*Calls for restoration by Deltan Youths

Abuja: A Delta State born human and environmental justice advocate Comrade Mulade Sheriff has called for the restoration of Delta state, claiming that the state is sinking economically, politically and on human capital development.

The peace and development advocate who stated this in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) while speaking in Abuja with a cross session of Delta youths to mark International Youths Day, said the oil-rich State is sinking, describing it as the most economic suffering state in Nigeria, as a result of poor leadership and bad governance over the years.

While expressing his sadness towards the sorry situation of Delta State, Comrade Mulade noted that youths in the State have been reduced to political sycophancy and thuggery, claiming that; “Deve” or “Agbero” is the major job available to youths due to lack of employment and economic empowerment by the state government.

On political appointment by the present administration, he said the highest appointment the Governor can provide for the teeming youths in the state is Senior Special Advisers (SSA) and Special Advisers (SA), which placed them as government political thugs, rather than meaningful profession of serving the state, lamenting that “this is really disheartening”.

Comrade Mulade pointed to the fact that the state economy has continually dropped as a result of uncalculated borrowings and loans collected by the present administration with little or no development impact to the people of Delta state, “hence, this requires the collective efforts of all Deltans to rescue the state through collaboration, support and experience-sharing to assist in restoring the state to it past glory and to be envied by other states in the country” he added.

The Gbaramatu Kingdom born traditional Chief cum activist also claimed that, since the creation of Delta State, the state have been blessed and privileged to have had two renowned academic medical professionals as Governors as well as two legal icons as Deputy Governors, which ought to have brought real development and professionalism in government and as well placed the State above others in terms of academic development and as profession service providing state, but reverse is the case.

Buttressing his claims as regards the underperformance of past and present administrations, Comrade Mulade said, with Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan and Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as governors of Delta State, the state was supposed to have and be the best health services providers in Nigeria, but that is not the case, “in fact it is a big shame to the State”.

On the part of deputy Governors, Comrade Sheriff said that,” Prof Amos Otuama and Barrister Kingsley Otuara both as deputy governors of the state were expected to show to the world, particularly Nigerian youths the importance of legal profession and education in governance, and to be law abiding state, but Delta State became the most lawless state in the nation without any recourse to human rights”.

The Environmentalist, while speaking on fixing and restoring the state to it lost glory, said that with the 2023 general elections fast approaching, Deltans, particularly the youths should choose wisely by voting the right candidates with technical knowledge of community development, environmental base orientation, street leadership qualities, youth and women development plans.

He said that; Someone that have deep and sincere concern for those living with disabilities, real sense for economic and education development and infrastructure, that will bring development to all parts of the state”.

He said when all Deltans come together to vote in the right people as Governor, Senators, House of Representative and State House of Assembly members, Delta state will be rescued and restored from the present underdevelopment and be great once again.

By: Tino Tega

UDU – THE Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Udu Branch, E.E. Igbighogho Esq has slammed a N50M suit jointly and severally against the Divisional Police Officer, Ovwian Division, CSP Aliyu Shabba and five others for violating his fundamental Rights while on lawful duty at the station.

Igbighogho in suit No: EHC/FHR/39/2022 at the Effurun High Court, Delta State is praying for an order of the honourable court that the forceful removal and detention till date of his android handset on the 5th of August by the 6th Respondent upon order of 5th Respondent is illegal and unconstitutional.

He further prayed the court that the refusal of the 5th Respondent to release the Applicant’s android handset upon demand and the abusive treatment metres to him is illegal and unconstitutional.

The suit had the Chairman Police Service Commission, Inspector General of police, Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CSP Aliyu Shabba, ASP Imrana Yusuf and Inspector Lawrence as 1st to 6th Respondents with E.E. Igbighogho as the Applicant.

Vanguard gathered that the lawyer had gone to the station to solicit for a client when the 5th and 6th Respondents maltreated him and seized his phone, bragging that he can go to hell and nothing will happen.

Our Correspondent gathered that the police has been given 48 hours by the court to show cause. The suit is coming up Friday 12th August for hearing.

The Human Rights Lawyer is praying the court for the sum of N50M only as damages against the Respondents jointly and severally for breach of the Applicant’s Fundamental Rights and inhumane treatment.

Asked to comment on the suit on whatsapp, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe said he cannot comment as the document sent wasn’t clear enough to read.

The identities of the five suspects arrested in connection with the br#tal k#lling of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, have been unveiled.

Recall that no fewer than 40 worshippers were k#lled with several others inj#red in the att@ck that occurred on Sunday morning, July 5, 2022.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday, August 9, revealed the suspects are, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Momoh Ojo Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itokpka, Auwal Ishaq Onimisi, and Idris Ojo.

“Omeiza is one of the masterminds of the 5th June att@ck of the Catholic Church in Owo as well as the att@ck on a police station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State that led to the k#lling of a policeman as well as we@pons carted away,” the CDS said in Abuja.

Adding that he was arrested on the August 1, 2022 at Eka Okehi Kogi State during an operation with other branches of security. While Idris Ojo, 32, was arrested on August 7, at Aiyetoro C in Ondo State.

“Idris Ojo wasn’t done with his previous activities but was planning other de@dly att@cks along with his cronies before his arrest,” General Irabor added.

Stakeholders from the Civil Society Organisations, faith based organisations, media, women groups and different political groups, today Tuesday, 9th August, 2022, tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties on credible 2023 elections, including an increased participation of women in political leadership.

This development was a fallout of a one-day stakeholders Townhall meeting on the International Coworking Day Celebration, organised by the Stand-Up For Women Society (SWS) in collaboration with the Elona Development Foundation, which held at the conference hall of the Delta State Orientation Bureau in Asaba.

The Keynote address on the theme of the Day “Credible Elections, Democratic Stability and Women’s Role” was delivered by the Director General of the State Orientation Bureau, Eugene Azuka Uzum Esq., who dwelt extensively on the challenges of the electoral processes and INEC improvement as fallout of the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States’ elections.

Meanwhile, goodwill messages were given by INEC REC represented by the Director of Voter Education, Mr. Bukola Ojeme, the Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Delta State Chapter, Comrade Sonia Unobunjo and other critical stakeholders who highlighted the major impediments before, during and after elections, while calling on political parties to allow for greater women participation in political leadership.

At the onset, the Chairperson of Stand-Up For Women Society, Delta State Chapter, Comrade Mrs. Stella Macaulay had said that the International Coworking Day which holds every August 9, provides the platform to create awareness on what needs to be done by critical stakeholders in advancing the course of society.

She had revealed that the stakeholders were gathered to interrogate the contributions of various segments of the society, aimed at achieving the Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goal, SDG.

The cerebral Macaulay however, called for collaboration to incubate ideas that would engage productive leadership and transparent electoral system going forward.

In addition, the SWS Chairperson commended INEC for the transformation that had taken place in its guidelines and operations, orchestrated by the introduction of the BVAS machine into the electoral system, while equally tasking them on sustaining the credibility of the electoral system for the overall benefit of the Nigerian people.

Other guest speakers also presented their papers and in the end, a 9-point communique was issued from various deliberations by the stakeholders.

First was that, for electoral credibility in the next elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission should endeavour to make adequate logistics available for the 2023 elections.

Secondly is that, necessary Voter Education should be carried out in respect of the Biometrics Verification System.

Thirdly, that every effort should be made towards making the 2023 election to be the freest and most credible election ever conducted in the country.

Fourthly, that election violence, thuggery, vote buying and other electoral malpractices should not be condoned by the electoral umpire and various security agencies.

Fifth, that youths and women should make every effort to be active participants in the next election.

Sixth, that the forum frowns at the high cost of conducting elections in the country and called for drastic measures to cut down the huge budgetary allocations.

Seventh, that for the sustainability of the democratic process and the enthronement of true federalism and good governance, the electoral umpire should strive to be seen as unbiased.

Eighth, that in line with the resolution of the Beijing Conference of 1995, 35% of all elective positions should be reserved for women at all levels of government.

Ninth, and concluding is that, the stakeholders forum congratulated the organisers for the high level of success recorded during the meeting and also for the huge turnout of invitees.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fixed August 19, 2022 as date for proper hearing in the appeal seeking to upturn the judgement of the Federal High Court declaring Olorogun David Edevbie as the lawful and authentic candidate of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 Governorship election.

At the proceeding this Monday the judges granted a request for the abridgement of time to enable expeditious trial.

Accordingly, all the respondents have been asked to file their replies within eight days while the appellant is to respond within two days.

It will be recalled that on July 7, 2022, the Federal High Court faulted the certificates and other documents filed by Sheriff Oborevwori for nomination as Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP and commanded both the party and INEC to immediately recognise Olorogun David Edevbie as the rightful and lawful candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.

By: Ogba Okoro 

Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa on Friday said the state’s COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) Programme was to mitigate the adverse economic impact of the pandemic, particularly on the poor and vulnerable.

Okowa disclosed this at the official flag-off of the implementation of activities under Result Areas 1 and 2 of the Delta COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) Programme held at the Events Centre, Asaba.

He said that the D-CARES programme is a World Bank supported intervention with the main objective of expanding access to livelihood support and food security services as well as grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.

He pledged his administration’s commitment towards implementation of all aspects of the D-CARES programme in the state for the overall benefit of the people.

“As we all know, the COVID-19 exerted a huge toll on the economy with the attendant loss of income and means of livelihoods by thousands of people.

“The CARES programme is to help mitigate the adverse economic impact of the pandemic, particularly on the poor and vulnerable.

“On September 28, last year, we gave operational support grants to 1,818 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) under the Result Area 3 component of the programme.

“This administration is very committed to this programme because it complements and supports our various social intervention efforts.”

He said through the initiative, the programme will directly support; 25,269 poor and vulnerable households with social transfers, basic services, and livelihood grants; 13,976 farmers to increase food production and facilitate smooth functioning of the food supply chain, while 2,529 MSEs will be given grants to support post-COVID-19 loans, operational costs and to enhance their IT capabilities.

He advised the programme managers to continue to display high performance and accountability levels required for seamless execution.

“The successful implementation of the programme in the state, especially given the wide scope of the intervention would go a long way in addressing some of the negative economic impacts of the pandemic on our people.

While assuring that the State Government would continue to provide the necessary support and funding to ensure that the programme achieves its stated objectives, “it is indeed my hope that beneficiaries will make good use of the opportunity to grow their businesses, increase their income, and generally improve their living standard,” Okowa added.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr Barry Pere-Gbe, said beneficiaries drawn from poor and vulnerable households were selected on merit and not through political colouration or ethnic cleavages and urged them to maximise the opportunity.

In their goodwill messages, stakeholders of the programme from the world bank and other agencies lauded Governor Okowa for keying into the programme and affirmed that it will help to alleviate poverty.

Some of the beneficiaries including a physically challenged person thanked the Governor for giving them opportunity to benefit from the scheme emphasizing that their economic status has improved.

Highight of the programme was the presentation of cheques and farm implements to some beneficiaries by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Ibori @ 64 Ofotokun Congratulates former Delta Governor

Oghara: A charismatic youth politician and an aspirant into the Delta State House of Assembly, Ethiope West State Constituency in the recently concluded primaries across the state, Comrade Edafe Ofotokun, has congratulated former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, as he clocks 64 years.

Ofotokun, in his Goodwill message to the former governor stated that Chief Ibori, is an iconic leader whose legacies in Delta State, will for ever be indellible in the heart of the people.

The people oriented politician maintained that as governor Ibori built bridges of unity amongst the different ethnic groups in the state, give the people sense of belonging in governance, create massive employment and accelerate the socio – economic development of the state.

He noted that Delta State was lucky to have Chief James Ibori as governor of the state between 1999 – 2007 , remarking that the pace he set has remained a standard for all the governor that came into power after him.

While praying to God to give Chief Ibori, long life, good health, abundance Joy and prosperity as he celebrate his 64 years of remarkable achievements on planet Earth, also enjoined the people of Delta State to join hands and pray for Ibori and his future endeavours.