News
Reps Urge FG To Immortalise Ojukwu
The House of Representatives, has called on the Federal Government to immortalise late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu who passed on at a London hospital last Saturday at the age of 78.
“We are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to immortalise this gentleman, officer, courageous, successful politician and a leaders’ leader,’’ the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mohammed, said in a statement.
The House also described Ojukwu’s death as a colossal loss to the country.
The statement added: “While alive, Ojukwu displayed rare courage on principled stand on sensitive national matters.
“We in the Seventh Assembly regret his death, but we are consoled by the fact that we will continue to uphold his principle, ideals and the uncommon courage that Ojukwu lived and died for.’’
“The history of Nigeria will not be complete without a chapter solely dedicated to this great son of Nigeria and indeed Africa.’’
He stressed that Ojukwu was the first Nigerian graduate to have enlisted in the Nigerian army and added intellectual dimension to the force while in the service of his fatherland.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha said that Ojukwu played a great role in the evolution of Nigeria’s socio-political history.
“Love him or hate him; his landmark contributions in making Nigeria what she is today cannot be dimmed by his passage to the great beyond.
“We will all surely miss this bold and courageous man.’’
Rep. Uche Ekwunife (APGA, Anambra), the leader of Anambra caucus in the House said that the nation had lost a rare gem.
“We have lost the finest of Igbo extraction, a rare gem, a selfless and patriotic Nigerian.
“A nationalist whose principles are unequalled, he will be remembered for his brevity, commitment, sincerity of purpose and most importantly, his undiluted love for his people; we greatly miss him.’’
Rep. Abiodun Akinlade (ACN-Ogun) said Ojukwu made a statement in his lifetime with his leadership of the defunct Republic of Biafra.
Rep. Sarki Adar (PDP-Sokoto) said the late Ojukwu was a man of his words who stood for the cause he believed in.
From faraway United States of America, the President of World Igbo Congress, Chief Larry Udorji, described the life of Odumegwu-Ojukwu as courageous, visionary and prophetic.
“It is unfortunate that Ikemba Nnewi died,’’ Udorji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, saying that he sacrificed his personal comfort and life to the liberation of Igbos.
According to him, Ojukwu as Biafra leader ensured that Igbos were accorded respect and freedom as a people.
“He stood up to fight for the future of Igbos in the polity call Nigeria,’’ he said.
Udorji added that the things the deceased fought for several years ago were still the problem of the country.
President of a U.S.-based Nigerian socio-cultural association; Zumunta Association, Dr. Ezekiel Mancham said the death of Ojukwu was a great loss to the country.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Sports5 days ago
Eagles B Players Admit Pressure For CHAN Qualification
-
Rivers5 days ago
Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members
-
Rivers5 days ago
Group Seeks Prosecution Of Clergy, Others Over Attempted Murder
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Oborevwori Boosts Digitalisation With Ulesson 500 Tablets To Pupils, Students
-
Business5 days ago
CRG Partner JR Farms To Plant 30m Coffee Seedlings
-
Foods/Drinks5 days ago
What To Know About Your Menu
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Don Highlights On The Potential Of Groundwater As Hidden Wealth For Sustainable Future
-
Rivers5 days ago
Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH