Niger Delta

PDP Rules Out Automatic Tickets For Aspirants In C’River

Published

11 years ago

October 15, 2014

Pastor of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Agip Estate, Port Harcourt, Rev Friday Okafor Chinyere (2nd right), with the Church’s council members, unveiling a cake to mark the 2014 young people harvest thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt last Sunday. Photo: Kanam Nathy Waadu.

The PDP in Cross River has
declared that there will be no automatic ticket for aspirants intending to use its platform to run for elective positions in 2015 general elections.
The State Chairman of PDP, Mr John Okon, said this in Calabar when Rep. John Owan-Enoh visited the state secretariat of the party to pick forms to run for the Senate.
Okon also said that the party would provide a level playing ground for aspirants at the state primaries in line with its guidelines.
“We do not have automatic ticket for anybody. The only person the PDP has given the sole ticket is Mr President.
“So, I do not see anybody coming from Abuja to pick a candidate for us. I assure you that we will ensure a level playing ground for every aspirant,’’ he said.
Enoh, representing Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency, said the visit was to interact with its leadership and indicate intention to run for the senate
“ I am here to interact with our party’s leadership and to formally inform you of my intent to contest the Cross River Central senatorial seat.
“I intend to do this on the platform of our great party, the PDP,’’ he said.
He added that he was encouraged by his constituents to move to the senate on the basis of his performance so far in the House of Representatives.
He called on the national leadership of the PDP to disregard the claims by some members from the state that the chapter was in crisis.
“It is a show of shame for some people to go to Abuja to claim that there is division in the Cross River PDP.
“What I have seen here today is a fact that people tend to claim that there is crisis where there is none.
“I can assure everybody that there are no crises or division in PDP in Cross River and that we are all united in working for the re-emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015,’’ Enoh said.
He urged the party to keep to its promise of ensuring a level playing ground for all aspirants during the primaries.
The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, who represents the senatorial district, had at a separate meeting with the party, declared that he would run again.
In a related development, Rep. Daniel Asuquo says that he will seek the face of God for re-election into the House of Representatives in 2015.
Asuquo, who represents Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency of Cross River, stated this in Akampka when he unveiled his 2015 re-election blueprint.
Asuquo, who also inaugurated ward coordinators of his campaign at the occasion, said he decided to seek a re-election through prayers and before “men of God’’.
“ I am declaring my intention first to God Almighty, without whom nothing is possible.
“I have humbly today invited these men of God before me to formally announce to you that I am seeking a re-election in 2015; and to seek for your prayers and divine endorsement.
“The campaign theme of this election is ‘overflowing greatness’. We have carefully chosen this theme by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.”

Niger Delta

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

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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.