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Your PVC’s Your Power, Banigo Tells Kalabari Electorate …As Woke Warns Degema People Against Leaving Mainstream Politics

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr.Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has informed the people of Degema Local Government Area that their Permanent Voter Card (PVC)was their power.
Banigo stated this during the collect and protect your PVC sensitisation and mobilisation rally, organised by the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) at the Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry Stadium in Degema, last Sunday.
The deputy governor, who insisted that the PVC was key in the 2023 General Election, advised eligible voters to collect and keep their PVCs safe in order to vote candidates of their choice that would provide democratic dividends.
In his address, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP in the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, informed the people that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was done with registration of eligible voters, adding that they were now in the era of PVC collection.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Degema, for the solidarity and show of love for GDI, especially the elders of Degema, noting that this means the leaders of the areawere doing well.
Fubara clarified that the gathering was not for political campaigns or to canvass for votes for any political party but to stimulate GDI members to go and collect their Permanent Voters Cards to be able to take part in the 2023 elections.
“We are not asking you to vote anybody here now because we know when it is time for vote you people know what to do. Our duty here is to ensure that every single PVC belonging to the GDI and PDP members from Ward 1 to Ward 17 of Degema is collected. That is the main reason for our coming. When you collect the PVC ensure they are kept safe”.
He also spoke highly of the turnout of GDI members and other indigenes of Degema for the rally.
“We are not campaigning, we have come to encourage our supporters here that have stood with us even in the face of the political drama when people are saying that GDI is no longer in this axis of the state.We have come here today to see with our own eyes. Like our chairman used to say, the human beings I am seeing in Degemaarelike ‘sand’. That is what I’m seeing. It means that GDI is strong here in Degema. If GDI is strong, it means PDP is also strong”.
He thanked the people of Degema, especially the aged for their show of love, support and solidarity.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Desmond Akawor, who spoke through his Deputy, Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron, informed the people that it behoves on them to make efforts to collect their PVCs in order exercise their franchise in 2023.
Akawor, who is also the chairman of Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), commended the people of Degema for turning out in their numbers for the rally, arguing the colourful crowd showed that GDI exist in Degema contrary to what was being speculated.
On his part, Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Emeka Woke, told Kalabari people not to allow few self-styled leaders in the area to deceive them.
He said that over the weekend, a group of people who claimed to be South-South elders, women, youths and student leaders from Kalabari had alleged that they have adopted a governorship candidate, but wondered how only Kalabari would decide on the issue of governorship for the entire South-South which is made up of six states.
He expressed optimism that Kalabari people would not isolate themselves from mainstream politics, especially against the backdrop of what Governor NyesomWike has done for the people.
“The administration of NyesomWike has impacted positively on the Kalabari ethnic nationality, if not for anything, the appointment of a Kalabari daughter as deputy governor. The era of ethnic politics in Rivers State is over. I know that SiminialayiFubara is a Kalabari son”, he said.
Earlier, the President General of GDI, Hon. Bright Amewhule, had said that on the day of election, all eligible voters should come out and cast their votes for candidates of their choice and ensure that the results are transmitted at the polling units, in order to forestall manipulations.
The rally, which attracted people from various walks of life, including the PDP Governorship candidate, Sir SiminialayiFubara; the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who is also the candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District; Deputy Governorship candidate, Prof NgoziOrdu; Chief of Staff, Government House, EngrEmeka Woke; local government chairmen; former and serving commissioners; some members of the National and State Assembly; and candidates of both legislative chambers.
Others are GDI and PDP members led separately by President General, Chief Bright Amaewhule, and the party’s Deputy Chairman,Chukwuemeka Aaron, who represented the State Chairman, Amb Desmond Akawor, traditional rulers, women and youth groups.
The event, which featured solidarity speeches from stakeholders of Degema, dwelt on PVC collection and security of the voting instrument as well as gyration dance by GDI members from the 17 wards that make up the LGA.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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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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