In ensuring the manifestation of God in the affairs of men, the Bishop, Diocese of Asaba, Anglican Communion and President of Synod, Rt. Revd.Kingsley Obuh, has charged Christians to continually walk with God.
Obuh gave the charge while reading the Presidential address during the first session of the 16th Synod, with the theme “spiritual foundations- Inevitable for sustainable walk with God” at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Bishopcourt, Asaba, Delta State.
He said walking with God guarantees, the right spiritual foundations, as there was no other way to greatness in life, adding that Jesus Christ was the sure foundation anyone can rely on.
While frowning at how destinies, marriages and families had been destroyed by faulty foundations of many Christians, he admonished all to return to the basics, which is Jesus Christ so as to have a stable foundation that would not crash before their eyes, according to the word of God in the Bible book of Matthew chapter seven verses twenty four through twenty seven.
The Cleric advised Christians to do away with idolatry or subtle satanic spiritual enslavement, by demolishing every faulty foundations so as to run the race through to the end successfully.
On his part the Chairman, 2022 Synod Local Organizing Committee, Sir. Dr. Azu Mafiana (KSC) urged brethren to understand the foundation that defines their Christianity and ensure that it was one that would make the Church succeed in her mission.
Expressing delight over the success of the year’s synod, the immediate past Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Revd Justus Mogekwu, commended the Presiding Bishop for the timely theme of the programme.
Mogekwu urged Christians to follow Christ with all their heart by abiding by his words.
According to him, Christianity was a call to Calvary living and sacrifice for the sake of heaven, hence the need for Christian to walk diligently with God.
Chairman, Rice Farmers Association, (RIFAN), Delta State chapter, Mr Sylva Ejezie, has called on beneficiaries of the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme to offset loan received from the programme.
Ejezie gave the call while speaking with Journalists in Asaba, the state capital.
He said repayment of the loan by some members who had earlier received inputs for their agric business would enable other rice Farmers benefit from the facility.
While frowning at excuses from some of the farmers over failure to harvest their crops, the Chairman said it was as a result of their been novice in the farming practice.
He added that their unproductivity had nothing to do with the programme as USAID had earlier trained rice Farmers in the three senatorial district of the state.
According to him, the earlier plea for repayment of loan to members had led to some members of the association passing a vote of no confidence on him, which to him would not deter him from bringing to their attention, that they were indebted, hence the need to pay up.
Ejezie revealed that in retrieving the federal government fund borrowed the farmers, the intervention of DSS in collaboration with other security agencies is been put to place to ensure the realisation of the funds.
The Chairman, also commended some members who had earlier commenced payment of their loans and urged them not to relent in completing it so as not to be defaulted
Ahead of the 2023 general election, Delta State governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa has reaffirmed the possibility of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gaining victory at the polls.
Sen. Okowa made this known on his social media handle.
He said that with the caliber of candidates contesting under the umbrella of the PDP, there was no doubt that their goal to Rescue Nigeria would become a reality in 2023.
The governor had earlier received the former Vice-President of Nigeria and a current presidential aspirant of the Party, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who was on a consultation visit to the state.
Delta North Senatorial Aspirant, Hon Ned Nwoko has said that his mission to the red chamber was not for money making but for the interest of the citizens of Delta North senatorial district.
Nwoko disclosed this while addressing members of his media directorate at his country home in Idumuje Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said he was more concerned about the interest of his people and that was why he wants to give them quality representation in the senate if given the opportunity to serve them.
According to him, the Senate is not House of Assembly or an ordinary place for lawmakers or where the people would send a novice who has no knowledge of how to represent them, neither is it a place where one would go and be silent.
“I am not going to chase after money, I will be an exceptional Senator on a mission to serve the people I represent and even create changes in the country” he said.
On his part, the Director General of his Campaign Team, Hon Pascal Adigwe charged the media aides to be ready to differentiate between candidate A and B and give reasons why it has to be candidate A and also try to make candidate A bigger, as it is well known that candidate A, which is Ned has a voice and passion to lead Delta Northerners.
Adigwe said Ned was one person who would stand taller than other senators when he gets to the red Chambers, as he would not want to be one of those Senators who run after Senate President for constituency projects or contracts.
While commending the formidable force in the media, he urged them to ensure that their effort in 2019 becomes a tip of the ice bag compared to what Deltans should expect as they prepare towards 2023.
Celebrated philanthropist,Prince Ned Nwoko has been named “Impact Person of the Year 2021 by Leadership Newspaper.
This was unveiled in the Leadership publication of Monday May 9 ,2022, where Prince Ned Nwoko was listed for honour with other prominent Nigerians including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, world renowned development expert,Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and industrialist, Dr. A. B C Orjiakor among others.
Nwoko, former member of House of Representatives has distinguished himself as patron of public charities,granting scholarships to thousands of secondary and tertiary school students, initiator of Africa Malaria eradication project, London-Paris Club loans refund which ended Nigeria’s recession as well Environmentalist being the first Nigerian/black African to undertake an expedition to South Pole Antarctica.
He is currently seeking to represent Delta North senatorial district at the national assembly in 2023, under the people’s Democratic Party PDP.
The leadership Newspaper “Impact Person of the year” recognition would be presented to Prince Ned Nwoko at its 2022 award ceremony.
Parent have been advised to bring their children up in the fear of the Lord so it was what they would be remembered for when they are no more
The Grand Knight of Asaba Sub Council, Sir Joe Ogabu, gave the advised during the funeral of late Mama Beatrice Izegbu in Asaba, Delta State.
He said, no joy can be compared to bringing up children and seeing them become men and women of worth, succeeding in their different fields.
While describing the deceased as one who was fulfilled in all sphere of life, dedicated to the things of God, he admonished the family of the deceased to emulated their late parents by been united.
Earlier, the homilist of the day, Fr. Augustine Odu, advised parents to teach their children morals and help them stand firm in the way of God.
Fr. Odu said late mama Beatrice who died at a very old age, nurtured her children in the way of the Lord, hence all should come to the reality that death was inevitable, so they should have something to be remembered for when they pass on, adding that they should leave a legacy of peace as it was the only thing that would remain, even after they are no more.
Describing his late mother as a pillar of strength, the first son of the deceased, Prof. Victor Izegbu, said as a disciplinarian and teacher, who loves all her children with all her heart, she would be remembered for the legacy she left behind.
The fifth child of the deceased, Dr. Annette Akinsete narrated the life and times of mama, adding that she was not only a mother but a prayerful one, a loving disciplinary, who always wanted the best for her students and her children.
On her part, the deceased daughter in law and the wife of the last born, Mrs Mimi Izegbu, said she would miss the bond and times they shared together, adding that she showed her true love and taught her so many things about Asaba culture which she never knew before.
… Say ‘We Don’t Have Another Mother’… Say ‘We Don’t Have Another Mother’
The Omu of Anioma, HRM. Obi Martha Dunkwu receiving a photo frame from the Chairman of Okpanam Community, Comr. Lucky Okolo during his visit to the Omu in Okpanam, Delta State
By Patrick Ochei
The newly inaugurated President of Okpanam Youth Organisation, Comrade Lucky Okolo and members of his Executive, including the Chairman and members of the Executive of Amachai Youth Association have paid a courtesy visit on the Omu Anioma, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu at her Palace in Okpanam, where they showered her with love and encomiums.
The vibrant and eloquent Comrade Okolo appreciated the Omu for her motherly support and defence during and after the electioneering process that brought him in as President of Okpanam Youth Organisation.
He said that as part of his preliminary routine in office, he had decided to pay visits to leaders and stakeholders of Okpanam community to further create awareness on his aims and objectives towards restoring hope and progress in the land.
He listed his core agenda which include; peaceful resolution of disputes between leaders and stakeholders of the community, launching of Okpanam environmental sanitation christened ‘Clean and Green’, social security revenue which is a form of job creation initiative towards getting the youths gainfully and productively engaged and; of course, to upgrade and identify the boundaries and identity of Okpanam.
Okolo affirmed that it is painful to see residents in Okpanam referring to places in Okpanam as other towns and putting signposts bearing towns other than Okpanam.
His words, “We have come to share our thoughts with you as our mother for your advice, support and blessing. We know you have always supported us, and with you at our back, we have nothing to fear but to do that which is right for the progress and development of Okpanam community. You are our mother and there is no other but you”, Okolo submitted.
Lending his voice to his President’s submissions, the Chairman of Amachai Youth Association, Comrade Onwudinjo Emma Agala commended the Omu for opening the eyes of the youths to the potentials of Comrade Lucky Okolo, whom he referred to as a bulldozer and a focused leader worthy of emulation.
According to him, “I am proud of my President and I am happy I didn’t disappoint Omu when she asked that we support Comrade Okolo. This is the time to look into the future and we have promised to be futuristic in our actions. We will do the right things to show the world that we have capable hands amongst Okpanam youths to bring about positive change and development in our community.
“I will continue to support and encourage my President to remain solid in his determination to effect the needed leadership and progress in our land. This is a train and we must continue to move victoriously in order to achieve our desire of not only bringing about peace and harmony, but to entrench the desired growth and development in our community”, Agala posited.
Responding, the highly elated Omu Dunkwu who was presented with a glassy portrait of her person by Comrade Lucky Okolo, applauded the youths, saying that the youth body had now gotten the desired leadership.
She said that the new leadership of Okpanam Youth Organisation had brought a new innovation that would put Okpanam community on the positive side of history, with specific reference to engaging transporters on the identity of places within Okpanam that had oftentimes been ascribed other names of other towns and then ensuring that residents are made to be proud living in Okpanam.
Omu Dunkwu while expressing her disappointment that no market at present in Okpanam is identifiable to the community, warmly donated a plot of land each to Okpanam Youth Organisation and Amachai Youth Association to build their Secretariats.
Her words, “I love you guys because you are our present and our future. I feel proud of the crop of Youth leaders that we now currently have. Youths who are graduates and well educated, youths who are vibrant and committed to positive change, youths who are broadminded and intelligent, youths with swag and difference.
“When I heard of what Comrade Lucky Okolo did in his village, how he carried out a successful recovery of lands and accountably utilised the proceeds to develop his quarter and people is amazing. He has antecedents that were so loud and he won my love and affection during his campaign.
“Lucky Okolo has brought a new innovation into leadership. He has my one hundred and ten percent support. The combination of Lucky Okolo as Youth President and Emma Agala as Amachai Youth Chairman is already a complete success.
“The two biggest issues I feel you must tackle are: get the transporters together and direct them to identify Okpanam by its name and then house owners to keep to Okpanam’s name and not another in giving addresses and locations.
“For the land I am donating to you, I want you to build your Secretariat. You must not end as local Youth leaders, you must aspire higher to the extent of holding positions in government. You must distinguish yourselves, stand out and become relevant in the scheme of things.
“I make bold to say that you have arrived, being educated, broadminded and critical in thinking. However, I want you to arrive finally with swag by the time you build your Secretariat.
“I have moved on in life. I, Obi Martha Dunkwu will not give a damn how people feel about me anymore. I will continue to do what the spirit and our Ancestors direct me to do. I am light and I always defeat my traducers. I want you to see life as an opportunity to make your own input and leave a legacy for posterity to judge. I do all I do and people wonder why I am so attached to my community to the extent that I can even die for my community. The love of the land of my birth is what propels me. Thank you for your support and encouragement”, Omu Dunkwu concluded.
Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Dr Abubakar Audil
Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Dr Abubakar Audi Ahmed PhD(mni) have The been described as a bridge builder and a visionary leader with numerous innovative and transformative contents, who has everything it takes to rejig, revamp and REPOSITION the NSCDC but lacks adequate funding, necessary supports from both the Federal, State, Local Government, the general public and private institutions/individuals.
The Delta NSCDC Mouthpiece, Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime who was a guest on a television programme in Asaba the Delta State Capital, described Dr Abubakar Audi PhD (mni) as an achiever who has achieved alots in the last one year since he assumed office as the Commandant General of the NSCDC. The emergence of Dr Abubakar Audi Ahmed as the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has not only transformed the Corps but has introduced many innovations and reformed the NSCDC into a 21st Century Paramilitary Institution in line with international best practices and standards even with the limited resources available.
The CG has brought honour and has restored back the lost glory of the NSCDC in the areas of Man Power, Staff Welfare, Research and Training, Promotions, Logistics, Death Benefits and Allowances amongst others.
Dsc Peters said, that the CG is committed and dedicated to do exploits in the areas of Man Power/Open recruitment, Staff Welfare, Improved Salary Structures, Foreign Training and Research Operational Vans, Officers Mess/Barracks, Clinic, Promotions, payments of all inherited and outstanding allowances, Purchase of Sophisticated Weapons, Safety Kits, Speed boat, gunboat among others if adequate and necessary fundings were released or provided for the Corps
The words on the lips of the personnel now is: “the sky is blue”, showing the pride they now have in putting up the blue uniform of the NSCDC. Audi has recorded landmark achievements that no Commandant-General of the NSCDC in recent past can beat. He has promoted synergy among Nigeria’s military, Police and paramilitary services. With a robust relationship with every formidable arm of government, extending to the diplomatic envoys and the international relations. Today, NSCDC can boast of more than 20,000 graduates and over 46 PhD holders in the service.
“NSCDC under you has undergone series of successful innovative surgeries in different composition of trainings, both foreign and local by virtually all security agencies in the country and this gives it a comparative advantage of versatility and competence to intellectually and strategically collaborate with any agency of government genuinely interested in the growth and development of Nigeria.
Dsc Emeka Peters added that since Audi assumed office in March 1st 2021, he immediately set out to change the narrative of the agency from an otherwise moribund organisation to a high-flying security outfit in the country through focused and qualitative leadership, thus, creating an enabling environment for an industrious and highly motivated workforce committed to quality service delivery, integrity.
“Audi has worked towards greater inclusiveness of the service in the security architecture of the country which is a pointer to his determination to make the NSCDC a world class organization.” If all things were equal financially and otherwise, Dr Audi would have done more exploits and recorded more successes, achievements in the shortest possible time
“Some of the achievements we have recorded under his administration’s even in the atmosphere of poor funding are: “Safe School Initiative under which there was an establishment, training and commissioning of a formidable, well kitted Female Squad to checkmate the menace of kidnapping of school children in the country and stoppage of any kind of threat or breach of security in our educational institutions. This effort has been replicated in all state commands across the country. And to ensure that this works, a vulnerability survey of all schools in the country was carried out to determine the number of schools that are prone to attack by terrorists and this has helped in developing strategies for schools’ protection in Nigeria currently.
The NSCDC Spokesperson stated that the welfare of her personnel under Audi has been improved upon by the placement of personnel on their respective appropriate ranks; fostering steps towards payment of staff appropriate promotion arrears: sanitization of the promotion process and successful release of 2019 promotion exercise and distribution of letters to successful personnel across state commands, thus scrapping previous cumbersome procedures and administrative bottlenecks.
“Another area of achievement of the present leadership is the Capacity Building which include roll out of operational vehicles and equipment to different departments and directorates; Commandant General’s merit Awards to outstanding personnel; establishment of the Rapid Response Squad; appointment of acting DCGs and administration of oath of allegiance for the first time in modern history of the Corps and launching of Gender policy document.
Dsc Emeka Peters added that another area where Audi has made intervention is the repositioning of the private guards security company department which he has sanitized, repositioned and restructured to serve in line with the globally acceptable standards because of the dynamics of crime and robust intelligence gathering function it performs.
“Audi is an experienced officer with antecedents of great achievements. There is no doubt that his emergence as the new Commandant-General has not only meet our criteria as a nation but has aided our efforts at combating insecurity and pipeline vandalism in the country. We want to wish him the very best as he continues to achieve giant strides in NSCDC.
It was a joyful atmosphere filled with songs, dance and chants in praise of Prince Ned Nwoko ( Dike Anioma) as the people of Ukwuani, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West welcomed him as their best man for the Delta North senate seat, 2023.
Prince Ned Nwoko who came to consult the PDP delegates in the 3 council areas was overwhelmed by the display of unconditional love and rousing reception.
He commended the people for standing by him always and said he recognised the Ndokwa axis as his territory and political base.
Prince Nwoko assured them that as Senator, he will be a strong voice in the National Assembly.
He said he will work to stop gas flaring, initiate lasting measures to check perennial flooding in the communities along the River Niger and proffer solutions to other challenges facing the people.
Nwoko, a former member of the House of Representatives noted that he is not a novice in the act of lawmaking and told the people that the job of a senator is not for learners but requires personality with credibility and a broad national outlook,
He stated that in his private life he has contributed to the development of his home town by establishing the First Sports University in Nigeria, while people knew him all over the country for the Paris Club Refunds and Malaria Eradication Project.
He told the electorates to ask anyone seeking their votes, what such politician has done for his community, the state and Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Director-General Ned Nwoko Campaign Organisation Hon. Pascal Adigwe informed the delegates that the leadership of the party has unanimously agreed that it is Ned’s time to go because he has the best credentials to serve as Delta North senator.
The Chairman of the campaign organisation, Chief Dele Omenogor, the Odogwu Adi Abuo of Ndokwa nation, commended the Ndokwa people for supporting Ned Nwoko while a Chieftain of PDP in Ndokwa East LGA, Rt Hon Olise Imegwu, former speaker, of Delta State House Of Assembly, told the delegates that no opponent in the senate race is Ned’s match in legislative experience, exposure and boldness.
In all their responses the three PDP chairmen in Ukwuani, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West stated that the delegates’ votes will all go to Prince Ned Nwoko.
The consciousness of man towards the omnipotence of Allah has been described as the reason for the celebration of Eid- el-Fitir, as the Muslim Community in Delta State joined their counterpart worldwide in the festival, yesterday.
This was revealed to Pressmen, by the Chief Imam of Asaba Central Mosque, Alhaji Dr. Adekola Yinusa during the Eid-el- Fitri in Asaba, Delta State.
He said the celebration which marks the end of the 30 days Ramadan fasting serves as a period of expressing gratitude for all they have received during the fasting period, adding that it tends to draw Muslim faithful to God and help them rededicate themselves to the Almighty Allah.
While praying for peace, the Cleric advised that they continue to tolerate and love one another.
