Niger Delta

Protect Lives Of Nigerians, Oshiomhole Tells FG

Published

14 years ago

October 15, 2010

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomohole has asked the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country.

Comrade Oshiomhole stated this when he granted audience to the executive of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Edo State branch in Government House.

The Governor, reacting to the plea by the doctors to help provide security and stop the kidnap of their members said “this issue of kidnapping should be blamed squarely at the doorsteps of the Federal Government. The Federal Government must take full responsibility for the growing feeling of insecurity because under the Nigerian constitution the Federal Government has full responsibility for all security agencies. They have bluntly refused the state the right to have a state police and state security in order to contribute to the maintenance of peace and security.

They insist on retaining a monopoly in the management of security agencies”.

Comrade Oshiomhole however expressed his determination to tackle the problem by motivating and equipping the police in the state inspite of the state’s meagre resources.

“However with our very meagre resources, Edo State government has provided more than one hundred vehicles. We have also gone out of our way to procure communication gadgets to enable Edo State police command reach their men and communicate” he said.

Apparently irked by the doctors resort to strike when their member was kidnapped, Oshiomhole said “I ask you in clear conscience whether in your own judgement when you withdraw services because a doctor is kidnapped, do you believe that the kidnappers have conscience and feel so pained because people are dying and release their victim? I think what you have done is to end up endangering lives”.

The governor appealed to the doctors to carry out their civil duty by paying their taxes regularly as this is the major source of revenue for development in the state, adding that it is not the intention of government to single out any sector in respect of taxation.

On the effort of government in bringing health care closer to the people the governor revealed “virtually across the eighteen local governments, we are building what I consider to be first class health centre in all of them”.

He also disclosed that government would award the contract of a new Central Hospital in Benin-City within a week adding that when it is completed, it would meet international world standard.

Oshiomhole assured the doctors that the health sector will get a high focal point in the state’s 2011 budget

On the salary issue for doctors, Governor Oshiomhole said government had started the process of negotiations and when this is completed, government would take the appropriate action.

Earlier, the chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Phillip Ugbodaga had commended the state government for the development strides in the state.

Dr Ugbodaga also pleaded with the government to adhere to the World Health Organisation directive of investing 15% of the budget in the health sector.

Ben-Ose Ogbemudia, Benin

Niger Delta

Fouchee Celebrates Asari’s Recognition

Published

18 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Amayanabo of Fouchee Community in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRH. A.C.Blakk-Iwerima, says the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri is the icing on the achievements of the Rivers State Governor in 2024.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima, who was speaking recently to newsmen after the annual thanksgiving service of the Fouchee Community, said the recognition of Dokubo Asari was fit and proper and sounds like music in the ears of all people of Ifoko ancestry.

He commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara, for the recognition of Dokubo Asari, whose leadership role, he acknowledged, stands out.

He also commended the Governor for the many steps being taken to restore sanity in governance and dousing desperation through people-centered policies in the State.

According to him, “the Kings, Chiefs and people of Fouchee and Ifoko Communities in the Kalabari ethnic nationality are very proud of Alabo, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, whose links with Ifoko has been most rewarding”.

HRH. Blakk-Iwerima promised to give all the support needed to enable the team working on the Fouchee Atlantic Project to succeed, and expressed hope that the Rivers State Government would also give the needed backing.

He further called on Asari to use the recognition to strengthen the Kalabari Se Kobiri and bring all aggrieved persons and communities to see the need to work together.

Niger Delta

Kalabari Media Forum Hails Recognition Of Dokubo Asari As Amayanabo

Published

18 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

The Kalabari Media Forum has endorsed the recognition of Alabo, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari as the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri and the historical relevance of the award.

A communique issued after the 2024 end of year summit of the Forum also commends the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialaye Joseph Fubara for the recognition which they described as the best end of year gift to the Kalabari people.

The Communique signed by the Coordinator of the Forum, Alabo Dagogo Clinton and the Secretary, Mr. Harry Awolayeofori Macmorrison states that the gesture should make the Kalabari people to get back to the drawing board and consolidate on existing inter and intra communal peace within the region.

According to the statement, Torusarama Piri was the first place where the founding fathers of Kalabari converged from different cultures, tribes and backgrounds. Adding that those saying that the Kalabari people are not united should think again.

” As the different founding fathers were able to form a formidable ethnic nationality, modern day Kalabari should be able to sink the differences between the constituent communities and with other non-Kalabari speaking neighbours to achieve the needed internal cohesion for development”. It states.

The Forum further congratulated Alabo Asari Dokubo on his recognition and urged him to use the opportunity to do even more for the Kalabari people and Rivers State as a whole.

According to the statement, the Forum is happy with the recognition of Dokubo Asari not because he is one of the patrons of the Forum, but because he is about the most Kalabari-centric figure living, who has also committed enormous resources for the protection of the Kalabari people.

They urged the Kalabari Se Kobiri and the entire people of the ethnic nationality to work with Alabo Dokubo Asari and put to rest speculations about Kalabari that some persons have exploited against the interest of the Kalabari people over the years.

Niger Delta

We’re Upgrading Tourism Sites Across C’River – Otu

Published

19 hours ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has said plans were underway to upgrade tourism sites across the state to meet international standards.

Speaking with newsmen in Calabar, Otu said this was to attract local and international tourists to the state.

He said the state was also working on creating the needed infrastructure to boost tourism in the areas of transportation and accommodation among others.

“We are currently training personnel within the state and outside the country to upgrade our tourism sites. We are partnering with investors to bring some of them to 21st century standard.

“Currently, we are trying to ensure our roads are taken care of. We are not waiting on the Federal Government again because it has become clear that priorities are too many, so, we have to help ourselves.

“We want to ensure people easily access those tourism sites with very little difficulty and we are looking at stabilising our product pricing by making sure transportation is improved. We will explore gas, electricity and train.

“We are going to improve aviation as well”, he said.

Speaking on the just-concluded Calabar Carnival, Otu commended the competing and non-competing bands for their remarkable imput which culminated to the success of the event.

He appreciated everyone who worked behind the scene in the nine months preparation period for the carnival.

According to him, with guidance from renowned professors, researchers, individual artistes and many more professionals, the carnival was improved on.

He said in view of the need to bring back the international carnival, the state would work on ensuring world-class accommodation facilities are put in place ahead of the next edition.

He noted that the state would have a post carnival review to assess the areas to be improved on and other programmes to introduce.

Otu said depending on the outcome of the review, the state would be considering establishing diaspora bands in 2025.

“International carnival is not scrapped, we are looking at the prospect of established diaspora bands in 2025. This time, we are going to have a post carnival review to put things right.

“We are aware that three to four months ahead of the Calabar Carnival, hotels were already fully booked. So, we are trying to make sure we do not only have enough hotels but also ensure they are upscaled to international standards.

“This is because next Calabar Carnival will be a bigger picture with our international carnival in place.

“We already have international hospitality facilities that are moving here, we have hotels that are almost completed which can compete with any hotel across the world”, he said.

Otu, expressed excitement over the exhilarating performance of physically challenged individuals in the carnival.

He said the possibility of having a dedicated carnival band for them in 2025 would be explored.

“We do not see them as being limited by whatever challenges they face. We are looking at some of the things they have put to us but there must be a policy.

“We are looking at setting up a proper structure in their favour. So, to encourage them on the carnival front, the chairman of the Carnival Commission will check if they actually need their own band”, he said.