News

Abonnema Chieftaincy Tussle: RSG Endorses Bob-Manuel’s Kingship

Published

8 years ago

December 1, 2017

Rivers State Government has endorsed the recognition of King Disreal Bob-Manuel as First Class traditional ruler and the Amanyanabo of Abonnema. Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike who made the declaration last Wednesday following insinuations that King Bob-Manuel was suspended or deposed, said nobody has the authority to depose a First Class Traditional ruler that enjoys full recognition of the government without the approval of the State Chief Executive.
Wike who was responding to submissions of Abonnema Council of Chiefs that paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, said that nobody has deposed the King, adding that, “it is only the state government that has the power to depose a First Class traditional ruler and we have no intention to depose the Amanyanabo of Abonnema”.
Reacting to the role allegedly being played by security agencies in the chieftaincy squabble brewing in the area, Wike expressed regrets that the security agencies’ involvement in chieftaincy affairs was rather unfortunate.
“Our security agencies have gone so low that they are now involved in everything, including chieftaincy affairs. Soon, they will involve themselves in husband and wife issues. Can they carry an Emir like that? Can they carry an Oba like that? We pray they withdraw from such illegal activity”, Wike said.
Wike who decried the role being played by some prominent elderly persons from the area, noted that they have refused to understand the meaning and importance of peace such that they had resorted to instigating crisis.
He also wondered why the feuding Abonnema United founding fathers would spread the false report that some persons were planning to kill High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs.
“I don’t know whether they know the implication of the crisis they are generating. There is no need for anyone to create crisis in a very peaceful community,” he said, adding that the conflict was politically motivated and aimed at achieving pre-meditated political goals.
Wike charged youths of Abonnema to be at alert in the defence of their traditional heritage and urged them not to allow persons or groups to distort their traditional order.
The governor assured the Abonnema Council of Chiefs that the state government will take up the matter with the state Commissioner of Police even as he pledged a formal report to be made to the Nigerian Army headquarters on the illegal deployment of soldiers to arrest the Amanyanabo of Abonnema.
Reiterating the strong support of Abonnema people to the emergence of the present administration, Wike said he will continue to execute meaningful projects in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
The Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Bob-Manuel, while speaking earlier had said he had come with his Council of Chiefs to seek state government’s protection from some persons using security agencies to disrupt peace and the traditional order in the area.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

11 hours 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”.

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

Published

11 hours 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

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

11 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.