Niger Delta

Odogbor Seeks Grassroots Support For Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda

Published

5 months ago

August 12, 2024

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Mass Mobilisation to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Dr. Vincent Udume Odogbor, has called on stakeholders across the state to key into the MORE Agenda of the Governor for the overall development of the state.
Odogbor made the call when he paid a working visit to the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, Hon. Comrade Warri Ovoke Friday, at his office in Oleh, recently.
Dr. Odogbor, an indigene of Isoko South, said his visit to the Council Chairman was to shore up more grassroot support for the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
While noting that the emergence of the chairman was the will of God, because he was destined to lead Isoko South at a time like this, he urged the chairman to remain dedicated to the course of the downtrodden which he had championed since his days of student unionism.
“Our amiable boss and Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is very passionate in delivering meaningful and quality infrastructure and human capital development to Deltans.
“I have no doubt that you will deliver impressively on the job. Our people are confident in your wealth of experience and expect more in Isoko South Local Government Council”, he stated.
The SSA further said his office will partner with LGA chairmen, royal fathers, youth leaders, women and the corporate sector to promote the MORE Agenda and mobilise Deltans home and abroad to key in positively in advancing Delta State to enviable heights.
Responding, the Chairman assured that his administration would work assiduously to improve the living standards of the people.
Warri said he was very passionate about tackling the worries of Isoko South people, saying that he has embarked on critical intervention on road remediation across the Local Government, beginning with the Ogbemudia Road in Oleh.
“My adminstration will not only improve the standard of living for our people, but will set new standards that will leave our people better and improved than I met them.
“I love our people and will stop at nothing to make them feel the dividends of democracy at the grassroot”, he promised.

By: Albert Ograka, Asaba

Niger Delta

Kalabari Media Forum Hails Recognition Of Dokubo Asari As Amayanabo

Published

11 mins 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

23 mins 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.

Niger Delta

Eno Urges Unity, Warns Against Politics Of Division In 2025

Published

24 mins ago

January 10, 2025

The Tide

Akwa Ibom Staye Governor, Umo Eno, has enjoined people of the state to remain united and shun politics of division and personal destruction in 2025.

Making the call in his New Year broadcast to Akwa Ibom people on in Uyo, the Governor said he was committed to running an all inclusive government, where everyone would be carried along irrespective of party or religious affiliations.

According to him, “as we usher in the New Year, I enjoin us to remain united and shun politics of division and personal destruction.

“We are committed to running an inclusive government, and we have demonstrated this approach in the last 18 months since we came in.

“Politics should not divide us or severe our bonds of kindred ship, we are first and foremost Akwa Ibomites before we became members of political parties.

“Let us continue to hold our defined identity as a peaceful, prosperous and forward-looking people.

“I will continue to run the state by involving and consulting our leaders across party lines because if we succeed, Akwa Ibom succeeds; and success, we will”.

The Governor assured the people of more dividends of democracy as he navigate the state to greater heights.

He said in 2025, the State Government would flag-off the construction of the Medical Village along the medical tourism corridor between the Ibom Specialist Hospital and the Raffia City of Ikot Ekpene.

The Governor added that the state government would formally launch the state Ambulance Services to complement the Insurance Scheme this year.

Eno said in 2025, the State Government would hold power summit with commitment to improving on the power sector and bring rural development closer to the people.

“In the New Year, in line with our avowed commitment to improve our power sector, we will reinvigorate our power system and also hold a Power Summit which will produce a step-by-step Road-map on Power for the state.

“With this development, Akwa Ibom State working with other key stakeholders in the power sector can generate, distribute, transmit and conduct sales of electricity within the state.

“We are determined to turn around the fortunes of Ibom Power Plant.

“The forensic audit earlier instituted is expected to submit its reports and we will study and implement some of the recommendations germane to our strategic plans”, he said.

The Governor added that in 2025, the state government would be receiving from the Nigerian Navy two passenger ferries for inter-state water travels between Akwa Ibom and Cross River to boost water transportation.