NEWS
Ewhrudjakpo Urges Christian Organisations to Participate in Politics
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has urged Christian organisations to play a strategic role in politics in order to promote good governance and sustain positive societal values.
Ewhrudjakpo stated this on Monday when the Council of Knights, Niger Delta West Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
The Deputy Governor, said the church does not only have a moral obligation to uphold the gospel but also guide leaders right by speaking truth to power.
According to him, in the early days, it was fashionable for Christians, particularly Knights, to bear the sword as they were regarded as soldiers of the Cross, “Which was why at their initiation as Knights they were given the sword as a symbol to defend the Cross.”
He tasked them to challenge the modern trends of false doctrine and other forms of onslaught against the church, stressing that as Christians they were expected to live exemplary lifestyles reflecting the virtues of Jesus Christ.
On issues of morality, Ewhrudjakpo also enjoined religious leaders to be above board in all their dealings at all times, and propagate the gospel of salvation and not that of miracles.
While urging Christians to continue praying for the government and people of Bayelsa State, the Deputy Governor further appealed to the clergy to streamline certain practices in the church to edify the body of Christ.
His words: “But today it is not the sword that is being used to fight the gospel war. The gospel war is now on social media and you see a lot of people spewing whatever they like on social media. You see people who claim that they have been called by God when in actual fact they have not been called.
“There has been a lot of negative publicity in the social media against the body of Christ and we need to counter the negative propaganda. Most worship centres have become and promote Christ of Miracle instead of Christ for salvation.
“There is indiscriminate registration of churches that preach prosperity and miracles and they no longer care for the needy. We should not also behave like the Pharisees when giving.
In his remarks, the President, Council of Knights, Niger Delta West Diocese, Mathias Otuogha, informed the Deputy Governor that the Council has conferred on him the position of Patron of the Anglican Knights of the Niger Delta West Diocese.
Otuogha, described the honour bestowed on Ewhrudjakpo as symbolic of the deputy governor’s outstanding leadership and christian testimony.
While urging him to accept the award, he expressed the hope that the Deputy Governor would continue to support them in their mission to promote the Christian faith and project the peace of Jesus Christ in the church and society.
Otuogha also congratulated the deputy governor on behalf of the Council of Knights, on his recent 60th birthday anniversary, adding that they were celebrating him as a true leader whose life and service are worthy of emulation.
Dignitaries who accompanied the President on the courtesy visit include, Vice President, Council of Knights and former General Manager, Radio Bayelsa, Dame Anne Koko-Abidde, the immediate past Head of Service, Dame Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, and one time Acting Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (Rtd).
NEWS
They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi
Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.
Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.
Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.
However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.
Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.
“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”
NEWS
AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.
Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.
Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding? He asked.
“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.
Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.
“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.
He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.
He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.
He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.
Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.
“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.
NEWS
RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.
The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.
Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.
He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.
According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.
He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.
Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.
He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.
“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.
He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.
The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.
He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.


