R-L: Chairman, Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre, Aladiokuma Hart, Bonny Kingdom Free-To-Operate (FTO) Committee Team Lead, Richard Abbey, Leader,Bonny Youths Federation, Simeon Wilcox, former CTC Chairman, Bonny LGA, Cyril Hart, and Deputy Leader, BYF, Edward Pepple

BONNY YOUTHS’ RESPONSE TO THE BASELESS ALLEGATIONS BY ONE MR JASPER JUMBO REGARDING THE BONNY-BODO ROAD AND BRIDGES PROJECT

We, the Youths of Grand Bonny Kingdom, hereby register our absolute commendation to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Nigeria LNG for the BONNY-BODO ROAD AND BRIDGES PROJECT which would positively impact the Bonny people and the entire Niger Delta. We are excited by the socio-economic benefits and opportunities that will come with this project.
We also use this opportunity to appreciate the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom; His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, JP, CON Perekule XI, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom and the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, who have driven this Project, that will not only ease transportation of goods and services but will also create employment opportunities and stimulate businesses on the Island.

However, the attention of the Youths have been drawn to some baseless comments and allegations by one Mr. Jasper Jumbo, who parades himself as the Traditional head of Jumbo Chieftaincy House; that the Jumbo House is being sidelined from the communal benefits emanating from the Project and hence his determination to stall the project, upturn the leadership of Bonny Kingdom and grab all the benefits to himself, by misinforming the entire people of Nigeria, in a Thisday newspaper publication dated the 11th day of August 2018.
It is to our knowledge that;
•       Grand Bonny Kingdom is a Kingdom with only one King; His Majesty, Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, JP, CON Perekule XI, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom, who rules with his Chiefs’ Council representing the various Houses in Bonny Kingdom.
•       For the umpteenth time, we want to state unequivocally, that the said Jasper Jumbo is neither a chief nor the Traditional head of Jumbo Chieftaincy House in Grand Bonny Kingdom.

•       At the advent of this project, the Leadership of Bonny Kingdom set up a committee for the project, in which the Jumbo House is adequately represented. And of which elders and youths of Jumbo House have lavishly expressed their appreciations to His Majesty the King for his transparency in handling all matters concerning this project.
•       The Jumbo House is just one out of the several impacted communities. And the interest of the Jumbo House/community and other impacted Houses/communities are fully taken into consideration on matters concerning this laudable project that is beneficial to us all.

•       At no time did the leadership neglect any of the Houses in the Kingdom.
And over ninety percent of those on the list due for compensation; which is before the Honourable Minister of Works, Housing and Power are members of Jumbo House. A proof and testament that the Jumbo House is fully integrated in the Bonny-Bodo road and bridges project.

•       Therefore, we are at loss, as to how Mr. Jasper Jumbo arrived at his conclusions that the Jumbo House has been sidelined from the benefits of the Project.
Let it be known to Mr. Jasper Jumbo that we the Youths of Bonny Kingdom will resist every of his plot and racketeering to stall development in our great Kingdom.
We hereby call on Mr. Jasper Jumbo to immediately desist from dragging the hallowed name and the traditional institution of Grand Bonny Kingdom into the muddy waters of shame, out of his sheer greed and selfish interest.
•       To this end, we fully adopt the response by the Bonny Chiefs’ Council which was published on Thisday Newspaper, that has put paid to the spurious and baseless allegations of Jasper Jumbo; a self-seeking individual with contract inspired agitations.
Furthermore, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ministry of Works, NLNG, Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Limited , other relevant stakeholders and well-meaning people of Niger Delta to disregard such baseless and unfounded allegations from a self-centred individual who puts his personal interest above the interest of the entire people of Bonny Kingdom.

We finally state that the Youths of Grand Bonny Kingdom are a united and peace-loving people, having the interest of their brother Houses at heart. And we reassure Julius Berger Nigeria Limited of the Kingdom’s usual hospitality, as we look forward to the completion and commissioning of the Bonny-Bodo road and bridges project on record time.

Signed:
Barr. Simeon Wilcox – Bonny Kingdom Youth Leader
Engr. Aladiokuma Henry Hart – BIRC Chairman
Mr. Richard Abbey, JP – Bonny Kingdom FTO Committee Team Lead
Warisenibo (Hon.) Engr. Cyril Hart – Immediate past CTC Chairman (Bonny LGA)
Mr. Edward Pepple – Bonny Kingdom Deputy Youth Leader