The President Sent Me "Gift Johnbull Visits Ogoni Land

Ogoni Land 

For the first time, a meeting on Ogoni clean-up was held in Ogoni land, courtesy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-South, Hon. Gift Johnbull, hosted stakeholders in Bori, Rivers State, to discuss the impact of the clean-up. 

The meeting which was codenamed 'Na my Area, Na my Country: Climate Resilience and Adaptation in South-South Nigeria', is an initiative in Tinubu's 'Renewed Hope Agenda' aimed at bringing the government closer to the people.

This initiative is to ensure that the Renewed Hope agenda is actualized in every village, creek, community and city in the South-South states.

The Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement to President Bola Tinubu, South-South, Gift Johnbull, speaking said the focus was on inclusion and collaboration to ensure lasting peace and development in the area, pointing out that the clean-up is expected to affect the lives and livelihood of the Ogoni people positively.

She said the Federal Government would address the challenges and bottlenecks hindering development in the area. 

"The President has established robust governance frameworks and accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency, effective resource allocation, and meaningful community involvement in the clean-up process."

Speaking, the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, stated that the implementation of the remediation of the Ogoni environment is going smoothly, saying the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, has certified 48 of the sample sites remediated to be free of hydrocarbon pollution.

In his remark,  HRM Suanu Baridam ( King of Gbenemene Bangha Kingdom)  advised the presidency to give more powers to the HYPREP Project Coordinator to be able to make decisions in the project, noting that the over-dependence on Abuja for every programme is affecting the project.

The meeting was hailed as a success, with community dwellers praising the presidency for engaging with them directly. They expressed confidence in the administration's quick responses and Hon. Johnbull's approach, which they said made the president's intentions clear.

See pictures of the event

I will make appointments unattractive to young people in C'River - Prince Otu

As the countdown to 29th May begins, signaled by the collection of Certificate of return by the Cross River State Governor-Elect, Sen, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, His Deputy, Hon. Peter Odey and the 25 Members-Elect of the Cross River State House of Assembly, the governor elect has said that his administration will empower young people to live their dreams and forget about appointments into government offices. 

Otu who revealed this as part of his plans for governance spoke on "The People's First" Manifesto, shortly after receiving his Certificate of Returns from the electoral umpire, INEC. He said he will focus on the people and ensure Cross Riverians are placed first in every policy or actions of his administration adding that he will make appointments unattractive to young people by empowering them with skills and resources to be enterprising and self reliance. 

He said he will provide an enabling environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to flourish, while subsidising all factors of production. 

"...for the youths and women, your time has come, people will see and envy you, they shouldn't be envy and bitterness anymore in Cross River State. Appointments won't be popular again, we will support our young people in various skills development and support their entrepreneurial dreams. We will make the state business friendly and subsidies all factors of production."

"...Like the party chairman as said, Monkey work Monkey chop, no big man will come and reap the fruits of your labour"

We will increase Women participation in governance,  we will give Cross River State a facelift. I will not let you down, my words is my bond, if I cannot do it, I won't say it. But initially there will be sacrifices from us all." He concluded. 

He also used the opportunity to thank the party for standing strong all through the various stages of the race. 

APC gives criteria for Appointment in Prince Otu's administration

Bring your result to the party to get an appointment - APC chair 

Monkey work Monkey chop - Otu

The collection of certificate of Returns by the Cross River state, Governor Elect, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu and the 25 State House of Assembly Members-elect has further intensify the scheming and hustling for appointments amongst politicians in Cross River State. 

This may be the reason behind the statement made by the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Barr Alphonsus Eba when he dropped a shocker at the reception party organised to celebrate the governor-elect and his deputy. 

Eba had publicly announced that it is only those who won in their polling unit in the just concluded elections that will be qualified for appointments into the incoming administration. 

He further added that many of the people who sold out during the just concluded elections and are still scheming their way into the incoming administration after betraying the party at the polls thinking the party would loss the election. He said such people will have no place in government. 

"Nobody can get an appointment through the backdoor, Appointments will be based on polling unit results. If you call yourself a big man and you allowed an Okada man to win you in your polling unit, we will rather go for the Okadaman and leave you behind". Eba notified. 

Speaking at the event the Governor-elect, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu used the opportunity to appreciate all those who worked towards the victory of the party at all levels stating that from may 29th the State will experience great changes. 

In what seems like giving credence to the statement made by the party chairman, the governor-elect emphasised that only those who worked for the party will be recognised by the party. 

Speaking to the youths that they would not labour for one big man somewhere will come to reap. 

In his words; "I want to appreciate the youths of Cross River State in their various groupings for standing by me, the keke riders group and all other support groups. You have worked, no big man will come and reap your sweat. Monkey work, monkey go chop" he concluded. 

Sen Bassey Otu Receives Certificate Of Return, Commits To Developing Cross River

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has presented the Cross River State  governor-elect, Ntufam Sen. (Prince)Bassey Edet Otu with a certificate of return in line with the required constitutional provision.

The event which was held at the INEC office  Calabar, the sate capital,  witnessed a large turnout of Cross Riverians, traditional rulers elderstatesmen , political leaders and members of the APC as well as supporters of Sen. Otu. 

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Prof. Gabriel Yomere in a brief remark said the event signaled  the end of the 2023 elections in the state, insisting that the exercise was in compliance with section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which empowers the Commission to issue certificates of return to elected officials within 14 days after an election.

Responding after he was isued with his certificate of return, the governor-elect, Sen Bassey Otu commended the commission and various security agencies  for their neutrality through out the electoral process, while assuring the people of the state of his resolve to work hard for the progress and prosperity of Cross River. 

"I want to thank God so much for a day like this, I want to also commend INEC for a job Weldone  I know it was not easy for them, but I can say that INEC performed very well this time. 

"The task of transition is not very easy, when you  wear the shoe, you will understand that it is not very easy. Let me thank Cross Riverians and non Cross Riverians for contributing to this success and by the grace of God, I will not disappoint you" he said.

Shortly after the event, Sen. Bassey Otu drove round major streets of Calabar, acknowledging cheers from jubilant  crowd who waved excitedly in admiration of the governor-elect.

*©Prince Otu Media*

Take your dirty nose out of our politics, FFK replies Britain

A member of Presidential Campaign Council,  of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has called on the British government to steer clear of Nigeria's politics, stating that the country is no longer under British rule after over 60 years of colonisation.  

The former aviation minister who was reacting to a statement attributed to the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones over visa ban of undemocratic Nigerian politicians, accused the envoy of supporting an undisclosed candidate in the just concluded presidential election. 

Femi Fani-Kayode's statement written via his Twitter handle at @realFFK, Fani-Kayode reads thus, "I would advise this Ben, who I am told is the Deputy High Commissioner of the UK to Nigeria, to keep his dirty nose out of our internal affairs.

"Nigeria stopped being a British colony 63 years ago and we need no lessons from him on how to run our affairs or conduct our politics."

"I know that his preferred candidate did not win the presidential election but that does not mean he should cross the line and take liberties with us here. I wonder who the hell he thinks he is?

"I am not one of those Nigerians that bow, shake, shiver and tremble before the British or indeed any other foreigner."

The British High Commission had last week said the UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, was prepared to take action against those who engaged in or incited electoral violence during the just-concluded general elections.

The high commission said the UK was already collating names of perpetrators and would impose sanctions "including preventing people from obtaining UK visas or imposing sanctions under our human rights sanctions regime."

Speaking on Sunday, Llewellyn-Jones said, "We're working through a list and we don't publish those names. I know people say we should but you know we have laws that protect. But we do have a list. We said that we would do this and we will do this. And, you know, we're gathering the kind of information that would enable us to do this around specific individuals.

"You know, we watched very closely. I was in Lagos the whole time. We had people on the ground in key places. We won't publish the names. We don't do that. We can't do that. We have between five and 10  names on its list already, it is a growing list. "

Responding to a question on if there were triggers for violence leading up from the campaign to the election,  Llewellyn-Jones decried the controversial statement attributed to a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode.

He also lamented that the ruling APC had yet to distance itself from some comments made by  Fani-Kayode.

He said, "There were some people in the news, like Fani-Kayode. What is he saying? Why is he saying it? I don't understand. I mean, I do understand but it's wrong. And it's wrong from my perspective that he would speak on behalf of a party and that party doesn't just distance themselves but says stop doing that."

Llewellyn-Jones also condemned the divisive politics that played out during the election in Lagos, adding,"And if Lagos can't be that kind of cosmopolitan melting pot of culture and language and all the things that should be, really how's Lagos going to succeed?"

'Yours is a victory of justice over injustice, Don't disappoint the people, Former NASS leader admonishes Otu

Former leader of the 7th National Assembly, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, CON, Kss has described the Saturday gubernatorial elections as a victory of justice over injustice and ethnicity, stating that it's a sign that Cross Riverians have rejected politics of ethnicity and religious bigotry. 

The former lawmaker made this known in a congratulatory message to the Governor-elect of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu of the All Progressives Congress who defeated Sen. Sandy Onor of the People's Democratic Party. 

In his message,  Egba appreciated the 'People First' campaign mantra ran by Sen. Otu which he said the victory at the polls indicates that the people bought into the campaign and are thus hopeful of better service delivery by government and prays Otu not to disappoint the people. 

He also used the opportunity to advised the incoming governor to be magnanimous in his victory and rebuild not only the infrastructures in the state, but the mindset of Cross Riverians.  

The statement reads in Full:  

CONGRATULATIONS YOUR EXCELLENCY, SENATOR PRINCE BASSEY EDET OTU ON YOUR ELECTION AS THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE

I am incredibly proud of your resounding success in the gubernatorial election held on Saturday 18th March 2023 wherein you garnered an overwhelming majority of votes to emerge as the Governor-Elect of Cross River State.

The manner of your victory testifies to the fact that Cross Riverians across ethnic, religious and geographical divides have endorsed and enthroned capacity and experience as well as our party, the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State. By your election, the politics of ethnic and religious bigotry that the opposition used as the plank of their campaigns have been defeated squarely and consigned to the backwaters of our political history.

Your Excellency, you ran a good campaign where you sold your "Peoples First" manifesto to our people across the length and breadth of the Cross River State. Without any iota of doubt, this election has proven that Cross Riverians bought your message and have implicit confidence in your ability and capacity to lead us right from May 29th, 2023.

Instructively, your victory is a victory of truth over untruth, justice over injustice, our people over external forces and a total defeat of the politics of ethnic sentiments. The level of victory is also indicative of the level of trust and hope the people have in you. I trust that you will neither fail nor disappoint them. You are not known as the Sweet Prince for nothing. History is on your side.

I enjoin you to be magnanimous in victory. This is a time to rebuild the Cross River State of our dream. To rebuild not only our infrastructure but also our mindset. I had long predicted that your victory will be a national phenomenon, an earthquake that will swallow any caterpillar. I am elated that it has come to pass.

I reserve special commendation for His Excellency, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State and the Leader of the APC in the State for his untiring efforts in ensuring our Party's victory. I also congratulate the leadership, senior stakeholders and all members of the Cross River State chapter of the APC for a job well done leading to our electoral victory.

Once again, congratulations to you, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu (the Sweet Prince) and all our House of Assembly members-elect from the APC. Indeed a new dawn has been birthed in Cross River State.

Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, CON, Kss.

Leader of the 7th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

BREAKING: APC’s Sen. Bassey Otu Declared Cross River Governor-elect by INEC

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu has been declared winner of the Saturday 18th March 2023 Cross River State gubernatorial election.

Senator Otu defeated his closest opponent, Sen. Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored a total of 258,619 votes against Onor's 179,636 votes.

According to the results declared by the electoral umpire, APC won 15 local governments while PDP won 3 LGAs out of the 18 in the state

JUST IN: Ben Akak Wins Polling Unit, Ward For Prince Otu , APC

Ukorebi Esien | 19 March 2023

According to results trickling in from the polling units, Engr. Ben Akak, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River state is pulling the string for his party in his Ito- Idere-Ukwa ward in Odukpani Local Government Area. 

Akak who exercised his franchise in the early hours of the election day in his polling unit at the playground, Obukwo Esa, Ukwa Odukpani had expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress will take the day.

The election which experienced voter apathy saw the All Progressives Congress leading with a massive gap in almost all the polling units where our correspondents could access their results in the ward. Out of 131 accredited voters In Obukwo Esa, Ukwa PU Code: 09/15/13/016 where Ben Akak voted APC scored 117 votes while PDP got 10 votes and 3 votes were rejected. 

Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Akak commended the electoral umpire, INEC, for learning from their mistakes during the presidential election and taking steps to correct them in the Governorship and House of Assembly election. He expressed satisfaction with the early arrival of election materials and hopes all results will be uploaded on the server as planned and only the winner will be declared. 

Results gathered so far as at press time revealed the APC leading with a wide margin of 731 votes across the entire ward. Prince Otu of APC scored 864 votes while Sen. Sandy Onor gathered 113 votes 

Some community members who spoke with our correspondent informed us that Ben Akak has a great influence on the political direction of the Ukwa Ebrutu nation and was able to swing the vote in favour of his party. 

The results are spread across some polling units gotten so far reads thus:

CROSS RIVER

ODUKPANI LGA

ITO/ IDERE/ UKWA.

OBOTESU ITO PU.

2023 GOVERNORSHIP

APC 96

PDP 32

SDP 2

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

APC 98

PDP 31

Ono Ito-

Governorship

APC 140

LP 2

PDP 25

House of Assembly

APC 122

PDP 31

LP 16.

Mbiaobong Ito

Governorship

APC 62

PDP 16

NRM 1

House of Assembly

APC 61

PDP 17

NRP 1

Ypp 1

Obot Ekpene Ito

Governorship

APC 35

PDP 5

House of Assembly

APC 31

ADP 1

LP 2

PPP 6

Central school Ito

Governorship

APC 108

ADC 2

ADP 1

PDP 1

House of Assembly

APC 100

Party A 1

App 1

APM 2 

NNPP 1

PDP 13

Ekim Enen Ito

Governorship

APC 138

PDP 5

House of Assembly

APC 118

PDP 5

LP 20

Ikot Esuk Ito

Governorship

APC 45

PDP 4

House of Assembly

APC 38

PDP 8

LP 2

ADC 1.

Obukpok Ito

Governorship

APC 58

ADC 1

PDP 2

House of Assembly

APC 52

ADC 1

PDP 8

Iboho Ito

Governorship

APC 65

PDP 13

App 1

LP 1

ADC 1

ADP 1

House of Assembly

APC 49

PDP 25

ADC 2

ADP 1

APM 1

LP 4.

Obukwo Esa, Ukwa 

Governorship 

APC 117

PDP 10

ADP 1

House of Assembly 

APC 35

PDP 19

ADC 1

PRP 1

LP 74

We shall be updating this story as more results come in. 

I will review laws affecting welfare of Traditional Rulers in C'River- Etta Agbo

Elder Comrade Etta Agbo Edim, Young Progressives Party's candidate for Cross River House of Assembly, who seeks to represent Calabar Municipality state constituency has said it was time some obsolete laws are reviewed especially those affecting the traditional institution in the state. 

The grassroots politician who was speaking during a visit to the palace of the Ndidem of the Quas, Grand Patriarch of Ejaiham Nation and Paramount Ruler Calabar Municipality, HRM Ndidem Eta B. Eteta III, lamented the neglect traditional rulers are facing and how they have been relegated to the background while promising to review laws affecting the welfare of the traditional institution in the state, if elected a lawmaker. 

Agbo added that, the current set of lawmakers are only interested in revenue collection which has only impoverished and taken away so much from the people. He therefore, assured his party the YPP has thought of new and innovative ways of tackling revenue generation without imporverishing the people. 

Agbo Etta in company of the party's Governorship candidate, Mr Joseph Coco Bassey and other party chieftain outlined his party's principles, vision and road map to governance while seeking royal blessing from the Monarch his blessing.

In his response, the Paramount, HRM Ndidem Eta B. Eteta III, called on members of Young Progressives Party, YPP and its candidates to keep to their words and not forget their motto which is service to the people and to carry the youth and community along to build a better Cross River State, HRM also gave his royal blessing to the YPP adding that the youth of Akim will assist and support them to victory. 

Press Release: Allegations Against SEPLAT, Roger Brown (CEO): Between Facts And Fiction

Empower Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) dedicated to the protection and enhancement of civil liberties deems it fit and proper to wade  into allegations against Roger Brown, the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat bordering on claims of forced resignations and sacking of Nigerian staff based on discriminatory policies,alleged enforcement of manipulative ranking scheme in the company, allegation of different retirement age for Nigerians and expatriates and other sundry claims. 

Pursuant to our core mandate and in the public interest,we launched a full-scale investigation with the determination to get to the bottom of the issues thrown up by these allegations and in the process, unveil the truth. The averments that we make below is therefore a product of our thorough investigation.

 

1. The claim of forced resignations and sacking of Nigerian staff based on discriminatory policies. As against this claim, our investigation revealed that there was no mass sack or forced retirements of Nigerians at Seplat with Roger Brown as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The true state of affairs is that between 2020 and 2022, eight Nigerian staff of the company voluntarily resigned or opted to take early retirement in the exercise of their rights as spelt out and protected by the law. Their decision was conveyed to the management of the company in writing via official channels. Seplat paid the affected staff generous end of service benefits and thereafter made appropriate notifications to NUPRC in accordance with Notification schedule as per their exit. 

2. Allegation of enforcement of manipulative ranking scheme. We found out that this allegation is not supported by facts but is a product of a hunting expedition. Arising from the observations and input made by the staff on the need to review the former 5-point ranking system which the staff considered to limit opportunities especially around the 75% cut off mark required for promotion, management reviewed and replaced it with a 3-point ranking scheme.

3. The aim of the 3-point scheme (Outstanding Strong and Average) is to ensure that staff rewards are tied to results which are transparent and verifiable. More importantly,it laid to rest staff complaints about the 5-point system which they believe limited opportunities for promotion.

The claim that the Average rating applied only to Nigerian staff is untrue as out of the 5% of staff (24 persons) ranked Average, the number included an expatriate. This is without prejudice to the fact that expatriates constitute a small part of the entire workforce of over 500 workers in the company.

4. The claim that Seplat operates different retirement age for Nigerian and expatriate staff. Again, our investigation discovered that this allegation is false and a disingenuous ploy to sow seeds of discord among the staff of the company. The retirement policy of the company is not discriminatory but is based on the relevant laws of Nigeria stipulating that all employees working in Nigeria both local and expatriate retire at 60 years. This has been the practice in Seplat since it commenced operations.

5. Given the delicate nature of these claims and its implications for industrial harmony, it is our considered position that news organisations who publicise these allegations should carry out thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity of the claims in matter. This is in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.

6. The non compliance with this basic tenet before exposing Seplat to media trial while it achieves the aim of the sponsors of this orchestrated smear campaign does grave injustice to the noble profession of journalism.

7. Seplat is an exemplary player within the country's oil sector. The company gainfully employs hundreds of Nigerians and has left enviable footprints on our country's oil & gas sector. The current attempt to impugn its hard earned reputation is indeed regrettable.

8. We urge the visible and invisible powers behind the ongoing smear campaign to reflect on the fate of Nigerians in a company that continues to make meaningful contributions to the growth of our country's  economy and retrace their steps now. On our own path,we will continue to protect the integrity of Nigerians at the work place but will not hesitate to call out individuals no matter how powerful who sponsor vile propaganda in furtherance of their selfish interest.

Signed

Yemi Aderemi 

For Empower Nigeria

March 15,  2023