NEWS
Olugboboro Community in Bayelsa Denies Appointing New Leadership
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area has dismissed claims that it has appointed a new leadership to run its affairs.It said its attention has been drawn to a purported announcement making the rounds that it has now a new constituted Interim government to lead the community in the next six months.
According to a statement signed by Chief Matthew Azeke of Akpokowari Compound and Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo of Ikpsiwari compound and made available to our correspondent said, the interim government allegedly constituted what they described in an illegal emergency general meeting held on the November 9, 2024 in the community town hall. The statement noted that the alleged illegal appointments are members of the purported Interim government including Timiere Tiko as Chairman, Willfred Tarighebo as Vice Chairman, Victor Eregbolo as Secretary and Ebianga as Treasurer to lead the community for six months.According to the community, before the said illegal meeting, it had prevailed on Imboko to rescind his decision to convene an emergency general meeting, as they tried to make him realise the legal and security implications at this time.”Before the said illegal meeting, we had prevailed on Imboko to rescind his decision to convene an emergency general meeting.“In the invitation, Imboko invited Olugboboro indigenes residing outside the community to attend an emergency general meeting to discuss Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).“They intentionally misinformed and deceived the public and security agencies, because there was nothing to discuss about PIA. The PIA was a facade to actualise their evil machination of throwing the community into chaos to satisfy their paymaster”, the statement read in part.They expressed disappointment that Imboko ignored their warning and still went ahead to hold the meeting, after they told him that he does not have the authority to convene a general meeting especially when the community is embroiled in communal crisis.They said the community has been enveloped in crisis since 2023 over the outcome of CDC election and the state government through the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ehrujakpo had waded into the matter,where he directed all sides to maintain the status quo until the issues are trashed out.The community stressed that it is tantamount to abuse of law and fragrant disobedience of the state government directive for certain groups of persons to appoint interim government when there is a pending court case at Oporoma High in Yenagoa.”The illegal concoction appointed by Imboko and his cohorts is clearly a breach of peace and rule of law. The action of Mr.Imboko is meant to foment crisis in the community” the community said.The community pleaded with Gov Douye Diri to intervene and stop Tiko and others from parading themselves as Interim government, noting that they are imposters, bent on throwing the community into unending crisis for their selfish gains.”Again,if Olugboboro community decides to set up an interim government, the whole community will come together and elect responsible persons to run the community.“Certainly, not some group of persons to appoint an illegal body to destabilise the community”.They also appealed to the state government, traditional rulers Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), security agencies and companies not to do anything with Tiko and his group; stressing that only the intervention of the governor would avert the looming crisis from exploding.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals to provide free treatment to the people that sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.Wike gave the directive in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja on Saturday.
No fewer than 10 people including children lost their lives while 10 others sustained injuries to the stampede, during the distribution of food items to less privileged and the elderly by the church. The sad incident occurred around 6:30 a.m on Saturday.Wike said that the FCT Administration would ensure that the injured received adequate medical attention.The minister, who commiserated with the victims, also directed that henceforth, police permission should be obtained by individuals or organizations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash.Describing the incident as “painful”, Wike prayed for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss.He commended the Police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention, saying, “the promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable.”In a related development, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), equally commiserated with the victims of the stampede.The acting Director General of the department, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, in a statement said that nine out of the 10 injured persons earlier taken to Maitama District Hospital, have been treated and discharged.Mohammed also appealed to organisations that intended to give out food items to the less privileged to involve security agencies or FEMD for adequate planning to ensure safety of beneficiaries.He also advised the use of coupons and segregation of the beneficiaries into groups to avoid crowd and rowdiness that could lead to stampedes.Similarly, the Police Command in the FCT has ordered organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals to notify the police when planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the territory.In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said that the notification was to enable the police to deploy adequate security measures for public safety.According to her, failure to comply with the directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from negligenceMeanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against the unorganised distribution of palliatives and funfairs, which have led to stampedes and fatalities among vulnerable citizens.The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a media briefing on Saturday in Abuja.Adejobi explained that the warning came in response to the increasing number of stampedes resulting in injuries and deaths, particularly during palliative distributions. (NAN)
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.
The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka on Friday in Kaduna.
Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.
He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.
Also of significance, Ochai said, NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.
Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.
He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.
“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.
”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.
Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.
Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .
“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”
He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.
Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “
He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.
Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.
report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)
A Corps member serving in Katsina State, Blessing Ene-Ameh, has distributed free delivery kits to 50 pregnant women in Mani town, Mani Local Government Area of the state
The corps member distributed the delivery kits to the expectant mothers in Mani on Friday as part of her personal Community Development Service (CDS)project.
Eneh-Ameh said that she visited a hospital in the area during one of her group CDS programmes and observed that the hygiene of women in the antenatal and children’s wards was not too good.
The corps member also stated that she had noticed that the turn up of pregnant women for antenatal care was very low.
She said, ”This attracted my attention to the need to educate pregnant women on its importance.
“There is also the need for them to keep themselves and their surroundings very neat to avoid infections for themselves and their babies.
“The aim was also to educate them on the importance of planning for the future of the baby.
”They also need to be staying clean to reduce the risk of contracting infections and other diseases by both the mothers and children, as well as the community in general.
“The training will empower the women to be able to handle and bring up children for the family,” Eneh-Ameh explained.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended the corps member for her ingenuity and magnanimity to carry out the project.
Represented by the Local Government Inspector, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ismail-Tsiga, the coordinator urged the corps members serving in the state and other parts of the country to emulate her. (NAN)
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