A 22-year-old boy, identified simply as Godwin, from the Elebele community of Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has stabbed his mother to death over alleged failed attempts to use her for ritual purposes.
The suspect, according to community sources, came back to the community a few weeks ago after months of sojourn in Benin City, Edo State.
Godwin was said to have attended a training centre in Benin City, connected to Internet fraud (commonly referred to as ‘Yahoo’ boys).
Godwin’s behaviour reportedly changed after spending several months at the centre.
Community sources said he distanced himself from friends and exhibited signs of paranoia on his mother, believing she held back his “destiny” and “wealth.”
A pastor reportedly warned her about the potential threat from her son.
Despite the warning, a confrontation occurred that led to the incident.
After the incident, local youth leaders, including the Youth President Comrade Precious Okala, intervened.
They found the victim’s body and restrained Godwin until authorities arrived.
Gov. Douye Diri, of Bayelsa, has approved the payment of N300,000 each to students from the state in all the law school campuses in Nigeria.
Diri said this at a meeting with representatives of the Bayelsa State Law Graduates Forum on Saturday in Yenagoa.
The governor was represented at the meeting by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN.
Dambo said the approval reflected the governor’s commitment to the education of Bayelsans and would cushion the effect of current economic hardship on the students.
The commissioner, who stated that the grant would aid their academic pursuit and improve their welfare, urged them to focus on their academic work in order to make the state and their families proud.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Annabel Godspower, expressed their profound gratitude to the governor for approving the grant, saying the gesture was very encouraging.
She expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to the educational pursuit of Bayelsans as well as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for facilitating the process.
For the Bayelsa State government, qualitative education is the right of every indigene irrespective of their status and stations in life, which is why the government has left no stone unturned to achieve this lofty height.
Little wonder the state government designed an ambitious education reform programme to address the age-long challenges in basic education service delivery.
Thus, on November 18 when children in state-owned primary schools in Bayelsa State resume from their flood break, which has lasted for six weeks, they will continue to benefit from BayelsaPRIME which is the state government’s basic education reform programme. But this is not a sudden start after a long lull in learning.
During the flood break, an arrangement was in place to keep children learning through radio BayelsaPRIME@Home, which is an initiative under BayelsaPRIME ensures that lessons are delivered to children through two radio stations and small community radio stations.
At present, 41,000 children in four local government areas benefit from Governor Douye Diri’s basic education reform, Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise education (BayelsaPRIME). The programme has been identified as a game-changer in basic education service delivery because of its adoption of technology in addressing long standing challenges that have affected basic education, not just in Bayelsa but Nigeria, over the decades.
A new model
Three features make BayelsaPRIME different from how basic education is managed by most states: The teaching and learning methodology, the use of technology, and the teacher professional development strategy.
BayelsaPRIME uses an entirely new teaching and learning methodology that centres on continuous training and professional development for teachers as well as the attainment of pre-stated learning outcomes for children. Proficiency in numeracy and literacy skills are a major priority, because literacy particularly opens up an opportunity of lifelong learning for children.
“This method is children centric; it uses the play and participatory method to ensure that children are not only learning, but they are also contributing in class,” Mrs. Ebiegha Tarikye Favour, the head teacher of Isaac Jasper Boro Memorial Primary School in Yenagoa said during a tour of schools where the programme has been implemented.
“One of the things we observed after implementing the reform is that children who were introverts and seemed to be in their “shells” started participating in lessons, as there was no more room for a child to be left out or behind in class activities.” Teachers have also been directly impacted.
Because of the need to keep teachers informed about developments in the science of learning which underpins BayelsaPRIME, quality assurance officers, school supervisors, and learning and development officers visit each school weekly. Their visits provide an opportunity for teachers to be directly monitored, and supported with coaching and mentorship to enable them better mirror all the tenets that make the reform programme what it is.
At present, over 2,800 teachers and head teachers are in the programme. They are supported, not just with coaching and mentorship but also telephony-based technology in form of specialised teacher tablets and smartphones which are the bedrock of the technology that is being used to manage schools and classrooms.
Through these devices, lesson guides are sent to each teacher, the performance of each teacher is monitored, the performance of the children is monitored, key details about teacher attendance, pupil attendance, challenges facing each school and other important issues that impact the performance of the schools are tracked.
All the data is fed into a centralised data management system, which is accessible to policy makers at the Ministry of Education in Yenagoa and the Bayelsa State Universal BAsic Education Board.
“It’s interesting how BayelsaPRIME has changed the behaviour of my teachers,” Mrs. Inisiseizibe Ezekiel, the head teacher of State School 1 Ologri said.
“In the past, my teachers would resume school when they like. But at the moment, I see them show up a few minutes after 7am, some even arrive at school as early as 6.30am because arriving after 7.45am would mean they are late and that means the authorities at the State Universal Basic Education Board will know and ask questions.”
The renewed emphasis of doing the right thing in schools has led to improvement in key performance indicators which are used to evaluate the performance of teachers and their schools. Before the implementation of the programme, teacher attendance was as low as 15% in some cases. At the moment, it has risen to an average of over 70%.
As party of concerted efforts by Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State to make the state a model for basic education reform and transformation, the Ministry of Education and Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB) have launched BayelsaPRIME@Home, an initiative designed to keep primary school children learning during the flood break.
BayelsaPRIME@Home is designed to continue to educate children in upper and lower primary school about the things they have learnt in school while also updating them on new topics in the national curriculum through radio broadcasts.
The initiative, which is part of BayelsaPRIME, is geared at minimising learning losses, giving children an opportunity to learn from the comfort of their homes during the flood break.
The host communities of the Samabri/Biseni Cluster Location, specifically Osekwuenike, Osifo, and Abuetor in the Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have raised concerns regarding what they described as a false claim made by the Asamabiri Community, asserting co-host status to the Samabri/Biseni Cluster location.
In a statement on Saturday jointly signed by the three Presidents General — Mr. Anthony Okorie of Osekwuenike Community, Comrade Benjamin Aghoghovia of Osifo Community, and Comrade Bartholomew Uti of Abuetor Community—along with other key stakeholders, the communities expressed their disbelief at Asamabiri’s decision to make such claims.
They highlighted the long-standing peace and inter-marital ties they have enjoyed with the Asamabiri Community over the years.
The statement clarified the communities share a clearly defined natural boundary known as the Ogborogbo Canal with Asamabiri, a boundary that has not been disputed in the past.
The host communities voiced their discontent over Asamabiri’s actions on October 2, 2024, when they mobilised to protest on land belonging to the host communities, where an oil firm is situated.
They claimed co-host status and cited ’22 years of neglect’ as their rationale for the protest.
The leaders expressed that if this situation is not addressed, it could potentially lead to an unwarranted inter-communal crisis, which they seek to avoid at all costs.
The communities are calling upon the Bayelsa State Government, corporate entities, and the general public to disregard the unfounded claims made by the Asamabiri community and recognise the historical rights of the host communities.
The people of Asamabiri community of Sagbama had protested alleged decades of neglect by the oil firm operating in their community.
Asamabiri, said to be a co-host community to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) facility in Sagbama LGA had appealed to the federal and state governments to intervene in their plight which had lingered for over 22 years.
The placard-carrying protesters had claimed that over the years, they were denied of their statutory benefits and social amenities by the oil firm.
Speaking on behalf of the community, its Paramount Ruler, Chief Joseph Odoni, had said the community members protested over the neglect at the firm’s facility recently.
The monarch had said all necessary steps taken by the oil bearing community to resolve the impasse had been futile, alleging that the oil major had been favourable to another community, its co-hosts.
The community leadership had also called on Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation, Ijaw National Congress and its youth body, Ijaw Youth Council to address the injustice the company had subjected Asamabiri to in the last two decades.
Bayelsa State government has restated the need for local government councils to redouble efforts at shoring up their monthly internally generated revenues (IGR) to remain financially viable.
This is just as the government assured local government pensioners of the state government’s commitment towards improving their welfare as it takes steps to implement the N80,000 new minimum wage in the state.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the assurance while granting audience to the executive committee of the state chapter of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), local government branch, at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, on Friday, the Deputy Governor, called on the councils to fashion out other sources of revenue rather than depend solely on monthly federal allocations.
He pointed out that it would be difficult for councils in the state to pay and sustain the new minimum wage if they continued to completely depend on statutory allocations from Abuja.
His words: “I have asked experts in that area to work out the new minimum wage to see what the local governments will be able to pay. I know that council workers will insist that they should be paid like their state counterparts.
“But we should know that the state government and local governments do not have the same level or sources of funding. How many of our local governments are able to generate N100 million in the whole year? Just a few of them.
“As I said earlier, the details of what is going to cost each local government area must be worked out first because if we are not careful, our councils will go bankrupt.
“That is why I have told them to be very innovative and serious about generating revenue for the councils. There is nothing that stops you from collecting little money from people selling in the market. Or, collect licences from boat, motorbike, keke operators. That’s not a crime. It is legitimate.”
Responding to the retirees’ requests, Senator Ewhrudjakpo assured them that arrangements were underway to clear and pay pensioners who were inadvertently omitted in the payment of gratuities across board last year.
Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has said citizens of the State have numerous reasons to be thankful to God Almighty despite its challenges and that of the country.
Speaking at the Ecumenical Centre at Igbogene, Yenagoa, during the 13th Bayelsa State Thanksgiving, Diri said November 2 was enshrined in the laws of the state as a day of memorial beginning from 2012 under the immediate past administration of Senator Seriake Dickson.
He, however, noted the gathering was not as a result of legal obligation but out of profound gratitude to God for his goodness to the state.
He said the 13th edition was special after God granted him and his deputy victory in the last governorship election and throughout the legal battles.
Diri thanked people of the State for standing by him and his deputy, saying without them his administration would not have recorded the successes so far achieved.
He expressed gratitude to God that this year’s flood was not as devastating in the state as predicted after what was experienced in 2022.
He also said that another reason to be thankful was the peace and security in Bayelsa and appreciated the support of service commanders working closely with the government to maintain the peace.
On the issue of electricity that had been cut off in the State for three months due to the activities of vandals, the Bayelsa helmsman explained that though the transmission infrastructure were the property of the Federal Government, Bayelsans were the ones feeling brunt and his administration had to step in with funds the address the situation, assuring that power would be restored soon.
He stated that the darkness had to propel the government to hasten its independent power plant project, which will soon come to fruition.
Delivering a sermon, the General Overseer of Royal House of Grace, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey, expressed gratitude to God for using the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to create the state, saying that was the foundation for the development and happiness of all Bayelsans.
He described thanksgiving as a necessity for humans, saying everything must not be perfect before God is appreciated.
Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa says people of the state have numerous reasons to be thankful to God, despite its challenges and that of the country.
Diri spoke at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, during the 13th Thanksgiving celebration in the state.
He said Nov. 2 was enshrined in the laws of Bayelsa as a day of memorial, beginning from 2012 under the administration of former governor Seriake Dickson.
Diri noted that the gathering was born out of profound gratitude to God for his goodness to the state.
He said the 13th edition was special after God granted him and his deputy victory in the last governorship election and throughout the legal battles.
“No matter your condition, thank God. Today’s thanksgiving is special because God gave me and my deputy victory in last year’s election.
“It was Bayelsa that became victorious. We had a protracted legal battle after the victory and we still emerged victorious.
“We are also thankful to God that contrary to predictions, this year’s flood was not as devastating as expected,” he said.
The governor apologised for the darkness experienced in the state in the past three months.
“It was the duty of the Transmission Company of Nigeria to fix the damaged power infrastructure.
“We intervened because our people are suffering. Anytime from now, power will be restored.
“But, importantly, we are in the process of having our own independent power plant.
“Let me also appreciate all the service commanders that are here for working with the government to maintain peace and security,” he said.
Delivering a sermon, the General Overseer of Royal House of Grace, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey, expressed gratitude to God for using a former Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha, to create the state.
He said that was the foundation for the development and happiness of all Bayelsans.
The cleric described thanksgiving as a necessity for humans, saying everything must not be perfect before God is appreciated.
Dignitaries at the event include former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; immediate past governor, Sen. Seriake Dickson; former military administrators of the state. retired Col. Edor Obi and retired Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade.
Also in attendance were two former governors of Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff and Chief Rufus Ada-George; as well as serving and former National Assembly members.
Head of the Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson Jack, among others, was also present.
Joe Praise, the Bayelsa State Mass Choir and the Royal House of Grace Mass Choir, sang at the event.
Some reporters sustained injuries yesterday when hired thugs attacked the venue of a press conference by the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Chairman, Federated Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, Mr Tife Owolabi, was among those injured as the thugs hit them with rods.
Owolabi bled from the forehead and left hand while Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1 had swelling in his hand where he was hit with a flagstaff.
Everyone scampered for safety and the event was halted until security men, including the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police, arrived at the venue.
The event was later held with the Chairman, Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the APC, Jonah Abeke, announcing the indefinite suspension of seven members for alleged anti-party activities.
Those suspended are Peres Peretu, Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Goodluck Ebomu and Youdio-gwei Benjamin.
Abeke said: “In the 2023 National Assembly, Presidential and gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, they openly worked for Governor Douye Diri and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. They made no pretence about their anti-party activities.
“It is on this note that we, the under-signed executives of the Sagbama Local Government Area APC, hereby suspend them indefinitely from the party.
“Their suspension is hereby transmitted to the State Executive Committee of our party for ratification.”
Lagos and Bayelsa states have hailed SoftAlliance, a technology firm, for its innovation, which contributed to ease of doing business.
The firm developed the application used by Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and Vehicle Inspection Service, which captures motorists that jump traffic light and sends messages to offenders. It also developed the technology used by Oracle and Alpha-Beta companies in Lagos and others for revenue generation.
At the awards night to mark its 20th anniversary, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Taxation and Revenue, Opeyemi Ogunbo, who represented Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, hailed SoftAlliance ‘ pioneering force in technological innovations’.
Technical Adviser on Treasury, Tax and Revenue Matters to Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Seipulou, said the state has had a good relationship with SoftAlliance.
Entrepreneur, Folake Aina, said she has been using SoftPay app by SoftAlliance, in her business, and it is smooth.
Managing Director of SoftAlliance, Bisi Aina, thanked Lagos State for believing in its ability to deliver.
He said his Chair, Tunde Badejo, 20-years ago, with others, began a revolution to deliver innovative technology solutions for Lagos State’.
“The mission was to empower and unlock potential of Lagos State through IT…’’
