Niger Delta
Ewhrudjakpo Preaches Service To Humanity
Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has said the best way for any individual to leave behind worthy legacies is to serve humanity well while alive.
He stated this at a service of songs held in honour of late Pa ThankGod Ayibanua Matthew, father of Rear Admiral Daupere Matthew at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, midweek.
The Deputy Governor in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, stressed the need for the living to be mindful of how they live their lives to avoid the wrath of both God and man, noting that what was most significant at every service of songs “is the opportunity to reflect on what we are going to be remembered for when we had gone”.
He said everything man pursues on earth outside of Christ is vanity, stressing that it is the good works people do that will earn them a place in heaven.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who eulogized the late Pa ThankGod Matthew as a good man who impacted society positively in his life time, urged his family and the church to protect and sustain the positive legacies of their departed father and brother.
While conveying his condolences to the family, he emphasized the need for them to thank God that the octogenarian did not only live up to 83 years, but actually lived a good life.
“We should live a life in which our presence is felt when we’re present, and our absence is felt when we are absent. We can do this when we add value to the people around us and society generally.
“Today, we are feeling the absence of Papa because of the good life he lived.
“So, the takeaway is this: Let us pick up the good works of Papa, to enable us to live the same positively impactful life”, he said.
In his exhortation titled, “The Death of the Righteous”, the Pastor in charge of Camp-Ground Group of Districts of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Adewale Akangbe, charged Christians to earnestly desire the death of the righteous to secure their place in eternity in heaven.
Taking his scriptural references from Psalm 116 verse 5, and Numbers chapter 23 verse 10, Pastor Adewale enjoined believers to avoid the error of Balaam who desired the death of the righteous, but lacked the will, courage and determination to fulfill it, and eventually perished with the ungodly.
In his tribute, the chief mourner and first son of the deceased, Rear Admiral Daupere Matthew, described his father as a man of upright bearing, disciplinarian and a devout Christian who reared his children with the fear of the Lord.
Rear Admiral Matthew recalled the encouragement and support his deceased father gave him which enabled him to succeed in both his military career and family life.
He thanked the Deputy Governor, the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Yenagoa, Air Marshall T.O. Yusuf, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral J.U. Okeke, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Solomon Aguanana, and everyone who took time out to attend the service of songs.
The late Pa ThankGod Ayibanua Matthew, who hailed from Diebu Community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, passed on in May at the age of 83, and would be laid to rest this weekend at his hometown, Diebu.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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