Niger Delta
Ex-IYC President Lampoons Atiku’s Presidential Ambition … Declares It Negative Impact On N’Delta
Former President of the umbrella Ijaw Youths body, the Ijaw Youths Council (Worldwide), Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has urged former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to forgo his presidential ambition come 2027.
The ex-youth leader and former Labour Party’s (LP) Governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship election in the state made this known recently while speaking with newsmen.
He described Atiku as a serial failure, noting that the erstwhile Vice President’s bids to occupy the nation’s seat of power has done untold damage to the development of the Niger Delta region.
“Atiku’s ambition has destroyed the reputation of some of the respected leaders of the Niger Delta region. Moreso his ambition is insensitive, desperate and is threatening the peace of the country”, he said.
While explaining how Atiku’s Presidential ambition had negatively impacted the Niger Delta region, Eradiri stressed that the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was humiliated, suffered and died because of his relationship with Atiku.
The Tide learnt that the former IYC President once served as Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa.
“Remember that the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori ‘s political alliance with Atiku was part of the reason he was thrown into jail.
“Atiku was part of those who teleguided the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, gave him deceptive assurances that worsened his ordeal.
“At the buildup to the 2023 election, Atiku’s inordinate ambition and his desperation plunged Delta State into huge debts as he used former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to bankroll his campaigns in exchange for Vice-presidential ticket.
“His ambition destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and attempted to destabilise the country by ignoring the zoning arrangement of the presidency between the north and the south.
“Atiku demonstrated the highest level of desperation, unreasonableness and lack of patriotism in 2023 when he cornered the Presidential ticket of the PDP to retain power in the North despite former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.
“I want to call on Alhaji Abubakar to demonstrate statesmanship by jettisoning his ambition to be President of Nigeria. This call is not political, it’s borne out of unbiased assessment of the damage his ambition has caused the people of the Niger Delta”, Eradiri added.
He alleged that till date, Delta State was still indebted financially because of former governor Okowa’s association with Atiku’s ambition, saying that 2027 was still the turn of Southern Nigeria to retain power after the North had done two terms, but that Atiku was still insisting on becoming the President and today opposition has been alienated because of Atiku.
“The PDP is in tatters today because of Atiku. Therefore, it is clear that Atiku’s ambition is bringing untold hardship especially for us in the Niger Delta. It’s creating the problem that is destabilising the Nigerian polity.
“Every society needs a virile opposition for the ruling party to sit up. But Atiku’s ambition has dealt a deadly blow on PDP, which many people relied upon to provide this opposition.
“The country would be more peaceful and the rising tension will also be toned down if Atiku supports the South to complete their tenure”, the ex-IYC President said.
Continue Reading
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.
-
News3 days agoDon Lauds RSG, NECA On Job Fair
-
Niger Delta1 day agoPDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority
-
Nation1 day agoHoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries
-
Sports1 day agoSimba open Nwabali talks
-
Transport1 day agoNigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa
-
Niger Delta1 day ago
Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River
-
Niger Delta1 day ago
Stakeholders Task INC Aspirants On Dev … As ELECO Promises Transparent, Credible Polls
-
Oil & Energy1 day agoNUPRC Unveils Three-pillar Transformative Vision, Pledges Efficiency, Partnership