Warri already wearing a new look, Says Gov. Oborevwori, urges Christians to give thanks to God

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, has urged Christians to bring out their best during harvest thanksgiving.

Oborevwori made the call on Sunday while speaking at the year 2023 harvest thanksgiving of Cathedral Church of St. Andrew, Warri.

The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, said, “It is good to serve God and harvest thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to go back to God and say, thank you.

“When giving, we should give our best just as Abel did; we should always thank God with joyful hearts knowing that all that we have and what we are and what we will be can only be made possible by God.”

He stated that his administration will continue to work for all Deltans.

The governor who observed that Warri was already wearing a new look, assured Deltans that they would always have reasons to give thanks to God.

Earlier, the governor who was also represented by his Deputy, attended the harvest thanksgiving of All Saints Cathedral, Anglican Communion, Ughelli.

President Tinubu Excited As France Returns $150m Abacha Loot to Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, expressed his appreciation to France for the return of $150 million stolen from Nigeria by former military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha.

According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday night, in addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme – a federal government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology; Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, noting that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.

“Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” the President told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news.

Nigerians celebrate  Aganbi with Golf Kitty, traditional dances as funeral activities begins December 1

Burial activities in honour of Delta politician and showbiz expert, Andrew Aganbi will begin on Friday in Nigeria.

‘’A memorial kitty will take place at the Golf Section of the Sapele Athletic Club on Friday, December 1, 2023’’ a statement in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government, said.

‘’This part of the burial arrangement is intended for Sapele Athletic Club golfers, affiliated clubs and golfing friends of Andrew Aganbi’’ the statement issued by Business Mogul, Felix Aganbi, said.

The statement listed cultural and traditional dances, Jam Sessions and De Pub Special Night at Canaan Land Golf & Country Club, Koko as events slated for Saturday, December 2, 2023.

‘’Young musicians, hip-hop heavyweights and old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll entertainers will mount the stage to dish out heart stomping beats and soul-stirring melodies while relatives and friends of Andrew Aganbi are expected to party, socialize and enjoy themselves with continental and intercontinental cuisines.’’

‘’The burial will wrap up on Sunday, December 3, 2023, with a Thanksgiving Service at the New Birth Baptist Church, Besides Youth Town Hall, New Road Beach, Koko. Reception for local and foreign guests will be held at Canaan Land Golf & Country Club, Koko.’’

Andrew Anirejuoritse Aganbi was born at the St Thomas Hospital, Lambert, London on the 30th January 1964.

On his return to Nigeria together with his parents, he started his education at the Children Nursery (Palmer Primary School) located at the Catholic Convent, Reclamation Road, Sapele and as it was the custom, moved on to complete his primary education at St Patrick’s Catholic School, Sapele in 1975.

He proceeded to Okotie-Eboh Grammar School where he completed his secondary education, before gaining admission into the Doff Catering & Hotel Management Institute (for his ND) and later studied at The Polytechnic Ibadan for his HND in Business Administration.

Andrew had always loved cooking and as a pet child of his mother who was the first London certified Cake maker/Caterer in Sapele in those days, he found his passion as an opportunity to demonstrate his nature of generosity.

Upon graduation, he worked as a pioneer staff in the Food and Beverage Section of Agura Hotel, (the first 4-star hotel in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in 1985. He left to work with the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) Abuja, as Head of the Logistics Unit under the leadership of Dr Dere Awosika as the Director-General.

He later joined his family in London at the twilight of the NPI programme, he being a British Citizen. He worked in several establishments in the UK, like the Guys-Thomas Hospital (His Birth hospital), Royal Court of Justices and other British Agencies

Andrew took joy in entertaining people day-in and out, with a strong belief that society is a web of social relationships made by connecting people. This passion drove him back to his first love, veering into entrepreneurship, in setting up the Calabar Kitchen (a restaurant chain) in the city of London. This restaurant quickly became a rallying point for Nigerians visiting the UK (especially from Edo-Delta) as he also dedicated the business to helping immigrants from these places find their bearing in London.

Having discovered himself as a man of the people, he decided to relocate to Nigeria where he forayed into partisan politics to serve his people. He created the political structure called the AGANBI SOLIDARITY FORUM to contest for the Chairmanship position of Warri North Local Government under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the Dr Uduaghan Administration. At the same time, he established his business, De PUB (Food and Entertainment business) first at Palm Groove Hotel Warri, later at the Airforce Officers’ Mess Warri, before relocating De PUB to Abraka in Delta State. He ran this business until he took ill in 2022.

Andrew got married to his heartthrob Juliet Toritseju (Nee Mene-Afejuku) on the 9th December 1995 in Warri and the blissful union is blessed with three children; Bawo, Bafor and Besi.

Andrew Aganbi was God fearing, a Baptist by denomination, and was a pioneer chorister of Ebenezer Baptist Church Sapele. He was a good man, an awesome human being who believed that Friendship is an investment, not a transaction. He was generous to a fault and lived that others may live; this earned him the sobriquets AK: ANDREW KASHOGGI (the CASHMAN). He built bridges and relationships across tribes and ethnicity, amongst the high and lowly including his connections with top Military Officers, Business Executives, Politicians, Youths and the Countryside women.

AK was a sports lover, especially a strong supporter of Chelsea Football Club in The English Premier League. He answered the call to eternity in the evening hours of September 30, 2023 at a London Hospital.

PDP Ward 10 Ogidigben congratulates Chief Ereyitomi on his Appeal Court victory, describes it as dedication to exemplary leadership 

By: Celestine Ukah 

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ogidigben Ward 10 in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State has congratulated the Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency Hon. Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi JP on the occasion of his election petition victory at the Appeal Court, Wednesday November 1, 2023.

Chairman of PDP Ward 10 Ogidigben, Samuel Pira, while congratulating Chief Ereyitomi, described his victory at the Appeal Court as remarkable achievements and a testament to his unwavering dedication and exemplary leadership.

Areanewsng.com  reports that the Vice Chairman Ogidigben Youth Body, Dogho Omagbitse Joseph in an electronic terse released on behalf of the PDP Ward 10 Ogidigben Chairman Congratulating Chief Ereyitomi read thus:

“We the PDP family of ward 10 Ogidigben, extend our heartfelt congratulations on your well-deserved affirmation as the duly elected House of Representatives member representing Warri Federal Constituency. This is indeed a remarkable achievement and a testament to your unwavering dedication and exemplary leadership.

“Once again, we congratulate you on this exceptional achievement and we are excited to see the positive changes you will bring to Warri Federal Constituency.

“We wish you all the best in your endeavors and are confident that you will continue to be a source of inspiration for others.

“Congratulations, Hon. Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi JP.

Wike assures Federal High Court judges of FCTA support

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike said the survival of democracy in Nigeria is dependent on the judiciary playing its role.

Wike made the assertion when a delegation of Federal High Court judges, led by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Thursday.

The minister said the judiciary, as an independent arm of government, plays a very important role in the survival of democracy and should not be seen as any less among the three arms of government.

He assured that the FCT Administration will continue to provide the necessary support to enhance the operations of the judiciary in the territory.

“Just yesterday, I went to the National Assembly to defend the supplementary budget and there we included the building of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

On the request for land allocation to Federal High Court judges, the minister assured that land would be allocated to them by the FCT Administration, but noted that it would be done in phases.

He also pledged to provide infrastructure in areas where allocations had been made by his predecessors to encourage development.

“If there are other problems that you think the administration can help with, do not hesitate to let us solve them,” Wike added.

Earlier, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Tsoho, commended Barrister Wike for his selfless service to the people of Rivers State and for his support of the judiciary as his primary constituency.

Tsoho, however, lamented that the frequent postings and transfers of Federal High Court Judges, due to the peculiar nature of their jobs, meant that they were denied various forms of policies that enhance the welfare of judges and justices, both serving and retired, since they are not likely to be posted to their states of origin.

He appealed to the FCT Minister to allocate land in the FCT to serving Federal High Court judges as a form of recognition for their services nationwide, which he said makes them federal citizens.

Also in attendance were justices G. K. Olotu, B.F.N. Nyako, I.E. Ekwo, D.U. Okorowo and senior officials of the FCTA.

Attack on NLC President Ajaero: ‘There’s attempt to blackmail my Govt’ – Uzodinma 

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has alleged that there is currently an attempt by some individuals and groups to blackmail his government ahead of the November 11 governorship poll in the state.

The governor made the remarks on Thursday November 2, 2023 at the Presidential Villa after President Bola Tinubu presented flags to the All progressives Congress, APC governorship candidates for Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Uzodinma was reacting to the protest staged by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in Owerri on Wednesday which led to the brutalization of the union’s President, Joe Ajaero.

Ajaero had alleged that security operatives tortured him after some miscreants hijacked the protest. The workers were protesting unpaid salaries.

Speaking on the matter, Uzodinma insisted that the state workers are not owed any outstanding salaries.

Addressing the situation surrounding Joe Ajaero, Uzodinma explained that Ajaero has faced challenges in separating his roles as the national president of the labor union from his engagement as an interested party in the local politics of Imo State.

He said, “From January 2020, there is no month that we failed to pay salaries. Before this time, I thought that the labour union is a democratic entity that allows the opinion of people. I don’t pay federal civil servants, I only pay Imo State civil servants.

“I challenge any Imo State civil servant to come up and say that he did not receive salary from January 15, 2020 till date.

“The NLC President is from Imo State. He has not been able to establish the difference between being a leader of an organization and an interested party in local politics.

“I want you people to be very careful because there is an attempt to mix-up partisan politics and attempt to blackmail my government.”

** Says An injustice To One Ijaw Man Is An injustice To 40 million Ijaw People Across The World

The Ijaw National Congress ( INC), has threatened a reign of anarchy should lawmakers in Rivers State allowed themselves to be used to impeach the State Governor, His Excellency Similaye Fubara.

The INC noted with dismay that the development in Rivers State was worrisome and capable of generating an unwarranted state of insecurity and instability that can throw the entire Niger Delta and the Nigerian economy into serious crisis and warned that enough was enough.

The President, Ijaw National Congress, Prof Benjamin Ogele Okaba in a statement, made it clear that the Ijaws are not going to fold their hands and watch some lawmakers being used to impeach the Governor and implored the President, Senator Bola Tinube to prevail on the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike to discontinue his dastardly act in Rivers State.

According to the statement; “The attention of the Ijaw National Congress has been drawn to a grand plot masterminded by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State now the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike to unlawfully impeach the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Similaye Fubara who is barely five months in office as Governor of Rivers State”.

“The INC considers the development as worrisome and capable of generating an unwarranted state of insecurity and instability that can throw the entire Niger Delta and the Nigerian economy into serious crisis”, the statement added.

The INC said that from available report, Governor Fubara did nothing wrong to warrant his removal except for the fact that he has decided not to remain a stooge to the immediate past Governor.

The INC therefore condemned in it’s entirety what it described as; “Barbaric, selfish, nepotistic and unconstitutional act capable of detailing the process of democratic consolidation in Nigeria”.

“Wike should be advised to concentrate on his responsibilities as Minister of Federal Capital Territory Abuja and stop interfering and arm swinging the political machinery in Rivers State to his personal and selfish desires” , the INC stated.

The body called President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call his FCT Minister to order, adding that; The INC is calling on all Ijaw sons, daughters and friends to rally their support to the Governor of Rivers State as an injustice to one Ijaw man is an injustice to forty (40) million Ijaw people across the world. The Ijaw Nation is watching closely and will act decisively and appropriately at the right time”.

Appeal Court dismisses APC appeal, affirms Ereyitomi as duly elected Warri Reps Member

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State South-West Nigeria has dismissed the Appeal filed by the APC candidate Ekpoto Emmanuel Ekpoto and affirmed the election of Hon. Chief Thomas Ereyitomi JP as the duly elected member Representing Warri Federal Constituency.

areanewsng.com can authoritatively report that With the declaration Wednesday November 1, 2023 by the Appeal Court all issues surrounding the election in Warri Federal Constituency has been put to an end by the Appeal Court through the judgment delivered.

Hon. Chief Ereyitomi was declared by INEC as the duly elected winner and it was upheld by the Tribunal in Asaba and the Appeal Court as the final lap also concluded it by laying the matter to rest and ruled in favour of the Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi

Appeal Court Affirms PDP’s Natasha Uduaghan As Kogi Central Senator

Dismisses APC Ohere’s appeal for lacking in merit

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday October 31, 2023 affirmed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the duly elected Senator for Kogi Central senatorial district of Kogi State.

The appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Kogi State National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which earlier pronounced Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner of the February 25 National Assembly elections as against Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was earlier declared winner of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Recall that Sadiku-Ohere, being dissatisfied with the verdict of the Tribunal, had approached the Appeal Court for respite.

But, a three-man panel of Justtices of the appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Tribunal shortly after it dismissed Sadiku-Ohere’s appeal for lacking in merit.

According to the superior court, the appellant failed to provide convincing evidence why the judgement of the Tribunal should be set aside in his favour.

Rivers Political Crisis: Eze hails Fubara for aligning with Amaechi

Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has hailed Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, for allegedly discarding former predecessor, Nyesom Wike and reportedly aligning with ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.

Eze cautioned the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister to refrain from his alleged custom of unbridled and overbearing indulgence targeted at resisting his sense of entitlement and lordship over the public and private lives and concerns of others.

Eze was reacting to the fuss between Fubara and Wike, which became public over the weekend and has transformed into a secessionist struggle for freedom and self-determination for Fubara and his government.

The former nPDP spokesman said that Fubara has earned his commendation for relying on his instincts by putting up a manly fight against acts that plague the conscience.

AREANEWSNG.COM reports that there was a rift among members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Sunday as some of them commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara.

Eze said Wike had decided to move against Governor Fubara because he embraced the people-oriented programs of Amaechi for the development of the state.

Fubara had also rejected Wike’s moves to shut him out of every political engagement and decision within and outside the state to the extent that he was cautioned never to attend any political meetings in Abuja, including PDP -Governors Forum where he holds sway as Vice Chair.

Edison Ehie, Leader of the State House of Assembly had rejected the bid to impeach the Governor, having not committed any impeachable offence and was removed as the majority Leader.

AREANEWSNG.COM also reports, however, that Edison has now been elected the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Eze urged the people of Rivers State to rally around the Governor and save the state from the hands of a very unprincipled emperor who thought that he had conquered Rivers State and her people.

“Rivers State is so sophisticated to be enslaved by an individual of the calibre of Nyesom Wike.

“The attempt to commence impeachment process against Rivers State Governor just because he wants to revive most of Amaechi’s vision like the Songhai and the Greater Port Harcourt all aimed at making Rivers State not only self-sufficient and empowering most youths in Rivers State is most sad and unfortunate.

“Let me reiterate that Wike should not attempt to reignite his illegal use of five lawmakers to commence impeachment threat against Amaechi by July 2013 because this time around his plot against Fubara will fail abysmally.

“Rivers State is not Wike’s personal property for him to decide on the destiny of the State

The APC Chief counselled members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to try and study the impeachment process of a Governor

Eze called on Governor Fubara to sustain the fight and ensure he breaks forth from the servitude to which he has been subjected by the FCT Minister.