Author: Emmanuel Obe

Art Choreographer, Dan Kpodoh and other art enthusiasts in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have lamented the poor appreciation of the art industry in the city and indeed, the entire Rivers State. Kpodoh, who recently hosted Bolobolo, a stage performance in Port Harcourt, said on his social media handle, that it was disappointing that despite having a rich reservoir of players in the arts, entertainment and film industry, recognition of the arts was embarrassingly low in Port Harcourt. He said compared to Lagos and Abuja, big arts events in Port Harcourt do not attract much money to encourage entertainers…

Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, has been appointed by the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, to chair the committee set up to distribute the federal government cash and rice palliatives sent to Rivers State. Governor Fubara during the inauguration of the committee confirmed that the state government had received the sum of N2Billion from the federal government and 16,800 bags of rice from Nigerian Governors’ Forum as part of the palliatives to help the poorest of the poor deal with the biting effect of the fuel subsidy removal. Fubara said, “The…

Rivers State Police Command has initiated a new scheme aimed at eradicating crime in the state. The scheme is called ‘Rivers Zero Crime’ (RZC). The Commissioner of Police, Dr. Polycarp Nwonyi, said at a press conference preceding the launch of the scheme in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that RZC was set up to rebuild trust in the police, fight crime and promote unity between the police and the public. He said without law and order there cannot be any meaningful development in the state. He recalled that within the three months that he had been in the state, the police…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to all ongoing partnership talks with local and international entities aimed at accelerating the development of the Niger Delta region. Dr Ogbuku, who spoke at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him by his reappointment as MD/CEO in the new NDDC Board. He pledged to vindicate this trust by working assiduously to speed up development of the Niger Delta region. “I am humbled and honoured by the trust and confidence that…

Oil communities in Bayelsa under the auspices of Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) have alleged that they have been neglected in 13 percent derivation revenue accruing to the state. In an open letter they issued on the matter to Governor Douye Diri, HOSTCOM alleged that the amount of money released to the state government for use to develop the oil communities has not been felt in the communities. The letter, which was signed by Pastor Samson Dabbey, the Bayelsa State chapter of HOSTCOM, demanded that Governor Douye Diri should give an account of the funds received so far…

With All Eyes on the Judiciary,” the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday delivered judgment in the several petitions filed by aggrieved parties against the outcome of the February 25, 2023 presidential election in which President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner. In a 12-hour marathon judgment, which started from 9.30 am and lasted far into the night, the tribunal led by Hon. Justice Haruna Tsammani, affirmed the election of Senator Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as President and Vice-President in the February 25, 2023 election. “I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu…

Women in Eleme Local Govern-ment Area of Rivers State have protested the culture of denying women the right to inherit family property. The women raised their voice at a one-day programme on Story Telling on Women Inheritance held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Alode, Eleme last Tuesday. The programme was organized by Mba Okase Initiative Eleme and supported by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre. Leader of Mba Okase Initiative, Eleme, Dr. Patience Osaroejiji, said, “Eleme culture and traditions have had no place for girls and women with regards to inheritance of land and houses, either from their father’s side…

While the crises in communities in Emohua have been festering, security agencies have been excusing themselves from the crises. The Nigeria Police Force said since most of the crises were related to illegal oil bunkering, it was the duty of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) that should be contacted. Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, told National Point that none of the command’s men or officers was involved in the situation in Emohua. “For now in Rivers State, we don’t have any police officer that is indulging in such activities there,” she said.…

Rumuekpe, one of the 14 wards in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State used to be a thriving community before 2005, when rival cults engaged themselves in a deadly war and sent everyone packing. During that period virtually every standing structure apart from the oil installations in the community was brought down. The schools were not only closed, their buildings were destroyed. Electricity cables were cut and carted away. At a time no one lived in the community. Peace has returned to the community, but it still stands like a ghost town. Today, Rumuekpe is a shadow of its…