COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 42ND ANNUAL CONVENTION OF BONNY GENTLEMENS LEAGUE

By Kristina Reports

Mar 1, 2022

PREAMBLE:

Bonny Gentlemen’s League (The League), is a frontline socio-cultural organization of intellectuals, professionals, technocrats, distinguished business men and Titled Citizens of Grand Bonny Kingdom that has been at the vanguard of the development and progress of Bonny Local Government Area for decades. The League held its 42^ndAnnual Convention on Sunday 26^th December 2021 at the Attoni Chieftaincy House, Finima Town, Bonny Island, and reviewed events in the out-going year in Bonny LGA in particular, Rivers State and the Nation in general; and having exhaustively deliberated on the general state of affairs in Bonny Kingdom and the nation at large, noted and passed the following key resolutions:

**Chancellor, Bonny Gentlemen’s League (BGL), Amaopusenibo (Squadron Leader) Olam Allwell-Brown (Rtd), JP**

RESOLUTIONS:

The League commended the Federal Government for the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road project, the flag-off of preparatory works at the NLNG Train 7 project site in Bonny Kingdom and the planned Bonny Deep Seaport/Rail Line Project.

The League urged the construction company Julius Berger Plc to step up the pace of work to ensure timely completion and delivery of the Bodo-Bonny Road project and called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the commencement of construction works on the Bonny Deep Seaport/Rail Line Projects to enhance job creation, boost the local economy and improve the national maritime/transportation infrastructure.
The League, again, decried the continued abandonment of the Bonny Ring Road project being handled by the NDDC. It noted that the project is a vital communication infrastructure to link the towns and satellite communities in Bonny East to the Metropolis and urged the Federal Government (NDDC) to speedily re-award the project to a competent contractor for quality job execution and delivery.
The League congratulated the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS (Africa) on the celebration of the third year of his second term in office with the commissioning of infrastructure and the flag-off of new projects in various LGAs of the State; but expressed dismay that despite the huge economic contributions of Bonny Local Government Area to the National and State coffers, the LGA was not captured in the projects delivery circuit. The League therefore implored the Governor to consider this infrastructure deficit in Bonny and give preference to the LGA in the next cycle of projects flag-offs and commissioning.
To this end, the League beseeched the Governor to earnestly consider the construction of internal roads in Bonny Metropolis including the dualization of the King William Dappa Pepple Road, Bonny (from Coal Beach to Shell gate).
The League applauded the Rivers State Government for routinely providing security assets/logistics support to the security agencies to combat crime and criminality in the State; and called for the specific allocation of some of these assets including gunboats to Bonny LGA and annotated “For the Exclusive Security Patrol of Bonny Waterways.” This is to ensure that the JTF, Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police deploy such platforms exclusively for aggressive surveillance patrols/programmed security escort services andcurtail the criminal adventure of pirates along the Bonny-Port Harcourt marine corridor.
The League commiserated with the Authorities of Bonny Local Government Council in particular and the entire LGA in general on the demise of the former Executive Chairman, Late Engr. David Irimagha and prayed God to repose his soul; and congratulated the incumbent Executive Chairman of the LGA, Dame (Hon) Anengi Barasua, JP, for her elevation and implored her to be accountable and transparent in running the affairs of the LGA.

**Executives and members of the Bonny Gentlemen’s League (BGL) during a meeting at the Attoni Chieftaincy House Opuwari, Finima, Bonny,**

The League observed that the Yuletide celebrations on the Island were devoid of any major security concerns and commended the Bonny Local Government Council for its strategic partnership with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders in the LGA for peaceful festivities.

The League observed that Bonny Island is a fairly isolated kingdom with no road link to other parts of Rivers State; thus, the only means of mass transportation to and from Bonny is by sea. However, most of the watercrafts that ply the Bonny sea route are not conducive for the heavy seas and raise serious safety concerns.
The League therefore restated its call on both the Rivers State Government and the Bonny Local Government Council to proactively provide standard, safe and secure ferryboats with capacities of 60 passengers and above to ply the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route and reduce the daily harrowing experience of passengers.
The League reiterated its call on the Bonny Local Government Council to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive Maritime Public Safety and Watercrafts/Engines Maintenance Policy with regard to sea transportation within Bonny Island and along the Bonny-Port Harcourt marine corridor to ensure that boat owners/operators and passengers alike, strictly adhere to the safety guidelines (licensing, boat capacity, maintenance culture, proper safety gears, adequate facilities for search and rescue, etc) including stiff punishment for violators in accordance with the law.
The League expressed worry that the activities of gangsters/pirates, who routinely attack boats, dispossess passengers of their property, kidnap for ransom and even kill their victims in Bonny satellite communities and along the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route, are yet to abate and would be on the rise with the upcoming Train 7 project.
The League therefore called on governments at all levels to synergise and rejig the Security architecture on the Island and deploy necessary offensive platforms in men and equipment including helicopter gunships to tackle the increasing threat to lives and property in Bonny and environs.
The League re-emphasized the need for appropriate legislation by the Bonny Local Government Council in collaboration with the Legislative Council, Traditional Institution, critical stakeholders including security agencies/experts, youth organizations, etc; for the establishment of BONNY ISLAND SECURITY NETWORK. This would complement the efforts of the security agencies in tackling the activities of criminal gangs on the Island and ensure an all-inclusive proactive and preventive security and community policing on the Island.
The League called on the NLNG Ltd and the consortium SCD-JV to ensure that Bonny Kingdom/community vendors maximally benefit from all contracts and business opportunities in the Train 7 project in conformance with the Nigerian Local Content Act. Specifically, the League urged the SCD consortium in particular, to work in synergy with the Bonny Kingdom Local Content Compliance Committee (BKLCCC) in order to improve the capacities and livelihoods of the people of Bonny, leverage on the existing cordial corporate-community relations in the Kingdom, and enhance speedy and seamless project execution and delivery.
The League noted that power outage on the Island is on the increase and urged the JICs to speedily upgrade the electricity generation capacity to ensure adequate supply to BUC for optimum distribution.
The League heartily felicitated with His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Edward I, CON, JP, Perekule XI, Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, on the special and propitious occasion of His 25^th Coronation Anniversary, which held from December 17-December 22, 2021; wished His Majesty, many more successful, peaceful and impactful years on the throne and pledged to rededicate herself to the growth and development of Bonny Kingdom under His Majesty’s visionary leadership.
The League profusely thanked the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, the 34 Chieftaincy Houses, Titled Citizens’ Assembly, Ibanise, the ethnic nationalities and all the residents of Grand Bonny Kingdom for turning out en masse to uniquely celebrate His Majesty’s 25 epochal years on the throne with pageantry.
The League appealed to the people of Grand Bonny to fully participate in the ongoing INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and be prepared with their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the forthcoming 2023 elections.
The League also enjoined all Bonny people and organizations to be active participants in the 2023 political process by vying for high political offices at the State and National levels.