News
LG Boss Warns Against Disruptive Protests, Violence In Bonny
The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Barasua Dagogo Claude-Wilcox has condemned, in totality, the increasing occurrence of violence and deliberate disruption of law and order by some erratic youths of the peace-loving Island community.
A statement signed by the Secretary, Bonny Local Government, Hon. Ralph Sotonye Jamaica, yesterday, in Bonny Island, read, “The newfound adoption of illegal measures as a credible means of pursuing individual or group interests is a threat to public peace.
“Likewise, the continued display of an alien blood-thirsty nature in the expression of whatever interest is completely unacceptable to us as a people.
“In recent times, protesting workers over industrial disputes with their employers were attacked at the gate of Daewoo Nigeria Limited by some community youths.
“As if that was not wrong enough, some Finima Community youths were attacked with machetes and brutalised at the community stadium. Each day now comes with one form of violence or lawlessness, and the government cannot wait until life is lost to put to an end this continued display of foolishness.
“There is no doubt, some youths and their sponsors are determined to destroy the peace and enabling environment for the continued pursuit of happiness that we have enjoyed over the years.
“Honestly, no government can fold her arms and watch people take laws into their hands no matter their reasons or concerns. We all need to understand that violence and lawlessness have no place in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, just as violence and lawlessness have no basis in our custom as a people.
“The gains made in ensuring that peace, law and order are maintained in Bonny Local Government Area by the administration of Dame Anengi Barasua Dagogo Claude-Wilcox will not be allowed to be threatened, thereby exposing our people and corporate citizens to unnecessary fear and harm.
“Understandably, there is no society without aggrieved persons or groups, fortunately, those who prepared the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made adequate provisions for aggrieved persons to seek redress in a lawful manner without posing a threat to the entire society.
“Therefore, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox has called for the immediate cease of all forms of violence and lawlessness in Bonny Island.
“Those with grievances are advised to embrace the provisions of the Constitution or take advantage of the open door policy of her administration and stop endangering the lives and wellbeing of our people.
“Further directives have been given to the Divisional Police Officers and other government security agencies operating in Bonny Local Government Area to launch a speedy investigation into all cases of violence and lawlessness recorded within their areas of watch, and effect prompt arrest, prosecution and punishment in accordance with the prescription of the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Members of the public are advised to go about their lawful engagements and report to the law enforcement agencies any issue of public safety, we should collectively make Bonny Local Government Area safe and peaceful for everyone; no individual’s lack of respect for the laws of the nation shall be allowed to make life miserable for our people”, the statement added.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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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