Author: nationalpoint

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaSen. Ifeanyi OkowaThe election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party in the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election has been upheld by the Delta State Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba.Delivering his judgment, chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Suleiman Belgore dismissed the petition of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Great Ogboru for failing to prove the allegations of voting without accreditation, illegal allocation of unlawful votes and multiple voting.Ogboru in his petition marked EPT/DT/GOV/01/2019, had alleged that the governor and his party, PDP, were unduly…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaComrade (Chief) Ovuozourie MacaulayThe director general, Warri Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA), Comrade (Chief) Ovuozourie Macaulay, has described the tribunal victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a reaffirmation of truth.He said the judgment is a validation of the electoral trust reposed on the governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).According to him, the petitions by the opposition were mere distractions to divert government attention from its business of ensuring holistic development and delivering the dividends of democracy.Macaulay, in a statement issued by his media assistant, Mr. Iteveh Ekpokpobe, in Asaba, congratulated…

We the undersigned organizations in Rivers State are greatly alarmed by the recent spate of gruesome murderous activities of a suspected criminal in Rivers State has left over 10 women and girls dead in hotels.This activity has become more worrisome because there has been no strong indication that the killer(s) is (are)being tracked by security forces and no sign of a solution in sight, rather, more more reports are emerging of death in similar circumstances.It goes without saying that the women whose lives have been so unceremoniously cut short in their prime come from families like we all do. Some…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaThe royal stool of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom is currently enmeshed in serious conflict following the crowning of a new Obi of Ogwashi-Uku in the wake of the demise of the former monarch, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo.Recently, a member of the Royal family, Patrick Okonjo claimed the new Obi was crowned in error but, the Royal family of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom has faulted that claim of Patrick that the newly crowned Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, HRM, Obi Ifechukwude Chukwuka Okonjo, was installed in error.Patrick, who is also a contender to the stool, said succession to Ogwashi-uku throne is by primogeniture, which the…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaGovernor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said registration for national identity card through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will provide appropriate figure of the country’s population for effective national planning.The governor stated this in Asaba, in an interactive session with newsmen to mark the maiden nationwide celebration of the National Identity Day.He said government at all levels would plan better and give proper attention to security in the country with proper documentation of Nigerians through the NIMC, .“I am glad that we have a national identity day, and that Sept. 16 of every year has…

By Chiemeka Green, YenagoaA stalwart of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide and younger brother of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Robert Igali, and three others have been kidnapped along Elele Community in Rivers State while they were trying to rescue Bayelsa State bound accident victims.The accident victims, according to eyewitness account, were returning from the wedding ceremony of an appointee of the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Preye Oseke.It was learnt that they were returning from the wedding of his friend they attended in Mbaise axis of Imo State when the…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaAs incidents of kidnapping rise in Delta State, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Chike Onyemenam, has been reported abducted at Issele-Azagba, near Asaba, the Delta State capital.Onyemenam was said to have been ambushed by arm-wielding hoodlums at Utulu Junction along Benin- Asaba expressway near Meta City Housing Estate, Issele-Azagba. He was kidnapped alongside one of his lawyers.The incident occurred on Monday when he was inspecting the site of his properties along the highway.A family source confirmed the incident to journalists in Asaba on Tuesday.The source said the kidnappers later released the lawyer after a while…

Comrade Alagoa Morris is Head, Environmental Right Action (ERA) Niger Delta Resource Centre and also project officer of ERA, a foremost environmental justice organization in the country. In this interview with Chiemeka Green, the very experienced human rights and environmental activist talks about the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and diplomatic solutions to avert future occurrence, reprisal attacks by citizens in Nigeria and how the federal government failed in its responsibility to protect Nigerians home and abroad. Excerpts: Comrade Alagoa MorrisHow would you describe the attacks and killings of Nigerians in South Africa?Xenophobia is very strange when it…

Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria (L), Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana (C) and Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone were among the leaders meeting in Ouagadougou (AFP Photo/ISSOUF SANOGO)West African leaders on Saturday announced a billion-dollar plan to fight the rising problem of jihadist violence in the region, at a summit in Burkina Faso.According to the AFP,  the plan, to be funded from 2020 to 2024, was announced at end of the Economic Community Summit of West African States, ECOWAS in Ouagadougou, where the ECOWAS nations were joined by Mauritania and Chad.ECOWAS had decided to mobilize “the financial resources of up…

By Dave Okpogadie, AsabaMinister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has lamented the high rate of maternal mortality in the country which he put at 40,000 deaths every year.The minister made the disclosure at the opening of the 62nd National Council on Health (NCH) meeting in Asaba, Delta State.He urged the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, to, as a matter of urgency commit to and implement national policies on maternal and newborn health and also dedicate a budget line with appropriate allocation released on time for reduction of maternal and Neonatal Mortality and nutrition intervention at all levels.The minister,…