Niger Delta

MOSIEND Urges N’Delta Stakeholders, Youths To Support Akpabio

Published

11 months ago

August 14, 2023

The Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has appealed to stakeholders and youths in the region to support the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to enable him move the region forward.
MOSIEND said the call for support of the Senate President became imperative in view of the marginalisation the Niger Delta region has suffered in terms of socio-economic development.
The National President of the movement, Comrade Kennedy Tonjo West, made the call while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a town hall meeting held with Niger Delta youths and stakeholders in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Saturday night.
He said, “Irrespective of political affiliation, it is time for the people to rally round Senator Godswill Akpabio and play politics that will bring about regional development and community empowerment.
“No doubt, as people from the Niger Delta, they will not be shy to let him (Akpabio) know that the region did not get the best from his usual uncommon disposition as a minister; compared with his administration as Governor of Akwa-Ibom State whose achievements still speak volume of him”.
West, however, expressed optimism that Akpabio would do well in his new office as Senate President and use his position to facilitate socio-economic prosperity and development in the region.
“Being the number three citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria comes with a lot of goodwill which can only be achieved if the people are mature and wise enough to work together with Akpabio and attract meaningful development to the region during the tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, he said.
According to him, “Senator Akpabio possesses the credentials and charisma to man that office, and we are expecting high level of cooperation amongst our National Assembly members irrespective of political divide in order to maximize the opportunities that this government will bring to the table in terms of policies and reforms that are germane to our growth.
“We should not play party politics, but politics that will bring about regional development.
“We are expecting our senators in the red chamber to continually watch the back of the Senate President, advise and galvanize support from senators from other regions to throw their weight behind the Senate President.
“We are confident that he will use his office to attract development to the region.
“We will benefit more from working with him because he has friends across the divides; the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large will benefit because Akpabio is someone who likes unity, someone who doesn’t bear grudges.
“All ethnic nationalities should rally round him because there are good things to come. For us as MOSIEND, we have already accepted him as the political leader of the Niger Delta region.
“We also admonish him to open his doors for concerns from the people of the region.
“Every ethnic nationality in the region should be treated equally, and with him, President Tinubu government is going to get more of our support.
“As a region, we should try and tolerate one another, forgive one another, and the issue of pull-him-down syndrome which the people of the region are known for should be done away with.
“It shouldn’t come up in this equation because the man, Tinubu, is a serious minded person, and we believe that if we join hands with the Senate President, we will get the best from his government”.
MOSIEND promised to come up with programmes that would further deepen unity in the Niger Delta.
“In the days ahead, we are going to fashion out programmes that will further deepen the unity of the people of the region so that we can work together and benefit from the current administration.
“The governors of the region, senators, House of Reps members and all federal political appointees should give Akpabio the support he needs instead of running him down,” West added.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Niger Delta

Police Rescue Kidnapped Ex-Shell Worker In A’Ibom

Published

4 days ago

June 26, 2024

The Tide

The Police in Akwa Ibom State says it has rescued a 63-year man and retiree of Shell Petroleum Company who was recently kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The command’s Spokesperson, ASP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Uyo, the State capital.

John said the victim, who was abducted on June 17 and held hostage by his abductors, was rescued unhurt in a compound at Ikot Udobong Village in Etim Ekpo.

She said the rescue followed reliable intelligence information which prompted the Command to swing into action.

According to her, the kidnappers engaged the police rescue team in a gun duel in the process of rescuing the victim.

“Upon sighting the police, the kidnappers opened fire at them, one of the kidnappers was fatally wounded in the process while the others fled”, she said.

The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Waheed Ayilara, had ordered the command’s SWAT operatives to immediately swing into action.

”Efforts are seriously ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang for possible prosecution”, she said.

John further said that preliminary investigations revealed that the kidnappers had initially demanded N50 million as ransom for the release of their captive.

“They later agreed to take N20 million, but I tell you on good authority that no ransom was paid as at the time of the rescue.

Niger Delta

Delta C’ttee Takes Drug Abuse Sensitisation To Streets

Published

4 days ago

June 26, 2024

The Tide

As part of activities to mark the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse, the Delta State State Drug Control Committee on Monday took sensitisation campaign to streets of Asaba on dangers of drug abuse.

Members of the committee, drawn from the State Ministries of Health, Education, Justice, as well as representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Police, amongst others, converged at the Oshimili South Arcade from where they walked through some streets of Asaba.

Mrs Helen Orie, the Chairperson of the committee and Director, Pharmaceutical Services, State Ministry of Health, who led the campaign/road walk, said drug abuse was on the increase and needed to be curbed before it got worse.

Orie, speaking on the theme for the 2024 celebration: “Say No To Drug Abuse”, noted that drug abuse always had devastating effects on individuals involved, the family setting and society at large.

Orie, a Pharmacist, explained that the fight against drug abuse was in two dimensions; supply reduction, being championed at the Federal level and demand reduction, being handled by the Drug Control Committee at the state level.

She said the committee, with the support of the State Government, had recorded some successes in the prevention and control of drug abuse in the state.

According to her, we have taken sensitisation campaigns to public places, including places of worship, markets, schools and communities with significant impacts.

“Today’s sensitisation/road walk is meant to further create more awareness on the need for a drug-free society”, she said.

Orie commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his support toward the campaign against drug abuse in the state.

Also speaking, the Assistant State Commander, Drug Demand Reduction, NDLEA, Delta Command, Silas Omobude, said 14.4 million Nigerians, aged between 18 and 29, were involved in drug abuse and trafficking.

Omobude, who is also the State Secretary of the committee, said fighting the drug war was a Herculean task which required the collective effort of all critical stakeholders.

He noted that the State Government had reasonably supported the committee to record some breakthroughs.

On his part, the Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, Mr Emmanuel Onyemeziem, debunked insinuations that the Nigerian movie industry had contributed to societal ills, including drug abuse.

Onyemeziem said the guild was in partnership with the NDLEA and the Delta State Government in the war against drug abuse, and urged youths to say no to drug abuse and embrace meaningful ventures.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Urges Farmers To Adopt Good Agronomic Practices

Published

4 days ago

June 26, 2024

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Offiong Offor, has urged cocoa farmers in the state to adopt good agronomic practices in order to ensure improved yields.

Offor gave the advice on Monday at Odoro Ikpe, Ini Local Government Area, during the distribution of cocoa seedlings to farmers to mark the beginning of the 2024 cocoa planting season.

She disclosed that the State Government had made available over 150,000 cocoa seedlings to be distributed to cocoa farmers across the state.

The Commissioner said the distribution of the cocoa seedlings to farmers signaled a significant step to increased cocoa production and improvement of livelihoods.

“We know the current price of 1kg of cocoa in the market, it is very expensive. So, it is a wake-up call by Governor Umo Eno for all to return to the farm.

“When you receive the cocoa seedlings, make the best use of them. Do well to maintain good agronomic practices, to reap bountiful harvests.

“This year, we have provided over 150,000 cocoa seedlings to be distributed to cocoa farmers in the state. I implore you to make good use of the seedlings”, Offor said.

The Commissioner called on cocoa farmers to notify extension agents in the ministry early if they were confronted with of any challenge

In his remarks, the State Chairman, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Ekikere Bassey, said it was expedient for agriculture stakeholders to support the cultivation of cocoa to improve the economy of the state.

He said cocoa farming was a lucrative agribusiness, and urged farmers to show interest in the cultivation of the cash crop.