The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Warri

  • ‘We were not part of Warri riverside feast’

    Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Friday, January 3, 2014 edition of The Nation with the above title, which conveyed impressions that are patently false, highly embarrassing and directly at odds with the doctrines and practices of the God’s Kingdom Society (GKS), the church of the living God, based on the Holy Bible.

    We find highly offensive the last paragraph of the report “of the annual feast of the God’s Ministry CGS International Inc.” (sic) which says, “the grand finale of the feast featured traditional open display by choir of the church and those from no fewer than seven other denominations like Christ Apostolic Church, God’s Kingdom Society … among others”. We find such a report surprising, not the least because reporters from The Nation, have been doing a good job of covering the Feast of Tabernacles of GKS in the last few years.

    We must reiterate the fact that the GKS does not take part in interdenominational Services as the Bible condemns interfaith – people of different beliefs coming together in an unholy union to worship. It is a union of contraries which involves the blending of truth with falsehood, which is a sin. (Jeremiah 23:28) The Holy Bible says that two cannot work together except they be agreed, (Amos 3:3); that one cannot serve two masters, (Matthews 6:24); and that those who believe in the truth should ensure the purity of their faith by keeping themselves separate in terms of beliefs, practices and mode of worship. – 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 John 2:21.

    It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest that a choir or group from GKS would participate in a so-called Feast of Ingathering, hosted by an evangelist who is said to be “the Regent of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom”. Contrary to the Christian Feast of Tabernacles celebrated by the GKS in obedience to the Lord’s injunction in Zechariah 14:16-19, to which all people of goodwill were invited, the one at Ogbe Ijoh is an imitation of the Lord’s ordained Feast, being, as the report said, “a celebration of the prevailing peace and unity in the clan as well as the entire Warri area of the state”. While the GKS will always support efforts at achieving peaceful co-existence that are in line with the Holy Bible, she had no part in the celebrations under reference.

    We hope The Nation would give prominence to this rebuttal of what amounts to an egregious blunder, in order to put the records straight, for the benefit of her numerous readers and to allay the apprehensions of our members and friends who have been calling us from near and far since the story was published.

    Yours faithfully,

    Brother Benedict T. Hart, Publicity Secretary, GKS

     

  • Five injured in Warri explosion

    Five injured in Warri explosion

    Tree children, including a four-year-old girl, were among the five persons injured in an explosion, which rocked a house in Warri, Delta State yesterday.

    The victims, who suffered degrees of burns, were taken to three hospitals in the town.

    The Warri Police Area Command, however, allayed fears of the explosion resulting from a bomb blast. It said it was caused by a faulty gas cylinder.

    The Area Commander, Rabiu Hussaini, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said: “I sent my men there and preliminary investigations showed it was a gas explosion.”

    An occupant of the apartment, Mrs. Rukevwe Ebatefa, whose husband and children were injured, corroborated Hussaini’s finding.

    She said: “My husband filled our gas cylinder on Monday night, but we could not use it because it developed a fault. We wanted to use again this morning (yesterday morning) and the same problem occurred.

    “My husband went to the kitchen to fix it, but the next thing we heard was an explosion.”

    It was learnt that the incident resulted in panic among residents, who thought the two-bedroom bungalow was bombed by terrorists.

    The victims, Mrs. Oghenemine Sunny and Favour, her four-year-old daughter, were taken to the nearby Island Hospital.

    Another victim, Mr. Jonathan Ebatefa, was admitted at the Estate Specialist Hospital, near Polokor Market, while his two children were taken to Warri Central Hospital.

  • Feast sets Warri riverside community aglow

    Feast sets Warri riverside community aglow

    The idyllic Salvation City, New Ogbe-Ijoh community in the riverside area of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State was bustling place on Sunday when hundreds of residents of Warri and Ijaw from all over the State joined their counterparts for the celebration of the Christian Feast of Ingathering hosted by Evangelist (Dr) Samson Mamamu.

    The 2013 edition, which is the 37th of the annual Christian feast of the God’s Ministry CGS International Inc, was turned into an interdenominational event by the presence of Ijaw and religious leaders from the various denominations who stormed the peaceful city to celebrate with Mamamu.

    Notable guests included the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare; Chief Favour Izoukumor, Fiyewei of Ogbe-Ijoh; Chiefs David Pere, Couple Oromoni, Joel Ogbona, Kobi Izoukumor, Paul Yemenegbeha, Alice Harris Gbenakama, Richard Evene, Vero Eselemon and Mrs Beatrice O. Izoukumor among others.

    They described the ceremony as a celebration of the prevailing peace and unity in the clan as well as the entire Warri area of the state.

    They said it was an opportunity for indigenes of the area to meet and be grateful to God for the past years and the unity in their kingdom in spite of the recent demise of their monarch.

    Speaking at the event, Mamamu, who is the Regent of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, used the event to admonish political and religious leaders on the importance of giving cheerfully and not as a means of attracting public praises.

    He lamented the dying culture of being our ‘brothers’ keepers’, remarking that even churches that make so much money do not give. He therefore wondered how it would be possible for pastors and evangelists to preach to their members about giving when they do not practice it.

    Quoting Luke 6:38, he said, “Give to every man that asks of thee. Give to those who are not able to help themselves, whether they be believers or unbelievers.”

    The highpoint of the eight-day event was the presentation of the policy statement of the church, which admonished politicians to be wary of the destructions that awaited those who fritter public funds in 2014. He also took a veiled swipe at the instigators of the crisis rocking the country, as well as governors who recently left their parties.

    He said, “We observe that politicians in the system are sharing evil leaves by their various approaches to partisan politics. We deemed that the serving governors breaking without consulting their electoral mandators, matured father and daughters. Their waste of energy and money is affecting the economy of this country.

    “We are calling them to fear God almighty and discharge their political duties with fear for peace if not, God will hold erroneous ones responsible for His judgement which no human being can tell. With the fear of God the warning has arrived that those politicians should change gear for proper political retreat.”

    The religious leader also appealed to the Federal Government to establish universities and other higher institutions of learning in the riverside areas of the region, lamenting that children from the area face hardship in their quests for higher education.

    He said youths of the region have no business being in the disadvantaged education position they are now because of the quota system and favouritism in the sector.

    On the devastating scourge of the Boko Haram insurgence in the northern parts of the country, Mamamu urged President Goodluck Jonathan to turn to prayers to tackle the terrorists and their sponsors.

    “The industry of Boko Haram, kidnapping and ritual killings and other vices should be tackled with prayers by Mr President appointing selected ministers (ministries) to conduct their spiritual assignment. In fact if the spiritual bodies focus attention, (it) may bring in difference and result.”

    Speaking with Niger Delta Report afterwards, Chief Frank Omare commended Mamamu for his leadership attribute, not only as a clergyman, but as a leader of the Ogbe-Ijoh clan. He said the ceremony was to celebrate what God had done for the people and the state.

    “I am from this local government; I was born and bred in the creeks. I am duty bound to be with my people. We are here celebrating, dancing and celebrating all that God has done for us.

    “I led a campaign here sometimes ago. Today, I am happy to see that about 95% of the promises we made have been delivered and completed. We promised a jetty, reopening of schools that were shut down etc. The solar street lights leading to the next community are being done.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Chief Izoukumor, who is the Spokesman of Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom, said the leadership of the kingdom gathered and deliberated on the appropriate way to reward their regent for his sterling leadership.

    “But you know him, he is not a man who likes earthly gifts and material wealth. The only way we felt we could win his heart and acknowledge his contribution is to send a delegate to come and join him in this feast of ingathering. The festival has contributed to the growth of Ogbe-Ijoh, Delta state and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

    Izoukumor and Omare commended the vigor with which Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is going about his last years in office, stating that he has a lot of gigantic and important projects ongoing.

    The grand finale of the feast featured traditional open air display by choir of the church and those from no fewer than seven other denominations like Christ Apostolic Church, Gods Kingdom Society, Winners Chapel and Cherubim and Seraphim among others. There was also an amazing song presentation by children of Salvation City.

     

  • NNPC/Chevron roll-back malaria programme for Delta communities

    NNPC/Chevron roll-back malaria programme for Delta communities

    The effort of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to eradicate malaria through the Roll Back Malaria programme has been applauded by stakeholders in Delta State.

    The commendation for the JV commitment to health development in Nigeria through its Roll Back Malaria programme in various parts of the country; especially in communities around its operations in the Niger Delta region, was described as a worthy cause.

    The company recently organised similar programme in Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area and Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State on November 7 and 8, 2013 in partnership with Africare.

    The programme, which involved enlightenment campaign on malaria prevention, malaria testing/treatment, distribution of insecticide-treated nets and sensitisation on the use of the nets as well as indoor residual spray in different houses in the communities, aimed at providing support for malaria prevention; including health promotion activities that would significantly reduce the prevalence of the disease and benefit the population.

    The Chairman of Warri South West Local Government Area who was represented by Hon. Kingsley Esimaje, the Supervisory Councillor for Education, thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture and its partners for deploying the programme in Ogbe-Ijoh, stressing the need to eradicate malarial scourge from the society because of its devastating effects on the people; especially in the riverside areas.

    He pledged the support of the local government in ensuring the smooth implementation of the programme, even as he called on the traditional rulers and the people to support facilitators of the programme in order to achieve their objectives.

    In his remarks at the event in Koko, the chairman, Warri North Local Government Area, Evangelist David Edun, who was represented by Mr. Nelson Egbe, the Supervisory Councillor for Environment, commended the programme, stating that malaria was the most common disease in Nigeria and in Delta State.

    Edun said: “Chevron is a good company that loves and cares for the well-being of the people. We implore you to keep up the good work in Delta State and in the society in general.”

    Earlier in her opening remarks, the Country Director, Africare, Dr. Orode Doherty thanked NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for giving the organisation the privilege to facilitate the programme in Delta State.

    She explained that Africa’s malaria projects cover the entire Niger Delta with a combined catchment population of over 21 million, adding that their activities include supporting the primary health centres with supplies to ensure prompt adequate malaria diagnosis and treatment.

    In his remarks at the events, Mr. Deji Haastrup, the General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) represented by Messrs. Trust Inimgba (PGPA Superintendent Warri) and Kunle Okegbemiro (Coordinator National Programmes) in Ogbe-Ijoh and Koko respectively, stated that the company was partnering with the Delta State government and others for the roll back malaria as part of its corporate social responsibility commitments towards supporting healthcare development in Nigeria.

    He noted that malaria was a major killer disease in Nigeria which severely affects children mostly under five years of age and pregnant women. He added that malaria was currently endemic in 99 countries, causing an estimated 219 million cases and 660,000 deaths per year; according to World Health organisation (WHO).

    He reiterated that malaria was preventable and could be eradicated, adding that Chevron has been partnering with other stakeholders since 2009 to deploy the roll-back malaria programme in various parts of the country.

  • …Unveil Aigbogun as coach today

    …Unveil Aigbogun as coach today

    Warri Wolves will today make public the appointment of Enyimba Assistant Coach, Paul Aigbogun as new Technical Adviser, a top source has revealed to SportingLife.

    Aigbogun worked with the same club two seasons ago before the England-trained coach resigned his appointment for personal reasons. He was replaced by nomadic Belgian, Maurice Cooreman who also left after barely a season in the saddle.

    SportingLife’s checks in Warri revealed that many top coaches including Lawrence Akpokona applied for the plum job but that the lot might have fallen on coach Aigbogun based on his experience and exploits with Enyimba during the outgone season. He helped the People’s Elephant to victory in the Federation Cup but they narrowly lost the league shield to Kano Pillars.

    Aigbogun and his assistants would also be made public today, according to SportingLife’s source.

  • Ogaga laid to rest in Warri

    Ogaga laid to rest in Warri

    The remains of former Shooting Stars striker, David Ogaga have been buried in his Ikwegbu,Warri family house at exactly 1:25pm yesterday.

    It was an emotion-laden event witnessed by Ogaga family elders, siblings, 3SC officials, players, staff and friends.

    In his sermon, Apostle David Anslem described death as a necessary end hence everybody should be prepared by doing good all the time. He prays to God to strengthen the family at this period of grief with praises to 3SC management for given the striker a befitting burial.

    Earlier, a match in his honour ended 2-0 in favour of Ogaga 3SC Friends over Warri XI.

  • Moses Ogaga to be buried Oct. 26 in Warri

    Moses Ogaga to be buried Oct. 26 in Warri

    •3SC to foot burial bills

    •Oluyole Warriors to pay player’s entitlements to family members

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    The remains of the former 3SC striker, Moses Ogaga, will be laid to rest in Warri, Delta State on October 26, a family source has hinted SportingLife.

    Ogaga died after a brief illness in Ibadan two weeks ago and his family and the Oluyole Warriors have agreed that the player be buried next Saturday at his home town.

    Sources close to the Ibadan side said that 3SC would foot most of the burial expenses as a mark of last respect for the former player. The expenses on the burial programme runs into some million naira, SportingLife gathered.

    The family source told SportingLife that Moses would have been buried this outgoing weekend but that the Ibadan side prevailed upon them to shift it by a week to ensure that they actively participate in the final burial of their departed player.

    3SC have also promised to pay up all the remaining entitlements of the player including his signing-on fees and other debts to the family of the deceased.

    SportingLife was informed that the burial programme would start with service of songs and the lying in state on Friday October 25th in Warri before the interment on Saturday October 26th at a yet to be identified site in Warri.

    Ogaga scored four goals for the Oluyole Warriors last season and had netted three times already this season before he was rendered unfit by the illness that later claimed his life.

    His last game for Shooting Stars was against Lobi Stars in Katsina Ala.

    Moses Oghenerhio Ogaga was survived by aged mother, fiancee and siblings.

    Though he hailed from Warri his parents are based in Kano where he was raised.

  • Olu of Warri under pressure to abdicate

    Olu of Warri under pressure to abdicate

    •Religion tears kingdom apart

    •Royal family, chiefs kick against monarch’s ban of deity worship

    SOME Itsekiri of Delta State have turned against their paramount ruler, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II.

    His offence: banning traditional religion and planned Christianisation of the Kingdom.

    A section of chiefs, youths and women leaders are consequently pressing for his abdication of the throne.

    The development has sparked tension across Warri and other Itsekiri towns and villages.

    The monarch has changed the traditional title of Ogiame, banned the worship of deities, pouring of libation and other traditional practices he considers to be fetish.

    Antagonists of his new-found religious disposition say he should vacate the palace if he is constrained by his Christian religion in the performance of his duty as their traditional leader.

    The monarch, who is a top member of the Foursquare Gospel Church, in the edict, described himself as a “royal priest in the order of Melchizedek”, who has destroyed all ancient and new altars in the land.

    It was gathered that trouble started on Wednesday after the monarch changed the historic title of ‘Ogiame’ to one he was yet to announce yesterday, because “it connotes our allegiance to Umalokun (goddess of the sea).”

    He also changed the Itsekiri anthem and the pouring of libation and renounced all altars of idolatry in communities of the land.

    A copy of the edict, entitled ‘The New Order In Iwere (Warri) Kingdom’, which was obtained by our reporter, made sweeping changes to the tradition of the Itsekiri (Iwere) people.

    He said: “I also repent for the name and title of “Ogiame” that my ancestors and I have borne, as it connotes our allegiance to Umalokun (goddess of the river) and other deities of the sea, all of which are false gods.

    “Today, I renounce our allegiance to Umalokun and other gods of the sea, land and sky. On behalf of the royal bloodline, the throne, the people of Iwere land, I publicly enter into a new covenant with God.”

    The pronouncement has not gone down well with some of his subjects.

    Some members of the royal family, prominent Itsekiri leaders and top chiefs of the kingdom opposed the declaration and urged the Olu to step aside if he is unable to carry out his duties as the Olu.

    It was gathered that over 30 members of the royal house have also dissociated themselves from the edict and advised the monarch to abdicate. Their position was taken after a meeting in Warri.

    It was gathered that the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILT) have also scheduled a meeting for today in Warri to take a stand on the decision.

    A member of the ILT, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, said the forum was most certain to endorse the call for the monarch’s abdication.

    Our source said, “The leaders of thought feel saddened by this development, because the ILT was visibly active in the selection and coronation of the Ogiame. He cannot come and change the title that is synonymous with the Itsekiri people.”

    The meeting of the princes and princesses was followed by wide protests by Itsekiri interest groups from within and outside the country. Hundreds of youths who stormed the Olu’s palace openly denounced it as anti-Itsekiri, saying it will rob them of their identity, history and culture.

    They made bonfire in front of the monarch’s expansive palace and prevented vehicles from moving in and out of the Ugbori enclave.

    An Itsekiri youth leader, Mr Omolubi Newuwumi, who was sighted at the entrance to the Olu Palace (Aghofen) declined comment, even though he was said to be a leader of the protesting youths.

    An eyewitness said youths from communities across the three Warri local government areas of the state besieged the monarch’s palace as early as 7:30am to express their displeasure with the document.

    Meanwhile, prominent Itsekiri leaders have expressed concerns that the latest crisis will not augur well for the kingdom.

    “The Itsekiri ethnic group has prided itself as one nation under one monarch; but I am afraid that with what we are seeing this may soon become history. This is the first time that the people will openly challenge the decision of the king,” one source said.

    The Ovie of Emede Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state was chased out of the kingdom by his subjects because of a similar clash of religion.

    The monarch, Johnson Omote Egbo, went into exile after refusing to worship the Oniyose deity of his forefathers because of his religious belief.

    He has since returned home to his people.

     

  • Kwara Utd/ Warri Wolves Asst. Referee beaten

    Kwara Utd/ Warri Wolves Asst. Referee beaten

    • Match stopped at half time

    Matchday 29 Glo Premier League tie between Kwara United and Warri Wolves was not concluded at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin on Saturday after the centre referee, Chrisantus Okoro from Imo State discontinued the game at halftime.

    Okoro in a chat with SportingLife noted that he had to take the action after the Assistant Referee 2 Durunna CIB from Abia State was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after he was allegedly beaten in the match officials’ changing room at halftime.

    Okoro said it was obvious that the security of the match officials could not be guaranteed at the stadium, hence his decision to call it off to safe himself and the other match officials from further molestation.

    “The game in Ilorin between Kwara United and Warri Wolves was stopped by me at halftime after one of the Assistant Referees(AR2), Durunna CIB from Abia State was beaten by the home fans and was rushed to the hospital.

    “There was no way I would have continue the game in that kind of atmosphere where my life and the remaining match officials is not guaranteed. I don’t know the current fate of the AR2. What has he done to deserve the type of treatment meted out to him? It is so unfortunate. I refused entreaty to continue with the game and my report will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters,” Okoro told SportingLife on telephone.

    The game was goalless before the alleged mayhem was recorded at halftime.

    Warri Wolves’ media officer, Moses Etu who also confirmed the development condemned the ‘win at home at all costs syndrome’ in the league and he has called on the League Management Company(LMC) to come out with a verdict that will show that the league body has the interests of the away teams at heart.

    “The game has been discontinued by the centre referee Chrisantus Okoro from Imo State after one of the Assistant Referees, Durunna CIB from Abia State was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. It was alleged that he was beaten by some fans during the halftime.

    “We at Warri Wolves condemn this act in all entirety and we hope that the LMC will deal decisively with it and not sweep it under the carpet. We shall not lodge any complaint like we did against Akwa United. But we know that the whole world is watching and looking at the action that will be taken by the LMC,” Etu explained to SportingLife.

     

  • Itsekiri in US worried over humanitarian crisis in Warri

    Itsekiri in US worried over humanitarian crisis in Warri

    Over two months after suspected Ijaw militias razed dozens of Itsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta Delta State, an Itsekiri socio-cultural group in the United States of America, Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc, has expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in the areas.

    The group expressed the concern when it donated multimillion naira relief materials to the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) in the area. The Ugbajo Itsekiri remarked that relief efforts by government and other public-spirited individuals did not reach the suffering victims.

    A member of the group, Mr. Bawo Akonu, who led the team’s visit to six crisis-ravaged Itsekiri communities of Eghoro, Ebrohimi, Obaghoro, Aja-Amita, Tebu and Tebu-Kporo communities, said in spite of recent peace shuttles, hundreds of victims remain homeless, face hunger and are vulnerable to attacks.

    Akonu was accompanied by Mr. Amorighoye Mene, a representative of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, which facilitated the visit.

    He lamented that over one thousand locals including children and women who fled their homes in the wake of the incident are yet to be resettled.

    The group observed that a few of those who remained in the communities lack food, shelter, water, health care and adequate sanitation.

    Our correspondent observed that tension is still high in the communities despite the nearness of security checkpoints in the creeks as the small amount of people still remaining in the communities are subjected to heavy military scrutiny.

    Akonu said that the Itsekiri people in the US believes there are humanitarian services that could be rendered hence they intensified efforts to gathered resources for the donations made.

    “We were able to identify those that were directly impacted because we were made to understand that relief materials sent here were not taken to the grassroots people so this time around we wanted it to get to the grassroots”.

    He said that the visit was just a way of ameliorating the immediate needs of the people which included shelter and medical care saying that they would take time to evaluate the situation in order to address the injustice in the area.

    “The visit was just like a tip of the iceberg; it was not enough to address the issues because we observed there is a lot of suffering among the people. There have been a lot of injustice and from our experience a whole of people were dislodged, the pains and grievance are still there”.

    “What we have done is just a first aid treatment so we are calling on the government and other humanitarian agencies to go in there and address the issues of lack of food, water, health care and many more plugging the people because the people are truly suffering”.

    While describing the incident as unfortunate, he said that if the government was up and doing with the security in the area the ugly incident may have been averted and therefore urged the government to brace up to tackle the security challenges confronting in the area.

    “There is a government in the state but it is rather sad that the government is not responding according though they have promised to erect the built houses, they have not critically condemn this attack even come to the aid of the suffering people of the area”.

    Mene said the destruction was most regrettable.

    He said: “You seen how communities were wiped from the ground level, this were people who are naturally poor and no matter how poorly built this houses were to them, they value them but the houses were levelled to foundation and it is most unfortunate that a thing like this is allowed to happen in a country like our.”

    He lamented that despite the series of correspondence done to the state government, the state government have not responded accordingly saying that government has failed.