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Isoko South chairman expresses surprise over Ikpide-Irri sch with one teacher

Published

1 month ago

October 12, 2024

Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state, Comrade Friday Ovoke Warri, has described education as paramount to the growth of every society.

He expressed shock during an unscheduled visit to Okugbe primary school, Ikpide-irri, and discovered that the school has just only one teacher, teaching over the 170 pupils.

The council boss who was on an unscheduled visit to Okugbe primary school, Ikpide-irri community at the instance of a social and pressure group, ‘Concerned Indigenes of Ikpide-irri 4-Development (CIID), to access of dilapidated social amenities in the community, reassured the unwavering commitment of his administration aimed at sustaining balanced infrastructural development across the council and, alleviating your worries.

According to Warri, his administration takes seriously health and education sectors adding that “education remains the bedrock of every society as I will not joke with the issue of education. Education is utmost in my heart.”

Warri while stating that his administration will prioritise projects focused on the welfare of the people, particularly in education, and those that enhance the socio-economic well-being of the region in line with the state governor’s MORE agenda policy.

The council chairman in company of his vice, council officials and elated community residents walked over three kilometres round the community to evaluate essential self community and government infrastructure, including the primary school, health centre, market, and water bornhole tank with earning acclaim from local residents.

While addressing a crowd of enthusiastic residents at the community town hall, Warri, declared that ‘”My administration values investments in education, healthcare infrastructure, clean water, and strategic development projects, all designed to improve living standards and make government services more accessible, where women and children can seek medical care and children can pursue education.

“The arrival of Warri will bring respite from our troubles; we acknowledge the existing challenges. As local government, our mission is to improve constituent lives, albeit with restricted resources. We will address feasible tasks and seek Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori state government intervention for matters beyond our capacity, relying on his demonstrated commitment to supporting local governance.”

Warri however assured the people of Ikpide-irri community that within the next one month, teachers shall be posted to the primary to close that long gab between the pupils and qualitative learning.

In his remarks at the community’s Town Hall, chairman of Ikpide Irri community, Mike Ighoboro, expressed delight at hosting a sitting a sitting local government chairman, a rare privilege and occurrence in Ikpide-irri community for quite some time now.

Recalled that the Concerned Indigenes Of Ikpide-Irri 4-Development (CIID), had on Monday, August, 26, 2024 paid a courtesy visit on the chairman of Isoko South council, Oleh and appealed to the chairman to extend dividends of democracy to their community.

In a speech, presented by Comrade Obruozie Tom Odiuzou on behalf of the Concerned Indigenes Of Ikpide-Irri 4-Development (CIID) and flanked by ex-president general of Ikpide-irri Progress Union and leader of the delegation, Chief Joseph Ubeleke, CIID had complaint about lack of teachers in the primary school, health care centre, solar street lights, water, market, and among other amenities, noting that Ikpide-Irri riverine community is one of the largest communities of Irri Clan/Kingdom, Isoko South council of the state that has not gotten its fair share of social amenities from the three tiers of government.

“We are an agrarian community, specializes in the production of farm produce such as garri, starch, plantains, yams and peppers etc to guarantee food security in the state. Our Comrade chairman, sir, we graciously appeal to you to assist our beloved community in the following above pressing areas.

Last year, we lost a pregnant woman during labour but had to be rushed to Kaiama in Bayelsa state where every local goes now for health care. We passionately appeal to you to do everything in your power to make our healthcare centre functional again,” CIID had complained.

News

Troost-Ekong dismisses retirement talks

Published

32 minutes ago

November 18, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has vehemently dismissed any talk of retirement amid rumours that the Al-Kholood defender may quit the national team after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Despite being just 31 years old, Troost-Ekong is the oldest player in the team, with Moses Simon (29) the second oldest, while Alex Iwobi, who is 28, is the third oldest player in the current squad.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday ahead of Monday’s (today) Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Troost-Ekong, who was named the Most Valuable Player at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast, affirmed his commitment to the national team.

“It is a question I get asked a lot by Nigerians, but I think it is a bit too early,” he said.

He continued, “I am 31 now, and I think I am playing my best football in recent years. We are only talking about 12 months from now, so after that, we will see,” Troost-Ekong explained.

“It will not be my decision; it will be up to the coaches. Once I feel I am no longer an asset to the team, I will have that discussion.

“But I still have some targets in sight—that will be the AFCON in 2025 and the World Cup in 2026. We’ll see what happens afterwards.”

Troost-Ekong could add to his 75 international caps when the Eagles host the Amavubi today in their final game of the qualifiers.

News

Use Ondo Guber poll as template in Nig’s future elections – Coalition of 51 INEC recognized observer groups tell FG+Photos

Published

37 minutes ago

November 18, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A coalition of 51 recognized INEC groups under the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, CCLCA have recommended that the Federal Government should adopt the Ondo Guber poll as a template for future elections in Nigeria.

The convener of the coalition, Dr Gabriel Nwambu made this disclosure in a post election press conference be stating that:

“Considering the manner the apex electoral body, INEC conducted the election in Ondo state last Saturday, we recommend this template for future elections in Nigeria.

Read full details of report below:

“We stand before you today as a coalition of 51 accredited observer organizations under the aegis of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness. Our mission has been to observe the Ondo State Governorship Election held on November 16th, 2024, and to provide an unbiased report of our findings.

OVERVIEW OF OBSERVATIONS:

We observed the distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria in Akure to the Registration Area Centres (RAC) across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state under tight security in line with extant laws and the rules of engagement by the police. Ondo state has a total of 2,053,061 registered voters, but 1,757,205 people collected their Permanent Voters Card across the 18LGAs, 203 wards, and 3,933 polling units. INEC deployed 4 ad hoc staff pee polling unit, that is, one Presiding Officer and 3 Assistant Presiding Officers.
Out of the 19 registered political parties, 18 political parties fielded candidates for the election Although, 3 candidates stepped down before the election.
We also observed that the election materials were ultimately moved to the 3,933 polling units by INEC ad hoc staff, predominantly National Youth Service Corps members while the law enforcement agencies provided adequate security.

Voting commenced between 8.30AM and 10:00 AM in most observed polling units.

ELECTION INTEGRITY AND CHALLENGES:

Our field observers noted a few cases of voter inducement otherwise called vote- buying.An incident of concern involved military personnel denying access to accredited observers, despite proper identification.

Ladies and gentlemen, as a coalition of INEC Accredited Observer organizations, we are relieved to report that the election concluded without violence. This is a notable and progressive achievement as Ondo people have demonstrated maturity and the will to deepen our democratic values.The collation of results was conducted meticulously, adhering to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. We as a coalition of INEC Accredited observer organizations having observed the performance of the BVAS in the process of authentication and accreditation of electorates, the logistics in terms of distribution of materials, the uploading of the FORM EC8A in the IRev viewing portal, the collation and announcement of election result hereby strongly recommend the Ondo state governorship election of 16th November, 2024 as a template for evey other election in Nigeria as we look forward to the Anambra state governorship election in November, 2025.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion,we assert that the Ondo State Governorship Election of 16th November, 2024, was conducted in line with the Electoral Act, 2022, and the 1999 Constitution as amended.

We as 51 INEC Accredited observer organizations hereby unequivocally declare that this election was transparent, free, fair, and credible. Importantly, we report no loss of life on election day, which reflects positively on the overall conduct of the election.
We would like to encourage those who lost in this election to be bold and exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating the APC candidate who won landslide.

We commend the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police for the professionalism exhibited by officers and men in the discharge of their duties, the NSCDC, the DSS, and other paramilitary organizations in Nigeria as well as INEC for overseeing a credible election. Lastly, we applaud the people of Ondo State for their peaceful disposition, demonstrating their unwavering love for peace.

News

Tax Reform Bills: Northern Lawmakers Will Prioritize National Interest – Doguwa

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The leader of the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has assured Nigerians that lawmakers from the North will prioritize national interest in the consideration of the proposed tax reform bills.

Doguwa who was the Majority Leader in the 9th Assembly stated this during an interview with journalists during a Tax Reform Interaction Organized by the House in Abuja on Monday.

He emphasized that the process will not be rushed and assured Nigerians that the bills will be carefully studied to ensure they serve the best interest of the people and the nation.

He said: “These proposed bills are obviously to do with fiscal federalism as it relates to sharing of resources to federating units and key government institutions. We must, therefore, be careful to study the bills diligently and consider them clause by clause with a view to doing justice to the people and to the bills in the overall interest of the nation.

“We will certainly NOT rush the passage of these bills in order to avoid making hasty legislations or laws that would, in the end, fail to address our practical economic realities as a nation.

“National interest will be the key word. It will be the watchword, and I believe all of us will be guided by national interest. The government itself, I want to believe, has good intentions. So, we will look at those intentions and see how we can educate and enlighten our people. At the end of the day, the law will be for the good of the people.”

The caucus leader commended the House leadership for organizing the interactive session, which he said has helped members to better understand the proposed bills, even as he emphasised the importance of ongoing consultations.

“We must commend the wisdom of the House leadership for coming up with this interactive session to further enlighten and clarify the contents and intentions of the proposed tax reform bills. Building on this good initiative, we will continue to hold further consultations at the levels of state and regional caucuses to create sufficient awareness among our members and other stakeholders.

“If there’s anything, we members can now say this should be a work in progress. This consultation has to be work in progress. We will pick it up from here and go into smaller legislative groups, caucuses, and state-level meetings to ensure people understand the importance of the bills”, Doguwa noted.

Doguwa reaffirmed the commitment of Northern lawmakers to promoting interaction, consultation, and public enlightenment about the tax reform bills.

“We, as members of the Northern Caucus, will build on the initiative of the House leadership, which promotes interaction and consultation, widening the scope of enlightenment for our people,” he stated.