Exposed! N’Delta Activist Alleged Plans To Divert Maritime Varsity Dockyard

Niger Delta activist, Chief Michael Johnny has alleged grand plot to divert a dockyard component of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, to Lagos or Rivers State.

Johnny who raised the alarm in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated 28 June, 2018 obtained by BigPen Online Thursday evening, warned that attempt to move the component where students are to be trained on practical ways of ship repair would cause fresh crisis in Niger Delta region.

The prominent ljaw leader and chieftain of All Progressives Congress APC, said the President must do everything possible to stop the “selfish and unpatriotic agenda by some top government officials” presently serving in his administration to breach the existing peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

“As a chieftain of All Progressives Congress APC in Gbaramatu kingdom, I have been reliably informed of the plan to divert a component (Dockyard) of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, or Lagos State.

“I had also discovered that the Dockyard has been in Lagos for the past two weeks for onward shipment to the permanent site of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local government area of Delta State

“But, because of the secret agenda to divert the Dockyard, the government officials saddled with the responsibility to transport the Dockyard from Lagos to Delta State, have deliberately refused to do so.

“Mr. President, let me remind you again that the people of Niger Delta, particularly, Delta State, were so excited when you approved the take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko and funds subsequently allocated for the smooth operations of the University in the 2018 budget, even though it was slashed downward by the National Assembly.

“Unfortunately, the sinister move by these officials to tamper with the original master plan and structure of the Maritime University by diverting the Dockyard which is a very vital component of the University to Lagos or Rivers State, will certainly trigger fresh hostility in the region.

“I am calling on you to prevail on Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, Minister of Transportation and Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA who are directly supervising the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko to ensure that the Dockyard gets to the permanent site of the University at Okerenkoko.

“It will amaze you that since the plot to stop the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko has failed, the same people are making another plan to divert the Dockyard, a major component of the University to Rivers State or Lagos, and this is a calculated attempt to render the Maritime University useless.

“But with your approval for the take-off of Nigerian Maritime University, successful admission of students, engagement of Staffs and appointment of Board of Governing Council to oversee the affairs of the University, indeed, you have given us hope and a good reason to trust and have confidence in your administration.

“It is obvious however that someone is planning to divert the Dockyard of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State, to a different destination, and I make bold to say such a person is an enemy of the President and the entire Niger Delta region”.

Johnny, however commended President Buhari on his “wise and patriotic decision” as well as his commitment toward the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, which he said had further consolidated the existing peace and security in Delta State and the entire Niger Delta region.

While assuring the President that Ijaws in Delta State shall vote hundred percent for him at the 2019 presidential election, he advised the president to closely monitor the activities of some of his top appointees from the Niger Delta as some of them are secretly frustrating the efforts of his administration in Niger Delta.

Story by Julius Eras-Olabowu