Ogoni
Minister calls for transformation of food system
Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammad Abubakar, has called for the transformation of the food system to aid rejuvenation of soils and forest covers. Speaking at the 14th National Council of Environment virtually held with the theme: “Managing Emerging Environmental Challenges: Need for Strategic Approach to Sustainable Development in Covid-19 Era and Beyond,” the Minister said: “There is urgent need to transform our food system which has been the major factor in the issue of loss of biodiversity, fresh water and deforestation with its attendant effects on climate change. It is therefore, expected that pertinent issues of climate smart agriculture and agro ecological practices that will aid rejuvenation of soils and forest covers, among others,are discussed during this meeting.” He noted th...
Rivers 2023: Ogoni begs PDP, APC for governorship slot
People of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State, have appealed to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to cede the 2023 governorship slot to their area. KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organization in Ogoni, made this call yesterday, saying that it was for the sake of political equity. President of KAGOTE, Emmanuel Deeyah, stated that no person from Ogoni has governed Rivers since the creation of the state. Deeyah, in a statement signed by the Acting Publicity Secretary of the organization, Mr. Obele Chu, in Port Harcourt, explained that the move would enhance equity and political justice in favour of Ogoni. Deeyah’s reaction followed a recent comment credited to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, that the chances of qualified and i...
Police arrest Rivers council chair over ‘link’ with slain gang leader
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Chairman, Honourable Paul Vidag Kobani, over the alleged link with the late notorious leader of a criminal gang which operated in the Ogoni communities of the State, Honest Diigbara, aka Boboski. Boboski, who had N30 million ransom on his head was arrested by the Police over weekend. Acting on a tip-off, a team of policemen with the support of the local vigilance group had traced Boboski to a wake keep ceremony where he was arrested alongside his deputy, who was identified to be his immediate younger brother after a gunfire exchange with the police. But Boboski died from gunshot wounds a few hours after he was paraded before journalists by the police. It was learnt that the Gokana Local Government Chairman...
Bayelsa by-election: PDP, APC leaders trade words over agreement on power rotation
Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa weekend trade words over the alleged attempt by the opposition party to breach an existing gentleman’s agreement between the people of Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government areas on the issue of power rotation of National Assembly positions. This followed the emergence of the former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the state west senatorial district by-election. Political stakeholders from the zone had agreed that by the provision of the existing gentleman agreement between Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas, indigenes of Sagbama are the only ones qualified to produce candidates to contest for the October 31 National Asse...
I slapped Senator Akpabio because he harassed me sexually – Ex-NDDC boss
The suspended Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Interim Management Committee, Joi Nunieh, has revealed that she once slapped the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswil Akpabio, for sexually harassing her. She made this known while fielding questions on Arise News on Monday but said what Akpabio attempted to do could not be regarded as ‘attempted rape’. Justifying why she slapped the minister, the former NDDC MD said Akpabio was always scheduling a meeting with her either at his guest house in Apo or in the hotel. She said when he (Akpabio) could not succeed to sleep with her, the Minister then came up with accusation of insubordination to suspend her from office. Ms Nunieh says: “When Akpabio saw that I cannot bring out the money, he now tried Plan B, a case of i...
Delta governor warns violators of inter-state lockdown
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has warned unauthorized vehicles entering the state will be impounded while the operators will be made to face the wrath of the enabling laws. President Muhammadu Buhari had declared inter-state lockdown across the country to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Okowa handed down the warning while monitoring the level of compliance at some boundaries between Delta and neighbouring states of Edo and Anambra. The governor was at the River Niger Bridge which borders Delta and Anambra and Alifekede, the boundary between Delta and Edo. He expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance but was quick to remind security agents and members of the state’s COVID-19 task force at the boundaries that only vehicles carrying agricultural products and those on esse...
Rivers inaugurates three coronavirus testing machines at state university teaching hospital
In its determination to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state, the Rivers State Government Friday evening inaugurated three PCR machines at its Covid-19 testing centre at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Teaching Hospital, Dr. Friday Aaron, said Shell Petroleum Development Company donated two of the PCR machines to the state government while the third came from Total E and P. He said: “This evening we are here to celebrate, because it has been our goal to get a testing centre in Rivers State. Today, I am happy to announce that we can now do Covid-19 tests at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital courtesy of the Rivers State Government ably led by our own Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. “We also tha...
