TheNewsGuru

Tag: Delta State

  • Primaries: Delta PDP assures levelled playing field

    The Delta State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has assured all aspirants and contestants a levelled playing field in the party’s upcoming primaries in the State.

    The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, made the assurance in a statement made available to TheNewsGuru today.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State Chapter, wish to state categorically that we are fully primed and determined to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants, contestants and all those who have confirmed their interest or are intending to contest in the Primaries of any elective office, under the platform of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    “We make this solemn pledge of fairness and equity to one and all in recognition, adherence and full compliance to the regulations of our party as contained in our Party Constitution and as espoused both by our dynamic National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and our party leader, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa (Ekwueme) at different fora, where they have pledged their commitment unequivocally, that there will be no more imposition of candidates and a level playing field will be provided for every qualified contestant in the forthcoming Primary elections for all positions,” the statement read.

    The statement further read, “We also wish to state clearly that while our desire and ultimate expectation is to encourage and engender healthy, robust, fair and vigourous competition, with comprehensive campaigns across all the constituencies, as we have always done in all elections, this pledge has also been made in cognizance of the fact that there may be scenarios where the collective decision of the people support the emergence and endorsement of a consensus candidate and in the event of such a situation, we shall ensure that such consensus arrangements meets all the globally approved and accepted democratic standards. Democracy must be entrenched and applied to the letter to guarantee a conclusion that will involve collective participation and be satisfactory to all.

    “We therefore wish to use this medium to encourage all our aspirants, contestants and their teeming supporters across the State, to carry on with their political consultations, calculations, negotiations, alignments and re-alignments and indeed their specific campaigns at the appropriate scheduled times and according to the stipulated guidelines, without fear of intimidation, covert or overt scheming or any other calculculated or perceived act interpreted to short-change, undermine or diminish the chances and prospects of anyone whose desire is to serve Deltans, as candidates of the PDP”.

    It “further appeal to all aspirants and intending contestants and their dedicated loyalists not to heat up the polity in the course of their political activities, even as we urge both contestants and supporters to ensure that they go to their respective units and wards to register and collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, in order to ensure that they vote the candidates of their choice in the 2019 general elections”.

     

  • Okowa swears in 5 Judges, pardons 5 prison inmates, reverses death sentence of 30 others

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State today sworn in five newly appointed Judges into the State Judiciary at the State Government House Asaba with a charge to avoid granting frivolous injunctions and frequent adjournment of cases.

    Speaking during the swearing in ceremony, Governor Okowa said, “One of the things you (Judges) must guard against is the frivolous use of injunctions and the frequent adjournments of cases, which not only leads to delay and congested courts but has also contributed to negative perception of the Judiciary in the court of public opinion”.

    Okowa, who submits that such bottlenecks are inimical to the development of the judicial system, said, “Judges have an obligation to see to it that justice is not only served but, also seen to be served, so that the Judiciary does not lose the confidence of the public from which it ultimately derives its authority”.

    Governor Okowa emphasized that “As Judges, fairness, equity and justice must be your watchword at all times, you must maintain a high level of focus, discipline and personal probity”.

    While congratulating the Judges for their appointments, the Governor asserted, “as you begin your journey as privileged members of the Bench, I expect you to continue in the same spirit of hard work, excellence and forthrightness that earned you this appointment, this is not the time for you to rest on your oars, your job as judges will further challenge your intellect, demand greater resourcefulness, task your creativity, stretch your patience, encroach on your time and test your value system”.

    The Governor disclosed that the 5 Judges were “screened, selected and appointed in line with laid down procedures for such appointments as enshrined in Section 271, sub section (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.

    Those sworn in are Mrs. Celestina Dafe-Idise, Egwu Joe, Dr. Anthony Ezonfade Okorodas, Blessing Oghale Ideh (Mrs), and Edun Ajueyitsi Joshua.

    In a different development, the Delta state governor approved the grant of total pardon to 5 inmates who were serving various terms of imprisonment, and commuted 30 others on death row to life imprisonment.

    This is contained in a statement released from the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor.

    According to the statement, the governor acted in pursuant to powers vested on him in exercise of his powers of prerogative of mercy in the spirit of the Easter celebration and took into considerations the several international and local pleas including those from Amnesty International.

    The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice explained that the Governor acted in accordance to his constitutional powers based on the recommendations of the 7-Man Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by Chief Patrick Okpakpor that was inaugurated by the Delta Governor on 30th March, 2017.

    According to the statement, the Governor approved the grant of full pardon to the following inmates and ordered their immediate release; Livinus Ugwu (M) who was sentenced to 20 years, Enebeli Dike (M), a condemned convict, Orji Pascal (M), serving a 10 year jail term, Moses Agedah who was also on death row and Martins Ishiekwene, a prisoner sentenced to death on the 30th of November, 1998.

    The 30 inmates whose sentences were commuted by the Governor were all death row inmates, sentenced to death by hanging.

    The statement further stated that Okowa’s administration was irrevocably committed to better the lives of the people including prisoners as the government has come out with various rehabilitation programmes through skill acquisitions, trainings and other empowerment programmes geared towards their reintegration back into the society.

     

  • World Bank, EU train personnel from 52 MDAs in Delta

    World Bank, EU train personnel from 52 MDAs in Delta

    The World Bank and EU in collaboration with Delta government on Tuesday started training of over 100 workers of state on financial reforms.

    Mr Benson Okojo the Project Coordinator of the World Bank, EU sponsored State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project said the training was to build the workers’ capacity on adequate budget preparation.

    “We were able to identify 52 MDAs under our International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) platform,” he said.

    Ojoko said the exercise would enable them to understand the reforms that were being implemented under the SEEFOR project intervention.

    According to him, one of such reforms is under our Component B which is budget reform.

    “A lot of changes are being introduced. We are changing from the old ways of preparing budget according to the heads, sub-heads of each sectorial budget to the new coding structure that has been informed by the adoption of IPSAS.

    “It was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2010 and in 2011, there was a Federal Allocation Accounting Committee (FAAC) that now designed a new national chart among the three tiers of government,” he said.

    Ojoko said that Delta was among the first five states that had adopted the new national chart of accounting.

    “Having adopted the chart, Delta has been working by organising workshops and trainings for relevant stakeholders.

    “This includes budget officers, accountants as well as staff of the Ministry of Economic Planning for the implementation of the programme in the state.

    “This has made it possible for the state to prepare the 2018 budget which is already online and the World Bank had applauded the state for this effort.’’

    Ojoko said that in spite of the progress recorded by the state in the area of budget preparation, there were still lapses that needed to be corrected.

    The workers were drawn from 52 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

     

  • Delta Govt. partners NIGCOMSAT on broadband connectivity for schools

    The Delta State Government has commenced negotiations with the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) company for possible partnership in the area of broadband connectivity for schools and hospitals across the state.

    TheNewsGuru reports NIGCOMSAT Executive Director of Marketing and Business Development, Mr. Samson Osagie, with some members of his team on Monday met with, Mr. Bright Edejewhro the State Commissioner for Science and Technology in Asaba to fine-tune the details of the partnership.

    The state government is hoping to partner with NIGCOMSAT for the deployment of technologies to enhance teaching and learning in schools across the state.

    In order to deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria, the board of the Nigerian Commissions Commission (NCC) recently approved two additional Infrastructure Company (Infraco) licences for the South Eastern and for the North Eastern regions of the country.

    Also recently, the NCC said it will very soon license more Infracos and also auction additional spectrums in the bid to achieve its broadband penetration target for the country.

    Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC said Nigeria is left with just 8 per cent to attain the 30 per cent broadband target set by the Federal Government by the end of this year.

    “At the moment, Nigeria has moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration in the pursuit of the 30 per cent target set for December 2018.

    “Effort is ongoing to deepen the penetration as part of this administration’s eight-point agenda.

    “Plans are also ongoing to license Infrastructure Companies, Infracos, auction some frequency licences, while some are being initiated and some being reframed to achieve the broadband penetration target.

    “In broadband, we have moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration at the moment. All these are going on simultaneously,” Danbatta said.

     

  • Cairo Ojougboh reveals why he joined APC

    Dr Cairo Ojougboh said that he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to protect the interest of the people of Delta, knowing that they had worked very hard for the party.

    Ojougboh, who said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, noted that he saw the APC as a solid foundation to build Delta.

    Ojougboh was the Deputy National Chairman of the Sen. Ali Modu-Sherif faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and a former South-South chairman of the party.

    “When I joined the APC, I saw that you people have worked very hard, and I saw a solid foundation,’’ he said.

    He expressed optimism that an APC government would be enthroned in Delta come 2019, because of its popularity and the commitment of its members in the state.

    Ojougboh, while saying that the APC was a united party, advised that its members must be respectful and loyal to its structures and hierarchy to ensure its electoral victory come in the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, I have embarked on consultation tour of the state`s senatorial districts and I am pleased by the number of party chieftains that received me during such visits.

    “I must confess that I was intimidated by the crowd of APC members and the caliber of party chieftains I saw in places I visited.

    “And I said to myself, with this caliber of people, there is no fear in winning election in Delta,’’ Ojougboh said.

     

  • Gov. Okowa mulls executive bill to curb hooliganism

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said he has forwarded an executive bill to the State House of Assembly (DTHA) that is expected to arrest hooliganism and other social vices in the State.

    The Governor said his administration will not fail to jail any youth that is sabotaging his effort to make the state an investment destination.

    The Governor, who said the State was gradually becoming an investors’ hub, threatened to use the powers vested in him to deal decisively with anyone found guilty as charged.

    He said nobody, no matter highly placed in the society, would be spared, if found to be scaring away investors from the state, while maintaining that the bill would be followed to the letter as soon as it passed into law.

    “We are not going to tolerate any youth chasing investors away. We have sent a bill on that to the House to deal with it.

    “As soon as the bill sails through, I will not hesitate to send anybody to jail because no investor will come and invest in a hostile environment,” Okowa said.

    Also, when the leadership of the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU), led by its President, Samson Agolo, visited him in Asaba, the Governor decried the effects of secret cults on Nigerian youths and called on students’ union bodies to be involved in the fight against vices, such as cultism in Nigerian institutions.

     

  • TRENDING: DTHA Deputy Speaker gifts wife N50 million custom-made SUV

    Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Osanebi Friday Ossai, at the weekend, gifted his wife, Ogechi Osanebi Ossai, a custom-made Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to mark her birthday anniversary.

    TheNewsGuru gathers that the SUV, a custom-made 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, is valued at about N50 million. The cheapest variant of the SUV is valued at over N20 million.

    “I had no idea he was putting together a surprise to make me feel special on my birthday,” wife of the Deputy Speaker said while flaunting the flamboyant birthday gift on her Instagram profile on Saturday.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BgsAsxulkTx/?taken-by=iluvmilyf

    Penning a special tribute to Ogechi, Osanebi described his wife as a source of inspiration.

    “I want to take this time out to celebrate and appreciate you as you turn a year older today. You have been a rare gift to me over these years. You are a great source of inspiration to me. You have given me strength when my will failed me.

    “Many times I thought of giving up but the knowledge and consciousness of you in my life keeps me strong.

    “No doubt, you have turned and will always remain one indispensable part of me. Thank you for being that strong woman in my life. Words alone cannot tell how much you mean to me.

    “As you celebrate your Birthday today, it is my prayers that God rewards you with every good thing you have ever sort after in life and may you live to reap the fruits of your labour and kindness.

    “May he grant you a great health and a sound mind. May your cup never run dry,” the Osanebi tribute read.

     

  • NCC seizes N36.1 broadcast items, apprehends 2 suspects in Delta

    The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), said it had seized broadcast contrivance worth N36.1 million in Delta.

    Mr Augustine Amodu, the NCC Director of Enforcement, made the disclosure in Warri, while speaking with newsmen.

    Amodu said that two suspects were also apprehended by the enforcement team and were currently detained at the facilities of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Warri.

    He said the operation was carried out between March 13 and March 16, in Ughelli and Warri.

    The director of enforcement said the items seized included: several decoders, splitters, senders, boosters, adding that about two trucks load of wires were also destroyed in the operation.

    “We conducted anti-piracy exercise in Ughelli and Warri between March 13 and 16, and we made a seizure of broadcast contrivance worth N36.1 million.

    ” Following the zeal of the NCC Director-General, Mr Afam Ezekude on the enforcement of the Nigeria Copyright Law, we got complaints from the Multichoice DSTV.

    “We raided three stations in Ughelli on the 13th and seized a lot of broadcast items, but no suspect was caught.

    ” Between 14th and 16th, we raided more than seven stations in Warri, and seized contrivances and also apprehended two suspects who are currently detained at the NDLEA facilities,” he said.

    Amodu said that there was need to sustain the anti-piracy operations, particularly on broadcast items in the Niger Delta region because the perpetrators quickly come back to resuscitate them as soon as the enforcement team left.

    ”Under the leadership of the DG, Mr Ezekude, the enforcement of the Copyright Law has come to its height, today NCC has recorded 58 convictions and over 150 cases in the Federal High Courts,” he said.

    The director of enforcement warned perpetrators who indulged in the illegalities to desist from it and sought for a better means of livelihood before the law catches up with them.

    Amodu who said that piracy was a cankerworm that had eaten deeply into the fabric of the society, noted that it was a setback on the diversification policy of the Federal Government because it discourages legitimate creativity.

    He advised the public not to patronise the perpetrators who he said do not pay tax to the government, “if you do, it will be unfortunate that you will begin to have problem with us”.

     

  • Herdsmen take over Delta communities, demand payments from farmers

    Herdsmen take over Delta communities, demand payments from farmers

    Fulani herdsmen have invaded and taken over three Delta communities in Ughelli North local government area, according to the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Governor Okowa made this known when he played host to Police Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone 5.

    “There is a particular community in Delta State, at a point in time, we discussed it at security council meeting and just yesterday (Thursday, 15/03/18) while I was in Ughelli North for my regular Town Hall meeting, the people raised a very serious issue about the Uwheru community.

    “It is a very pathetic situation, because the President-General of the community spoke on the fact that out of their seven communities, three of them are actually occupied by the herdsmen and the farmers are told that they must pay the herdsmen before they can enter their farms and that is very disturbing.

    “Because it is strange for indigenes to pay money before they can enter their farms and I believe something has to be done before it evolves into a crisis situation.

    “This has been going on for several years but it has gotten worse of recent, so, AIG, this situation has to be addressed immediately as security issue,” Okowa said.

    He, therefore, called on security agencies to curb activities of herdsmen in the state before it snowballs into crisis.

    Okowa said his administration is concerned about the security of life and property of every Deltan and their communities, stressing that the Police and other security agencies must strive to protect the different communities in the state.

    He lauded the synergy between security agencies in the state which has ensured a peaceful state that has become home for investors.

    “As a people, we know that the more peaceful we are, the more investors will come into the state and in the course of this year, we will witness a lot of ground breaking ceremony as investors are coming to the state in their large numbers.

    “We are doing a lot to provide infrastructure, we are doing a lot to engage our youths, the more youths we engage, the less idle minds we will have in the state,” the governor said.

    He assured the AIG that his administration will continue to support security agencies in the state, saying, “Delta State is largely peaceful, we take matters of security serious, there is a lot of collaborations between different security agencies in Delta State and beyond.

    “We take the issue of information gathering serious as we nip security challenges in the bud, we also, have state advisory and peace building council which is made up of experienced men and women of impeccable character, they also, help to maintain peace in the state.”

    The AIG had earlier told the Governor that he was on a familiarisation tour of Police formations in the state, observing, “your administration has rendered uncountable support to the Police Command in different areas, your support has greatly, enhanced the performance of the Command and we want to thank you and assure you that the Police will ensure an all time peace in the state.”

    TheNewsGuru reports AIG Rasheed Akintunde paid the governor a courtesy visit at the Government House Asaba on Friday.

     

  • NUJ throws weight behind member’s foray into politics

    The Delta state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday in Asaba, the State Capital threw its weight behind the candidature of one of its member contesting the House of Representatives seat for Ughelli and Udu Federal Constituency, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire.

    The Union at its congress in Asaba welcomed the idea of the member taking a shot at the exalted green chambers, saying that it would make formal declaration on Omafuaire’s ambition.

    Comrade Michael Ikeogwu during the congress called on all journalists in the State to see Omafuaire election as a duty for all. He added that if others are qualified to run for such office, a journalist is even more qualified to be supported.

    He noted that Omafuaire who is also a Senior Journalist cum lawyer, stand the chances of making it as the former National President of the NUJ, stressing that Senator Smart Adeyemi who led the union did creditably well at the red chambers.

    Ikeogwu urged all journalists in the state to give Omafuaire campaign a wide coverage as the project will enhance the growth of the Union.

    Other members who spoke extol the rare qualities of Omafuaire and stated that they are optimistic that Omafuaire is the real deal, calling on all political leaders in the State to support Omafuaire.