Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs cheers with thier colleague, Chief Sen. George Thompson Sekibo CON JP

NEW EXECUTIVES EMERGE OGU DIVISIONAL COUNCIL OF CHIEFS.

OGU DIVISIONAL COUNCIL OF CHIEFS.

New Executives emerge as the Ogu Divisional council of Chiefs nominate/elect fresh executive in the council of Chiefs, they are as follows...

Chief Hon. Lawrence Abiebiari Egbelekpeke - Chairman.

Chief Dayibara T. S. Amabipi - Vice Chairman.

Chief Hon. Anthony I. Tamunonime - Sec.

Chief Abbey E. Okekeya - Asst Sec.

Chief A.S. Amangidukoka Tende - Fin Sec.

Chief Faithful D. Onumodu Abaji - Treasurer.

Chief Francis A. Ebenezer Onye - P.R.O.

Chief Justice S. Kienka Offiomani - Provost.

Chief (Amb) S.M.K. Taribo Amgbara - Legal Adviser.

Present Chairman in handshake with the newly elected Chairman in council.

New Executives taking Oath of office.

Taking oath of office

Taking oath of office

Chief Obed, the electorate swearing-in the new executives

New Executive from right wing.

New Executives

New Executives from left wing

Newly elected Chairman of Ogu Div. Council of Chiefs, Chief  Hon

Lawrence Abiebiari.

Rivers Market Women agog for Chief Senator G.T. Sekibo as he puts food on thier table during Christmas...

OGU YOUTH CONGRESS ELECTION TIME TABLE

The Ogu Youth Congress election time table is out, interested candidates can pick up nomination forms from the CDC Chairman and Secretary now.
OGU YOUTH CONGRESS ELECTION TIME TABLE
Collection/Submission of nomination forms, Mon. 5th – Thurs 15th Dec. 2016.
Screening of candidates, 16th - 17th Dec. 2016 Time: 9am daily, Multipurpose Hall
Election Proper, Sat. 24th Dec. 2016. Time: 9am, Multipurpose Hall
Presentation of new Exco to the Amanyanabo-in-council, Sat. 31th Dec. 2016, @ the Palace. Time: 3pm
Inauguration/Oath of allegiance, Sun. 1st Jan. 2017, @ Multipurpose Hall, Ogu. Time: 4pm.
COST OF FORMS.
President 30.000.00
V. President 25.000.00
Secretary 20.000.00
Others… 15.000.00 only.
Remember, Completed forms must be attached with a sworn affidavit of good behavior from a Court of Law.
This is a prerequisite for qualification. Thanks.
Signed: Engr. Omieibi Arnold Davids (CDC Chairman, Ogu) 08033121586.

THE COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT THE IRIA CEREMONY (Fating Room), in Ogu Town, The right to the double wrappers.

THE IRIA CEREMONY  (FATING ROOM)

IRIA CEREMONY

The Iria ceremony is a mode of a traditional form of communication in which girls of puberty age transits to womanhood. It is a way of telling the public that these girls are now ready for marriage. In the good old days, it was a disgrace for a young girl to be pregnant without performing the Iria ceremony and it constituted a lifetime abuse to herself and parents. It is also a traditional way of a mother, in particular, showing love to her female children. During the Iria ceremony, the young girl is kept out of circulation and fed with whatever she needs. Traditional cosmetic is used to bring the beauty of her skin to light. The young lady usually looks very attractive during this period because of maintenance especially if the parents are financially buoyant. Some fortunate ones got engaged to prospective husbands before the Iria. In such cases, the prospective husband does take responsibility of the lady during the period. Some who do not have such engagement are indirectly informing any prospective husbands that they are ripe and ready for marriage. After Iria ceremony, the girl’s daughter enjoys freedom as parental control is reduced. A mother and father who exhibit too much parental control will no longer be tolerated for such behavior. If they do, even outside members of their families will rebuke them. The accompanying statement is usually (ma ari iria so ka) meaning “has she not performed the Iria ceremony?” However, that does not mean that the young lady is completely free to misbehave. If she does, it is at her own peril as people in the society or relatives of prospective husband would discourage such a union. By our tradition, these young girls are meant to be virgins but absolute reality, this is not so today. Some of them even live with men as husband and wife but tradition accepts that since they have not given birth to children, they are accepted as virgins and are qualified to participate.

The real Tradition

Traditional look

The previous winner handing over to the present one.

Participants matching with Chiefs as she'll also be scored

Presentation of certificate by the Chiefs

The right to the double wrappers. The Iria ceremony gives the woman the right to tie double wrapper. Any woman who has not perform this ceremony is supposed to tie a single wrapper. In organized culture like Bonny, you can easily identify the status of a woman by her made of dressing. In Bonny, even if the woman is married except she has performed the Iria ceremony she will not be permitted to tie two wrappers. We, the people of Ogu operate similar culture and tradition with Bonny although ours is very loose. We may call it civilization but I considered it wildness and disregard for culture and traditional values. In the good old days, in Ogu a married woman who ties a single wrapper for occasion is communicating something else. Such behaviour   was usually questioned by older women in the community because it was not an accepted norm.

The Right of the Double Wrapper

Ateke Tom Calls For Peace.

Ahead of the December 10 new date for the conclusion of the legislative election in Rivers state, an ex-militant leader, Ateke Tom has called for peaceful elections.

In a meeting with journalists in Okrika, he advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the polls are transparent.

“I want Rivers people to go out for a peaceful election so that there will be peace in the state. Whether you are APC or PDP, go out on that day and vote peacefully.
“Any party that wants to do rally can do their rally anywhere, nobody should disturb them. If they want to use my bedroom for their rally, I will give them my bedroom key after all before APC or PDP, there was Rivers state.
“No one should use my name to cover their failure if they have failed before, you are free to do your rally anywhere,” he said.
There are fears that the tension that is already building up to the December 10 new date for the conclusion of the legislative rerun does not show good signs.
This is in view of the violence that greeted the 2015 general elections in the state and the March 19 legislative rerun in Rivers state which led to the cancellation of the exercise in some local government areas.
Ateke Tom’s community in Okrika also experienced some violence during a political rally in the 2015 polls.

The Building of St. Martin's Anglican Church at 50 now.

HISTORY OF SAINT MARTIN

We need to distinguish our Patron Saint, St. Martins (died 655) form another Martins of Tours (319 – 397 AD). The former i.e our patron Saint, was a pope whose feast day is November 12. While the latter was bishop whose Feast falls on the previous day, i.e November 11. And it was in recognition of this that our Church fathers elected to dedicated this present edifice on Saturday 12 November 1996, Consequently, the edifice was consecrated by the Most Reverend Cecil John Patterson DD, Archbishop of west Africa He was assisted the Rt. Rev. Bara Hart (Diocesan and the Rt. Rev. H.A.I. Afanya (Assistant bishop).

St. Martin became the bishop in July 649. He is the last of the popes who is venerated as a martyr.
Martin hailed from Todi in Tuscany. In his youth, he dedicated himself to the Church as the lector, and later as a Deacon. Because of his Virtues. He was elected as successor to Pope Theodore in AD) 649.
Martins defended the orthodox Christian faith and condemned tow imperial decrease that supports heterodoxy. This act brought about his persecution by Emperor Constance. He has thus whisked away and imprisoned in captivity at Naxos where he was harshly treated, he became sick and carried away on a stretcher to Constantinople, the imperial city in 654. There he was publicly stripped if his Episcopal robes, and his tunic was stripped from top to bottom. Loaded with chains he was condemned to death, but at the plea of the Patriarch Pyrrhus (on May 1, 655), his sentence was commuted to exile. He left Constantinople on May 26, 655 for the Crimea. Between June and September, he wrote letters to a friend in Constantinople complaining pathetically that all his friends and even the Church of Rome had abandoned him. “For forty days,to vomit,” he wrote, “I have not been given water to wash in. I am frozen through and wasting away with dysentery. The food vomit. But God sees all things and I trust in him” He eventually succumbed on September 16, 655.

RSG To Rehabilitate Ogu General Hospital and 12 others.

Rising from its 13th State Executive Council meeting, the Rivers State Government has approved the rehabilitation of the moribund Psychiatric Hospital and nine other general hospitals across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, made the plans public during a chat with newsmen last Wednesday after the State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said the plan is in line with the vision of Wike to create access to quality healthcare for the people of Rivers State. The State Executive Council approved the total rehabilitation of nine general hospitals.
The hospitals to be rehabilitated are:
General Hospital Omoku, General Hospital Nchia ,
General Hospital, Abua, General Hospital Isiokpo,
General Hospital Abonnema,
General Hospital Okrika,
General Hospital Opobo,
General Hospital Terabo,
General Hospital Ngo.
The commissioner added that the state government will also rehabilitate Government Secondary School, Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area
He said, “the Governor Wike administration as promised will face the development of health and education infrastructure across the state.
“This approval by the State Executive Council is in line with the New Rivers Vision of the Wike administration.”
Already, the upgrade of the Orthopedic Department of the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital has been completed by the administration .
He also said that as part of measures to improve quality education, Government School Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area will be rehabilitated.
Already some selected schools across the state are under rehabilitation as pilot scheme for the new boarding policy of the state government.
They include, Government Girls Secondary School Rumuokwuta, Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri and Birabi Memorial Secondary School, Bori.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has faulted claims by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that it constructed 64 roads in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on NDDC matters, Chief Aribitonye Okiri, who made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt, noted with dismay that NDDC under Mrs Ibim Seminitari as managing director was labeling some projects carried out by the Rivers State Government as being embarked upon by the Commission.
Okiri said the claim by NDDC was misleading, false and regrettable as it was a move to undermine the developmental strides of Governor Nyesom Wike.
He, therefore, directed the NDDC to stop forthwith, construction of all roads in the state without due permission from the Rivers State Government.
According to him, the directive was to ensure that activities of some NDDC contractors who claimed ownership of roads constructed by the Rivers State Government stopped forthwith, adding that Rivers State as host to the commission has no records to that effect.
The Special adviser also warned NDDC and other agencies against construction work on all existing structures owned by the state government without express permission from the government and lauded Governor Wike for his resolve in developing Rivers State.
He, however, noted that the development of the Nige Delta could only be achieved through collaboration, peace and mutual respect.

Colins Barasimeye.

Ogu General Hospital

Fuel Price Hike: NNPC Dismisses Report

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has again debunked reports that it plans to hike the pump price of petrol.
Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, made the denial in a statement issued to newsmen last Monday in Abuja.
He said that the NNPC “is not empowered statutorily to tinker with the pricing template of petroleum products as erroneously reported in some national dailies.”
The corporation had on October 23 debunked the report that plans were in the offing to increase the pump price of fuel.
The NNPC spokesman said that the adjustment of the pump price of petrol by NNPC filling stations from N141 to N145 per litre was still within the approved price band.
“The price adjustment is still within the price band of N135 and N145 per litre approved on May 11 by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the statutory body in charge of petroleum products pricing.
“The corporation assures marketers and motorists of its readiness to continue to play its statutory role of being the supplier of last resort and ensuring energy security for the nation.
“The NNPC further confirms the availability of over 1.6 billion litres of PMS in-country that would last 45 days consumption.
“There was no time the NNPC management met the President to push for a hike in the pump price of petrol to N150 per litre,” Muhammad said.
He advised journalists to always cross check their facts before going to press.

The Nigerian Navy arrested sea ship over illegal bunkering.

The Nigerian Navy has arrested a sea ship, MT Sea Eunice over allegation of involvement in illegal oil bunkering.

 A statement on Tuesday from Navy spokesman Commodore, Chris Ezekobe said the arrest was carried out by operatives of the Navy deployed by NNS Pathfinder.

 He explained that: "preliminary investigation revealed that, while the vessel was nominated to load 400 Metric Tones (MT) of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) it was discovered that she had about 1,000 MT of AGO on board even as the final process for loading approval was not completed."

 He said the vessel would be handed over to relevant prosecuting agency for further action.

 He also said patrol teams deployed by Forward Operation Base (FCB)  Bonny on 1 November 2016 raided Ogbunku and Bolo Creeks in Rivers State.

 He said during the raids, the team destroyed two illegal refineries, one Cotonou boat and six storage tanks containing suspected illegally refined AGO.

 He said other items destroyed include four storage tanks of suspected stolen crude oil and three speedboats carrying eight drums each of suspected illegally refined AGO.

 He said  the patrol team recovered three outboard engines of 40 Horse Power capacity and three pumping machines.

 He further said on 3 November 2016, FOB Escravos patrol team raided an illegal refinery site at Sara Creek and Ekpemu Community in Warri South West LGA, Delta State.

 He said during the raid, the patrol team destroyed 50 cooking points, 9 Cotonou boat containing large quantities of suspected stolen crude oil and about 1000 jerry cans of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).

 He also said NNS Pathfinder patrol team raided an illegal refinery site around Ogu-bolo and Degema LGAs of Rivers State and destroyed five  illegal refineries as well as one Cotonou boat carrying 50 drums of illegally refined AGO.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng

Association Makes Case For Fihsermen

The Need for the Federal and the State government, to give priority attention to the fisherfolk in their scheme of things has again been stressed.
Speaking on the sideline of the 2016 World Food Day Celebration in Port Harcourt on Monday, the chairman of Fishermen Association, Rivers State, Comrade Michael Wilfred, also decried the discrimination against fishermen as against the farming counterparts by various governments.
Wilfred, who reiterated the nutritious importance of fish to humans,said it is time for the governments to correct the imbalance and total neglect, and consider the fisher folk in their scheme of things.
He opined that the attention giving to agriculture, especially farming should also be giving to fishermen, as they equally boost the economy and contribute to the wellbeing of society at large.
The fishermen’s chairman emphasized that government should invest both in farming and fishing by providing soft loans and implements to improve on their God-giving occupations, pointing out that his association members which cut across all the fishing settlements within Port Harcourt, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Andoni, Kalabari axis to Bonny, and other riverine communities are not happy over the discrimination against them.
Wilfred also decried the pollution of the eco-system through the activities of oil bunkers and called on the government to instruct the military not to burn or destroy illegal oil vessels and dumps into the rivers, as it also affects their occupation.
“Federal and state governments should set-up a committee to look into the pollution caused by the Joint Taskforce (JTF) and operators of illegal oil business as all waters and creeks within Port Harcourt to Bonny have been affected and there are total hunger and hardship to the fisherfolk in Rivers State”, he posited.
He also called on the authorities to extend their invitations to the fishermen in subsequent celebrations that have to do with food production.
Copied.

OGU CHILDREN'S PRAISE NIGHT. 30th Dec. 2016

Ogu Children/Teenagers Praise Night coming up soon,
Please plan to attend.
30th Dec. 2016 live in Ogu Town Stadium, Ogu/Bolo LGA, Rivers State.

Chief of the Day, Alabo I.T.E. Iboms Eleni IV was officially introduced on this today.

Alabo Hon. Isreal Tamunoiyowuna Ezekiel Iboms Eleni IV

Chief Isreal Iboms Eleni IV.

STELLA & SUNNY.

You are cordially invited to the traditional marriage between Stella A. Opara and Sunny J. Festus.

Stella and Sunny

Dr. Ifiesimama Sekibo, MD/CEO, Heritage Bank Ltd, for Nigerian Credit Industry Awards.

The Institute of Credit Administration has set the machinery in motion to organise the 2016 edition of the Nigerian Credit Industry Awards.

The award ceremony scheduled for Saturday, December 3rd, 2016, will be chaired by the President of the Institute and Chairman of Council, Dr. Adetunji Oyebanji and will be supported by other Council members, namely: Akinsola Akinfemiwa, Chairman Heritage Bank Ltd, Amaka Onwughalu, former DMD, Skye Bank Ltd, Andy Ojei, Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Thomas Imokhai, MD/CEO, Standard Alliance, and Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria.

Among those to be awarded include Mrs. Abimbola Shukrat Umar, Accountant-General, Lagos State, Hon Kingsley Eze, Commissioner for Economic Planning & Development, Delta State, Hon. Stella Odua, Akin Akinfemiwa, Dr. Ifiesimama Sekibo, MD/CEO, Heritage Bank Ltd, Mrs Tomi Shomefu,FICA- MD/ CEO Unity Bank Plc, Kennedy Uzoka,FICA- GMD/CEO United Bank for Africa, Ahmadu Kida Musa,FICA, DMD Total E& P Nig Ltd, Aminu Haque Bhuiya, Managing Director, Asha Micro Finance Bank Ltd, Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi, Director General, Budget Office, Sir Ndukwe Osogho-Ajala, Chairman/CEO Soulmate Industries Ltd.

Besides, other awards for grabs are in the following categories including Credit Risk Management Director of the Year, Credit Recovery Professional of The Year and Provider of Credit to SMEs of the Year.

Other award categories are: Corporate Credit Provider of the Year, Customer Credit Integrity of the Year, Credit Relationship Manager of the Year, to mention just a few.

2016 Adult Harvest of Quality Offering.

ADULT HARVEST THANKSGIVING/#30M PARSONAGE PROJECT LAUNCHING.

Sunday 09/Oct/2016.

What will be your Primary responsibility if you are elected into office as a Youth Leader?

What will be your Primary responsibility if you are elected into office as a Youth Leader?

We'll Continue Attacks On Oil Installations Until Buhari Sheds Crocodile Tears - Militants, Niger Delta Justice Defence Group (NDJDG).

Thursday, September 22, 2016
We'll Continue Attacks On Oil Installations Until Buhari Sheds Crocodile Tears - Militants

One of the militant groups operating in the oil-rich region, Niger Delta Justice Defence Group (NDJDG) has explained why they launched the operation “Crocodile Tears.”
In a statement signed by the general commander of the group, the militants threatened to continue their attacks until Muhammadu Buhari-led government would begin to shed crocodile tears.
The group said: “We launched our Operation Crocodile Tears at exactly 10pm by blowing up oil pipelines/installations at Kporghor Community in Tai local government area of Rivers state.
“This is in continuation of our struggle against the Nigerian government led by the former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari for the continuous marginalisation of the Niger Delta people.

“It is true that the Nigerian economy is currently in recession, we shall continue our offensive against the federal government’s properties, oil installations until the Muhamadu Buhari led FG will begin to shed CROCODILE TEARS, if our demands are not urgently met.”
The militants earlier announced five demands to the administration of President Buhari.
The group asked to be allowed to control the oil output in the Niger Delta area and to celebrate activists who died during the struggle for better life for the oil-rich region among others.
The attacks are partially responsible for a decrease in Nigeria’s oil production of 800,000 barrels per day and the country’s recession.

 Niger Delta Justice Defence Group

Copyright © 2016

Fearless people rule and conquer the world.

Fearless people rule and conquer the world.

The courageous rule over the fearful. Perhaps, the main reason Europeans came to Africa, dominated and colonised the people for several centuries is simply because they were not afraid to travel across the treacherous ocean to a strange and mysterious land and people to dominate it that we, as Africans lacked the courage to do the same.

Africans are generally fearful,

Africans don't want to die.

The bold make discoveries, access secrets and have superior answers because they are not afraid to take risks and are adventurous.

OGU

Breaking...... A CHILD AND HOME BURN TO ASHES BY CANDLE.

Breaking......
A CHILD AND HOME BURN TO ASHES.
One innocent Child burn to death and second child sustained severe burn as mother left her two kids at home with a burning candle due to no power supply and was busy watching Zee World in another home.
this sad story occurred on the night of 3rd August 2016 in Ikpo-Ama, of Ogu/Bolo LGA
An Eye-witness report.

DISTINGUISHED FATHER, HONOURED IN SMAC, OGU.

Mr. Christian D. Willie, 

A man worthy of emulation in the Society, faithful son of Ogu Kingdom was honoured as a Distinguished Father in St. Martin's (Ang), Church Ogu by the Okrika South Archdeaconry (OSA) Women due to his commitment and selfless services to God during their thanksgiving Service on Sunday 31st July 2016.

Mr. Christian D. Willie