By Fred Edoreh

Olorogun David Edevbie was emphatic when he declared that, when elected as Governor, he will pay high attention to the development of riverine communities.

“We cannot achieve any meaningful development if we do not pay more attention and devote more resources to opening up, connecting and integrating the riverine communities in our development process,” he reasoned.

“Riverine communities are a great asset to any nation and developing them means developing the nation. They present great values for agriculture, fisheries, transportation, processing industries, commerce and many more.”

Our experience in Delta and many other parts of Nigeria is that the riverine communities have always been left out in development. The situation has presented serious inequity in human and economic development, leaving majority of the people mostly in poverty and low standard of living.

The usual excusd is that, being riverine, the terrain is expensive to develop. The added negative impact is that, being undeveloped, it becomes difficult to draw in infrastructures which also makes it difficult for investors to go in to drive industrialisation which in turn also makes it difficult to create meaningful employment opportunities and platforms for enterprise.

“We need to reverse this outlook. It is true that the riverine area is expensive to develop but we must also recognise that the same riverine areas provide a significant portion of the state and national revenue through their oil and gas deposits, agricultural and marine resources. From whom much is taken, much also should be given.

“The true symbol of any nations civilisation and growth is in the political willingness and ability to develop its riverine and inner communities. Some of the most beautiful cities in the world are in riverine communities. Take Miami, take Tennessee, take Columbia regions in the US, take Venice in Italy. Examples abound. We have the the Third Mainland Bridge and they are planning a Fourth and Fifth Mainland Bridge in Lagos. They are all long bridges over water. Even desert regions like Dubai have also been developed as world centres. It all shows that there is no terrain that cannot be developed. What is required is understanding their value and having the willingness to invest in meeting their needs to integrate them effectively in the development process.

“We must therefore be willing to spend more money to develop and more robustly connect our riverine communities with our upland areas to integrate our development architecture.

“This will enable the penetration of more physical and social infrastructure to make it easy and attractive for investors and industries to go in. This will support greater output in agriculture and fisheries, improve transportation and commercial activities and provide opportunities for jobs and wealth creation in the area.

“We recognised this early in Chief James Ibori’s administration and that led to the construction of the Omadino, Bomadi and Aboh bridges. Before then, many of the riverine communities were terribly cut off and it looked like they were not part of our world. With those bridges, there has been fair measure of connection.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has built on that and contributed fairly in connecting some of the communities, but so much more still needs to be done. Life in the riverine communities is still a far cry from what it should be.”

Edevbie has it all mapped out with a huge plan to provide a coastal road connecting Oko to Abala area in Delta North and linking it up to Patani in Delta South. The plan means providing another major artery of connection and development in Delta State.

Added to the major coastal road is the need to also provide a network of roads linking the hundreds of inner communities in the riverine areas while also improving on river navigation and transportation. This is included in the plan.

His plans also include deliberate action to reactivate operations in Warri port and revamp the Koko and Burutu ports.

It is indeed a tragedy that these ports have been allowed to wallow in inactivity or under capacity utilisation and Edevbie says deliberate action would be taken through partnership with the private sector and negotiations with the Federal Government and various marine authorities to bring these ports back to life.

Before now, the Federal Government saw reasons to invest in the development of river basins and we had Niger-Delta and Benin-Owena as part of the 19 River Basin development authorities.

At last, it has been see that the intention was not actually to develop the areas in terms of infrastructure but only mostly to exploit the water resources of the regions to improve on agricultural output during the great drought in the Sahel region. Today, the river basin authorities are no longer functioning.

We must therefore take our destiny in our hands in recognition that it is our duty to develop our own space, to provide and equip our people with the necessary capacity to widen their horizon and elevate their standard of living through access to roads, greater interaction and exchange with wider world and opportunities for greater enterprise, industrialisation, power supply, commerce, access to new technologies, digitisation and employment opportunities.

This is why the Edevbie agenda for the development of the riverine areas of Delta State is profoundly imperative.

By Charles Nwabardi

Members of the Development Association of Ebonyi Indigenes (DAES) in Lagos have expressed solidarity to their State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi on his appeal at a higher court with respect to the recent Federal High Court, Abuja judgement reversing his electoral victory garnered as Governor seven years ago.

The executive members of the Association in their 2022 second Executive Committee meeting held on Friday March 26, resolved to stand by the Governor at his moment of judicial trial as a way of appreciating his concern and support to the Association’s activities over the years.

In a press statement on Saturday, President of the Association, Mayor (Dr) Felix Amah Nnachi said members of DAES “having followed keenly the political and judicial pronouncements, wish to express our unalloyed solidarity to you and your government which has been of immense support to Ebonyi indigenes in Lagos.

“Your act of magnanimity in supporting Ebonyians in Lagos is highly appreciated and we pray that God Almighty will grant you the grace to prevail and enable an enduring people’s leadership in Ebonyi State.”

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu in consonance with his empowerment programme for the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Delta State, has presented starter packs to young farmers in Onicha-Uku.

The starter pack which was in the form of cash was formally presented to the young farmers under the aegis of Onicha-Uku Youth Farmers Association, on Friday March 25, 2022 at Onicha-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government area of the State.

The cash presentation was to enable the young Farmers commence farming activities in this current farming season, having been trained on general farming techniques facilitated by the Minority Leader.

Elumelu was represented at the event by a renowned political leader in Delta State and Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Chief Nkem Okwuofu and was witnessed by the former Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Chief (Hon) Barrister Krees Njiokwuemeni, presently, the Executive Assistant to the State Governor on Legal Matters.

Presenting the starter packs to the beneficiaries, Chief Nkem Okwuofu said that the empowerment of the young farmers was in line with the promises made by the Minority Leader about four months ago when the youths in their numbers paid a visit to him in one of his frequent visits, saying that it was another opportunity for the Minority leader to collect information on the basic needs of the youths in that community.

Chief Okwuofu congratulated the youths for making efforts towards going into farming and urged them to be steadfast and not to be ashamed in whatever laudable they have chosen to do, even as she admonished them to use the money judiciously as a take up grant to commence and progress their farming activities in their different areas

“Whatever anybody is doing, you must do it very well and you will get to that destination God wants you to get to. All you need to do is to take a step of faith and be sincere with the money that has been committed to you, no matter how small or how big.

“Today, you are being encouraged by Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu to go into cassava farming, yam farming, tomato farming, poultry and piggery farming and I urge you to be serious with it. You can be whatever you want to be in life if only you will be serious and committed with your little beginning.

“Indeed, all that My Son, the Minority Leader needs from you is to use this money to commence and progress your farming activities, especially in this farming season so that you will be of great value to your families, this community and the State at large,” Chief Okwuofu stated.

She applauded Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu for always attending to the needs of his people, describing him as a cosmopolitan politician that has continued to reach out to his constituents despite all odds.

“This is a Man that made promises and he is fulfilling them like our dear Governor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. We are so blessed and by the grace of God, he is a giver and he will continue to give. As a Mother, it is my duty to encourage him to continue to give because I find out that as much as he gives, the much God replenishes his pocket and he shouldn’t relent and God will always bless him,” the notable political leader also known as the Mother of Government (MOG) prayed.

While confirming the readiness of Rt. Hon. Elumelu to unleash the biggest empowerment programme in the history of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in a matter of days, Chief Okwuofu called on the youths not to relent in their support, prayers and cooperation with the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

She said that the Governor and the Minority Leader has remained critical weapons God has continued to use in improving their standard of living, even as she encouraged those yet to register in the INEC continuous voters registration to avail themselves the opportunity of the ongoing exercise to go and register, obtain their voters cards to be able to vote For Ndudi Elumelu and the PDP in the forthcoming general election in 2023.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ezedi Fidelis appreciated Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu for always finding time to be with the people and said that it was his constant meetings with them that enabled him to know their basic needs.

Ezedi also commended him for his encouragement and the starter packs presented to them and assured that the cash will be used for the purpose that it was meant for and said they will not relent in working and praying for his success in his political endervours.

Also at the event was the Senior Legislative Assistant to the Minority Leader, Sir Anthony Anyaegbunam, the Legislative Aid to the Minority Leader, Ms Bridget Modebe and the Youth President of Onicha-Uku Youth Association and his Deputy.

Highlight was the former presentation of the packs to the members of the Farmers Association by Chief Nkem Okwuofu and Chief Barr. Krees Njiokwuemeni.

BY EUNICE EMEYAZIA

Members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, has commended the member representing Bonny/degema federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Doctor Farah- Dagogo for his efforts at improving the conditions of youths and vulnerable people in the society.

The Deputy National President, NAWOJ, Comrade Lilian Okonkwo Ogabu gave the commendation when she led leaders of NAWOJ in the South South Zone to visit the Federal Lawmaker in his office in Abuja.

Comrade Lilian Okonkwo Ogabu commended Hon. Doctor Farah-Dagogo for quality Representation through the sponsorship of many bills, in the Green Chambers, including the Niger Delta Disaster management Reserved fund Bill, Constitution Alteration Amendment Bill, National Polytechnics Commission bill, Federal Medical Centre, Bonny , the Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, STEAM, Polytechnic, Tombia, as well as the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Trust Fund bill, which public hearing was attended by NAWOJ leaders in the South South.

Comrade Okonkwo Ogabu recalled the motions, the Federal Lawmaker has moved, including a motion on the need for oil companies to relocate their headquarters to their areas of operations to provide job and boost the economy of host communities, a motion on the shoal of dead fishes along the coastal line of Bonny and other communities in the Niger Delta, a motion on the need for the Federal Government to Liberalize solid minerals, a motion for the delimitation of state Constituencies in Rivers State that would increaae the state constituencies to 39, as against the present 32, and many others, and lauded his passion and Commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region.

The Deputy NAWOJ President said the Association has observed closely the projects Hon. Farah-Dagogo has facilitated to assist women and youths in his constituency, especially the training of women and youths from Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency on livestock farming and providing them with financial grants, training of over 30 persons from his Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency on Broadband Application, and providing the beneficiaries with brand new laptops and start up grants, training youths and women in his Degema/Bonny on Catering Services, and giving them modern gas cookers and financial grants to start up, as well as giving financial assistance of #150,000 each to 130 persons, which has helped boost the economy of families.

She said interventionist projects of the lawmaker such as the Land reclamation and erosion control at Degema Consulate in Degema Local Government Area, Construction of Six block building at Community Secondary School Abalamabie, Bonny, ongoing construction of Tombia Town Hall, Degema, among other projects, were a testament of his commitment and passion for the people.

Comrade Okonkwo Ogabu stated that the country needs more of such youthful, innovative, people oriented, focused, purpose driven and selfless leaders, at the local, state and national level, as it was key in achieving the Nigeria of our dream, adding that the Women Journalists were proud to associate with him.

Responding, Hon. Doctor Farah -Dagogo thanked Nawoj South South leadership for the visit, saying that he would continue to do his best to better the lot of his people.

He assured that before the end of the year, two e-libraries will be built simultaneously in Degema and Bonny local government areas of Rivers State, boat drivers plying the Degema/Bonny waterways will be provided boats to ease their operations, while 500 technologically inclined persons including women and youths would be provided laptops and trained on Web Design, Cad Technology E-commerce and Freelancing.

NAWOJ has continued to advocate for good governance, protecting the right of the public to know the truth.

#Eunice Emeyazia

By Precious Ahiakwo-Ovie

Motivated by the need to provide access to safe drinking water, which is very critical to human health, Rotary Club of Effurun, Delta State has commissioned its water project for the 3 Battalion Nigeria Army Barracks Mammy Market, a settlement of thousands of people.

The project, officially commissioned by the commanding officer 3 Battalion Nigeria Army, Major S.M. Bala, represented by the officer in charge of the barracks maintenance unit (BMU) Maj. Harrison Olumeka is aimed at encouraging good health and well-being among men, women, and children living in the barrack.

Speaking at the commissioning, Assistant Governor Zone 16. AG Mfon Otitte-Douglas explained that the initiative by the Rotary Club of Effurun was designed to raise the awareness on the importance of purified and adequate water intake, as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.

“Access to safe drinking water will create a plentiful source of low-cost refreshment throughout the day. It will encourage good health and well-being, as well as reduce tiredness, irritability and distraction that could emanate from dehydration,” she said

President Rotary Club of Effurun, Mike Enehizena explained that “The 3 water borehole projects at 3 different locations in mammy market, where the club carries out our monthly polio immunization outreach, was proposed, constructed and commissioned to help the indigent members of the settlement who cannot afford to buy water, as we celebrate Rotary International’s month of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Rotarian Mike Enehizena said “The Rotary Club of Effurun identified that people still buy water for use in the mammy market and when there is power outage as result of bad transformer, there is always water crises. This water Project it will go a long way to solve their water challenge, since it doesn’t need power. And because the people are very happy about the project, which was as a result of a feasibility study and community engagement, they have agreed to own the project”.

Commending the initiative, the officer in charge of the barracks maintenance unit (BMU) Maj. Harrison Olumeka appreciated Rotary Club for providing water free of charge for the Mammy Market.

He noted that despite the importance of safe drinking water to human health and development, millions of people still lack access to safe drinking water from an improved source especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

The officer in charge of the barracks maintenance unit (BMU) Maj. Harrison Olumeka urged the people to ensure that the water remains hygienic with prompt maintenance.

An old-timer in the politics of Nigeria from the South South, Elder Barr. Edward Ehimwenma Osifo, popularly called Eddy Osifo, has urged the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to nominate the current Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Oluyemi Osibanjo (SAN) to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Eddy Osifo who is also the former National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria (U.P.N) and the former, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Bendel State, in his open letter to Tinubu made available to newsmen in his country home, Igbontor-Igbanke, Edo State, appealed to Tinubu to emulate the likes of late Sir Ahmadu Bello who nominated late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, both of blessed memory to become the first Prime Minister of Nigeria when he was confronted with a similar choice in 1959 of either contesting or choosing another party member from the N.P.C to become the Prime Minister.

In his word, “Prof. Osibanjo has shown abundant proofs of being a good leader.
“It is usually correctly said that a good follower is a good leader. This better explains the personality of Osibanjo who is not inordinately ambitious nor has he showed any evidence of greed.

“Osibanjo’s moral rectitude is not in any way in doubt. Above all, he is academically and worldly sophisticated.

“This is the kind of personality that should bear the banner of APC in 21st Century Nigeria.

“Osibanjo is physically and mentally strong enough to bear the overwhelming burden which modern Nigeria demands. He is not too old to run nor too young to do so.
“Finally, as he boards the ship of leadership, he Osibanjo should remember to take along with him the present Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai because both can make Nigeria another Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore”, he stated.