Maritime University: Diversion of Dockyard will cause fresh crisis in N-Delta-Johnny

A prominent ljaw leader and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny has warned that any attempt to divert the Dockyard, a component of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State to Lagos or Rivers State will cause fresh crisis in Niger Delta region.

Johnny, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated June 28, 2018, 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.

He said, “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 have 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, Gbaramatu in

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".

He commended the President’s wise, patriotic decision and commitment toward the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, which had further consolidated the existing peace and security in Delta State and the entire Niger Delta region.

According to him, “ 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 permanent site of the University at Okerenkoko”.

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.

 

“ It will amaze you that since the plot to stop the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko 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 that anyone or whoever that is planning to divert the Dockyard of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in Delta State, to a different destination, such a person is an enemy of the President and the entire Niger Delta region”.

 

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