Bayelsa State Government Mulls Stoppage Of Unfriendly Burial Practices Against Women

Bayelsa State government has said it would work towards ending unfriendly traditional and customary practices that inhibit the burial of married females in some communities in the state.

Governor Douye Diri gave the hint on Tuesday during a condolence visit to the Yenagoa residence of his Technical Adviser on Ijaw National Affairs, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, who lost his wife.

The Bayelsa governor said his administration would consider legislation to end practices that forbid women from being buried in some communities. 

He expressed concern over the practice, saying it was unfair to the female gender. 

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as assuring that his administration will work with the state House of Assembly to provide a legal framework to end discriminatory practices against women. 

As part of efforts to tackle the issue in the short term, Governor Diri directed the Commissioner for Lands and Housing and his Works and Infrastructure counterpart to laise with leaders of Amassoma community to get a suitable location for the construction of a cemetery.

He described as painful the death of a loved one, particularly a spouse, and prayed God to grant Chief Naingba and his family the fortitude to bear the loss. 

The state helmsman described the deceased as a very caring woman, who  left a worthy legacy, stressing that those who mourn should be consoled by her legacies. 

His words: "I know what it means to lose a loved one, especially a wife. Chief Naingba, let me on behalf of your government and the people of the state express my sincere condolences. 

“All of us, at any point in time, will answer the call of death. We accept that reality. We pray that the almighty God will grant you the fortitude to bear this loss.

"God made it so and we accept our fate. Whatever happens to one of us happens to all of us. We came today to encourage and to pray with you. But let the reality be on all of us that no matter who we are, we can die at any point in time. We are consoled that she has led a good life."

Responding, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba expressed gratitude to the governor for his show of love and friendship, stressing that his family was strengthened by the visit. 

He appealed to the governor to approve the construction of a cemetery in Amassoma Island to end the discriminatory tradition against female corpses in the community.

Ekiti decides: Photo Speaks

Election officials on ground materials and personnel deployed promptly.

Sen. Dickson Congratulates Okowa, PDP on Vice Presidential Nomination

Being the Full Text of A Congratulatory Press Statement By Senator Henry Seriake Dickson To Governor Ifeanyi Okowa On His Nomination As PDP's Vice Presidential Candidate:

I congratulate my brother and colleague His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on his well deserved nomination as the vice presidential candidate and running mate to the presidential candidate of our great party, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON which was announced yesterday.

His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has been a colleague and a brother who infact took over from me as chairman of the South-South governor's forum which office he currently occupies. I know him as someone who possesses the qualities that can assist our candidate and our party not only in campaigning and winning the election but also in running an effective government for our country.

As I have always said, all political ambitions and aspirations are legitimate but must follow due process. The presidential candidate has spoken. In our system, the office of the vice-presidential candidate is not to be contested or vied for, it is the prerogative of the flag bearer and should be respected.

We should all therefore rally round our party and our flag bearers to confront the issues ahead which requires the support of all.

Both His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON and His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and our party can be assured of my support as usual.

Congratulations to PDP

Hsd.

Senator Dickson Congratulates Okowa On His Emergence As Running Mate To Atiku

 

The Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has congratulated the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on his emergence as the running mate to the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Senator Dickson said that he had related with Okowa as a colleague and brother who took over from him as the current Chairman of the South South Governor’s Forum

The former Governor of Bayelsa State said that Okowa has the requisite qualities not just to assist the candidate in the area of electoral campaigns but also to run government effectively.

Senator Dickson called on all party members to rally round the candidate to give him all the needed support to achieve targeted objectives now that the Candidate has taken a decision.

He assured the Candidate, Atiku, and his running mate of his unflinching support.

“I congratulate my brother and colleague His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on his well deserved nomination as the vice presidential candidate and running mate to the presidential candidate of our great party, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON which was announced yesterday.

“His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has been a colleague and a brother who infact took over from me as chairman of the South-South governor's forum which office he currently occupies.

“I know him as someone who possesses the qualities that can assist our candidate and our party not only in campaigning and winning the election but also in running an effective government for our country.

“As I have always said, all political ambitions and aspirations are legitimate but must follow due process. The presidential candidate has spoken. In our system, the office of the vice-presidential candidate is not to be contested or vied for, it is the prerogative of the flag bearer and should be respected.

“We should all therefore rally round our party and our flag bearers to confront the issues ahead which requires the support of all.

“Both His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON and His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and our party can be assured of my support as usual.” He said.

Niger Delta Peace Advocacy Group Commend Kyari, Tombomieye Over End To Bad Fuel Circulation

 Peace advocacy group, The Niger Delta Advocate For Peace and Good Governance (NDAPGG) has comend the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari, and The Group Executive Director, Upstream Operations, NNPC, Engr Adokiye Tombomieye, over prompt intervention to stop adulterated fuel circulation and long queues across the country.

According to the group, despite the plot by some unscrupulous elements to throw the country into confusion, the duo of Kyari and  Tombomieye salvage the corporate image of NNPC and haly the nefarious activities of these elements.

The NDSPGG, after an emergency meeting in Warri Delta State presided over by the National Coordinator, GEN FIAWEI PATHFINDER, explained that it became imperative for the group to appreciate the two experienced professionals for abating the unexpected that threw the country into apprehension while the corporate image of NNPC was at stake globally following the nefarious activities of some unscrupulous elements.

The group, in a statement,stated that as one of the key stakeholder in the oil and gas sector including Ex-Agitators and stakeholders from Oil Producing Communities in the Niger Delta region, after a critical a assessment of the situation deemed it fit to commend Mele Kyari and Tombomieye for brining their expertise to bear in resolve the issue professionally.

He said: “We in Niger Delta Advocate For Peace and Good Governance Group, NDAPGG, have been keen about sustainable peace and stability in the Niger Delta region in other to attract development in the once volatile region so that the oil gas and industry will be more safer for investors to invest for ease of doing business in the sector.

“We want to unequivocally state that the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari, and the Group Executive Director, Upstream Operations, NNPC, Engr Adokiye Tombomieye, should be appreciated over prompt intervention to stop the adulterated fuel circulation and tackle the long queues across the country nationwide.

“We commend them and hail their wealth of experience they brought to bare  

to resolve the supply gap created by the unexpected importation of methanol-blended petrol into the country that nearly throw the country into turmoil due to the insufficient availability of Premium Motor Spirit known as pms, in most of the filing stations and petroleum depo.

“It is also worth commending for the duo proactive measures put in place on behalf of the NNPC management by keeping to the promise of delivering over 700 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, to address the supply and distribution gaps.

“And one thing that made us to really hail them is based on their prompt alert sent out to Nigerians about supply and distribution of bad fuel not to be circulated to the end users across nationwide.

“They never rested but put in more efforts and sleepless nights to ensure proper measures and steps to recall the bad petrol that has caused panic to Nigerians, which apart from making their promised 700 million litres injection, they also supplied additional 2.1 billion litres to address the shortfall.

“Also, we appreciate the tireless effort of the Group Executive Director, Upstream Operations, NNPC, Engr Adokiye Tombomieye, for playing a professional role to abate the ugly situation, and we can categorically state here that Engr Tombomieye’s appointment by Mr President is very significant in the oil and gas sector following his antecedents which he displayed to address the lingering issue of fuel queues.

“Being an experienced professional, he (Tombomieye) had earlier been able to bring his expertise to reposition, restructure, reorganize and sanitize the upstream operations in the nation oil sector in a transparent manner like never before with a robust business friendly policy framework.”

The group recalled the role the NNPC boss, Engr Mele Kyari and Executive Director, Upstream Operations of NNPC, Engr Adokiye Tombomieye, played as both contributed immensely to the successful passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, now the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, and expressed optimism that the PIA will transform oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region and that will put to an end the issues negligence and militancy and youth restiveness in the region.

The group also acknowledged what it described as excellent performance and meritorious service of Adokiye based on his positive impact in various positions he has held before this current position.

Similarly, the group expressed appreciation for the peaceful cordial working relationship between the Group Managing Director of NNPC and their kinsman (Adokiye) have, As it has moved the Corporation forward to greater heights and brought sanity with stability to the industry wish has reposed confidence from the general public and the industry players in the sector to invest massively in the oil and gas sector. 

"And it is on record the GMD also throw his weight behind Adokiye, which also propelled our brother to the position he occupies at the the NNPC Towers because of the strong trust and confidence the GMD has in him along with his performance and excellent incorruptible track record of achievement", the statement added.

However, in conclusion, the group in the statement pledged its full support for the GMD and Adokiye to enable them continue their good work as they serve Nigerians and take the nation oil and gas sector to global recognition and competitiveness in doing business without compromise.

"Very importantly, we as PEACE ADVOCATES and stakeholders from the oil producing Communities in the Niger Delta region use this medium to call on sons and daughters from the region to support the duo in the oil sector.

The group warned in strong term those nefarious, criminal minded, and corrupt elements who are sponsored by some bad heads bent on cooking false allegations and cheap blackmail in trying to drag their names to the mud to desist henceforth, if not we will left with no option to declare them as enemies to President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government as enemies to peace in the region.

Good Planning Will Aid Infrastructure Development In N’Delta Region – Engr. Adebiyi

By Ere-ebi Agedah

 

The incoming Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Engr. Olusesan Adebiyi FNSE has pledged his commitment to ensuring good planning that will lead  to development in the Niger Delta region, especially in the area of Infrastructure, Education and Empowerment.

The Permanent Secretary made this pledge at the reception ceremony held in the Ministry in Abuja to usher him into the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on Tuesday 14th June, 2022.

According to Adebiyi, “Good planning will also help us to come out with better results, on this note, I want to appeal to us to rise up and work, let’s rise up and build, let’s rise up to get committed and serious.”

“If you are not tired of stories of uncompleted buildings in the terrain, I am tired, I am not satisfied and I believe the Federal Government is not satisfied either” he further stated.

He also pledged his commitment to the actualization of the vision and mandate of the Ministry noting that these areas include but not limited to environmental degradation, poverty alleviation, security and empowerment amongst others.

Engr. Adebiyi stressed that maximum calmness and peace would only be maintained in the region when projects are effectively executed for the alleviation of poverty and transformation of lives in the region.

He acknowledged that the challenges in the region though enormous especially in the area of construction works, would be surmounted with the right mindset and determination.

He therefore appealed for maximum cooperation of the staff of the Ministry in the bid to move the Niger Delta region forward.

Earlier, the overseeing Director in the office of the Permanent Secretary, MNDA, Mr. Alfred Abah, in his welcome address assured the Permanent Secretary of the commitment and readiness of the Management team to work with him in achieving the mandate of the Ministry.

“The Primary aim of the Ministry is to anchor the development initiative of the Niger Delta region and we have departments that have different roles to meet up with the mandate”, he said.

 

Senator Dickson Felicitates With Former Head Of State Abdusalami

 ..Says He is our General of Democracy

The Senator representing Bayelsa West,  Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has eulogised former Nigerian Head of State, His Excellency,  General Abdusalami Abubakar, as a General of Democracy on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Senator Dickson noted that, after serving Nigeria at the pinnacle of his profession in the military, and his display of unparalleled commitment to democratic governance, General Abubakar has continued to be a beacon of hope and mentor to younger generation of leaders including himself.

Senator Dickson described General Abubakar as one who, over the years has become one of the most visible and enduring pillars of peace in Nigeria.

On behalf of his family, Dickson joined General Abubakar's countless admirers, all lovers of democracy and people of good conscience to celebrate the Democracy General at 80.

General Abdusalami Abubakar executed the transition of Nigeria's Forth Republic in 1999 after several years of military incursion into Nigeria's democratic rule. 

“My family and I felicitate with a dear  father, leader and former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar, GCFR , Nigeria’s Democracy General on this special occasion of your 80th birthday.

“It is heartwarming to note that the Almighty God has kept our leader in a super state of health to continue your invaluable contributions to our dear country and humanity.

“After serving our fatherland at the pinnacle of your profession in the military, and your display of unparalleled commitment to democratic governance, you have continued to be a beacon of hope and mentor to younger generation of leaders including me in this country.

“Over the years you have become one of the most visible and enduring pillars of peace in our country.

“My family and I join your countless admirers,  all lovers of democracy and people of good conscience to celebrate you at 80.

“l pray to God to continue to keep you in good perfect health.”