Niger Delta

Adeboye Predicts Bright Future, Good Prospects For Bayelsa

Published

4 years ago

January 28, 2022

General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said Bayelsa State will continue to make good progress as God has something special for the state.
He made the prophetic declaration on Tuesday when he was received at the Government House, Yenagoa, by Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, top government officials and some Christian leaders in the state.
The globally acclaimed cleric, popularly known as Daddy G.O, is in the state for a two-day “Light Up Bayelsa Holy Ghost Rally” holding in selected cities across the country to commemorate his 80th birthday in March this year.
Pastor Adeboye said his visit was in fulfilment of the promise he made earlier to hold a crusade in Yenagoa, stating that he was happy to see it come through this year, which he described as a year of “double blessings.”
He noted that year 2022 is peculiar as the last time the world had similar figures was over a thousand years ago.
While pronouncing blessings for the year, he said it gladdened his heart to note that God had something special for Bayelsa.
The RCCG General Overseer proclaimed that the state would witness a great and positive turnaround in its development.
He prayed God to double the blessings, testimonies and joy upon the land, people and government of the state.
”I am happy because I made a promise the last time I was here that I will be here at least to hold a Holy Ghost Rally. When I was making that promise, I did not know the extent that the demand of my time had grown.
“By the special grace of the Most High God, I am here to fulfill that promise. I am particularly happy that God has made it possible for me to come because this is a very special year.
“This year is very peculiar because the last time we had its kind was in 1011. That was more than a thousand years ago. The next time would be in 3033. That is 911 years from now. A year like this comes once in anybody’s lifetime.It is a year of doubles; a year when God is going to double your blessings, testimonies and joy.
“So when God opened the door for me to come, particularly in the month of January, I was delighted. It gladdens my heart that God has something very special in store for Bayelsa. I am not a prophet but I am a pastor who hears from God occasionally. You can mark my words. As a result of this visit, Bayelsa will never remain the same again”, the Cleric said.
Responding, Governor Douye Diri said when fathers and prophets speak, they do so lightly but the spoken words come with power from God, which was the reason God ordered Adeboye’s footsteps to Bayelsa.
The governor said it was a privilege to have the RCCG General Overseer in the state, particularly at the beginning of the year.
He expressed the belief that Adeboye’s prophetic pronouncements would manifest greatly on the people and land of Bayelsa, saying there is so much to gain listening to and believing the words of the cleric.
“On behalf of the Deputy Governor, members of the State Executive Council, our government that we have tagged Prosperity Government and the people of Bayelsa, I wholeheartedly welcome you to your state. We receive you as our father to this state.
“It is indeed a privilege for this state and in particular for the Prosperity Government to see you at the beginning of the year in the month of January here in Yenagoa. That you stepped on this land, who knows that the conclusion of your statement will certainly impact on the people and the land of Bayelsa.
“For this two days that you will be in Bayelsa, I like to call on all Bayelsans to be part of this visit, which is not ordinary. The opportunity to host a man of God of national and international repute comes once in a lifetime.
“There is so much we can gain from listening to him and believing the words that come out from him. I believe it will impact our lives as a people, as a state and as a country, Diri said.
He recounted how the title “Miracle Governor” came about, saying it was the result of his encounter with Adeboye in Lagos when all hopes seemed lost before his miraculous emergence as governor.
He stated that his government was a product of the pastor’s divine intervention alongside other anointed clerics.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

5 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.