By: Ike Philip Abiagom

[dropcap]“G[/dropcap]reatness is a property for which no man can receive credit too soon; it must be possessed long before it is acknowledged.”When one of the world’s greatest thinkers, Ralph Waldo Emerson handed down the above words of wisdom, those he had in mind were certainly the likes of Hon.Peter Okocha aka BOBO NKITI.
For the trail-blazing Political mogul par excellence from Ibusa, Delta State, it is certainly impossible to gloss over his attributes for greatness. Hon. Peter Okocha is a man of qualities, he is a father, grassroots man and a Political Juggernaut, He is a grassroots mobilizer, philanthropist, and a man of integrity.

Hon. Peter Okocha is the APC youths leader of Oshimili North till date, he means different things to different people; to his children, he is a kind dad, while to us his admirers he is known as the political Youths mobilizer of our time, the Political Strategist but his detractors always erroneously see him as an Obstacle because of his rising profile and acceptance by the grassroots.

Hon. Peter Okocha is not only the Pride of Oshimili North but also the Pride of the All Progressive Congress (APC)for whom he had waged countless political wars for and won virtually all, just like the Greek mythological Odyssey who fought and won difficult battle in History, the grassroots Youths mobilizer of our time also fought and won many battles even those considered as herculean in nature for his people and party leaders.

He is a vibrant young man who started his political career from the grassroots, who is solidly rooted and grounded and he has successfully served in various capacities. He has really voiced out and fought for his people’s common goals, He remains the only youths leader of Oshimili North who knows the plight, feelings and desires of his People and Youths. Hon. Peter Okocha has achieved alot within the period of his appointment and he has been able to touch the lives of the Youths like never before and also proved himself a force to reckon with among frontline players of our state politics.

Indeed the birthday celebration of this Youths mobilizer of our time had been useful and Resourceful, using the investment of his personality for services to humanity. Therefore today let me on behalf the SPON Political family join the rest of Oshimili North LGA, Deltans and Nigerians at large to Celebrate our iconoclastic Hon. Peter Okocha ,“we join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life and to pray that He continues to bless you with robust health and imbue you with His continued guidance, protection, and enduring provision.” We Wish you many more years to the service of humanity.

Cheers !!!You’re older today than yesterday but younger than tomorrow. Happy Birthday the Youth Boss!

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 10th All Community Newspaper Publishers under the aegis of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN)’ Conference begins in Asaba today, with Provost Emeritus, Dr Ignatius Nwanze Ezoem, scheduled to lead discussions.

Also expected as discussants are HRM, Obi Fredrick. Egbunkony ll, Igwe of Abala kingdom and other security chiefs.

Some state governors with security challenges, including Dr Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); and Chief David Nweze Umahi (Ebonyi), will also be part of the conversation. The conference with the theme,“2023 General Elections: The Roles of the Media and Security Agencies, Challenges and Prospects” will bring together editors and Community media owners across the country, as well as their foreign colleagues to discuss the security challenges in the country and agree on the solution to the raging strife and Vienna International Hotel, DBS Road, Asaba will be hosting this year conference.

Ezoem, Provost Emeritus, would give the keynote address that would be discussed by security chiefs.

In a statement in Asaba by the Publishers Media Week Committee Chairman, Comrade (Dr) Felida Essi, and the Secretary, Comrade Solomon Ogala, the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), said Gov. Okowa would be the special guest of honour, while the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Umana, Sir Chuks Okonji,Idewu Okeze, Dr Tony Nwaka Malam Kabiru Yusuf, would be the guests of honour.

The statement said: A doyen of Education, Professor Emmanuel Achenu, Rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku, would chair the conference with Gov. Okowa and others, including President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and foreign ambassadors giving goodwill messages.

“The conference is to be rounded off in the afternoon with the induction of new fellows and members of the Community Publishers, Presentation of Award to personalities and the investitures of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) Patron, the statement stated.

Over 100 editors and media owners — from print, broadcast stations and online newspapers — have registered for this year’s conference.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party’s governorship candidate in Delta State, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege have donated N200 million to displaced flood victims in Delta State.

While Tinubu announced a donation of N50 million cash, Omo-Agege gave out N150 million worth of relief materials.

Addressing a mammoth crowd on behalf of Tinubu and himself in Effurun, Delta State on Tuesday, Senator Omo-Agege pointed out that the aviation strike halted the movement of the APC Presidential Candidate.

His words: “Today, I am here wearing two caps. The first cap I am wearing is the cap of the governorship candidate of APC in the 2023 general election. The second cap is that of the coordinator of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation in Delta State. The essence of this gathering today is to welcome our incoming president by God’s grace, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The reason for the visit is to show solidarity, empathy and sympathy with our people as a result of the devastating flood in most of our communities here in Delta State. And also to provide leadership in our fight to uproot bad governance imposed in Delta State in the past seven and half years.

“But today as you all know, because of the strike in the aviation industry, and his reason for coming here is to visit IDP camps. And you know, to get to the IDP camps today, you cannot get there by road. So we made arrangements to use helicopters to move our president-in-waiting and entourage from here to IDP camps in Kwale in Delta North, Patani in Delta South and Okwagbe in Delta Central. But we have received a message that because of the strike in the aviation sector, we are not able to get any of those helicopters to move him from here to those IDP camps. So we have decided to reschedule this visit. He has promised that he’s coming back. Within the next couple of days, he will let us know; at which time the aviation strike would have been called off and we will have access to the helicopters that will take him to those locations.

“But he has also told me to make an announcement on his behalf. That because of the empathy he feels for our people, that I should announce the donation of N50million to Deltans who have lost their homes and source of livelihood and who are currently in IDP camps. This will be made available to them through the DG of this campaign, Elder Godsdey Orubebe. We are going to sit down and work out the modality on how this N50 million will be shared to each of the IDP camps to ameliorate the conditions of our people. We know that no one man can restore the losses suffered by our people. So this is Tinubu’s own way of showing love to the people of Delta State.

“In addition to that, in my capacity as the governorship candidate of APC in Delta State and as Deputy Senate President and Senator representing Delta Central, I have also made arrangements and we have acquired relief materials worth N150 million. We have made all of the procurements, food items, cement, mattresses, rice, roofing sheets and more. And beginning on Friday, we are going to set up a committee that will move from IDP camp to IDP camp to distribute all of these materials to our people who have been displaced as a result of this flood”.

At Okwagbe, where he led the APC train to visit the IDP camps, Omo-Agege expressed sympathy on behalf of Tinubu and himself, and said the N200million donation was a heartfelt contribution by both of them to cushion the plight of the victims of the flood.

He said that the people of Delta were prepared to vote out the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and asked the Okwagbe people to join the APC winning team

Omo-Agege’s running mate, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi led the mission to Kwale IDP camp, while DG of the campaign, Elder Godsday Orubebe led another team to Patani IDP camp.

Ima Niboro

Director, Communications and Media Strategy,

Delta APC Campaign Organisation.

2nd November, 2022.

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ommunity Newspaper Publishers under the aegis of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State will be holding its annual lecture/awards Ceremony with the theme: “2023 General Elections: The Roles of the Media and Security Agencies, Challenges and Prospects” slated for November 10,2022.Its Chairman, Comrade Jude Obiememyego, said this at a news conference on activities to mark the 2022 Publishers’ Media Week.

According to the Publishers Media Week Committee Chairman, Comrade (Dr) Felida Essi, she said the Publishers week is a time for Publishers to brainstorm on crucial issues of national interest and exercise their bodies through sporting activities.

Essi said a public lecture/Media awards would hold on November 10th at the Vienna International Hotel, DBS Road, Asaba and lecture would be delivered by Provost Emeritus, Dr Ignatius Nwanze Ezoem, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Education Monitoring.

The occasion would be chaired by Professor Emmanuel Achenu, Rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku.She said dignitaries such as His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa;Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Umana,Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, CEO,Dozzy Oil and Gas, Mr Idewu Okeze, Sir Chuks Okonji and Mrs Ruby Ijeoma Okoro, Managing Director, Delta Mortgage Trust Bank, Allen Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, would also be recognised among many others.
The Royal Fathers of the Day will be HRM, Obuenwe Johnson Ekpechi Ulu, Ezemu of Emu kingdom, HRM, Monday Whiskey Udurhie l, Ovie of Idjerhe kingdom and HRM, Obi Fredrick. Egbunkony ll, Igwe of Abala kingdom while HRH, Obi Isioma Nwannabuogwu, Omu of Ibusa kingdom is the royal mother of the day.
Essi said the council would pay a visit to the Little Saints Orphanage, Asaba and Old Peoples’ Home, Ibusa . She called for donations of clean and decent clothing, shoes, food, books and other items for children and adults.

By: Ben Nwoko

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elta State House of Assembly aspirant for the Oshimili North Constituency on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM),Sir (Dr)Felix Chuks Okonji(OMELORA) says his aspiration is the best option for his constituents as the touchstone of his candidacy is competence, capacity, and experience underpinned by a strong demand for justice, equity and fairness.
In a statement he personally signed to mark his consultation and flag-off to leaders and good people of oshimili north , the foremost philanthropist, an entrepreneur, Real Estate Mogul, said, he is seeking the votes of his people to be the next state House of Assembly member because he has the capacity, competence, commitment, experience, exposure as well as deep knowledge of the expectations and the needs of his people.

Omelora said, “I am not seeking an office or a position but I am seeking for an opportunity for service. My aspiration will avail you two packages in one: a golden opportunity to serve my people and to correct a negative history of alienating the great people of Oshimili North state Constituency from serving as your representative in the state House of Assembly since our country’s independence in 1960; and a competent, experienced, selfless, responsible, well-rounded, prepared, determined, passionate, accessible, knowledgeable and loyal legislator, who will demonstrate equity and mutual fidelity to the course of the entire district without discrimination”.

He noted with delight that the Oshimili North Constituency is blessed with enormous manpower, rich arable land and other natural resources, which require proper harnessing through credible leadership and proactive representation.

“We have great hardworking people who seek opportunities to thrive and excel. I am offering myself as a vessel to fulfil these needs, using the State House of Assembly as a staging post. My mantra is an opportunity for all. Not some,” he vowed.

“I will, in conjunction with the state Government and other development agencies within and outside Nigeria, pursue the growth, prosperity, development, happiness and well-being of our people, including those who will not support or vote for me”.
He promised to synergize with relevant state government agencies, and development partners to turn around the fortunes of his constituents and run an all-inclusive government.

He warned that the stakes beyond 2023 in Nigeria are too high to be left in the hands of unstable politicians as too many unresolved national questions are still open to necessary debate and resolution in our quest for national rebirth, growth and integration.