NEWS
Gov Diri Challenges Fathers on Their Responsibilities
From Tayese Mike, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged fathers to effectively perform their God-given role to better the lot of the society.
Governor Diri gave the charge while addressing Christian faithful during a special Sunday service to mark this year’s Fathers’ Day celebrations at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.
Governor Diri, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, called on fathers to inculcate the right knowledge and character in their children for sustainable peace and development in society.
He observed that, although there are many knowledgeable people in Nigeria, the country is not making appreciable progress because most of its citizens lack character.
Quoting from the Bible book of Colossians Chapter Three verse 21, Senator Diri stressed the need for fathers to perform their leadership role in the family with love for both their children and wives.
While congratulating fathers in the state, the Bayelsa Chief Executive cautioned them not to shirk their responsibilities for their wives to shoulder, but strive to make ends meet in the midst of challenges.
According to him, it is only those who are doomed to fail that bow to challenges while successful people always see problems as a temporary uncomfortable filth or situation that must be cleared.
The Governor, who also advised parents to teach their children the dignity of labour, reassured the people that his administration would brave all odds to tackle the developmental challenges confronting the state.
“On behalf of our Governor, who is the Father of the state, I want to congratulate all the fathers on this auspicious occasion of Fathers’ Day. He had wished to be here personally but could not do so because of other important state functions outside the state.
“Apart from the celebrations, today also affords us the opportunity to look at the role we are expected to play as fathers. As we all know, the father is the torch light of the family. And so, when the torch light is off, the entire family will be in darkness.
“What this means is that fathers are the ones to determine whether there will be success or failure in a family. And so, if a father fails to play his leadership role effectively, most often than not, the children would become useless.
“We must strive at all times to inculcate knowledge and character in our children. The two go together. Knowledge alone is not sufficient. We have a lot of knowledgeable people in this country who do not have character. That is why, the country is where it is today,” he said.
Also speaking, the Bayelsa First Lady, Dr Gloria Douye Diri, acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of fathers in building and maintaining families in the present world, especially in Africa and other underdeveloped countries.
In his sermon, the Guest Preacher, Reverend Peter Barisufagha, emphasized the need for children and wives to appreciate the role fathers play in the family and society at large.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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