Ereyitomi Felicitates Olu of Warri, Atuwatse III CFR on his 3rd coronation anniversary

By: Celestine Ukah

The Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Honourable Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi has congratulated the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, on his 3rd coronation anniversary Wednesday August 21, 2024.

Chief Ereyitomi Lauded the Warri Monarch for ensuring peaceful co-existence in Warri Kingdom since he ascended the ancient throne three years ago.

The Warri Federal Parliamentarian notes that Ogiame Atuwatse III Olu of Warri had played significant roles in the economic revival of Warri Kingdom in the last few years he ascended the throne.

Chief Ereyitomi whilst Congrstulating Ogiame Atuwatse III called for more unity and Peace among the people in order to experience rapid development across the Warri traditional ruler’s domain, just as he urged the Olu subjects to continually show solidarity and respect to the throne always.

Rep Ereyitomi on behalf of his family, lovely people of Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West expressed deep congratulations to His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse Iii, CFR, The Olu of Warri as he celebrates three years on the Prestine throne of Warri Kingdom.

Delta Govt warns Pensioners Scammers of Arrest , Prosecution -Says Gbegbaje

The Chairman, Delta State Bureau for Pensions, Sir Edwin E. Ogidi-Gbegbaje (KSM), says government was after pensions’ scammers who misled innocent citizens especially unsuspecting pensioners and their family members.

Sir. Ogidi-Gbegbaje who was flanked by Directors of the Board, disclosed this Wednesday August 21, 2024, when members of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba, the State capital.

He warned that those responsible for defrauding pensioners of their hard earned resources, would soon have their day and urged them to as a matter of urgency turn a new way of life as the Bureau under his watch has zero tolerance for corruption and unscrupulous elements.

He ruled out compromise while management and staff are doing their work, saying no staff was allowed to demand for tips from retirees.

He disclosed that recently, the activity of a scammer whose name he gave as James Onoja Pen, with phone number 07070764813, was brought to his notice who demanded the sum of N45, 000 to facilitate the payment for a retiree.

When the number was placed on True Caller, it showed James Onoja Fraud.

Hear him: “It may have happened in the past but not hear. Somebody came here in respect of pension for his late mother and he said he got a phone call from somebody who got the information of the late mother very correctly but now said he should part with N45, 000 to get the money out quickly.

“I have collected the name of the person who made that phone call, I will strongly advise and warn that anybody who accepts such request to give gratification to anybody for the processing or the payments for entitlement, does so at his/her own risk.

“We do not solicit for or demand for payments in the processing of pension benefits. If there is anybody who is doing so, I want to plead, let that person be exposed.

“Because if I get reliable information on those persons or person who are doing that, such person or persons will face the law, I will not tolerate that and it will not be encouraged.

“And anybody who is found wanting doing that, will face dire consequences. That is my position on it”, the forthright Bureau Chairman, declared.

He denied awareness of any cartel in the Board involved in the scamming of pensioners, “that person is not our staff”.

He said the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration holds pensioners so dear to his heart and would do anything humanly possible to ameliorate their plights.

Sangana welcomes PROHAN to Curb Crime in Bayelsa

By: Daniel Domotimi

The people of Sangana Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State have embraced the Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria, PROHAN, a Community Based Security outfit to combat crime in the state.

The Kingdom adopted the outfit in an induction course that was designed to fight crime.

Speaking during a meeting that was organized by the Sangana Council of Chiefs, the people expressed satisfaction over the intake and recruitment process of it’s citizenry.

This was contained in a press statement released by the Bayelsa State Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Daniel Domotimi who noted that security is everybody’s business.

The statement reads in part, “Receiving the inductees and the entourage of the Deputy National Coordinator of the Paramilitary Organization, Chief Michael Chukwuemeka, the Chairman Sangana Council of Chiefs (SNCC), Chief Co Abel-Bahuo assured PROHAN of all necessary support in the eradication of crime.

The statement further quoted the number two man organization to have said, “I am worried over the slow pace of this community based outfit metamorphosing into a full blown security outfit which will indeed assist the Nigerian Police Force in the fight against insecurity in the country.

“We know that creating the outfit is one thing but providing the needed community policing to the fullest is the main deal.

“I urge you all to implicate the success that was recorded during the Okodia/Zarama Operations which had resulted to absolute piece,” the statement added.

The organization was formed across the 36 states of the federation in 2016 and was inaugurated by Major General Buratai, the former Chief of Defense Staff.

Elders, Women, Youths others should give Oborevwori’s administration support -Mulade

**Wants all parts of Delta to be peaceful to experience even development

National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (ÇEPEJ), Sheriff Mulade, has urged Deltans to give the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori the maximum support for development to thrive across the State.

Mulade, who made the call shortly after his investiture as patron of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Warri, stated that the Oborevwori-led administration needs peace in order to fulfill its campaign promises to the people.

While calling on all and sundry to give peace a chance, the ICC Patron, said: “the government of Delta State needs peace. The women, youths and elders need to give peace a chance and give maximum corporation and support to the Oborevwori-led administration so that these resources that are coming to the state will not be misappropriated or misused or manipulated under the disguise of insecurity in the state.

“Because one of the corrupt means that governments use as a conduit pipe to drain any state, is crisis because they will say you don’t account for it.

“So, I am using this opportunity to call on Deltans to be peaceful so that these billions of naira that are coming from FAAC, 13 percent derivation, IGR, bailout, coming from sources to the state are amounting to about N100 billion or more in a month could be translate into development and progress of the state.

“Deltans must give peace a chance, work together to support the government of Oborevwori, so that we can hold the government accountable, because when there is peace, there is development.

“Deltans should not also be scared of questioning the government. Questioning the government does not make you to be anti-government, it is your right to know”, he said.

He used the opportunity to charge journalists to be unbiased in their reportage of issues, “Journalists should also help us report accurate and balance stories.

“Don’t just hear from one side and go and publish, you should have a balance reportage. You are the window to the world”.

Late Tony Onyeagwu Football Tournament To stimulate Football In Nigeria

By: Jude Agbeyeke

Sports remains an elixir for engendering unity in a society as it has the ability to build bridges that unites the people.
The Chairman of Ika South Local Government Hounourable Jerry Ehiwario stated this during a Press Briefing for the Maiden Edition of the Late Tony Onyeagwu Football Tournament for Public Primary Schools in Ika South Local Government Area.

Hounourable Ehiwario said there was need for the regeneration of the mindset of the future generation through a calculated programme aimed at discovering and harnessing the potentials in the children at an early stage in a bid to give them a direction that would help them become better citizens.

The Ika South Local Government Chairman while expressing grief on the loss of the Late Tony Onyeagwu thanked the family for immortalizing him saying he had impacted positively on the lives of several people as well as the society and his indelible footprints cannot be forgotten.

He however assured that the Tony Onyeagwu Football Tournament for Primary Schools in Ika South Local Government would get the support of his administration.

The Chairman of the Delta State Football Association Chief Ken Nwaomucha represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr Steve Cole lauded the Onyeagwu family for taking up the venture of investing in the football sector saying the DFA would lend it’s support to the project as it had the potential to transform cadet football in the state.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee Mr Hilary Onyeagwu who is an elder brother to the Late Tony Onyeagwu thanked the Ika South Ocal Government Chairman for the support given to the tournament saying the decision to immortalize his younger brother was aimed at celebrating the virtues and lifestyle he lived as well as discovering young talents from Ika South who would someday become global stars.

According to Mr Onyeagwu the Late Tony Onyeagwu was a passionate sportsman and had a serious love for football hence the decision to organize the tournament that would galvanize young Ika sons towards attaining heights unknown in Nigerian football.

He assured that the competition would be annual event even as he enjoined the over 60 Primary schools that would be taking part in the competition to see the tournament as a platform to showcase the immense talent in Ika South.
Mr Onyeagwu urged them to desist from acts that could undermine the tournament saying the organizers would not hesitate in banning any school seen to be engaging in age cheat or making use of mercenaries.

The Head Technical Committee of the Late Tony Onyeagwu Football Tournament, Mr. Lucky – Sunday Ikeki assured that any school involved in age cheat or use of mercenaries would be found out as mechanisms have been put in place to fish such individuals out saying the Committee had some veterans of the sport as well as administrators who are conversant with age grade competitions.

Mr Ikeki who is a former football international said assured that the tournament would reinvigorate football not only in Ika South but across the nation as its product would take the nations football by storm in the near future.

Others who spoke including Me Desmond Ebede said the tournament was a welcomed one as it would further entrench the need for people to show to one another s depicted by the Late Tony Onyeagwu who reached out to the needy and downtrodden especially widows and orphans.

The maiden edition of the Late Tony Onyeagwu Football Tournament for Primary Schools in Ika South is expected to kickoff on September 30 with the final taking place at the Agbor Township Stadium on November 5.

Agudama-Epie agog as late Mrs. Bokolo laid to rest amidst Eulogies, tributes

By: Olaitari Ungbuku

It was a mammoth crowd for the burial ceremony of late Elder (Mrs) Flora Bokolo, Nee Vure at Agudama Epie community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

The ceremony which held Saturday August 17, 2024 attracted big wigs from all sphere of live.

Speaking to Journalists shortly after the interment, the husband of the deceased, His Royal Highness (HRH) Chief Solomon Bokolo described his late wife to be a real gift from God Almighty to him.

“My wife was loyal, faithful, industrious and kind to all asundry, she was a mother indeed to my children and relatives.” He added

The first son of the deceased, Dr Giame P.S Bokolo, last son, Mr Onizibe Bokolo all described their late mother as a disciplinarian and action driven mother, adding that their siblings were not left out in her magnanimous approach to life.

According to them, “Our mother was generous, to her relations and outsiders mostly in the Garden City of Port Harcourt) during the 1970s.

“She receive every Agudama Epie Indigene who came to visiting us in search of greener pastures.

On her part Miss Precious Bokolo the only daughter of the deceased said, her Mum was also a friend to her.

“As the only daughter of the house, I cannot forget in a hurry but remember the bond we share together.

“The moral advice she gave to her siblings, very supportive to her father, laboured hard to support her Dad in terms of educational pursuit and life in general”, she hinted.

They thanked everyone who left their tight schedule to support them at the funeral.

Mulade lauds Governor Oborevwori for Creating Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure

**Calls for Statutory Status for the Ministry

A Delta State-born development and peace advocate, and initiator of the creation of Coastal Areas Development Agency, CADA, Chief Sheriff Mulade has commended the Sheriff Oborevwori Administration for creating the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure, with an appeal for statutory status accorded to the Ministry.

Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, gave the commendation at Abuja in a chat with newsmen over the recent development.

The peace advocate said the creation of the Ministry and the appointment of Chief Ebikeme Clark both indicated that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is a true democrat eager to carry all segments of the state along in his development strides, particularly those in the deprived riverine areas.

He commended the Governor for his move to solve the problem of infrastructural deficit in the riverine areas by creating the Ministry which he said would go a long way in helping to ease the plights of coastal and riverine rural dwellers.

“I must commend Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for this bold step, which is long overdue. It shows that the Governor has a listening ear, and I believe through the establishment of this Ministry, the riverine areas will be given a sense of belonging, and will equally experience a new lease of life if adequately funded,” Mulade asserted.

He said the riverine areas play host to mainly maritime, oil and gas production activities, which he said constitute the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy. He, however, noted that the riverine areas lack many basic amenities despite the huge contributions to the development of the State and Nigeria at large.

“We have been crying for years over the deliberate neglect of the coastal dwellers after over seven decades of oil exploration activities, accentuated by the lopsided distribution of socio-economic development,” he added.

Chief Mulade noted that while the move was commendable, he was still bothered about the prospect of the Ministry in terms of its permanence as a statutory Agency backed by law.

He therefore appealed to the Oborevwori-led government to send an executive bill to the State House of Assembly to make the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure a statutory institution to help guarantee its existence beyond his administration and give more assurance to stakeholders that their welfare is paramount to the government.

He noted that the infrastructural deficit in the riverine areas of Delta State might not be totally addressed within a few years due to the difficult terrain of the coastal areas that will attract heavy funding to implement viable projects.

The Ijaw born development and peace advocate strongly appealed to Governor Oborevwori to consider the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure as a development priority that requires adequate funding to achieve its purpose of creation, devoid of politics.