News
2023: OWWA Takes PVC Sensitisation Rally To Opobo Communities
Ahead of the 2023 general election in Nigeria, women under the aegis of Opobo Women Welfare Association (OWWA), last weekend, took the sensitisation for registration and collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to more Opobo communities.
The communities where OWWA the campaign to include, Kalama, Iloma, Oloma, Epellema, Ekeregborokiri, Queens Town, Kalasunju, Kalaibiama and Opobo Town, among others.
At the communities, the group urged residents to ensure that they register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in order to participate in the electoral process next year.
Addressing a mammoth crowd during the drive in Opobo Town, President of the group, Felicia Stephen Pepple, admonished Nigerians, particularlyeligible voters to go out and get their PVCs now that the opportunity is calling on everybody, no matter their tribe, creed, religion or political divide, noting that “without the PVC, you donot have the right to choose leaders come 2023,” because your vote must count.
Saying that, “no PVC, no vote,”Pepple explained that apart from election matters, the PVC was required to serve multi-dimensional purposes, especially banking transactions, children school enrollment and others, noting that failureto obtain their card could either make or mar their future.
“Without your Permanent Voters Card (PVC),you have no power to either vote or to be voted for,” she said, stressing that it has become imperative for the people to be enlightened on the need to register and collect their voters’ cards to avoid, “had I known, which comes at last.
“Your PVC matters alot now, therefore, you need to go out and get it. Never transfer your card to anyone no matter the relationship between you and that person. Avoid dual registration as your card will be annulled except on transfer from a unit to another of your choice. Endeavour to do so in your own interest”,Pepple declared.
The group also visited churches, schools and markets in the area, where the leader enjoined students and teachers to shun the temptation of standing aloof, and disenfranchising themselves, and blaming others for the election of weak leaders at the end of every election.
At the markets and churches, the group announced to traders and congregants, to ensure that the exercise did not pass them by and work assiduously to be eligible to vote during the 2023 elections, because, according to OWWA, their votes could make a difference in determining who occupies the elective positions at the executive and legislative leaderships in the state and at the national level.
The events, spurred the group into action,as thousands of women embarked on ralliesand road walks, singing and dancing all the way from Kalama axis to ancient city of Opobo.
The group leader appealed to leaders in other adjoining communities around the city to make sure that their subjects who are 18 years and above, including students and the less privileged in the society, get registered with INEC for their PVCs immediately.
By: Bethel Toby
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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