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Mrs Jonathan, Ogbuku Task Ogbia Community On Unity, Collaboration …As Bayelsa Kingdom Holds Maiden Summit

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1 year ago

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Former First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has called on the people of Ogbia Kingdom to be united for development.
She made the call, recently, in Ogbia Town, Headquarters of Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, during the maiden “Ogbia non-violence, peace building and sustainable development summit”, with the theme, “Collaborative actions for peace and sustainable development”.
The former First Lady noted that without unity and peace, development was elusive, emphasizing the need for sustainable development.
She also the youths and people of Ogbia Kingdom must put the kingdom above their “individualistic tendencies” first in their dealings.
“In 1999, when my husband, your son and brother, contested the elections as Alamieyeseigha’s running mate to be Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Alamieyeseigha lost in his Local Government Area, Southern Ijaw. But when the Ogbia votes came, we won the elections because of the power and block vote of the Ogbia people.
“Before I married your Son and brother, I’ve heard how powerful the Ogbia people were. In the old Rivers State, Ogbia was known and respected by other tribes.
“In every election in the old Rivers State, they’d be waiting for the Ogbia votes, because they knew that Ogbia has one block vote and spoke in unity. It’s the Ogbia vote that determines who would win elections in the old Rivers State.
“Without unity and peace, development can’t come to any area. Ogbia people must collaborate with each other and those in authorities to bring sustainable development, peace and unity to this Kingdom”, she said.
The Tide learnt that though Ogbia Kingdom is predominantly in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, it has communities in both Nembe LGA of the State and also has some Ogbia speaking communities in the Ahoada-West and Abua-Odual LGAs of Rivers State.
She thanked the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) Worldwide, for organizing the event, saying that periodic events as this be organized, and Ogbia people in positions of authorities be invited so they could grace the occasion and come up with developmental strategies and modalities for the development of the Kingdom.
In his keynote address, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, tasked the Ogbia people on collaborations and partnership for the development of the kingdom.
Ogbuku expressed regrets that for years there have been visible retrogression in the kingdom due to distrust, disunity and selfish thinking on the part of some in the kingdom.
He reiterated his commitment towards fostering collaborations with stakeholders and other well-meaning individuals of Ogbia extraction in working out modalities for the rebuilding of the kingdom, saying “Ogbia first” should be the thinking of every Ogbia person before the “self first” mentality.
“Ogbia Kingdom must learn how to collaborate and partner others and their sons and daughters in positions to develop this Kingdom. We must not politicize everything.
“We may belong to different political parties, but in our thoughts and dealings, we must put the general interest of Ogbia first above our own personal interest.
“We must not stay far from each other because we’re not in the same party, or say we’re not close. We’re all brothers and sisters. But first of all, we’re all Ogbia people before political parties.
“Let’s go back to the drawing board like our fathers did in the past to again attract development to this Kingdom. Ogbia can’t continue playing the fiddle in the politics of this state.
“We must be united to take our rightful positions and places in the scheme of things. We must love ourselves as a kingdom like the Ogbia Brotherhood slogan suggests: ‘’Each for all, and All for each”, he said.
Also speaking, the Royal father of the day and Obanobhan (Monarch) of Anyama Clan, HRM, King Omie Theophilus, lauded the umbrella Ogbia youth body for putting the event together.
He also commended participants and all “special invitees” for showing up for the summit, noting that the kingdom shall rise again.
Earlier in his opening remarks, President, Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC), Amb. Johnny Jonathan, said the reason for the programme was for the Ogbia people to fashion out developmental strategies and look at their challenges in the past and future prospects.
He eulogized the NDDC MD, the former First Lady, the royal fathers, youths and all others for gracing the occasion.
Highpoints of the event was the unveiling of the Ogbia Kingdom website and the Ogbia technical and skills hub, as well as panel discussions.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

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Niger Delta

Bayelsa Charges Environment Ministry To  End Bush Burning

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7 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Bayelsa State Government has ordered its Ministry of Environment to take necessary measures to identify and arrest individuals or groups indulging in indiscriminate bush burning in the state.
It also directed its Taskforce on Livestock Management to take proactive steps to checkmate the activities of cattle rearers to prevent the destruction of crops and farms across communities in all the local government areas of the state.
Acting Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directives while presiding over the 146th Session of the  State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him as emphasizing on the dangers of bush burning to the environment, ecosystem and human health.
The statement added that the state’s number two man also warned those perpetrating the act to stop forthwith or face the wrath of the law.
To this end, Atasi added that the Acting State Chief Executive directed the Ministry of Environment to activate the taskforce, with a view to apprehending those found culpable and to ensure they are brought to justice.
On cattle rearers encroaching on farmlands and destroying crops, Senator Ewhrudjakpo noted that the law on anti-grazing was still in force and should be implemented in all ramifications.
He, therefore, directed the taskforce on livestock management in the state to operationalize all machineries to ensure that herders carry out their trade within the limits of the law to avoid unnecessary destruction of lives and property, including crops.
“We want to use this opportunity to alert the public about the danger of bush burning. The hazards are quite known by everybody.
“Nobody should, for the sake of their farms which they want to keep clean and cultivate, jeopardize the health of other citizens. And so, the Ministry of Environment is hereby directed to activate the taskforce on anti-burning.
“The ministry must make sure that all those who are involved in bush burning are discouraged, and where they fail to comply, they should either be brought to justice or justice taken to them.
“In a similar vein, we are aware of the influx of herders into our state. The state taskforce on livestock management is hereby also directed to activate all machineries to ensure that herders don’t come into our state to destroy our farmlands.
“The law on anti-grazing remains in force and should be enforced in all ramifications. So, livestock management committee, both at the state and local government areas, should be activated and make sure that they curtail and contain every unnecessary grazing that is not permitted in our state”, he said.
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Niger Delta

Stakeholders Caution Delta Over Propose Mangrove Forest Sale

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7 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has cautioned the Delta State Government over its proposed sale of 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, for billions of naira.
According to the Tide’s source, HOMEF stated that carbon trade pollutes the environment, and  it is dangerous to human nature.
The Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, who was a Guest Speaker at the Environment outreach magazine public lecture/annual award at Spring Hills Hotel in Asaba, explained that carbon trade is a killer disease which is bound to affect human beings including rivers.
Basse said through Blue Carbon or carbon trade, which is the sale of mangrove forest, people will calculate the carbon in the mangrove, then sell it as carbon credit.
“Delta State is proposing to sell 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, one of the biggest in the country to some companies whose intentions we believe is to sell the carbon to oil companies, and when they buy the credit, then they have the right to pollute.
“Carbon credit is set to upset the pollution that is why it is a false solution.
“So, it doesn’t work. We have to do what is right to nature, and not necessarily because of money. Don’t allow carbon trading, don’t allow waters pollution”, Basset stated.
Earlier, Bayelsa-born Noble Akenge, the publisher of Environment Outreach magazine, lamented the negative effects of environmental pollution in the State.
Akenge said the state, being the heart of petroleum activities, had suffered a lot of ecological damages due to oil spills.
The Environmentalist noted that the people’s major preoccupation of fishing and farming have been impacted seriously as most of their farmlands and even rivers and streams have been polluted by oil spills.
“The destruction of the rivers in Delta State represent the phenomena in most Niger Delta States where oil and related activities take place”, he added.
The source reports that Awards were presented to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, among others.
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Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Accountability, Effective Service Delivery

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7 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will remain committed to ensuring effective leadership, service delivery and be accountable to the people.
He made the remarks at the maiden edition of his administration’s ministerial briefing and end of year review in Uyo on Monday.
He said his administration would remain purely committed to delivering democracy dividends to Akwa Ibom people in line with its campaign promises.
The Governor stated that the ministerial  briefing was to enable the administration to present its scorecard in the past 18 months.
According to him, the briefing is an enlarged executive council meeting aimed at presenting government’s scorecard and gaining new ideas.
“The exercise will enable Akwa Ibom people to evaluate and assess our government’s performance so far.
“In the past 18 months, this administration has been accountable, transparent and prudent in managing public funds.
“Release of funds must be tied to ideas and projects that will benefit the generality of Akwa Ibom people”, he said.
Eno stated that his administration is open to constructive criticisms, saying, ”I mean criticisms that will put government on its toes, and not smear campaign and condemnation.
“I must say that we have done well. It is left for critical stakeholders to analyse what we have done. We have tried to keep to the ideals of the ARISE Agenda”.
He said his administration is currently working on three major projects such as the Aviation Village, Ibom Deep Sea Port and Ibom Medical City.
Eno continued that the three major projects were capital intensive, and that his administration had to give priority attention to the airport project following its quick return on investment.
He commended his predecessor for embarking on projects that had strategic investment value.
According to the Commissioner, in 2025, his administration would be holding town hall meeting twice in a month to ensure public inputs to governance.
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (Rtd), said the State Government had religiously settled compensations for lands acquired from citizens.
Ekong stated that the government had successfully reclaimed all government lands that were acquired illegally.
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