IN Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council of Rivers State, the feeling is rife that the area does not deserve the neglect it has suffered from the state and the Federal Government.

The residents believe they deserve better, if for nothing else, but because the OB/OB and Obite Gas plants that contribute more than 46.6 per cent of the entire feedstock of gas to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project in Bonny is located in the area.

But rather than pay attention to their needs, the state and Federal authorities have allowed a situation in which their roads are

are washed out, some dotted with pot holes and now a nightmare to motorists.

A resident, Benjamin Orike told The Guardian “it is regrettable that despite the community’s huge contribution to the country’s economic wellbeing, governments have neglected its roads.

“The Federal Ahoada-Egbema Road linking Omoku to Imo State and the state-owned Ikiri Road linking this community to Elle, are death traps.

“It is rather sad that these roads were allowed to deteriorate to this level, making movement of vehicles and goods very difficult.

Along most of the dual-carriage Ahoada Road, particularly at Ikiri and Eze Ohali junctions and Omoku Central Market area, motorists are compelled to drive through one lane to avoid their vehicles being damaged, which causes the traffic jam the route in now notorious for.”

A truck driver, Anthony Eze, said, “though major road projects have been undertaken by the Chubuike Ameachi-led government, nobody  has remembered Omoku.”

On his part, Martins Okechukwu Oluwu, blamed substandard construction and lack of an integrated drainage system for the dilapidation of the roads.

According to him, the road at Umuakocha Street, which links Egbada Road, that was constructed five months ago by a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contractor, has already gone bad.

He said it was cheaper to preserve a road through proper maintenance periodic repair than allow it to degrade and then rebuild it.

He also suggested that the state government  should urgently commence   construction of an integrated drainage along Ahead Road down to Santa Maria High School area, and channel the water to the Omoku River.

A shop owner, Daniel Kalu told The Guardian that prospective customers found it inconvenient to visit Erema Street these days for any transaction, lamenting that that owners of various business outfits in the area still paid their taxes to Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Council, which is more interested in revenue collection than in development.

“Customers avoid our shops. Erema Street cannot be accessed through Ahoada Road by car.  Only commercial motorcycles dare because of the bad state of the road and they now charge N100 per drop instead of N50. We are praying for government to assist us with good roads and drainage to assuage our suffering.”

Also expressing his frustration, Chukwuka Oburu, said some Okada riders and their passengers have died trying to avoid a pothole, citing an instance on where an Okada rider fell while avoiding a crater on Court Road and was crushed to death by a speeding car.

“We are not asking for flyovers. We are not asking for speed rail. We’re not asking for miracles.  We’re just asking for passable roads benefiting an oil-producing town,” he said.

Speaking with nostalgia, Mr. Amaechi Woke who lives at Justice Felix Ichokwu Street, recalled that during the Melford Okilo administration, Omoku was earmarked as one of the developing cities as part of effort to decongest Port Harcourt.

He, however, bemoaned  “the indifference of government towards this promising commercially viable town with, at least, seven commercial banks.”

He said it was inhuman for government to neglect the town, which for over a decade, had depended on Italian oil company, Agip, for roads, water, electricity.  He also said it was morally offensive for there not to be any Federal or state road projects in Omoku despite her contributions to the national economy.

When The Guardian visited the community, Court Road, which leads to the famous St. Michael Anglican Church located in the centre of the town, had been split into two by a deep crater, making it impossible to drive through the Church Road to Ahoada Road.

Also Kerigani, Police, Iyasara,  Court Roads, Hallmark Avenue and Ihukwu Street to mention a few, are impassable.

Frustrated by the trouble road- users are subjected to daily, Mrs. Charity Ajie suggested that if government could not build new roads, it should, at least, maintain the existing ones because a safe and efficient transportation system is the foundation for any town’s economic vitality and growth.

“Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni headquarter should not suffer this way. We have two strategic gas plants beside the oil production taking place here. We are the main source of gas to NLNG Bonny. Two key oil companies operate from here. The local council exists only in name. It cannot even rehabilitate roads,” she said.

But the Commissioner of Works, Victor Giadom, however, told The Guardian that the government was waiting for the dry season so that it could undertake massive rehabilitation of dilapidated roads across the state.

The Horizon.  By Kayode Komolafe, Email:kayodekomolafe@thisdayonline.com

Foremost political economist, Professor Claude Ake, died 15 years ago in a plane crash. It was to be a flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos, but it turned out to be the eminent scholar’s last journey.

However, since the huge loss, Ake’s ideas have been alive and well. He was reputed to have made original contributions to social science.

It was his preoccupation with the production of ideas for people-oriented development that led to the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Social Science (CASS) based in River State.

In a way, Ake came alive last Friday through these ideas. The occasion was a memorial lecture on his 72nd birthday.

 It was organised by the Rivers State government. The topic: “Doom to Boom: Re-engineering the Political Economy of Rivers State for Citizens Prosperity – Lessons from Botswana”. Giving the lecture, former President of Botswana, Mr. Festus Mogae, summed up the widely acclaimed Botswanan experiment in the following modest words: “ we did a few ordinary things in the interest of ordinary people”.

Botswana has become a model in converting non-renewable natural resource to social capital. Natural wealth has been admirably used to develop human capital.

 Relating the success that Botswana has made in the management of revenues from mineral resources, Mogae appropriately reminded governments in Nigeria that  “oil exists for the people and not the people for oil”. When Mogae was awarded the Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership three years ago, the elements of “stability and prosperity” were emphasised among his accomplishments in governance.

The lecture itself was richly spiced with quotes from Ake’s writings on democracy and development.  He was more or less confirming to his hosts that some of the ideas needed for development had been generated by the radical scholar from Omoku. Mogae was quite humble in sharing with the audience the experience of Botswana.

According to him, the Botswanan experiment is a proof that “it is possible to manage natural resource endowments in a way that generates economic growth, promote welfare of the population and also being environmentally friendly and sustainable”.

Botswanan leaders have been wise to learn from the lessons of the resource curse afflicting the African continent.

 The continent is rich in natural resources but its people remain poor as amply demonstrated in the lecture. About 10% of global oil reserves are in Africa. The continent is also the home of about 40 % of gold and between 80 and 90% of Chromium and Aluminium deposits.

The Democratic Republic of Congo hosts a quarter of Diamond reserves in the world. Yet that nation is also the home of many of the poorest people in the world. Against this unenviable background, Botswana, early enough, categorised natural resource as a “common heritage for the present and future generations”. The state has direct shareholding in the extractive industry. Revenues thus generated in the form of taxes and royalties are invested in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

This is the formula that Botswana has employed to effectively transform itself from being a poor country at independence to a middle-income country today.

To achieve this, some ingredients became indispensable for the political economy to function in people’s interest. First, the government has made accountability and transparency principles of state policy. Institutions exist to bring this about.

 These include the office of the Auditor-General, the Directorate of Public Prosecution, an independent media and a robust civil society. There is also the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board. Secondly, there is “zero tolerance” for corruption.

 In fact, in Botswana, corruption is “a high risk and low return undertaking” because of the awesome mandates of the anti-corruption agencies. The fight against a corruption has become a national duty. Thirdly, the legislature and the judiciary are independent and constitute a check on the executive. In formal terms, similar provisions in law and structures to the foregoing also exist in Nigeria.

 The difference is that in Botswana there is political will under a committed leadership to bring about results.

In comparison, Mogae observed the huge investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure in Rivers State and urged the state government to continue on that path of development. His admonition: governments in Africa should reverse the culture of rent- seeking and strategists of development should look “beyond oil”.

The animated discussion that followed Mogae’s presentation was such that Ake in his profound thinking about the dialectics of democracy and development could have readily approved of them. For instance, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi called for the publication of the details about the quantity of oil sold and greater transparency in the industry.

 According to him, the struggle over the wealth from oil should benefit the people and not just a few leaders.  Monsignor Mathew Hassan Kaka introduced another dimension to the discussion by emphasising the importance of how leadership emerges.

According to him, it is evident from Mogae’s presentation and more so his rich profile that development in Botswana is not an “accident”.  The leadership that gave the direction for the development is nurtured and well prepared for the job.

The preparedness of leadership for governance still remains a great challenge in Nigeria. The Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamusdeen Usman, who was the chairman of occasion, rose in defence of the integrity of the official statistics. He dismissed allegations of official mismanagement of data.  If development is to be planned, credible data are crucial to the process.

It was a befitting honour done to the memory of Ake by his home state. The tone and tenor of the debates that ensued were also appropriate in a typical Ake occasion.

 In his book, Democracy and Development in Africa, Ake argues that: “the assumption so readily made that there has been a failure of development is misleading. The problem is not so much that development has failed as that it was never really on the agenda in the first place”.

Botswana has shown that development can indeed be put squarely on the agenda in a democratic milieu. To achieve this, politics should be for the purpose of development.

 At present, politics is under- developing Nigeria due to prohibitive costs of governance, corruption and lack of accountability. The dominant political orientation is not towards combating mass poverty.

Instead, politics serves the interest of a few that have access to power and can influence resource allocation. This is made worse by the fact that there is no popular control of power. All these are challenges of development.

The primary lesson from Botswana is that the small country is succeeding in scaling these hurdles on the way of development. To turn doom to boom, governments in Nigeria at all levels must also tackle these obstacles to development.

Prof Claude Ake: Well Done, RSG

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About 15 years ago, precisely on November 7, 1996, the cold hands of death snatched away Professor Claude Ake from this earth.

He died along with 141 others in the ill-fated ADC plane crash in Ejigbo, Lagos State, on that fateful day.

Though Professor Ake is dead, but like the icons and great works of stars and artistes, his message, teachings and thoughts, being indelible are ever more relevant today than they were at the time of his death. And these remain afloat in the waters of our fertile minds and those of many generations yet unborn.

The development of Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular was one passion that consumed his adult life. He held to this passion through writings, public lectures, and policy discourses and debates, through which he provided the panacea to the many woes that, have befallen the African continent.

Yet, despite his numerous contributions to the intellectual development of students and scholars who passed through him in America, Europe and Africa, no government had deemed it fit to immortalize this great son of Rivers State, whose intellectual prowess had no boundaries.

It is for this reason that we view the decision by the Rivers State Government under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to immortalize the late Professor Claude Ake as a step in the right direction.

The administration has instituted an annual memorial lecture in honour of late Professor Claude Ake, the first of which took place about a fortnight ago in Port Harcourt, with the former Botswana President, Festus Mogae, delivering a lecture titled, “Doom to Boom: Re-engineering The Political Economy Of Rivers State For Citizens Prosperity; Lessons From Botswana”.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Chibuike Amaechi noted that Professor Ake was an intellectual colossus that can only be immortalized by deepening democracy in Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular.

He stated that the next edition of the annual lecture would hold outside Rivers State, to reflect the international pedigree of late Professor Ake.

Governor Amaechi also assured that the Centre for Advanced Social Sciences (CASS), which was the creation of late Professor Ake through which he maintained the intellectual tempo for positive national political and economic growth, would receive the state government’s attention.

This, is indeed, very commendable.  CASS had degenerated to a point where it could no longer carry out its functions as instituted by late Professor Ake.  The centre existed more in name than action.

Therefore, the promise by the Rivers State Government to liaise with the Board of CASS to reinvigorate it is a welcome development. This, in our mind, is a befitting honour to this great son of the state.

Interestingly, Governor Amaechi also at the occasion promised to continue to honour other Rivers indigenes that have excelled in various fields of endeavour as a way of encouraging the youths and upcoming generations to emulate their good works.

By this step, Governor Amaechi has again demonstrated his desire to see that honour is given to whom it is due. Our inability to honour great achievers in our society has been a sour point in our development process as a nation. People hardly see role models to emulate. Rather, recognition and honour are lavished on those who in no way have made positive impacts on society.

Rightly, in his lecture, the ex-Botswana leader said of late Professor Ake: “We are here to celebrate the life and contributions of one of Africa’s intellectually productive sons”.

Ake, it would be recalled, combined deep intellectual erudition with prophetic insights, and clearly but courageously articulated these in numerous essays which have turned out to be important references in the study of political economy of resource-rich sub-Sahara Africa.

He was a “fearless intellectual who combined a blend of pragmatism, radicalism and progressive scholarship with both intellectual honesty and vigor”, said ex-President Mogae in his lecture.

Professor Ake was born February 18, 1939 in Omoku, Rivers State.  He attended Kings College, Lagos between 1952 and 1958.  He also studied at Columbia University, New York and later became an Assistant Professor in 1966.

He was appointed a professor of political economy at Carleton University, Canada at the age of 31. He lectured there from 1969 to 1977.  Professor Ake also lectured at the University of Port Harcourt, where he became the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, before his sojourn to establish the CASS.

 From their attitude and customs, Ogbas appear to believe that they occupy a central position in the world, between Oru and Igmo, from where they survey all the activities of mankind, and mock, praise, deride, appreciate or emulate them as the occasion demands. Some of the customs create the vague impression of people standing between the living and the dead, or between paradise and hell, or between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Following the historic visit: The Rivers State announced the recognition of the Eze Egi Stool as a Second Class Status on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at Erema Town during the 70th birth celebration of Chief Godpower U. Ake. The Governor of the Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who made the announcement pointed out that the Attoney General and Commissioner for Justice has being directed to commence processing necessary documentations to enable the incumbent on the Stool occupy his rightful place in the State Traditional Rulers Council.

December 2, 2008;

 The Eze Egi of Ogbaland (Eze Ogba Ukwu), His Royal Majesty, Eze Kingdom Elemchukwu Elenwa, on Tuesday, December 22, 2008 paid a historical and cultural visit to the Omo N’ Oba, N’ Edo Uku Apolokpolo, His Royal Majesty Oba Erediauwa CFR, The Oba of Great Benin Kingdom. The historical and cultural visit is happy reunion of Egi Ogba people acquaintances with the Kingdom of Benin, their ancestral home.

 In the address Eze Egi presented before the Oba of Benin and members of the Edo State Council Chiefs, Eze Egi said “the historic visit was in appreciation of the Ogba ancient cultural relationships with Akalaka, the great, and the entire Benin kingdom”. According to Eze Egi, Egi Ogba cultural relationships with the Kingdom of Benin, dates back to Egi Ogba Immemorial Oral Traditions, now the philosophy of Akalaka, the Great.

 

Eze Egi in memory lane from 1962 to 2008 narrated that the ancient “Eze Egi Stool” was among the cultural heritage of Old Ahoada Province, former Eastern and Midwest bioregional administration till date and that he has been struggling without success for the recognition of the ancient “Eze Egi Stool” in Rivers State.

In his response, Oba of Benin welcomed his ancestral kites and kin from the Egi Clan in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council Area of Rivers State in a historical and cultural visit, for the first time, led by Kingdom Elemchukwu Elenwa, the Eze Egi of Ogbaland, (Eze Ogba Ukwu). As a mark of honour, the Oba of Benin also presented some traditional ornamental artifacts, cola-nuts with some cartons of drinks to Eze Egi and his Council Chiefs.

Eze Egi seated second from left talking to Chief Issac Agilebu, Egurugu Ome of Egiland. 

  

 

  Eze Egi receiving some traditional ornamental artifacts, cola-nuts with some cartons of drinks from Oba of Benin

 

 The Oba of Benin, acknowledged with certainty Egi Ogba culture and language in its present form, saying that as his priest had pronounced, the Oba of Benin is now looking at the possibilities for the formal recognition of the ancient “Eze Egi Stool” in Rivers State, from where the incumbent Eze Egi stopped. His priest who had known the Oba’s intention thanked the Eze Egi and members of his Council of Chiefs for visiting the Omo N’ Oba, N’ Edo Uku Apolokpolo, Oba of Benin. The Oba of Benin also invited Eze Egi for this year’s “Ugie Erha Oba” in December 17, 2008. “Ugie Erha Oba” is a festive that celebrates the father of the Oba.

HISTORIC VISIT:

By Nwokezi J. Ikoro

 

Eze Egi presenting his address before the Oba of Benin

Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State prides itself as the highest oil and gas producing council in Nigeria, but its neglected headquarters, Omoku, is literally a dying town.

Omoku, which is endowed with a vast and valuable extractive resource deposit consisting of forestry, petroleum, natural gas and minerals, remains backward in terms of infrastructural development in the Niger Delta.

Indicators that this once flourishing and promising town is in decline are evident. All the major and inner city roads are not motorable, the town lacks potable water, electricity is epileptic, there are no drainage system and when it rained two Sundays ago, over 400 houses were flooded, with properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.

When The Guardian visited Omoku, it was discovered that one major infrastructural challenge facing the community, which is presumably the second largest town in the state, is the dearth of good roads and a central drainage that could channel rain water to the river.

The few gutters in the community constructed under the auspices of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), which also supplies Omoku with electricity, are shallow and presently littered with sand and dirt.

Standing beside a deep crater at Erema Street, Azubuike Olowu lamented that several businesses like pubs, grocery stores, electrical and electronic shops, hair dressing saloons, cybercafés, provision stores and others along the street have closed down over the years due to the deplorable road.

“Omoku has gone backwards in the last eight years. The government has forgotten about us and we are left to our fate in spite of our contribution to the wellbeing of Rivers and Nigeria in general. We are tired of being ignored,” he lamented.

Similarly, Egbirika Paulinus Ifeanyi, who described Erema Street as an eyesore, submitted that the road has been begging for urgent attention for a long time. He decried the hardship experienced by residents of the area as unpardonable owing to the fact that they are citizens of the country, who deserve not to be treated as political and social orphans in their own state.

“Those of us who live along Erema Street are faced with a lot of hardship. It is difficult for us to drive into our houses. This road is not passable and if there is a heavy downpour, everywhere will be flooded. It is just an eyesore. It is so sad that this community that contributes to the economic sustenance of Nigeria, could be neglected this way,” said Ifeanyi.

A medical laboratory scientist, who lives in the area, explained that the commencement of the raining season, which often results in flooding, is a stark reminder of the eyesore Omoku has turned into.

He contended that the deplorable condition of roads in the town is not what an oil company can handle. He described as inhuman a situation whereby residents of a major oil and gas producing community, whose resources sustain the country and yet still pay their taxes to state and federal governments, are despicably denied basic infrastructure.

Efforts by The Guardian to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for Works, Dakuku Peterside, proved abortive. The Environment Commissioner, Kingsley Chinda, after repeated calls, in a text message replied that he was in a state executive council meeting.

The last time Omoku experienced heavy downpour, over 400 houses were flooded. And the primary cause of the avoidable situation is lack of good roads with gutters flowing into a central drainage system.

Kelvin Oreke Okechukwu, who resides at Ndoni Street, was sleeping at about 2a.m on that fateful Sunday when suddenly rainwater forced its way into his room. He was jolted out of sleep when his drenched mattress became too cold and uncomfortable for him.

“My electronics were all destroyed, as you can see, I am laying block in my door to prevent further water from entering my room. We are appealing to the state government to construct gutter for us. We have never experienced this kind of flooding before. That night, we all slept outside till morning.”

This pathetic situation was also experienced by Mrs. Victoria Ikoro, at Umu-Enyike Street, off Sambo Street. She explained that the saturated water, which flowed into her living room destroyed rugs, books, fridge and other valuables.

Ikoro said attempts by the community to persuade intervention agency like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and even the state government to improve the condition of the internal roads in Omoku have not yielded any positive effort.

For Sir Dickson Ordu, the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman for Omoku central communities, the neglect of the town, which is where the late Professor Claudus Ake hails from, is painful to describe. He said the reason residents of the community are increasingly feeling like a subjugated class in their own state is that Omoku has not been appreciated by government for its 207 oil and gas wells spread across the council.

“We have been crying and yet nobody cares about us. We have never destroyed oil and gas installation. We have no militants here. While the Niger Delta was in turmoil, our area had been peaceful. Oil and gas have been flowing uninterrupted. Maybe because we did not resort to arms struggle, that is why we are being undermined.”

He explained that save for NAOC’s benevolent intervention; Omoku would have been classified as a medieval town. According to him, “it is the oil company that has enhanced the little development that can be seen here.”

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Omoku, in Rivers State, has the largest deposit of oil and gas in the federation, with over 100 oil wells. But the story of the community appears to be that of the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs but suffers from abject neglect. There’s hardly any visible state or federal project in the town, save for the Federal Government (Technical) College established many years back. Whatever is seen, in the name of development, according to Sir (Engr.) Dickson Ordu, is from the self-efforts of the indigenes.
Indeed, with the better part of the land taken over by oil and gas pipelines, life has become a constant nightmare for the people due, largely, to bad roads and lack of drainage systems.

Only recently, a heavy rain submerged the entire community, destroying goods and property worth over N300 million. While narrating the predicament of his people to Saturday Sun, in Omoku, recently, Sir Ordu, who is the chairman of Omoku Central Community Development Committee, made a distress call to the Rivers State and federal governments to, as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the community to save it from what he described as a ‘disaster.’

“Omoku is the headquarters of ONELGA (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area). ONELGA is the highest producer of oil & gas in the country and Omoku town has over 100 oil wells. It hosts the biggest oil filling station in Africa,” Sir Ordu said. He added: “During the crisis in the Niger Delta, before the Federal Government’s amnesty for militants, the elders of Omoku and ONELGA, as a whole, continuously called a meeting of the youths to appeal to them not to destroy the oil installations in the community. And throughout that period, oil & gas were flowing without interruption. There was no incident of destruction of oil installations in ONELGA, particularly in Omoku.

“So, one would have expected that with such peaceful atmosphere in Omoku community and ONELG as a whole, the Federal Government would reciprocate by addressing our infrastructural problems. But it appears as if we are foolish. Maybe, we should have behaved like other communities that embarked on the destruction of oil installations, that would probably have attracted the attention of both the federal and state governments.”

He said that it is not in the character of sons and daughters of the community to destroy or resort to violence to press for their rights. He said: “On the contrary, we believe in dialogue and peaceful negotiation to get what we want. We are not asking the federal or state government to do something for us if we do not deserve it. God, in His wisdom, created us in this part of the world and deposited oil in our environment. We believe that we deserve good things of life, like other communities that have oil. Perhaps, the Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi is yet to remember us.

“We lost over N300million worth of goods and property as a result of a recent rainfall that submerged the entire Omoku community. Some people lost all their trading materials and need to start live afresh. Some people lost their cement stores. A certain photographer lost his cameras and all the works he did. That kind of person would have to start life afresh.”

Particularly, Ordu lamented that the community’s roads are bad. Also, he complained about drainages and infrastructural facilities, saying: “We are not resorting to force or violence. We are only appealing to the state and federal governments and to all the parastatals, including the Ministry of Niger Delta to come to our aid. The Ministry of Niger Delta was created for the people of Niger Delta. We are part of Niger Delta and we contribute a great deal to the economy of this country. So, we have every right to demand our rights. With the extent of damage we suffered from the first heavy rain this year, one imagines what would be our fate by the time we enter the main rainy season. The truth of the matter is that Omoku is in disaster. We’re calling on the state and federal governments; we’re calling on the Ministry of Niger Delta; we’re calling on NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission), LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Here is the source of the LNG gas terminal in Bonny. The Eleme Petro-chemicals are products of gas sourced from here. So, we are appealing to the various authorities concerned, even if we have done anything wrong, they should forgive us and treat us like other citizens who have oil in their domain.”

He said that his community is the second largest town in Rivers State after Port Harcourt, lamenting that there is “no visible federal or state developmental project in the community, except those embarked upon by the people of Omoku. We cannot do any meaningful project, except the government comes in. Ironically, the money generated from the oil sourced from our community is used to develop other areas. Let them extend a little of the money to develop our community. We are not forcing them. But they should know that we are in tears.

The community is demanding the fixing of roads and drainages, as, according to Ordu, “no road can stand without drainages. And if you do roads without drainages, the job is not complete. A large portion of our land has been taken over by oil pipelines belonging to LNG, Agip and other oil companies. The town has been grossly disfigured. What is left is the bad roads. The only alternative for us now is an island, which we call Omoku island. But we need two bridges to cross to the island to be able to develop the place. Omoku is a big town and the town is only expanding through self-help, from the effort of the indigenes of Omoku. We deserve the support of the state and federal governments because we are contributing to the economic development of the country.”

Ordu confirmed that the state governor had, at a stakeholders’ forum, pronounced Omoku as an emerging city, and promised that the community would be the next place for development. He said that the community had heaved a sigh of relief at that time, but is now disappointed that one year after that promise, “we are yet to see anything. We have gone to the Ministry of Urban Development to submit our plan for the development of the town. Unfortunately, nothing has happened.”

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday said that for democracy to thrive in the country, the ongoing constitution review should include true federalism.

Amaechi, who stated this in an interview with journalists in Lagos, said that the Peoples Democratic Party‘s governors would play an active role in the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate in the 2011 election.

The governor denied saying that the governors would determine the next president of the country, adding that he only said their roles in the emergence of the presidential candidate of the PDP could not be undermined.

Commenting on the constitution review, Amaechi said the amendments must go beyond electoral reforms and other changes to include fiscal federalism.

The governor said, ”The problem of Nigeria is not just the constitution, but constitutional. Are we truly a federation? If we are, why should my money be coming from Abuja? There is what is called fiscal federalism. I should be the person paying Abuja, not Abuja paying me.

”Under federalism of the Nigerian type, labour is on the exclusive list. To hire and fire my staff, I have to go to Abuja for permission. Is that federalism?

Advising Nigerians, he said, ”The amendment has taken place at the federal level. I don‘t know if it will be successful at the state level but we need to go beyond electoral reforms or whether the National Assembly will have the first line charge, to establishing true federalism.”

He also clarified his position on the 2011 elections. Amaechi said, ”By the PDP constitution, there are delegates that are there by the virtue of the offices they occupy. Most of those delegates are appointed to those offices by the governors.

”For a presidential candidate to emerge, the governors can speak to the delegates, who are their appointees. If the governors speak to the delegates, they can determine, they presidential candidate. I am not talking about the President of the country because those delegates cannot constitute the majority of voters in Nigeria.”

Explaining further the roles of the governors in the emergence of the party‘s presidential candidates, he said, ”You cannot ignore that fact (the role of the governors). How many commissioners are independent of their governors? Commissioners are automatic delegates.”

The governor said that parties must allow internal democracy to thrive, adding that personal interests must not override those of the majority.

He said, ”The name of anybody who emerges through properly held elections within the party must be forwarded to INEC. That is what we should be talking about.”

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that he would not be distracted from implementing the programmes outlined in his transformation agenda.
Jonathan in his New Year message to the nation described 2011 as a year with many positive developments, with a promise to build upon it in 2012.

The President, who regretted the security challenges faced by his administration, said he had, however, demonstrated seriousness to strengthen the nation’s democracy with the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, which were applauded by both Nigerians and the global community.
He reassured that in the new year his administration would neither be distracted nor deterred from effective implementation of its agenda for national growth and development by present challenges.

The message reads:
“Fellow Compatriots,
I greet you all as we enter a New Year.
For us in Nigeria, 2011 has been one of many positive developments, which we would strive to build upon in 2012.
We have strengthened our democracy with the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, which were applauded by our people and the global community.
We have developed and begun implementation of a purposeful and focused agenda for national transformation and established teams of patriotic, fully committed, dedicated and capable Nigerians to drive our plans to achieve significant progress in priority areas such as power supply, rehabilitation and expansion of national infrastructure, industrialization, agricultural development, education and employment generation.

We have, with the astute and diligent implementation of the amnesty programme, fully restored peace to the Niger Delta and boosted the production and export of crude oil, which had plunged to record lows in the dark days of militant agitation in the region.
We have also fully re-established our standing as a very important member of the international community.
Sadly, and very regrettably, however, 2011 also witnessed continuing national security challenges, the most worrisome being the spate of mindless terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of many of our people.
As we enter a new year, I wish to reassure Nigerians that my administration will neither be distracted nor deterred from the effective implementation of its agenda for national growth and development by present challenges.
We shall vigorously confront and defeat the menace of terrorism in our country and work with our friends in the international community to eliminate this new threat to global peace and security.

I urge our people to reject despair and embrace hope and optimism. We are a strong and resilient people. We have overcome all previous challenges to our nationhood and national well-being. With unity of purpose and national solidarity, we will certainly overcome terrorism and other current challenges.
With the support and cooperation of our patriotic compatriots, my administration will intensify efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property in Nigeria this New Year, as we have already signalled in our 2012 budget proposals.
We will also continue to make progress in improving the living conditions of all Nigerians in 2012 with effective interventions in key areas.

May God Almighty continue to bless, guide and protect our nation as we strive to build a strong, united and prosperous nation for present and future generations!
I wish you all happy New Year celebrations.

Let’s return to our roots –Tambuwal
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, enjoined Nigerians to reflect on our norms and traditions, which emphasised respect for elders and care for the young as the world ushers in 2012.
In his New Year message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, the Speaker said the coming year, which will signal the rebirth of new hopes and aspirations, should be used by all Nigerians to return to their roots and revive the age-long tradition of communal harmony built on deference for elders and unquantifiable love and concern for the young.

“A society cannot be making progress if it loses its moral fabric. For centuries, communities and the people of Nigeria have prospered largely due to the harmonious nature of their society. As we enter the New Year, we should all reflect on these virtues so as to fast track the return of peace and stability to our dear nation,” the Speaker said.

A brighter Nigeria beckons –Sylva
Rather than being despondent, Nigerians should look forward to a brighter country this New Year, Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said.
The governor in his New Year message urged citizens to “look forward to a brighter country, where peace, prosperity and security would reign.
“Let us hope for an end to the senseless fratricidal and sectarian conflicts that can only degrade our humanity and push us further down the abyss of poverty and underdevelopment, when we ought to be marching ahead with the rest of the world,” he advised.

Chime, PDP chair task Nigerians on good ideals
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Vita Abba, have urged people of the state and all Nigerians to use the New Year to re-dedicate themselves toward actualising the visions of the founding fathers of the country.
Chime, who made the call in his New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, also appealed to Nigerians to ensure the evils that had hindered rapid growth of the nation in the past were eliminated.
The governor said the current challenges facing the country calls for all to put heads together, especially leaders at all levels.
Also in his New Year message, PDP chairman in Enugu State, Abba, advised the people to use the New Year to reflect and offer prayers for the unity and peaceful co-existence of the country.
Abba thanked people of the state for their continued support and cooperation with the PDP-led government headed by Governor Chime.

We must not surrender to fear –Oshiomhole
“As we celebrate the dawn of a New Year, I extend my best wishes to the people of Edo State and Nigeria.
“Last year was challenging for us in Edo State and Nigeria. In Edo State, we have collectively attained greater heights in our efforts to improve the quality of life and to lay infrastructural foundations for enhanced human development, general public welfare and the pursuit of economic prosperity by our people.

We have cause to be grateful to God that under His guidance, we have built on our collective strengths and enhanced our resolve to deal with our challenges.
“This year, we can confidently look forward to a brighter future, because we have all the ingredients that engender socio-economic and political progress; namely: an enterprising people and a government that works.
For our beloved country, the times are certainly hard across all spheres of governance. In particular, the deficits in security of lives and property and the management of our diversity have attained levels that give renewed cause for grave anxiety. At this juncture, the Nigerian nation, not one particular religion or ethnic group, is under attack. We must respond as igerians and rise as a people to face the challenge, united by a common resolve to defend our collective security and the integrity of the polity.

“I believe strongly that Nigeria is all that we have and we have a duty to make it work. I urge that we continue to extend support to Mr President in his efforts to respond to the multifaceted problems he inherited.”

Support President –Obi
Governor Peter Obi called for more dedication on the part of Nigerians towards progress and development of the country in 2012.
This was contained in his New Year Message to Nigerians to see 2012 as a new dawn and new possibilities for the country after a successful general election in 2011 adjudged as the most credible by local and international communities.
He prayed that it will renew in the minds of Nigerians the resolve to contribute more to the country through support for policies that would benefit the people in the long run.

Reminding Nigerians that they collectively voted in Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as their president, he said they owed it a duty to support him in his efforts to promote the growth and development of the country for the benefit of her children.

Amaechi preaches religious tolerance
Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has urged Nigerians to show love and live in peace with one another in spite of religious, cultural and geographical differences.
He made the call in his New Year message to people of the state and the entire nation.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, Amaechi called for a unified Nigeria, noting that the country can only move forward if its citizens were at peace with one another. “Our tribes and tongues may differ, but we are one and the same people, north, south, east, or west, we are one Nigeria and must live in peace and unity to make meaningful progress,” he said.

Be security conscious –Fayemi
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, urged his people and Nigerians generally to be vigilant and security conscious in all their dealings in the New Year, following the current security challenges in the country.
The governor said that through vigilance and cooperation among the citizens, the various threats to peace and security in the country would be uprooted.

Fayemi in his New Year message, also urged citizens of the state as well as residents to imbibe the spirit of brotherliness and live peacefully with one another as one big family.

The Ogbas are originally from Benin in the present Edo state of Nigeria. According to the famous Benin Historian, Jacob Egharevba:

The (Binis) acertain that they came all the way from Khem (Ancient Egypt) to found a more secure shelter in this part of the world after a short stay in the Sudan. They settled at Ile Ife which Benin people call Uhe.

The empire of the first period or dynasty was founded about 900 AD, the rulers were commonly known as “Ogiso” before the arrival of the Oduduwa and his party at Ife in Yorubaland about 12th century of the Christain era…. Ali Ogba, History of Ogba People By  Ellah, Francis J. (20).

In Ogba myth of origin, Akalaka is the founder of Ogba nation. The Ogba Nation 1460-2003 Volume 1  By Ben-Fred Ohia and Henry O. Onyedibia (19).

He left Benin as a result of war. He prepared some charms which he placed on his bow and arrow, and when he shot the arrow, it directed him to the destination where he could find safety. When the arrow flew to the east, he and his followers prepared for the eastward journey. The number of years it took Akalaka to get to this area cannot easily be estimated because of orality of the narrative. When he arrive at Ogba, there were very few persons whom he displaced. Francis Ellah comments on this thus:-

Those who went from Benin to Ali-Ogba either settled down side by side with those ancestors had occupied the area in 3015 B.C or the late arrivals may have displaced pioneers. Consequently, it may be that the original inhabitants were exinct before the ogba arrived or they may have mingled with with Neighbouring groups or the late arrrivals may have met them and absorted them. The last proposition appears to be the most plausible -(91)

The name of his eldest son was Ekpa-Ohiah (Ekpeye), which means “Bush Bag”. He begot a second son whom he named Ugbah (Ogba), which was reminiscent of his ancestral home, Ogba in Benin, which he established at Ubuke after leaving Ula-Ubie. This was their place of settlement after a long journey from Benin. The Oba who reigned in Benin was a terrorist. He threatened and frightened his subjects. He used powerful and influential Chiefs in his Kingdom to perpetrate his evil acts in the kingdom. At the peak of the  state of anarchy and insecurity resulting from Oba Ewuare’s tyrannical reign, Akalaka felt the desire to flee with his supporters. Akalaka left Benin in the turbulent reign of Owurure (Ewuare) whose younger brother, Uwafiokun usurped his throne and was later murdered by him. Egharvba posit: “Ewuare the great was the great-great-grandson of Eweka 1 and he ruled Benin in the second period of Benin history” -(13)

Historical evidence traced the remote cause of the crises in Ogun’s reign as an Oba in Benin to his two sons. The families of the empire Ezuwarha and Edaiken- “the two Princes loved each other dearly.

Ezuearha, the second son would send presents of yams from Iyowa where he was a chief to his brother, Kuoboyawa and whenever Ezuwarha visited Uselu where Kuoboyawa was the Edaiken, they would embrace each other affectionately”-(14). But a day came when Ezuwarha was very indignant because Kuoboyawa called him a ‘bushman” by sending him farming tools: axe, hoe and matchet on return for his own present of yams. Thus, hatred and jealously replaced the love that had always existed before, and they poisened each other and they died on the same day.

‘No one summoned up courage to tell the sad news to Ewuare, but Akaromwon, the royal jester, put it in form of parable “Oh your majesty”, he said, it rains at Iyowa but it does not reach Benin City. The Oba could not understand the meaning, so the elders sent the aged Ihama to explain it to him”-(14). Ewuare on receiving the bad news wept bitterly for his sons. He told the town criers to announce the news to the people and ask them to mourn the death of his sons with him. He also made a strict law forbidding anyone in the land to have sexual intercourse, wash and/or dress up for three years.

This law however caused great confusion and a large number of the citizens migrated to various places in 1460. In the country, Akalaka of the lineage of Ekalderha who was banished from Benin in the first period of the foundation of the empire migrated out of Benin with his followers and later founded Ogba in 1460. Though from archeological data, there were  inhabtants, who were in the land before the arrival of Akalaka and his men. They may have been displaced forcefully by Akalaka or voluntarily withdrew at the sight of the new settlers in the land, Ellah (1995). Akalaka regarded himself as being in LOCO parentis as he played the role of a parent/leader to all his followers.

Oriji explains the story thus:

Under the domain of Ewuare was a town known as Ogbah which was under the headship of Akalaka. Akalaka later becme a victim of Ewuare’s tyrannical rule. There are variant versions of the main under currrents of the feud between the Oba and his subject – Akalaka – This development quickly sent signal to Akalaka and his people that they had lost favour with the monarch. To escape any assault. Akalaka decided to migrate with his followers – (144)

It is that this mythic story is close to reality because of the traces of phisical setting and historical antecedents. The different versions could be as a result of the narrative being transmitted orally. In the the narrative, the content of historicity and context of physical setting in Benin and Ogba do not change. To plot is straightforward and clear.

Oba Ewuare is personified as Oguaroh in Ogba folklore and is believed to be a giant, as there may have been no person of his size in the whole Benin Kingdom. To crown it all, he was said to have created lakes wherever he had passed in Benin and such lakes and other marks he left in Benin are still there till the present time. Due to his size and character, he was feared by the people who lived in his time. In the myth, Akalaka was confronted by a problem, the conflict between his grandchildren, the children of Ogba and Ekpeye.

As a result of the conflict Ogba’s son killed Ekpeye’s son. Ogba had the premonition that his elder brother Ekpeye might wreck vengeance and therefore he decided to abandon their original settlement for a new site at Obigwe, after wandering in Igbo land and Etche for about sixty years. Obigwe was a haven of rest for them. He resided there for many years with his children and much later, Agburu, one of the offsprings of Ogba, left Obigwe and founded Omoku. Later, others started to migrate down in very small numbers. This is how the present day Ogba came into existence.   

Jacob Egharevba goes on to say:

Though it is impossible to know the precise date of their foundation, some of the import villages which already existed in the first (i.e. the Ogiso) period include the following: Ihimwirin, Avbiama, Oka, Idogbo, Utesi, Ogua, Urhoho, Ute, Eyaen, Aho, Irighon, Azagba, Igo, Egbaton, Ughoton, Udo, Eri, Okha, Umoghumwun, Orogho Uhen, Okenuhen, (okelure), Okehuwmun, Ikoha, Use, Ego, Ekho, Ebue, Irokhin, Udeni, Ema, Ugha, Orhua, Urhuekpan, Amagba, Ughen, Evbuekori, Ekhua, Ogan, Isua, Uhi, Ekae, Uzeghudu, Iyowa, Omin, Ikoka, Iyekeze, …Ogba , Ogbokhirima, Okuo, Owe, Ominara, Unuame, Ugolo, Ikpako, Uhogua, Ayen, Osio, Uwan, Egbaen, Idumwonwia, Ohovbe, Ogheghe, Uvbe, Ite, Iguogbe and Izikhiri. The inclusion of “Ogba” among the villages founded during the Ogiso period is noteworthy.