Tag: The Nation newspaper

The Government of Delta has approved N381 million for the 2018/2019 bursary scheme for its students in higher institutions.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Asaba.

Aniagwu, who was in company with the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika said that the state government approved that over 17,000 students benefit from the assistance.

“Government has approved the sum of 381 million naira for the 2018/2019 bursary scheme for students of Delta State origin in higher institutions in the country. Over 17,000 students will benefit from this scheme from the over 24,000 students that applied.

He disclosed that government has also approved the recertification of all co-operative societies in the state to ensure that they meet best practices and they truly reflect the yearnings and aspirations of their members.

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Aniagwu also disclosed that EXCO has approved the reorganization of the Ministry of Oil and Gas with the creation of additional six departments to ensure that the Ministry meet up its mandate of monitoring the activities of the oil sector in the state.

While expressing government’s concern on environmental cleaning, the commissioner said that government would soon embark on the clearance of illegal structures on our highways to ensure safety of motorists and other deltans on these roads.

On the palliative measures on ‘federal roads, he said that the state government would continue to carry out the repairs of the roads as they impact more on the state economy and the lives of deltans.

Ex-militant leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa,s State, Eris Paul, popularly known as Ogunboss, has warned leaders of the party against carefree attitude in their approach to win the November 16 governorship election.

Ogunboss particularly urged the national and state leaders of the party not to underrate the Peoples Democratic Party and its state leader, Governor Seriake Dickson, ahead of the poll.

Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, the ex-creek warlord insisted that winning the forthcoming election would go beyond the popularity and wide acceptance of the party’s candidate, Chief David Lyon.

He said the APC must avoid nonchalant attitude, overconfidence and embrace hard work, early preparations by quickly setting up campaign structures in units, wards and the state levels.

Ogunboss, who hails from Southern Ijaw observed that the APC has so far dominated the political stage of the state following the acceptance of its candidate and political errors of the PDP.

But he said the APC should be serious from the beginning to the end and stop parading itself as if it had won the election.

He said: I am shocked when some party faithful claim that we have gotten the crowd, the numbers and even the publicity is on our side. But that does not get the job done. The might, the crowd, the number and media publicity are good designs. A good design in politics is a great combination of common sense, but not enough to say you have already arrived

“Yes, you have the chances and opportunity that are knocking on our door as APC, but the most common way people give out their chances is by thinking they have arrived when they have not.

“Elections are won by structures not by number of defectors. The same way theatres and actors were required for the creation of the world, so are structures required to win a governorship election.

‘What are our structures? Where are our theatres and actors to win the elections? Good designs are not foundations of a map. A map is not the territory it represents, but the ground it occupied. Dickson is not an easy target in an election.

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“I repeat, Dickson is not an easy fight during an election. You’re going to territories that were once structured by PDP and they are surviving like old monuments or quaint customs’.

“This is time to break thumbs, smatch quaint customs, kick structures to build structures or its medicine after death. Efforts and courage alone is not enough to win an election, this is time for direction, know your job, go down and kickstart the job. You have a task that challenges your human excellence and definitiveness because no fixed purpose in any struggle is lost”.

Ogunboss also called on the Chief Dikivie Ikhiogha Committee on peace and reconciliation to reach out to known party chieftains that may have become aggrieved before and after the Governorship primaries of the party to shealt their swords and work for the victory of the party.

“Though every member of the party have the right to be aggrieved if wronged, the preparation of the party and the setting up of a peace and reconciliation committee should be seen as an indication to embrace dialogue and work for the victory of the party”, he said.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has described as “enormous,” the economic gains to be derived from reviving the Sapele, Warri, Burutu, and other ports in Delta state.

He also harped on the need for oneness in Urhobo nation, urging its leaders to prioritize the interest of the ethnic nationality in their different dispositions.

The DSP spoke at the inaugural public lecture of the Urhobo Renaissance Movement (URM), held Tuesday, at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun.

URM, a group of professionals of Urhobo extraction, seeks to “rekindle the spirit of unity” and promote development across Urhobo nation.

Represented by an aide, Chuks Erhire, Senator Omo-Agege said rebirthing the culture of Urhobo people will include developing the economic and social sectors of the land.

“Your task in cultural renaissance, as you know, has to take into account the totality of our ‘Urhoboness’. It is in this context that I understand your earlier call on the federal authorities to resuscitate the six sea ports in Urhobo and adjourning lands that have since been abandoned or closed to commercial traffic. These include Sapele, Warri, Koko, Forcados, Burutu and Escravos ports.

“There’s need for a concise, constructive and sustained follow-up on this until the desired results are obtained as we are aware of the enormous economic potential this holds. This is in terms of job creation, as well as the creation of ancillary industries, complete with the multiplier trails they leave in their wake.”

Omo-Agege while recalling the efforts of the founding father of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Mukoro Mowoe, to ensuring unity across Urhobo land, posited that the establishment of the renowned Urhobo College, Effurun (UCE), in 1946 “is a reconciling symbol”.

He further urged the organisation to use its various capacities to forge the much needed “unity of purpose and interest within the Urhobo leadership, and nation in general. We cannot be tired of calling for unity of purpose among our people since our nominal strength translates to divisions and clashes”.

Meanwhile, in his lecture, Professor of Commercial and Industrial Law, Prof. Joseph Abugu, opined that keys to reviving the fortunes of Urhobo nation should be directed towards cultural, economic and political “resurgence”.

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Calling for Urhobo leaders to be “vocal” in the agitation for Nigeria’s restructuring, he said, “the clamour for restructuring of this country will continue and only equity will cure it. Our independence will come when our leaders recognize there is inequality in the system.”

Former Minister of Information, who chaired the occasion, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, had earlier commended the organization for remaining steadfast in its vision to ensuring the development of Urhoboland, urging those with “access to where decisions are being taken” to use it as an “asset”.

Dignitaries at the ceremony include member representing UghelliSouth North/South/Udu Federal constituency Hon. Francis Waive, Convener of URM, Professor Hope Eghagha, traditional rulers, among others.