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During the latter days of ex Presidnt Olusegun Obasanjo, militancy as a phenomenon pervaded the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This region which undoubtedly has contributed immensely to the coffers of the country was left so undeveloped by successive regimes despite the fact that they wanted the best for themselves. The absence of which gave rise to the Kiama Declaration of 1999. The advent of militancy as an approach towards seeking redress for successive abandonment of the region dealt a solid blow to the revenue of the country leading to the drop in crude oil production and revenue generation then. Those involved in sabotaging the crude oil production of the country felt it was the best approach towards ensuring that the plight of the region receives acclaimed attention and action from the relevant authorities. One of the protagonists in the fight for the economic rights of the people was no other person than High Chief Ateke Tom the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Force....

The Punch reports that the ex-militants under the aegis of the Presidential Amnesty Phase II argued that the proposed N20bn for the initiative was unacceptable because the amount could not cater for their monthly stipends. On Monday, December 14, the ex-agitators staged a peaceful protest around the major streets of Warri, Delta state, calling on the federal government to respect the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with them. The protesters were carrying placards with inscriptions: “We say no to the plan to reduce the amnesty budget”, “Buhari, please don’t force us to go back to the creeks”, “Saraki, leave our budget alone”, “Ex-militants reject the 2016 amnesty budget”. Speaking with journalists, Gen. Aso Tambo, the national chairman of the 6166 Presidential Amnesty Phase II, expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged reduction of their monthly stipend. “Our problem is that we have been receiving budget of this programme from October 4, 2009 till today and o...

The Appeal Court judgment that upheld the decision of the Rivers State Governorship Tribunal Judgment which sacked the Rivers State Governor Barr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike has been applauded by Sen. Wilson Ake.Asinobi Ake. Sen Ake served in the Nigerian Senate between 2011 to June 2015. Senator Wilson Ake while reacting to the Appeal Court Judgment that sacked three members of the Senate from Rivers State and members of the Federal House of Representatives from Rivers state as well as upholding the Tribunal judgment that sacked the Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike said the judgments as delivered by the Appeal Court was a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Rivers State. Sen. Ake while condemning the violence that enveloped the election in Rivers state earlier this year said the judiciary by its judgment has shown that it is truly the in sync with the political aspirations of the people of Rivers state. Senator Wilson Ake while stressing the fact that...

The Minister of State for Niger Delta, Prof Cladius Daramola, has said the Federal Government will transform the region. This, he said, is in pursuit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s development agenda for oil producing states. Daramola, who spoke with our reporter after inspecting the Niger Delta states, said the present administration would uplift the region. He urged the residents to remain peaceful and support the Buhari’s administration in its efforts to bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians. The Ode-Aye, Ondo State-born minister expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration would fight corruption, create jobs and combat terrorism. Also, APC members in the state have hailed the appointment of a London-based Solicitor-Advocate, Nat Adojutelegan, as the Special Assistant (SA) and Kehinde Ikuyinminu as Personal Assistant (PA)to Prof Daramola. They described the two appointments as well deserved and equitable. Adojut...

Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Thursday invited former Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) over N13bn Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) university land scam. It would be recalled that EFCC had mid this year arrested the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA], Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, two weeks after he was fired from his post. President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 16 sacked Akpobolokemi and directed him to immediately hand over all government property in his possession and vacate office. There have been several allegations of financial impropriety against NIMASA during Akpobolokemi’s tenure, including those which suggested the agency funded the lavish lifestyles of some Niger Delta militants and bankrolled most of the hate campaigns against Mr. Buhari in the run-up to the 2015 elections. Although ...

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja today nullified the election of  Senator George Thompson Sekibo  of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Rivers West Senatorial district. Sekibo, who has been representing the district since 1999, lost his position today, following the appeal by the APC candidate, Andrew Uchendu who ran against him in the March 28 election. He  was not the only casualty of the appeals filed by candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC. Also thrown out of the National Assembly by the Court of Appeal today  was  PDP’s Blessing Nsiegbe, who  represented Port Harcourt Constituency 2 in the Federal House of Representatives. Her election was challenged by the APC candidate, Collins Owhonda. Four other  members of the party in the House of Representatives suffered a similar fate Kingsley Chinda of the PDP who was representing Obio/Akpor federal constituency was  floored by Tony Okocha of the APC. Th...

The Niger Delta Renaissance Organisation a socio political group based in the Niger Delta region has hailed the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Force High Chief Ateke Tom over his call on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The group said while some ex militants have made it their stock in trade to work against the policies of the Federal Government, High Chief Ateke Tom has occupied himself with patriotic activities aimed at supporting the present administration at the centre and building confidence for the government. The former freedom fighter had in an interview in a national newspaper called on Nigerians to support the President in order to move the country forward. He had also urged the National Assembly to work in harmony with the executive in order to drive home the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari a stance the NDRO said is commendable. The Niger Delta Renaissance Organisation through its National Secretary and Legal Adv...

Members of the National Assembly from the South South geopolitical region have commended the people of Bayelsa State for the way and manner they voted Governor Seriake Dicksoin across all local governments in the state. In the results released so far Seriake Dickson of the PDP is leading the All Progressives Congress candidate Timi Sylva in 6 local governments while the APC won just one LGA The members who spoke with our crew during a mini survey carried out by our reporters at the National Assembly today, commended INEC for cancelling the results of the Southern Ijaw local government stressing that it would have been an embarrassment to democracy. The members said Bayelsa people showed they cannot be in intimidated by Federal might or lured by the lucre of ‘government in power syndrome’ The members who craved anonymity because the final results have not been mentioned said that the violence that greeted the conduct of the election in some parts of the state especially sou...

Arch Bishop Ogbonnah Adonijah is a US based Nigerian cleric. he is a consumate preacher of the word and has used his ministry to call many people to Christ. We recently caught up with him at the Shammah Christian Ministry Eleme where he spoke briefly on inter religious harmony. Enjoy watching 8

Governor Ifeanyi Okwa of Delta State, has set in motion, modalities for the completion of Ughelli-Asaba Road dualisation project. The Special Project Director in charge of the road, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, made the disclosure while addressing newsmen during an inspection tour of the project. He said the state government had directed the contractor handling Sector A of the road to return to site to complete the project despite the paucity of fund facing the government. Onesoke said that when the construction of the dual carriage way is completed, it will connect the various communities, towns and cities, opening them up for commercial activities that will also herald other economic developmental endeavours. He pointed out that the road will be a major incentive and bait for investors to come and take advantage of business potentials in communities linking the expressway, adding that the value of every other initiative in the administration’s development agenda would b...