News
Mrs. Ndukuba, Others Urge Christian Women To Get Involved In Politics
Christian women have been charged to be actively involved in practical politics and leadership.
In her address at the ongoing Church of Nigeria Standing Committee Meeting (Evo 2022), the wife of the Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Mrs. Angela Ndukuba emphasised that “Christian women should stop shying away from being involved in practical politics to help correct the ungodly ways unbelievers has turned politics into in our nation.
“If we have more God fearing politicians and leaders, we can then enjoy the sort of conditions that allow us to live quiet and Godly lives.
“It is our responsibility as Christians to serve God with our substances and give cheerfully to the work of God.
“Our lives must be offered to God with full allegiance, knowing that obedience to God and His commands are evidence that we trust Him”.
Also speaking, wife of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mrs. Blessing George-Ariolu encouraged women to “come together as one and pray against the issues bedevilling us as a people”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Evo Diocesan Bishop’s wife, who also doubles as the President of the Diocese of Evo Women and Girls Ministries, Mrs. Chinyere Ordu, said that the women’s ministry in Evo Diocese was blessed at a time like this.
According to her, “we are hopeful that in the process of hosting this epoch making event, we shall entertain Angels and thereby give God our Father much pleasure”.
Also, wife of the Archbishop of the Province of Niger Delta,Mrs. Blessing Enyinda, noted that the theme of the Standing Committee Meeting, which is “the Christian’s Dual Citizenship and Responsibility”, was timely, adding that “regardless of what part of the world in which a Christian lives, he has a dual citizenship”.
Highlight of the event was a session of special song rendition by the Evo clergy wives and the presentation of gifts to the primate’s wife.
Similarly, Rivers StateGovernor, Chief Nyesom Wike has urged the Anglican Church in Nigeria to use its 20million-member population to enthrone good governance come 2023.
Wike said this during his address at the ongoing Church of Nigeria Standing Committee Meeting in Port Harcourt at St. Andrews’ Anglican Church,Rumuobiokani in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, last Wednesday.
The Rivers governor stressed that if the church as an agent of change can mobilise its members in next year’s general election, the country would have peace.
He further called on the Anglican Communion to see the call as a wake-up call, and do the needful.
“This is the wake-up time. We must do something to change the system, if not, let us stop crying”, he said.
He maintained that, if the church does not like the killings and political injustice, among others, in the country, it must consider the need to mobilise for 2023 general election as urgent.
To buttress his point, he noted that the economy of the church would not improve, if that of the country remained stagnant.
The Rivers State chief executive maintained that time to stand aloof was gone, and added that the time to act was now.
“The church has stood by us via continuous prayers. What is required now is active participation. The government is still not willing to support electronic transmission of election results”, he said.
He also argued that with the emergence of good leaders via credible electoral process, the country would change for the better.
Wike, who turned ‘preacher’ during his address, reminded the audience of the scriptural decree of the people rejoicing when the righteous rule.
“Good leaders respect the rule of law. Good leaders work with legislators to promote human rights. A true leader will enhance the electoral process”, he said.
To further aid the church in the propagation of the gospel, he made a pledge of N300million as donation.
The governor’s call was in line with the theme of the meeting, “The Christian’s Dual Citizenship And Responsibility”, where the Primate, Most Rev Henry Ndukuba,charged Christians on the need to comply with their civic responsibilities and not be heavenly minded alone.
By: King Onunwor
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.