Agudama-Epie agog as late Mrs. Bokolo laid to rest amidst Eulogies, tributes

By: Olaitari Ungbuku

It was a mammoth crowd for the burial ceremony of late Elder (Mrs) Flora Bokolo, Nee Vure at Agudama Epie community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

The ceremony which held Saturday August 17, 2024 attracted big wigs from all sphere of live.

Speaking to Journalists shortly after the interment, the husband of the deceased, His Royal Highness (HRH) Chief Solomon Bokolo described his late wife to be a real gift from God Almighty to him.

“My wife was loyal, faithful, industrious and kind to all asundry, she was a mother indeed to my children and relatives.” He added

The first son of the deceased, Dr Giame P.S Bokolo, last son, Mr Onizibe Bokolo all described their late mother as a disciplinarian and action driven mother, adding that their siblings were not left out in her magnanimous approach to life.

According to them, “Our mother was generous, to her relations and outsiders mostly in the Garden City of Port Harcourt) during the 1970s.

“She receive every Agudama Epie Indigene who came to visiting us in search of greener pastures.

On her part Miss Precious Bokolo the only daughter of the deceased said, her Mum was also a friend to her.

“As the only daughter of the house, I cannot forget in a hurry but remember the bond we share together.

“The moral advice she gave to her siblings, very supportive to her father, laboured hard to support her Dad in terms of educational pursuit and life in general”, she hinted.

They thanked everyone who left their tight schedule to support them at the funeral.

Mulade lauds Governor Oborevwori for Creating Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure

**Calls for Statutory Status for the Ministry

A Delta State-born development and peace advocate, and initiator of the creation of Coastal Areas Development Agency, CADA, Chief Sheriff Mulade has commended the Sheriff Oborevwori Administration for creating the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure, with an appeal for statutory status accorded to the Ministry.

Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, gave the commendation at Abuja in a chat with newsmen over the recent development.

The peace advocate said the creation of the Ministry and the appointment of Chief Ebikeme Clark both indicated that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is a true democrat eager to carry all segments of the state along in his development strides, particularly those in the deprived riverine areas.

He commended the Governor for his move to solve the problem of infrastructural deficit in the riverine areas by creating the Ministry which he said would go a long way in helping to ease the plights of coastal and riverine rural dwellers.

“I must commend Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for this bold step, which is long overdue. It shows that the Governor has a listening ear, and I believe through the establishment of this Ministry, the riverine areas will be given a sense of belonging, and will equally experience a new lease of life if adequately funded,” Mulade asserted.

He said the riverine areas play host to mainly maritime, oil and gas production activities, which he said constitute the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy. He, however, noted that the riverine areas lack many basic amenities despite the huge contributions to the development of the State and Nigeria at large.

“We have been crying for years over the deliberate neglect of the coastal dwellers after over seven decades of oil exploration activities, accentuated by the lopsided distribution of socio-economic development,” he added.

Chief Mulade noted that while the move was commendable, he was still bothered about the prospect of the Ministry in terms of its permanence as a statutory Agency backed by law.

He therefore appealed to the Oborevwori-led government to send an executive bill to the State House of Assembly to make the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure a statutory institution to help guarantee its existence beyond his administration and give more assurance to stakeholders that their welfare is paramount to the government.

He noted that the infrastructural deficit in the riverine areas of Delta State might not be totally addressed within a few years due to the difficult terrain of the coastal areas that will attract heavy funding to implement viable projects.

The Ijaw born development and peace advocate strongly appealed to Governor Oborevwori to consider the Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure as a development priority that requires adequate funding to achieve its purpose of creation, devoid of politics.

Breaking News: 8th National Youth Games, ASABA 2024 Registration Period begins 23rd

The 8th National Youth Games tagged Asaba 2024, to begin August 23-28 2024

While ,Zonal Elimination,
• Arr.val – 28th August
• Games – 29th – 31st August
• Departure – 1st September

Pre DRM: 2nd – 6th September

Games Period:
• Arrival – 9th Sept
• Games – 10th – 18th Sept
• Departure – 19th Sept 2024.

8th National Youth Games Gets New Date

By: Jude Agbeyeke.

The 8th edition of the National Youth Games which had been earlier scheduled to commence on the 10th of September 2024 has been shifted by a dy and will now commence on the 9th of September 2024.

The Minister for Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh represented by the Director Grassroots Sports Development in the Ministry, Mr Patrick Okeke made the adjustment during the just concluded Joint Technical Committee Meeting of the 8th edition of the National Youth Games which held at the Steven Keshi International Stadium Asaba venue of the next games.
Senator Enoh said the date was brought back by one day due to the Gubernatorial elections in Edo State on 21 September which would lead to a total lockdown and restriction of movement.

He said if the earlier date was sustained it would see various contingents from the South West who would pass through Edo State on their way back to their states violating the restriction order.
The Minister also revealed that the Zonal eliminations would commence on the 28th of August to the 1st of September while registration will commence from 24th to 28th of August and it would be done online.

He however thanked the Delta State Government for it’s commitment towards cadet sports development saying the State had shown it’s readiness to host the rest of Nigeria again.
The Minister appealed that the little renovation work spotted during the inspection of the various facilities be attended to swiftly to ensure a hitch free games.

The Director General of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr Festus Ohwojero while assuring the various contingents arriving the National Youth Games of a memorable outing said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remained committed to delivering an enhanced sports fiesta that would take the National Youth Games to a higher pedestal.

Mr Ohwojero averred that Governor Oborevwori had made all that was necessary to host one of the best games available. He asserted that the governors intention was clear as he had put in place egg heads in the Nations sports industry into the Local Organizing Committee with the former President of the Athletics Federation Chief Solomon Ogba who was also a former Commissioner of Sport Development as Chairman.

He said the immediate past Chairman of the Sports Commission and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Chief Tonobok Okowa as well as the President of the Aquatics Federation of Nigeria Chief Chino ye Dafe, a former Director General of the Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Victor Onogagamue who was a onetime Chairman of the Nigeria Directors of Sports as well as renowned Sports presenter, Harrison Ocholor and grassroots sports administrator Mr Onoriode Oborevwori as members.

The Director General stressed that it was a clear indication that this year’s games would be like no other before it as Governor Oborevwori was committed to doing more for the Sports sector in line with his MORE AGENDA.

Mr Ohwojero however enjoined the various contingents to compete free and fair saying there would be no place for age cheats at the 8th edition of the National Youth Games which would be held at the Steven Keshi International Stadium Asaba.

Other members of the Joint Technical Committee who spoke among several issues raised sought to clarify the number of Sports that would be competed for with the body ratifying the inclusion of Kick boxing and Kung fu as part of the events that would be medal awarding at the games.

36 sports would be competed for at the 8th National Youth Games with the age limit put at Under 15 years.

Delta Huge Monthly Allocations Should Reflect In Our State, Mulade tells Oborevwori

**Tasks Governor to retain Julius Berger for significant projects

Following increased monthly allocations accruing to Delta State from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), environmental activist, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade has called on the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to invest the huge resources on physical and critical infrastructure across the State.

Chief Mulade, who is the National Coordinator Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), made the call shortly after he was decorated as Patron of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council in Warri, recently.

Expressing his opinion on the increased federal allocation to the state, he said Oborevwori, is privileged to govern the state at the moment, as he is the most richest governor in Nigeria.

Hear him, “Delta State today, is the most richest state in Nigeria and our governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is privileged to govern the most richest State, that qualifies him to be the richest governor governing the richest state in Nigeria.

“It is my personal thought and opinion that at this point, Deltans want to see these huge resources to reflect in terms of infrastructure and in all areas of the state so that we can in turn appreciate and thank the governor for doing well.

“Some of us will not commend him for political reasons, as an activist who is the voice of the voiceless and hope of the hopeless, we are not anti-government but we will continue to express the plights of the people to the government.

“The governor should translate the resources in the state into development. This state at this moment, is not expected to borrow money from any institution either locally or international because we have the resources to run Delta.

The governor has informed Deltans that in the last one year, he has not and would not borrow to run the state.

Speaking further, the ICC Patron hinted, “Delta is rich enough to even borrow to some other states with the current economy, we are well blessed to even lease to other states with interest as also the form of investment that comes to the state.

“We appreciate the governor today, for embarking on some projects across the State. One of such, is the populous or famous Julius Berger flyovers and we can see the work; we don’t expect anything less from Julius Berger, from what they are doing because we know them.

“When you visit States like Akwa-Ibom, Rivers State – Port Harcourt and even Abuja, you can see what Julius Berger is doing. So, we are not surprised that they can work in this speed.

“This projects should not be the project that Julius Berger will embark on in Delta State. This should be a pilot project, just N78 billion”, it should be a pilot project, the UN Peace Ambassador reiterated.

Continuing, he said: “N78 billion is just about two or three months Delta State money. Julius Berger should be engaged to embark on significant projects. I expect that the governor will use Julius Berger to kick off the Ayakoromo Bridge, leading to Burutu and Forcados terminals.

“Forcados terminal under Burutu local government area, is the economy life wire and base of Nigeria’s oil and gas. Escravos terminal is there, these are two terminals and if you go to some States, they struggle to get one terminal but Delta State is blessed with two terminals that Nigeria, is struggling with.

“So, if these two terminals are connected to the upland, Delta will be a designation for development. The governor should retain Julius Berger in this state and use them to embark on important projects”, he restated.

Sen. Kalu sets record straight on N398.8m, faults FIJ’s report on wasted funds

By: Kenneth Udeh from Abuja

The lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has responded to a malicious attack on his personality published by an online platform, FIJ, titled ‘How Orji Uzor Kalu, Contractors Wasted N398.8m meant for 3 local roads’.

Responding through his Media office via a statement on Friday, Kalu described the report of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that the sum of 398.8 Million was wasted on some road projects as an affront to his personality and an attempt to throw spanners to the wheels of the machines of his good works in his Senatorial District.

The former Abia Governor’s media office described FIJ’s story as a high-level sponsored propaganda taken too far.

Faulting the report the Lawmaker urged FIJ to approach the government agencies who hired contractors and provided the funds used to construct the roads for clarifications.

The statement read;

“The story is a sponsored campaign of calumny against Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu by people badly intimidated by his towering achievements since he was elected as the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District.

“It is imperative that we educate the sponsors of the malicious story that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was not the contractor that executed the said projects he facilitated to Umuaku, Amoikpa and Ogwumabiri communities.

“It is disheartening to read malicious and disparaging stories like this at a time when almost all the communities in Abia North Senatorial District are praising Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for doing what he predecessors could not do in decades at the National Assembly.

“We admonish the sponsors of the spurious post to approach the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), with their frustrations and failed bid to malign the towering achievements of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu—for more clarifications on the projects—if the companies that handled the projects were qualified with the requisite documents to execute federal contracts.

“The general public, especially the people of Abia North Senatorial District are enjoined to disregard the misleading claims especially on Ogwumabiri road.

“The input from Senator Kalu was for a 5km road, which was later reduced to 500 meters by the agency. Even though Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had no business with the contractor, a rational mind would agree with us that N34.7 million cannot effectively execute the job.

“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is a serial performer and lover of his people who has invested heavily including using his personal money to help execute projects across Abia North Senatorial District. Senator Kalu’s love for his people can be seen through the litany of projects he has attracted to the zone since 2019.

“An attack on his person is nothing but an insult to the masses’ integrity. It is a futile attempt by frustrated and rejected politicians to assess the outstanding performance of Senator Kalu who was adjudged as the best performing Senator in the 9th Senate by the Senate Press Corps for executing massive developmental projects for his Abia North constituents.

Kalu also admonished sponsors of the story to desist from such acts urging to focus their searchlights on other lawmakers who pocket money meant for their constituents.

ABS FC inspect facilities in Offa ahead of PTDP final screenings, picks date

The team of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club, led by the Director of Football, Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka , Saturday August 17, 2024, visited and inspected facilities in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of kwara state, ahead of the final round of screening for its Players’ Talent Hunt and Development programme (PTDP).

The team inspected facilities for accommodating players and officials, training and match pitches, among which includes Zeems Sports Arena, Oloffa Stadium, Freedom Hotel and others.

The team had, after expressing satisfaction with the facilities, picked Saturday 24th as Arrival date for all players, ahead of the three-day screening which holds from Sunday 25th to Tuesady 27th, 2024.

Chairman of Offa local Football Council Alh. Wasiu and members Offa FA were on ground to receive the team and assured them of maximum security and logistics arrangements.

The final round of screening will have all the players earlier selected from the six geo-political zones across the country.

The talent hunt team visited six locations across Nigeria, including Kaduna (North West), Bauchi (North East, Owerri (south East), which was put on hold due to environmental concerns), Calabar (South South), Ado Ekiti (South West), and Ilorin (North Central).

The initiative was aimed at discovering players ready for transfer to the European markets, and for the main team of ABS FC, as well as for the U-19 Youth League.

The programme is a collaborative effort with ABS FC’s international partners,

The initiative is expected to boost the country’s football development and increase the number of Nigerian players competing at the highest level globally.

Speaking with football stakeholders in Offa after the inspection, Chief Chukwuemeka said Offa was chosen to allow for maximum concentration, even as he.called for support for successful completion of the project.

Others in the entourage are the Club’s Coordinator, Jimoh Bashir, the Secretary, Funmilayo Owolabi, the Welfare Officer, Wahab Ayinde, the Head of Technical for the PTDP project, Coach Yusuf Salihu, North central zonal Coordinator Mallam Ahmed Abdullahi, the Club’s Media Officer, Tosh Michaels and others.