Serious Issue
With Chimex Ndubuisi
Reviewing Lee Maeba's interactive session
It was indeed another landmark event as the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) with support from CORDAID International organized an interactive session for the elected representatives and the electorate in the South-East Senatorial District comprising Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the event which took place on 22nd of November 2009 at the MOSOP Peace & Freedom Center, Bori, the Democracy and Good Governance Programs Coordinator of MOSOP, Barrister Cynthia Onwuka said the program was designed to bridge the yawning gap between the electorate and elected representatives.
She emphasized that the event was neither a political rally nor funded by any individual/politician as participants were invited without regard to personal political affiliation and ideologies. She informed the participants that the forum presents the much desired opportunity needed for the people to freely ask questions, seek clarification from and make input/suggestions to the elected representatives on the way-forward in governance.
Giving an account of his stewardship at the forum, Senator Lee Maeba said he has taken steps to economically empower the sons and daughters of Ogoni through the PTDF Overseas Scholarship and absorption into emerging employment opportunities.
He mentioned that he worked tirelessly to ensure that the National Technical Institute is located in Bonny and expressed his hope that Ogoni sons & daughters as well as others in his Senatorial District would avail themselves of the wonderful opportunity.
He further briefed the electorate that he worked tirelessly to ensure that the Federal Government converts Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori to the level of a Federal institution. This conversion, he said, has been made in principle two (2) years ago but can only become practically effective if the Rivers State Government follows-up on the development and satisfy other outstanding modalities. He expressed his dismay that till now, two years after, the follow-up steps are yet to be made.
Senator Maeba further said that he has taken other steps to contribute to educational development in his Senatorial District by launching a one million exercise books scheme. He said that 850,000 books have already been released and Classroom chairs/ tables donated to several schools.
On the area of poverty alleviation, he informed the electorate that he has set up a micro-credit scheme to empower the economic capacity of indigent widows. He said that the managing trustees have done extensive work on the scheme and would soon disburse micro-credit facility to target beneficiaries.
Senator Lee enumerated his input on his core engagement as a member of the legislature.
He mentioned that he sponsored the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Bill.
Highlighting some areas of the Bill that would impact positively and directly of host communities, he enumerated that all oil companies must have 95% host-community people as staff, project headquarters would be sited in host communities and every project must have clear plans to train the host-community so as o make them employable on the project.
In addition, citing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) sponsored by the Federal Government and deliberated on by the Senate Joint Committee which he Chairs, Senator Maeba highlighted key areas that would positively affect the lives of host-communities. He mentioned that the Bill ensures that 10% of the equity profit of every drop of oil and gas produced in any community would be given to that community.
In addition, host-communities are to receive part of Rents and Royalties paid by oil companies. Oil companies would also be made to pay for environmental remediation and development of community projects would be made a condition precedent to any company being awarded oil prospecting and drilling licence.
The plenary session was very interactive as the electorate had ample time to make their inputs, ask questions, sought clarifications and their elected representative, Senator Maeba responded to issues raised during the plenary.
He appeared seemingly rattled on the issue of constituency projects and constituency office.
On the issue of constituency projects, he emphasized that Senators no longer have direct control over funds voted for constituency project.
He claimed that they are strictly handled by the Executive while Senators merely forward proposals to the executive on projects that would meet the needs of their Senatorial Districts.
On the functionality of his project office, Senator Lee claimed ignorant of the fact that the office has not been opened for some time and blamed the staff members he engaged in the office.
He assured the electorate that he would investigate and take steps to ensure that the office is made open with effect from the following day being Monday 23rd November 2009.
Speaking in a closing remark, the President of MOSOP, Barrister Ledum Mitee noted that one thing evident from the event is that, once again, the Ogonis have set the pace. The Ogonis drawing the Ogoni Bill of Rights 19 years ago made demands for resource control.
Today, the government seemingly appears to be reviewing and looking at those demands. This indicates that the Ogonis are living nineteen (19) years ahead of Nigeria. The 10% equity profit and other benefits for host-communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill before the National Assembly is a clear indication to that effect. This indicates that the Ogonis are living nineteen (19) years ahead of Nigeria.
Barrister Ledum Mitee thanked the over 600 persons, including traditional rulers, members of the House of Assembly, academicians, representatives of civil society organizations, the media and kingdom coordinators of MOSOP, for being part of the program.
He also said he would ensure that Bori State is created for the people of Ogoni people.
As he put it: “I will like to inform you that the proposal for the creation of Bori State is gaining greater support from the public. Even the Senate President, Senator David Mark has assured me that he is ready to receive the Bori State delegation whenever they are in Abuja for this purpose”.
Senator Maeba told the people of Ogoni people to hold me responsible if any State is created in the country and Bori State is missing, stressing that since he is representing them in Abuja, he would ensure that nothing will make Bori State from not been created once states are created.
He urged other elected representatives to take a cue from Senator Lee Maeba and Hon. Dumnamene Deekor who on the 17th of October 2009 responded positively to a home-call to interact with the electorate in their constituencies.
In fact, kudos should go to the Democracy and Good Governance Programs Coordinator of MOSOP, Barrister Cynthia Onwuka who ensured that everything went on smoothly without any rancour. Frankly speaking, serious Issue saw how she was running up and down to ensure that the accountability forum by Senator Lee Maeba was a success.
Serious Issue also commended the support from CORDAID International for putting such an event and also urged other politicians including and elected representative to borrow a left from others who have reach their people.
They have any other place to call their people but their people and when it happens, they will remember their homes and as the saying goes, no place like home.
In deed, that accountability forum with Senator Lee Maeba is commendable and Serious Issue is saying Bravo to him and to Barrister Cynthia Onwuka, I say well down to you.
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