Curator

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Jackson Ekwugum Every conceivable attempt is being made by critics and political jobbers to cast aspersions on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over the salary arrears imbroglio in the 25 Local Government Councils of Delta State. Just last week, a shadowy group, known as the Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, CENTREP, issued a press statement in which it accused the State Government of owing workers in the 25 Local Government Councils thirteen months’ salary arrears. In the statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, CENTREP gave the State Government seven days ultimatum “to defray the thirteen months’ salaries owed local government workers with the Paris Club loan refund.” The group then threatened to institute a “public interest suit” against the Delta State Government” to enforce the fundamental rights of council workers across the 25 Local Government Councils in the state. The position of CENTREP, which sadly betrays ignoranc...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Obi Nwakanma Right up to, and through the 1990s, it was anathema to discuss Biafra openly. It all began with the end of the civil war in 1970 and the attempts by the Federal government to suppress and erase every sign of the conflict in the public mind, and revise the causes of the Biafran conflict in the historical records. It seemed like an attempt to decree memory into oblivion – as though talking about it would subvert the very basis of Nigeria. Perhaps it would have. But military decrees are futile when it comes to reflective and sentient men: you cannot decree pain away when you continue to inflict pain. And the actions of the Federal government continued to inflict pain on former Biafrans, and in both official and unofficial policies continued to treat these Biafrans, particularly the Igbo like pariahs. But on the question of Biafra, there is the Igbo saying that no matter how it tries, the palms of the hand cannot hide or cover the moon: “Akaekpuchio...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Festus Ahon ASABA—DELTA State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, said that his administration will continue to build infrastructure in all parts of the state as part of efforts towards boosting the socio-economic lives of Deltans. Okowa, at Akwukwu-Igbo, Oshimili North and Agbor, Ika South Local Government Areas of the state, during the inspection and commissioning of roads, said he was keeping faith with his campaign promises despite the economic downturn in the country. At Akwukwu-Igbo, where he paid a  courtesy call on the Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo, HRM David Azuka, where he commissioned the 1.46 kilometre council road and the Ogbe-Ani link road, the governor said he had awarded contract for the upgrade of facilities at the Akwukwu-Igbo Grammar School. At Agbor where he inspected the old Lagos Road, he  commissioned Charles Street, Odion/Odi/Ogumbor/Ewere close, Idumu-Oza/Alihagwu/Oki Road and paid a courtesy call on the Dein of Agbor, HRM Benjami...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Nigerians from all walks of life weekend paid glowing tributes to veteran Green Eagles goal keeper, Coach Peter Fregene, over what they described as the latter’s uncommon performances in the history of Nigerian football, between 1961 and the early 1980s. Some who spoke about the sterling qualities of the veteran goalkeeper include foremost Urhobo business mogul, Chief Charles Obule, Chairman of Sapele Boys Club Worldwide, Mr. Chamberlain Akarue, Chief Clement Obule, Chief Faith Abagi. Others include, founder of Felix Anirah Foundation, Chief Felix Anirah, Chief Hudson Ororo, Capt Victor Sota (retd), Mr Moore Ologitere, Mr. Iroro Clarke, Mr. Kenneth Ekwejunor-Etchie, among others, all of who described Mr Fregene, now paralyzed, as a great asset to the nation, all emphasing that the labour of our heroes past must not be allowed to die in vain. The occasion was the 70th birthday anniversary of the former Green Eagles goalkeeper, which held recently in his Sapele r...