Niger Delta

Bayelsa Poll: Diri Restates Need For Peace

Published

2 years ago

November 6, 2023

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on members of the opposition parties not to breach the peace and security ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
He made the call recently at the dedication service of the St.Paul’s Catholic Church, Ofoni, home town of his running mate and Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo in Sagbama Local Government Area of the State.
The church, The Tide learnt, was built by the Deputy Governor.
Governor Diri, who was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri, noted that his administration was anchored on peace and development without which meaningful prosperity would not be possible.
He enjoined people of the State to sustain the prevailing peace and stability before, during and after the poll, saying that peace was a precondition for the development and growth of any society.
The state Chief Executive also commended his Deputy for building a sanctuary for God, saying that his investment in God’s vineyard will attract manifold divine blessings upon him and the Ewhrudjakpo family.
A statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted the Governor as saying:,“Today, we are all happy because we are dedicating this house built by my deputy to God.
“A lot of people would have had a plan to build a house like this, but it takes God to say ‘my son or my daughter’, build a house for me.
“So, for you to have built this house, it means God Himself gave you the grace to do so. God wants to dwell here. So, as humans we have no reasons to desecrate this place”.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, expressed appreciation to God for giving him the grace to start and complete the building of a place for Christian worship.

He also thanked the Governor, government officials and other guests who joined him to dedicate the church building to God.

Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Diocese, Most Reverend Dr Hyacinth Egbebo, commended the Deputy Governor, for building a house of God and impacting positively on many lives.

Most Reverend Egbebo prayed God to bless Senator Ewhrudjakpo’s selfless efforts in serving God and humanity and urged others to emulate him, stressing that those who give to God never lack.

He also gave kudos to the Governor and his team, noting that they had done fairly well in the development of the state, citing the construction of the three senatorial roads and urged them to sustain the tempo.

Bishop Egbebo further used the opportunity to remind the congregants that their bodies symbolizes the temple of God and advised them to live uprightly in order for the holy spirit to dwell in them.

Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, read the first lesson at the service, which was taken from the book of Nehemiah 8:2-10.

Dignitaries at the event included: the state’s National Assembly members, such as the Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Senator Konbowei Benson; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere; and other members of the House.

There were also the State Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye; President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah; and other judges of the State High Court.

Others included the National Financial Secretary of PDP, Dr Woyengikuro Daniel; State Chairman of the party, Mr Solomon Agwanana; Commissioners, Special Advisers local government and RDA chairmen, other top government functionaries, service commanders and traditional rulers, including the Chairman, State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.