Kpokpogri

Limit River Niger's Dredging, Cleric Tells FG

By Theophilus Okpare

The Federal Government has been told to limit its proposed dredging of the River Niger from bank of Delta to Lokoja in Kogi State to only naturally navigable rivers in the country to the big sea.

In an open letter to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua by the God's Ministry International Incorporated at the end of its 37th feast of in-gathering at salvation city near Ogbe- Ijoh, Warri South-West Area of the state, it stated that the dredging of Niger Delta to Lagos is more of necessity.

The letter signed by the General Overseer of the God's Ministry International, Evangelist (Dr.) Samson Mamamu, who double as the Chairman of the Ijaw National Council, Western Zone expressed the fear that if government went ahead with the planned dredging of the river, "All towns and villages on both banks of the Niger" might get swept off, if the FG do not exercise caution with its plans.

While calling on the Federal Government to only direct it's energy on the dredging of the river from Warri, Port-Harcourt, Sapele, Calabar and Lagos to the sea and "other projects for these areas to survive on", he added, "No amount of shore protection put in place to counter erosion could stop the threat that will follow the dredging". A situation he described will endanger the lives of those living along the riverbanks.

Dr Mamamu, also expressed dismay over the activities of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) as it has failed to meet the goals for which it was set up by the state government for the development of oil bearing communities in the state, tagging it as a "wasteful commission."

He added that even though government had good intention for establishing the commission, he said it had been mismanaged, leaving the people of oil producing communities clamouring for the use of oil money for their towns and villages to assuage the adverse effects of oil exploitation and exploration.

On the current ill health of the Mr. President, Dr Mamamu now Evangelist, advised politicians to stop "politicking with Mr. President's ill health". He however urged Nigerians to take to prayer for the ill health of the country's president.

Delivering his sermon at the feast which centered on giving, Evangelist Mamamu called on Christians to imbibe the attitude of giving since going by the words of God, "give and it shall be given unto you," saying that it's only in giving that you receive.

The INC scribe also decried the manner some preachers of the "Word" have commercialized the service of God, adding that, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit".