Recently, the Monarch of Agbere Kingdom in Bayelsa state, His Highness, Sir Emmanuel Kimia spoke to journalists on a number of national issues, our Special Correspondent, Tureme Orue was there
Decision of INEC to shift Presidential election to next month?
It seems some Nigerians do not understand the intricacies of what we call election in this country, therefore people just react to the stories on the election shift without considering various other factors. For example up till now many people have not gotten their PVCs. If 35 % of registered voters cannot have PVCs to vote with how can election go on. In that case, about 35% percent of electorate would have been disenfranchised. That apart, ballot boxes have not moved, they are supposed to be non sensitive materials that should be move to local government headquarters before the election. They suggested bringing in card readers to enable polling booths verified the voters cards, the card readers not available, polling officials have not even been trained, how do you expect election to go on and we call it free and fair INEC officials have not even been trained. How are you expecting such an electin to go on and you call it free and fair I think this time around Jega is not Jega we know, it is like he is playing a political role this unlike 2011 elections. As far as I am concerned the poll shift is very necessary if security says the country is not safe for election, it not safe.
Can is issue of Boka Haram menace end before next month’s election?
Ordinarily I will say it is not possible, but taken into account what President Jonathan has done or the actions he has put in place, that is taking the issue of Boko Haram to France where the neighboring countries, Cameroun, Niger, Chad all French speaking countries have now decided to cooperate. As I speak, they have contributed their 8,500 troops to the multination force. Based on this situation I think something serious will happen to root out Boko Haram. But I feel it is almost impossible to defeat Boko Haram, because they are not only in Nigeria. They are strongly supported by ISIS and of course all Muslim based militant groups around the world including Al queda. That is why I feel six weeks is not sufficient but they will actually be devastated and reduced, if the multinational forces that have surrounded them could actually cooperate among themselves and no Islamic sentiment, they could be removed
On the issue of missing billion?
The issue of missing billion of dollars from 20 billion dollars to even 50 billion dollars, they are all political arguments to oust the present government and divert attention of the public from the good things the government is doing. Imagine the former Central Bank governor, Dr. Charlie Soludo who left office before Sanusi, he did not speak before. Why is he speaking now after Sanusi who made the allegation have left because he tried to contest governorship in Anambra and lost, rather than keep quiet, politicians are using him to dent the image of people, as far as I am concern forensic audit have been carried out and such amount of money is found not to be missing. After all where the federated account was supposed to received 47billion Naira, 50billion naira was paid in which case more than the amount expected. From the forensic audit NNPC was supposed to pay N1.8b to the government which they said they had paid to government so they were not indicted in anyway. What I am saying is that no money is missing
Politicians and inconsistency?
The present so-called new breed politicians’ in the country today are politicians that toll the line of religion. Malam Nasir El’Rufai can say Buhari is the best today after saying Buhari in unelectable a few years ago because all of them belong to the same Islamic faith where according to the Koran, the Christians are people of the book, described as infidels should not be allowed to rule this country. A lot of people do not understand the intricacies going on in the country. The Muslims do not want to give in; Nigeria belongs to them, if you are not a Muslim anything can be said about you to push you out. Unfortunately, people like Gov Rotimi Ameachi that are enlightened enough, can join in such campaign of missing money. I do not know how long it will take for southerners to stop selling themselves to northerners for money
On the recent crisis in Odi?
I thank God today that we have a good deputy government in Bayelsa state. Rtd naval officer Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) who immediately intervened and stopped what would have happen at Odi. It would have been another round of destruction due to false alarm raised by some youths that the money paid to the community were being stolen by a few people, whereas those responsible gentlemen including a professor, all arrange to raise the money on their owe to start the case when money was not coming. They then met a consortium of lawyers and a power of attorney was signed based on 40 per cent to the lawyers and 60 per cent to the community. At the end of the case, they got N9b out of 37b that was previous awarded but government pleaded and the consultant of lawyers accepted 40 per cent and the community was left with 60%. Within that 60%, it was agreed that 10% would be given to community leaders who championed the case but when the money came they community pleaded with them to accept less than what was agreed, that was it, strength forward case. Everything was documented. Unfortunately some people just raise false alarm that the leaders have embezzled N600 million. Just lIn NIThis was exactly what happen in my community, Agbere in the year 2001 when I single handed went to Agip in my capacity as the monarch and they agree to pay about N21m. A man who resigned because he wanted to be governor now wanted the money to paid into some people’s account which I refused, because I led the community to meeting we had with Agip in Port Harcourt and there was no agent, so I was baffled when the issue of agent came up. Having failed to achieve this, the next plan was to arrange to set my house on fire. I quietly left the community because I did not want anybody’s blood to drop for my sack
