Connect with us

Niger Delta

Body Unveils Elite Movement, Mulls Maiden Confab

Published

6 months ago

on

Elites of Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa State have unveiled a new movement called the “Pan-Ogbia Movement” (POM).
The Tide gathered that Ogbia is a kingdom which spans across communities in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, with some communities in Nembe Local Government Area of the State and others some communities in Abua-Odual and Ahoada-West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Speaking with newsmen recently in his country home, Imiringi, one of the various communities that make up the Kingdom, former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and founder of the group, Chief Augustus Elliot Osomu, said the intent of founding the group was nothing far from the unity, peace and progress of the ethnic group.
He said the group has plans to hold its maiden physical sumit to brainstorm with a view to proffering solutions to problems allegedly inhibiting the unity and development of the kingdom.
The former lawmaker who currently serves as a Commissioner in the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), noted that the Pan-Ogbia Movement comprises elites from the Ogbia extraction, all over the world.
Osomu said all willing and interested sons and daughters of the ethnic group both home and abroad are assiduously contributing to the development of the group upon their admissions as members.
The Tide reports that the Pan-Ogbia Movement is a social media based interactive and impactful discourse group consisting mostly elites of the Ogbia extraction.
“Very soon we’ll inaugurate a committee to work out modalities for our maiden physical submit where we’ll proffer solutions to some of our challenges as a people.
“Many of us have come to the notion that our fathers, our ancestors aren’t happy with us regarding the way and manner things have become with us as Ogbia people.
“So, the essence of this movement is to task us on rebuilding the almost lost unity, progress and development of the Ogbia ethnic nationality”, he said.
The Tide also learnt that the first Executive Governor of the Old Rivers State, the late Chief Melford Obiene Okilo, and former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the present CEO/MD of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, amongst others hail from the Ogbia ethnic nationality.
Meanwhile, Chief Osomu has commended the aggrieved indigenes of the Kingdom who hitherto were in court challenging and defending the status quo of the acting executives of the parent Ogbia ethnic group’s body, the ‘Ogbia Brotherhood’ for willfully withdrawing the matter and resorting to out-of-court settlement.
He said he was convinced that the withdrawal was due to the mutual love the parties have for the ethnic group, saying it is the more merrier for the unity and progress of the Kingdom.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

Bayelsa Charges Environment Ministry To  End Bush Burning

Published

2 weeks ago

on

December 20, 2024

By

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.
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

Stakeholders Caution Delta Over Propose Mangrove Forest Sale

Published

2 weeks ago

on

December 20, 2024

By

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.
Continue Reading

Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Accountability, Effective Service Delivery

Published

2 weeks ago

on

December 20, 2024

By

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.
Continue Reading

Trending