Rivers
LG Boss Tasks Traditional Rulers On Security
The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, Chief Erastus Awortu, has told traditional rulers in the area to ensure sustenance of peace and security in their respective domains.
Awortu made the call, Monday, during the quaterly meeting of the Andoni Traditional Rulers Council with him at the council headquarters, Ngo Town.
Speaking shortly after he declared the meeting open, the Chairman lamented that the crisis and hatred experienced among the leadership and various communities in the area were often orchestrated by some merchants of division and conflict in the area.
Awortu expressed the need for the support of royal fathers, chiefs and stakeholders in tackling certain issues to maintain the existing peace and harmony installed by his administration.
He urged them to use thier traditional positions to bring unity and peace among the various communities in their domains.
“Yours is a call as royal fathers and traditional rulers to serve the people through quality leadership and selfless sacrifice.
“As traditional rulers, you are fathers to all in your domains. You are the custodians of the values, customs, and traditions of the people.
“We urge you to use your position as royal fathers to unite all the people and promote peace and harmony in your various Kingdoms.
“Our local government needs everyone in formal and informal positions of leadership to speak up for, and to uphold a common humanity.
“Too many merchants of hate and division menace our land, they seek to have their bread buttered by the suffering and destruction that violence brings.
“They promote a persistent victim mentality, pushing a narrative that relegates and diminishes people and inclines them to base conduct.
“They package ordinary people into the mistaken and dangerous belief that the dice is always loaded against them because of politics and chieftaincy wrangling, thereby fuelling a baseless sense of rage and hate.
“When and wherever violence wreaks havoc on life, they see opportunity to feather their nests, rather than embrace their responsibility to work to ensure everyone’s right to life, movement and residence is respected.
“These merchants of division do all these for their personal relevance and bank accounts. Most of them live safely away from the theaters of the violence they induce.
“Many have homes in the safest parts of Port Harcourt, Abuja and cities abroad. Their children and youth are tucked safely away in private schools within Nigeria and abroad, with the proceeds from the relevance that violence and hatred earn for them”, he said.
The chairman explained that his administration was desperately into bringing the incessant attacks and killings that have claimed so many lives and properties in various communities in the area to an end.
He disclosed that the local government council is able to achieve on some developmental gestures because of the relative peace, adding that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of violence.
He urged the traditional rulers to give support to the government in restoring the lost glory of the LGA, and consolidating on the ongoing initiative to bring development among the people.
“This government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to security and peace building not only in Andoni, but in every parts of the neighbourhood LGAs, we explored various avenues for peace and we got it.
“We don’t want anyone in the name of chieftaincy wrangling or community crisis to drag our dear LGA back to the era of doom again.
“There is no doubt that security efforts and intelligence gathering must improve and we will continue to discharge our responsibility to uphold security and uphold the laws of the land.
“But we must all soberly acknowledge that the ultimate guarantee of peace is the willingness of people to live together in harmony and mutual respect”, Awortu said.
In his remarks, the new Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council and Paramount Ruler of Ikuru Town, King Aaron Ikuru, promised to synergise with the council chairman to bring sustainable peace and socio-economic development to the area.
He said: “We will adopt more proactive measures to sustain peace and unity in our communities.
“I will embark on sensitization of my people to be law abiding, live in peace and be security conscious and love one another.
“I will gather all the various entities in our area to promote peace. We shall pay special attention to the youths, efforts would be made to provide jobs for the youths”.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Asarama Divisional Council of Traditional Rulers and member of Andoni Area council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, Daniel Okikere Ibani, thanked the Council Chairman for the developmental gesture across the LGAs.
Ibani, the partamount Ruler of Iwoma Community in Andoni, also thanked the Council Chairman for his re-inclusion into the Andoni Area Council of Traditional Rulers to represent Asarama Division in the Area.
He promised to promote peace, unity and also join hands with the council Chairman to sustain the existing peace and development in the area.
Ibani warned that his administration as chairman of Asarama Divisional Council traditional rulers will not tolerate any form of gangsterism among the chiefs, youths and the entire people of Asarama Kingdom, saying that the era of compromise and grace had elapsed.
By: Enoch Epelle
A former supervisory councillor for Health in Etche local government of Rivers state, Eld Chimezie Ogbu has been honoured with an excellent service Award by the Adventist men Organisation (AMO), Port Harcourt west mission.
Eld Chimezie Ogbu, received the award for alongside fifteen others for his contributions and support to the association and uplifting humanity.
Elder Chimezie Ogbu left receiving the Rivers west mission AMO Excellent Service Award from the former AMO Director and the former General manager, RSNC, Eld Vincent Ake during the extra ordinary meeting of AMO held at Rumuolumini, Sunday.
Speaking during an extra ordinary and end of year meeting, the Director of Adventist men Organisation, Port Harcourt west mission, Dr Sam Emejuru said the award was in recognition to Hon Ogbu’s contributions and support to the association, noting that Eld Chimezie Ogbu have been one of the sponsors of the Association in the mission.
Dr Emejuru who was a fomer chairman of the state secondary school Board noted invaluable contributions of the recipients to the association and the church at large and urged them to continue to be generous in the development of church and humanity.
In an interview with the tide, Hon Chimezie Ogbu, a serving elder in the seventh-day adventist church, Rumuolumeni District expressed appreciation to the Association, adding that the award will encourage him to do more
He highlighted the importance of investing in God’s vineyard and to help humanity and dedicated the award to God Almighty and members of his family.
Members of landlords of Ceenamore and Iroko Drives in Cedarwood Estate, Rumuaholu, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, have urged the Inspector General of Police and the State Police Commissioner, CP Olungbenga Adepoju, to urgently act on the petition they sent to him regarding the alleged move by the Managing Director of Niger Delta Technology & property development Ltd, Engr. Stephen Nyegwa, to demolish their estate.
The group alleged that the MD of Niger Delta Logistics Limited had purportedly, through a court judgment notice, claimed that he had gotten an order to demolish the estate.
Speaking to journalists at the estate, Mr. Manuabuchi Elem Chioma, one of the affected landlords, said the call becomes very imperative following the continued harassment by Mr. Nyegwa and his associates, noting that they woke up and discovered that their houses have been marked for demolition.
Also speaking, Barrister Victor Okezie urged the police to act swiftly to save landlords of the estate from the impending problem, stressing that they are ready to comply if there is a confirmed valid court judgment.
Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have inaugurated an ultra-modern, specialised Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for youth empowerment in innovations.
The fully equipped ICT centre, located at Baptist High School in the city, was inaugurated as part of the close-out ceremony for the Human Capital Development Basic Training Programme.
Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Felix Ogbe, stated this in a statement issued on Friday by the Manager of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at NLNG, Mrs. Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku.
He described the ICT centre as a gateway to knowledge and innovation, as well as a window to future opportunities.
Represented by the organisation’s General Manager of Institutional Strengthening, Mr. Olugbenga Sheba, Ogbe explained that the project was designed to equip young Nigerians with digital skills to prepare them for a technology-driven world.
“The remodelled ICT centre is more than a building. It is a statement of belief that students here can learn coding, design, and innovation that connects them with the wider world.
“It represents our confidence that when given the right tools, Nigerian students can become creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs”, he said.
Ogbe commended NLNG for its continued collaboration with the NCDMB and its steadfast commitment to advancing Nigerian Content objectives.
He added that the partnership demonstrated what could be achieved through meaningful collaboration between government and corporate stakeholders, noting that such investments would help build a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to compliance with Nigerian Content regulations and its dedication to improving lives sustainably.
She emphasised that NLNG was passionate about enhancing human capital development and promoting technological inclusion, both of which were aimed at improving employability and industry-relevant skills among young Nigerians.
According to Horsfall, the project aligns with NLNG’s vision of empowering communities through education and technology.
“The upgraded ICT centre, which complies with existing NCDMB regulations, is an investment that provides students with a modern learning environment and equips teachers with improved tools to deliver quality education”, she said.
The Tide reports that the ICT centre has been upgraded to a 40-seater facility and equipped with 20KVA solar and inverter system.
The facility also includes renovated classrooms and administrative buildings, as well as digital smart boards and modern learning tools.
Meanwhile, Palmer-Ikuku, in the statement, announced the graduation of 30 trainees under the Human Capital Development Basic Training Programme jointly organised by both organisations.
She stated that the trainees earned international certifications after completing rigorous training in Engineering, Marine Operations, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), and Entrepreneurship, among other disciplines.
According to Palmer-Ikuku, the training underscores the shared mission of NLNG and NCDMB to build local capacity, promote technological inclusion, and support Nigeria’s broader vision of sustainable development through education and skill acquisition.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso