Niger Delta

Delta Making Progress At 33 – Gov

Published

5 months ago

August 28, 2024

Delta State Governor, Sherft Oborevwori, has said that the state has made remarkable progress in spite of trials since its creation in August 27, 1991.
The governor stated this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 33rd anniversary of the state’s creation on Tuesday at the Government House Chapel, Asaba.
He said the state was growing steadily on all economic development indicators, hence emerging as a power house in the comity of states in Nigeria.
Oborevwori said the journey had been eventful and fulfilling with the road filled with trials and triumphs, tests and testimonies.
“I am proud to say that in 33 years of existence, Delta has evolved into a strong, vibrant, strategic component of the Nigerian federation.
“Judging by all the indices of development, the state occupies a pride of place in the Nigerian federation.
“Both locally and internationally, our people are renowned for their entrepreneurial drive, passion and ingenuity.
“Let us continue to unite in prayer seeking God’s blessings and protection for our state and may His divine presence be felt in all we do.
“As we use this opportunity of this anniversary to take stock, I want to assure you all in the state that it can only get better from here,” he said.
He thanked the youths and people of the state for the peaceful and mature manner they conducted themselves in the recent #Endbadgovernance# protests.
The Governor called for more support and solidarity in the months and years ahead to enable him to deliver on the promises of his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
He pledged to continue to do his best to ensure peace and security of the state, adding that only through sustainable peace that enduring development could thrive in the state.
The Governor said his administration had continued to put the state ahead in terms of development, by investing heavily in infrastructural development in all sectors of the state’s economy.
“In the past 15 months we have demonstrated our resolve to keep Delta ahead on all indices of social and economic development.
“We are investing massively in infrastructural renewal, upgrading our health care institutions, improving the learning climate in our schools and assisting the poor and vulnerable through our social investment programmes.
“We are also collaborating with security agencies in tackling the issues of kidnapping, cultism, and other crimes to ensure that safety and security of all residents in Delta is guaranteed,” he said.
He paid glowing tributes to former governors and their deputies, past and present political office holders, civil servants – serving and retired.
In his sermon, Pastor Shiyanbade Adekunle, the Mission Overseer of Living Faith Church, said the people owed God immense thanks for the great things that He has been doing in the state.
Adekunle urged the people to always give thanks to God for all He has been doing in their lives.
He implored them to always hold unto God in any situation they found themselves in life, even as he prayed for sustained peace and unity in the state.
The Tide’s source reports that the event which was low -keyed had some state executives council members, royal fathers and other dignitaries in attendance.

Niger Delta

Fouchee Celebrates Asari’s Recognition

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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.