News
Ariolu, Paddy, Others Storm Emohua, Pay Last Respect To Ogbuagu …Egbeda Leaders Pledge Loyalty To PDP
The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Barrister George Ariolu, last Saturday, teamed up with former Obio/Akpor LGA Caretaker Committee Chairman, Paddy Wali and other dignitaries in Emohua Local Government Area to pay last respect to late Mr Innocent IjeOgbuagu.
The late Innocent Ogbuagu, who passed on at age 96, was until his demise the father of Head of Local Government Administration in Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Johnson Ogbuagu.
Accompanied by his Vice, Lady ChinyeruAgbara, Ariolu paid his last respects to the deceased at his residence.
The funeral service, which was held at his hometown in Egbeda, Emohua Local Government Area, witnessed thrilling performances by the Owembe Cultural Dance Group and other indigenous musical performances and arts.
Ariolu during the funeral, condoled with the family of the deceased over their loss, whilst he encouraged them to take solace in the Lord.
He also urged the head of local government administration to be courageous and assume responsibility for the family.
Responding on behalf of the family, Johnson thanked the chairman for leading a high-powered delegation to Emohua to pay last respect to his late father and to commiserate with his family during their time of grief and mourning.
The ceremony had in attendance members of council workers and civil servants, amongst others who came to sympathize with the family of the deceased.
On the entourage of Ariolu were the Chief of Staff, Mr Promise Ogbonda; Supervisor for Works, Samuel Amadi; Supervisor for Agriculture; India Amadi; Supervisor for Education; Henry Ebere; Supervisor for Youths and Sports; Newman Ogbonda;special advisers, executive assistants, amongst others.
Others include; Leader,Obio/Akpor 9th Legislative Council,Prince AchorNna; Legal Adviser Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Barrister Leslie Ejekwu; Secretary, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, IjeOkabie.
Similarly, the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Egbeda Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State has commiserated with the family of Hon Johnson DidiaOgbuagu on the demise of his father, late Elder Innocent Ogbuagu.
They described late Ogbuagu as a rare gem who will be missed for his fatherly dispositions.
The Leader of the party, Chief David Omereji, who was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly,Hon Edison Ehie; member of Rivers State House of Assembly representing Ahoada East 1,Hon ChibudomEzu; the Secretary of PDP in Emohua LGA, Hon ObindaWordu; the Co-ordinator of Wike Solidarity Movement (WSM) in Emohua Local Government Area, Hon John Amadi; the Councillor representing Egbedacommunity and the Chief Whip of Emohua Local Government Legislative Assembly, Hon Beauty Chile Omereji; the immediate past councillor, Hon HumphreyDidiAssor; and other leaders of the party, also prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In a communique read by Assor, members of PDP in Egbedacommunity reminded Ehie that Egbeda people have never been allowed to hold any elective position in the LGA since its creation, adding thatEgbeda people were loyal to the decisions of the leadership of the party.
He also assured him that the people of Egbeda would support all the candidates of PDP in the 2023 elections.
Speaking during the visit, the Leader of PDP in Egbeda Ward 11, Chief David Omereji described Ehie as a friend of Egbedacommunity.
He told the lawmaker that Egbeda people have accepted the decision of the party, and assured him of the unflinching support of the people.
Omereji also told Egbeda people that nobody would take the place of God, adding that some disappointments were blessings in disguise.
In his reaction, Hon Edison Ehie said he has confirmed that Egbedawas the most populous community in Ikwerre.
He thanked Omereji for holding the party united, and said that the state Governor, Chief NyesomWike, if given the party’s ticket, would win the presidential election come 2023, adding that the governor was proud of him.
He assured Egbeda people that good things were on the way, and asked them to always support and pray for their leader, Chief David Omereji.
In her closing remarks, Hon Beauty Chile Omereji assured the deputy speaker that Egbeda has done it before and would do it again by voting massively for the PDP in the 2023 elections.
She assured him that PDP has never lost election in Egbeda, and would continue to win in all elections.
The epoch-making event was witnessed by all the leaders, youths, women and the elders of the party in Egbedacommunity.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.