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Royal Fathers Hail Fubara Over Peace Advocate Award

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Some traditional rulers in Rivers State have hailed Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the prestigious Pioneer Peace Advocate Award conferred on him by the Silver bird Group.
A section of traditional rulers who spoke to The Tide while reacting to the award in an interview said Fubara’s peaceful disposition has saved Rivers State from the usual round of political crisis.
According to the royal fathers, even in the face of provocations and intimidations, Governor Fubara has continued to preach peace and stressed the need for his qualities to be emulated not just in the State but across the country.
Speaking with The Tide at his palace in Port Harcourt, the Eze Risiohia Rebisi and Paramount ruler of Abali Clan in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Eze Christopher Wonodi said the award was well deserved, adding that it shows that people from other parts of the country are watching what is happening in the state.
According to Eze Wonodi, the people of Abali clan joined other well-meaning indigenes of Rivers State to felicitate with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the prestigious Pioneer Peace Advocate Award conferred on him by the Silver bird Group
“The award is well deserved,” he said.
Eze Wonodi also commended the Governor for the mature manner he is handling the affairs of the state, stressing that the situation has restored Rivers State back to its enviable position as a haven of peace.
According to the second class traditional ruler, the governor has shown maturity in the handling of affairs of the State even in the midst of numerous provocations, Governor Fubara has proven that he is a man of peace.
“Even in the face of provocations, he has remained silence. He has not allowed the crisis to distract him from carrying out his duty as a Governor,” he said.
Eze Wonodi stressed the need for other Governors in the country to emulate Governor Fubara.
He also advised politicians in the State to toe the path of peace as development can never take place in an atmosphere of violence.
Also speaking, the Eze Oruamara of Okwuzi Clan in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Eze Victor Afaka said his kingdom is happy over the award.
Eze Afaka who spoke to The Tide on phone said the award was an indication that the society has taken note of the peaceful disposition to issues that concerns governance in the State.
According to him, but for the peaceful nature of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State by now would have been engulfed in crisis.
Afaka said time has come for politicians in the State to emulate the character of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by toeing the path of peace.
He said Okwuzi Kingdom would continue to pray for the success of the administration of Governor Fubara.
Afaka also used the occasion to thank Governor Fubara for his numerous development projects across the State.

John Bibor

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ECOWAS Parliament Adopts AI In Lawmaking

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament says it will adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance informed deliberation, optimised legislation, and strengthen parliamentary oversight.

The regional bloc made the remark recently at the Second 2025 Extraordinary Session which held in Port Harcourt.

The theme of the session was, “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region.”

Fourth Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mr  Billay Tunkara, while closing the session on AI efficiency, said lawmakers would deploy appropriate tools to strengthen internal regulations.

He said the AI revolution was irreversible and had become a paradigm shift, redefining the region’s economies, societies and governance.

According to him, AI had moved from the realm of science fiction to a powerful global force driving major advances across sectors.

“Therefore, the use of AI in the ECOWQS Parliament will result to informed deliberation, optimised legislation and strengthened oversight.

“It offers us the means to make our work more efficient, transparent and closer to citizens’ expectations.

“So, it is up to us, parliamentarians to appropriate these tools, to train our collaborators and to adapt our internal regulations to accommodate this new intelligence”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, HRM King Ateke Tom, has pledged support for government efforts to sustain peace in the Niger Delta.

He gave the assurance when he received a delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament, led by its Speaker, Mrs. Hadja Ibrahima, at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area.

Tom, a former Niger Delta agitator, said he once took up arms to draw government’s attention to the plight of people in the oil-rich region.

“The agitation brought the Federal Government’s focus to our challenges.

“It was the agitation that created the opportunity for our people to be remembered, and for Goodluck Jonathan to become President”, he said.

He stated the struggle highlighted environmental degradation, poverty, and hardship endured by the Niger Delta people despite oil profits from the land.

The traditional ruler added that he later played a key role in disarming agitators and facilitating peace in the region.

“Today, the benefit of that peace is becoming evident”, he noted.

Tom urged the ECOWAS Parliament to use its platform to advocate for the development of the Niger Delta region.

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Youth Leader Lauds Tinubu, Over Ogoni oil Dispute

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The President-Genera (PG)l of Ogoni Youth Federation, Mr. Legborsi Yamaabana, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the effort to resolve the dispute that stalled oil exploration and production in Ogoni land.

The Tide’s source recalls that oil exploration and production were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s with Shell forced out by 1993 due to persistent unrest by the locals’ spear-headed by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP).

The source further notes that the dispute involved the Federal Government, oil multinationals and Ogoni people.

Yamaabana in a statement issued to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Hycienth Ana, in Port Harcourt, said Tinubu’s government had been able to resolve the dispute.

He described the ongoing peace process as sincere, timely, and commendable.

Yamaabana noted that the resolutions reached hold great promise for addressing the longstanding challenges of poverty and unemployment in Ogoniland.

The PG, a former Federal House of Representatives aspirant for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, used the medium to commend Tinubu for the national honours to the “Ogoni four.”

“President Tinubu’s extension of recognition to these Ogoni thirteen is a long-awaited gesture of justice and inclusivity”, he said.

He further applauded the President for bestowing a national honour on renowned Ogoni rights activist, Mr. Ledum Mitee, describing the recognition as a befitting tribute to his contributions to the struggle for justice and equity.

Yamaabana said resuming oil operations in Ogoniland with fairness and environmental responsibility would be a landmark achievement for Tinubu’s government in Nigeria’s socio-economic history.

He also commended the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee led by Prof. Don Baridam, for their roles in facilitating the dialogue.

The Ogoni youth leader reaffirmed commitment to supporting the federal government’s initiatives for economic growth and sustainable development in the area.

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IAUE Emerges Winner Of National Campus Debate, 2025

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Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, has been declared the state winner of the ongoing National Campus Debate 2025.

Following this victory, IAUE will represent Rivers State at the zonal face-to-face debate competition, scheduled to take place from September 15 to 22, 2025.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, congratulated IAUE on its achievement and wished the university continued brilliance in the next phase of the competition.

A statement from the institution’s Public Relations Office said the debate competition, which focuses on the topic “Unity in Diversity: Designing National Identity in Nigeria’s Multicultural Society”, aims to strengthen youth engagement, promote education, and foster national values and dialogue among students.

The competition offers significant rewards, with the national winner set to receive ?50 million, while the first and second runners-up will take home ?30 million and ?20 million respectively.

According to the statement, the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako,  and the Coordinator of IAUE Debate Council, who is also the Director, Ideas, Creativity, and Innovation, Professor Samuel Amaele, trained the team that made the University proud.

It furrher stated that the university’s achievement reflects its commitment to intellectual excellence, civic engagement, and nation-building.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo

 

 

 

 

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