News
17 Oil Wells: Ariolu, MOSIEND Hail Wike Over S’Court Victory
The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Barrister George Ariolu, has lauded the Supreme Court of Nigeria, for delivering a firm judgement on the disputed 17 oil wells involving Rivers and Imo states.
Ariolu, while addressing newsmen, yesterday, also hailed the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his bold and courageous approach towards recovering the state’s assets.
He described the verdict of the apex court as victory for the rule of law, democracy and the people of Rivers State.
Following the verdict by the apex court, he expressed optimism and confidence that Wike would continue to fight and win more battles in the interest of Rivers people.
Speaking further, he said the ultimate victory was another validation of Wike’s popularity among Rivers people, especially on his programmes, which have continued to impact positively on the people.
Describing Wike as an architect who has erected political structure for good governance, Ariolu urged Nigerians to support him, stressing that they should give the governor fresh mandate in 2023.
He, however, maintained that the recent verdicts of the Supreme Court have restored and re-affirmed the hope of the common man in the nation’s judicial sector.
Ariolu noted that the lawyers and judges who delivered the landmark ruling have written their names in gold, adding that they would be remembered as revered legal practitioners.
He said, “It is now glaring that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“We are very happy with the judgement given by the Supreme Court and that is why we are affirming our loyalty and commitment to the governor of the Rivers State.
“I think we are now having a Judiciary we are supposed to have.
“The Supreme Court has done the right thing by affirming that the 17 oil wells in dispute belonged to Rivers State,” he continued.
The council boss, who described the ruling as good development for the sustainability of the country’s democratic experiment, pointed out that the landmark judgement has relieved the state of oppression, pervasion of justice, disunity and disharmony.
Similarly, a frontline socio-cultural organisation in Niger Delta region, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has commended Governor Nyesom Wike, over the Supreme Court judgement on 17 oil wells ruled in favour of the state.
The oil wells, the group said, were located in Ndoni and Egbema communities in Rivers State, respectively.
The group, in a statement by its Zonal Secretary, Godwin Opiuyo, commended the Judiciary for living up to its responsibility for fair judgement.
MOSIEND said the judgement brings to an end the lingering and prolonged boundary dispute between Rivers and Imo states.
The statement described Wike, a Presidential aspirant hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as not somebody you can intimidate, adding that Rivers properties remains safe under his care.
The group said they were pleased with the ceding of the 17 oil wells to Rivers State by the court judgement.
The statement commended Wike for resisting the forces of evil against the financial prosperity of Rivers State.
“We commend the Wike for his resolute in recovering the communities and the 17 oil wells for Rivers State”.
Opiuyo further appealed to the governor to make massive investment in human capital development across the 23 local governments of the state to reduce poverty.
MOSIEND said the proposed Wike decision to embark on stomach infrastructure is strategic and aimed alleviating poverty and improved lives amongst youths.
Recall that in 2019 there was a disputed 17 oil wells in Akri and some other communities when a presidential directive conjured a certain boundary adjustment arrangement that transfers all revenues accrued within those locations to our neighbouring Imo State.
By: Chinedu Wosu
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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