[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he second edition of the Delta/Zenith Bank Principals’ Cup Football Competition is set to begin on Wednesday with about 1,600 secondary schools across the state taking part.
The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chiedu Ebie, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Asaba, alongside the officials of Hideaplus Nigeria Limited, who are the annual event’s organisers.
He said the competition was being organised because the state was committed to the promotion of schools sports as a vital tool for youth development and professional excellence.
Ebie said the competition’s first edition, which was held last year, recorded huge successes with the discovery of talented footballers in the school system.
He said: “The aim of this competition is to identify and promote talent.
“It is also to encourage our students by letting them know that they can combine sports and education to achieve success in life.
“In this second edition, we have schools from across the 25 local government areas of the state participating.
“It is therefore pertinent to note here that Delta has continued to lead other states of the federation in sports activities, just because of the sort of efforts and resources we put in, and it is our determination to remain the best in sports.
“This is why we are committed to catching them young.”
In his remarks, Tony Pemu, Chief Executive Officer of Hideaplus Nig. Ltd., said activities towards the commencement of the 2017 competition had commenced with the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee.
He said the competition, which would feature teams from about 1,600 secondary schools in Delta, was expected to kick off on Wednesday, while the finals would come up sometime in February 2018.
Pemu said: “Let me say also that we have brought in several innovations this time around, which were not in the last edition of the competition, such as branded jerseys, football kits, et cetera.
“All these are meant to upscale our game and benchmark international best practices. We have also tightened our procedure on verification of players.
“The 2017/2018 edition of the competition will be better in all ramifications and is expected to yield bountifully in the discovery of young talents in the football game.”
He further disclosed that expectations are high, just as he assured that the organisers were committed to delivering on the vision of Zenith Bank-sponsored Delta Principals’ Cup.
He said: “This is the aim of discovering and nurturing budding talents.”
Lucky Ighade, Zenith Bank’s Zonal Manager in Delta, assured the State Government of the bank’s readiness to continue to support it to return the sports culture to the school system.
Ighade said: “The second edition of this competition will witness a more resounding feat and it is our expectation that the discovery of sports talents in our secondary school system will be of immense benefit to the state.”
Ighade said about 1,200 private schools and about 400 public schools across the state have indicated their interest to participate in the second edition of the annual competition.
MasterCare International Schools of Asaba emerged winners of the first edition of the competition held in April.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]bba Kyari, a 1997 Geography graduate of the University of Maiduguri, Abba grew up and attended his primary and secondary schools in Maiduguri. He did his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Akwa Ibom State in 1998 and joined the Nigeria Police Force as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in the year 2000. 16 years after, he has earned for himself the reputation of a diligent, no-nonsense and intelligence officer, such that the police authorities and the general public are proud of him. He always demonstrates to his bosses that he knew why he joined the force, and has kept at it.
After completing his training in the Police Academy Wudil Kano, Kyari was posted to Adamawa State where he served in Song, Girei and Numan Local Government areas with remarkable successes in crime bursting. He stood out tall when he led the arrest of a notorious armed robber called, ‘Ndagi’ a.k.a Spirit. Spirit who held in Numan, the third biggest town in Adamawa State and held the area hostage for several years before he was eventually arrested since then, since then, there was no looking back for this intelligent officer with a sharp investigative mind and sometimes deadly courage.
Kyari joined the Police Mobile Force, popularly known as Mopol in 2005 and was there for about five years until his posting to Lagos Command October in 2010. He was deployed as the second in command (2/IC) to SARS and later became the OC SARS on January 15, 2011. It was said that the then Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who decorated him with several awards, resisted ceaseless attempts by the Police high Command to have Kyari redeployed out of Lagos. This was on account of his amazing achievements in combating the menace of armed robbery and kidnapping in Lagos.
Kyari has a long litany of exploits under his belt. He was instrumental in the arrest of the most notorious armed robber in the South West, Mr. Abiodun Egunjobi, otherwise known as Godogodo. Godogodo was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, with some of his gang members. SARS recovered 42 AK47 rifles from the gang. Godogodo confessed to have killed over 150 Nigerians, including over 50 policemen during his 10 years reign as the kingpin of South West armed robbers.
There was also the arrest of Benjamin Osinachi a.k.a China and his entire gang of kidnappers based in Ghana, but operated in Nigeria. Their victims included a sitting High Court Judge, a sitting local government chairman, many expatriates, amongst others. China and his gang members held South West residents by the jugulars for long. But Kyari with his men, were said to have deployed, “Advanced Technology and brought the kidnappers down.” Several AK47 rifles and thousands of ammunitions were recovered from the gang.
The defeat of Mr. Andrew and his gang of deadly kidnappers in Igando area of Lagos metropolis was spearheaded by Kyari and his men. SARS recovered 12 AK47 rifles, GPMGs and rocket launchers from the gang. Also during his tenure in Lagos, SARS arrested Chinansa and gang in the Ajangbadi area of Lagos. The SARS men recovered 11 AK47 rifles, rocket launchers and GPMGs from them.
There was also the shocking arrest of the General Overseer of a church located at Ejigbo. The General Overseer was part of the gang of robbers that attacked the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The gang was later discovered to have operated at Ogun, Kwara and Rivers States. When they were eventually arrested, police recovered five AK47 rifles and GPMGs. Kyari was also instrumental in the arrest of the kidnappers of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Okonjo Iweala’s mother. The kidnappers used to operate in Delta, Edo and Port Harcourt. This gang killed the former deputy Governor of Anambra State and kidnapped the wife of a sitting Supreme Court Judge.
Kyari and his men also arrested the kidnappers that abducted Dangote’s cousin. Another gang that kidnapped a British citizen, Mr. Dickson Lee, along the International Airport Road, was also defeated. The Briton was kidnapped moments after landing in Nigeria. There was the arrest of Obinna in Onitsha. Obinna was the most notorious sponsor and kingpin of robbers who specialized in hijacking trailers carrying containers. SARS has also in its feather, arrested Emmanuel aka Arab. Arab and his gang members were described as deadly. 12 AK 47 rifles, including four AK47 rifles belonging to Policemen they killed during bank robbery in Kwara State were recovered from them. Kyari and his men led the rescue of a young Kwara female model in Delta State. The policeman and his men also led in the rescue operation of Alhaji Fashola, owner of Kings Petroleum in Isheri Oshun, Lagos.
Lagos residents cannot forget the arrest of the nanny who kidnapped three boys belonging to same parents. The kids were called ‘the Orekoyas kids’. The nanny was arrested within three days that the case was transferred to Kyari and his men. Few days before Kyari got his posting letter to Abuja, he led the arrest of Lekki armed robbers who attacked the First City Monument Bank (FCMB). They killed three policemen and a girl who was hawking fish, carted away money and escaped through the waterways.
He also made success against a splintered members of Lekki bank robbery who recently attacked banks at Ijede and Ogolonto areas of Ikorodu, Lagos. The gang escaped, as usual, through the waterways and Kyari deployed his Technology and arrested four of the Ikorodu bank robbers. Subsequently, the arrest of Vampire and his group of most deadliest gang of kidnappers in Nigeria in Imo State, the biggest of all is the arrest of Billionaire Kidnapper Evans and his Group the Most Notorious Kidnapping Kingpin in Lagos State, Foiled the Bombing of 3rd Mainland bridge in Lagos by arresting the Militant and explosive expert sent to bomb the bridge and recovered the heavy explosives in Lagos, arrested Turkish School and Ikorodu School Girls Kidnappers in Lagos and Ogun States, arrested the kidnappers of the CBN Governors wife in Delta State, the Kidnappers of Ambassador Bagudu Hirse in Kaduna, the Kidnappers of SierraLeon Deputy High Commissioner along Abuja-Kaduna Express, arrest of the Killers of Colonel Yunusa in Kaduna, arrest of the Kidnappers of Dangote expatriates in Ogun State, arrest of the kidnappers of the mother of Governor Yahaya Bello Of Kogi State, arrest of Urban Gorilla and Group the Most Notorious Kidnapper in Rivers State, arrest of Sunday Aka Full Payment and his group of most Notorious Bank Robbers in the South South, arrest of Kidnappers of Oniba of Iba a First Class King in Lagos State, arrest of Killers of Oyo State member of House of Assembly, arrest of Killers of Reverent Adeyi in Otukpo Benue State, arrest of Kidnappers of Alhaji Salami in Abuja, arrest of the kidnappers of 2 ABTI American University of Nigeria Female Students in Abuja, arrest of the attackers of Nimbo Community in Enugu State and also arrested many Groups of notorious Fulani kidnappers terrorizing the Abuja-kaduna express way.
Kyari has received a lot of awards to mark his achievements. But to mention a few; there’s the IGP Commendation Award for Courage 2012, 2013, 2014. Governors Award for Gallantry, Leadership and Service excellence 2011, 2012, 2013. There’s Commissioner of Police Commendation Award for Courage 2011. Best Anti- Crime Police Officer in West Africa from Security Watch Africa, Star Award from CRAN 2011, 2012, 2013 ,2014 and the Highest Of them all Presidential Medal of Courage 1/4/16.
A very shy guy, Abba wouldn’t talk about his work and how he does it, but his men and people who have come across him would attest to the fact that his best attribute is that he sees himself as a Team Leader and not a boss in the discharge of his duties and co-ordination of men and resources to fight crime and criminals. One of his boys told me that” “OC is a whiz kid. He is too much. He understands technology and uses it to track down criminals. Also, he is a leader. He motivates us his men. We eat and drink with him. He attends our weddings, birthdays and naming ceremonies of our children and funeral of our relatives. In short, he is like a brother to us and leads from the front. He is always there for us and even teaches us how to key into technology while doing our work. In short, the OC is wonderful.”
So, here’s a brilliant officer who is also a great leader, who is ever ready to learn and teach others so the war against crime and criminals may succeed. No wonder the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, like his predecessor, was full of praises for Abba Kyari as he broke the news to Lagosians of the rescue of the three female students and the arrest of their kidnappers. He couldn’t be headed anywhere else but the top having stayed on top of his game from the moment he joined the Police.
Herbert Wigwe Group Managing Director/CEO Access Bank
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ccess Bank Plc has announced its third quarter (Q3) results for 2017 which reflect the Bank’s ability to generate sustainable earnings despite the challenging operating environment. The results for the nine months ended 30 September 2017 showed 33% growth in gross earningsyear-on-year from ₦275 billion to ₦365 billion, driven primarily by the strong performance on core revenue lines.
Overall, the Group delivered increase in pre-tax profits from ₦69.0 billion in September 2016 to ₦72.9billion in September 2017 and closed the period with a 4% year-on-year growth in profit after tax. Profit after Tax (PAT) grew to ₦56.4 billion in 2017 from ₦54.1 billion in 2016. Commenting on the Bank’s performance in Q3 2017, Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe said, “We continue to gain momentum in our efforts to achieve more diversified earnings, as we strengthen our retail and digital offerings. I am excited at the prospects in the coming months.”
He noted that the reporting period marks the last quarter in the last year of the 2013 – 2017 strategic period adding that the Bank remains committed to improving the quality of its balance sheet. “The Board and Management remain extremely grateful to our more than 8 million customers, shareholders and dedicated employees for enabling us achieve several milestones within this period. We look forward to the next five years, with confidence in our ability to deliver superior service and optimised shareholder value,” Wigwe stated.
Furthermore, the Bank’s Q3 performance showed that operating costs reduced significantly by 18% quarter-on-quarter to ₦49.5 billion in September, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to rein in costs and improve operating efficiency. Capital and liquidity buffers of 20.5% and 46.0%, respectively, are well above the minimum regulatory requirement.
Hadiza Bala Usman Managing Director of Nigerian Ports (NPA)
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Managing Director of Nigerian Ports (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has said that as a strong believer in partnership and collaboration, she will tap into the knowledge and experience of Women in ANLCA (Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents) which will guide the authority in making policy decisions on ports operation.
Usman made this assertion while receiving a delegation of Women in ANLCA led by its Governor, Hajia Bola Muse who paid her a courtesy call in her office in Marina, Lagos yesterday.She continued; “I would like to say that in Nigerian Ports Authority, we believe in partnership and collaboration, we believe that there is a need for the authority to reach out to critical stakeholders and partner with them in any way we can, We understand and appreciate your knowledge in the Industry and we know there is value in any relationship we have with you. Your knowledge, and your operational experience in the industry would help guide the authority”.
The Managing Director encouraged them to aspire to leadership positions and impact most positively in the industry in the areas of mentorship and professional guidance.On the coming election of the national body in 2018, she encouraged the women to aspire to higher positions in all sectors especially in the maritime industry and pledged her readiness to assist them in accomplishing the objectives of the association.She further commended the efforts of the women in forming the association as according to her, it required a lot of efforts, resilience adding that, “We will not rest on our oars to continue to see how we can further amplify women and their roles within the society”.
Hadiza Bala Usman Managing Director of Nigerian Ports (NPA) with ANLCA women
On her immediate appointment as the Matron of the association, the Managing Director declared, “I am touched and honored for appointing me as a Matron. I am available for you and I will play my role as the Matron excellently”.
Earlier, the Governor of the Women in ANLCA, Hajia Bola Muse in her welcome address described the Managing Director as an achiever and kind hearted leader, whose performance as the first female Managing Director has been a source of inspiration for womenfolk.
She thereafter announced the official appointment of the Managing Director as Matron of the association.Hajia Muse disclosed that Women in ANLCA was formed in November 2014 as an umbrella body for all women in the association with the view to promoting gender equality in the affairs of the association.
Compt. Emmanuel Edede CAC, Murtala Mohammed Airport Command (MMAC), Lagos
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Emmanuel Edede needs no introduction as a Nigerian. He is not a stranger to Customs revenue collection and enforcement . His bonding with Nigeria Customs Service is akin to the umbilical relationship between a child and the mother right from the womb and last all through a lifetime. His antecedents and achievements in Nigeria Customs Service speaks volumes. He is a perfect example of leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, the perfect gentleman. Indeed, some leaders are born, some achieve leadership, some have leadership thrust upon them, while only very few have all three embedded in them. Comptroller Emmanuel Edede is a man of immense mettle and a completely detribalized human being with a profound depth of character, whose humility, devoid of discrimination, embraces all and sundry. He soars like an eagle and exudes reverence and integrity. A pragmatic leader full of benevolence; he gives hope to the hopeless, welfare succor to the poor and needy. To everyone who crosses his path, he is a light. He is a friend to the staff , a role model to the young,a helper to many and a visionary man.
Comptroller Emmanuel Edede the present Controller in charge of Murtala Mohammed Airport Command (MMAC), Lagos fits into the mold where scholars conclude that great men and women achieve success through hardwork and resilience. He remains the luckiest in terms of favourable circumstances. He is one of the few officers that have served round trip the most successful commands in Nigeria. Comptroller Emmanuel Edede is not disposed to unnecessary talks and frivolities; a no nonsense man who had all through his leadership role in the service proved himself to be a leader that matches words with actions.
Since he was redeployed as the Customs Area Controller of Murtala Mohammed Airport Command (MMAC), Lagos, he has magically turned around the operations of the command wise with unprecedented revenue generated since he took over.He has hitherto raised the performance bar of the unit to an exampled level in the history of the command. This is due to the fact that the refined officer is adjudged according to maritime watchers to be a revenue oriented officer as well as his encomiums emanated from commands with performance based on revenue. Many senior customs officers hailed the Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) led management’s decision of redeploying Comptroller Emmanuel Edede to the Murtala Mohammed Airport Command (MMAC) to pilot the affairs of the unit knowing fully well he is a great performer and a goal getter; bearing in mind that the command is one of the nerve centres of the Nigeria Customs Service.His aggressive approach and the proactiveness of his Command officers will increase revenue generation of the command, adding that Nigeria Customs Service main target is revenue generation and trade facilitation with much efforts and emphasis on blockage of revenue leakages through 100 percent examination of cargoes.
Comptroller Emmanuel Edede wants to leave the Murtala Mohammed Airport Command (MMAC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) better than he met it is not in doubt. This is because he is a man that is associated with result from his days in the lower cadre in the Service to this present position of the Controller of Customs. This Abia State born Comptroller Edede has worked in so many Area Commands all over the federation before becoming a
Controller. He has worked in Onne, Rivers state, Apapa Command in Lagos State, he has worked in the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), he has worked in so many of the sensitive units and he has garnered so many experience both in enforcement and revenue which was why when he took over as Deputy Comptroller, he was able to handle one of the biggest terminals in Apapa where he did well. He has worked also at Harvey road, that is the Zonal Headquarters of the South West.
In 2015, he was promoted to a full-fledged Controller. He also worked at the customs printing press unit at Abuja. While he was working there, owing to his experience, he was asked to go and take charge of Adamawa/Taraba command. You will agree with me that Adamawa/Taraba is a volatile command owing to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents there but because of his experience in enforcement, he did very well there and on the 25th of April, 2017, he was asked to come and take control of MMAC from the former Comptroller F.N.Alana.
On assumption of office in April, he discovered that whereas the revenue collected by the command in April was a little above N4 billion which was within the range of the target given to the command by the service, there was a shortfall in the revenue collected by the command in the month of May, 2017, his first month in control of the command. This is so as the command collected a little above N3.5 billion and he was worried by the development, he set out to look out for what was responsible for the shortfall in revenue of the command in the first month of his taking control of the command. He did not search for too long before he stumbled on the answers;first according to a source in the command who spoke under the condition of anonymity because he had no permission to speak to the press, “some of the reasons he discovered were that immediately he took over, the general movement of officers, from Assistant Comptroller down to one star came out and you know what that means? It means that all of them were moving out.
So, most of them have to move immediately and some that came from enforcement background and not from revenue. For them to come and take over in revenue means you have to start putting them through, enlightening them on what to do because He will always tell you that he doesn’t like failure which is why he is trying to see how he could go back to the range”.On the agents/customs fracas that usually characterize the command, the source pointed out that the customs boss was aware of that which was why on assumption of duty at the command, before even reaching out to his sister agencies, he met with the clearing agents namely; the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) where they agreed on modalities to adopt to iron out areas of disagreement adding that he had detailed an Assistant Comptroller who happened to be his Personal Assistant in-charge of Tariffs to handle cases arising from tariff and classification of goods arising from disagreement between the agents and the different O/Cs at the shades so as to ensure a rancor free command.
It is on record that the very week Comptroller Edede took over the command, two packages of suspected illicit drugs
concealed in one package carried onboard Emirate Flight with Air waybill no: 176-3749-3562 detained on the 22nd of April, 2017, was found to contain the suspected parcel on examination done on the 26th of April, 2017. The concealed parcels were later handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for testing and weighing. The suspected substance on testing was found to be Heroine weighing 5kg.
Although not much will be said to have been achieved by this new bride at MMAC but efforts are on to obliterate whatever bumpy beginning by Comptroller Edede as he also acknowledged the fact that more needed to be done, the reason he had been shying away from the press since assumption of duty at the command. This is because he believed in having tangible result to showcase before rushing to the press so as not to be seen as working on the pages of newspapers and on the screens of television without commensurate efforts on ground to match his media campaigns. All eyes are on this gentleman who has delivered .
On the other hand, it is said that a tree does not make a forest, with this in mind, the onus lie on the stakeholders,
terminal operators, men and officers of the command and indeed the media to join hands with this gentleman and volunteer information that will help the command achieve its set objective because the success of Edede at MMAC translates to the success of the service and indeed the good and welfare of the entire citizens.“The days and time of doing the wrong things in the MMA Customs Command can be said to be a thing of the past because of Mr Right is now in charge.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr. Nicholas Azinge in a press briefing at the press center, Government house on Tuesday October 24, 2017, disclosed that there are only three suspected cases of monkey pox in the sate adding that the patients were alive and doing well.
Speaking further the Dr. Azinge stated that one of the patients is from Ogwashi-uku community and lived alone and had no contact with animals, while the other two are a couple from an undisclosed community in delta central.
Azinge stated that monkey pox is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans and that it’s symptoms are similar to small pox which went extinct in 1980 but less severe adding that since it’s outbreak in Nigeria, 10 states including the FCT have had suspected cases except Bayelsa state which has been confirmed and with the lowest mortality rate of 1% to 10% where most deaths occurred mostly in children. He further said that there is no known vaccine or treatment yet for the disease and that the disease could be transmitted through close contact with infected persons, animals or contaminated objects.
Speaking further, the Health Commissioner stated that its first stages (1-3 days) encapsulates fever then followed by big rashes on the face before spreading to other parts of the body affecting the soles and the palm with swelling of the nymph nodes on the neck, adding that it could be prevented by avoiding contaminated objects, desisting from eating inadequately prepared meat plus by washing of hands regularly. He further stated that the state is well prepared to contain the virus and future occurrence and has initiated emergency numbers (07037020510, 08036680784) to call when ever suspicions arise
Dr. Nicholas Azinge remarked that sensitization programs are currently going on and that border patrol is been initiated in affected areas adding that the country in collaboration with World Health Organization will ensure quick transportation of suspected specimens to the WHO reference lab in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation of suspected cases. He further advised citizens not to panic as the state and country at large is working seriously to contain the virus as it did in the case of Ebola, Lassa fever amongst others adding that Monkey pox is even a minor issue compared to the aforementioned.
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]do New Police Commissioner,Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, has assured the governor and the people of Edo state that under his watch, there would be no cause for complaints saying that his officers would serve the people with all their hearts and might.
Gov. Obaseki in a handshake with CP. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo
This statement came when the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki received the new Commissioner at the Government House in Benin City, with an assurance that he would work with the new police boss to enforce a new security architecture in the state.
The governor further pledged his administration’s support for the new police commissioner to enable him succeed in his new assignment.
“We will give you the needed support to succeed. We believe that the responsibility for restoring law and order rests with the police. We hope that you will fulfill your constitutional responsibility by helping us enforce law and order in Edo State,” he said.
The governor urged the new police boss to urgently change the security plan he inherited to curb crimes in the state.
“We need to change the entire security architecture in the state and together we will work to implement it and address all the security challenges in the next one week,” he said.
The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt response in granting the request for a new police commissioner by deploying a grounded operations police officer to serve in the state.
“We believe the new CP has the requisite experience to help in securing life and property in the state. We believe this
is what he has been doing in his policing career and has the ability to replicate what he did in other states here in Edo. We will give him our support to help him succeed in fighting crime in the state,” Obaseki assured.
In his response, the new CP advised criminals to relocate from Edo State as it will no longer be a haven for their
activities. “I want to assure you that Edo State will no longer be a haven for criminals. I advise them to leave the state.
Edo people and residents of the state should go to sleep with both eyes closed because there will be proper policing both in the day and at night,” CP. Kokumo said.
He explained that he is currently doing criminal profiling in the state and in a matter of days will come out with a clear strategy aimed at fighting crimes in the state.
Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi with ward four (4) party faithful and leaders from his Ndokwa East State Constituency in Beneku and Ashaka
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Deputy Speaker Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi met with ward four (4) party faithful and leaders from his Ndokwa East State Constituency in Beneku and Ashaka respectively. In a well attended meeting of ward 4 party faithful in the Beneku community town hall, overwhelmed Osanebi thanked the people for their continued support for PDP, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the government of Delta State at large.
The Deputy Speaker who was responding to the people’s request and questions, revealed that the construction of the bridge connecting Kwale and Beneku is not just a concern to the local dwellers but the governor and himself saying that if it’s a project he can embark alone by himself, he would have constructed the bridge. He appealed to them to remain calm that as things improves the people will have cause to rejoice more.
Osanebi said that Ward four, which consists of Beneku, Okpai and Utchi is like a family and that the people must remain united and do not allow any strange doctrine to infiltrate them, because Ndokwa East and ward 4 in particular is a PDP family.
He said: “we don’t have opposition in ward four. If you want to join APC, Pls go to the North ! APC is the root of the sufferings of the people today. Talking about the bridge, it gives me much concern also. if it’s what I can do, I would have done it.
If sufficient money comes to the state, our bridge and other ongoing projects within this area even the Beneku road, will receive speedy attention. Let’s always pray. Governor sends his greetings to you. He wants our prayer always. Let’s be loyal to the party and always forgive ourselves and live in unity and love”.
In his reaction, the Commissioner representing Ndokwa Ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil producing Areas Development commission ( DESOPADEC ) Mr. Nnamdi Ezechi told the people to be patient that more dividends will be attracted to them saying that their support for PDP, Governor Okowa and Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi must remain total and absolute.
“We have returned again to thank you for your vote and support for PDP. Very soon, ward four will be happy and glad. I believe in the capacity of our leader and my mentor, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi. Just be patient with us, because we don’t have another party outside PDP.
The ward chairman, Bright Ezechi thanked the people for coming out in their large numbers, and promise them better things ahead noting that the party is united from the ward levels to the national level. ” we now have one PDP”; he added.
High point of the occasion was the presentation of cartons of farming chemicals, sprayers and cash to sixty farmers and three SUV vehicles to three leaders from the ward.
At Ashaka with leaders from the ten wards of the local government, where a vote of explicit confidence was passed on the Governor and Deputy Speaker for good representation, the Deputy Speaker challenged the leader to put heads together, and define a pattern for empowering the leaders of the ward.
Prince Jerry Iliroma afterwards gave a vote of thanks to the Deputy Speaker and other leaders for making out time to attend the meeting.
Joy laden with emotions, praises and prayers were part of actions that culminated in the ecstatic moment when Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, Member representing Aniocha North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, doled out millions to give scholarships to 24 indigent and less privileged undergraduates of Aniocha North origin, studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.
Nwaobi, alongside the Chairman of the occasion who doubles as the Delta North Senatorial PDP Chairman, Chief Moses Iduh, presented the cheques of N100,000.00 each to the beneficiaries at the Oligbo Royal Palace ground, Issele-Uku, venue of the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries of 2017 edition of Hon. Emeka Nwaobi’s Scholarship Scheme, which held on the 7th of October, 2017.
In an emotion stricken appearance, one out of the 24 beneficiaries who responded with thanks to Hon. Nwaobi’s gesture, Miss Bidokwu Juliet, said, “Hon. Emeka Nwaobi has lifted a major burden of school fees and purchase of books from our parents. The scholarship of N100,000.00 to us will go a long way in paying school fees and solving other major academic challenges like accommodation and text books. It beat my imagination when I heard I was selected without being a member of a political party or having anything to do with politics. We are grateful, and it is our prayer that God will replenish him and keep him victorious in all his endeavours”.
The Chairman of the Day, Hon. Iduh posited that he was not surprised at what Nwaobi could do as someone who is Godly and passionate about turning around the fortunes for the downtrodden.
Iduh clearly stated that Nwaobi has done more than enough, as he continued to hold sway in the House of Assembly, adding that God can never make mistakes having divinely returned his mandate to him.
The Chairman affirmed that Nwaobi had performed based on the giant strides evidence on the ground and had been able to attract state government’s presence to Aniocha North to the extent that almost all the communities are developmentally touched.
Overwhelmed by the accolades and intermittent ovations for him, Nwaobi returned all glory to God, the giver of power and grace.
He said that the scholarships scheme for the indigent in the society was part of what he promised God that he will continue to do from inception as a Member of the Delta State House of Assembly, stating that in spite of economic recession and loads of pressures he would not deviate from that divine agreement he entered into with God.
The man popularly referred to as the ‘Oji Chukwu Bulu-Uzor’ said, that since he has been working in line with that divine agreement to use his monthly salaries in feeding indigent people in Aniocha North Constituency, God has also given him the grace to sustain his scholarship scheme for the less privileged undergraduates from Aniocha North, which he said is part of his empowerment Programmes.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee for the Actualization of Hon. Nwaobi’s Scholarships Scheme for 2017, Monsignor Buchi Aninye, represented by Prince Dr. Henry Emelue who is also a member, has commended the Honourable Member, while giving account of their unbiased work.
According to him, “It is exciting and heartwarming to know that 24 students of Aniocha North origin, studying in various tertiary institutions have been carefully selected and will today receive the sum of N100,000.00 each to assist them in the pursuit of their education. The beauty of it all is that no town in Aniocha North is left out. The recipients of this award should therefore justify this kind gesture by studying hard to excel in their various fields of studies”.
In another development, over 5000 politicians defected from APC and Accord to PDP. It was a moment of truth as the returnees, mostly youths and non-indigenes across the local government area, regretted their decisions for leaving PDP and pleaded for amnesty.
The defectors through their leaders, Mr. Chukwunweike Okeleke a.k.a Anwi for the youths and Mr. Oliver Akubueze for the Non Indigenes affirmed their resolve to work in harmony with the PDP leadership to forge ahead politically and support the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the Member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi beyond 2019.
They confirmed that after a passionate appeal to them by Hon. Nwaobi to come back to PDP with a view to supporting the re-election of the Governor in a landslide for second tenure and having seen the manner in which he was attracting development to Aniocha North, they had no other option but to take a step of faith and return back to the PDP their original home.
“We are pleased with Hon. Nwaobi and Governor Okowa for the monumental projects they are daily citing in Aniocha North. We were deceived into leaving PDP, but we have now learnt our lessons. In the same vein, we have abandoned Accord and APC and returned to the true and sincere party, PDP. On this note, we hereby endorse Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi for second terms in office”, the two defecting leaders chorused.
The occasion was massively attended by both party leaders and members across the local government area. Meanwhile, various groups from various communities of the LGA came with their dance groups to appreciate Hon. Nwaobi and Governor Okowa for the developmental presence of government in their areas. Of particular mention were the people of Ukwu-Nzu who came specially to show appreciation to the duo of Okowa and Nwaobi for turning the gory looking Ukwu-Nzu road to a city class reference point.
From Right: Dr. Maikanti Baru (right) Chief Otunba Oladiti (middle) & Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya taking a solidarity song during the visit
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO and the Petroleum Tankers Drivers branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG have commended the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru over zero fuel scarcity across the country.
Speaking during the visit to the GMD by the associations, NARTO President, Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya and Chairman of PTD, Chief Otumba Oladiti were unanimous in their views that fuel supply and distribution matrix had improved under Dr. Baru’s watch.
According to Alhaji Bataiya, never in the history of the NNPC did the country record such an achievement which has brought about uninterrupted supply of petroleum products nationwide due to the various strategic measures undertaken by the GMD
“Petroleum products scarcity has now disappeared from our filling stations. In fact, the retail price of the product has also come down from N145 per litre toN143 per litre. You have also extended considerable assistance to transporters by allocating Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO) at subsidized prices to enable them keep their trucks on the road,’’ he said.
The NARTO President also thank Dr. Baru for the settlement of their freight bills of about N80 billion owed by the Petroleum Equalization Fund, PEF, Management Board.
PTD Chairman, Chief Otumba Oladiti, while re-echoing the zero fuel queue strides of the GMD, noted that the sanity brought to bear on the fuel supply and distribution by Dr. Baru should be extended to the refineries said to be scheduled for rehabilitation.
While urging the GMD and the NNPC Management to remain focused on their mandate to the country, Chief Oladiti assured Dr. Baru of the tanker drivers’ due support.
Responding, Dr. Baru thanked the members and leadership of the associations for their kind words, noting that his team would do all it could to remain focus.
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The Chairman of the Day, Hon. Iduh posited that he was not surprised at what Nwaobi could do as someone who is Godly and passionate about turning around the fortunes for the downtrodden.
