The beautiful women of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, last Saturday, took a unity walk tagged, “A SIMple walk for life” in celebration of God’s faithfulness for the peaceful coexistence of the people, while thanking God for the emergence of their son, brother and father, Sir Siminialayi Fubara as the Rivers State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer for the 2023 general election.
The unity walk, a SIM-ple exercise to SIM-plify the fitness status of Opobo/Nkoro women and girls, led by Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton, had in attendance wife of Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, Queen Prudence Dandeson Douglas Jaja; women and girls from the 11 political wards of Opobo/Nkoro.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton, described the exercise as “a walk for good health, walk for life, and walk in appreciation of the emergence of the Rivers State PDP standard bearer for the 2023 general election, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
While addressing the cheering crowd, Dame Victoria Sergeant Awuse, appreciated the Amanyanabo’s wife, Fulton, former member, House of Representatives, Hon Blessing Nsiegbe, for initiating the programme.
She further hinted that the exercise would move to all LGAs of the state, and thanked the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for adequately carrying women along in his administration.
Mrs Awuse said that every fitness exercise promotes healthy growth, good health as well as builds a happy family.
She prayed for the victory of Fubara and all PDP candidates in the 2023 elections, and charged the women to “Unite for SIM, get your PVC and vote Sir Siminialayi Fubara.”
Also speaking, the former PHALGA Federal Constituency 2 House of Representatives member, Hon Blessing Nsiegbe, expressed gratitude to the people of Opobo/Nkoro for recognising her contributions to the development of the state.
In her remarks, Queen Prudence Dandeson Douglas Jaja, advised the women not to end the exercise at Opobo with one-day outing, but to continue with the exercise going forward and vote rightly.
She advised Opobo women to vote for Sir Siminialayi Fubara and all PDP candidates.
The king’s wife thanked the organisers and the beautiful women and girls of Opobo/Nkoro for colourful event, and wished that the activity could be a quarterly exercise.
“Opobo/Nkoro women, vote and protect your vote,” she added.
The Leader of Opobo Welfare Women Association, Amaopuorubo Felicia Pepple, assured that Opobo women were mountain movers and would vote massively and defend their votes for Sir Siminialayi Fubara and all PDP candidates come 2023.
Vice Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon Ifeoma Rejoice Nyenwe, while speaking with the press, expressed joy at the impactful event, and appreciated the organisers of the event with special thanks to Governor Nyesom Wike, Sir Siminialayi Fubara and Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton for the opportunity of gathering women for the special fitness exercise.
At the thanksgiving service conducted by Pastor Martins Achi, praised God for the opportunity to worship Him.
The service was filled with prayers for victory of Sir Siminialayi Fubara and all PDP candidates.
The thanksgiving praises had the 11 wards dancing and praising God in a procession manner as Peter Stonecold led the praises.
Speaking with the press after the thanksgiving service, Opobo/Nkoro Council Boss, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, noted that thanksgiving was the only sure way to ask God for more.
He said, “Opobo/Nkoro women have gathered today in thanksgiving to the Most High God for life, peace and everything we are enjoying as a peaceful people. I’m happy and thanking our Golden Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who has given us a wonderful platform to perform, and the emergence of an Opobo/Nkoro son as the standard bearer of our great party, Sir Siminialayi Fubara. Opobo/Nkoro people will forever remain thankful”.
Cookey-Gam; Opobo/Nkoro LGA Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Hon Godwin Manfred Pepple; the Vice Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon Ifeoma Rejoice Nyenwe; Dame Victoria Sergeant Awuse; former CTC Mayor of Port Harcourt City LGA, Hon Orukwem Amadi Oparaeli; were among dignitaries that graced the exercise.
The highlight of the walk was a 20-minute aerobics class conducted by Coach Oge Arima.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

As the Federal Government moves to resume commercial operations of the suspended rail services along Abuja/ Kaduna corridor, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has said that security measures are not to be disclosed as it was paramount to secure lives and properties.
Sambo stated this, yesterday in Rigasa Kaduna State, while briefing journalists on the resumption of commercial activities shortly after inspection of facilities.
The minister, who was not emphatic on the particular date and security measures in readiness to the resumption, said that only God can determine the safety of Abuja, Kaduna passengers.
The minister, however, stated that services would begin before the end of November.
He also, said that the ministry was for the time being creating awareness to enable passengers get used to the comeback operations of Abuja, Kaduna train services.
The minister, said, “on this issue, we have not said the train services will start tomorrow or next but we are trying to ensure that many things are correct before next week. I want to be very categorical about that.
“And now, we have introduced a new system, which is the presentation of National Identification number NIN before obtaining that. Your purchase of a ticket requires you to provide a phone number and a national identification number in order to profile because that is the beginning of the security checks.
“So, at any point in time when a train moves from one station to another we know who and who are on board. If you don’t have an NIN you are not going to board our train. It is as simple as that. If you are a minor, an adult will pay for you and will register for you and an adult can only register for not more than four minors”.
Sambo, while reiterating efforts to enlighten the passengers before resumption, noted that the people would be made to be aware of the new developments prior to the resumption.
“Now, we want to give sufficient time for the Nigerian public to listen to these and assimilate this new system? Because if we start tomorrow, a lot of people will be disgruntled: Some of them may ask why we didn’t tell of new changes? Some may ask, why didn’t they give us adequate time to do it? So, we want to give them ample time definitely between three, four, five days, certainly not more than a week”.
Meanwhile, the minister said he has noted a number of measures taken already in readiness to the resumption, stating that he travelled from Idu Abuja to Rigasa in Kaduna State in order to assess the state of readiness of train services.
He said, however, that a number of measures have been put in place in order to ensure that life and property would be secured when they resume services, stating, “I am satisfied with what I have seen. Of course, there are one or two three areas that need to be addressed. We’re going to address them immediately.”
The minister also explained that there would be likely increase in ticket fares when the services resumes.

The opposition, Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC), over its call for the rejection of the electronic transmission of results through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Election Result Viewing portal (IReV), saying it is a plan to rig the 2023 elections.
In a statement the National Secretary of the group, yesterday, High Chief Peter Ojonugwa Ameh, CUPP described the position of the APC as not only grossly unfounded, but uncharitable as that opinion does not in any way reflect the views of the opposition political parties or the general masses of the country.
The CUPP called on the Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to remain strong and proceed with the systematic implementation of what it termed “these laudable reforms that would help clean the nation’s electoral system and set it on the path of glory.”
The statement read, “the attention of the CUPP has been drawn to statements credited to the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the party’s Organizing Secretary, Suleiman Argungun, which are to the effect that the Nation is not ripe and ready for the deployment of technology in the conduct of the 2023 general election.
“The duo of Abdullahi Adamu and Suleiman Argungun have, in separate outburst, bemoaned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as announced by its Chairman, Prof Yakubu, that it will deploy the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), and Independent Results Viewing Portal (IReV), in the conduct of the 2023 elections”, insisting that the country doesn’t possess the technical knowhow, including availability of enabling communication Network and facilities for same.
“These statements credited to the APC leadership are most unfortunate, uncharitable and a reflection of the thinking of the party which intends to hold the Nigerian electoral system down from gradual evolution.
“It is a subtle manifestation of the plot of the APC to manipulate and rig the 2023 general election having sensed the inevitable rejection by Nigerians in the impending elections.
“We wish to state that the position of the APC is grossly unfounded, uncharitable and doesn’t in any way reflect the views of the CUPP or the general masses of the Nigerian people.
“We wish to further add that the decision of INEC has since been received by the Nigerian people with enormous optimism, enthusiasm and has rekindled their hope of a free, credible and transparent election and any attempt to go back on its words will only further breed distrust and dampen the spirit of the people.
“We encourage INEC to stay strong and proceed with the systematic implementation of these laudable reforms which are capable of cleansing our electoral system and setting it on the path of glory.
“We wish INEC success in the task ahead of her but advice that it be weary of agents of retrogression such as the APC.”