Nation
Sule Tasks Community On Sustainable Peace
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has urged Odu Community in Nasarawa Local Government Area to ensure sustainable peace through the promotion of cultural values.
Sule gave the charge during the 2022 Odu Cultural Day celebration in Odu community at the weekend.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, congratulated the community and the entire Afo nation for their contribution to the development of the state.
He attributed the peace being experienced in the area at present to the concerted efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration against insecurity as well as the cooperation from the people.
“I thank all sons and daughters of Afo land for your continuous support to this government in terms of security, an area we take so seriously, and which is why we are able to gather here like this today,” he said.
Sule also lauded the immense contributions of the traditional ruler of the area, “Osu Ajiri”, Alhaji Halilu Bala-Usman, towards ensuring peace in the state.
He assured the community and Afo people of his administration’s committment to better their lots in all areas of governance.
The Governor noted that the initiative by the community to build a palace for the village head was commendable, assuring that the government would render the needed support.
Speaking, President of Odu Elites Development Association, Job Osu, said the essence of the celebration was to showcase and sustain the rich cultural heritage of Afo people to the world.
Osu stated that the event would also enable them to pool resources together for the attainment of set goals, both for the land and its people.
Osu thanked the Governor for his efforts at ensuring the return of peace to the area, the various developmental projects as well as appointment of Odu indigenes into his cabinet.
He also appreciated the traditional ruler of Afo community, “Osu-Ajiri”, I Alhaji Halilu Bala- Usman and the village head of Odu, Yusuf Owuna, for their role in ensuring that their subjects lived in peace with one another.
“This day will remain ever remarkable in the history of our community because it’s the first time in the history of the Afo nation that our village head will be having a befitting palace.
“We desire to build this palace to minimise crisis whenever any son of the soil is selected or appointed as a village head, and this will ensure royal and administrative convenience and disposition of duties,” he said.
He explained that the Odu Day celebration was part of his executive’s blueprint to unite the people towards restoring peace and foster development of the area.
“By the grace of God, before the end of our tenure, with the support of the community, we shall ensure rapid and positive transformation in the areas of security, education, health, cultural reorientation and infrastructural development.”
While commending the efforts of the Federal and State Governments in tackling the security challenges in the area, Osu assured the community’s continued support to the government to win the war against insecurity and insurgency in Afo land and Nigeria at large.
Also, retired Commodore Yahaya Owuna, Chairman of the occasion, said the event was apt considering the valuable contributions Odu people made to the society.
He said the initiative to build a befitting edifice for the village head was commendable and deserved to be supported by all stakeholders.
He, however, urged the children and youth from the area to embrace education and desist from relying on illegal mining as the means of livelihood.
“We must not abandon knowledge, hard work and our rich cultural heritage. So, we must work towards attaining the three for the growth and development of our community,” he said.
Nation
Cleric Preaches Love As Deputy Governor, Chief Judge Grace Wedding In PH
The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.
Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.
“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.
Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.
“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.
Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.
He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.
While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.
“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.
He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.
“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.
Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.
“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.
The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.
Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.
Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.
The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.
The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.
Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.
Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.
Nation
2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.
The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.
He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.
Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.
“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.
“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.
“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.
“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.
“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.
Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).
“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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