News

Why ERA Is Against Multinational Oil Companies’ Divestment – Chima Williams

Published

1 month ago

March 28, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Barrister Chima Williams, has explained why his organisation is leading the campaign against the divestment of multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.

He said his organisation is leading the campaign because of the negative impacts of such divestment on the people (hosting communities) and the environment.

Williams, who spoke during a webinar meeting on International Oil Companies Divestment from the Niger Delta, said it’s unacceptable for multinational oil companies to have destroyed the area (environment) they operated and thereafter walk away without doing something about the destroyed environment.

He said: “Oil companies have caused a lot of damage to our communities and environment, so they cannot leave us destroyed after they have carted away billions in dollars from our environment.

“Of course, oil companies are at liberty to dispose their assets as permitted by the law, but as assets that have caused damage to the people and the environment, there are requirements that must be met. The environment must be returned to the status quo. The livelihood of our people must be restored.

“They must settle the divide and rule style they have introduced to our communities. Before their adventure, our people were living peacefully, but they came and divided our communities; you see brothers fighting themselves. All these are their antics to make sure we do not speak in one voice.”

He lamented that rather than oil to be a blessing to Nigeria as obtainable in other oil producing countries, it’s rather a curse.

Chima said this was one of the reasons why his organisation embarked on the campaign: ‘Leaving Oil in the Soil’.

“Our campaign on Leaving Oil in the Soil was as a result of the negative impacts of oil exploration in our environment and climate change. If oil companies are doing the right thing, there wouldn’t be need for such.

“Look at other oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, things are done properly. The oil companies are doing what they are expected to do, so they are impacting lives of the people positively. Even our own Libya here in Africa, before the death of Gaddafi, the citizens were enjoying the dividends of oil exploration in the country,” he said.

According to the Executive Director, multinational oil companies are going into divestment in order to move from the onshore to offshore where their activities cannot be monitored.

He added that since 2021 that Nigerians became aware that they (oil companies) can be held responsible for their operations and damage done to the environment through the law, they started looking for a way to move to an area where their activities cannot be monitored.

Williams, while calling on the government to reject all applicable for divestment by oil companies, urged Nigerians to join hands in the campaign against such divestment without doing the needful.

He further called on the National Assembly to enact a law that will spell out pathway for any oil company that wants to go into divestment.

“We are asking our legislative arm to enact a law that will spell out a step by step approach to any move for divestment,” Williams added.

News

How God Saved Me From Firing Squad – Gospel Artiste, Buchi

Published

4 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

A popular gospel singer, Buchi Atuonwu, simply known as Buchi, has revealed how God saved him from firing squad.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief program on Friday, Buchi said he and some other people were already lined up for execution by the firing squad.

He said despite not being religious, his desperation to be alive made him call on God and make a promise to dedicate his life to serving Him in exchange for his life if spared.

He narrated, “At a point in my life, we were laying up for execution. Indeed, the people who were to execute us were already kneeling, ready to fire. It is true that I called out to a God that I didn’t know, saying if you save me, I will serve you. Since we don’t have all the time, let me just say that He saved me from that firing squad.

“Then I devoted my life to serving him. To see that my music is not empty and that it becomes an extension of a classroom for me having been a teacher in the university. The stage became an extension of the classroom. Who says musicians can not sing about GMOs, government policies, trends, events, and happenings that inform the quality of life of the people?”

Speaking on what influenced his choice of music, Buchi said his background and an intention to make a change after being spared from death were the factors responsible for his style of music.

“I come from a peculiar background. Night club DJ and at the same time a university lecturer and transiting to the choir of a church having been involved in the campus confraternity, drug abuse, and youth violence amongst others.

“My kind of music has to be somewhat different. Influenced by that background and also with an intention to make a change, it led me to the kind of stories that you are referring to. Stories that manured the songs that I put out, such as gun running and violence,” he stated.

No relationship between reggae music and weed

Speaking on a controversial comment that every musician must use performance-enhanced drugs to perform at their best, Buchi said it is a narrative sold by people, adding that there is no relationship between reggae music and weed.

“It is a narrative sold by people interested in the matter. It’s like saying to watch a good movie, I need popcorn. yes, they go together, people buy it and do it. They practice it. It is also like saying to watch a good football match. I need a particular kind of drink with me.

“It is okay to sell your products and ideas but I don’t have to accept it absolutely because I know that I can watch a good movie without popcorn and I can also watch a good football game without the drinks in question. In the same way, there is no relationship between reggae music and weed.

“Yes, I have been there, and now I am here. I know for sure that the substances that I took at that time did not enhance my performance. It is true that you have to be in a certain state of mind to give your best, but drugs don’t take you there. There are so many other things like deep thinking and concern for what you are that can take you there.”

In January, the music star refuted claims that his genre of music— reggae was connected to his past romance with marijuana.

His response followed criticisms from those who questioned the inspiration behind a book he published.
PUNCH

News

UNIBEN Ex-deputy VC Is Dead

Published

5 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Editor

A Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Benin, Edo State, Prof. Pius Iribhogbe, is dead.

Until his demise, Prof. Iribhogbe was also a consultant trauma surgeon, head of the Department of Surgery and coordinator of the School of Paramedics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

The academic scholar passed on in Saudi Arabia.

UNIBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, who confirmed the surgeon’s death said the school was yet to issue a statement.

News

Residents Displaced As Rainstorms Wreck Havoc In Edo Community

Published

7 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Editor

Lampese community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State has been ravaged by rainstorms.

The incident was said to have occurred Friday as a result of a heavy downpour which affected many houses including the electricity transformer.

An eyewitness account described the incident as very unfortunate following the level of devastation.

Residents of the community have therefore called on the state and local governments and all concerned authorities to come to their rescue with a view to proffering urgent solutions and resettling displaced residents.

Reacting to the situation, the local government council chairman, Tajudeen Suleman, who said he was far away in Enugu State for an official engagement, disclosed that he has mobilised the council officials to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment immediately he got the news, promising to visit victims as soon as he returns today.

He also said he was in touch with the state deputy governor, Marvellous Omobayo and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on moves to fast track the process of resettling affected persons.