Thinking aloud on the Nworie River dredging

Hitherto, Imo people have been inundated by arguments on the urgency of dredging the Nworie River and why the project could not be delayed. Arguments proffered have ranged from abatement of pollution by medical waste, to security and inland freshwater transportation etc. But are these worth the whopping sum of N8billion allegedly spent on the project in the face of other pressing priorities? Also, now that the controversy generated seems to have gone down can business as usual in government continue? Telling lies such as those of recovering dead bodies from the sites is not necessary as insecurity to life is never solved by dredging of Rivers.

Gladly, the Imo State police command denied such claim as no report was ever brought to it about that. On the other hand, no journalist is yet to come up with a photograph on such gory scene. It is also germane to point out that the Nworie River is incapable of serving as an inland transport medium as being suggested by those forcing the dredging contract down our throats as the extent of the coverage is so small. How far can such transportation go without an enormous investment in rebuilding the road blockings on Assumpta Avenue and Egbeada Road?

Discussing the controversial dredging of the Nworie River at a time of economic recession and peril of both the government and citizens is germane. First, the Nworie River provides a strategic ecological service to the city of Owerri vis-à-vis its role as a major hydrological catchment for both flood and storm waters emanating from rainfalls across the adjoining uplands or hills that serve as its catchment areas. Its valley location makes its ability to perform this task seem effortless as all generated runoffs from paved roads and concreted buildings find their way into it. A similar task is perfomed by the Iyi echu stream in Okigwe town, and many other Rivers and Streams everywhere.

This hydrological function has a lot of benefits, one of which, as already mentioned is flood control. But then, there is also the benefit of sediment transport and hydrological stabilization which though very gradual and minimal, enables the Otammiri River and its surrounding landscapes to recover from the anthropologic effects of sand mining that is currently ravaging it. This natural process provides a natural balance to the entire ecosystem both terrestrial and the freshwater. In this regards, one may need to ask why erosion and landslide have remained a major problem around the point the Nworie River joins the Otammiri River that is around Nekede? The simple answer is that the surrounding landscapes, having been deprived of the stabilization effects of incoming sediments, exerts a balancing pressure on surrounding landscapes , the result being the massive erosion and landslides we have in that area today. This situation would have been worse without the Nworie River.

Sediments from Nworie River support Otammiri River to build some level of resilience. Secondly, beyond this role, the stream has an intrinsic value which also serves as a primary role and this is the life and habitation it provides to biodiversity. Biodiversity in simple terms means the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) varying from the very microscopic to the very large inhabiting the waters of this small River. As a source of life, water bodies naturally provide this ecological service in support of mother earth.

Hydrology is a key determinant of specie distribution, wetland productivity and nutrient cycling and availability. Globally, when environmentalists oppose river dredging, it is often premised on reasons such as those cited above.

This makes River dredging a very controversial issue anywhere it is planned and raises the necessity for an Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA). Such an EIA enables all stakeholders to appraise all their options including mitigation. For a coastal delta environment such as the Niger Delta this could become a life and death issue as is currently the case with the recently commissioned dredging in the Niger Delta.

I am keen to see and read the EIA for the Nworie River dredging or was there none? I will be most surprised if there was none. If there actually was one, then I am keen to know the level of participation of stakeholders and what their inputs were. Stakeholders in this instance include the Nekede community, the fisher men, the sand dredgers, the NGOs, land owners and farmers within the banks of the Rivers etc. I need to point out that dredging at whatever scale causes serious environmental damage as it significantly degrades water quality and can harms fisheries.

During dredging, sediment, soil, and vegetation along the way are removed and deposited as dredge spoils. Toxic substances attached to sediment particles can enter aquatic food chains, cause fish toxicity and mortality and make the water unfit for drinking. Research has proven that waste material from dredging when dumped on the river banks disrupts the environment. Often, these wastes are acidic and if it leaches into the water, pose as a further source of contamination. While oil companies are responsible for significant dredging activities in the Niger Delta, dredging of rivers is also done by other local businesses and government, such as the Nworie River by the Imo State Government.

There have been reports of human induced saline contamination at Isaka near Port Harcourt where the dredging of the Port Harcourt harbour admitted saline water into the aquifer in the area. Canalization particularly short-cut canals have often resulted in intrusion of saline waters into fresh water swamps and groundwater. Similarly, dredging activities of Chevron Nigeria Limited allegedly resulted in salt water intrusion into an otherwise freshwater swamp forest, leading to the complete destruction of vast areas of land (over 20 km²) in the Opuekeba area of Tsekelewu, Rivers State.

Therefore, I doubt the wisdom of the Imo State Government in dredging the Nworie River. I am of the opinion that what was actually needed was tougher environmental regulation around the River in order to protect its catchment. This would have included regulated sand mining in the Otammiri River; absolute stopping of medical and sanitary waste discharge into the River and the setting up of a watershed management for both the Otammiri and Nworie Rivers. Watershed management in this case as is practiced in Sweden and other developed countries would have seen to the planting of trees along and within at least 100 meter periphery of the Rivers as well as restricting residential buildings within this periphery especially residential buildings with on-site sanitation systems including septic pits or tanks. Without these strategies in place the dredging would end up a futility.

I am also of the opinion that the weeds on the Nworie River and the accompanying silts would have been removed manually. By so doing the state government would not have spent as much as it has done and Imo people, particularly those to be engaged in the work would have tremendously benefited; instead of paying such a colossal amount to an alien or offshore contractor who has little or no stake in the state.

As the court pleases!

One central issue that has caught my attention all these period that Ikedi Ohakim has been in power is the legal tussles he has been enmeshed in over the mandate he wields. My interest is obvious for a number of reasons and part of those includes the need to restore power to the people, and, letting future aspirants know that fraud is no longer part of it. Regrettably, politics and elections in Nigeria have become a big industry. The allure of power and all its accoutrements now drives the unmitigated madness that is ever on reign for office seekers. While some visit and take oath in shrines; some make “arrangee deals” that gets lackeys of their benefactors into occupying sensitive offices; and others use sheer brute force to rig themselves in. etc. In our milieu, the situation is most pathetic and painful.

Here, the prevailing twin problems of poverty and hunger have imposed a regime akin to the peace of the grave yard. In Imo State, you are either a cheer leader or you keep mute and watch miscreants despoil our common heritage and shared destiny. If you attempt to raise a voice you become a target and out rightly labeled a self serving critic and enemy of government, and if you are not financially strong, you die in penury. At the moment, I can’t agree less with the saying that it is good for the wind to blow so that we can see the underbelly of the fowl. This is particularly true since after the April 2007 elections in Imo State. The underbelly of people we once thought were philosophers and men of character have been exposed. Sadly, we have lived with the illusion that they are gentlemen.

Now we know better, they never were, but merely hungry men looking for a pot of porridge to sale their birth right. Finally the birds seems to be coming home to roost as the battle for Imo State governorship seat finally takes a new dimension at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The court last week handed out a verdict that the power exercised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in the state was challengeable in law court. Despite concerted efforts to stop the court from assuming jurisdiction in the matter by INEC and Ikedi Ohakim, the appellate court have assumed jurisdiction on the poll annulment and asked the electoral body and the sitting Governor Ikedi Ohakim to appear before it on March 23 to defend the election cancellation. Governor Ohakim and INEC had filed a motion seeking the dismissal of Agbaso’s appeal case, but Justice Jimmy Olukayode Bada courageously held that since Agbaso was a participant in the annulled governorship election and was dissatisfied with its annulment, he had the legal right to challenge the action.

The unanimous ruling dismissed INEC and Ohakim’s motion that the appellant’s suit should be thrown out for constituting an abuse of court process, arguing that the electoral body had the power to do what it did. According to Justice Bada, the fact that Chief Agbaso participated in the re-run election of April 28 had not removed his legal rights to challenge the annulled poll of April 14 where he also took part. The appellate court disagreed with INEC and the governor that the action of the APGA candidate constituted abuse of court process having challenged the result of the re-run election up to the Appeal Court on account of his loss at the second poll.

The court held that the two elections were different from one another and held on different days, adding that aggrieved participants have rights in law to ventilate their anger in court by seeking redress on any issue in dispute. I am pleading with Governor Ohakim to please go to the court as invited on March 23 2009 and defend the election cancellation, if he could, and possibly explain how he wrought the magic of transiting from a woeful outing in April 14 to a superlative landslide on April 28 2009 without any campaign. But, I have all along been wondering why the controversial Professor Maurice Iwu led INEC would be keen to stop the court from assuming jurisdiction in such a matter? If INEC is sure it has the power and cogent reasons to annul an election already concluded, then why is she afraid to defend same in a law court? I am also sad that Ohakim, a pleaded joiner in the case would be the first to indicate willingness in challenging the ruling at the Supreme Court?

For those who don’t know, the scenario is that the April 14, 2007 governorship election was reportedly won by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mr. Martins Agbaso, but was cancelled by INEC on account of alleged irregularities, but ironically, the House of Assembly election held simultaneously was upheld. A fresh one conducted on April 28 of the same year later produced an unknown Ohakim of the grossly unknown Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) as the governor of Imo state. I am happy that there are still courageous men in Imo such as Chief Martin Agbaso who still have resilient guts to confront injustice and fight tyranny as visited on the state by the trio of Obasanjo, Iwu and Udenwa. Chief Martin Agbaso earns my respect for sustaining this fight all this while.

I am therefore compelled to congratulate him for the appeal court victory. Chief Agbaso’s involvement and ability to lead and sustain this fight is understandable in many respects. This was one man who sincerely believed in the people he sought to serve. Among the lot that then aspired to govern Imo, he was one of the few that had a functional campaign structure. He had an office with paid knowledgeable staff. He campaigned vigorously, travelling to the nooks and crannies of the state as well as featuring live on local television and radios. He spent serious money unleashing his message and was the only candidate amongst the lot who read his well researched manifesto in the local language. In political campaigns all over the world, money is not only central but crucial, and Chief Agbaso must have spent an awful lot to get to the extent he did.

Sadly, an ominous conspiracy from exotic quarters used fiat to annul the outcome based on spurious reasons and sheer contempt for the people. And today, what do we have in the state, a cocktail of people who ordinarily should be in jail for impoverishing the state lording it over decent men. I do not need to be a lawyer to know that one can never win an election without a campaign. Successful campaign is all about finance. You can ask President Barack Obama about his early experiences or simply go and read his book-The audacity of hope. Let those who claim they won a repeat election bring the receipt of their expenses. We know them, and know that they knew they stood no chance and never bothered to spend any money on any campaign. Even for once they never featured in any local radio program to discuss their manifesto. We also never saw their manifesto.

At this stage of the matter, I would advise Chief Ifeanyi Ararume to allow INEC and Ohakim to exhaust their options at the Supreme Court as Ohakim has already indicated. Their lawyers would certainly urge them on, so let them use public funds and further test the waters at the Supreme Court. The only gain would just be the purchase of time, beyond which is political Golgotha. Ararume’s options are still open, win or lose at the INEC/Ohakim against Agbaso at the Supreme Court. A lose for INEC/Ohakim at the Supreme Court means the continuation of his case in the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, while a victory for Agbaso at the same court would offer him the opportunities of pleading exclusion at that election in another court. Justice does not come easy. All those who feel that these litigants should swallow injustice to stand are enemies of the society. The path to rescuing the state from impostors should be fully explored until they learn their lessons and either return to their traditional hideouts or die.

The God of the poor man is all he has.

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Imo State Budget 2009: beyond naira and kobo (II)

A people oriented budget is one that places people at the centre of its concerns, and seeks to create a society that is egalitarian and equitable; where social justice is the fulcrum of relations between people and where the resources of society are exploited to enable men and women understand the true meaning of a valued life and to be able to live the lives that they value. Such a life will be characterized by the highest levels of knowledge, health, social services, culture and individual as well as collective wellbeing not just for a thieving few but for all members of society.

 

From the look of things at the moment, the Imo state government’s 2009 budget is not people oriented in both formulation and content. As a result I challenge the Imo House of Assembly to follow the life of this bill as passed and as would be implemented. The House owes us a duty to do this very effectively its oversight functions. These could be easily done through the monitoring of the implementing phase of the bill in order to uncover any defects and to correct misinterpretation and nip corruption and embezzlement of funds.

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Imo State Government Continues Demolition in Owerri

In a belated effort to carry the good people of Imo state along, the Special Adviser (SA) to Governor Ikedi Ohakim on Sanitation And Transport, Chief Willie Amadi has started a media campaign to create awareness and solicit support in the ongoing demolition exercise in Owerri.

According to the SA, “we are not using force but persuasion. The idea is to make the Imo environment conform to civilised standard” Furthermore he said in line with the CLEAN & GREEN initiative of the governor, the government has started planting of ornamental trees along the major roads in Owerri. Earlier in the week, the SA unveiled to newsmen the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) Law, which he said its implementation will be constantly reviewed to amend the irrelevant sections that will occasion hardship to the people.

A seasoned traveller to Owerri, will note that Owerri is an old civil servant city, with the major roads set and will not accommodate any tree without massive destruction to the roads/streets. These are the major roads in Owerri. Okigwe Rd, Orlu Rd, Douglas Rd and Weathral Rd. Where along these roads does his excellence want to plant ornamental trees?

One cannot help but wonder why the state government is putting the cart before the horse. The government undertook massive demolition with zeal akin to that of el-Rufai in F.C.T.,without carrying the people along. This belated effort is another media jamboree for which the Ohakim government has come to be known with. On the pages of the national dailies, Imo state is painted in glossy colours yet a visit to the state capital belies all these paper victories of the governor.

Can good men of Imo state please arouse the State House of Assembly from their over one year comatose? The time has come for these Honourable members to take their oversight functions more seriously before the executive ruin the state beyond redemption.

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Give Ohakim a Breathing Space to Work for Imo State

In Response to OHAKIM’s 419 SPIN-DOCTORS:

Chief Dr Ikedi Ohakim,holds BSC in Business Administration,MSC in marketing and PhD Degrees.His acension to the political leadership of Imo State ,Nigeria under the PPA flag on may 29 2007,to say the least,was indeed Godswill for the people of Imo State.Imo is a State in South East of Nigeria.Imo State has 27 Local Government Areas.

Ikedi Ohakim with his Style of leadership,it will not be a mistake to say that he knows where the shoe pinches Imo people.within the last 365 days ,he has work round the clock to put smiles on the faces of imo people.Thank God the people of Imo State decided to bring change in leadership and trooped out to elect him as Chief Executive officer of the State

“Chineke Ekele oo”,Imo people are shouting.The State is now a State to sing praises of.Ohakim is delivering on his electoral promises.Imo people now have sense of belonging in the running of Imo with wealth now spread across the State.Visitors to the state would have been convinced that Ikedi is out to take the State to the highest level of development.

Since the Governor assumed Office In 2007,there has been paradigm shifts in the areas of developmental projects such as road,civil service and security. There is notable peace and harmony in Imo State.Ohakim in his characteristic approach to handling the affairs of the state may have proved wrong, holders of the believe that because of the Governor’s minority party(PPA),there might be heavy unrest in the state. Imo under the Leadership of Ohakim is enjoying the best of oneness and unity which are vital ingredients needed for development.The bond of friendship between the Governor and Imo state House of Assembly and the Judiciary is a thing to be applauded.

In the area of security, Ohakim ,in the last twelve months,have achieved a lot.Imo State is one of the most peaceful State in Nigeria.Naturally the people of Imo are hospitable and peace loving but the Governor still went ahead to fashion out proactive measures to entrench peace and security in Imo State.Over 40 patrol vehicles have been distributed among police,Army,Civil defence,etc,for pre-emptive operations against violent crimes in the state with Joint Task Force made up mainly of Army and Police,put in place.Today,residents of the state sleep with their eyes closed.Ohakim is commited to the security of the state to the smallest details.When armed gunmen began to terrorize Mmahu-Egbema,a community that is the capital of Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A,Ohakim in Conjunction with Mike Okiro(IG of Police)sent 30 Policemen to flush out the gunmen.So many gangstars where arrested,the rest flew Mmahu.

The Governor has also revealed in several interviews that what has helped most in entrenching peace in Imo State has been the positive employment of Imo youths in different strata of the economy.Imo job center,Ohakim’s creation has employed over 1000 jobless youths of the state.

The direct result of peace in Imo has quickened the economic growth of the state.Major construction companies are today puttinf finishing touches to road construction in Imo.There is dualization of owerri -orlu road,okwelle Ezike-umuduru road,Amuro-Aro ofeimo road,Dikenafia-Isiekeneze-umuagwo road,Obioha -ogboko-omuma-Isiaku-Nkwerre road,obioha-AforUrualla-Obodoukwu_afor isiokpo road,Nkume-Amucha -Ezi obaire road,Afor -Umuaka-Amazano-Nkpulu Road,Shoe Industry-Amulu Mbieri road.Dualization of Okigwe road,Amaraku roundabout,Ikpambara-Umuehie-umuneke road,Anara roundabout,Anara-Eziama abba road,Naze-Nekede-Obinze road,Enyiogugu-lagwa-mbutu-uvuru road,umunama-Akpodimowutu-Ife road,Owerri-Umuahia road,etc.These Road Contracts are awarded to reputable construction companies as a way of promoting thorough and clean job.

In transportation,Ohakim has bought over 100 small Taxis,over 100 mini buses and over 100 luxurous buses to ease transportation stress in Imo state.Imo is also regarded as one of the Clean States in Nigeria.Ohakims pet project,Clean and Green Initiative is ridding the metropolis of Owerri and its environs of Dirts.Governor Ikedi Ohakim,Nde nwoo.Keep up the Good work.Imo people are Watching.

Kenneth Uwadi,
Editor In chief
Famous People News Magazine
P.O.Box 320,Uniport P.O,Choba,Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.

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Ohakim’s 419 Spin-doctors

My attention has been drawn to the publications making rounds about my governor, Ikedi Ohakim, who took over the reins of Imo State from Achike Udenwa in questionable circumstances. Ewu na okuko knows that Ohakim was not among the first 5 top contenders in the April 28th Selection conducted by Maurice Iwu.

Be that as it may, otu nwa shi yo uwa, ya hiri. Ohakim has stayed one year in office. It is now time to check what he has achieved. The press secretary of Ohakim, Mr. Steve Osuji on the back page of SunNewspaper of 2nd July, said unbelievable lies that make me wonder if there are people in Imo State, to correct these lies. To add salt to injury, one Mr. Ike Ben Onyechere wrote in the SUN Newspaper of July 4th 2008 that “IMO IS NOT DECADENT”.

My interest is hinged on the parroting by Ohakim’s government of CLEAN & GREEN; the new face of Imo project. I was forced to go to Owerri to re-see things for myself and what I saw is a shame. There has been no improvement to the decay I saw about two weeks ago, which gave birth to my writing A Letter to Ikedi Ohakim, published by the Sun Newspaper of 1st July 2008. As a blind man will know, the painting of the walls of Owerri green and white is not an evidence of environmental cleanliness. Mr. Osuji and Onyechere, keep telling the world that all is well in Owerri. If a blind man says he doesn’t see oyi ututu, doesn’t he feel it?

Let us take a trip around Owerri and see if Owerri is not decaying and smelling. Take a look at the gutters on Bank Road, especially the one opposite Intercontinental Bank PLC. Visitors from Rivers State are welcome at Owerri Girls-Control post by a river over flooding the road. Even the by-pass through NTA/West End-Ama Hausa, is over grown with grasses and the gutters smell. Another one that will interest you is the one by Garden Park and opposite Imo State library. If the governor is serious, what has he done to the road from Government House through Shell Camp Police station to Central Mosque? This road is directly on the route to his office, obviously he can’t say he hasn’t seen it. I challenge the governor and his commissioners to show me a functional gutter and I will walk naked around Owerri and apologise.

The governor should visit Works Layout and tell me if it befits the image the sycophants in his cabinet are lying to the world about. The whole of Owere nchi ise stinks like a graveyard, as the gutters are over flowing with algae. Nda Njemanze o no kwa na ulo while the goat of misgovernance in Imo under Ohakim is suffering birth pangs on a tether? These stagnant gutters are breeding ground for all manner of diseases. Check out Ama J.K. to Garden Park, beside the failed Co-operative bank. I am ashamed of the lies told on national newspapers by the chief press secretary of Imo State. All these national dailies that sit in Lagos and Abuja and write rubbish about Imo State, should visit the state and do a documentary on the state. It is obvious that the governor and his spin-doctors are wasting our money to launder the non-existent image of his government.

Apart from the poor sanitation in Owerri, the state capital, other cities are in dare need of attention. Irete, in Owerri-West L.G.A., Orji in Owerri North L.G.A, Attah in Ikeduru, Osina in Ideato North L.G.A. Just name it; Imo State gives me the creep as though I am walking through a massive dinosaurs’ graveyard.

I shall not address the issue of the 50-billion naira loan taken by Ohakim. Although Mr. Steve Osuji wants us to call it a BOND. But bottom line, somebody must repay 50 billion. What I want the good people of Imo State to ask the State House of Assembly is what they have done to checkmate this reckless borrowing by Ohakim. His 419 commissioners are saying that he is constructing roads. Rubbish. There is a difference between road rehabilitation and construction. A juicy part of these roads are given to Zeerock Construction Nig. Limited. Serious minded Imolites, should ask who owns Zeerock? Are there no construction companies owned by ndi Imo that can do a better job? What Zeerock did on Owerri Okigwe road, is a shame.

How about the Local Government revenue? For one year running, monies meant for LGAs have been going into the state coffers without due account by Ohakim. What is holding elections in the 27 local government areas in Imo state? Don’t allow them to deceive you that its because of election petitions against him. If these petitions did not stop him from collecting loans, or bond as his spin doctors will want us to read, why should it stop him from conducting election? Ndi Imo chi abola, shine your eyes there is a great fraud going on. From the feeder roads in Owerri-West through Owerri North to the five kindred of Mbaise, there is nothing going on as the governor keeps changing the Transitional Committee to create job for the boys. The members of the State House of Assembly should wake up to their responsibilities and give us good governance. That they are collecting fat car and wardrobe allowances should not make them mortgage the state as they are doing. How much did Ohakim waste in hosting Nigeria Musical Award, where Nollywood actresses came to expose their breasts. What did Imo State benefit from that breast jamboree? Where are the men in Imo state? Bush telegram on the streets of Owerri has it that the governor wasted 600 million to gape at dilapidated Nollywood breast.

Imo is known to produce no nonsense men. Men who are articulate and will not allow any governor to mess up the state.

With mixed feelings I congratulate the governor over the victory against Uche Onyeagocha at the Court of Appeal. With this, his parrots will not tell us he did not perform due to court cases against his stolen mandate.

What are the programmes of this lame duck governor? When will Ohakim generate employment? Agreed NEPA is Yar’Adua’s headache, how about water? I cannot remember the last time the tap ran in my compound. Borehole is now the order of the day. Otamiri and Nwaori are dead, full of refuse and debris.

I am ashamed ndi Owerri are not asking question. I hope there are still men left; men who have not sold their birth rights; men who still remember what De Sam Mbakwe did from 1979-1983. There is need to start now to check this rascality going on in the name of governance in Imo State. Read more