Niger Delta

Delta PDP Moves To Reconcile Agrieved Members

Published

2 years ago

February 28, 2024

The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it has begun move to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party
This accordijg to The Chief of Staff to the state Governor, Honourable Johnson Erijo ,reconciliation of aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State after the 2023 gubernatorial election is ongoing.
The former member of the state House of assembly spoke on the Nigerian who to newsmen on the issue said that one of the aspirants, who was backed by a former governor in the state, Chief James Ibori, in the party primary, Olorogun David Edevie and others have not been appearing in the state public functions since May 29, 2023.
Erijo said that Edevie and other aspirants have put issues of the election behind them to join hands with the current government to take the MORE agenda of the administration to greater heights.
He said: “It is not only Edevie that was an aspirant in the PDP primary. You see prominent aspirants like the former deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro. You have been seeing him in state functions. You have been seeing James Manager, high ranking senator in public functions.
“Probably at the moment Edevie may not be in the country, so just one person of the lot; you wouldn’t say you have not been seeing them in state functions. You have been seeing majority of them.
“If you count the various stalwarts that indicated interest in the PDP race, majority of them have been coming around so of the lot, it may not be total but I don’t think it is anything untoward.
“For Edevie, a very strong PDP member, I haven’t heard from him lately, maybe he is out of the country. You know he used to shuttle, maybe he is taking a break and thereafter, he would be back. But one thing I know is that the PDP family in Delta is unbreakable, we are still very much intact.
“The reconciliatory effort is still very much on course and like I said, there is no way Edevie could be more aggrieved than people like James Manager, who was the founding PDP chairman in the state.
“So if Manager, could put aside whatever difference or ambition and has come back, working tirelessly as he did in the general election, I don’t think if there’s anyone else who cannot put behind any development to join hands with the current government.”
The Chief of staff said it was noteworthy that former governor James Ibori congratulated the governor after his Supreme Court victory.
Recalled that Chief Ibori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate past governor of the state were in different boats while the 2023 election lasted.
While Okowa presented Oborevwori for the primary election, Ibori stood behind Edevie a situation that almost tore PDP apart.
However, the Chief of staff said members of the same family were bound to quarrel and thereafter settle for progress.
“They will all still inhabit their natural abode. Whatever has happened attest to the fact that everything is fine with PDP members in the states.
“ I am sure you are aware that Ibori’s daughter ran under the platform of PDP and is now at the national assembly under the platform of the party.
“That Ibori sent kind words to Governor Oborevwori is a clear indications that all is well with us as a family.”
On palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, Erijo said the state government has taken enduring measures to ameliorate the burden confronting workers and indeed the people of the state.
According to him, aside allowance to workers, the governor had approved other measures one of which is the use of CNG buses.
“Particularly, the CNG buses, they are not things you just pick from the shelves. Government is taking those measures to ease transportation, I know the ministry of transport is already working in that direction on the approval of the Governor in ensuring that those long and lasting measures are put in place to cushion the effects of hard the economic situation we are facing in the country.
“We need to build the stations , import the CNG vehicles …all these processes are in place as the governor has graciously approved.”
He said the construction of three flyovers in the oil city of Warri and Effurun showed the seriousness Gov Oborevwori has towards ensuring the fulfillment of his electoral promises and his MORE agenda.
“You will recall that during his inauguration, he emphatically announced he was going to ensure Warri comes back to life as a commercial nerve center of the state.
“ Some of those serious measures he has taken are in the direction towards fulfilling those promises and I think Deltans are happy for it. The entire country has applauded the very bold initiative of engaging the giants of construction ,Julius Berger ,and to ensure that not only the infrastructure are put in place in Warri but as well ensure that the infrastructure are lasting, of high standard and that is why he engaged Julius Berger.
“Not just that, there is an agency saddled with the development of Warri /Effurun and environ. Only recently, the state Executive Council meeting approved the construction of the third phase of storm drainage project and other axillary projects. There are lots of other projects that are going on. When he starts the phase of project commissioning to mark his first year in office, we shall unveil most of the achievements .”
Speaking on the bolstered numbers of aides to the state governor, the former lawmaker opined that the people he engaged as aide are not people from outside Delta State .
He said it was all meant to shore up the economy of the state even as he lashed those critiques on why a governor should have too many aides.

Niger Delta

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

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.