A national conference to groom newly elected representatives on how to
enforce the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples
will open in Bori on the 31st of July, 2012.
The conference was originally scheduled for July 22, 2012, but was shifted to include all Ogonis as participants.
The
conference will feature workshops, roundtables and dialogue on
economic, social, political and security issues as well as traditional
displays.
Over 2,500 leaders have been elected to enforce the
rights of indigenous peoples at the village level, while 120
representatives secured mandate to run 33 newly created administrative
districts. 24 custodians of customs and traditions were also elected to
take their seats at the central level as law makers.
On July 22,
2012 a thanksgiving service was held in Ogoni villages, while newly
elected leaders joined together at an interdenominational service at
Teyork, which was organized by the Ogoni Council of Churches to mark the
success of the Ogoni community model elections.
In a message,
MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo said: “Ogoni is poised to
enforce UNDRIP and the Ogoni people expect to see a significant track
record, responsive grassroots leadership, accountability and capacity to
implement programs to address the needs of Ogoni villagers.”
Diigbo
said: “Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA) must break with the
culture of corruption and public deception that are the hallmarks of
Nigerian politicians.”
Diigbo said the success of OCIA will prove
to the rest of the world that nonviolence can still make a difference
in a world of extreme violence and terrifying bloodshed.
The
Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority was established and approved by the
entire Ogoni people in line with the Ogoni Bill of Rights and for the
realization of the benefits of the United Nations Declaration on Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, which authorizes indigenous peoples to exercise
political autonomy.
Tambari Deekor
MOSOP Media, Associate Editor
Thursday, July 26, 2012
NIGERIA: Enugu Monarch Errs On Igbo Tradition Because Of Road Construction
It might not be the writer's fault, because many of the contemporaries
have been brainwashed to seeing anything African as demonic. This is
because of their Christian indoctrination or inclination, which is
dotingly maneuvering in the South-east region of Nigeria.
This was the reason the writer on Tuesday, 07/24/2012 edition of the Daily Sun used the word 'local' to refer to an aborigine deity in Enugu, in the article titled, 'Fear of a local deity: Construction firm abandons Enugu road'. It was this disdainful use of 'local' to anything that was not of the colonialists that has made many young people not to know how to speak their native languages or even bear their native names, because they were thought how to praise their Jehovah or Yahweh in the church with the English Language sufficed with the belief that Igbo ancestral names are perilous to one's fate, even when the two names - Jehovah or Yahweh - are not originally English words, as if the God they talk about will be angry should they speak Igbo. In the schools too, these children are given corporal punishment, when they speak the 'local' Igbo Language, because they have been also brainwashed to seeing anything Igbo as 'Local' for the exaltation of the enslaving white people.
While the writer or any of the youths may be forgiven for abysmally regarding the Igbo tradition and culture as 'local', because of the Colonial School of Thought they were brought up with, which they have refused to correct, how would a traditional ruler, who swore to defend the tradition and culture of his people, but ended up to denigrating them, be forgiven? This is the outcome of one 'Igwe' Mike Chima, who made absurd comments against the Awoma deity in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State.
He reportedly regarded the deity as 'manmade'. Hear him: 'We have three autonomous communities in Obollo Afor. The contractors met me about the deity, what I did was to refer them to the oldest man in Obollo Afor. Later I referred them to Oha-Obollo-in-Council. The Oha directed the particular clan where the deity is situated to do something about the deity and get it evacuated and allow the contractors to continue their work. If the clan says they don't know what to do, then let the contractor evacuate the shrine and continue their work. I don't see why a big impression or attention should be given to the deity. After all, we are all Christians .' Bunkum statement of a man who is regarded as a traditional ruler!
The question is whether the church is not 'manmade', and if it is on the Obollo-Afor- Amechara- Ugbaike- Igogoro- Ogrute road linking Udenu and Igbo-Eze North local government or elsewhere, where the Awoma deity is; would the Chima who protects Christianity that he lacks knowledge of its origin say that it should be removed disdainfully? It is better Chima and some of his political-Igwes or Ezes be called to eschew politics from the core Igbo beliefs, because going by the traditional ways of installing Igwe, hardly would any of them be Igwe. What is Igwe-elect? Or, Eze-elect? Rubbish! Rubbish!! Rubish!!! They used money to buy morality!
Chima even went as far as repealing the wise admonishment of one Chief Aloysius Eze, an octogenarian. Reportedly, Eze said: 'I don't advise anybody to touch the deity. It was installed by our ancestors. It has no definite origin, but dated from 'aeon'. Any attempt to touch it will be disastrous. Previous experience showed it has power to annihilate the whole village….' The reporter said that, 'He gave an option that instead of removing the deity it should be left intact while a roundabout should be constructed around it.'
This is the level the traditional institution is bastardized by those who go by the title traditional rulers like the traditional neophyte called Chima. The problem is that many of the people do not make their research to know what Christianity is all about. A friend once said: EVEN WORSE NO ONE HARDLY EVEN KNOWS NOW THAT ANIMISM, AS IT IS CALLED AND UNDERSTOOD NATIVELY, IS THE FIRST AND OLDEST OF THE HUMAN EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCES. Animist Evolutionary Sciences vs. Darwinian Evolutionary Sciences would SHOW AND PROVE that the Social Darwinists are badly mistaken and so is anyone who follows them.
However a LOT of Asians, Negroes and Caucasians just could not stand to see this as it would just be awful for them. Anyway, we press on.
The VODOO RELIGION (SPIRITUALITY) and THE ANIMIST EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCES ARE the AFRICAN (ASIA too) original Spirituality/Sciences and that is where the Euro-Caucasian got the pattern from for their version of Church (Religion) and State (Science). When the people can see that our Original Versions are the same thing and that Europe's Versions are simply a badly mangled copies and distortions of each, then the darkness will recede and the light of life will reach in, restore and rescue us.
The above was in reply to my note that we were very spiritual before the rapacious white men came with their humiliating tactics and melted all that we had working for us into colonialism. They made us hate our ancestors to the glory of their Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... Because we respected God (not the Roman-made Jehovah and Yahweh) in all aspect of life, and they didn't understand this spirituality, they characterized us as Animists. They watered down a lot of fables down our throat with the aid of their satanic munitions. Now, they have succeeded in piercing their un-spiritual methods in our lives, our beloved Africans have become a people who would act only when they refer to the distorted book called the Bible, which was originally owned by Africans.
As if he knew, my spiritual mentor affirmed my position after many months. The agreement reads: It was not a question of our ancestors practicing Christianity without realising it, but the other way round, indeed!
The Christians actually stole the concept of their religion and faith (based on the Risen Christ) from ancient Egypt (I mean Black Egypt) before the Arab (Ummayad) invasion of 640 AD. That concept of Crucifixion, death and Resurrection, is based on the ancient Egyptian worship of the goddess of fertility, Eostre, hence the name, Easter, the Christian festival, which marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, (rebirth and immortality) which is the basis of the Christian faith, whose tenets were actually borrowed from Judaism, by the early Christians. The Jews and the Romans, in their turn, got this whole concept from Pharaohnic Egypt.
Symbolised by the ankh, this depiction of immortality and regeneration, inspired the concept of the Christian cross. This symbol, in Igbo traditional religion, is depicted by an uli kola nut head motif that resembles a four-cusped hypocycloid, or a four-pointed star of sorts, that represents the four market days of Eke, Orie, Afor, Nkwo, the basis of the Igbo-based lunar calendar. The Nri (Igbo) brought this tradition with them from ancient Egypt, through Eri, their ancestor and progenitor and his descendants. It is therefore the white Christian world that is practicing African traditional religion without realising it, and not the other way round.
Are people like the marooned Chima reading? So, it is very important that people like him stopped following the crowed against anything Igbo. People like him have become the real agents of evil against Igbo nature-instituted norms, and they should desist.
Odimegwu Onwumere is the Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV). Mobile: +2348032552855
This was the reason the writer on Tuesday, 07/24/2012 edition of the Daily Sun used the word 'local' to refer to an aborigine deity in Enugu, in the article titled, 'Fear of a local deity: Construction firm abandons Enugu road'. It was this disdainful use of 'local' to anything that was not of the colonialists that has made many young people not to know how to speak their native languages or even bear their native names, because they were thought how to praise their Jehovah or Yahweh in the church with the English Language sufficed with the belief that Igbo ancestral names are perilous to one's fate, even when the two names - Jehovah or Yahweh - are not originally English words, as if the God they talk about will be angry should they speak Igbo. In the schools too, these children are given corporal punishment, when they speak the 'local' Igbo Language, because they have been also brainwashed to seeing anything Igbo as 'Local' for the exaltation of the enslaving white people.
While the writer or any of the youths may be forgiven for abysmally regarding the Igbo tradition and culture as 'local', because of the Colonial School of Thought they were brought up with, which they have refused to correct, how would a traditional ruler, who swore to defend the tradition and culture of his people, but ended up to denigrating them, be forgiven? This is the outcome of one 'Igwe' Mike Chima, who made absurd comments against the Awoma deity in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State.
He reportedly regarded the deity as 'manmade'. Hear him: 'We have three autonomous communities in Obollo Afor. The contractors met me about the deity, what I did was to refer them to the oldest man in Obollo Afor. Later I referred them to Oha-Obollo-in-Council. The Oha directed the particular clan where the deity is situated to do something about the deity and get it evacuated and allow the contractors to continue their work. If the clan says they don't know what to do, then let the contractor evacuate the shrine and continue their work. I don't see why a big impression or attention should be given to the deity. After all, we are all Christians .' Bunkum statement of a man who is regarded as a traditional ruler!
The question is whether the church is not 'manmade', and if it is on the Obollo-Afor- Amechara- Ugbaike- Igogoro- Ogrute road linking Udenu and Igbo-Eze North local government or elsewhere, where the Awoma deity is; would the Chima who protects Christianity that he lacks knowledge of its origin say that it should be removed disdainfully? It is better Chima and some of his political-Igwes or Ezes be called to eschew politics from the core Igbo beliefs, because going by the traditional ways of installing Igwe, hardly would any of them be Igwe. What is Igwe-elect? Or, Eze-elect? Rubbish! Rubbish!! Rubish!!! They used money to buy morality!
Chima even went as far as repealing the wise admonishment of one Chief Aloysius Eze, an octogenarian. Reportedly, Eze said: 'I don't advise anybody to touch the deity. It was installed by our ancestors. It has no definite origin, but dated from 'aeon'. Any attempt to touch it will be disastrous. Previous experience showed it has power to annihilate the whole village….' The reporter said that, 'He gave an option that instead of removing the deity it should be left intact while a roundabout should be constructed around it.'
This is the level the traditional institution is bastardized by those who go by the title traditional rulers like the traditional neophyte called Chima. The problem is that many of the people do not make their research to know what Christianity is all about. A friend once said: EVEN WORSE NO ONE HARDLY EVEN KNOWS NOW THAT ANIMISM, AS IT IS CALLED AND UNDERSTOOD NATIVELY, IS THE FIRST AND OLDEST OF THE HUMAN EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCES. Animist Evolutionary Sciences vs. Darwinian Evolutionary Sciences would SHOW AND PROVE that the Social Darwinists are badly mistaken and so is anyone who follows them.
However a LOT of Asians, Negroes and Caucasians just could not stand to see this as it would just be awful for them. Anyway, we press on.
The VODOO RELIGION (SPIRITUALITY) and THE ANIMIST EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCES ARE the AFRICAN (ASIA too) original Spirituality/Sciences and that is where the Euro-Caucasian got the pattern from for their version of Church (Religion) and State (Science). When the people can see that our Original Versions are the same thing and that Europe's Versions are simply a badly mangled copies and distortions of each, then the darkness will recede and the light of life will reach in, restore and rescue us.
The above was in reply to my note that we were very spiritual before the rapacious white men came with their humiliating tactics and melted all that we had working for us into colonialism. They made us hate our ancestors to the glory of their Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... Because we respected God (not the Roman-made Jehovah and Yahweh) in all aspect of life, and they didn't understand this spirituality, they characterized us as Animists. They watered down a lot of fables down our throat with the aid of their satanic munitions. Now, they have succeeded in piercing their un-spiritual methods in our lives, our beloved Africans have become a people who would act only when they refer to the distorted book called the Bible, which was originally owned by Africans.
As if he knew, my spiritual mentor affirmed my position after many months. The agreement reads: It was not a question of our ancestors practicing Christianity without realising it, but the other way round, indeed!
The Christians actually stole the concept of their religion and faith (based on the Risen Christ) from ancient Egypt (I mean Black Egypt) before the Arab (Ummayad) invasion of 640 AD. That concept of Crucifixion, death and Resurrection, is based on the ancient Egyptian worship of the goddess of fertility, Eostre, hence the name, Easter, the Christian festival, which marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, (rebirth and immortality) which is the basis of the Christian faith, whose tenets were actually borrowed from Judaism, by the early Christians. The Jews and the Romans, in their turn, got this whole concept from Pharaohnic Egypt.
Symbolised by the ankh, this depiction of immortality and regeneration, inspired the concept of the Christian cross. This symbol, in Igbo traditional religion, is depicted by an uli kola nut head motif that resembles a four-cusped hypocycloid, or a four-pointed star of sorts, that represents the four market days of Eke, Orie, Afor, Nkwo, the basis of the Igbo-based lunar calendar. The Nri (Igbo) brought this tradition with them from ancient Egypt, through Eri, their ancestor and progenitor and his descendants. It is therefore the white Christian world that is practicing African traditional religion without realising it, and not the other way round.
Are people like the marooned Chima reading? So, it is very important that people like him stopped following the crowed against anything Igbo. People like him have become the real agents of evil against Igbo nature-instituted norms, and they should desist.
Odimegwu Onwumere is the Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV). Mobile: +2348032552855
US: Fisherman discovers crab that looks like Osama Bin Laden
Dangerous ... crab that looks like Osama Bin Laden
TERRORIST Osama Bin Laden has reared his ugly head again - on the belly of a CRAB.
A freakish image of the bearded monster was caught on camera by a family filming a fishing trip.The face is the spit of the al Qaeda fiend gunned down in his Pakistan lair by US Navy Seals last year.
But now he’s back where he belongs - at the bottom of the ocean.
The crustacean was thrown back in the water near Everett, Washington state, because it was female and illegal to keep.
Dad John Cranfield said he did not notice the image until he watched the footage when he got home.
NIGERIA: AIDC & ASO Savings Partner Abia Government for Housing Development
This new agreement will see AIDC build 400 units of two and three bedroom detached bungalows in the proposed Ochendo Liberation Housing Scheme, and it is in line with the state government's objective of providing affordable housing to its citizens all around the state through Public Private Partnership arrangement.
At the MOU signing ceremony in the Executive Chambers of the State House, Umuahia, the Executive Governor of the state, Chief Theodore Orji welcomed the management team of AIDC led by Mr. Collins Chikeluba, Chairman of AIDC and Vice Chairman of ASO Savings & Loans Plc, Isoken Omo, Managing Director AIDC, Kojo Sagoe and Rachel Dwyer both of the Public Sector Unit, ASO Savings & Loans Plc, Fatima Muhammed, Legal Officer, AIDC and Jane Odonwodo of the Corporate Communications department at ASO Savings & Loans Plc.
The Governor, who expressed his delight at partnering with the two organisations, was joined by some of his top cabinet members to sign the MOU. He afterwards, led his cabinet members and the AIDC team to the construction site at Amaobi Community, few minutes drives away from the capital city, Umuahia for the official Ground Breaking ceremony of the housing estate.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of AIDC who also doubles as Vice Chairman of ASO Savings Plc, Mr. Collins Chikeluba, stated that his organisations is doing a lot in providing affordable housing schemes and viable mortgage options for the Nigerian populace.
'We are partnering with the federal and various state governments across the country through the public private partnership scheme to key into the vision of the present leadership in Nigeria to provide housing for all Nigerians by the year 2020. It is for this reason that our organisations are collaborating with the Abia state government to launch the state housing scheme. This is part of his Excellency, Governor Orji's bold and ambitious housing programme to build the new Abia for Abians', Chikeluba explained.
Governor Orji, speaking to a large numbers of guests at the ceremony, promised that the Ochendo liberation Housing scheme will be delivered in phases, with the first phase of 50 units of 2 and 3 bedrooms of exquisite urban architecture bungalow. It will be built on 38 acres of land, with modern infrastructures; and it is expected to be completed within 12 months.
Chief Orji, who was being hailed 'Ochendo' by the large numbers of his supporters at the occasion, emphasized that the project is targeted at the civil servants in the state. 'Housing is essential, and we Abians valued roof over our heads. The Ochendo Liberation Housing Project is targeted at the civil and public servants here in Abia so that when they retired, they can have roofs over their heads'.
Furthermore, Chief Orji disclosed that the beneficiaries 'will take mortgages from ASO to buy the houses without any collateral. We are to provide the lands while they take it up from there. All these have been stated in the MOU and we will follow the agreement to the letter'.
Earlier at the MOU signing ceremony, The Managing Director of AIDC Mrs. Isoken Omo, had confirmed that AIDC will be financing the project while the sister company ASO Savings & Loans Plc will be providing mortgage options to all the intending beneficiaries in the scheme. 'The mortgages will be secured from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) at 6% interest rate for those that have been contributing to the National Housing Scheme and the Cooperative Housing Scheme of the FMBN.
 At the Executive Chambers of the Abia state Government House, Mr. Collins Chikeluba, Chairman, ASO Investment & Development Company/ Vice Chairman, ASO Savings & Loans Plc in a handshake with the Executive Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for financing and construction of 400 units of flats at the proposed Ochendo Liberation Housing Scheme in Amauba Community, Umuahia on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 |  The Executive Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji in a handshake with Mr. Collins Chikeluba, Chairman, ASO Investment & Development Company (AIDC) and Vice Chairman, ASO Savings & Loans Plc at the Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 400 units of flats at the proposed Ochendo Liberation Housing Scheme in Amauba Community, Umuahia on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. | ||
 The Executive Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji with the top management team of ASO Investment & Development Company; Mr. Collins Chikeluba, Chairman and Mrs. Isoken Omo, Managing Director at Amauba Community, Umuahia during the Ground Breaking ceremony of the proposed 400 units' Ochendo Liberation Housing Scheme on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. |  The Governor, Chief Theodore Orji (Ochendo), Chairman, ASO Investment & Development Company/ Vice Chairman, ASO Savings & Loans Plc Mr. Collins Chikeluba, Former External Affairs Minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and Managing Director, ASO Investment & Development Company Mrs. Isoken Omo, at the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the proposed 400 units' Ochendo Liberation Housing Scheme at Amaoba Community, Umuahia on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. |
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
NIGERIA: World Igbo Congress admitted into UNECOSOC
United Nations – The World Igbo Congress (WIC), a non-governmental
organisation (NGO), has been admitted into the United Nations’ Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Dr. Acho Orabuchi, Media Director of WIC, announced this in a statement made available in New York on Tuesday.
The statement said WIC’s admission took place during a regular session of the world body in Geneva on Tuesday.
“The world body unanimously voted to ratify the admission of WIC into
the ECOSOC of the UN on a Special Consultative Status,’’ it said.
Article 71 of the UN Charter opened the door, providing for suitable arrangements for consultation with NGOs.
To be eligible for consultative status, an NGO must have been in
existence for at least two years and must have an established
headquarters.
Being in existence means being officially registered with the appropriate government authorities as an NGO or non-profit body.
Also, for an NGO to gain this status, it must have, among others, a
democratically-adopted constitution and authority to speak for its
members.
It must also have a representative structure, appropriate mechanisms
of accountability and democratic and transparent decision-making
processes.
The basic resources of the organisation must be derived, in the main
part, from contributions of the national affiliates or other components
or from individual members.
“With the status, the body now has the opportunity to take advantage
of the economic development programmes of several UN agencies that
partner with NGOs under the ECOSOC arrangement,’ WIC said in the
statement.
It added that WIC would utilise the resources of the UN organs that
deal with social issues, which would help the group deal with Igbo
social and economic issues.
The statement said the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) had in February recommended the admission of WIC.
It stated Dr. Anthony Ejiofor, the Executive Director of WIC,
received calls on the admission of WIC from both Geneva and New York.
According to it, leaders of the Committee on NGO indicated in the calls that they had been monitoring WIC activities.
It added that the callers to Ejiofor assured WIC that they would help the organisation make the most use of its new status.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WIC, Mazi Joe Eto, as describing the admission as “definitely a rare feat’’.(NAN)
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
NIGERIA: 76 Oil Wells – How Cross River State Went To Court And Lost
It has become necessary for the Government of Akwa Ibom State to
respond to the series of campaigns of calumny, blackmail, incitements,
organized public discourse, including State broadcast all aimed at
denigrating the Supreme Court of Nigeria and its processes and possibly
inciting the good people of Cross River State against their kith and kin
of Akwa Ibom State on account of purported controversy over revenue
from 76 offshore oil wells and the judgement of the Supreme Court
thereon delivered on 10th July 2012.
For the records, the good people of Cross River State must know that
Akwa Ibom State people love them and could NEVER have contemplated a law
suit against them. Case No. SC. 250/2009 decided on 10th July, 2012 by
the Supreme Court of Nigeria was instituted by the Government of Cross
River State on 14th September 2009 against the Federal Government of
Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State Government.
Prior to the filing of this case by Cross River State Government at
the Supreme Court, Governor Godswill Akpabio, CON, had undertaken series
of peaceful overtures to Cross River State, including offers of
possible monthly financial assistance to Cross River State from the
revenue allocation due Akwa Ibom State. In fact, a state delegation led
by Senator Anietie Okon was dispatched to the leadership of the
Government of Cross River State, with a mandate to plead that it should
not embark on a futile legal exercise that may strain the age-old
brotherly bond between the peoples of the two States. Indeed, all
efforts of the delegation, spanning over a period of time, were rebuffed
by the political leadership of Cross River State which was resolved to
seek final judicial determination on the ownership of the 76 oil wells
within 200 meters water depth isobaths contiguous to Akwa Ibom State.
At a point a member of the state delegation Chief Assam Assam, SAN
(now Ambassador to the Republic of Russia) reported that all efforts at
peace were rebuffed and Cross River State Government was bent on going
to the Supreme Court to seek final judicial determination on the
ownership of the 76 oil wells.
It is recalled that preceding this case, Cross River State had sued
Akwa Ibom State on the land boundary dispute (northern non-estuarian
boundary) involving the 24 villages of Oku/Itu/Ayadehe ward of Itu Local
Government Area and the southern estuarian boundary between the two
States in suit No. SC.124/1999. The Supreme Court on 24th June 2005
delivered judgment in favour of Cross River State in respect of the
claims relating to those villages but declined to grant in her favour a
declaration of ownership of territory within which the 76 oil wells are
located. The Supreme Court stated then as follows:
“In considering the merit of the plaintiff’s case, it is
important to bear in mind, that the effect of the judgment of ICJ dated
10/10/2002 on the land and maritime boundary case between Nigeria and
Cameroon is that it has wiped off what used to be the estuarine sector
of Cross River State as a result of which the State is hemmed in by the
new international boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon. That being the
case, there seems to be no longer any estuarine boundary between Akwa
Ibom State and Cross River State.
. . .
It can easily be seen from paragraph 17 of the above affidavit, that the revised boundary delimitation of the NBC dated 5/7/2004 which the plaintiff is urging this court to declare as the maritime boundary of the two States is predicated on the negotiations between Nigeria and Cameroon which negotiation is almost but not finally concluded. . . . . It also needs to be stressed that the NBC revised boundary map was made and allegedly approved by the President at a time when the boundary dispute was sub judice.”
. . .
It can easily be seen from paragraph 17 of the above affidavit, that the revised boundary delimitation of the NBC dated 5/7/2004 which the plaintiff is urging this court to declare as the maritime boundary of the two States is predicated on the negotiations between Nigeria and Cameroon which negotiation is almost but not finally concluded. . . . . It also needs to be stressed that the NBC revised boundary map was made and allegedly approved by the President at a time when the boundary dispute was sub judice.”
Cross River State was granted, by executive Presidential fiat,
attribution of and derivation revenue from, the 76 oil wells for the
first time through the National Boundary Commission’s letter reference
No. NBC.SEC28/1/142 of 24th January 2005 addressed to the Revenue
Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
For the records, Cross River State was regarded as a littoral State
in 2005 on the basis of the assumption that Western Bakassi would remain
in Nigeria in view of the then on- going negotiations between Nigeria
and Cameroun. The basis for the letter of NBC of 24th January 2005,
which ceded the 76 oil wells of Akwa Ibom State to Cross River State,
was clearly stated as follows:
“. . . significant progress has been made in the
President’s untiring efforts to secure for Nigeria and, particularly,
Nigerians residing on the Bakassi Peninsula, administrative jurisdiction
over the Western Peninsula. This development means that legally and
administratively, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State
remains an integral part of Nigeria as a result of which that State has
an outlet to the sea”.
Consequent thereto, the NBC concluded that the “further implications” of this assumption included the fact that:
“(ii) Cross River State WILL GAIN 75 Number of oil wells
which implies that Akwa Ibom State WILL LOSE the same number of oil
wells”. (capital letters supplied)
We need it clearly understood that the background to the avalanche of
suits instituted by Cross River State against Akwa Ibom State is
encapsulated by the Supreme Court judgment of 10th July 2012 in these
words:
“By way of brief background, as at the time of the
judgment of this court in A-G Federation v A-G Abia State (2002) 6 NWLR
(pt. 764) pg. 542 was pronounced, only the Federal Government and not
the littoral states could lawfully exercise legislative, executive and
judicial powers over the maritime belt or territorial waters and
sovereign right over the exclusive economic zone subject to universally
recognized rights. The immediate effect of the pronouncement popularly
referred to as the Resource Control judgment was the promulgation of the
Allocation of Revenue (Abolition of Dichotomy in the Principle of
Derivation) Act 2004. By virtue of sections 1(1) and (2) of the Act, as
from the date of commencement in 2004 the 200 meters water isobaths
contiguous to a State of the Federation was deemed to be part of that
State for the purpose of computing the revenue accruing to the
Federation Account from that State pursuant to the provisions of the
1999 Constitution or any other enactment.”
It should be emphasized that when the Supreme Court pronouncement on
“low water mark” was made in April 2002, in the case which the Supreme
Court referred to, the implication for Akwa Ibom State was clear. Over
95% of the offshore oil resources of Akwa Ibom State, including the 76
oil wells, were gone. Other littoral States also lost derivation
revenues from offshore oil wells at that time. In a widely publicized
reaction to this 2002 judgement, the Cross River State Government
described it as excellent because she had nothing to lose! All the 76
oil wells were a loss to Akwa Ibom State in 2002, just as they were a
loss after their expropriation to Cross River State in 2005. Had the
wells been in Cross River State, the Government of that State would not
have described the loss as excellent!
Pursuant to the said Allocation of Revenue (Abolition of Dichotomy in
the Principle of Derivation) Act 2004, it became necessary for the
maritime territory to be delineated between the coastline and the 200m
isobaths for the littoral States.
Following protests by many States in 2008 over the arbitrary
attribution of oil wells following the implementation of the
Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy Abrogation Act 2004 aforesaid, the National
Boundary Commission and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal
Commission had the Presidential directive to produce the delimitation of
the maritime boundaries for the attribution of oil wells for Cross
River and Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo and Rivers and
Abia States. This resulted in the Inter–Agency Meeting in Kano where the
wrong attribution of oil wells was corrected across board. The agencies
at that Meeting included the National Boundary Commission, the Office
of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the Revenue Mobilisation,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Nigerian Navy and the Department
of Petroleum Resources.
The recommendations of this Inter–Agency Meeting led to the return of
the 76 oil wells which Akwa Ibom State earlier lost in 2005 and from
which Cross River State had earned revenue for only three years, back to
Akwa Ibom State. By then, with the complete handover of Bakassi
Peninsula to Cameroon, the status of Cross River State as a non-littoral
State was established. It should also be noted that in the same
exercise, oil wells were similarly returned to Abia State from Rivers
State; to Bayelsa State from Rivers State and to Delta State from Ondo
State.
It was against this background that the leadership of Cross River
State further sought to establish its claim over the maritime territory
of Akwa Ibom State where these 76 oil wells are located in another suit,
No. SC.250/2009 at the Supreme Court.
Despite the insistence of Cross River State on judicial determination
of the ownership of the oil wells, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, in
considerable appreciation of the historical and cultural ties that
permanently bind both Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, wrote a letter
ref. No. GO/AKS/S/45 on 16th December 2010 to the President offering to
pay a monthly grant of N250 million ex gratis to Cross River
State.Regrettably this gesture at amicable resolution was, again, turned
down by the Cross River State Government, which rather opted to
continue court proceedings.
Rather than accepting the offer made by Akwa Ibom State Government,
Cross River State Government continued to pursue her case at the Supreme
Court and, rather surreptitiously, caused the Revenue Mobilisation,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission to arbitrarily deduct a total sum of
N18, 481,913,454.69 ( Eighteen billion, four hundred and eighty one
million, nine hundred and thirteen thousand, four hundred and fifty four
naira, sixty nine kobo) from the derivation revenues of Akwa Ibom State
for the period January 2008 to May 2012, the details of which are as
follows:
January – May 2008 — N3, 544,768,893.42
June – November 2008 — N4, 853,788,604.62
December – February 2009 — N2, 136,562,290.58
August – December 2010 — N1, 621,773,282.58
January – May 2011 — N1, 889,734,369.69
June – December 2011 — N2, 659,416,739.93
January – May 2012 — N1, 775,869,273.87
TOTAL — N18, 481,913,454.69
June – November 2008 — N4, 853,788,604.62
December – February 2009 — N2, 136,562,290.58
August – December 2010 — N1, 621,773,282.58
January – May 2011 — N1, 889,734,369.69
June – December 2011 — N2, 659,416,739.93
January – May 2012 — N1, 775,869,273.87
TOTAL — N18, 481,913,454.69
It should be stressed that the entire sum of over N18 billion paid to
Cross River State during the said period was not sourced from any
ecological funds as erroneously represented by agents of the Cross River
State Government, but from the statutory derivation revenue of Akwa
Ibom State. It is instructive to note that the amount arbitrarily and
illegally deducted for the period stated above accounts for more than
twice the value of the derivation revenue from the 76 oil wells for the
same period. These deductions of the statutory derivation revenues of
Akwa Ibom State in favour of Cross River State contravene section 162(2)
of the1999 Constitution. It also negates the brotherly gesture in the
proposals canvased in the letter of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Ref:
No. GH/AKS/S/87 dated 28th January 2011.
As events turned out, the insistence of the leadership of Cross River
State to have a judicial pronouncement on its claim to the 76 oil wells
ultimately came to an end on 10th July 2012 with a dismissal of the
said claim in its entirety. As a Government we are alarmed and shocked
by the highly temperamental pronouncements of the leadership and agents
of the Cross River State Government over the said judgment aimed at
causing a frosty relationship between the peoples of the two States and
demeaning the judicial officers of the Supreme Court.
Addressing the Court on the same date after the judgment, Chief Paul
Erokoro (SAN), lead counsel to Cross River State, accepted the Supreme
Court judgment in good faith and regretted the opprobrium the Court was
subjected to in the build-up to the judgment by the other agents of
Cross River State in the media. It is regrettable that this commendable
conciliatory position of her Counsel was not maintained in the official
statement issued by the Cross River State Government which essentially
questioned the integrity of the Supreme Court and described the 76 oil
wells as “stolen”. It is a cardinal principle of law that Cross River
State cannot approbate and reprobate nor accept only the benefit of a
decision of court and reject the burden; having accepted the aspect of
the same Supreme Court judgment of 2005 in suit No. SC. 124/1999 which
ceded Oku/Mbiabo/Ayadehe villages of Itu Local Government in Akwa Ibom
State to Cross River State, she cannot now question part of the same
judgment and that of 10th July, 2012 in suit No. SC.250/2009 which
confirmed Cross River State as a non-littoral State, with no claim to
any maritime territory.
Why shun peace? Is history repeating itself? We recall that Cross
River State rejected an earlier attempt by Akwa Ibom State Government to
have the issue of the 24 villages of Itu Local Government Area of Akwa
Ibom State ceded to Cross River State in the judgement in Suit No.
SC.124/1999 politically and amicably settled. Infact, in a letter dated
27th March, 2006 entitled ‘Re: Proposal By The Akwa Ibom Government For A
Political Solution To The Boundary Issues Between Cross River And Akwa
Ibom State At The Mbiabo Axis’, the then leadership of Cross River State
stated emphatically:
” Beyond this position, Council further called on the two
State Governments of Cross River and Akwa Ibom to endeavor to abide by
the terms of the Supreme Court judgment and equally encourage their
indigenes to respect the judgment. ”
The current propaganda against both the Supreme Court and Akwa Ibom
State has degenerated to a ridiculous level of denouncing the map of the
National Boundary Commission (NBC) which Cross River State tendered and
relied upon at the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC.124/1999 decided in
June 2005. Cross River State leadership, seven years after, now allege
that the NBC map they earlier relied upon is doctored and fraudulent.
As a law-abiding State, we have an abiding faith in the sanctity of
judicial processes and pronouncements. In 2005 we lost 24 villages of
Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to Cross River State in a
Supreme Court judgment; we did not vilify the Supreme Court or the Cross
River State Government. In 2011 the Supreme Court gave judgment in
favour of Rivers State over revenue derived from 86 off shore oil wells
attributed to Akwa Ibom State; we did not attack the integrity of the
Supreme Court nor did we incite the people of Akwa Ibom against the good
people of Rivers State.
As a responsible Government, we shall continue to maintain due
process in matters of both law and government and refrain from actions
capable of destroying ancient bonds or intimidating and/or weakening the
administration of justice, irrespective of the occasion or euphemism.
Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who passionately love their Cross River
State counterparts should note for the records that Suit No. SC.250/2009
was instituted by Cross River State against the Federal Government of
Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State Government. The citizens of both States are
enjoined to continue to embrace peace.
Ekpenyong Ntekim Esq.
Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
http://africanspotlight.com/2012/07/76-oil-wells-how-cross-river-state-went-to-court-and-lost/
Monday, July 23, 2012
How Northern governors create poverty and insecurity – Isyaku Ibrahim
Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, businessman and politician was one of the founders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and subsequently a member of the Board of Trustees of the party until he decamped and joined the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC).
DO you believe the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers are still on course?
Mallam Aminu Kano and Dr Nnamdi Azikwe were my political mentors. When I was growing up, I joined Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and had the opportunity to be the Secretary of NEPU in the Western region then.
Cross section of Fulani women selling Nono and Fura at along Muda Lawal Market, Bauchi on Saturday (21/7/12). NAN Photo
Meaning of democracyBut in Nigeria of today, we don’t even understand the meaning of democracy let alone believe in it and that is why there is confusion everywhere. We have a constitution and it’s the document which guides the process of government in a particular country, we have a constitution but we do not respect it. There is no accountability.
Isyaku Ibrahim: Those thinking Nigeria will break are deceiving themselves
They kill innocent people, every other time you open your mouth and say we are on top of it and as the President of the country, you don’t feel anything because the killing is happening in one part of the country which is the North, so you don’t give a damn.
You say the North did not vote for you, therefore they can be killing themselves, which is how Jonathan is leads us.
Do you share the view that Nigeria may not remain one till 2015?
In the first place, who is talking about 2015 at this present moment when we don’t even have stability.This is a country where you call a house wife the first lady which does not exist in the constitution of this country and she will use the property of Nigeria to be gallivanting. It is only in Nigeria that you see people that have nothing to do with government enjoying what belongs to Nigerians.
I participated in the Shagari government who was the first executive President of this country; no Nigerian will tell you that he knows who Mrs. Shagari was
Those thinking Nigeria will break are deceiving themselves; it’s just only few disgruntled intellectual elites who are disgusted that are talking about it. Go to Wuse market in Abuja, you see Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa and they are the true Nigerians.
It is said that poverty is the cause of insecurity in the North. Do you agree?
Who created poverty? The governors in their respective states did.
When they are given allocation, they divert it to their personal use.
If the money they are collecting from the federal allocation was used
to develop their various states, there won’t be poverty there.Remember there was a governor who throughout did not stay in his state. He only came around to collect the state allocation and after giving to local governments, he would disappear again. There are still many of them doing this.
So, it is the government and the system that creates poverty. There are many state governors that give construction works and will not give money, how do they expect the construction company to commence work.
With all these happening, how can you experience stability and peace? This is a country where we wake up and find out that one Nigerian has stolen over N 100 billion.
It is worrisome today that you see the Nigerian police in uniform staying behind or carrying bag for rich Nigerians. In Britain, you can never see a British policeman behind any rich Briton; you provide your own security. After all, why are you afraid if you are doing a genuine business?
What is your observation on the bribery scam related to the House of Representatives investigation on subsidy management?
It is the ingredient of corruption. You know the report pointed to
the culprits and this report has been there for two months and we have
not heard that President Jonathan has called his agents who deal with
these things to arrest the companies indicted.
Blackmailing committee chairman
Rather than that, he and his friends were busy trying to see how
they can blackmail the committee chairman, Farouk Lawan who was naïve.
We respected him but he let us down to have gotten himself involved in
this kind of situation.What we are asking is that, what has happened to the N2.6 trillion subsidy money? Also, we expected that by now government should have started arresting those people involved, then we would have known that the President is serious.
Otherwise, people who are accusing him of being part of the whole exercise will have something to hang on while people who still doubt his stance on it will then believe.
For now, we still give him the benefit of the doubt but when he comes back, he should ensure that those indicted are arrested including his friends.
VANGUARD NEWS
Factional APGA Chairman denies Reagan Ufomba re-admittance into APGA
The recent visit of Reagan Ufomba to National Vice Chairman of APGA Barr. Morgan Anyalewechi has started generating controversy. Embattled Reagan recently visited the Vice Chairman to beg for his re-admittance into the the party after expulsion, but the Chairman refused despite Ufomba's cries. In a tense statement by factional chairman Umeh, he described Reagan plans to defect to Anyalewechi's faction as a manifestation of the chameleonic nature of the Ogoni born political thug who was expelled because of his attempt to disrupt meting at Ikemba's residence in Enugu.
Umeh who is fighting a battle of his life said that Ufomba's expulsion is final no matter the faction he tries to join. He further stated that Ufomba is even a politician that can not bring electoral victory.
NIGERIA: More Trouble For PRSIDENT JONATHAN As Impeachment Plot Thickens
The senators met with some representatives in Abuja, at the weekend, on the budget row with the executive, it was learnt yesterday.
But the Presidency is imputing motives to the House’ move against Dr. Jonathan.
A presidential aide alleged that the House is angry because the executive rejected its demand for the execution of what was described as some “bogus” constituency projects.
The aide also accused Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of using the House as a platform for his supposed 2015 presidential project.
Last Thursday, the House threatened the president with impeachment over what it called “poor implementation” of the budget.
It gave him up till September 30 to ensure “full implementation” of the fiscal policy or “we will start drafting articles of impeachment”.
Sources said the senators joined forces with the representatives because both chambers (Senate and House) must work together on impeachment in line with constitutional provisions.
According to Section 143 (1): The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provision of this section.
(2): Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less one-third of the members of the National Assembly:
(a) is presented to the President of the Senate;
(b) stating that the holder of the office of President or Vice-President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified.
At plenary last Thursday, the House accused the president of “gross misconduct” for alleged poor implementation of the budget.
A senator told The Nation in confidence: “Some of us have met with some members of the House of Representatives to tell them that we are in support of their action.
“The battle is not that of the House alone, it is for the National Assembly. Let Mr. President take his time to gauge the feeling of all senators, he will know that they are not happy with his administration on the poor implementation of the budget.
“As a chamber, the Senate has passed many resolutions too which the president has not implemented. We considered the reports on Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) and pension fraud but the government just kept quiet as if we are in the Senate as spectators.
“I can tell you that there are sufficient grounds to initiate impeachment process against the President.”
Another senator said: “The Presidency will be making a great mistake to bank on the Senate for reprieve if the House is adamant to actualise its impeachment threat.
“On security ground alone, the impeachment proceedings will succeed. We are all tired of the high-level of insecurity in the country.
“So, it is in the interest of the executive to implement the budget as directed by the House instead of glossing over last Thursday’s resolution of the House.”
Yet another senator said: “We will use this recess to consolidate our plans on what to do if the President does not address the budget implementation target.
“We all felt insulted that the president also recalled the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, in spite of issues surrounding her tenure.
“Nigerians should appreciate that even if the Senate maintains a parallel position, senators and representatives will eventually hold a joint session where votes will count equally. With the numerical strength of the House, any motion can sail through at the joint sitting.”
A high-ranking member of the House said the overwhelming support for the ultimatum given to the President should be a signal that there is a communication gap between the executive and the House.
“Not even members of the House from the Southsouth could rally round the executive. That has confirmed that we all saw the Nigerian Project beyond ethnicity. It also showed the waning influence of the President in the National Assembly.
“As a matter of fact, the motion on the budget was drafted by a member of the House from the Southsouth. The member was determined to move the motion openly but for tactical reasons, the House leadership decided otherwise. The country is not moving forward, we are unhappy.
“We have opened up talks with some senators on the way forward. I think constitutionally, we can find a solution to the challenges at hand in the country. We have our game plan.”
“Some senators and House members are also meeting in the United Kingdom and United States during the vacation on this game plan.”
But the President’s aide, who called our correspondent on the telephone said: “The House members are plotting against the president because the Executive is circumspect on the implementation of their bogus constituency projects padded in the 2012 budget.
“So, the noise itself has selfish motive undertone, it has nothing to do with concern for the masses.
“Also, from available reports, the Speaker is said to be interested in the 2015 presidency. He is, therefore, using the House as a platform to feather his own nest.
“By the time members of the House will realise that they are being used, it will be too late in the day.”
The source was confident that the impeachment threat will not succeed.
“I can tell you that this government is a responsible one and it has done its best to implement the budget. When Nigerians see the budget report card, they will be shocked that the House was just crying wolf.”
THE NATION
Traditional ruler kidnapped in Imo
Unknown armed
men, Thursday, kidnapped the traditional ruler of Eziama Obiato, in
Mbaitolu Local Government Area of Imo State, Dennis Nwaba.
Mr.
Nwaba was kidnapped from his palace, at about 8.30a.m., by four armed
men, who came in a Honda civic car, the Imo State Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), Vitalis Onugu, said
Mr. Onugu stated that two men who used a bike to pursue the kidnappers, were shot by the armed men.
The
police spokesman decried the rise of kidnapping in the state, adding
that all efforts would be made to apprehend the culprits.
He said investigations were still ongoing; and no ransom had been demanded by the kidnapers.
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