Niger Delta

Police Arrest Opposition Party Chieftain In Akwa Ibom

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

The police have arrested a chieftain of the opposition party, the Young Progressives Party (YPP), in Akwa Ibom State.
The YPP chieftain, Jack Udota, who is a former member of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, was arrested last Saturday in Eket by officers from Zone 6 of the Nigeria Police, Calabar.
Both the YPP and the police have confirmed the arrest.
Mr Udota was recently inaugurated as deputy chairman of the YPP campaign council for the Akwa Ibom South District, where a former Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Ephraim Inyangeyen is the party candidate for 2023 senatorial election in the district.
Both Governor Emmanuel and Mr Inyangeyen hail from Onna Local Government Area in the district.
Mr Inyangeyen first served as commissioner for Works in Mr Emmanuel’s cabinet but was redeployed as Chief of Staff.
Governor Emmanuel later sacked him from his cabinet because of disagreement of over the latter’s senatorial ambition.
The spokesperson of the YPP campaign council in the district, Assam Abia, in a statement on Saturday, said Mr Udota was arrested on the orders of the Akwa Ibom State Government. s
Abia said, “Reasons behind his arrest at a time where he was recently inaugurated as the Deputy Chairman of our campaign council are not only mischievous but strange.
“Our preliminary investigation reveals that it is not unconnected with his recent political posture and influence as a member of the Young Progressives Party in Akwa Ibom State.
“We also view his arrest as a veil to weaken the strength of Mr Inyangeyen as his Senate ambition has curried wider acceptability across Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, within the past few weeks.
“We condemn in strong terms the manner in which he was whisked away as a common criminal and hereby call for his immediate and unconditional release”.
The police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom State, Odiko Macdon, has, however, said that Mr Udota’s arrest has no connection with politics.
Mr Macdon, a superintendent of police, said Mr Udota had a dispute with a complainant who reported the matter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in Calabar.
The police spokesperson did not, however, disclose the name of the complainant or the nature of the dispute.
“The suspect was arrested by Police from Zone 6, Calabar, as a result of a petition to the AIG Zone 6.
“The Police does not do politics and should be distanced from same. The outcome of the investigation will be communicated,” Mr Macdon said.

Niger Delta

Monarch Lauds Fubara Over Speedy Execution Of Projects In Rivers

Published

10 hours ago

November 18, 2025

The Tide

A traditional ruler in Rivers State, His Royal Highness, Epelle D. E. Asukokpong has commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for ensuring speedy execution of ongoing projects across the state.

Asuk-okpong, who is the Paramount Ruler of Egwe-Asukokpong in Asarama District, in Andoni Local Government Area lauded the Governor during his inspection tour with his Cabinet on a section of Andoni road linking Oyorokoto fishing community in the area, yesterday.

The Paramount Ruler who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the road, commended the Governor for the seriousness he attached to the project.

According to him, “there is a serious motivation on the part of the company handling project.

“With what am seeing today I can say that the Company has redoubled its effort by 50 percent after the Governor’s inspection of the Road on October 28, 2025.

“I thank God for His intervention in the political impasse that was trying to slow down the pace of development in the State.”

The Traditional Ruler, who doubles as PRO of Asarama Divisional Council of Traditional Rulers and Secretary Asarama Town Council of Traditional Rulers said traditional rulers in his domain would continue to support the efforts of Government at all levels to ensure security and development in the area.

He also appealed to the State Government to intervene in the abandoned Asarama, Engendem, Unyeada Ring Road in the area.

It would be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on October 28, 2025, visited the Andoni Atlantic Ocean shoreline to inspect the 13-kilometre road project currently under construction.

The road, when completed, will provide direct access to the beach and link Oyorokoto — a fishing settlement in — to Ngo, the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area which has since been linked to mainland Ogoni by the Governor.

Niger Delta

Bayelsa Recommits To Building World-Class Med Varsity …As VC Marks Anniversary

Published

1 week ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

The Bayelsa State Government has restated its commitment to developing the State-owned Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), to attain global acclaim in terms of scholarship, research excellence and production of quality human resources to address manpower shortage and healthcare delivery needs in the country

Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at an event put together by the BMU to mark the first anniversary of its current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, at the Main Campus of the u6niversity in Yenagoa.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, at the weekend, quoted him as saying that the present administration was irrevocably committed to the vision for the institution as enunciated by the former Governor and Founder of the University, Senator Seriake Dickson.

While commending the former Governor and now Senator representing the State’s West Senatorial District, Senator Dickson for his foresight in establishing the institution despite the stiff opposition, Senator Ewhrudjakpo expressed delight over the achievements the institution has recorded in its few years of existence.

He also applauded the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the BMU, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu and his successor, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, for their commitment and efforts that have brought the university to where it is today.

The Deputy Governor noted that considering its standards and the progress being made by the university, the BMU would soon export Bayelsa to the world and attract the world to the state through academic excellence and record-breaking research findings.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, stressed the need for the Management Team, staff, students and all critical stakeholders to work harder towards actualizing the vision and rationale behind the establishment of the specialized institution.

“Having thanked God, my next thanks go to Senator Henry Seriake Dickson for his painstaking efforts that led to the establishment of this very important institution. I’m commending him because I know the opposition he faced back then.

“He proved himself as a visionary leader when he held sway as governor of the state, and we have started seeing the benefits of his foresightedness. You know he was seeing his visions in the daytime and not at night.

“I say this with all sense of humility and duty, because if I leave here without commending Senator Dickson, then I would have failed in my duty as a responsible and forthright human being. I feel honoured and privileged to venerate his contributions to the success story of this medical university”, he said.

“I’m also happy for the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Ebitimitula Etebu, who was able to give us a tip of the iceberg from the memory lane. We must commend Professor Etebu for the solid foundation he laid for BMU as a pioneer VC.

“But today, we’ve a Vice Chancellor who is now planting good seeds, and we believe that these seeds will grow and enable us to export this university to the world, and bring the world to this university.

“I can assure you that the government of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri is fully ready and committed to working with you at all times. Because we believe, working together, we’re going to have a peaceful, dynamic, very elaborate and outstanding university that will be a global brand.

“But to achieve this, all of us, including students, the academia, staff, Senate and Council, must all have our hands in glove to support this agenda of ASPIRE that has been introduced by the present VC”, he added.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the BMU, Professor Dimie Ogoina, explained the components of the ASPIRE Agenda that serves as his guide in running the University, which includes Academic excellence, Sustainability, Partnership engagement, Innovation and technology, Research excellence, as well as Empowerment and welfare.

Professor Ogoina, who expressed gratitude to the state government for its unrelented support to the institution so far, also listed some achievements under his watch, such as securing a research grant of £1.2 million from Welcome Trust, and the establishment of Nigeria’s first university-based Virtual Reality(VR) /Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mixed Reality Studio.

According to Professor Ogoina, in 2026, the university would develop a five-year strategic development plan which would outline the medium and long-term goals of the institution, to transform it into a national centre of excellence.

He added that the Visitor to the University, Governor Douye Diri, had given his nod for the BMU to have its own teaching hospital, to be complemented by AI Robotic Teacher to adequately cater to the pedagogical needs of its students.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Tomori Oyewale, applauded successive governments in the state, particularly that of Dickson and Diri, for not abandoning the dream of the pioneer civilian administration of late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Tarilah Tebepah and the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ebitimitula Etebu.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the unveiling of the BMU Advances in Medicine and Health Sciences Journal, and five Digital Apps of the university by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Constitutes Committee On MOWAA … Names Oshiomhole Chairman

Published

1 week ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has constituted a committee on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), with Sen Adams Oshiomhole as Chairman.

This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, on Friday in Benin.

Ikhilor quoted the Governor as urging the committee to ascertain the true legal and operational status of MOWAA.

The Governor tasked the committee to clarify the position, rights, and stakes of the Benin Royal Palace and Traditional Institution in the museum project and make appropriate recommendations to the state government for further action.

The Tide’s source reports that indigenes of Benin are protesting the constitution of MOWAA to build a museum that will house the recently returned artifacts from Europe by the immediate past administration of Godwin Obaseki.

They argued that the artifacts should have been returned to the Oba’s palace, where they were stolen instead building a new museum for the artifact.

They said that building a new museum was an insult to their ancestors who owned the artifacts, adding that if a new museum must be built, it should be within the palace.

Okpbeholo said the state government had noted the series of protests and petitions from members of the public, including eminent individuals from the Benin Royal Palace and Traditional Council concerning the project.

“This committee is a response, and in recognition of the Benin Royal Palace as the true and lawful custodian of the cultural heritage and artifacts of the Benin Kingdom”, the Governor said.

He reiterated his commitment to protect the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom while ensuring transparency, accountability, and mutual respect in all partnerships and heritage-related initiative.

Other members of the committee are Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (Rtd.) as Vice Chairman, former Edo Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, as a member, and former SSG, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, also as a member.

The Edo Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru (SAN), is also a member, while Ms. Iryn Omorogiuwa is Secretary.

The Committee is expected to commence work immediately and submit its findings and recommendations within the shortest possible time.