Niger Delta
Bayelsa Unveils Dispute Resolution Comm’ttee On Chieftaincy Factions …Warns Against Ostracism
The Bayelsa State Government has constituted a 7-member committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the leadership tussle in Anibeze Community in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The committee, saddled with the responsibility of coming up with recommendations on the dispute over the Anibeze paramount ruler’s position, was also mandated to look into the State’s Chieftaincy Law with regard to individuals who are qualified to be traditional rulers.
Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, set up the committee on Tuesday at a meeting with stakeholders of Anibeze Community and relevant government officials, including the member representing Sagbama Constituency Three at the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, in Government House, Yenagoa.
He spelt out the committee’s terms of reference to include ascertaining the emergence of the two contending chiefs claiming the paramount ruler position of the community, and identity which of them meets the requirements of the State’s Chieftaincy Law.
The Bayelsa Number Two Man also charged the committee to confirm from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs whether it recognises any of the two chiefs, saying that if the Ministry did, the committee should state why and how the person was recognised.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo further directed the committee to liaise with the Anibeze community and initiate the machinery of conducting a new election into the office of the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), and that of the youth president.
Following the community’s customary practice, the Committee is to also ensure that the position of the CDC chairman should be zoned to the quarters entitled to produce the next chairman.
“The committee is to find out if Anibeze has a functional constitution. If there is none, it should start the process of getting a new constitution to guide the affairs of the community”, he said.
The Deputy Governor, who tasked members of the committee to equally start the process of conducting election into the office of the youth president, directed them to submit their report within three weeks.
He also declared the removal of the current CDC Chairman, Mr. Akeni Anthony, and Youth President, Mr. David Ufuana, illegal, and directed that they should serve out their remaining term before the conduct of fresh elections.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who admonished the people of the community against acts of lawlessness, stressed the need for them to maintain law and order in their community, noting that nobody or group of persons have the right to ostracise any community member, noting that such acts violate the constitution of the country.
The Chairman of the Committee is the State’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Bayelsa West, Michael Magbisa, while Head of Exco, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs. Mercy Alafuro, is to serve as Secretary.
Other members are, Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, High Chief Perekeme Bertola, Rural Development Authority Chairman of Toru Abubou, Mr. Tarikebi Egbide, Councillor representing Ward 13, Sagbama Local Government, Mr. Tari Afenfia, Governor’s Special Representative for Sagbama, Mr. Tamunobere Oguoh, and Technical Adviser to the Governor on Boundary Matters, Mr. Vote Salem.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.
Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.
“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.
“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.
“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.
Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.
“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.
“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.
The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.
Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.
Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.
She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.
“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.
Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.
She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.
The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.
She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.
The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.
The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.
The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.
“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.
He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.
According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.
He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.
“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.
Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.
He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”
He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.
Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.
“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.
He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.
“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.
He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.
Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.
“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.
“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.
Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.
Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.
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