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In Eleme, security and protection of the over 200 multinational companies and other investments rings a bell to governments at all levels in Nigeria. This is why the post of youth leader in Eleme seems to be very sensitive and treated with great care. In this interview, the prince and Eleme Youth Council chairman, Brain Emere Gokpa, told GODWIN EGBA about his passion for restructuring and war against cultism and kidnapping in the oil and gas free zone.
You were among some large number of Nigerians that participated in 3-day fasting and prayer for the nation; what was the core objective of the exercise?
It was not just some Nigerians but an all encompassing exercise that brought both Christian and Muslims leader together. It was the first time some of us witnessed this level of solidarity across board to pray for this country. The prayer was centred on peace and national unity to prevail in our country Nigeria and especially to give President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration the focus and spiritual wisdom and knowledge to protect the nation against disintegration, for justice and equity.
Who were the core supporters of the 3-day prayer event?
We had a very strong backing of people like the chairman/chief Executive officer of Belemaoil Nigeria Limited in Partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of Nigeria, forum of state chairman under the leadership of Ambassador Sokubo Sare-Egbe Sokubo. He is the chairman of forum of chairmen, nationally. Neither the federal nor state governments were involved in the support. I do commend the wonderful role played by the Belemaoil CEO.
Don’t you see yourself as a lone voice among some large number of Nigerians, including some from the Niger Delta calling for separation and restructuring of the country for self determination and ruling?
Other people are entitled to their opinions and rights, agitating for disintegration or separation. I am a Rivers man who believes in One Nigeria. Restructuring, yes, I call for it so that every region still operating under one federal power would manage and control its resources with agreed contribution to the central or national coffers. Separation does not guarantee peace and unity among divided people in the same region. The Nigerian civil war, conflicts in the North and South Korea; Syria, Afghanistan and the Middle East in general should serve as lessons for us in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa to learn.
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Who shares this stand with you in Rivers State?
There seems to be no justification for that question, because Rivers state currently being governed by His Excellency Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike does not agitate, clamour for division of Nigeria but for true federalism. The governor has sounded it loud and clear that he believes in one Nigeria so do I. When we have true federalism with justice and equity without suspicion, then the peace and national unity majority of us stand for would not be threatened.
What is the state of security in your Eleme land that hosts some world-class economic structures such as petrochemicals and fertilizers, oil and gas free zone and shipping among others?
Before my assumption of office, Eleme rang bell as a hot-bed of insecurity. How did we take the challenges? Eleme was not just a hot-bed of criminalities, because when we came on board, we met a near-collapse of security. The area known for its peaceful and congenial abode was tagged a war zone with kidnappers, cultists and other dare-devil criminals holding sway challenging the might of inadequate security operatives on ground.
I promptly aligned myself with the resident police, applied for more external personnel – 20 from the civil defence, 36 mobile police from Mopol 29 in Bori and used Ebubu as a case study because of its peculiarity where the place became hot and inhabitable for both indigenes and strangers doing their legitimate businesses.
Did you achieve positive result there?
We indeed achieved. Today as I speak with you, socio-economic lives and activities have returned to the area. Insecurity went out of hand due to inadequate personnel and logistics for the police stationed in the divisional headquarters but with the assistance from the state commissioner of police and cooperation from other agencies, we were able to record unprecedented success.
Can you substantiate that?
Yes, the assignment was more or less community policing with co-operation of all the security agencies along with the local government authority past and present. Many cultists were killed, others were chased out of hiding in communities. Many others were sent to jail and about 700 others that repented embraced Governor Wike state amnesty and were engaged in different sustainable trades or skills acquisition.
Are you now resting in your comfort zone believing that there is calm in the entire commercial/industrial space?
Security is everybody’s business; police people are not spirits and they cannot be everywhere to carry out their work. We must jointly co-operate with them with useful security information. At this juncture I must commend the efforts of the Eleme police and the governor of the state, Nyesom Wike who is applying scarce resources in combating insecurity across the state. He is also paying workers’ salaries as and when due and at the same time executing people-oriented projects. The Eleme people applaud him and they are ready to support him for second tenure in office come 2019 general elections.
What support is the Eleme youth council getting from leaders of thought in Rivers state to drive home its message of national unity?
The Eleme youth council also replicated the 3-day prayer and fasting we had in Abuja. Our youth council in conjunction with all Christian/Ministers Forum Eleme organised a one-day mega crusade with Pastor W.F. Kumuyi on 20 September, 2017. The theme of the crusade was ‘Total Emancipaption’ to take problems of Eleme youth unemployment and insecurity to God.
How would you access the relationship between Eleme youths and the multinational companies operating on their land?
It’s not quite encouraging in the areas of employment. However, I give kudos to the management of Eleme-Indorama petrochemicals and Fertilizer Company for the much it’s doing in keeping to its corporate social responsibility policy with its six host communities. Apart from job opportunities it has given the host communities 7.5 percent equity shares to help their socio-economic needs and that has brought smiles to the people’s faces.
I understand Aleto and Akpajo communities are yet to enjoy their own shares due to some disagreements between them and the management of Elano Investment Limited, a corporate registered body appointed to manage the shares; why the lingering disagreement?
The issues have been amicably resolved by Governor Wike who has asked the Elano body to cease as managers of the funds but let the benefitting communities take and manage their shares directly.
Then, why are the Aletos and Akpajos not accessing their shares till date; do you foresee a possible loss of patience and outburst of anger among the eligible beneficiaries?
I am at a loss why the people’s dividends are still in the custody of Elano’s management. The Governor has proffered lasting peace solution between the host communities and Elano, so I don’t want further disagreement to rear its head between the two parties to avoid crises of the past.
