Sylvester Idowu reports on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s
recent visit to Gbaramatu Kingdom and Warri in Delta State, raising hope
for sustained peace in the oil-rich region
There is no doubt that Ijaw’s Gbaramatu
kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has, of
recent, been the heart of renewed agitations in the Niger Delta region.
The area has been the epicentre of
incessant bombings
of national assets, particularly attacks on crude oil
pipelines which has forced the production output to as low as 1.2
million barrels per day as against over 2 million prior to 2015
elections in which former President Goodluck Jonathan, also an Ijaw man,
lost to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.Since the outcome of that election, his kinsmen and women returned to the creeks in renewed agitation for the development of the Niger Delta region which is seen as the source of the wealth being used to run the country.
To stem further destruction of national
assets and agitations, the Federal Government employed several means
including meeting with the elders and stakeholders under the platform of
Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by former Minister of Information,
Chief Edwin Clark.
Buhari had received Clark’s team at Aso
Rock Villa in Abuja last year November 1, during which PANDEF presented a
16-point demand that will resolve what is now known as the “Niger Delta
Crisis” with assurances that the Federal Government will study and
address some of the issues raised.
However, three months after that visit
and to douse the growing feelings of unseriousness on the part of
Federal Government to commence dialogue with the people of the region,
President Buhari sent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on a fact-finding
visit to Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
The first leg of the visit by the Vice
President was to Delta State on Monday, January 16, 2017 to the
admiration of not only the Niger Deltans but all Nigerians as a whole.
As early as 7a.m. thousands of indigenes
as well as non-indigenes had thronged Osubi Airport to await the
arrival of Vice President Osinbajo slated for 10 a.m. Amongst those at
the Airport were the host Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the
Secretary to the State Government, Sir Ovie Agas, commissioners and
other top government functionaries, royal fathers as well as traditional
dancers that kept the place lively.
At exactly 11.38a.m, the approaching
presidential jet conveying the Vice President was sighted and the
airport became electrified again as weary people waiting for him rushed
to the tarmac to receive him. After a brief reception and introduction
of dignitaries, Vice President Osinbajo and his host, Governor Okowa
boarded a Nigerian Airfoce helicopter enroute Oporoza, the headquarters
of Gbaramatu kingdom.
THISDAY was at Oporoza ahead of the Vice
President’s arrival and observed a carnival like arrangement put in
place by the people of Gbaramatu kingdom.
Gaily dressed men and women, young and
old as well as various youth groups had gathered at the community’s
stadium pavillion entertaining themselves as well as visitors.
At four different points in the
community, hired caterers were seen cooking as if a party was about to
take place. It however became obvious that the food was not meant for
any party but for those that gathered for the reception of the Vice
President. Security agents, journalists and other visitors and indigenes
that arrived early and were hungry because of the late arrival of the
Vice President were served freely. It was a sumptuous meal as people ate
to their satisfaction. That was typical of Gbaramatu people whenever
they have a big occasion.
By 12.14p.m, the Nigerian Navy 231
helicopter hovered in and landed directly in front of the palatial
palace of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II,
Aketekpe, Agadagba. There was wild jubilation. Indigenes thronged
towards the “small bird” to have a glimpse of the Vice President and his
entourage but were prevented by vigilante security men placed in
strategic places in the area.
Some monarchs and the Secretary of
Gbaramatu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama were however on ground to
receive him, Governor Okowa and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr.
Ibe Kachikwu. They led the team into the palace of Gbaramatu where the
Pere was waiting to receive them. After the formal traditional
reception, the Vice President, Governor Okowa, Kachikwu went behind
closed doors to have a meeting with the Pere where it was said far
reaching agreements were reached.
Thirty minutes after, the Vice President
came out and strolled to the pavilion where the waiting crowd was
already being entertained. There was thunderous shouts and hailing of
the Vice President who in return waved at the appreciating crowd.
After a brief prayer, the Secretary of
Gbaramatu and spokesman of the kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama read
out an address on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II,
Aketekpe, Agadagba where he reeled out a lot of demands and their
experiences in the hands of security agents.
Presenting the kingdom’s position, he
told Osinbajo that they expected his visit to represent a game-changer
capable of building genuine confidence in the people and Niger Delta at
large.
“Coming at a time of national economic
recession and when the Niger Delta, especially Gbaramatu, has become
more endangered and feeling estranged from the Nigerian nation, we
believe this visit will truly build confidence in the people of
Gbaramatu and Niger Delta on Federal Government’s commitment beyond
hitherto frustrating rhetorics, not just in developing but according
dignity and pride of place to the oil-rich region.
“Gbaramatu Kingdom is tall and rich in
national oil infrastructure that enriches the nation but lamentably
lacking in infrastructure that benefits the people. Against the
foregoing pitiable background, we herein raise issues of immediate
concern, hoping the Federal Government will leverage on same to
reconcile Gbaramatu, the Ijaw nation and Niger Delta to the Nigerian
nation.”
Among pertinent issues, Gbenekama noted
“Gbaramatu’s entire landscape wallows in utter government neglect. It
was against this backdrop that the immediate past administration
established the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, the only Federal
Government initiative that rekindled hope of meaningfully engaging
restive youths and prospect of endearing the people to the Nigerian
project.
“Sadly, no sooner than the President
Muhammadu Buhari administration was inaugurated than academic activities
slated for commencement September 2015 were suspended over varied
interests just as construction works at the permanent site were halted
due to discontinued funding.
“A visit to Kurutie, the take-off site
would reveal a campus that can compete in infrastructure with similar
institutions in the world. It is our appeal that you use your good
offices to remove all restraints and ensure commencement, soonest, of
academic activities in the university to the benefit of all Nigerians,”
he said.
On the militarisation of the area, Chief
Gbenekama told Osinbajo: “Under the guise of searching for oil facility
vandals, oil thieves and other criminals, the Nigerian military has
become an army of occupation, committing serial invasions on Gbaramatu
Kingdom. The consequences have been loss of several lives and properties
and huge humanitarian crisis.
“Continued military occupation,
invasions and unwarranted harassments give a lie to Federal Government’s
commitment to the dialogue option. The entire Niger Delta region has
embraced dialogue as symbolised by mandates for dialogue given to the
Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) which could pan out a way where the
people would be involved in protecting the oil resources that also
benefit them.
“Gbaramatu is not at war with the
Federal Government. It is, therefore, our appeal and hope that your
visit today will pave way for demilitarisation of the area for genuine
and result-oriented dialogue. Dialogue under military occupation and
harassments is dialogue in chains.”
The people further called for
actualisation of the EPZ project, fiscal federalism as enduring solution
to national agitation, adding that “We feel the entire Niger Delta
shares our commitment to dialogue. The Federal Government should deepen
its engagement processes in the Niger Delta and usher in enduring peace
and reconciliation of Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta to the
Nigerian nation.”
He said there was so much expectation
that the visit of the Vice President would be a game-changer in the
region and expressed the profound appreciation of Gbaramatu people for
the visit “which we believe should represent a game-changer, coming at a
time of national economic recession and when the Niger Delta,
especially Gbaramatu kingdom, has become more endangered and feeling
estranged from the Nigerian nation.”
The Minister of State for Petroleum,
Kachikwu, was philosophical in addressing the crowd extolling the
God-given ecological environment bestowed on the people of the area and
urged them to look beyond oil and start thinking towards promoting
tourism as a revenue generating source for the area.
Kachikwu promised the people that the
Federal Government will now focus on development of the area in line
with the tourism benefits.
The Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger
Delta Forum (PANDEF) in its submission said the visit to Oporoza showed
the Federal Government’s readiness to interact and develop the
long-neglected people of the Niger Delta region.
Former Police Affairs Minister, Alaowei
Broderick Bozimo, who was mandated by PANDEF to speak on its behalf,
urged the Federal Government “to expeditiously name the Government
Negotiating Team to engage PANDEF’s representatives to kick-start the
dialogue process for the resolution of the lingering Niger Delta
question.”
President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC),
Comrade Udengs Eradiri, who was at the fore-front of lambasting Buhari’s
regime for its lackadaisical attitude towards the development of the
region also expressed happiness for the Vice President’s visit and urged
him to prevail on the President to do the needful in ensuring equity
and justice concerning the affairs of the Niger Delta.
Aside the issue of Maritime University
and others raised by others, Eradiri particularly demanded for the
extension of awards of oil blocks to indigenes of the region to the
admiration of the crowd.
Eradiri tasked government to come up
with a developmental blueprint for the region so that the issue of
restiveness across the region can be laid to rest adding “Obasanjo’s
regime came up with coastal state development commission otherwise known
as NDDC and the region allowed oil to flow for him to run his
government. Yar’Adua came with amnesty and the region allowed oil to
flow for him to run his government. Goodluck Jonathan consolidated on
this and the region allowed oil to flow for him during his tenure.
President Buhari should tell us what developmental blueprint he has for
the region so we can allow oil flow for him to run his government,” he
declared.
He also pointed out the lopsidedness in
the award of oil licenses recently, stating that it was the height of
injustice that out of about 40 oil licenses issued out, no Niger Delta
indigene was considered.
Okowa in his speech implored the people
of Gbaramatu to allow the visit of the Vice President to achieve its
desired result of bringing about sustainable peace in the region.
“Stakeholders must come together to let
peace reign so that the desired development we are looking for can come
to the region,” he said.
Okowa assured Osinbajo that the state
government was ready to partner the Federal Government and the people of
the area to bring about lasting peace.
He noted that the Vice President’s visit would go a long way to ensure enduring peace in the region.
Responding to all the speeches, Vice
President Osinbajo rose to the occasion saying it is only a fool that
will say there are no issues in the Niger Delta.
With that statement, the crowd rose and gave him a thunderous applause amidst hailings.
Osinbajo continued that the issue of
Maritime University is a done deal reminding them that the bill
establishing it was at the state of second reading in the National
Assembly promising that once it is passed, nothing will stop its
take-off.
He openly acknowledged that the Niger
Delta zone has been neglected and promised that the Federal Government
will establish a roadmap for the development of the oil-rich region.
“We are here as messengers of President
Buhari. I have come with a message for the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom
and the people of the Niger Delta as whole. It is a short message and I
quote ‘we must prepare for the future.’
“The Niger Delta that you see today,
including this kingdom we are now, is an area with poor infrastructure.
No schools, no hospital but only severe pollution. The Niger Delta of
today is that of daily pipeline vandalism. In 2014 alone, there were
over 3,700 incidents of pipeline vandalism. From January to June 2016,
there were over 1,447 incidents of vandalism.
“The Niger Delta of today aside from
environmental degradation, between 1998 and 2016, over 20,000 persons
have died from fire incidents arising from breaches of pipelines…
“Many of the initiatives to change the
story have not been able to make those changes. From the Niger Delta
Development Board in the 1960s to OMPADEC to the NDDC and the amnesty
programme, many of these projects have not been able to meet the
objectives they were set up to achieve. My message to you today is, it
is time to prepare for the future.
“It is not the future of degradation,
poor infrastructure and it is not the future of no roads. It is not the
future of harassment and locking up. Our future is the future of
progress and development. Unfortunately, there is no time because the
future is already here. Fellow citizens, to ensure that the future is
not worst than today and to prepare for a great and promising future for
the Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta as a whole, three things must
happen.
“First, we must recognise the unique
environment and terrain challenges of the Niger Delta. We must also
recognise that the Niger Delta is a special place and a special economic
zone, and then we must treat it as a special development zone.
“And I agree in entirety that this zone
ought to be treated as a special development zone. What does this mean
in practical terms? It means that the Federal Government, state
governments, National Assembly representatives from this region
alongside the NDDC and the civil society representatives of the Niger
Delta people must sit together and develop a plan for rapid development.
There is no excuse for not planning together.
The event was attended by Senator James
Manager; Brig. Gen. Paul Boron; the Delta State Deputy Governor,
Kingsley Otuaro; the first military administrator of Old Rivers and the
Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; one-time Minister of
Police Affairs, Alaowei Bozimo and a member of the House of
Representatives, Hon. Julius Pondi.
Others include Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a
former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development
Commission, Pastor Power Aginighan; the National Centre for
Environmental Protection and Justice (CEPEJ) Comrade Sheriff Mulade;
representative of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta,
Jenkins Okponipre and prominent Ijaw chiefs and clerics.
The Vice President spent much time with
the People of Gbaramatu kingdom but still found time to visit the
controversial Maritime University at Kurutie, about three miles from
Oporoza to inspect the facilities already in place.
At the end of the inspection, Vice President Osinbajo said he was impressed with what he saw on ground.
From Kurutie, the Vice President left
aboard the Navy helicopter for the palace of Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM
Ogiame Ikenwoli I during the visit. He was accompanied by Delta State
governor, Okowa, Minister for Petroleum (State), Kachikwu and other top
government functionaries where he also had an interaction with the
monarch and his chiefs before leaving for the Petroleum Training
Institute (PTI) Conference Centre where a multitude of crowd from other
ethnic groups were waiting for him and his entourage.
A mild drama however played out as some
prominent citizens and monarch wanted to stage a walkout apparently in
protest against being kept at the venue since 10 a.m as slated in the
programme. As at 5 p.m, the Vice President was held up at Olu’s palace
which angered the attendees.
On arrival at about 5.45 p.m, Governor
Okowa, who had earlier been contacted apologised profusely explaining
that the visit was tight and that the organisers couldn’t keep to time
as scheduled.
The visiting Vice President also joined
the governor in placating the angry monarchs, elder statesmen and youth
groups mainly from Urhobo, Ndokwa, Ika that were waiting endlessly to
also present their grievances.
Addressing the crowd, Osinbajo said it
was unfortunate that despite the huge contribution of the Niger Delta to
the development of the country, there was little to show for such.
“No Nigerian can be proud with the state
of development in the Niger Delta; we are all beneficiaries from
resources from the region but, we cannot have instability and be able to
carry out speedy development of the region,” he said.
Osinbajo reiterated that Buhari was
committed to the development of the region, saying, “the issues at stake
are very clear, this is not time for negotiation, it is time to act and
we know the issues, we must all prepare for a future that will not be
dependent in oil resources.
“The Lagos-Calabar railway project is in
the 2017 budget and when completed, it will benefit all the people of
the Niger Delta, the Maritime University will come on stream, I can
assure you that it is a done deal, we must do it; ports are revenue
generating, so plans are on to develop them but, the issue is how do we
fund the projects?” the Vice President continued, reiterating, “the
President is an honest man and my coming here for this programme is
clear evidence that the Niger Delta is being carried along.”
But the meeting ran into stormy session
again after the President of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Olorogun Moses
Taiga presented his address and submitted his document to the Vice
President. The forum took another presenter from Ndokwa nation when
attempt by the organisers to abridged the session to enable the Vice
President Osinbajo return to Abuja because it was getting late.
Most of the ethnic groups were asked to
forward their documents to the high table for onward passage to the Vice
President, devoid of any oral presentation but they resisted. Before
you say Jack Robinson, the protesting ethnic groups, mostly youths had
thronged the frontage of the high table. It took the wisdom of Governor
Okowa and security agents to calm frayed nerves and put the situation
under control before the Vice President was allowed to leave at about
6.45 p.m.
The visit by the Vice President no doubt
was a means of restoring confidence in the Niger Delta. It has become
crucial in view of the fact that the region needs to be given assurance
of the government’s understanding of its plight and the urgent need to
alleviate it. Such an assurance is what is needed to stabilise the
region for the production of crude oil on which the economy depends.
However, it was expected that much more impact would have been made if the president were there himself.
No comments:
Post a Comment