Niger Delta

Body Unveils Elite Movement, Mulls Maiden Confab

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2024

Elites of Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa State have unveiled a new movement called the “Pan-Ogbia Movement” (POM).
The Tide gathered that Ogbia is a kingdom which spans across communities in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, with some communities in Nembe Local Government Area of the State and others some communities in Abua-Odual and Ahoada-West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Speaking with newsmen recently in his country home, Imiringi, one of the various communities that make up the Kingdom, former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and founder of the group, Chief Augustus Elliot Osomu, said the intent of founding the group was nothing far from the unity, peace and progress of the ethnic group.
He said the group has plans to hold its maiden physical sumit to brainstorm with a view to proffering solutions to problems allegedly inhibiting the unity and development of the kingdom.
The former lawmaker who currently serves as a Commissioner in the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), noted that the Pan-Ogbia Movement comprises elites from the Ogbia extraction, all over the world.
Osomu said all willing and interested sons and daughters of the ethnic group both home and abroad are assiduously contributing to the development of the group upon their admissions as members.
The Tide reports that the Pan-Ogbia Movement is a social media based interactive and impactful discourse group consisting mostly elites of the Ogbia extraction.
“Very soon we’ll inaugurate a committee to work out modalities for our maiden physical submit where we’ll proffer solutions to some of our challenges as a people.
“Many of us have come to the notion that our fathers, our ancestors aren’t happy with us regarding the way and manner things have become with us as Ogbia people.
“So, the essence of this movement is to task us on rebuilding the almost lost unity, progress and development of the Ogbia ethnic nationality”, he said.
The Tide also learnt that the first Executive Governor of the Old Rivers State, the late Chief Melford Obiene Okilo, and former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the present CEO/MD of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, amongst others hail from the Ogbia ethnic nationality.
Meanwhile, Chief Osomu has commended the aggrieved indigenes of the Kingdom who hitherto were in court challenging and defending the status quo of the acting executives of the parent Ogbia ethnic group’s body, the ‘Ogbia Brotherhood’ for willfully withdrawing the matter and resorting to out-of-court settlement.
He said he was convinced that the withdrawal was due to the mutual love the parties have for the ethnic group, saying it is the more merrier for the unity and progress of the Kingdom.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

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.