News
Ijaws In Shock As Billionaire Businessman, Keniebi Okoko Dies At 42

The Ijaw ethnic nationality has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of its billionaire son, Keniebi Okoko, who passed away at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State.
Okoko, 43, reportedly died during a major surgery at the hospital following power outage and failure of the medical facility to power its generator.
Okoko, a pastor in one of the Salvation Ministry’s branch in Port Harcourt, hails from Obunagha in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
The late billionaire was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), KDI Oil and Gas Limited, and son of professor emeritus and one-time president of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Kimse Okoko.
He was also one of the leading governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship poll in Bayelsa State.
He came third in the internal poll and later threw his weight behind former Governor Seriake Dickson and his candidate for the poll, Senator Douye Diri, who later won the election through the Supreme Court judgement.
The news of Okoko’s death, which filtered in on Tuesday night, threw the Ijaw nation into mourning following the deceased’s antecedent as a philanthropist.
But confusion befell the nationality, yesterday morning when some persons reported that Okoko came back to life again following the intervention of some pastors, who prayed for him at the morgue.
The development forced the people of Obunagha, his home community, to troop to the streets in celebration.
But further findings showed that the claims were fake as prominent Ijaw persons, who belonged to a platform, confirmed his death.
A post on the platform by a former Rivers State Governorship Candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and ex-director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, showed that Okoko died at the undisclosed hospital.
Dakuku said on the platform: “I start by a confession, Kenebi is my friend, brother and someone who impacts every soul he comes in contact with. Yesterday (Tuesday), I got a call and rushed to the hospital where I met him lifeless. What is important is that he lived a good and impactful life and sure he has gone to be with the Lord. Two things smacked me.
“The extent of human solidarity. I got to the hospital about 8-8:30pm and friends of his from across the country, high, mighty, ordinary folks, have taken over the hospital and were ready to go to ‘war’ for most loved Kenebi. It simply restored my faith in brotherhood and humanity. Too many persons, in the midst of wailing, were willing to help to ensure that a loving soul like Kenebi is not put to shame.
“The second observation is that all and sundry were not happy with the professional handling of the medical attention he got leading to his death, and are demanding that we must get to the root of the matter so persons whose professional negligence led to this avoidable death must be held to account for it.
“In Kenebi’s death, I have seen the outpouring of love and appreciation of impactful living. May the soul of my beloved brother, KENEBI Rest In Peace and May we continue rallying each other whenever the need arises”.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
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
News
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.
-
Business2 days ago
NCDMB Promises Oil Industry Synergy With Safety Boots Firm
-
News2 days ago
KENPOLY Appoints Abalubu As Ag. Registrar
-
Politics2 days ago
Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi
-
Opinion2 days ago
Get Rid Of Wastes In PH
-
Business2 days ago
NCDMB, Dangote Refinery Unveil JTC On Deepening Local Content
-
Business2 days ago
Replace Nipa Palms With Mangroove In Ogoni, Group Urges FG, HYPREP
-
News2 days ago
Police Rescue Kidnapped Victim As Suspects Escape With Gunshots in Rivers
-
Politics2 days ago
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF