Niger Delta

2023: Stakeholders, Party Faithful Reassure PDP Candidates Of Victory

Published

3 years ago

October 9, 2022

Stakeholders and party faithful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nembe Local Government Area Constituency Three, Bayelsa State, have promised to work in unity to ensure victory for the candidacy of Chief Benson Agadaga, the party’s Senatorial standard bearer for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
They also pledged same to Hon.(Mrs) Marie Ebikake, House of Representatives candidate of the party for the Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency: and Hon. Alalibo West, the State House of Assembly candidate for Nembe Constituency three in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
The party stalwarts reached this decision at a meeting convened at the instance of the statte Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Iti Orugbani.
The Tide learnt that Dr.Orugbani, who was the party’s Constituency Assembly candidate in the 2019 election, was alleged to have been rigged out of the general election by the then opposition candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had alleged that the 2019 general elections in parts of Nembe Constituencies two and three were characterised by violence and electoral fraud.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Commissioner stated that the reason for the meeting was to encourage and continue to strengthen the ties and unity amongst members of the party in the constituency.
He added that the leaders of the party in the constituency and every member of the party were resolved to ensuring victory for candidates of the party in the forthcoming polls, saying also that as party members they were in better position to prevent the opposition parties from rigging the forthcoming election in the constituency.
“The rationale behind this meeting was for strengthening the unity and bond amongst members of the party in the Constituency.
“We felt since the party primaries have come and gone, and there’re now candidates, all party members irrespective of the aspirant we supported during the primaries, should come together for us to forge ahead and ensure victory for all our party’s candidates.”
“We’ve the immediate past Chairman of Nembe LGA, Hon. Alalibo West, as the party’s constituency Assembly candidate.
“We’ve Chief Benson Agadaga as the party’s Senatorial candidate and Hon Marie Ebikake as the party’s candidate for the Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency.
“All we’ve done in the meeting was to ensure that our candidates are returned elected during the forthcoming polls, 2023. Remember I was the PDP House of Assembly candidate for the constituency in the 2019 election and so I know what happened during the last election”, the Commissioner said.
Also speaking, the duo of the PDP Caucus Chairman for Nembe LGA and former Senatorial candidate in the 2019 election, Mr Blessing Ipigansi Izagara, and former member of the State House of Assembly for the constituency, Hon. Iniyobio Obiene, promised victory for the party in the forthcoming polls.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.