His Royal Highness, Eze Ndubeuze Wobo Orlumeni (JP) The Paramount Ruler Rumuolumeni Community and his Chiefs in Council The Corporate and Social Entities here represented Members of the Rumuolumeni Community Development Committee and Employment Bureau Members of the Press Ladies and gentlemen, With deepest appreciation, i accept the honour to address you on behalf of the Rumuolumeni Joint Youth Council. As you all know Anniversaries are wonderful, magical, celebratory occasions and we extend a warm word of welcome to you all at this first anniversary of the Peaceful Protest against Bad Roads by the Youths, women, men, elders, chiefs and non-indigenes of Rumuolumeni Community and championed by the Rumuolumeni Joint Youths Council. Again, anniversaries are opportunities for recollections of the year gone by and positive reflections for the year ahead. This past year has been a happy and successful year in some many ways. It has been defined by a kaleidoscope of happy memories, supportive friendships and enduring selfless services to community and mankind by a people who resolved to do what they could for upliftment of the community of man; in this case, the Rumuolumeni Community. It all started sometime in August, 2013, when the Rumuolumeni Community; host to over fifteen Multi-National Corporations became replete with virtually all the indices of underdevelopment especially in the area of roads. The community was completely cut off from the rest of Port Harcourt and virtually all its internal road networks had dilapidated completely. Efforts to get the attention of the authorities proved abortive. The Joint Youth Council, the umbrella youth leadership in Rumuolumeni, made up of the members of the Youths Executive Councils of the various Sub-Communities in Rumuolumeni resolved to find a lasting solution to the many challenges of the community. After series of failed attempts at drawing the attention of the Companies operating in Rumuolumeni, the Obio/Akpor and Rivers State governments to the plight of the community, the leadership of the Joint Youth Council was able to mobilise the entire community for a peaceful protest which kicked off on the 4th of November, 2013 and lasted for eight days. Eight days of tribulations, eight days of trials, eight days of betrayals from even members of the community who were just affected as everyone else, eight days of revelations especially of those whose only source of wealth is the continuous embezzlement of resources meant for the development of the community both from the government and the companies operating here, eight solid days of threats, and unprovoked attacks on our youths, women and elders by security agencies. Yet, in spite of the odd stumbling blocks along the way and above all; it was indeed, eight days of VICOTRY. Victory for you and i because we travelled through it all together, supportive, encouraging and enduring. Before i continue, i would like to charge you all, especially the youths with the words of William Faulkner to ‘never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth’. In doing this, Elie Wiesel suggests that ‘we must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented’. Therefore, we must at all times, get up and stand up for our rights as individuals and as a community. I will not bore you with all the processes that followed that protest and the aftermath of it. However, it is important to note that one year after, over seven kilometres of Rumuolumeni internal roads have been rehabilitated, more than four kilometres have been fully constructed while twelve kilometres more including the Rumuolumeni/Rumuekpirikom roads are presently being constructed. We thank all the companies who participated in the first phase of the exercise which is the temporary rehabilitation of their portions. Also, we are particularly grateful to Aveon Offshore Limited, Neptune Maritime Nigeria Limited, Delmar Petroleum Nigeria Limited for completing the full construction of the potions allocated to them. We are also appreciative of the commitments of Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Paddyman Nigeria Limited, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Ibeto Group, Oil and Industrial Services Limited, Frigate Upstream Limited, Petro Star Oil and Gas Limited, Dec. Oil and Gas Limited, Modant Marine Nigeria Limited, Liquid Bulk Oil and Gas Limited we urge you all to do well to complete your portions and in line with mutually agreed standards and duration. We are also grateful to the Rivers State government for commencing work on the Rumuolumeni/Rumuekpirikom road and appeal for the prompt completion of that road as it serves as the only exit and entry route for residents and visitors of Rumuolumeni Community. And to those who made it happen; the members of the leadership of the Joint Youths Council in the person of Noble Nnamdi Oluegele, Mr. Ogedi Orlumeni, my humble self King Wenenda Onukwuru, Mr. Mike Amadi, Comr. Okechukwu Worha, Barr. Stanley Orlu, Mr. Felix Chinda, Mr. Otu Michael Amadi, Dee, Chike Wagbara, Nyema Abedneggo, Mr. Martins Amadi, Wonukwuru Wobo, Donatus Ogbonda, Benjamin Okeah, Oroma S. Fredrick, Nyemachi Okeah, Okechukwu Nna, Chibueze Okeah, Roland Echendu, Austin Amadi, Kingsley Amadi, humanity is proud of you. Thank you all for long hours spent together especially at nights strategising for the next day as the protest lingered. Not forgetting also, the members of the Road Rehabilitation Committee set up later by the Paramount Ruler to work with the Joint Youths Council especially; Sir O.N Wawhuhnnoro (J.P), Chief Frank Amadi, Chief Collins Wagbara, Prince Welionu Okeah, Chief Paddy Ogidi, Chief Mmanam etc. Thank you all for your great support. The success of that protest would not have been possible without valued support of S. P Charles Top Ogun, the then Divisional Police Officer of the Rumuolumeni Divisional Police Head Quarters who deployed his professionalism to ensure there were zero break down of law and order while ensuring at the same time that all parties keep their parts of the bargain. Thank you sir! All these would not have been without the support of the paramount Ruler Rumuolumeni Community HRH Eze Ndubueze Wobo Orlumeni (J.P) and his Chiefs in Council. Meetings were convened at the palace even at odd hours without any hesitation from our father. Thank you sir! We specially thank Elder Ikechi Agu, Comr. Innocent Wanne, Chief Stanley Amadi Wasurum, Mr. S.D Ijinda, Hon. Samson Wagbara, Mr. Mbadiwe , Hon. Prince Amechi, Late Mrs. Ariba Wasurum of blessed memory, Elder Ikechi Onukwuru Okorie, Chief Owuchekwa, and all those who assisted the course in various ways. As the saying goes, ‘with God all things are possible’, the Joint Youth Council held God strongly and accompanied virtually every step with continuous prayers and supplications through the instrumentality of Apostle I. Ayebakoro Orunimighe. We went for him for prayers before any sensitive decision is taken. That was and remains the only secret behind our successes. Thank you sir! As we take the time to express our gratitude for a fantastic outing in the last one year, we turn expectantly in the year that lies ahead. We look forward to another wonderful year- a time to build and strengthen forged relationships even further; a time to create and cherish even more shared memories and a time filled with dreams that are brought ever closer and milestones- whatever they may be- achieved. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that Rumuolumeni is a place where all good things are possible, the successes of this peaceful agitation is the answer to your questions, the courage to your fears and the standard for tomorrow. What we have done in the area of roads, we shall replicate in infrastructure, employment/job opportunities and social welfare in the nearest future. Rumuolumeni Community plays host to over fifteen multinational Corporation including Government institutions such as the Rivers State University of Education and the Nigerian Navy Pathfinder, all with the capacity to employ over 7,000 workers, therefore, the community has no business remaining the way it is. Every indigene of this community who desires a job and is qualified to work must get a job and any company not willing to accommodate our youths, women and men in its employment scheme should be preparing an exit plan. This is therefore a wake up call to all those whose only stock in trade is the diversion of employment opportunities meant for the community for personal gains; we will fish you out and no matter how highly placed you are, we will run you down. As we celebrate today, we value even more, the special people who we are able to share this occasion with. It does not matter where you go in life or whatever you achieve, or what you do- what matters is who you have beside you along the way. Thank you one and all for being beside us this past year... and may you be ever near in the years ahead. Thank you, God bless you all, and may may God bless Rumuolumeni Town. KING WENENDA ONUKWURU 14TH OF November, 2014.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 23:02:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015