Niger Delta

2023: Diri, Wike Meet In Yenagoa, Reassure On PDP’s Victory

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2022

Ahead of the 2023 polls,the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and his Rivers State counterpart, Chief Nyesom Wike, have met in Government House Yenagoa,with governor Diri reassuring that the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) producing the next President of Nigeria come 2023 were very bright.
The Tide which monitored the visit in Yenagoa reports that the governors of the two sister states who spoke on Monday when Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State visited his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri at the Government House in Yenagoa also commended the developmental strides of each other.
Governor Wike’s host, Diri said only the PDP can rescue Nigeria from its present state of insecurity and economic woes,describing the presidency as a sacred office, just as he said the party has been repositioned to ensure it wins the presidency in the 2023 general elections.
A press statement made available to newsman shortly after the visit by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa state Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted Governor Diri as saying that the PDP was the only party with the pedigree to give Nigerians hope and a sense of direction.
The statement reads in parts:”The presidency is one sacred office and we must do everything to protect it and ensure that our party clinches victory at the 2023 general polls.
“The number one thing for our party is our unity. Second is who becomes president. We have a capable national chairman that can steer us back to power come 2023.”
Governor Diri, who lauded the Rivers state governor for demonstrating leadership and purposeful governance also stressed that states in the Niger Delta needed to unite more to tackle their common challenges, particularly in the areas of environmental pollution and underdevelopment.
“Bayelsa and Rivers states are brothers and sisters historically and culturally and if anyone is trying to divide us, we must come against them.
“I call on Ijaw leaders to come together and resolve whatever issues we may have amicably. Within a family, we will always have issues but that should not remove our brotherliness,” Governor Diri said.
The Bayelsa state chief executive reemphasised the need for more consultations between him and his Rivers counterpart towards strengthening their bond of unity, just as he also commended Governor Wike for his role in ensuring the repositioning of the PDP, describing him as a committed party man.
Given his remarks, Governor Wike expressed confidence that the PDP will produce the next president of Nigeria, saying that Nigerians were waiting for the party to rescue them from the current situation in the country, noting that leaders and members of the party cannot afford to miss this opportunity.
He echoed the need for unity of purpose between Bayelsa and Rivers and the entire PDP, stressing that without a united front, success would be elusive.
The Rivers state chief executive thanked his Bayelsa counterpart for his developmental efforts and commitment to the party, urging the people of the state to continue supporting the state governor.
“Today, I came to let everybody know that Senator Douye Diri is one of the governors I can tell you has shown commitment even though he is new and he believes in the development of his state. I am not someone that will come and say what is not correct.
“I have also come to tell him that everybody must work together to make the PDP united because without party there cannot be presidential candidate. Let us all unite.
“Nigerians are waiting for PDP and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. As governors, we must work together. Anybody can be presidential candidate but if we are not united it cannot be possible,” Governor Wike said.
The Tide reports that Governor Wike had as part of his entourage for the visit a high-powered delegation, comprising former Rivers state governor, Chief Celestine Omehia, two former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara and Prince Chibudom Nwuche, respectively, as well as former Minister of Transport, Chief Abiye Sekibo.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Ibom Air Reiterates Commitment To Healthcare Delivery

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

The Chief Operating Officer, Ibom Air, Mr George Uriesi, has reiterated the company’s commitment to promote healthcare delivery in the state.

Uriesi made the expression at a ceremony to mark the 2024 World Malaria Day in Uyo on Thursday.

The Chief Operating Ifficer said Ibom Air would continue to partner the Akwa Ibom State Government to fight Malaria among pregnant women and children.

”We are targeting pregnant women and children from zero to five years. They form a strong focus of our anti malaria campaign”, he said.

Uriesi urged residents of the state to imbibe good sanitary habits in order to ensure a healthy environment.

He announced a donation of 1,000 insecticide-treated nets and 3,000 doses of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP Oral) as part of the firm’s input to the fight against malaria in the state.

Receiving the items, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh, thanked Ibom Air for the gesture, and described it as a good omen to the fight against malaria.

Umoh appealed to other companies in the state to join hands with the state government to drive the ARISE Agenda and Kick Malaria Out Programme.

”It is with appreciation and joy in our heart that we receive these items, we firmly promise that they will be effectively utilised”.

Niger Delta

Group Dismisses Call For NDDC MD’s Sack … Passes Confidence Vote.

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

A Pan Ogoni Youth Organization under the aegis of Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has dismissed allegations of corruption and nepotism by the Ethnic Coalition in Rivers State, levelled against the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and the call for his sack as baseless and ill intended.

The body also passed a vote of confidence on the present management of the NDDC led by Dr. Ogbuku, stating that it has operated within the ambit of its statutory mandate as an interventionist agency to develop the Niger Delta.

The position of the OYF was contained in a press Statement signed by the Acting President of the body, Comrade Emmanuel Goteh Bie, and made available to the press.

The statement, which read in part stated that, “It has come to our notice that the Ethnic youth coalition in a recent press briefing accused the MD of NDDC of nepotism, embezzlement of funds and called for his sack.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Legborsi Sunday Yamaabana, who claim to be the President of the Ethnic Youth Coalition, do not have the locus or legal standing to act in any of such capacity since he has been suspended/expelled from Ogoni Youth Federation for gross misconduct and embezzlement.

“The decision to releave Mr. Yamaabana of his position as President of OYF was reached at the ‘National Congress’ following thorough investigations and in accordance with the procedures outlined in the OYF constitution.

“The accusations of nepotism and corruption levelled against the NDDC MD is therefore a figment of imagination of Mr Yamaabana and his Co travelers.

“So far we are aware of the programmes and developmental strides of the M.D of NDDC and has also put up request for what we think will better the lot of our people, and we can proudly say that his response is friendly and acceptable and in accordance with the ethics of his office. It is in our knowledge that the MD is doing fine and deserves our support and solidarity”.

The statement restated the commitment of Ogoni Youth Federation, to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and working with relevant stakeholders towards the advancement and promotion of peace and development in Ogoni and the entire Niger Delta region.

Niger Delta

Obaseki Approves N70,000 Minimum Wage For Workers

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, announced an increase in the Minimum Wage for the State Civil Servants from N40,000 to N70,000 effective from May 1.

Obaseki disclosed this while inaugurating the newly-built ultra-modern Labour House secretariat complex that would house the various labour unions in Benin.

The Tide’s source reports that Obaseki named the new Labour House edifice after his predecessor and former NLC President, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole.

Obaseki also promised to further increase the minimum wage to over N70,000, depending on what the Federal Government would approve as the new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

He said, “Edo is currently paying the highest minimum wage of N40,000 in Nigeria. But we know that even the N40,000 can no longer take workers home because of the poor economic situation being experienced in the country.

“So, as a government, we will continue to support the agitation for increment in workers’ salaries.

“In solidarity with workers, effective from May, 1, we have increased Edo workers’ minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000 and we will move it up further depending on what the Federal government would approve”, he said.

According to Obaseki, “the commissioning of this labour House and the increment in wage are just a token to say thank you to Edo workers for the harmonious industrial relationship my administration has enjoyed in the last seven and half years.

“The achievements we have recorded in the last seven and half years would not have been possible if not for the cordial relationship with the various labour unions in the state.

“The reforms and projects we have carried out in our various institutions were targeted at improving the productivity of our workers in the state”, he added.

He urged the state labour unions to use the revenue that would be generated from the building for its maintenance.

The keynote speaker, Comrade Joe Ajaero, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), commended Governor Obaseki for the increment in minimum wage in the state.

Ajaero said, “NLC and the Federal Government have not agreed on what should be the new minimum wage for workers, but Edo has taken the lead. It shows that the Governor is labour friendly and has empathy for workers”.

In his lecture titled, “Leveraging the legacies of Pa. Michael Imoudu as a way of fostering harmonious and productive industrial relations, Ajaero said Edo has about the best workforce environment in any public service in the country.

The NLC President, while speaking on the legacies of the late Pa Michael Imoudu, noted that the first labour unionist in the country engaged the colonialists for the betterment of the Nigeria workers.

He explained that he was attacked, harassed, suffered humiliations and was imprisoned by the colonial masters for workers in the country to have a better welfare.

Also speaking, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, appreciated Governor Obaseki for all the labour friendly policies and reforms being embarked upon by his administration.

“I can tell you that there are some states in Nigeria whose governors still pay N18,000 minimum wage. They even pay in percentages and determine who to pay and who not to pay. So, Edo has gone ahead with this increment”, he said.

Osifo, who stated that he was proud to be from Edo, thanked the governor for rising above political sentiments and naming the new labour House after Oshiomhole.

Also, the State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, disclosed that the idea of building a labour House to accommodate organised labour in Edo was conceived by former Oshiomhole in 2014.

Okungbowa said, “in view of this vision, Obaseki worked assiduously to make the dream a reality by committing scarce resources, time and efforts into the construction of the ultra modern and state of the art labour House complex.

“The edifice is a masterpiece designed to enable organised labour operate in a conducive atmosphere and engage government constructively in the interest of the workforce”, Okungbowa said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Chairman of Edo NLC, Comrade Odion Olaye, thanked the governor for the kind gesture and magnanimity, adding that workers had long waited for inauguration of the project.