Niger Delta

Obuah Assures PDP Forum Of Support

Published

8 years ago

December 8, 2017

The Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah, last Monday, received a delegation of members of PDP Ex-Councillors’ Forum at his residence in Port Harcourt, with a firm promise to continue to support the forum in efforts to achieve set targets.
The forum, which was led by the Deputy National Chairman and Rivers State Leader, Chief Prince Weli-Wosu, had the National Chairman of the forum, Hon Usuf Achor and some members of the national executive of the forum as well as the Rivers State chapter executive under the chairmanship of Hon LoveGod Nweze and some other officers to the visit.
In his address, Obuah commended members of the forum for the good job they were doing for the party, which he said will not be unrewarded, and promised to play fatherly role to the forum in the state.
He regretted his unavoidable absence at the just concluded grand finale of their LGA Chapter Inauguration/Thanksgiving Service, which he said was due to his tight schedule.
Obuah maintained that the leadership of the party was solidly behind the forum, and would give all the necessary support at any given time.
In his speech, the Rivers State Chapter Chairman of the forum, Hon LoveGod Nweze said they were at the residence of the state PDP chairman to brief him on their activities thus far, and also seek his blessings as well as synergise with him on the ongoing rebuilding of the party ahead of 2019 general elections.
Nweze pledged the forum’s loyalty to the state PDP chairman and the party in general.
On his part, the National Chairman of the forum, Hon Usuf Achor commended the Rivers State PDP chairman for the warmth reception given to members of the forum.
Usuf, who hails from Kogi State, commended Obuah for his open door policy, which he said, earned him the name “Go-Round”.
While pointing out that one of the reasons why the younger politicians were not happy with most political leaders was the inability of the old politicians to “Let it trickle down”.
He further advised other leaders of the party to emulate the Go-Round theory of the Rivers State PDP chairman, which has distinguished him amongst his colleagues.
In a brief vote of thanks, the leader of the delegation and Deputy National Chairman of the forum, Prince Weli-Wosu, thanked the Rivers State PDP chairman for the invitation, which he said was the first of its kind since the formation of the forum in Nigeria.
He pledged that the forum will work tirelessly for the success of PDP at all levels in the 2019 general elections.
Meanwhile, in an event that turned out to be a mega political rally, the National PDP Ex-Councillors Forum Rivers State Chapter rounded off its LGA Chapter Inauguration with the rolling off of the Obio/Akpor chapter, last Saturday.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana.

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.