NEWS
DNKI Holds NEC/NAC Retreat In Bayelsa
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
De Norsemen Klub International (DNKI) over the weekend held its National Executive Council (NEC) and National Advisory Council (NAC) Inauguration and Leadership Retreat in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, with the theme: “Accountability as a Tool for Good Governance – DNKI In Perspective”
The new NAC leadership has Mr Oliver Patrick-Ityohegh (Abuja Chapter) as Chairman, Dr Chidex Eze (Rivers State Chapter) as Vice Chairman, Dr.
Ojong Bassey (Lagos Chapter) as Secretary and Mr Ifeanyi Larry (Edo state Chapter) is Treasurer while for NEC, the International President of DNKI, Chief (Engr) Chidi Anokwu is Chancellor, Chief Akpabio Essien is Chairman while Senator Okenwa Nnachi-Uka is the Secretary.The three-day event witnessed a medical check/outreach, meet and greet, interactive session with the International President, stakeholders and delegates, All White Pool Party,, NAC meeting/elections, novelty football match as well as a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty, King (Capt) Frank N. Okurakpo, Odhe the second, of Okugbe Isoko Kingdom in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.
Speaking to newsmen after the retreat, the International President of DNKI, Chief (Engr) Chidi Anokwu charged the new executive to be proactive by abiding to the principles of the organization so as to shun every tendency culpable of demeaning the Klub.
He expressed belief in the capacity, experience and competence of the new executive to take the Klub to greater heights.
He said ” I trust the new executive, one thing I know for them is that we are already cruising, I can tell you that this is the best team any leadership ever had in DNKl take it to the banks. Without mincing words, this team will produce results that we have never had before.”
The DNKI boss, while explaining some of the roles of DNKI, said the organization provides humanitarian services to the society, and called on members not to relent in providing succour to the vulnerable people in the society and as well to love one another.
On the misconception about DNKI, he reiterated that the Klub has carried out various developmental projects for people to see and attributed the misconceptions to mischief makers who don’t mean well for the organization.
He further assured, that his leadership will not rest on its oars to correct this misconceptions, hence, he promised that in no distant time the society will differentiate them from others trying to thwart the goodwill of the Klub
His words “This organization is seen from a different perspective, people bear our name, people answer our name, saying they are Norsemen, but we know they are not Norsemen. People want to copy us, mind you it is only good fruit that people stone, if the fruits are not good, people will not stone them.
“They keep calling us bad names while we excel. Prosperity is what we have come to inherit, but I want to assure you with time we will get rid of it.
Also, the host and Guv’nor of the Bayelsa State Chapter, Chief Anthony Oboghor said the aim of the retreat was to discuss the role of the leadership, capacity building of members and operations on how the organization will move forward.
He mentioned some developmental projects embarked by the organization in Bayelsa to include, installation of street lights, traffic stands, provision of drinking water in some communities, receptacles in Yenagoa.
According to him, DKNI, also provide other services such as enlightenment campaigns on drug abuse, provision of items like foodstuffs, toiletries,, mosquito nets, slippers and more to orphanages, the Nigerian Correctional Facility as well as providing stipends to the elderly, payment of fines for prisoners, blood donation among several others.
“We are like a signboard, the more they see us, the more they truly say these people practice what they preach. You can see how we organize our retreat peacefully. By October we have our humanitarian day, before then we must have done our other projects. He noted”
He said a lot went into planning the retreat and thanked God for making it a huge success, while also appreciating Chief Anokwu for the immense role he played in creating the enabling atmosphere for the successful hosting of the all-important event as well members of the state chapter who contributed their resources and energy to host what has been widely called the best retreat so far.
‘To my International President, I thank you for your unwavering support, advice, prayers and encouragement. I pray God continues to bless you with more wisdom and good health/sound mind to continue to pilot our noble organization to heights never attained before. To all delegates across the various chapters who thronged Bayelsa State for the past three days, I say thank you for adding colour to the event. You have left a lasting memory in our hearts which will be with us forever. Let us continue to work together to ensure the growth and success of DNKI” He said.
The retreat lecture titled: Family Budgeting “Indaba-Doxa”: Let the Believers Help the Unbelievers, MBOK! Was delivered by Professor Emmanuel Sabastien Akpan of Banking and Finance Department, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Highpoints of the event includes cultural display by the award winning Bayelsa State Arts and Culture and award presentation to some deserving members and personalities who have contributed meaningfully to the development of society.
They include, International President of DNKI, Chief (Engr) Chidi Anokwu, who was honoured with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his Innovative Leadership, Pastor Peace Belema-George and Dr Samuel Gambo jointly received the Lifetime Impact Award, Mr Ndunupere Owonaro and Mr Maurice Enarebebe also jointly received an award in recognition of Life of Service to DNKI/Bayelsa State Chapter.
Others are former Bayelsa State Information Commissioner, Barr. Esueme Dan-Kikile Esq. who received an award for inspiring the young generation, immediate past International President of DNKI, Chief (Dr). Adeshola Giwa was also honored with an Excellence Award for Setting The Pace For DNKI while Engr. Solomon Olali was presented with an Achievement Award for his remarkable achievements while he was the Bayelsa State Chapter Guv’nor.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has commiserated with the people of Ogbe Community of Yagba West Local Government Area over the gruesome murder of two young men in the community.
Ododo in his condolence message, vowed that the state government will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book and guarantee security in the area.
The Governor who spoke through the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon.
Kingsley Fanwo on Sunday, at Ogbe, said that the government is totally out against criminal elements in the state.He assured the people of Ogbe while addressing them that the state has all the forces required to tame criminalities and defeat terror.
The governor told the people of the community to demonstrate confidence in the commitment of his administration to stamp out insecurity, urging them not to take the law into their hands by launching reprisal attacks.
He assured them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the armed forces and security agencies, is giving the State all the necessary support to launch a holistic offensive on the agents of criminality, assuring the people that Kogi would remain one of the safest states in Nigeria.
Responding on behalf of the community, the former Councilor of Ogbe Ward, Hon. Adeleke John thanked the Governor for promptly responding to the community in her darkest hour.
In his words, “We want to thank the Governor for promptly coming to our aid and for identifying with us in this dark hour. It shows we have a Governor who is responsive and responsible.
“We will not embark on any reprisal attack because we are not hopeless. We have confidence in the Government to protect us”, he said.
By Yagana Ali, Yola
The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has called for an end to the security challenges in the area while emphasizing on the sustenance of development across the region.
The governors made the call at the weekend in a communique at the end of its 10th meeting, held in Bauchi, Bauchi State.
The forum, made up of the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, expressed delight at the growing strength of subregional cooperation and appreciated the successes recorded through their leadership styles.
The communique highlighted several key resolutions, including: Acknowledging the forum’s progress and commitment to fostering a common ground for the benefit of the people; and commended the Bauchi State Government for hosting the Northeast Trade Fair.
They expressed concern over the neglect of the Northeast in federal government capital projects, particularly infrastructure development, urging the Federal Government to address the power blackout in the region and improve energy infrastructure.
They resolved to set up solar power plants to generate at least 10 Megawatts per State and called for the extension of transmission lines to improve energy supply and industrial development.
The governors also demand for maximizing hydropower generation in Kashimbilla and Dadin Kowa dam, addressing climate change and environmental degradation through sustained regional efforts.
It also harped on charging the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) to be consultative and work with States for energy development; investing in agriculture value chains and supporting procurement of improved seedlings; partnering with OCP Africa to support agriculture in the Northeast; and strengthening partnerships with UNICEF for improved water and sanitation coverage.
The forum appreciated the Government and People of Bauchi State for hosting the meeting and resolved to hold the 11th meeting in Damaturu, Yobe State, between August 30-31, 2024.
Chairman, NEGF and Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, signed the communique.
From Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu
International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has strongly called for Judicial nullification of Imo Nov 11, 2023 governorship shambolic election.
The Chairman of the board Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi stated this during a press conference held in Enugu on Sunday May 19 2023 at new heaven suite.
Umeagbalasi in his speech noted that the Imo election was not credibly conducted stressing that the election witnessed violence, election rigging, voters intimidation and vote buying, political corruption, composed of harvested and written results.
According to him, “the facts and finding arising from our several investigation obtained before, during and after, widely condemned and rejected 2023 Imo governorship poll, which have shown how supposedly State actor or government Democratic institutions turned themselves into rigging tools in the election, thereby making the poll worse of the worst in Nigeria’s electoral process and recent election history.
“Despite deployment of Nine INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners, scores of INEC’s national commissioners and several top security chiefs including serving police DIGs, AIGs, CPs, Military and SPY Police Commanders accompanied by Police crack Squads.
SSS, Army, Navy, Air force paramilitaries, and government controlled militias. The State actor democratic institutions ended up becoming and serving as rigging tools in the shambolic poll. In the end, supervised brutal subversion of the sacred electoral wishes of the conscientious Imo voting populations”.
He therefore called for both nullification and also an all-inclusive fresh poll that will be conducted under an atmosphere of popular participation, including access to PVC and secured voting environment and voting materials.
He further called on the Nigerian judiciary under the leadership of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariawoola to use this rare opportunity to courageously return the Judiciary to the saintly status quo and save it from further bleeding.
He beckoned on retiring CJN to retire on August 22, 2024 at the mandatory retirement age of 70 years with honor by “politically” reversing the Jan 14, 2020 Imo State governorship supreme Court Hara-Kiri.
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