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Speaker Commends Evo Bishop For Promoting Christendom …As Ordu Congratulates Martin Amaewhule On His Emergence As Speaker
The Bishop of Evo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Innocent Uchechukwu Ordu, JP, the team of Clergy, members of the Diocesan Board and 2023 Synod Planning Committee, yesterday, paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, to express their gratitude and appreciation for his continued support to the diocese.
The visit is part of the church’s efforts to thank and appreciate individuals who have played significant roles in the growth and development of the diocese.
The Bishop of Evo Diocese and the visitors expressed their joy on the news of Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule’s emergence as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
They acknowledged that his election as the Speaker was not merely due to his position as the highest-ranking member in the House, but a testament to his leadership qualities and dedication to public service.
The Bishop commended the Speaker for actively participating in the activities of the diocese and informed him of the upcoming Synod, scheduled to take place from August 2nd to August 6th, 2023, at St Philip’s Anglican church Oro Igwe District.
During the meeting, the Bishop shared that this year’s Synod will feature special talk sessions that will focus on issues such as politics, health, and gender.
According to him, the aim is to engage in meaningful discussions on these subjects and provide insights and understanding to the congregation. The Bishop stressed the importance of addressing these issues as part of the broader theme of the Synod, which is “Jesus, Unique in all the World.”
In his response, the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS expressed his gratitude for the Bishop’s commendation and the opportunity to be actively involved in the activities of the diocese. He acknowledged the importance of the Synod in promoting spiritual growth and addressing contemporary challenges faced by the church and society.
The Speaker assured the Bishop of his continued support and commitment to the success of the Synod. Rt. Hon. Amaewhule further pledged his participation and encouraged others to actively engage in the sessions of the Synod.
The Speaker extended his heartfelt condolences to the Bishop of Evo Diocese following the demise of Ven Chris Chukumati, a prominent figure within the diocese. “Ven Chris Chukumati’s passing has left a void in the diocese, and we express our sympathy to the family and the entire Diocesan community” he said.
The Bishop and clergymen offered prayer to the lawmaker and his family.
The Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Holy Bible to Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule by the Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt Rev. Innocent Ordu.
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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.