NO DTS 0739: ORODJE OF OKPE CHALLENGES COUNCIL CHAIRMEN ON SUSTAINABLE IGR COLLECTION
NO DTS 0740: WARRI SOUTH, STATE TASKFORCE DEMOLISH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
NO DTS 0741: UKAH RESTATES COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY IN CONDUCT OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS
NO DTS 0742: HOODLUMS KILL POLICE INSPECTOR, CART AWAY AK-47 AT ASHAKA
NO DTS 0743: UDU SCORES LOW IN FAMILY PLANNING COMMODITIES USAGE
NO DTS 0744: EKAKPAMRE PEOPLE APPEAL FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN COMMUNITY CRISIS
NO DTS 0745: DELTA HOS MOURNS STAFF, DESCRIBES HER AS DEDICATED, EXEMPLARY
NO DTS 0746: MONARCH TASKS SOUTH-SOUTH YOUTH PEACE MISSION ON UNITY, TRANSPARENCY
NO DTS 0747: PRESIDENT-GENERAL CALLS FOR SHORELINES PROTECTION IN NDOKWA EAST
NO DTS 0748: SHOW MORE CONCERN FOR SECURITY OF SCHOOLS, EBOH URGES FG
NO DTS 0749: FEATURE: REMEMBERING MARIERE: THE FIRST CIVILIAN GOVERNOR OF MIDWESTERN REGION
Editor: Churchill Oyowe
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NO DTS 0739: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
ORODJE OF OKPE CHALLENGES COUNCIL CHAIRMEN ON SUSTAINABLE IGR COLLECTION
By Rachael Ogaga
Local government council chairmen have been tasked to put machinery in motion to enhance their internally generated revenue (IGR).
The Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Majesty, Orhue 1, made the call yesterday at his palace in Orerokpe when the Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa, paid him homage.
According to the royal father, council chairmen should initiate strong bye-laws to the legislative arm for enactment into laws ease collection of development levies.
Orhue 1 while addressing the chairman and the legislative arm of the Okpe Local Government Council, stressed more on the importance of achieving a better and greater Okpe.
He frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along streets in Orerokpe and on the express road, urging the council chairman to procure a strategic land for general dumping of refuse within the locality.
Earlier, the Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa, said that the purpose of the visit was to pay homage to the Orodje.
He tthanked the monarch for his goodwill and prayers before, during and after the electioneering period that brought him in as the local government council chairman.
The highlight of the visit was the prayers by the Orodje for the local government chairman and his team of legislators.
Also, on the chairman’s entourage were council’s Head of Personel Management, Mr charles Avrukpere, and the Treasurer, Mrs Elohor Ako, among other council staff.
NO DTS 0740: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
WARRI SOUTH, STATE TASKFORCE DEMOLISH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
By Elohor Foghola
Shanties and caravans erected in Warri along drains and directly under high tension cables were yesterday, demolished by combined personnel of Warri South Local Government Council, Taskforce on Beautification and the Delta State Taskforce on Environment.
The areas visited by the combined team were Edjeba Road, Chevron Club Road, opposite Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), NPA Expressway by Edjeba, Ugbuwangue axis of the NPA Expressway, under Ogunu-Ugbuwangue Flyover, Odion Road by Mciver Market and Igbudu Market.
The exercise coordinated by the Warri South Local Government Council Taskforce Chairman on Beautification, Mr. Kenneth George and the Delta State Taskforce Chairman on Environment, Evangelist Sylvester Oromoni, began at DBS end of Edjeba Road.
Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Dr. Michael Tidi, who was also on ground to supervise the exercise, assured that there would be strict monitoring to prevent re-erection of the shanties and caravans.
He said that his administration had doubled efforts to rid Warri of illegal structures, adding that it was with a view to improving the aesthetics of the Oil City and ultimately attract genuine local and external investors.
Tidi stated that the demolition of illegal structures under the flyover connecting Ogunu and Ugbuwangue Communities, was done after a well thought-out plan, explaining that it was to clear the place of criminal elements, who use the place to trade and consume illicit drugs.
The Chairman of the State Taskforce on Environment, Evangelist Sylvester Oromoni, dismissed claim by some owners of the demolished structures that they were not given notice.
According to Oromoni, adequate prior information was given by both the State Taskforce on Environment and the Warri South Local Government Council Taskforce on Beautification.
Vice Chairman of Warri South Council Taskforce on Beautification, Hon. Mavis Onojeghwho, opined that owners of the demolished caravans and shanties, who claimed they were not informed, thought the prior notice would not be backed by action from the state and local governments.
While declaring that every illegal structure in Warri would be brought down for the benefit of everyone, Hon. Onojeghwho, averred that there was no going back in the resolve to make Warri tidy.
The demolition exercise continues today, April 13, 2021.
NO DTS 0741: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
UKAH RESTATES COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY IN CONDUCT OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS
By Magnus Emuji
Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Patrick Ukah, has reiterated the commitment of his ministry towards ensuring effective realisation of maintaining educational standards and sustaining the integrity of all public examination conducted in the state.
Mr Ukah stated this in Asaba during a workshop on Generation of Test Items for 2021 promotion examination in public secondary schools in the state.
He said that the workshop was to create a platform for teachers with cognate experience in their subjects of specialisation to review the past evaluative instruments in adherence with the enriched test items in the approved curriculum for the ministry’s test item bank.
The commissioner noted that participants were carefully selected in their various areas of specialisation from the pool of available teaching manpower in the state.
He urged the participating stakeholders to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring the actualisation of the objective of the worship.
Mr Ukah said that in line with the contemporary trends and in compliance with the ICT world, the ministry took a paradigm shift from analogue to digital phase in processes and procedures for generation of test items.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Examination, Mr Sunday Egomaguna, advised participants to bring their wealth of experience to bear on their assignment, adding that as specialists in their subject areas, they were expected to generate credible, reliable and valid test items.
Mr Egomaguna stated that each participant would be required to generate 50 objective questions and five (5) essay questions drawn from the subject curriculum.
According to him, the subject team leaders were expected to vet the work of the participants under them before final work would be forwarded to Examination and Standards Department.
Resource persons, including Professor John Odili of Delta State University, Abraka and Dr Godwin Edozie presented lectures on Guidelines on Generation of Test Items and Subject Theme Structure of the New Curriculum respectively.
NO DTS 0742: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
HOODLUMS KILL POLICE INSPECTOR, CART AWAY AK-47 AT ASHAKA
By Edafe Ejohwemu
Residents of Ashaka Community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, were thrown into mourning when the news of the killing of a police inspector simply named Musa, burning of a police patrol van and carting away of a police Ak 47 rifle filtered into town.
It was gathered by our correspondent that trouble started as early as 4.30 am when three police men of Ashaka Division were at their routine check point in front of Matar-Dei Grammar School gate when hoodlums numbering three on a motorbike attacked the unsuspecting police team with daggers and battle axes.
In the cause of the attack, the police patrol team leader, named Inspector Musa was killed on the spot while the other two sustained various degrees of injuries.
Investigation revealed that the police staged a resistance against the hoodlums before they were overwhelmed leading to the death of the inspector.
An eye witness account (name withheld) stated that though he could not go close in on the scene, he heard from afar voices of the police men shouting for help during the struggle with the attackers.
The eye witness reported, saying he also heard one of the police men shout: “They have killed me ooh.”
Another source from Ashaka vigilante group said that the attackers were passers by whom he described as criminals targeting police rifles, while others believed that it was an infiltration of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
However, efforts to reach the Ashaka Divisional Police officer (DPO) proved abortive as he was not on sit as at the time of filing this report.
NO DTS 0743: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
UDU SCORES LOW IN FAMILY PLANNING COMMODITIES USAGE
By Ebiseri Goldpin
Delta State Director of Primary Health Care System Development, Dr Christian Tetsola, has scored Udu Local Government Area low in the use of family planning commodities.
Dr Tetsola made this known during interview session with newsmen at Otor-Udu, headquarters of Udu Local Government Area, at the presentation of family planning commodities to health centers in the area.
“From data available to me, the uptake of Udu has been very discouraging and this has adversely affected our present supply to the sixteen health centers in the area,” he stated.
While responding to the possible cause of the low uptake, Dr Tetsola alleged that such apathy could be due to charges levied on them by the supervisors and providers.
He said further that, to curb the prevalent disinterest, he would ask the supervisors and providers to organize an outreach from time to time, where they would go to the various communities to inform the women that it could be done at no cost.
NO DTS 0744: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
EKAKPAMRE PEOPLE APPEAL FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN COMMUNITY CRISIS
By Ifeanyi Omenogor
The people of Ekakpamre in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the state government to intervene in the current crises in the community to enable peace return to the Area.
The people who made the appeal in separate interview with newsmen at Ekakpamre, said that many strangers based in the community had moved out, because of what they tagged incessant crisis.
Ekakpamre Community Vigilante Chairman, Mr Innocent Gbologel and Mr Daniel Ubini, also an indigene of the community, blamed the major cause of the crisis on lack of leadership, adding that for almost four years, there was no president general (PG) to pilot the affairs of the community.
They said the two parties struggling for the position of president general should be stopped for another person to take over, for the interest of peace and development of the community.
The duo lauded Comrade Simeon Kwakpovwe, an indigene of the community for his effort in finding peace in the area, saying that he had the interest of the area and people at heart.
Comrade Simeon Kwakpovwe in his brief speech, called on the people of the community to live in peace and unity for the purpose of development.
He said that development does not go to a place of rancour and disunity, saying that peace was the wheel on which development manifest.
Kwakpovwe, a community leader, described as unfortunate the idea where the police station, vehicles belonging to the police and vigilante, including keke were burnt down because of the crisis.
He lauded Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for his developments that cut across the entire state, adding that Okowa was a detribalized leader.
He however appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the community, adding that they would continue to support Governor Okowa to enable the state move to an enviable height.
NO DTS 0745: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
DELTA HOS MOURNS STAFF, DESCRIBES HER AS DEDICATED, EXEMPLARY
Aruoriwo Ivovi
Delta State Head of Service (HOS), Mr Reginald Bayoko has expressed regret at the untimely death of Miss Blessing Idjerhaka, a staff of the Office of the Head of Service whom he said was cut down at her prime.
Mr Bayoko stated this at the burial ceremony of the Late Blessing Idjerhaka at Orhoakpor in Ethiope East Local Government Area on Saturday, April 10, 2021.
The head of service, who was represented by the Director, Planning Research and Statistics in the Office of the HOS, Mr Ejiro Erhiakeme conveyed his sympathy to the immediate family of the deceased staff and admonished them to be comforted by the good life the late Idherhaka lived.
The HOS who expressed regret that she was cut down at the age of 47, told the family that she would be fondly remembered by her good works and exemplary conduct.
He described her as a very dedicated staff who loved to follow the rules to the letter and encouraged the family and well-wishers to impact positively on the lives of people, they met daily in the course of discharging their duties.
“We share in your pains as she was also one of us. It is our prayer that God will comfort and strengthen you,” Bayoko stated.
NO DTS 0746: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
MONARCH TASKS SOUTH-SOUTH YOUTH PEACE MISSION ON UNITY, TRANSPARENCY
By Edafe Ejohwemu
The Orzu of Igbuku kingdom in Ndokwa east local government area His Royal Majesty Isaac Uvoh has charged the South South Youth Peace Mission (SSPM) to unite and be transparent in all their operation in order to achieve all their set objectives
The traditional ruler stated this when leaders of South South Peace Mission (SSPM) for Ndokwa nation visited his palace at Igbuku.
He recalled that several youth groups such as the SSPM had been formed in the past but could not survive the test of time owing to the leaders’ insincerity and lack of transparency in their operations
He told the group that their mission was genuine but expressed fear that all the proposed programs would be carried out with accountability and all inclusiveness with a view to carrying all members along.
The traditional ruler granted them their request for him to be the patron of the group but on condition that they would not drag his royal stool and integrity in the mud.
He advised them to pursue all set objectives with vigour and honesty, adding that they should ensure adequate representation of the three local government area of Ndokwa nation.
Responding, the General Secretary of SSPM, Ambassador Hams Odigwe, thanked the traditional ruler for accepting to be their patron.
He said that the peace mission would come to recruit some Igbuku youths into the group and pleaded with the monarch to prepare ground for the success of the process.
Odigwe assured the traditional ruler that the group would be transparent, accountable and united so as to give all parts of Ndokwa nation equal recognition.
He emphasised the importance of traditional rulers in peace promotion, noting that the royal father was expected to support the group with his wealth of experience for the smooth operation of the group.
NO DTS 0747: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
PRESIDENT-GENERAL CALLS FOR SHORELINES PROTECTION IN NDOKWA EAST
By Edafe Ejohwemu
The President General (PG) of Ndoshimili Development Union (NDU), the apex socio-cutural group in Ndokwa East, Dr Sunday chukwudi, has called for the dredging of the shores of the coastal lines in Ndokwa East communities.
He said the call has become necessary to checkmate the annual flooding and overflow of the River Niger, which he said usually destroys farmlands, crop and other household belongings of the indigenes.
Dr chukwudi made the call during a press conference he organized for Ndokwa East journalists at Aboh, headquarters of Ndokwa East Local Government Area.
He pointed out that the residents of the communities lying along the River Niger coastline in the area had lost much including, lives, farmlands, crops, economic trees, buildings and other personal effects to the annual flooding of the River Niger.
The PG explained further that the huge financial, material and emotional loss has traumatic and psychological effects on them causing them unbearable living condition.
According to Dr chukwudi, the dredging of the River Niger, apart from saving his people from the annual flood disaster, would make the river accessible for water transportation and generate revenue for marine sector.
He said that water transportation will be more advantageous to Ndokwa East people and other coastal communities where construction of good road networks is not favourable as it is more expensive to construct because of the swampy nature of the terrain.
He described Ndoshimili Development Union as an advocate of physical and human development, saying that the union would continue to solicit, lobby, agitate and consult with governments and other authorities for the speedy development of the area.
He called for the unity of the political class regardless of political party affiliation, arguing that it would make way for progress of the area.
NO DTS 0748: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
SHOW MORE CONCERN FOR SECURITY OF SCHOOLS, EBOH URGES FG
By Ambrose Ologide
The Chairman of Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Warri South Local Government Area Chapter, Hon Mike Eboh, has charged the Federal Government of Nigeria to show more concern in the security of primary and secondary schools in the country.
He gave the charge in an interaction with our correspondent at a public function in Enerhen, Uvwie Local Government Area, last weekend.
Eboh, who is the Proprietor of the Famous Trust International School, Warri expressed disappointment over the inability of the federal government to address the problem of insecurity in primary and secondary schools mostly in some parts of Middle Belt and Northern area of the country.
He therefore changed the government to show serious commitment to the security of lives of teachers, students and pupils in schools across the federation by ensuring regular patrol of armed security agents across the country.
“Security of lives of students and pupils should be a priority of government. For the students and pupils are our leaders of tomorrow.
“Leaders of today were once pupils and students. If they were faced with the challenges of insecurity in their days, they would not have become our leaders today,” he stated.
Eboh advised state governors, particularly those in Southern Region of the country to react positively to the ugly trend in the middle belt and northern parts of the country by putting security measures in order to forestall such ugly incidents in their states.
NO DTS 0749: ASABA, NIGERIA, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021
FEATURE: REMEMBERING MARIERE: THE FIRST CIVILIAN GOVERNOR OF MIDWESTERN REGION
By Ambrose Ologide
Though I was a child, when the first civilian governor of the defunct Midwestern Region, Late Chief Samuel Jereton Mariere (of blessed memory) exited this sinful world in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday, May 9, 1971, his legacies and memoirs as chronicled by his agelong friend, a highly esteemed Urhobo personality, Late Chief T E A Salubi (of blessed memory) inspired the thiswrite up to mark the golden year anniversary of his death (Late Chief Samuel Jereton Mariere} which comes up on Sunday, May 9, 2021.
He was born in 1907 into the great Mariere Family of Evwreni Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, where he was a relation to the Late Mukoro Mowoe, the father of Urhobo Nation. He was educated at St Andrew’s CMS School (now Mowoe Primary School), Warri. He was a teacher at Okpare from where he proceeded to study a course in Business Administration with a firm of Edwards Lebas Limited in Sierra Leone.
Late Chief Mariere was a man full of many qualities that make goodness according to the remarks of his bosom friend, late Chief Salubi. Chief Mariere had all the attributes of greatness; for he was born great. He also achieved greatness through dint of hard work and greatness was bestowed upon him due to his goodness to humanity and achievements in life.
Mariere achieved greatness through his meritorious service to his immediate kingdom of Evwreni, Urhobo Nation, Ika Nation, defunct Midwestern Region and Nigeria. He served his kingdom of Evwreni as president general for several years. He was also an honorary secretary of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Warri Branch; Secretary Native Administration of the Chiefs and Elders Council at Orerokpe, Western Urhobo and President General, UPU, Agbor Branch.
He was a pillar and unifying factor to his nuclear and extended families. After the demise of the legendary Mukoro Mowoe, he ensured that his (Mukoro Mowoe) children were given the best education. His passion for education knew no bound. Late Chief Mariere was reputed to be amongst those that were behind the establishment of the famous Urhobo College, Effurun.
Late Chief Mariere was a lovely and caring father not only to his children but to the children of his relations. One of his biological sons, a Warri based legal luminary, Barrister U. K. Mariere in a media chat with me confirmed this fact as he proudly stated that Late Chief Mariere was a father in a million.
It is note worthy to state that his goodness was not limited to his family, community and Urhobo Nation. For the greater part of his career, he lived and worked in Agbor in the then Ika Division where he also served the people meritoriously.
Late Chief Mariere was chosen to represent the then Agbor District in Asaba Divisional Council and was appointed a member of Governing Council of the famous Ika Grammar School. He was President, Agbor Social Club, Chairman Agbor Community Centre, Prison Visitor, a member of Prison Visiting Agbor, amongst others. For ten years, late Chief Mariere was Chairman Working Committee of the Christian Missionary Society (CMS) Church and School, Agbor.
In politics, he served his people meritoriously as a member of the defunct National Council of Nigeria and Citizens (NCNC); he was a member of the National Executive Committee of the party; Chairman Finance Committee of the Western Region Working Committee; Treasurer, Federal Parliamentary Party and Zonal Leader of the party for Urhobo Division.
Chief Mariere was also reputed to have fought for the actualization of the defunct Midwestern Region of which the present Delta State was eventually carved out from. So, when the region was created, he was appointed Deputy Administrator and Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs for interim period of six months before he was appointed as the first civilian governor of Midwestern Region.
Even after the military junta struck in 1966, due to his good leadership qualities, he was appointment an adviser to the military governor. He thus became a member of the defunct Midwest State Executive Council.
Late Chief Mariere in private business life, also served humanity meritoriously after his retirement from government. He had greatness bestowed upon him due to his service to humanity and achievements in life as he was conferred with the title of ‘Olorogun’ in his home kingdom of Evwreni.
In the then Ika Division, the Obi of Agbor bestowed on him the exalted title of ‘Ogifureze’ of Agbor. The Obi of Aboh honoured him with the title of ‘Orisogene’ of Aboh. He was appointed a justice of peace (JP) during his life time. The late sage bagged the highest National award of ‘ Grand Order of The Republic of The Niger (GCON). Late Chief Mariere’s greatness was also recognized across the shores of Nigeria as he was appointed the ‘Grand Order of The Republic of Senegal (GORS).
In the academic world, greatness was bestowed upon him as he was appointed as the first Chancellor of University of Lagos. Before this honour, he was decorated with doctorate degrees of law by the Universities of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan’ and University of Ife. He was given a third honorary degree of doctor of letters by the University of Lagos.
