NO DTS 1423: GOV OKOWA IS GOD FEARING — SAYS FUNKEKEME
NO DTS 1424: EID- EL- KABIR: ASEKUTU FELICITATES WITH MUSLIM FAITHFUL
NO DTS 1425: COURT DISMISSES INEC APPEAL AGAINST UPIO
NO DTS 1426: STAKEHOLDERS WOO INVESTORS TO CURB INSECURITY IN OKPE
NO DTS 1427: EID-ED-KABIR CELEBRATION : ABE 1 URGES MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR PEACE
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NO DTS 1423: ASABA, NIGERIA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
GOV OKOWA IS GOD FEARING — SAYS FUNKEKEME
By Christian Ogoh
Rt. Honourable Solomon Funkekeme, former Senior Political Adviser to Governor Okowa, has attributed the existing peace and development in Delta State to the God fearing nature of the state governor.
Rt. Honourable Funkekeme made the assertion during a prayer conference, organised by the Christian Political Leaders Forum (CPLF), Delta North Chapter, held in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to him, “there is usually this fear and panic whenever transition in government is about to take place, this is because most political office seekers do not put God first before they make any move. They fail to understand that power belongs to God.”
He noted that one of the legacies of Governor Okowa was the habit of always putting God first in everything he did.
“That is the reason he has achieved tremendous victories and successes in life and in his political career. He has proven that one can be a good Christian and politician at the same time.”
“Governor Okowa emerged in 2015 and returned in 2019 because he is God’s choice for Delta State. No charm, no amount of blood or killings can give anyone power, except God,” he argued.
Honourable Funkekeme stressed that the objective of the group was to change the narrative by projecting an advocacy to politicians, which was that only God could give power or position to anyone.
“CPLF is emphasising that all politicians should cherish and understand the place of God in their quest for power,” he stated
Speaking further, he urged Christian leaders to continue to preach the gospel of peace and unity as well as the need for political awareness among the populace.
High point of the ceremony was the inauguration of the executives of the Delta North Chapter of the group by Venerable Pat Okoh of St. Peters Anglican Church Boji Boji Owa
NO DTS 1424: ASABA, NIGERIA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
EID- EL- KABIR: ASEKUTU FELICITATES WITH MUSLIM FAITHFUL
By Temi Boyo
The Warri North Local Government Council Chairman, Honourable Smart Asekutu, has joined the Muslim world in celebrating this year’s Eid-El-Kabir.
This was contained in his goodwill message to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and Warri North Council Area in particular.
“On behalf of the government and people of Warri North Local Government Council, I felicitate with the entire Muslim Ummah in our country and those in our local government area in particular on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir celebration,” he stated.
While stressing the need for Muslims to imbibe the spirit of the celebration, Asekutu prayed for the disposition that would propel them to make sacrifices for the unity of Nigeria.
“It is my fervent prayer and wish that as you celebrate this occasion, which is reputed as one of the greatest feasts on the Islamic calendar, that the Almighty Allah fills all Muslim faithful with the spirit of love, tolerance, mutual forgiveness and greater urge for the unity of our country so that together, we can build for ourselves generations in a society we can be proud of, ” he added.
NO DTS 1425: ASABA, NIGERIA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
COURT DISMISSES INEC APPEAL AGAINST UPIO
By Ambrose Ologide
The Appeal Court in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has dismissed the appeal of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria against the Urhobo Peoples Integrity Organisation ( UPIO) on the restoration of the suppressed Sapele Constituency.
The National President of the group, Dr. (Olorogun) Ebenezer Okorodudu, traced the history of the case in a media interaction with newsmen shortly after the court judgement.
Okorodudu, a former commissioner in the state, disclosed that UPIO had a judgement from the Federal High Court at Warri against INEC on the restoration of the suppressed Sapele Constituency 11 in 2015 and that INEC was ordered to conduct elections in the said constituency alongside others in the general elections of 2015.
He alleged that INEC refused to obey the judgement, adding that in 2018 the group approached the said Federal High Court for write of mandamus, compelling INEC to conduct elections in the suppressed Sapele Constituency and that UPIO got a judgement on it against INEC in 2019.
Okorodudu averred further that INEC appealed against the court judgements of 2015 and 2019 at the Court of Appeal in Benin City, which was later moved to Asaba, following the establishment of an appeal court in the capita city of the state.
Okorodudu said that the court in Asaba not only dismissed the INEC’s appeal on the judgements of the Federal High Court of 2015 in March 2021, but had also thrown aside the appeal of the electoral body on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 against the judgement of 2019.
He vowed that UPIO would fight for the restoration of the suppressed Sapele Constituency 11 and other such suppressed constituencies in Urhobo Nation .
NO DTS 1426: ASABA, NIGERIA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
STAKEHOLDERS WOO INVESTORS TO CURB INSECURITY IN OKPE
Stakeholders from Okpe Kingdom in Delta State have called on well meaning sons and daughters of the kingdom to invest and establish industries in the area to mitigate the scourge of insecurity that had hindered the development of the locality over the years.
The stakeholders, who canvassed this at a one day security summit organised by the Okpe Youth Council in partnership with the Centre for Development, Sapele in Orerokpe, the ancestral home of the Okpe Nation, equally urged the people to influence investors to the kingdom to boost the socioeconomic activities of the area.
The summit with the theme, “Security As Sine Qua Non For Development-Okpe Kingdom In Perspective”, which had in attendance top notch security experts in the kingdom, including His Royal Majesty Maj. Gen Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd) Cfr, Mni Orhue 1, Orodje of Okpe as the Royal Father Of The Day, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Elder (Chief) Sheriff Oborevwori (JP), Former Minister of Information, Okakuro Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, immediate past Commissioner for works and 2023 governorship hopeful, Augoye, military, paramilitary agencies, including youths, drawn from the kingdom.
The Orodje called on residents of the kingdom to provide full support to security agents in achieving a secured and peaceful Kingdom.
The Orodje, who was represented by the Duke of Orerokpe District, Prince Ambassador Godwin Ejiyeren, said that no investors could invest in an unsecured environment and appealed to his subjects to shun any acts capable of truncating the prevailing peace in the kingdom inorder to woo investors to the kingdom.
The Chairman of the occasion, Former Minister of Information, Okakuro Prof. Oyovbaire, in his opening remarks lamented the rising spate of insecurity in the country and Okpe Kingdom which, he said, was not insulated from the security challenges and commended the Okpe Youth Council for organising the summit.
He posited that the submit would proffer solutions to some of the security challenges including cultism, robbery and kidnapping among others confronting the development of Okpe kingdom.
Professor Oyovbaire appealed to the youths to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge that would qualify them for any opportunities once there were vacancies in the few companies in the kingdom.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori in his remarks called on Okpe indigenes and residents to support security agents in the area in achieving a secured and peaceful Okpe Kingdom.
The Speaker who was represented by his Special Adviser, Chief Daniel Ivwighren (JP), stated that the rate of violent crimes in some parts of the kingdom in recent times was becoming worrisome, adding that the security summit was not only timely but very important to help sensitise Okpe youths against violence and social vices.
The Commanding Officer, 19th Battalion, Koko, Delta State, Lit. Aliyu Umar, who spoke on security delivery in Okpe Kingdom, the role of the battalion, reiterated the commitment of the command to partner various representatives in the kingdom to provide peace and security to the people.
Lit. Umar, who described cultism as the mother of all crimes, blamed most of the security challenges on leadership problems, ignorance of the youths and unemployment, among others, just as he called on all and sundry to provide a peaceful atmosphere for investors to come and do business in the kingdom.
While evaluating the role of the police in protecting lives and properties in Okpe kingdom, the Divisonal Police Officer of Orerokpe, ACP Oluwole Ojo, who represented Sapele Area Commander, sued for synergy from the public for effective policing.
He however pointed out that information sharing remained a critical means of stemming crimes in the society.
The Chairmen of both Okpe and Sapele Local Government areas, who were represented by their secretaries Barr. Eju Ekru-Wokwo and Hon. Felix Ayemidejor respectively, said that the Councils were committed at ensure peace and security in the areas.
The duo commended OYC for the initiative in organising the summit and pledged to continue to partner with the group in provide peace and security in the areas.
The Project Coordinator, Sapele Centre for Development, Mr. Ekpeme Temiagin, who spoke on Capacity Development As A Path For Enduring Security, called for holistic approach in tackling insecurity in Okpe kingdom by creating employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed Okpe graduates.
In his vote of thanks OYC National President, Comrade Israel Otomewo, said that the summit was put together to provide a melting point for Stakeholders in Okpe Kingdom to evaluate the present security architecture within the kingdom and develop workable synergies at ensuring peace and security in the area.
He said that the outcome of the summit had generated the needed formula to secure Okpe kingdom in line with OYC vision for development.
Comrade Otomewo commended the Orodje of Okpe, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and Prof. Oyovbaire, among very many others for gracing the event.
The summit featured interactive session, questions and answers by participants.
NO DTS 1427: ASABA, NIGERIA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
EID-ED-KABIR CELEBRATION : ABE 1 URGES MUSLIMS TO PRAY FOR PEACE
By Ambrose Ologide
HRM Dr Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso (JP) OON, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom of Delta State, has urged Muslim faithful to pray for peace in Nigeria and communities where they live.
This was contained in his goodwill message to Muslims on the occasion of Eid-ed-kabir celebration.
The royal father also urged Muslims to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice towards positive development, saying that sacrifice was the spiritual lesson of the Muslim festival, just as he congratulated them on the celebration of the festival.
An Effurun based Islamic preacher, Ustaz Muhammad Muhaji, who spoke to journalists, stated that the festival had a lots of virtues and significance for mankind to emulate.
“It shows love for one another, tolerance and sincere devotion to Allah and peaceful coexistence among Muslims and others,” he added.
He seized the opportunity to pray for leaders in Nigeria and the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom.
The festival recorded a massive turnout of worshippers at the various praying grounds in Uvwie and Warri South local government areas.
The Seriki (leader) of Arewa Community in the locality, Suleiman Jauro, played host to scores of Muslims and other guests at his Effurun residence in a very colourful way.
Jauro, a member of the Delta State Muslim Pilgrims and Welfare Board, expressed appreciation to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Uvwie monarch and others for their goodwill messages to Muslims during the celebration in the state.