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Ijaw Mothers Seek Permanent Solution To Rivers Crisis
The Ijaw Mothers’ Union has called for a permanent solution to the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking at a press conference organised in Okrika, Rivers State, President Ijaw Mothers Union, Mrs Doris Macdaniels, Mrs Doris Macdaniels said the political crisis in Rivers, if not addressed, will affect the structure.
“As we reflect on our history, we must ask: Are we, as Nigerians, ready for another round of destruction in the Brac (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River) coastal states, which produce 72% of the nation’s resources?
“Is the government prepared for the potential destruction of oil and gas facilities for the sake of one man’s political ambitions? The consequences of ignoring these issues are enormous.
“We seize this opportunity to call on our capable Governor, His Excellency Siminalaye Fubara, to develop the skills and capabilities of the Rivers youths so that they can dominate the oil and gas industry rather than being used as political thugs.
“We also thank God for using Mr President Bola Tinubu to appoint Minister Nyesom Wike to a very engaging position, which divided his attention from Rivers State.
“The Minister, as Mr Project, did an amazing job in the infrastructure of Rivers State. Please make him comfortable and give him the support to replicate his wonderful projects in FCT,” the mothers said urging the two political bigwigs in Rivers to focus on their assignments and unite Rivers people.
“We want peace, justice, and a better future for Rivers State. We will not allow the mistakes of the past to repeat themselves. We stand united as mothers, ready to protect our children and our community from the rapacious politicians threatening our peace,” the mothers said.
She said Rivers State was formed by a group of mothers across the Ijaw nation, adding that the idea was to create a community where mothers from Ijaw nations could share and voice their perspectives on political, social, and economic issues.
“Most notably, the years between 2003-2009 were a very traumatic era for Ijaw mothers due to the political upheaval that displaced our children from their communities out of the necessity to address the challenges we faced during the political turmoil from 2003 to 2009.
“Today, we are full of love and joy for everybody in Rivers State and people from other regions who reside there. By the grace of God, we have forgiven ourselves and moved on.
“We have all heard the strong warnings and threats from the FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, regarding his political structure and the insistence that it should not be tampered with. His words sent chills down our spines, especially coming from someone who was a Local Government Chairman in Obio/Akpo during the Niger Delta insurgency that witnessed all that transpired.
“The thought of the Minister potentially dragging the state back into the turmoil that once engulfed our oil production and affected the global oil market speaks volumes about the rapacious leaders we, as a people, have celebrated.
“Having experienced firsthand the crises of structural control during the Niger Delta insurgency, we are determined to preempt the Minister’s threats from escalating into a situation we would all regret. We do not want another round of bloodshed or the trauma of identifying the corpses of our sons at odd hours of the night.
“The state is currently embroiled in heated arguments, with the Minister not relenting on his threats as his few benefactors appear to be working towards chaos come 2027. Therefore, we believe the time is right to speak out, make our stance known, and call for help from the authorities responsible to nip this brewing crisis in the bud because we don’t want anybody to take us back to the dark days for personal ambition.
“As mothers, we call upon our nation’s mother, our First Lady, distinguished Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, to take a special interest in the ongoing situation in Rivers State. We plead with her to investigate and uncover the truth rather than accept the lies perpetuated through political cover-ups.
“The situation has become too severe for security agencies to ignore what is fermenting right before their watch. They are aware of what has happened and the consequences that followed,” the mothers said.
They said their children in Rivers State have been out of school for years and denied gainful employment opportunities adding that civil servants were not promoted for years, and Rivers people struggled to access medical care in vain due to severely dilapidated hospital facilities and services.
“Now that our sons are returning to school and gaining access to employment, the civil servants have been promoted, the citizens and people residing in Rivers State are beginning to experience adequate medical care, and life is normalising. Rivers State is not a battleground but a sensitive state in every respect. We do not want any group to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere on our streets anymore.
“We all know that power is never given freely. Therefore, Rivers people are curious to understand the capacity, legitimacy, and forces backing Minister Barr Nyesom Wike, who believes he can forcefully change the existing structures in Rivers State without destroying our oil and gas facilities and plunging our economy into chaos.
“Are Nigerians ready for another round of crisis in the Niger Delta and a total collapse of the economy at this moment? We are praying for and supporting the president to rectify the issues that previous governments have neglected. Is this the right time to formulate another round of mayhem in a relatively peaceful Niger Delta?
“Can one politician, Barr Nyesom Wike, lead us into another disaster? Is there cynicism surrounding the Minister’s entire narrative?
Are there ulterior motives at play to strategically infuriate President Tinubu’s new hope agenda and take the baton from the President to contest the 2027 election or another unknown agenda best known to the minister?
“During the civil war, we witnessed the massive destruction of our primary resources. As a child, I saw the complete bombing of the Port Harcourt Refinery and the blowing up of oil pipelines, which reduced our production to below two hundred barrels a day. Those that believe that there is security to protect our massive oil and gas facilities in the complicated creeks of the core Niger Delta terrain should reconsider, as the youths are more than capable of causing another catastrophe.”
Giving historical context, the Ijaw mothers said before the European invaders arrived, there were no formal structures; only indigenous clans were governed by “Alapu” (plural for “Alabo”).
“We had powerful kings and native foot soldiers we respected as leaders. Many of our kings were exiled to Europe by the colonial powers due to their resistance to the greedy European merchants.
“The first significant political and economic structural change occurred in 1884, with consequences that affected everyone in present-day Nigeria. The Royal African Company (RAC) received a charter from the British government to trade in Nigeria’s coastal areas, but King Frederick Koko of Nembe rejected their trade terms, leading to hostility between the RAC and the Brass people.
“The Royal African Company (RAC) imposed levies on the Brass people, restricting their access to the coast for their livelihoods; with the development, King Koko convened a meeting with other chiefs, and they agreed to fight for their rights rather than die of hunger. This led to the infamous Akasa Raid, where the premises of the Royal African Company (RAC) were invaded, and hostages were taken. Some were released alive, while others were killed and eaten in a cannibalistic ritual.
“The Royal African Company (RAC) retaliated by invading the small town with the Royal Navy and massacring the inhabitants, including women and children. The consequences of the colonial hostility to impose a new structure that denied the host community free trade were unacceptable to King Koko and his people. This led to the expansion of the Niger Delta protectorate and the eventual amalgamation of Nigeria.
“This historical context illustrates how political structure agitation can go wrong, as seen with the Royal African Company (RAC), which ultimately lost its charter due to its despotic policies. The amalgamation of Nigeria was met with protests from the Niger Delta, and despite promises of development funds, these were never released.
“The civil war further exemplified the disastrous consequences of political control struggles, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life in Igbo land. The Niger Delta insurgency, apart from the destruction of our oil facilities, plunged our oil production below 200 bpd. Another twist was the introduction of kidnapping as a means of protest, this originated when the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, detained Asari Dokubo, and the Niger Delta youths were livid and demanded the oil workers to leave the Niger Delta region. Some workers left, and the ones that stayed behind became victims of the Niger Delta youths kidnapping rampage, which has since become a lucrative enterprise with dire consequences” she said.
On the current challenges and future outlook, the mothers said the political struggles in Rivers State have left deep scars.
“The Ijaw people have firsthand experience of the consequences of political structural control. The insurgency was rooted in grievances over resource control and has led to a culture of violence and mistrust,” they added
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muahammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has commended the developmental strides of Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, just as he assured of the support of traditional institutions in the state.
Sultan who admonished other governor’s to also borrow a leaf from governor Ahmed Aliyu who ensures that resident communities enjoys equal benefit from everybody, added that, Nigerians should project what unites us moe than that which divides us.
“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the Governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing of transforming our State.
“The Governor and our security agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.
While adding that governor Ahmed Aliyu deserves special commendation for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, Sultan urged Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may jeopardise the long lasting peace the country is enjoying.
Registering his displeasure over how the social media is been used negatively to promote and sow seed o discord, the Sultan said, some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.
Speaking during his
Sallah homage on governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Sokoto, Sultan
said, “”In Sokoto all Nigerians are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the State a sense of belonging.
Sultan equally stressed the need for for state governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.
Responding, governor Ahmed Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.
He blamed unemployment especially among the youths as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.
According to Aliyu, many youths have joined informants’ groups so as to be getting stipends to make ends meet.
“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.
” I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he vowed
Gov. Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize Islamic affairs, adding that more Mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.
He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration and called for it’s sustainance.
Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?
On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.
Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”
With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.
“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”
Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.
“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”