By Emma Amaize
WARRI — FORMER Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark; leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari and the National President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr. Chris Ekiyor, say it is unjustifiable and insulting to the people of the Niger-Delta for the Federal Government to contemplate building a Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Kaduna, which does not produce a drop of oil.
A Warri-based medical doctor, Dr. Toje David who shared their opinion also told Vanguard, “It is shocking to hear that the Federal Government is planning another Petroleum Training Institute in Kaduna, which is not even in Niger-Delta when we are complaining that that PTI at Effurun in Delta state is not functional”.
It’s abuse of power — Clark
Chief Clark told Vanguard, “I am opposed to it even though I believe in one Nigeria. It is an abuse of power and those in authority in the country should not abuse power, they should not, because they are in office, do things that are unjustifiable. On what grounds is the institute being sited in Kaduna, tell me, I want to know”.
He said the Federal Government reached an agreement with a foreign University, Aberdeen to develop the PTI, Effurun in Delta State, but, apparently the agreement has been abandoned and the government wants to duplicate efforts by setting up another one in Kaduna.
The Niger-Delta leader said it was the same egoistic consideration that made former President Olusegun Obasanjo to set up the $8 billion Olokola Gas Plant in Ondo state and now, Yar’Adua wants to adopt the same process, adding, “People in authority should not overuse their power”
His words, “What is the idea of spending N19 billion in building a similar infrastructure in Kaduna when the one in Delta State is not working”.
It’s an insult — Dokubo–Asari
On his part, Dokubo-Asari told Vanguard on phone, “For me, it is one of the greatest crimes by the present President Umaru Yar’Adua government against the people of the Niger-Delta.
“This is insulting, these people keep provoking us every time, can you tell me the meaning of a PTI being built in Kaduna, what is the justification for it, is it that Kaduna is an oil-producing state or what. When we talk, some people say we are always talking, but, you can see how they are daring us. This shows that they want to strangulate us in the Niger-Delta.
“We must unite and fight, without uniting, we cannot stop them and they are playing on our intelligence using some of our people to rubber stamp such decisions. Look, are they not human beings with blood flowing in them just like blood flows in us too, we must confront them, they have one life just as we have one life too”, Dokubo-Asari asserted.
He said those who planned such an insult on the people of the Niger-Delta should not be allowed to go free, adding, “We must resist this insult by all means possible”.
FG not ready to solve N-Delta problem — IYC President
Ijaw Youth Council president, Dr. Ekiyor on his part said, from available indications, the Federal Government was not ready to resolve the Niger-Delta crisis, as it was creating one problem or the other to provoke the people.
According to him, “How else can you explain the recent approval of a whopping N19 billion for building of a petroleum institute in a desert like Kaduna, without hope of oil exploration?
This was how it was in the beginning and the leadership is unrepentant, the best institutions for nation building are all put in the North to further their continued hold of the nation’s jugular.
Statistics of such institutions include the Nigerian Defence Academy, NIPPS, Kuru, NTA College, Jos, Police Academy, Kano, MOPOL Training School, Gwoza, Nigeria Military School, Zaria, Aviation College, Zaria, Nigeria Immigration Academy, Kano, National Space Centre, Abuja, NDLEA School, Shere Hills, Jos, Police Staff College, Bukuru, Jos and now a Petroleum University in Kaduna because, to me, that is what they intend to transform it to.
“It is, therefore, clear that there is a cabal in the land making sure that our Niger-Delta and the people therein remain underdeveloped and underprivileged.”
He said he was shocked that it was the same President Yar’Adua that put Niger-Delta as one of his seven-point agenda that was committing such havoc against the region.
It’s unjustifiable —Dr. Toje
Dr David, brimming with anger said: “It’s absolutely unjustifiable, how can the government say they want to locate a Petroleum Training Institute in Kaduna, what are the reasons because I know Kaduna does not produce oil.
Talking about the geophysics and geology of oil, it is not a place where students of the petroleum should study petroleum production, so, I am at a loss as to the rationale for the decision.
“Besides, the Federal Government has left the PTI, Effurun to a large extent in a non-functional state, the institution should be upgraded to a world-class University of Petroleum Technology instead of duplicating efforts by setting up another one in Kaduna, which has nothing to do with oil production”, he asserted.
The way some people comment on this site is funny. Tomorrow they will be the ones to run to US or boast of their relations in UK? I expect more intelligent contributions to this column. Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo or whatever our problem in this nation is ethnicity. I can bet u, if u find urself in Aso villa tomorrow u will do the same thing Yar adua is doing because its a mind set problem, whether Yoruba or Hausa.
Tha multinationals are filled with Yoruba and nobody is saying that. How many oil producing states are in the west? OK LNG is in Ogun or wherever nobody abused anybody. Men, forget about the north, you and I and the other guy there is the problem. We need a change of mind set and be focued as a nation. What about the oil communities killing themselves over oil money due to greed from amongst them, is that the north too? I bet you if Nigeria breaks, may God answer our prayers, the rejected pillar with stand and the people making mouth now will kill themselves over quick money until no community will be left.
The IYC President Dr Ekiyor got carried away by emotions to the extent that he is refering to Kaduna as a ‘desert’ which is untrue. I believe he should take a visit to that part of the country to see for himself before making such remarks. I think those so called Niger Delta spin doctors should concentrate their energy on their Governors who are collecting billions upon billions oil money monthly without anything to show for it. They are the real enemies of the region and not the FG. After all, is the VP no from the Region? What has he done so far to help his people right from his days as Deputy Governor, Governor and now VP?
There is no ‘ONE NIGERIA’, what we have is an Arewa Republic in disguise. The masses are calling for change and that change can only come when we go our separate ways. The Northerners can do the intelligent thing now by convening a sovereign national conference. However we all know they are not intelligent because all they have achieved in 48 yrs is to plunge Nigeria into topsy-turvyness. Furthermore their stupidity is made even more glaring by their belief that they can control the resources of other regions. They are just postponing the evil day when every region will go their separate ways. Then they will know that there is no powerful country in the world today that is Landlocked. When Oduduwa, Biafra and Niger Delta Republics separate from this scam called Nigeria, the unintelligent North will know how terrible it is for a country to be landlocked. The day is coming when the North will beg other regions to survive. That day is very close and if the North is intelligent they would make peace by convening a SNC now before it is too late. “Pride comes before a crash”
But Japan has hard work ethic, they don’t wait for allah to hand out from the south.
Nigerians can now see the reason why the MEND should be suported in the war against the North dominated Nigerian establishment. Some poeple still believe the north can use the “might is right” mentality to achieve thier aims. The Yoruba and Ibo should come together and put in place true fiscal federalism. With this Nigeria will move forward. If not, the Niger-Delta poeple will bring the oil operation to an end. Then it will be “to your home oh Isreal”.
Let us part away, who is waisting time, the kidnappers and the oil bunkerers, easy money go kill you. No individual has monopoly over violence. Or is the ND producing weapons, shey u buy weapons from the open market. Stop abusing the north as it is made up of not onlt mallams and almajiris, see your sense. To hell with your destructive thoughts. Enough is enough. Is Japan oil rich, pls use your sense, go ahead and break it up. Aluta continues.
We should continually pray to God for soccour, He is the person that can emancipate the Niger Delta people. The leaders in this country did not want us to enjoy our God given resources but God that knows everything will definetely come to our rescue.
Nothing more needs to be said. The only solution is let us part. For God sake, Let us divide. We are different people with different values. Let the mallams and the amagiris go their own way. Enough is enough.
Imagine the statistics of all the key institutions in the north: Nigerian Defence Academy, NIPPS, Kuru, NTA College, Jos, Police Academy, Kano, MOPOL Training School, Gwoza, Nigeria Military School, Zaria, Aviation College, Zaria, Nigeria Immigration Academy, Kano, National Space Centre, Abuja, NDLEA School, Shere Hills, Jos, Police Staff College, Bukuru, Jos and now a Petroleum University in Kaduna
Just remember, everyday for d thief, one day will surely be for d owner, no matter how long it will take. Yar’adua, I pity you, because ur Kidney is waiting for u. nonesense
its so unfortunate that what the founding fathers of this coumtry fought and lost their lifes for seems the only solution…its inevitable, we like it or not its the only best solution under the circumstancies that we seperate and go our seperate ways.
The Northerners think they can continue to hold the rest of us at ransom and subjecting us to slave and master relationship. they bring nothing inform of contribution to nation building yet they want to continue to use the resources of others to develop their part of the country. If you ask me I think the Niger Delta should not relent at bring the Oil industry in Nigeria to a total stop. Let all of us feel the brunt of it ” TO THY TENT OH ISREAL”. maybe that will open our eyes and we all can go back to the drawing table and decide how we want to participate in this relationship.
IS THAT TO SAY FG IS NORTH ? WAT RUBBISH !!!