Monday 23 November 2020

SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHORITY ADVERTIZES PROPHET BUSHERI'S HOUSE FOR SALE

Prophet Bushiri R5.5 Million Mansion To Be Auctioned To The Highest Bidder
By Audrey L Ncube
Prophet Bushiri R5.5 Million Mansion To Be Auctioned To The Highest Bidder
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"Prophet Bushiri R5.5 Million Mansion To Be Auctioned To The Highest Bidder(Photo Credit: ZWNews)
Controversial self-proclaimed Prophet Bushiri and Prophetess Mary Bushiri stand to lose their luxurious R5.5 million mansion as the state is set to auction the mansion to the highest bidder.
This comes after, Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, forfeited their multimillion-rand mansion in Centurion to the state after they failed to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Sipho Ngwema revealed ... that Prophet Bushiri’s luxurious R5.5 million mansion in Centurion will be auctioned to the highest bidder.
“The state will have to auction it so that it realizes its value and the money will be given to the fiscus,” he said.
The Bushiri’s who are founders of the Enlightened Christian Gathering church revealed on their Facebook page that they are well aware of the seizure of their assets in South Africa following the court ruling in Malawi. He claims that he is more worried about his life than the assets that are being seized. Posting on his Official Facebook page he said:
“I am also informed that some of my assets in SA have been confiscated by authorities, to which I say: ‘My right to life is more important than any asset in this world.”
“Whatever has happened today, I don’t see it as our victory, neither our lawyers. God has won. Tomorrow is better than today!”
The couple was due in court along with their co-accused Landiwe Ntlokwana, Zethu Mudolo, and Willie Mudolo in connection with a fraud and money laundering case to the tune of R102 million. However, the Bushiri’s skipped bail and violated their bail conditions by fleeing the country.
A warrant for their arrest was issued but instead, the couple handed themselves over to the Malawian authorities and asked for their trial to be in Malawi as they claim to fear for their lives in South Africa.
However, a local Malawi court has seen its magistrate releasing the duo ‘unconditionally’ despite warrants for their arrest being issued in South Africa."

Thursday 19 November 2020

Supreme Court Ruling On Bayelsa Election: Litigants Not My Enemies, says Gov. Diri


 The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri has again extended a hand of fellowship to all those that filed petitions in court against his election.

Governor Diri in his reaction to Wednesday’s ruling of the Supreme Court, which dismissed the last batch of cases against him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the litigants were neither his enemies nor enemies of Bayelsa.

He said they only exercised their rights by going to court and that he did not consider the litigations as personal regardless of the fact that they were a distraction.

His Chief Press Srcretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said in a statement that the dismissal of the petitions of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Liberation Movement (LM) and Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) against the deputy governor and that of the Accord Party (AP) against Diri was the fifth time the governor and his deputy had won at the Supreme Court.

In putting a final seal on the governor as being duly elected, the apex court said the appeals lacked merit and therefore dismissed all four petitions.

Speaking to journalists after the judgement, Governor Diri said: “I have over the period leading to the Supreme Court ruling said as a state we do not need all of this distraction. We are one and the brotherhood should be paramount.

“After elections, particularly when a government has taken the oath of office, we expect everybody to support and bring their ideas on board for Bayelsa to grow and become prosperous. That is why we tagged our government the Prosperity Administration.

“So, today marks the end of all the litigations. If anybody wants to further appeal, maybe he can appeal to the court of the devil. But, constitutionally, I believe this is the end of all the litigations.

“Once again, I call on my brothers that had gone on this appeal to join hands with the government of the day. And what should be uppermost on our mind should be the interest of Bayelsa and not individual and personal interest.

“Of course, it is their right to take their matter to the end. However, I call on my brothers on the other side, who are not my enemies but political adversaries, so to speak, to join hands with our government and ensure that we bring development and prosperity to our people.”

The Bayelsa governor commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other justices of the Supreme Court for their professionalism and for again displaying that the court was the last hope of the common man by standing on the side of the rule of law.

He also urged the Bayelsa people not to despair due to the challenges of the time.

“The times are hard. We are in tough times in the face of COVID-19, which is still threatening, and the dwindling resources of our country and of our state.

“We are still believing God that has divinely put us in the position of leadership to also provide the divine resources for us to develop and prosper in Bayelsa and in Nigeria.

“So, my message to Bayelsans is that there is hope for us and prosperity is coming to Bayelsa. Nobody should despair.

“This is the time for us to bring our ideas to the table. This is the time for us to actually walk the talk and look at issues dispassionately without sentiments and emotions, in order to bring development and prosperity to our state.”


Wednesday 18 November 2020

FOSTER ORGANIZES MEDIA PARLEY FOR SENSITIZATION ON PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL

With a view to promote laudable ideas towards passing the long awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which had scaled through second reading before the National Assembly, a body called "Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform in Nigeria, FOSTER" has organized a one day media parley for community based media isoutfits  in order to fast track information disemination and opinion moulding in their respective states and communities to have their views represented in the bill.
The one day parley held on Thursday, 12th of November 2020 in the conference Hall of Ibom Hotels and Golf Resorts at Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital, had over fifty media houses in attendance.
In his welcome remarks and rationale, Mr. Eke Epia of OrderPaper said that the people of the Niger Delta who are host communities to Oil Companies in the country have benefitted nothing from the proceeds of the Oil and Gas dominated economy. Instead of benefits, he said, the region had suffered amongst other things environmental degradation, environmental population, oil spills, unemployment, denial of opportunities to involvment in the Oil and gas businesses.
He went on to explain further that the Oil and Gas in the soil of the Niger Delta had been like a curse to the people because of violent activities occasioned by denial of rights, agitations, oppression, militarization and and all the circumstances of unpalatable consequences in the region and called on the media to play her role in these words:
"Every of the newspapers we publish carry a message a message as important as the messages or stories we read in every other medium in the world.
"So, it is important for the media in the Niger Delta to look critically into the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and contribute meaningful ideas to involve, include or give a place for host communities in the bill..." Mr.Epia emphasized.
Also speaking, Michael Uzoigwe, PhD expressed appreciation for the turn out of attendees and urged them to consider themselves as partners to revamp the oil sector.

He said when FOSTER started, 2011, the level of the oil sector was very low, because those in power didn't allow the PIB to be passed. So, civil societies, the media and others were engaged to study the problem and to find solutions. He highlighted some of the problems as follows!
* We need to do somethings particularly and especially development host communities in the Niger Delta.
*The budget need to be enough for the development of the Niger Delta.
*The laws are archaic and need to be changed.
*We have to work together, and share ideas.
And to solve these problems, he said, everyone has his role to play either as media leader and as a person from the region. Hear this:
"What is the role for me as a media leader or as a person, how do we convey these messages to the communities and the nation? he posited
Throwing more light to the subject matter, Uzoigwe made a revelation that:
"The PIB had not received host communities involvement, and the bill has passed second reading, opinion moulding is the function of the media, so you need to know what is around you or what is going on, so as to adequatly enlighten and educate the masses."
Engr. Joe Nwakwue spoke on the title PIB and the deal for host communities took an overview of issues about the Niger  Delta which he said is the widest wetland in Africa, and pointed out that in Nigeria nine states make the Niger Delta Region with challenges such as:
Degradation, Infrastructural challenges, Oil spills, lose of mangroves, gas flaring, shoreline erosion etc.
Engr. Nwokwue traced the history of Oil production and it's challenges to the 1950s. Read:
"We have been talking about Oil spills in 1957 which affect plant life, pipeline corrosion and blow out, equipment failures, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, and bunkering amongst others.
"In 2018, about 25,000 barrels of crude oil was spilled into the Niger Delta environment, the water was polluted. the trees that protect the eco-system were also destroyed including fishes."
He spoke about the dangers of gas flaring and said, Nigeria in 2019 flared 325 billions of gas and aimed to reduce flare  by 2020 to 20%. He went further to say that gas flare contributed to global warming, and the endemic poverty suffered by host communities in the Niger Delta, in the areas of health hazards, it confuses and disorientates norcturnal animals, it degrades building materials eg. roofing sheets and blocks. A fisherman and his catch, oil in the belly of the fish brings diseases, cancer etc.
Oil pollution destroys the mainstay of the people which is fishing and farming, Engr. Nwakwue explained.
He noted that the Federal Government took measures to address the challenges of the Niger Delta Region at different times and in the following ways:
"Government attributed the under-development to the terrain and came up with:
*Oil Miniral Producing Areas Commission (OMPADEC)
*Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
*Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) to co-ordinated and to formulate policies to better the lot of the region, but that did solve the problem, that is why according to him the PIB has become a child of necessity to change the narrative of the Nigerian economic history. Quote:
"PIB is one of the oldest  bills at the National Assembly to make the Oil and Gas sector more transparent, increase the Oil derivation to 13% is an attempt by the Federal Government to develop Oil Producing communities in the Niger Delta, but the PIB with the integration of host communities will bring peace and development to all sectors."
Media Intervention and Community Engagement Strategy, Monday Ashibogwu said the media indeed has a challenge to reach out with information on the subject matter which is the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that is before the National Assembly to be passed into Law, but called on the to the as national and not just about the Niger Delta, because it is a national affair. Hear him:
"... when I talk about Oil, I talk about communities, all Oil bearing communities, in other words, host communities not just the Niger Delta, because every part of this country has been shortchanged.
We have separate emotions from the job, this PIB we are talking about has taken 19 years to be passed. As Journalists we need to make enough research before coming out with our stories but mostly with national content and national interest; especially on national issues like the PIB we are talking about."
He said Niger Delta Journalists should avoid sensationalism in writing their stories, they should understand that those that will read them are not ordinary people; but personalities of high standing, he therefore urged practitioners to ensure that their news content or narratives are always right and objective.
Hear him:
"It is not the best to be hot tempered while writing, threat is not the answer, but issue based factual report makes rational and objective journalism, while those who threatened authority attract Governments watchful eyes or descending on them.
He also called on the Niger Delta Journalists to separate  propaganda from news and while writing a story not to make the mistake of putting a wrong picture or failing to check the facts before publishing. He used the medium to emphasize the importance of the use of words in journalism with avoidance of untrue stories and rumour mongering. 
High point of the parley was that, though oil gas had been the air Nigeria breaths through the Niger Delta there had not been enough benefit to be proud about for a number of reasons:
*We have severe balance between the center and the sub national units.
* Nigeiria does not know and don't care to know the overall function of oil and gas to the nation's economy.
* As Nigeiria is growing productivity should have been growing too; but we have become unproductive, because we fight over what we have instead of producing, even if the cake is fading we don't care.
*Nigeiria created a oil and gas exporting business, not oil producing, and that was what we were doing in 1950, that is what we are doing in 2020.
*If you see the FAAC figure you may not be comfortable with the people of the Niger Delta, but 'some of the money went into audio' it never got to the region.
* We need environmental laws for oil and gas companies to live with host communities.
*The PIB is expected to give peace and devolopment to all oil and gas host communities wbich the Federal Goverment had been yearning to achieve for many years.
The Media practitioner as a resolutely declared support for the PIB to be passed to Law without further delay for the peace and prosperity of the nation.



Sunday 15 November 2020

LATEST ON OML 29: AITEO BAGS QUIT NOTICE FROM OPU NEMBE-BASSAMBIRI KINGDOM

The Opu Nembe (Nembe Bassambiri) Kingdom in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has declared From Right Chief (Prof.) D.K Derri of Opu Nembe Chiefs Council & Benedict Peters, the Aiteo Boss left

AITEO Eastern Exploration and Producing Limited persona non grata in its domain as a result of the draconian and mafia- like manner the company has been operating the OML 29.
The Chiefs and the entire people of the kingdom announced this  at the weekend, while addressing a world press conference at the 1st Nembe town hall.in Nembe Bassambiri.
Reading the address, Chief (Prof.) Damfebo Kieriseiye Derri said that the chiefs, elders, women, youths and the people of Opu-Nembe vehemently rejected AITEO on its operation of OML 29 right from when Shell Petroleum Development Company surreptitiously sold the OML 29 to AITEO without recourse to the host Communities' equitable rights.
His words: 
"...that the operational lease of OML 29 held by Aiteo having expired on 30th June 2019, notwithstanding the illegal secretive renewal by the then Minister Ibe Kachukwu, we called for its immediate relinquishment to Government, followed by a transparent competitive bidding process to ensure transparency, favourable fiscal terms to Government and host communities, untainted funding sources and superior operational capacity.
"That the Federal Government-owned Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) should take over operatorship of OML 29, pending when a new, competent and community friendly operator takes over.
"That any purported renewal of the lease after 30th June 2019 when the present lease expired is invalid and as such Aiteo became a trespasser and persona non grata in the OPU- Nembe domain and will therefore not be accorded any social licence to operate going forward."A cross section of Chiefs Council members at the world press conference

Prof. Derri noted that because of Aiteo's recalcitrant behavior towards the land and people of the host communities, subjecting them to abject neglect and poverty, the women and youths went on a peaceful demonstration to register their grievances at the Santa Barbara Flow Station and the Odeama Field Flow Station for days, but that Aiteo did not respond to their needs nor listened to them.
He emphasized that as a peace loving and law-abiding kingdom they adopted a civilised methods of seeking reddress through lawsuits, and petitions to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, NAPIMS, NNPC, NOSDRA and the NCDMB, adding that they were fed-up with the fraudulent top executives they had no alternative than to issue Aiteo quit notice to stop operations immediately, vacate the land forthwith and stop trespassing the land.
They accused Aiteo of fraudulently using companies fronting for top executives to award overinflated contracts to themselves thereby brazenly circumventing the Local Content Act, denying the Federal Government on JV partners on operational cost, and of denying communities of over 90% statutorily reserved contracts.
Prof. Derri added that Nembe Bassambiri's economy was further strangulated by Aiteo's refusal to pay few sub-contractors as well as non payment of surveillance contractors/workers and vendors for over a year all in a bid to render them "weak" and replace them with their proxies.
Inundating the environment with repeated and prolonged oil spillages and blow-out fires due to recklessness, inefficient and hazardous oil field practices in addition to refusal to clean ups, failed or refused to remediate and pay compensations.
Chief Derri who is a Professor of Law graphically gave a blow by blow accounts of how and why Aiteo was given a red card to quit their OML29 fields of operation. Hear this:
" Fraustrated and exasperated, we the Community leadership in solidarity with our protesting people have to address this press conferenc, to issue this QUIT NOTICE to Aiteo and their fraudulent front contractors, so they can stop trespassing on our territory and leave promptly.
"In brief, Aiteo's crimes which continue to stretch host communities to breaking point, besides other deep grievances we already presented in court agianst Aiteo, are:Gentle men of the Press in attendance at the historic world press conference

"The fraudulent use of companies (some named below) beneficially belonging to  fronts for executives of Alteo to award highly inflated contracts covering almost all activities to themselve, thereby brazenly routinely circumventing the Local Content Act, fleecing and defrauding the Federal Government as JV partners on operational costs, denying communities over 90% of community contracts statutorily reserved for them and subletting a solitary few to one or two community members at a fraction of the JV invoiced values through such front companies
"Strangulating the communities already streched subsistence economy by owing even the few sub-contractors community members for years and months, including surveillance contractor/workers protecting their pipelines and vendors supplying food to their workers, in the process rendering them so weak to "justify" replacing them with more proxies or middle men;
"Employing negligible numbers of community people, on casual employment at that and deplorable terms of pay and working conditions, including poor safety provisions;
" Inundating our environment with repeated, massive, prolonged oil spillages and blow-out fires due to possibly  most reckless, inefficient and hazardous oil field practice - refusing to clean up, remediate and pay compensation for years;
"Deceiving communities by pretending over and over to seek settlement, only to go back again on all understandings and compromises reached;
Refusing to negotiate a fair MOU with the kingdom since it came over 5 years ago, and failing continuously on mere courtesies like diesel supplies for communities, throwing them back into thick darkness.
" It's move to arrange a site for deadly chemicals waste dump on our land, without proper community engagement or an environmental impact assessment.
" For the records, OML 29 is the crown Jewel of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, both in terms of production volumes and its singular heritage as the source of the first commercial oil production and shipment by Nigeria, from Oloibiri oil well 1, Otuabagi' in Ogbia LGA. The bloc remains till this day the most prolific onshore bloc I. Nigeria, at present production rates in the range of 100,000 (one hundred thousand) barrels of oil per day. Even at current oil prices, OML 29 has been generating close on #700 billion per annum for Government and its joint venture partners virtually nothing from this.
Photo of Oil Spill at OML29, Aiteo refused to clean up

" In 2014, before the divestment, we tried to engage with Shell but were brushed aside. We then brought our plight and grievances to the attention of Government via the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, the then President and other authorities, including ... a couriered petition and a full page advertorial inThisday, demanding that statutory consent to the divestment be withheld until the grave concerns of the host kingdom(s) were resolved. We were snubbed. With no due diligence whatsoever conducted on these issues and without granting us fair or any hearing at all, as constitutionally guaranteed, Government and shell and Aiteo went ahead with the shrouded and suspicious transaction.
"Consequently, as lovers of peace, we took a collective decision as Chiefs and people of Opu Nembe Kingdom to seek appropriate redress to Federal High Court in suit No FHC/YNG/CS/62/2015 and to, amongst other reliefs, forestall the renewal of OML 29 pending when our grievances are adressed.
"That matter is pending in court. But in what seems now to have been an attempt to slow down the court process, though ostensibly in response to our quest for amicable settlement almost a year earlier, a meeting was called by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on December, 12th 2018, with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Federal Ministry of Justice, Shell and Aiteo attending under the pretext of exploring an amicable settlement. It was resolved at the meeting that our demands should be properly outlined, which we did many times and forwarded to the authorities.Community embarks on peaceful protest to Aiteo flow station

It was also sounded clearly at the meeting that, failing a timely resolution of the issues, Aiteo and its contractors would be presenting themselves as trespassers in our territory from 1st July 2019, upon expiration of OML 29 the day prior.
" While the attempted settlement was swept under the carpet for months, it came to our notice by a publication on page 86 of THISDAY Newspaper dated Sunday 24th February 2019 that Aiteo in total disregard of the pending suit or settlement went ahead to pay the sum of $82 million (equivalent to about #37 Billion) to process the renewal of OML 29 in cahoots with the Resources (DPR). This was also despite several caveats served on the immediate past Minister of state for Petroleum Resources against any backdoor attempt to renew the lease. Does this not signal that oil companies and Government are above the law, that they consider our resort to the law courts as a futile exercise, and therefore encourage aggrieved communities to sieze redress through unorthodox methods?
"We were later in 2019 invited to Accra, Ghana by the self-exiled Executive Vice Chairman and Founder of the Aiteo Group. Mr Benedict Peters, for a meeting to find an amicable resolution. Understandings were reached on some of the issues, including the need for a proper environmental assessment and a framework for sustainable community intergration.
A committee was set up to agree modalities and resolve outstanding issues. However, Aiteo quickly reneged and abandoned the process once we landed back in Nigeria. The attitude of Aiteo's top management is that host communities can go to hell becausu, from their body language, they have the means (obviously from the proceeds of oil and gas in our soil) to co-opt successive political influencers and partner/regulatory agencies.
"With Aiteo's abuses growing unbearably worse in addition to the grievances we had taken to court, we decided in June last year to declare the operator  a trespasser that would no longer be tolerated in our domain from 30tb June 2019 when its lease would expire. 
A cross section of placard carrying protesters at Aiteo

Suddenly desperate, Aiteo begged to be given one week to meet with Kingdom's legal representatives and make good on our grievances. Almost one and a half year later, Aiteo's one week does not seem to be over. We can no longer hold back, as a severely threatened people.
"We do not wish to delve into our claims in pending lawsuit, but are constrained by the continuing aggravations to make this public address, especially as Aiteo's antecedents and regulatory romances make us wonder if there is any point going to court or the industry's supervisory agencies on the avalanche of reapeated violations. 
The protracted fraustrations and impact on our subsistent local economy can potentially ignite a volcanic crisis. For example, Aiteo's insider trading is a violent violation of all known corporate governance codes, and would attract swift stock exchange sanctions for Aiteo and it's executives if the company were a publicly quoted company. Yet, from NAPIMS and others to NCDMB, the local Content regulator, all the industry supervisors repeatedly notified of this sordid practice quietly looked the other way.
"Aiteo therefore continues operating OML 29 like a mafia organisation. The proxy companies used by Aiteo include Cavendish Mechanical Nig Ltd (a company Mr Benedict Peters also confirmed is owned by Francis Peters/his brother, the DMD), Hydra Intergrated Energy Services Ltd, Keves Global and Aviam Offshore Services Ltd. These companies who now execute most of the servicing contracts arising from OML 29 somehow do not experience the same payment frustrations the few local contractors have been subjected to by Aiteo.
"Recently, Asset Marine Ltd, a company associated with executives and agents of Aiteo has taken over all surveillance contracts in the Nembe area. Asset Marine then subcontractor to a few local contractors and others at a much lower rate. Put simply, Asset Marine rakes billions of Naira without doing anything, in the process short-changing its joint venture partner- NNPC and by extension the Federal Government and the Nigeria people. A similar scheme is run on supply of boats to Aiteo using another front, Canvendish. Yet, even the local surveillance contractors are not paid for months, triggering a chain of reaction as the young people who actually do the highly risky work in the creeks do not get paid too. Imagine this kind of provocation in the creeks!
" The implication is that the Federal Government may unwittingly be paying 100% or nearly so of the operational costs is OML 29, instead of it's 55% JV stake. In the meantime, cash calls received by the company and other proceeds from this Oil Bloc in the Nembe Se territory are diverted through carefully crafted schemes to fund lavish jet-setting lifestyles and the acquisition of lucrative mining assets across Africa, for example the $1billion platinum mine Zimbabwe just acquired by the Benedict Peters-owned Bravura Holdings Ltd,as reported by Nigeria's Businessday newspaper days ago, 11th November. And the impoverished host communities of ijawland and Niger Delta, like Opu Nembe Kingdom,are expected to be looking on and clapping.Another placard carrying group of protesters at Aiteo

" As earlier stated, the incompetent manner this prized assets is operated has also caused several oil spills in our Kingdom, some of which are now receiving attention from NOSDRA following the petitions of our lawyers, though they remain uncleaned and unremediated over a year after. At this rate, the mere remnants of our ecological resources and natural livelihoods may completely vanish during the remaining two and a half years of President Muhhamadu Buhari's term in office, thanks to Aiteo.
" Consequently we declare as follows:
" That the operational lease of OML 29 held by Aiteo having expired on 30th June 2019, notwithstanding the illegal secretive renewal by then Minister Ibe Kachikwu, we call for its immediate relinquishment to Government, followed by  transparent competitive bidding process for its re-award, to ensure transparency, favourable fiscal terms to Government and host communities, untainted funding sources, and superior operational capacity.
"That the Federal Government-owned Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) should take over operatorship of OML 29, pending when a new, competent and community friendly operator takes over.
" That any purported renewal of the lease after 30th June 2019 when the present lease expired is invalid and as such Aiteo became a trespasser and persona non grata in the Opu Nembe domain and will therefore not be accorded any social licence to operate going forward.
"That Government and other accountability watchdogs, local and International, should thoroughly investigate allegations that Aiteo is engaging in national economic sabotage and undermining Nigeria's interest, as well as dealing a fatal blow on the local economies of it's host communities, by hollowing out proceeds from OML29 fund massive acquisition in the mining sector in other African countries like Congo, Zimbabwe and Ghana where Benedict Peters is presently exiled.
" That we note with interest Mr President's recent revocation of 6 oil Bloc licences for non-payment to FG, such being against the National interest. We draw parallels with OML29 vis-a-vis both host community and national interests, especially in this era of maximum domestic revenue mobilization as an economic policy thrust for African countries.
"That this press release serves as a Quit Notice to Aiteo, effective 14th November 2020. Aiteo is no longer welcome afterwards .
" That the new operators should renegotiate lease terms for community land required for operations, and terms for community content/participation, environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
"We have hereby put Aiteo, the Nigerian Government, Bayelsa State Government and the World on notice, for the survival and protection of the Opu Nembe (Nembe-bassambiri) kingdom. Thank you and God bless..."


 



Wednesday 11 November 2020

BAYELSA HAD CEDED NO DROP OF OIL/INCH OF BOUNDARY LAND AT OLUASIRI TO RIVERS STATE - BIRIYAI DAMBO

The Honorable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Bayelsa State, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Biriyai Dambo had told Bayelsans and the world that the Bayelsa State Government had not ceded any drop of Oil from the Oluasiri Oil Wells nor an inch of the land at the boundary area to Rivers State on account of the court cases between the two.sister states.
He stated this in an exclusive interview with the Golden Pen Newspaper print and online in his office at the Bayelsa State Secretariat in Yenagoa.
Biriyai Dambo who is the Chief Law Officer of Bayelsa State, spoke on a wide range of issues concerning the boundary disputes and court cases between the two sister states Rivers and Bayelsa 24 years after biforcation.
FULL TEXT OF THE INTERVIEW
Excerpts: 
Intro. My name is Otonye Evans Tubonah, Publisher/Editor-in- Chief Golden Pen Newspaper print and online based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
 Interestingly Bayelsa was created out of Rivers State 24 yeara ago, and the National Boundary Commission within these lengthy years had not been able to delineate the boundary between the two sister states, which has caused disaffection, crisis and litigations, What can you tell Bayelsans and the world, about this boundary matter between Rivers and Bayelsa States?i
AG/CJ: Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to inform you of what has actually transpired, I am Biriyai Dambo (SAN) the Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice Bayelsa State.
On the boundary issue, if you could recall sometime in 2012 or 2009 precisely, Rivers State took Bayelsa State to the Supreme Court where they invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and sued Bayelsa State in respect of the boundary, on the premise that the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa States is Santa Barbara, while Bayelsa State claims that the boundary is St. Bartholomew.
But I can recall that there had been areas administrative maps, the then current administrative map was the 11th administrative map, which gave the boundary or which delineated the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa States at St. Bartholomew.
And there are a lot of records to show.that that is the right position of the boundary.
It would be recalled again, while the Rivers people call it "Soku" the Bayelsa people call it "Oluasiri". And if you look at the Oil Wells we are talking about, they are in Oluasiri and not even in Soku.
From Oluasiri Nembe of Bayelsa State to the Oil Wells is just a stone throw, but from Soku of Kalabari to the same Oil Wells takes about an hour so, on what basis are they now claiming that the Oil Wells belong to them.?
Let me go back to the case filed by the Rivers State Government on the 10th of July 2012.
I could remember, I was even in thàt team.
Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) represent Bayelsa and Fagbemi (SAN) represented Rivers State in that case. You see, at the end of the day, what the Supreme Court said was that the action was premature and strucked out the case and pronounced that the National Boundary Commission which has the responsibility to delineate boundaries within the entire country should go back and delineate the appropriate boundary for the two sister states. "...the Supreme Court cannot now relocate to that place, so they had to rely on whatever the boundary Commission comes up with as the result or position by the National Boundary Commission."
And that was what transpired, so the status-quo was maintained, St Bartholomew was still recognized as the actual boundary, and the funds.were still being paid to  Bayelsa State from 2012, up until the 16th of September, 2019 when surreptitiously Rivers State went to Federal High Court and obtained a judgement by sueing the National Boundary Commission without joining  Bayelsa State who is the party actually affected by any decision that would have come up from that.
They sued Bayelsa State, they got judgement against the National Boundary Commission and now wanted to enforce that judgement against Bayelsa State Government. 
"You cannot save a  man's face at his back" that is what Abiola said, you see!
So, let me say, what was the purport of the judgement? It was quite funny, and a surprise, that the Federal High Court to come up with that kind of judgement, what was it, that there was a letter written by National Boundary Commission on the 3rd of July, 2002 allegedly admitting that they made a mistake in the 11th adminstrative map which gave the boundary between both States at St. Batholomew.
So, they said that letter stipulated that there was a mistake in the 11th adminstrative map, and as a result of that seeming mistake alleged mistake, that the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa is now St. Batholomew, that was what the judge said.
He deemed that mistake now in favour of Rivers State, because if you look at it, even that letter came up before the supreme Court, it came up, it was in the judgement but there was no pronouncement, they just said there was a mistake, and that alleged mistake does not presuppose that if the Boundary Adjustment Commission goes back, it will now move the boundary from St. Bartholomew to Santa Babara which Rivers State is now alleging.
 That seeming admission they were talking about, I mean the judge was talking about, was not in it's true sense an admission to say that the boundary has been moved from St. Batholomew to Santa Barbara there was no prouncement like that.
Ques: You said when Rivers State sued Bayelsa State at the Supreme Court in 2009, 2012 'the Supreme Court made a declaration on the boundary matter that the status quo should be maintained', is it in the legal system that a lower court such as a Federal High Court has tha power to retry a case concluded by the Supreme Court?
Ans: You see, it's not it's not done. It's like an anatema, it's not trite in law, but Rivers did. They wanted to be smarter by that, but what they did was because they knew that if they had joined Bayelsa State, in that suit, the Federal High Court wouldn't have had jurisdiction, it would have been a matter between the two states, the matter would have gone back to the supreme Court, and you know what the Supreme Court would have done? 
The supreme Court would have lambasted them, and said that well, we had told you to go and do something, have you done it?
 So, what Rivers State did, was that they did not join Bayelsa, they now went to the Federal High Court and got that judgement.
Ques: They went to the court with the boundary Commission isn't it?
Ans: Yes!, they went to the Federal High Court with the Boundary Commission, which of origin had a court judgement premissed on the letter of 3rd of July 2002, the court now pronounced that since, the National Boundary Commission had said there was a mistake on the administrative map they are now deeming that letter as the basis to now say the boundary is Santa Barbara, that the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa is now Santa Barbara and that the National Boundary Commission should go and correct it in the 12th administrative map, is that done?
 When they had not gone to the  field, so like I said, you cannot save a man's head at his back.
 This thing came to the knowledge of Bayelsa after the judgement was delivered, Bayelsa did not know anything. So Bayelsa immediately went to Court, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal if initially we brought our application at the Federal High Court as to join as an interested party, and a motion was filed for stay, but you know the thing was delayed for a very long time, so we now went to the Court of Appeal to file similar application. Even after filing this application on the face of the law, and looking at the high position of the law, when an application of stay is before a Court whether the application has been granted or not, there is victorious authority to show that parties must maintain status quo, but instead of that, we don't know what happened, whether it was pressure or whatever the Revenue mobilization Commission was insistent on executing that judgement on behalf of Rivers State Government on paying the funds, derived from the federation account to Rivers State.
 So, the Bayelsa State Government said No! It was on that basis, we even wrote to the Federal Revenue mobilization Commission, giving them the legal position that look, something like this cannot be done. This matter is Lispendis, is in court and there is a motion for stay, so there is no basis for you to pay .
When we saw that all these efforts were not yielding fruits, we now had to invoke the original jurisdiction by approaching the supreme Court by sueing the Federation which is represented by the Attorney General of the Federation, we sued both the Attorney General and the Rivers State, that was how that matter came about.
So, it was because of the pressure, and it paid up because what now happened, the Revenue Allocation Commission could not make the payment to Rivers State, so they now sat back and instead, what they did was that the they escrowed the source, which was not good enough, because they are still infracting the law, but good enough they didn't pay the money to Rivers State, but it's not good enough for us.
 So, when we went to the supreme Court, this is where I want people to know, that the fact that we went to the Supreme Court does not mean that the procedures we took was totally out of place, the procedure is yielding result, because the funds were not paid to Rivers State, but escrowed. So, I want people to get it clear  that the Supreme Court did not say that it does not have jurisdiction to try that matter, but what the Supreme Court said was that look, "..there was already a matter pending at the Court of Appeal, now you have asked for some reliefs that have some bearing to that initial judgement which the Federal High Court granted, for which you have filed for a stay, now if we grant your reliefs in the Supreme Court, what happens to that matter which is pending at the Court of Appeal, then we will be overreaching the Court of Appeal."
And now even at the end of the day, if the Court of Appeal comes up with any other judgement contrary to what the Supreme Court will give it all means that the judgement will become an academic exercise, and more so the subject matter of both cases still bother on that Federal High Court judgement.'
But, you see, the way we look at it was that we are now sueing the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation, all the agencies of goverment under the Federation.
 So, what we wanted to do is that the Federation now be restrained,  so when we restrained the Federation, we are restraining all the other agencies including the Revenue mobilization allocation Commission from doing anything, because they were insisting on doing what is not trite in law.
Ques: Are you saying, Rivers State was trying to pass through the back door?
Ans: Yes! through the back door, exactly what I wanted to tell you today is that this is an issue that if Rivers State had co-operated, from the unset by complying with the directives of the National Boundary Commission in 2012 that both parties should come to a round table so that all the parties can go and then abide by the directives of the pronouncements of the Supreme Court, by going back there to properly delineate so that the 12th administrative map, the proper position could have come out.
But you know, Rivers State knew that it wouldn't have favoured them so they avoided it, because the position is clear that the documents and everything are in favour of Bayelsa State.
Ques: You mean you have the relevant documents, to win the case?
Ans: Yes! we have pletora of documents, Nembe has pletora of documents. Rivers and Bayelsa are sister states and we shouldn't wash our dirty linings in public. What we are doing right now is showing the whole world, that two states which are sister states, are now having issues, issues that can be resolved amicably.
So, that is the position if you look at it, if the National Boundary Commission had done it's job there wouldn't be any need for all this imbroglio. All these things are happening to us, because we are taking ourselves to Court.
Ques: This is 24 years since Bayelsa was created out of Rivers State, but the National Boundary Commission is yet to demarcate or delineate the boundary between the two sister states, is the delay not politically motivated?
Ans: I wouldn't want to hold forth for them, but to be fair, the National Boundary Commission as an agency of government, when the Supreme Court came up with that pronouncement on the 10th of July 2012, they were willing to work.
They went to both States, that we should come, that was 2013, they said, both States should come so that they will do the needful and determine the true position of the boundary, but Rivers State refused, Rivers State frustrated the process.
Ques: Wasn't that the regime of Rotimi Amaechi as Governor and Tele Ikuru as deputy Governor and deputy Governor of Rivers State?
Ans: Yes! it was Amaechi's regime, they frustrated everything. So we are surprised that Rivers State being a sister state surreptitiously went behind us
and got such a judgement and wanted to execute the judgement against Bayelsa State, is not proper, we.are brothers, we are sister states.
Que: Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, it had  been widely orchestrated that some Oil Wells and boundary communities of Oluasiri in Bayelsa State were being attributed or transferred to Rivers State in judgement by a Federal High Court. What is  your reaction to that?
Ans: The Oluasiri people have been where they are from time immemorial.
These Oil Wells if you look at it as I have already said, are in Oluasiri. Even if you look at the demography, you will see that the disputed Oil Wells are in Oluasiri. There is no pronouncement today, that's why I want even the common man and those that actually understand the intricacies or the legal implications of all these Court matters to understand that "OLUASIRI" as Bayelsa calls it, and "SOKU" as Rivers people calls it, had not ceded to Rivers State; emphasis had not  ceded a drop of Oil from the Oluasiri Oil Wells or an inch of the land of Nembe in Bayelsa State to Rivers State on account of the boundary Court cases between the two sister states.
 Monies are not being paid to Rivers State.
This matter is still lispendi (still in Court) so we should be patient and they should be patient.
At the end of the day this miracle goverment, a government that is all about God and the people, the beneficiaries of these Oil Wells which is Oluasiri in Bayelsa State will smile at the end of the day.
We are not pertubed at all, we are not worried about all these legal 'gragra' or jargons, but we will get to the nitty gritty of the matter, and by the time we get to the nitty gritty of the matter things will begin unfolding that we have documents, we have evidence, undisputable evidence, historic facts to establish our case, and we shall so establish.
One thing I will tell Bayelsans is that the Governor of the State, the miracle Governor is very much in this whole affair. He has put his heart and soul into it, because he knows that the disputed boundary area belongs to Bayelsa State and that is why he said he is going to do everything possible within his powers to ensure that this matter is not handled with kid gloves.
So, we are putting everything in place to ensure that at the end of the day we sustain our land, it's our land, because if we don't sustain it, our forefathers will never forgive us.
For this boundary matter, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has shown desirable sincere commitment, and as a listening and open minded Governor, he wants the boundary matter resolved.
So, Bayelsans shouldn't be scared because the matter is under control.
Golden Pen: On that note, we want to thank you sincerely for having time with us on this special interview.
AG/CJ Thank you!








Friday 6 November 2020

WORKS COMMISSIONER ANTICIPATES BETTER FUTURE FOR BAYELSANS

The Hon. Commissioner of  Works and Infrastructure, ESV. Teibowei Moses has assured that the Prosperity Government led by Senator Douye Diri has concluded plans to spread infrastuctural development to the nooks and crannies of Bayelsa state.
He gave the assurance while exchanging views with the Golden Pen Newspaper print and online in his office at the State Secretariat Yenagoa.
Works Commissioner Teibowei, who played host to some well meaning organizations and individuals used the medium to call on Bayelsans to be proactive with laudable ideas,  creativity, business orientation and service delivery, which he described as keys to become development partners with the prosperity government.
The Works Commissioner who anticipates a better future for  Bayelsa, the only all Ijaw state in the Nigerian federation, despite present challenges has this to say:
"Government business is going on smoothly with challenges here and there, but we are set to overcome whatever challenge that we face today, knowing and believing that all is going to be well."
Using the medium to appreciate some well meaning organizations and individuals working hand in hand with government for the well being and prosperity of the state said:
"Today, I met the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), I also met with the Exco. of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) with other set of people to rob mind and to see how to synergize to improve on the infrastructural development of our state" 
On the flood situation in Bayelsa, he gave a ray of hope in these words:
"Though we cannot stop flood from affecting our communities, but we can do somethings to mitigate it. Flood is something that had been with us, but we are trying to work out a way to ensure that, Yenagoa the capital city of Bayelsa stops being flooded in the near future.
Government will try as much as possible to use our engineers and enviormentalists to develop means to mitigate the issue of flooding in the state capital and by extension take it to our communities in the various Local Government Areas."
Finally, he gave a graphic picture of some priority projects of the administration. Read on:
"The goal of the prosperity government led by Senator Douye Diri is to spread infrastructural development across the eighth Local Government even and to ensure that every area has a sense of belonging.
" We shall do all things to bring prosperity to fruition and so, in terms of infrastructural development as I said earlier, we will spread even,.we will take on the three.senatorial roads, we will take on the Glory Land Drive and the AIT/Igbogene outer ring road and several other roads within Yenagoa City and other communities across the state."

Friday 30 October 2020

NIGERIA NEEDS PEACE NOT ANOTHER CIVIL WAR

There has been so much disquiet in Africa's largest and most populous nation Nigeria, from the day of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, self acclaimed leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) coming to the public space.
Mr. Kanu a young man who probably didn't see Nigerian soldiers or Biafran soldiers during the civil war in 1967-1970, and probably not having practical knowledge or experience on the bitter consequences of war in the massacre of millionss of souls, bombing, killing, maiming, looting and massive destruction of property, for which, he has for some years been beating the drums of war flagging the organization he calls Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) when Nigeria needs peace instead of war.
Mr. Kanu a Nigerian citizen of the Igbo race who claims to have denounced his citizenship of Nigeria, had come out with a defiance campaign against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, calling himself the leader of a "Biafran Republic" that had been a figment of imagination thus creating division, disharmony and distrust amongst the people of Nigeria, creating much tension in different parts of the nation annually that occasion clashes between his group and the state authority, which in most cases resulted in lose of lives and property.
One cannot count the number of those who had fallen victim to the antics of the UK based propagandist.
 Mr. Nnamdi Kanu operates like a propagandist taking advantage of his controversial radio Biafra station, wherby he gives controversial information, announcements and news that misled many youths to their early graves and others to sorrow.
During the #EndSars protest, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu sounded like, he was the overall Commander giving orders like a man ready for vengeance against perceived enemies, in the manner of an infuriated man, ready to cause a mayhem across the nation.
That was the scenario Nigerians found themselves as the self acclaimed Biafran leader, Mr. Kanu bombarded the airwaves with announcements through his radio Biafra, the new media and other networks. He  commanded the protesters not to leave but to continue their protest. It was just like a battle Some of IPOB activities at EndSARS protest:
In Nnewi it was reported that:
"The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on Tuesday, lent his voice to the nationwide agitation for ending Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian Police Force, advising the agitators to regist being compromised hear him:
"EndSARS campaign is leading in the right direction. Only three ingredients are needed now. They will throw money at the issue in the hope of buying people off the streets, but they must be registed."
"Consistency is viral at this stage. Don't allow mental fatigue to creep in. Momentum.has a multiplier effect. With momentum the movement becomes unstoppable.
"These three key ingredients will deliver victory. 
After this, things will no longer be the same in Nigeria. I salute your courage..."
This was how Nnamdi Kanu instigated the peaceful EndSARS protesters to violence as recorded in some states.
In Ebonyi State, it was reported that the protest was not peaceful, but violent according to the Governor of the State who imposed curfew to stop 'attacks by hoodlums'.
"Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi made the curfew declaration in a State broadcast on Wednesday after several attack by hoodlums who destroyed some government and private properties."
In Abia state, it was reported that the life of the Governor was threatened to be arrested by the IPOB leader, as in:
"Kanu Urges Abia Youths to join EndSARS Protest, capture Gov. Ikpeazu." It reads:
"The leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has urged the Youths of Ohafia, Abia state to join the ongoing EndSARS protest and capture the Governor of the State, Okezie Ikpeazu....".
Threatening to arrest the Governor of a state in a widely orchestrated 'peaceful protest' is suspicious like a 'handshake that went beyond the elbow'. 
In Rivers State, Governor Nyesome Wike frowned at activities of IPOB the organization led by Nnamdi Kanu, and made an open declaration in these words,
 "... members of the proscribed indigenous People Of Biafra ... can't use the State to launch attacks".
Governor Wike: "... recalled that since IPOB was classified as a terrorist organization by the Federal High Court in September 2017 by the Federal Government, the group has carried out intermittent processions in parts of Rivers State especially in Oyigbo and other notorious suburbs  in Port Harcourt Local Government Area ... unleasing violence.
"The Rivers State Government had severally warned and even advised IPOB and it's members to discontinue it's insurrectional  actions in Rivers State. 
Instead IPOB unleashed another urgy of violence and destruction inflicted at Oyigbo area and parts of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Tuesday 21st October 2020.
"...this evil, wicked and audacious action resulted in the unnecessary loss of scores of lives, including soldiers and police officers..". Gov.Wike said.
The aforementioned are just 'a tip of the iceberg' compared to all the gruesome incidences of killing and looting that occurred across the nation.
The position of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike's proscription of Biafrans in that State was widely supported by the Rivers people in view of the fact that Rivers State was never part of the Igbo States that were Biafra Republic, as declared by Odumegwu Ojukwu which led to the civil war in 1967-1970.
COL. OJUKWU APPOINTED AS MILITARY GOVERNOR
It was in 1966, then Head of State, Major General Aguyi Ironsi appointed Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu Military Governor of the Eastern Region,
but according to historical evidences:
" The Eastern Region, felt increasingly alienated from the Federal Military Government under Gowon.
 Ojukwu's main proposal to end the ethnic strife was a significant devolution of power to the regions. The Federal Government initially agreed to this solution at a conference in January 1967 but then rejected soon afterward. 
Ojukwu responded in March- April 1967 by separating the Eastern Regional Goverment's revenues from those of the Federal Government"
That at that point there were:
" Mounting secessionist pressures from his fellow Igbo finally compelled Ojukwu on May 30 1967 to declare the Eastern Region to an Independent sovreign State as the republic of Biafra.."
Consequent upon that divisive development, according to historical evidences, 'a civil war broke out which lasted to January 11, 1970 as Ojukwu surrendered.""But before Ojukwu declared his Biafran State, the then Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, created 12 States, which occasioned split of the Eastern Region to 3 namely: Rivers, South East and East Central.."
Rivers State was created for the Ijaw People, and an Ijaw man from Nembe, a Naval Officer,  Commander Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff was appointed Military Governor of the State and was in the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the beginning to the end of the civil war.
It is also on record that, even that Ijaw freedom fighter of  Kaiama who led a 12 day revolution against the Federal Government, Isaac Adaka Boro was a Military Officer, a Major in the Nigerian army. So, Rivers and Bayelsa States were not and are not Biafra territories.
The civil war was dastardly, many fellow Nigerians were killed, some maimed, blinded, when the Nigerian Military ... launched operation."tail wind" it was unbearable which led to the escape of General Ojukwu to Cote d'Ivore, leaving behind his deputy, Major General Philip Effiong who surrendered to the Federal Government.
 His broadcast:
"I, Philip Effiong do hereby declare I give not only my own personal assurances but those of my fellow officers, and colleagues and of the entire former Biafran people of our fullest co-operation and very sincere best wishes for the future.
"It is my sincere hope the lessons of the bitter struggle have been well learned by everybody and I would therefore like to take this opportunity to say that I, Major General Philip Effiong Officer administering the government of the Republic of Biafra, now wish to make the following declaration:
" That we are firm, we are loyal Nigerian citizens and accept the authority of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. That we accept the existing administrative and political structure of the Federation of Nigeria.
"That any future constitutional arrangement will be worked out by representatives of the people of Nigeria. That the Republic of Biafra hereby ceases to exist."
In response, Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon declared: 
'No victor no vanquished"
General Gowon in an interview spoke as follows:
Excerpt: from the archive:
How are going to treat the Igbos:
Gowon: As far as I am concerned right from the beginning of this operation, we've never taken the Ibos as enemies as Ojukwu had made them to believe and has made the world to believe, as far as I am concerned, the Ibos will be treated as equal citizens in this country, there will be no secondary citizenship in Nigeria unless by their own behavior and performance, and this applies to any Nigerian whatsoever.
"The head and the heart is the only yardstick which can judge who will be a secondary citizen. Therefore the Ibos have nothing to be afraid of, they can be rest assured that they have a part to play in rebuilding the new Nigeria, which has just been born. Let them come, let them join hands with us, wherever they are and appeal to them, the Ibos at home and areas not liberated. Ibos abroad, Ibos everywhere, not to listen to the propaganda of foreign press, or propaganda of people who really don't care for their welfare. The Ibos have nothing to fear as far as I am concerned.
Let them come back home I have given them my word of honour. There will be amnesty for anyone who tries to come back and with that I am quite convinced, if they are ready to play their role properly, I think we will rebuild a new Nigeria where no man will be oppressed." 
General Gowon in his integrity.received all former Biafrans into the Nigerian family with equal privileges.
When Ojukwu returned back to his home country Nigeria, in 1982 he was received directly into  the Government party at that time, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was a staunch member without a jot of discrimination.
The Ikemba (1 ) as popularly called by his kinsmen, friends and well wishers, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu was elected as a Delegate to the 1994 Constitutional Conference convoced by Head of State, General Sani Abacha of blessed memory.
Under that arrangement, Ojukwu also with his people founded a political party of their own, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), this shows that the Ibos were well intergrated.
They were also well intergrated in terms of holding high political positions, the Igbo people have received their fair share as it is:
* Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe was Vice President of Nigeria.- 
* Chuba Williams Okadigbo -.Senate President
* Evan Enwerem - Senate President
* Anyim Pius Anyim - Senate President
* Ngozi Okonjo Iweala - Finance Minister
* Oby Ezekwesili - Minister of  Education
* Dora Akunyili Director Genaral NAFDAC and many others.
The Igbo people have been favoured in the creation of States, from two they now have five, so what do they want from Nigeria?
Why is it that none of the Igbo big wigs had said anything against the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB or Biafran Republic, which Mr. Nnamdi Kanu has been canvassing on their behalf as their leader over the years?
Why is it that even those big Igbo political leaders, including those in Government are mute over it, are they in support of IPOB or what?
Nigeria had suffered a great lose no doubt from all angles.
We have lost our own children. We have lost so much, we lost our sons in the military, we lost our sons in the police and we lost our sons in the civilian population, yet we have to embrace peace, because  Nigeria needs peace and not another civil war.