy strike embarked upon by lecturers of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Governor Amaechi condemned the action, describing it as unpatriotic, wicked and mischievous.

Governor Amaechi Tasks Muslims On Nigeria’s Unity

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has called on Nigerians to pursue the path of unity and progress as part of measures to promote economic and cross cultural growth in the nation.

Governor Amaechi said this in Port Harcourt, in his Salah message to Muslims in the state in the celebration of Eidel-Fitri.

The Governor, who described unity as the best asset Nigerians can bequeath to their children, said the country stands to gain a lot from the unity of purpose and understanding between all sections of the country.

He emphasized the need to be thorough and truthful in taking decisions that involve the generality of Nigerians while assuring that the Rivers State Government is committed to the growth and unity of the country.

“Events such as Salah calls for sober reflections as the things we do and say need to be re-assessed especially if such things were not done in good faith”.

The Governor congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of their fasting and prayed that the country and its aspirations benefit from the blessings of Salah.

“It is also pertinent for us to re-dedicate ourselves to the service of the nation and serve with an unrivalled passion as we march forwards the attainment of the Seven-Point Agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

RSG Explains Choice Of Calabar For Retreat

The Rivers State Government has given reasons why all its top officials converged on Calabar, the Cross River State capital, for a 4-day strategic retreat earlier this month.

The Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Blessing Wikina, made the clarification today, in a statement to newsmen on the achievements of the retreat.

He said the decision to take the retreat to Calabar was to ensure that all top government functionaries, including Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and his Deputy Engr. Tele Ikuru, were not distracted throughout the duration of the retreat.

According to him, “all government wanted was an interruption-free retreat, and you will agree with me that Calabar provides one such environment”, stressing that the government functionaries had a fruitful deliberation at the retreat.

“Besides, no government dignitary went to Calabar with their personal or official car. Everybody, including the Governor, went in buses, and that was part of the strategy to ensure full concentration”, he said, adding, all participants were lodged at the Amber Hotel, Tinapap, where visitors were restricted because of the premium Governor Amaechi placed on the retreat and its outcome.

The Acting Chief Press Secretary explained further that the decision to hold the retreat in Calabar was in line with the agreement reached at the South-South Economic Summit, wherein regional integration was encouraged by all governments of the South-South region, adding that Rivers State was a part of that decision.

“We are satisfied with the level of concentration officials had in Calabar, we are equally satisfied over the successes recorded, and we can safely assure that the state government remains committed to improving the lot of the people”, he noted.

I Will Attend Ex-Militants Graduation Ceremony….Defence Minister

The Hon Minister of Defence, General Godwin Osagie Abbe (Rtd), says he would be attending the graduation ceremony of 300 ex-militants, at Okehi, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday.

General Abbe who gave this indication over the weekend at the Port Harcourt Airforce Base, while exchanging views with Governor Amaechi, said the Federal Government has a lot to learn from the efforts of the Rivers State Government in planning and implementing a detailed rehabilitation programme for repentant militants.

General Abbe said the state’s programme for repentant militants underscores the seriousness and sincerity of the government towards stemming the tide of militancy.

The Minister who lauded Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for initiating a programme that uniquely empowers the repentant youths, noting that the state government efforts has accorded the process the needed credibility.

As a measure of support, General Abbe said, he would be leading a high powered federal government delegation to the first graduation ceremony for over 300 ex-militants, at the Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Institute, Okehi, Etche, where repentant militants are billed to pass out from training.

He said his presence at the ceremony would further underscore the federal government’s seriousness with Mr President’s Amnesty Programme, which offers a sincere widow to our youths who may have derailed in the past, to re-integrate back into their communities.

The State Social Rehabilitation Centre, Okehi, in Etche Local Government Area would formally be passing out the first batch of graduads that participated in the training programme for ex-militants on Thursday, September 24, 2009.

Page 5 Cover News

Amaechi Wins War Against Militancy ...Graduates 229 Militants Yar’Adua’s Men To attend

Paschal Agbada and Wilson Uchendu

The Rivers State Government has concluded arrangements to graduate the first batch of its rehabilitated ex-militants.

Come Thursday, September 24th, all roads will lead to Port Harcourt,  Rivers State in what is being termed the first rehabilitation exercise of that nature to be organized by any state in the federation.

The Chairman of the Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Committee Chief Albert Horsefall when contacted by newsmen acceded to the ground breaking event. He stressed that the Federal Government has set in notion plans to send a high powered delegation. This delegation Beam Checks learnt will be led by the Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty and Disarmament for Militants in the Niger Delta, General Godwin Abbe (Rtd).

A source confirmed to this publication that the Minister during a visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt hinted on the preparedness of the FG to take part in the send forth ceremony.

Our source disclosed that the Federal Government will seriously take part in the graduation ceremony of these rehabilitated ex-cultists and militants.

Quoting our source further, he said “that it is likely the President Alhaji Umar Musa Yar'Adua will be sending his personal representative in the person of the Minister of Defence.

The Defence Minister, Abbe was quoted as saying that if this approach by the Rivers State Government is adopted by all other states in the region, the issue of restiveness will be a thing of the past.

The Chairman of the Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Committee and former Director General, State Security Service (SSS) Chief Horsfal emphasized on the strategies used to rehabilitate the youths as fullproof as they majored in farming, carpentry, fashion designing, welding and hairdressing.

Irrespective of these skills-acquisition programmes, the Rivers State Government has gone further in its pronouncement stating that any of  the ex-militants interested in furthering his education will be offered scholarship up to the tertiary level.

The former security chieftain was full of enthusiasm that after the send forth ceremony the repentant militants will turn out good and responsible citizens of Nigeria capable of shouldering their responsibilities instead of carrying arms.

The Governor of the State Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi thus has proved critics wrong as when he took over the leadership of the State he had insisted that there was no negotiation with militants. The latest development remains a pointer to the fact that where there is a will there is a way. He has shown that his thoughts for the militants are even better than what the militants think for themselves, having been the first to introduce rehabilitation to the whole scenario.

RSG Flags Off “Operation Zero Pot Holes”  In Port Harcourt

By Joe Kalu

The Rivers State Ministry of Works has formally flagged off “operation zero potholes” in Port Harcourt and its environs.

The exercise is to provide immediate remedial work on bad roads in the state.

Rivers state Commissioner for Works, Hon. Dakuku Peterside said the massive road construction going on in the state is responsible for the pressure on the existing roads hence potholes and gullies.

He said the intervention work will make the road temporarily passable.

The commissioner explained that the heavy rainfall this year was responsible for the delay in the completion of most of the road construction works which he said hopefully will be vigorously pursued in the coming dry season.

He also used the opportunity to disclose that some technical and contractual agreements were the cause of the slow pace of work on some construction road sites and flyovers like the Eliozu and Agip round about flyovers.

He however, appealed to road users and indeed Rivers people to be patient with the state government which he said means well.

Among those present at the ceremony were the permanent secretary and other directors in the ministry.

In another development, the HOPE Democratic Party, HDP has thrown its weight behind the on-going Urban Renewal Programme of the Rivers State Government in Port Harcourt.

The National Chairman of the party and presidential candidate in the 2007 general elections Chief Ambrose Owuru, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the demolition of the waterfronts in Port Harcourt was a welcome development.

Chief Owuru however faulted the state government's action of paying compensation only to property owners excluding the tenants.

“My party position is that we, on the face of it will agree with the Urban Renewal Programme of course, that is commendable.

Though we have not been consulted as stakeholders of the state, we might not be abreast with the reasons adduced by the administration, but we believe the government is sincere and means well about the programme”.

Commenting on the state of roads in Port Harcourt, the Hope Democratic Party leader advised the State Government to ensure contracts are awarded to reputable firms.

He noted that such firms should be made to create alternative roads while construction of major roads are going on.

“I think the Government should try to award contracts to reputable firms as a way of solving part of the problem because the experience we had coming into Port Harcourt from the airport was something else”, he noted.

He stated further that money was not the problem of the state and was quick to condemn those he noted rush in to commend government unnecessarily in the face of stacking realities “, we have the money to do quite a lot and I know the state government is committed to this reality” he submitted. 

Page 7 Feature

Gov Amaechi And His Journey In The Murky Rivers Politics And Governance- Part 1.

The tremendous successes recorded by the Amaechi-led government in different sectors of the economy have not only improved the lot of the people of the state but they have helped to work him to the threshold of national politics and leadership. Though the governor started late, five months after his colleagues, having had to battle for his lost mandate and the injustice meted on him by his political party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through the Nigerian Courts culminating in the Apex Court on October 25, 2007, through unparalleled tenacity and unequalled capacity for hard work and being the most celebrated agent of change in governance, Amaechi has gradually and systematically grounded his feet at the apex of national political prominence thereby giving him due consideration for any plum job in transforming the wobbling nation which has been bedeviled by decaying infrastructure. He has successfully bridged the gap created by the five months-period in which his cousin, Celestine Omehia had unlawfully  reigned as the governor of the state thereby slowing down the process of development as he battled contractors who had received full payments for jobs yet to be done.

Gov. Amaechi is not deterred by all the political and legal brouhaha as he focused on his primary purpose of building a better state which has further given him pre-eminence. His insistence on hard work, due process, rule of law and adherence to principles has often placed him far and above those who prefer mediocrity in governance in order to feather the nests of political godfathers. This was probably the reason why those who were bent on stopping him as he sought to become the next governor after his mentor, Dr. Peter  Odili shot themselves in the foot. But his records today show that his divine coming has helped the state in rising from a snail speed growth to a more rapid transformation as mediocrity is no longer acceptable in the Nigerian state particularly in the volatile Niger Delta region which has become an international issue.  Those who are competent can no longer be shut out in governance by those who constitute themselves as the cabal.

Two years down the ladder, Gov. Amaechi has shown that he does not lack the courage to keep moving forward even when the odds seem to be against him. His policies and programmes are being guided by the dynamics of the real issues on ground rather than stick to unnecessary sentiments that usually go with politicking. The Rivers Governor who was quoted as saying he does not need a second tenure, in truth, would prefer to take actions that are for the enhancement of the peoples interest as they look up to him instead of mortgaging the future of the people for a second term ticket. While in most cases in the past, political office holders who seek a second term in office would often give the impression that they deserve to remain in power because they sought the face of God, but here we see a different scenario where the people marvel at the simplicity of government despite all the paraphernalia of office in which he finds himself, yet he chooses to be found among the masses. His style is unequalled as the state has never witnessed this kind of freedom and liberty where a sitting governor reaches out to the people through direct contact.

The challenges are numerous particularly on the issue of security and provision of meaningful infrastructure, but the man is bent on putting an end to the politics of bitterness and exclusion which has been characterized by false promises. Even though the challenges are there and may not be met easily, for him, with the support of the people, they will definitely be met. The state of things in the state call for swift and bold action which requires a man who does not lack the courage and the political will to move against criminals who have over the years held the state hostage with a show of arrogance as they inhabit even the waterfronts which are no less than slums, having access to the waterways from where they operate from. Despite the hue and cry by those who may only want to assert their ownership of the lands that cover the waterfronts, the real people who have lost properties and family members in past due to cult clashes appreciate the courage of the governor to compensate those affected by the transformation exercise.

Amaechi seems determined to do just exactly what the President of the United States, Barack Obama said in his inaugural speech, “…we will build roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age…”

Some may argue that there is no close semblance between the two men; suffice it to say that Amaechi has become the emerging enigma in the political equation of our country, the change that Obama spoke of. Cynics would argue that he is embarking on lofty projects, but they have failed to understand that Port Harcourt with its historical and political relevance in both national and international discourse should no longer adorn the face of a makeshift home of oil and gas business which is the mainstay of our economy. The city and indeed the state deserve the same status which Abuja has.

To be continued.           

Page 8 News

1st N/Delta Tourism Exhition Launched In P.H

By Okechukwu Geoffrey

The 1st Niger Delta Tourism and Cultural Exhibition Fair has been launched in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.

In his address of welcome at the occasion held at Protea Hotel Km 16 Port Harcourt-Aba Express Way the Project Director Chief Bimbo Robert Afolayen described the exhibition as unique. He  pointed out that the people of Niger Delta region share the mission and vision of making the region a most peaceful and prosperous place in the world adding that their collective vision is to also make the area the preferred destination for tourism in Africa in the next couple of years.

He disclosed that their noble intention is to build on the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, capitalize on the new positive and enabling vibes in the Niger Delta area and work with important stakeholders in the Niger Delta in order to move things to the next level, not just in the region but across the country.

According to him, the programme is designed to assist the governments of Niger Delta to develop the tourism industry by ensuring a comprehensive, united and effective representation at national and international levels with a view to ensuring that appropriate macro strategies are adopted. He stated that these strategies require the development and maintenance of an environment in which international and local tourism will prosper and national priority, in which the business sector will be able to achieve successful growth and development visavis the protection of their natural and cultural heritage.

Briefing the press shortly after the event the project co-ordinator, Mr. Kenneth Kalu said the programme was designed to chart a way forward for the Niger Delta region especially now that the region has become the talk of the day nationally and internationally but expressed sadness that the region has been tagged a war-torn zone contrary to the belief, norms and standard of the people.

To make the region a better place for all Kalu said, all hands must be on deck to prove to the world that the people are peace-loving and the only way to achieve this, according to him, is to go back to the peoples cultural heritage.

He expressed optimism that in few years to come the region would turn to a cultural/tourism centre and apologized to elders in the region for the insults they have received from the youths in recent times noting that sincerity of purpose and truth are needed at this point in time to bring their dreams to fruition.

Kalu who decried the negative impression about the Niger Delta said the body was determined to give the Federal Government all the required support to make the amnesty work and said it was better to “jaw-jaw”  than to “war-war”.

He promised that in no distant time those of them in the creeks would be forced to embrace their programmes and called on the President, Alhaji Musa Yar'Adua and his team not to allow bureaucratic bottle-necks weigh his good intentions for the region down while appealing to the people to also be patient.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the occasion who also is the current Chairman of the Rivers State Council of traditional rulers His Eminence the Oba of Ogba-land Eze Chukwumela Nnam Obi II lauded the organizers of the programme for their vision and mission describing it as all embracing.

The Monarch who was of the view that the country has recorded tremendous progress in recent times cautioned those who are always having negative impression about Nigeria to desist since according to him, to be great is to be understood as two wrongs cannot make a right.

Describing the occasion as a festival of peace, harmony and unity he observed the presence of the elders at the occasion as another way of boosting the intention of government to move not only the Niger Delta region but the entire country forward.

The royal father also described the amnesty declared by the Federal Government as a welcome development and admonished those who have surrendered their arms to begin to think of moving themselves and the nation forward tasking Nigerians to hold onto God whom he described as the overall being.

He used the medium to call on government to create employment opportunities for the teeming youths stressing that what has brought about the whole violence was government's inability to engage the young ones adding that the Niger Delta region be given what is due to them, that way, the people can be developed, he said.

He called on the lawmakers, the judiciary and other stakeholders, to sit up and shun politics of exclusion.

The 1st Niger Delta Tourism, Cultural Fair and Exhibition which has as its theme:- Tourism and Culture; a vehicle for achieving economic development and social re-orientation in the Niger Delta” also has the following projects:- Exhibition/Carnival, Food festival, Niger Delta Beauty Pageant (Miss and Mr. Culture modeling and fashion show, Niger Delta Orientation Day and Endowment fund raising.

People between the ages of 17 and above are fit to register and the programme is open to all the nine states of the Niger Delta.

Dignitaries at the occasion included traditional rulers from the region, representatives of the Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, among others.

Meanwhile, the group has restated its resolve to partner with the press.

Film Star Pours Encomium On Gov. Amaechi … Asks For Opportunity To Contribute His Quota

By Paschal Agbada

One of the popular Nollywood actors George Umorr Davidson who hails from Abua/Odua Local Government in Rivers State breezed into Beam office over the weekend and was full of encomiums for what the Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi is doing in the area of infrastructural development.

According to him, “because of what the governor has done in education, security and the health sector, while others call him governor, I call him the messiah”.

George Davidson noted that if past leadership in the state has been like this, that Rivers State with the abundant resources coming into the state would have been a wonderful state to behold. He emphasized the need for the governor to keep up the pace in what he is doing stating that the only place where such remarkable development is taking place other than Rivers State is Lagos State.

He however, pointed out that why Gov. Amaechi stands out is because of the hostile environment in which he tries to administer the state saying that “while Gov. Fashola enjoys a very quiet ambience Gov. Amaechi is saddled with challenges ranging from security problems, to difficult terrains, youth restiveness, etc. Gorge Davidson who has stared in more than twenty home video films stressed that his pride in his governor is that in all this challenges that the governor has been more than a conqueror.

The movie exponent then said  that his visit to the state from his base in Lagos is in connection with his immediate plans to give back to society what society has given him. To this end, his Non Governmental Organization (NGO) which is  into charity will soon be launched in the  state. He said that considering the fact that he has already started doing charity work it becomes imperative to make it known and attract the necessary sympathy the down trodden and the handicapped desire.

For instance, George narrated a pathetic story of an infant school child who limps to school across his house in his native Abua/Odua community. He stated that what attracted him to this little school girl was the fact that the child goes to school on one leg because the other leg has been amputated. Incidentally since he came back he said that everyday he watches as this child hops her way to school using his father's grave as a resting place after limping for a while and then she will continue to school.

He was so touched that he had to go and purchase for her an artificial limb. These, according to him are part of what he has been doing since the past four months he has been on holidays in the state. He emphasized that the work of rehabilitation is too enormous for the state alone to shoulder. That individuals should realize that 'we are all part of the whole system and should try to help”.

He noted that his experience and exposure in Nollywood over the past thirteen years has made him realize that entertainment plays a vital role in development of any society. It is an industry that can earn us enough foreign exchange, change the thinking of the youth, inspire those that have lost hope and has taken to vices and violence  and so bring them back from the brink. Davidson said “You see, thirteen years in Nollywood is not a joke, I have done well, I am fashioning out a strategy to give back to the society”, he was saying. He continued, “I see a lot of hunger in the land, in my native community, though, my chairman is doing well.

At least the road to my village has been tarred with interlocking stones which is quite expensive. I am happy but there's a lot more to be done.

The governor is equally doing well. Infact, I know he is a role model of sorts for his lieutenants. “If he is not leading aright, others in the administration would not have been challenged.

“Nevertheless, some of us in the movie industry feel that it is time to work in synergy with our respective governments to help rehabilitate, inspire and mold our youths into leaders of tomorrow.

To this end,” the movie star who has a penchant for assisting the downtrodden said, “the ruling class, those in authority should not be scared to let us in, they should be open to us, we want to contribute our own quota towards the development of the state”.

He thanked Honorable Austin Ngo, the Adviser to the state government on Project Monitoring, former Attorney  of the  state Augustine Chijioke, Mr. Dennis and Prince Azeru Oziri all of who he said have been inspirational in supporting his charity plans.

He thanked the state Governor and his team of technocrats and his Local Government Chairman Chief Odi Odum for his able leadership.

Constitution Amendment: Governors' Forum Not  Against It

By Wilson Uchendu

Governors' Forum, an association of all the governors of the 36 states of the federation has distanced itself from a report that the Forum was against constitution amendment.

The Chairman of the Forum and Executive Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki disclosed this on Monday while fielding questions from newsmen during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

Gov. Saraki said: “I want to assure you that as far as we (the governors) are concerned, there is no such action or any move against constitutional reforms”.

Dr. Saraki maintained that amongst other burning issues of national interest, revenue allocation, electoral reform, the judiciary remains very crucial and therefore should be touched by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Kwara State Chief Executive reiterated the readiness and determination of his government to continue to embark on projects which would touch on the lives of the ordinary citizens of the state.

Such projects according to the governor include Cement Factory, Aviation College, Asa Dam Expansion Work and Water Pipeline Distribution Network.

In another development to mark the celebration of Eid-el-fitri festival, the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), South-East, and South-South zones, Alhaji Saidu Musa has singled out 2 governors, Governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State as most outstanding in terms of infrastructural development and good governance.

The ACF leader made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.

He called on Muslim faithfuls to cooperate with the government so as to spur them into delivering more democratic dividends.

He urged the two governors to continue in their efforts towards uplifting their respective states.

Page 9    News

UBE Distributes Instructional Materials To Schools

By Okechukwu Geoffrey

The Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board has distributed instructional materials to headteachers/headmistresses in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas respectively.

The UBE Chairman in the state, Sir Alli Oruitemeke while performing the official flagging off of the distribution of materials charged teachers to ensure that the materials were put to proper use pointing out that the present board will from time to time visit the schools to find out how the materials are being used and appealed to teachers to join hands with government to move education in the state forward.

The UBE Boss assured teachers that the present administration in the state under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi was not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that the environments are made conducive for learning for both the teachers and the children adding that government is not unaware of teachers needs.

He advised them to the children's education as very paramount assuring them of government's readiness to put smiles on their faces soon.

The Chairman who lauded the efforts of the governor in the development of education however pleaded with the teachers to give government a chance and said that the Amaechi-led government was hinged on transparency, accountability and due process and promised that other LGA's would receive theirs soon.

Speaking, Hon. Lucky Worluh described the occasion as unique and called on the teachers to ensure that the materials given to them were taken care of.

The Board members pointed out that the era when government's property was regarded as nobody's property was over and appealed to them to jealously guard against the materials describing the Oruitemeke-led board as open and transparent and lauded the developmental strides of the state Governor Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi especially in the education sector.

Highlights of the ceremony included the formal handing over of the materials to the head-mistresses and head-teachers by the Chairman.

More Tributes To Late Gani

By Wilson Uchendu

More tributes and encomiums have continued to be poured on the late human rights crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinwi, days  after his internment in Ondo, his ancestral home.

Attaching his voice to the coteric  of eulogies coming the way of the late legal titan, was the special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Student's Affairs, Comrade Princewill A. Dike who described the late Fawehinmi as “an indefatigable, indomitable and irrepressible defender of the oppressed, the poor and the vulnerable.

“Chief Gani” exclaimed the Governor's Aide “deserved not to die! Oh my God! Why do bad things happen to good people”. Comrade Dike explained that he got a bit consoled when he reflected on the assertion of Herodotus the historian that death is “a delightful hiding place for weary men”.

Comrade Dike said that during his days as a Student Union President of University of Port Harcourt (1999/2000), the late Gani obliged him the request to deliver a keynote address during the Students Union Week. But this according to the S.A was truncated by the school authority because of his “activism”.

Comrade Dike said, “Gani came, he saw socio economic injustice, he fought it headlong, and he conquered! He lived and died for the downtrodden, the peasants, the wretched of the earth etc”.

He posed a rhetorical question “who knows what caused the lung  cancer? This is food for thought. It is also a sad commentary that his ailment could not be earlier detected by physicians”. The Governor's aide suggested the best way to immortalize the icon is making sure that those ideals which he pontificated and fought for at all fronts, such as, good governance, socio/economic justice, eradication of poverty/graft, rule of law are stoutly entrenched in our societal lives.

Man Rapes Sister-In-Law, Daughter

By Okechukwu Geoffrey   

Wonders they say shall never end. Believed it or not, life is about wonders. This time, it happened in one of the villages (Omademe) in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State where this publication gathered that a man (names withheld) raped his sister-in-law in the farm, left her, and immediately came back home where he forcefully took one of the daughters to bed again the same day.

But the wife who exposed the husband in the process also said that the man had almost slept with all his daughters.

When she reported the matter to Chiefs and the elders of the community, they reminded the man of the implication of what he has done and warned him to desist forthwith or else the gods of the land will not seize to hunt after his life should he refuse to appease the gods.

At the time of filing this report, we gathered the man has been taken to the Igwuruta Police Station for further interrogation as the wife is still nursing a two months old baby which some say maybe the reason why the man could not control his sexual urge.

But then, the question people have continued to ask is, who will agree to marry his daughters in that community?

In a related development, this publication also gathered that one man who runs one of these new generation churches in Igwuruta was allegedly caught by his wife romancing with another female member of the church.

The Beam Checks revealed that when the matter was made known to members of the church the man of God (name withheld) decided to abandon his wife for this new lover and threatened to deal with any one who comes looking for him and his lover.

As it stands now, the pastor is cooling off with the lady in an unknown destination also in that village while the wife is right now all alone in the house.

The pastor has even accused two of this members of threatening his life, just because they managed to locate where he was staying with his new lover.

Mrs Amaechi Tasks Families, Communities On Peace

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2009 International Day of Peace, Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi has enjoined families and communities in the Niger Delta to unite in the crusade for building lasting and sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region.

Dame Judith Amaechi made the call in a statement in her office and signed by her media Assistant Dike Bekwele to mark the 2009 International Day of Peace.

She said families and communities have enormous responsibility to play in the nation's quest for building sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region.

The Governor's wife asserted that the absence of peace has eroded the development especially in the Niger Delta region and added that investment in peace promises great dividends to the people and communities.

Dame Judith Amaechi added that the new wave of peace initiative could be achievable if the families and communities play their roles responsibly, adding that even unfair peace is better than righteous war.

She further stated that the International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for a people to reflect their relationship with their environment and neighbourhood with a view to creating practical act of peace and love.

The United Nations in 1981 passed a resolution to declare September 21 as International Day of Peace and reaffirming the date in 2002 as permanent day for celebrating International Peace Day.

The annual celebration of peace day highlight the decade of building a sustainable culture of peace and non violence for the children.

Page 11 News

Committee Orders Arrest Of Offenders

The Rivers State Interministrial Intervention Committee on Deflooding of Port Harcourt Metropolis has appealed to residents of Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas not to hesitate to arrest anybody found blocking the drains or call the committee with the following GSM lines 08037059158/08056321505.

Speaking last Saturday alongside the State Commissioner for  Works during a radio programme (view point), in Rhythm Fm Port Harcourt the committee Chairman Hon. Godstime Orlukwu described as sad and painful a situation whereby some persons rather than help government lay to rest the problem of flooding that has terrorized the city in recent years find solace in blocking the already cleared drains warning that the committee will not fold its arms and allow this attitude to continue as anyone caught would be made to face the full weight of the law.

The Chairman who said that people ought to be thankful to God for providing them a governor who has the interest of the people and the state at heart however, lauded the State Chief Executive Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for taking a bold step to cushion the perennial problem of flooding which past administrations in the state refused to give any serious attention.

According to him, the construction of ultra-modern roads and drains by the Amaechi-led government is enough to convince anyone that the problem of flooding will be a thing of the past in subsequent years.

He also appealed to residents of the city to arrest anybody found building on the drains or contact the committee as quickly as possible.

While calling on developers to put behind them the idea of building on the drains Hon. Orlukwu urged the public to be patient as according to him, the present administration in the state is not leaving any stone unturned in tackling the monster called flooding.

Speaking during the interview programme, the State Commissioner for Works Hon. Dakuku Peterside lauded the State Governor for setting up the Orlukwu-led deflooding committee pointing out that with the degree of commitment shown by the committee there was every hope that by next year the people will have every course to smile.

Reacting to questions from callers during the programme which centered on roads in the state, the commissioner said without mincing words that what the Amaechi government has done (especially on roads), in less than two years will ever remain green in the minds of Rivers people as no government in the past ever attempted it.

The commissioner who took time to point out numerous roads constructed and dualized by government in all the nooks and crannies of the state however appealed to the people to continue to bear with government especially on the areas where rains have disrupted the job but assured them that during dry season majority of the roads would be made passable.

Some of the areas where road projects had been completed according to the commissioner, included Elele, Ogoni, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt among others.

The commissioner also disclosed that government has declared operation zero potholes in all the roads in the state which he said would commence on Sunday stressing that the present administration in the state has spent so much on roads.

He used the medium to allay the fears expressed on the Choba Bridge pointing out that experts have been contacted who proved that the bridge had no problem.

He also described the company (RIVIGO) handling the Agip Fly-over as one of the best in the world and maintained that plans are on-going to put all the roads in the state in order.

Callers who demanded knowledge of what government was dong on the Eliozu, Rumuokwuta/Mgbuoba, and Rukpoku/Eneka/Elelenwo Roads however got the assurance from the commissioner that a lot is being done to improve on the said roads.

This publication also gathered from one of the callers during the programme that the Air Force Fly-Over was caving in.

Meanwhile, Hon. Godstime Orlukwu has reiterated the need for the state assembly to promulgate a law that would make it criminal for anyone dumping on the drains.

He however appealed to residents of the city to support his committee achieve its desired goal.

Numbers to be contacted in State Ministry of Works in case there is any potholes in your area include: 08036671272, 08051237788, 08030846088, 08033098253, 08037419090, and 08033098106.

Amnesty: We Would Not Extend Time ~FG

By Wilson Uchendu

Information reaching our news-desk has revealed that the Federal Government may not extend the time of the amnesty programme despite pleas from stakeholders mainly Niger Delta militants.

A source quoted the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty and Disarmament for militants in the Niger Delta and Minister of Defence, Gen. Godwin Abbeh as saying that the agitators for extension of the amnesty programme are merely wasting their precious time and dissipating energies.

The amnesty programme expires on Sunday, October 4th 2009.

The source continued that the minister stated that any militant who does not embrace the amnesty by embarking on total disarmament would entirely be on his own once the amnesty expires.

It is on record that notable militant leaders like Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) had requested for the extension of the time-frame of the amnesty to last till March 2010.

The militant leader had argued that the extension would engender proper dialogue between the Federal Government and his 'boys'.

However, the source stressed that the Defence Minister who some days back led a presidential delegation to Tompolo at Oporoza, Gbaramatu, Warri South West Local Government of Delta State disclosed that as from October 4, the next line of initiatives on the development of the region would kick start.

Six rehabilitation centres have since been established for the militants in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States each having 2 centres.

In Rivers State, a rehabilitation agency has since been established even before the commencement of the amnesty offer by the Federal Government. Hundreds of repentant militants and cultists have been trained by this agency which is being headed by a retired security chieftain, Chief Alberk. K. Horsefall.

The Lucky NYSC Doctors

By Paschal Agbada

It is no longer news that the Rivers State Government intends to make the state the best in terms of health facilities and health delivery service, what with the array of enhancements and sophistications going on in the health sector in the state.

However, what is news is that quite a lot of doctors currently serving in the National Youth Service Corps from the state and even beyond will get automatic employment via the state ministry of health.

What a lucky group! Instead of photostatting and photostatting of credentials in search of job, rather that visit all sorts of Pentecostal Missions in the bid to pray to God for job, these group of doctors who would walk from their respective service year (NYSC) primary assignments straight to work (employment) would now simply plan how to start life.

According to Government House source the doctors to be employed numbering almost  200, will be hired to operate in some of the completed health centres across the state. This is to boost health delivery in the state.

Following a press release from the Acting Chief Press Secretary Mr. Blessing Wikima, the governor made the pronouncement while signing the agreement of an annual partnership between the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Rivers State Government at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In the pronouncement, the Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi stated that 10 out of the 50 completed model health centres are already working and functional. The remaining according to the announcement are at advanced stage towards completion.

Blessing Wikima intimated according to the governor's pronouncements that just as medical doctors are required so also are medical consultants in demand as the ones serving now would soon be retiring. This therefore creates the burden of immediate replacement as the state desires to achieve its aim of improving and sustaining health delivery services in the state.

In the Governor's words, “Our desire is to take health infrastructure and personnel closer to the grassroots, so that patients, especially those that can not afford transportation down to Port Harcourt, can access the health facilities.

“If you look at the way we structured our health centres, each has an ambulance, a driver and facilities for movement of patients when the need arises”.

Mrs. Pelucy Ntambiriweki the leader of the UNICEF team who also is the Chief Field Officer stated that her organization was happy to renew the relationship as it will make way for them to bring issues of women and children to the front burner under the partnership. 

Page 12 and 13 Feature  The Niger Delta: An Overview

The Niger Delta is the largest wetland in Africa and third in the world. It is a geographical area measuring about 70,000sq km and lies in the Southernmost part of Nigeria, stretching from the Nigeria-Cameroun boundary in the east to the Ondo-Ogun State boundary in the west. The area is bounded in the North by Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Kogi and Ekiti States, with the Atlantic Coast forming the general boundary in the south. The whole area is traversed by a large number of rivers, streams, rivulets and creeks, and consists of a number of ecological zones, sandy costal ridge barrier, brackish or saline mangroves freshwater, permanent and seasonal swamp forests and lowland rain forests.

The classical description of the Niger Delta is restricted to a few states in the South-South geo-political zone which posses varying degrees of deltaic features as described above, namely, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States. But today, the Niger Delta is broadly viewed to comprise "about 16, ODD communities in the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers, with more than 20 million people". The major occupation of the people of the area is farming and fishing, which the tropical climate, rain forest, the numerous rivers and creeks encourage. For generations, the rich flora and fauna of the area have been the primary source of livelihood for the people.

Briefly, on my primary constituency, Rivers State, the name Rivers, aptly defines a State with some  major rivers, like:- New Calabar,' Orashi, Bonny, etc.  It has over three hundred creeks, rivulets and tributaries all emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The State is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, on the North by lmo and Abia States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta States. The State is home to the Oil and Gas industry, the mainstay of Nigeria's economy. This industry has huge strategic infrastructure spread across the lands and especially the swamp (riverine) areas of the State.

NIGER DELTA CRISIS: WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT

What is to today known as the Niger Delta crisis is a culmination and expression of pent up anger and frustration by a people from whose lands and Rivers the bulk of the nations revenue is exhumed in the form of oil and gas, which translates to billions of petro-dollars yearly, but with the people of the area left in squalor, neglect, abject poverty and in a general state of ·underdevelopment.

Successive administrations have either paid lip service to turning the situation around or done too little to register meaningful impact. It is this prevalent State of affairs that stimulated genuine demands for a redress, which later developed from peaceful to violent agitation, and most regrettably, its contamination with criminality which appears to have overwhelmed an unarguably justified agitation.

Yes, we say it is a justifiable agitation as C. IKEAZOR in his book entitled 'the truth and nothing but the truth' described the plight of the people of the region in these words "Nigeria's treatment of the people of the oil producing areas is nothing short of ingratitude and disrespect wrapped in a package of contempt for a people whose resources have sustained Nigeria for over thirty years. Oil and nothing else has paid for all the soldiers and dictators toys, the guns, the tanks, the jets, limousines state houses etc. Oil has paid for all the excesses of Nigeria's elites, noveau riche, and civilian and military ruling classes including the traditional rulers, their summer holiday trips, their mansions at home and abroad, their mistresses and imported foreign prostitutes, their Viagra pills, subsided and unnecessarily repetitive hall trips, their fancy night clubs and hotels. Oil has made Nigeria what it is today and yet oil politics and revenue allocation have impoverished, deprived and denied the very people from whose soil it comes"

Ikeazor's postulation is better appreciated when the prevailing condition in the region is physically encountered rather than imagined. Now, it must be emphasized that oil is an exhaustible resource, as exemplified by Oloibiri community which sign-posted Nigeria among the committee of oil producers, and the plethora of dried-up oil fields and wells dotting the regions landscope.

With little or nothing to show for the huge sacrifices associated with the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the region, characterized by environmental/ecological despoliation and a wide range of hazards, including health and other socio-economic consequences, as the industry has largely delimited the traditional lifestyle and occupation of the people, any call to redress such a situation could be nothing short of genuine.

However, the derailment of this noble and clarion call and its corruption with criminality and brigandage is the major point of departure and where a clear line has to be drawn. I have taken pains to make myself clear on this. I am not against the struggle to seek redress over the criminal neglect, marginalization, under-development etc that have been visited on the people of the region over the years. I am against the scourge of criminality, militancy or any other unlawful means, applied to prosecute this mission, as it would be counter productive and would certainly spell doom rather than any foreseeable gain. It is this monster of criminality that I have undertaken to confront head-on and fight to a stand-still.

SUMMARY OF PREDISPOSING FACTORS/ISSUES FUELING THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS

SOCIO- ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

Today, this is the most potent of all the challenges in the region. The prevalence of multi-national companies in the region has made little impact on majority of its citizenry. Consequently, there is a high level of infrastructural deficit, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy ignorance, diseases and alarming evidence of all the indices of underdevelopment. A closer look at some of the socio-economic indicator should signpost a clearer picture:-

 INFRASTRUCTURALDEVELOPMENT

Years of neglect, coupled with a treacherous terrain have conspired to bequeath the region with huge infrastructural deficit. For instance, the region ranks lowest in the area of Federal roads. Most communities in the region are yet to see electricity while others having electricity are yet to be connected to the National grid. Transportation to the hinterland is a major ordeal for the people of the region in view of obvious constrains of waterway transport. Difficult terrain of the region, characterized by swamps and marshy environment has also made the cost of construction much more expensive as against other friendly terrains.

 UNEMPLOYMENT

Unemployment statistics of the region is alarmingly high. With the oil and gas industry wreaking much damage on the fauna and flora of the region and by extension destroying the traditional industry of fishing and farming, most able bodied employable citizens are left unemployed. This is further compounded by an industry dominated by non-indigenes who fill every available space with their non-indigenous relatives.

This is a direct consequence of unemployment, environmental/ecological despoliation as a result of the activities of the oil industry which have shrunk available space for farming and reduced yields from fishing. Other indices such as diseases, illiteracy, ignorance, are also exacerbating factors.

 ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Arguably ecological problems, arising from exploitation of natural resources by oil companies have been a major problem in the Niger Delta. This is because most of the locals' means of livelihood, such as fishing, farming as well as sources of portable water are affected by pollution and other environmental effects of exploration activities. In addition to this, the locals have not been the direct beneficiaries of the wealth from such exploitation lover the years; this has led to various forms of agitations. Ecological problems include oil spillage, water pollution and gas flaring. There are also indications that, the communities are not adequately compensated when their areas are polluted.

· PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES:

The mind according to popular logic is the cradle of all thoughts and actions. Psychological threats are those assaults on the peoples' mind which are capable of influencing an individual or group of persons to hold attitudes or opinions, contrary to the pursuit of National or State goals and objectives. This negative attitude can be nurtured through the misrepresentation of government activities, subversion, rumour mongering and terrorism. The Mass Media plays a major role in this.

RESOURCE CONTROL/FISCAL FEDERALISM CONUNDRUM

Another critical demand of the people of the region is the Resource Control agitation, Derivation Principle and the practice of fiscal Federalism. If we must speak the truth, we should admit that these are vital ingredients of Federalism as we profess to be a Federal state. However, the absence of these core values in our Federal policy against the backdrop of injustice and inequity in the appropriation of State resources have provoked sustained anger and agitation in such a proportion that is impacting negatively on the Niger Delta crisis.

PHASES IN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE CRISIS

If we must tell ourselves the very truth, dissecting crisis of any nature in modern day Nigeria will take us back to pre-colonial "Nigeria" and the role played by the British in amalgamating the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914, as well as the antecedents of British colonialism and the legacy it left behind for the fledging independent state.

According to Kathy HUGHES, "the instability and confusion of the region can only be understood by starting at the beginning of the story. This is not as it would seem, 1960 when Nigeria was granted independence from Britain. In fact many of the conflicts which rage today have their roots in the events which took place while Nigeria was under British Colonial rule."

HUGHES argues that managing the fallout of the contradictions inherent in clamping peoples of diverse ethnicities, cultures, languages etc into one nation goes far beyond the fiat of such amalgamation. It demands a conscious and deliberate approach towards forging 'NATIONHOOD', and it is in this very essential domain (attainment of nationhood) that Nigeria continues to remain a toddler.

The amalgamation of Nigeria threw up three giants that eventually constituted the foundation upon which Nigeria's tripodal political structure was erected and eventually entrenched. This came with all the deficits of ethnicity, nepotism, tribalism, unhealthy rivalry etc that eventually characterized Nigeria's body politics. In the slippery and treacherous atmosphere of this interplay, the minorities weighed their chances and realized how dangerously handicapped they were. It became obvious that their chances of survival in this contraption were not as promising, and this gave vent to minorities' rights agitation.

One of the earliest yields of this minorities' agitation was the setting up of the Sir Henry Willinks Commission in 1957. Exerpts of the Committee report, published in 1958 confirmed the fears of the minorities and submitted inter alia that the entire area be declared a special Federal territory, and a Special Board be constituted to facilitate its development as the area is 'poor, backward and neglected'.

The Willinks Commission could be classified among initiatives applied by past and present administrations in addressing this conundrum, and these responses will be evaluated in detail when he paper approaches the phases of management of the crisis. However, this3egment will continue with the progression of this agitation from peaceful to violent and to a criminal enterprise.

The forebears of the Niger Delta have blazed the trail in resistance against oppressive conduct by constituted authority. Sir George Taubman-Goldies efforts to secure greater control of the palm oil resources provoked the legendry King KOKO of Nembe in 1895 to launch the Akassa war as an "Expression of the king's determination to protect the rights of his people against oppressive power that sought to marginalize and sidetrack them" Azaiki (2003:153).

King Jaja of Opobo, Nana of Itsekiri, Oba of Benin etc had at one time in point challenged, and where necessary, violently, the British colonial masters in one form of protest or the other against perceived oppression. Where this has led to armed resistance, weapons supplied by the colonial masters to facilitate capture of slaves for export have come in handy to prosecute such resistance.

Then came the Jasper Adaka Boro era culminating in the declaration of the Niger Delta Republic on 23rd February, 1966, and later, the 'Twelve day Revolution' which was short-lived as it was crushed by the Ojukwu led Eastern Region Government. Boro was later conscripted into the Nigerian Army and fought on the side of the Federal troops in the Nigerian Civil War until his eventual death at the Port Harcourt front.

Even though peaceful call for redress never relapsed at any given time, the next significant wave of infraction ignited by the agitation was the Movement for Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) era. This witnessed the outrage of the Ogoni people over issues bordering on marginalization and neglect by Shell Petroleum Development Company and the Federal Government. Internal squabbles leading to a major implosion within the Ogoni people led to the murder of the 'Ogoni four' which in turn resulted in the arrest, prosecution and eventual hanging of the "Ogoni nine" including Ken Saro WIW A. Ledum MITEE, who headed the Technical Committee on Niger Delta was a survivor of that trial.

The next remarkable uprising from the region was the 'Kaiama Declaration' which followed the resolution of a meeting of the Ijaw Youths Conference (IYC) held in Kaiama, Bayelsa State on 11th December, 1998. The resolution inter alia ordered all oil producing companies to vacate the region, latest 30th December, 1998. In a bid to forcefully enforce the directive, Ijaw youths engaged the Nigerian Army in weeks of violent confrontation resulting in loss of several lives on both sides, and lives and properties innocent citizens.

After the dust of the Kaiama Declaration settled down, there was relative peace over a period of time during which there was no major coordinated offensive. During this period, especially in 2003/2004, fallouts of the 2003 general elections had thrown up a bitter rivalry clash in Rivers State between gangs and cult groups loyal to Dokubo-Asari of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF)/ Niger Delta People's Salvation Front (NDPSF) and Ateke Tom of the Niger Delta Vigilante Group (NDVG). The fight involved the introduction of assorted prohibited fire-arms eventually resulting in militarization and arms saturation of the environment.

Another development which had earlier saturated the region with fire-arms had taken r1ace earlier, during the fratricidal ethnic conflict between the Ijaws/Itshekiri's/Ilaje's/Urhobo's, for the soul of Warri and other contentious political, land and boundary disputes. This conflict also saw huge deployment of fire-arms.

However, the introduction of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) added a new dimension to the entire saga. In January 2006, MEND kidnapped the first set of foreign hostages and tied their release to the release of Dokubo-Asari and DSP Alamieyeseigha, both of whom were arrested for varying offences. Eventually, the hostages were released under dubious circumstances believed to be associated with ransom payment. This trend complemented with attacks on oil company infrastructure continued throughout 2006, up till about the time of the inauguration of the pr ~sent administration.

Asari and Alamieyeseigha were eventually released by the new administration. However, the criminal component that had infested the 'struggle' had gained roots. Hostage taking did not abate but rather was on the increase. Ransom payment had become a revenue generation mechanism for the militant, cult and criminal gangs; In fact, revenue accruals from this 'industry" had surpassed illegal bunkering, which hitherto had bee'1 the foremost revenue earner.

DIMENSION OF THE CRISIS

· ILLEGAL BUNKERING: theft of petroleum products, refined and unrefined as well as condensate gas, is a preponderant pre-occupation for militants and other criminal gangs in the region. This is without regards for the dire consequences of such indulgence, e.g. environmental pollution, rampant fire outbreaks, loss of revenue to oil companies/federal Government, loss of life and property; etc.

· Cultism and Militancy: The relationship between cultism and militancy is very close. As a matter of act, most of the so called militants are loose Federations of cult groups. While masquerading under various clauses such as cash reparations for communities, a greater share of oil revenues, they commit all sorts of crimes. The resultant effects of these groups' activities are loss of innocent lives, destruction of properties and loss of value, especially amongst the youths, as it is fast becoming a way of life;

· Sea Piracy and Hijacking of Vessels: Sea piracy has become a major threat and imbues fear among travelers along the various waterways that cascade the region. Vessels are equally not spared, as most often the unescorted ones are hijacked, items therein vandalized and at times ran aground. The situation is further compounded by the terrain and thousands of creeks, which makes effective policing not only difficult, but the creeks provide safe havens for the criminals;

· Hostage taking and kidnapping: Presently it has become an all comers' affair for all criminal minded elements. The absence of strong condemnation from political, religious and traditional leaders on the issue has further boosted the ego of these kidnappers. Today, it is taking a far worrisome dimension, as some cases, victims are kidnapped not only for pecuniary reasons, but for sex and other purposes;

· We also have threats of vandalism of government and non-government facilities;

· Unlawful and wanton seizure of companies' properties/disruption of oil companies operations; and

· Massive and debilitating theft of companies' equipment.

EFFECTS OF THE CRISIS

IMPLICATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

Gilbert da Costa, writing for Global Security Organization (26th July, 2008) quoted Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives as saying that "spiraling violence in the oil rich Niger Delta is now a major national security threat. If care is not taken, it will begin to move out o/the Niger Delta and consume the whole nation. This is no longer a Niger Delta problem or a Nigerian problem but a global problem".

The armed struggle and criminality component which have become firmly rooted in the Niger Delta crisis is indeed a "nightmare" as echoed by President Umoru Yar' adua at the last graduation ceremony of the Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA), when he lamented that the Niger Delta crisis remains his greatest nightmare. If the breakdown of law and order in some parts of the region constitute a major concern, the armed rebellion, fledgling insurgency spiced with elements of terrorism and other sundry acts of violence and socio-economic crimes should trigger an alarm.

The crisis have indeed tasked and stretched the Armed Forces and Security Intelligence Community in terms of men and materials, including the Federal and State Governments that invest scarce resources towards the resolution of the crisis which otherwise would have been deployed for the development of the area and other pressing national needs. However, viewed against the backdrop of the potency of the crisis to destabilize the country and possibly rock its corporate existence, such investment may be justified as well directed.

From loss of Human lives to destruction of communities, loss of hard revenue etc, the cumulative loss is mind boggling. "Cumulative earning from crude oil alone has been put at about N84 trillion over the past 45yrs. Last year alone, Nigeria made more than N8. 7 trillion from sale of crude oil". Of course, an aggregate of all other export earnings over the same period amounts to overall insignificance in comparison to this basket.

"In 2008, costs per barrel of crude oil reached their highest ever, while Nigeria's crude oil output hit their lowest in recent times. Prices averaged over $100pbd in January - September, 2008. Average daily loss was put at $65pbd or N7.67bpd".

The statistics is more worrisome as Nigeria in 2008 slipped behind Angola as Africa's leading producer. 1.9m bpd (Nigeria) as against 1.95m bpd (Angola). Effects on the rest of the economy include, spike in country risk perception, loss of investment/potential investment, rise in unemployment

resulting from shut-ins and job losses, increase in crime rate, etc.

Furthermore, cost of production is bound to rise because of "armed contingents that must surround every facility, staff being flown from long distances - like Lagos - to and from platforms in the creeks, loss of Human lives --- And not the least, MASSIVE REDUCTIONS in outputs from shutins/cases of force majeure".

The cost is endless. Destruction of facilities, especially pipelines, flow stations, platforms etc and resultant ecological consequences as well as environmental and health hazard arising from oil spillage and the cost of repairs of such damaged facilities comes to unquantifiable imagination.

States and Federal Movement are also running huge security bills in combating the security problems in the region thereby diverting funds meant for much needed infrastructural development and other compelling necessities.

FACTORS SUSTAINING THIS CRIMINALITY

There are some issues that have contributed in no small measures to the continuation and spread of some of the above discussed threats. These also constitute great challenges to addressing these threats and are considered very fundamental. They include:

· Outdated laws, which unduely favour the oil companies towards payment of compensation arising from pollution that is commensurate to the negative impact of the environment and economic realities on ground;

· Uncooperative attitude of the people, especially in reporting issues to security agencies;

· Unwholesome practices of some corporate organizations having strong relationship with some militant groups for fear of attack;

· Poor response by many organizations in genuinely undertaking Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR);

· Silence and in some cases connivance by some political and traditional leaders;

· Unemployment;

· Illiteracy;

· Godfatherism and patronage by influential citizenry;

· Payment of ransom by relatives of kidnap victims thereby making it lucrative for criminals to continue in the act as well as others to join the crime;

· Availability and easy access to arms;

· Activities of host communities who use youth groups to threaten multinational companies to yield to their demands;

· Manipulation of perception of the State of under development into an instrument of defiance and criminality by unscrupulous elements.

· Involvement of foreign and domestic collaborators who benefit from the problems; and

· Financial benefits from illegal oil bunkering and hostage taking.

PHASES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS

That the crisis still persist is not entirely due to complete inaction or lack of attempts at addressing the contentious issues. Past and present administrations, at Federal and State levels have made conscious attempts at addressing these problems which could be chronicled as follows:

· Setting up of the Sir Henry Will inks Commission in 1957 in response to the concern of ethnic minorities over their perceived slim chances of survival in the Nigerian enterprise, by the colonial administration;

· Niger Delta Development Board, (ND:,)B) via supplementary Federal Government Gazette no. 56 vol. 46 of September 1959;

· Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Decree 1979;

· Special fund for oil producing areas, by Revenue Act of 1981;

· Presidential Task Force for the Development of oil producing Areas of 1989;

· Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Committee OMPADEC of 1992

· Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of 2000;

· Gen. Ogomudia Committee 2002;

· Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee of2007;

· Technical Committee on Niger Delta of2008; and

· Ministry of Niger Delta 2008.

Inestimable amount of resources have been sunk into these initiatives all in the effort to resolve the Niger Delta crisis, yet the inferno rages on.

THE WAY FORWARD: THE APPROACH OF THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT

To say that I inherited a State under siege will be stating the obvious. Armed bandits, criminal gangs, cult and militant groups of diverse persuasions had punctuated governance and socio-economic activities in the State. Consequently, a dusk to dawn curfew had been in place for about three months before I mounted the saddle.

My mission statement was an emphatic zero-tolerance to these diverse forms of criminality. Restoration of law and order was of utmost purity. Zero tolerance implied no formal or informal contact, dialogue, fraternity, patronage or indeed any form of relationship with criminal elements. Above all, a zero ransom payment policy for kidnap/hostage cases.

This was not to mean that no olive branch was offered to the deviants. A clear directive to the effect that all criminal elements, especially the so-called militants, who voluntarily surrounded and disarmed, would be rehabilitated was sounded across the State. This was with a caveat though. Those who have committed heinous crimes would be made to account for their deeds. My Government has kept faith with these guiding principles in driving the security rehabilitation of Rivers State.

Other initiatives applied by the Rivers State Government at addressing the problem of criminality in the State could be viewed from two broad perspectives viz:

- Developmental; and

- Security

Knowing that security is development and development is security, the Developmental approach involves a process of saturating the State with various developmental projects to meet the infrastructural and socioeconomic aspirations of the citizenry. In this regards huge investments is being made on road rehabilitation/construction, building of schools, electrification (Independent Power Plant Construction). The health sector is not left out as overhaul of the health sector by building/equipping hospitals; manpower training etc is on-going.

An eminent son of the State, Chief A. K. HORSFALL is appointed to head a highpowered Government Committee to interface with repentant militants towards working out modalities for their rehabilitation and re-integration into society. Under this initiative, Government has made provision to transform the lives of these deviants and make them useful to themselves and society. Sadly enough, the attraction for criminality has eclipsed and overwhelmed the wisdom to take advantage of such golden opportunity. The Social Development institute has been commissioned in Etche.

My Government has also offered scholarship to several citizens of the State who are in various counties of the world, pursuing academic endeavours consistent with the manpower developmental needs of the State. The Rivers State Sustainable Agency, Micro-Finance Empowerment Schemes into which the Rivers State Government has sunk huge financial resources to enhance the socio-economic profile of the citizenry.

From the security perspective, Government believes that the raging inferno of criminality in the Niger Delta, is a major security problem and challenge. Accordingly, my Government is fully disposed to applying a security therapy to reversing the ugly trend. Therefore, the Rivers State Government has made huge investment in the area of supporting the security agencies to root out this cankerworm.

It should be noted that running and managing security outfits are in the exclusive list and therefore a responsibility of the Federal Government. However, it is amazing, how impoverished and terribly neglected and handicapped these institutions are in terms of operational functionality. The reality is that the security agencies are ill-equipped to cope with the challenges of the region.

Against this backdrop, no responsible government could sit idly by and ignore such stark reality. Consequently, Rivers State Government has invested hugely on the security forces, collectively under the auspices of the JTF and individually in their respective capacities. Such investment could be qualified in terms of infrastructure, logistical and financial support, and these include provision of vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carrier, Protective Vests, Patrol boats and other welfare needs.

Extinguishing predisposing actors to criminality is key in addressing the malaise. One of such factors is the surfeiture of prohibited firearms in the region. This mainly constitute the working tools of the criminal elements with which they terrorize society. The problem of criminality will remain recurrent as these huge stock of fire-arms are not mopped up. The mopping up of arms cannot be achieved through exchange of arms for cash as this has failed woefully in the past. A broad, qualified and attractive outline of rehabilitation package that will present a viable alternative should be emplaced as a departure from the arms for cash deal, and this the Rivers State Government already has on the table.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following recommendations if applied dutifully will have profound far-reaching impact on the situation

i. Government should take concrete steps towards redefining our nationhood to give all Nigerians a sense of belonging and national identity as one people, and to inculcate adequate patriotic zeal and ideals in all Nigerians;

ii. Renewed sincere and more purposeful approach should be applied towards addressing the root causes of the crisis as well as eliminating the causes of persistence of the crisis. A situation whereby the combined budgetary proposal for NDDC & the Niger Delta Ministry as contained in the 2009 appropriation, is not equal to the budget of NDDC before the ministry came into being, does not inspire conviction among the people of the region as to government's commitment towards development of the area;

iii. Laws stipulating stiffer punishment for criminal gangs such as militants, kidnappers, cultists etc, masquerading as freedom fighters. Here, the Rivers State Government has blazed the trial by recommending the death penalty for kidnappers;

iv. Packaging a grand security strategy for the Niger Delta with a view to enthroning security dominance of the area by conventional forces rather than agitators and criminal gangs;

v. Diversification of the economy through exploitation of solid mineral and agricultural potentials;

vi. Government should initiate attractive programmes of demobilization, rehabilitation and re-integration of militants and criminal elements. Such qualitative programmes should offer and provide alternatives to their present pre-occupation;

vii. Experimentation with "True Federalism" with a view to entrenching the component of fiscal federalism and improved visibility of Resource Control, as this will ginger states to maximize exploitation of their resources;

viii. Review of some of the contentious laws that seem to inhibit the participation of host communities in the enterprise of the oil and gas industry. Such laws may include: - Land use decree, Petroleum Act, etc;

ix. Political will by Federal Government to match rhetoric's of her avowed declaration to develop the region with action and commitment;

x. States, Local Government, Development Agencies and Partners, Oil Companies, host Communities should be more sincere and transparent in meeting their obligations towards the people and development of the region;

CONCLUSION

Like a sore on the conscience of the nation, the Niger Delta crisis presents potentialities capable of abbreviating the peace, security and stability of the nation. Governments at all levels as well as stakeholders of all persuasions must not be deterred by the illusory solution syndrome of the crisis, occasioned by previous trials and failures, but should stay focused on fashioning out sincere and purposeful modalities to resolve the impasse, permanently.

Sunday Fire Tragedy: Remains Of  4 Sibblings Burried en masse

By Joe Kalu

The charred bodies of four (4) children of the Igwes who were burnt to death last Sunday (20/09/09) at Ban Ogoni Community in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State have been buried.

The victims were give a mass burial as their remains were burnt beyond recognition. The victims were 23 years old Patience, 19 year old Felix, 17 year old Charity and 9 year old Emmanuel.

Meanwhile, the parents of the victims are calling on the state and local government to investigate the cause of the fire incidence. The father of the victims Mr. James Igwe told newsmen that he lost everything that makes him a man.

“I lost everything I have in the fire, my children, my property and my money which is over N3 million, everything gone in a twinkle of an eye”.

The mother of the four kids, Mrs. Beauty Igwe appealed to the state and Local Government Area to come to their rescue, as they have no means to start a new life. “My whole children all perished before my eyes, yee how can I stand this calamity. Let government go and find them for me oo! anyhow they wan find am make them come help me” she cried.

You would recall that a fire outbreak last Sunday in the home of the Igwes, whose source is yet to be ascertained consumed the life of the four kids as well as their property despite the efforts of sympathizers.

According to eye witness account, the fire started, spread and enveloped the whole house at the same time making it difficult for any help to come their way.

We further learnt that the parents of the victims and their 5 year old last born were away when the incidence occurred.

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