BAYELSA AND THE 2018 FLOOD; WHAT'S THE WAY FORWARD? By Evans Tubonah

It is a story too hard to tell that the people of the only all Ijaw state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are living in fear over the repeated cases of flood that ravaged  their lands and property annually; especially in 2012 and 2018.
The issue of flood in Bayelsa state is not an unusual thing because every winter season in the state, had never escaped visitations by flood to some homes and communities throwing out victims to live like refugees in their own personal homes and towns.
But what had been the main cause or causes of the annual flood that had invaded the people and subjected many of the victims to poverty, sicknesses, diseases and untold hardships. The Federal and State governments according to sources, tried with relief materials, but at a very poor level whereby some of the victims only heard the news of such relief materials, but did not see anything at all to talk about.
Thanks to some corporate bodies and patriotic, philanthropic personalities who donated monies to alleviate the plight of  the flood victims.

Two of the victims who gave their names as Mr. Nestor Ebiowe and Mr. Frank Sokare, told Golden Pen Newspaper in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa that they were surprised, the way relief materials were distributed. Here this:
"The Flood Management Committees of 2012 and 2018 operated in like manner, that is, after getting everything from governments and from corporate bodies and individuals amounting to billions of Naira, they did not show up with enough relief materials as expected. A lot of what they were given to care for the victims the Committees diverted to themselves, that was very bad" they lamented.
The stories of the flood cannot all be told here, but there is a question for the authority in Bayelsa State to answer, and this is the question:
 After this year, 2018th flood what is the way forward?
This question has become pertinent because of the yearly damages suffered by flood victims in the state  without the authority taken measures to do anything to either ameliorate the suffering of the people or to take steps that will put a stop to the pains of this menace called annual flood.
It has been observed that the flood that ravages the state capital, Yenagoa and other LGAS of the state annually, was caused by the sallowness of the rivers and the poor drainage system in the city and towns. It is also observed that, the flood had washed away many lands belonging to corporate bodies and individuals who now find it difficult  to develop such lands in the state that is crying for development.
The way forward should be as follows:
1. Let the State Government embark on canalization projects to address the issue of shallow rivers.
2. Let the State Government embark on land reclamation by dredging and sand filling, low lands.
3. Let the state Government pay strict attention to the drainage system to ensure that water flows freely in the city to appropriate destinations.
4. Let the Federal Government through the appropriate agencies give support to the Bayelsa State Government to address the issue once and for all.
You may give your suggestion, please.

BAYELSA GUBER RACE 2019, SYLVA/ALAIBE TO MEET AT 'PHILIPPI

WORKERS STRIKE: NLC DESERVES PROSECUTION By Evans Tubonah

Nigerian Flag

This Country is called Nigeria, the largest African nation in the world, with a population figure of over 140 million people out of which Civil Service work force is less than 10 percent.
It is absolutely disheartening that,Nigeria Labour Congress which is just a Civil Service workers Union like every other union, every other Organization or Association in this country,  has been arrogating to herself powers as another governmental authority in the country with impunity to call workers to conspiracy, to make illegal announcements through the media that Government Workers across the nation: Federal, States and Local Government Councils should go on strike to enforce their demand for a salary increase.
 A demand for a pay rise in the Civil Service or any other set of employees, in companies and other sectors has nothing to do with the majority of Nigerians, who aught not to had been in any way dragged into a private matter between the NLC and their employer, the Federal Government of Nigeria

Besides the Civil Service, the Federal Government has a lot of engagements with other Nigerians; talk about the Contractors embarking on meaningful projects that are targeted to be completed on a scheduled date, students  pursuing their education in schools preparing for their examinations that are also fixed to time and dates.
What about the hospitals and other medical establishments providing healthcare services?
What about the Aviation sector, Maritime sector, the petroleum sector etc.? These and many more are the responsibilities of the Federal Government to the masses of the Nigerian nation of which the private sector is considered by every rational government as very important to national development; but the NLC which has no Constitutional Right to infringe on the economic and every other Rights over fellow Nigerian citizens, and or foreigners, brazenly went ahead and declared a strike that crumbled the economy and subjected the poor masses to unimaginable hardship and suffering.
The selfish and unpatriotic NLC aught to know that her unwarranted declaration of national strike  caused irreparable financial losses to all tiers of government and the private sector in particular   running into billions of Naira as damages. This is unacceptable. The NLC must be made to understand that the salary increment war that her insignificantly meager workforce that with less than 10% members of the Nigerian population are waging against the Federal Government has nothing to do with the rest of

Gani Fawahinmi [SAN]

Nigerians who are not in the pay vouchers of government as Civil Servants.
What the NLC should have done Constitutionally was to drag the Federal Government to Industrial Courts for arbitration and for a lasting solution than to embark on such a crude, uncivilized, and brutal attack against the entire nation while pursuing their personal matter with their employer.
The take on this issue, is that, the Federal Government should understand that the billions the NLC is wrestling or fighting
to receive will not go into the pockets of the none Civil Servants, even a kobo. The question is,  how will they compensate for the losses they have caused to the rest of the nation for their dastardly act?
This is a fundamental matter desiring legal consideration that the well being of the ordinary masses is being trampled upon with impunity by a workers union called NLC, without anyone saying anything. If our legal luminary of blessed memory, Nationalist and the masses Rights Activist, Chief Gani Fawahinmi [SAN] were here this impunity could have been put to check.
The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC],  need to be prosecuted for causing such a colossal waste of time and money estimated to a whooping amount of  billions of Naira, to the detriment of the struggling and unemployed  masses of this country and foreigners alike and for

PHOTO OF HOW NLC  SHUT DOWN THE NATION

giving such an embarrassing negative publicity to this our nation, for their selfish interest, is not an  issue to be trivialized.
Both the Nigerian government and the populace should ensure that this uncivilized approach to solving labour matters be nipped in the bud with immediate.effect once and for all.
From careful observation of what the NLC has been doing to the government and people of this country over the years, is that, that union does not want the progress of Nigeria, hence for every challenging moment the NLC comes out to 'add salt to injury' {worsen the situation} of the particular challenge. Now even the blind man can see and the deft hear and the little children in nursery and primary schools know that our dear country is not at the best of time in our national economy.
 NLC should be brought to book whether the strike is called off or not the damage is already done and they must apologize or be ready to be dragged to Court for compensation of losses to the masses.




   

LATEST ON JONES ABIRI: DSS SUED FOR N200 MILLION

Femi Falana [SAN]

There has been a u-turn in the case against Bayelsa based Journalist and Publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper, Mr. Jones Abiri as Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana Drags DSS to Abuja High Court to pay N200m compensation to the Journalist for trampling on his Fundamental Rights, according to the Nigerian constitution.
Femi Falana's position is that the DSS failed to follow the law in the discharge of their duties in the arrest of Journalist Abiri, thus describing his detention as illegal.
According to Punch,
" Falana argued that the detention violates the applicant's fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity of person, fair hearing, health and freedom of association,..."
Femi Falana [SAN] made it clear that the rights so violated are guaranteed by sections 34, 35 and 40 of the Constitution as well as Article 11, 16 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act"
A litigation Clerk in the Falana's law firm, Mr. Paul Ochayi quoted to have said in an affidavit filed in support of the N200m suit has it that:
"...Abiri was arrested without warrant by the ....agents ...July 21, 2016.
" There is no Court Order which authorized the detention of the applicant..."
   who had been in the custody of officers of the DSS who arrested him, 21st July, 2016 in the state capital Yenagoa.
The publisher was said to have been arrested with widespread accusations of been involved in "...militancy and of sending text messages to oil companies demanding illicit payments"

Nigerian Journalist
Jones Abiri

 Abiri who spent over 2 years in the hands of the DSS, held incommunicado to his wife, family members, to his doctors, to associates including his lawyers through that length of time was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Abuja on Friday, 29th July 2018, granted bail at the sum of N2m with two sureties at level 15 Civil Servants based in Abuja, a bail condition, Jones Abiri;s Lawyers contended was too stringent to fulfill.
Thursday, 2nd August, Jones Abiri appeared before the Chief Magistrate Chukwuemeka Nweke for his defense, but the DSS not been ready with any of the four witnesses,  the case was adjourned to the 16th of August for determination of the substantive suit, while Abiri was taken to Federal prison in Keffe Abuja.
However, mixed reactions trail the ordeal of the Journalist's arrest, unlawful detention and the stringent bail conditions.
Jones Abiri's Lawyer, Femi Falana in his reaction to the stringent bail conditions stated that Abiri deserves self recognition as a Journalist, take himself on bail and to appear in Court when needed.
The President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Waheed Odusile was quoted as saying:
"Journalist Abiri did not deserve incarceration for two years by the DSS, because journalism is not a crime" What he did was journalism and journalism is not a crime...we frown at any attempt to criminalize journalism." the NUJ President emphatically stated.

CHIEF DARIUS OBIENE DEDE DECLARES FOR SENATE UNDER PRESSURE

Chief  Darius Obiene-Dede
Senatorial Aspirant Bayelsa East 

Former Chairman of PDP in Bayelsa State, Chief Darius Obiene Dede has said that he could no longer resist the pressure of the people of Brass Senatorial district that he should contest the forthcoming Senatorial election.
Chief Obiene Dede who had an interview with Golden Pen Newspaper in the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, stated that as the president of the common man empowerment foundation, who has the heart of the people they felt that he should aspire for the position of Senate of the Brass Senatorial District going by the unanimous  rotational agreement reached. The first slot went to Ogbia to Chief Melford Okilo  , Brass  to Inatimi Spiff, Nembe to Chief Amange, to Ogbia again Clever Ikisikpo and to Brass again, Ben Bruce. Now it is the turn  for Nembe Local Government to produce the candidate for the seat and I, Chief Darius Obiene the President of the commonest people of the world have yielded to the pressure of the masses to the electorate to contest. Hear him:
"...knowing fully well that I am a grassroots politician, a man that grew up from the village, and a man that have the people at heart, I have been under pressure over time to come and aspire for the position of the senate, to represent the very common people at the red chamber. That is why, I herd-here to the yearning and aspirations of the people and I have formally declared my intention to contest for the senate in the Bayelsa Senatorial District...."
Chief Darius Obiene Dede former Deputy Chairman, who following the suspension of Fred Agbedi, his former boss,  became Acting State Chairman of the PDP in Bayelsa, spoke extensively on a wide range of issues bordering on his achievements in office as Chairman of the then Africa's largest political party PDP in the State, recounts as follows:
"I was then the Deputy Chairman of PDP Bayelsa State 2005, 2006, prior to the 2007 election...I became the Acting Chairman of the PDP. and I presided over the conduct of the governorship primaries of our great party in the state. And it was in my time, Bayelsans were able to kill two birds with one stone, I was able to return his Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Governor who further metamorphosed to becoming the Vice President, Acting President and President of Nigeria, and in that primary, Chief Timipre Sylva took 2nd position, and I stood by the principles of the party, moved to Abuja and defended the outcome of the primaries and finally returned Chief Timipre Sylva as Governor of Bayelsa State. ..."

Chief Darius Obiene-Dede in an interview with the Publisher/Editor-in Chief of Golden Pen Newspaper
Chief O.G.Evans Tubonah

In 2011, Chief Darius Obiene said while serving as Acting Chairman, Rufus Abadi was elected as Chairman and he returned to his former position of Deputy Chairman and later became the Chairman of the party following resignation of Rufus Abadi to contest Senatorial election hear him:
"..When Rufus Abadi left, I again became the Chairman and presided over the affairs of the party in the state; so to cap it all I am the only Chairman of the PDP that conducted two primary elections in Bayelsa State and it was at my time as PDP chairman that we were able to produce Vice President and President respectively ..." Watch out for the full interview.

DENIAL OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION, JAMB/UNIVERSITIES ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION- By Evans Tubonah

The Nigerian nation is being thrown into another disquiet, which if not nipped in the bud, may lead to

His Excellency,
President Muhammadu Buhari

tarnishing the image of the President Buhari led APC government in particular and the Nigerian nation in general. 

The issue is about an alleged connivance between JAMB and some Universities investing in  corruption by collecting illegal JAMB fees from already qualified candidates for admission to rewrite JAMB to the tune of millions of Naira.

Golden Pen reliably gathered from some of the candidates approved of JAMB as being  qualified for admission into the Universities 2017/2018 academic session, that whereas they though qualified for admission,  were denied out-rightly without any reason whatsoever.

Three students in  separate interviews with this medium made a strong allegation against JAMB and the authorities of some of the Universities/Tertiary Institutions lamenting that they whose results were good with high cut-off points had their positions hijacked and allegedly sold to 'some money bags' by school authorities to whose sons and daughters didn't  make it, and were not qualified for admission.

Your Excellency, this allegation is weighty and needs to be investigated properly so as to ascertain why thousands of qualified candidates for admission for  the 2017/2018 academic session were denied after going through all the processes and were listed by JAMB as qualified. to be admitted in their schools of choice. 

The controversy over this unjust denial of thousands of candidates for admission came to the fore when the Guardian reported February 11 2018 with the caption:  "197,050 qualified candidates denied admission in seven universities..." 

It was reported that the position of the Guardian based on data collected in seven institutions across the Country "...sharply contradict claims by the Joint Admission and Matriculation that over 75 percent of the total number of qualified candidates that applied for admission were admitted into institution of their choice for the 2017/2018 session."

It is on record that when the new Registrar for JAMB, Mr. Ishaq Oloyede assumed duties he stated in clear terms while speaking at a 'training sensitization forum' that: 

"...the board will ensure that candidates are fairly treated and expand admission opportunities as well as protect academic calendar." 

"...emphasized that O/A level results are key qualifying requirements for admission... the Board will not consider any candidate unless he/her passes O/A levels"

Your Excellency, that was a meaningful assurance, what relying upon, because of the words of integrity so expressed. 

In another development the spokesman of JAMB Dr. Fabian Benjamin also announced to JAMB candidates especially those offered admission what they should do in these words:

"...students who have been offered admission into tertiary institutions will soon see their names on the website of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board"

With all these assurances of self acclaimed fairness to every successful candidate for admission, then started the alleged game of dribble of most of the eminently qualified candidates by some university authorities in connivance with some JAMB officials.

His Excellency
Bukola Saraki, the
Senate President

 After denying the qualified candidates for admission, JAMB  went ahead and announced that the validity period for those qualified for admission into universities was just one year and that they should come forward and collect JAMB forms again with more thousands of naira, not minding the fact that  some of them come from poor families whose parents are battling to pay money lenders money borrowed for the JAMB their sons and daughters qualified for admission.

Instead of going by the 3 years validity JAMB qualification Law by the Senate for successful candidates to be admitted into universities/tertiary institutions, JAMB for a reason best known to the Board, came out with the position that the denied candidates must re-write JAMB so as to be given the same qualification which they  have.

In the eyes of the masses and before the law this is unfair, it is unjust, illegal, therefore  null and void. And it's being vied and considered as corruption of the highest order, in view of the fact that, JAMB is out to collect thousands of naira from the said qualified candidates for the same exam they passed.

The Nigerian Senate 13th October 2016 passed the amendment to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board;s Act JAMBBILL111SB 245 into law. Part of the amendment is the extension of the validity of JAMB UTME to 3 years"
"Senate President Bukola Saraki in appreciating his distinguished colleagues for their work toward the passage of the bill commented that the new amendment will indeed bring financial relief to students as well as parents... reduce bottlenecks and corruption in the admission process."

Prof. Ishaq
JAMB Registrar

But contrary to that, the JAMB towing a line of impunity, has gone ahead to illegally justify the denial of the thousands of qualified candidates for admission 2017/2018 academic session, by calling on them to come for re-registration and to re-write the same exam which they have passed and are qualified to enter university, tantamount  corrupt practices in view of the fact that millions of naira were being collected from the innocent victims.
Alleging the magnitude of corruption in the JAMB, an anti-corruption and Peoples Rights Organization, "WATCHDOG' raised an alarm, saying that:
"A total of eighty three million naira {N83 million}fraud cases... been uncovered in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board offices in Kano, Edo, Kogi and Plateau states. Watchdog learnt that Benue was making cases involving N31million misappropriation in Edo, N20 million in Kano was equally being investigated, while JAMB officials in Plateau and Gombe were been questioned N15 and N10 million mismanagement respectively. At the same time a case of N7 million...was been looked at in Kogi State.
Mr. President, this denting allegation of corruption was not denied by JAMB, instead it was confirmed by the spokesman of the Board according to media reports reads:
"Confirming the development..JAMB spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin confirmed the figures and stressed that Board would be diligent with it;s investigation and would not tolerate corrupt practices from any of it's officials."
But contrary to this claim there has been no information on the outcome of this investigation, rather than that, JAMB is fully out to with impunity extort the helpless qualified candidates for admission  N12,000 each, times 197, 050 candidates N2,364,600,000. This is fraudulent and need not be allowed to flourish. .

  

BAYELSANS SAD OVER DEATH OF LIONEL JONATHAN

Chief Lionel Jonathan-Omo Late

The news about the death of one of the illustrious Sons of Bayelsa State, Chief Lionel Jonathan-Omo plunged many Bayelsans, Rivers, and people all over the country and beyond into the dept of sorrow.In Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital it was a day of sorrow to many when the news spread like wild fire that the man of many colours, the man who had played key roles in Rivers and in Bayelsa state and  beyond, who had made himself a father to many, a brother to many and a friend of-course to many had just past on without notice to anybody.
It was a rude shock to many especially those who knew him and who had dealings with him.
Chief Lionel Jonathan-Omo came to political limelight when he came out of law school and became a defender of those oppressed in his environment.
To those who had cases that required the services of a lawyer, but could not afford, he stepped in as a Human Right Lawyer either to take his client on bail at the Police station or even go to the Courts to defend his clients if need be without collecting legal fees.. That bold initiative was the starting point of his political career which endeared him to the masses; especially to the youths.
That informed the gatherings of people at his country home in Ogbolomabiri Nembe, his maternal home. Lionel, shortly called Lio by his admirers  whose father Jonathan was Chief Egbelu in Bassambiri Nembe always remained open to all that came to him from the both sides for one thing or the other, thus making his country home a beehive of activities.
Due to his popularity, when political activities resumed during the Military Presidency of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida's advocacy of a two political party system, Lionel Jonathan took advantage and formed a political pressure group called Isongufuro, with which he entered the National Republican Convention [NRC] and became a star in the political camp of the Chief Rufus Ada George for Governor Campaign Organization in Rivers state/

Barrister Lionel Jonathan was not at all a bench warmer in the political family of the Governor Ada Georges administration, hence at the victory of the election, he was appointed the Director General of Agriculture in the State.
After the Military era and after the creation of Bayelsa State and bifurcation, when the nation was set for the 4th Republic politics, Lionel Jonathan was the choice by the Governorship candidate of the All Peoples Party [APP], Chief Francis Dokpolagha as his Running mate
.After loosing the election to Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha, Lionel Jonathan was honourably appointed Commissioner of Environment and later Commissioner of Agriculture in the State.
He demonstrated the gift of a visionary leader by maintaining a policy of carrying his followers or supporters along  at every level of his rise.Due to his contributions at home, he was elected to occupy  the highly respected Chieftaincy stool and title of Chief Omo in the Nembe Council of Chiefs in Ogbolomabiri.
Chief Lionel Jonathan-Omo was a man of ideas aimed at creating wealth and prosperity not only to himself, but to as many as he could accommodate in his ship of entrepreneurship. To this end, he went into business and came out with the establishment he called "Achievers Farm" at the  Igbogene  axis of the State capital, Yenagoa, which he turned to a farm village, a tourist centre, a centre for sports activities public enlightenment, a holiday resort, and a melting point for political leaders etc.
Chief Jonathan-Omo was a one time Chairman of Yenagoa Chambers of Commerce, who himself had a number of investments that made him a business mogul of his time, having Achievers bakery, having a market of his own to promote commercial activities within and outside the state, all of which popularized the lecturer of Law at the University, the business man and the political colossus in his right to have the honor of becoming the Deputy Chairman of the Chief Timipre Sylva for Governorship of Bayelsa State in the 2015-2016 election under the platform of the All Progressive Congress [APC]
Chief Lionel Jonathan Omo;s death gave a rude shock to the author of this piece, Chief Otonye Evans Tubonah, Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of Golden Pen, as it did to others which suspended Golden Pen from coming out with a breaking news  because the medium was devastated and could not in anyway concentrate, the publisher had said.