Update: Alleged Diversion Of N19 Billion From River Niger Dredging Is False


Following some missteps, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan appears to be blowing the goodwill that heralded his ascension to the apex of power. The latest of the alleged wrong steps was his purported order for the suspension of the dredging of the River Niger. Saturday Sun gathered that such directive has generated much bad blood that Jonathan had to make a volte-face on Wednesday night by ‘clarifying’ his action.

The decision to suspend the River Niger dredging was reportedly taken by Jonathan scarcely 48 hours before ailing President Umar Musa Yar’Adua was flown back to Nigeria in the early hours of Wednesday. The sudden threat to the fragile power equation in Aso Rock, occasioned by the return of Yar’Adua, offered an opportunity for the North to begin mobilization behind the ailing president. Their aim, an insider source revealed, is to move against Jonathan using the River Niger dredging as the catalyst. The development jolted Jonathan and forced him to begin to woo and reassure the powerful northern bloc and its South-East allies afresh.

The northern power bloc was constrained to reach out to the South-East and to initiate moves aimed at checkmating Jonathan’s further ascendancy of the power ladder following reports that he had suspended the dredging of the River Niger, a project so dear to the landlocked northern Nigeria. Some prominent leaders from the old northern region, who helped to galvanise the federal lawmakers from that section of the country were furious that the acting president, who they just helped to elevate, could turn round so soon to spite the North. T[b]he leaders strongly suspected alleged undue influence on Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the seeming anti-North and South-East decision.[/b]

One of our sources intimated that the River Niger faux pas by the acting president seriously angered leaders from the North. For instance, at the emergency meeting of the Northern Senators Forum on Wednesday night to review developments in the country, the matter was said to be on the front burner. The pro-Yar’Adua lawmakers were said to have latched on the development to launch attack on the pro-Jonathan senators, including members of the National Interest Group (NIG) for allegedly putting northern interest on the line. The meeting was said to have been explosive with some NIG members of the forum being the butt of attacks.
It was learnt that but for the quick move of Senate President, David Mark to save the day, the forum would have resolved to shut its door on the acting president, which would sound the death knell on his presidential power quest.

Mark doused the flame and opened an escape route for Jonathan by assuring the senators and others present that the Bayelsa-born acting president had already accepted the advice not to suspend the dredging of the Niger, a project which many prominent northerners and Igbo have been clamouring for several years running.
It is noteworthy that President Yar’Adua flagged off the River Niger dredging project last year, amid thunderous applause, especially from the northern and the south eastern flanks. His decisive move to launch the project, which has been on the drawing board for over 30 years, proved a great relief for the North. Under Obasanjo presidency, the dredging project and the second Niger bridge initiative virtually became presidency’s tools of grand political deceit and rigmarole, rather than a concrete agenda.
Sensing trouble ahead, the acting president moved swiftly to calm frayed nerves by reassuring that the dredging was on course. He denied suspending the dredging through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro on Wednesday.
Niboro said that only lower Niger dredging, from the Onya bifurcation to the Niger Delta communities, along the Nembe /Port-Harcourt course, was suspended and not the major Niger River dredging.

The acting president was reported to have approved the transfer of N19 billion from the special intervention funds from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of the Niger Delta to take care of shoreline protection and land reclamation.
The special assistant said the total cost of the project is N19 billion, out of which a sum of N5.5 billion has been released and transferred to Niger Delta ministry, adding that the cost of the major Niger River dredging project, which takes off from the Warri bifurcation up to Baro, was N36 billion.
He stated that his earlier comment on the matter during the press briefing on Tuesday on the outcome of the meeting of the Presidential Coordinating Committee on the Niger Delta Amnesty was distorted. He said that after consultations with governors of the Niger Delta region, the Steering Council of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme resolved that the most urgent requirement of the communities along the shores of the lower Niger are shore protection and land reclamation.

As things stand now, Jonathan faces the urgent challenge of convincing the northern bloc that he can be trusted with power without betraying the region.
Our sources hinted that some influential senators, members of the House of Representatives and appointees from that section, who are loyal to him are currently working round the clock to sway the skeptical elements in the North to give him their nod as it is now clear that President Yar’Adua has become incapacitated.
Said a top northern senator to Saturday Sun on Thursday in Abuja: “As things stand now, we don’t really have a choice than to accept Jonathan as president, at least to complete the remaining one year and three months of the joint Yar’Adua/Jonathan tenure. The only alternate to that is for the military to come in and retain power in the North but that will sacrifice the entire democratic structure and shake the country to its foundations.
“What is required is that rather than dance to the tunes of the like of Obasanjo and Nasir El Rufai, Jonathan should quickly constitute a broad-based team of advisers and aides that will guide him in pursuing programmes that will meet the needs of majority of Nigerians.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/feb/27/national-27-02-2010-02.htm

When Jonathan was emerging acting president, I was concerned that he may take advise from the wrong people.
When he did this, I smelled Obasanjo's divide and rule.  I knew it won't be long before he is called to order. Who has been advising him? I know there is enough money to do both projects, why did he decide to pull funds from the dredging program?
I would get good advisers from the south east and south south for Jonathan. For you to lead Nigeria, you must have the backing of at least one of the major tribes. You can't succeed if you alienate your closest neighbor in your first lines of action.

This is dumb politics

What is the benefit of suspending the River Niger projects which benefits all of Nigeria?
There is need to decongest Lagos and PH seaports
The North and South East hold the project dear.

If he truly cancels this project or starves it of funds then he is in trouble.

they havent started the dredging yet?

Jonathan is going to alienate not only the Ndi Igbo, but also his fellow Ijaws.

Maybe it will take a horrible Ijaw man to unite both the Igbos and Ijaws.

The talking of dredging River Niger, when are the going to rebuilt River Niger bridge? or they just going to Wait till the old bridge collapses and kills hundreds of ppl that use the bridge everyday.

Hope confusion is not rocking this guy(jonathan)

You people esp Onlytruth ODE boy make no damn sense. What is Obasanjos divide and rule tactic? Jonatahn wanted to used that money from the River Niger Project to go into land reclamation in the ND and it makes sense hes putting money where it should be.

The SAME Notherners that dont want a southerner esp igbo to become presido are the same people who are ONLY aligning themselves with the SE because they know that dredging the river niger is the only way they can have access to transporting goods along the river niger to North Nigeria.

Not Dregding the river Niger is more of a blow to the North - than it is to igbos- igbos still have rivers state abi?

Why is the SE falling for the norths bullshit? The SE should first ask the north to vote on a bill for true federalism before they agree on anything with the north. duh!

OYB_MEND:

This is dumb politics

What is the benefit of suspending the River Niger projects which benefits all of Nigeria?
There is need to decongest Lagos and PH seaports
The North and South East hold the project dear.
If he truly cancels this project or starves it of funds then he is in trouble.

If they hold it dear the SE should ask the north to grant federalism and the extra state in the SE. The SE isnt suffering like the north.
The north is ONLY aligning themselves with the EAST because the north needs access to the sea, so does the SE but the SE should use PH for now just to spite the North.
The north isnt meeting ANY of the SE demands except the dredging of the river and that is ONLY because it benefits the north also.

Southerners are too foolish short sighted and just dont think.

sjeezy8:

You people esp Onlytruth ODE boy make no damn sense. What is Obasanjos divide and rule tactic? Jonatahn wanted to used that money from the River Niger Project to go into land reclamation in the ND and it makes sense hes putting money where it should be.

The SAME Notherners that dont want a southerner esp igbo to become presido are the same people who are ONLY aligning themselves with the SE because they know that dredging the river niger is the only way they can have access to transporting goods along the river niger to North Nigeria.

Not Dregding the river Niger is more of a blow to the North - than it is to igbos- igbos still have rivers state abi?

Why is the SE falling for the norths bullshit? The SE should first ask the north to vote on a bill for true federalism before they agree on anything with the north. duh!

Jonathan isnt anti igbo- it just so happends that if they should dredge that river the northerners will have access to the sea, using the money from ND delta to do it - when really that money should be going to land reclamation in the ND(where all southern tribes exist) .

Where did u read that the SE is falling for the BShit from the North?
I think the SE now realise that dey need to open their eyes and ear whenver the north is talking.

what is the benefit of river niger project. it has no benefit. it is just a chop chop project. And an ecology problem waiting to happen onitsha would be wash away.  it is of no benefit.

The fear of moving goods to the north have been overcome by technology. Cargo plane is what the north need. they can carry anything ship can carry. the north only need cargo plane and not to dredge the river.   The south east is not scare of not having a seaport. what about port harcourt. Is the ikwerri igbos. So how does thios affect igbos. No need.I am telling you , ikwerri igbos are in charge of river state.

The economy impact in ijaw land is great and look at the satelite picture you need billions , we dont have to do it.

henry101:



Where did u read that the SE is falling for the BShit from the North?
I think the SE now realise that dey need to open their eyes and ear whenver the north is talking.

Tell that fo'olish boy sjeezy8! I don't think he even read the whole thing.

In any case, why should that be the first thing Jonathan did as acting president? There are many other things to do: sacking Morris Iwu and initiating electoral reforms, stabilizing power supply. You know why he hasn't done those? Because Obasanjo is advising him. Anyday Jonathan adopts Uwais report and fires Iwu is the day we will start to take him serious.
It was a wrong move by him. He sent the wrong message. He needs smart advisers from the south east and south south -that is HIS BASE. From there he should get other good intentioned smart Nigerians to work for the benefit of all.

He should avoid anything that could be misunderstood by his allies. He needs trusted allies who can stand with him now more than ever. He should get smart people around him fast! He should toss OBJ fast!

Only a mugu would attribute the decision to halt River Niger dredging to Obasanjo and some fabled anti-Northern or anti-Eastern agenda.

If anyone had cared to ask, this dredging issue is a hot button topic amongst all Niger-Deltan peoples. MEND had warned Yar'Adua against the project due to ecological reasons, and now this pressure will also be brought to bear on Jonathan.

Only an ethnic bigot would even bring this up as an issue because Jonathan has only done what is recommended in the Environmental Impact report. He has not halted the project, but suspended it pending the shoring up of lower Niger shorelines as recommended in the Environmental report. . . this has always been the contention from the riverine-dwelling folk of the lower Niger Delta.

Whilst we want development for all upland areas, it should not be done to our detriment and possible loss of villages and livelihood.

Therefore if you like, you can call it a Niger-Delta agenda. . .  .but there is no need to infer political sabotage by OBJ to explain away its cancellation.

This is just another ploy by the Northern cabal to pit Southerners against each other. Beware!

Ibime:

Only a mugu would attribute the decision to halt River Niger dredging to Obasanjo and some fabled anti-Northern or anti-Eastern agenda.

If anyone had cared to ask, this dredging issue is a hot button topic amongst all Niger-Deltan peoples. MEND had warned Yar'Adua against the project due to ecological reasons, and now this pressure will also be brought to bear on Jonathan.

Only an ethnic bigot would even bring this up as an issue because Jonathan has only done what is recommended in the Environmental Impact report. He has not halted the project, but suspended it pending the shoring up of lower Niger shorelines as recommended in the Environmental report. . . this has always been the contention from the riverine-dwelling folk of the lower Niger Delta.

Whilst we want development for all upland areas, it should not be done to our detriment and possible loss of villages and livelihood.

Therefore if you like, you can call it a Niger-Delta agenda. . .  .but there is no need to infer political sabotage by OBJ to explain away its cancellation.

This is just another ploy by the Northern cabal to pit Southerners against each other. Beware!

I don't think anybody in the south east is falling for it, but you don't want to give anybody any reasons not to support Jonathan. He needs support from allies he can trust, not people of dubious past.

The issue is that he diverted the money budgeted for the dredging to do the shoring. Can you tell me that Nigeria cannot afford another 19b naira to do both? In Nigeria, anything suspended is usually dumped ultimately. So, this diversion could raise genuine fears which cannot be waived aside like that.

I still see OBJ's hand in it, but then we don't have to see it same way.

For da 1st time I agree with sGEEZY.

The SE should not even take the North seriously until they agree to do the right thing.

I insist it is not sound politically to do that now. The time for it is in the future. If you must do it now, then do it with other funds, not the one already earmarked. "You have to capture the eagle first before asking whether a woman can eat it" (Igbo proverb).
As we speak, there is a split presidency. Yar adua is still clinging to power. Even in a state of coma, officials at the presidency are more loyal to him than the acting president. There is news that even some ministers are avoiding Jonathan for fear of appearing too close to him. The military are more loyal to Yar adua than him.
This is the wrongest time to touch politically sensitive issues. Heck, I would make a better adviser to Jonathan!
There are MANY other things to be doing right now to consolidate his presidency, instead of setting off alarm bells.

Onlytruth:

Tell that fo'olish boy sjeezy8! I don't think he even read the whole thing.

In any case, why should that be the first thing Jonathan did as acting president? There are many other things to do: sacking Morris Iwu and initiating electoral reforms, stabilizing power supply. You know why he hasn't done those? Because Obasanjo is advising him. Anyday Jonathan adopts Uwais report and fires Iwu is the day we will start to take him serious.
It was a wrong move by him. He sent the wrong message. He needs smart advisers from the south east and south south -that is HIS BASE. From there he should get other good intentioned smart Nigerians to work for the benefit of all.

What are you saying without morris Iwu a christian southerner wouldnt even smell the presidency in a free and fair election.

Ibime:

Only a mugu would attribute the decision to halt River Niger dredging to Obasanjo and some fabled anti-Northern or anti-Eastern agenda.

If anyone had cared to ask, this dredging issue is a hot button topic amongst all Niger-Deltan peoples. MEND had warned Yar'Adua against the project due to ecological reasons, and now this pressure will also be brought to bear on Jonathan.

Only an ethnic bigot would even bring this up as an issue because Jonathan has only done what is recommended in the Environmental Impact report. He has not halted the project, but suspended it pending the shoring up of lower Niger shorelines as recommended in the Environmental report. . . this has always been the contention from the riverine-dwelling folk of the lower Niger Delta.

Whilst we want development for all upland areas, it should not be done to our detriment and possible loss of villages and livelihood.

Therefore if you like, you can call it a Niger-Delta agenda. . .  .but there is no need to infer political sabotage by OBJ to explain away its cancellation.

This is just another ploy by the Northern cabal to pit Southerners against each other. Beware!

I agree somewhat - I see it as the only thing the North can use to sway SE its way.

Onlytruth:

I don't think anybody in the south east is falling for it, but you don't want to give anybody any reasons not to support Jonathan. He needs support from allies he can trust, not people of dubious past.

clown you stated before:

Onlytruth:

When Jonathan was emerging acting president, I was concerned that he may take advise from the wrong people.
When he did this, I smelled Obasanjo's divide and rule.  I knew it won't be long before he is called to order. Who has been advising him? I know there is enough money to do both projects, why did he

you jus contradicted yourself saying "you dont think anyone in the SE will fall for it" but before you said
Jonathan is acting on behalf of Objs "Divide and rule" tactic between the SE and SS.
There will be easterners like you who will look at it that way.

sjeezy8:

What are you saying without morris Iwu a christian southerner wouldnt even smell the presidency in a free and fair election.

I agree somewhat - I see it as the only thing the North can use to sway SE its way.

clown you stated before:

you jus contradicted yourself saying "you dont think anyone in the SE will fall for it" but before you said
Jonathan is acting on behalf of Objs "Divide and rule" tactic between the SE and SS.
There will be easterners like you who will look at it that way.

I don't think you understand, but I never contradicted myself. The north is dangling this issue knowing how sensitive it is. Mind you, I can have my fears but keep them to myself. That doesn't mean others will do the same (which is why the north is dangling it!). I'm only lamenting the fact that Jonathan created that room. He could have mapped out other funds for this. My concern is for Jonathan not to fall into an evil stratagem. OBJ never liked the south east -I would even say the whole EAST. It takes a very smart dude to follow OBJs schemes.

Onlytruth:

I don't think you understand, but I never contradicted myself. The north is dangling this issue knowing how sensitive it is. Mind you, I can have my fears but keep them to myself. That doesn't mean others will do the same (which is why the north is dangling it!). I'm only lamenting the fact that Jonathan created that room. He could have mapped out other funds for this. My concern is for Jonathan not to fall into an evil stratagem. OBJ never liked the south east -I would even say the whole EAST. It takes a very smart dude to follow OBJs schemes.

hennnn he never liked the EAST but the first southern minister of defense(after the civil war) was of igbo extraction was appointed by Obj.

Obj isnt a tribalist and isnt against east or igbos - igbo people just dont listen.

I think Mr Jonathan does not need cynical politics

The support he gets from all parts of the country including SE is based on justice and fairplay
But should he choose to undermine the development of certain sections to spite  certain other sections then he should know that he will come short.

divisive politics is of no use to Jonathan. If there is any project that will be in the interest of development of the country it should go ahead even if the project is situated in the North.

There is no need to rob peter to pay paul. If that is what he chooses to do then I am sorry for he is finished. People will simply change quickly.

I hope the news is propaganda though.

both dredging and shoring up can be done simultaneously.  No need for cynicism

Ibime

You ecological argument I must say is very ill thought out and most very unfortunate. It is more than anything driven by selfishness

I guess have once heard u say u live in london
How many times do people from Southampton or Portsmouth cry because Ships do alight at Liverpool or Cardiff

I think this is no time to be short-sighted. The development of all Nigeria is in the interest of us all. You have nothing whatsover to benefit from holding others back.

sjeezy8:

hennnn he never liked the EAST but the first southern minister of defense(after the civil war) was of igbo extraction was appointed by Obj.

Obj isnt a tribalist and isnt against east or igbos - igbo people just dont listen.

Dnt just listen?
Who r they suppose to just listen2 if I may ask?

henry101:

Dnt just listen?
Who r they suppose to just listen2 if I may ask?

Those of them who God created to always speak and for the rest of us to listen.

mikeansy:

Ibime

You ecological argument I must say is very ill thought out and most very unfortunate. It is more than anything driven by selfishness

My sentiments exactly. It seems that no matter how we try to appear objective that tribal stuff will always have a way of coming out and manifesting in our comments.

The reasons being given by some people here from SS about the dredging of the River Niger are at best devoid of sound engineering principles and instead based on opposition to what they perceive to be SE benefit.

Someone from SS had tried unsuccessfully to even advise the SE that Onitsha would be in serious trouble if the dredging went ahead and I remember telling the person that Onitsha alone has enough experts to analyze the situation let alone the SE so such advise would never fly because it was made in bad faith and bad taste.

Several Nigerian newspaper reports recently bayed about President Goodluck Jonathan's "diversion" of funding away from the ill-conceived Niger River dredging scam and to the eminently more worthy cause of alleviating poverty in the Niger Delta.    The use of the word "diversion" in those newspaper opinions is telling, in that it assigns a connotation of illegality to a bold decision that was in fact long overdue, and in the very best interests of the environment and of ensuring lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

The very premise of dredging the Niger River is environmentally reckless, in that vast alluvial floodplains vital to seasonal agriculture, as well as to freshwater fish spawning, stood to be irreversibly drained and turned into a barren dustbowl, sown only with the seeds of famine.  In publicly standing against the destruction of the Niger River's abundant natural resources by that INSANE idea to dredge and ruin all wetlands along her course, President Goodluck Jonathan has displayed the character of a true statesman with a firm grasp of what is right in the long run, along with the commitment to carry it through.

Steady as she goes,  Goodluck Jonathan.   Full steam ahead.

Everybody calm down 

South east is still behind Jonathan. His staunchest supporters in the FEC are Dora Akunyili and Ojo Maduekwe (both from south east). So any thought of a quick south east back off from Jonathan is pure idiocy.
He made a gaffe but has since corrected his mistakes. Enough said.

Jakumo:

Several Nigerian newspaper reports recently bayed about President Goodluck Jonathan's "diversion" of funding away from the ill-conceived Niger River dredging scam and to the eminently more worthy cause of alleviating poverty in the Niger Delta.    The use of the word "diversion" in those newspaper opinions is telling, in that it assigns a connotation of illegality to a bold decision that was in fact long overdue, and in the very best interests of the environment and of ensuring lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

The very premise of dredging the Niger River is environmentally reckless, in that vast alluvial floodplains vital to seasonal agriculture, as well as to freshwater fish spawning, stood to be irreversibly drained and turned into a barren dustbowl, sown only with the seeds of famine.  In publicly standing against the destruction of the Niger River's abundant natural resources by that INSANE idea to dredge and ruin all wetlands along her course, President Goodluck Jonathan has displayed the character of a true statesman with a firm grasp of what is right in the long run, along with the commitment to carry it through.

Steady as she goes,  Goodluck Jonathan.   Full steam ahead.

And you don't have a problem using electricity generated from Kainji dam or do these things you have stated don't apply there?

We shall see how this is sorted out at the end of the day irrespective of the ethnic bias being displayed by some of us here who have thrown sound engineering principles to the trash can while promoting propaganda and falsehood.

Well this is just anoda way of twistin issues,dredgin d Niger isn't a 1yr project savin d shoreline has bcom an emergency and d Ag Pres afta wide consultations had made a decision y then do people want to bring in ethnic sentiments. The nation won't develop dis way nd Jo pls go ahead wit consultations nd make decisions in national interest just like ur president has always done no need to play to d gallery and no need to fear d so called northern interest what hav they contributed to d development of d north.

Jonathan hasn't gaffed. The shorelines need to be bolstered first, only then can dredging can begin. We are educated people lets not fall for cheap propaganda.
Some are saying both can be done simultaneously. How?
How much sense does it make to start dredging (which will immediately begin washing away shorelines and destroying coastal ecologies) only to begin strengthening shorelines and ecologies after they have been washed away? It just doesn't make sense.

I am not surprised that the topic is carried by the Sun. It is a ridiculous topic carried by a sham newspaper.

Beaf:

Jonathan hasn't gaffed. The shorelines need to be bolstered first, only then can dredging can begin. We are educated people lets not fall for cheap propaganda.
Some are saying both can be done simultaneously. How?
How much sense does it make to start dredging (which will immediately begin washing away shorelines and destroying coastal ecologies) only to begin strengthening shorelines and ecologies after they have been washed away? It just doesn't make sense.

The decision to suspend the River Niger dredging was reportedly taken by Jonathan scarcely 48 hours before ailing President Umar Musa Yar’Adua was flown back to Nigeria in the early hours of Wednesday. The sudden threat to the fragile power equation in Aso Rock, occasioned by the return of Yar’Adua, offered an opportunity for the North to begin mobilization behind the ailing president. Their aim, an insider source revealed, is to move against Jonathan using the River Niger dredging as the catalyst. T[b]he development jolted Jonathan and forced him to begin to woo and reassure the powerful northern bloc and its South-East allies afresh.[/b]

One of our sources intimated that the River Niger faux pas by the acting president seriously angered leaders from the North. For instance, at the emergency meeting of the Northern Senators Forum on Wednesday night to review developments in the country, the matter was said to be on the front burner. The pro-Yar’Adua lawmakers were said to have latched on the development to launch attack on the pro-Jonathan senators, including members of the National Interest Group (NIG) for allegedly putting northern interest on the line. The meeting was said to have been explosive with some NIG members of the forum being the butt of attacks.

I would think he gaffed. Ok, I agree that the shoring of the coast should come first, but what I don't understand is why he diverted the fund already earmarked for the dredging? It could easily be (at least until proven otherwise -he is still trying to stabilize and consolidate his presidency) misunderstood, and it was -at least by the north. The south east hasn't said anything, but we can't rule out that they may not like the diversion (somehow it felt weird to me). Nigeria has more than enough money elsewhere that can be used for the shoring now.
My bottomline argument is that I don't see how this helps Jonathan at this stage. I would leave his advisers to do their jobs.

The Sun is a Nigerian Newspaper. I don't think others are more credible. 

onitsha is too close to the bank of the river afam. the water would over flow and the second reason is the igbo have erosion problem.

if the water level raises and it affect the underground water bed of igboland and since you have erosion problem already. you would increase the problem.   The reason you have erosion problem in igboland is because there is something under the earth crust in igbo most likely liquid moving.and shift the earth crust. it affect the top level of the soil.

Now the river niger has a link to the underground water bed of igbo which already has a problem. If you alter in any form the river niger, it may alter the underground water bed in igboland , mostly around onitsha and asaba and even other areas to be affected include  idah and agenebode, yenagoa, pategi and others.    And force them to break.


You see the soil struction in igboland already has a problem , any alteration would make the case worst. The people working on the project are not nigerian. They dont know our history.

Afam it is not that I hate the igbos but you may have problem. see lagos problem too