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By Ehichioya Ezomon The August 21, 2024, edition of Vanguard highlighted reactions of local and international civil society, human rights and labour organisations to the Nigeria Police invitation to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, to appear before it on August 20, 2024, “for an interview” related to investigation of “a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime in which you have been implicated.” Coming under the headline, “We won’t be silenced over mass suffering in Nigeria – NLC,” the subheads for the reactions include: Anger grows over Police invitation; NLC…

By Fidelis Igbogi Ordinarily, there should not have been any contest as to the true winner of the November 11, 2023 Gubernatorial Election in Bayelsa State. The data, before and after the elections, clearly showed the people’s preference among the 16 candidates to be Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Yes, the results of the different survey conducted ahead of the election were unambiguous. Incumbent Governor, Senator Douye Diri was after all going to win convincingly in all the eight Local Government Areas. Gov. Diri and his running mate, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, were ahead…

… Bayelsa Sweeps Open, Intermediate Categories University of Lagos undergraduate, Enoch Nwali, has again won the Masters category of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic, which ended on Sunday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The three-day scrabble championship had in attendance 240 registered players from across Nigeria. Nwali, who was the defending champion, defeated 39 other contestants in his category to take home the star prize of N750,000. Doubara Enai from Bayelsa emerged champion of the Intermediate category while his contemporary, Theophilus Nimibo, came tops in the Opens, and former national champion, Doku Esan, picked the Veterans title. A student…

Nigerians who are apprehensive over the current hardship and hunger in the country, have been re-assured that the storm will dissipate and give way to a more prosperous future. The Cleric in-charge of the School of Universal Law (SOUL), Christ Light Chapel International, Rev. Samuel Ogbujie Ogwo, who gave this message of hope in an interview with newsmen, admonished Nigerian politicians to desist from encouraging divisive and ethnic politics. He stated: “We should understand that Nigeria will not disintegrate. Rather than break up, the country has the potential of becoming one of the greatest countries in the world. The turbulence…

By Emma Ovundah, Port Harcourt  Gunmen have kidnapped, Sir Aribibia John Fubara, a Director, working with the Board of Internal Revenue Service in Rivers State. Sir Fubara was abducted at Okirika Waterfront near Marine Base, area of Port Harcourt on Saturday by the unknown gunmen who stormed the area on a speedboat at about 8:20pm. Younger brother of the victim, Emmanuel Fubara, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Monday said the kidnappers shot sporadically into the air, having carefully identified their target and brazenly whisked him into the boat and zoomed off. Sir Fubara, who is also a Knight of Saint…

By Kelechi Nwaucha The role of women in defending and furthering the rights of communities, especially in the light of onshore divestment by international oil companies and legacy pollution issues, last Friday formed the basis of an awareness creation program organized by Olegh Centre for Community Development for community women in Rivers State. Tagged, ‘Divestment Awareness, Community Women Organizing and Advocacy,’ and organized with support from Both ENDS, the event brought together community women from Rumuekpe (Emohua LGA), Umuechem (Etche LGA), Obelle, Ibaa and other oil bearing communities and local government areas in the state. Executive Director of Olegh Centre…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has clarified that its call for the redeployment of the Minister of Petroleum, Oil, Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, was not “borne out of parochial sentiment, but out of genuine desire to address issues bedeviling the petroleum sector.” The IYC, in a statement signed by its secretary-general, Maobuye Nangi Obu, Comrade Miracle Iyaye (National Women Leader), Tamunotonye David Altraide (National Legal Adviser) and Comrade Abiye Bob-Manuel (National Deputy Director of Mobilization), said since he emerged as “the portfolio’s minister, there had been unresolved issues from his office threatening the country’s economy. The…

Following complaints and the call by aggrieved members of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, for the redeployment of the minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Oil, Senator Heneiken Lokpobiri, a Niger Delta ex-agitator, Comrade Obubo Opukeme aka Galadima, has advised the minister not to take the issues raised by the IYC for granted. Opukeme, who is a member of the Third Phase of Ex-Agitators under the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), argued that the issues raised by IYC are germane, “considering the level of unemployment and lack of livelihood of numerous aggrieved youths as they demand very urgent attention to…

By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt Nigerians from different walks of life gathered at Igoba community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State for the traditional marriage of Eze Enyinnaya Williams and Omowumi, his Queen from Ondo State, in a ceremony aptly described as a royal wedding of cultures. Eze Williams, a renowned engineer, recently selected as the traditional ruler of Oha-Osieke ancient Kingdom in Abia State and his wife Omowumi, a London-trained nurse, who had been joined in holy matrimony in England 14 years ago, needed to be traditionally certified and celebrated in the bride’s home community. The…

The Bayelsa State Government says it is ready to collaborate with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on the rehabilitation and maintenance of failing roads in the state. The deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known while speaking with a delegation from the Bayelsa Field Office of FERMA during a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday. The deputy governor, who pointed out that the total distance covered by federal roads in Bayelsa was less than 100 kilometres, maintained that effective collaboration with the federal agency will ensure proper utilization of road maintenance funds meant for the state.…