ANOTHER CHRISTMAS IS HERE...

I have been too lazy to write for months, the zeal/morale is low because of the wind from hurricane Sandy which shook Bayelsa State in February 2012.

Lying on my bed this Christmas morning reflecting on the past months of this year and thinking of the what to write and how to thank God for a year well spent..... I just realized that I can't think, I can't write, no interest.

I signed in to Ijaw Nation Forum only to find that my brother Nangi has written the piece below (purely his view about Christmas). 

Please read and enjoy. lolllllllllllll

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS IS HERE...

December 25th is about the only time 'most' Christians devote their time to Worship GOD either through "lip-service worship" or "REAL Worship". I am a Christian, I read my Bible, I practice Christianity too but, I am yet to see where JESUS CHRIST celebrated HIS birth neither have I seen anywhere HE mentioned the date of HIS birth. Could 25th December celebration be seen as a worship to the 'unknown' GOD or god?

I keep Wondering where this practice came from. It appears, Christmas came the same way we were named "Nigeria" by lord Lugard's 'supposed' girlfriend (Flora Shaw) after their bedroom enjoyment; as argued by some friends and free-thinkers.

I make bold to say that Christmas was masterminded by some group of Christians of yesteryears as I 'cannot' find it's source anywhere in all the conventional Bibles within my reach ranging from the NIV, King James Version, NKJV, Revised Standard, etc. Show me if you have one verse or chapter in the Bible where CHRIST instructed us with 25th December as the date of HIS birth?

The beauty of this season to me is that; Christians world all-over finds time on this day (25th December) to at least 'think' about GOD and what CHRIST suffered on the cross for our sake. But, that does not nullify the fact that 'most' Christians don't know why they should celebrate Christmas. To spice it up, I just received a bag of chocolate and card from a concerned family, many thanks to them anyway...

As if that is not enough, I get disconcerted when I find a people who barely believe there's GOD or that HE created them. A people who sees their man-made laws as god to them also design their streets with 'fancied-lights' and put up images we're meant to believe was Christs' and even declare holidays as 'boxing day' after Christmas, to which god or GOD are all these celebrations geared to for such people? Hypocrisy if you ask me. Is 25th December celebration not rather a 'pagan worship' to their 'unknown' god? Think...

At this point, everyone must be on 'compulsory' holiday for Christmas's sake. As a human governed by law and as staunch respecter of the laws of my land, I must join the league of being in this 'mandatory' holiday as 'man body no be firewood' (after all, my Muslim brothers had theirs too). **Smiles** 

Well, do not misconstrue me or get me twisted as D'Bang will put. It is good to celebrate what you have complete knowledge of and not what was bequeathed to you in a hurry by some 'self-acclaimed' men-of-GOD done outside the confines of existing Biblical Teachings but, driven by their human intuition due to their 'maybe' over-zealous addiction to the 'unknown' GOD. For me, since JESUS CHRIST did not tell us HIS born-day, neither did HE celebrate it at any point, or instructed us to do so, everyday is HIS birthday for me. So, as long as I live (by HIS Divine Grace), everyday of my life is Christmas (if I must celebrate).

Finally, I reiterate; 25th December is holiday for me. If it's mandamus that I wish Christians and celebrants of December 25th, i'll rather say "Happy December Holiday" to all my friends, haters, lovers and family who celebrates 25th December as JESUS CHRIST Birthday.

I hope this December compulsory holiday meets you well. May the Good LORD Bless and protect you all as I wish you a Prosperous New Year in advance...

It's me again...

MAOBUYE NANGI OBU

The Wondering Wanderer....

30 AMNESTY TRAINEES SECURE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT IN DUBAI

I have always heard the saying that “nature is sensitive” but I did not believe it until today the 6^th of September 2012, when TWO EXTREME WHEATHER CONDITIONS featured in the city of Abuja, in particular, the Amnesty office. Heavy sunshine and heavy rainfall was evident to signify the shining amour and pouring of blessings on 30 Niger Delta Youths.

In May 2011, 170 beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme were deployed to the United Arab Emirate to undergo vocational trainings in various skills at Proclad Academy, Dubai. In 2012, trainees graduated in flying colours and out of the graduand delegates, 30 persons in the area of welding and fabrication have just been employed by Proclad Group, Dubai. These delegates will be working with the group to execute world class projects in the United Arab Emirates and other parts of the world. The employment comes with benefits such as accommodation, pension, 3 square meal etc.

While handing over the letter of employment to the “respective” beneficiaries, Hon Kingsley K Kuku advised them to always be conscious of the fact that they are now Ambassadors of Nigeria hence, good conduct is required at all times.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Presidential Amnesty Office under the Post Training Initiative is working with relevant partners and stakeholders in the region and abroad to employ some delegates who have successfully completed their training programme. This commenced with the engagement and immediate employment of 40 trained Amnesty maritime delegates by Century Energy Group which has made commitment to take an additional 28 persons while Plants and Processing Services Ltd has engaged  4 welding and fabrication delegates, 10 welding and fabrication delegates by learning resources Ghana and a host of others.

With the evidence submitted above, it will not be out of place to say the Amnesty Programme is working.

Dame Oyanbo Peace Owei
 

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES OSHIOMHOLE ON HIS RE-ELECTION

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on his re-election yesterday for another term in office.

President Jonathan also commends the Independent National Electoral Commission, its personnel and the nation’s security services for ensuring that the elections were free and fair in keeping with his administration’s commitment to continually strengthening democracy in Nigeria through the establishment of a more credible electoral system.

The President urges Governor Oshiomhole to receive the fresh mandate given to him yesterday by the people of Edo State as an endorsement of his outstanding performance in his first term and an expression of their desire for a continuation of his focused, purposeful and dynamic leadership.

He expects that the Governor will work even harder in his second term to justify the confidence in his leadership clearly expressed by the Edo State electorate yesterday and assures him that the Federal Government will continue to give all possible support and assistance for development in the state.

President Jonathan wishes the Comrade-Governor continued good health and a successful second term in the service of Edo State and Nigeria.


Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media Publicity)

July 15, 2012

N/Delta amnesty saved Nigeria N6trn in 2011 - Kuku

Curled from Nigerian Tribune:


THE Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta and Chief Executive of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta Ex-agitators, Honourable Kingsley Kuku, said in Abuja on Monday that the implementation of the amnesty programme for Niger Delta ex-militants saved the nation N6 trillion last year.
Briefing reporters as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the programme, Kuku recalled that the violent activities of the ex-militants disrupted oil production in the Niger Delta which lowered production at the peak of the agitation in 2009.
He said, “today, under the watch and able guidance of President Jonathan, the tranquility in the once restive Niger Delta has led to an astronomic growth in the nation’s economy.
“From a paltry production level of 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis in the first quarter of 2009, Nigeria currently produces between 2.4 and 2.6 million barrels per day.
“To further underscore the fact that the proclamation of amnesty for former agitators in the Niger Delta as well as the successful management of the post-amnesty programme saved the economy of our great nation from a looming collapse, some clarifications may be necessary:
With Nigeria producing as of today between 2.4 and 2.6 million barrels of crude oil per day as against the abysmally low between 700,000 and 800,000 barrels per day at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis in January 2009, the nation and its Joint Venture Partners are currently making production savings of up to 1.9 million barrels per day.
“When computed with prevailing exchange rate of about N160 to $1, daily production savings for Nigeria and the JV partners currently stand at a minimum of N33.4 billion per day.
“Given that oil production in Nigeria hovered between 2.4 and 2.6 barrels for all of 2011, it would be safe to emphatically assert that savings for Nigeria and the JV partners for year ending 2011 is estimated to be a whopping N6 trillion,” Kuku asserted.
Going down memory lane, he said, “but the peace in the Niger Delta did not come on a platter of gold. Rather it was a product of dialogue, patriotism and tenacity.”

THREE YEARS AFTER AMNESTY

When next you meet a former Niger Delta militant, you may be face-to-face with the pilot that would be handling the aircraft flying you across Nigeria. You may be facing Dorathy Effiong, a repentant arms bearer, who has abandoned the world of fighting the state and embraced the amnesty programme of the Federal Government. She has, thanks to the scheme, undertaken a comprehensive training to qualify as a pilot with a license that now enables her to apply her talent, time and energy to serve the society. Again, when next you meet an ex-militant, you may be listening to the story of Clifford Wilson, who after years of life in the creeks as an enemy of the state, has become a pilot as a result of the amnesty granted the militants. Who knows, in the years ahead, he may be firing a jet ferrying the president of the Republic of Nigeria! Still more, when next you meet an ex-militant, he may be Godgift Okoye, a shipbuilder. Leaving the murky world of violence and sabotage behind, he decided to accept the government’s amnesty for those battling the authorities in the Niger Delta. He abandoned his weapons and the perilous life of perpetual uncertainty and settled for the full conditions of the amnesty. When next you meet citizens who have done the transition from years of a bitter armed agitation against the state to persons who have joined other citizens to build the society, you would be meeting the products of the success story of the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The celebrated scheme is marking its third year in operation today, having been proclaimed into full flight on June 25, 2009 by then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. It was a masterstroke that has since established the government as a caring one, determined to fulfil its main constitutional role of providing enduring security for the people in return for the mandate the people gave it to rule. Amnesty has sharply defined the Nigerian state as a focused one that would deploy all creative means to protect the interests of the people, notably, when it has to do with the main source of the country’s revenue earner – oil. Crude oil sales outside our shores account for more than 90 percent of what we earn in foreign exchange in a world economy driven by oil. What we earn from the commodity is responsible for a large chunk of our social and economic development. All other things that accrue from these, international prestige, influence, respect, the leverage from these, flow directly or indirectly from crude and the creeks of the Niger Delta. The corollary is that a government would be irresponsible to watch unconcerned while that region is allowed to work as it did while the militants stuck to their guns. If it permitted that status quo, then the nation, its government and its people, would all eventually be denied its wealth along with the clout and global respect derived from it. We must ponder over some figures to appreciate what the successful post-Amnesty plan of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has done for the economy and people of Nigeria. In 2008 alone, we lost N3 trillion as a result of the crisis of the militants in the Niger Delta. Later in the first quarter of 2009, Nigeria’s export dwindled to as low as between 700,000 and 800,000 barrels per day. Add to that the hundreds of lives lost, the insecurity that prevented social, economic and industrial development in the region and you would register the total aura of despair and its spiral effects on every facet of the Nigerian society. In the past three years, Nigeria has banished this spectre of destruction and deprivation, following the faithful prosecution and management of the Amnesty Programme. Our young men and women, in their thousands, are no longer battling the society in anger at perceived injustices. The Amnesty Office under the Presidency, anchored by special adviser to the president and chairman of the programme, Kingsley Kuku, has ensured that these compatriots now see themselves as part of the society, to which they have committed their time, talent and energy to serve. Amnesty has thus become a sort of all-cure magic wand. It has not only arrested the internecine war in the creeks, but has also reintegrated old enemies into the society. There is more: it has added to the productive capacity of the nation by enlisting hitherto parasitic segments of the society to contribute their quota to society. This is rare in the annals of Nigerian, indeed African, history, reversing a forlorn situation that threatened to put an end to the notion of Nigeria as a nation. It is our own Marshall Plan (initiated by the United States of America for the rapid recovery of Western Europe after the devastation caused by World War II). We need to hail the administration for this bold scheme the same way the world has continued to salute the Marshall Plan even decades after the global conflict.

GOVERNOR DICKSON: SET TO IMPROVE THE STATE FINANCIAL STATUS

Government says it is uncomfortable with the over bloated wage bill of the state. Also, it is at a loss to understand why a small population of this state could attract a huge wage of six billion naira monthly. Governor Seriake stated this during a meeting he held with the eight local government chairmen in Government House, Yenagoa.

The Governor pointed out that the state cannot afford to service an over bloated workforce, noting that this has constituted a major impediment to government’s capacity for effective service delivery. Consequently, he solicited the co-operation and support of the local government chairmen to reverse the trend.

 The State Chief Executive also requested the chairmen to make available their budgetary provisions to the state government as well as ensure that every fund released is tied to a specific project.

The Governor who explained that the arrangement was to create synergy in the over-all development of the state said the office of the Deputy Governor will be in charge of the supervision of the activities of local government chairmen.

Chief Dickson pointed out that the days of financial recklessness were over, stressing that henceforth, funds accruing to local government council will not suffer undue interference by the state government. He urged the chairmen to ensure prudence in financial management to enable them improve on the quality of lives of the people as they are closest to the people at the grassroots.   

. NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION RECALL GOV. DOCKSON’S CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

The State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to Governor Seriake Dickson to keep to faith with his campaign of providing good governance to the people of the state. Chairman of the State NMA, Dr. Seiyefa Brisibe made the appeal in news briefing in Yenagoa. He commended the Governor for declaring a state of emergency on education and urged that similar gesture should be extended to the health and infrastructural development in the state.

 He described the health sector in the state as near comatose evidenced by the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, poor health infrastructure and low uptake of health services.

The NMA Chairman on behalf of all medical practitioners congratulated the state governor and deputy on their swearing-in. According to him, the NMA is impressed with appointment made by the governor particularly the honorary Special Advisers and the Financial Management Review Committee.

 The NMA chairman also expressed the body’s preparedness to work with the new administration to improve the health status and poor health indices of Bayelsa.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES EXPLOSION VICTIMS OF UTMOST COMPENSATION

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has assured the eight communities affected by  the recent Chevron gas facility explosion which occurred on the 16^th, day of January 2012, causing pollution in the eight communities, that they would get relief materials and compensation. He gave the assurance when he visited Bayelsa State for an aerial inspection of the affected areas.
The communities are Ezefu I, Ezefu II, Koloama I, Koloama II, Furoupa, Fish Town, Sangana, and Ekeni with a combined population of about 30,000 people.
The President was accompanied by some government officials, including the ministers of Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta Affairs and Environment, Deziani Alison-Maduekwe, Godsday Orubebe and Hadiza Mailafia.

After the inspection, the President assured the people that something was being done to remedy the situation, and also commended them for their patience. President Goodluck stated that the Federal Government would partner the state and Chevron to provide the relief materials.
He further stated: "In terms of other demands that have been documented, I noticed that many issues have been raised and these are issues we are quite conversant with.
"I can assure you that we will look into it, the company, the state and the Federal Government will continue to address them."

The President told the people, who presented a joint address, that "communities impacted must have some relief, some compensation. “That is obvious but the quantum will depend on studies that have been carried out by the company and the Federal Government.

"On my own part, I  re-assure you that the Federal Government is committed to the issues bordering on environmental management, from the Niger Delta to the North where we have desert encroachment."
The President noted that the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would provide some of the relief materials.

Speaking on the lack of employment for the oil bearing communities by oil companies operating in the area, President Jonathan observed that even when it was necessary for the companies to employ, they could only do so where there were qualified applicants and also bearing in mind that they could not over employ.

GOVERNOR DICKSON PLEDGED NON-INTERFERENCE IN STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY'S FUNCTION.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson gave assurance while speaking during a courtesy visit by the new leadership of the State House of Assembly, who had come to introduce themselves to the Governor, that the executive arm of government will never interfere in the performance of their legislative functions. Noting that the relationship between the legislature and executive arms of government will be defined expressly by non-interference, Chief Dickson assured the leadership of the State Assembly of his readiness to collaborate with them.

The Governor said as a former law-maker he respects the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the legislature, pointing out that he was looking forward to a healthy and cordial working relationship with the legislative arm of government. Describing the state law makers as “very mature”, the Governor charged them to feel free to carry out their over sight functions without let or hindrance, because this will help to keep appointed officials in check.

Governor Dickson used the opportunity to invite the members of the House to the new Bayelsa project that is built on accountability, transparency and service delivery. The Governor commended them for the rancor-free manner in which they conducted the election that brought about the new leadership, just as he congratulated them for their well-deserved victory.

Speaking earlier, the new Speaker Mr. Konbowei Benson, lauded the Governor for not interfering in the process that led to the enthronement of the new leadership of the House. He also pledged to work together with the executive arm of government to ensure the success of the present administration.

Konbowei Benson, who represents Southern Ijaw Constituency IV is from Korokorosei community.
He holds a Master degree in Public Administration, and until his elevation to the position of Speaker, he was chairman, House Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas.

SWEARING-IN OF THE NEW SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND FIVE NEW SPECIAL ADVISERS

Following the reduction of overhead allocation for Government House services and plugging of loopholes, Government announced that it has saved about One Billion Naira in the first ten days of this administration. During the swearing-in of the new Secretary to the State Government, Professor Edmund Allison-Oguru and five new Special Advisers, Chief Dickson decried what he called ”Over bloated allocation for Government House” said he has ordered a reduction in the cost of governance.

The Governor emphasized the need for efficient service delivery and the restoration of the state to its past glory. He also called on youths to exercise patience with the present administration as efforts are being put in place for youth training, empowerment and rehabilitation.

The State Chief Executive while welcoming the SSG, Prof. Allison Oguru on board the restoration administration, urged him to justify the confidence reposed in him as his appointment was based on his track record of credibility, integrity and outstanding performance in the academia. While noting that the task ahead was herculean one, Chief Dickson charged the five new Special Advisers to be effective partners of his administration in other to reposition the state. He also stated that he would monitor their performances closely to ensure success.

Earlier, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kate Abiri, assisted by the Chief Register, Mr. Eneikemimi Uzaka administered the oaths of office and allegiance on Pro. Edmund Allison-Oguru and five Special Advisers.