News From Nigeria
The Okpe Union on Friday emphasized its roles in revolutionizing Okpe Kingdom and uplifting a lot of the people.
‘Notwithstanding the destabilization policy by His Royal Majesty, Orhue l and the renegades since 2021, we have made significant progress in the execution of numerous projects. We have brought to the forefront a positive profile of the Okpe ethnic nationality in several fora in Nigeria. We have reestablished the autonomy of the Okpe Union by securing the landmark Judgement and Ruling of the Federal High Court, Lagos and the Federal High Court, Abuja, respectively. We contributed financially and morally to the success of the Okpe Cultural Day events of the National Association of Okpe Students in various Higher Institutions. We sponsored and secured a number of jobs for nine deserving Okpe Youths’’.
At a world press conference in Lagos, President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe, said the Okpe Union featured in national and local discourse which has enabled the Okpe Nation to be respected in the comity of ethnic nationalities.
‘’We submitted proposed projects and presented administrative advice to all levels of Government since the last General Elections in the country and Delta State during the tenure. We ensured the celebration of worthy heroes of the Okpe Union and the Okpe Nation as exemplified, in particular, in the burial ceremony of the Late Okpe hero, Rev. Dr. Charles E. Osume of Mereje, who contributed in no small measure to Okpe consciousness and identity in his written works, and actions while he was alive’’.
The union complained about the educational deficits of Okpe nationals in national and foreign educational institutions.
‘’Frequently referred to as the largest mono-ethnic nationality in Delta State, it is however regrettable that Okpe is arguably the less educated ethnic nationality in Delta State. Okpe Union shall continue to explore ways and means to curtail the educational deficits of Okpe nationals, in national and foreign educational institutions.
The Union vowed to strive for a stronger Okpe Nation through the teaching of Okpe Language in all primary and post primary educational institutions in Okpe Nation including the privately owned schools
‘’The use of Okpe Language in all places of worship in Okpe Nation shall be encouraged. The union will attract investments to the Okpe Nation, liaise with local, state and federal governments for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality so that the shortchanging of the Okpe Nation in DESOPADEC/NDDC Projects, Bursary Slots etc, would be a thing of the past and organize empowerment programmes for Okpe youths and women’’.
The Union also promised to foster collaboration and cooperation in Okpe Nation.
‘’It is our hope that all stakeholders of the Okpe Nation shall realize that the Okpe Union means well with all these view points and projections. The Unity of Okpe can enable her to overcome many of the seemingly difficult issues. With an open mind, the Newly Sworn National Executive Council which I am once again privileged to head for the next four years promises to foster collaboration and cooperation in the Okpe Nation’’.
The Okpe Union at the weekend called on politicians and persons who have been given the opportunity to occupy various political leadership positions all over the country to remember that their primary responsibility is to ensure the welfare of the citizens and stability of the Nigerian polity.
The Union also urged elected government officials to face their roles squarely rather than being distracted or fixated on the next round of elections.
The position of the Okpe Union on the state of the Nigerian Nation was presented to the press by the President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe.
‘’There is no basis for the electorate to consider re-electing incumbents who do not deliver on the promises they have made to their constituents which constitute a social contract. It is with good governance which in turn translates to the improved well-being of the people that increases the confidence the people would have in the democratic process which we must acknowledge, has not been very high amongst the people of Nigeria in recent times.
The Union advised the National Assembly not to wait until close to the next General Elections before embarking on whatever electoral reforms for the polity.
‘’ In time past, whenever the tinkering of the Electoral Act is delayed and brought too close to another round of General Elections, political interests have created tensions which influence the review and amendment processes that the outcomes usually do not reflect the desire of the electorate for a template that ensures credibility of the Electoral Process’’
The Union further counseled the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work in synergy to ensure a timeous review of our Electoral Laws and regulations to ensure that the votes of Nigerians in all parts of the country truly count.
The Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1, on Friday drew flak from Okpe Union leaders who described his Urhobo agenda as a betrayal of the Okpe Nation.
‘’There are two contending trends in contemporary Okpe polity. Okpe Union represents the first trend that agitates for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality and not a sub-group of any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria. The second trend, currently championed by HRM Orhue l (after he opted to abandon his earlier position), regards Okpe as Urhobo.
The President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe commented on the contending trends in Okpe polity during the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Okpe Union.
‘’This is a reflection of the current position of HRM Orhue l, which, for selfish reasons reverted to the British colonial policy that classified “Okpe as Urhobo”, in order to secure the support of the Urhobos in his aspiration to be the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council’’.
The Union took a swipe at Orhue 1, accusing him of working against the campaign of Okpe as a distinct ethnic group.
‘’While we are here today in Okpe House, Obalende, Lagos, the officially recognized Registered Office and headquarters of the Okpe Union, celebrating the 95th Anniversary Celebrations of the Okpe Union, a pack of renegades are said to be in Udogun Hall, the Palace of Okpe Kingdom, claiming to be celebrating the 95th Anniversary of the Okpe Union, but are in reality, according to their own posters, celebrating Okpe as “the largest Urhobo Ethnic Nationality”.
The Union recollected an encounter of the Arc. Ralph Karieren-led National Executive Council of the Okpe Union in 2010 with His Royal Majesty where Orhue 1 wanted the Union to retract a statement published by the Okpe Union that Okpe was a distinct Ethnic Nationality.
‘’The union then had published that position so as to prepare the ground for a demand for the Delta State Government to recognize Okpe as a distinct Ethnic Nationality under the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). But that dream was truncated as HRM Orhue I got the then Unu Okpe to sign a counter publication in the Vanguard Newspapers to the effect that Okpe was Urhobo. To put it bluntly, this position is a betrayal of Okpe Identity and a betrayal of the Okpe Nation’’.
The Okpe Union vowed to continue its advocacy of Okpe Identity, irrespective of the internal and external hostile forces.
‘’We count on the resilience and steadfastness of our members across the several branches in Nigeria and in the Diaspora as well as various Okpe groups which identify with the struggle for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct Ethnic Nationality and language. The panic that enveloped the Palace in the past couple of days regarding the listing of our Keynote Speaker demonstrates the hollowness of the renegades’’.
Kogi youths on Thursday applauded Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for the quality of her thought and purification of the country’s politics.
They also denounced the massive lies, hypocrisy and masquerading of the Immediate Past Chairman of Nigeria-America Public Affairs Committee, Mr. Ike Chidolue
‘’This is not competent public relations. Ike Chidolue is just supercilious’’
The youths in a statement in Okene urged the US President, Donald Trump and the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott to be wary of people working against the interest of democracy and good governance in Nigeria
The youths also asked South-East people in America to keep their distance from Prof Mgbeke and Chidolue.
They described Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a good woman and an upright and virtuous patriot.
‘’Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has a great potential and a bright future. We feel strongly about that’’
The statement issued by the Chairman of Kogi Central Youth Movement (KCYM), Alhaji Mustapha Jato criticized the Senate leadership for resisting the voice of honour and reason.
The youths denounced Chidolue and Dr Sandra Duru for dishing out nonsense, spreading dubious claims and distorting the basic issue and situation.
The statement emphasized ferocious spirit of despotism, public posturing in pompous dress and ways of restoring patriotism and morality in the senate.
‘’These are trying times for true democrats to fight these repressive tendencies’’
The youths called Duru and Chidolue debased slaves and dump robots.
‘’The Igbo Nation is very strict with precise ideas about manners and beliefs proper to men and women”
They mocked Duru and Chidolue for bringing America and the South-East geo-political zone into disrepute and ridicule.
The youths further denounced the Senate leadership for the overwhelming demonstration of wickedness.
Leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC has been recognised as a Most Influential Corporate Voice by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR. The credit came at the National Spokespersons Awards 2025 which wrapped up the just ended 2nd Nigeria Spokespersons Summit jointly organised by the Institute and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, held in Abuja, Wednesday.
According to the Chairman of the Awards Planning Committee, Mr. Segun McMedal who announced the awards, Julius Berger joined two other corporate organisations to clinch the worthy recognition as influential corporate voices in the 2024/25 year under review.
He listed the adjudication criteria to include: ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, ensuring messages are easily understood, possession of skill in tailoring communication to different media channels while maintaining message integrity, frequency and quality of media engagements, including interviews, press conferences, press releases, and op-eds and ability to craft compelling narratives that effectively communicate the organization’s objectives and achievements.
Besides, the recognition, he added, was also based on proficiency in leveraging emerging communication channels, tools, and technologies to enhance engagement and outreach as well as NIPR’s evaluation of how effectively the organisations PR objectives were met, measuring the overall success and influence of communication efforts.
Thus, being media savvy and the organisation’s visibility in the media, story telling and framing ability, the use of new technologies and the outcome and impact of the effort among others helped in determining the influence of our corporate voices of choice, he said.
In a related development, Julius Berger’s Media Relations Manager, Emmanuel Isibor won NIPR’s Outstanding Spokesperson, Crisis Management, (Private Sector) Award at the event. Citing the rise and positive visibility of Julius Berger throughout 2024 till date in the media inspite of the challenges in the sector and the general public as well as regularity of the organisation’s media reports across the print, broadcast and online platforms, McMedal said, the Award was very deserving even as he urged all winners to continue to up their professionalism in the discharge of their duties as worthy ambassadors of the Institute.
In his short remarks ahead the Awards ceremony, President of the Institute, Dr. Ike Neliaku, fnipr, said, the summit leads to the awards. This is part of that whole process of remembering spokesperson so that you can help a voice. You have a platform to yourself. Not only that you come together to interact to learn to understand the new things going on in the industry. It is also for you to be able to showcase yourselves through crisis.
Declaring the event open on the first Day of the Summit, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the NIPR as a compelling imprimatur of professionalism in Nigeria’s public relations practice.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, emphasised the urgent need for ethical leadership communication to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, saying, “after 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria has reached a point where our communication of leadership and policy must reflect the maturity of our democratic process.”
He warned that the spread of misinformation undermines democratic values, adding that, public relations should not be viewed as spin or propaganda but as a vehicle for truth. When communication is rooted in integrity, citizens are empowered to make informed decisions and hold leaders accountable.
The Minister of Information, Alh Mohammed Idris Malagi, fnipr, his predecessor, Alh. Lai Mohammed, CON, fnipr, former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, CFR, CON; former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, fnipr; and the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi Jr were among the participants at the two-day event hosted by the President of the NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, fnipr.
The Joint Congress of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) and the Amalgamated Union Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) on Thursday expressed deep concerns over the troubling state of affairs at the National Theatre Complex.
‘’At the inception of the renovation of the National Theatre, the then Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, assured all stakeholders, including organized labour that the renovation would be completed within eighteen months and that no single job would be lost as a result of the process. These assurances were meant to inspire confidence, safeguard institutional integrity and protect workers’ rights during the transformational phase of this iconic national asset. However, five years after the commencement of the said renovation project, we regret to inform you that these promises have remained largely unfulfilled and the realities on the ground are now completely at variance with the assurance given’’
They also condemned the denial of access to designated offices within the National Theatre complex.
‘’This continued restriction has not only affected administrative productivity but has also subjected our members to psychological discomfort, professional displacement and operational stagnation. The absence of access to official workspaces is in direct contradiction to earlier commitments and undermines the fundamental principles of fairness and workplace inclusion’’
At a world press conference in Lagos, the Labour Unions lamented the sidelining of the management of the National Theatre, particularly the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer.
‘’The General Manager is often not informed about high-level visits and official tours within the complex. A recent example is the visit of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the delegation recently. Such visits occurring without the knowledge of the substantive management, represents a serious breakdown in institutional protocol, coordination and transparency. This anomaly has become recurrent and portends a threat to the autonomy and operational integrity of the management structure of the National Theatre’’.
The stance of the unions was presented to journalists in Lagos by Comrade Ishola Adejumo, RATTAWU Chairman, Lagos State, Comrade Bimbola Oluyeye, RATTAWU Secretary, Lagos State, Comrade Olatunji Omodolapo, AUPCTRE Chairperson and Comrade Omotola Babatunde, AUPCTRE Secretary.
‘’The National Theatre is the nation’s heritage and it will be not be ceded to any person or groups as some have chosen to frame it. That the renovation is to restore the National Theatre back to its former glory and it will cost N25, billion to do that. That no single job will be loss as more jobs will be created’’ the unions recollected the words of Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
They said workers were abandoned in the course of the memorandum of understanding signed by Lai Mohammed and the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
Particularly, the unions decried the inhibition of internally organized programmes despite official payments.
‘’Equally troubling is the recurring refusal to allow National Theatre Staff and departments to organize internal programmes within the complex, even when such programmes have been duly approved and paid for through the Treasury Single Account (TSA). This deliberate suppression of legitimate institutional programing not only affect revenue generation but also contradict the very essence of the National Theatre as a hub for cultural expression and creativity’’
Community leaders in Delta State on Friday denounced the new height of perfidy in the Niger Delta region.
‘’Leaders of the Sapele Okpe Community recently embarked on a campaign of name calling and misinformation’’
They also accused the Sapele Okpe community leaders of concocting lies about the Alema of Warri, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan and the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.
‘’ Their reference to the Alema of Warri, an administrative chief of Abigborodo, Ugbekoko and several riverine communities in Warri North and Sapele Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, is defamatory and grossly disrespectful’’.
In a response to the vicious campaign of falsehood of Chief Onoriode Temiagin, Mr Azan Friday and other members of the Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu Communities, the notable Itsekiri leaders described the calls for the removal of the Special Adviser to the governor of Delta State on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution by the Sapele Okpe Community as baseless.
‘’A night to the visit to locus in quo, SEPLAT energy in collaboration with the Sapele Okpe Community concocted a narrative of false claim of intelligence that there might be armed conflict with a view of preventing the visit of the committee to cover up the obvious facts. When they failed in that ploy, SEPLAT decided to avoid the joint visit. Instead of acting neutral in this investigation, they are fully in league with the Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu communities as they were seen in a sea truck boat belonging to SEPLAT together, even when the takeoff point of the visit was well communicated and it was Abigborodo Jetty and the area of investigation is the SEPLAT DREDGING SITE, the communities of Abigborodo, Obotie and other surrounding communities and SEPLAT operational base. This visit by the investigation committee could be done with or without parties. They may even choose not to visit and rely on the visitation report of DSS and the inter-ministerial investigation committee that had physically visited. No matter how it is seen, the visitation had all parties and could not be labeled as biased’’.
The Itsekiri leaders in a press statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of Abigborodo Management Committee, Hon Misan Ukubeyinje, ESQ and Mr Victor Atseponu in Abigborodo accused the Sapele Okpe Community leaders of trying to cause confusion and breakdown of law and order in Delta State.
‘’All issues surrounding the Okpe Sobo forest reserve have been settled and the decisions have been gazetted in Government White Paper Official Document No. 1 of 2021. Their claim of incursion into the forest reserve is baseless as they have no land in the reserve. However, what is in contention here is the area of Operations of SEPLAT particularly the new area of drilling which the state peace building and conflict resolution is investigating. What is the Business of Sapele Okpe Community in the riverine areas bordering Abigborodo, Obotie and Ugbekoko communities? It is also unbelievable that Ugbukurusu which is over 15 kilometers away is laying claim of ownership in Areas of land in Abigborodo, land surrounded by Abigborodo, Obotie, Ugbekoko and Aja-Okotie’’.
The notable Itsekiri leaders urged the Executive Governor of Delta State to ignore and discountenance the false cry of wolves by the Sapele Okpe Community.
‘’We as a community, the bonafide owner of the land and Host Community to SEPLAT WEST LTD by all intents and purposes are prepared and ready for any other visit as the features, land, water and distance of our community to SEPLAT remain constant and we know the result of all visitation and even subsequent visitation to the Area in contention will remain the same, come rain or sun’’.
They also urged the Governor of Delta State and all well-meaning Deltans to disregard the content of the press statement of the Sapele Okpe Community and allow the investigation of Chief Edwin Uzor, the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution and his team to do their job without fear, favour or interference.
‘’Abigborodo community from time immemorial are owners of land covering Area of operations of Seplat including Ugbekoko Community housing Seplat jetty, several oil wells, the flow stations and virtually all the drilling locations of SEPLAT WEST LIMITED. The Abigborodo Community had made several entreaties to SEPLAT to be recognized as Host Community all to no avail. While the agitation was ongoing, SEPLAT decided to enter into other areas of our land to commence preparation for new oil wells . We brought it to the notice and urged them to recognize us as the Host Community and stop the illegal trespass into our land. In response, SEPLAT claimed we are the only impacted community, not the Host Community. Upon our refusal to accept the impacted community unknown to the Petroleum necessitated, our consequent action’’
Our attention has been drawn to a press briefing that is credited to one Chief Onoriode Temiagin (Chairman Sapele Okpe Community), one Mr. Azan Friday (Chairman, Ugbukurusu Community) and others
It is not in our nature to reply neither is it our character to glorify crass display of ignorance, hogwash, inordinate narrations and unrepentant attitude of lies peddling that were ignobly displayed by Cief Onoriode Temiagin and others but it is charitable to educate members of the public hence it becomes imperative to set the record straight as it concerns the stentorian lies and sinister narratives that were copiously repeated in the aforementioned press briefing.
We shall join issues with Chief Onoriode Temiagin and others in these following unequivocal and lucid ways.
Firstly, the legal status of Obotie People as it concerns the ownership of Obotie Community is casted in gold from time immemorial and has been given judicial approval in the ear 1925 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of Muwunum vs Achydoma in suit No MW/452/53 BETWEEN Jewiragba& Co vs Jonomi. The court further ticked the judicial scale in favour of Obotie people as it concerns the ownership of Obotie Community.
More recently, the Government white paper on the report of judicial panel of enquiry into the Okpe Urhobo (Okpe Sobo) Forest Reserve and other ancillary matter relating to deserved portion(s) and encroachment, the panel held that Sapele Okpe Community claim of the ownership of the Okpe Urhobo (Ukpe Sobo) Forest Reserve cannot be substantiated as several communities were living in the Area prior to its constitution and some of these communities were not of Sapele Okpe extraction and they exercised acts of ownership over the land they occupied.
We make bold to say that Obotie Community is among the communities that are not of Okpe extraction but have been in the Okpe Sobo forest reserve prior to the constitution of the reserve.
Relying on the above judicial and quasi-judicial authorities, it is crystal clear that Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his co-travellers were either playing to the gallery or speaking from ignorance when they ascribed exclusive ownership of the Okpe Sobo Forest reserve to the Sapele Okpe Community as it has been lucidly shown that Obotie Community belongs to the Obotie people.
Secondly, we are not surprised at the unjustifiable, reckless, inordinate and senseless attacks that are being melted on the Special Adviser to the Governor on peace building and conflict resolution and his team as these has been the stock in trade of the Sapele Okpe Community in general and the Ugbukurusu Community in particular. These nefarious actions are not new to us. A typical example is the inability of Ugbukurusu Community to open her defense for more than 14 (fourteen) years in a trespass suit that was filed against her (Ugbukurusu Community) by Obotie Community. Instead, Ugbukurusu Community have been resorting to physical attacks, trying to make the case start denovo and other immature display of technicalities. We are not surprised that the Sapele Okpe Community resorts to cheap, blackmail, vituperations, names calling and attack just to disrupt the peaceful resolution process that culminated to the inspection/assessment/visits to affected areas. Representatives of the Sapele Okpe Community, Ugbukurusu and SEPLAT were seen in boat during the visitation that was conducted by the Special Adviser to the Governor on peace building and conflict resolution. The sack calls that were made by Chief Onoriode Temiagin is not only laughable but an attempt to shift the goal post in the middle of a match as there is no justifiable reasons to make such calls. The question that begs for an answer is whether Obotie Community is within the 5 (kilometres radius to the exploration area as stipulated by the Petroleum Industry Act?
The Special Adviser to the governor has been unbiased and true to an amiable peaceful resolution that represent the true state of things as they affect SEPLAT operations and the impact they have on all impacted communities hence Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his people resorted to playing shenanigans even when the report on the investigation is not yet out.
Thirdly, the Sapele Okpe Community in league with SEPLAT have been hatching and orchestrating all sorts of sinister plans to undermine Obotie Community from getting her benefits as a community that is impacted by the activities of SEPLAT. SEPLAT has recruited the leadership of the Sapele Okpe Community to frustrate the innocuous and legal claims of Obotie Community hence this kind of ill motivated press briefing that is credited to Chief Onoriode Temiagin and is likes.
Another question that begs for an answer is how did Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his like become spokespersons for SEPLAT that warrants to make submission for SEPLAT? Again, these exhibit heinous conspiracy between Sapele Okpe Community and SEPLAT to deprive Obotie Community from her legal rights, privileges and benefits that are accruable to her as her impacted community to SEPLAT operations.
Fourthly, just like our ancestors before us, we are determined and in our righteous might, we shall continue to defend Obotie Community which is our Ancestral Home from the likes of SEPLAT and the Sapele Okpe Community. Chief Onoriode Temiagin subtle threat of war is not new to us as Obotie Community has been a victim of a collective onslaught and aggressions that were poured on our community by premeditated and combined forces of the entire Sapele Okpe Community. Obotie Community survived it and we will continue to defend Obotie Community with legal means within the ambit of the law.
These ignoble calls that are credited to Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his group of warmongers bring to mind the judgement of king Solomon as it concerns the biblical story of the two women that laying claims to living baby as posted in 1 Kings 3: 16-28.
Chief Onoriode Temiagin and others have forgotten that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is a governor of, by and for all Deltans and not a governor for, by and of the Okpe people. Chief Onoriode Temiagin lacks the capacity to drag the exalted Office of Governor of Delta State into petty tribal/ethnic tension as the Governor is a father of all Deltans and all tribes in Delta State.
We are confident that His Excellency Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will not act on the utterance of Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his likes who are behaving like football players who are anticipating defect to a stronger team.
At this point, we are passionately requesting the protection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori against the oppression of both the leadership of Sapele Okpe Community and that of Sapele.
It is against the background of the above incontrovertible facts that we are imploring the public in General and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to ignore the ignorable, callous, sinister and reckless narratives and allegations that are being peddled by Sapele Okpe Community as some lacks substance and truth hence they should be fizzled into the thin air.
Thank you all.
Signed
Pa Simeon Brikinn
Chairman, Obotie Elders Council
Pa Peter Ogholaja
Vice Chairman, Obotie Elders Council
Mr George Facah
Secretary, Obotie Elders Council
Engr. Samuel Atiwe
Chairman Obotie Management Council
Hon Godwin Fanemigho
Secretary Obotie Management Council
The hope of Ndigbo in Lagos was rekindled on Thursday as business leaders of South-East extraction reiterated their choice of Seyi Tinubu as the next governor of Lagos State.
‘’The 2027 governorship election lies in the hands of the electorate. They have the ultimate say in election matters’’
The South-East body also advised the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, detractors and willful critics to steer clear of Lagos politics.
‘’Certainly by 2027, Primate Ayodele and others like him, will acknowledge the people’s verdict and the present position of Igbo Entrepreneurs within and outside the shores of Nigeria’’
A statement in Lagos by the President of the Ndigbo Entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Abroad, Chief Hon Linus Obi described the comments of Primate Ayodele as diversionary, misleading and part of a larger plot to market his candidate.
‘’It is very clear from his misguided statements that Primate Ayodele has suddenly forgotten his past failed prophesies on football in Europe and politics in Nigeria. Perhaps Primate Ayodele has been out of touch with political realities which may explain why he seems not to have noticed the current direction of Lagos politics and development’’
The Igbo businessmen and women applauded the good people of Lagos for refusing to be hoodwinked by the tissues of lies, propaganda and fake prophesies manufactured and disseminated by people seeking attention and recognition in the country.
‘’We wish to reiterate that Seyi Tinubu is the choice of the stakeholders in Lagos State’’
The Igbo entrepreneurs praised Seyi Tinubu for his humility, diligence and respect for constituted authority.
‘’The governorship role requires a successful entrepreneur with wisdom, honesty, empathy, courage, restraint, humility and discipline. Seyi Tinubu is decent, kind-hearted, approachable, generous and very bright’’
The pan-Igbo group is out to vigorously champion the cause of Igbo businessmen and women in a manner that is just, fair and constitutional.
Renewable energy (RE) solutions present a practical and sustainable way to address the challenges created by persistent national grid collapses and other energy crises. The national grid in its current state requires more reliable alternative within the power generation ecosystem.
The need to infuse RE solutions, such as solar energy, wind power and hydropower, remains crucial in addressing current power generation challenges. The federal government has already begun to implement the National Renewable Energy Roadmap (NRER) developed by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) with a clear aim of providing alternative power that reduce reliance on the centralized grid while maintaining at least an average power supply through decentralization.
Decentralized RE systems will play a key role in bridging the current power supply gap. For instance, photovoltaic solar and onshore wind systems can power rural and semi-urban areas often neglected by the national grid. These systems will not only provide consistent electricity but also empower rural economies, enabling micro-businesses to grow and improving access to essential services such as healthcare and education. With meaningful local and global collaborations, we can achieve the optimal installed capacity of electricity by leveraging on RE sources to ensure energy stability across the country.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria, under my stewardship, stands as a catalyst, championing policies that attract private sector investment, build local capacity, and prioritize renewable energy integration through extended collaborations with stakeholders, governments, and global communities. The National Energy Policy and it’s Master Plan recently unveiled by the Federal Government through ECN seek to increase the renewable electricity generation by aggressively pursuing RE energy integration into the Nation’s energy mix.
The RE systems have become more efficient and cheaper over the years, a paradigm shift to renewable energy will substantially close the energy gaps, reduce grid disruptions, and accelerate its journey toward energy independence and economic growth.