News
Kattey: Police Debunk N10m Ransom Demand
Amidst rumours that kidnappers of Archbishop Ignatius Kattey are demanding for a N10million ransom for his release, the Rivers State police command says it is unaware of the purported demand.
The command’s spokesperson, Mrs Angela Agabe, who denied the rumour in a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt yesterday also said that no contact had been established with the kidnappers.
She said that men of the command were combing every nooks and crannies of the state in search of the kidnapped Bishop, adding that for now, no communication with the kidnappers has been made.
In her word, “our men are just coming out from the mangrove but no contact yet”, she said.
Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion and Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North was kidnapped last Friday along the Aleto bridge on the East-West Road in Eleme Local Government Area, and taken to unknown destination.
Meanwhile, the Diocesan Men’s Christian Association, Diocese of Niger Delta North says divine intervention is the only solution for the present circumstances.
In a prayer session to invoke divine intervention on the issue yesterday, the association wondered why unknown gunmen would lay their hands on a man of God.
The association’s chaplain, Rev Joshua Daminabo, the President of the association, Sir Chuks Boms and Acting Secretary, Mr Sampson Akani, who led the prayer sessions, reminded the abductors that their act was against God and His church.
They also reminded the abductors that no gate of wickedness or criminality could prevail against the church of God and Christian believers.
While describing the incident as unfortunate and insult to God, the association appealed to all and sundry to remain prayerful for the safety and unconditional release of Kattey.
The men also prayed for the peace of the state and the nation as a whole even as they enjoined perpetrators of criminality to repent and seek the face of God.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that Nigeria would overcome the threat of terrorism, and called on all faithfuls in the country to be prayerful.
Jonathan, who made the call in a Standing Committee Meeting organised by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, in Yenagoa described terrorism as a challenge to nation building.
“We will win the war against terrorism; Nigeria is a loving country and no religion in the country preaches destruction of life and property.
“My administration will continue to secure citizens’ life and ensure that crime is curtailed,” Jonathan said.
In his address, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, said the programme in the state was a welcome development, and solicited for prayers for the country.
“I thank Nigerians for their prayers and support to government, I urge you to keep faith and contribute your quota in the transformation of the country.
“I must say that Bayelsa is a home for all, secure and safe; I urge all citizens in the country to embrace peace and love,” Dickson said.
In his remark, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, the Primate of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, commended the president, saying that the church would continue to support the government.
Okoh said that the programme, which was tagged: “Put on the Whole Amour of God’’, was to strengthen the faith of Nigerians.
“We should put on the amour of God because His amour will always stand for us against every evil machination of the enemy,” Okoh said.
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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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