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Eze Evo Seeks Sustenance Of Culture

His Royal Majesty, Eze Leslie Eke, Eze OhaEvo, Eze Gbakagbaka III of Evo Kingdom in Rivers State, has underscored the need to revive and sustain at the grassroots, time-tested traditional norms and values that bind Nigerians together, in order to build a better society.
Eze Gbakagbaka said this, during the coronation ceremony of the Nye Udu Ede Upata I, HRH Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, while he paid glowing tributes to the Eze Igbu Upata III of Upata Kingdom, HRM King Felix Enene Otuwarikpo.
Eze Eke noted that the Upata Kingdom has remained largely peaceful on account of King Otuwarikpo’s leadership since he ascended the throne.
He also noted that the traditional institutions are the custodians of values and norms as they play important roles, especially at the grassroots.
He however urged parents to cultivate the habit of teaching their children the values, norms and language of their people to enable them appreciate the rich culture handed down by their forefathers.
The Evo Monarch, who was the chairman of the occasion, described the native language as the life wire of any society, stressed that the poor state of affairs in relation to the relegation of the native language and culture must be urgently addressed.
While he addressed his people, Eze Otuwarikpo enjoined them to shun crime because “some persons can carry gun and become millionaires in other Ethnic Nationality but the gods of Ekpeye abhors it. Those who carry gun in Ekpeye for crime remain poor and they don’t make progress.”
He called on those bearing arms to hand them over to government and warned against acts that could plunge the society into crisis, advising Eze Anugwo to commit himself to carry his subjects along to a new era of peace, stability and progress in Upata Kingdom.
Noting that the historical relevance of the stool of Ede people span decades, Eze Otuwarikpo assured that he has dedicated himself to building on and surpassing the worthy legacies of his much acclaimed predecessor, Eze Clifford Cheta Nwuche.
Eze Otuwarikpo, who eulogised Eze Anugwo as an employer of labour, assured that the Upata people will key into the developmental vision of Governor Nyesom Wike, stressing passionately that the Upata vision “does not permit jealousy, it does not permit greed and it doesn’t permit blackmails.”
In his goodwill message to the Ede Upata people, Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government, Barr Ben Eke, congratulated the Nye Udu Ede and urged him to uphold the values of his people and those of the Upata Kingdom.
The event which was graced with traditional dances, attracted dignitaries from far and near including Eze IgbuIgbuduya II, HRM Eze Joshua Eyiba, Wakili of Fika, Alhaji Abba Goji and President General of Uzugbani Ekpeye, Professor Dulu Appah.
Others are Hon Federal House of Representatives Member-Elect, Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Barr Bob Solomon, High Chief Grant Orugbani, Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission,Hon Stephen Ihua, Maduenyi, former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Stephen Ezekwem, among other top traditional rulers, politicians and captains of industries.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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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
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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.
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