THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF MARITIME STUDIES, ORON (FUMSO) BILL

On Thursday the 6th July 2017 the Nigerian Senate read for the third time and passed the BILL FOR AN
ACT TO REPEAL THE MARITIME ACADEMY OF NIGERIA ACT CAP 16. LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA 1988, AND ESTABLISH FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF MARITIME STUDIES ORON.

Senator James Manager researched, drafted and presented a bill for an act for the establishment of the Maritime University of Nigeria, Okerenkoko and other related matters.

After the first reading, which is usually read by the clerk of the senate or house as the case may be
for the bill for the establishment of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Senator James Manager was invited to present his bill for second reading
and to lead the debate for his bill.

It was during the debate for the second reading of the bill for the
establishment of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, clearly and ably sponsored by Senator James Manager, that Senator Dino Melaye while speaking against the bill argued that the existing Maritime Academy of Nigeria be upgraded to a University rather than establishing a new one.

After a heated argument on the floor of the senate which saw the likes of senate minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio speaking in Favour of establishing both Maritime University Okerenkoko and Maritime University of Nigeria Oron a safe
landing was negotiated for the Senator James Manager’s bill to scale through second reading.

The senate resolved that at the committee level the bill for an act to establish/ upgrade The Maritime
academy of Nigeria Oron to a University be accommodated.

It was at this point the senate
assigned the bill for the establishment of the Maritime University Oron to stand in the name of the Senator representing the people of the constituency where the Maritime academy and proposed Maritime University of Nigeria Oron
which happens to be distinguished Senator Nelson Effiong.

This is how fortune smiled on Senator Nelson Effiong as the bill for the establishment of the Maritime University Oron literarily landed on
his laps, without having to research, draft, move or argue the bill on the floor of the senate.

The upgrade of the Maritime academy of Nigeria Oron to a University has always threatened certain political and ethnic interest in Nigeria.

Forces from the southwest of Nigeria have been known to thwart efforts to establish or upgrade Maritime
academy of Nigeria, Oron to a University.

In recent times forces from the south south region particularly the Ijaws have joined the fight against the upgrade of Maritime academy of Nigeria Oron to a University status for obvious reasons.

This was evident during the public hearing of both bills for the establishment of Maritime University of Nigeria Okerenkoko and Maritime University of Nigeria, Oron schedule and held on same date, venue and before same senate committee.

The plot to stop the bill for the upgrade/ establishment of Maritime University Oron at the committee level thickened when stakeholders of
the educational sector and the Maritime sector whose inputs are critical for the passage of the bill
made submissions in favour of The Maritime University Okerenkoko on one hand but made submissions against the the proposal for the
upgrade/establishment of The Maritime University,
Oron.

The executive secretary of Nigerian
University Commission Prof. Adamu A Rasheed amongst others where clearly recruited to make negative submissions capable of stopping the bill for the establishment of Maritime University of Nigeria Oron from scaling through the public
hearing stage while Senator Nelson Effiong the watched-on helpless, clueless and speechless as the bill for The Maritime University Oron was being torn apart.

It took effort of speakers like Distinguished Senator Anietie Okon, Hon. Orman Esin, Hon Robinson
Uwak and Professor Eminue to save the bill from the plot that has trailed it. While Hon. Orman Esin spoke on the merits of establishing Maritime
University Of Nigeria Oron sighting the location, security and the hospitality of the host community
as a good reason to upgrade Man Oron to a University status, Hon. Robinson Uwak adopted the
tact of attacking the establishment of the Okerenkoko Maritime University in other to force
the plotters against the establishment of Maritime
University Oron to a truce. Hon. Uwak argued that the establishment of the Okerenkoko University
was against the spirit and intent of section 88 of the constitution especially at a time when the
country was in a recession.

Robinson Uwak noted
that while an estimated N2billion could upgrade Maritime Academy Oron to a University status it
was on record that a whooping N14billion was budgeted for and spent on only the sand filling of
the site for Okerenkoko Maritime University. Hon. Uwak urged the federal government in view of the
recession to postpone the Okerenkoko project and focus instead on the Oron project in line with the administration’s resolve to cut cost especially in current state of the economic recession.

The submission of Hon. Uwak rattled the Ijaw stakeholders present at the public hearing and smashed the plot to stop the Bill for the
establishment of the Maritime University, Oron.

Those in support of the Okerenkoko University where heard trying to shout down Hon. Robinson
Uwak. Hon. Uwak was later to sheath his sword when the audience, the committee and the committee Chairman all agreed that both bills
should scale through to the third reading.

While all this drama ensued the so called sponsor of the Oron bill sat more like an observer with his
arms crossed to his chest.

The third reading of any bill is usually done by the clerk of the senate or house as the case may be
after the bill scales through the committee hearing.

While there are videos of Senators and representatives presenting their bills and marshalling their debates on their bills, such cannot be seen anywhere of Senator Nelson
Effiong.

Senator Nelson Effiong is not new to important achievements landing on his laps just like that. In 2015 the political turbulence in Oron Nation saw the senate seat landing on his lap just like that and now the credit for the the Maritime University bill
Oron by fluke landed his laps.

The whole truth is that Senator Dino Maleye and others who stood firm to actualized our dream deserves more of our appreciation than a Senator
and his flukes.

Francis Otioro:
An Activist and A Contemporary Writer