News
Evo Anglican Diocese Lauds Wike On Dev Strides …Blasts FG On Total Failure
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has been applauded for his commitment to the development of all parts of the state.
This is contained in a communiqué issued by the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), at the end of the first session of the Fifth Synod of the Diocese, at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Rumuomasi, last Sunday.
The communiqué, which was jointly signed by the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu; Clerical Synod Secretary, Rev. Canon Gospel Onuchukwu; and Chancellor, Barrister Nlerum Amadi; noted with satisfaction, the reconstruction and completion of several roads in Evo as well as the ongoing Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu flyover project.
The communiqué also commended the governor for the numerous assistance to the church at various times, pointing out that the governor even redeemed the pledges made to the church by previous administrations.
The diocese expressed worry over some road projects that were yet to be completed, and appealed to the governor to address the problem.
The diocese, “Further notes that construction work on ACMGS School Road, Elelenwo, has since been abandoned by the construction company handling the project, and calls on the governor to direct the resumption of work and completion of the project.
“Calls the attention of the governor to the sorry state of two critical roads in Evo and other neighbouring communities: the long abandoned Eneka-Atali to Rumukwurusi/Igbo-Etche Road and the Oil Mill (Rumuokwurusi) to Igbo-Etche, which are of economic value to the people of the state”, the communiqué stated.
While congratulating Wike and former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for their stellar performance in the presidential primaries of their respective parties, the diocese noted, with dismay, the prolonged disagreement between the two brothers and stressed the need for reconciliation.
The Diocese also congratulated the sons and daughters of Evo as well as the parishioners who secured the nominations of their respective political parties, and prayed for their success in the 2023 general election.
On the state of the nation, the diocese berated the Federal Government for failing to address the myriad of problems confronting the nation, stressing that the greater percentage of the populace had been thrown into abject poverty due to poor management of the economy.
The diocese also expressed worry over the level of insecurity in the country, and condemned the killing of Christians and sacking of Christian communities by some religious fanatics.
It also took a swipe at the Federal Government for the inability to resolve the impasse with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which had disrupted academic activities in the federal universities.
It called on eligible Nigerians to get their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to enable them to elect God-fearing, experienced, detribalised, frugal and people-oriented leaders in the forthcoming general election.
The diocese “Encourages the electorate not to be carried away by the huge cash and other means of inducement the politicians will introduce in order to buy their votes, advising that they should be discerning as vote-buying or the offensively mechanised electoral system will only increase and prolong the present sufferings of the people”, the communiqué stated.
By: Reward Akwu
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

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.
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