News

PDP Congress Now Holds May 1 …I Won’t Contest -Metuh

Published

10 years ago

April 22, 2016

Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enalema, Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will now commence the election of its ward executive committee members on May 1st while the local government congresses will hold on May 5th, this year.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made the adjustment on Wednesday in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.
Metuh, in the statement, said the PDP national convention would still hold on May 21, while the state congresses will hold on May 10th.
He said ward congress appeal hearing is scheduled for May 2, while the adjustment of the timetable will enable the local government area congresses to be held on May 5, and the subsequent appeal hearing on May 7.
The party also fixed its state congresses for May 10, as well as arising appeal for May 12, 2016.
It added that the zonal congresses have been fixed for May 14, and the zonal appeal on May 17.
However, the national publicity secretary has denied that there was a disagreement among members of the PDP National Convention zoning committee over issues concerning the convention.
He said that members of the committee were still consulting to arrive at an acceptable zoning formula ahead of the May 21 national convention of the party in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
According to him, “Consultation on the zoning formula is on-going. All the governors are involved; members of the National Assembly are also involved.
“At the end of the day, the committee will come up with a zoning formula that will be acceptable to members, and put the party again on the path of glory,” he said.
Although Metuh refused to disclose the date for the next meeting of the committee, he however, stated that it would be held next week in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has declared that he will not be contesting for any position in the forthcoming PDP Convention, holding in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on May 21.
He disclosed this via a statement made available to newsmen, yesterday.
“As Nigerians are aware, my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing for a National Convention where national officers who will pilot its affairs in the next four years are expected to emerge.
As one of the founding members of this party, the longest serving member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and currently a critical player in the party, my supporters and admirers expect me to contest and this has spurred speculations in the media.
“However, I wish to state publicly that I have no ambitions to continue as a member of the National Working Committee after the expiration of my current tenure as the National Publicity Secretary, a decision that is enjoying the support of my family.
“I, therefore, with every sense of responsibility, confirm to all members of our great party that I will not run for any position whatsoever in the forthcoming National Convention irrespective of which office may be zoned to the south east for that matter.
“What is paramount in my mind at this point is to continue to lift the image of our great party during the remaining part of my tenure as the image-maker of the PDP, a position, which by the grace of God, I have been able to dutifully deliver to the best of my ability despite daunting challenges.
“Finally, I wish to assure all my associates and supporters that my love and commitment to the party remains unshaken, especially as we work together to build not only a strong and virile party but also a prosperous, united and stable nation”.
Also, ahead of the forthcoming congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chamber, Hon. Tajudeen Obasa, has called on all members of the party to remain law abiding and to continue adhering to the procedures being laid down.
He also urged them to eschew any act that will truncate the existing peace and unity already being witnessed in the party.
The convention scheduled to begin at the ward level on April 30 will be concluded at the National Convention on May 21, 2016.
In a statement released by his media aide, Mr Opeyemi Ahmed, the lawmaker exhorted members of the party to participate diligently in the process in order to strengthen democracy and reposition the party for victory come 2019.
The statement reads “The status of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at this moment is a plus for democracy, this is a time for repositioning the people’s party in line with the aspirations of our founding fathers.

News

HYPREP Tightens Security At Project Sites

Published

49 minutes ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

Following the rupture of the ground tank of its water facility in Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has tightened security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

HYPREP, which dropped this hint in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey had given the directive for security to be tightened across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

Mba-Nwigoh noted that the tightening of security across the project sites has become necessary to forestall interference with the facilities.

He further disclosed that following the rupture of the ground tank of the Ebubu water facility, a team led by HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi has visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation, stressing that the water facility has been cordoned off for public safety.

The statement indicated that following the incident, HYPREP has henceforth barred non-project personnel and non-facility staff from gaining access into any of its active project sites in Ogoniland without authorisation.

While appealing to residents of Ebubu Community and the public to remain calm, the Head of Communications assured them that the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community, saying, the cause of the unfortunate incident is being investigated.

He equally noted that the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP has been directed to immediately tighten security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

The statement said HYPREP is deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that despite the setback, the Project reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

7 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

7 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa