Niger Delta
D’Gov Lauds Intervention Programmes Of CCN
Bayelsa State Government has commended the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) for propagating the teachings of Jesus Christ and its intervention programmes towards providing succour to people affected by natural disasters.
Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the commendation recently when the South-South zone of the CCN paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
He expressed delight that the body had offered to support the state’s development initiatives which he described as laudable and also congratulated the new South-South Zone executive members of the foremost Christian organisation in the country on their election.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo implored the current executives to make a difference by consolidating on the gains of their predecessors and demonstrate exemplary leadership, stressing that true leaders respond to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
Commenting on the interaction between the church and society, the deputy Governor expressed displeasure over the church’s inability to adequately play the role of catering to the welfare of the less privileged.
According to him, the churches should not place unnecessary burden on their adherents but allow them to make freewill donations to support their programmes and projects.
He also frowned at the practice whereby the church now place more emphasis on materialism to the detriment of spiritual wellbeing as exemplified in the scriptures which enjoin humanity “to seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto them.”
Senator Ewhrudjakpo further noted that one of the major concerns of the church should be about attracting people to the word of God for redemption and salvation as well as take care of the needy.
On the CCN’s request for land in the State, he expressed Government’s willingness to provide land for the purpose of establishing the National Research lnstitute for the South-South zone.
“First, I want to thank the CCN for what you have done that is quite remarkable and remains as an indelible achievement. That the church in Nigeria was able to teach the church elsewhere what we call morality by breaking out of the West.
“The Church in Nigeria stood its ground by saying we need to have our own Nigerian Communion because of the nonsense they were doing in the West where Bishops were going into gay marriages.
“I am happy that the Anglican Communion stood their ground and were able to resist that. And we commend them for that. You know that when civilization has gone so high, some people tend to forget that there is God.
“You said the church is for development of society and that formed the basis for the setting up of missionary schools, hospitals and so on. I agree with you.
“But I’m a little bit worried that the Church has degenerated from that role. The church today, including the Catholic and Anglican Church, seem to have decided to join the mix instead of standing out.
“The Church no longer cater for the needy as it used to be. Even when the needy don’t have, we try to impose on them that they must have and give”, he said.
In their presentations, the National General Secretary of CCN , Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, and the South-South Zonal Chairman, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Ihwighwu, said they were in the state to hold a zonal meeting as well as inaugurate the new executive of the CCN, South-South zone.
Rt. Rev. Onyemara explained that aside its evangelical mission, the CCN also provides humanitarian services and assist in developmental issues.
He added that in 2022, the General Assembly of the CCN resolved that the South-South zone should establish what it called, the Institute of Church and Society and appealed to the state government to provide land for the building of a national research institute in Bayelsa for the South-South zone.
The Bayelsa State Chairman of CCN, who is also the Bishop of the Northern Izon Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Funkuro Amgbari, that of Rivers State, Rev. Dr. Innocent Ordu, and their Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River and Edo States counterparts accompanied the Zonal Chairman on the visit.
Highpoint of the visit was the offering of prayers for Governor Douye Diri, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, and the entire government and people of Bayelsa.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.
Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.
“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.
“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.
“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.
Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.
“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.
“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.
The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.
Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.
Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.
She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.
“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.
Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.
She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.
The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.
She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.
The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.
The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.
The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.
“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.
He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.
According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.
He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.
“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.
Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.
He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”
He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.
Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.
“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.
He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.
“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.
He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.
Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.
“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.
“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.
Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.
Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.
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