NEWS
Board Lauds SPDC, Knocks NAOC over Projects Implementation

From Tayese Mike, Yenagoa
The Kolo Creek Cluster Development Board (KCDB), an SPDC funded cluster in the Ogbia council area of Bayelsa state have lauded the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) for the execution of projects and the implementation of terms entered in their GMoU with community members of the cluster board.
The chairman of KCDB, Barr.
Ebelema Danadana gave the commendation in Elebele community while speaking with Newsmen on an inspection tour of ongoing projects of the cluster board.Danadana noted that the multinational oil company has done well in the four cluster member communities of Elebele, Otuasega, Imiringi and Yibama (Oruma), respectively.
He said through the model adopted by the cluster board in the execution of projects, SPDC has made commendable progress in the timely release of funds for projects by the board.
The cluster chairman said upon assumption of office in 2019,the executive of the KCDB under his leadership have resolve the bottlenecks hitherto impeding development in communities of the cluster, saying that there are now ongoing projects simultaneously in each community of the board.
“In this cluster board we’ve been able to put all problems aside, we’re executing projects and programmes in all the member communities of the kolo creek cluster development board”, he said.
“In all the four member communities of Elebele, Otuasega, Imiringi and Yibama (Oruma) apart from various infrastructural projects, we’re also developing manpower through scholarship schemes.
“We’ve also been gender sensitive by ceding to women a certain percentage of projects for their empowerment.
“We commend the SPDC for the timely release of funds for the board which has made it easy for the execution of all the projects we’re seeing in the member communities of the cluster.
“The concrete roads, markets, flood protection embankment’s the various town halls, corpers lodges and even the hospitals in some of the communities of the cluster board were all executed by the SPDC”, he noted.
Meanwhile, the Kolo creek cluster development board has also taken a swipe on the Nigerian Agip oil company, NAOC for the absence of any project in the area despite having some of its major facilities in their domain.
The cluster described the oil company as insensitive to the plights of the people, owing to the health and environmental hazards associated with the exploration and exploitation activities, adding that upon various emissaries of the communities to NAOC,the oil major has not yielded to the demands of its host communities.
“Aside those areas where Agip has major of its facilities in Bayelsa state, communities of Kolo creek serve as the second highest area where Agip pipelines and other infrastructure were located,
“But even the gas turbine built here in Elebele by this company to service the Nigerian content development and monitoring board, NCDMB headquarters in Yenagoa doesn’t give any of the communities here power,
“But because we’re peace loving people, we’ve been overlooking them. No vandalism of their equipment, nothing happening to their facilities partly due to our peaceful disposition as host communities”, the cluster boss said.
He also reiterated the fact that the progress and development in this cluster can also be traced to the leadership style worthy of emulation, adding that unlike most Bayelsa communities where their paramount rulers and Community Development chairman relocated to Yenagoa, but in their own case, all of them reside at their domain .
” As you can see our paramount rulers, CDC and all of us leave at home and this also make Elebele one of the most peaceful communities devoid of youth restiveness and cultism and why going to Yenagoa when we have social amenities available here”, “, he added.
NEWS
2027: Tinubu’s Endorsement by APC Govs in Order – TDF

The Democratic Front (TDF) has dismissed the statement credited to the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) criticising the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Malam Danjuma Muhammad, the Chairman of TDF, in a statement on Monday, stated that CUPP was in no position to dabble into the internal affairs of the ruling party.
“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the unwarranted criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement by Governors elected on the platform of the ruling APC by the defunct Coalition of United Political Party (CUPP). “Like an attention-seeking meddlesome interloper, the group described the endorsement of President Tinubu by his party members as their flag bearer in the 2027 presidential election as a desperate bid for power.“While we are not opposed to CUPP’s right to self-expression as provided by the Nigerian constitution, we expect the leadership of the political interest group, to show respect for APC’s right to conduct its internal affairs within the limit of its constitution,” said TDF.The group said it recalled that in the run-up to the presidential elections in 2019, the then CUPP and its leadership threw its support behind the candidature of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).“And of course, it backed Labour Party’s Peter Obi in 2023, especially as its National Secretary, Peter Amen, even contested for a seat in the House of Representatives in Kogi State on LP’s platform.“So, it is clear that the current CUPP leadership has always been opposing the ruling party.“Furthermore, the CUPP should be reminded that APC has a precedence of picking an incumbent president as its presidential flag bearer through the consensus of members of the Party,” the group stated.It said CUPP’s stance on APC’s internal affairs of the APC amounted to overstepping its boundaries as well as a flagrant disregard for the constitutional rights of others.“We, therefore, urge Nigerians to see the CUPP for what it is: a partisan opposition to the ruling APC. It is simply a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) concocted with a narrow mindset to achieve personal political aggrandisement,” said TDF.It added that there was nothing wrong with President Tinubu’s endorsement at the recent APC summit because it was the party’s internal affairs. (NAN)NEWS
Plateau Pilgrim Dies in Makkah

Hajiya Jamila Muhammad, a pilgrim from Plateau has died in Makkah. Mr Daiyabu Dauda, the Executive Secretary of the State’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Jos. Dauda said that the pilgrim died on Monday at the King Abdul’aziz hospital, Makkah due to complication from diabetes.
“When the complications began, we immediately took her to the hospital for proper medication inline with our mandate. “Unfortunately, we lost her and the doctor at hospital confirmed it was complications due to diabetes,”he said Dauda further said that the deceased has since been buried in Makkah according to Islamic rites. He condoled with her immediate family over the irreparable loss and urged them to take solace in God.(NAN)NEWS
Bauchi APC Chieftain Congratulates Dogara On Appointment As NCGC Chairman

By Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi
The Bauchi State stakeholder of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Honorable Solomon B. Solomon on Monday congratulated the former speaker of the House of representatives, Rt Honorable Yakubu Dogara on his appointment as Board Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited NCGC.
Solomon who is also the former candidate of the party for Lere/Bula constituency in the last general election and the football club owner of the Zaar academy, said that Dogara’s track records will make him to lead with integrity. He said that the appointment of Dogara as Chairman will definitely make things easy and also bring development to the country.”On behalf of myself, family and esteemed supporters, I wish to extend heartfelt congratulations to my boss, mentor the former speaker of Nigeria, RT Honorable Yakubu Dogara, as the pioneer Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC) by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu””The widespread jubilation that greeted the announcement in Bauchi State and across the nation is a testament to the fact that Mr. President’s choice perfectly aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda”According to him said that “This initiative aims to strengthen confidence in the financial system, expand credit access, and support underserved groups such as women and youth””As I congratulate my mentor and leader, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, I urge all Nigerians to join us in felicitating him on this appointment. Given his proven track record of transparency, effective service delivery, and accountability during his tenure as Speaker of the 8th Assembly, we have every reason to believe he will lead the agency with integrity”The former candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC in the last general election, Honorable Solomon B. Solomon urged people to continue praying to the new board Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited, Rt Honorable Yakubu Dogara.