Niger Delta
Diigbo Picks Rivers HDP Guber Ticket
The newly elected gubernatorial candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in Rivers State, Hon. Goodluck Diigbo, says he has the magic wand to turn around what he called “12 years of grumbling by Rivers people”, if he is elected as governor of the state, come April this year.
Diigbo stated this while delivering his acceptance speech after being adopted as the consensus HDP gubernatorial candidate at the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt last Friday.
The Rivers HDP gubernatorial flag bearer expressed dismay that despite its resources, Rivers State has not utilized enough of its federal allocations and internally generated revenues.
Diigbo, a one-time Editor of Radio Rivers said “Rivers State is an oil rich state and cannot afford to have majority of her people living in abject poverty”. Consequently, he said the development needs bold step to put the state on the path of economic reconstruction and progress.
He said he would initiate strategies for equitable distribution of wealth by adopting a bottom-up culture of development that would involve the traditional rulers and members of the rural communities.
According to him, the strategy would facilitate direct participation of people in policy making and implementation processes as well as setting their priorities in terms of development.
In what appears to be his agenda, Diigbo promised to decentralise the location of the ministries of the state to local government areas with only the sensitive ones like that of finance, Justice and Information left in Port Harcourt. The move, he explained would bring about massive development in all parts of the state even as it would decongest the urban centres, especially Port Harcourt.
The Ogoni-born politician did not hide his determination and commitment towards the creation of an Ogoni state out of the present Rivers State, arguing that Rivers State is due for an additional state.
He pledged to give more recognition to Chieftaincy stools with condition that traditional rulers should in their traditional domain to enable them handle security challenges as they may arise.
On the party’s principles and values, Diigbo said he would keep the hope of the party alive, but solicited the support of members in making the party achieve its political dream for the state.
He also charged all HDP men and women to participate en mass in the current voters registration exercise, for according to him, voters card is an instrument for HDP members to vote their candidates to power.
Kin Banigo/Grace Nwaimo
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
