News

Wike Lauds Abia Gov’s Show Of Friendship Over Uncle’s Demise

Published

6 years ago

February 12, 2020

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has lauded the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his show of friendship and brotherhood at a time his family was grieving over the loss of their uncle.
The governor spoke, yesterday, during a condolence visit by the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu at the Government House, Port Harcourt over the passage of his uncle, late Chief Charles Wike.
He said: “Indeed, what you have done today shows friendship and brotherhood. It shows that what affects us, affects you. I will never forget this, and I will continue to reciprocate.”
Wike noted that the condolence visit by the Abia State governor has strengthened and encouraged his family to bear the irreparable loss.
He said: “Having died, we believe that he has gone to be with his Creator. With your coming, we are strengthened to continue with life and his own principles.
“The way he lived and kept our community is very key. I thank you on behalf of my family for coming to commiserate with us at this point.”
While thanking the Abia State governor for the visit, Wike noted that his uncle played very positive roles in the development of his community.
“My uncle was the immediate younger brother to my father. He was the traditional ruler of my community.
“He was the one most of us relied on for the history of our area. We know that one day; there will be an end to life. Nobody will live forever. But we didn’t expect him to go at this time.
“For those of us who are Christians, what has happened has happened. What is important is that you go to meet your Creator. Most of us relied on my uncle in terms of education. He was a historian. He did his own best, but as it pleased God, this happened. There is nothing anyone can do,” he said.
In his remarks, the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu said that he was at the Government House, Port Harcourt to commiserate with Governor Wike over the passage of his uncle.
He said: “I have brought warm felicitation and greetings from the good people of Abia State. On behalf of the people of Abia State, we have come this morning to commiserate with our brother and friend, who lost a very close person to him.
“It is traditional and cultural for our people to reach out to one of our own whenever events like this occur.”
He said that the late uncle of Governor Wike lived a good life and has gone to be with his Creator.
“It happens. He lived a good life and he has gone the way of his forefathers. When it happens like this, it brings a lot of pain to us, but it is harvest time for God.
“In the first place, God gave him to us. Now that he is no more, we are confident that he has gone to be with his Maker. I ask his household to bear the loss with fortitude, and pray that God will grant the immediate family and friends, the energy to fill this vacuum,” he said.
Similarly, the Rivers State leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has commiserated with Governor Nyesom Wike over the death of his uncle, Chief Charles Wike, saying it was saddened at the news of his demise.
The state PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, in a statement issued by his media aide, Jerry Needam, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said that the party was aggrieved the more, knowing the close relationship that existed between the governor and his late uncle.
The party said it was, however, consoled because Governor Wike did all within his ability to give meaning to the strong bond between him and his uncle while he lived.
Obuah expressed the hope that Wike, being a strong believer in God, will see his uncle’s death as the will of his Creator, and would continue to carry out his official duties with the usual composure and emotional stability which he is known for.
The statement reads, “While we whole-heartedly identify with His Excellency in his moment of grief as our leader and big brother, we also make bold to say that his well-cherished uncle did not die in vain, having contributed in raising one of the most courageous leaders and defender of democracy Nigeria has ever had in the person of Governor Nyesom Wike.”
The state PDP also condoled with the entire Wike family, government and entire Rivers people, enjoining all to take solace in the good works and worthy legacies left behind by late Chief Charles Wike.
“May the good Lord grant the soul of the deceased peaceful rest and to his numerous relations, the fortitude to bear the huge loss”, the statement added.

News

NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Portal

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has alerted the public to a fraudulent message circulating online, claiming that the NELFUND Student Loan Registration Portal is open.

The message directs applicants to a third-party link (http://gvly.xyz/Nelfund-Student-Loan, which NELFUND confirms is unauthorised and fraudulent.

In a post obtained from its X handle, yesterday, NELFUND urged students and the general public not to click on the link or provide any personal information, emphasising that the official loan registration portal is only accessible through the Fund’s verified channels.

The agency reminded applicants to exercise caution online and to report any suspicious links or communications claiming to be from NELFUND.

“Applicants are encouraged to always verify official announcements via NELFUND’s official website and social media channels,” NELFUND said.

This advisory comes as part of NELFUND’s ongoing efforts to safeguard students and ensure the integrity of the student loan application process.

News

Eastern Port Police Boss Promises On Crime-Free Operations

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The new Commissioner of Police Eastern, Ports Command, Mr Tijani Fatai has promised to ensure a crime- free ports operations in the zone.
He said effective policing will be mounted across the ports in the zone in tackling the high rate of community unrest, activities of port rats and other social vices.
Fatai while speaking to newsmen shortly after taking over as the 17th commissioner said he wants to be remembered as a peace maker during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Eastern Ports Command.
According to him,’’the community policing is the sure way of addressing most conflicts and other social vices bedeviling our society today and I will explore it to its fullest” .
The Commissioner also assured officers of the rank and file of improved welfare whoch he described as a cardinal objective of the present efforts of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He said,” the Inspector General of Police has sent me to assure you all of welfare, promotions as and when due,no officers particular rank and file will be left behind in the coming months.
Fatai before his recent posting was an operational officer,who spent most of his years with the Police Mobile Force (PMF) where he served as Unit Commander (UC) and Commander, PMF.
Before his redeployment as a Commissioner of Police,(CP), he was the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP, Operations, Lagos State Command.

News

Kalabaris Celebrate New Year Amid Fanfare

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

Thousands of Kalabari indigenes from Akuku- Toru, Asari-Toru, Degema and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas last Sunday gathered at Elem Kalabari in Degema Local Government Area to celebrate what they said is the Kalabari new year amidst pomp and pageantry
According to stakeholders, the event which started over 200 years ago normally falls on the 16th of November every year.
The of this year’s celebration which was organised by Kalabari Renaissance Foundation was “Our Heritage, Honouring Our Waters and Renewing Our Spirit.”
Stakeholders said this year’s celebration was symbolic as it was holding at Elem Kalabari which is the home of the Kalabari people.
The event also featured various masquerade displays from cultural troupes within Kalabari and beyond.
Speaking on the significance of the event, the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari (The Source), HRH Mujahid Asari Dokubo, said the celebration signaled a return to the traditional values of the Kalabari people and the need for self-recreation.
“It’s not just about celebration, It’s about recreating ourselves, bringing us back from death.
“The organisation that has come to take over this celebration – Renaissance – really fits the description of what ought to happen to us as a people.
“It’s not just Kalabari; it’s about all of us and our values. We have to look at ourselves and our values,” he said.
Dokubo called on all Kalabari citizens to join hands together to revive their traditional values and heritage in order not to lose their cultural identity and spiritual trajectory.
Also speaking, Harry Awolayeofori MacMorrison, Chief Administrator and Chairman of Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, organizsers of the Kalabari new year festival, said the event marks the beginning of a new calendar year for the Kalabari people, after November 15 of every year when the tide cleanses the pollution from the Sombreiro River inflows, describing it as a renewal of the Kalabari people.
“It’s the renewal of the people. Kalabari area is saline environment and at a time, the Sombreiro River comes in and pollutes the river.
“On the 15th November, across Kalabari, the tide turns and takes all the fresh water that polluted the saline river back to the Sombreiro River
. “On the 15th is the end of the year. Normally when there is an end, there is a new beginning. On the 16th (November) is the beginning of the Kalabari calendar,” he said.
Awolayeofori Mac Morrison said the Kalabari communities had been holding the new year festival separately in the past until the Renaissance Foundation decided to champion a unified celebration to enable them forge a common front of trado-cultural and socio-economic development across the entire territory.
He said last year’s event held at Abalama while they decided to bring this year’s celebration to Elem Kalabari because of it significance to the Kalabari nation.
Also speaking, a member of the planning committee and media lead, Journalist Ibiba Don Pedro, said there was need to reawaken the consciousness of their people on the need to embrace their traditional values without reservations, noting that there was nothing fetish about the festival.
She said the celebration was to unite the Kalabaris as well as project the cultural heritage of the people.
Don Pedro said time has come for Africa to go back to their root , adding that development will continue to elude African countries until the people rediscover themselves.