Niger Delta

PDP Primaries: Ex-LG Boss Hails Wike’s Choice

Published

7 years ago

October 3, 2018

Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chief Prince Noble Amadi has applauded the emergence of Governor Nysesom Wike as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 governorship election, saying, it portends good omen for the state.
Chief Amadi, who made the assertion in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt said the emergence of the governor was justified because, according to him, for over three and half years he has been governor, the achievements of the Wike administration have surpassed those of his predecessors, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, road networks, health, sports and workers’ salary payment, among others.
He said the governor’s achievements so far had shown that he was properly equipped to be governor of the state, and thanked PDP delegates for choosing him to fly the party’s flag for the governorship poll come 2019, stressing that Wike’s re-election would provide more dividends of democracy to Rivers people.
While calling on the people and residents of the state to rally support for the governor, Chief Amadi said the Wike administration had provided rapid development in the 23 local government areas of the state, stressing that re-electing the governor for a second term would enable him consolidate on his achievements.
On fears that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) may use federal might to rig the governorship election in the state, the former CTC chairman urged Rivers people and residents of the state to be vigilant and watchful in order to checkmate such a plot.
“What I want to say in essence is that every body in Rivers State should be watchful. We will continue to campaign and call on all those doing business in the state to vote for the governor. During the general election, after voting, we should stay to watch our votes so that our votes will count. We should not resort to violence. All we would do is to be at our various polling centres to watch, guard and protect our votes and ensure that our votes count. All those who have registered, they should go and collect their PVCs, keep them at a safe place and use them to vote for Wike because PVC is our power,” he said.
He further indicated that Wike had no challenger in the forthcoming governorship election in the state going by what is currently happening in the APC in the state and urged Rivers people and residents of the state to come out enmasse and vote for the governor whom he said has the interest of the state at heart.
Chief Amadi also applauded the choice of Port Harcourt as venue for the National Convention of the PDP which would produce the presidential candidate of the party, saying, Governor Wike never lobbied for such a goodwill but that the PDP NEC took into consideration the governor’s contributions to the party.
While urging delegates to the convention to look at the track records of the presidential aspirants in making their choice, the former council boss said only the best was needed to defeat the APC government which he noted has subjected Nigerians to hardship.

Donatus Ebi

Niger Delta

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

Published

20 hours 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

20 hours 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

20 hours 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.