Niger Delta

Amaechi Must Explain Actions In Govt – Okah

Published

11 years ago

June 26, 2015

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (middle), cutting a tape to inaugurate the permanent site of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, recently. With him are: JTF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe (left) and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Retired Rear Adm. John Jonah (right).

The Rivers State Commis
sioner for Housing, Barr Emma Okah, has said that there is nothing wrong or immoral for an administration that received and managed about N3 trillion on behalf of the people of Rivers State to explain some of her actions suspected to be fraudulent. The people have the right to know,” he said.
Oka said it was mischievous to accuse the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike of witch-hunting the former Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, through probes.
“The Nyesom Wike administration is merely protecting the people’s interest by inquiring into how public resources were wasted, stolen or misappropriated by the past administration, and every lover of democracy and rule of law should not complain, blackmail the state government or divert attention from that”, the statement added.
Explaining further, Okah said that the simple thing Amaechi needs to do, if invited by any commission of enquiry, is to state his own side of the story, and tender documents to buttress his case. There is nothing to fear, if his hands are clean, he said
The commissioner also said that certain things must be clarified by the Amaechi government, noting that the state cannot close her eyes to some grave allegations of corruption against the Amaechi government.
“Is it proper for Amaechi to sell off 70 per cent of the Rivers State Government interests in the state’s four power stations (Eleme, Omoku, Afam and Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt) at the cost of $302.4million, and the entire money was withdrawn between December 2014 and April 2015 without any document of transaction or payment into any government account. Who owns the Bureau de Change Company that received the money, and who authorised the receipt and where is the money?
“Is it witch-hunt for Amaechi to pay out $39million to his cronies for the purpose of building the Karibi-Whyte Mega Hospital, and till today, not a single block is standing?
“Is it witch-hunt for the former governor to withdraw the sum of N812million in May 2015 for the purpose of furnishing his private house in Asokoro, Abuja, even when workers’ salaries and pensions were in arrears?
“Is it witch-hunt for the sum of N200million to be withdrawn in cash from the various accounts of Ministry of Works on May 28, 2015 for no official purpose?
“Is it witch-hunt for the Amaechi government to sell two aircraft belonging to the state, and till today, there is no word on the sale proceeds or the processes?
“Is it witch-hunting for the sum of N2billion Agricultural loan which Amaechi’s government took from the CBN to be paid out to fake cooperative groups created by his aides as grants? Should Rivers people not know who and who took these monies as the state will repay the money to CBN?
“Is it witch-hunting to seek explanation on the bogus monorail project which has been adjudged to be the biggest fraud conduit in Rivers State under the former government?”, Okah queried.
He challenged Amaechi to explain how he budgeted N2billion for scholarship to Rivers scholars abroad and before his eyes, the consultants who paid the money took out N900million as their fees, leaving only N1.1billion for the stranded students.
Okah stated that Wike is not witch-hunting Amaechi, emphasising that Rivers people expect Amaechi to face these questions with the same bravery that he is known for, adding shouting about witch-hunt was not the solution.

Niger Delta

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

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.