News
…Amaechi, Others Congratulate Christians
As Christians the world over celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ today, the Rivers State Governor, Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in a special Easter mass, wished all Christians a happy and successful celebration.
In his Easter message to residents of Rivers State, Amaechi said “ Christ died so we can have abundant life. May your life be full of abundance. On behalf of the Government of Rivers State and my wife, Judith, I wish you happy Easter”.
Also, a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Joseph Kabari called on Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of Easter.
Rev. Father Kabari, who made the call while delivering a sermon during a special Easter mass at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt, described Easter as a period of sober reflection.
According to him, Easter represents the love and passion demonstrated by Christ to save mankind from eternal condemnation, maintaining that Nigerians should reflect on these exemplary qualities at all times by loving one another irrespective of the differences in language, ethnicity and religion.
The Catholic Priest explained that the victory of the resurrection of Jesus was not for a selected people but for all who turned from their evil ways and pay allegiance to the authority of God.
Reverend Father Kabari urged Christian faithful to always spread the message of Easter in appreciation for the sacrifice Christ offered with his life to redeem man.
The celebration, which kicked-off last Friday with “Good Friday” witnessed several churches holding services and processions with palm leaves and lighting of candles.
Workers under the state government travelled to the countryside to join their families and relations in joyous mood after they received their march salaries in good time, thanks to the state government under Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Our roving reporters who went round the state capital, Port Harcourt and its environs reported that most Christians celebrated the Easter festival with fanfare bearing in mind that the resurrection of Christ has given hope to mankind.
At the St Thomas Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt, faithfuls marked the Easter with jubilations to the glory of God, while there were praises and musical renditions.
In his sermon, the Vicar in-charge of the church, Venerable Chris M. Iwuji urged Nigerian leaders to be sincere and honest in the discharge of their legitimate assignments and service to the nation.
Venerable Iwuji also urged the upper and lower Houses to give Acting President Goodluck Jonathan more power to run the affairs of the country.
The man of God, who is also the Archdeacon of the Port Harcourt, Archdeaconry, noted that Nigeria would be delivered from the present political problems if vice president Jonathan is given full support.
Charging Christians to continue to pray for the country’s leaders, he explained that “praying for our leaders is a fulfillment of a biblical injunction.
“If you don’t pray for our president, governors and local government chairmen, they will make mistakes that will affect us, he stressed.
Ven Iwuji averred that the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection brought hope for mankind and underscores the need to celebrate Easter, saying that it is a festival worth celebrating.
For Rev Ibanabo Briggs of the Blessed Baptist Church, Chindah Road, this year’s Easter celebration has become the best because, he said, in accordance with I Corinthians 16 verse 17, if Christ had not risen, our faith would have been worthless.
“So, we have the joy that Christ rose on Easter morning, hence we will keep celebrating Him that rose from the dead.
Rev Briggs continued that the significance of the Easter celebrations is that “ there is no man who called himself a master who came, died and resurrected.
“History has not given any record except this man called Jesus Christ. He thus advised Nigerians, and the Niger Deltans to borrow a leaf by purging themselves of tribal sentiments.
“Let’s leave over tribal sentiments, lets get on focus and let there be no blood-shed because Christ has already shed the blood, so we don’t have to shed more blood to leave a peaceful life.
For Christ Embassy Churches under Garrison Group, Pastor Oma Olajeffery took her message from Genesis 1 verse 26, which gave man dominion over the earth.
According to her, the Christian is not supposed to struggle for anything because God has given him everything. All he needs to do is live by the doctrines of God as clearly stipulated in the Bible.
Sheddie Okpara
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.
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