Sylvester Idowu reports on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s recent visit to Gbaramatu Kingdom and Warri in Delta State, raising hope for sustained peace in the oil-rich region
There is no doubt that Ijaw’s Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has, of recent, been the heart of renewed agitations in the Niger Delta region.
The area has been the epicentre of incessant bombings of national assets, particularly attacks on crude oil pipelines which has forced the production output to as low as 1.2 million barrels per day as against over 2 million prior to 2015 elections in which former President Goodluck Jonathan, also an Ijaw man, lost to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
Since the outcome of that election, his kinsmen and women returned to the creeks in renewed agitation for the development of the Niger Delta region which is seen as the source of the wealth being used to run the country.
To stem further destruction of national assets and agitations, the Federal Government employed several means including meeting with the elders and stakeholders under the platform of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark.
Buhari had received Clark’s team at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja last year November 1, during which PANDEF presented a 16-point demand that will resolve what is now known as the “Niger Delta Crisis” with assurances that the Federal Government will study and address some of the issues raised.
However, three months after that visit and to douse the growing feelings of unseriousness on the part of Federal Government to commence dialogue with the people of the region, President Buhari sent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on a fact-finding visit to Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
The first leg of the visit by the Vice President was to Delta State on Monday, January 16, 2017 to the admiration of not only the Niger Deltans but all Nigerians as a whole.
As early as 7a.m. thousands of indigenes as well as non-indigenes had thronged Osubi Airport to await the arrival of Vice President Osinbajo slated for 10 a.m. Amongst those at the Airport were the host Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Ovie Agas, commissioners and other top government functionaries, royal fathers as well as traditional dancers that kept the place lively.
At exactly 11.38a.m, the approaching presidential jet conveying the Vice President was sighted and the airport became electrified again as weary people waiting for him rushed to the tarmac to receive him. After a brief reception and introduction of dignitaries, Vice President Osinbajo and his host, Governor Okowa boarded a Nigerian Airfoce helicopter enroute Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom.
THISDAY was at Oporoza ahead of the Vice President’s arrival and observed a carnival like arrangement put in place by the people of Gbaramatu kingdom.
Gaily dressed men and women, young and old as well as various youth groups had gathered at the community’s stadium pavillion entertaining themselves as well as visitors.
At four different points in the community, hired caterers were seen cooking as if a party was about to take place. It however became obvious that the food was not meant for any party but for those that gathered for the reception of the Vice President. Security agents, journalists and other visitors and indigenes that arrived early and were hungry because of the late arrival of the Vice President were served freely. It was a sumptuous meal as people ate to their satisfaction. That was typical of Gbaramatu people whenever they have a big occasion.
By 12.14p.m, the Nigerian Navy 231 helicopter hovered in and landed directly in front of the palatial palace of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba. There was wild jubilation. Indigenes thronged towards the “small bird” to have a glimpse of the Vice President and his entourage but were prevented by vigilante security men placed in strategic places in the area.
Some monarchs and the Secretary of Gbaramatu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama were however on ground to receive him, Governor Okowa and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. They led the team into the palace of Gbaramatu where the Pere was waiting to receive them. After the formal traditional reception, the Vice President, Governor Okowa, Kachikwu went behind closed doors to have a meeting with the Pere where it was said far reaching agreements were reached.
Thirty minutes after, the Vice President came out and strolled to the pavilion where the waiting crowd was already being entertained. There was thunderous shouts and hailing of the Vice President who in return waved at the appreciating crowd.
After a brief prayer, the Secretary of Gbaramatu and spokesman of the kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama read out an address on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba where he reeled out a lot of demands and their experiences in the hands of security agents.
Presenting the kingdom’s position, he told Osinbajo that they expected his visit to represent a game-changer capable of building genuine confidence in the people and Niger Delta at large.
“Coming at a time of national economic recession and when the Niger Delta, especially Gbaramatu, has become more endangered and feeling estranged from the Nigerian nation, we believe this visit will truly build confidence in the people of Gbaramatu and Niger Delta on Federal Government’s commitment beyond hitherto frustrating rhetorics, not just in developing but according dignity and pride of place to the oil-rich region.
“Gbaramatu Kingdom is tall and rich in national oil infrastructure that enriches the nation but lamentably lacking in infrastructure that benefits the people. Against the foregoing pitiable background, we herein raise issues of immediate concern, hoping the Federal Government will leverage on same to reconcile Gbaramatu, the Ijaw nation and Niger Delta to the Nigerian nation.”
Among pertinent issues, Gbenekama noted “Gbaramatu’s entire landscape wallows in utter government neglect. It was against this backdrop that the immediate past administration established the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, the only Federal Government initiative that rekindled hope of meaningfully engaging restive youths and prospect of endearing the people to the Nigerian project.
“Sadly, no sooner than the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was inaugurated than academic activities slated for commencement September 2015 were suspended over varied interests just as construction works at the permanent site were halted due to discontinued funding.
“A visit to Kurutie, the take-off site would reveal a campus that can compete in infrastructure with similar institutions in the world. It is our appeal that you use your good offices to remove all restraints and ensure commencement, soonest, of academic activities in the university to the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.
On the militarisation of the area, Chief Gbenekama told Osinbajo: “Under the guise of searching for oil facility vandals, oil thieves and other criminals, the Nigerian military has become an army of occupation, committing serial invasions on Gbaramatu Kingdom. The consequences have been loss of several lives and properties and huge humanitarian crisis.
“Continued military occupation, invasions and unwarranted harassments give a lie to Federal Government’s commitment to the dialogue option. The entire Niger Delta region has embraced dialogue as symbolised by mandates for dialogue given to the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) which could pan out a way where the people would be involved in protecting the oil resources that also benefit them.
“Gbaramatu is not at war with the Federal Government. It is, therefore, our appeal and hope that your visit today will pave way for demilitarisation of the area for genuine and result-oriented dialogue. Dialogue under military occupation and harassments is dialogue in chains.”
The people further called for actualisation of the EPZ project, fiscal federalism as enduring solution to national agitation, adding that “We feel the entire Niger Delta shares our commitment to dialogue. The Federal Government should deepen its engagement processes in the Niger Delta and usher in enduring peace and reconciliation of Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta to the Nigerian nation.”
He said there was so much expectation that the visit of the Vice President would be a game-changer in the region and expressed the profound appreciation of Gbaramatu people for the visit “which we believe should represent a game-changer, coming at a time of national economic recession and when the Niger Delta, especially Gbaramatu kingdom, has become more endangered and feeling estranged from the Nigerian nation.”
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Kachikwu, was philosophical in addressing the crowd extolling the God-given ecological environment bestowed on the people of the area and urged them to look beyond oil and start thinking towards promoting tourism as a revenue generating source for the area.
Kachikwu promised the people that the Federal Government will now focus on development of the area in line with the tourism benefits.
The Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in its submission said the visit to Oporoza showed the Federal Government’s readiness to interact and develop the long-neglected people of the Niger Delta region.
Former Police Affairs Minister, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, who was mandated by PANDEF to speak on its behalf, urged the Federal Government “to expeditiously name the Government Negotiating Team to engage PANDEF’s representatives to kick-start the dialogue process for the resolution of the lingering Niger Delta question.”
President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), Comrade Udengs Eradiri, who was at the fore-front of lambasting Buhari’s regime for its lackadaisical attitude towards the development of the region also expressed happiness for the Vice President’s visit and urged him to prevail on the President to do the needful in ensuring equity and justice concerning the affairs of the Niger Delta.
Aside the issue of Maritime University and others raised by others, Eradiri particularly demanded for the extension of awards of oil blocks to indigenes of the region to the admiration of the crowd.
Eradiri tasked government to come up with a developmental blueprint for the region so that the issue of restiveness across the region can be laid to rest adding “Obasanjo’s regime came up with coastal state development commission otherwise known as NDDC and the region allowed oil to flow for him to run his government. Yar’Adua came with amnesty and the region allowed oil to flow for him to run his government. Goodluck Jonathan consolidated on this and the region allowed oil to flow for him during his tenure. President Buhari should tell us what developmental blueprint he has for the region so we can allow oil flow for him to run his government,” he declared.
He also pointed out the lopsidedness in the award of oil licenses recently, stating that it was the height of injustice that out of about 40 oil licenses issued out, no Niger Delta indigene was considered.
Okowa in his speech implored the people of Gbaramatu to allow the visit of the Vice President to achieve its desired result of bringing about sustainable peace in the region.
“Stakeholders must come together to let peace reign so that the desired development we are looking for can come to the region,” he said.
Okowa assured Osinbajo that the state government was ready to partner the Federal Government and the people of the area to bring about lasting peace.
He noted that the Vice President’s visit would go a long way to ensure enduring peace in the region.
Responding to all the speeches, Vice President Osinbajo rose to the occasion saying it is only a fool that will say there are no issues in the Niger Delta.
With that statement, the crowd rose and gave him a thunderous applause amidst hailings.
Osinbajo continued that the issue of Maritime University is a done deal reminding them that the bill establishing it was at the state of second reading in the National Assembly promising that once it is passed, nothing will stop its take-off.
He openly acknowledged that the Niger Delta zone has been neglected and promised that the Federal Government will establish a roadmap for the development of the oil-rich region.
“We are here as messengers of President Buhari. I have come with a message for the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom and the people of the Niger Delta as whole. It is a short message and I quote ‘we must prepare for the future.’
“The Niger Delta that you see today, including this kingdom we are now, is an area with poor infrastructure. No schools, no hospital but only severe pollution. The Niger Delta of today is that of daily pipeline vandalism. In 2014 alone, there were over 3,700 incidents of pipeline vandalism. From January to June 2016, there were over 1,447 incidents of vandalism.
“The Niger Delta of today aside from environmental degradation, between 1998 and 2016, over 20,000 persons have died from fire incidents arising from breaches of pipelines…
“Many of the initiatives to change the story have not been able to make those changes. From the Niger Delta Development Board in the 1960s to OMPADEC to the NDDC and the amnesty programme, many of these projects have not been able to meet the objectives they were set up to achieve. My message to you today is, it is time to prepare for the future.
“It is not the future of degradation, poor infrastructure and it is not the future of no roads. It is not the future of harassment and locking up. Our future is the future of progress and development. Unfortunately, there is no time because the future is already here. Fellow citizens, to ensure that the future is not worst than today and to prepare for a great and promising future for the Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Niger Delta as a whole, three things must happen.
“First, we must recognise the unique environment and terrain challenges of the Niger Delta. We must also recognise that the Niger Delta is a special place and a special economic zone, and then we must treat it as a special development zone.
“And I agree in entirety that this zone ought to be treated as a special development zone. What does this mean in practical terms? It means that the Federal Government, state governments, National Assembly representatives from this region alongside the NDDC and the civil society representatives of the Niger Delta people must sit together and develop a plan for rapid development. There is no excuse for not planning together.
The event was attended by Senator James Manager; Brig. Gen. Paul Boron; the Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro; the first military administrator of Old Rivers and the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; one-time Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Bozimo and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Julius Pondi.
Others include Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Pastor Power Aginighan; the National Centre for Environmental Protection and Justice (CEPEJ) Comrade Sheriff Mulade; representative of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Jenkins Okponipre and prominent Ijaw chiefs and clerics.
The Vice President spent much time with the People of Gbaramatu kingdom but still found time to visit the controversial Maritime University at Kurutie, about three miles from Oporoza to inspect the facilities already in place.
At the end of the inspection, Vice President Osinbajo said he was impressed with what he saw on ground.
From Kurutie, the Vice President left aboard the Navy helicopter for the palace of Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli I during the visit. He was accompanied by Delta State governor, Okowa, Minister for Petroleum (State), Kachikwu and other top government functionaries where he also had an interaction with the monarch and his chiefs before leaving for the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre where a multitude of crowd from other ethnic groups were waiting for him and his entourage.
A mild drama however played out as some prominent citizens and monarch wanted to stage a walkout apparently in protest against being kept at the venue since 10 a.m as slated in the programme. As at 5 p.m, the Vice President was held up at Olu’s palace which angered the attendees.
On arrival at about 5.45 p.m, Governor Okowa, who had earlier been contacted apologised profusely explaining that the visit was tight and that the organisers couldn’t keep to time as scheduled.
The visiting Vice President also joined the governor in placating the angry monarchs, elder statesmen and youth groups mainly from Urhobo, Ndokwa, Ika that were waiting endlessly to also present their grievances.
Addressing the crowd, Osinbajo said it was unfortunate that despite the huge contribution of the Niger Delta to the development of the country, there was little to show for such.
“No Nigerian can be proud with the state of development in the Niger Delta; we are all beneficiaries from resources from the region but, we cannot have instability and be able to carry out speedy development of the region,” he said.
Osinbajo reiterated that Buhari was committed to the development of the region, saying, “the issues at stake are very clear, this is not time for negotiation, it is time to act and we know the issues, we must all prepare for a future that will not be dependent in oil resources.
“The Lagos-Calabar railway project is in the 2017 budget and when completed, it will benefit all the people of the Niger Delta, the Maritime University will come on stream, I can assure you that it is a done deal, we must do it; ports are revenue generating, so plans are on to develop them but, the issue is how do we fund the projects?” the Vice President continued, reiterating, “the President is an honest man and my coming here for this programme is clear evidence that the Niger Delta is being carried along.”
But the meeting ran into stormy session again after the President of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Olorogun Moses Taiga presented his address and submitted his document to the Vice President. The forum took another presenter from Ndokwa nation when attempt by the organisers to abridged the session to enable the Vice President Osinbajo return to Abuja because it was getting late.
Most of the ethnic groups were asked to forward their documents to the high table for onward passage to the Vice President, devoid of any oral presentation but they resisted. Before you say Jack Robinson, the protesting ethnic groups, mostly youths had thronged the frontage of the high table. It took the wisdom of Governor Okowa and security agents to calm frayed nerves and put the situation under control before the Vice President was allowed to leave at about 6.45 p.m.
The visit by the Vice President no doubt was a means of restoring confidence in the Niger Delta. It has become crucial in view of the fact that the region needs to be given assurance of the government’s understanding of its plight and the urgent need to alleviate it. Such an assurance is what is needed to stabilise the region for the production of crude oil on which the economy depends.
However, it was expected that much more impact would have been made if the president were there himself.
