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Strive For Better Nigeria, Cleric Tasks Politicians

The Senior Pastor, Summit Bible Church Abuja, Andy Osakwe, has tasked politicians in the country to aspire to build a better nation rather than pursuing their parochial interests.
Osakwe said in an interview with newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja, that political leaders must act responsibility and work for the future of the country.
The cleric, who spoke after the opening of the church’s 2022 conference, said efforts must be geared towards providing better directions to the next generation of Nigerians.
“I will advise Nigerian politicians to take responsibility for the future of the nation and move into leadership which has concern for the next generation,” he added.
Osakwe also cautioned against religious and ethnic profiling of Nigerians, adding that there should be freedom of worship and association.
“There should be no profiling based on religion, Nigeria is a free state where there is freedom of worship with no interference or intimidation,” he added.
The pastor also advised Nigerians to shun violence and work towards building a prosperous nation.
He said the 2022 conference of the church was toenable people to advance into the place of fullness in their lives.
“When Christians are in their fullness, it will be beneficial to the country as a whole.
“We believe it’s time for Christians and Nigerians to rise up and take responsibility and that is why we are emphasising fullness because it speaks about our potentials too.”
He further said that the conference would encourage all Nigerians to step up their full potentials, take full responsibility and do something positive for the country.
“It is time for a new Nigeria and we are the ones God is counting on for this new Nigeria”, he added.
Osakwe, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to remain steadfast as God would do great things for the nation.
“I encourage Nigerians not to give up, but hope for the best.
“We have been praying and God will answer us and I believe God has answered, with time we will see the manifestations.
“This is not the time to quit or give up but intensify prayers for a new Nigeria as it will come to pass,” he said.
Earlier, member of the Conference Publicity Committee,Pastor Kingsley Bangwell, said the event was meant to “challenge us as a people and body of Christ to contribute to the building of the new nation of our dream.
“The conference aims to challenge, empower and influence people to go beyond the church walls to achieve notable and striking feats for God’s kingdom.
“The attendees will be fed with truths that will cause them to experience significant advancements in every area of their lives, which is crucial in building our great nation, Nigeria.
“When minds are transformed, people are transformed and, thus, the nation is reformed.
“Fervent prayers will also be offered for Nigeria to achieve fullness of peace and enter her destiny as one of the leading nations of the world.”
Also, Apostle Michael Orokpo, who ministered on the conference’s theme, “FULLNESS”, urged all believers to allow God take predominance in their affairs to ensure all-round blessings and achievements in life.
According to him fullness means acknowledging and surrendering all to God.
“When you allow God dominate you, you attain greatness,” Orokpo said.
According to him, life, light and one’s constant presence before God are the three dominant things that ensure a man walks and works in the fullness of God.
The eight-day conference would run from October 30 to November 6, 2022.
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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
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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.