Nation
THE STATES
FCT
Against the backdrop of security reports of plans by some of the political gladiators in the Anambra Governorship tussle to cause mayhem in the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial elections in the state, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo, has summoned all the governorship candidates to force Headquarters Abuja for a meeting.
According to sources, those summoned include PDP gubernatorial candidate Professor Chukwuma Soludo, APGA Candidate Governor Peter Obi, Chief Andy Uba of Labour party, Chief Chris Ngige of Action Congress, Mrs Ekwunife of Progressive People Alliance and others of the ANPP, and other political parties.
Also summoned by IGP for the meeting are the chairman and secretaries of all the prominient political earties in the state – the Assistant Inspector General of Police incharge of the zone (4), the commissioners of police of Anambra State and neighbouring states where security personnel for the elections are likely to be mobilised from, are also expected to be in the meeting.
The Tide gathered that security reports available to the police High Command indicate that arms and ammunition are being stock piled, kidnapping strategies are being put in place and hoodlums are being recruited to cause mayhem.
Benue
Sequel to the termination of a lease agreement it entered with Yelwata Trading Company few weeks back, the Benue State government has ordered the immediate closure of Taraku Oil Mills with all the staff of the firm laid off.
The decision of the state government to close down the plant was conveyed to over 200 staff and management of the organisation by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Mr. Benjamin Vember, at the company’s premises.
Vember said government’s decision to fold up the Mill was prompted by the failure of the agreement it entered with Yelwata Trading Company.
Ekiti
Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni has said that the government gave financial autonomy to the state judiciary saying that the motive was to strengthen the judicial arm of government and rid it of undue executive interference.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti recently while administering oath of office and allegiance on four newly appointed judges in the State, Engr. Oni said it was always better for each arm of government to be independent of each other, saying such would promote democracy and good governance.
The newly appointed judges that were sworn-in are Mr. Adewale Kayode Fouroure, an Ibadan-based legal practitioner, Mr. Lekan Adekanye Ogunmoye, former Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Olusegun Isaac Ogunyemi, former Registrar, Ekiti State Judiciary and Mr. Adekunla Adegoriola Adeleye.
Ibadan
Former Minister of Petroleum, Professor Tam David West and Head of Department of History, University of Ibadan, Professor Christopher Ogbogho have advised the Federal Government to put its house in order instead of protesting US claim that Nigeria is a terrorist country.
Both dons at different fora, condemned the protest by the FG, saying that US had the right to declare any country that posed a security threat to it, a terrorist country.
Describing the protest as unnecessary and mere waste of time, they said the FG should do something urgent to address the problem.
Professor Ogbogbo said the stance of the US may have been arrived at having considered incessant religious intolerance in the Northern parts of the country.
The FG according to the don, should, as a matter of urgency strive hard to check the internal intermittent religious crises in the northern parts of the nation.
Kano
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and foremost nationalist leader. Anthony Enahoro are among dignitaries scheduled to attend the commissioning today of the Arafat Mosque in Auchi, Edo State.
Also, a lecture entitled “Basic Facts about Glorious Quran will be delivered by an Islamic scholar and the Chief Imam of Auchi Kingdom, Prof. Zakanya Oseni who is also the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin.
A statement by Alhaji Gisani Asesuta for the Oteri in council said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijawude Oluleuse II was expected to chair the occusion.
Kwara
Kwara State government has concluded plans to employ more medical personnel this year in her ongoing efforts to deliver quality medical services to the residents in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Ladi Hassan, who disclosed this to newsmen while speaking on the activities of the state government in health sector, added that the action became imperative because the state government last year spent N700 million to renovate all the state-owned hospitals across the state.
The action, according to the commissioner, was to effectively reposition the state health sector as much needed viable alternative to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and other private hospitals in the state.
He noted that medical doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists would be employed by the state government, stressing that those employed would be posted to different parts of the state.
He disclosed that the state government has spent so much in health sector and as such Dr. Bukola Saraki’s administration was committed to improving the standard.
Hassan opined that his visit to various state-owned hospitals in various parts of the state, has given him first hand information on the problems they are facing.
Lagos
There were indications yesterday that the bomb carrier who got injured on December 22, 2009 bomb explosion at Logemo building at Onipany, along Ikorodu road, Lagos, might have been transferred from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), to an undisclosed hospital.
His movement as reliably gathered, was part of security measures put in place by the Lagos State police command to ensure no intruder got to him.
The Tide reliably gathered that on two occasions, some unidentified persons had visited the hospital requesting to see Olayinwola Ahmed. But before nurses at the Intensive Care Unit could reportedly contact plain clothes policemen who were keeping watch over him, the visitors had disappeared.
Although police sources told The Tide that proper investigation into the explosion would commence last week, information gathered revealed that the 27-year-old suspect was not yet in a sound condition to answer questions posed at him. A source told The Tide yesterday that the suspect was not coherent with words yet.
Osun
Osun State election petition tribunal will resume sitting to continue hearing on the petition by the Action Congress (AC) candidate Mr. Bani Adegbosole against the election of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the April 14, 2007 election.
The five-man panel was forced to suspend sitting last October due to the national strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Before the forced vacation Aregbosola and the AC had invited over 80 witnesses and tendered exhibits in support of their petitions.
The opposition party which had been agitating for continuation of hearing on the petition at alternative venue outside the premises of the Osun State Judiciary during the strike is expected to wind up its case any time from now to pave way for the respondents to open their defence.
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor