JUST IN:
ONELGA NEWS UPDATE:
EGBEMA MASSIVE
MOVEMENT VISITS EX- RIVER STATE LAW MAKER (HON. SINGER NELSON FROM EGBEMA).
HERE IS OUR CHAT:
The movement for the recognition
of Egbema in River state has taken a new step as the leader of the peace and
developmental initiative in Egbema Kingdom known as EGBEMA MASSIVE MOVENT
visited one of her son, An Ex- Rivers state law maker who represented the Good
people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area( Constituency 2.) OF River State
between 2003 - 2007.
I visited Hon Singer and asked some of the
following Questions which he did not hesitate to answer. We are not just peace
initiated but also interrogatory group who demands accountability in office
from our leaders.
1.
HON. TELL US ABOUT
YOUR DAYS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?
Answer: I am Hon Singer Nelson, and I hail from Umu-osita clan in Okwuzi
community, Egbema Kingdom in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. R/S. I served as the people’s
representatives (ONELGA CONSTITUENCY 2) at the state house of assemble for
4years (2003-2007). I left the Assembly 27th may, 2007 that’s been a
decade now.
2.
Hon. What was your
achievements and major setbacks during your stay in office?
Answer: well as a human being I did my best even with the limited tenure
then. I cannot remember all expect I make reference to my catalogue. But I remember
I undertook the following projects:
·
I moved the Rivers
tourism development Bill.
·
I drew the attention
of the then Gov. peter Odili to execute the fencing of the Okwuzi-Egbema
General Hospital.
·
I also under took the land scrapping project
in the General hospital.
·
I made the move for
the renovation of the Okwuzi-Egbema General Hospital. Even thou Dr. Peter Odili
gave the contract to one General Azazi his friend who didn’t take it serious
and handed over the job to the daughter and then her daughter now brought her
boyfriend and the job became a mess. If not, the hospital would have been in a
nice state as we speak.
·
I ensured that 9 of
our children travelled abroad. Even when I knew some of them came back to know
Governments fault.
·
I built the Ndoni Ultra-modern
market which is at the peck of River Niger. Although the people are not using
it because it was out of the town.
·
I moved the Bill for
the Renovation of the berth weight tank.
·
I did the
Umu-Agburuga Road Projects and others in Okwuzi.
·
I attracted internal
road projects to various communities.
·
I worked with Dr.
Peter Odili to begin the dulalisation of the OMOKU-OKWUZI TTC ROAD CONTRACT.
·
The local jetty
renovations and among others.
·
We started a Road from
OGBIDI- KERIGANI-OHALI-IDU USOMINI axis before the interference of the OBA OF
OGBALAND. Claiming the contract was awarded to him by ELF/TOTAL. That was the
end of the contract.
·
I did the renovation
of the EDO OBOSIKWU SECONDARY SCHOOL.
·
I tried to make the
Gov. link EKPE-AGGAH to AGGAH COMMUNITY ROAD. Before the obstruction from Chief
William Ijeoma and co. the unnecessary agitation for the contract by some
Egbema people led to the backwardness in infrastructural development in Egbema
Kingdom during my days at the Assemble.
·
I renovated the
Government Secondary School in KERIGANI. 6 CLASS ROOMS UP.
·
My major challenge
was with my Egbema Brothers and the intrusion in state Government Contract by
the Ogba people and EZE OBA OF OGBALAND.
·
HON. YOU SAID
LIMITED TIME, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
Answer: yes the initial plan was for me to work for
4years and leave. But when I left
office 2007 an Ndoni Man Hon Lucky Odili came into play and served from 2007-2011
and 2011-2015 as against the agreement. And now Usomini man is there Hon. Nath
Uwaji is there, he will stay till 2019. Or even more.
·
HON.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR TAKE IF HON NATH OPINES FOR A SECOND TERM?
Answer: well is his right if he
wants to. After all Hon. Lucky started it all.
To me, I will advise he stays for 8years. Because he is just getting
into play and needs to learn a lot about governance maybe by his second term he
will begin to do wonders. This will now be an already settled agreement when he
finally leaves for an Egbema man to come and serve his 8years without stress. It
should be rotational irrespective of political ideologies.
HON. YOU LEFT OFFICE MAY 27TH
2007 AND A LOT HAPPENED.
Answer: yes a lot of things
happened. I finished from the state Assembly and a new Government came onboard.
Hon. Sir Celestine Omehia became the new River state Governor and immediately
called for a Local Government election across the state to elect in Local
Government Chairmen to work with. A lot of people indicated interest in their
Lga’s and I indicated interest as well for the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Chairmanship
position. We were 38 in number fromONELGA and at the end of the day I emerged
the flag bearer as a candidate for the people’s Democratic Party (PDP). We were
all handed over flag at Ahoada local Government. The election was to be held on
the 20th October, 2007 when coincidentally the same day was to be
the traditional marriage day of the son of Oba of Ogba land (HON PRINCE UNCHE
NNAM-OBI & the daughter of the then incumbent Governor Sir Dr. Peter Odili,
so the election was postponed not until 25th 0ctober, 2007 the
supreme court gave an obnoxious judgement that nullified the election of Gov.
Celestine Omehia and installed Gov. Rotimi Ameachi. Ameachi came into play and scrapped all the
party candidates for the Local Government Elections as proposed by Gov. Omehia.
We the party candidates proceeded to court. Although I was quite lucky as I didn’t
go into borrowing to fund my campaigns then as some of my collegues from other
LGA’s did. I was just leaving the Assembly. And had some savings.
HON. THERE WAS CLAIMS THAT THE
THEN GOVERNOR AMEACHI NEVER WANTED YOU AROUND HIM. WHAT HAPPENED?
Answer: Ameachi accused me of
working against him. Which is very true? I was following instructions from my
brother the outgoing Governor then. As a matter of fact I was number 4th
in the list of the assemble members who signed for the impeachment of Ameachi. We
reserved the 1st,2nd for the speaker of the house and its
leader, 3rd was Hon Tam Gogo jaja and the 4th was myself.
HON. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER?
Answer:The heat was on and Gov.
Ameachi flew to Ghana. And Dr. Odili was incharge. Dr. odili called me and I lead the Assemble
members to see him at the Government House where he Cooked lavishly and we all
ate. He pleaded that I should retire from processing the impeachment move of
Ameachi that he was scared. Therein we accepted and Gov. Ameachi came to power
with wike as a Chief of Staff following him.
HON. AMEACHI SHOULD BE YOU NUMBER
1 ENEMY FOR DENYING YOU OF YOUR LGA CHAIRMANSHIP POSITION. WHY ARE YOU IN THE
SAME POLITICAL PARTY WITH HIM?
Answer: it’s all about Politics.
Honestly if I were him I would have done the same. Ordinarily there is no way
he would be a governor and allow someone who signed impeachment bill against you have his way. Although he knew I was following orders from his Boss Dr.
Odili.
HON. WAS DR. ODILI’S
ADMINISTRATION FAVOURABLE TO THE EGBEMA PEOPLE?
Answer: Honestly not at all. All
projects in Egbema during my days in the Assemble were constituency projects.
Dr. Odili never allowed us tap from his office. He was not homely and was at
all means after the presidency. To me, I believed he wanted to become the
president 1st before addressing the issue of the Egbema and Niger
delta People unfortunately we lost it all.
HON. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE
APC?
Answer: I am a full time member
and a stakeholder. I am the leader of APC in EGBEMA and one of the leaders in
the LGA.
HON WHY DID YOU JOIN THE APC?
Answer: I left the PDP to APC
because of the impunity in the PDP. The injustice melted on CHIEF G.U.AKE
triggered me to leave.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRET JOINING
THE APC?
Answer: I have no regret at all.
I don’t harlot in politics.
HON. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON SOME
OF YOUR MEMEMBERS IN THE LGA AND STATE LEAVEING THE APC FOR THE PDP?
Answer: it’s up to them. They are
people who cannot stand hunger for a while. So we do not need such persons.
Moreover, a lot of persons are on daily basis defecting to the All Progressive
Congress. Even if we lost a thousand, it’s just a number. With the coming of
Prince Tonye Prince will alone, the party have covered its loss. We still have
Chief Dumo lulu Briggs and among others. Come 2019 we will overtake.
HON. BACK TO EGBEMA ANDS ITS
CONTINUAL NEGLECT BY THE LGA & STATE GOVERNMENT. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT THAT?
Answer: I think we have EGBEMA Big
boys in the PDP. They should look into this. The major problem with Egbema
people is lack of UNITY AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. Until this is Genuinely
addressed, EGBEMA Will remain relegated to the lest background in the scheme of
things in ONELGA AND RIVER STATE. I thank God you took notice of all the
Governor Wike’s promises to the Egbema people. Has he fulfilled any one? Some at
times I wish our people will just grow up in politics. But they said we have an
S.A to the Governor let him canvass for our good.
FINALLY, HON WHAT IS YOUR TAKE
ON EGBEMA MASSIVE MOVEMENT?
Answer: to me you guys are
really trying. It is not easy to take up the struggle for togetherness in
EGBEMA. This is what some of us had in mind but could not achieve because of
lack of unity. Continue in your good deeds and you have my total support. Thank
you.
Signed:
Comr.
I.E.KELLY RUFUS
LEADER:
EGBEMA MASSIVE MOVEMENT