By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr

Former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former senator representing Delta North, Distinguished Senator Peter Onyeluka Nwaoboshi, describing his passing as a painful loss to Delta North, Delta State and Nigeria.

In a tribute titled “Tribute to Senator Peter Onyeluka Nwaoboshi,” Ochei said the late senator was a proud son of Ibusa and a committed statesman whose life of public service left a lasting impact on his people and the nation at large.

Ochei recalled that he shared a long political journey with Nwaoboshi, noting that despite occasional differences in political positions, their relationship was anchored on friendship, mutual respect and a shared commitment to the progress of Delta North.

He revealed that his last meeting with the late senator was on 29 November 2025, during the funeral service of the father of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba. According to him, they exchanged warm greetings, but he later learned that Nwaoboshi had been unwell.

“When I did not see him at the reception, I called him the next day. He explained that he had not been feeling well and I sympathised with him, not knowing that would be our final conversation,” Ochei said.

During the phone conversation, Ochei said he suggested that Senator Nwaoboshi convene a meeting of Delta North political leaders before the end of the year. He added that the late senator, citing unavailability in December, asked him to convene the meeting on his behalf and described him as “second in command” after him.

Ochei noted that although he felt Nwaoboshi’s presence was important at such a meeting, they both agreed that January 2026 would be more suitable, ending the discussion with hopes of meeting again.

Describing the late senator as a man of courage, conviction and loyalty, Ochei said Nwaoboshi was warm, thoughtful and genuinely committed to the welfare of his people beyond politics.

He extended his condolences to the Nwaoboshi family, the people of Delta North and all those affected by the loss, praying for the repose of the former senator’s soul.
“May he rest in peace and may his memory forever be a blessing,” Ochei said.

A former Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Delta North in the 2023 general elections, Barrister Kennedy Kanma has celebrated humanity as the world marks International Human Solidarity Day.

In a statement from his media office, Kanma affirmed that he is not only celebrating humanity, but also honouring the world’s shared compassion, resilience and responsibility to stand together beyond borders. He urged people everywhere to unite in compassion and shared responsibility to build a just and inclusive world.

“On this International Human Solidarity Day, I reaffirm my belief that our strength lies in inclusion. I am happy that the world now knows that when we listen to every voice, protect every dignity, and work together across differences to build a fairer future, we are all better for it.

“As I have always said, real progress is only possible when no one is left behind, and when our shared humanity and value, guide our actions, policies and priorities.

“Today, compassion, responsibility, human dignity, inclusion, and the protection of the vulnerable are painfully absent due to failures of leadership and a lack of empathy at the highest levels of power.

“Therefor, the world is in urgent need of healing, and this healing must begin by choosing and electing competent, ethical, and compassionate individuals into public office. More than ever before, we need leaders who place people above personal gains and govern with humanity at the centre of their decisions.
“During the 2023 general elections, we in the Obedient Movement campaigned on clear and cardinal objectives centered on quality representation, empathy and inclusivity, among other programmes. Today, that narrative has not changed; rather, we are even strengthened and resolved it to scale up our work, guided by present realities and the clear understanding that nothing meaningful or lasting can be achieved without sustained collective action and shared responsibility.

“So, as we mark International Human Solidarity Day, we must commit ourselves to creating the world we truly need and deserve; even as we watch from the sidelines. For emphasis, we must consistently remind those in power that they are accountable and responsible to the will and welfare of everyone. Whether they are young or old, men and women, boys or girls, the able-bodied and persons with disabilities. This basic standard of inclusive, responsive leadership, is the very least we should expect and boldly demand from those entrusted with leadership positions.

“As our people say, when a man wakes up, regardless of the time, is his morning. Therefore, let us make the best of our choices as we prepare to elect men and women who truly understand what leadership is about. People who are awake to the needs of the people, guided by integrity and compassion, and committed to serving with responsibility and purpose are those who deserve our votes.”

No fewer than 250 elderly persons in Delta State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS), receiving ₦200,000 each, alongside a 50kg bag of rice and free medical care provided by the Delta State Government through the Office of the Wife of the Governor.

The beneficiaries were supported during the third edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme, held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba. The event was themed “Finding Joy in Old Age.”

The Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, was represented at the event by the Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Her Excellency Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, while Mrs. Josephine Emu spoke on behalf of the Delta First Lady.

In a speech delivered at the event, Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme as a vital social investment programme designed to ensure that elderly Nigerians live with dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging.

“This social investment programme embodies our ongoing effort to ensure that our elderly citizens live with dignity and joy, in a nation that genuinely cares for its own,” the First Lady said.

She explained that since the inception of the current administration in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate senior citizens every December in recognition of their immense contributions to nation-building.

According to her, the scheme supports 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in each of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA)—amounting to 9,500 beneficiaries nationwide.

Each beneficiary receives ₦200,000, with a total of ₦1.9 billion approved for disbursement by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative. She added that ₦50 million was allocated to each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA.

The First Lady emphasized that prioritising elderly citizens, especially during the festive season, is both a moral duty and a source of collective joy.

“They have walked difficult paths so that younger generations may have smoother roads to travel. It is our duty to ensure they live their twilight years in comfort, good health, and dignity,” she stated.

She also encouraged senior citizens to remain active, healthy, and engaged in community and charitable activities, stressing that ageing gracefully goes beyond longevity to include love, care, and respect.

Speaking through her representative, Mrs. Josephine Emu, the Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria for the compassionate intervention.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the Oborevwori administration to the welfare of senior citizens, noting that the Delta State Government has approved ₦50 billion to offset outstanding pension liabilities at both state and local government levels.

Mrs. Emu announced additional support for Delta beneficiaries through the Office of the Wife of the Governor and the You Matter Charity Foundation, including free medical care, free medications, and a 50kg bag of rice for each elderly person.

Several beneficiaries who spoke with journalists described the intervention as timely and impactful, thanking the First Lady of Nigeria, the Delta State Government, and the Office of the Wife of the Governor for remembering the elderly.

They offered prayers for continued peace, good governance, and development in Delta State and Nigeria at large.

by Kennedy Kanma

Let me begin by extending my heartfelt greetings and good wishes to the people of Delta North Senatorial District, and Nigerians everywhere, as we celebrate the joy of Christmas. As Christians, every year at this time, we are reminded of the enduring values that bind us together. These are the values of love, compassion, justice, shared responsibility and unity. As we know, Christmas is not an ordinary season; it is a sacred moment for reflection, gratitude and hope for a better tomorrow.

This year, and this is very important, we have seen both challenges and resilience in extraordinary ways. However, as we grapple with declining standard of living, the menace of banditry and terrorism, and a host of deep-seated economic and social challenges, it is evident that all these crises ultimately boil down to the question of leadership. As they say, leadership is everything. Unfortunately, a sense of general hopelessness appears to have settled over our countrymen and women as social pressures continue to mount in the last few years. In the midst of our challenges, the pressing question is: where do we go from here, and how do we chart a path toward hope, revival, progress and collective renewal?

Nevertheless, I am inspired daily by the strength, creativity, generosity and courage of our people. Your commitment to fairness and progress continues to guide my activities, programmes and determination to make a difference in the lives of our people today and in the near future.

As we look ahead, let us renew our dedication to building a better society where opportunity is shared, diversity respected, strength not taken for granted and no one left behind. I believe, and strongly too, that together, we can strengthen our communities, protect our collective future, rescue our people from despair and create hope for the next generation.

When all is said and done, politics remains the ultimate determinant and decider of progressive change in every country. After all, it is only through a fair and credible political process that we can elect leaders who are not merely human but capable of advancing the common good. This is also why we consistently assert that politics holds a position of greater significance than economics in shaping the destiny of our society or any society for that matter.

So, as election year approaches, we must pause to ask ourselves where we truly stand and what each of us, as crucial participants in this society, is actively doing to ensure that we elect our best representatives rather than settling for the worst. Yes, I mean men and women we can trust to represent our interests fairly, regardless of whether we are poor or rich, able-bodied or living with disabilities, young or old, men or women, boys or girls, but united by the belief that everyone deserves dignity, justice, and better representation.

And, can we honestly say that we are satisfied with the quality of representation today, especially in our area? How about the level of accountability, vision, and service being rendered in our parliaments where laws are made and oversight is exercised? For some time now, I have made the issue of representation a major focus in my engagements, and the reasons are clear. Truth be told, we have witnessed a troubling decline in the character and bearing of those who represent us in Delta North, largely as a result of the pervasive menace of transactional politics and identity politics. But this is the moment to change that narrative and reclaim our rightful place from those who govern without the interest of our people at heart. Therefore, we must ensure that leadership once again, reflects the values, shared vision, aspirations and welfare of the communities we serve.

As they say, a week is a long time in politics, yet I am convinced that there could not have been a more crucial moment to take a stand. For most of us in the Obedient Movement, we are fully aware of our responsibilities, destination and the formidable struggle that lie ahead of us. While we give thanks to God that the political process remains fluid even in the face of politics of intimidation today, we must not take chances because time is of the essence. Now, we must take deliberate steps to forge cooperation and the necessary alignments across every corner of our district to ensure that our collective vision is realized.

The truth, and this is unquestionable, is that the hope and renewal we seek, even at a time like this, can only be achieved through our collective effort. For instance, in the 2023 general elections, we proved skeptics wrong by making a historic and heroic leap under the banner of the Labour Party across polling booths nationwide. As a new and underestimated movement, we took the country by storm in a very remarkable way. But as we look ahead to 2027, we must reignite and sustain that winning momentum at all costs if we truly hope to change Nigeria for the better. We have done it before, and with the same unity, determination and belief in our collective strength, we can rise again to do it this time around.

Therefore, at the very heart of this Christmas message lies this change that we desperately need for a better society, and for the next generation.

May this Christmas bring peace to our homes, warmth to our hearts, strength to make the right choices and a renewed faith in what we can do together as a people.

Thank you for the trust you place in me.

Kanma, a lawyer and entrepreneur, writes from Abuja.