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Niger Delta

Cleric Harps On Good Leadership

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15 years ago

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A Port Harcourt-based cleric, Prophet Godwin Gospel, has stressed the need for the people of Alakahia community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State to imbibe the spirit of good leadership by learning the good qualities of their leaders.

According to him, for the people to be good leaders, they must be good followers and disciples by learning the good qualities of those who are ahead of them.

Prophet Gospel who gave the charge in a sermon during the funeral service of Late Chief Ezebunwo Mathew in Alakahia last Saturday said it was only by learning the good qualities of their leaders and not focusing on their mistakes that the people of the community could achieve greatness.

Basing his sermon on the Biblical saying that “it is appointed unto man to die once, and after  that, judgement,” the clergyman charged the people to prepare for death, as death could come any time, noting that going by that portion of the Scripture, there was nothing like reincarnation.

He said “those who instigate crisis and war would face crisis even in death and those that kill must never die peacefully,” and stressed the need for mankind to repent and embrace Jesus Christ. “Where will you spend eternity? Where will you be when you die?” he queried, and emphasised that “only Jesus saves, not man, not title.”

In his tribute, Dr. Kinikanwo Anele, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the University of Port Harcourt described the Late Ezebunwo Mathew as the conscience of the Alakahia community, noting that the legacies he left behind would continue to animate the people.

On his part, Chief Daniel Ogbonna Dodo, the Secretary of Alakahia Council of Chiefs said the late Eze Otu Onu brought peace and development to Alakahia community, as his efforts and contributions saved the community from the crisis that would have engulfed it.

According to him, the death of the community leader had created a vacuum that would take the community a long time to fill.

“A prophet has honour except in his own country,” he said, and urged the people to sink their differences for the betterment of the community.

Barrister Juliet Wordu, a daughter of the deceased said the late Eze Mathew fought valiantly like a warrior to overcome the challenges of life and achieved what his contemporaries could not achieve.

Describing him as a diligent and meticulous businessman, a great man and great iroko tree, Barrister Wordu said her father contributed immensely to the development of Alakahia community, as his worthy legacies speak for themselves.

The Chief Mourner, Engr. Iheanyi Kingsley Eze Mathew extolled the good qualities of his father, describing him as a genius, a philosopher and a shrewd politician who had a forgiving heart.

According to him, his late father had taught him the fear of God and the virtue of hard work.

Donatus Ebi

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Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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