Niger Delta

CAN To Sanction Members Without Voter Cards

Published

10 years ago

January 19, 2015

The Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN) in Akwa Ibom says it is proposing the denial of communion to members without voter cards.
Archbishop Cletus Bassey, Chairman of CAN in the State, announced this at a Summit for religious leaders on peaceful Elections organised by INEC in Uyo.
“We are proposing denial of communion to our members without voter cards”, Bassey said.
He said this was part of measures being put in place to encourage mass participation of Christians in the state in the forthcoming general elections.
“Our prayer is that INEC will not allow itself to be influenced by politicians.
“We are praying, as a church, that we have peaceful and credible elections this time around’’, Bassey said.
He urged INEC to involve religious organisations in the monitoring of the elections to encourage mass participation of the electorate.
“We have our members in all the 31 local government areas of the state; so formation of election observer groups should include religious bodies”, Bassey said.
Mrs Catherine Ekpo, the state Coordinator of National Orientation Agency (NOA), decried what she described as political apathy among Christians in the state.
“Apathy is widespread in the church, it is unfortunate. Christians often say it doesn’t matter, the politicians have already concluded what they wanted to do.
“They often say all what we are seeing is smokescreen, everything had been decided”, Ekpo said.
She urged religious leaders to encourage their members to collect their permanent voter cards and vote for candidates of their choice during the elections.
“Let’s tell our people to kill the spirit of apathy, tell our brothers and sisters not sit back and think they already know what they want to do”, Ekpo added.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Austin Okojie, said about 300,000 permanent voter cards were yet to be collected in the state.
“As spiritual guides, you can also mobilise your followers for active participation in the electoral processes”, Okojie said.
He urged them to encourage their members to avoid violence and promote peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections.
He assured them that INEC had done all it could to ensure that the elections were free, fair and credible.

Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Sir Owene Wonodi (middle), Speaker Rivers State Youth Parliament Hon Ijork Emmanuel (left) and members of the state executive council during the first sitting of the second session of Rivers State Youth Parliament.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Public Hearing On Human Trafficking Prohibition Bill

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.

Niger Delta

FG Gives 24,180 Bags Of Maize, Garri To A’Ibom

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.

Niger Delta

Edo Poll: Concerned Obidient Movement Endorses PDP’s Ighodalo

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.