Oldest Surviving World War II Veteran, Lawrence Brooks Dies at Age 112

Oldest Surviving World War II Veteran, Lawrence Brooks Dies at Age 112

Lawrence Brooks, the oldest surviving World War II veteran, who served in a segregated Army unit in the South Pacific in the 1940s has died.

He died in his New Orleans home Wednesday morning, January 5, at the age of 112.

While in service, Lawrence N. Brooks was part of the mostly black 91st Engineer General Service Regiment, which built roads, hospitals and housing in places like Horn Island, Papua-New Guinea and the Philippines, according to Military Times.

He was drafted in 1940 at the age of 31. Even though he never saw combat, he worked as a driver and cook for his white officers. Most African Americans serving in the segregated US armed forces at the beginning of World War II were assigned to noncombat units and relegated to service duties, such as supply, maintenance and transportation, said Col. Pete Crean, vice president of education and access at the museum in New Orleans.

‘The reason for that was outright racism – there’s no other way to characterize it,’ Crean added.

The National WWII Museum announced his death and it was confirmed by his daughter and caregiver, Vanessa Brooks. He is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

‘At 112 years old, he was the oldest surviving WWII veteran in the country,’ the museum wrote on Instagram.

‘More than that, he was a dear friend, who celebrated his birthday with us every year starting in 2014, when he was just a spry 105-year-old.

‘His consistent advice when asked for the secret behind his longevity was, “Serve God, and be nice to people.”‘

Oldest surviving World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks dies aged 112

US president, Joe Biden also tweeted a tribute to Brooks, writing;

‘I had the honor of speaking with him last year, and he was truly the best of America. I’m keeping his loved ones in my prayers.’

Nigerians Reacted As Jonathan 2023 Presidential Campaign Poster Surfaces Online

Nigerians Reacted As Jonathan 2023 Presidential Campaign Poster Surfaces Online

Nigerians on social media have reacted to a poster with the inscription “GEJ Is Coming Back” which suggests the ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for presidency in the 2023 elections.

The poster done by a faceless group known as the National Agenda for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It claimed it aimed for a better Nigeria come 2023.

However, this has been greeted with mixed reactions from citizens with many condemning Jonathan’s ambition.

This was even after the Instagram blog, mufasatundeednut, queried if Nigeria was going backwards or forward.

In her reaction, popular actress, Nkechi Blessing said she would vote for Jonathan if he chooses to run. She wrote, “I will over vote for him sef.”

Another Instagram user, @popcorrnn._ wrote, “Yesss oh, he should please come back. He had a far better government than Buhari, & it took for him to go for us to realize it, he should please come back.”

For @_james_oluwa, it is better to vote for Jonathan than any other candidate. He wrote, “It’s better to vote for him than any other candidate!! The Angel you know before is better than the one u just meet.”

However, others have shown a contrary opinion saying the former President would simply dent his image if he ran for the presidency again.

One of such users is @icobenson who said, “He will fail woefully, he didn’t maximize the opportunity given to him initially, so what does he have to offer this time absolutely NOTHING we need a fresh start. Soro Soke.”

shoes_by_shem opined: “This would be the most foolish move for him.”

 

Another user el_patron_wanz stated, “Dem wan package backwardness make e be like forwardness give us.”

kunle_real stated: “We’re perambulating.”

comedianslimm01 said: “Can we pls stop….must everyone go and come back again.”

koin_zino Omo.. this man should just remain where he is before them go spoil his name.

rasheedahhhh said: “I see someone write “best of all”…suffer no dey tire you? Do people just follow these politicians blindly? Arrgh!”

 

iron_syd noted: “We saw this coming with his romance with the North and APC…they’ve left Tinubu behind.”

Ijaw Youths Protest ln Lagos Over Denial of Justice on Oromoni's Death

Ijaw Youths Protest ln  Lagos Over Denial of Justice on Oromoni's Death

.... If Dowen College Opens on Monday, Expect Ijaw Nation Here-; Niger Delta Youths

The Ijaw Youth Council has insisted on getting justice for Sylvester Oromoni, the 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State who was allegedly bullied to death at the school.

Members of the council, on Thursday 6, staged a protest in front of the school saying the school could not resume like others when justice was yet to be served.

The late Sylvester is from the Ijaw-speaking tribe in Delta State.

The IYC condemned the legal advice issued by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Adetutu Osinusi, clearing staff and students of Dowen College of complicity in the death of the young man.

Recall that on Tuesday, Osinusi issued a legal advice which stated that police investigation and the two autopsies conducted on the body of the deceased failed to establish a prima facie case against the suspects — five students and five staff of the college.

According to the Legal Advice, the interim and final autopsy reports issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and toxicology report of post-mortem samples established the cause of death as Septicaemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle and Acute Bacteria Pneumonia due to severe Sepsis.

But reacting, the IYC leaders said any attempt to open the school would be strongly resisted while promising to invade the school with their school bags and food flasks.

One of their leaders said, “We are here today to express our anger and grievances with the fake and corrupt report released by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution that this school where cultists are being trained is cleared. They cleared the same people that killed our son without trial, without concluded investigation; they said they cleared this school to open.

“If they open this school, the whole Ijaw nation will come here, let them try it and see, if they open this school on Monday, the whole Ijaw nation will come, we will come with our school bags, feeding bottles and join them here. Let them bring armoured tanks here, we have the capacity.

Sir. Coded lnvites Friends as Master Emomoemi Goes To Church On 16 January, 2022

Sir. Coded lnvites Friends as Master Emomoemi Goes To Church On 16 January 

A Warri based multi-talented ljaw highlife owigiri performing music artist under the stage name Sir. Coded Buku, is set to dedicate his son to God, Master Emomoemi Wealth Buku on Sunday 16th January, 2022 in Udu, near Warri, Delta State.

In a statement released on Thursday 6th January, 2022 and signed by sir. Coded Buku himself, stated that the child dedication will take place at the CROWN CHURCH OF ZION (CCZ), located at No 13, Emmaduku street, along New York road, Udu LGA, Delta State.

It was learnt that a senior renowned christian gospel artist, Rev.Apt. Samuel Nicholas is billed to perform during the church service.

Time: 9:00AM Prompt.

The statement further adds that Reception follows immediately after the church service at Opposite Peabody Hotel, along DSC Express Way Udu, near Warri.

Music to be supplied by all Ijaw music performing artists based in Warri and its environ. 

However, Sir. Coded Buku is hereby inviting friends, loved ones, well wishers and his fans world wide to join him celebrate over the goodness of God in his family.

Revealed 2023: Buhari Shops for Ex-President Jonathan to Succeed him, Shuns Tinubu, Osinbajo's Ambition

Revealed 2023: Buhari Shops for Ex-President Jonathan to Succeed him, Shuns Tinubu, Osinbajo's Ambition

President Buhari, it was reliably gathered, has in fact reached out to his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, on taking over power from him and was already working with some of his most trusted lieutenants to actualise this plan.

Against widespread belief that President Muhammadu Buhari was preparing to hand over power to a former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in May 2023 when his second term in office elapses, SaharaReporters has reliably gathered that the current occupier of Aso Rock Villa, Nigeria’s seat of power, was already looking in another direction.

President Buhari, it was reliably gathered, has in fact reached out to his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, on taking over power from him and was already working with some of his most trusted lieutenants to actualise this plan.

A trusted source around the President told SaharaReporters that the idea had already received the backing of some prominent politicians from the North including state governors as the arrangement will enable power to return to the region in 2027 when Jonathan would have served out his single four-year term after previously occupying same position from 2011 to 2015.

President Buhari and Jonathan had met last Thursday and according to the source, modalities of this new arrangement were discussed at length with further meetings to take place in the coming weeks to cement plans to help achieve the target.

“Pressure came from two Northern governors for President Buhari to allow Jonathan to complete his term and return power to the North for another eight years beginning from 2027,” the source revealed.

“It is for this reason that Buhari had requested Jonathan to see him last Thursday following conclusion of discussion with the two governors, one of which is Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and APC Caretaker Committee Chairman.

“This same Buni worked against Tinubu's interest in the electoral act to ensure Buhari did not sign it.

“Tinubu had hoped to ward off challenge from Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi and others to get the APC presidential ticket through direct primaries.

“Buni is also working to organise national convention to create substantive national executives, all a ploy to ensure a Jonathan candidate.

“He's masterminding a likely micro-zoning to the South-South to ensure Jonathan is the sole aspirant during the primary.

“Following the successful meeting on Thursday with Buhari, Jonathan has also moved swiftly to hold a strategic meeting with South-South ministers and will hold a national ministers' meeting under his government afterwards as a prequel to formal declaration.

“The meeting which held under the South-South 2023 Presidency group headed by Jonathan's associate, Mr Dikivie Ikiogha, took place at Mrs Patience Jonathan's Aridolf Hotels and Spars.

“If the plan goes well, Jonathan will choose a serving Northern governor as running mate. The most likely candidate for that will be Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State,” the source revealed.

The latest development will surely come as a huge blow to the aspirations of Tinubu, who has been desperate to become President of Nigeria since serving two terms as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

The APC stalwart has been romancing President Buhari since helping him to defeat Jonathan in 2015, refusing to criticise his administration’s failures in a desperate bid to have the latter hand over the reins to him during next year’s election.

However, top power brokers close to Buhari see the former Lagos governor as politically unpredictable and therefore have been working against his interest.

But to help push through his ambition, Tinubu and his men have created scores of groups to mobilise support to help make the dream a reality.

For instance, in October 2021, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju was formed in Lagos to help sell Tinubu as a viable candidate to every part of Nigeria.

Headed by a former Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye, SWAGA said emerging President of Nigeria in 2023 will be the best way to repay Tinubu for all his contributions to political development in the country.

In November 2021, another group, Patriots of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was established in Abuja to further push the former Lagos governor’s ambition of succeeding President Buhari in office in 2023.

On January 1, 2022,  Director-General, Tinubu Support Groups Mgt. Council, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said the former Lagos governor will contest the 2023 election because he had more experience to run Nigeria than the others eyeing the position.

“The issue of Bola Tinubu contesting is a done deal. He is going to contest the election; he’s going to be on the ballot paper.

“The person who has an edge over all of them, that we can hand over the ticket to and perhaps go back home and sleep, is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,” Jibrin said.

In December 2021, Tinubu disclosed that he would consult widely before making a decision on whether to run for the Presidency or not.

“I will effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians,” he had said at the time.

Like Tinubu, there are dozens of other groups also currently drumming support for Osinbajo ahead of the 2023 election.

According to one of such groups, The Progressive Project, the Vice President had all it required to effectively run Nigeria after Buhari leaves office next year.

TPP’s Director of Operations, Alhaji Usman A. Usman, said, “We made critical assessments far beyond mere partisan considerations and all rational indicators throw up the name of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as being most qualified and most adequately prepared to undertake such assignment.”

But despite these ongoing efforts by loyalists of Tinubu and Osinbajo to market their principals, Buhari’s new stance might have thrown both men under the wheel.

Though Buhari’s new choice – Jonathan – has continued to distance himself from talks of his return to Aso Rock Villa in 2023, events of recent times strongly supports the notion of him taking over from the incumbent – an outcome that greatly benefits Buhari’s nepotistic agenda of returning power to the North in 2027.

Bizarre As Kenyan Woman Sets Self, Three Children Ablaze Over Husband’s Infidelity

Bizarre As Kenyan Woman Sets Self, Three Children Ablaze Over Husband’s Infidelity

A Kenyan woman, Helen Vuyanzi, 35, set herself and her three children on fire following a disagreement with her husband in Sirende village, Lugari sub-county, Kakamega.

While she and two of the children died, her third child survived the fire after jumping out of the house through a window.

According to Kenya’s The Star, reported that the incident happened on Saturday. The daily reported that Vuyanzi had quarrelled with her husband and they were counselled by police officers led by Lugari subcounty commander Bernard Ngungu, before returning home but without her husband, to avoid further problems.

Vuyanzi had accused her husband of cheating after she learnt he was dating another woman, the police boss said.

Oil Pollution: Don't Compromise to Protect our Environment, Mulade tells N' Delta Leaders

Oil Pollution: Don't Compromise to Protect our Environment, Mulade tells N' Delta Leaders

A renowned environmental rights activist from the Niger Delta extraction, Comrade Chief Mulade Sheriff, has charged stakeholders in the region, especially those in the oil and gas bearing communities, not to compromise by palm greasing from oil companies which do not operate in line with environmental best practices.

Comrade Mulade, the National Coordinator/CEO of a foremost environmental civil society organisation, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, gave the charge in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital on Monday, 3rd January 2022, as new year message. According to him, “One big challenge faced in promoting growth and development in our communities is compromise from those who we naturally believe should fight to ensure that the needful is done which will benefit greater majority of the people at the long run. Noting that the leaders should strive at all times to work for the economic growth and advancement of the people.

He strongly appealed to Niger Deltans particularly leaders of oil and gas host communities, to protect and save their environment from further devastation in 2022.

Chief Mulade while reacting to the oil spill situation at Nembe area of Bayelsa State, advised stakeholders to task oil companies to tackle the challenges of pollution in other to reverse to its original status the degraded environment of the Niger Delta Region, as well as protect and sustain the environment for future generations.

It is worthy of note that the National Oil Spill Detection and Responses Agency (NOSDRA), Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission( NUPRC ) and other environmental regulatory agencies now seemingly appeared to be tools in the hands of multinational oil and gas exporting companies in Nigeria by compromising and taking biased actions against the local people when it comes to the need for objectively in dispensing oil spill matters because the locals have nothing to offer Government officials.

Worried over the discovery of the badly degraded environment of oil spills activities, he noted that the economic damages as a result of oil spillages may not be recovered in the next 30 years.

Chief Mulade, the Ibe-sorimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State, urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to prevail on the oil multinationals in 2022, to come up with urgent measures towards reversing the degraded Niger Delta environment, so as to protect the flora and fauna of the region.

Speaking further, the peace and environmental justice advocate, who is also a fellow of Nigerian Environmental Society, appealed to leaders especially Ijaw Nation Congress (INC) to setup what he called Environmental Impact Assessment/Sustainability Committee to ascertain the level of degradation for recovery.

The environmental activist said it is wrong to allow oil companies award cleanup contracts to incompetent contractors to save costs and create divisions among the people, as there are standard procedures for carrying out oil spill cleanups globally. 

He, therefore, enjoined leaders in the region to ensure that oil companies adhere strictly to global best practices, instead of awarding clean up jobs to contracting firms that lack the capacity and experience to do the job.

My Ex-Girlfriend Lied About Giving Birth To Twins For Me_Harrysong

My Ex-Girlfriend Lied About Giving Birth To Twins For Me_Harrysong

Nigerian singer, Harrison Tare Okiri, popularly known as Harrysong has revealed that his ex-girlfriend lied that she had twins for him.

There were reports in 2017 that the singer welcomed a set of twins with an Abuja-based lady at a hospital in Beverly Hills, California.

Harrysong, who took to his Instagram account, noted that he should not be addressed as a father of twins as his first child is Daviva.

He further stated that his ex-girlfriend lied that she had twins for him just to extort him.

 

Harrysong wrote, “Addressing this issue. I am not baba twins or daddy ejima.

“There was never any twins anywhere. That lady never gave birth, she lied and was just eating my money.

“My first child is Daviva.”

In related news, Harrysong has welcomed his baby girl to Nigeria weeks after his wife gave birth to her abroad.

The excited father shared a video via his Instagram on Thursday.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment to hold you in my arms, welcome home Daviva, we love you,” he wrote in parts.

Shocking As End-time Pastor Bathes Female Church Members Naked During Service

Shocking As End-time Pastor Bathes Female Church Members Naked During Service

A Pastor has been seen in a live streamed video, carrying out a bizzare crossover ritual for his female church members in Ghana.

The Pastor was seen asking his church members to hurry up and come for the “holy bath”. The church members stripped naked and were seen tying towels while being rubbed olive oil by another Pastor after the bath.

The cleric also claimed that he got the directive from above and knows it might cause controversy even though he has no option than to obey the spirit.

Local news platforms in Ghana reported that the Pastor engaged in the ritual to cleanse his members so they will be “holy and pure”‘.

2023: Jonathan meets with South-South leaders, two APC governors championing single term for the South

2023: Jonathan meets with South-South leaders, two APC governors championing single term for the South

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has met with South-South leaders coordinating his alleged return to the Presidency in 2023.

It was gathered that the meeting was held on December 27, 2021, at Aridolf Hotels and Spars in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

A source, whose political associate attended the gathering, said it was shortly after Dr. Jonathan visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja last Thursday.

 

The Nation had reported last year that some Northern All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were plotting Jonathan’s return to the Presidency to assuage the South and enable the North to return to power after four years.

Jonathan’s political associate, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, formed the South-South Presidency 2023 and had held consultative meetings with stakeholders.

Though the activities of the group ebbed following lack of funding, a source said they would soon resume their campaigns.

Our source, said the governors of two Northwest states are championing the plot. He added that the scheme was part of the reasons a minister from the Southsouth spoke recently against the then administration of Jonathan.

He said: “The coordinators of the group plotting for Jonathan to return to Aso Rock in 2023 met recently with Jonathan at his wife’s Aridolf Hotels and Spars.

“The chairman of the group, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, and other Southsouth coordinators were present at the meeting. Jonathan indicated an interest in their campaign and asked them to return to their different states to continue with their campaign.

“This plot has been kept active by two governors from the Northwest, who are plotting for a strong APC Northern governor to become Jonathan’s running mate.

“There is also a plan to reconcile Jonathan with the Southsouth minister.”

Ayakoromo Community Election: Kaduna Reveals what to do when elected

Ayakoromo Community Election: Kaduna Reveals what to do when elected

As preparation for change of leadership in Ayakoromo Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State draws closer, one of the top contender in the community chairmanship race, Mr. Fidelis Kemasuode Kaduna, popularly known as Sokeme has revealed what to do for the community when given the mandate to serve.

This was disclosed to the public through press interview with NDM News Xclusive on Monday 3rd January, 2022, at Ayakoromo during the community emmergency general meeting, where Sokeme stated that he will transform the community Town Hall to a modern standard whereby the people will feel convivian during meeting.

He noted that Ayakoromo Community deserves a befitting well furnished modern Town Hall with standby public address system, Air Conditioner facilities, steady power supply with DSTV installation for relaxation. He expressed displeasure over the intense heat during meeting in the Town Hall due to lack of maintenance of the available ceiling fans among other items.

In his words, he said: " l have done it before while l was a Youth Leader in the year 2014/2015. I light up the youth hall, provide steady power supply with DSTV for the community youths and elders to feel at home during the evening. I will replicate the same thing to the Town Hall with my contacts and connections to makesure our community hall is transformed to a modern one."

Speaking on the area of Ayakoromo bridge project, Mr. Sokeme said the bridge project started in 2013 and it commenced work on site in 2014 while he was a youth leader. He knows the offices and the way to engage the state  government in order to speedly complete the bridge project in the shortest possible time when given the opportunity to serve the community as Chairman.

In tackling question on how he can raise fund to run the affairs of the community, Mr. Sokeme said Ayakoromo is blessed with numerous natural resources, such as Rafia Palm, palm front (Banga), Timber, Fishes etc. He noted that he will generate internal revenue annually through the above stated natural resources by engaging companies and business men to invest in the sector. " With this and other sources of revenue not mentioned above, l will be able to generate money to provide effective leadership for the good people of Ayakoromo Community, "    Sokeme stated.

However, the youngest chairmanship aspirant among the four contestants, asserted that he does not believe in talking too much rather he believes in walking the talk.

He further stressed that among all the contestants, he based and lives with the people in the community and he knows the pains of the people. Unlike others who are civil servants (teachers) working outside the community, he wonders the kind of leadership they will offer to the people of Ayakoromo while they are in foreign land.

He concluded by appealing to the good people of Ayakoromo Community to make a right decision with their consent by voting him the next Chairman of the community, stressing that he will not disappoint them when given the mandate to serve, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Ayakoromo Federated Community chairmanship election has been slated to hold on the 26th January, 2022, at the bottom of the community Radio House, Assesabiri quarters, Ayakoromo.

Onduku Salutes Ezekiel on birthday, described him as the Aluta Chief Priest of ljaw Nation

Onduku Salutes Ezekiel on birthday, described him as the Aluta Chief Priest of ljaw Nation

Happy gracious birthday to the son of the struggle, Comrade Daniel Pere Ezekiel, ( the one and only Aluta SSA on Security Matters) to the Governor of Delta State. l called him the Aluta Chief Priest because he was born with it, live with it and favoured with it.

 The man who mean something and never back out until he achieve the purpose. Despite his contentment in life, he still shoulders the suffering of his people in Edo State to makesure the narrative is changed for better. 

The ever blazing fearless, courageous and hardworking Daniel Ezekiel's contribution to the emancipation of the underdeveloped Niger Delta ljaw people cannot be dumbed in the waste Bin. Despite the gang up against the agility young man, he is still waxing stronger. 

The Aluta Chief Priest, as you mark your birth anniversary today, l join other of your genuine friends, well wishers to congratulate and felicitate with you on your unique day, wishing you God's divine protection, more strength, wisdom and  resources to keep your unwavering agitation for better ljaw nation in our multi ethnicity country called Nigeria.

Once again, happy birthday and Congratulations with many happy returns. Do have a superb day my brother man.

LATIMORE’S SACK: Fire Aniagwu, Ifeajika as well, Rights Group tell Okowa

LATIMORE’S SACK: Fire Aniagwu, Ifeajika as well, Rights Group tell Okowa

…Says Okowa Should Prove To Deltans He Is Not A Tribalistic Governor But Governor To All Deltans

A Group, Niger Delta Environmental and Good Governance Crusader (NDEGC), has called for the immediate sack of the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ifeajika Olisa, in order to further rid Governor Okowa’s administration of other greedy media personnel.

The Group Coordinator, Comrade Kelly Gilor, stated this today while fielding questions from newsmen in Warri following the sack of Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, former Executive Assistant on Communication to Governor Okowa.

He noted that Governor Okowa is a good and purposeful leader who means well for Deltans but has surrounded himself with selfish and greedy people in the likes of Aniagwu and Ifeajika and the duo has been having unholy cold war with the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

According to Gilor, the publisher of Ijaw Voice newspaper “The Commissioner for Information and the CPS doesn’t have good relationship with State NUJ executive let alone its members, except for some few journalists whom thay have been using to cause problems and disorganized the State NUJ.

“As Coordinator of Concerned Journalists For Good Working Relationship With Government in Delta State, We are going to stage a protest match round the State and submit a letter to Governor Okowa if the two smart alecks are not sacked within seven days,”He said

The renowned Niger Delta activist alleged that since the appointments of Aniagwu and Ifeajika as Commissioner and Chief Press Secretary, Delta journalists have been suffering untold disrespect in their hands. And they have been using this divide and rule tactics to cause disunity among journalists in the State”.

“Ask Aniagwu of what value is his Smart Delta TV that he is using to syphon the State money? He is gradually killing the three State owned media houses especially DBS Asaba and Pointer newspaper. Go and find out how many copies of the Pointer newspaper that is being printed for circulation daily. He ordered that only 500 copies should be printed and circulated for a State like Delta and the country at large, who does that if the intention is not to kill the newspaper house? Things were a lot better when Chief Patrick Ukah was in Information. Or Is it DBS Asaba where the G.M, Mr. Frankwhyte is struggling to push and start like a rickety vehicle. The state owned media houses only goes to defend its yearly budget, yet they don’t get their montly subvention to run the place from the commisioner. The Pointer case is even the worst, I feel sorry for those guys each time I visit the Pointer office”. Comrade Gilor added.

Comrade Gilor called on Governor Okowa to as a matter of proactive step relief the Commissioner of Information and the CPS of their duties so as to save his good name and the good works he the governor is doing for journalists in the state and Deltans at

Just-ln: ' Vacate our land now', Ogbe-ljoh youths tell Aladja

Just-ln: ' Vacate our land now', Ogbe-ljoh youths tell Aladja

...... Frowns at Gov. Okowa unwillingness to settle dispute over the past six years

Warri_______ The youths of Ogbe-ljoh Warri kingdom under the umbrella body of Ogbe-ljoh Warri kingdom youth leaders and Stakeholders Forum, has given a marching order to Aladja Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State to as a matter of urgency vacate the land they are currently occupying, stressing that the Aladja people are tenants to Ogbe-ljoh community and that they accommodated them because of love, peaceful coexistence in the past.

The Ogbe-ljoh youths disclosed this on Sunday 26th December, 2021 through a comprehensive letter written to the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, where they expressed displeasure over the state government's inconsistent and unwillingness to settle the land dispute between the two communities over the past six years in office.

In the letter jointly signed by the current Youth President of Ogbe-ljoh, Mr. James Etimadimene as well as former youth leaders of the community, including Amb. Aken Edwin who is the President of the forum, Comrade Victor Akemotubo, Secretary of the forum among other fifteen youth leaders accused governor Okowa of being biased and lacked the political will to do the right thing at the appropriate time in bringing the communal crises to end.

The youths noted that the inconsistent action of the state government shows that he is already taking side with the Aladja community in order to cause mayhem against the Ogbe-ljoh people, hence they won't tolerate such nonsense to keep calm any further and had decided to take their destiny in their hand.

In the letter, the Ogbe-ljoh youths demanded the State Government to direct Aladja people to quit their land, claiming that the disputed land belongs to them and that they will use any means to get ride of it.

They further urged the state government to be focused on the demarcation of the Local Government Boundary, and that anything beyond that is against the existing law and will not be accepted anymore.

In conclusion, the youths urged Gov. Okowa to wake up to his responsibility by taking drastic action to deal decisively with any party that breaches the Peace Accord earlier signed by both community's. They asked Gov. Okowa to do the right thing before it is too late, the statement added.

However, read below the full letter addressed to the State Government by Ogbe-ljoh youth forum:

TELL ALADJA TO QUIT OUR LAND OR WE WILL CLAIM OUR TERRITORIES BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY: OGBE-IJOH YOUTH LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS FORUM CALL ON "GOV OKOWA"

Your Excellency Sir, we sincerely appreciate your efforts towards the land dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh even though we are not satisfied with the present steps taking to disenfranchise the Ogbe-Ijoh people. 

Your Excellency Sir, you are aware that the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri kingdom has been a peaceful and reasonable Kingdom from inception. We have always maintained our free, fair and truthful friendship and relationship with neighbours.

We believe in peaceful coexistence between neighbours hence we overlook issues that are capable of causing anarchy between our kingdom and her neighbours, even to our detriment when it concerns peace and harmony about our environment.

Sir, kindly permit us to draw your attention to few documents submitted to you and the inquiry committee at the resurgent of the crisis in March 2016 and to equally summarize the acts of the past days' in order to make it clear why you should ask the Aladja people to quit our God given land.

Your Excellency, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom who are first occupants of the territory whose communities have several treaties with the Colonial masters peacefully yielded to the first plead of our tenants( Ogbebiotu, interpreted as Ogbesobo, Urhobos in Ogbe-Ijoh land.) to join their Urhobo division in 1952 which led to the shift of our original boundary with Ovwian Community and the establishment of the current local government boundary.

In the early 80's they have encroached the new established boundary line which invited several warnings but their failure to adhere to the warnings leads to the communal clash between the Ogbe-Ijoh people and their customary tenants ( the Ogbesobo, presently parading themselves as Aladja community which was not their original Identity) which continued till 1996 when their son the late Major Gen Dumuje used his led troop of Soldiers to raised down our beloved Ogbe-Ijoh Community the Traditional headquarters of the revered Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.

 

We lost most of our aged parents who couldn't run as at when they invaded, we lost hundreds of children who couldn't swim, youths and men died defenselessly, millions of properties and money were carted away by the Aladja people with the aid of the military, they burn all our houses and rendered our people homeless and hopeless.

The strength of ownership engolved  the heros of the Kingdom who stood for the rebirth of our great Community.

Despite the fact that we have suffered all this pains, troubles and wickedness in the hands of our tenants we still stretched hands of friendship to them just to live in peace and harmony.

In 1999, 4years After they exibited their wickedness, the youths of Ogbe-Ijoh deliberately went to Aladja to buy football and the next day Aladja youths also visited Ogbe-Ijoh that simple act of forgiveness carried out by the Ogbe-Ijoh youths gave birth to our reunion. We had always given a hand of friendship to the Aladja  people who are unfriendly friends.

In the year 2000 the Aladja people exibited their wickedness led by Chief Wiliki, Mr. Oyibo, Brutugba, Andrew Gbese,  Bezi Tegolo and host of others. They started with extortion, illegal collection of money from the road users, beating up road users, destruction of new buildings in Ogbe-Ijoh, blocking of the road, kidnaping of Ogbe Ijoh people, incidents too numerous to mention.

The Ogbe-Ijoh people refused to retaliate rather we serially incidented all this happenings to security agents and Government.

Several meetings were held and  peace accords were signed with securities agents but the Aladja community has been defaulting without any due punishment giving to them by Government, of which all genuine security agents in the state that keeps and checks records will testify of what we are saying now and this dubious acts/misbehaviors continued untill march 2016.

In March 24th 2016 the Youths of Aladja community came to Ogbe-Ijoh with cutlasses and guns in the presence of Soldiers, they cut several persons in Ogbe-Ijoh including a military man which lead to the present situation at hand.

Despite the proves of ownership of our God given territory, we still listened to the Government, respected the Government in several meetings held with the Governor of the state in 2016 till date.

The Government pleaded for calm and seek that both communities should live in harmony which the Ogbe-Ijoh people adhere to but were very blunt to make their point known that the entire land in question belongs to them but for the sake of friendship and other similar factors considered by Ogbe-Ijoh people made us shift our traditional boundaries severally before the establishment of the 1952 local government boundaries and other issues postulated above and the failure of the Aladja people to accept these obvious considerations out of desperation for what ever reason as led to our firm resolve not to shift grounds anymore.

The Ogbe-Ijoh community considered the plea of the Governor and cooperate with Government in several ways for peace to reign yet the Ogbebiotu (Aladja people) who doesn't know where they came from, has always thwarted all efforts taken to resolve the land dispute by destroying government pillars used by it's committee to demarcate the LGA boundary lines as indicated in Government instrument establishing the boundary, stopped the Government enquiry committee from working, blocking of Government road, denying Government workers passage, beating of Government personnel and Ogbe-Ijoh people, burning of houses and killing of Ogbe-Ijoh people etc. Yet the Government has not taking any drastic action against this warmongers.

The committee set up by the Government, showed it's individual findings which is 289 hectares to be the disputed land in-between both communities which the Governor actually directed the committee to concentrate on mostly the identification of the existing local government boundary and this was also crumbled because of the disagreement from Aladja community.

Hon. Jite Brown Udu local government chairman and Hon. Taiye Duke Warri South West Local government chairman came and said governor has given them order to demarcate the land.

Hon. Jite Brown (an Aladja son, a core sponsor of this crisis) forcefully gave our land to his Aladja people in a ratio of six and half poles for Aladja against three and half poles for Ogbe -Ijoh(The world is watching).

This ratio is against every negotiation, agreement and/or adjustment the Ogbe-Ijoh people has reached with government and Aladja people in all levels of commitment yet our leaders asked us to stay calm and watch what they are doing, so we obeyed them even when it's not convenient with our kingdom but the Aladja youths keep disrupting the process, on the 20th Dec. 2021 they direct their surveyor and representatives to back out of the demarcation  process and 21st Dec. 2021 they came with speed boats filled with youths to stop the work and Dec. 22, 2021 the Aladja people sporadically shot at the military personnel, surveyors, workers and our representatives while working in the  environment in order to truncate the process yet no action was taken against the Aladja community. These inactions of the Aladja youths over the land demarcation is totally  unacceptable and will not be condoned while sharing the other part of the land because the said portion of land referred to as disputed land or land under demarcation belongs to the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.

It's astonishing to realize that government couldn't stand firm to defend the country's boundary law of 1952, a document that is clearly stating boundary lines of two Local governments and states, the same document that delineate udu and Uvwie local governments, the same document that demarcate Warri South from Warri North, Delta State from Edo state, the same document that separate all local governments and states in this country couldn't be uphold in the case of Udu and Warri South West Local governments.

The Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom has over beared the inconsistent and insincere characters of the Aladja community, the Aladja community has shown their wickedness and unfriendliness, they are liers/cheats and defenders of evil.

If they can deny a national document signed by both parties that established the current boundary between the two local governments what will make one think that they won't deny new boundaries given by the state or local government chairmen.

We feel the Delta State Government is biase and it seem to have lost the will power to say the glaring truth about this land dispute because they are probably afraid of Aladja Community and/or the political bigwigs backing them from the state and federal.

 In view of the above, we realized that Government is taking our calmness and cooperation for stupidity and cowardice and the Government as decided to oppress the Ogbe-Ijoh people to favour the aggressors.

Therefore the Youth leaders of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom has resolved as follows:

1. The State Government led by his Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi A. Okowa should direct the Aladja people to quit our God giving land or we will claim our territory by any means necessary.

2. We don't have anymore land to share with our tenant's henceforth we will never tolorate any form of misbehaviors from the Aladja

Community.

3. The State Government or its agents should solely concentrate on the DEMARCATION of the  LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY anything outside that is against the existing law and will not be accepted.

Finally and most importantly, the Delta State Government can't be seen to be inconsistent in terms of demarcating the land. Government must be firm in ensuring that the right thing is done at the right time.

Signed.

For: Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth leaders and Stakeholders Forum.

Amb. Aken E. Edwin

Ex-youth president/Chairman Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth leaders and stakeholders forum.

Comr. James Etimadimene

Current Youth president.

Comr. Victor Akemotubo

Secretary of the forum/ Chairman Ijaw Youth Council Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom

Pastor James Christmas

Ex- Youth president

Comr. Goddy Okosu

Ex-youth president

Comr. Ibru Okpogan

Ex-youth president

Comr. Stevenson Numah

Ex-youth president

Comr. Bibo Ogbona

Ex-youth president

Comr. Nathaniel Oromoni

Youth leader.

Comr. Aaron Ebiye

Youth leader

Comr. Seth Douperegha

Youth leader

Comr. Sedco Ikoko

Stakeholder

Comr. Smart Okosu

Youth Leader

Comr. Steven Omare

Youth leader

Mr. Kenneth Okpogan

Stakeholder

Mr. Fidelis Gbenekama

Stakeholder

Chief Frank Officer

Stakeholder

Mr. Smart Kusimi

Stakeholder

Christmas: FG Declares Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th Public Holidays

Christmas: FG Declares Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th Public Holidays

The federal government has declared Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th December 2021 and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year Day celebrations respectively.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the federal government in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, on Wednesday morning.

He felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Aregbesola enjoined Christians to practice the doctrines of Christ, which include but are not limited to faith, hope and love.

“We must emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness that His birth signifies.

“This will be the best way to portray Christ and celebrate his birth,” he noted.

He emphasized that peace and security were two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity.

 

He urged Christians and Nigerians to make the best use of this festive period to pray for the total eradication of insecurity bedevilling the country.

Aregbesola also charged Nigerians not to be lulled into a false sense of security on the COVID-19 pandemic but to note that it is increasingly assuming a very dangerous and harmful dimension with the emergence of a virulent variant, Omicron.

 

“This calls for deliberate responsibility and discipline on the part of all,” the Minister stressed.

The Minister enjoined all to adhere strictly to and observe all the stipulated non-pharmaceutical protocols and guidelines such as wearing of facemasks, frequent washing of hands with soap and water, using of hand sanitiser and avoidance of large groups.

Also, he urged quick report to medical authorities of any respiratory illness observed in self and others before, during and after the Yuletide.

Speaking further, the Minister said this Yuletide calls for spartan discipline in order to prevent the spread of the virus in communities and the nation as a whole.

“Moderately celebrate the festival without large groupings and observe all the protocols stipulated by medical authorities. Take it as a point of personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus,” the Minister enjoined.