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Easter: Wike, Obuah, Others Felicitate With Christians
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has felicitated with Christians on the celebration of Easter, urging them to emulate Jesus Christ by making sacrifices that will advance the course of development.
In an Easter message, Wike said that Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind, noting that as individuals, Christians must take into consideration the welfare of others.
He called on the people of Rivers State to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the state as they reflect on the ideals of Good Friday and Easter celebration.
Wike assured the good people of Rivers State that he will continue to make sacrifices for the state, defend her interests and ensure that the people always enjoy good governance.
He said Easter was a period of fresh beginning, forgiveness, love and friendship, and urged the privileged to reach out to the less privileged as everyone works to deepen the culture of true Christianity.
While wishing the people of the state a Happy Easter celebration, Wike assured them of their security before, during and after the celebrations.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro. Felix Obuah has urged Christians in the state to use the Easter period to pray for the continuous success of the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.
Obuah, in his special Easter message, said such prayers would go a long way to engender good governance and uplift the well-being of the people.
According to the PDP chairman, “Easter is an opportunity for Rivers people to cultivate a spirit that defines who we are as Christians”, and urged them to make sacrifices through prayer and fasting, adding that the governor needs their prayers for God’s favours and mercies to meet the socio-economic needs of the people.
He described the Easter celebration as a moment of sacrifice when our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as a ransom to redeem man from his sins.
Bro. Obuah stressed that the price for Christ’s death for mankind was immeasurable as the Christian faith was anchored on His death and resurrection.
He charged Christians and people of the state to compliment government’s effort by meeting one another’s needs, adding “There is no better time to do this than this period of economic recession”.
”Our governor, as a human being is also faced with challenges associated with governance. We should support him by doing the needful like carrying out our obligations as good citizens. We should not sabotage his efforts by engaging in acts inimical to his administration” said the PDP chairman.
As Bayesla State, the Governor Seriake Dickson called for greater sacrifice, peace, love and unity among Christians all over the world as they celebrate Easter.
Dickson said that these are virtues and qualities that Christ himself displayed and propagated throughout His life time on earth.
In his Easter message, made public by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Bayelsa State governor noted that, the significance and real meaning of the season would be lost, if Christians allow selfish tendencies, hatred and intolerance to influence their lifestyles and general conduct.
He stated that, the country, and indeed, the world will be a more peaceful place, if Christians and adherents of other religions see themselves as one and the same people, irrespective of their religious, political, cultural and ethnic affinities.
Dickson, who also urged leaders at all levels of government to make sacrifice, as well as work in one accord to turn around the economic fortunes of the country, called on all Nigerians to see the current challenges facing the nation as a collective responsibility.
While wishing Christians a happy Easter celebration, he encouraged them to keep faith with the policies and programmes of the restoration administration in the state, stressing that, better days were ahead, while also urging them to pray fervently for the peace, unity and progress of the state and the nation in general.
Similarly, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called on the people of the state to be united and renew their commitment to moral rejuvenation of the state.
The governor, in his Easter message yesterday in Ilorin, congratulated Christians for a successful completion of lent.
The governor called on Christians to imbibe the lessons of the holy period and allow them reflect on their daily life.
“I urge Christians to remain committed to the service of God and humanity.
“ You should be determined to show affection, care and sympathy to all and sundry as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
“As you came out pure and simple from this spiritual rejuvenation, you are expected to live an exemplary life of Jesus Christ,” the governor said.
Ahmed also called on the people of the state to pray for the success of the current administration in its determination to restore dignity and honour to the country.
He reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to serve the people of the state and fulfill his electoral promises.
Also, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has urged Nigerians to allow love for the country reign supreme in their lives.
He said Nigerians must ignore those creating divisions and disunity in the country, stressing that “forces of division have nothing to offer other than chaos and negativity.”
The governor, in his Easter message in Sokoto, Saturday, by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Imam Imam, also said that ”love for the country means loving the people of the country without distinction.
“Only by loving our country can we attain lofty heights in development, growth and prosperity.”
While rejoicing with Nigerians, especially of Christian faith for witnessing this year’s easter, Tambuwal urged them to promote peace and harmony at all times.
He pledged to continue promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, and urged the people not to relent in prayers and support for government.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.