Niger Delta

Monarch Warns On Political Crisis In Edo

Published

12 years ago

June 16, 2014

The Oba of Benin, Omo
n’Oba Erediauwa, has waded into the crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, urging the political actors to allow peace to reign in the state.
The Oba told the politicians not to plunge the state into crisis when he held a meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his palace, last Saturday and appealed to the political parties to resolve their differences in the interest of peace and security of the state.
A statement issued by the Palace and personally signed by His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin said: “I thank leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for honouring my invitation at short notice. I invited you to my palace to appeal to you on the need to allow peace to continue to reign in Edo State, I know you politicians have a way of resolving political issues, no matter how delicate and sensitive the issues are.
“Politicians in Edo State, regardless of whichever political parties they belong to, I am quite sure, will do all they can to ensure that our great state especially, Benin City, the capital, is not made ungovernable for political reasons. I know as citizens of Edo State, you will always do all you can to protect our people and our land. On this very note, taking into consideration what has been happening since the beginning of this week, I am appealing to you not to engage in the destruction of lives and properties for whatever reasons,” he added.
The Oba had earlier held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the two parties where he impressed it on them to maintain the peace in the state.
Representing the All Progressives Congress at the meeting were Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor of Edo State and Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Chief of Staff to the Governor. Chief Dan Orbih, PDP Chairman, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, one-time Deputy Governor, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iymu and Hon. Festus Ebea, suspended Speaker of the State House of Assembly, represented the PDP.
It would be recalled that the State House of Assembly, had on Monday suspended four lawmakers – Hon. Friday Ogieriakhi, Hon. Festus Ebea, Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen and Hon. Patrick Osayimwen over what they termed gross misconduct, but the four lawmakers supported by five other PDP lawmakers slammed a counter suspension on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, and other principal officers of the House at a sitting which has been described as illegal since they broke into the Assembly and held the sitting without a mace, the Sergeant at Arms, Clerks of the House and other accoutrements needed for a valid Assembly sitting.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

6 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

6 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

6 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.