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Tag: Bayelsa

  • NiMet predicts 48-hour heavy rainfall in Bayelsa, Kogi, Anambra, 22 others

    NiMet predicts 48-hour heavy rainfall in Bayelsa, Kogi, Anambra, 22 others

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted heavy rainfall in 25 States including the FCT in the next 48 hours.

    The agency noted that the predicted rainfall could lead to flash floods.

    The States to be affected are:  Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory.

    This is contained in the agency’s weekly heavy rainfall forecast bulletin issued.

    The bulletin reads: “Moderate to Heavy rainfall is expected within the forecast period (Thursday 28th and Friday 29th September 2023) over parts of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa.

    “Other States are;  “Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory.”

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    The agency said other parts of the country will experience light to moderate rainfall.

    On the likely impact of the rains, NiMet stated: “The expected moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to cause some flash flooding over their areas of occurrence.

    “Strong winds should accompany the rains with the strongest winds expected over parts of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi State.”

    The agency advised people in the States that may be affected not to drive through surface runoff waters, as they have strong undercurrents.

    It added that other likely hazards include slippery road surfaces and reduced visibility during the rain which can disrupt road traffic.

    “Strong winds are a threat to weak structures, trees, and masts. Disconnect electrical appliances before and not during the rains”.

  • Nov 11: Bayelsa vows to ensure peaceful, credible governorship poll

    Nov 11: Bayelsa vows to ensure peaceful, credible governorship poll

    Bayelsa state government has restated its commitment towards peaceful, free, and fair elections, saying it is working closely with relevant authorities and institutions to protect the credibility of the November 11 governorship poll in the state.

    The state deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this when the Bayelsa Elite Women Support Group visited him at his office in Government House, Yenagoa on Wednesday, September 27.

    Ewhrudjakpo urged the people of the state to come out and exercise their franchise on November 11 without any fear of molestation or harassment.

    He particularly called on the women, youths, and other support groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote and stay back to defend their votes during the election.

    The deputy governor promised that there was nothing to worry about as the government is working in partnership with lovers of democracy within and outside the country to ensure a violence-free governorship contest.

    Speaking on the prospects of the PDP, he said the party would coast to victory because of the impressive performance of its standard bearer, Governor Douye Diri, stressing that no right-thinking Bayelsans would ever vote for a candidate that recklessly betrayed their trust in the past.

    Read Also: CAN endorses Bayelsa governor’s re-election bid

    Ewhrudjakpo, however, emphasized the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and other electoral duty officials to be above board in carrying out their assignments.

    While thanking the women for supporting the PDP, he urged them to caution their children not to allow any politician to use them for thuggery and election violence as the government would not fold its hands and watch such happen in the state.

    He said: “We really appreciate the support you are giving to your government and our party. We believe you have the capacity to mobilize not only the women but also your husbands and children.

    “But one other thing I want you people to do is to talk to your children for them to resist the temptation of being used as thugs or playing any role that will negatively affect the forthcoming election. Remember nobody who brings out his head to break a coconut eats that coconut.

    “Those contesting with us know they can’t stand us because all right-thinking Bayelsans see and appreciate what we are doing as a government to develop this state.

    “They know it that is why they are talking about writing fictitious election results and using federal might. But I assure you that will not work because we are working with democratic forces within and outside this country to ensure a peaceful, free, and fair election in Bayelsa.”

    Earlier, in their separate remarks, Leaders of the Bayelsa Elite Women Support Group, Mrs Ebikaboere Pela and Ashanti Bekewari, expressed delight at the level of performance of the administration under Senator Douye Diri.

    They specifically commended the current state government in the areas of economic empowerment programmes, peace, and security as well as the building of critical infrastructures such as the three senatorial roads, among others.

    They assured the PDP and its candidate of their continued support and readiness to mobilize women of the state to vote massively on November 11 to actualize the re-election bid of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

  • INEC plans mock accreditation in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa

    INEC plans mock accreditation in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on October 14 conduct a mock accreditation  in 27 polling units across Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states .

    The off season  governorship elections will hold on November 11 in the three states .

    The exercise  is to test run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System ahead of the elections.

    The National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, made this known in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

    He said the exercise will take place simultaneously in a maximum of three polling units per senatorial district across the three states.

    The statement reads: “The Commission met today Monday, 25th September, 2023 and, among other issues, reviewed the preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States scheduled for Saturday 11th November, 2023.

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    “As was the case in recent off-cycle Governorship elections, the Commission will conduct a mock accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload of polling units’ results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

    “The test-run will take place simultaneously in the three states on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

    “A maximum of three polling units in each senatorial district have been identified across each of the three states, covering a total of nine senatorial district and 27 polling units. Lessons learnt from the exercise will be taken into consideration in ensuring a seamless process on Election Day.

    “Full details of the polling units, including their locations by Local Government Area (LGA), Registration Area (RA)/Ward, Delimitation Code and number of registered voters have been uploaded to our website and social media platforms.

    “The Commission appeals to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the exercise. “The public is advised that this is strictly a test accreditation exercise and not the actual election.”

  • We expect peaceful poll in Bayelsa, says U.S. envoy

    We expect peaceful poll in Bayelsa, says U.S. envoy

    • Diri: let people’s will prevail on Nov 11

    The United States Consulate-General in Nigeria has said they were monitoring activities in Bayelsa State ahead of the November 11 governorship election and expect that it will be peaceful and credible.

    The consulate’s Political/Economic Section Chief, Mr. Mike Ervin, stated this yesterday when he visited Governor Douye Diri at the Government House, Yenagoa.

    Ervin said the delegation was in the state to monitor the activities because the United States was a partner of the Nigerian government in the conduct of elections.

    He said: “As you well know, the United States is a fundamental partner of the Nigerian government in the conduct of elections. We are friends and we learn from one another when it comes to democracy and how democracy can thrive.

    “We are also here to see how Bayelsa is experiencing democracy at work. We want to know how things are going in your state and to also give you our good wishes for a peaceful election. We expect that the democratic process reflects the will of the people come November 11.

    “We will continue to be partners of INEC and we look forward to a very healthy democratic day in a number of weeks.”

    Replying, Governor Douye Diri said his administration was open to partnering with the international community to advance democracy through a free, fair and transparent electoral process in the state.

    He said his expectation going into the November 11 election was that the will of the people will prevail and not be truncated by unknown forces.

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    The Bayelsa helmsman noted that he is in the governorship contest not only because of the constitutional provision but that he wants his vision and plans for the state to materialise.

    He, however, expressed concern over security intelligence about his opponents, particularly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, and his role in the crisis bedeviling the Nembe-Bassambiri community in a bid to subvert the will of the people during the election.

    His words: “I believe that your coming will motivate us and add to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria and in our state.

    “My government is of the Peoples Democratic Party and our key opponents are from the APC and Labour Party. Of course, there are other parties. But all we want as a government is a free, fair and transparent electoral process.

    “Like you rightly said, the will of the people should prevail and they should be able to elect who they want.

    “But our worry is about the kind of security intelligence we are getting and also the street intelligence about our opponents, particularly of the APC, who was a former governor. We have seen signs of insecurity in Nembe-Bassambiri where he is from. It is like a repeat of what happened in the 2019 election.”

    Also on the delegation were the Political Officer (Niger Delta), Jordan Lachance, and the Political Specialist, Arnold Abulime.

  • Reject incompetence, group tells Bayelsa voters

    Reject incompetence, group tells Bayelsa voters

    The Bayelsa Development Initiative (BDI) has appealed to the voters in the state to avoid voting incompetence politicians in the November 11 governorship election in the state.

    The group, which hailed the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, urged them to cast their votes for the LP’s Governorship candidate, Udengs Eradiri.

    BDI in a statement signed by its Secretary Michael-Sam Rodamini, said Obi was emphatic when he said with the wealth that had accrued to Bayelsa, the state had no business with poverty.

    Rodamini recalled that Obi classified Eradiri among the wealth creators and advised the people to vote for “wealth creators and not wealth sharers.

    “From 1999 till date, those who have been kneeling on the progress of Bayelsa and suffocating the state’s capacity to breathe the refreshing air of development are in both All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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    “Most of the so-called political leaders in these two parties are wealth sharers according to Peter Obi. They have shared the wealth of this great state among themselves so much that there is nothing left to be shared again. They have shared the destinies of our children. They shared all the monies meant for healthcare, quality education and quality infrastructures.

    “They are back again to continue in the business of profligacy and plundering of our commonwealth. We recalled that the LP Candidate, Udengs Eradiri, told the people on that day Obi visited that it was time we rose to challenge these people.

    “Yes, we need to challenge them to protect the future of our children because all the care about is their comfort and that of their children. If we love this state this coming election provides an opportunity to rescue Bayelsa and revive the dreams of the state’s founding fathers.”

    Rodamini insisted that Eradiri had proved himself to be the credible alternative needed by the people to rescue Bayelsa and put the state on the pathway of progress and development.

  • Listen to Obi, vote out incompetent politicians, BDI tells Bayelsa voters

    Listen to Obi, vote out incompetent politicians, BDI tells Bayelsa voters

    The Bayelsa Development Initiative (BDI) has appealed to the people of the state to listen to the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, by voting out incompetent politicians in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in the state.

    BDI said Obi, who was in the state recently to inaugurate the campaign office of the LP’s governorship candidate, Udengs Eradiri, lamented the underdevelopment in the state, saying that Bayelsa is the second poorest state in the country after Zamfara state.

    BDI in a statement signed by its secretary, Michael-Sam Rodamini, said Obi was emphatic when he said with the wealth that had accrued to Bayelsa, the state had no business with poverty.

    Rodamini recalled that Obi classified Eradiri among the wealth creators and advised the people to vote for “wealth creators and not wealth sharers”, adding that there was nothing left to be shared again.

    He said: “The questions are, who underdeveloped Bayelsa? Who stole the commonwealth of the people? The answer is not far-fetched.

    “From 1999 till date, those who have been kneeling on the progress of Bayelsa and suffocating the state’s capacity to breath the refreshing air of development are in both All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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    “Most of the so-called political leaders in these two parties are wealth sharers according to Peter Obi. They have shared the wealth of this great state among themselves so much that there is nothing left to be shared again. They have shared the destinies of our children. They shared all the monies meant for healthcare, quality education and quality infrastructures.

    “They are back again to continue in the business of profligacy and plundering of our commonwealth. We recalled that the LP Candidate, Udengs Eradiri, told the people on that day Obi visited that it was time we rose to challenge these people.

    “Yes, we need to challenge them to protect the future of our children because all the care about is their comfort and that of their children. If we love this state this coming election provides an opportunity to rescue Bayelsa and revive the dreams of the state’s founding fathers.”

    Rodamini insisted that Udengs had proved himself to be the credible alternative needed by the people to rescue Bayelsa and put the state on the pathway of progress and development.

    He said: “The coming of Obi and the presentation of the LP flag to Candidate Eradiri have quelled all the insinuations and doubts about his candidature and his seriousness towards the poll. The events have also proved that he has a clear agenda to develop Bayelsa.

    “We have perused his PEAP agenda and we are satisfied that candidate Eradiri stands poles apart from what those other parties are offering. He has a clear vision of what to do and how to deliver this state from the shackles of underdevelopment and poverty.”

  •  ‘How Prosperity Cup changed  Bayelsa narratives’

     ‘How Prosperity Cup changed  Bayelsa narratives’

    Bayelsa State had in the past  been in the news for negative reports ranging from vandalism, banditry, cultism and other vices but all that  has changed  with the introduction of the  Prosperity Cup. In this interview, the Director General of the tournament, Ono Akpe, bares his mind on how the competition has changed the hitherto  bad  narratives  about the state. Excerpts…

    What  are the successes recorded by the programme?

    I want to thank the Almighty God first and  foremost for making it possible for us to host  this edition successfully without any incidents, no challenges, no major health incidents or accidents,  players travelled to and fro, officials travelled, referees travelled and coaches through the length and breadth of the state and we didn’t record anything that gave us cause for concern. We must thank God for that. We travelled on land and on water, but luckily because of the on-going huge construction work by the present government in Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor and Sagbama axis, we covered less distance on water than by road to some of the communities so it made the job and  task easier. We are really grateful to Governor Senator Douye Diri; his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali for the support and sponsorship in seeing to the positive  outcome of the tournament.

    What has been the yearly progression?

    Prosperity Cup, formerly known as Restoration Cup started in 2015 with 110 teams with Ewoama FC of Brass LGA emerging champions. An edition that produced Okardi Inikurogha as the most valuable player, who is currently plying his trade in France with Grenoble FC after helping Bayelsa United to win

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    the AITEO Cup in 2021.It is now regarded as Nigeria and arguably Africa’s largest grassroots football tournament and the just concluded edition recorded 214 teams, 129 communities and 89 institutions across the state. The most exciting aspect of the tournament was that matches were played in the entire

    state across the eight local government areas till the money  spinning stage that saw teams travel to Yenagoa to execute their matches.

    How have you managed the awareness and publicity for the tournament?

    The publicity of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournament from both local and international media is massive. We have always had a partnership with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria and they have been awesome. Their support has been unparalleled and they are also members of our Local

    Organising Committee(LOC).

    How would you assess the impact of  the Local Organising Committee (LOC)?

    Our Local Organising Committee has been tremendous. It is a very dedicated, hardworking team made up of over 40 professionals who are committed to driving the fortunes of football in the state. We also have the grassroot coaches association, the referees’ council and others who worked with us throughout. With the deputy director-general, Mr Emmanuel  Appah; the Director of Finance, Mr Martins Deigbegha, Mike Ede-Alakere, to the head technical, Desieye Nwankwe, head coach Lawrence Alabrah, it has been a very formidable team working round the clock to see to the success of this tournament yearly. The possibility of having more teams going by this year’s positive turnout, we expect the tournament to witness more teams in the next edition, and we are satisfied with the level of transparency displayed in the tournament coupled with less appeals and complaints from teams. It is not just the aspect of the organisers, it is a fact that people are more excited about the tournament, that it is real, the prizes are real, there is transparency in the organisation and officiating, no predetermined winner or loser. There was a level playing ground for all teams. This year, we had less number of appeals than we’ve had in the prior tournament. We had less protest for fielding ineligible players. We had some challenges with officiating in a couple of games but we were very swift in our decisions and we came down hard on officials. Having two segments of the tournament, there is a strong consideration to have the age grade tournament. The age grade can start first within the age 12 years to 15 years if we can get the support from the corporate organisations and the multinational oil companies in the state, but you see, when it is age grade, it defeats some of the objectives of the tournament which brings inter-communal relationships and unity among communities, if we restrict it to age grade, it reduces a lot of participation. Once again, we wish to thank His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri. I need to thank him as well for graciously approving the construction of pitches in the state. At the final closing ceremony, he announced that 10 mini stadia would be built for teams to have good surfaces to play in the next edition.

  • LP leaders lament poverty level,underdevelopment in Bayelsa

    LP leaders lament poverty level,underdevelopment in Bayelsa

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the just-concluded presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure and the LP’s flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, have lamented level of poverty and underdevelopment in the state.

    The three LP leaders, who made the lamentation on Tuesday, during the official inauguration of the party’s state secretariat, unveiling of Eradiri and town hall meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, expressed dissatisfaction that despite the enormous resources and federal allocation that had accrued to Bayelsa since its creation, it remained in a sorry state.

    They contended that the problem of Bayelsa was purely that of leadership, holding that the state needs purposeful, result-oriented, ingenious, people-oriented, honest, updated, bold and courageous leadership to turn things around for the better.

    Lamenting the widespread poverty in the oil-rich Bayelsa State, Obi said it was sad, unfortunate and unthinkable that a state where oil was first struck in commercial quantity about 67 years ago still remained underdeveloped and poor.

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    He stated: “That you can come to this state and still see poverty is unfortunate and sad. This is a state where we discovered our first oil over 67 years ago and it is worrisome that after such a long time, you cannot drive on a good road to Bayelsa.

    “Bayelsa is not supposed to be among the list of poor states for what God endowed them with. It is caused by leadership and that’s what we are trying to change. Our candidate has told you other parties will give you money but we are not in the politics of sharing money.”  

    “We don’t have any money to share. Those who are giving you money are giving you, your own money to share. we didn’t steal anything so we can’t give anything. When they give you money, take it but vote your conscience. The Labour Party is the party to vote for in order to emancipate you from poverty and underdevelopment.

    “We have unveiled Eradiri and we want you to support him.”

  • We won’t tolerate bloodshed in Bayelsa, IYC tells politicians

    We won’t tolerate bloodshed in Bayelsa, IYC tells politicians

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has cautioned all politicians involved in the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, saying the council will not tolerate any form of bloodshed before, during and after the poll.

    Rising from its Executive Council Meeting yesterday, the IYC also appealed to the federal and state governments to prioritise lasting solutions to floods in the Niger Delta.

    The council in a communiqué it issued after the meeting said, political actors and gladiators must shun any act that could escalate tension in Bayelsa during the forthcoming poll.

    According to the communiqué  by its President, Dr. Alayi Theophilus, IYC asked politicians to shun hate speeches and focus on selling their manifestos to the people.

    The IYC said: “It is our firm belief that the lives and safety of Ijaw citizens should always supersede political considerations and electoral processes. We shall hold politicians responsible if any Ijaw life is lost during and after the election.

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    “The IYC shall not fold its arms to see that the existing peace we enjoy in the state is damaged. We advise all politicians to shun hate speeches and focus on telling us their manifestos. Our lives are worth more than any political ambition.”

    While commending the Federal Government and other organisations for their support for flood victims in the region, IYC said to permanently address the problem, there must be construction of critical drainage systems and dredging of flood-prone communities of the region.

    He said: “Recognising the recurring nature of these disasters, we urgently call upon both federal and state governments to prioritize and implement enduring solutions. This includes the construction of various drainage systems to the tributaries that will offload the water to the sea and initiating comprehensive coastline dredging.

    “The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government must make our abandoned dam in Adamawa functional and create additional three dams within the flood channels to cushion the effect of flood in subsequent years. These dams, when completed and made functional, will not just serve as water reservoirs but also as a source of hydropower that will add to the national grid.

    “Ijaw people are yet to recover from the trauma caused by last year’s flooding. Goods worth billions of naira were destroyed and strange diseases are being experienced till date. The palliative can never be compared to the disaster we are experiencing.”

    The IYC accused the Delta State government of marginalizing Ijaw communities in the state in its recent award of N78bn contracts.

    The council said: “While we acknowledge and commend the Delta State Governor for his efforts in awarding a significant N78bn contract, we find it disheartening to observe the marginalization of our territories. Projects like the Ayakoromo bridge which is barely N6bn to completion are begging for attention.

    “The Ojobo road is abandoned. It is therefore unjust to exclude Ijaw territories in the N78bn contract awarded by the Delta State Government. The IYC calls on the Delta Governor to review his move to include Ijaw communities.”

  • Bayelsa PDP chieftains defect to APC

    Bayelsa PDP chieftains defect to APC

    Ahead of november  11   governorship election in Bayelsa State, some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , including the party’s Youth Leader, Nunieh Odede, have dumped the party.

    Odede and others switched allegiance from Governor Douye Diri to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.

    In a handwritten letter sighted yesterday in Yenagoa, Odede announced his resignation from PDP while other principal aides of the governor also resigned their positions to campaign for Sylva.

    A statement  by Sylva’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Julius Bokoru, confirmed that Odede held a meeting with the APC governorship candidate.

    Bokoru quoted Odede as saying at the meeting: “We have spent years with the PDP and we built the party to where it is.

    “It is imperative we move on now in the light of what is happening in the state.

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    “Bayelsa is in comatose and we cannot keep doing the old things and expect to get it right.

    “Our resignation from PDP, honestly, is to save our dear state from further ruin.”

    The statement also quoted Sylva to have praised the courage of Odede and other defectors, who chose the progress and development of the state over selfish gains.

    According to the statement, Sylva said: “Youths are always the driving force of every society, youths also embody and give a trajectory of what the future would look like.

    “Your decisions today is heroic and selfless.

    “You have placed the state over self and beyond even the elections.

    The statement listed those who defected from PDP to APC to include the Director, Bayelsa State Environmental Authority, Abiah Oyisor, the Governor’s Representative, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Ayaye Obuma.

    The other aides to the governor were Itu Goodluck, Timipa Ile and Olali.

    Bokoru also stated that the defectors would be formally received with thousands of their supporters at an endorsement ceremony.