THE CONTROVERSIES OF COVID-19: BAYELSA GOVT. RELIEF MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION IN NELGA

As the Coronavirus pandemic raises on, there are many experiences to gather from the myriad of information and activities coming from different parts of the.Global society.

Consequent upon the ravages of the deadly disease with contagious advantages, the world had strategized to avoid contagion to checkmate and to stop it's spread. 

These measures became inevitable resulting in quarantine orders that all humanity should stay at home: "Lock Down", which means closure of almost all activities; except what Governments list as.essentials, such as medical equipment,

foodstuffs, water supply etc.

The Coronavirus war is brutal and quite different from what obtains in conventional wars;  the tactics are also planned accordingly. The Bayelsa State Government, led by Senator Douye Diri and Senator Ewhrudjakpo as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively have noticeably been proactive in the battle with COVID-19 to ensure victory at all fronts, but who are the trusted fighters, the care givers, the honest diliverers of welfare packages at the fronts, who were they that were assigned the task to safeguard the lives of the quarantined populace to survive and to be in good health?

One of the devastating and or disastrous war tactics the virus uses as a letal weapon is hunger, because hunger is the fuel of the body, which functionality depends  on humanity having food on the table.

Bayelsans were not unhappy with the State Government for announcing to the world that, the Senator Douye Diri and Senator Ewhrudjakpo administration purchased foodstuffs and distributed same to the eight Local Government Areas of the State, which was a most welcome development.

But according to Golden Pen findings the anticipated joy was short-lived, because the foodstuffs distribution took a new dimention when came to public knowledge that items were not for the heads of communities to share as it used to be, but to Ward leaders who dictated the pace.

According to reliable sources at Opu Nembe Bassambiri the Bayelsa State Government Coronavirus relief materials stocked in First Nembe Town Hall, by the LGA Chairman, Hon. Alalibo West were said to have taken to Wards for sharing.

It was widely orchestrated that the formula used for distribution was unorthodox, because the moment it was announced that the items were for the Wards, then it dawned on the majority of the people that the foodstuffs were not meant for the community.

It would be recalled that:

".. the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri while sending the Relief Materials to the LGA'S charged leaders to distribute ... items to Bayelsans devoid of political party affiliation. 

"He admonished those tasked with the responsibility of distributing food at the local government level to put humanity first above politics!

"They are all your brothers and your sisters, the underlying thing is they are all Bayelsans. The physically challenged people, internally displaced persons (IDPS), NYSC Corps Lordge, Bakasi returnees Camp, Orphanages and other overlooked communities are weil considered in the distribution arrangement." Governor Diri emphasized. 

But the said foodstuffs did not follow due process as it went.

Earlier the same Bayelsa State Government reportedly distributed food items to LGA'S:

" COVID-19: Bayelsa government begins distribution of NEMA foodstuffs to Council LGAS ... mainly garri and gunea corn, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) Major Zedekiah Isu rted. who supervised the exercise said the  items were by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), last year to cushion the effect of the 2019 flood season. He pointed out that over five thousand bags of garri and guinea corn... distributed to the eight Local Government Areas."

When NEMA'S foodstuffs from the State came by the SEMA Chairman 

it went directly into the hands of Community Leadership and distribution cuts across all segments of the society.

Every other COVID-19 relief material that came passed through the Community's leadership, most recently, the major Oil Company operating in the area, AITEO and joint ventures delivered relief materials through the Leadership of the community and it was fairly distributed.

Our sources who expressed displeasure at the development pointed out that the deliverance of the 2nd batch of the State Government's 2nd batch of relief materials into the hands of Ward Leaders instead of the Community's Leadership was a grievous administrative mistake.

When contacted to comment on the development, the Chairman of Nembe Local Government Area, Hon. Alalibo West who expressed appreciation to Golden Pen for calling for his comment, stated that due to the Coronavirus "lock down" in the state he may not be disposed to speak.

YOUTH ELECTIONS: I SUPPORT ZONING SYSTEM-CHIEF ENTIRE

As the elections for a new Executive Committee for the Opu Nembe Youth Federation comes closer, a prominent personality in the community, Chief I.M. Edoghotu-Etire had called for strict compliance to upholding the rules of zoning that had been most orderly and peaceful for many years.

He stated this during an interview with Golden Pen News Online in the Bayelsa State Capital, Yenagoa in the Niger Delta Region, South/South Nigeria.

Chief Edoghotu-Etire said the call became imperative following wide spread allegations of moves by some self seeking persons making clandestine attempts to sack or to bury the zoning system for their own personal interest, which according to him goes contrary to the overall interest of the Opu Nembe Bassambiri Community.

Calling for peace and orderliness whenever the said election shall be conducted, Chief Edoghotu-Etire advised as follows:

"I want interested parties to know that there has been a zoning arrangement for the Youth elections, the Presidency is zoned normally to compounds and to Chieftaincy Groups of Houses.

We have three compounds, namely: Sikakapolo, Ogbopolo, and Igbobeleupolo, and from these compounds we have the groups of Houses to which the zoning arrangement for the youth presidency had benefitted many."

He used the medium to graphically posit that:

"The incumbent Youth President, Mr. I. Theo Iruo comes from  Igbobeleupolo and from Pegi Group of Chieftaincy Houses. And from that very compound based on the zoning arrangement all the three Groups of Chieftaincy Houses of Duguruyai, of Iwowari and Pegi have all benefitted.

"The zoning is now going to Ogbopolo where we have four Groups of Chieftaincy Houses:

Ogbu, Elemah, Kalabo and Arisimo and out of these, three Groups Ogbu, Elemah and Kalabo have produced Youth President according to the zoning arrangement and now is the turn of the Arisimo Group to produce the next Youth President, whenever the election shall be conducted," said, Chief Edoghotu-Etire.

He gave a run down of former Youth Presidents, the Compounds and the Chieftaincy Houses they came from in this order:

* Youngboy Bokolo-Sikakapolo - Dede Grroup

* Johnson Theophilus - Ogbopolo - Elemah Group

* Christian Sambo -Ogbopolo - Ogbu Group

* Jonah Ogbopolo - Igbobeleupolo Kalabo Group

* Kuroghofa Walter now, (Chief  Benwari) Igbobeleupolo - Iwowari Group

* Okorigbanyo Yousuo - Igbobeleupolo - Duguruyai Group

* Naworio James Sikakapolo - Tamuno Group.

And it was very orderly and peaceful because of the zoning formula Chief Edoghotu-Etire emphasized, while calling on those scheming to abolish the zoning formula for their personal interest not to do anything that would jeopardize the overall interest of the Community.

CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 AND THE JOURNEY SO FAR

Coronavirus shortly called COVID-19 has become a thorne in the flesh of nation's across the world, and it's like a riddle, the answer to it is being sought from different angles and different quarters. 

The world is hopeful that a sure answer or cure could be found in earnest with the determined efforts by leaders at all levels to put the COVID-19 challenges behind.

Coronavirus posing as a global terror disease had cut short the lives of.many across the world, while others are in different categories of infection. It has been a battle being.fought with an invisible foe, but the nations are determined to win, or get over it by all means.

World leading Organizations such as the World Health Organization WHO and the World Trade Organization WTO have been upfront reaching out to nations with.medical equipment and other related needs as widely reported by the media, reads:

"The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Trade Organization (WTO) are collaborating to ensure the normal cross border of medical supplies and other goods and services.

"The DG of WHO Tedros Ghebreyesus and WTO Roberto Kzevedo said both global bodies..."

were in partnership to succeed in the supplies of medical equipment to put a stop to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

All over the world stringent measures have been introduced to curb the menace, restrictions and appliances were and are obeyed

CORONAVIRUS which started in China spread like wild fire across continents leading to introductions and adaptations of measures to keep safe from attacks by the pandemic rules that are:

GUIDE TO PREVENTION

To be safe from COVID-19.citizens of the world were and are enjoined to obey the following rules:

* Stay at home all time unless you need to leave for essential items like groceries.

*If you are on essential erand wear a clothe, face mask and keep your distance from others (about 6 feets) Avoid groups of 10 or more.

*Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough (into your elbow or use a tissue).

*Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Frequently you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent.alcohol...

*Clean and distance areas frequently touched surfaces..."

The President of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari had put all these and other measures in place  to stop the spread of the killer virus, which measures were replicated in states, with states adding their own measures to achieve the same goal.

The Government of Bayelsa State led by Senator Douye Diri had taken bold steps to ensure Bayelsan do not fall victim to the attacks of the pandemic, to which end  tough measures have been introduced and with the high level of compliance the state is moving forward.

The total of 140 Coronavirus suspects identified in the state  were reportedly tested negative.

Though that was a good report but Bayelsans were not happy for the fact that the said 140 Coronavirus suspects were not tested in Bayelsa but in Edo State, and that had generated disquiet in certain quatres calling on the government to brace up to the callenges ahead with a view to procuring the necessary COVID-19 medical equipment such as test machines, a befitting decease control center at the state capital with drugs to handle emergency situations and permanent cure.

What about the Local Government headquarters and interlands, and what about the satellite towns, the villages, the fishing settlements and amlets, what preparations?

Are there centers for disease control (CDCS) at the Local Government headquarters to co-ordinate the rural areas and the state capital? 

And are such.(CDCS) powered with desirable equipment, with ambulances for both land and creeks for each LGA, in the state with supervisors to reach out to the nooks and crannies of the state to achieve the desired results of preservation of lives from the scourge of COVID-19?

The Media and Security also need to be given befitting attention and roles to play. Government officials on this project for communication purposes needs walkie talkies, community elightenment and general flow of, information while the Security should be equipped of needs to enforce government orders.

On the distribution of welfare packages to cushion.the effect of the lockdown restrictions in the state, Bayelsa Government  needs "Joseph" to co-ordinate for effective and transparent delivery.

Update of Coronavirus deaths, and survivors '..across the world according to John Hopkins University' as follows:

"2,578,930 have been detected worldwide, with 178,096 deaths and 692, 333 people now recovered."

" In Nigeria there have been 782 cases with 25 deaths and 197 people recovering from the virus.'

" Nine patients five females and four male were discharged from the city's isolation centre today, Health Minister Akin Abayomi  confirmed..."

LATEST OF KENIEBI OKOKO'S DEATH: ACTIVIST CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION ON DR. OLUSOLA BENEDICT

The sudden death of Dr.Keniebi Okoko, a business mogul, billionaire, former governorship aspirant has taken a new turn with Bayelsa born Human and People's Right Activist, Comrade Bodmas Kemepadei raising alarm that the death must have been caused by 'quakery of the medical doctor, Dr. Olusola Benedict Oladipo who  performed cosmetic surgery on Dr. Keniebi Okoko, which led to his death.

He raised the alarm on his Facebook account, that Dr. Olusola Benedict Oladipo was not medically fit to have performed a cosmetic surgery on anybody, thus holding the view that.the death of Dr. Keniebi Okoko might not be  unconnected to the 'quakery' of Dr. Benedict Oladipo, who performed the said controversial cosmetic surgery on him.

Comrade Kemepadei had therefore called on the Ijaw nation not to accept that as their fate, but to step-up  investigation to ascertain the true cause of the death of Dr. Okoko. Hear him:

"... the late Bayelsa born Billionaire Mr. Keniebi Okoko died as a result of quqkery..." His Revelations:

"In a meeting held on December.2, 2016 the Texas Medical Board that "beginning March 1 2017 Dr.Olusola is prohibited from performing or administering.cosmetic procedures or treatments of any kind on any patient in any setting and is prohibited from performing or administering stern cell procedures or stern cell treatments of any kind  to any patient in any setting.

The Board found Dr.Olusola performed cosmetic surgery of five patients that were.allegedly inappropriate or inappropriately performed failed to maintain adequate medical records for seven patients and surrendered DEA controlled substances certificates in view of the alleged failure to comply with Federal requirements pertaining to controlled substances."

The Activist who wants the doctor arrested and prosecuted also said:

" I want to inform the entire Ijaw nation that I have received evidences and shocking Revelations which proved that the doctor who performed the surgery on our brother, late Mr. Keniebi Okoko was banned from performing cosmetic surgery under any circumstances in the US."

"After the Texas Medical Board in the US banned him from performing cosmetic surgery, he ran to Nigeria to continue killing people, and unfortunately he has killed our brother."

Comrade Bodmas Kemepadei concluded.

OPU NEMBE CHIEFS CONCIL CONSTITUTES INTERIM EXCO. WITH CHIEF EKPELEYAI-ORUWARI AS CHAIRMAN

The Opu Nembe Bassambiri Council of Chiefs had constituted an interim Executive committee to pilot it's affairs, members as follows:

1. Chief Ekpeleyai-Oruwari Duate- Chairman

2. Chief B.F.Amakiri- Duo Vice/Chairman

3. Chief W.T.Ivory Fikoru-Secretary

4. Chief N. Dressman Numo-Assistant Secretary

5. Chief (Barr) D.W.Wuku- Bugo- Legal Adviser

6. Chief W.D. Ogbari-Sokari PRO

7. Chief A.S Teki Febo-Treasurer

8. Chief Austin Omuso-Opuene Auditor

9. Chief I.M.Edoghotu-Etire Provost 10. Chief Waribugo Sambo- Isele Provost 2

The dissolution of the Executive Committee came at the heels of a motion raised by Chief (Barr.).S.T. Ikoli during an emergency meeting by the Chiefs Council, held at the sacred floor of the 1st Baptist Church Nembe on Tuesday, 

April 14, 2020.

Chief Ikoli who posited that the erstwhile Executive Committee of the Opu Nembe Council of Chiefs  be dissolved and an interim Executive Committee be constituted with immediate effect also spoke among other things the expiration of the tenure of that Executive Committee described it's members as seating and or operating on illegality.

He reminded his colleagues that the Opu Nembe Chiefs Council and  indeed the heople of the kingdom no longer needed an expired and  or dysfunctional Executive

Committee especially now that  like every other community in our Country Nigeria, and our state Bayelsa, all justling for survival at the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, while our community has been relegated to the background by 'a docile, expired and unproductive Executive Committee, Chief Ikoli emphasized,  and subsequently moved for the immediate dissolution of  the Exco.

He was seconded by Chief J.D Allen Ameri and in the absence of a counter motion the Exco. was dissolved.

The Council unanymously as a follow-up, nominated Chief (Prof.) D.K.Derri to co-ordinate the election of the new Exco, who in his wisdom called on the ten groups of Chieftaincy Houses to choose who should represent them at the Executive Committee, that was how the Exco was constituted.

In a brief remark after the Constitution of the Exco. Chief. Derri  reminded the members of their mandate being interim, urged them to endeavor to work in the framework of time with the mandate given, pointing out that stay put attitudes in public offices had been a major problem of leadership.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the rest, the Chairman, Chief Ekpeleyai-Oruwari Oriango Duate- thanked the traditional parliament for the honor done them with assurances to justify the confidence reposed in them.

The newly elected Traditional Council boss, announced official dissolution of all committees, while calling on both Exco members and those in committees in possession of Council property to submit or hand over to the Council's Secretary.

Ha also used the medium to announce that all citizens of Opu Nembe Bassambiri who had been on exile are free to come back home.without molestations.

In his submission, the Ibenyanaowei of Oluasiri, His Royal Highness, King Iyerite Chiefson Awululu commended the Council members for their orderliness at the meeting while emphasizing the needs of the interim Exco to work out strategies to build confidence in the masses to courageously pass through the threats and challenges of the  Coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier the former Vice Chairman Chief B.F..Amakiri Duo who prisided over the meeting, in his opening speech stated that the meeting was in response to demand from various sectors of the community who called on the Chiefs Council to hold such an emergency meeting to address some matters of public interest.

Speaking shortly after the meeting with Golden Pen News, the Honorable member representing Nembe Constituency 2 at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Chief Edward Irigha Brigidi commended the Opu Nembe Bassambiri Chiefs Council for demonstrating full compliance to the rules of COVID-19.