PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME

Mulade Sheriff  Congratulates Dikio as Coordinator*

A renowned Niger Delta Activist and Traditional Chief from the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, has congratulated Col Milland Dixon Dikio over his recent appointment as Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

In a statement made available to news men in Abuja during the weekend, Chief Mulade Urged Milland Dikio to build on the existing peace initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the sustenance and economic stability of the region.

Mulade also said that "More is expected of Dikio as over thirty thousand beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme need post amnesty integration to harness the long term benefits of the programme.”

The Peace Ambassador also encouraged the Niger Deltas and Ijaw people at large to support Dikio who is also an illustrious Ijaw man from the oil rich Niger Delta.

Mulade further urged him to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience on his prestigious enviable position as a successful businessman and security expert to reposition the Amnesty activities within the period he will coordinate the programme.

He Congratulated Col. Milland Dikio as an outstanding, illustrious son of the Ijaw nation from Mbiama Community in Engenni Kingdom, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

DELTA @29

HON FRANCIS EJIROGHENE WAIVE SAY DELTANS NEED TO OWN THE STATE BY WORKING FOR ITS ALL ROUND GROWTH. 

The member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Francis Ejiroghene Waive says that it is high time for all Deltans to begin to see the state as their own by working assiduously to the overall development and growth of the state. 

Honourable Waive stated this while speaking on Delta State at twenty nine, the way going forward. 

" Delta State which is created on August 27 1991 from the defunct Bendel state belongs to all Deltans, therefore it is the responsibility of every Deltan to contribute to the political, economical, social, infrastructural, cultural and other growths of the state" he said. 

The Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Lawmaker who added that the state which is made up of five ethnic nationalities though has not attain much but also gave glory to God for the relative peace among the various tribes in the state. 

The Federal Parliamentarian pointed out that going by the monthly federal allocation accrued to the state since its creation twenty nine years ago one would have expected rapid developmental growths in the state. 

He however implored all Deltans to participate in the building of a strong political, economical, infrastructural, cultural, and social vibrant state that all will be proud of. 

" Delta State has rich human vast resources which when utilize will translate to a blueprint for rapid sustainable development in the state. 

He called on Deltans within the voting age to ensure they participate in election processes in voting in prudent managers into government offices that will manage public funds to transform the state. 

Honourable Francis Ejiroghene Waive however on behalf of his federalconstituency wished all Deltans a happy twenty nine anniversary of the creation of Delta State.

RELIEF MATERIALS FOR HERDSMEN ATTACK VICTIMS

 RELIEF MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION TO HERDSMEN ATTACK VICTIMS OF UWHERU KINGDOM FACILITATED BY HON FRANCIS EJIROGHENE WAIVE 

Ughelli -

The People of Uwheru kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on Tuesday 25 of August 2020 heave a sight of relief as the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Honourable Francis Ejiroghene Waive attracted relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA to persons who were affected by the last year's herdsmen attack in the kingdom. 

Our correspondent reports that the relief materials are, 257 bags of garri, 257 bags of beans, 30 kegs of vegetables oil, 30 cartons of tomatoes paste, 50 cartons of maggi seasoning, 50 cartons of bath soap,  50 cartons of omo detergents, 514 pieces of blankets, 771 pieces of foam mattresses, 257 pieces of guinea brocade, 257 pieces of wax print, 600 bags of cement, 600 bundles of roofing sheets, 170 packets of zinc nails and 85 bags of 3 nails.

The member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Honourable Francis Ejiroghene Waive while addressing the people of Uwheru Kingdom in Ughelli North Council Area said when the herdsmen attack occurred last year in the kingdom, he immediately consulted with relevant authorities at all levels of government as well as community leaders with the aim of bringing the incessant attack of herdsmen in the area to a stop. 

Honourable Waive added that he further took a step by moving a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the situation, calling for relief materials as well as investigation on the root causes of the incessant herdsmen attack on the kingdom with a view of providing a permanent solution to them. 

He lauded the Speaker of the House of Representatives and all members of the House for supporting the motion. 

The Federal Lawmaker further added that he is glad to see that NEMA responded by providing relief materials to persons affected by the last year's herdsmen attack. 

He also lauded the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo Agege and the Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as well as security agencies and all who played roles in sustaining peace in the area. 

For his part  the Director General of NEMA, Muhammadu Muhammed who was represented at the event said the agency is always ready to provide relief materials to those in need. 

Some of the affected indigenes in their separate interview thanked Honourable Francis Waive for representing them effectively at the green chamber. 

Some APC faithful who spoke at the event, stated that Honourable Waive apart from the relief materials has done much for his Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency and therefore implored him not to relent. 

The people of Uwheru Kingdom no doubt expressed happiness at the successful distribution of the relief materials to them and thus expresses hope that Honourable Francis Waive will also attract other developmental projects to their area.

WARRI REBIRTH ADVOCACY PLEDGES UNALLOYED SUPPORT FOR DR MICHEAL TIDI

The Warri Rebirth Advocacy on Tuesday August 11 2020 in Warri scored the Warri South Local Government Chairman, Dr Michael Tidi high for his all round developmental strides in his almost three years in office. 

The President of the Warri Rebirth Advocacy, Comrade Ebigbeyi Tuoyo who spoke on behalf of the body in a press briefing said that Dr Michael Tidi landmark achievements are clear for all to see. 

Comrade Ebigbeyi Tuoyo while addressing the press said that the Warri South Local Government Chairman, Dr Michael Tidi  monumental developmental success was what brought the body to pledge their unalloyed support for his political ambitions. 

Comrade Tuoyo stated that in less than three years in office,  Dr Micheal Tidi has succeeded in improving the security architecture of the Warri South Council Area which has led to reduction of crime and thus improve on the prevailing peace in the area. 

He listed some of the people oriented projects of Dr Tidi as the rehabilitation of the Ajamimogha Primary healthcare centre, the on-going renovation at Ekurede Orhobo and Ogunu Primary healthcare centers, cleaning of backlog salaries of council workers, renovation of old maternity ward in Warri Central Hospital, upgrade of the Ode-Itsekiri primary healthcare, construction of twenty one water borehole projects across the nineteen DISEC wards in the council area among others. 

Comrade Tuoyo added that in spite of the abysmal fall in crude oil prices which led to recession in 2017, Dr Tidi administration still donated power generator to the Ubeji police station. 

Some other persons who responded to questions from journalists, including Comrade Paul Okotie, Comrade Fatai Onifade,Comrade Solomon Ojobor all said that Dr Michael Tidi is the first to organized Warri Economic summit which has thus far brought economic boom to the council area

They disclosed that Dr Micheal Tidi during the lockdown occasioned by the COVID 19, did not only distributed palliative from the state food bank to the vulnerable and poor in the council area but also used his personal money to buy food stuff to distribute to the poor in the council area.

Warri Rebirth Advocacy a group with over five thousand members cut across the three Warri Local Government Areas all unanimously pledged their unalloyed support for Dr Micheal Tidi administration.

ALADJA OGBE-IJOH PEACE VANGUARD VISITS CHIEF MULADE

Urges Delta State Governor, Council Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, others to Support Peace Initiative*

The National Coordinator, Chairman/ CEO of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade has urged the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the chairmen of Udu and Warri South West Local Govts, State and Federal legislators, councilors, the DSS, traditional rulers and chiefs, community, women and youth leaders and the entire people of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities to support the peace process initiated by the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard to bring lasting peace to the two communities.

  

Chief Mulade, the Ibe-Sourimowei of Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom gave the charge on Friday August 7, 2020 while playing host to the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard at the Headquarters of CEPEJ in Ugolo-Okpe near Osubi and encouraged the group not to relent in its efforts at restoring peace to the two communities. He said the process of achieving peace is not easy as it requires determination, dedication, diligence and discipline by members in all stages of the process.

He encouraged the group not to allow politicians hijack the process in the name of support so that they do not kill the peace move, and enjoined the members to be vigilant and courageous so that they could take the peace process to a glorious end in the face of intimidation, name calling, harassment and insults. 

The CEPEJ National Coordinator assured the group that he would continue to support the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard and any other movement or process working towards the realization of peace in Nigeria and the entire World.

For his part, the CEPEJ's Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Godwin Orhadahwe, who is also a member of the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard, thanked Chief Mulade for his support and urged the Peace Vanguard to take advantage of available facilities in CEPEJ to train its members in leadership and peace advocacy skills and techniques.

Responding on behalf of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard, the Convener, Rev. Layefa Enienghan commended the CEPEJ Boss, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade for supporting the efforts of the group towards achieving lasting peace in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities. 

The highpoints of the occasion were the induction of Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade as an Ambassador of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard and the presentation of CEPEJ souvenirs to the group.   

More than 40 members of the Aladja and Ogbe-ijoh Peace Vanguard including Rev. Enienghan Layefa (Ogbe-Ijoh), Mr. Bezi E. Ighotegwolor  (Aladja), Mr. Akemotubo Victor (Ogbe-Ijoh), Chief F. A. Ehibor, (from Edo State resident in Aladja), Barr. Solomon R. Agarah (Aladja), Mr. Governor Stanley (Ogbe-Ijoh), Iseru Tonbra (Ogbe-Ijoh), Henry Okuku (Ovwian and Aladja), Prince Oruboh (Aladja), as well as Mr. Ogbona Bibo (Ogbe-Ijoh) amongst others, were among the delegation of the group that visited CEPEJ.

NDDC MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS

 NIGER DELTA WOMEN IN DIALOGUE CALLS FOR AN OVERHAULING OF NDDC TO MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE REGION 

Warri -

Worried by the embezzlement in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, some women under the auspice of Niger Delta Women In Dialogue on Friday staged a peaceful protest to NDDC Delta State office in Warri to express their demands for positive changes in the state. 

A co convener of the women protest, Madam Mary Fuludu said that NDDC which was established in 2000 has not lived up to its purpose of creation as the region is still underdeveloped in spite of the crude oil and gas deposit in the region.

The women which were under the aegis of Niger Delta Women In Dialogue in the morning of on Friday stormed the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Delta State Office in Warri carrying placards with different inscriptions to drum their messages to the Federal Government and all relevant authorities. 

Madam Mary Fuludu who spoke on behalf of the protesting women, said that it is quite disheartening to see the level of corruption in NDDC that was established to address the developmental needs of the Niger Delta Region which is the main stay of the nation's economy. 

Madam Mary Fuludu added that President Muhammadu Buhari administration needs to address the corruption that had eaten deep into NDDC by ensuring that those that have looted funds from the commission are made to pay as well as being prosecuted. 

She emphasized that NDDC no longer attend to women and youth empowerment, infrastructural projects, regular payments of scholarships stipend to NDDC overseas students, amongst others developmental needs of the region. 

Speaking in a similar vein, one of the protesting women, Ambassador Florence Adia called for a total overhauling of the current NDDC board with a view to repositioning the commission to living up to its purpose of establishment. 

She stressed that the mismanagement of funds in NDDC has led to massive under development in the region as well as improvising the Niger Delta people. 

The Deputy Director NDDC Delta State Office, Mr Stephen Ogheneare who addressed the women commended them for their peaceful disposition during the protest. 

He however asked them to address their demands to the NDDC head office in Port Harcourt. 

No doubt the issue of corruption in the NDDC of late has been on the front burner and it is the wish of all Niger Deltans that NDDC is repositioned to meet the needs of its creation in 2000 by former President Olosegun Obansajor. 

Non Governmental Organization that participated in the peaceful protest are the Morgan Smart Development Foundation, South South Professional Women Association, Niger Delta Women Forum, Center for Environmental Peace and Justice, Amazon Foundation, Development Initiative for Community Impact, Women Standard Bearers International and Lizdon Foundation.

DELTA STATE DEPUTY GOV ASSURES EGBEMA PEOPLE OF GOVT RESOLVE IN ADDRESSING ISSUES OF THE KINGDOM. 

Asaba -

The long standing political and developmental issues agitating the minds of  people of Egbema Kingdom Warri North Council Area may soon be resolved. 

Indications to these effects emerged  from a meeting of representatives of  Egbema Leaders of Thought with the Delta State Deputy Governor Deacon Kingsley Otuaro at Government House Asaba .

Staff correspondent Joshua Okpanefe reports that the State Deputy Governor assured of Government's  readiness to seek lasting solutions to the economic, political and developmental issues bothering the Egbema people.

The Egbema Leaders of Thought who was led to the meeting by Ambassador Jude Ebitimi Ukori arrived the conference hall of the State Deputy Governor, Thursday afternoon to table critical issues .

With the Delta State Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro to receive the Egbema delegation were key members of the state executive council as well as other top government officials.

Speaking to journalists after the closed door session Deacon Kingsley Otuaro said the concerns of the Egbema people on the on going bidding for fifty seven oil marginal fields located in Egbema land as well as political and infrastructural issues were discussed.

The Delta State Deputy Governor assured that the government of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa would stop at nothing in the quest for solutions to these issues through dialogue.

For his part, Ambassador Jude Ebitimi Ukori who spoke with journalists affirmed that the political deprivation of the Egbema kingdom over the years especially in the affairs of Warri North Local Government and in the State were worrisome to them fueling agitations hence the  call that they be resolved in the upcoming local government elections and the next general election.

The Egbema leaders also insisted on twenty five percent equity holdings in the running of the fifty seven oil marginal fields in their locality just as the communities be granted the right of first refusal in bidding for licence to operate the oil marginal field.

The people also urged the government to construct bridges, tackle environmental degradation and resolve the boundary dispute with ondo state as part their territory was allegedly being illegaly occupied by some ILaje people who lost their settlements in ondo state to ocean surges.

SOCIAL WELFARE SCHEME

Forty eight widows drawn from Delta Central and South Senatorial districts on Tuesday were given melon shelling machines and generating sets courtesy the Delta State Widows Welfare Scheme in conjunction with the Delta State Job Creation Office. 

The state coordinator of the scheme Chief Isioma Okonta who officiated the distribution of the items in Governor's House Annex in Warri, said that the gesture was Governor Ifeanyi Okowa post COVID 19 response to supporting the widows in the state. 

Correspondence reports that widows in Delta North Senatorial District are to benefit from the gesture in a subsequently date. 

While addressing the benefiting widows  the state coordinator of the Delta State Government Widows Welfare Scheme Chief Isioma Okonta said that the distribution of the melon shelling machine and generating sets to the widows clearly shows Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a visionary leaders who is passionate about widows welfare in the state. 

Chief Isioma who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okowa on Social Investment Programmes  added that the Delta State Governor has done well in social welfare schemes as well as in infrastructures amongst others. 

He disclosed that the benefiting widows which are three from each local government areas of the state are different from the over five thousand widows in the state that received monthly stipend from the state government. 

The Supervisor of the scheme for Delta South Dr Hope George who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Affairs, in an interview said that the selection of the widows are done in such a way that only those ones who are ready to do something are selected from the twenty five local government areas. 

For their parts, Pastor Samuel Ako, Hon Isaiah Esiovwa and Mr Jerry Eruvbedede all lauded the state governor for the gestures towards the widows.

They implored the widows to make good use of the melon shelling machines and generating sets to better their lots and not to sell them. 

Some of the benefiting widows who spoke thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for identifying with them at this difficult time of coronavirus. 

The event was later climaxed by the official distribution of the items to the widows.

*Mulade eulogises Chief Ibori at 62, describes him as monumental achiever, trail blazer *

An activist cum global Peace Ambassador and The National Coordinator/CEO Centre For Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Chief Amb. Comrade  Sheriff Mulade has congratulated the former Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Chief James Onanefe Ibori as he celebrates his 62nd birthday .

Chief Mulade who is also the 'Ibe-Sorimowei a traditional title holder of the Great Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, described Chief James Ibori as a man whose achievements while as the Delta State Governor between 1999 to 2007 speaks volume and are monumental across all parts of Delta state.

" Since his coming onboard and exit as governor after his successful tenure, Delta hasn't had it like his time with development in all facets of the state" he said. 

"Chief Ibori is also a trailblazer fondly referenced by admirers as the founder of modern Democratic delta development" said Chief Mulade. 

The CEPEJ National Coordinator and CEO stressed that while holding sway as the number one man in Delta State, His Excellency Chief Ibori was a watershed of projects.

" It is on record that he constructed the gigantic Bomadi Bridge in Bomadi local government area and Amadino Bridge in Warri South LGA thereby opening the communities to vehicular civilization as well as boosting the economic activities of that part of the state" Chief Mulade added. 

" Chief Ibori also fast tracked the construction of roads in Warri, Asaba, Agbor, Kwale, Ughelli, Isoko and across the North, Central and southern  Parts of the state " he stressed.

He pointed out that Chief Ibori is a lover of peace, noting that the Warri crises which he inherited prior to his administration, he made sure he restored peace among Ijaws and Itsekiri as well as their neighbours which the area now enjoy as a result of his strong commitment to promoting unity, love among ethnic groups and coexistence in the state.

The Ibe-Sorimowei of the great ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom said God will continue to make the former Governor who brought modern Democratic development and progress to soar higher as he celebrates his birthday anniversary, he wished him great things and good health, peace and joy in his life endeavours.