Wike to Atiku: No Deal until Ayu Resigns as PDP Chairman

Wike to Atiku: No Deal until Ayu Resigns as PDP Chairman 

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has told the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that his group will not back down on its demand that the National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign and cede his position to the South.

Wike spoke when his political associates and Rivers elders led by the Chairman, Rivers Elders Council (REC), Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, visited his private residence in Rumueprikom to felicitate with him on his birthday on Tuesday.

The Governor in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said he had no personal problem with Atiku.

But he said for peace to return to the party, the chairmanship position must be given to the South before the 2023 election.

“I have no problem with presidential candidate. All I am saying is what is the interest of Rivers people? What is the interest of the Southsouth and the South?”

Wike recalled that about a year ago, Rivers elders urged him to contest for the presidency, which he heeded.

He said: “I don’t regret I ran for presidency. In the name of God, I am happy to make Rivers State proud. I am happy as far I am concerned. If they had allow it to be what it is supposed to be, I would won the election. But it’s okay. It has happened.

“People said because I lost election, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t lose election. This is my first time of trying to run for the president of Nigeria and we made impact. If it is easy let them go ahead. Are they not the ones begging.”

The Governor said some of his Ikwerre brothers like Sir Celestine Omehia and former Deputy Speaker Austin Opara, were begrudging him because of his insistence that it would be morally offensive for an Ikwerre man to succeed him or even emerge as PDP candidate for Rivers East senatorial district.

He said: “I called Austin (Opara) , he sat here and I said look my brother leave it, it will not work. I don’t want to cause crisis in our system. Amaechi finished eight years as governor, I’m going to finish eight years as governor too.

“It will be difficult to sell another Ikwerre person as Governor for another eight years. Omehia said he wants to go to the Senate, I said leave it. Ikwerre has gone, Ogu has gone, leave Etche to go.

“You people said I should go (to Senate), I said I won’t. Allwell ( Onyesoh) could not have stopped me. Yes, today we are majority, you don’t know what tomorrow will be. I never did anything to undermine anybody. We must understand that.”

Wike further described as sheer hypocrisy the allegation that he foisted the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminalaye Fubara on the party.

He said the emergence of Fubara was a collective decision reached after those, who had indicated interest to succeed him failed to reach a consensus to produce one candidate.

Pipeline surveillance workers protest incomplete payment of allowances in Bayelsa

Pipeline surveillance workers protest  incomplete payment of allowances in Bayelsa

...... As aggrieved youths seize anti-crude oil theft Patrol boats in Nembe-Brass

Yenagoa_____ Angry Youths from the Nembe and Brass Local Government areas of Bayelsa State on Monday staged a protest against the incomplete payment of allowances by one of the Anti-crude oil theft surveillance contractors, Kojo Sam Logistics Limited, leading to the seizure of patrol boats belonging to the company in the area.

It was gathered that while over 2,000 youths engaged in Bayelsa state by the State Coordinator of the Tantita Security Services owned by the foremost Former Militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo, were paid N200,000 monthly allowance for the job, the aggrieved boys attached to Kojo Sam Logistics Limited were paid N50,000.

Investigations showed that despite the existing agreement between the Chief Executive Officer of Kojo Sam Logistics Limited, Chief Kojo Sam and the Youths over the payment of N100, 000 monthly in order to accommodate more youths in the NNPC crude oil pipeline surveillance job, the company paid them N50, 000 instead of the agreed N100,000.

The aggrieved Youths. Mainly from Okpoama town in Brass Local Government Area of the State, in a protest against the shortage of payments seized the boats and threatened to set them ablaze.

A close source told our reporter in Yenagoa that the angry youths, who are from the same community with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, accused Chief Kojo Sam of reneging on the existing agreement and short changed them in the monthly payment of their oil pipeline surveillance job.

One of the angry Youths, Miebi, 34 years old, however blamed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva of awarding the oil surveillance component for his own community to an outsider instead of an Okpoama person. “Each worker were to be paid N200, 000 but the youths had agreed with Kojo Sam Logistics Ltd to pay N100,000 each to be able to accommodate more youths in the community”.

“But instead of paying them the sum of N100, 000.00 as resolved, the company decided to pay N50, 000 a month to each of them” he allege.

The Youths has however dragged all the company boats to land, warning that nobody will touch the boats until the money is fully paid. The ugly development is threatening the peace and security in Okpoama community.

When newsmen contacted the Bayelsa Office of the Tantita Security Service, officials working with the Coordinator, Great Joshua Machiver declined comment. But a close source told newsmen that N200,000 was the minimum pay for per personnel in Tantita Security services as approved by Tompolo.

“the Tompolo’s owned Tantita Security Services (Bayelsa Operations) headed by Great Joshua Maciver has paid the sum of N200,000 each to about 2000 staff deployed to various units for Pipeline Surveillance and to also curb the activities of illegal oil refineries in Bayelsa State. 

Some coordinators smile home with five to Ten millions and Tantita is not owing any staff as recruitment into various units of the surveillance job is still ongoing as the work progresses.”

Several attempts to reach the management of the Kojo Sam Logistics failed as phone calls and text messages were not answered. But a close source told newsmen that attempts are being made to settle the issue of short changed payments.

Family Releases Funeral Rites For Sammie Okposo, as Tribute Night holds today

Just-ln: Family Releases Funeral Arrangements For Sammie Okposo

The family of famous Nigerian gospel artiste, Sammie Okposo has released funeral arrangements for the singer.

The singer was said to have died in his sleep on November 25, 2022 at the age of 51 years.

According to the funeral programme released on Monday, a tribute night will be held for him on Tuesday, December 13 in Lagos State.

The tribute night would be followed by a service of songs on Wednesday.

The funeral service for Okposo will take place on December 15 and will be a private affair, the statement added.

2023: Kelvin Appreciates Ward 7 PDP Leaders on Successful Campaign

2023: Kelvin Appreciates Ward 7 PDP Leaders on Successful Campaign 

Francis Tayor

Warri______ The Chairman Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Ward 7 Ayakoromo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Prince Kelvin Perekeme has extended his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Ward 7 leadership of PDP on the occasion of the successful hosting of the delegation of Delta South PDP campaign train as well as the various candidates vying for elective position in the forthcoming 2023 general elections to Ayakoromo on Monday.

In the appreciation note released on Tuesday 13th December, 2022 at Ward 7 headquarters Ayakoromo community, Prince Kelvin Perekeme specially acknowledge the frantic efforts of Dr. Braduce Angozi, Hon. Richard Tuedon, Hon. Godwin Edumogiren, Hon. Kofee Amasuomo, Hon. Paul Kurugbe, Hon. Prince Sunday Feke, Hon. Sunny Perekeme, Chief. Dauyebo Kitua, Mr. Matthew Apiakise, Mr. Monday Akarama, Mr. Eric Saibakumo, Edwin Omoroun, Evang. Desmond Edumogiren, Comr. Oyinbi Onduku, Mr. Wilson Zipamo, Engr. James Ebis Biayeibo, Thomson Tambou, Akeme Angola, Longsoul Tuedon, Mr. Asiayei Enaibo, Mr. Ekanpou Enewaredideke, Timiebi Angodideke, Albert Edumogiren, Godbless Enekorogha, Anthony Demebide, Alaowei Cleric, Barr. Norbeth Ayabotu, lmmaculate Brialade, Field Eyenanaotu, Hon. Ayabotu Otoro, Hon. Izonwei Soja, Hon. Cyril Suokumo, Ayakoromo community, Ayakoromo youths, the women, elders, security and the media for their contributions to ensure a successful PDP Ward to Ward campaign.

It would be recall that on Monday 12th December, 2022, the leadership of Delta South PDP campaign train and the various candidates vying for elective position under PDP, including the member representing Burutu Federal Constituency House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Julius Pondi, PDP Delta South Senatorial candidate, Hon. Michael Diden alias Ejele, PDP House of Representative Warri Federal Constituency candidate, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, PDP candidate for Delta State House of Assembly Burutu North, Hon. Asupa Forteta, Hon. Peres Oloye, PDP candidate Delta State House of Assembly Burutu South, DG 2023 Delta State PDP Campaign Committee, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. Emmanuel Amgbaduba, Chairman PDP Delta South, Chief. Julius Takeme, Wing Cmdr. P.Y. Biakpara, former members Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Yingi, Hon. Daniel Mayuku, Chairman Burutu LGA, Rt. Hon. Godknows Angele, Dr. Shedrack Agediga, ED PRS DESOPADEC, Chief. Promise Lawuru and his supporters for Sheriff Oborevwori, Mrs. Unice Angozi, Chief. Boro Opudu, Rt. Hon. Joseph Alubeze, Hon. Trust Edumogiren, Barr. Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Evang. Desmond Edumogiren were among other numerous dignitaries that stormed Ayakoromo for the remarkable 2023 PDP Ward-to-Ward campaigns in Burutu Local Government Area.

In his message to the masses, Prince Kelvin Perekeme passionately appealed to ward 7 Ayakoromo community in their usual way to vote for all the PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

He noted that Ayakoromo community is for PDP and they will deliver all the party candidates at the poll comes February 2023. 

He therefore, urged all the eligible voters who have undergo voters registration exercise to come out in mass to collect their permanent voters cards, adding that their PVCs is their right and power to make correct decision at the polls come 2023 general elections.

REX JIM LAWSON, His Early Life, Career and Death

REX JIM LAWSON, His Early Life, Career and Death 

He was a singer, trumpeter and bandleader from Buguma, Nigeria. He became one of the best-known highlife musicians of the 1960s in Africa when Cardinal and his band dominated Nigeria's highlife scene.

Early life :

Rex Lawson was born in 1938 in Buguma, Nigeria to a Kalabari chieftain father and an Igbo mother from Owerri. He was given the name Erekeosima which translates to "do not name this one" due to his father's belief that he would not live past infancy. He was the fourth child to his parents, the others having died of illnesses. At a young age, Lawson was afflicted with a severe case of small pox. While his mother brought him to various medicine men outside of Kalabari for treatment, his father feared he would die and lost interest in raising him. Lawson later sued his father for neglect while he was at school. He won the case, but his father cursed him in return, and the two did not communicate with one another until Lawson began his musical career.

Musical career:

Rex Lawson began his career in Port Harcourt as a bandboy for Lord Eddyson's Starlight Melody Orchestra. He later played with Sammy Obot, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajilo, and other Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians and bands. His greatest success came as the leader of the Majors Band (also called the Rivers Men in later years); their recorded hits include "So ala teme", "Yellow Sisi", "Gowon Special", and "Jolly Papa".

By 1965 Lawson had written more than 100 songs. In July 1970 he traveled to the United Kingdom, where from then until September he recorded an album, Rex Lawson in London.

Death:

Lawson died on 18 January 1971 in a car accident at the Urhamigbe corner  on the Asaba–Benin Road while on his way to Warri, Nigeria, for a performance. He was 32 years old. After his death, his band continued as the Professional Seagulls.Lawson was married to Chief (Mrs.) Regina Rex Lawson who died in October 2008.

Just-ln: DIPM Postpones 10, 000 Youths March as Omo-Agege Visits Bomadi today

Just-ln: DIPM Postpones 10, 000 Youths March as Omo-Agege Visits Bomadi today

Warri _____ lnformation just reaching our news desk that the Delta ljaw People's Mandate, DIPM Ten thousand youths, men and women march earlier proposed to hold today 12th December, 2022 in Bomadi Town has been postponed due to the visit of the Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Delta State APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, distinguished Senator (Barr.) Ovie Omo-Agege to Bomadi today.

According to the National President of the Delta ljaw peoples interest advocate group, High Chief. (Alhaji) Yusuf Eregbene, the Obaseki of Akugbene Mein-Kingdom stated that a new date would be disclose to the public in a due time.

He deeply regretted for any inconveniences that bedeviled our teeming members, followers and supporters across Burutu, Patani, Warri South, Warri South-West, Warri North and Bomadi LGAs as result of the new development.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Yusuf had noted that a new date for the all important Ten thousand youths, men and women march would be communicated to the general public in the shortest possible time, he stated.