Category: South East

The candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, an engineer; has urged youths and others to rise up against the old order and save the state.

He said with courage, determination, dedication and desire to protect their future, the youth could turn around the fortunes of the state in the poll by voting for a new order powered by his candidature.

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The LP standard-bearer, who spoke at a town hall meeting in Odioma, the hometown of his running mate, Commodore Benjamin Natus (rtd.), in Brass Local Government, lamented that the old order had failed to drive the economic comparative advantages of Bayelsa to develop the state.

He said coastal communities and ocean cities such as Odioma held the key to unlock the potential resources capable of birthing a new Bayelsa.

Eradiri said: “This is the richest place in Bayelsa State. I am not here to play politics with you people. Odioma has a free trade zone status. Every developed nation of the world ensures that it idolises its ocean cities. We are the only people joking with our ocean wealth. Odioma is the blue economy.

“So, if somebody is playing politics with road to Odioma or Brass, he doesn’t understand the issues. The road is a necessity to unlock the wealth for Bayelsa. The jobs for our young people are here, they don’t see it. I am here to talk to young people; it is time to take leadership.”

Speaking about his People, Education, Agriculture and Power (PEAP) agenda, the LP candidate said it was crafted to address developmental challenges of the state.

He further said: “We have carefully looked at the issues affecting our state. There are no functional state hospitals in Bayelsa. It is mothers that send their children to schools that don’t have teachers, the security situation is bad and there is no potable water in Yenagoa and other places.

“To revive the people’s morale, we must ensure their welfare is topmost on our agenda. Under it we will deal with health care, we will deal with new towns, we are going to build Brass Atlantic City. As we are doing the new Yenagoa town, we are doing the Brass Atlantic City. The purpose is that we need to quickly begin to move towards the ocean.

“We are going to deal with flooding first in Yenagoa. The flood that affects the main town does not affect this side, but you have ocean crisis, we are going to deal with it. Odioma is not difficult to do. You need government to pile the water front and dredge the excess sand on the water way, fill up the shores of the land. These things are not difficult; Bayelsa has ecological funds, so there is money to deal with it.”

Speaking about education and skills development, Eradiri said: “There are no teachers in our primary schools. We are going to employ teachers, train them, pay their arrears, promotions and all that.

“Again, we want to introduce skills development. If we upgrade our craft development centres, build new ones, we make a law in Bayelsa, two years after if you don’t have certificate, you will not practise. That way a lot of our young people will have skills. We are going to invest in skills development.”

He said when elected on November 11, his administration would revive Bayelsa economy with agriculture, adding that the state must attain self-sufficiency in food production.

The former IYC president and two- time commissioner in the state, said his government would be centred on producing 24-hour electricity in Bayelsa, noting that with the gas in Odioma alone, Bayelsa could power a turbine to provide light for the communities.

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a Delta Ijaw as minister.

A statement by its spokesman, Binebai Princewill, in Warri, yesterday, said the Ijaw in Delta State are being sidelined, given the ministerial nominees so far.

Read Also: BREAKING: Uproar in Senate over Keyamo’s nomination

Expressing “displeasure” about the development, the IYC said as the majority in Delta South Senatorial District, as well as contributing to the economic and political growth of the state and Nigeria, the Federal Government should accommodate the Ijaw.

The statement said: “It has become worrisome to the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide that despite the role played by Ijaw sons and daughters in Delta State, who worked hard to mobilise votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election that brought our highly respected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power, the Ijaw in Delta have been sidelined, relegated and reduced to the lowest level in Delta State, considering the ministerial appointments so far.

“The Ijaw all over the world are yet to know the reason behind the nomination and screening of two Urhobo in Delta Central as ministers, without considering any Ijaw indigene from Delta South. This is happening when the current governor of Delta State is an Urhobo.

“To us, this is the height of political injustice, manipulation and a direct insult to the collective sensibilities of the Ijaw in Delta State. This is injustice taken too far. As a people, we will resist this anomaly. How can the Ijaw be shortchanged in this manner without recourse to their political and economic contributions in the polity?

“It is our humble request that Mr. President should use his highly exalted office to fix this political imbalance in Delta State and properly accommodate the Ijaw. The Ijaw people have always maintained peace in this country, but their quietness should not be taken for granted.”

“If the Ijawland is good enough for oil exploration to take place, which is contributing to the economic viability of Nigeria and our people can go to any length in contributing to the victory of the APC, then there should be no barrier to their political elevation as minister and other key positions in the current Federal Government headed by President Tinubu. We have capable Ijaw in the APC that can man such positions.”

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has warned against ‘demarketing’ the state.

He said residents should take part in promoting Rivers to the rest of the world. 

The governor called on the church to use some of their sessions to tell the world about the peaceful and conducive nature of the state.

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Sir Fubara, in a statement signed yesterday by his Special Adviser, Media, Boniface Onyedi, spoke at a thanksgiving service to end the Second Session of the Fifth Synod of the Diocese of Evo, at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Oroigwe District.

He said the campaign to portray the state positively should not be left for the government alone, adding that positive voices should rise against persons speaking ill of the state.

The governor said: “Rivers State is peaceful. We are doing our best to reduce the crime rate and you all know that, at least, with the records you have seen in the last few days.”

He said besides the commencement of Port Harcourt Ring Road project to expand and achieve greater Rivers, his administration would pay attention to youth empowerment, agriculture and industrialisation.

Fubara said while the tenets of Christianity would be upheld by his administration, the church should not overlook the need to intensify teaching of the youth, to safeguard them against the effect of negative use of technology.

The wife of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chioma, has announced the takeover of the medical bills of a 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly defiled by four men.

The governor’s wife, who visited the minor at Umuguma Specialist’s General Hospital in Owerri yesterday, said the girl’s case was unfortunate and pathetic.

She said her office would take over the medical bills of the girl until she recovered.

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Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Nkechi Ugwu, Mrs. Uzodimma wished the victim speedy recovery.

The Nation reports that Chief Magistrate Obinna Njemanze last Thursday ordered the remand of Amarachi Nwodo, 39, David Ajuka, 22, Chima Uwandu, 43, and Osinachi Okoro, 29, in the facility of Owerri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling the 15-year-old girl.

Communities in Mbo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State yesterday protested against Oriental Energy Resources Ltd, over alleged breach of the local content law.

The protesters, who marched on the streets of Ibaka, expressed disappointment about the oil firm’s inability to keep to the provisions of the local content guidelines.

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They sang solidarity songs and displayed placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Oriental, stop flouting  local  content law’, ‘Relocate your operational base to Mbo’, Enough of this marginalisation in employment and contract awards’, ‘Our people have the qualifications to work in Oriental’, ‘Mbo has communities’ contractors,’ We demand fair play, equity and justice,’ ‘NCDMB save our souls’, among others.

Addressing the protesters, the Youth President of Mbo, Edwards Moses, expressed dismay that the company had sidelined the people in employment and contract awards, notwithstanding the provisions of the content law.

He said: “Oriental Energy has breached the local content board regulations on engagement. The community content guidelines stipulate that oil companies operating in a community should as a matter of policy give to the community 100 per cent unskilled labour, 50 per cent semi-skilled labour and at least 20 per cent of skilled labour. But Oriental has not deemed it fit to do so as contained in Section 4, Sub section 1-4 of Nigeria Content A t 2010.

“As a matter of policy, all the service companies working for Oriental are supposed to come from the community, but we have it on good authority that Oriental has advised them not to relate with the people in the community because Oriental has refused to insert community content in their award of contracts.

“Mbo is blessed with all categories of workers, ranging from unskilled to skilled labour, but the company has refused to give our people equal opportunity to excel. Of the 300 to 400 unskilled labour working offshore, only two are from Mbo. We appeal to the company to respect the local content law in its operations. If they think they have office in Lagos, we own the platform on our water.”

The youth president, however, appealed to the Managing Director of the company, Mustafa Indimi, to look into the grievances of the communities.

He also called on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to prevail on the firm to follow due process in its operations.

Efforts to speak to Indimi were not successful at press time.

The Chairman of Community Development Committee, Mfon Etim Henry, hailed the company for carrying out its Corporate Social Responsibility, noting that the protesters were exercising their right to demand a fair share in the scheme of things.

Elders from Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) have slammed a former federal lawmaker, Israel Sunny-Goli, for his recent tirade against his benefactor and principal, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

The stakeholders, under the auspices of Bayelsa APC Elders Council, said Sunny-Goli, who failed to win a re-election to the House of Representatives because of his alleged incompetence, displayed the highest level of ingratitude and betrayal during his so-called world press conference against the state leader of the party.

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Sunny-Goli, during the event, bemoaned his over 20 years of service to Sylva, following his alleged anti-party alliance with the Bayelsa State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri.

But the APC Elders Council, in a statement in Yenagoa signed by their Chairman, Chief Michael Adomokeme, wondered why Sunny-Goli would vent his frustration on his leader and benefactor after mismanaging his opportunity to return to the National Assembly.

They reminded Sunny-Goli that Sylva had been responsible for his rise in politics from his appointment as a special adviser to his elections as a member of the House of Assembly and House of Representatives.

The elders said Sunny-Goli had bitten the finger that had fed him over the years and would surely live to regret his actions.

They said: “We are puzzled that Israel Sunny-Goli has chosen the path of infamy. He should be grieving his loss to a very aged woman in a landslide.

“Of course, we know it is his right to support whosoever he chooses, it is enshrined in the Constitution. But biting off the hand that fed you is pure treachery. Sylva’s support helped in making him SA, House of Assembly and House of Representatives member. How else can anyone be assisted further?”

“It is alleged and trending that some N150million of Bayelsa State tax payers money has been given to him by Diri. If that 30 pieces of silver is enough for him to sell his soul, then it is his right too.

“What we will not accept is his constant infantile whinnings against our incoming governor and leader, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“He has lost political suave as can be seen in his election results, especially his unit and ward. Now he seems to be losing it psychologically.

“We urge members of our party and well-meaning ‘Bayelsans’ to be jubilant, as the era of oppression, cluelessness and makeshift governance will come to an end before Christmas this year.”

Niger Delta stakeholders have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint somebody from oil-producing area in any core states of the region as Niger Delta Affairs minister in his yet-to-be-inaugurated cabinet, to address the plight of the people of the region.

The appeal came against the backdrop of speculations that some powerful persons around the Presidency were persuading the President to consider someone from non-oil producing area as the minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

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The stakeholders said if it turned out as speculated, the situation would compound the region’s problems and create further tension.

The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Movement for the Protection of Oil-Producing Communities in Niger Delta (MPOPCND), said in a statement yesterday that it would take somebody from the oil-producing area to understand the plight of the people there, in order to support President Tinubu in solving most of the problems.

The Chairman of the group, Chief Oyosongo Frank and Secretary, Comrade Godwin Edikan, noted that the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs is more about political expediency and requires none other person than someone from an oil producing area in the region.

They said the sole purpose of creating the ministry was to steer and coordinate the developmental activities in the region.

They said: “The rumour of appointing someone from a non-oil producing area as minister of the Niger Delta Affairs is spreading like wildfire and gathering momentum as President Tinubu is set to allocate portfolios to the newly appointed ministers. The rumour has sparked reactions capable of degenerating into crisis if it turns out to be true.

“By the Nigerian Constitution, every state is entitled to produce a minister and the President has fulfilled that requirement by nominating at least one person from each of the 36 states of the federation. The distribution of portfolios to the appointed ministers is the prerogative of the President.

“However, in doing so, he is guided by certain principles. In a few cases, the candidate has to be grounded in a profession relevant to the ministry. For instance, the Ministry of Justice will always be manned by a lawyer in the calibre of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), while the Ministry of Health will be manned by a person in the medical profession.

“While that is the case for these portfolios, that of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs is more about political expediency and requires none other person than someone from an oil producing area in the Niger Delta because the sole purpose of this ministry is to provide steer and co-ordination for the developmental activities in the region.

“However, its attraction is the supervisory role it plays over the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that enjoys funding not only from the Federal Government, but also from oil and gas companies, which unfortunately provide a breeding ground for sleaze money for certain individuals at the corridors of power.”

Anambra State Ministry of Commerce and Industry has restated need for cooperative societies, to render annual account at the end of the business year and remit dues to the government.

Director, Cooperative Department in the Ministry, Mrs. Nwabugo Okonkwo, said this at the weekend during the celebration of International Cooperative Day with the theme: ‘Cooperatives, Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development.’

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She said membership of a cooperative society was not an avenue for siphoning government’s fund, but a means of assisting one another towards achieving collective goal interest.

Okonkwo said: “Cooperative is a global wheel of economic development. No wonder this year has its theme as ‘Cooperatives, partners for sustainable economic development’.

“Emphasis is being laid continually that membership of a cooperative society is not an avenue for siphoning government’s fund, but rather a means of assisting one another towards achieving collective goal interest.

“The law establishing cooperatives as a statutory body demands the rendering of annual account at the end of the business year and the remissions of dues to the government.

“We’re poised to encourage societies that operate accordingly.

We appeal to them to subject their activities to our field staff for the needed guidance and articulation of challenges.”

Industry Commissioner Christian Udechukwu disclosed government’s plans to review the cooperative law targeted at amending and expanding it to make capital available to residents through the medium of cooperatives.

He reiterated government’s willingness to partner cooperative societies in terms of funding, facilities and market creation.

He announced plans to migrate government business online to assist the societies’ plan properly, in order to avoid wastages and losses.

President, National Population Commission (NPC), Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, Dr. Joachin Ulasi, described cooperative societies as government’s laudable initiative, which he said had assisted members to meet up their financial obligations as well as make investments where necessary.

“We have over 140 staff strength who are assisted with loans through their contributions deducted at source. Many of them have been able to achieve a lot through this arrangement, including landed property, houses and other investments,” he said.

“As you know, the salary of an average civil servant is not enough. Besides, if you retire, you won’t start receiving anything till after one year. So, the contributions serve as soft landing for that one year period,” Ulasi said.

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has trained its employees in Finance and Audit departments to enhance efficiency and transparency in its service delivery to Niger Delta people.

Speaking during a two-day in-house training in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the Acting Director Finance and Supply, Mrs. Asu Kunemofa, said the training was necessary to improve the commission’s service delivery.

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Kunemofa, represented by the Assistant Director, Finance and Supply, Mr. Aladetan Olumide, hailed the NDDC, led by the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for approving the training, which involved officials from the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

She said: “Training is an indispensable component of our professional growth and organisational success. It is an opportunity to strengthen our skills and learn new ones, helping to boost individual performance in the discharge of our duties as staff of Finance and Supply Directorate and Internal Audit departments of NDDC.”

The training facilitator, Mr. Consider Obonyano, warned the NDDC employees against being careless with documentation in the discharge of their duties as accounting officers and auditors of the commission.

He stressed the importance of proper documentation in all government transactions, saying any chief executive officer would need well trained workers to succeed.

He said auditors and accountants must keep details of financial transactions at all times.

“You need to keep proper records because this is the way to show transparency in the processes of the organisation,” he said.