Democracy Day: Susan Lokpobiri Urges Women To keep Faith In Renewed Hope Agenda

In commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Susan Lokpobiri, wife of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), has encouraged women to keep hope alive, stressing that the Renewed Hope Agenda will positively impact the economy. 

The ministers wife noted this while speaking exclusively to Bedvikonline in Abuja on Wednesday.

“Today marks the 25th anniversary of our democracy and over a year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. We thank Almighty God for bringing us this far,” she said.

 

According to Lokpobiri, Nigerians have been very resilience as she particularly applauded the people of the Niger Delta region and Bayelsa state for their steadfast support during the countries challenging times. 

“Despite the challenges, Nigerians have believed in the renewed hope agenda of the APC, With God's grace, I am confident that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver on his promises. I urge everyone to remain patient, keep the faith, and continue praying for the success of his administration” she stated. 

 

Mrs Lokpobiri added that this year’s Democracy Day celebrates freedom, resilience, and determination, reflecting the APC-led administration’s commitment to equity, justice, transparency, accountability, and prosperity for all. 

She highlighted the peace in the Niger Delta Region due to social inclusiveness and cooperation among elders and residents adding that the government remains committed to implementing a comprehensive peace, security, and development plan for the region.

 

Therefore, she urged Nigerians to avoid hatred and intolerance, emphasizing that this objectives can only be achieved in harmony and peaceful coexistence. 

Honoring democracy heroes like Moshood Abiola and Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, Lokpobiri reminded Nigerians of the cost of freedom and the importance of cherishing democracy.

 

Mrs Lokpobiri who is also a UN Ambassador for Peace therefore concluded by congratulating Bayelsa women on their perseverance and loyalty, assuring them of a brighter future. 

“Do not give up; surely, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Soon, we will hear the sound of abundant rain and showers of blessing. God bless you all,” she said.

 

Prosperity Cup Season 6 Ekeremor LGA Finals

 

Organisers of Nigeria's largest football tournament, Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament, the Prosperity Cup, invites the  general public to the inaugural Local Government Finals.

Champions will emerge at the various council areas before the Round of 32 kicks off and will be presented with trophies and cash reward.

Dates For The Local Government Finals Are:

FRIDAY 14TH JUNE -  Ekeremor LGA FINALS

SATURDAY 15TH -       Sagbama LGA 

SUNDAY 16TH -            Brass LGA  

MONDAY 17TH -           Kolokuma/Opokuma 

TUESDAY 18TH -          Ogbia LGA  

THURSDAY 2OTH -       Nembe LGA 

FRIDAY 21ST -               Southern Ijaw LGA , and 

SATURDAY 22ND -        Yenagoa LGA FINALS

Special Guest of Honour - His Excellency, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

Guests of Honour - The Rt Honourable Speaker and All Honourable Members, Commissioner for Sports Development and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government and Chueftaincy Affairs

Special Guests: All Political appointees, Councillors, Traditional Rulers and council chieftains.

Chief Host - All Council Chairmen 

VENUE: ALL COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS 

The Prosperity Cup 2024

...Taking Sports Development to the Grassroots.

Let's Shun Militarized Democracy in Nigeria-IYC Tells FG

 

The day, June 12, 1992, has gone down in history as a day  where Nigerians experienced the freest and fairest elections, which  led to the struggle that  birthed the current  democratic dispensation. 

However, after several years of democratic rule in the county, there seems the traces of military rule in governance are still hidden somewhere. The use of  absolute power in the executive arm of government dominates greatly.

Our democracy has been militarized with no consideration for the people, the power of the people has been undermined, the people are no longer the center of government, manipulations and intimidation of the people has become the order of the day.

There have been constant human rights violations everywhere, particularly in the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region. At the slightest provocation, communities and people are being brutalized. The recent military escapade at the Igbomotoru community in Bayelsa state tells it all. Communities are constantly ransacked by the military, and harmless people are being  killed  without justice in an acclaimed practising democracy with no form of investigation done to protect the rights of the  people. This is deliberate practice to constantly enslave our people and it can be likened to colonial democracy using poverty like an atomic weapon.

A democracy where the military is constantly deployed in a democratic election as if the nation is at war is unacceptable! Shockingly, the military is allegedly  being used as rigging elements to secure  fraudulent win for the highest bidder.

Also, It is quite appalling that the annual take-home pay of elective political  leaders in the National Assembly is worth the 35-year salary of a civil servant. This is an aberration of our democracy. Politics seems more valuable than men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and project the vibrant Nigerian state.

We have been told of how  justice is being monetized and goes to the highest bidder. We are experiencing a politically selfish era where our politicians only think about themselves, how to enrich their families to the detriment of the people who chose them to serve. This has dampened the petrotic spirit of Nigerians as many no longer believe in the future of the nation, hence the increase in young people leaving the country. 

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, is calling for strategic policy frameworks  to address the militarization of Nigeria's democracy. There is a need to urgently tackle the issues of injustice meted on the people particularly in the Ijaw nation and the entire Niger Delta, we can no longer continue to play the second fiddle while we are naturally endowed with resources that largely contributes to the growth and continuous development of the country.

We can no longer allow our fate to be decided by the political bigwigs without due consultation and involvement of the people.

While we appreciate the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led the federal government for trusting young people with ministerial portfolios and other strategic offices, we demand that democratic petrotism must start from political office holders, it has to be a top to bottom approach.  

The IYC calls for an urgent review of the democracy we practice in the country and says that it is old-fashioned and too autocratic, we  note that the executive amass so many powers that regularly widens the social injustice gap. We demand a referendum that should return Nigeria back to regional government the way we have reverted to the old national anthem.

We shall continue to clamour for resource control and self determination as entrenched in our 1998 Kaiama Declaration. 

Signed

Conrade Bedford Berefa 

National spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide

NDDC 2024 Budget: Need to Fund Legacy Projects

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, appreciates the concerns expressed in some quarters over the plan to obtain credit lines of 1trillion Naira to fund the completion of on-going and new legacy projects of the Commission across the Niger Delta region.

The Senate had in its wisdom approved the NDDC 2024 budget of N1,911,844,833,046, which made provision for securing the sum of N1 trillion to be sourced from the development and commercial banks.

It is important to clarify that this fund will be deployed to complete a total of 1,006 legacy projects spread across the region, which includes roads, bridges, electricity projects, school buildings, hospitals, shore protection and reclamation, among others.

The arrangement is for the budget to be funded through statutory provision and borrowings to curb the inflation rate and ensure that quality projects are delivered to the Region on time.

While emphasizing public-private partnerships, we have strategically made provisions to leverage private capital for big-ticket infrastructure projects in regional roads to enhance transportation and other sectors. This marks a critical step towards diversifying our source of funding.

The main emphasis will be the completion of many ongoing legacy projects that have advanced greatly. It is our expectation that by the end of the 2024 fiscal year we would have completed more than 200 kilometres of roads across the Niger Delta region.

We urge our stakeholders to appreciate the fact that Regional Development needs a robust funding mechanism to effectively address specific and urgent development needs in the Niger Delta region. Obviously, timely and flexible financial decision-making is crucial to respond effectively to dynamic regional challenges.

The funding plan is meant to insulate the NDDC from the inflationary pressure which is impairing the ability of the Commission to complete its development projects on schedule.

There is no doubt that funding is critical to the development of the Niger Delta region and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

We commend the 10th National Assembly for always supporting us in the urgent task of developing the Niger Delta region. The expeditious passage of our 2024 budget underscores the devotion of the lawmakers to regional development and to the greater welfare of the Niger Delta people.

We appeal to our stakeholders to refrain from making hasty judgments on our initiative to pull resources together for urgent development purposes. They can be rest assured that we are dedicated to the development of the Niger Delta region and the welfare of its people.

NDDC Applauds Senate for Passing N1.911trillion 2024 Budget

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has applauded the Senate for expeditiously passing the Commission’s N1.911trillion 2024 statutory budget.

The budget was approved on Tuesday after the upper chamber considered the report of the Committee on NDDC presented by its chairman, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyoung.

In a statement released shortly after the Senate assented to the budget, Ogbuku said that the speedy passage of the budget would enable the NDDC to continue providing critical infrastructure and services to the people of the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC boss said that the 2024 appropriation, anchored on the theme: “Budget of Renewed Hope” would help the Commission to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We are grateful to the Senate for their support and commitment to developing the Niger Delta region. The passage of this budget will enable us to continue providing critical infrastructure and services to the region’s people,” Ogbuku said.

The Managing Director also pledged to ensure that the funds allocated in the budget were used judiciously, following due process. He said that the NDDC would work tirelessly to ensure that its projects are completed on time and to the highest standards.

Ogbuku also called on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to support the NDDC in its efforts to develop the region. He said that the NDDC needed help to do it and needed the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the region if it was to achieve its goals.

The NDDC boss, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Monday, informed the members that the Commission would invest in critical infrastructure as a key component of its fiscal strategy under the 2024 Budget Proposals.

He explained: “The present Management has noted that the Commission alone would not be able to effectively address the development challenges in the Niger Delta region and are re-navigating its process of intervention by adopting Public-Private-Partnership model as a vehicle to drive a sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.

“Emphasizing public-private partnerships, we have strategically made provisions to leverage private capital for big-ticket infrastructure projects in regional roads to enhance transportation and other sectors. This marks a critical step towards diversifying our source of funding as we intend to source an aggregate sum of ₦1trillion to fund on-going legacy projects of the Commission in 2024.  The sum is to be out-sourced from the development/commercial banks etc.

“The main emphasis will be the completion of as many ongoing legacy projects that have advanced greatly. It is our expectation that by the end of the 2024 fiscal year we would have completed more than 200km of roads across the Niger Delta region.”

Ogbuku commended the 10th National Assembly’s firm commitment to stop the circle of delayed annual budgets.

Domo Okara: Prosperity Cup Organizers Condole With Family, Bayelsa Queens Over Coaches Demise

 

...say, he was a hero in Bayelsa State, and the country at large 

The organizers of Nigeria's biggest grassroots Football Tournament, the Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup has commiserated with Bayelsa Queens Football Club and the entire Okara family over the demise of their coach and son, Domo Okara.

Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, in a condolence message on behalf of the Central Organizing Committee (COC), expressed shock and great sadness at the sudden passing of Bayelsa Queens head coach.

According to the statement, the sad development that occurred on Saturday, 8th, June, 2024 has left a huge vacuum in the football fraternity, not just in Bayelsa State, but the nation at large given his invaluable contributions to football development in the country.

He described the incident as “real tragedy” but urged the bereaved family to be strong as no one can question God.

"We share in the sorrow and pains of the Okaras and Bayelsa Queens at this period, and we pray that God will grant the family, the courage to bear the loss as we pray for the repose of the soul of our departed coach".

”On behalf of the Central Organizing Committee (COC), we mourn our coach, brother, friend, ambassador and the Okara family and Bayelsa Queens, on the unfortunate demise of our beloved coach, Domo Okara

"The late Domo Okara was not just a hero in Bayelsa State, but the country at large having played active football with several clubs. He was also an ambassador to the Prosperity Cup and a mentor to both male and female  footballers, coaches, and others in the state. He served Bayelsa and Nigeria diligently and will surely be missed. "

”It is our prayer as tournament organizers that God will continue to comfort the Okara, and they should take solace in the fact that Coach Domo left a legacy in the sands of time," he said. All matches of the Prosperity Cup season 6 observed a minute silence in honour of the coach over the weekend

Malawi's Vice President, Nine Others Die In Plane Crash - President Confirms

 

By Ebi Kesiena

 

Malawi’s vice president and nine others were killed in a tragic plane crash, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.

 

The military plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima was discovered in a remote mountainous area in the northern part of the country after an extensive search lasting over a day. President Chakwera, in a live address on state television, confirmed there were no survivors.

 

Recall that the media had reported on Monday that the plane failed to land as scheduled, and all attempts by aviation authorities to contact the aircraft have been unsuccessful.

 

The plane, also carrying a former first lady, went missing on Monday morning while en route from Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, to the city of Mzuzu, approximately 230 miles to the north. Despite a search effort involving hundreds of soldiers, police officers, and forest rangers, the wreckage was only found after more than 24 hours.

 

According to President Chakwera, air traffic controllers had advised the plane not to land at Mzuzu’s airport due to poor weather and visibility. They instructed the aircraft to return to Lilongwe, but contact was lost and the plane disappeared from radar.

 

Onboard the small propeller-driven plane, operated by the Malawian armed forces, were seven passengers and three military crew members. The aircraft, identified by its tail number as a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane, had been delivered to the Malawian army in 1988, as reported by ch-aviation, a website tracking aircraft information.

 

The search, involving around 600 personnel, focused on a vast forest plantation in the Viphya Mountains near Mzuzu.

 

Vice President Chilima was serving his second term, having previously held the role from 2014 to 2019 under former President Peter Mutharika. He was a presidential candidate in the 2019 election, finishing third. The vote was annulled by Malawi’s Constitutional Court due to irregularities, leading to an historic election rerun in 2020 where Chilima joined Chakwera’s campaign as his running mate, resulting in Chakwera's election as president. This marked the first instance in Africa where a court-overturned election led to a sitting president's defeat.

 

Chilima had recently been cleared of corruption charges, which alleged that he had accepted money to influence government procurement contracts for the Malawi armed forces and police. He denied the allegations, and prosecutors dropped the charges last month. Despite this, the case had sparked criticism regarding the administration's stance on corruption.

 

This tragic incident has left the nation in mourning as it struggles with the sudden loss of its Vice President and the others onboard.