News
Edo To Establish Forestry Protection To Fight Banditry
Published
3 years agoon
By
EditorThe Edo State government has disclosed plans to establish forestry protection force to fight banditry across the State forest reserves, which have illegally converted as bases for kidnappings and other nefarious activities.
Governor Godwin Obaseki revealed this while flagging-off 10 million tree planting programme at Upper Sokponba forest reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the State.
He said the initiative would help to keep the forest and our land safe by ensuring that bandits cannot use the forest as bases to foster criminality with the support of forest guards, security agencies, Edo State Vigilante Network.
READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Secondus Must Go, Tambuwal Insists
According to him, “Along with our forest regeneration drive, we also want to keep our forest and our land safe. With your support and all other security agencies in the State, we will be reestablishing a forestry protection force to ensure that bandits cannot use our forest as bases to foster criminality.
“As a government, which is committed to the security of lives and property of its citizens, we are determined to keep the feat which we have already recorded in terms of security in the State and ensure that kidnappings, armed robbery, land grabbing and other criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.
“Our security strategy is hinged on the collaboration between the national security and the Edo Sate Vigilante Network so that Community participation is a key driver of our security plan.
Speaking on the essence of the tree planting programme, Governor Obaseki, said due to environmental degradation arising from adverse weather conditions and threat to livelihoods, his government is collaborating with private sector and all Communities to regenerate degraded and depleted forest reserves in the State for environmental sustainability.
The Governor said discussions are ongoing to establish Bendel Commission, which will help to foster mutual cooperation collaboration on economic, security, cultural and environmental matters between Edo and Delta States.
He recalled the history of the creation of Edo State and highlighted his economic intervention plan towards repositioning the State Civil and Public Services on the path of greatness including EDOBEST programme and Edo Jobs.
“We must balance environmental sustainability with livelihood and quickly reclaim our expansive forest land for the present and future generation.
“We are therefore commencing discussion to establish Bendel Commission. This Commission will foster mutual cooperation collaboration on economic, security, cultural and environmental matters between Edo and Delta States”, he said.
Obaseki who described Coronavirus pandemic otherwise known as one of the greatest threats in nation’s history due to global death toll, appealed to residents of the State inoculate themselves against Covid-19 vaccine in order to attain head immunity against the deadly virus.
“We have have continued to invest in our youths through various programme spearheaded by the Edo skills and Development Agency and Edo Jobs, which have given birth to numerous enterprises in the Edo production hub to the Edo tech hub and Edo creative hub.
“In the next few decades, Edo State will become a tech hub in Nigeria as we create more partnership to tonnes of young people as competent software developers and tech solution providers.
“Although some of the challenges that beset us today may be different from the ones that beset our forebears, however, concerted and sustained efforts to overcome adversity is very much assured.
“In the face of difficulty, we remain bold, decisive and united as these values have always guaranteed our survival, advancement and triumph”, according to him.
READ ALSO: Edo @30: Imansuangbon Salutes Obaseki, Benin Monarch, Others, Sues For Unity
Earlier in a remark, the Chairperson, Edo at 30 programme, Mrs. Julie Odigie-Oyegun, described the tree planting as a mark of a glorious future and significant.
She commended Governor Obaseki for prioritising the welfare of the people and for helping to preserve nature.
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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has explained why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, servers failed to work during the 2023 presidential election.
He said the ‘establishment of criminality’ made the INEC servers not work during the last last general elections.
Obi stated this, while addressing the issues of the 2023 elections, including the IREV servers, in Canada during the weekend.
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The Labour Party flagbearer in 2023 said people must intensify engagement with all the stakeholders to make the system work.
The former Anambra State governor explained that Amazon testified there were no glitches recorded globally on the day of the presidential election.
He said: “Where did we go wrong in the last election? We didn’t go wrong anywhere. We did the right things.
“But as I can always tell people: when you bring a change, you fight all those who live off the old order. They don’t go away; they gang up. And don’t think it’s a straight race to remove an establishment.
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“It’s a long-distance journey anywhere in the world. Go and check anywhere, whether you are looking at what happened in India, with Mandela in South Africa, or America. No change has happened overnight, it takes time.
“I urge all of you, if you really want change, we have just begun. We just have to continue from where we are.
“Yes, there might be one or two things we will correct, those things we will correct. I assure you we are correcting them without naming them.It’s not going to be easy.”
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) says time has come to internationalise the “Ijaw struggle” beyond rhetoric.
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, INC, said this in a communique of the 2024 edition of the Ijaw National Day celebration held in Bayelsa.
Okaba said that the vexatious factors that provoked grievances between the late Maj. Adaka Boro and the federal government in the improper management of the oil political economy of Nigeria, have remained unmitigated.
He noted that the situation had worsened with its attendant impunity.
READ ALSO: Ijaw Not Biafra, Count Us Out Of Your Planned Attack Military, INC Warns IPOB
According to him, the Ijaw environment continues to bear the brunt of petroleum resources exploitation-related pollution without concomitant remediation or reparations of the heavily despoiled ecosystem.
“Instead, Ijaw communities still face the adverse effects of uncontrollable spills, perennial flooding, ocean encroachment and so on,” he said.
The INC president noted that at different forums, it had been made clear that the Ijaw agenda of self-determination was premised on resource and environmental justice.
“What all Ijaw people seek is for a fair, just and justifiable reward for our resources and sacrifices.
“The Ijaw Congress has articulated a set of prescient conditions for its continuous commitment to the Nigerian project and these include restoration of true federalism (fiscal federalism).
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“Devolution of power and repel of all obnoxious and discriminatory environmental and resource related laws (Land Use, PIA), as well as restoration of Ijaw Territory as non-balkanised, administrative and politically generated unit(s).
“This is for the reassurance and promotion of Ijaw developmental pursuits by creating at least two additional states, more local government areas and wards for the Ijaws.
“Remediation of our massively polluted and endangered environment and the enforcement of adherence to international environmental best practices by IOC’s operating in Ijaw territories,” he said.
Okaba also demanded for the relocation of the administrative headquarters of all oil companies and their subsidiaries to their operational bases in Ijaw territory and Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: Ijaw Demand Environmental Clean-up Before IOCs Exit Niger Delta
He further called for proper funding and management of the Interventionist Agencies such as the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Niger Delta Development Commission.
“We call for the promotion of modular refineries owned by our people.
“We also want a balance in appointment at the federal levels (the civil service, military and oil companies) as well as equitable distribution of critical infrastructure, to reflect the true principles of federal character.”
He said it was against this backdrop that the theme of the 2024 Ijaw National Day “Re-Invigorating Our Resolve to take the Ijaw struggle for Self-determination beyond Rhetoric” was derived.
News
Drake Gives Condition To Quit Music As Feud With Kendrick Lamar Thickens
Published
6 hours agoon
May 5, 2024By
EditorUS rapper Drake has vowed to quit his music career if allegations regarding a secret daughter are substantiated.
The controversy started when rival artiste Kendrick Lamar, in his diss track ‘Meet The Grahams,’ levied accusations suggesting Drake’s involvement with an 11-year-old secret daughter.
Lamar branded the Canadian rapper a “deadbeat” for purportedly neglecting his paternal responsibilities
Renowned American media personality Akademiks, however, disclosed rapper’s response to the allegations during a recent broadcast.
According to Akademiks, Drake denied the claims, going as far as promising to leave the music industry and work for Akademiks if any evidence of the alleged secret daughter emerged.
During his Saturday night show, Akademiks shared the rapper’s direct message, stating, “Drake hit [texted] me, he said, ‘Ak, if you or anybody can prove that I have an 11-year-old daughter, I’ll quit rapping and come work for you.’”
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