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By Ehichioya Ezomon It’s obvious on October 23, 2023, that the Supreme Court judgment on appeals from the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) would be a formality. The barely 120 seconds it took the court to dismiss the 50-ground appeal by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) starkly bears this out!  Also self-evident in that regard were exchanges between the seven-member appeals panel and counsel to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At the hearing/adoption of the written addresses by Atiku/PDP and Obi/LP, some members of the panel, headed by Justice John Inyang Okoro, took turns…

By Young E. Freeborn, Warri The final burial rites for late Mama Iwari Omote Ogbono have been slated for November 10 and 11, 2023 at Unenurhie community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.  According to a statement signed by Mama’s eldest son, Mr. Reuben Eretare Ogbono, and a member of the family, Mr. Kester Ogbariemu, late Mama Iwari Omote Ogbono would be accorded full Urhobo traditional funeral rites as she “was a core traditionalist till her death. The statement further read that, traditional wake-keep would be held in her honour at her husband’s compound on November 10th…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council has called on the Inspector-General of Police and director-general of the Department of State Services to immediately invite a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joshua MacIver, for questioning. Chairman of the campaign council’s Publicity Directorate, Hon. Ayibaina Duba, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Monday, said Mr. MacIver made inciting comments capable of truncating the peace of the state in a video now in circulation. MacIver, who is running mate to his party’s disqualified governorship candidate, Chief Timipre…

…Urge Rivers People to rise against anti-Democratic Forces By Amos Odhe Stakeholders, traditional rulers and ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta region, under the aegis of Citizens for for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (CSDND), have described as “evil machination” an alleged plot “by some politicians” to remove the Majority Leader of the Rivers State Assembly, Hon. Edison Ehie, and the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The stakeholders condemned the alleged suspension of the Majority leader, signing of impeachment notice against Governor Fubura, and a reported tear gas attack by some unknown policemen on the state governor while on…

By Young E. Freeborn, Asaba The Delta State Executive Council has approved a proposed budget of N714.4 billion for the 2024 fiscal year.  The state commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, who disclosed this at a post-exco press briefing at Government House, Asaba, said the proposed budget comprised N397 billion, representing 56 percent for capital expenditure, while N316 billion, representing 44 percent, is for recurrent expenditure. Ekadeyan, who was flanked by chief press secretary to the governor, Sir Festus Ahon, said the 2024 proposed budget was premised on an exchange rate of N750 per dollar. “We just finished the…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, has been conferred with the Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, the most prestigious investiture by the Institute. The event, which took place on Tuesday, October 26, 2023, at the Mariam Babangida International Conference Centre, Asaba, was witnessed by the national leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners during their Annual General Meeting (AGM). An obviously elated Alabo Ekeuwei expressed gratitude to God for the honour bestowed on him by the Institute. He said he was dedicating the honour to God…

By Young E. Freeborn, Asaba Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and wife, Dame Edith Okowa, on Friday, attended the funeral service of late business mogul, Chief Ignatius Erigbuem at Saint Michael’s Anglican Church, Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state. Also in attendance were the deputy governor of the state, Sir Monday Onyeme, immediate past deputy governor of the state, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, member House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; Majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi,…

By Young E. Freeborn, Warri It was a celebration of longevity recently, among the Urhobo and Isoko people of Delta State, as late Mama Esther Blackie Idogun, aged 101 years, was laid to rest at her hometown, Agbarha-Otor, the traditional headquarters of Agbarha kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State by her children, family members, the Anglican Church and the entire community. The funeral service, which was held on Friday October 27, 2023 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Agabarha-Otor brought together people from various places across the country. In his sermon during the service, the guest preacher,…

… Campaigns in Kolokuma/Opokuma; Assures on Road Linking Igbedi to Kaiama By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said as a sitting governor, there was nothing unusual in his visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday. Speaking at Igbedi community in Constituency 2 of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state during the visit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign trail, Governor Diri said he was at liberty to congratulate President Tinubu following the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential election. A statement by his spokesperson and member of…

… Commends PFN for Initiating Conference By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa Preparatory to a peaceful Bayelsa State gubernatorial election on November 11, Revered First Class traditional ruler and chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, in Yenagoa Local Government Area has enjoined Christian faithful to be proactive and not reactive in their participation in the democratic process. King Dakolo who is to deliver the keynote address at the forthcoming Bayelsa Peace Conference, made the remark when the chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Committee on Good Governance and…