President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said the south south region was determined to resist those who removed former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to achieve their aim of ousting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office in 2007 general elections.

The Senator representing Akwa- Ibom North West in the Tenth Senate made the declaration at the weekend at the grand finale of the 25th anniversary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State as part of the activities to round off the week-long celebration.

Checks revealed that Akpabio was chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Governors Forum, when its presidential candidate and then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan lost his bid for a fresh mandate to the candidate of the erstwhile main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in the 2015 general elections.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio as saying the entire South south religion would rally around Tinubu and would not allow him to be disgraced out of office by the same forces that orchestrated the plot that removed Jonathan from office.

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The Senate President told the gathering that included former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, lawmakers, traditional rulers, ministers, and key figures from across the Niger Delta, that the region that produces the mainstay of the economy would determine who emerges as President to manage the crude oil revenue.

“In the past the Niger Delta was used as the goose that produced the golden egg with nothing to show for it. Today, President Tinubu has set up an Environmental Sciences University in Ogoni land to take care of the environment which had been degraded as a result of oil polution.

“He has also set up a Maritime University, signed it into an Act of Parliament in Okerenkoko in Delta State. He has given us several tertiary institutions in Agriculture, Technology and lots of others. So it is not only in terms of appointments but various projects.

“This is the region that produces the wealth of the nation. We have the right to chose who manages our resources. So people should not think that anybody can just come and become the President without consultation with the people of the Niger Delta.

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“We the people of the Niger Delta have assessed President Tinubu and have found him fit to continue in office beyond 2027. So let the people who are conspiring against President Tinubu hear this. They did it before and conspired to remove our son, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“This time around the entire Niger Delta region has decided to speak with one voice. And we are telling the President ‘on your mandate we stand.’ No conspiracy formed against this Government that has recognized the Niger Delta shall prosper.”

The former Akwa Ibom state governor decried the high turnover of management team of the NDDC which he said had slowed the pace of development of the oil-rich region.

He however commended the present team led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku for adhering to the vision of the founding fathers of the interventionist agency by embarking on projects that have impacted positively on the lives of the people of the region.

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According to Senator Akpabio the frequent management change, created endless cycles where new leaders were removed before finishing projects, leaving thousands of initiatives abandoned and wasting billions meant for development.

“There were many reasons we have had so much problems in NDDC. Part of it was leadership tussle. In the Niger Delta region, we have what we call ‘periwinkle politics.’ This is politics where everybody bears the same head. Nobody wants to wait for his turn. Everybody feels that he should be there and not the other person.

“So there was always this conspiratorial situation. Each management in the NDDC would conspire against themselves and ofcourse the staff will assist them to quarrel and shortly after they will sack the management. And one of them would become the acting Managing Director.”

He commended the stability under the current leadership of Dr Ogbuku, urging that the commission must break away from endless cycles of sabotage and focus on continuity so that development projects can be completed.

Speaking in the same vein, former President Jonathan commended President Tinubu for continuing with the present board of the Commission and noted that this will engender sustainable development of the region.

An Air Peace flight P47190 veered off the runway on Sunday morning while landing at the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport in Port Harcourt.

Though no clue has yet been disclosed as to the cause of the incident, available information claimed there were no casualties.

The flight which originated at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos ran into the incident on touchdown at the destination.

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Air Peace management has confirmed in a release signed by its spokesman, Osifo-whiskey Efe, that its “Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, (Sunday), had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported,” it says.

The airline assured the flying public of its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety in all operations.

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has released guidelines on how politicians and government officials should be received during church services and programmes, as part of efforts to maintain the sanctity and neutrality of Christian worship.

The directive was issued by the Primate of the Church, Most Revd Henry Ndukuba, during the Episcopal Consultation held in the Diocese of Nike, Enugu.

According to the Church, via a memo on Friday by the Director of Communication, Korede Akintunde, the guidelines became necessary following growing concerns about the increasing use of church gatherings as platforms for political statements, which risk undermining the core purpose of worship.

“The church remains open to all persons, including politicians and government officials.

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“However, the church must not engage in or promote partisanship,” the memo stated.

The church emphasised that any guest expected to address the congregation must first have a prior discussion with church leadership to offer appropriate guidance.

“Guests are to be informed clearly that the church is not a platform for advancing partisan views or political propaganda.

“Church leaders and officiants must refrain from making statements or behaving in ways that could be construed as politically aligned or sectional.

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“⁠No church official should eulogise or exalt any guest in a manner that might bring the church into disrepute.

“⁠Where possible, guests should not be permitted to use the church’s lectern when speaking, as it has been consecrated for the reading of God’s Word,” the statement read.

While affirming its responsibility to engage with government authorities on issues affecting the people and the nation, the church reiterated its commitment to being a moral compass for society.

“The church remains committed, under God, to being the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

“We will continue to uphold the nation in prayer and offer godly counsel to those in positions of authority,” Ndukuba stated.